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Without any television specials or advertising campaigns to remind us, the fact that April is Fair Housing Month can sneak up on you.

Promoting awareness of fair housing and educating people on their rights and responsibilities is essential to ensuring that we each have what the Fair Housing Act is there to provide – a choice in where we live.

And because it’s Fair Housing Month, April is a good time to highlight the Fair Housing Act and how it can protect you. This is especially important for members of a minority group or anyone whose primary language is not English.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, it is a violation of the Fair Housing Act for an individual to take any of the following actions based on the protected classes of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or disability:

• Refuse to rent or sell a home
• Refuse to negotiate for a home
• Make a home unavailable
• Falsely deny that a home is available for inspection, sale, or lease
• Persuade an owner to sell or rent to a particular buyer
• Set different terms, conditions, or privileges for the sale or lease of a home

Directing a client toward or away from a specific neighborhood is also a violation of the Fair Housing Act whether intentional or not.

Real estate professionals should avoid offering their personal opinion regarding or performing any activity that highlights the racial, religious, or ethnic composition of a given neighborhood or neighborhood school.

Consider looking for a real estate professional whose territory covers a broad, diverse area, as opposed to one populated primarily by members of a certain ethnic or religious group.

Although not specifically identified in the Fair Housing Act, anyone who shows, sells, owns, manages, or offers mortgage services for housing properties might consider providing reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities and language assistance for persons with limited English proficiency in keeping with the spirit of the Act.

The vast majority of professionals in the housing industry are honest, law-abiding men and women who are well aware of fair housing issues. But it is important to learn and recognize discrimination.

Ultimately, knowledge is your best tool to avoiding discrimination. There are multiple facets to the Fair Housing Act and all Texans should be familiar with their rights under the laws of this state and country.

But don’t wait until you start your housing search. Fair housing violations — just like Fair Housing Month — can sneak up on you before you know it.

Sierra Providence Health Network is offering free seminars on surgical weight loss. To register, please call 577-SPHN (7746).

• Surgical Weight Loss Seminar

Class Date: Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Place: Sierra Providence East Medical, 3280 Joe Battle Blvd.

• Surgical Weight Loss Seminar

Class Date: Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Place: Providence Regional Bariatric Center, 1250 E. Cliff, Suite 1-C

Gov. Rick Perry has appointed three members to the Texas Department
of Motor Vehicles Board for terms to expire Feb. 1, 2019. The board
administers and enforces statutes relating to certificates of title and
registration of vehicles, identifying markings on commercial motor vehicles,
motor carrier registration, single state registration, motor transportation
brokers, foreign commercial motor transportation, sale or lease of motor
vehicles, and salvage vehicle dealers.

Luanne Caraway of Kyle is the Hays County tax assessor-collector. She is a
member and past president of the Tax Assessor-Collector Association of
Texas, a member of the Texas Association of Appraisal Districts and Texas
Association of Assessing Officers, a board member of the Texas Association
of Counties, and a past member of the Texas School Assessor Association. She
is also a member of the Calvary Baptist Church Finance Committee, a past
board member of Hays County Crime Stoppers and Central Texas Life Care
Center, and past co-chair of Hays High School Project Graduation.

Robert “Barney” Barnwell III of Magnolia is president of Universal Natural
Gas Inc., and president and board chair of Texas Gas Utility Services. He is
a member of the Texas Gas Association and Aircraft Owners and Pilots
Association Air Safety Foundation. He is also president and past board chair
of the Magnolia Parkway Chamber of Commerce, board chair and past president
of the R.S. Barnwell Memorial Garden and Art Center, and co-founder and past
president of the Samaritan Counseling Center. Barnwell received a law degree
from Louisiana State University. He is reappointed to the board.

Raymond Palacios Jr. of El Paso is president of Bravo Chevrolet Cadillac. He
is a member and past district director of the Texas Automotive Dealers
Association, board member of the Borderplex Alliance, past president of the
El Paso New Car Dealers Association, past vice chair of the General Motors
Minority Dealer Advisory Council, and a past member of the National
Chevrolet Dealer and Hummer Dealer Advisory councils. He is a member of the
Dona Ana Community College and Paul L. Foster School of Medicine Dean’s
Advisory councils, a board member of the Medical Center of the Americas
Foundation and CommUNITY en Acción, and a graduate of Leadership El Paso and
Leadership Houston. He is also a founder and past president of the Mexican
American University of Houston Alumni Association, past president of the
Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans, and a past board
member of Leadership Houston, the University of Houston Alumni Association,
Yucca Council Boy Scouts of America, and El Paso Better Business Bureau. He
served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Palacios received a bachelor’s degree from
the University of Houston. He is reappointed to the board.

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced today that the
President has made the following nomination:

Army Maj. Gen. David L. Mann for appointment to the rank of
lieutenant general and for assignment as the commanding general, U.S. Army
Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command, Redstone
Arsenal, Ala.  Mann is currently serving as commanding general, U.S. Army
Recruiting Command, Fort Knox, Ky. Gen. Mann is the former commander of the
32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command at Fort Bliss.

