SPOTLIGHT EP NEWS.COM AUGUST 23, 2012 PAGE 2 SPOTLIGHT EP NEWS.COM AUGUST 23, 2012 PAGE 3 Paleteros: An El Paso welcome sight on hot, summer days By Joe Olvera ©, 2012 For Fernando Martinez, El Paso’s by selling ice-cream. On the winter months, he dog days of summer can provide a bonanza of Martinez, who was pushing his cart must choose another line of work, mostly by sorts. You see, he sells fruit-flavored ice cream through a neighborhood on Zaragoza and working on construction crews. “I used to sell from a cart which he doesn’t mind pushing Betel, said he is able to paletas in Juarez, so when I came to El Paso to through neighborhoods and shopping centers. support live, it was natural for me to begin selling here While it doesn’t provide him with riches, he is his too. The people are, for the most part, very satisfied with the earnings he is able to gener - family kind. They see that it’s a hot day and I’m out ate on a weekly basis. “I sell more than 60 at least there in the hot sun, so they invite me inside fruit-flavored ice-creams on a stick on any through their homes, offer me something cool to drink given day,” Martinez said. “This earns me any - the sum - and, sometimes they even feed me. I’ve made where from $250 to $300 per week.” mer many friends this way.” Martinez’s day starts at about 11 a.m., and lasts until about 6 p.m. His company, Flavor Cream, only has about five paleteros. Sometimes a crew will be taken to different lo - cations, even as far as Sunland Park, NM. His season starts in March and lasts through Sep - tember – that’s when the weather starts turning cold. “I love what I’m doing. But, we only get paid a commission, that’s why I’m out there until 6. If I sell $100 worth of ice cream, I get about $45 from the company. We sell all fla - vors, including mango, melon, lemon, pista - chio and watermelon.” While Martinez works for a small company, Big Boy Concessions is exactly that – the Big Boy in town. In business for more than 50 years, the company, at 2309 Bassett Avenue, has expanded to include not only the sale of ice-cream, but, of hot dogs, ice, cotton candy, candy apples, popcorn, cart rentals and many other goodies. Daniel Morales, whose father, Cristino, started the company in 1955, said Big Boy Concessions is primarily a wholesaler that sells to independents and to charitable organi - zations for their fund-raising activities. The company was originally called Big Boy Ice Cream, but changed its name to Big Boy Con - cessions when it expanded to include other products. “Our number one product is ice- cream, but, we’ve expanded substantially to include other services,” Morales said. “We wholesale Blue Bunny ice-cream, but, we do produce our own Fruit-tiki. These are fruit-fla - vored ice-creams such as the traditional water - melon, cantaloupe, lemon – 20 flavors in all.” Morales said he has worked at the company practically since he was a boy, working for his father until the elder Morales passed away. “One example of how we help out the commu - nity, is that we sell the fruit-tikis for 50 cents, and they can sell it for one dollar. We also pro - vide concession stands for football teams, vol - Daniel Morales leyball teams, churches, kermezzes, and others so that they can hold fund-raisers.” SPOTLIGHT EP NEWS.COM AUGUST 23, 2012 PAGE 4 Don’t Be in the Dark about Child Care Always choose regulated day care It's almost back-to-school lated day care. and review its record by remember to look, learn, tor. Discuss any concerns time. This is also a time using the TxChildCare - visit, and meet: and make sure you are satis - when a lot of parents are At first glance, unregulated Search.org database on the fied with their answers. Make hunting for day care. If you're or illegal day care might DFPS website. You can also • Look for features that will a surprise visit later for a in the market for day care, seem like a good deal - but learn more about choosing help your child thrive. Con - second look. meet health and safety re - the Child Care Licensing Di - without any oversight there child care at www.Dont - sider the caregiver’s educa - quirements, get regular train - vision of the Texas Depart - are no checks and balances BeInTheDark.org, where you tion, experience, and All regulated day care staff ing, and are inspected every ment of Family and to protect your kids. will find a downloadable tip training, as well as the size must undergo background 5-12 months. Protective Services urges card and brochure. of the group and setting. checks but regulation and you to do your homework You can find a state-regu - • Learn about licensed and state oversight increase and always choose regu - lated day care in your area If you're looking for day care, registered child care at Dont - with the size of the day Texas Child Care Facts* BeInTheDark.org and Tx - care. ChildCareSearch.org. You • Daycare centers and can explore day care options 1. Listed homes (1-3 unre - homes - 25,045 - searching by ZIP code, city, lated children) must apply • Capacity of regulated day or county and read the his - and pass background care operations - 1,073,882 tory of the day care's inspec - checks but are not inspected • State inspections con - tion records. regularly. ducted - 49,650 • Visit the day care you are 2. Registered homes (maxi - • Abuse or neglect investiga - considering while children mum of 12 children at any tions - 2,062 are there so that you can time) must meet training re - • Permits revoked: 742 see activities, how care - quirements and pass back - givers interact with children, ground checks, and are and how the children like it inspected every 2 years. * Source: DFPS 2011 An - there. 3. Larger licensed homes nual Report and Data Book • Meet the caregiver or direc - and day care centers must SPOTLIGHT EP NEWS.COM AUGUST 23, 2012 PAGE 5 By: “Doppler” Dave Speelman Enduring the 50-Miler! I want to take a break from my usual weather col - move at lightning speed setting up a shelter and umn this week and talk about my experience with remembering the valuable knots to secure our my son's Boy Scout troop (troop 415) as we em - protection. barked on our annual "50-miler." This is a time where scouts load up their backpacks with life Thunderstorms were prevalent early in the week, sustaining "goods" to live and hike out in the so much so that the storms allowed our portable wilderness. horse fence to drop in the wind. This enabled our only pack horse to escape only to be found a cou - Our "wilderness" was found up in the southwest ple of days later wandering miles away near the portion of Colorado near Pagosa Springs. This is highway. all part of the San Juan Mountains. By midweek we were able to ascend nearly We began our trip early Saturday morning taking 13,000 feet along the Continental Divide (see pic - a group of 13 - a mix of scouts and adults. We ture below). This was a tough uphill climb that also took a pack horse (courtesy of a scouts fa - gave several of us our first "hotspots" or foot blis - ther - who also went on the trip) to carry some of ters. What an accomplishment for the boys and our gear like food, pots and pans. the adults who were able to make the climb. We arrived at the beginning of our trip spending the night at Wolf Creek Pass. This was Our trip ended successfully with no injuries or an elevation of about 10,800 feet. It was a bit of a sickness and a lot of happy boys and Dads. A full nervous time for me as this would be my first big cooler of cold Dr. Pepper's rewarded us all. Now, major hiking excursion not to mention spending we can plan the next big hike for 2013. six full days living out in the woods. Our trip went well overall. We encountered thun - If you would like to have your son join our Boy derstorms early in our hike with pea size hail. This Scout troop (ages 11-17) feel free to give me a taught the younger scouts a valuable lesson - to call at KVIA-TV at 496-7777. At 12,600 feet along the Continental Divide Troop 415 Scoutmaster. Weather Trivia: Which Continent does not have a Continental Divide? A. Antarctica B. Asia C. Australia a c i t c r a t n A - A : r e w s n D. Africa A “Doppler" Dave Speelman is the chief meteorologist at KVIA-TV in El Paso. You can watch his forecasts at 4, 5, 6 and 10 pm on ABC-7 (channel 6 cable). If you would like Doppler Dave to address (explain) any weather issues you can email him at [email protected] . Pictured from left to right: First Row: Luke Speelman, Daniel Leffman, Krishn Tahiliani, Thomas Sanderson Back Row: Doppler Dave Speelman, Mathew Martinez, Tanner Sanderson, Scott Drebenstedt, Bryan Sanderson. Picture Courtesy of Scout Master Bob Martinez THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY AUG 23 AUG 24 AUG 25 AUG 26 AUG 27 AUG 28 AUG 29 Partly Sunny Partly Sunny Mostly Sunny Mostly Sunny Partly Sunny Mostly Sunny Partly Sunny 30% Storm 20% Storm 10% Storms 20% Rain 20% Rain 10% Storms 20% Rain High: 93º Low: 74º High: 91º Low: 73º High: 90º Low: 72º High: 91º Low: 74º High: 93º Low: 74º High: 91º Low: 73º High: 92º Low: 72º SPOTLIGHT EP NEWS.COM AUGUST 23, 2012 PAGE 6 The El Paso Museum of Archaeology Presents Fire, Archeology and Rock Art: “The Sin Fin Column” An Archeologists Perspective by Joe Olvera ©, 2012 on Sites and Protection Saturday, September 15, 2:00 pm, Free Admission My day as an Location: El Paso Museum of Archaeology 4301 Transmountain Road, El Paso TX 79924 undocumented immigrant Archaeologist Mark Howe will speak about his personal experi - This latest immigration pol - job.