Earlier this year, Harlingen South tennis coach Noe Stillman summed up his freshman phenom Valeria Montero like this:

“She is the best freshman I’ve ever had play for me here at South. And at a program like ours, that’s saying quite a lot.

“She’s just a natural. She’s a super ball striker and has just taken to the sport. It’s comforting to me as a coach to know that she’ll be around for the next few years.”

Montero did indeed have one heck of a debut season, dominating several tournaments including the District 32-6A meet to earn a spot at regionals.

And while she ultimately fell short of securing a berth to the state tournament, Montero has the drive and determination to get there.

For her outstanding efforts this past tennis season, Montero is a finalist up for Girls Tennis Player of the Year at the upcoming All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet.

Montero sat down with the Valley Morning Star to discuss her nomination.

Q: How does it feel to be nominated for this award?

A: It feels very breathtaking and honorable because it’s just my first year in high school tennis, and I’m already nominated for an award just doing my passion.

Q: What would it mean to win the award?

A: It would mean the world because I’m doing something that is very special and that I love, and I’m earning awards for doing it.

Q: How would you sum up your first year of high school on and off the tennis court?

A: I would sum it up as very successful in tennis and in academics. During this year, I became a super champ in the United States Tennis Association Texas Section and got qualified for regionals; this year was a warm up for getting exposed to prepare for the challenges for next year. I also got very good grades at the Harlingen School of Health Professions.

Q: You set the bar pretty high this past season. Do you worry that you won’t live up to expectations come your sophomore year?

A: No, I still have more goals to achieve next year. I shined at the end of the season this year, but I want to be able to achieve throughout the whole year. It is not easy to be able to keep playing at a high level continuously. It requires more dedication and effort on my part.

Q: You still have three years of high school. What are your goals athletically?

A: My goals are the same as this year, which is to win state.

Q: What is your favorite memory of playing tennis for Harlingen South this past season?

A: My favorite memories playing for South were always what happened after we played. How the team bonded and how connected we all were; we weren’t just teammates, we were family.

Q: Who Is your favorite pro athlete and why?

A: My favorite pro athlete is (pro tennis player) Vicky Duval. She has endured many difficult obstacles and one of the toughest one was cancer. This didn’t even come close to setting out the fire in her heart. She became a champion while fighting like one; she teaches me that I cannot have any excuses and to always keep a positive attitude. The only excuse I can have is death.

Q: Are there any sports you wish you could play other than tennis?

A: I would like to play basketball or track.

Q: If you could play tennis against anyone, who would that person be?

A: I would want to play against Serena Williams; I would like to see how many points I can win.

Q: What served as your motivation to succeed on the tennis court?

A: My motivation was always making my parents proud because I wouldn’t be anywhere without them, in or outside the court.

Q: If you could win one major, which one would it be: The French open, the Australian open, Wimbledon or the U.S. Open? Why?

A: I would like to win the U.S. Open so I can do it in front of my home crowd, in the country I grew up in.

HARLINGEN — There is still time to cast an early vote in the rematch election for the Harlingen school board.

Eladio Jaimez, 39, and Rosalinda Mercado-Garza, 43, will face off again Saturday for the school district’s Place 7 seat.

But early voting continues today and tomorrow.

The two are vying for a three-year term to replace Verna Young, who was a school board member for 15 years after serving as a teacher and principal for 46 years. She stepped down as vice president of the school board this year.

In the finally tally from the May 7 election, Jaimez and Mercado-Garza were tied, 1,422 votes to 1,422.

Under the Texas Election Code, they could have flipped a coin to determine the outcome. However, both candidates declined the coin toss, stating it would be an injustice to their supporters and the issues which concerned them. Therefore, after the votes were canvassed, a special election date was set for this Saturday.

Mercado-Garza immigrated with her family from Mexico to Harlingen when she was only eight months old. She left for several years to pursue her education. She holds a doctorate of philosophy in curriculum and instruction.

She was in the Houston area for several years and has served as a teacher, a principal, assistant principal and a superintendent. She’s now chief executive officer of E-Colors in Education, Inc.