Army Brig. Gen. Stephen M. Twitty for appointment to the rank of major
general.  Twitty is currently serving as deputy chief of staff,
communications, Headquarters, International Security Assistance Force,
Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan. Gen. Twitty is the former deputy
commander for operations at 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss.

Army Brig. Gen. Gwendolyn Bingham for appointment to the rank of major
general.  Bingham is currently serving as commanding general, White Sands
Missile Range, White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

On Friday, March 22, the Texas House Committee on International Trade and
Intergovernmental Affairs will convene in El Paso, Texas, at the El Paso City Hall, 2 Civic
Center Plaza, El Paso, TX 79901, at 9:00am Mountain Time. Committee Members will hear
invited testimony only on the topic: “Border Crossing Opportunities and Innovations.”

For 11 years in a row, Texas has led all U.S. states in total exports. In 2011, Mexico, Texas’
biggest customer, bought nearly $95 billion of Texas products, one-third of Texas’ total exports.
Four of Texas’ 28 border crossings with Mexico are located in El Paso, processing over $11
billion in merchandise in 2011.

“El Paso’s world class cross-border port and bridge facilities help keep Texas in the vanguard of
the world’s trading nations. The city offers the ideal backdrop for Committee Members to
examine the challenges facing Texas-Mexico border crossings, and the opportunities to improve
their efficiency, capacity and performance.”

Chairman Anchia is a member of President Obama’s Advisory Committee on Trade and
Negotiations (ACTPN). In January, House Speaker Joe Straus appointed him Chair of the
Committee on International Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs.

WHO: Mayor John Cook and First Lady (Tram Cook)

WHAT: First Lady’s Program to Feed the Homeless

WHEN: Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 12noon

WHERE: The Christian Home

7365 Alameda

El Paso, TX  79915

WHY: This initiative started at the beginning of Mayor Cook’s tenure in an effort on behalf of the First Lady, Tram Cook, to give back to the community she has called home for over 30 years.  The First Lady and several volunteers will prepare and serve a meal to almost 35 residents within the El Paso are this Saturday.  The Christian home is a ministry that helps those who want to change and overcome obstacles in their lives.  Previous meals have been served several times at different locations such as the La Evangelica Church, Sin Fronteras, the Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veterans Home, Center for Children, Dame La Mano Pregnancy Crisis Center, Villa Maria, Nazareth Hall Nursing Center, the Salvation Army, The Pride Center, The Reynolds Home, YWCA Sarah McKnight Transitional Living Center, the Child Crisis Center, Lee & Beulah Moor Children’s Home, Center Against Family Violence, The Rescue Mission, La Posada Home, Ronald McDonald House in El Paso and a Thanksgiving Dinner for seven consecutive years held at the El Paso Convention Center.

Beginning Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 4:00pm the following areas will begin to move out of City Hall into the New City Hall, located at 300 N. Campbell.

Human Resources

Insurance & Benefits

The offices will be at the new location at 300 N. Campbell, 1^st  floor with the same phone numbers and open for business beginning Monday, March 25, 2013,7:00 am – 6:00pm.

Additionally, the Office of Management & Budget will also relocate beginning Wednesday March 20, 2013 to the Wells Fargo Building, 221 N. Kansas, 16^thfloor. The office will re-open for business Monday, March 25, 2013,7:00 am – 6:00pm.

For all updated information on the City Hall Relocation please visit the City homepage at www.elpasotexas.gov and click on “City Hall Relocation.”

Beginning April 1^st 2013, the City of El Paso Department of Public Health will be offering extended hours to clients by staying open until 8:00 p.m. on Thursdays. The changes come after more than 2,000 surveys were administered in March of 2011 and 2012. The documents were reviewed to see what clients felt could be done to improve service.

“The change to our operational hours will make immunization services more accessible to working parents without having to miss work; in addition, children will not miss school when they need immunizations,” said Alejandra Rodarte, Public Health Supervisor.

As part of the changes, all Immunization Centers will be closed on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The following is the new schedule of operations:

Northeast & Westside

Monday – Wednesday: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Thursday:  9 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Ysleta, Tigua & Henderson

Monday – Wednesday:  6:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Thursday:  9 a.m. – 8 p.m.

For more information on clinic schedules and services provided, please call: (915) 771-5822 or (915) 771-5733.

For more information on the programs and services offered by the Department of Public Health, please visit http:/www.elpasotexas.gov/health/ or call 2-1-1.

The City of El Paso Department of Public Health’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program and the City of El Paso Parks and Recreation Department are teaming up with other local programs to promote healthy eating during National Nutrition Month®. The educational campaign, which begins March 1^st, is sponsored annually by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and this year marks its 40^th anniversary. The focus is to raise awareness of the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.

