August Issue

LATINO NEW YORK I P. I AUGUST 2009

WILLIE COLONIS HIS NAME

SALSA HIS GAME

PURCHASE OF HOME OR NEW VEHICLE COULD GENERATE TAX BREAKS

THE MAJOR OF BROCKPORT: Maria “Connie” CastañedaLa Alcaldeza de Brockport

TAME THAT MANE !

BEWARE OF PHISHING E-MAILS PURPORTING FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONSCuidado con correoselectrónicos de supuestos bancos

PREVENT BACK PAIN

Prevenga el Dolor de Espalda

P. II AUGUST 2009 I LATINO NEW YORK

LATINO NEW YORK I P. � AUGUST 2009

P. 2 AUGUST 2009 I LATINO NEW YORK

Proud of being Latinos

History was made on Saturday, August 8, 2009, when Sonia Sotomayor was sworn as the first Latina Supreme Court Judge in the United States. The appoint-ment of the 55-year-old Bronx native of Puerto Rican descent culminates a story that began in a housing project, where she lived with her brother and widowed mother.

The Ivy Leaguer graduated from Princ-eton and Yale universities and served as a federal judge for 17 years before being nominated by President Barack Obama for the post. We are so blessed to be witnessing a historic event that will change the court and make our country a better place to live. Congratu-lations, Ms. Sotomayor.

Another Bronx native who has made us very proud is our own Willie Colon. Featured in our cover story this month, Willie has been entertaining us with his radio programs for the past 14 years. Those of us who know Willie from day one have witnessed firsthand how an individual can change if given the opportunity and that person is willing to take it.

His radio show continues to keep us aware about what’s going on musically, politically and generally -- in our region, our nation and the world. Many of you may not know that Willie serves in a voluntary capacity with many organiza-tions that provide services to the less fortunate among us. Thank you Willie for all you do for all of us. And that includes some of the craziness that you include in your show -- and the opportunities you give others in the community to bring their messages to the air.

We hope you enjoy this issue. Don’t forget to support The Centro Civico of Amsterdam’s Cultural Art Festival on August 15. And the Albany Latin Fest on August 29.

I know I’ll be there.

Juan J. GeorgePublisher.

Orgullosos de ser Latinos

El día Sábado, 8 de Agosto de 2009 se hizo historia al momento en que Sonia Sotomayor fue confirmada como la primera Latina Magistrada de la Corte Suprema de los Estados Unidos. La nominación de la nativa del Bronx de 55 años, de ascendencia Puertorriqueña, culmina una historia que comienza en un proyecto de vivienda, donde vivió con su hermano y su madre viuda.

De la Liga Ivy, pasa a graduarse de las universidades de Princeton y Yale, y trabaja como juez federal por 17 años antes de ser nominada por el Presidente Obama para el cargo. Somos muy afor-tunados de ser testigos de un evento histórico que cambiará la corte y hará de nuestro país un mejor lugar para vivir. Felicitaciones, Magistrada Sotomayor.

Otro nativo del Bronx, que nos enor-gullece, es nuestro Willie Colón. Lo presentamos en la portada de este mes, ya que Willie nos ha entretenido con sus programas de radio por los últimos 14 años. Aquellos de nosotros que conoc-emos a Willie desde sus comienzos, hemos sido testigos de primera mano de cómo un individuo puede cambiar si le es dada la oportunidad y siempre que la persona lo desee.

Su show de radio continúa mantenién-donos al día sobre lo que ocurre musi-calmente, políticamente y en general – en nuestra región, en la nación y en el mundo. Muchos de ustedes pueden no saber que Willie le sirve de forma voluntaria con muchas organizaciones que proveen servicios a los menos afortunados en nuestra comunidad. Gracias Willie por todo lo que haces por nosotros. Y ello incluye algunas de las locuras que se incluyen en tu show – y las oportunidades que brindas a otros en la comunidad, para hacer llegar sus mensajes al aire.

Esperamos que disfruten de la presente edición. No olviden apoyar al Centro Cívico de Amsterdam en su Festival Artístico y Cultural de Agosto 15. Así como asistir al Albany Latin Fest en Agosto 29.

Juan J. GeorgeEditor


6 DID YOU HEAR THAT ? •María Neira Ya Escuchaste? 8 MARIO BAUZA & THE DEVELOPMENT OF LATIN JAZZ • Dr. José Cruz Mario Bauza y El Desarrollo Del Jazz Latino

12 WITH EXERCISE, GOOD POSTURE AND A HEALTHY DIET • Dr. Ingrid Bermúdez M.D. Prevenga El Dolor De Espalda Con Una Buena Postura, Ejercicio y Una Dieta Saludable 18 COVER: WILLIE COLON IS HIS NAME, SALSA HIS GAME • Juan George Willie Colón es su nombre, la Salsa, su Juego

20 PURCHASE OF HOME OR NEW VEHICLE COULD GENERATE TAX BREAKS • Richard Torres, Senior Stakeholder Liaison with the IRS Compra De Vivienda o Vehículo Nuevo, Podría Generar Beneficios Tributarios

23 THE MAJOR OF BROCKPORT: MARIA “CONNIE” CASTAñEDA • Mike Fondacaro La Alcaldeza de Brockport 24 LATINO SOCIAL EVENTS

27 SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT NEWS • Mike Fondacaro

28 Esquina Literaria / Literary Corner • Ma. del Pilar Casas

31 BEWARE OF PHISHING E-MAILS PURPORTING FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS • NYS Consumer Protection Board Cuidado con Correos Electrónicos que dicen venir de Instituciones Financieras

32 TAME THAT MANE ! • Danielle Palermo Austin’s School of Spa Technology

33 ASK LISA • Lisa Cortés Pregúntale a Lisa

IN THIS EDITION

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Dra. Sanz

en esta edición

As latinos, we are deeply proud that Sonia Sotomayor has been confirmed as our nation’s 111th

Supreme Court Justice

P. � AUGUST 2009 I LATINO NEW YORK

If have any comments or suggestion please send them to [email protected] or by calling at: (518) 438-2875

Si desea enviarnos sus comentarios o sugerencias, por favor envíelos a [email protected] o llamando al telefono (518) 438-2875

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Nine months after voters elected our nation’s first black president, we stand — as I write this column — on the cusp of seeing Sonia Soto-mayor confirmed as America’s first Latina Justice to the U.S. Supreme Court.

When President Barack Obama announced her nomi-nation back in May, I was contacted by a local Capital Region newspaper reporter who asked for my reaction.

“Overwhelmed with pride” was how I described the way I felt. And though it’s been a handful of months since, that feeling hasn’t subsided.

Sotomayor’s inspiring personal story is well known. The daughter of Puerto Rican parents, she went from a public housing project to the Ivy League, and after ascending the legal profession, was appointed to the federal bench in 1992.

Sotomayor attributes her success to her mother Celina’s “fanatical” emphasis on what she called “the power of educa-tion.” So convinced was her mother that education was the key to success that she went out and bought for her children a set of encyclope-dias, paying for them on an installment plan.

Celina Sotomayor’s attitude toward education reflects that of the majority of Latino parents. A nationwide Oppenheimer Funds survey of American parents released in May showed 95 percent of Latinos believe strongly that a college education for their children is key to the American dream. And while Latinos — like other parents — are straining to save for college, eight in 10 believe the cost is worth the struggle.

Still, when it comes to college, there exists a wide achievement gap between Latinos and other groups. Though the percentage of Latinos attending college has increased 25 percent between 2000 and 2004, the percentage completing their higher-ed degrees has barely changed in 30 years, according the U.S. Depart-ment of Education. And that’s due largely in part to economic concerns.

Eighty percent of all parents in the Oppenheimer survey said government has a vital role in ensuring the affordable access to higher education.

Yet, in recent years, the actions of our policymakers in both New York and Washington have consistently made access more difficult.

Consider:

• Aid has plunged steadily for public colleges and universities statewide, despite increased enrollment. In fact, the state’s SUNY and CUNY systems were forced to contend with cuts totaling $277 million this past year.

• Meanwhile, nationwide, 32 other states have made deep reductions to their public higher education programs due to budget deficits and the nation’s recession.

• And, though fierce lobbying campaigns waged by NYSUT have succeeded in defeating cuts to opportunity programs for economically disadvantaged students, tuition assistance and community college funding, such devastating proposals have become commonplace in recent years.

It is encouraging that President Obama has pledged to make college more affordable for all students. And in July, he

unveiled a plan to spend $12 billion over the next decade to bolster community colleges.

As a community, we must now follow the president’s lead, and work together to lobby our policymakers so that they invest in our higher-education system and ensure there is affordable access so that stories like that of Sonia Sotomayor are no longer the exception, but the rule.

Maria Neira, a former bilingual elementary school teacher, is vice president of the 600,000-member New York State United Teachers.

