By Teresa Porter
My friend slowly walked around the car, eyeing both it and me quizzically. I opened the hood and the charging port covers. He stopped and stared, looking confused. He looked up at me, a concerned look on his face. “Why?”
Curiosity finally got the best of me. After a decade of reading about electric cars, I finally bought one.
The purchase was almost impulsive. I chose the 2016 Nissan Leaf as my first-ever electric car for several reasons. There’s a dealership in town, they have a good reputation, and they’re really cheap. The previous owner, a leasee, drove her gently and took good care of her. I was looking for something newer, but wasn’t really thinking about electric. I looked at a couple of websites for a minute and there she was, third car on the page of unfiltered results. She sparked my interest, then sparked joy in my heart. I did fifteen minutes of research and signed the contract. A week later she was in my driveway and the keys were in my hand.
I fell head-over-heels in love with my Tokimeki the first time I drove her. Yes, I named my Leaf. Tokimeki is a Japanese noun that means “spark of joy”. (You may be more familiar with the verb form, Tokimeku, meaning “sparking joy”, as used by Marie Kondo.) My love for her grows stronger every day, and my road rage has nearly completely vanished. I do have an occasional bout of “range anxiety”, but it’s part of the learning curve.
I learned a lot in the first 90 days, and I’ve encountered a lot of people with misconceptions. I’d like to clear some of that up. Here are some of the most common comments I’ve heard and my responses:
They’re oversized golf carts. No. Golf carts don’t usually 0-60 in less than 10 seconds.
Electric cars use gasoline. No. Hybrids use gasoline, not electric cars.
They’re expensive to maintain. No. Regenerative braking saves wear on the braking system, there’s no oil filter or crankcase oil, there’s no exhaust system (no catalytic converter, no muffler, no pipes, etc). No spark plugs, etc. The maintenance manual for this car is so thin it’s practically a brochure.
There’s nowhere to recharge. Okay, you got me there. Mclennan county is seriously lacking in public EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) infrastructure, especially if you don’t own a Tesla. It’s a bit of a surprise, considering the push for tourism. Many local apartment complexes aren’t EV-ready, and workplace charging is non-existent. I know, the struggle is real, especially if you drive a lot like I do. If I were a normal person who only drove an average of 60 miles a week, I would only need to use my Level 1 charger overnight once a week. What if I lived in an apartment, and was unable to run a charging cord out my window? I would have to find time to go to one of the dealerships for a few hours every week or rely on the Level 3 charging station at the Bellmead Walmart.
You can’t go very far. Well… you’re right. I can’t go very far – I have a small battery and a lead foot. Technology has improved significantly in the past three years and the range of the newer models is at least triple what I’m capable of. The range is largely a guess by the computer and will increase or decrease depending on how fast you’re going, how heavy your foot is, and how many hills you’re climbing. In a way, it encourages safe driving habits. Hard acceleration, high speeds, and sudden braking significantly decrease your range. Gentle acceleration and slow deceleration uses less energy and provides more regenerative power back to the battery.
Your car is powered by coal. No. Well, maybe a little. I know that Oncor uses fossil fuels to power the distribution stations. I know that renewable sources and non-renewable sources travel through the same power lines. I know that even though I’ve chosen a “clean” provider, it still gets “dirty” on the way to my house. I also know there’s a lot more renewable energy on the grid than there used to be, and the trend will continue as consumers continue to increase their demand for cleaner energy.
Dealerships don’t stock them. Yeah, and they are very rarely advertised. I’ve talked to several salesmen at some of the local dealerships. Some of them swear they don’t sell, others admit they can’t keep them in stock. On a recent visit to a non-Nissan dealership, I told the salesman I wanted to trade one of my older gasoline cars for an electric car. He said, “You don’t want an electric car.” He couldn’t change my mind, and he wouldn’t change his. He talked his way out of the sale. Jeez. No wonder those internet sites are becoming more popular.
