LRGVDC Valley Metro Facilities Ribbon Cutting

WE HAVE MOVED

9-1-1 Public Education Efforts

9-1-1 Department Training Improvements

“ARE YOU PREPAREDFOR A DISASTER”

Fourth Annual Aging and Disability Resource Partnership Conference

“Senior Splash 2011”

REGIONAL PURSUITS is the newsletter published by the LRGVDC.

This publication is financed in part through funding assistance from State

and Federal grants.REGIONAL PURSUITS is available without cost

and inquiries should be directed to:

Ken Jones, Executive DirectorLower Rio Grande Valley Development Council

301 W. Railroad Street, Weslaco, TX 78596E-Mail: info@lrgvdc.orgwebsite: www.lrgvdc.org

(956) 682-3481, Fax (956) 631-4670;

SEPTEMBER 2011 • VOLUME LXX

LRGVDC’s Valley Metro hosted a ribbon cutting event to unveil its new facility upgrades on August 25 at the Weslaco Transit Center. Valley Metro received over $4.3 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to fund various capital projects. These include the addition of customer and bus parking, an automated vehicle washer, landscaping, and a new fuel system. A new bus fleet and

over sixty bus passenger shelters, also obtained through ARRA, were put into service earlier this year.

Speakers included United States Congressman Rubén E. Hinojosa; Lynn Hayes, Community Planner with the Federal Transit Administration; and Gracie Cantu, Public Transportation Coordinator with the Texas Department of Transportation. Steve Brewer, Mayor of La Feria and 2nd Vice President of the LRGVDC Board, served as master of ceremonies. Pastor James Edge, of Immanuel Lutheran Church, gave the blessing.

In addition to capital improvements acquired through ARRA, Valley Metro is also improving its service by re-designing its route schedules, introducing a system map, and promoting a 20-ride pass system for deep discounts to passengers. Additional operational improvements are scheduled throughout 2011.

LRGVDC Valley Metro Facilities Ribbon Cutting a Milestone for Transit

Congressman Hinojosa speaks about the importance of public transportation at the event.

Members of the Weslaco Chamber of Commerce coordinated the ribboncutting at the new state-of-the-art bus washer.

Effective August 15, 2011 the LRGVDC centralized its operations in the City of Weslaco at 301 West Railroad Street. All phone numbers and email addresses remain unchanged. “Come by and Visit.”

Our New Home 301 W. Railroad St., Weslaco, TX

Having a Training Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) capable of performing as a back-up PSAP has always been a vision of LRGVDC. That vision is becoming a reality with LRGVDC’s relocation to Weslaco, TX. A room dedicated to the training PSAP equipped with four top-of-the-line workstations and high intensive use chairs sets the stage for a fully functional PSAP. The training room will also be equipped with a 70” digital white board, 96” projector screen, and a 55” LED Monitor to provide call takers from Hidalgo and Willacy Counties with a top-of-the-line training experience. Our goal is to have a fully functional PSAP that will provide authentic training experience.

LRGVDC’s 9-1-1 Public Education staff recently attended the National Public Educators Forum in Fort Worth and presented LRGVDC’s “No Boundaries” public education program. The presentation included the new and improved drive for public education via new technologies such as video production and graphic production. Our public education program was also recognized by the Boys and Girls Club of Pharr for its contributions to their summer program. Our Public Education effort is going full steam ahead and is ready to provide educational opportunities to the general public.

WE HAVE MOVED

9-1-1 Department

Training Improvements

9-1-1 Public Education Efforts

Pictured from left to Right are LRGVDC 9-1-1 staff members: Mary Carrillo, Kenneth Ennis, Jessica Reyna, Dorina Moya, and Hector Chapa Jr. at the National Public Educators Forum held in Fort Worth, TX

This September, our nation marked the ten year anniversary of 9/11, Hidalgo County Precinct 1

has committed to participate in National Preparedness Month in September 2011, an event founded after 9/11 to increase preparedness in the U.S. Beginning the month of August 2011, the LRGVDC - Citizen Corps Program / Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), with assistance from Firefighter/Paramedic Tony Lopez, City of Weslaco Fire Department provided assistance and training to Hidalgo County Precinct 1 Staff. The CERT course provided the basic knowledge and skills county staff needs to effectively serve their community; efforts to prepare for local emergencies and respond to them were the focus. The Hidalgo County Precinct 1 CERT group is organized, trained, and equipped to educate the public in emergency preparedness and most importantly can and will perform many of the emergency functions needed in the aftermath of a disaster. The CERT team will coordinate their efforts

and supplement the efforts of the community’s professional emergency response staff, if and when called upon.

“We hope that we never experience a catastrophe of any sort, but we must prepare as if it is inevitable” said Commissioner Joel Quintanilla. He went on to say “this is the first year Precinct # 1 has been involved with the National Preparedness Month, but it will not be the last”.

“Hidalgo County Precinct # 1 stands ready to serve its constituency with all of its resources (i.e. personnel, equipment, and budget) to protect our residents, their homes, assets and future to the best of our abilities,” stated Commissioner Quintanilla.

CERT is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens will be initially on their own and their actions can make a difference. Through training, citizens can manage utilities and put out small fires; treat the three killers by opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock; provide basic medical aid; search for and rescue victims safely and organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective.

For more information about the Ready Campaign and National Preparedness Month, visit Ready.gov or call

1-800-BE-READY, 1-888-SE-LISTO and TTY 1-800-462-7585. If you’re ready for a challenge and would like to participate

in the CERT program, please contact Manuel Cruz, Director of Homeland Security at (956) 682-3481 Ext. 105.