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s Photos

released by The White House


Nueve meses después de que votantes eligieran el primer presidente de color, nos encon-tramos en la cúspide – mientras escribo esta columna – al ver a Sonia Sotomayor ser confir-mada como la primera Latina en la Corte Suprema de los Estados Unidos.

Cuando el presidente Obama la anunció en mayo, fui contactada por un period-ista de un diario local, quien preguntaba acerca de mi reacción.

“Abrumada de orgullo” fue como describí la forma en que lo sentía. Y aunque han pasado varios meses, el sentimiento no ha disminuido.

La inspiradora historia personal de Sotomayor es bien conocida. La hija de padres puertorriqueños, pasó de una vivienda pública a la Liga Ivy, y después de ascender en la profesión legal, fue designada como juez federal en 1992.

Sotomayor atribuye su éxito a lo que su madre enfatiza “fanáticamente” como “ el poder de la educación”. Tan convencida estaba su madre, Celina, que la educación era la clave del éxito, que fue y les compró un grupo de enciclope-dias a sus hijos, pagándolas por cuotas.

La actitud de Celina Soto-mayor hacia la educación, refleja a la mayoría de los padres latinos. Un estudio nacional de la Fundación Oppenheimer de Padres Americanos, presentado en Mayo, reveló que el 95 % de los

latinos creen firmemente que la educación universitaria para sus hijos es la clave para el sueño americano. Y mientras Latinos –así como otros padres - se esfuerzan por ahorrar para la universidad, 8 de 10 personas, cree que a pesar de los costos, vale la pena el esfuerzo.

Cuando de universidad se trata, existe una enorme brecha entre Latinos y otros grupos. Aunque el porcentaje de latinos que asiste a universidad ha incrementado en un 25% entre el 2000 y el 2004, el porcentaje que ha culminado altos grados, casi no ha cambiado en 30 años, de acuerdo con el Departa-mento Nacional de Educación. Ello es debido en gran parte a preocupaciones económicas.

Un ochenta por ciento de los padres, en el estudio Oppen-heimer, dijeron que el Gobi-erno tiene un papel vital en asegurar un acceso costeable para la educación superior.

Aún, en años recientes, las acciones tomadas por los legisladores tanto en New York como en Washington, han hecho dicho acceso más difícil.

Consideremos:

• La ayuda económica ha decrecido de forma constante para colegios públicos y univer-sidades a lo largo de la Nación, sin importar que ha aumentado el ingreso de estudiantes. De hecho, los sistemas estatales de SUNY y CUNY fueron obligados a soportar los cortes de un total de $277 millones el pasado año.

• Mientras, a nivel nacional, otros 32 estados han hecho drásticas reducciones a sus programas de educación pública debido a déficits presupuestales y la recesión nacional.

• Y, aun cuando fuertes campañas de lobby libradas por NYSUT han tenido éxito en disminuir los costos en programas de opor-tunidad para estudiantes en desventaja económica, en asistencia para matrículas y fondos de los community colleges, esas propuestas tan devastadoras se han conver-tido en algo habitual en años recientes.

• Es esperanzador que el Presidente Obama se ha comprometido a hacer que las universidades sean posibles de pagar para todos los estudiantes. Y en Julio, reveló un plan para invertir $12 billones en la próxima década con el fin de reforzar los community colleges.

Como comunidad, debemos seguir la lid de nuestro presi-dente, y trabajar juntos en hacer lobby a los legisladores para que inviertan en nuestro sistema de educación supe-rior y aseguren un acceso que se pueda costear, para que historias como la de Sonia Sotomayor, no sean la excepción sino la regla.

By: Maria Neira


k

Mario Bauzá y el Desarrollo del Jazz Latino

ENGLISH VERSION ON P. 11

Por: Dr. José E. Cruz

El gran y ya fenecido músico cubano, Mario Bauzá, nació el 28 de Abril de 1911 en el barrio Cayo Hueso de La Habana, Cuba. Su nombre completo es Prudencio Mario Bauzá. Fue un niño prodigio y comenzó a estudiar música a los cinco años de edad. A la edad de nueve, ya tocaba clarinete bajo con la orquesta filarmónica de La Habana y el clarinete con grupos de baile.

No se sabe con certeza cuando él visitó los Estados Unidos por primera vez. Algunos dicen que fue en el 1925 o el 1926 pero en una historia oral del Smithsonian Bauzá dice que fue en el 1927. Tendría entonces 14 ó 16 años y el propósito del viaje fue grabar un disco con la Charanga (piano, flauta, violín, bajo, pailas, y güiro) del músico cubano Antonio Maria Romeu; no vino a tocar clarinete sino más bien el triángulo.1

1 Entrevista con Mario Bauzá, Smithsonian Institution, Jazz Oral History Project, December 13, 1978, transcript, p. 4. Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers University.

Durante su visita a Nueva York, Bauzá fue a un concierto ofrecido por Paul Whiteman, y ahí notó que los saxofones se destacaban más que los otros instrumentos. Eso supuestamente le motivó a optar por el saxo. De vuelta en Cuba, compró un saxofón por cinco centavos (¡¡!!) y comenzó a escuchar jazz y a tocar con grupos de jazz en clubes y hoteles. El siguió tocando con la filarmónica, pero exhausto y sin dinero (la sinfónica proveía prestigio en vez de ganancias) renunció y se dedicó a tocar en clubes de jazz a tiempo completo. Reconociendo su talento, sus colegas lo exhortaron a que se mudara a Estados Unidos. El comienza a escuchar la música de Duke Ellington y según sus palabras “ahí fue que me volví loco.”2 Entonces decide irse para Nueva York.

La fecha de su regreso es incierta. Se ha dicho que regresó en el 1929 pero Bauzá dice que fue en el 1930. Su sueño era tocar con la orquesta de Duke Ellington pero primero tuvo que franquear la barrera del lenguaje. En sus propias palabras: “las opciones eran hablar Inglés o la muerte.”3 En los clubes que frecuentaba entró en

2 Ibid., p. 6.3 Ibid., p. 9.

contacto con músicos como Benny Carter, Jimmy Harrison, Red Allen, Lou Metcalf, Charlie Johnson, Sidney de Paris, y otros miembros de la orquesta de Fletcher Henderson. Pero su primer trabajo fue con el pianista Lucky Roberts de donde rápidamente pasó a la orquesta de Noble Sissle, adonde acompañó al gran saxofonista soprano Sidney Bechet y al hermano de Nat King Cole, el bajista Edward Cole. Eso fue a finales del 1931 o a principios del 1932.4

En la orquesta de Noble Sissle, Bauzá era sólo un sustituto y por eso su trabajo no duró mucho. La desesperación del desempleo lo llevó a optar por tocar trompeta. Según se cuenta, el cantante de la orquesta de Don Aspiazu, Antonio Machín, quien hizo famosa la canción “El Manicero” en Nueva York en el 1930,5 necesitaba un trompetista. Bauzá le dijo, “si me compras una trompeta yo toco contigo.” Machín ripostó, “pero tú no tocas trompeta.” A lo que Bauzá contestó, “No, pero si me das dos semanas, yo aprendo.” Y así fue. Después de practicar por tres semanas, Bauzá grabó “La Mulata Rumbera” como si hubiese estado tocando trompeta toda su vida.

A partir de esa grabación, Bauzá descartó el saxo y se convirtió en trompetista. Eventualmente regresó al saxofón.

Su trabajo siguiente fue con Hy Clark y los Missourians, una orquesta de segunda clase según Bauzá, pero como necesitaban a un trompetista y él estaba disponible, le dieron el

4 Ibid., p. 12.5 La version de Stan Kenton es la major conocida y por ende muchos creen que fue grabada por primera vez en 1947. Kenton fue uno de muchos, incluyendo a Louis Armstrong, que grabaron la canción tratando de capitalizar de la popularidad de la version original de Aspiazu. La grabación de As-piazu es la primera en los Estados Unidos que tiene un estilo auténtico cubano. Además, “El Manicero” expuso por primera vez al público estadounidense a instrumentos de percusión cubanos con los cuales no estaban familiarizados.

trabajo. Bauzá usó su membresía en esa orquesta para escuchar, practicar, y mejorar su técnica y estilo. A los seis meses, tuvo una audiencia con Chick Webb, quien tocaba junto a los Missourians y cuyo trompetista se había ido a tocar con Duke Ellington. Webb lo contrató al instante y la misma noche de su audiencia tocó con Webb en el Savoy Ballroom.

Seis meses más tarde, Webb alegadamente nombró a Bauzá director musical de su orquesta,6 alegato que ha sido cuestionado por varios, incluyendo a Ella Fitzgerald quien afirma que Bauzá nunca ocupó esa posición.7

En el 1936 Bauzá regresó a Cuba para casarse con Estela Grillo. Estela era hermana de Frank Grillo, mejor conocido como Machito, su colega en la creación y desarrollo de la orquesta los AfroCubans cuando Machito se muda a Nueva York en el 1937 o el 38. Algunas fuentes dicen que Machito vino a Nueva York por iniciativa propia. Bauzá alegó que él trajo a Machito en el 1938 para que le ayudara a organizar una orquesta.

