News (Noticias) for July 12th, 2007

“Seven new Wonders of the World have been named. Three are in Latin America. “

Christ Redeemer Statue, Brazil
Machu Picchu, Peru
Pyramid at Chichen Itza, Mexico

“The blogosphere is “abuzz” with the comments made yesterday by Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff.

It seems the Secretary, during face-time with the editorial board of the Chicago Tribune, stated matter-of-factly that the United States was under increased risk of terrorist attack this summer ”” based on a “gut feeling” he had and past summer attack trends of Al-Qaeda.”

“For those who are unfamiliar, Palabra Pura features Chicano and Latino poets reading work in Spanish, English and a combination of the two languages. The series offers Chicago’s large Spanish-speaking population, the third largest in the United States, a venue to read their poetry as originally composed and helps audiences learn more about the strong tradition of poetry in Spanish. A special emphasis is placed on poets who have recently published books or won recognition for their work.”

“Huntsville police, working with recording industry investigators, on Tuesday arrested four men who were selling bootlegged Latin music CDs and DVDs, as well as prescription drugs, from local stores, according to Huntsville police.

Police confiscate more than 1,000 illegal copies of DVDs and music CDs, according to police spokesman Wendell Johnson. The investigation also uncovered numerous prescription drugs that were being brought from Mexico and being sold over the counter, Johnson said.”

“From hipster to legend: Xiomara Laugart, the expatriate Cuban soul mama for Cuban-funk collective Yerba Buena, is taking on the role of a lifetime — Celia Cruz, the beloved, legendary Cuban singer whose death in 2003 was commemorated in massive public funeral ceremonies in both Miami and New York.

Laugart will play Cruz in the musical CELIA, The life and music of Celia Cruz, set to open on Sept. 12 at the off-Broadway theater New York Stages in Manhattan. Producers are Henry Cardenas and David Maldonado, who were also responsible for Quién mató a Héctor Lavoe? Who Killed Hector Lavoe? in 2001, a successful off-Broadway musical about the famed salsa singer that inspired the movie El Cantante, which opens Aug. 3 and stars Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez.”

“LATINA Style Magazine, the premier magazine addressing the needs of Latina professionals in the United States, is pleased to announce the availability of $5,000 cash awards for Latina entrepreneurs.

Since its establishment in 2002, the Anna Maria Arias Memorial Business Fund has been the most respected and coveted business award program for Latina business owners in the United States. The Fund was created to recognize the accomplishments of Anna Maria Arias, the late founder and editor of LATINA Style Magazine. Her drive and mission to empower Hispanic women is one of the true legacies in the Hispanic community. The Fund celebrates this spirit of entrepreneurship that was Anna Maria’s vision and that today serves to fuel the phenomenal growth of the Latina business sector.

Created in the spirit of Anna Maria Arias’ vision for Latinas in the business sector, this fund was designed to celebrate the perseverance and commitment that marked Anna Maria’s life. She was a pioneer as a publisher, businesswoman and champion of entrepreneurship. The fund grants cash awards of $5,00 each to selected Latina business owners from across the country that exemplify those business practices and principles that Anna Maria championed.

“Whether you are looking to start up your business or grow your business, the Anna Maria Arias Memorial Business Fund could be available to you,” stated Robert Bard, President and CEO of LATINA Style. “We started these awards more than 5 years ago”¦we are now entering our sixth year, and the Fund has helped dozens of Latinas jump start their businesses or grow their companies to the next level. The awards have made a difference in the lives of dozens of Latina entrepreneurs, ensuring that business dreams become a reality”¦one woman at a time!”

We look forward to receiving hundreds of applications this year. The award recipients will be showcased during a gala awards dinner at this year’s LATINA Style Annual Symposium taking place in Washington, DC on September 6th, 2007, at the Washington Hilton in our nation’s capital. For more information or to apply for the Anna Maria Arias Memorial Business Fund visit www.latinastyle.com or call 1-800-651-8083.

LATINA Style Magazine, a lifestyle magazine for the professional Hispanic woman. “

“Spanish singer Enrique Iglesias said in Puerto Rico on Tuesday that he is a non-drinking workaholic who enjoys solitude and that the only drugs he takes are sleeping pills to relieve his chronic insomnia.”

“The singer admits he’s in love with the Univisión weather anchorwoman”

“Cuban singer and actress Xiomara Laugart is the one selected to play the late salsa queen Celia Cruz in the musical about her life that will hit the New York stage in September.”

“The RBD singer tells us how the tabloids forced him to reveal the truth about his sexual orientation”

“Patriotism and Willy Chirino took top billing as thousands braved a violent storm to partake in Hialeah’s traditionally spectacular celebration of the nation’s birthday.

I am here to see the fireworks, said Domingo Perez, of Hialeah. “I feel American and I am American.

