Spotlight EP News Dec 2, 2011 No. 407

SPOTLIGHT EP NEWS DECEMBER 02, 2011 PAGE 2
Local Team Brings Home National Championship

1 Evan Villalva 5th year 2 Alex Cepeda 5th year 5 Ryan Gonzales 1st year 9 Anthony Lopez 6th year 13 Jorge Hernandez 3rd year 20 Jesse Estebane 6th year 21 Arron Rincon 1st year 22 Raymond Morales 5th year 23 Eric Diaz 2nd year 25 Deven Meraz 1st year 28 Adrian Hinojo 5th year 30 Cristian Villalva 6th year 32 Gus Yanez 5th year 33 Ricky Galvan 5th year 34 Robert Meraz 5th year 42 Jacob Ramirez 1st year 45 Albert Jimenez 5th year 50 Carlos Casillas 4th year 51 Ethan Ramirez 5th year 52 Devon Acosta 5th year 53 Sam Workman 6th year 54 Santana Ponce 5th year 55 Robert Lazarin 5th year 66 Joseph Raigosa 6th year 72 Carlos Reveles 6th year 73 Tray Villalreal 1st year 77 Jose Leanos 6th year 78 JR Quintero 5th year 82 Carlos Gonzalez 5th year 84 Angel Estarda 5th year 85 Julian Perez 1st year 89 Cory McCoy 4th year
It was a season that most youth football

players only get to dream about, but for 32 young men it was a dream come true. The T-Birds won the 49th Stokes Little Bowl City Championship with a 40-0 win over North East Raiders. The T-Birds also represented El Paso this past week end at the National Youth Football Championships held in Las Vegas and brought back the National West coast championship for the 4th time in a row beating the San Francisco Warriors in a nail biter 30-24. It was quite an achievement, and one these young men will remember for-
ever. Most have played together for 6 years These players who also play for local middle schools- Slider, Montwood Middle, Paso Del Norte, Camino Real, Hernando, Immanuel Christian, Our Lady of Assumption, Riverside Middle, St. Raphaels, Ross, Henderson, Hambrick, Lincoln, Hillcrest, Terrace Hills, Ranchland and Alderete. They dedicated afterschool time to participate with T-Bird program. Playing in the city majors program has been a challenge for these young men. After finishing their regular practice with their schools, they would
also come to the T-Bird practice. The program requires that all players maintain a good academic standing and all have done so. For the past 50 years T-Birds Youth Football has enriched our communities by inspiring our youth through the great game of football while teaching good sportsmanship, teamwork, leadership, can-do attitude, discipline and determination required to achieving their dreams. Keep a lookout for these future high school stars.
Head Coach Erik Lopez 4th Year Asst. Offense Juan Diaz 7th Year Asst. Offense Jimmy Martinez 16th Year Head O-Line Coach Leo Diaz 10th year Asst. O- line Coach Jaime Torres 1st year Defensive Coordinator C.R. Villalva 6th year Defensive Line Coach Carlos Casillas 2nd year Special teams Ruben Meraz 4th Coach - Trainer Joe Ferniza 3rd Year Team Mom- Claudia Villalva 5th year Director Mr. Juan & Catalina Gonzalez 50th Year
Mexican President Felipe Calderon, accused of allowing his Army to commit atrocities
by Joe Olvera , 2011
PHOTO O.VALADEZ.A.REFORMA
Could it be? Is it
true? Mexican human rights activists are pointing the finger of blame on Mexicos President, Felipe Calderon. They claim that Calderon is responsible for atrocities committed by the Mexican Army atrocities consisting of rape, torture, kidnappings, and murders perpetrated against innocent civilians, people who are not involved in the so-called War on drug traffickers. Netzai Sandoval, a Mexican human rights lawyer, filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the Netherlands, requesting an investigation of the thousands of deaths of civilians at the hands of traffickers and Army personnel. More than 45,000 have died as a result of
the drug war in Mexico a war that has been raging from the time that Calderon assumed the presidency and he vowed to eliminate the drug traffickers who were creating such havoc in Mexico. The violence in Mexico is bigger than the violence in Afghanistan, the violence in Mexico is bigger than in Colombia, Sandoval said in his report to the ICC. Sandoval claims that the atrocities committed by the Mexican Army, which operates with impunity, are the direct result of Calderons actions in trying to stem the tide of violence. But, dont hold your breath because an investigation by the ICC could take months, or even years; this, despite the fact that 23,000 Mexican citizens signed the complaint that was sent to
the ICC. According to Sandoval, Calderon, if he is tried before the international court may be out of office since his tenure in office will be up next year. Calderon, speaking in his own defense, has said that his government is not at war with the murderous cartels and that the use of the Army is at the behest of state governments. The accusers say, however, that Calderon has systematically allowed Mexican troops to commit abuses against civilians since 2006, with more tan 50,000 soldiers fighting cartels across Mexico, while the numbers of federal police, who are also accused of committing atrocities have increased from six thousand to 35 thousand since Calderon grabbed the
Mexican President Felipe Calderon presidency. A human rights report says that evidence points to 170 cases of torture, 24 murders, and 39 forced disappearances in five Mexican states. We have known for five years that the Mexican Army is committing sexual abuse, executing people, torturing people and kidnapping, and there have been no sanctions, Sandoval said. In one such case, Susana Seijas, a CBS News producer based in Mexico City, said that Gustavo Acosta Jr., 29, was shot in the head by armed Navy officers. After hearing a banging on his door, Acosta Jr. went to see who was doing the banging.
The Navy officers accused Acosta Jr. of shooting at them. He denied the accusation, but, it did him no good. He was immediately killed. Nik Steinberg, the author of the Human Rights Watch report regarding Acosta, said: The scale of violence that were seeing in Mexico is unprecedented, innocent people are being caught in the middle, theyre being tortured, theyre being killed, theyre being disappeared and theyre being branded as criminals. While Mexican authorities contend that 90 percent of the people killed in drug-related violence are members of criminal groups, this not borne out, because most deaths in Mexico are not investigated.
Pushing Deregulation in the Name of Small Business? That's Identity Theft

By Jim Houser
Running an auto repair shop, I know it's important to have clear rules of the road for how and when to repair and maintain vehicles, and clear, justifiable emissions standards. These standards and rules help keep drivers safe, keep vehicles running clean to protect our environment and public health, and provide businesses like mine with the necessary guidance on how to best serve our customers and protect the quality of life in our local communities. Unfortunately, leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives have declared an all-out war on rules and standards, advancing proposal after proposal that would roll back things like environmental protections, new rules of the road for the financial sector, and other basic safeguards. The latest examples? Two proposals in the House of Representatives that would undermine agencies' ability to establish and enforce basic standards and safeguards: the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2011 (H.R. 3010) and the cleverly acronymed REINS Act ("Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2011," H.R. 10). Both of these proposals are being promoted under the pretext of helping small businesses. This is despite the fact that in survey after survey and interview after interview, real small business owners are saying that what we need is more customers - more demand - not deregulation. These attacks on basic standards are either misguided or disingenuous. They completely miss - or ignore - the basic fact that standards and regulations play an important role in creating jobs and supporting innovation in the U.S. economy. Just look at my industry, auto repair. In Jim Houser our sector, smart and focused automobile emission standards protect the air we breathe, provide needed employment for the nation's repair technicians who keep our vehicles running clean, and promote innovations that help U.S. companies be on the cutting edge of new automotive technologies. In the 1990s, when the vehicle manufacturers (OEMs) declared that the diagnostic codes and emissions service bulletins (TSBs) they provided their dealerships to diagnose and repair emission failures were proprietary information they did not have to share, the Environmental Protection Agency disagreed. The EPA came to the aid of clean air and the independent auto repair community, asserting that environmental protection rights trump intellectual property rights. The EPA required the OEMs to release (and eventually standardize) their codes and TSBs, leveling the playing field for the thousands of small, independent businesses across America who keep the country's vehicle fleet running cleanly and smoothly. If the EPA is "REINed" in, will all the auto repair shops across this country suddenly be relegated to oil changes and tire rotations? Is that how this U.S. House of Representatives plans to help America's small businesses create jobs? We need demand, not deregulation. But to say that all the rhetoric about regulations is just a waste of time would be putting it charitably. It's true, the misguided focus is wasting precious time at a point when small businesses need real action from Congress - to create jobs, to get people back to work earning a paycheck they can spend in their local economies, to deal with the mortgage crisis so those paychecks aren't getting sent straight to Wall Street banks. But bills like the Regulatory Accountability Act and the REINS Act aren't just a waste of time. In fact, they're the latest move to shift risk and shift costs from narrow corporate interests (like big polluters and big banks) to small businesses. When politicians push this anti-regulatory agenda in the name of "helping small business," we need to call that what it is: small business identity theft. It's stealing the good name of small business to drive an agenda that benefits narrow special interests at our expense. Oh, and about that cute REINS acronym... I think a more apt name would be the REIGNS Act, because what these bills would really do is give big corporations free reign to cut corners, use and abuse their market power, and leave the 99% - small businesses and our customers included - to pay the price for their misdeeds. Can someone remind me how that's supposed to be good for us? ----------------------------Houser owns Hawthorne Auto Clinic in Portland, Oregon. He serves on the executive committee of the Main Street Alliance, a network of 10,000 small business owners across the country. --------------------------- Copyright American Forum. 11.11
Big Changes in the House