Mientras tanto, Chick Webb bota a Bauzá de su orquesta por estar reclamando más dinero y en el 1939 Bauzá pasa a la orquesta de Cab Calloway, para reemplazar a Doc Cheatham. Ahí estuvo hasta el 1940 y su rol en el desarrollo del jazz Latino comienza durante su estadía con Calloway. Algunos miembros de esa orquesta se referían a la música cubana como “música de jíbaros.” Entre otras razones, resentido por tales comentarios, Bauzá decide renunciar y organizar su propia orquesta.8

6 Este recuento es un compuesto de varios testimonios de Bauzá en Smithsonian, pp. 16-19 y de Larry Birnbaum en “Afro-Cuban jazz originator Mario Bauza returns with Tanga,” Pulse!, Septem-ber 1992, p. 35.7 E-mail de George Rivera, 25 de Octubre 2007, colección del autor.8 Ben Acrish, “The Life and Music of Mario Bauzá and the Development of Machito and the Afro-Cubans,” Tesis de Maestría, Purchase Con-servatory of Music, Spring 2006, pp. 17-18.

Parte I

LATINO NEW YORK I P. 9 AUGUST 2009

P. �0 AUGUST 2009 I LATINO NEW YORK

LATINO NEW YORK I P. �� AUGUST 2009

The late, great Cuban musician, Mario Bauzá, was born on April 28, 1911 in the Cayo Hueso section of La Habana, Cuba. His full name was Prudencio Mario Bauzá. He was a child prodigy who started to study at the age of five. By the age of nine he was bass clarinetist with the Havana Philharmonic Orchestra and played clarinet with dance bands.

The date of his first visit to the United States is not certain. Some sources say 1925 others say 1926 but Bauzá himself says 1927 in a Smithsonian Institution oral history. He was either 14 or 16 years old at the time and the purpose of his visit was to record with the charanga orchestra (piano, flute, violin, bass, pailas, and guiro) of Cuban bandleader Antonio Maria Romeu; he did not play clarinet. His role was to play the triangle.1

During this trip to New York, Bauzá went to a Paul Whiteman concert, and he noticed that the saxophones got to solo more often than the other instruments. This allegedly became the source of his desire to play the alto sax. So he went back to Cuba and bought an alto saxophone for five cents (!!) and started to listen to jazz records and to play in jazz groups in clubs and hotels.

He continued playing at the Havana Philarmonic but out of exhaustion and lack of money, (there was no money in symphony music, only prestige), he quit the Orchestra and started playing full time in jazz clubs. He was so good that he was encouraged to move to the United States by his fellow musicians. He then started to listen to broadcasts of the Duke Ellington Orchestra live from the Cotton Club and the way he put it was “Then I really went out of my mind.”2 He decided he had to go to New York.

Some say he came back to New York in 1929 but Bauzá himself says it was in 1930. His dream was to play with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. But first he had to overcome the language barrier. As he put it, he had to “either talk English or die.”3 He started going to clubs and hanging out with musicians such as Benny Carter, Jimmy Harrison, Red Allen, Lou Metcalf, Charlie Johnson, Sidney de Paris, and others from the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra. But his first job was with ragtime piano player Lucky

1 Interview with Mario Bauzá, Smithsonian Institution, Jazz Oral History Project, December 13, 1978, transcript, p. 4. Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers University.2 Ibid. p. 6.3 Ibid.,p. 9.

Roberts and very quickly he moved on to play with the Noble Sissle Orchestra, playing alongside Sidney Bechet, the great soprano sax player, and Nat King Cole’s brother, Edward Cole, on bass. This was either late 1931 or early 1932.4

Bauzá was only a substitute player in the Noble Sissle orchestra so he lost that job after a few months. Out of work and desperate to make money, Bauzá decided to take up the trumpet in order to play.The story, which has circulated widely, is that the singer for the Don Aspiazu orchestra, Antonio Machín, who made the song “The Peanut Vendor” popular in New York in 1930,5 was looking for a horn player for his quartet. Bauza told him, “if you buy me a trumpet I’ll play for you.” Machin said “but you don’t play the trumpet.” And bauza replied: “I don’t play no trumpet but give me a couple of weeks and I’ll be ready.” And lo and behold, after three weeks of practice Bauza went into the studio and recorded “La Mulata Rumbera” as if he had been playing the trumpet all his life.

After that recording, Bauzá gave his sax away and from then on he was a trumpet man. Later on he would return to the saxophone.

His next job was with Hy Clark and the Missourians, a second-rate orchestra in Bauzá’s opinion, but they needed a trumpet player and he got the part. Bauzá used his tenure with the Missourians to listen, to practice, and to get better. After playing with this band for about six months, Mario had a successful audition with Chick Webb, who played opposite the Missourians and had just lost his trumpet player to Duke Ellington. Webb hired him on the spot and that very same night Bauzá played at the Savoy Ballroom.

4 Ibid., p. 12.5 Most people only know the Stan Kenton version of the song and therefore think that it was first recorded in 1947. Kenton was only one of several, including Louis Armstrong, who recorded versions of the song after Aspiazu made it into a hit, trying to cash in on the song’s popularity. Aspiazu’s was the first U.S. recording of an authentic Cuban style. Also “The Peanut Vendor” introduced to the U.S public Cuban percussion instruments unfamiliar to most Americans before then.

Six months later, Webb allegedly made Bauzá his musical director,6 a claim that has been affirmed as well as disputed by many, including Ella Fitzgerald herself who is on the record saying that Bauzá never had that position in the band.7

In 1936 Bauzá returned briefly to Cuba to marry Estela Grillo, who happened to be the sister of Frank Grillo, aka Machito, who became Bauzá’s partner in the creation and development of the AfroCubans after Machito came to New York either in 1937 or 1938. Some sources say that Machito came to New York on his own. Bauzá claims he sent for Machito in 1938 with the intention of organizing a band with him.

Then Bauzá gets fired from the Chick Webb band because he was an agitator for better wages for the musicians and he moves on to the Cab Calloway Band, as a substitute for Doc Cheatham, in 1939. He played there only until 1940 and his role in the development of Latin jazz begins during his tenure with Calloway. Band members used to call Cuban music ‘Hillbilly music.” Bauzá resented this and this is one of the reasons he left Calloway to form his own band.8

6 This account is a composite of the accounts by Bauza in Smithsonian, pp. 16-19 and of Larry Birnbaum in “Afro-Cuban jazz originator Mario Bauza returns with Tanga,” Pulse!, September 1992, p. 35.7 E-mail from George Rivera, October 25, 2007, author’s collection.8 Ben Acrish, “The Life and Music of Mario Bauzá and the Development of Machito and the Afro-Cubans,” Masters Thesis, Purchase Conserva-tory of Music, Spring 2006, pp. 17-18.

Mario Bauzá and the Development of Latin Jazz

Part IBy: Dr. José E. Cruz


Back pain is a very common reason for visits to my office and, in most of the cases, is due to the muscular imbalance caused by bad posture.

This is a common ailment of middle age, and experts say eight of ten people have suffered back pain at some time in their lives. A significant percentage of these cases resolve by themselves -- after we learn to use correct posture when sitting down, standing up or walking.

Experts also agree that a sedentary life, obesity and some muscle and joint diseases increase the risk of back pain.

Here are the recommendations I usually give to my patients when they complain about back pain:

1-Walk straight. When walking, keep your shoulders in a natural or resting position, and the head straight, with the forehead high and eyes looking at the horizon. And I always remember advice from a good friend: keep your rib cage elevated, it always will keep your posture.

2-Sit in the correct position, in a chair with good back support, and keep your back straight.

3-Be careful when picking up things. Crouch with bent knees to bring you close to the level of the object and then lift the object by standing straight. Always keep your back straight.

4- Maintain an ideal weight. Here I go again with my most common advice: eat healthily, eat three-to-five times/day, don’t starve yourself, eat fresh food, learn how to cook. All these habits will help keep your weight under control. And keeping your weight under control is the golden rule, because the bone structure is

built to hold a certain amount of weight. If we are overweight, the joints will be overworking, causing pain. Remember, you are what you eat. In fact, food itself can increase or decrease your pain. Certain foods, including animal proteins such as red meat, increase inflammation. Vege-table proteins, such as lentils, soy beans, chick peas, and nuts, will help keep inflammation in check.

5-Avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Don’t stay in one spot for a long time. Staying for many hours in front of a desk or a TV is a big strain on our spine. That’s why I advise standing every thirty minutes if possible, and doing an activity, such as walking around your desk. I also advise crossing the legs once in a while, and keeping the knees slightly elevated so that they are level or slightly higher than the hips.

By: Ingrid Bermudez MD.