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HARLINGEN — Looming in the rainy haze, new high-intensity runway lights were made to cut through dark days like Friday, when storms passed through the Valley.

The lights also serve as a signal for a new phase at Valley International Airport, a safer approach for pilots and a tighter window for landing in bad weather.

The light system is known by its acronym, MALSR (pronounced MAL-sur), and will satisfy Federal Aviation Administration regulations and eventually allow the airport more leeway when it comes to diverting flights.

“The MALSR comes into play when the FAA will not allow you to go below 300 feet and three-quarters of a mile visibility without a visual aid, and that’s where we installed the runway approach lights,” Bryan Wren, assistant director of aviation at VIA, said Friday at the airport.

The new lighting system, which cost around $600,000, will allow Valley International to reduce the minimums for pilots to a 200-foot landing height and a half-mile visibility.

It may not sound like much, but Wren said it should virtually end pilots flying into Valley International from having to divert their planes from Harlingen to Corpus Christi or Houston. Valley International has between a half-dozen and 12 diversions every year.

“November to February are our foggy months, and the wind is at a south-flow and planes need to land north-flow,” Wren said.

The new system, he said, will virtually end diversions due to fog or heavy rain.

The lights work like this: The MALSRs can be dimmed and brightened depending on how dark the day is, just like a rheostat in your dining room.

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HARLINGEN — Rio Grande Valley residents and families are invited to walk or run for their health while receiving free medical screenings and a chance to win major prizes during the third annual Harlingen Medical Center and Texas State Technical College Community Health Walk/Run 5K/1M on Saturday, June 25.

The event is from 7-9 a.m. on the TSTC campus, 1902 N. Loop 499.

The benefit walk/run will help raise funds for scholarships for Valley students attending TSTC, while providing a morning of healthy activities for families, including free blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, as well as health and wellness education; healthy snacks; and games for children.

The event will also have a “Super Hero” theme.

Participants of all ages are encouraged to dress as their favorite comic book super hero, as Superman, Spider-Man, Wonder Woman or Batgirl. First, second and third prizes — to include items like an IPad — will be awarded for best costume in a children’s age group and an adult age group.

“If you are looking for a fun way to improve your health, reduce body fat, and boost your muscle power and stamina, then walking is considered an ideal exercise by many health experts,” said Brenda Ivory, president and chief executive officer at Harlingen Medical Center.

“The HMC and TSTC Community Health Walk/Run is designed to promote physical activity for good health in our community, support local students looking to pursue a higher level of education, all while having good, family time together.”

The event will begin with on-site registration at 7 a.m. followed by a Zumba warm-up session at 7:45 a.m., the five-kilometer walk and one-mile run at 8 a.m. and recognition awards and closing ceremonies at 9 a.m.

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LYFORD — Math instruction from the best of the best can be found right here.

Alejandro De La Garza is a Lyford algebra teacher. And he was among seven teachers from the Rio Grande Valley to receive a master’s degree in mathematics for teaching from Harvard at the college’s recent commencement ceremony in Cambridge, Mass.

“This is a great honor for the school district,” Lyford Superintendent Eduardo Infante said. “We have a teacher who will be able to share math knowledge from the best of the best.”

Infante said he is proud of De La Garza for his diligence and commitment to growing professionally. He will have an impact on students in Lyford for years or generations, Infante said.

“The Harvard master’s degree program for math teachers fills a critical need for local school districts seeking to increase the number of teachers who can teach advanced placement and dual enrollment courses,” said Dr. Roland Arriola, founder of the Texas Valley Communities Foundation and the Texas Graduate Center.

De La Garza and the other graduating teachers are full-time math teachers at Valley public schools who attended Harvard classes at the Texas Graduate Center in Mercedes.

In the summers, they all attended classes at Harvard together as a requirement for graduation.

“The professors were amazing. I got to experience different teaching styles and had great interactions with world-class educators,” De La Garza said.