This is a
year in which the census and redistricting played a big role in the legislature. It is normal to expect some changes in the makeup of the house members and leadership. This year, however, is dramatically different from the last post redistricting election. There was a dramatic shift in the balance between Democrats and Republicans in 2003. From a balanced number of each, the election results in November of that year yielded a big majority of Republicans. The change was because of the electorate. This year there will be big changes in the House makeup. For one thing, I will not be running for reelection. The big change we anticipate is already known. As of this date, 24 House members have announced that they will not be seeking re-election to their seat; 20 R's and 4 D's. While the number of R's may not be that large who are leaving, the fact that 12 of them were high up on the seniority list is a very important fact. Some of them were Chairs of committees. Charlie Howard was not a chair, but he did have a big influence on two issues important to El Paso. He was strongly vocal and influential in defeating the efforts by the Ysleta del Sur to re-open Speaking Rock Casino. He also put the clamps on any amendments to the current Colonia laws. We need some changes to allow properties to be sellable; right now it is practically impossible to sell some lands which make them valueless with insignificant property tax appraisals. The county would benefit with changes. Another Republican member not returning is Joe Driver. He recently pleaded guilty to a third degree felony for misuse of campaign funds. He double billed the state and his campaign funds benefitting him somewhere in the neighborhood of $20,000. Beverly Wooley, Burt Solomons, Jerry Madden, Will Hartnett, Warren Chisum, Larry Taylor, Jim Jackson, and Rick Hardcastle all were Republicans with high spots on the seniority list. Most filled some leadership roles back in 2003 when the majority shifted to 86 R's to 64 D's. Solomons was the chair of the House Redistricting Committee. He led the way in passing a new House Districts Map that was recently overturned by the court and replaced with an interim map. One retiring Republican came as no surprise. Representative Aaron Pena announced after the interim maps were released that he would not seek re-election. The district he was seated had turned strongly Democratic by the court. Originally, it was crafted to guarantee his re-election. Pena was a Democrat who changed affiliation after being elected in a Democratic district. Most viewed the change as self serving. Pena, you might recall, was one of 12 Democrats in 2003 who turned their backs on the party in support of Tom Craddick for speaker. This began an era where El Paso found it hard to get the Medical School funded, impossible to re-open Speaking Rock and disappointing to see millions of dollars shifted from our County to Midland (Craddick's home). Incidentally, standing side by side with Pena in supporting Craddick was Norma Chavez who represented El Paso at the time. The new House makeup is unclear at this time. As bad as the last session was, if we allow the trend to continue, the next one will cost El Paso taxpayers even more in local taxes. The November vote will decide.
Chente Quintanilla
State Representative
By: Doppler Dave Speelman
No More Hurricanes?
The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season is officially over. According to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) the season produced a total of 19 tropical storms of which seven became hurricanes, including three major hurricanes. This level of activity matched NOAAs predictions and continues the trend of active hurricane seasons that began in 1995. The 19 tropical storms represent the third-highest total (tied with 1887, 1995, and 2010) since records began in 1851 and is well above the average of 11. However, the number of hurricanes and major hurricanes is only slightly above the average of six and two, respectively. This years totals include a post-storm upgrade of Tropical Storm Nate to hurricane status, and the addition of a short-lived, unnamed tropical storm that formed in early September between Bermuda and Nova Scotia. Irene was the lone hurricane to hit the United States in 2011, and the first one to do so since Ike struck southeast Texas in 2008. Irene was also the most significant tropical cyclone to strike the Northeast since Hurricane Bob in 1991. As far as land falling major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5 with top winds of 111mph and greater) are concerned, the lull continues. 2011 marks a record six straight years without one hitting the United States. The last one to do so was Wilma in 2005. Nonetheless, wind is not the only threat with tropical systems as proven by Irene and Lee, which caused deadly and destructive flooding. On average, more than half of the fatalities related to tropical systems are due to flooding. Hurricane Irene is an example of increasing accuracy in forecasting storm track. Its landfall in eastern North Carolina and path northward were accurately predicted more than four days in advance by NOAAs National Hurricane Center using information from weather satellites, hurricane models, aircraft observations, and other data. NOAAs delivery of critical environmental forecasts provided essential advance information that allowed emergency officials to plan necessary evacuations and sparked individuals to take safety precautions. But a weaker-than-anticipated Irene at landfall also highlighted the challenges that remain in forecasting storm intensity. Although the 2011 hurricane season has ended, our need to prepare for disasters hasn't, said Craig Fugate, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Being prepared for all kinds of hazards, from hurricanes to blizzards to tornadoes, is a year-round activity. NOAA will issue its initial outlook for the 2012 hurricane season in May just prior to the official start of the season on June 1.
Weather Trivia:
When does the Atlantic Hurricane season officially start again? A. May 1 B. June 1 C. July 1 D. None of the Above
Doppler" Dave Speelman is the chief meteorologist at KVIA-TV in El Paso. You can watch his forecasts at 4, 5, 6 and 10 pm on ABC-7 (channel 6 cable). If you would like Doppler Dave to address (explain) any weather issues you can email him at Dopplerdave@kvia.com.
Answer: A June 1
FRIDAY
DEC 2
SATURDAY
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MONDAY
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TUESDAY
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WEDNESDAY
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THURSDAY
DEC 8
Mostly Cloudy Windy

High: 48 Low: 35
Mostly Cloudy
10% Rain, Breezy
High: 48 Low: 31
AM, Partly Cloudy

High: 47 Low: 30
10% Rain/Snow
Mainly Sunny
High: 54 Low: 26
Mostly Sunny
High: 48 Low: 28
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Ways to Outsmart Inflation

Mary Hunt
If you haven't noticed the arrival of inflation (where the cost of goods and services go up while the value of our money goes down), you must be hiding under a rock somewhere. Even a trip to the supermarket these days is enough to scare the daylights out of an otherwise well adjusted person. Rising prices are not limited only to food. The cost of cotton, for example, continues to skyrocket, making everything made of it go up, too like sheets, towels and clothes. So what's a wise person to do? Fight back! There are things we can do. years (they say the shelf life is 18 months, but I'm going to hedge my bet on that one). Right now, and through Christmas, we have an excellent opportunity to build our nonperishable hedge funds. Pantry staples are on sale in every major supermarket, as happens every year during the holidays. If you want to fight back against inflation, load up on as much of these items as you will need in 2012. You'll be grateful you did come July, when sugar is $7.99 for five pounds, knowing you paid just $3.99 for the same thing seven months earlier.
The Sin Fin Column by Joe Olvera

Occupy El Paso Protesters leave me flat: Maybe its my age
I really cant understand the Occupy Wall Street...Occupy El Paso...Occupy L.A. concept/protests. Im sure that those who are involved in it are convinced in their hearts that, at this time, its the right thing to do. After all, if one percent of the U.S. population has all the money, while 99 percent of us dont, I suppose thats reason enough to protest and to do what? What can I do? Ive been poor all my life poor in wealth, that is. But, my riches have come from different and disparate sources. Im wealthy in having the love of my family, of a beautiful wife who loves me and has cared for me for many years, and for having the love of children who have supplied me with grand-children. I have been respected and considered one of the leaders of my community, of my generation. I have written poetry, fiction, have been a reporter, a columnist and have published several books. Thats wealth, isnt it? But, to many people, thats not wealth at all. Im sorry to say, I suppose, that I havent had the wits or the intelligence to make billions of dollars that people like Donald Trump, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, or Carlos Slim have made. Forgive my stupidity, but, whats wrong with them being able to do the things I havent been able to. Yet, people all over this nation are upset, angry, jealous? of those who had the gumption, or the creative intelligence to make it big. Hence, the protests. But, see the protests are growing ever more violent, as protests are wont to escalate. But, I cant join those protests because I really cant see the beef. Wheres the beef? Ive been through some protests myself, or know of others, that, to my way of thinking, actually demanded protest. One of the first that I heard about was known as the Bath Riots. According to my friend and author, David Dorado Romo, who wrote the book: Ringside Seat To A Revolution, the name of Carmelita Torres will live long in the historical annals. Known as the Chicano Rosa Parks, Torres was a 17-year-old Juarez woman who worked in El Paso as a maid. In 1917, Mexicans crossing to El Paso from Cd. Juarez to work at their menial jobs because, obviously, they werent of the so-called one percent, they had to earn a living. Well, these people, prior to being allowed to cross the border were de-loused with gasoline or other toxic chemicals so that they wouldnt contaminate the one percent who lived in El Paso. Being called a dirty Mexican was not just words in those days. Anglos really thought that Mexicans were so dirty that they could bring typhus and other diseases to the United States. Thus, they were stripped of their clothing and forced to undergo humiliating ethnic cleansing. Torres, however, decided that shed had enough. She refused orders to strip down. Soon, others joined her protest and refused to be sprayed with gasoline and other toxic poisons, such as DDT. A riot ensued to the point that neither the police nor the military were able to stop the rioters. Eventually, however, the protesters were calmed down. Unfortunately, the baths didnt stop there. It took several years before the practice was halted. Now, that was a protest to be proud of. Wish Id been there I would have joined Carmelita Torres. Another protest, one in which I was involved, happened at U.T. El Paso. We were a group of Chicano students who wanted to know about our history, about our past. We asked for the university to hire ten Chicano professors and to create a Chicano Studies Program. The university refused. Finally, we took matters into our own hands and marched into the office of the president, Dr. Joseph Smiley. We demanded that he hire ten Chicano professors. Chicanos were 50 percent of the student population, but, we only had one Chicano professor. Still the President wouldnt budge. We spent several hours haranguing the administration, refusing to leave the presidents office until he had met our demands. We also wanted a Chicano Studies program. Well, we won half the battle, because finally the president and his deans relented and allowed that they would hire the ten professors we wanted, and, so we won that battle or, at least, half of it. But, the protest to end all protests was the Chicano Moratorium Against the Vietnam War in East Los Angeles. The fight was that Chicanos were only five percent of the population in the U.S., yet, we were 20 percent of the casualties in Vietnam. We were merely cannon fodder. The march at what is now Ruben Salazar Park began peacefully enough, until police became involved in trying to send the protesters home. The protest soon turned violent and bloody; so bloody that one of our iconic heroes, journalist Ruben Salazar, was killed by a sheriffs deputy when he fired a tear gas pellet directly into Salazars head, killing him instantly. Two other protesters also were killed in that horrific demonstration. After that there were other protests, other demonstrations held here and there, battles which moved us Chicanos forward, to the front of the bus. Im sure that Occupy El Paso protesters are devoted to their cause, and that they feel economic change must occur. Yet, as protests go this one doesnt compare. But, who knows, I may be wrong. After all, Im older and more sedate. Who am I to criticize? Sin Fin
2. Learn to DIY. We are a lazy

