April 2018 Volume 10, Issue 1
Inside this issue:
Village of Vinton CERT Team………………..pg. 3
Keep Vinton Beautiful………………..pg. 6
City Council’s New Faces………………..pg. 8
ESL Classes in Vinton………………..pg. 11
Spring Cleaning…….…………….pg. 13
Village Vibes Golf Tournament………pg. 15
Upcoming Events……………………….pg. 17
City Council
Manuel Leos
Mayor
Victor Carrejo
Place 1
Alfredo Lopez
Place 2
Sonia Arceo
Place 3
Lulu Cloud
Place 4
Santos Lucero
Place 5
Administrative Staff
Andrea Carrillo, Deputy Village Clerk
Jannette Monrreal, Admin. Assistant
Enrique Medina, Accounting and
Budget Analyst
Norma Gomez, Sanitation Clerk
Josh Luna, Media Specialist &
Community Outreach
“Our Time, Our History” is the slogan that we in the Village of Vinton
live, work and play by. 2017 will go down in History, as the year that
we finally acquired the funding for the infrastructure that is critically
needed, the water and wastewater projects. We did not stop there,
with the water and wastewater projects, the passing of the Compre-
hensive Master Plan (Imagine Vinton 2035) and the Unified Develop-
ment Code (UDC), we’re two huge steps closer to the Village taking
control of its own destiny.
I have been asked on numerous occasions “What it takes to be a
member of council?” besides first getting elected to office, it takes a
person that will take on the challenges, the duties and the responsi-
bilities required of a leadership position. I thank each and every one
of you that voted on the regular November election and on the Febru-
ary Special election. These elections haves brought us two new faces
to council, Ms. Lourdes “Lulu” Cloud in Place 4, and Mr. Alfredo “Freddie” Lopez in Place 2. I welcome
and thank these two individuals for their wiliness to be an elected official, as they must devote a signifi-
cant amount of time and energy to fulfill a position that answers directly to the citizens.
What is next? 2018 comes with its own history making events and opportunities. Among them is the
second annual Village Vibes Golf Tournament, this event is an opportunity to come out and play 18
holes of golf while raising funds for our Community Garden and Learning Center. Mark your calendar for
June 1st, let’s have some fun and bring an opportunity for ourselves and our children to have a Commu-
nity Garden and Learning Center.
An event that is different for 2018 is the town hall meetings, take the opportunity to come and have cof-
fee with the Mayor on the first Saturday of the Quarter. The next “Coffee with the Mayor” is April 7th at
9:00 AM, please come by the town hall lets have some coffee and let’s talk about what is going on in
Vinton, what you would like to see in Vinton, or anything that you believe is important for everyone in
Vinton. This is the perfect opportunity to speak about anything and someone (the Mayor) is there to lis-
ten to what you have to say.
It’s “Our Time” to make “Our History” for the future of the Village of Vinton and to its prosperity. As al-
ways my door is open for you.
Sincerely,
Manuel “Manny” Leos, Sr.
As part of our continuing efforts to make the Village of Vinton a safe community for all who live and visit
here, we would like to invite the community to help form our own readiness team. By working together,
we can create a program that will not only benefit our family, friends and neighbors, but it will become a
model for other communities to follow.
Source: READY.GOV
Course Overview
The CERT Basic Course is delivered in the community by a team of first responders, and other qualified
volunteers. The organization and timing of training and meeting varies from program to program.
• Disaster Preparedness: Addresses hazards specific to the community. Materials cover
actions that participants and their families take before, during and after a disaster as
well as an overview of CERT and local laws governing volunteers.
• Fire Suppression: Covers fire chemistry, hazardous materials, fire hazards and fire
suppression strategies. However, the thrust of this session is the safe use of fire extin-
guishers, controlling utilities and extinguishing a small fire.
• Medical Operations Part I: Participants practice diagnosing and treating airway ob-
struction, bleeding and shock by using simple triage and rapid treatment techniques.
• Medical Operations Part II: Covers evaluating patients by doing a head to toe assess-
ment, establishing a medical treatment area and performing basic first aid.