“I have gotten to know six other math teachers from the Valley. Being in a cohort helped us motivate each other and having that type of support was important for our success.”

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Social Security is not a gift from the government as many people think.

It’s an insurance program that FDR started in the 1930s whereby a percentage was taken out of every worker’s paycheck for all their working years.

Many people have contributed t the fund for 45 years. When they retire, their monthly check comes out of the money they have paid in. There are many people who don’t live long enough to collect their money, so the money piled up and Social Security became the most lucrative department of the government.

When other departments of the government need money, they “borrow” it from Social Security. Our money is also given to people who have not paid in because “they need it.”

Now we are being told that the Social Security fund is being depleted and may not be available to our children.

One of our past leaders suggested that we take the money we pay into the government program and use a private insurance company to ensure a comfortable retirement.

We could be certain the government would be watching the insurance company to be sure they didn’t do anything dishonest. Our money would be returned to us with interest.

Also, in the case of death before retirement, the worker could leave the money to his designated heir.

More importantly, it would be out of the reach of politicians.

Joanne O’Brien Harlingen

I am writing this on Memorial Day, which is a very special day for our country. But it also is for the Humane Society of Harlingen.

Last year on Memorial Day 2015, we began “Operation Panda” our TNR program. TNR stands for trap, neuter, and return or in our case sometimes relocate.

There is absolutely no reason to blatantly kill feral cats. We started at Pendleton Park and have continued throughout the city of Harlingen, at the resident’s request.

As of today, we have trapped 479 cats, we have returned and or relocated 278 cats. These cats were tested, vaccinated, fixed, and ear tipped to identify them as altered cats.

Sadly 186 cats had to be put down due to either feline leukemia, FIV or heart worms, ringworm and mange, all highly contagious. We are averaging saving 67 percent of the cats trapped. Of the 33 percent that had to be put down there is an upside. The removal of these cats from the community has prevented the further spread of these easily transmitted diseases.

There is a national formula that says one cat equals 420,000 cats in seven years. Setting aside that formula and just calculating100 cats for each trapped cat, we have prevented around 50,000 kittens from being born. These measures help tremendously prevent the spread of disease and most importantly the number of cats that have to be euthanized.

Amazingly, this program has been far more successful than we initially anticipated. Unfortunately it comes at a great expense; with all the services that we provide the average cost is $60 per cat.

Now more than ever, we desperately need your continued support to help keep this project afloat. Please send your tax deductible donations to: Attention Operation Panda Humane Society of Harlingen PO Box 1884, Harlingen, TX 78551–1884. Thank you.

Pat Turman-White President Humane Society of Harlingen

BY NORMAN ROZEFF

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second part in a series by local historian Norman Rozeff. Find part one at www.ValleyStar.com

Last week the reader learned of an ugly accident in the early days of Harlingen town. Many years later Lyman Cunningham would reflect on the incident that had occurred when he was a teenager. In his reflection, we not only learn of his exact treatment by the Drs. Letzerich but also some color of the still primitive area. Here is what Lyman had to say:

Are Modern Methods and Techniques in the Treatment Of Third Degree and Lesser Burns An Improvement?

Prelude Half a century has passed since the personal and unforgettable experience, which is later on, described in relation to the following preliminary remarks:

The story itself is not an attempt to dramatize an incident that occurred in one person’s life so many years ago. It is rather, the result of an impulse to satisfy a persistently recurring sense of obligation, not only to the potential victims of future fires and explosions, but it is also intended as a small measure of belated tribute to the memory of two doctors, the brothers Letzerich, who in addition to their professional practice also operated a pharmacy and general merchandise store [It was actually their brother Bruno who operated the pharmacy and store] in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, which at the time was just emerging from a dense wilderness of semi-tropical vegetation.

Appreciation like wisdom grows ripe with time and with its ripening comes a sense of responsibility. In this sense and in the light of my own experience; I sometimes have the uncomfortable conviction that many victims of burning could have been spared much physical pain, in regard to the duration of healing, as well as much mental anguish that often result from disfiguration (sic), especially in the case of female victims. It is my well-founded opinion that this has occurred much too often and unnecessarily.