SPANISH VERSION ON P. 15

6-Exercise regularly to tone your muscles, especially the ones in your middle and along your abdominal wall – the so-called “core area.” A goal should be forty minutes of exercise a day, five days a week. But out-of-shape patients should start with fifteen minutes a day and, every week, add another five minutes of daily exercise. Exercise does not necessarily mean going to the gym or buying expensive machines to keep in your basement. Walking briskly outdoors, when the weather permits, could be an easier form of low-impact exercise.

7-Choose the right mattress. We need to pick a mattress that is not too soft or too hard. If it’s too hard, the normal curvatures of the back will tend to flatten when we sleep. If it’s too soft, nature curvatures will be exaggerated. And sleeping in a fetal position is recommended. In some cases, putting a pillow between our legs will bring relief from pain.

8-And the final advice: don’t medicate your back pain without the guidance of a doctor. Taking pain killers over the counter can cause side effects, like gastric ulcers, gastric bleeding, and kidney or liver damage. A good doctor will help you manage your pain properly. In many cases, pain will stay with you for a time, but if you take care of your posture, eating habits, and physical condition, it will be easier to live with.

Prevent BACK PAIN with Exercise, Good Posture And A

Healthy Diet



P. �� AUGUST 2009 I LATINO NEW YORK


El dolor de espalda es causa de visita muy común en mi consulta y en la mayoría de los casos se debe a un imbal-ance muscular debido a una mala postura.

Este es un mal común de la edad media y expertos dicen que 8 de cada 10 personas han sufrido o sufrirán de dolor de espalda una vez en sus vidas. Un porcentaje significante de estos se resolverán por si mismos, después que aprendamos a tener una buena postura al caminar, al sentamos o pararnos.

Expertos también están de acuerdo que una vida sedentaria, la obesidad y algunas enfermedades musculoesqueléticas incrementan el riesgo de padecer dolor de espalda.

He aquí algunas de mis recomendaciones para aquellos que sufren de dolor de espalda:

1-Camine derecho. Cuando camine, mantenga sus hombros en una posición neutral, descansada, con la cabeza en alto, la frente erguida y mirando al frente. Yo siempre recuerdo el consejo de un buen amigo:”mantén las costillas elevadas, esto siempre mantendrá tu postura”.

2-Siéntese derecho. En una silla con buen soporte en la espalda y mantenga su espalda derecha.

3-Cuidado al levantar elementos pesados. Siempre agáchese doblando las rodillas y levante el objeto levantándose derecho. Siempre mantenga la espalda erguida.

4-Mantenga un peso ideal. Y aquí voy con mi consejo de siempre: coma saludable, coma de tres a cinco veces al dia, no ayune por largos periodos, coma cosas frescas, aprenda a cocinar. Todos estos hábitos le ayudaran a mantener su peso bajo control. Y manteniendo su peso bajo control es una regla de oro, pues recuerde que su estructura ósea esta construida para sostener cierto peso. Si nos pasamos de peso, ponemos trabajo extra a nuestras articulaciones, incluy-endo la columna, causando dolor.

Recuerde, usted es lo que come. De hecho, ciertas comidas pueden aumentar o disminuir su dolor. Ciertos alimentos, como las carnes rojas, incrementan la inflamación. Proteínas vegetales, como lentejas, frijoles, garbanzos, nueces, mantendrán la inflamación bajo control.

5-Evite la vida sedentaria. No se este en una sola posición por largo tiempo. Quedarse por muchas horas en frente del escritorio o el televisor pone mucho trabajo en su espalda. Por eso le recomiendo pararse al menos cada 30 minutos si le es posible, y hacer algo diferente, como caminar alrededor de su escritorio.. también en lo posible cruzar sus piernas de vez en cuando, y mantener su rodillas elevadas, al nivel de la cadera o arriba de este nivel si es posible.

6-Haga ejercicio con regu-laridad. Esto tonificara sus músculos. Trate de tonificar el cuerpo medio, los abdominales, que son los que sostiene la espalda. La regla de oro es hacer ejercicio al menos 40 minutos/dia. Para aquellos fuera de forma, pueden comenzar con 15 minutos/dia e ir aumentando 5 minutos/dia por semana. Ejercicio no es necesariamente ir al gimnasio o comprar esas costosas maquinas para dejarlas en

el sótano. Caminar rápido en el vecindario o en el parque, si el clima lo permite, es una forma fácil de hacer ejercicio de bajo impacto(y bajo costo)

7-Escoja el colchón adecuado. Necesita escoger un colchón no muy duro no muy suave. En el duro, las curvaturas naturales de la espalda tienden a aplanarse y en el blando tienden a exagerarse, causando dolor. Dormir en posición fetal(de lado, rodillas contra el pecho) es la mas reco-mendada. Y en algunos casos dejando una almohada entre las piernas produce alivio del dolor.

8-Y el consejo final: Por favor, no se auto-medique. Recuerde que tomando pastillas para el dolor compradas en la tienda puede causar graves efectos como ulceras gástricas, hemorragias gástricas, daño al riñón y al hígado. Un buen doctor le puede ayudar a manejar su dolor. Y en muchos casos el dolor va a durar por largo tiempo, pero si usted cuida su postura, sus hábitos alimenticios y su condición física, el dolor será mas llevadero.

Ingrid Bermudez MD is a full-time family practitioner and owner of Family Medicine of Mechanicville, N.Y.. In addition to offering a wide range of medical services to all age groups, she coaches patients through weight loss and life style changes. She believes in treating the patient as a whole – physically and emotionally. For appointments: 518-664-4185. For more information:www.drbfamilymedicine.com.

Prevenga el DOLOR DE ESPALDA con Buena Postura, Ejercicio Y Una Dieta Saludable





Willie Colon is my name and Salsa is my game!

Let me tell you about “mi vida.” Think for a moment about looking within yourself. Have you ever done that?

I was born in the Bronx, New York, of Puerto Rican parents. One of six children, modest apartment, school, play. It wasn’t hard then, at least that is what I was thinking until the car a screeching halt and then you realize, wow, things are different.

Our biological father left us at such a tender age -- or should I say abandoned us? It wasn’t easy for us but my mother did her best to move forward with her six little chickadees in tow.

I have the most respect for single parents raising their children on their own.

One day God sent an angel from above to live with us. His name was Ignacio Martinez. I say “godsend” because this gentleman fully embraced us with love and nurturing. He gave us his all.

After having two boys of his own from my mother (now there were eight), “Nacho” kept us in check spiritually and with tender loving care right up to the time of his passing. He was my dad, my hero. “Mi viejito Nacho”

In no uncertain terms, I was not the best of sons. I strayed the wrong way and so did my brother “The Rock,” who succumbed to addictions early in life and, unfortunately, lost his life as a result of these addictions. I almost lost my life as well, three times in my youth. I mean being shot twice, stabbed in another incident and getting hit with an aluminum bat twice in the face in yet another incident. I was controlled by drugs and alcohol. I was playing Russian roulette with my life.

Later on in my life, God blessed me with a set of handsome identical twin boys. A few years later the same woman blessed me with a gorgeous daughter, and when I moved to Albany I was blessed with yet another gorgeous daughter by another woman. My oldest daughter Wendy Colon recently got married.

Somehow, I got tired of being tired, I got tired of being arrested so many times and by the grace of God I have

fourteen years of full sobriety under my belt. Without the addiction, I decided to seek an education.

After receiving my GED, I am now attending Hudson Valley Community College. My intention is to eventually receive a Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice from the State University of New York at Albany.

Life is going to hand us many lemons during our journeys. I just keep making lemonade with those lemons. I am now enjoying my fourteenth year of broadcasting on WCDB Radio at the University of Albany. This medium has given me the opportunity to entertain our community with the best Salsa and other tropical music around while keeping people informed as to what is going on artistically, politically and in general all around the world.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our community with a bone crushing hug for their support through the years. I would also like to thank the University at Albany, WCDB, and the management of the radio station for giving me the opportunity to continue to keep this program on the air for so many years.

I have met many students/friends throughout the years. Best of luck to all of them.

Yes! There are bumps in the road throughout this journey but with perseverance, health and blessings from up above I feel I can accomplish anything I choose to do in life, and so can anyone else.

Thank you, Juan George, for the opportunity to tell my story and to address this community of ours.

This past June I called Willie Colon, the radio personality and Salsa DJ, to ask if he’d want to be featured in our cover story for the August issue of Latino New York Magazine. He was more than willing to sit down with me to grant me an interview.

Two weeks later, I met Willie at his Albany apartment. I rang the bell and a few seconds later a voice shouted with authority from inside. Who is it? It is me, Juan George. A buzzer went off and the door opened. Willie was waiting for me at the top of the stairs wearing his customary knit hat, glasses, and socks without shoes.