They’re too expensive. Nope. The newer models are becoming more competitively priced, and when you factor in the federal tax credit still available for some manufacturers, they’re cheaper. There’s also a good used market right now, with gently driven 2 or 3 year-old cars at very reasonable prices. Don’t just look at the price tag, take the time to do the math and calculate the actual cost of ownership. New EVs are eligible for the tax credit but used EVs are not. New EVs are also eligible for a $2,500 rebate through the TCEQ Light-Duty Motor Vehicle Purchase or Lease Incentive program. (There are a limited number of rebates that will be awarded first-come, first serve.) You’re not buying gasoline anymore. No oil change is required at 3,000 miles. No tune-ups, no engine air filter, no belts, tensioners, idler pulleys. Your electric bill will go up a few dollars, some owners see an increase of as much as $35 in their monthly bill. I was spending an average of $80 a month on gasoline, now I spend less than $20 a month for charging and still drive the same number of miles.
EVs will kill the automotive industry. No. I’m sure 100 years ago when people were still driving horse-drawn buggies, a similar argument was made by carriage makers. The carriage makers that evolved with the advancing technology stayed in business while those that resisted went bankrupt.
I don’t like the new body styles. I prefer the classics. I agree. Conversions are very sexy. It’s not as cheap as buying a new Tesla, but it can be done. Companies such as EV West, Electrified Garage, and Moment Motors are just a couple of experts in the field. Check out Youtube for videos of ICE to EV conversions.
Teresa Porter is a lifelong gearhead with a go-fast fetish. She is the President of the newly-formed Heart of Texas Electric Auto Association. Membership is open to all EV enthusiasts and advocates (not just owners). Email [email protected] or follow Twitter @hot_eaa or join our Facebook group for updates and information.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Andie Chilson
The inaugural Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival took place from Feb. 6-8. The festival provided a forum for artists and directors who work at the intersection of faith, family and contemporary filmmaking. The mission statement of the festival, “dedicated to empowering the creative spirit, serving with heart and celebrating all” shone through in the winning films at the festival.
The festival showcased films rooted in family and faith while also giving a voice to a breadth of ideas and diversity of backgrounds. Among the winning films were Bending in the Wind (Grand Jury Prize for Best Short Film (USA)), Nasser Goes to Space (Grand Jury Prize For Best Short Film (International)) and Be the Light (Grand Jury Prize for Best Feature Film (USA/International)). The festival screened over 60 films at 11 different locations at Baylor University, local churches and the Waco Hippodrome Theatre.
The Grand Jury Prize for Best Student Film went to student-director Nicole Thompson for her film Blackbird.
“Blackbird is really important to me because it honors my grandmother,” Thompson said. “I wanted to make a film that showcases the everyday people … that also have a dream,” Thompson continued.
Filmmakers like Thompson were drawn to the festival for its unique emphasis on faith and family values. These values were reflected in the “Soul Sessions” that followed the screenings. The “Soul Sessions” gave audience members a chance to discuss the themes of faith and spirituality in the films. Topics discussed during these sessions included overcoming fear and doubt and the concept of eternal love.
Dr. Tyrha Lindsey-Warren, the festival’s founder, said she was elated by the response from the filmmakers as well as Waco locals. (Side note: Act Locally Waco will be interviewing Dr. Lindsey-Warren on the Act Locally Waco podcast about the festival and her work in Waco – stay tuned!)
The festival also honored its “Champion Award” recipients. The Champion Award recognizes artists and organizations who exemplify innovative, against-the-grain thinking in the film, television, performing arts and entertainment industries. Recipients of the Champion Award included President of TFNB Bank, David Littlewood, celebrity chef and best-selling author, Gina Neely, film producer, radio host, author and model, Sam Sorbo and her husband, actor and director, Kevin Sorbo,
The second annual Waco Family & Faith International Film Festival will take place on Feb. 4-6, 2021. For more information, visit https://www.wacofamilyandfaithfilmfestival.com/. See you there!
Andie Chilson is a senior at Baylor University studying journalism and creative writing. She is originally from Houston, but Waco has quickly come to feel like a second home to her. Andie enjoys writing and digital content creation as a way to express her creativity and help people spread their message. In her free time, you can find her reading anything by Brené Brown, doing yoga or exploring downtown Waco. Andie is so excited to be working as part of the Act Locally Waco team this semester!
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
Press release – McLennan Community College is proud to host best-selling author Stephen Harrigan for a wideranging conversation about the vast history of Texas.
Harrigan, the author of ten books of both fiction and nonfiction, will sign copies of his latest book, “Big Wonderful Thing: A History of Texas,” which will be available for purchase.
