Aldermen approve anti-litter awareness campaign

Valley Freedom Newspapers

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — July 13, 2006 — Being an economy which depends on tourism, the town wants to clean up its act when it comes to litter.

Alderwoman Tara Rios Ybarra her fellow council members she wanted the Island to become a “litter-free town in the forefront of everyone’s mind.”

In response, the board charged last week City Manager Dewey Cashwell with developing a public awareness campaign to discourage litter bugs.

“This (idea) has really been tossed around for two years,” Ybarra said. “I agree that the city has come leaps and bounds forward in this arena than where we were years ago when I came to the Island.”

Ybarra said the town could do more to use education to reduce litter. The campaign will be coordinated by town employees and will include non-governmental organizations and citizens, Ybarra said.

“Most of this starts at the level of public awareness,” she said. “The city cannot do it all, nor should they.”

University to offer Spanish courses

PORT ISABEL - The Port Isabel Public Library and the University of Texas at Brownsville Language Institute have plans to offer Spanish classes for local residents.

The advanced beginner class will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays, and the beginner class will be at the same time Tuesdays and Thursdays. Classes will be through Aug. 10.

Each class costs $250 for 18 lessons. For more information, call (956) 943-1822.

Lighthouse Establishment Cinema 2006 Season:

The Museums of Port Isabel will begin showing films Friday as part of its Lighthouse Establishment Cinema.

During the summer, movies are shown on the side of the Port Isabel lighthouse. Peole are urged to bring a towel or a lawn chair for the screening.

The movies to be shown include: King Kong (2005), Friday; Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat, July 28; American Graffiti, Aug. 11; Ghostbusters, Oct. 28; and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, on Christmas Day.

For more information, call the Museums at (956) 943-7602 or e-mail at info@portisabeltexas.com