Willie Colón is his NameSalsa his Game

His apartment was clean and organized; pictures of Hector Lavoe, the Puerto Rican Salsa singer, adorned the walls, along with entertainment and education awards and certificates. In one corner of the room, a trombone rested against the wall; sheet music was laid out on a music stand. An English/Spanish dictionary sat in front of a computer, near other books and magazines covering the desktop.

I sat down on one of the comfortable leather sofas in his living room to start. Instead of conducting a traditional interview, we decided just to chat. Here are some things he told me:

LATINO NEW YORK I P. �9 AUGUST 2009

By: Juan George

Willie Colón es mi nombre y Salsa es mi juego!

Déjeme contarle sobre mi vida. Piense por un momento acerca de mirarse a si mismo. Ha hecho eso alguna vez?

Yo nací en el Bronx, New York, de padres puertorriqueños. Fui uno de seis hermanos, apartamento modesto, escuela, juego. No era tan duro entonces, al menos eso era lo que yo pensaba hasta que el carro se detiene chirreando llantas, y luego te das cuenta que, wow, las cosas son diferentes.

Nuestro padre biológico nos dejó a temprana edad – o debo decir abandonó? No fue fácil para nosotros pero nuestra madre hizo lo mejor que puedo para salir adelante con seis chiquitines a rastras.

Guardo el más grande respeto por los padres solos que educan a sus hijos por sí mismos.

Un día Dios nos envió un ángel del cielo para que viniera a vivir con nosotros. Su nombre era Ignacio Martínez. Y digo enviado de Dios porque este caballero nos protegió con amor y cariño. Nos dio todo.

Después de tener dos hijos más con mi madre, (ya éramos ocho), “Nacho” nos mantuvo vigilados espiritualmente con amoroso cuidado, hasta el día en que falleció. El fue mi papá, mi héroe. “Mi viejito Nacho”.

Es cierto que no fui el mejor de los hijos. Me extravié por el mal camino, así como mi hermano “La Roca”, quien sucumbió a las adicciones a temprana edad y, desafortunadamente, perdió su vida como resultado de esas adicciones. Yo casi pierdo la vida también, tres veces en mi juventud. Y con ello me refiero a que, me

dispararon dos veces, me acuchillaron en otro incidente y me golpearon con un bate de aluminio dos veces en la cara, en otra ocasión también. Me controlaban las drogas y el alcohol. Estaba jugando a la ruleta rusa con mi vida.

Más tarde en mi vida, Dios me bendijo con un par de gemelos idénticos. Pocos años más tarde, la misma mujer me bendijo con una hermosa niña, y cuando vine a Albany, fui también bendecido con otra hermosa nena, de otra mujer. Mi hija mayor Wendy Colón se casó recientemente.

De alguna forma, me cansé de estar cansado, de ser arrestado tantas veces y por la gracia de Dios, llevo 14 años de plena sobriedad bajo mi cinturón. Sin la adicción, decidí buscarme una educación.

Después de recibir mi GED, estoy estudiando en el Hudson Valley Community College. Mi intención es eventualmente recibir un grado en Justicia Criminal de la Universidad del Estado de Nueva York en Albany. La vida nos va a dar muchos limones por el camino. Así que me la paso haciendo limonada con ellos. Ahora estoy disfrutando de mi 14avo año haciendo radio en WCDB Radio en la Universidad de Albany. Este medio me ha dado la oportunidad de entretener a nuestra comunidad con la mejor Salsa y otra música tropical, mientras mantengo a la gete informada de cuanto sucede artísticamente, políticamente y en general, del resto del mundo.

Quiero agradecer a la comunidad con un abrazo rompe huesos, por su apoyo durante todos estos años. Quisiera agradecer también a la Universidad de Albany, WCDB, y a la gerencia de

esta estación de radio, por haberme dado la oportunidad de continuar este programa al aire por tantos años.

He conocido muchos estudiantes/amigos a través de todos estos años. Les deseo lo mejor a todos ellos. Si! Existen baches en el camino a lo largo de este viaje pero con perseverancia, salud y las bendiciones de arriba, siento que puedo lograr cualquier cosa que escoja hacer en la vida, y así mismo cualquier persona.

Gracias Juan George, por la oportunidad de contar mi historia y de poder dirigirme a nuestra comunidad.

El pasado mes de Junio llamé a Willie Colón, una personalidad de la radio y DJ de Salsa, para preguntarle si quería ser portada de nuestra revista para la edición de Agosto, de Latino New York Magazine. Estaba más que a gusto de sentarse conmigo y otorgarme una entrevista.

Dos semanas después, me encontré con Willie en su apartamento de Albany. Toqué el timbre y segundos después una voz con gran autoridad respondió desde el otro lado. Quién es? Soy yo, Juan George. Un timbre sonó y la puerta se abrió. Willie estaba esperando por me en la parte de arriba de las escaleras llevando su usual gorro tejido, gafas y medias sin zapatos.

Su apartamento estaba limpio y organizado; fotos de Hector Lavoe, el cantante de salsa puertorriqueño, adornan las paredes, junto con los premios de entretenimiento y educación y diversos certificados. En una esquina del cuarto, un trombón está recostado en la pared; y hojas de notas musicales están en un stand. Un diccionario de Inglés/Español está frente al computador, junto a otros libros y revistas que cubren el escritorio.

Me senté en uno de los cómodos sofás de cuero que hay en su sala. En vez de conducir la tradicional entrevista, decidimos sólo hablar. He aquí algunas de las cosas que me contó:

Willie Colón es su nombreLa Salsa, Su Juego

LATINO NEW YORK I P. �9 AUGUST 2009


IF YOU’RE CONSIDERING BUYING A MAIN HOME OR A NEW VEHICLE, BE AWARE THAT YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR A TAX CREDIT OR A DEDUCTION AFTER THE PURCHASE.

CREDIT FOR FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS. For purposes of the credit, you are considered to be a first-time homebuyer if you, and your spouse if you are married, did not own any other main home during the three-year period ending on the date of purchase.

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, qualifying taxpayers who purchase a home before Dec. 1, 2009 can receive a tax credit of 10 percent of the purchase price, up to $8,000 ($4,000 for married individuals filing separately). You can claim the credit either on your 2008 tax return or on your 2009 tax return next year.

The credit may not be claimed before the closing date of the purchase. But, if the closing occurs after your 2008 return is filed, you can still claim it on your 2008 tax return by filing an amended return, Form 1040X.

The amount of the credit begins to phase out for taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income is more than $75,000, or $150,000 for joint filers.

NEW CAR PURCHASE TAX DEDUCTIONIf you’re thinking about buying a new car, you may be able to claim a new tax deduction related to the purchase. If you buy a brand new passenger vehicle this year, you may be entitled to deduct state and local sales and excise taxes paid on the purchase on your 2009 tax return next year.

The deduction is limited to the state and local sales and excise taxes paid on up to $49,500 of the purchase price of a qualified new car, light truck, motor home or motorcycle.

The amount of the deduction is phased out for taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income is between $125,000 and $135,000 for individual filers and between $250,000 and $260,000 for joint filers.

The vehicle must be purchased after Feb. 16, 2009, and before Jan. 1, 2010, to qualify for the deduc-tion.

The special deduction is available regardless of whether you itemize deductions on your 2009 return but may not be taken on your 2008 tax return.

To learn more about the tax provi-sions of the Recovery Act, visit www.irs.gov.

Purchase of Home or New Vehicle Could Generate Tax Breaks

SI ESTÁ CONSIDERANDO COMPRAR UN HOGAR PRIN-CIPAL O UN NUEVO VEHÍCULO, TENGA EN CUENTA QUE PUDIERA CALIFICAR PARA UN CRÉDITO TRIBUTARIO O UNA DEDUCCIÓN DESPUÉS DE LA COMPRA.

CRÉDITO PARA PRIMEROS COMPRADORES DE VIVIENDAS Para propósitos del crédito, se le considera comprador de una primera vivienda si usted, y su cónyuge de estar casado, no fueron propietarios de ningún otro hogar principal durante el periodo de tres años antes de la fecha de compra.

Bajo el Acta de Recuperación y Reinversión Americana de 2009, los contribuyentes calificados que compran una vivienda antes del 1 de diciembre pueden recibir un crédito tributario de 10 por ciento del precio de compra, hasta $8,000 ($4,000 para personas casadas que declaren por separado). Usted puede reclamar el crédito ya sea en su declaración de impuestos del 2008, o el año próximo en su declaración de impuestos del 2009.

El crédito no puede ser reclamado antes de la fecha de cierre de la compra. Pero si el cierre ocurre después de que usted presenta su declaración del 2008, aún puede reclamarlo en su declaración de impuestos del 2008 presentando una declaración enmendada, Formulario 1040X.

El monto del crédito empieza a reducirse para contribuyentes cuyo ingreso bruto ajustado modificado es más de $75,000, ó $150,000 para quienes presentan declaraciones conjuntas.