He will also answer audience questions after a public conversation event with Dr. Richard Driver, an associate professor of history of MCC.
The free event is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 26 at the Conference Center at MCC. It is hosted by the McLennan Honors College, a program for MCC students taking specialized course work, exposing themselves to new educational opportunities, and participating in individual mentoring. Students in the program must apply and undergo an interview process for acceptance.
MCC President Dr. Johnette McKown and Honors College Advisor Dr. John Spano will welcome guests and introduce the speaker. Free coffee and water will be available.
“Big Wonderful Thing” has brought rave reviews for Harrigan. In a review for The Wall Street Journal, Willard Spiegelman noted that the book is “brimming with sass, intelligence, trenchant analysis, literary acumen and juicy details. . . It is popular history at its best.” And Michael Schaub, in his review for NPR, wrote that “It’s hard to think of another writer with as much Lone Star credibility as Stephen Harrigan. . . Harrigan, essentially, is to Texas literature what Willie Nelson is to Texas music.”
He is a longtime writer for Texas Monthly, and his articles and essays have appeared in a wide range of other publications as well, including The Atlantic, Outside, The New York Times Book Review, The Wall Street Journal, Conde Nast Traveler, Audubon, Travel Holiday, Life, American History, National Geographic and Slate. He was a finalist for the 2015 National Magazine Awards for his commentary on film and television for Texas Monthly. “Off Course”, a piece for Texas Monthly about a trek Harrigan made to the mountain summit where his father died in a plane crash before he was born, won the Edwin “Bud” Shrake Award from the Texas Institute of Letters in 2016 for best work of journalism.
Harrigan is also the author of “The Eye of the Mammoth,” a book of essays which includes an examination of mammoth remains in Waco.
Among the many movies Harrigan has written for television are HBO’s award-winning “The Last of His Tribe,” starring Jon Voight and Graham Greene, and “King of Texas,” a western retelling of Shakespeare’s King Lear for TNT, which starred Patrick Stewart, Marcia Gay Harden, and Roy Scheider. His most recent television production was “The Colt,” an adaptation of a short story by the Nobel-prize winning author Mikhail Sholokhov, which aired on The Hallmark Channel.
Event Details
What: Best-selling author Stephen Harrigan at McLennan Community College When: Thursday, March 26 at 7 p.m. Where: Conference Center at MCC. Inside the Community Services Center on campus, at 4601 N. 19th St. Waco, TX 76708
Tickets: Free tickets are available at: www.mcchonors.eventbrite.com. Tickets, which may be printed or downloaded on the Eventbrite app, must be presented at the door. Those without tickets will be admitted 5-10 minutes before the event starts.
Parking: Free parking is within walking distance of the event. Lots N, Q, P, and S are closest. Check out a campus map here.
This event is a gun-free zone, and MCC is a smoke-free, tobacco-free, and vape-free campus.
Media Contact: Lisa Elliott, Director of Marketing and Communications. 254-299-8640 [email protected]
Press release – Prosper Waco is pleased to announce the hiring of Emily Hunt-Hinojosa as director of research and community impact. In this position, Hunt-Hinojosa will develop and expand a framework for assessing progress toward community goals and will benchmark progress in the Prosper Waco focus areas of education, health and financial security. Her duties will also include linking theory to practice across the community helping to create an overall culture of continuous quality improvement around the larger vision of flourishing that Prosper Waco seeks to promote.
“The story of Waco is increasingly complex. On one hand, there are so many wonderful things happening throughout our city. Strong institutions, increasing diversity, economic growth, development, and collective efforts to do good work are all indicators of progress and prospering,” said Hunt-Hinojosa. “However, too many community members continue to experience insurmountable obstacles to enjoying many of the good things Waco has to offer. I am thrilled to join the Prosper Waco team and look forward to telling Greater Waco’s story in a way that is honest about current social realities and hopeful about our progress toward being a community where all members can thrive.”
