Reminder: Today is Voter Registration Deadline for May 29 Primary Elections

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade is reminding Texans today is the last day to register to vote in the May 29 Primary Elections. Voter registration applications must be postmarked by midnight, Monday, April 30 to be eligible to vote in the May 2012 Primary Elections. 

Texans can verify their voter registration, fill out a voter registration application online to print and mail, or find information on how to register to vote on the state’s online, one-stop voter resource, www.votetexas.gov. They can also find contact information for all local elections administrators or county clerks around Texas. 

“Registering to vote is the first step in the voting process and is quick and easy. I urge Texans to visit VoteTexas.gov to find out if they’re registered to vote and if not, VoteTexas.gov will tell you how to register,” said Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade. “If you’re already a registered voter, please check the site regularly for updates on the 2012 election cycle to ensure you have all the information necessary to vote, and make your mark on Texas.” 

Eligible Texans can also register in person at county Voter Registrars offices. (In most Texas counties, the Tax Assessor-Collector is also the Voter Registrar. In some counties, the County Clerk or Elections Administrator registers voters.) To register by mail, applications are available at county Voter Registrars’ offices or the Secretary of State's office. Applications are also available at libraries, government offices, or high schools. 

For more information on voter registration or elections in Texas, please visit www.votetexas.gov. For more information on the Office of the Texas Secretary of State, please visit www.sos.state.tx.us. 

UT System Chancellor Allows UT El Paso to Continue Planning for Potential Boxing Match in Sun Bowl

AUSTIN – The University of Texas System released a video message of UT System Chancellor Francisco G. Cigarroa’s decision to allow UT El Paso to proceed with negotiating contract agreements with various parties to host the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Andy Lee boxing match at the Sun Bowl.

Chancellor Cigarroa’s video statement may be viewed online at:  

On April 26, Chancellor Cigarroa and UT System Director of Police Michael Heidingsfield met via videoconference call with El Paso representatives of the FBI, DEA, ICE, Customs and Border Patrol, and local law enforcement officials

The purpose of this videoconference was to have an opportunity for Director Heidingsfield to present UT System’s Risk Assessment related to the Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., and Andy Lee boxing match and also to receive the risk assessments of the invited law enforcement agencies. There was consensus with Director Heidingsfield’s assessment that this specific boxing match should not be considered a routine special event at the Sun Bowl. There was also consensus that the increased risk indicators for such an event can be mitigated. 

“The thorough and deliberative discussion that ensued during the video conference, coupled with the fact that the El Paso Chief of Police, DEA, FBI and Sheriff’s office addressed my concerns regarding safety by affirming that those concerns can be mitigated to a high confidence level,” Cigarroa said. “This led to my decision to permit UT El Paso President Diana Natalicio to enter into negotiations for UTEP to contract with Top Rank, Inc., for the Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. vs. Andy Lee fight, contingent upon several conditions,” Cigarroa added.

The conditions are:

• A letter of Assurance from the Chief of El Paso Police, the Chief of the El Paso Sheriff’s Office, the El Paso Director of the FBI and the El Paso Director of the DEA that states any increased risk indicators related to this boxing match can be mitigated to a routine level, assuring that this event can occur at the Sun Bowl;
• No beverages containing alcohol will be sold or served at this event nor are alcoholic beverages allowed to be brought onto University Property;
• Any costs for security over and above the normal security measures UTEP would take for such an event will not be encumbered by the University of Texas at El Paso or The University of Texas System;
• Prior to signature, the contract must be reviewed by the UT System Office of General Counsel and the UT System Office of Risk Management and shall conform with Regents’ Rules and Regulations;
• A security plan developed by the UT El Paso Chief of Police to be reviewed and affirmed by Director Michael Heidingsfield;
• A letter to the UTEP community from President Diana Natalicio apprising them of the date and time of the event and providing them assurances that law enforcement agencies have addressed any security concerns resulting from such a boxing match. Furthermore, students and non-essential personnel should feel free to leave the University premises while the event is ongoing.  