• Light Search and Rescue Operations: Participants learn about search and rescue plan-
ning, size-up, search techniques, rescue techniques and rescuer safety.
• Psychology and Team Organization: Covers signs and symptoms that might be experi-
enced by the disaster victim and workers, and addresses CERT organization and man-
agement.
• Course Review and Disaster Simulation: Participants review and practice the skills
that they have learned during the previous six sessions in a disaster activity.
The Great American Cleanup, which marks its 20th year in
2018, engages more than 5 million volunteers and partici-
pants, on average, every year to create a positive and last-
ing impact. At Keep America Beautiful, we work to inspire
people to take action every day to improve and beautify
their community environment through programs like the
Great American Cleanup.
Check the dates below for a chance to volunteer with Keep
Vinton Beautiful in this year’s Great American Cleanup.
April 7th - Don't Mess With Texas Trash Off
April 14th - Bulk Waste Collection Day
May 12th - Helping Hands
May 19th - Highway Cleanup
To volunteer or for more information contact Keep Vinton Beautiful at [email protected]
or (915) 886-5104.
Source: © 1995- . The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth®. Reprinted with permission.
Diets aren't the way to go when it comes to losing weight. That's be-
cause they create temporary eating patterns — and, therefore, tem-
porary results. Most dieters gain back any lost weight when they go
back to their old eating habits.
So what's the best way to drop excess weight? Create a new normal!
Weight loss is most likely to be successful when people change their
habits, replacing old, unhealthy ones with new, healthy behaviors.
Here are 5 ways to make that happen:
1. Exercise
Regular physical activity burns calories and builds muscle — both of which help you look and feel good
and keep weight off. Walking the family dog, cycling to school, and doing other things that increase your
daily level of activity can all make a difference. If you want to burn more calories, increase the intensity
of your workout and add some strength exercises to build muscle. The more muscle you have, the more
calories you burn, even when you aren't exercising.
2. Reduce screen time
People who spend a lot of time in front of screens are more likely to be overweight. Set reasonable lim-
its on the amount of time you spend watching TV, playing video games, and using computers, phones,
and tablets not related to school work. Be sure to set aside enough time to exercise every day and
get enough sleep.
3. Watch out for portion distortion
Big portions pile on extra calories that cause weight gain. Sugary beverages, such as sodas, juice drinks,
and sports drinks, are empty calories that also contribute to obesity. So choose smaller portions (or
share restaurant portions) and go for water or low-fat milk instead of soda.
4. Eat 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day
Fruits and veggies are about more than just vitamins and minerals. They're also packed with fiber,
which means they fill you up. And when you fill up on fruits and veggies, you're less likely to overeat.
5. Don't skip breakfast
Breakfast kickstarts your metabolism, burning calories from the get-go and giving you energy to do
more during the day. People who skip breakfast often feel so hungry that they eat more later on. So
they get more calories than they would have if they ate breakfast. In fact, people who skip breakfast
tend to have higher BMIs than people who eat breakfast.
Photo: YMCA of San Diego County
Thank you residents of Vinton for allowing me the privilege to serve as your
councilman place two. I am proud and honored that you have bestowed
your trust in me.
My family and I have made Vinton our home for forty-six years and hopeful-
ly enjoy the rest of our retirement years here. I graduated from Canutillo
High School in 1963 and shortly after joined the U.S. Navy. I served a com-
bination of 32 years active duty and Naval Reserves. I worked and retired
from The Texas Department of Transportation.
During my position I will work diligently with my fellow council members,
village staff and mayor on the water and waste water project and future
infrastructure projects. I will also assist with Keep Vinton Beautiful projects.
Thank you for your support and vote of confidence and looking forward to
working for you. Alfredo Lopez, Place 2
Lulu Cloud, Place 4
A native of El Paso and graduate of Bel Air High School. I have been a resi-
dent of Vinton for 24 years. I raised my two sons, JR and Justin Cloud here
in Vinton and loved watching them raise chickens, turkeys, peacocks, dogs,
a cat, and a goat along with other pets. I have been employed with EPISD
for the last 15 years working with children of special needs population.