Hunt-Hinojosa was most recently employed as a research fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture where she pursued academic research regarding the cultural conflicts arising from different perspectives on the purpose of civic education. During her Ph.D. program, she served as a research analyst at Baylor University’s Center for Community Research and Development. In this role, Hunt-Hinojosa conducted a variety of qualitative and quantitative research projects for Waco organizations helping institutions across McLennan County use data to do good better. Prior to graduate studies at Baylor, Hunt-Hinojosa directed a service learning program at Creighton University where she connected college student volunteers with non-profits around the metro Omaha region. Hunt-Hinojosa’s sociological perspective and her previous experience related to assessment and evaluation make her uniquely qualified for her new role at Prosper Waco.
Hunt-Hinojosa has a Ph.D. in sociology from Baylor University specializing in community analytics. She earned a M.A. in sociology from Baylor University and a M.A. in higher education and student development from Taylor University. She also has a bachelor’s degree in social studies education from Taylor University.
“A vital precursor to collective impact is collective understanding,” Hunt-Hinojosa explained. “As a sociologist, I see much of my new role as using data to highlight the pathways and connections between problems and solutions that are not always obvious. Beyond reporting numbers and statistics, I am excited to collaborate with Waco’s leaders to discern our context, celebrate our assets, and imagine our possibilities.”
Prosper Waco is a collective impact initiative focused on addressing issues facing the Greater Waco community in the areas of education, health and financial security. As a facilitator and convener, Prosper Waco encourages collaboration amongst existing nonprofits, city and county governments, business, foundations and churches to build on and increase the effectiveness of current efforts and develop new strategies to bring about measurable and sustainable positive change within the focus areas for the members of our community. For more information, please contact [email protected].
Press Release – One in three teens in the U.S. will experience physical, sexual or emotional abuse by someone they are in a relationship with before they become adults. 1 February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, and Family Abuse Center has joined The National Domestic Violence Hotline and its project for young people, loveisrespect, to end teen dating abuse.
The theme for this year’s campaign is “#1Thing.” Pronounced “one thing” or “hashtag one thing,” the campaign challenges everyone to learn one thing about dating violence and share it with a friend. Sharing one thing sparks a series of conversations that foster awareness and bring us closer to the end of teen dating violence.
Here’s #1Thing to think about, “In a single year, nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner.” 2
For ideas on how you can join the movement, visit loveisrespect.org/teendvmonth. There, downloadable action guides are available that contain educational material, social media resources and practical ideas for ways you can prevent teen dating abuse.
For more information about teen dating violence or inquiries for presentations and community education on teen dating violence, please email [email protected]. Visit loveisrespect.org for more information about Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.
Loveisrespect is a project of The Hotline. Its purpose is to engage, educate and empower young people to prevent and end abusive relationships. The organization provides information and support to concerned friends and family members, teachers, counselors, service providers and members of law enforcement. Free and confidential phone, live chat and texting services are available around the clock by visiting the chat at loveisrespect.org, texting “loveis” to 22522* or calling 866-331-9474.
It is the mission of Family Abuse Center to eliminate domestic violence in Central Texas by sheltering victims of domestic violence and by preventing abuse from occurring through intervention and education. If you or someone you know is at risk, please call our 24-hour hotline at 800-283-8401.
Notes:
1 Vagi, K.J., Olsen, E.O.M., Basile, K.C., & Vivolo-Kantor, A.M. (2015). Teen dating violence (physical and sexual) among US high school students: findings from the 2013 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey. JAMA Pediatrics, 169 (5), 474-482.
2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Physical Dating Violence Among High School Students—United States, 2003,” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, May 19, 2006, Vol. 55, No. 19.
By Anna Dunbar
Hey, Wacoans! The Waco City Council has approved some changes to the city’s solid waste ordinance, effective March 1, 2020. These changes were made in order to reduce residential curbside clutter throughout the city without increasing collection fees. Here is a summary of what the ordinance says:
- Each household is allowed twice a Month Residential Curbside Brush Pickup (4’X4’X4’ pile) with NO increase in cost.
- Up to two Green Cart Collections twice a month during “green weeks”
- Curbside Brush cannot be larger than 3” in diameter
- Brush to be placed on resident’s property not in street or on top of water meter
- Only brush (No other trash) on piles awaiting transport to landfill
- Limit of 20 paper bags (not plastic) with yard waste permitted
- Brush larger than 4X4X4 must be taken to the landfill by resident or a commercial hauler (a list of haulers is available on our website)
- Four free trips to the landfill and four free trips to the Citizen Collection Station each year with proof of residency
- No limits on trips to Citizen Convenience Center with household recyclables only.