“Our universities and health science centers are public institutions and hundreds of thousands of members of the general public visit these institutions every year,” Cigarroa said. “One of the most important responsibilities I have in my role as Chancellor of The University of Texas System is the safety of our students, faculty, staff and campus visitors.”

Recyclables Will Not be Collected if Wind Gusts Reach 40 mph

The City of El Paso Environmental Services Department is reminding residents not to place their blue bins out for collection if wind gusts reach or exceed 40 mph.

The department recommends that residents wait until their next regularly scheduled pick-up day to place their blue recycling bins out for collection.The action is necessary to help reduce wind-blown debris on severe weather days.

Materials placed inside the blue recycling bins should not be bagged, which makes it easy for them scatter all over the street if recycling bins are tipped over by strong winds.

Household garbage should always be taken to the curb on their collection day. Trash placed in the gray bins is not as likely to blow away on windy days if knocked out of the container because the GARBAGE SHOULD ALWAYS BE BAGGED. 

I-10 / AMERICAS INTERCHANGE PROJECT UPDATE

Expect alternate right and left lane closures on I-10 westbound between the Americas Loop 375 Overpass and Zaragoza Rd. Overpass tonight, April 25 from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. (the following morning)

COMPLETE CLOSURES:

Wednesday, April 25 from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. (the following morning):

Left and right lanes on Gateway West between R.V. Drive and Don Haskins Dr.

North to Westbound Clover Ramp between Joe Battle Blvd. and Gateway West

Southbound to Westbound Ramp between Joe Battle Blvd. and Gateway West 

Southbound lanes of Joe Battle Blvd. between Bob Hope Dr. and Rojas Dr.

The northbound lanes on Joe Battle Blvd. between the I-10 Overpass and Rojas Dr will be completely closed on Wednesday, April 25 through Monday, May 7 each night from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. (the following morning)

The southbound lanes on Joe Battle Blvd. between Bob Hope Dr. and Rojas Dr. will be completely closed Thursday, April 26 and Friday, April 27 from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. (the following morning).

The I-10 westbound lanes between the Joe Battle/Americas Exit Ramp and the following I-10 Entrance Ramp will be completely closed Thursday, April 26 and Friday, April 27 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. 

(the following morning).

The southbound lanes on Joe Battle Blvd. between Rojas Dr. and the I-10 Overpass will be completely closed Saturday, April 28 from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. (the following morning).

PLEASE OBEY CONSTRUCTION SIGNS FOLLOW THE DETOUR SIGNS

ALL WORK IS DEPENDENT UPON WEATHER CONDITIONS

Mayor Cook to hold press conference regarding fight cancellation

Mayor Cook will hold a Press conference today regarding the cancellation of the Julio César Chávez Jr. and Andy Lee WBC world middleweight championship fight scheduled for June 16. The conference will be held at 4:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at City Hall, 2 Civic Center Plaza, 10^th Floor Conference Room

Mayor Cook, along with City Council and City officials, will be sharing the most up-to-date information in regards to the City’s actions in response to the announcement that the WBC world middleweight championship fight will not be held at the Sun Bowl.  Included in the press conference will also be members of the State delegation, County officials, surrounding Mayors, and Law Enforcement officials.

REMINDER: Just One Week Left to Register to Vote in May 29 Primary Elections

Voter Registration Closes Monday, April 30 for May 29^th Primary Elections 

AUSTIN, TX – Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade is reminding Texans to register to vote by Monday, April 30^th so they can vote in the May 29^th Republican and Democratic Primary Elections. 

“With one week left to register to vote, there is still plenty of time for all eligible Texans to get registered so they can participate in the May 29 Primary Elections,” said Secretary Andrade. “Registering to vote is an important first step in the voting process and can be done quickly and easily.” 

Texans can verify their voter registration or find information on how to register to vote at the state’s online, one-stop voter resource, www.votetexas.gov. They can also find contact information for all local elections administrators or county clerks around Texas. 