DEDUCCION TRIBUTARIA POR COMPRA DE CARRO NUEVOSi está pensando comprar un automóvil nuevo, es posible que usted pueda reclamar una nueva deducción tributaria relacionada a esta compra. Si usted compra un vehículo de pasajeros comple-tamente nuevo este año, usted pudiera tener derecho a deducir en su declaración de impuestos del 2009 el año próximo, los impu-estos sobre la venta e impuestos de consumo estatales y locales pagados durante la compra.

La deducción está limitada a los impuestos sobre la venta y de consumo, estatales y locales, pagados por un máximo de $49,500 del precio de compra de un automóvil, camioneta, casa rodante o motocicleta que sea nuevo y califique.

El monto de la deducción empieza a reducirse para contribuyentes cuyo ingreso bruto ajustado modificado es entre $125,000 y $135,000 para quienes declaran indi-vidualmente y entre $250,000 y $260,000 para quienes presentan declaraciones conjuntas.

El vehículo debe ser comprador después del 16 de febrero de 2009, y antes del 1 de enero de 2010, para calificar para la deducción.

La deducción especial está disponible sin importar si usted detalla o no sus deducciones en su declaración del 2009 pero no puede tomarse en su declaración de impu-estos del 2008.

Para aprender más acerca de las disposiciones tributarias del Acta de Recuperación, visite www.irs.gov.

La Compra de Una Vivienda o Un Vehículo Nuevo Podría Generarle Beneficios Tributarios

By: Richard Torres Senior Stakeholder Liaison

with the IRS

LATINO NEW YORK I P. 2� AUGUST 2009



Only a few Latinos have been chosen to lead villages or towns in New York State, and the first four each represented areas in New York City’s suburbs: Frank Rey was Mayor of Sleepy Hollow in the 90s. Carmelo Santos was Town Supervisor of Putnam Valley. Miguel Hernandez was the Mayor of Ossining. Angel Soto is currently the Mayor of South Floral Park.

The state’s fifth Hispanic municipal leader is the first Latina to attain this title: Maria “Connie” Casta-ñeda, the Mayor of the Village of Brockport in Monroe County. Castañeda was elected June 16 in a close race, defeating the relative of a popular State Senator by just 11 votes.

Castañeda, 41, came to Brockport at the age of 6 with her parents. They came from Morelia, Micho-acán, Mexico so that her father could work on an area farm. Unlike other families, they stayed in the area, instead of moving from job to job.

As an adult, Castañeda has been employed by the Rochester City School District for nearly two decades, and hopes to one day pursue a second Master’s degree or perhaps a doctorate.

She got involved in politics after a neighbor, who is the relative of another Rochester-area State Senator, encouraged her to do so. She was elected Trustee four years ago, served as Vice Mayor for three of those years, and entered the race after receiving encouragement from the community.

Having won in a very close race, she said, “(I)t just goes to show you how every vote counts. My mom was at the hospital that evening with my dad and didn’t even vote. I

celebrated that evening but was happy the next day when it was made official” after the absentee ballots were counted.

Since arriving in Brockport, she certainly knows things are different today, especially when it comes to the workers who still come here for farm work every year. “Changes have been good but slow in coming. There is more awareness of the migrant population and the difficul-ties they face,” Castañeda said, giving credit to the Oak Health Community Health Center and the medical attention it provides to migrant workers.

As being the first Latina mayor in the history of New York State, Castañeda is modest and keeps it all in perspective. “I think it is a great honor to serve the commu-nity. It is a huge responsibility which I plan to take seriously and do the best job I can,” she said.

Among Castañeda’s main priori-ties are getting Village Board to work together, increasing transparency, and improving communication between elected officials, department heads and the public. Of course, there is also the matter of money. “The village’s finances are in bad shape due to a lack of planning. The board will need to work on what are our essential services are and what we can live without.”

Regardless of what the future might bring for her and the village she now leads, Castañeda has already made history, and perhaps bigger things are in store for her in the years to come.

By: Mike Fondacaro MAYOR OF BROCKPORT

Maria “Connie” Castañeda

As being the first Latina mayor in the history of

New York State, Castañeda is modest and keeps it all

in perspective.

[Top Photo] Town of Sweden Supervisor Jack Milner, Mayor María Castañeda, County Executive Maggie Brooks, Candidate for County Leg. District 2nd, Mike Rockow.[Bottom Photo] Wayne Gyra, County Legislature, Mayor María Castañeda, County Executive Maggie Brooks.

P. 2� AUGUST 2009 I LATINO NEW YORK

LOCAL SOLDIER STATIONED IN IRAQ HONORS CENTRO CIVICO’S STAFF

On January 16, 2009, Staff Sergeant Eduardo Ortiz went and flew a US Flag in dedication to the entire staff of Centro Civico for a job well done

New York State Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Eduardo Ortiz stopped in Centro Civico to deliver an American flag he flew while serving in Iraq. Staff Sergeant Ortiz, an Amsterdam Police Officer, and a door gunner in a Blackhawk helicopter running his second tour in Iraq, contacted Ladan Alomar, Centro Civico’s Executive Director to tell her that “your staff has been doing an awesome job helping our community. Since I know that you and your staff sometimes go unnoticed, I wanted to do something. So on January 16, 2009, I went and flew a US Flag for Centro Civico in dedication to all the staff members for a job well done.”

During the presentation, Angelita Kerkado, President of Centro Civico’s Board of Directors, thanked Staff Sergeant Ortiz for his gesture as well as for serving the country “It is, thanks to people like you that our children can grow in a free country” She said.

Staff Sergeant Ortiz presented the flag to the agency’s staff during their regular scheduled staff meeting on Wednesday, June 24 at 10:00 AM.

> latino social events

1 Juan George, GySgt. Nicasio Ríos and his wife Dianna Ríos, presenting the awards given to the Sgt. Ríos.

2 GySgt. Nicasio Ríos addressing the audience.

3 Family and friends present during the ceremony.

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A Ceremony in honor of GySgt Nicasio Ríos, was held at The Desmond Hotel. GySgt Nicasio Rios returned safely to his family after his deployment to Iraq and is now retiring after 20 years of service to the Marine Corp.


Latinos in the Binghamton area gathered for their annual picnic at Arnold Park in Vestal on July 25.

Marleny Sepulveda and Ines Rigal-Lozano

Picnic organizer Maruja Lander andher husband Les

Some of more than 30 people who arrived by the early afternoon


The welcoming sign1

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Thanks to the generosity and support of State Farm Insurance, this year’s the annual Cultural Arts Festival will take place on August 15th 2009 from 2:00 to 8:00 PM at Guy Park Manor in Amsterdam, NY. With perfor-mances from ‘Sensemaya’ (Latin Jazz), ‘Afinke y los que Son Son’ (Salsa Music), and directly from Costa Rica ‘Pimienta Negra’ (Salsa, Merengue and Cumbia Music). Expect the best in Latin music, food, crafters and children’s amusements.

The State Farm Cultural Arts Festival 2009 is also possible thanks to the contribution of The Desmond Hotel, Latino New York Magazine, HITN, and Wal-Mart Distribution Center

On July 31st representatives from State Farm Insurance

delivered a check for $10,000 to the officer of Centro Civico

of Amsterdam, Inc.

Ladan Alomar and representatives from State Farm Insurance


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The Latino Civic Association of Tomp-kins County (LCATC) held its Fifth Annual Picnic at the Main Pavilion of Stewart Park in Ithaca on July 5. Nearly 100 people attended this year’s event.

LCATC members Leonard Vargas Mendez (left) Executive Director of Cornell Universi-ty’s Public Service Center and Fernando de Aragón, Executive Director of the Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Center manning the grill.

Ferdinand Montalvo, host of Jibaro Jazz on WHRW-FM Binghamton and Victor Rosa, host of Ritmo Latino on WICB-FM in Ithaca.

Binghamton-area resident Nilsa Mariano and the assembled musicians enthralled the audience with her poetry and their music.

The Association banner.

Ithaca Second Ward Alderperson Eric Rosario and LCATC President Carlos Guti-errez.

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The US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) and the Workforce Development Institute held an opening reception for the “Refugee Voices of the Capital Region” photograph exhibit at the Grand Street Community Arts (GSCA) in Albany on July 10. Area musician Tiana Asili of GSCA taught the writing and photography workshops.

Asili with some of the refugees who took photos for the exhibit.

Zoeann Murphy of the USCRI

Tiana Asili of GSCA performing with guitarist Gaetano Vaccarovtt


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… The United States Supreme Court ruled that New Haven violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act when it threw out the results of a firefighter exam that 19 Caucasians and one Latino passed, because the city felt that keeping the results would subject it to a lawsuit from African-Americans.

… Springfield Police officer Steven Bruzell will spend three to four years in prison for stealing nearly $2,000 from three Mexican laborers during a traffic stop.

… Racial profiling by law enforcement authorities “continues unabated” in Rhode Island and elsewhere according to a report by the ACLU. The RICLU also found fault with Gov. Carcieri’s enlistment of local police in enforcing immi-gration law.