Hialeah Gardens residents Roberto Perez, 63, and his wife, Lina Alvarez, 69, came for the first time to listen to the music and for Chirino, Roberto Perez said.”

“Mexican actress Patricia Manterola, an ex-member of the hugely successful 80s Mexican pop group, Garibaldi, will appear on the big screen on April 19th, 2008 in The Perfect Game, directed by William Dear. “

“In partnership with the Comcast Foundation, the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., today announced a $75,000 capacity-building grant to the Association House of Chicago, a nonprofit social service agency, to expand its education work on behalf of Chicago’s Latino community. The Association House of Chicago is one of eight community-based organizations – chosen from NCLR’s Affiliate Network of more than 300 organizations throughout the nation – to be recognized with an NCLR/Comcast grant.

The Association House of Chicago will use the NCLR/Comcast grant to support its highly successful Lee y serás family literacy program. Lee y serás (Read and You Will Be) challenges the link between poverty and low literacy by encouraging parents to spend one-on-one reading time with their children and teaching parents how to build early literacy skills to help prepare young children for school. Parents and children alike benefit from reading and other learning activities that boost literacy and English language skills as part of a program that incorporates families’ culture, traditions, and personal experiences.

A formal announcement of the grant took place at the Lee y serás graduation ceremony on Thursday, July 12, 10:00 am at the Association House of Chicago, 1116 N. Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL.

Mark Allen, Area Vice President and Board Member of Association House, stated that, “Support for the Association House of Chicago’s educational programs reinforces Comcast’s continued commitment to improving opportunities for the Hispanic community in the Chicago area.”

The ceremony marked the successful graduation of 52 participants of Lee y serás. Several representatives from the city, including Alderman Ray Suarez and Alderman Emma Mitts, attended along with a delegation from Comcast, representatives from NCLR’s national office, community leaders, and Association House of Chicago’ directors and staff. Alderman Billy Ocasio congratulated the graduates and said, “On behalf of the City of Chicago and the 28th Ward, I would like to thank Comcast and NCLR for their generous and inspiring gift to our community. Because of the philanthropic spirit of Comcast and NCLR, families and children enrolled in Lee y serás will build literacy and language skills, prepare for school, and spend one-on-one time reading together. These activities effectively unite culture, traditions, and personal experience to foster learning and achievement by developing the participants’ capabilities and strengthening our community.”

Founded in 1899, the Association House of Chicago was established in the settlement house tradition and today serves more than 20,000 economically disadvantaged people in Chicago through programs in English and Spanish that focus on literacy, financial education, arts, and technology, among others. The organization also offers child welfare and behavioral health services. Association House serves predominantly Latino and African American families who earn less than $10,600 a year; 70% of them lack a high school diploma or GED.

“We are so pleased that NCLR and Comcast have recognized the work we do to improve education for Latino families. In particular, I’d like to commend Comcast for providing this type of funding that will help Latino community organizations become even better at what they do well. It’s not only good for our community, it’s good for Chicago and Illinois,” said Harriet Sadauskas, Executive Director of Association House of Chicago.

NCLR/Comcast capacity-building grants were awarded in the categories of Community Development, Education, Health, Workforce Development, and Advocacy. One grant was also given in the Next Generation category, to recognize young or newly established organizations in communities that have experienced the emergence of new Latino populations. The other awardees include: Del Norte Neighborhood Development Corporation, Denver, CO; Latino Memphis, Inc., Memphis, TN; Mujeres Latinas en Acción, Chicago, IL; Spanish American Civic Association, Lancaster, PA; Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Inc., Philadelphia, PA; Tiburcio Vásquez Health Center, Union City, CA; and Youth Development, Inc. and Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, Albuquerque, NM, who together submitted a joint proposal.

“The NCLR/Comcast grant will allow these NCLR Affiliates to keep doing the important work they do in their communities to help advance opportunities for all Latinos,” said Janet Murguí, NCLR President and CEO. “We commend Comcast for its continued support of community-based organizations that strengthen and serve the Latino community.”

For more information on the NCLR/Comcast Capacity-Building Grant Program, please visit www.nclr.org.

About Association House of Chicago
Since 1899, Association House has served as a community resource, responding to the changing needs of the diverse population of Chicago’s Greater West Town neighborhoods – West Town, Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Avondale, and Hermosa. The agency assists over 20,000 individuals and families each year and provides quality social services, cultural and recreational activities for people of all ages, and opportunities for individual and family development. For more information, visit www.associationhouse.org.

About NCLR
The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) – the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States – works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. Through its network of nearly 300 affiliated community-based organizations (CBOs), NCLR reaches millions of Hispanics each year in 41 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. To achieve its mission, NCLR conducts applied research, policy analysis, and advocacy, providing a Latino perspective in five key areas – assets/investments, civil rights/immigration, education, employment and economic status, and health. In addition, it provides capacity-building assistance to its Affiliates who work at the state and local level to advance opportunities for individuals and families.