- Additional Curbside collection during Council District Cleanup Days
- Following major storm damaged the Mayor can designate additional brush collection plans for specific areas and a specific time.
In the future, more information will be available to Waco residents on waco-texas.com as well as social media. Information will also be found in the water bill, the city’s newsletter, and the local news media. Please call (254) 299-2612 if you have additional questions. Thank you for keeping Waco clean and green!
Anna Dunbar is the Solid Waste Administrator for the City of Waco Solid Waste Services. She is responsible for informing Waco residents and businesses about recycling and waste reduction opportunities as well as solid waste services in Waco. Her husband is a Baylor professor and her daughter is a Baylor University alum who works at Horizon Environmental Services, Inc. Anna is an active member of Keep Waco Beautiful and The Central Texas Audubon Society.
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Phillip Ericksen
The program is committed to the idea that a community benefits from learning experiences. Its mission, posted on its website, puts it best:
“It is our mission to provide educational opportunities and lifelong learning experiences to enhance, promote, and develop a higher quality of life for our community. Continuing Education boasts an impressive group of instructors, who are professionals in their fields, and a wide array of course offerings that include community programs, corporate training, and health and human services.”
The slate of courses offered to the public this spring includes some classic offerings alongside a few exciting, new classes.
Have you ever wanted to bake bread, or upgrade your homemade pizza night? Or how about learn yoga workouts, or improve your short game on the golf course? Now is the time to do so.
If you’re looking to work your way up in the business world, courses in human resource management or essential programs like Microsoft Office and the Adobe Creative Cloud can boost your skillset and make your resume stand out.
The Continuing Education staff has also highlighted a few new courses this spring.
- The Truth About Race: This course, in partnership with the Community Race Relations Coalition, will explore the origins of racism and prejudice, how people learn racism, and how to effect change.
- Networking for Professionals: This course on networking etiquette for professionals and business owners will teach you how to make the most of any networking event.
- A Taste of West Africa: This new culinary course will introduce food enthusiasts to West African traditions and techniques that influence Southern recipes through spice blending and sauce making.
Another exciting offering within Continuing Education is MCC Kids College, which offers camps this summer, June through August. Camps fall under the categories of Music & Dance, Sports, Lifelong Learning, and more.
For example, new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) courses for kids will be offered through a partnership with Maker’s Edge Makerspace, a community workshop and studio on Austin Avenue. These courses will give students hands-on experience with building new things and learning in the process.
And at the end of February, Continuing Education is partnering with an organization called Making Awesome Things Happen for an entrepreneurship course aimed for middle school students. The Saturday course will teach financial literacy and the processes of starting a business, from creating a budget to selling a product.
The course concludes with a mini-business plan and a “Shark Tank”-style pitch.
The Continuing Education program tends to mainly attract retired people with a little extra time on their hands, but instructors still see different ages across the board. All are encouraged to visit www.mccandyou.com to find the right courses based on their interests and schedules. Those interested can also call the office at 254-299-8888 or email [email protected].
Phillip Ericksen is the marketing and communications specialist at McLennan Community College. For about four years, he was a journalist at the Waco Tribune-Herald covering higher education and local government. He enjoys following the news, reading books and drinking coffee. As a San Antonio native, he is an avid fan of Mexican food and the Spurs basketball team. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Baylor University. He can be reached at [email protected].
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
Press Release – No Limitations, a local organization that provides athletic and social opportunities for the special needs community in Central Texas, and D1 Waco, the home of athletic based training for adults and scholastics located in Waco’s elite state of the art training facility, team up for the 4th time to host the 2020 No Limitations Super Bowl IV. The No Limitations flag football and cheer league opens up volunteer opportunities to the community, local high schools, Baylor University, and other various organizations. The entire community is invited to attend the event. The season kicked off in early January with a Meet the Stars event, “Where athletes with special needs are seated at the table and the community comes out to get their autographs,” said Kevin Engelbrecht, GM of D1 Waco. “We treat them like the stars they really are.”
To wrap up a successful season, No Limitations will have their very own 2020 Super Bowl IV, hosted by D1 Waco. No Limitations was founded in 2014 and hosted its first Super Bowl in 2016. In 2017, a perfect partnership was formed with D1 Training – Waco.