bunch, aren't we? Think of all the ways you hire others to do what you could do for yourself. Just the other day, I dropped off a pair of pants at the dry cleaners to be shortened. When the lady said it would be $7.50, I whipped into mental calculation mode. Sure, I know how to hem pants, but it would take me at least an hour and my time is so much more valuable than that, right? Theoretically, yes. But realistically, I could do this in my sleep or while watching TV. I can pay myself $7.50 an hour to watch TV. And I did, because I ended up hemming them myself.
1. Build hedge funds.

What that means is that you wait until something is on sale at a rock-bottom price, and then you buy a lot of it to act as a hedge against future rising prices. Example: I knew (and reported to readers via my blog at www.MoneyRulesDebtStinks.com) in early October that peanut butter would be going up 40
3. Reduce your needs. I

have a theory that many of the things we characterize as needs really aren't. Our basic human needs are few: shelter, food and clothing. OK, add taxes and medical attention to the list. Beyond that, everything else falls within very strong wants. Start paying attention. Before every purchase, ask yourself, "Is this a need or a want?" I'm not suggesting that we should never buy things that are wants. Not at all. But you won't believe how many times you'll decide not to buy simply because you were honest with yourself. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com, a personal finance member website. You can email her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723.
COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM
percent a few weeks hence. I went to Costco and bought eight giant jars of Skippy Extra Crunchy Peanut Butter before the price went up. My peanut butter hedge fund will last us at least two
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Sharon Mosley
Do dress with personality. This is the perfect time to

show off your own individual style and be a little playful. If there's any time of year you can get away with wearing those zebra print leggings and lace-up ankle boots with a tuxedo jacket, it's now.
Whether it's
a casual neighborhood drop-in, a festive dinner at the boss's house or a formal affair at the local art gallery, there's always a reason to dress up and celebrate during the holiday season...even if you're just going out to eat at your favorite
silver blouse or a sparkling gold clutch. Again, it's easy to get carried away, but you don't want to blend into the Christmas decorations either.
Do add some color.

Black may be your "go-to" party attire, and green and red may be too predictable, but now's a great time to color your holiday world. Pastels are perfect for winter parties this year and a refreshing surprise in a sea of black; creamy ivory is another welcome change from the dark side, too. And the biggest fashion "do" of all? Have a great time, no matter what you're wearing! Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association.
Do think contemporary.
If you've worn the same holiday sweater, candy-cane hosiery and jingle-bell earrings for the past ten years to your daughter's holiday cocktail party, then it's time to break out of your style rut and think 21st century. Try a more "artsy-vintage" look with a jacket in a sophisticated brocade print layered over flowing pants or dark jeans and accessorized with drop earrings, strappy sandals and a small evening clutch purse. For a more formal bash, try a sophisticated tuxedo suit.
Don't be a Grinch. Dressing in head-to-toe green or red is a definite "don't." Yes, those may be the traditional colors of the season, but the key word is "traditional." Ditto for red and green plaid, this is not the time for visions of lumberjacks to dance in anyone's head.
Do be a drama queen.
Now is the time to bring out the flowing velvet pants, the cashmere cape, the faux fur vest and the feather-trimmed sweater. Pay attention to luxurious details, and make them count during this festive season. In my fashion book, it's always better to be overdressed than underdressed. After all, it's that time of year.
Don't be a workhorse.
Going to a party right after a day at the office in your buttoned-up professional suit with your laptop handbag slung over your shoulder is only OK if it's a work-related event, but if it's a more festive occasion say cocktails at eight, or a Sunday afternoon get-together, then it's time to change out of your work wear and into something more dressy. Try to at least change one thing: add a jeweled cuff bracelet, a statement necklace or a sheer blouse. Take a break from your minimalist clothes and live a little.
restaurant with your best friends. But don't let what you wear be ho-ho-hum and spoil the holiday mood. Instead, take a cue from these dos and don'ts and let the party begin:
Don't be a tinsel tart. A little drama is one thing, but all that glitters is not always gold. If you love to shine at a party, then stick to one shimmering piece a metallic, jeweled shoe, a satin,
New designer Blaise Kavahagh puts a contemporary spin on black and white with zebra leggings and a fitted jacket. It is the perfect unexpected style "do" for holiday parties.
DEAR ABBY by Abigail Van Buren
Rose Bennett Gilbert
MOM FEARS HER FUTURE PLANS HAVE CAST A PALL ON THE PRESENT
munity in the memory care unit. During a recent visit, I became upset because the care staff addressed my mom as "Granny," "Grandma," "Mamma," etc. Mother struggles with the time of day, have formally requested that your mother be addressed by name, then that is what should be done in the future. ** DEAR ABBY: When my husband and I are out together, he strides out ahead of me and calls back, "Catch up!" or "Keep up!" I am not creeping along but walking at my own (reasonable) pace. I think he should either slow down or let me walk behind him and not expect me to run after him at his command. What do you think? -- LIKES TO SMELL THE ROSES IN TENNESSEE DEAR LIKES TO SMELL THE ROSES: Unless your husband is a Marine drill sergeant, I think you're right. ** Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069. ** For an excellent guide to becoming a better conversationalist and a more sociable person, order "How to Be Popular." Send a business-sized, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $6 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby -Popularity Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 610540447. (Postage is included in the price.)
COPYRIGHT 2011 UNIVERSAL UCLICK
Q: Our living room is

really big too big! (22 x 20 sq. ft). I'm having trouble working out a comfortable furniture arrangement. There is a fireplace, but if I set the sofa and chairs facing it, what happens in the rest of the space over by the window? Can you draw me a diagram of a suitable furniture arrangement?
A: Even better, I can

show you a bird's-eye view of a real room in Bring an over-generous living room down to human-scale with two seating which a top-shelf profes- areas that flex to fit large or small parties.Photo: Jennifer Rock. sional interior designer has solved a problem created secondary seating areas, Marlborough and, later, the even bigger than yours. using small stools that can be birthplace of Sir Winston I mean that literally. The living room you're looking down into here is not only a bit larger in size at 22 x 26 sq. ft., it's also more challenging, architecturally speaking, because the room has only two real walls. One features the fireplace; the other is almost all windows. The other two "walls" are open to the rest of the house, according to designer Scott Sanders. His professional solution was to create two separate seating areas separate but not equal and anchor them on area rugs, which are alike in color but not in shape or size. One rug is square, the other rectangular "to break up the square-ness of the room," Sanders explains. The square rug underpins the seating area that is arranged around the fireplace (foreground); the rectangle anchors the seating area in front of the large, almost wallto-wall window. But there's more to Sanders' arrangement than meets the eye. Within each grouping he's moved from conversation to conversation. The room's overall blue-and-beige color scheme aids and abets its flexibility, Sanders points out. Even when the furniture moves around, everything still looks coordinated and relaxed, as befits a second home. (See more of his sleight-of-hand at scottsandersllc.com.) Churchill. But Lady Henrietta's business, Woodstock Designs, keeps her globetrotting, recently, to the High Point Furniture where she personally introduced her new collection for the Maitland-Smith Co., which, appropriately enough, traces its roots back to an antiques dealer based in London. Tall, slender and elegant herself in a black twin set, Lady Henrietta certainly knows her English and European antiques. But don't think stuffy: from an inlaid game table that lifts and folds, to a tall bar, a TV cabinet and a grand brass doorstop, these pedigreed furnishings are also practical. Humorous, even: there's a table with chamois and legs shaped like a goat's, complete with a cloven hoof feet. See more at maitlandsmith.com, and learn more about the Lady at spencerchurchilldesigns.com. Rose Bennett Gilbert is the coauthor of "Manhattan Style" and six other books on interior design.
COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM.
back I told my family I was considering downsizing my life and made the big mistake of telling them I want them to eventually have my house. I also revealed the contents of my will. Now I feel exposed, uncomfortable and vulnerable - possibly even a bit paranoid that they might want to have me "six feet under" sooner than I should be. I don't think I am ready to move yet, but I have gotten my family's hopes up. I did talk to one of them and felt reassured at the time, but I still sense that there's a change in how they perceive me and all of our futures now. How can I undo the damage, knowing I have to make sure I have enough money to live on as well as provide for them when I'm gone? -- FOOT-IN-MOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS DEAR F-IN-M: Two of the most sensitive subjects to discuss are death and money, and you deserve praise for having started the conversation. I disagree that making your intentions known instead of having them transmitted during a reading of your will was a mistake. Because you feel there may have been a misunderstanding, call a family meeting and clarify your message. Tell them your health is great, you have no plans to move in the near future and plan to live a long and happy life. ** DEAR ABBY: My mother lives in an assisted living com-
DEAR ABBY: A while
Dear Abby
the day of the week and sometimes forgets who we are -- so I don't see the benefit of using names other than her own. I think it is disrespectful, unacceptable and unprofessional. When I asked the attendant to please address Mom as "Mrs. Smith" or "Ms. Ann," she laughed and said, "Granny wouldn't know who I was talking to if I called her by those names." My siblings and I took this issue to the director, who told us we shouldn't be hurt and that the staff was showing our mom she is loved. I am interested in knowing your opinion on this matter. -- SHE HAS A NAME IN GEORGIA DEAR SHE HAS A NAME: Not knowing the national origin of the attendants in your mother's care unit I can't be certain, but what you encountered may be a cultural difference. In other cultures, calling someone "Mama," "Auntie" or "Grandma" is considered respectful. While it made YOU uncomfortable, if it didn't have that effect on your mother, you should take your cue from the director of the facility. However, because you
Q: Need to refurbish your