I enjoy living in Vinton because of the close-knit community. I have seen the
changes and the progress that Vinton has made over the last few years. I
am fully committed to working with the community and other council mem-
bers to see the Village continue to prosper while preserving our small city.
I support the water, the sewer system. I believe in keeping the Village a
clean city and building partnerships between the residents and the busi-
nesses. I will push to continue community programs for housing, services
and volunteer organizations.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Alfredo “Freddie” Lopez
Sincerely,
Lourdes “Lulu” Cloud
Most of us know that eating healthy foods, at least part of the time will help us to feel better and live
longer. Although we have the most abundant food supply in history, the increased consumption of fast
foods and processed foods, along with our busy lifestyles, make choosing healthy foods more of a chal-
lenge. Here are 11 reasons to take on the challenge and try to eat healthier.
1. You will feel better, with better digestion and general well-being.
2. You will live longer, at least with regard to health-related mortality.
3. You will sleep better.
4. You will look better, with healthy skin, hair, eyes, teeth, etc.
5. You will have more energy to do the things you love.
6. You will require fewer visits to the doctor and dentist.
7. Your mood will improve.
8. Your love life will improve (especially if your spouse is eating healthy, too).
9. You are less likely to struggle with obesity.
10. You will be less likely to develop diseases such as diabetes, cancer and
heart disease.
11. If you are already suffering from a disease or disorder, eating healthy will
help keep it under control or even reverse it.
Source: HEALTHY EATING SUPPORT WITH SUZY STAYWELL
Recipe courtesy of Delish
RECIPE
INGREDIENTS • 4 bell peppers, seeds and cores removed
• 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 3 tbsp. butter
• 1/2 large onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic
• 3 c. shredded rotisserie chicken
• 1/2 c. hot sauce (preferably Frank's Red Hot)
• 2 c. shredded gouda
• Ranch dressing, for drizzling
• 2 tbsp. freshly chopped chives
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 400°. Place bell peppers cut side-up
on a large baking sheet and drizzle all over with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add
onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute more.
3. Add shredded chicken and hot sauce and toss until
combined. Cook until the mixture comes to a sim-mer, then remove from heat.
4. Divide chicken mixture between pepper halves. Top
each with gouda and bake until cheese is melted and peppers are crisp-tender, about 20 minutes.
5. Drizzle each stuffed pepper with ranch and sprinkle
with chives.
LEVEL: EASY
YIELD: 4 SERVINGS
PREP TIME: 20 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME: 40 MINUTES
My name is Mary Ruth Montoya and I am the in-
structor for the ESL classes that the City of Vinton
offers on Mondays and Thursday from 5:00 PM to
7:00 PM. I volunteer my time after retiring from
my career as an Administrator of a medical clinic
because teaching has always been a passion of
mine, it was my first love.
My goal is not only to teach but also learn from my
students. My method of teaching is to go with the
pace of the students themselves. Nobody stays be-
hind, we all learn together. We work on reading
and comprehension then continue with writing
sentences and telling stories in English. We work
on diction and how to pronounce words. We also
work on English grammar and spelling. I also enjoy
talking and teaching about the month’s events like
holidays, the changing of seasons, weather, etc.
My goal is to get all of the students that attend my
ESL classes familiar through the use of the English
language with their daily lives as much as possi-
ble. I want them to be able to express themselves
in English and to familiarize themselves with sim-
ple daily words in English so they will have the con-
fidence needed and not be ashamed or afraid to
speak it.
I invite one and all to come to one of the classes. I
guarantee you will not be disappointed.
Sincerely,
Mary Ruth Montoya
If spring is in the air, don't let a musty house spoil it. Here are seven tips for
giving the season the welcome it deserves.
1. The best refrigerator cleaner is a combination of
salt and soda water. The bubbling action of the soda
water combines with the abrasive texture of the salt
to make a great cleaner.
2. The best way to get rid of lime buildup around the
faucet it is to lay paper towels over the fixture, soak
it with vinegar and let it set for an hour. The deposits
will soften and become easier to remove.