On Saturday, February 15, four games will be played on the facility’s artificial turf featuring over 100 football players, cheerleaders, and celebrity quarterbacks from the community. The event will begin with a pre-game at 12pm and will offer food, fun, and games for the entire family. Kick-off for the first game will be at 12:30pm.
Special Guests include:
- Title Sponsor: Red River Athletic Conference, Commissioner Tony Stigliano
- Leon ISD State Championship Cheer Squad
- Baylor University Spirit Squad & Mascots
- Austin Underwood of Austin’s Underdawgs
- Joy Pruitt with Waco Rocks
- Baylor Helping Hands
- Baylor Delta Phi
- Challenger League Baseball
- Troop No Limitations
- Elite Therapy Center
…and more to be announced in coming days!
What: 2020 No Limitations SuperBowl IV
When: Saturday, February 15, 2020
Where: D1 Training – Waco (5100 Franklin Ave Suite B, Waco, TX 76710)
Time: Pregame 12pm, Kick-off 12:30
Cost: Free
For more information contact Coleen Heaton, Executive Director, No Limitations, Inc., 254.723.3828 , [email protected]
By Lindsey Breunig
In 2020, the Better Living for Texans posts will continue, and we are excited to announce that monthly posts will start focusing on a seasonal fruit or vegetable. Material shared will include the nutritional value/benefits, how to select and store, cook and use, and other fun facts regarding the chosen fruit or vegetable! Have a request? Feel free to share and let us know!
Per USDA dietary guidelines it is recommended we consume 1 – 2 Cups of fruit daily. Fruit may be fresh, canned, frozen, or dried, and may be whole, cut-up, or pureed, it all counts! In general 1 cup of fruit or 100% fruit juice, or ½ cup of dried fruit can be considered as 1 cup from the Fruit Group. Like vegetables, we want a variety of color on our plate and in our diet, one way to vary your plate is by choosing fruits that are in season! As we transition into the winter months one may traditionally label winter colors as “darker” and “warmer,” but today’s highlighted fruit is not the case! Winter season is “when you’ll find the bright greens, eye-popping yellows, and oh-so-lively oranges.” Let’s bring out the bright colors and talk about citrus fruits!
Citrus includes but is not limited to oranges. Other types of citrus fruits are lemons, limes, mandarins (tangerines), grapefruit, and kumquats. (source) When shopping for citrus look for a peel that is smooth in texture versus a thicker bumpy peel. Avoid citrus that has soft or mushy spots. Citrus fruits come from a tree and do not continue to ripen once they are picked. For juicy citrus choose a heavier a fruit, and for good flavor take a whiff and know a sweet fragrance often means good flavor. For continued best quality of the fruit, store in the refrigerator’s crisping drawer. Citrus will keep in the fridge for several weeks compared to a few days to a week if stored on the counter. (Source). Citrus fruits are high in vitamin C and folate. Vitamin C is important for growth and repair of all body tissues, helps heal cuts and wounds, and keeps teeth and gums healthy. When it comes to citrus fruits there are a range of options available.
Orange juice is a common staple for many, but one must use caution to ensure it is not the only source of fruit. Juice should make up half or less of total recommended fruit or vegetable intake. Whole or cut-up fruit will provide dietary fiber and reduce sugar intake when compared to juice. Think about how many oranges it takes to make a cup of juice – about 3 oranges! Though naturally occurring, the sugar from one orange compared to a cup of juice adds up quick! If you don’t mind the flavor, try cutting your juice with water to reduce sugar. Additionally, when selecting juice, read the nutritional label on the back to verify there are 0g of Added Sugars.
Precut fruit can be convenient and a great snack option, but often has a higher price tag. Luckily during citrus season mandarin (tangerine) oranges are often on sale and make for a great snack. Trying to find the best deal? Always compare the unit price to see the best deal. See the example below, what would you choose?
Inspired to add more citrus into your winter cooking? Check out some of these great recipes!