country palace?
A: Help is at hand from one of

the UK's most renowned designers, Henrietta SpencerChurchill, whose family home also happens to be one of the world's largest, Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. Lady Henrietta doesn't actually live at Blenheim, which is huge, historic and open to the public as a United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Site. She does keep a cottage on the estate, built in the early l8th century for the first Duke of
Parenting 101: Getting Kids to Talk About

Marilynn Preston A recent national survey revealed something pretty shocking about America's parents. The No. 1 subject they least want to talk to their kids about is sex. Wrong. Try again. The No. 1 subject parents least want to talk to their kids about is ... the federal deficit? Texting while showering? Wait! It must be drugs and alcohol. Wrong again. The No. 1 taboo subject for parents is their kids' weight. About 5 percent of parents in a recent WebMD/Sanford survey think it's tough to talk about drugs and alcohol. About 10 percent get very squirmy when it comes to discussing sex. But a whopping 25 percent are hesitant to talk to kids about how much they weigh. In fact, many parents of 8- to 17-year-olds confess they avoid the weight conversation altogether. Meanwhile, our children are exploding. A third of U.S. kids are overweight, and 17 percent are already obese. That translates to millions of kids showing signs of early heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and a slew of other medical is"Parents inevitably bring their own feelings about weight to the table, which can prevent meaningful discussion," Stone says. "Often they too feel helpless and not in a position to give advice." Which is why so many parents leave it to their doctors to bring up the subject. Fat chance. Teachers? School counselors? Priests and rabbis? Those conversations just don't happen. Stone's bottom line is this: "Parents control the health environment and establish the wellness culture in the family. ... Avoiding the subject is a terrible abrogation of parental responsibility." I'll say. Which is why I'm sharsues that take our current health care crisis and blow it up into a national catastrophe. "These statistics are not surprising, but they are tragic," says Sarah Stone, co-creator of the MindStream Academy, where teens and tweens go to learn about being healthy, fit and self-confident. Parents who are afraid, reluctant or insecure about having that weight talk with their kids are making a big mistake, she says. It's time to stop stalling and start a dialogue, no matter how difficult it is to get the ball rolling. ing some of Stone's tips about what works and what doesn't when it comes to getting kids to live a healthier lifestyle: PUT THE FOCUS ON HEALTH, NOT WEIGHT. What kind of food is served in the house? Do you emphasize physical activity? Is everyone getting enough sleep? Parents need to establish a wellness culture in the house, Stone says, so the dialogue is more about healthy lifestyle behaviors and less about weight loss and diets. ASK YOUR CHILD WHAT WOULD HELP. This is crucial. Though the parent is the authority figure, it's not helpful to assume you know the best way to help your child become healthier. Get your child involved in coming up with the best course of action. Practice deep listening. Ask open-ended, not yes-no, questions. Don't give answers listen for them. DON'T BE JUDGMENTAL. Don't blame your child. If they feel attacked, they'll stop listening. The fact is, we live in a fat culture, and the majority of Americans are overweight. The focus should be on how you can help your kid move forward, expressed as lovingly as possible. FOCUS ON CHANGE, EVEN IF YOU RUN INTO RESISTANCE. Get your child to make a commitment to just one change in the next week. Walking three days a week? Drinking fewer sodas? Success at achieving small goals gives kids confidence, and from that place, healthier habits can take hold. OBSERVE HOW YOUR CHILD (AND THE WHOLE FAMILY) USES FOOD. Continues on next page
Tis the Season to Cut Down on Stuff

Shawn Dell Joyce Black Friday looms, and thousands of Americans will soon be waiting in line for the latest gadgets and gizmos during the wee hours after Thanksgiving. Sadly, less than 1 percent of all those new gadgets bought and sold during the holiday season will be in use six months from now, according to Annie Leonard in "The Story of Stuff," a short film produced by Free Range Films and available free online at StoryOfStuff.com. "The Story of Stuff" chronicles the life of consumer goods from the "cradle to the grave," and offers an alternative vision to our consumerist culture. Leonard points out that we have lost our identities as "mothers, farmers, firemen, teachers," and we've simply "become consumers." Indeed, we are defined by what we consume and are targeted demographically by stuff-peddlers from infancy to old age. In our culture, we feel awkward if we don't have "the right stuff," fashionable clothes, flashy bling and the newest techno-gadget. What we don't often see are the consequences of our national addiction to stuff. We see more advertisements in
zero waste: Use both sides of the paper; carry your own mugs and shopping bags; get printer cartridges refilled instead of replaced; compost food scraps; and avoid bottled water and other over-packaged products. Continues on next page
Is all that new stuff really worth the time, resource and energy it costs? Filmmaker Annie Leonard asks us to examine our national addiction to "stuff" in her short film, "The Story of Stuff." one year than our grandparents did in their whole lifetimes. We consume twice as much as they did as a result. Our houses are bigger, our waistlines are bigger and our savings accounts are considerably smaller. The U.S. has 5 percent of the world's population but consumes 30 percent of the world's resources and creates 30 percent of the world's waste, according to the Story of Stuff. We have already used one-third of the world's natural resources, and we're quickly chewing our way through the rest. A few suggestions for surviving the holidays with less stuff ... Develop habits of
Mixed Emotions
Continued from page 11 Does your kid use food to hide fear or disappointment? Deal with stress? If you can share your awareness of these emotional triggers to overeating, the problem becomes more manageable, Stone says. WALK THE TALK. The example you set is the single best way to change your kid's behavior. If you eat smart, exercise often, don't smoke and deal with stress in healthy ways, your kids are more likely to do the same. IF YOU CAN'T GET THROUGH? Get help, Stone says. A doctor, a friend, a teacher ... but don't give up. Your child's health is too important. ENERGY EXPRESS-O! HAVE THAT TALK TODAY "Letting children continue to feel shame, humiliation and embarrassment because you don't want to talk is only compounding the problem. ... Remember, not facing a fire doesn't put it out." Sarah Stone Marilynn Preston fitness expert, personal trainer and speaker on healthy lifestyle issues is the creator of Energy Express, the longest-running syndicated fitness column in the country. She has a website, http://marilynnpreston.com and welcomes reader questions, which can be sent to MyEnergyExpress@aol.com.
COPYRIGHT 2011 ENERGY EXPRESS, LTD.
Mercury moving retrograde in Sagittarius will square off with Mars at the start of the week, sparking intense and possibly regrettable exchanges. Venus in Capricorn will try to grease the wheels on Monday, and it may be enough to restore the peace. The full moon of the total lunar eclipse in communicative Gemini at the end of the week will bring one more opportunity to talk or hug it out. ARIES (March 21-April 19). It will be a challenge to stay open to the possibilities. It is all too easy to resist the ideas that don't come from you and that don't fit with your notion of how the world is or should be. But one such idea will be your key to accomplishing something meaningful in the next six weeks and entering a new stage of life. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Your impossibly high standards were forged in the hours of practice and work you put into refining your talent. Now you expect the same level of commitment from others. And you just might get what you're looking for this week. When this happens, realize and celebrate the rarity of the occasion. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Your tendency to mind your own business will come in handy. What people think of you falls under the category of "none of your business," as well. Furthermore, anyone intent on pointing out your flaws has big problems that have nothing to do with you. You'll stay on track with your own interests and prevail. CANCER (June 22-July 22). As a rule, you are an extremely tolerant, patient person, though this week you may decide that too much tolerance is hindering a person's growth maybe your own. By Thursday, you'll likely feel ready to put your foot down, to lay out new rules or to simply move on from a stagnant situation. Enough is enough. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You see it when people pretend at happiness. You notice the tiny breaks in voices that give away the emotion underneath. You see the behavioral patterns and tendencies that go unnoticed by the people enacting them. You will use this ability for good this week, giving caring tenderness to the ones who sorely need it. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You know that change is possible. You have a different and unpopular view of what can be changed and what can't. You see the mobility in seemingly fixed institutions, beliefs and structures. You understand how temporary states can seem permanent to the untrained eye, but there is always a way. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Your mind will go to great lengths to lead you away from the suffering of your past. But sometimes it's better to remember. The pain will lessen each time you do. Touching the raw emotion will release it, little by little, until it has no charge left. This week, you'll bravely be willing to go back in the name of moving forward. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Before Wednesday, you'll see the first signs that you actually could be getting what you want. You'll be faced with the kind of challenging situation that inspires you to play the "what if" game. Try to play this game in a positive way. For instance, instead of asking "What if I fail?" ask "What if I succeed?" SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). What you do is never as important as how you do it. The spirit you bring to your activities will speak volumes about who you are and how you see life now. Your beliefs will be apparent to anyone willing to study you in detail as you carry out the most mundane tasks, such as shopping for groceries or sitting in traffic. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You'll strike a chord that few are able to effectively carry off. You'll manage to be simultaneously honest and kind. The way you deliver the truth makes people open up to you. You'll be asked to lead a small group this week, and more followers will be added next week after you've done a stellar job. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You'll have a greater ability to stretch yourself into the world of another person. You'll understand your loved ones better this week, and this understanding will make you feel closer to them. What first struck you as an absurd idea will now seem to have a solid place in a certain line of logic. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You'll get people talking, partly because you'll be doing the kind of novel and interesting activities that lead to questions from the outside world, but mostly because you ask some pretty astute questions yourself. Your curiosity will open new parts of the world to you.
COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC
ACROSS
1 ___ Jessica Parker 6 Luggage fastener 10 Point of entry 14 That's ___ 15 Cyma recta 16 Novelist Wiesel 17 Song of mixed emotions 20 Ash Wednesday monogram 21 Italian stringed instrument 22 Julia's old beau 23 Indigo product 24 The O'Haras' place 25 Weight 28 Moses' spy in Canaan 30 Diamond, of gangdom 34 Kiss-off 36 Spiny-leafed plant 38 Dairy line 39 Song of mixed emotions 43 Kind of badge or horn 44 Ernie's TV partner 45 Gone, a la Jaws 46 Kisses off 48 Honeymoon, e.g. 51 ___ Warm for May 52 Into the Woods role 54 Japanned metal 56 ___ del Sarto 59 Horse or gum 60 Line from Annie 63 Presley's TV debut number 66 Kind of naut 67 Bank concern 68 Dining enticement 69 Concoct 70 Facility 71 Settle a debt
7 Pearl Mosque site 8 Djeuner seasoning 9 Baby's game 10 Make public 11 A as in ___ 12 Copycat 13 Parliamentarian 18 Playwright Bogosian 19 Mien 23 Suit to ___ 24 See 10 Down 25 Impatience 26 Booth, the actor 27 Wicked one 29 Joins the bucket brigade 31 Ham it up 32 Champion, of dance 33 Liston, in the ring 35 All-around truck 37 Ram's inamorata 40 You're ___ 41 Padres or Braves 42 Talk show host 47 Down feeling 49 Petroleum by-product 50 Didn't swing, at Fenway 53 Snare, on TV 55 Merry Widow composer 56 Jezebel's husband 57 No way! to Burns 58 Go for it 59 Answers a raise 60 ___ smasher 61 Scale syllables 62 Dorchester digs 64 River inlet 65 Comstock find
Read My Eyes
Scott LaFee It's almost de rigueur for movies and literature portraying the future: Folks have devices that allow them to see and read information in real-time, usually on some sort of screen in front of their eyes. In a case of science fiction turning into science fact, engineers at the University of Washington and Aalto University in Finland say they've created a "proof-ofconcept" contact lens that could potentially allow wearers to see real-time information projected onto their retinas. Right now, the experimental lens contains just a single pixel, but if the engineers can figure out how to cram multiple pixels and related machinery into the lens, they suggest wearers might someday be able to read short emails, get navigating instructions or be alerted to upto-date health information such as blood sugar levels.
Cut Down on Stuff...

