Streets Closed Saturday for Mighty Mujer Triathlon

Beware of Mighty Mujers!

On bikes and on foot as part of tomorrow morning’s Mighty Mujer Triathlon beginning at 7:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. or a bit later.  Many streets and intersections will be closed. Even if you are on a street that can be accessed, keep a sharp eye out for bicyclers and runners.  Here are the details:

El Paso's first all-female triathlon will host 350 racers from across El Paso and the Southwest!!

Saturday, April 28 (7:30-11 a.m.) beginning at the Memorial Park pool. (Map)

The race consists of three parts: swimming (at Memorial Pool), bicycling (see route map) and running (see route map).

We need your help to make this inaugural event a success and keep athletes safe.  Here is some important information regarding parking and road closures:

The bike and run courses will be closed to traffic between 7-11 a.m. on Saturday 4/28.  El Paso PD will only allow vehicle crossings at major intersections (Richmond, Fort, Cotton).  This includes:

- ALABAMA (from Arizona to Pierce)

- FEDERAL (from Luna to Alabama)

- ELM (from Grant to Federal)

- ARIZONA (from Alabama to Ochoa)

- RIO GRANDE/GRANT (from Ochoa to Elm)

- COPPER (from Copia to Piedras)

- GRANT (behind Memorial Park)

- SILVER/BRONZE/GOLD (between Piedras and Raynor)

PLEASE DO NOT PARK ON FEDERAL AVE! (This will be the main bike thoroughfare.  Please park on Wheeling or above if you need to leave between 7:30-10:30 a.m.)

COME OUT AND CHEER!!  Many women are first-timers, and they need your support!  Let's show them  the best neighborhood in El Paso!

Watch the race. Take some great photos. Win a mighty prize.  Here’s how:

¡Hola Vecinos!© wants your photographs of the event. Pick your best ones and email them to me. A panel of expert journalists will select one outstanding photo. The winner will receive a 2012 El Paso Fun Book with discount coupons to many of your favorite restaurants. The coupon book sells for $20 but has coupons for hundreds of dollars.

Hummingbirds Return to Newman Park Nesting Spots

Picture Copyrighted by Donna Stephens. Click on image to enlarge. 

Donna Stephens took this picture of a female Black-chinned Hummingbird. She had this to say about the picture: "This is one of the two nests from two years ago. This Hummingbird buzzed around me several times. I couldn't get off a shot because it was right up in my face. Then it settled in the nest and sat there while I took some shots. It actually let me get up close and didn't move while I was shooting. She was just posing so proud. Could it be one of the same birds from last summer?"


Mark Perkins, a birding expert and member of the El Paso/Trans-Pecos Audubon Society, said "Hummingbirds do return to the same nest, unless the nest has been destroyed. In that case, they will build a new one close by."

Special City Council Meeting This Wednesday

Representative Susie Byrd encourages her constituents and the general public to attend a special City Council meeting that will address the proposed Quality of Life Bond that is to be placed on a ballot on November 2012. The public's concerns and recommendations are important in finalizing the specifics of the bond initiative. The meeting will take place at City Hall, Two Civic Center Plaza, Council Chambers, 2nd floor on Wednesday, April 18 at 1 p.m. (Directions to City Hall)

The agenda and topics to be discussed by the City Council are as follows:

 Presentation, discussion and action on the proposed 2012 Quality of Life Bond election for November 2012:

• Results of citywide Call for Projects and general community Outreach from November 2011 thru March 2012
• Results of polling efforts and processes utilized in other communities undertaking similar efforts per PDNG and DMD Contract - Ric Horrow, Horrow Sports Ventures
• Staff analysis of community priorities
• Preliminary financial recommendations based on bond capacity and debt service limitations
• General direction from City Council on next steps to call for the election in November 2012.

Event: SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL PASO

Location: CITY HALL, TWO CIVIC CENTER PLAZA, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 2ND FLOOR

Date: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

Time:  1:00 P.M.

The meeting will be streamed online and will be made available for viewing on the city's website and on Time Warner Cable Channel 15.

April 20th is Newman Park Night at the New Alumni Lounge

Click on image to enlarge.

Mark your calendars now for Friday, April 20^th, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for our very own Newman Park Happy Hour at the new Alumni Lounge, 2714 N. Piedras. (Map) Becky Friesenhahn reports: “This is a really nice place.  They have fixed it up inside.  The band on Friday night is really awesome – music from the 60's and 70's – great dance music!” Philip, the manager, will have the “Newman Park Martini” for just $5 (usually martinis are $7). On tap they also have Shiner Bock, Stella Artois, Blue Moon and Sam Adams-Alpine Spring. Any beer on tap will be $1.00 off.  Specialty bottle beers include Woodchuck Pear and Guinness.  Of course they have the usual beers and they also have a great martini menu too. 