Founded in 1968, NCLR is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCLR serves all Hispanic subgroups in all regions of the country and has operations in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

About Comcast
Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is the nation’s leading provider of cable, entertainment, and communications products and services. With 23.3 million cable customers, 10 million high-speed Internet customers, and 1.6 million voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management, and operation of broadband cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.

Comcast’s content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, Versus, G4, AZN Television, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One, and four regional Comcast SportsNets. Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team, and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia. “

“Honda, Hersheys, and other multinational companies temporarily shut down their factories in western Mexico after rebels attacked a key natural gas pipeline.

The small, left-wing guerrilla group that claimed responsibility for the explosions vowed to continue the attacks, while the Mexican government scrambled to increase security at “strategic installations” across Mexico.”

“Mexican star Cuauhtemoc Blanco will make his hotly anticipated debut with the Chicago Fire on July 22.

Blanco officially joined the team in April, signing a contract to become the third player to join an MLS club under the “designated player rule.” He arrives in Chicago this month after spending the remainder of the season with Mexico Citys Club America.”

“The Mexican came to town Wednesday. You know of whom I speak if the above exchange, specifically, its format and tone - direct and decidedly politically incorrect - is familiar to you.

Hes younger than I imagined. Just 28. I know, he said, when I remarked upon this. “I hear it all the time. I’ve taken to calling myself snot-nosed.”

The Mexicans name is Gustavo Arellano, Arellano of the Orange County-by-way-Zacatecas Arellenos. His mother was born in Zacatecas to a family of migrant workers. His father, also from Zacatecas, was an illegal immigrant who entered this country in the late 60s in the trunk of a Chevy and became a legal resident through the amnesty of the 1980s. His parents later became citizens, though, Arellano says, they live their lives in Spanish.”

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“As Republican presidential candidate Rep. Duncan Hunter has staked out the U.S.-Mexico border fence as one of this top priorities, he has repeatedly criticized the Department of Homeland Security for planning to build only half of the 700 miles of border fence authorized by Congress last year and acting too slowly to do even that.

The Mexican border “is our biggest homeland security problem” and “this administration has a case of “the slows’ on border enforcement,” Hunter said at a Republican presidential candidate debate in May, repeating “the slows” criticism in the June debate.

But Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has said technology such as radar can be more effective than fencing, and DHS is deciding on what mix of fencing and technology to build.”

“The National Guard plans to reduce the number of troops serving along the US-Mexico border in Texas and three other states from about 6,000 to about 3,000, a National Guard Bureau spokesman said Wednesday.”

“A federal court ruled Thursday that ex-President Luis Echeverria does not have to face genocide charges for his alleged involvement in a 1968 student massacre, Echeverria’s lawyer said.

Federal officials who wanted to prosecute Echeverria have 10 days to ask for another revision of the case, attorney Juan Velazquez told The Associated Press.”

“A legal document written in Spanish and filed in Fulton County Superior Court left local officials scratching their cabezas Wednesday.

Since none of the intake clerks could read the document or understand it, they werent sure what to do with it. Should they file it, reject it, seek translation or what?

Eventually, they recorded the paperwork, which court officials said was the first foreign-language document they’d ever received. They later discovered it to be a Spanish translation of a final decree in a recent divorce.”

“Theres been another raid at the Swift Plant in Marshalltown this week, but this time, it wasnt just illegal immigrants that federal officials were after. Immigration and Customs agents arrested four people on Tuesday, including a union representative and a human resources worker.”

“Illegal immigrants held in alien detention centers are isolated from the world, a new report says.

The illegals cannot reach their families or their lawyers because of a faulty telephone system, according to a new Government Accountability Office report released Friday.

The GAO found that over a 12-month period starting in November 2005, phones weren’t working properly in 16 of 17 alien detention centers around the country that use pro bono telephone systems. In June of 2006, only 35 percent of phone-calls out of the detention system were successful and the percentage was never above 74. “

“A federal law that requires people to supply their Social Security number when applying for a marriage license has forced thousands of couples around the country, particularly illegal immigrants, to put their wedding plans on hold.

The law has been on the books for about a decade and was intended to make it easier to collect child support payments. But in some places it has prevented even legal immigrants and some American citizens from getting married.

Some couples are traveling to other states or other counties willing to issue them marriage licenses.”

“When Tom Evans heard that Wal-Mart would be moving in up the street in Cornelius, he knew that he had two options: sink or start practicing Spanish.

Last Friday, the long-time grocer was pleased and relieved to celebrate the one-year anniversary of his new business, Grande Foods.

Evans opened the store at 1619 Adair St., the same location of his company’s previous business, Hank’s, a Cornelius landmark which dated back to 1937.”