In the News

Museum hosts lunar landing exhibit

by Peter Moralez 

            Houston, Tranquility base here. The Eagle has landed - Neil Armstrong. 

These are eight of the most important words spoken in American history, as well as the first words ever spoken from solid ground outside the planet Earth.  From September 27 through Jan. 10, 2010, the Museum of Fine Arts-Houston (MFAH) will celebrate the 40th anniversary of man’s landing on the moon with an exhibit titled with these same famous words.

            It is easy to imagine that since man first appeared on Earth, nature’s night-light, the moon, has been a constant source of wonder as well as a distant goal.  At 3:18 CST,  July 20, 1969, man’s quest of waling on the moon became a reality as Neil Armstrong, commander of the Apollo 11 Space Mission, hopped off the final rung of the ladder of the lunar Lander Eagle and became the first man to step onto the chalky surface of the lifeless lunar rock.

            The exhibit highlights five centuries of art depicting man’s constant upward gaze at our closest celestial neighbor.  The works include master paintings by such notable artists as Henri Rousseau, Peter Paul Ruebens, Edouard Manet, Edvard Munch, and Vincent Van Gogh. A telescope created in the 18th century, and drawings by Galileo Galilei in the 16th century.

            Additionally, the exhibit will include rare photos shot for NASA during earlier Apollo missions.

            The show consists of 130 artworks, as well as a selection of early scientific instruments and maps.  Peter C. Marzio, director of the MFAH, said “The moon has captured the imagination of artists throughout the ages, and this delightful survey celebrates the beauty of the planet as depicted by great painters, photographers and sculptors during a span of 500 years.”

            The exhibition was conceived by Dr. Andreas Blǖhm, director of the Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Cologne and is presented in Houston in an expanded version under the direction of the MFAH’s associate curator of European Art, Helga Aurisch.

“Displayed chronologically, presentations of the moon vary from mysterious and romantic to documentarian, revealing man’s changing perception of space over time,” stated Aurisch. “The ever-changing, yet ever-constant image of the moon is a widespread visual motif in Western Art.  From representations of the unobtainable planet subtle lighting landscapes in beautiful nocturne to photo-realistic paintings created by an astronaut who explored space, the works on view represents different stages in the artistic perception and interpretation of the moon.”

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and on Monday unless if it is a holiday.  General admission is $7 for adults and $3.50 for children ages 6-18, as well as for senior adults 65 or older.  Admission is free on Thursdays, courtesy of Shell Oil Company Foundation.  Direct inquiries to 713.639.7300 or visit www.mfah.org.  The museum is fully wheelchair accessible.  

New United Way director ready for challenge

by Peter Moralez 

Clifford Grimes is the new executive director for the Victoria County United Way (VCUW) and he’s ready for the challenge.  Prior to his appointment in Victoria, Grimes was the senior vice president of Community Building for the United Way of the Central Carolinas.

Grimes has dedicated the past 23 years working in the senior management levels of the philanthropic industry is comprised of non-profit companies that serve the needs of their respective communities.

Grimes earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology form Indiana State University.  He was named a recipient of the United Way and Annie E. Casey Foundation Fellowship at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.  He has severed on several boards as diverse as the Human Resource Commission of Peoria, Illinois, the Governor’s Committee, Oklahoma Task Force on Voluntarism, and the Planning Committee of the United Way of America Minority Roundtable, where he served as committee chair for ten years and operations chair for four years.

The VCUW has served the Victoria area for more than 60 years.  Its stated mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of Victoria and Dewitt county communities.  Its stated vision is to, “Build stronger, safer and healthier communities by energizing and inspiring people to make a difference and together improve people’s lives.”

 “VCUW funds 20 local health and human agencies that provide a variety of programs and services to residents of Victoria and Dewitt counties,” said the director.  “Our experience tells us that the best way to help the most people is to focus on the underlying causes of our communities most serious problems.  In Victoria and Dewitt counties we’re focused on critical issues like helping individuals achieve their potential, helping families become stable and independent and by improving peoples over all health.”

He went on to assure potential donors that their United Way contribution goes to work to bring lasting change in both Victoria and Dewitt counties.