… Mano en Mano announced plans to file a federal lawsuit against the town of Milbridge, Maine after the town enacted a moratorium to stop the construc-tion of a six unit facility to house workers. Some town residents launched a petition drive to force a special town meeting in an attempt to overturn the morato-rium.

… Taunton hosted a celebra-tion to honor the first Puerto Rican families who came to the city 50 years ago.

… The Our Lady of Light Society opened its new head-quarters in Fall River, some three years after a fire killed four women who were helping to prepare its annual feast.

… The first Latina elected as a mayor in New York State, Maria Connie Castaneda, was sworn in to office in Brockport, Monroe County.

… Elizabeth Garcia-Gonzalez was named Executive Director of Centro de la Comunidad in New London

… In the wake of the accusa-tions of an undocumented drunk driver killing two in Putnam County, another drunk driver there was released from jail because ICE was not available to place a retainer on his release when he posted bond.

… Mano en Mano won a temporary restraining owner to continue its plan to build its six-unit housing complex unit in Millbridge.

… Nadine Hair, the fire Hispanic firefighter in the history of Schenectady, retired.

… Immigrant rights activists criticized Westchester County Executive candidate Rob Astorino for making what they said were offense comments about undocu-mented immigrants.

… Buffalo mayoral candidate Michael Kearns received the endorsement of City Council member David Rivera and long-time political activist Chito Oliv-encia.

… Peruvian Willy Giraldo was appointed to Stamford’s Board of Representatives following the retirement of another member.

… Longtime Worcester resident and Latino community leader Hector Emilio Reyes died.

… Budget cuts in Massachu-setts have hit service providers for immigrants hard, with some saying their budgets have been reduced by 20%.

… After a drop in inmates following the death of a Chinese national last year, the Wyatt Detention Facility in Central

Falls revealed that its inmate population is back to where it was. Wyatt has received federal detainees from elsewhere in New England., Meanwhile, A year-long series of investigations into Rhode Island firms hiring undoc-umented individuals as janitors has come to an end; and Rhode Island’s Department of Correc-tions has been approved for the 287(g) program.

… The Puerto Rican Parade of Fairfield County came to an abrupt end when overhead wires fell, injuring two children, and, owing to budget constraints, the City of Newburgh announced that it would offer no more festival permits for this year.

… An immigrant working at the University of Connecticut sued the school alleging sexual harassment on the part of his supervisor.

… A trial involving discrimi-nation claims by six African-American and two Latino police officers against the Greenwich Police Department began.

… Providence clothing store owner Rafael Hernandez was found dead after a fire in his home. Police later said Hernandez was beaten to death.

… Iraqi war veteran Juan Carlos Guzman was killed on the Merrimack River when a boat crashed into one he was on.

… Westchester County DA candidate Tony Castro filed his petitions to force a primary against incumbent Democrat Janet DiFiore.

… An effort to put more police on the streets of Rochester has left minorities on the sidelines with only 15% of them hired.

… Another week, another arrest of an undocumented immigrant in Putnam County for DWI. Mario Cardona rear-ended a family a five in the car in front of him. A four year old was injured.

… Responding to the case of a criminal undocumented immi-grant being released when law enforcement could not get in touch with ICE, Congressman John Hall (D-NY) invited 50 law enforcement agencies to training sessions with ICE.

… The Albany Common Council approved a measure asking public safety officials not to ask about a person’s immigra-tion status if that person is not causing a threat to the commu-nity.

… Massachusetts immigrants with state-sponsored health coverage will have at least one more month of coverage. It was supposed to end as part of state budget cuts.

… The Rhode Island Civil Liberties Union called on ICE to reject the State Police application for the 287(g) program.

… Immigrant advocacy group One Lowell is calling for a change to the city’s voting system for school board and city council, allowing them to cast votes for multiple candidates (proportional voting), which it says will help elect more minority candidates.

… The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University said Rhode Island is one of many states which fail to require inter-preters for civil court cases.

> summary of important NEWS


Si pudieras detener el tiempo¿me dirías cómo hacerlo?Me gustaría creer que siempre te tengo,que las horas son como besos silenciososque vuelan con el viento,y dejan en mí, algo más que unos versos.Si pudieras detener el tiempo, cerraría mis ojos.Olvidaría por siempreque la vida sigue corriendoy las horas se extinguen como el mismo fuego.Si pudieras detener el tiempocongelaría tu aliento en mi aliento,sentiría que por ti y por míla vida misma nos regalaría lo eterno.Si pudieras detener el tiempo...¿Me dirías cómo hacerlo?

DetenerIf you could stop time,would you tell me how?I’d like to believe I’ll always have you,that the hours are like silent kissesthat fly with the windand leave in me something more than a few verses.If you could stop time, I’d close my eyes.I’d forget for everthat life continues running its courseand the hours extinguish themselves like fire itself.If you could stop time,I’d freeze your breath in my breath,I’d feel that for you and for melife itself would give us the eternal.If you could stop time…Would you tell me how?

StopMaria del Pilar Casas Luque

Poeta ColombianaColombian Poet



Participantes del Juego de Softball el pasado Sábado, 1o. de Agosto

El día 9 de Agosto tuvo lugar el bautizo de Esteban Casabianca Arango, en la Parroquia de Saint Madeleine Sophie, en Guilderland. En las fotos, aparecen Esteban Casabianca, José Casabianca, Catalina Arango y el pequeño Edgar Monroy

LATINO NEW YORK I P. 29 AUGUST 2009


Garland Bros. Funeral Home

75 Clinton AvenueAlbany, NY 12210

(518) 434-3887

Personalized support and customized services

Papá G saluda a la comunidadHispana de la Región Capital


During these times of economic turmoil and financial overhaul, consumers might find it difficult to keep up with the many changes occurring in the financial industry. With the constant news of banks closing, merging or being acquired by other institutions, figuring out who’s who in the financial industry has become a much more chal-lenging task.

As a result, consumers might fall into the trap of providing personal information to scammers posing as legitimate businesses or financial entities urging consumers to protect their accounts. Consumers might be persuaded to provide their personal and financial information without realizing they are being targeted by phishing e-mails with links to fake websites. As a general rule, you should never respond to unsolicited e-mails requesting personal identifi-able information. The CPB is urging the public to follow these precautions:

CONTACT ORGANIZATIONS OR INSTI-TUTIONS with whom you do business in response to unsolicited e-mails using their company name by calling the number provided on official company statements.

CHECK THE WEBSITES OF YOUR FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, the Consumer Protection Board and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for reports of Phishing scams before responding to e-mail requests for information.

USE CAUTION WHEN OPENING ANY ATTACHMENT OR DOWNLOADING ANY FILES from e-mails received even from known sources, to avoid the possibility of infecting computers with viruses, malware, spyware or other software designed to impair your computer’s security.

LOOK FOR THE “HTTPS” PREFIX AND A CLOSED PADLOCK when entering any financial information for elec-tronic transmission over the Internet.

ACT IMMEDIATELY IF YOU PROVIDED PERSONAL IDENTIFIABLE INFORMA-TION TO UNKNOWN OR UNVERIFIED PARTIES by notifying the companies with whom you have the accounts and by placing a security freeze or fraud alert on your files at credit reporting agencies.

REPORT SUSPECTED PHISHING SCAMS to the FTC at [email protected], to the CPB at www.nysconsumer.gov

For more information on phishing scams and other consumer issues, please visit our website at www. nysconsumer.gov

Durante esta temporada de economía tumultuosa, descifrar quién es quién en la industria bancaria se ha convertido en un verdadero desafío. Casi todos los días oímos de bancos que cierran sus puertas, se venden a otros bancos o forman sociedades. Como resultado, los consumidores pueden caer en la trampa de dar información personal por internet a estafadores que se hacen pasar por instituciones financieras legítimas.

Estos malhechores envían correos electrónicos con advertencias urgiendo al cliente que proteja sus cuentas y actualice su información personal y financiera. Debido a la confusión, los consumidores pueden ofrecer toda esta información sin caer en cuenta que están lidiando con correos electrónicos fraudulentos con enlaces a páginas de internet falsas. La Junta de Protección al Consumidor le urge al público seguir estos consejos:

COMO REGLA GENERAL, NUNCA RESPONDA A CORREOS ELECTRÓNICOS QUE LE PIDEN SU INFORMACIÓN PERSONAL y financiera. No importa si el correo alega venir de una insti-tución en la que usted es un cliente.

COMUNÍQUESE DIRECTAMENTE CON EL NEGOCIO antes de responder al correo electrónico, usando el número telefónico que está anotado en las facturas.

TENGA CUIDADO ANTES DE ABRIR CUALQUIER ENLACE O BAJAR CUALQUIER INFORMACIÓN prove-niente de correos electrónicos para evitar la posibilidad de infectar la computadora con algún virus.

