Lunar New Year celebration welcomes Year of the Snakes

The Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures and Education celebrated its annual Lunar New Year event on Saturday, Jan. 25 at its location at 1809 N. Chaparral St., four days before the actual Lunar New Year on Wednesday, Jan. 29. The Lunar New Year (or Chinese New Year for many people) is a celebration of the new year based on the lunar calendar that has been celebrated not just in China, but also in Vietnam, Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore. This year, the museum is celebrating the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac which it symbolizes wisdom, intuition, and…

The Texas 89th Legislature sets its priorities

The 89th Texas Legislature began its regular session Jan. 14. While the deadline to file new legislation is March 14, here are the priorities Texas lawmakers have set on changing the future of education in the state. The legislative session is scheduled to continue until June 2. Unlike the U.S. Congress, Texas Legislators only meet in regular sessions one every two years. The Republican Party still holds a majority in the Texas State Senate and the House of Representatives. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has clearly stated his priorities for this upcoming session, including school choice vouchers, fighting antisemitism on college…

Fire science cadets show off skills at fire demo

As the semester comes to an end, the Del Mar College Fire Science students held a family day to show their families and communities the techniques they have learned. Program Director Michael Schmitt, Instructor Joe McQuary, and Assistant Instructor James Creek oversaw four groups of five students put blazing fires out of a rusted dumpster and an old vehicle. As flames escaped the top of a large dumpster, the fire science students directed the hose and worked as a team, demonstrating the training they’ve learned during program. Spectators could feel the heat coming off the fire and the water splashing…

10th Annual Access and Advocacy Award Ceremony

Del Mar’s Center for Access and Advocacy hosted their 10th annual Advocate of the Year ceremony Oct. 3 at Wolfe Recital Hall on Heritage Campus. A total of eight nominees received awards for their outstanding commitment to helping students with disabilities. Award winners were Steven Kelm, Basic Construction Safety Program with the Continuing Education Dept.; Armando Gamez, Carpentry Program with the Continuing Education Dept.; Albert Curry, Mathematics Dept.; Darrel Rees, Mathematics Dept.; Wassin Atwah, Department of Computer Sciences, Engineering and Advanced Technology; Christi Hill-Troglin Cox, American Sign Language and Interpreting Program; Jim Galvan, American Sign Language and Interpreting Program; and…

The six elections that no one is watching

On Nov. 5, Corpus Christi voters will vote on six ballot propositions focused on issuing bonds and changes to the local sales tax. Bond Measures The first four propositions on the ballot are bond measures. A bond, specifically a municipal bond, is a means for local governments to pay for public projects. They are a form of debt in which the city sells bonds to investors, who can then claim interest on the bonds. The interest payments are sometimes funded by the revenue generated by the project itself. In all bond measures up for vote, a “Yes” vote would support…

HB 3297 gives car owners a break on inspections

Starting Jan. 1, 2025, Texas will no longer require non-commercial car owners to complete state vehicle inspections with the passage of House Bill 3297 signed by Gov. Greg Abbott. This should save time and money for drivers, although the $7.50 fee previously charged during the inspection will now be charged when the vehicle is registered each year. “Vehicle inspections are costly and time consuming and provide little benefit to public safety,” said State Sen. Mayes Middleton. This means that if the car’s inspection has already expired this month or will expire by December, drivers still need to get a state…

Del Mar College’s Dental Program offering free cleanings 

Del Mar College’s Dental Hygiene Clinic Services is offering free cleanings through mid-December to anyone who qualifies.          For more than 50 years, the dental program has given back to its community while also giving its students hands-on learning opportunities.   Starting Sept. 9, the dental program is providing free services to qualified applicants. The services include medical history review, blood pressure screening, intra-oral examination, dental preliminary assessment, periodontal assessment, education on oral dental hygiene, oral cancer screening, radiographs, fluoride treatments as needed, selective polishing, conservative periodontal therapy, dental hygiene therapy, and dental sealants.   “It’s free of charge and it helps…

Local foundation inspiring hope

There were seven reported dog attacks on Del Mar College’s Heritage Campus last year. The founder of the Faith and Hope Foundation, Karen Cowan, hopes to take some of the city’s strays off of the streets and place them into good homes. “We take dogs off the euthanasia list as well as strays,” Cowan said. “As long as they have a foster, we vet them and socialize them and adopt them out to the Pacific Northwest and the East Coast.” When asked why those areas specifically, Cowan emphasized the recidivism rate amongst pet owners in Nueces County. “It’s like buying…

Professor Bryan Stone nominated for ACCT Award

Professor of History, Bryan Edward Stone, a distinguished faculty member at Del Mar College has been nominated for the 2024 Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) of its annual Regional Awards. The DMC Board of Regents initiated the nomination, with Board Chair Carol Scott playing a key role is Stone’s nomination. “We celebrate his work and the representation of Del Mar’s many worthy faculty with this recognition,” said Scott Stone’s achievement is a testament to his remarkable career in academia and dedication to education. He has been recognized with several notable awards throughout his career. In 2019, Stone received the…

Nueces County sees increase in STDS

With the new school year underway, new waves of young men and women have hit the Del Mar College walkways, eager to enjoy the college experience. Unfortunately for some, part of that experience is a painful one: sexually transmitted infections Employees of the Women’s and Men’s Health Services of the Coastal Bend have been setting up a kiosk in the Harvin Center with informational pamphlets, condoms, and more, hoping to educate students regarding sexual health, and stop the spread of STIs. Christina Bonner, Chief Operating Officer of WAMHS, encourages students to utilize the services offered by the clinics. “Most of…