 “More than 80 percent of every dollar raised goes to local programs and services,” said Grimes.  “Your VCUW contribution is an investment in your community.  In fact, I feel that it’s the most effective way to improve lives through the organization’s 20 member agencies because most people served here have more needs than any one agency can address.”

VCUW funds local health enhancement in the field of drug and alcohol addiction by providing substance abuse prevention, counseling and treatment at the Billy T. Cattan Recovery Outreach Program as well as at Mid Coast Family Services.

Grimes said that one of the key goals of the VCUW is to energize and inspire local citizens to make a difference in their community. 

“This is accomplished by volunteering at the United Way, at the agencies we support and throughout the community. 

It’s important that every one of us understands that our gifts of time, talent and money are valuable,” he said.  You may not be able to give a financial gift but you can read to a child, paint a classroom or meet with our legislators to push for childcare reimbursements.”

Another area of concern for the VCUW is described as ‘human care agendas.’ Grimes said, “In the months to come our United Way, in conjunction with our 20 partner agencies will set specific goals as to what we have to accomplish and how we will accomplish it. 

That report will become our Human Care Agenda.  I actually envision three agendas, one in each goal area of education, income and health.”

 “I want to highlight one of the many efforts our coalition has addressed,” said Grimes.  “With all the attention that healthcare is currently being given, it is at the top of my mind.” Grimes said that the local United Way partnered with FamilyWize to provide free discount prescription cards.  This is a national program that United Ways across the country have adopted to support financial stability and health and early childhood readiness strategies.  The program will roll out locally within the next two to three months.

He said that this alliance will provide no applications, no fees and no waiting to eligible residents.  It will cover everyone with no health insurance or prescription coverage.  There are no age, income or citizenship restrictions.  The program will be accepted by about 95 percent of all pharmacies nationwide.  Cards will be issued immediately and can be used as often as needed for all pharmaceutical costs not covered by insurance, Medicaid, Medicare or other benefit plans. The cards may be used during the Medicare part D plans’ “doughnut hole.’   All cards are bilingual - Spanish and English.

 “This is what we know.  Four out of ten Americans have trouble paying for prescription drugs,” said Grimes. “Twenty nine percent have not filled prescriptions because of the high cost, 23 percent skipped doses or cut doses in half to save money and 16 percent say it’s a serious problem to pay for medicine for themselves or their families.”

Grimes said that with programs like this VCUW can make a positive impact on the people of Victoria and Dewitt counties.

Local association stressing education

by Mark A. Martinez

As our children begin to head back to school, we as parents have to get back into the routine of things along with the children. The children will begin their classes and learn new subjects. They will have new teachers and homework to do. Some students will face obstacles that they will have to overcome.

These obstacles can range from a multitude of things, such as a loss of a loved one, to a low self- esteem. We as parents, grandparents, and guardians must be there to support our children’s education. Some children in our community do not have the support needed to overcome obstacles that will come up in their lives. We in the Hispanic community must stand up and become mentors, coaches, and tutors that show our children that we care and are there for support.

Too many Hispanic students are losing interest in school and dropping out. Others have to leave school to help support their families and have to settle for a General Educational Development diploma (GED). The Hispanic drop out rate in Victoria is about forty five percent and higher than the state average. Parents are the main role models in a child’s life and as parents we must stress education and its benefits.

No matter what your current life situation is, nothing is impossible. A perfect example that nothing is impossible is Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina to serve on the highest court of the land. She was raised by her mother after her father died, when she was only nine years old. One of the main contributors to her success was her mother, who never gave up and encouraged Judge Sotomayor to reach for the stars. We all need to work together to help decrease the number of students dropping out and increase the number graduating from high school.

Many students and parents think that it’s impossible to continue on to college, but there are many sources that are available for them to continue their education. Parents and students can find out more information by contacting the college or tech school they plan or would like to attend. You can also speak to your high school counselors or the counselors at the college you want to attend about financial assistance.

The Hispanic Professional Association is looking at putting together seminars regarding the workforce and information on higher education. If you are interested please contact us at mamartinez89@hotmail.com.

 

 

  

         

  
 
 
 
 

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