Continued from page 11 Watch less television. "The average person in the U.S. watches TV for more than four hours a day," notes the Story of Stuff, "Four hours each day filled are with messages about stuff we should buy. Those are four hours that could be spent with family, friends and in our community." Recycle. It saves energy and reduces both waste and the pressure to use more resources. Unfortunately, many cities still don't have adequate recycling systems and need public pressure at the local government level to get it put into place.
Start "pre-cycling": Buy the least amount of packaging, or skip buying it at all!
Realize that shopping is not the solution to personal or environmental problems. The real changes we need just aren't for sale not in even the greenest shop. Learn to live more simply so that others may simply live. Shawn Dell Joyce is an awardwinning columnist and founder of the Wallkill River School in Orange County, N.Y. You can contact her at Shawn@ShawnDellJoyce.com.
DOWN
1 Nelson crew member 2 Freeman Gosden role 3 Tour around 4 Part of to be 5 Mr. Macho 6 Ballyhoo
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY with Jim Daly and Dr. Juli Slattery
asking skeptical questions about Santa Claus. We have encouraged her belief in "old St. Nick" up to this point. How do we break the news to her now without coming across as total liars? Jim: Most kids aren't as traumatized by the revelation that Santa isn't real as their parents assume they'll be. My wife and I made sure we "broke the news" to our boys ourselves. That way, they wouldn't hear it from their peers, which may have been more distressing to them and more likely to cast Mom and Dad in a bad light. Our counseling team at Focus on the Family has addressed this question, too, and recommends using language like this: "When you were little you liked to play make-believe. I remember when you pretended to be a princess for months after watching 'Cinderella.' In the same way, it was
Q: Our 7-year-old daughter is
fun for you to believe that Santa Claus is a real person when you were younger. But now you're growing up, and your understanding of the world is changing." When you have the discussion, touch on the fact that families all over the world have stories about Santa, whether he takes the form of Sinterklaas in Holland or Father Christmas in England. You might also want to do some research online about St. Nicholas of Myra, the 4th-century Christian bishop upon whom most historians agree our modern Santa is based. Apocryphal stories about St. Nicholas abound, but everyone agrees with the general idea that he was a pious individual who gave generously to the poor. The celebration of Christmas is ultimately centered on the birth of the Messiah. Because St. Nicholas and Jesus are both "invisible" historical figures, be sure to make
a distinction between them with your daughter. Christ's birth set the stage for His life on Earth, and His eventual death and resurrection to save sinners. Even if your family doesn't embrace this view, it's certainly worth talking with your daughter about the themes of self-sacrifice and selflessness that it embodies. Helping your daughter find joy in blessing others at Christmas will likely evaporate any disappointment she may feel at the realization that Santa isn't real. ** (Jim Daly is president of Focus on the Family, host of the Focus on the Family radio program, and a husband and father of two. Dr. Juli Slattery is a licensed psychologist, co-host of Focus on the Family, author of several books, and a wife and mother of three.) (Submit your questions to: ask@FocusOnTheFamily.com)
COPYRIGHT 2011 FOCUS ON THE FAMILY, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80995 INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT SECURED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
By T.J. TOMASI
A model swing: The top