“ARE YOU PREPAREDFOR A DISASTER”

Hidalgo County Precinct 1Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

(Front row Left to Right: Commissioner Joel Quintanilla, Jorge Flores, Patricia Balli, La Feria Resident Patti Raney, CERT Master Instructor Manuel Cruz,

Noemi De Los Rios, Sonia Mireles) (Back Row Left to Right: Jimmy Garza, Gordon Cellum, Jose Luis Burgos,

Salvador Gil, Porfirio Castillo)

(Tony Lopez, Firefighter/Paramedic demonstrate the proper use of a fire extinguisher during Module 2: Fire Suppression)

CONTACTS FOR LRGVDC ADMINISTERED PROGRAMS

ExECuTIVE COMMITTEEMayor Pro-Tem Eddy Gonzalez PresidentCity of Edcouch

Honorable Norma G. Garcia 1st Vice-PresidentMember-At-Large

Mayor Steve Brewer 2nd Vice-PresidentCity of La Feria

Mayor Tony Martinez SecretaryCity of Brownsville

Mayor Pro-Tem Alvin Samano TreasurerMember-at-Large

Mayor Chris Boswell Immediate Past PresidentCity of Harlingen

REMAINING BOARD MEMBERSCommissioner Sofia Benavides Cameron CountyCommissioner Hector “Tito” Palacios Hidalgo CountyJudge John F. Gonzales, Jr. Willacy CountyCommissioner Roel Landa City of AlamoMayor David Simmons City of DonnaCouncil Member Gus Garcia City of EdinburgCommissioner Jim Darling City of McAllenMayor Henry Hinojosa City of MercedesCouncil Member Norie Gonzalez Garza City of MissionMayor Leo “Polo” Palacios, Jr. City of PharrMayor Orlando Correa City of RaymondvilleCommissioner Celeste Sanchez City of San BenitoMayor Pro-Tem Armando Garza City of San JuanCommissioner Robert J. Garza City of WeslacoDr. Cesar Maldonado TSTCMr. Roberto Loredo Donna I.S.D.Mr. Gale Armstrong El Jardin Water Supply CorporationMr. J. Shane Cameron Port Mansfield PUB & Willacy County Navigation DistrictMr. Don Medina Member-at-LargeMr. Arturo Ramirez Grassroots Organizations

Kenneth N. Jones, Jr. Executive DirectorAnn Lyles Director, FinanceAnna Hernandez Director, Human ResourcesVictor Morales Director, ProcurementJoe Gonzalez Director, Area Agency on AgingTerrie Salinas Director, Economic Development

Tom Logan Director, Valley MetroManuel Cruz Director, Homeland SecurityMarcie Oviedo Director, Regional Planning & ServicesJuan Gomez Director, 9-1-1 ServicesPaul Williams Director, Regional Police Academy & Training CenterAndrew Canon Director, Hidalgo County MPO

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT NO. 31McALLEN, TX

78501

Lower Rio Grande ValleyDevelopment Council301 W. Railroad Street • Weslaco, TX 78596

Lower Rio Grande Valley Development CouncilBOARD OF DIRECTORS 2011-2012

The Fourth Annual ADRP Conference was held August 3,

at the Knapp Medical Conference Center in Weslaco. This

year’s theme was “It’s all about Texas”.

Gary Jessee, Asst. Commissioner for Access & Intake,

Department of Aging and Disability, was the Keynote

Speaker.

Presentations by representatives from the following

organizations were made: Texas Attorney Generals Office,

Texas State Department of Public Safety, the LRGVDC

Regional Police Academy, LRGVDC Area Agency on Aging,

Texas Department of Regulatory Services, and Caregiver

SOS. Subject matter covered a wide variety of subjects;

Network of Care, Advanced Directives, Guardianship,

Safety in Making Home Visits, Dangers of Texting/Phone

Use & Driving and Caregiving.

More than 175 staff from the five agencies: Area Agency on

Aging, Department of Aging and Disability, Department of

Family Protective Services/Adult Protective Services, Tropical

Texas and Valley Alliance of Independent Living attended.

Fourth Annual Aging and Disability Resource Partnership Conference

Held in Weslaco

Gary Jessee, Assistant Commissioner for Access & Intake, Department of Aging and Disability Services (Austin) presenting his keynote address

SeniorSplaSh 2001

The Area Agency on Aging/LRGVDC in partnership with the City of Port Isabel, Mayor Joe E. Vega and

the City Commission hosted “Senior Splash 2011”. This was the third consecutive year for this event. This

clinic is geared towards seniors 60+ but was open to all of those young at heart. Benefits Counselors were on hand to assist seniors with applications for the Low Income Subsidy and Medicare Savings Programs.

This year the clinic provided free health screenings for blood pressure, glucose levels, osteoporosis, and vision. Information vital to seniors about Medicare, Medicaid, Provider Services,

Kidney Health, Extra Help with Prescription Costs (Low Income Subsidy) and other subjects of interest were available. Love Inc., out of Los Fresnos, which is a faith-based organization providing respite and home modifications was also on hand.

The local fire department sold food and refreshments from a gazebo and the City’s local EMS were on hand to display their newest ambulance.

This event gave the citizens of Port Isabel the opportunity to take advantage of the free clinic and information that they would otherwise have difficulty accessing.

Seniors waiting to receive Osteoporosis Screening