This year’s theme is “Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day” and aims to assist individuals plan nutritious meals based on individual preferences. With that in mind the Department is promoting the use of gardens as a way to obtain fresh food. The following are particulars for the event:

Free Gardening Workshop

Saturday, March 16, 2013

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Vista Del Valle Community Garden

9031 Viscount, El Paso, Texas 79925

A garden is beneficial to you and your family which allows you to grow vegetables you can incorporate into every meal and you may also involve your children. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend filling half your plate with fruits and vegetables every meal which are the best sources of carotenoids and vitamin C, as well as other phytonutrients that may help protect against some health problems such as cancers and heart disease.

For more information on National Nutrition Month please visit: http://www.eatright.org/nnm/#.UR0KZPJnSSo.

Animal enrichment, Arts & Crafts Activities and More! 

The El Paso Zoo will be hosting Color Coated Animal Art Gallery & Enrichment Days from March 16- 24 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Visitors will have the opportunity to see art painted by the Zoo’s wildly artistic animals. Works displayed are from a variety of animal residents at the zoo including Ibu the Sumatran Orangutan; Juno and Savannah the Asian Elephants; Pete the Gila Monster; the Meerkat Mob and many more.

“We’re looking forward to sharing these animal paintings with the community. The paintings are quite impressive! You won’t want to miss out on this event,” said Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator Karla Martinez.

Painting is a part of the Zoo’s enrichment program which is designed and specialized to meet each species’ needs which provide daily challenges and experiences similar to those they would encounter in the wild, such as, encountering new scents and novel food items. The painting process is one of many enrichment activities for animals at the zoo.

“Enrichment is a vital part to animal care and we are continually coming up with new ways to keep our animals stimulated. These paintings demonstrate several of our enrichment techniques and can also connect zoo guests to our animals in a very unique way. Hopefully these connections will encourage people to take action in conservation efforts,” said Enrichment Coordinator CarrieTrudeau.

During the event, zoo animals will receive piñatas, flowers (made of tissue paper) and some of their favorite fruits throughout the week for visitors to watch as they enjoy (or devour) their special treats. Hands-on pet enrichment demonstrations will take place twice a day (10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.) for visitors to learn how to make enrichments for their own pets. Arts & crafts will also be available for children.

Entry to the art gallery and activities are included with regular zoo admission.

Other activities for families to enjoy: Hunt Family Desert Spring Splash Pad, African Star Train ($1.50 for kids/members, $2 for adults), Giraffe Encounters (11 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. – require $2 token), free daily animal training presentations and animal encounters. 

Freedom Crossing at Fort Bliss is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Street Festival on Saturday, March 16 and Sunday, March 17, 2013. The Festival is open to the public and will be held on the promenade area outside of Shamrocks Irish Pub at Freedom Crossing. The event will take place over the entire weekend of St. Patrick’s Day with activities beginning at 12:00 p.m. each day and concluding at 12:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 16 and 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 17.
Each day of the weekend-long event will feature live music from local El Paso bands and musicians, DJs, authentic Irish bagpipes, traditional Irish food as well as grilled food, beer and soft drinks. Family activities will be offered from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day and will include face painting, leprechaun characters, and Irish hat and bead necklace giveaways. A complete schedule of daily activities and band performances is available at www.freedomcrossingatfortbliss.com.
St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, also marks the 2-year anniversary of El Paso’s only authentic Irish pub, Shamrocks. The pub will host a countdown to midnight on Saturday, March 16th to celebrate their anniversary and the arrival of St. Patrick’s Day.

This event is open to the public. To enter Fort Bliss and Freedom Crossing, show a U.S. driver’s license or other U.S. Government issued ID at the Robert E. Lee or Cassidy Gates. Freedom Crossing is located 1611 Haan Road, Fort Bliss, TX. For directions and more information, visit www.freedomcrossingatfortbliss.com.

(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio from Argentina was elected as pope Wednesday March 13, 2013 and will be known as Francis 1. He became first pope from outside Europe in more than a 1000 years.

El Paso Community College (EPCC) is mourning the loss of one of its founding fathers, Joe Foster.  Mr. Foster was the first Chair of the EPCC Board of Trustees, serving from 1969-1977.

On June 28, 1969, voters in El Paso County approved the creation of EPCC without the funding.  Mr. Foster’s tireless work over the next few years saw the opening of the college in the fall of 1971 with evening classes in high schools around the area.   Under his leadership, EPCC leased space at the Logan Heights area of Fort Bliss to house the first campus in 1972, as well as expanding to the Rio Grande campus in 1975.

Joe Foster may be best remembered for leading EPCC during a case before the United States Supreme Court to overturn the decision of a bond election.  The overturning of the 1975 election paved the way for the Valle Verde and Transmountain campuses to be funded.  The case would change laws nationwide that allowed only landowners to vote for tax and bond elections.

A memorial service will be held for Mr. Foster at 2:00 p.m., Friday, March 15 at the Trinity First United Methodist Church, 801 N. Mesa.