When you swing to the top of your
swing and pose in the mirror, this is what you should see: your head in the center of the shoulders with the left shoulder under the chin and the right shoulder behind the neck. Check to make sure your left arm is across the shoulder line with hands extended away from the head. The face of the club is square to the back of the left hand, which is square to the left forearm. The shoulders have coiled twice as much as the hips, with the right knee flexed and the left knee turned in, pointing toward the ball; both knees are level. The guiding thought here is coil, with the goal of a 2-to-1 ratio between shoulders and hips 90 degrees rotation from address with the shoulders, 45 degrees with the hips, creating a ratio called the X factor. With a longer club, such as the driver, the club shaft is parallel with the heel line, whereas the shorter irons do not reach parallel. At the top, your lead hip is lower than your trail hip, and your spine is tilted a bit toward the target, with the weight favoring the rear foot. The role of the backswing is to put the angles of power in place while also keeping the clubface square to the swing arc. Coil results from spine rotation, primarily in the middle of your back in an area called the thoracic spine. If you are to improve your coil, it will come by maximizing your flexibility in this region. Here is a drill to help: Take your address position using a driver, then put the club behind you so it lies across your shoulders as Im demonstrating in the photo below. Coil around your spine until your front shoulder is under your chin and your back shoulder is behind your head. This is a full twoshoulder turn, initiated and controlled by the thoracic spine. Be careful not to put pressure ABOUT THE WRITER Dr. T.J. on the shaft or Tomasi is a it might snap. teaching You can use a professional in Port St. broom in place Lucie, Fla. of the club to Visit his protect the Web site at tjtomasi.com. shaft if you need to. As always, check with your doctor before you do this.
DONT MISS IT
BIRDIES AND BOGEYS
50-year hiatus
Among great golf matches theresFrancis Ouimet vs. Ted Ray and Harry Vardon; Ben Hogan vs. Sam Snead; Greg Norman vs. Nick Faldo. But they all pale in comparison to the match that shut down golf in Cuba for 50 years: 18 holes of medal play between Fidel Castro and Che Guevara just before Castro closed down golf on the island. One reason for the match was to mock U.S. president Dwight D. Eisenhower, who so loved golf he built a putting green at the White House. Guevara fired a 127 to easily beat Castro, whose tee shots veered even farther left than his politics as he shot 150. No wonder he banished golf in Cuba. But there is a happy ending: According to CNN, Raul Castro, Fidels brother and the current boss of Cuba, has approved construction of 15 or 16 new golf courses in the next five years to stimulate a wimpy economy thats been a triple bogeyfor 50 years. It took a while, but the result is in: Capitalism 1, Marxism 0!
Golf is played in four dimensions: height, width, depth and time. The most difficult of the four to learnand keep in good shape is time, which is why the Tempo & Timing Package from SKLZ is so helpful in achieving proper body sequencing and swing tempo. The Power Wedge gives an audible click when a properly timed weight shift occurs at impact, while the Swing Accelerator Driver and Iron give the feel and sound when your swing has the proper tempo. This three-piece package is available for $100 at www.sklz.com.
At the top of the swing, this player is coiled for power. His shoulders have turned twice as far from address as his hips, rotating around the middle of his spine.
GOLF SPOKEN HERE
Placing a club shaft across your shoulders helps accentuate the quality of your coil. When your front shoulder is under your chin and your back shoulder is behind your head, youve achieved full shoulder coil.
Its easy to grin,When your ship comes in, And youve got the stock market beat. But the man worthwhile,Is the man who can smile, When his shorts are too tight in the seat!
Caddyshacks Judge Smails offered this classic toast.
SPOTLIGHT EP NEWS DECEMBER 02, 2011 PAGE 16-17
photo-courtesy-of-fanfarlo
Now Showing
BEING ELMO:
A PUPPETEERS JOURNEY
Open 12/02/2011 Runtime 76 min MPAA Rating NR Starring Kevin Clash, Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg Synopsis Beloved by children of all ages around the world, Elmo is an international icon. Few people know his creator, Kevin Clash, who dreamed of working with his idol, master puppeteer Jim Henson. Displaying his creativity and talent at a young age, Kevin ultimately found a home on Sesame Street. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, this documentary includes rare archival footage, interviews with Frank Oz, Rosie ODonnell, Cheryl Henson, Joan Ganz Cooney and others and offers a behind-the-scenes look at Sesame Street and the Jim Henson Workshop. Official Website http://beingelmo.com/
PASTORELA
Open 12/02/2011 Runtime 95 min MPAA Rating R for language throughout, brief sexual content and some violence. Starring Elenco Joaqun Cosio, Eduardo Espaa, Carlos Cobos, Ana Serradilla, Ernesto Yaez, Hctor Jimnez Genre Comedy Synopsis For as long as he can remember, Agent Jesus Juarez, known in his neighborhood as Chucho, has played the Devil in his towns traditional Nativity Play but this Christmas, things have changed. When Chucho arrives late to auditions, the new pastor of the church, Edmundo Posadas, has already cast all the roles. Now, Chucho must enter into an epic battle between good and evil- a battle between himself and the new pastor to recover the role that is rightfully his.
Arthur Christmas
11/23/2011 Rated: PG Genre: Animated/Adventure 'Arthur Christmas' at last reveals the incredible, never-before seen answer to every child's question: 'So how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night?' The answer: Santa's exhilarating, ultrahigh-tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole. But at the heart of the film is a story with the ingredients of a Christmas classic - a family in a state of comic dysfunction and an unlikely hero, Arthur, with an urgent mission that must be completed before Christmas morning dawns. Starring: James McAvoy,Hugh Laurie,Bill Nighy,Jim Broadbent,Imelda Staunton,Ashley Jensen
Hugo
11/23/2011 Rated: PG Genre: Suspense/Thriller Twelve-year-old Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric girl and the owner of a small toy booth in the train station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. Starring: Asa Butterfield,Chloe Moretz,Jude Law,Emily Mortimer,Christopher Lee,Ben Kingsley,Ray Winstone,Richard Griffiths,Helen McCrory,Michael Sthlbarg
My Week With Marilyn

11/25/2011 Rated: R Genre: Drama In the early summer of 1956, 23 year-old Colin Clark, just down from Oxford and determined to make his way in the film business, worked as a lowly assistant on the set of 'The Prince and the Showgirl'. The film that famously united Sir Laurence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe. Nearly 40 years on, his diary account The Prince, the Showgirl and Me was published, but one week was missing, published some years later as My Week with Marilyn. When Arthur Miller leaves England, the coast is clear for Colin to introduce Marilyn to some of the pleasures of British life; an idyllic week in which he escorted a Monroe desperate to get away from her retinue of Hollywood hangers-on and the pressures of work. Starring: Emma Watson,Michelle Williams,Kenneth Branagh,Dominic Cooper,Dougray Scott,Julia Ormond,Judi Dench,Eddie Redmayne,Toby Jones,Derek Jacobi
HAPPY FEET TWO

Open Nationwide 11/18/11 Runtime 105 min MPAA Rating PG for some rude humor and mild peril. Starring Elijah Wood, Pink, Elizabeth Daily, Sofa Vergara, Robin Williams Genre Animation, Family, Comedy Synopsis "Happy Feet Two" returns audiences to the magnificent landscape of Antarctica. Mumble, The Master of Tap, has a problem because his tiny son, Erik, is choreophobic. Reluctant to dance, Erik runs away and encounters The Mighty Sven-a penguin who can fly! Mumble has no hope of competing with this charismatic new role model. But things get worse when the world is shaken by powerful forces. Erik learns of his father's "guts and grit" as Mumble brings together the penguin nations and all manner of fabulous creatures-from tiny Krill to giant Elephant Seals-to put things right.
The Muppets
11/23/2011 Rated: PG Genre: Comedy On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world's biggest Muppet fan, and his friends Gary and Mary from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman to raze the Muppet Theater and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets' former stomping grounds. To stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate. Starring: Amy Adams,Jason Segel,Chris Cooper,Kermit the Frog,Miss Piggy
LIKE CRAZY
Runtime 89 min MPAA Rating PG-13 for sexual content and brief strong language. Starring Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones, Jennifer Lawrence, Charlie Bewley, Alex Kingston, Oliver Muirhead, Chris Messina, Finola Hughes, Ben York Jones, & Jamie Thomas King Genre Drama Synopsis Like Crazy beautifully illustrates how your first real love is as thrilling and blissful as it is devastating. When a British college student falls for her American classmate, they embark on a passionate and life-changing journey only to be separated when she violates the terms of her visa. Like Crazy explores how a couple faces the real challenges of being together and of being apart.
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN - PART 1

Open Nationwide 11/18/11 Runtime 117 min MPAA Rating PG-13 for disturbing images, violence, sexuality/partial nudity and some thematic elements. Starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Billy Burke, Peter Facinelli Genre Drama, SciFi/Fantasy, Romance Synopsis The astonishing conclusion to the series illuminates the secrets and mysteries of this spellbinding romantic epic that has entranced millions.
CINEMARK CIELO VISTA

Gateway West Blvd/Cielo Vista Mall
Premiere Cinemas
6101 Gateway West S.15 Schedule good for 12/02 - 12/08

J. EDGAR (R) 12:15p 3:30p 6:45p 10:00p PASTORELA (R) 10:45a 1:15p 3:45p 6:30p 9:00p REAL STEEL (PG-13) 10:45a 11:45a 2:00p 3:00p 5:00p 6:05p 8:00p 9:30p THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1 (PG-13) 10:45a 11:15a 11:45a 12:15p 12:45p 1:45p 2:15p 2:45p 3:15p 3:45p 4:45p 5:15p 5:45p 6:15p 6:45p 7:45p 8:15p 8:45p 9:15p 9:45p 10:45p TOWER HEIST (PG-13) 11:15a 12:15p 2:00p 3:00p 4:45p 5:45p 7:30p 8:30p 10:15p
Schedule good for Friday December 2nd

2 FOR 1 - THE IDES OF MARCH MONEYBALL R, PG-13Digital Cinema 4:00pm 10:00pm 2 FOR 1 - MONEYBALL THE IDES OF MARCH PG-13, R Digital Cinema 1:00pm 7:00pm Being Elmo: A Puppeteers Journey Digital Cinema 10:50am 1:50pm 4:50pm 7:50pm 10:50pm Arthur Christmas PG RealD 3D 10:30am 1:30pm 4:30pm 7:30pm10:30pm Digital Cinema10:55am 4:55pm10:55pm HugoPG RealD 3D 1:25pm 4:25pm 7:25pm 10:25pm Digital Cinema 1:55pm 7:55pm The Muppets PG Digital Cinema 10:00am 11:30am 1:00pm 2:30pm 4:00pm 5:30pm 7:00pm 10:00pm My Week with Marilyn R Digital Cinema 10:05am 1:05pm 4:05pm 7:05pm 10:05pm Happy Feet Two PG RealD 3D 10:45am 1:45pm 4:45pm Digital Cinema10:15am 1:15pm 4:15pm 7:15pm 10:15pm Immortals R RealD 3D 7:45pm 10:45pm Digital Cinema 10:20am 1:20pm 4:20pm 7:20pm 10:20pm Jack and Jill PG Digital Cinema 10:40am 1:40pm 4:40pm 7:40pm 10:40pm In Time PG-13 Digital Cinema 8:30pm Like Crazy PG-13 Digital Cinema 10:35am 1:35pm 4:35pm 7:35pm 10:35pm The Skin I Live In R Digital Cinema 10:10am 1:10pm 4:10pm 7:10pm 10:10pm
2-D PUSS IN BOOTS (PG) 11:15a 12:15p 1:45p 2:45p 4:30p 5:30p 8:00p 10:30p 3-D A VERY HAROLD & KUMAR CHRISTMAS (R) 12:30p 3:00p 5:30p 8:00p 10:30p 3-D PUSS IN BOOTS (PG) 11:45a 2:20p 5:00p 7:35p 10:15p 50/50 (R) 7:45p 10:30p ANONYMOUS (PG-13) 12:15p 3:45p 7:00p 10:15p COURAGEOUS (PG-13) 12:15p 3:20p 6:35p 9:40p DBOX REAL STEEL (PG-13) 11:45a 3:00p 6:05p 9:30p FOOTLOOSE (PG-13) 11:15a 2:15p 5:15p 8:10p
Schedule good for 12/02 - 12/08

SUPER STIMULUS TUESDAY: $1 DRINK, $1 POPCORN, or $5.00 OFF ANY REGULAR COMBO
ALL SEATS ALL SHOWS $5.00 EVERY TUESDAY!!