Time after time, we have read of the so-called advanced methods and medications employed in modern day treatment of third degree and lesser burns. Very often the publicity has imparted an aurora of the miraculous as well as an intimation of heroism to the treatment of some of the more noted cases, such as the Coconut Grove fire victim who was treated with a thin layer of purple dye for a period of nine months.

THE STORY It was the year 1912, when I was little more than fourteen, that my father found it necessary to leave me alone in charge of a crew of twenty five Mexicans who were employed to clear the dense thicket from a parcel of land he had purchased in the lower Rio Grande Valley. Our property was bordered by the first irrigation canal to be built in that part of the Valley and was situated on what was facetiously called the Valley Boulevard, being about four miles from the then small village of Harlingen, formerly known as Six Gun Junction.

As usual, one Saturday forenoon in late Summer, I had checked out the area of land cleared during the week and had paid the Mexicans accordingly, whereupon they departed for Harlingen and the Mexican settlement along the railroad. After they had gone, I tidied up around the cottage, tool shed and corral and then changed into fresh clothing in preparation for a trip to town for supplies. Before leaving, I had noticed several “blue rat” nests that had been left on the newly cleared land. These large rodents live singly in a large conical shaped mound or nest constructed of dry cactus pads and other debris. Because they are destructive to growing plants which in this instance were already under cultivation; it was customary to destroy their nests, which I decided to do before leaving for town.

My equipment for destroying these pests consisted of a heavy gauge journal box oil can of one gallon capacity together with a torch provided with a long handle. With due precaution, I would simply pour kerosene into the nest and then poke the lighted torch into the debris from a safe distance. After the nest is destroyed; it does not matter that the occupant escapes. It will either leave the area or be destroyed by various predatory animals such as coyotes, bob cats, eagles, etc.

After destroying the nests on the cleared land; I decided to burn out another nest that I had noticed in the strip of thickly grown thorn bush along the canal on land reserved by the irrigation company, Due to the density of the growth, it was necessary for me to hold the fuel container closely against my left side while I threaded my way through the thorny thicket with the torch grasped in my right hand and extended at arms length in advance and well away from the nozzle of the domed top container. I had nearly reached the nest when there was a terrific explosion against my side which tore the heavy metal container to finger-like shreds.

The one chance in a million had happened. Exposure to the hot sun had caused gas to accumulate in the domed top of the container which subsequently streamed through the nozzle into contact with the flaming torch….some distance away.

The force of the explosion knocked me to the ground in a semi dazed condition.

The flame and acrid odor of burning kerosene soon brought me out of my daze with the realization that I was saturated with oil and burning furiously. Instinctively, I closed my eyes and worked my way through the spiny thicket in the general direction of the canal which was nearly full of water although the day before it had been dry except for some silty muck. Although I was handicapped by the dense thicket, I eventually felt the canal bank under my feet and immediately plunged into the cold, silty water.

The cold water shocked me into the calm realization that I was seriously burned; my hair was gone as well as most of my clothing except around my belt line and the lower part of my abdomen. There was little more that wet ashes, silt and a few patches of singed cloth clinging to my raw flesh. Somehow, I managed to get back to the cottage with little delay, where I surveyed the damage in a long mirror. It was hard to believe that the blackened and bald image reflect in the mirror could possibly be the same person.

Being alone, I knew that it was urgent to get help before the after affects began to sap my energy. Fortunately, I had already harnessed a team of half wild Mexican mules ready to be hitched to the buckboard.

Without attempting to remove any of the debris, other than my belt together with the remnants of attached cloth; I gingerly worked my way into a clean shirt and duck slacks. Although the palms of my hands were badly burned, I managed to hook the mules to the buckboard and head then toward town — holding the reins as lightly as possible.

As we enter into the Spring and Summer months ahead, I am once again reminded, and write about, the Life Journey adventures that await us in the form of recreation. Recreation, when we “Re-Create” our selves; when we bring ourselves into balance with nature and with our inner selves.