3. Clean screens with a scrap of carpeting. It makes
a powerful brush that removes all the dirt.
4. Clean windows with a rag and soapy water, and
then dry them with another rag. You can also go to
an auto-parts store and buy a windshield squeegee,
which cleans very well.
5. If drapes are looking drab, take them out of the
window, remove the hooks and run them through
the air-fluff cycle in the dryer along with a wet towel
(to draw off the dust) for 15 minutes. Hang them
back in the windows immediately.
6. Clean the blades of a ceiling fan by covering
them with a coat of furniture polish. Wipe off the ex-
cess and lightly buff.
7. Sometimes comforters, blankets and pillows
don't need to be cleaned, but they do need to be
aired out after a long winter in your closed-up home.
Take them outside and hang them on a clothesline
for a day.
Source: HGTV
Each Texan currently generates about 6.5
pounds of trash every day, and Tex-
as' population is growing. More residents
means more trash and more space to dis-
pose of it. Our population is expected to
double by 2070. At that rate, we only have
landfill space to last another 56 years. We
encourage every Texan to reduce waste
and help keep our land clean!
The Village of Vinton will be having a Resi-
dential Bulk Waste on Saturday, April 14
from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., or until full.
Free recycle bins will be given to the first
40 Vinton residents.
Examples of items accepted: Couches, ta-
bles, plywood, pallets, electronics, used oil
and tires. (Limit 4 tires per household.)
We will not receive: TV’s, computer moni-
tors, car batteries, and hazardous waste.
For more information please contact the
Village of Vinton at [email protected] or
(915) 886-5104.
Source: Take Care of Texas
2nd ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
This year's tournament is scheduled to take place on
Friday, June 1, 2018
11:30 am - 6:00 pm
at the beautiful Painted Dunes Desert Golf Course in El Paso, Texas.
The Village Vibes Golf Tournament is back for round two this year and will be held at Painted Dunes Desert
Golf Course once again on Friday, June 1st, 2018. Last year, Keep Vinton Beautiful held the inaugural golf
tournament and raised a little over $10,000 with the contribution of 76 players and 30 sponsors.
The proceeds from the event will go towards Vinton’s first community garden and learning center, located
on four acres of property in the heart of Vinton. The community garden will address resident’s lack of
access to fresh, locally sourced produce - as well as provide economic opportunity for local farmers and an
educational resource for local residents and elementary school students.
• Single Player Registration is $150 and includes lunch, drinks, and dinner.
• Team registration (4 players) is $500 and includes lunch, drinks, and dinner
for each.
For additional information please contact this
year's Tournament Organizer:
Josh Luna
(915) 886-5104
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MAY 2018
City Council Meeting - Meetings
begin at 6:30 pm. We encourage
all Vinton residents to attend all
City Council meetings to stay in-
formed.
Town Hall Meeting - Join Mayor Le-
os for coffee and voice your opin-
ions.
River Cleanup - Meet us under the
Vinton Bridge at 9:00 am.
Bulk Waste - Open to all Vinton res-
idents with sanitation service.
Please bring your sanitation bill
and an ID. You may not dispose of
car batteries, hazardous materials
and household trash.
Highway Cleanup - Meet us at Vinton
City Hall at 9:00 am to help in keep-
ing our roadways clean.
Memorial Day - Vinton City Hall will
be closed in observance of Memorial
Day. Regular office hours resume
Tuesday, May 29 at 8:00 am.
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JUNE 2018
Don’t mess with Texas Trash-Off -
Meet us at Vinton City Hall at 9:00
am to keep our adopted portion of
Doniphan litter-free.
Helping Hands - Meet us at Vinton
City Hall at 9:00 a.m. to provide as-
sistance to the elderly and disabled
through this community project.
Let’s get social!
Follow us on all our
networks
@keepvintonbeaut
@vinton_tx
/kvbtx
/villageofvinton
www.vintontx.govoffice2.com
The Village of Vinton website
is the official source of
information.
Place your ad here!
Call us at 886-5104 for
rate information