THE MUPPETS PG 11:00 12:40 1:40 3:20 4:20 6:00 7:00 8:40 9:40 (11:30 FRI/SAT) ARTHUR CHRISTMAS 2D PG 11:30 2:00 4:30 7:30 10:00 ARTHUR CHRISTMAS 3D PG 11:30 2:00 4:30 7:00 9:30 (12:00 FRI/SAT) HUGO 2D PG 1:20 4:10 7:00 9:50 HUGO 3D PG 12:00 3:00 6:00 9:00 (12:00 FRI/SAT) TWILIGHT: BREAKING DAWN PG-13 11:00 12:00 1:00 1:30 2:00 3:00 4:00 4:30 5:00 6:00 6:50 7:20 8:30 9:00 9:35 10:05 (11:30 12:00 FRI/SAT) The 7:00 & 10:00 will not play on 12/06 & the 1:00 will not play on 12/07 HAPPY FEET 2 3D *3D SURCHARGE APPLIES* 11:30 2:00 4:30 7:00 9:30 HAPPY FEET 2 2D 12:00 2:20 4:40 IMMORTALS 3D R *3D SURCHARGE APPLIES* 11:00 1:45 4:30 7:15 10:00 IMMORTALS 2D R 7:00 9:45 JACK & JILL PG 11:30 2:15 4:40 7:05 9:30 (12:00 FRI/SAT) TOWER HEIST PG-13 11:15 1:45 4:15 6:50 9:25 (12:00 FRI/SAT) (11:15am Will not play on 12/3 & 12/4) PUSS IN BOOTS 2DPG 12:00 2:20 4:40
SLEEPING BEAUTY BOLSHOI BALLET ENCORE TUESDAY 12/6 AT 7:00PM ONLY! MOZARTS- DON GIOVANNI LIVE WEDNESDAY 12/7 AT 10:00AM ONLY! POKEMON THE MOVIE/WHITE-VICTINI SATURDAY 12/3 AND SUNDAY 12/4 AT 11:15AM ONLY!
EAST POINTE MOVIES 12 Schedule good for 12/02- 12/08 I-10 & Lee Trevino
DOLPHIN TALE in 2-D (PG) 11:10a | 1:35p | 4:05p | 6:25p | 8:55p THE SMURFS IN 2-D (PG) 12:05p | 2:25p | 4:45p | 7:10p | 9:35p DOLPHIN TALE IN 3-D (PG) 12:15p | 2:40p | 5:05p | 7:30p | 9:50p FINAL DESTINATION 5 IN 3-D (R) 11:45a | 2:15p | 4:55p | 7:25p | 9:55p THE LION KING IN 3-D (G) 11:00a | 1:05p | 3:15p | 6:20p | 8:30p THE SMURFS IN 3-D (PG) 11:05a | 1:25p | 3:50p | 6:15p | 8:40p 50/50 (R) 11:35a | 1:55p | 4:10p | 6:35p | 9:05p ABDUCTION (PG-13) 11:15a | 1:50p | 4:15p | 6:40p | 9:20p COWBOYS AND ALIENS (PG-13) | 11:00a | 1:45p | 6:55p DREAM HOUSE (PG-13) 11:30a | 2:05p | 4:35p | 7:05p | 9:45p DRIVE (R) 4:30p | 9:30p JOHNNY ENGLISH REBORN (PG) | 11:20a | 1:40p | 4:00p | 6:30p | 9:10p RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (PG-13) 11:50a | 2:10p | 4:50p | 7:15p | 9:40p
CINEMARK 14 - EL PASO
PASTORELA R Digital Cinema 11:35am 2:15pm 4:55pm 7:35pm 10:15pm Arthur Christmas PG RealD 3D10:55am 1:50pm 4:45pm 7:40pm 10:30pm Digital Cinema 10:25am 1:20pm 4:15pm 7:10pm 10:05pm Hugo PG Cinemark XDRealD 3D 9:25am 12:45pm 4:05pm 7:25pm 10:40pm Digital Cinema10:00am 1:20pm 4:40pm The Muppets PG Digital Cinema 9:15am 9:45am
West side of El Paso at Mesa & I-10

12:35pm 1:05pm 3:55pm 4:25pm 7:15pm 7:45pm 10:35pm 10:45pm Happy Feet Two PG RealD 3D 1:40pm 7:20pm Digital Cinema 10:50am 4:30pm 10:10pm The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 PG-13 Digital Cinema 9:30am 12:50pm 4:10pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 10:35pm 10:55pm Immortals R RealD 3D 1:05pm 7:05pm Digital Cinema 10:05am 4:05pm 10:05pm J. Edgar R Digital Cinema 9:20am 12:15pm 3:45pm 7:15pm 10:45pm Jack and Jill PG Digital Cinema 11:35am 2:20pm 5:05pm 7:50pm 10:20pm Tower Heist PG-13 Digital Cinema 11:05am 2:00pm 5:00pm 7:50pm 10:50pm Puss in Boots PG Digital Cinema 11:00am 1:40pm 4:20pm 7:00pm 9:40pm
PREMIERE MONTWOOD 7
ABDUCTION (PG-13) 12:15p 2:40p 5:15p 7:35p 9:50p CARS 2 (G) 12:00p 2:25p 4:50p 7:15p 9:35p DREAM HOUSE (PG-13) 11:00a 1:00p 3:00p 5:20p 7:20p 9:20p RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE (PG-13) 6:45p 9:05p
2200 N. Yarbrough
Schedule good for Dec 3,4 & 6th
SMURFS (PG) 11:35a 2:00p 4:20p THE HELP (PG-13)11:00a 2:00p 5:00p 8:00p THE THING (R) 12:15p 2:30p 4:55p 7:10p 9:20p THREE MUSKETEERS (PG-13) 11:15a 1:40p 4:05p 6:30p 9:00p
TINSELTOWN
Las Palmas i-10 @ Zaragosa

2 FOR 1 - THE IDES OF MARCH MONEYBALL R, PG-13 Digital Cinema 12:25pm 5:00pm 9:35pm 2 FOR 1 - MONEYBALL THE IDES OF MARCH PG-13, R Digital Cinema 2:25pm 7:00pm PASTORELA R Digital Cinema 11:30am 2:30pm 5:15pm 7:50pm 10:20pm Arthur Christmas PG RealD 3D 11:55am 2:45pm 5:35pm 8:20pm 11:00pm Digital Cinema 10:30am 1:30pm 4:15pm 7:10pm 10:00pm Hugo PG Cinemark XDRealD 3D 12:00pm 3:30pm 7:00pm 10:15pm Digital Cinema 11:00am 2:10pm 5:30pm 8:40pm 11:45pm The MuppetsPG Digital Cinema10:10am 11:45am 1:10pm 2:55pm 4:20pm 6:05pm 7:20pm 9:10pm 10:20pm Midnight Showtimes (Late Friday Night) 12:01am Happy Feet Two PG RealD 3D 5:45pm 8:30pm Digital Cinema 10:20am 1:00pm 3:45pm 6:45pm 9:30pm The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 PG-13 Digital Cinema 10:25am 11:15am 12:50pm 1:35pm 2:20pm 3:55pm 4:40pm 5:25pm 7:40pm 8:15pm 8:50pm 10:45pm 11:15pm 11:55pm Immortals R RealD 3D 12:40pm 3:35pm 6:30pm 9:20pm Midnight Showtimes (Late Friday Night) 12:05am Digital Cinema 10:50am 1:40pm 4:30pm 7:30pm 10:30pm J. Edgar R Digital Cinema 11:50am 3:15pm 6:40pm 10:10pm Jack and Jill PG Digital Cinema 12:05pm 2:35pm 5:10pm 8:00pm 10:40pm A Very Harold & Kumar ChristmasR RealD 3D 12:35pm 5:40pm 10:50pm Digital Cinema 11:05am 4:35pm 9:50pm Tower Heist PG-13 Digital Cinema 10:15am 1:15pm 4:05pm 6:50pm 9:45pm Puss in Boots PG RealD 3D 10:00am 3:10pm 8:10pm Digital Cinema 2:00pm 7:05pm MoneyballPG-13 Digital Cinema11:35pm
*NO PASSES-NO SUPERSAVERS
Calendar of upcoming events for El Paso/ Southern New Mexico are from Dec 2nd - Dec 18th, 2011
If you want your upcoming event listed in SPOTLIGHTS Out & About section, please send all your relevant data by e-mail to: editorial@spotlightepnews.com
NORTHEAST/ CENTRAL
R2R/USO Oryx Challenge Cyclefest The
30K and 100K bike events are Saturday, Dec. 3, at 1st Armored Division Headquarters on Fort Bliss, 11685 Sergeant Major Blvd. Opening ceremony is 9:15 a.m. 100K ride begins at 9:30 a.m.; 30K at 10 a.m. Entry fee is $25 ($15 active military; free for injured veterans); registration (by Nov. 30) at active.com. Information: 342-3161. The 30K route runs through Fort Bliss; the 100K event extends to Anthony Gap and Northeast El Paso. Rest stops manned by the USO. Packet pickup 2-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, at Crazy Cat Cyclery, 6625 Montana. Race day registration/pickup is 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. Participants must enter Fort Bliss through the gate off of 601 Spur/Liberty Expressway (exit Old Ironsides) or via Global Reach Dr. Ride 2 Recovery is a cycling program for injured veterans to help with physical and mental rehabilitation.
Charlie Browns story is told in a series of vignettes that features all the well-known Peanuts characters. Though considered a good man by his friends, Charlie Brown cant seem to win the heart of the Little Red-Haired Girl. Neither can his friend Lucy succeed in her crush on the piano-playing Schroeder. Two casts will take the stage. Cast A will feature adult actors and older teens, while Cast B will feature middle school and elementary school performers. Cast A served as mentors to their mini-mes in Cast B. Both casts will be featured in an equal number of performances.
ter church building, 7315 Bishop Flores. Admission is free and the public is invited. Information: 584-4292.
UU Christmas Bazaar
Unitarian Universalist Community of El Paso, 4425 Byron St., will host its annual Christmas Bazaar 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4 and 11. The bazaar features handmade arts and crafts, chocolate truffles, jewelry and a white elephant table. Twenty percent of sales goes toward the UU community. Admission is free. Information: 562-4001 or uuelpaso.org.
The Boys Next Door

