It's a White New Year

Picture taken on Savannah Avenue by Donna Stephens

It's not a white Christmas but it is a white New Year's for sure. The first winter storm of 2010 blew into El Paso yesterday and painted neighborhoods including Newman Park with soft, pristine snow.

Notre Dame beat the University of Miami 33-17 in the Sun Bowl today in temperatures just above freezing.

It's snowing again this New Year's Eve night. A lovely end to 2010 and a beautiful beginning of 2011.

Happy New Year!

Newman Park Christmas Begins with Cookies, Santa and Caroling

Santa (Robert Taylor) Claus greets children at the home of Michael and Becky Friesenhahn.

Newmanistas gathered last evening at the home of Becky and Michael Friesenhahn for cookies and milk. Santa Claus and Father Ken Ducre joined them. After some merry caroling down Altura Avenue, the party ended at House of Pizza.

Santa (NPNA Board member, Robert Taylor) read St. Luke's Christmas story to a large gathering of children and adults. He was followed by All Saints Catholic Community pastor, Father Ken Ducre, who read Xavier Garza's Charro Claus and the Tejas Kid published by Cinco Puntos Press.

Father Ken Ducre reads the Cinco Puntos classic, "Charro Claus".

Carolers at the Rees home on Altura

After Santa gave away bags of fruit and candy to the children, the Yule party-goers went caroling eventually finishing at House of Pizza where they ate and concluded their holiday merriment for the night. Former Newman Park President Lynn Coyle organized this year's caroling.

Cory at House of Pizza reacts with joy to the carolers.

Holidays are Good Times for Families to Share the El Paso Outdoors

Lisa Degliantoni's and Dave Ford's son, Miles, braves a tall cottonwood to gather mistletoe during a river walk yesterday.

Newman Park families joined some of the Elpasonaturally/Sunrise Hikers for a nature walk along the Rio Grande beginning at Country Club Road. Their objective: exercise, fresh air and mistletoe to add to their home holiday decorations. Unlike last year when mistletoe was plentiful, only a few sprigs of this hemi-parasitic plant could be found. Nevertheless, one cottonwood yielded the herb that legend says killed Baldur. More mistletoe was found among a stand of willows. An old and large cottonwood on the east side of the river was loaded with the treasure.

The holidays mean more time for family outings. So, what can be better than the beautiful outdoors of El Paso, Texas. Nearer to the neighborhood is McKelligon Canyon. Cooler mornings make the five-mile round trip walk a great way to enjoy the scenery and get in shape. The end of the canyon provides easy access to the ridge of the mountain and begins the Ron Coleman Trail which culminates at Transmountain Road.

Morning exercise at McKelligon Canyon

Avid hiker, UTEP Prof. Karl Putnam, enjoys the spectacular scenery from the ridge following the Ron Coleman Trail

Cindy Milazzo Stars at Titovets Art Show

Cindy Milazzo and Lyuba Titovets

Cindy Milazzo was one of the exhibitors at this past weekend's art show by the Titovets School of Art. Although not currently a student, Newmanista Cindy Milazzo, worked with Aleksander and Lyuba Titovets for three years. Her oil painting, a copy of a detail of Gustav Klimt's "Hope 1" sold quickly at the Titovet's 10th Anniversary Celebration of Student Art Show. The Klimt masterpiece now hangs in the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.

The Titovets graduated with Master of Fine Arts degrees in St. Petersburg, Russia and in 1992 immigrated to El Paso. They since have received numerous regional and national awards for their paintings. Aleksander Titovets painted the official White House portrait of First Lady Laura Bush.

"My experience with the Titovets has been exceptional," Cindy reported. "They've taught me more about color, light and the nuts and bolts of painting than I learned during many university studio art classes. The opportunity to work with them has been wonderful.

According to Cindy, "the Titovets teach pure Impressionism which uses quick, spontaneous brush strokes to paint light and define form."

"They are an El Paso treasure," she says. So is Cindy Milazzo.

New Traffic Signs Advise Motorists to Watch for Children at Newman Park

New signs warn motorists to slow down for children and others at Newman Park.

At their November meeting, Newman Park Neighborhood Association board members discussed the excessive speeding along Alabama Street past the park. All admitted having concerns about the safety of pedestrians and children.

Following the meeting, Association President, Jim Tolbert, emailed Representative Susie Byrd and asked what could be done - perhaps flashers similar to those near Our Lady of Guadalupe. Rep. Byrd asked Ted Marquez, the Deputy Director of the City's Department of Transportation, what he thought. Marquez advised that flashers installed cost $45,000 - by city ordinance, all at the expense of the neighborhood association. He suggested that a more cost effective alternative would be the installation of speed feedback signs at $4,000 per direction of travel.

Tolbert asked if simple warning signs could be installed. Marquez said that his Department would absorb the cost of those signs. Recently, the City's DOT installed two signs indicating children at play - one on each side of Alabama by the park.

Car dashes to beat a changing light with new warning sign and speed limit sign in view.

Chihuahuas: the Perfect Holiday Gift

What is the perfect Christmas present that you can give right now? Two sweet, little Chihuahuas.

One of the two dogs is microchipped, but there is no trace to his owner. This little black dog came from Pet Guardian; but whoever adopted him did not register his microchip number. The two dogs absolutely love each other and are inseparable. The little black one is a male and the bigger Chihuahua is a female and tan in color. They have a really sweet disposition and are great with kids. Anyone who wants to give these adorable dogs a wonderful home, can call Kristin Perez at 241-6694.