- Orange and Ginger Salmon
- Grapefruit Salad and Vinaigrette
- Asparagus, Mandarin Orange, Chicken and Rice
Lindsey Breunig is a graduate of Baylor University and currently works as the Better Living for Texans Educator for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. She is originally from Grapevine, TX and now calls Waco home. Here in Waco she loves to venture out to Cameron Park, visit the local Farmers Market, and try out the awesome eateries in Waco. If you see her and hear a loud bark, that’s her pup Lucy just saying hello.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. This material was funded by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — SNAP. To learn more about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or to apply for benefits, visit www.yourtexasbenefits.com
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.
By Ashley Bean Thornton
My husband and I both wear glasses. I got mine in the first grade. My grandmother (a long-time second grade teacher) was the first to notice that I was “cross-eyed.” My mother didn’t take it seriously at first, but my grandmom insisted she get my eyes checked. Sure enough, I had a Lazy Eye (amblyopia) and soon I was wearing glasses and a patch. Not great for my popularity – but crucial for my academics. My husband, Craig, got his glasses in second or third grade thanks to a teacher who noticed both his squint and that his grades were dropping.
It’s been fifty-plus years since I put on my first pair of glasses and I still remember vividly the wonder of being able to really SEE for the first time. I remember putting them on and taking them off over and over – blurry, clear, blurry, clear, blurry, clear. I remember being amazed that trees really did have leaves – individual leaves — that I could see. The whole world changed for me with those glasses.
When I saw the news on January 24 about the ribbon cutting for Transformation Waco’s Bernard and Audre Rapoport Vision Center, I was surprised to feel tears filling my eyes. Why was I so emotional?
Sporting our specs, Craig and I both flew successfully through our respective public-school systems with few hitches, then on to college, marriage, careers, a pleasant lifestyle, and now, Lord willing, we have our sights set on a hopefully comfortable retirement in a few years. Would it be overly dramatic to claim that our glasses were the keys that opened the door to that successful life? I don’t think so. What if we hadn’t gotten our glasses when we did? What if I had been in fifth or sixth grade instead of first grade when I got mine? Would school have been more difficult for me? Would I have missed out on becoming a confident reader? Would I have missed the foundation in math I needed to succeed in high school and college? Would I have become a behavior problem because I couldn’t follow what was happening in class? What about Craig? His grades were already dropping. If he hadn’t gotten his glasses when he did, would his grades have continued to fall? Would his teachers have developed lower expectations for him? Would he have been slotted into classes for less able students? Would our whole lives have taken a different turn?
Research on vision and learning shows that about 80% of classroom learning in public school is visual in some way. Surely that does not surprise anyone. About 20% of kids have some kind of vision problem. Corrective lenses can correct most of those problems. Low income kids are the ones least likely to get the corrective lenses they need. Again, surely that is no surprise to anyone. According to the Texas Tribune “Public Schools Explorer” 87% of students in Waco ISD are considered “Economically Disadvantaged,” 95% for the five Transformation Waco schools. That’s compared to 59% statewide.
It’s a cliché to say that education is the “great equalizer” in our country. But, is it possible to get “equalized” at school if you can’t see the instructions written on the whiteboard? If the words on the worksheets are fuzzy blobs?
I imagine most people in Waco have concerns about our school system. I know I do. With so many wonderful things happening in Waco, I yearn for Waco ISD to take its place on the ever-growing list of wonderful reasons for people to choose Waco as their home. What will it take to make that happen?
Certainly, it will require all the things that make any school successful – excellent instruction from caring, patient, well-prepared teachers; dedicated support staff, buildings; equipment; technology; parental and community engagement. For us it will also take an extra helping of sensitivity and creativity. We must be sensitive to the fact that many of our students don’t have ready access to things that students in more financially well-off districts can take for granted. Things like transportation; nutritious food; a consistent, quiet place to do homework; health insurance — and glasses. We must figure out creative ways to help our students get these basic supports or overcome the lack of them. The Bernard and Audre Rapoport Vision Center is a terrific example of this kind of creativity. It’s both a homerun for the students who get the glasses they need and a terrific benefit for the high school students who are learning to make the glasses. Bravo, Transformation Waco and Waco ISD! This is exactly the kind of thinking we need! What’s next?
This Act Locally Waco blog post is by Ashley Bean Thornton, she has lived in Waco almost 20 years now. Far longer than she ever lived anywhere else. She is retired from Baylor works part time helping to organize after school programs for Transformation Waco. She likes to walk. If you see her out walking, honk and wave and say, “Hi!”
The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.