El Paso Parks and Recreation Sports Camps for Children with Disabilities

Register Now

            El Paso, Texas – Over the last several months the City of El Paso Parks and Recreation Department has worked with several organizations including Region XIX, Socorro Independent School District, Children’s Disabilities Information Coalition (CDIC) and Special Olympics to create Motor Skills and Sports Camps for children with disabilities. 

        The camps will be for ages 8-12 with a registration fee of $32. Youth scholarships are also available to those that qualify.

        Registration is currently going on at the Recreation Centers listed below. The program will last through June 7^th.

Pat O’Rourke Recreation Center               901 N. Virginia St.                 Soccer Camp 

(915-533-1611)                                               Mondays & Wednesdays        5:45pm – 6:45pm

Galatzan Recreation Center                        650 Wallenberg Dr.                Soccer Camp

(915-581-5182)                                               Tuesdays & Thursdays           6pm – 7pm

Multipurpose Recreation Center                9031 Viscount Blvd.               Soccer Camp

(915-598-1155)                                              Mondays & Wednesdays        6:30pm – 7:30pm

Veterans Recreation Center                        5301 Salem Dr                        Basketball Camp

(915-821-8909)                                              Mondays & Wednesdays        5:30pm – 6:30pm

Marty Robbins Recreation Center             11600 Vista Del Sol Dr.         Basketball Camp

(915-855-4147)                                               Tuesdays & Thursdays           5pm – 6pm

Information - (915) 544-0753

Fair Housing & Accessibility Summit 2012

Fair Housing & Accessibility Summit 2012.pdf Download this file

Youth Scholarships for Museum Summer Art Classes

The El Paso Museum of Art announces

Youth Scholarships for Museum Summer Art Classes 

A complete listing of classes is available on-line at http://www.ElPasoArtMuseum.org/classes.asp.

The El Paso Museum of Art received generous awards from JP Morgan Chase Foundation totaling $10,000.  The awards will fund 100 scholarships for El Paso area youth to attend summer art classes.  Each scholarship, for one class, will be used to cover the cost of tuition and supplies.  The scholarships are need based.

Interested students may apply by filling out the scholarship form and submitting it to the El Paso Museum of Art as soon as possible. Qualified applicants will receive scholarships in order of requests until all 100 are distributed.

Download the application from our website at:

http://www.elpasotexas.gov/art/_documents/Scholarship%20Application.pdf

For more information please call (915) 532-1707 ext. 27

or visit www.ElPasoArtMuseum.org

El Paso Mental Health Coalition to celebrate National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day with event at Ascarate Park

El Paso, Texas — Today El Paso Mental Health Coalition announced that on May 9, 2012, it would join more than 1,000 communities across the country in celebrating the National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day.

The celebration was created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to raise awareness about the importance of children's mental health, and that positive mental health is essential to a child's healthy development from birth. Last year, the Awareness Day focused on building resilience in young children dealing with trauma.

The regional celebration of the National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day will take place on May, 9, 2012 from 4 to 6 p.m., at Ascarate Park, 6900 Delta. More than 300 recipients of mental health services and their families are expected to participate in this event open to the public. We will have entertainment, food, and informational booths from mental health agencies.

For the past six years, El Paso Mental Health Coalition has offered children and youth with mental health challenges the services and support they need to thrive at home, at school, and in the community. Research has shown that children as young as 18 months exposed to traumatic events can develop serious psychological problems later in life. Those problems include a greater risk of substance abuse, depression, and physical health issues. Integrating social-emotional and resilience-building skills into every environment can have a positive impact on a child's healthy development. 

 “Awareness Day is an opportunity for us to join other communities across the nation in showing how integrating positive mental health into every environment can have a beneficial impact in the life of young people,” said Esteban Zubia, Adult Services Manager for the El Paso County Department of Mental Health Support Services.

"When we focus on building resilience and social-emotional skills in children from birth, especially if they have experienced a traumatic event, we can help children, youth, and their families thrive," Zubia concluded.