Vegetable Gardening Workshop

Click on image to enlarge.

Portland Street Pocket Park Ribbon Cutting This Saturday

On Saturday, April 14, 2012 Representative Susie Byrd will host a ribbon cutting ceremony and community event to celebrate the Portland Street Pocket Park. 

In 2004, voters approved $2 million to be used for open space enhancements in District 2. The Portland Street Pocket Park is the last of the open space enhancement projects. The project was inspired by the redevelopment of an historic gas station by Rod Davenport. Next to the redeveloped gas station was a vacant and abandoned street easement that collected trash and dirt and was a nuisance to the neighborhood. Working with the residents of the area, most notably members of the Manhattan Heights Neighborhood Association, the abandoned street easement was turned into a neighborhood pocket park.

"Manhattan Heights is one of El Paso's great treasures, an historic neighborhood featuring distinctive architecture and great community facilities. I'm excited that both the public sector, private sector and area residents are continuing to invest in making this a great neighborhood," said Susie Byrd.  

Following the ribbon cutting, Rod Davenport and the Horseless Carriage Association will have vintage cars and a horseless carriage on display. Partial street closures will be in effect to accommodate the display.  Light refreshments will be served.

April 14^th; 10AM to 12PM

Ribbon cutting will take place at 10:00 AM

Intersection of Elm and Portland (Map)

County Attorney Offers Free Living Wills

Click on image to enlarge.

The office of County Attorney Jo Anne Bernal will give free legal advice regarding advanced healthcare planning and medical wills Friday, April 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the main lobby of University Medical Center (map) and Saturday, April 14 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the community kiosk near the theaters in Bassett Place Mall (map).  The event covers living wills/advance directives (Medical Power of Attorney and Directive to Physician, Family or Surrogates) but not last will and testament or durable power of attorney. Forms for advanced directives can be downloaded form the County Attorney's web site.

Plan Now for Archaeology Summer Day Camp

Archaeology Camp collage, photos courtesy of the El Paso Museum of Archaeology

The El Paso Museum of Archaeology Announces:

2012 Archaeology Summer Day Camp

9 am to Noon, Tuesdays through Fridays on the following dates:

Ages 7 to 9 years/ Grades 2-4:	Ages 10 to 12 years/ Grades 5-7:
June 12 to June 15	June 26 to 29
July 10 to 13	July 24 to 27

The camp registration fee is $55 for El Paso Museum of Archaeology members and $70 for non-members. Registration is accepted on a first-come first-served basis. Attendance is limited to twelve students per camp.  Camps fill quickly; those interested should contact the museum as soon as possible. The choice of dates is subject to availability.  For information and the camp registration form contact the museum at 915-755-4332 or guidamr@elpasotexas.gov.

Archaeology Summer Day Camp is an interactive, hands-on course held on the museum’s grounds and in the galleries with a field trip (to be announced).  The program is designed to educate participants about the science of archaeology, its tools, and the prehistory of the Americas, especially the El Paso-Juárez region, from the Ice Age to European contact.  Campers will learn respect and appreciation for prehistoric, historic and contemporary Indian people.

Hummingbirds Are Back!

Photo courtesy of Donna Stephens. Copyright 2012.

Donna Stephens emailed the above picture and wrote: "Saw four hummingbirds today. They flew over to check out last year's nest. I wonder if the one in the picture was the bird born there last season."


Mark Perkins of the El Paso/Transmountain Audubon Society says that Black-chinned Hummingbirds have been appearing all over El Paso in recent weeks at bird feeders.


Time to get those humming bird feeders out. Remember, hummers are attracted to red. The best feeder liquid is easily made at home. One-fourth cup of sugar to one cup of water. Boil the water first. Add the sugar (slowly). Let stand until it reaches room temperature. Change food every other day or so - more frequently when summer temperatures soar.

Egg Hunt and Fire Safety Survey Success

Assisted by parents, children hunt for Easter Eggs.

The Easter Egg Hunt is also a social event.

Once again, children fanned out at Newman Park and found plenty of Easter eggs filled with candies. Some eggs were filled with tickets to win special baskets. Newmanista Mom, Christina Estrada, organized the event and was assisted by Board members Robert Taylor, Sally Sauli and Catherine Bachtold. 

Fire Marshall Orlando Arriola instructs his crew.

Austin High School Fire Academy Students.

At the same time as the hunt, the El Paso Fire Department under the direction of Fire Marshall and NPNA V-President, Orlando Arriola, conducted free home surveys and distributed fire alarms to a dozen homes in the neighborhood. They were assisted by students from the Austin High School Fire Academy. 

Fire Department's Famous American Flag calls attention to the event.