Spring months are the time when we plan for vacation and other recreational activities that are so essential to maintaining healthy balance in our life. We have labored and toiled through the autumn and winter months, and now it is time to re-create.

Quite naturally we as humans, being made up of over 60 percent water, are naturally drawn to water and it has been theorized that is the reason why we seek out the sea, lakes, rivers, etc. for serenity in our lives. We also have a genetic based natural relationship with our environment; the trees, forests, foliage, mountains, etc.; it is inherent in us to seek out the environment to find peace and tranquility in our lives…to re-create ourselves.

In these spring months we notice the migration of the Geese back from Mexico, going north to their breeding and feeding grounds. The various birds are nesting, flowers are blooming, and the Mesquite trees are coming into full foliage….all signs that spring is here and that summer will soon follow. We can’t help noticing all of this because it is in our nature to do so.

Soon the national, state, and city park systems will be gearing up with plans for all of the visitors that will take part in their activities; preparing the way for us to re-create ourselves.

We are most fortunate to be living in the Rio Grande Valley, which offers us so many recreational areas and activities; State and national parks, a national seashore, and many city and county parks.

So often we take for granted our relationship with nature and how it interplays with our psychological, mental health; and offers us homeostasis (balance). Recreation and the interrelationship with our environment not only feed our physical selves, but our psychological selves as well. Our brain needs to be fed by recreation. Recreating and playing release neurochemicals such as endorphins and serotonin, those chemicals responsible for us having good feelings and bringing about hemostasis to ourselves.

The stressors we endure from day to day caused by our labors and toil, family problems, educational problems, etc., rob of us those essential brain chemicals…we become frustrated and stressed out. Connecting with nature helps to increase the essential brain chemicals, to balance out our neural pathways and cells in the brain. They essentially become re-created.

Have you heard of “runners high?” Have you felt much better after sitting by a babbling brook or a pond? Have you been to a park and just strolled down the paths enjoying the trees, foliage and flowers? Have you watched the hummingbirds as they flit from flower to flower lapping up that nectar? Have you enjoyed a friendly game of softball with friends and family? Do you feel that sense of well-being after swimming that lap in the pool? Have you stood in awe in looking at those majestic mountains, or that Grand Canyon?

Those are just some examples, my friends, of the experience of having endorphins and serotonin released into the pleasure centers of our brain that present Natural Highs; without the synthetic effects brought on by the use of illicit chemical substances and alcohol.

Now I know what some of you are saying; “Now Dr. Jones, I love my job and I feel good after a full day’s work.” Well that is true. Working hard and playing hard has always been essential to good mental health, and enjoyable labor does feed our brain. I am reminded of my days in military service, where we worked hard and played hard when off duty. But, there are those that are in high stress jobs, or often find their job tasks to be stressful; where the stress reduction recreation is often neglected.

High stress jobs, people who do not find pleasure in their jobs, living in the past, having “idle hands,” etc., are all conducive to having an out of balance condition…a lack of the essential brain chemicals that give us balance. Studies have consistently shown that people who balance their work with recreation are more mentally and physically healthy than those who do not.

The people of our nation have grown much more sedentary over the years, leading to obesity and idleness among many; which paves the way for not only poor physical health but poor mental health as well. Opting to find balance in life is becoming much more challenging for many.

A major component of recreation is play. We parents often get our children involved in play; in sports, etc., but how often do we adults play? And most specifically, without booze? Family events pose an excellent time for playing together, or actually anytime. Playing board games, throwing a ball, croquet, badminton, walking in the park together, etc. will not only provide the physical and mental exercise so needed, but the socialization benefits are great.

So come on Folks! Tear yourself away from that dinner table, the computer, the tablets and the i-phones, that big screen TV; and recreate with fun and enjoyable activities with your children, other family members and friends. Get out there and re-create yourself; the benefits are immeasurable and you won’t hear; “Are we having fun yet?” Please stay healthy my friends!