ASEGÚRESE DE QUE LAS LETRAS “HTTPS” Y LA FIGURA DE UN CANDADO CERRADO ESTÉN en la página antes de enviar cualquier información financiera en una transac-ción bancaria por internet.

ACTÚE INMEDIATAMENTE SI USTED DA INFORMACIÓN PERSONAL a un lugar desconocido notificándose con su banco y ordenando un congela-miento de su crédito a las agencias de reportes de crédito.

REPORTE CUALQUIER FRAUDE DE CORREO electrónico a la FTC al [email protected], a la Junta de Protección al Consumidor al www.nysconsumer.gov y a la compañía que fue usada en el correo fraudulento.

Para más información sobre correos electrónicos fraudulentos y otros temas al consumidor por favor visite nuestra página web: www.nyscon-sumer.gov

BEWARE OF PHISHING E-MAILS

PURPORTING TO BE FROM REPUTABLE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

CUIDADO CON LOS CORREOS ELECTRÓNICOS

QUE DICEN VIENEN DE INSTITUCIONES FINANCIERAS

Garland Bros. Funeral Home


By: Danielle PalermoMarketing and Public Relations

Coordinator, Empire Education Corp.

Do you have difficulty getting your hair to cooperate on a day-to-day basis? Are you sick and tired of your curls being straight and your straight hair being wavy?

The product you’re using, or aren’t using, has a lot to do with your hairs’ abilities. MIZANI is a great product line for people with all different types of hair. They offer products perfect, and even custom, for everyone! MIZANI, a division of L’Oreal USA, offers a complete line of professional products including treatments, relaxers, shampoos, conditioners, hair color, and styling products. MIZANI’s advanced technology addresses innovative ways to treat and protect hair, as well as the scalp. Through its extensive line, prod-

ucts are customized to meet the needs and different hair types of the consumer. MIZANI’s website proudly boasts on its website, “from naturally curly and highly textured to color-treated, relaxed and everything in between, MIZANI offers a specialized, salon-exclusive hair care system designed to restore every hair type to its ultimate state of balance.” Dry, brittle hair? MIZANI’s Moisturfusion Ultra Hydrating System,helps to restore moisture into hair through its four high-performance formulas. MIZANI’s advanced Mois-ture Complex formula of pure avocado, almond and coconut oils, strengthening ceramides and silk proteins offers a top-quality service provides consumers with instant, obvious results. MIZANI’s Moisturfusion Ultra Hydrating System is also great for those with relaxed, natural and color-treat hair.

Sensitive scalp giving you a headache? MIZANI’s new Butter Blend Sensitive Scalp Rhelaxer and Butter Blend Sensitive Scalp Balance Hair Bath are designed with an advanced rhelaxer tech-nology that provides conditioning, superior straightening and smooth-ness with definitive manageability. This treatment is great for people of all hair types.

Unique hair type? MIZANI has your unique answer! MIZANI has created a customized, salon-exclusive treatment system called Custom Blend Treatments. You can go to any MIZANI Certified stylist and get a completely tailored, unique Custom Blend Treatment that cares for hair damage, thermal stylizing or environmental stress. These treatments provide extreme moisture to the hair and promote strengthening through their added protein elements.

MIZANI’s products have revolu-tionized the ethnic hair line and are now being more widely used by consumers with various hair types due to their flexibility and benefits to a variety of different types of hair. As a stylist, working with this line is definitely a competitive advantage now and in the near future.

Austin’s School of Spa Technology is the premier MIZANI school in Albany, NY and the only school using MIZANI within a three hour radius. The use of MIZANI in the classroom and student clinic only strengthens Austin’s already strong ethnic hair training courses with their cosmetology program. Austin’s is also the only school in the area training students ethnic hair practices along with a specific ethnic hair product line, preparing them for use of a high-end product upon licensure.

Students of Austin’s School of Spa Technology can enroll in several programs including cosmetology, barbering, esthetics and nail technology all under one roof! Austin’s new, state-of-the-art location on Central Avenue in Albany provides students with salon-like classrooms to learn hands-on techniques and a student clinic area to practice on clients. It is becoming increasingly more important in today’s job market to gain as much competitive advan-tage in your field as possible. For cosmetologists, training in high-end product lines, diverse hair types, and gaining hands-on experiences prior to licensure provides a newly licensed stylist great benefit in the workplace.

Tame that Mane !


Although August brings us closer to the end of the summer, we can still enjoy the beau-tiful weather and days ahead. Strolling along the beach and watching the rush of the ocean waves against the sand, is a magnificent sight. When we look at this splendor, we see proof of God’s miracles and his unconditional love for us. Life is also a miracle and a gift given to us by our loving Father. So enjoy this precious gift of life and be thankful for each new day.

LEO - THE LIONJuly 23rd to August 22nd

Stone: Ruby Element: Fire

Ruler: Sun

Leo is the fifth sign of the zodiac, and like the lion which the sign represents, they are usually strong leaders. Leo’s have the reputation for being conceited, but it’s because they feel they are important people. Leo’s like to sleep in and lounge around for long periods of time but are also hard working people who love the finer things in life. Leo people have the tendency to hold on to situations and people for long periods of time. They feel what is theirs is theirs and they don’t like to share. The worse thing you can do to a Leo is make them feel unappreciated.

Aunque Agosto trae cercana la culmi-nación del verano, todavía podemos disfrutar de días de hermoso clima. Caminar por la playa y ver las olas golpeando la arena, es una vista magní-fica. Cuando vemos este esplendor, vemos la prueba de los milagros de Dios y su amor incondicional por nosotros. La vida es también un milagro y un regalo dado a nosotros por nuestro amado Padre. Así que disfruten de este precioso regalos que es la vida y sean agradecidos por cada nuevo día.

Querida Lisa:

Me hice amiga de un tipo que trabaja en mi departamento. A medida que fuimos conociéndonos, parecía que teníamos muchas cosas en común. Recientemente quería llevar la relación a otro nivel y salir en una cita. Le dije que estaba todavía con mi ex y que estábamos tratando de mejorar nuestra relación. Dijo que entendía y que no esperaría nada más, así que decidí salir con él. Desde que salimos, él espera algo más, y me ha estado presionando para que salgamos nuevamente. Le dije que no sería una buena idea asía que ha estado manipulándome para que yo salga. Le dije que él sabía la situación de antemano, así que era mejor que fuéramos sólo amigos. Ahora ya no me habla, y le ha contado a otros compañeros de trabajo cosas de mi. Yo amo mi trabajo, pero él está tratando de hacer las cosas más difíciles para mi. Lisa que debo hacer?Karina – Malta, New York

Querida Karina:

Los negocios y el placer usualmente no se mezclan bien. Generalmente las relaciones personales se vuelven amargas, y las rela-ciones laborales sufren también, y es pero cuando tienes que seguir viendo a esa persona en el trabajo diariamente. Recuerda que fuiste honesta con este tipo desde el comienzo, asía que no tiene que culpar a nadie más sino a si mismo. Este hombre parece muy inmaduro y rencoroso. Gracias a Dios fue solamente una cita porque las cosas pudiesen ser peores. Por tu trabajo, yo hablaría inmediatamente con mi supervisor sobre su conducta. Mira a ver si puedes conseguir una entrevista privada con él y tu supervisor para tratar de resolver este problema. Si ello no funciona, y su conducta rencorosa continúa, entonces yo iría a tu Departamento de Recursos Humano y tomaría otra forma de acción. En cualquier caso, él es el problema y este asunto debe ser resuelto para que puedas hacer tu trabajo sin un estrés innecesario.

Dear Lisa:

I became friends with a guy who works in my department. As we got to know each other, it seemed as though we had a lot in common. Recently he wanted to take the friendship to another level and go on a date. I told him that I was still involved with my ex and we are trying to work on repairing our relationship. He said he understood and wouldn’t expect anything more, so I decided to go on one date. Since I went on a date with him, he’s seems to expect more, and has been pres-suring me to go out again with him. I told him it wouldn’t be a good idea so he’s been trying to manipulate me to go. I told him that he knew the situation before hand, so it’s better if we just remain friends. Now he stopped speaking to me, and has been telling other co-workers things about me. I love my job, but he’s trying to make things hard for me. Lisa what should I do?Karina – Malta, New York

Dear Karina:

Business and pleasure usually do not mix well. Usually when the personal relation-ship goes sour, the business relationship suffers as well, and it’s worse when you have to see that person at work on a daily basis. Remember you were honest with this guy from the beginning, so he has no one to blame but himself. This man seems very immature and spiteful. Thank goodness it was only one date because things could have been even worse. As for your job, I would immediately speak to my supervisor about his behavior. See if you could have a private meeting with him and your super-visor in order to try to resolve this problem. If that doesn’t work and his spiteful behavior continues, then I would go your Human Resource Department and take another form of action. In any event he is the problem and this issue has to be resolved so you can do your job without this unnecessary stress. If you want advise from Lisa, please email your letters to

[email protected]

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