El Paso Playhouse, 2501 Montana, presents the touching comedic play Nov. 18-Dec. 10. Directed by Mario Rodriguez. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $10 ($8 seniors, $7 military/students with ID). Information: 532-1317, elpasoplayhouse.com. Four mentally disabled men live in a group home under the watchful eye of a sincere but increasingly despairing social worker. Filled with humor, compassion and understanding, the play shows how the men deal with everyday life.
Holiday Bazaar Ladies Auxiliary Post 812 will host the fair 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at VFW 812, 2400 Davis Seamon (McKelligon Canyon). Information: 525-4757. North Pole at the Museum International Museum of Art, 1211 Montana, will host its 5th annual afternoon of holiday entertainment 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4. Children and family pictures with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, portrayed by Professor and Mrs. Blevins, can be taken in a setting more than 100 Christmas decorations. Information: 5436747 or internationalmuseumofart.net. The event will also feature winners of the museums coloring and drawing contests.
Danzas Espaolas The dance troupe performs a dinner show Navidad de Flamenco Saturday, Dec. 3, at La Tierra Cafe, 1731 Montana. Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner served at 6:45 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Seating limited; reservations required. Tickets: $32 for dinner and show. Information: 533-8890 or latierracafe.com. Youre A Good Man Charlie Brown - KidsN-Co, 1301 Texas, present the revival of the Peanuts-inspired musical through Dec. 18. Directed by Laura Sambrano. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $7 ($5 students, children, seniors and military). Information: 3511455 or kidsnco.org.
Blessing of Nativities
Sacred Earth Ministry of St. Pius X will host a blessing of nativity displays at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at St Pius X Community Center, 1050 N. Clark. Anyone wishing to have a nativity blessed may bring it to the center at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, or Sunday morning services. Nativities will be on display all day Sunday. Information: Mike, 757-9395.
El Paso Gem and Mineral Show The annual show is Dec. 2-4 at El Maida Auditorium, 6331 Alabama. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $3 ($2 for seniors, military; free for children 12 and younger with adult admission). The show features gems, minerals, fossils, beads, silver jewelry, tools and equipment, geode cutting, silent auction, demonstrations and door prizes, Continues on next page
Forgotten Carols
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints presents composer and songwriter Michael McLean at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2-3, at the Mount Franklin Stake Cen-
SPOTLIGHT EP NEWS DECEMBER 02, 2011 PAGE 23 Continued from page 22...Information: Gem Center USA, 5337153, 1-877-533-7153 or gemcenter@aol.com. Larry Coen and David Crane Dec. 1-3 and Dec. 9-10 at Montwood Emerald Theatre, 12000 Montwood. Showtime is 6 p.m. with an additional matinee 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10. Directed by Rudolfo Herrera. Admission: $5 ($3 students). Information: 937-2400. Set in the 1930s, it tells the story of brothers Benny and Phil, who go to the Arizona desert to work as extras in a Biblical epic film. All 3,400 extras are divided into groups counting off by four. While Phils experience as a Three includes relatively pleasant scenes of feasts and parades, brother Benny is a Four, meaning he is included in all ten plagues.
Del Valle Christmas Fair The Del Valle High

School Band and Flags annual fair is 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, at Del Valle High School, 950 Bordeaux, with more than 50 vendors selling arts and crafts and holiday items. Performances by school bands and dance teams begin at 6 p.m. Admission is free. Information: 258-2645.
Matt Maher The contemporary Christian artist performs 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at El Paso County Coliseum. Mahers new CD The Love In Between features the single Turn Around and The Spirit and The Bride. Tickets; $10$15. Information: 534-4229. Navidad de Las Luminarias- The Chapel at
Loretto Academy, 1400 Hardaway at Trowbridge, provides the elegant English cathedral setting for the Bruce Nehring Consorts annual holiday concerts Dec. 2-4, with the Consort Singers, organist Lester Ackerman and the Quintessential Brass. Bruce Nehring conducts. The program of sacred Christmas music ranges from Renaissance to contemporary, including international carol and melodies The Chapel will be decorated with luminarias, poinsettias and white lights. Performances are 7:45 p.m. Friday, 5 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Ages 7 and older welcome. Tickets: $20 (senior/military and group discounts available through Nov. 28). Information/phone orders: 534-7664 (no phone orders after Nov. 28). Payment accepted by credit card at BruceNehringConsort.org or by check or money order via mail at P.O. Box 3708, El Paso, TX 79923.
Desert Crossing Holiday Market Ardovinos

Desert Crossing Restaurant and Banquet Facility will host its 7th annual market 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, in the Sunset Hall. This years market is their largest so far with more than 60 local artists, craftspersons and vendors from the Farmers Market. Brunch served 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner service begins at 5 p.m. Admission is free; brunch/dinner cost varies. Information: (575) 5890653 or ardovinos.com. Gifts include Christmas ornaments, jewelry, handmade soaps, as well as specialty wares such as baked goods, salsas, jams and jellies will be for sale. Champagne tasting offered at the new A-1 venue.
WESTSIDE/ DOWNTOWN
Union Plaza area. Winter hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (No market Dec. 31 and Jan. 7). Space for about 53 artists available each month. Information: 541-4481. Booth space costs $2, and artists will be required to prove they produce their own work. Artists must obtain a sales permit and attend one of the monthly orientation sessions offered 6 to 8 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month in the City Hall third floor training room. Information/guidelines online at elpasotexas.gov/mcad
at Cultural/Heritage Tourism & Initiatives.
Holiday Movies at Plaza The El Paso Community Foundation will host a weekend of Christmas and winter-themes movies at The Plaza Theatre Dec. 3-4. Early arrival to Saturday shows strongly encouraged. Tickets: $5 (free to Plaza Classic Film Festival passholders). Information: 5334020 or epcf.org. Saturday shows are How The Grinch Stole Christmas and
other classic holiday shorts at 3 p.m. and Frank Capras Its A Wonderful Life at 7 p.m. Sunday shows are A Christmas Story at 2:30 p.m. and White Christmas at 6 p.m.
EPSO Symphony of Homes El Paso Symphony Orchestras 3rd annual fundraising Christmas home tour features some of the areas most beautiful houses decked out in holiday cheer Dec. 3-4, sponsored by Pizazz. Continues on next page
Jason Meadows The Nashville recording artist and former Nashville Star performs at Friday, Dec. 2, at Bikini Joes, 1610 Sioux. His latest CD is 100 Percent Cowboy. Jason was named first runner-up on the third season of Nashville Star. He later recorded an independent project with Baccerstick Records, released in 2007, which included the tear jerking single, Eighteen Videotapes. Admission: $10. Information: 7751135. Hillsong The Australian
Christian worship group performs its God is Able Tour at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, at Abundant Living Faith Center. Opening acts are Reuben Morgan and Ben Fielding. Tickets: $24 and $34. Information: 5328543, 800-965-965-9324 or premierproductions.com. Hillsong is based at the Sydney, Australia Hillsong megachurch, which is famed worldwide for its music ministry.
Clendenin Christmas Craft Fair The Clendenin Elementary School PTA will host its 11th annual fair 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at the school at 2701 Harrison, with holiday crafts, clothing, candles and more. The schools kitchen offers menudo, tamales, churros, doughnuts, coffee and soft drinks. Admission is free. Vendor space available for $25. Information: 231-2640.
El Paso Community College concert The

EPCC Music Department will host its annual fall concert featuring the EPCC Orchestra and EPCC Chorus at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, at the Transmountain Campus Lecture-Forum Theater of El Paso Community College, 9570 Gateway North. Admission is free. Information: 584-1595.
MISSION VALLEY
Christmas Fair Our
Lady of the Valley School, 8600 Winchester, hosts an arts & crafts fair 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4. Breakfast foods sold include menudo and pancakes. Information 8597939.
EASTSIDE
Epic Proportions
Montwood High School Emerald Players present the play by
Downtown Artist Market The City of El

Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department new market for area artists are Saturdays on Anthony Street in the
SPOTLIGHT EP NEWS DECEMBER 02, 2011 PAGE 24 Continued from page 23...This years tour features the prestigious Park Hills neighborhood, in the Westside foothills of the Franklin Mountains. Tours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. No strollers allowed in homes. Tickets: $25 for all homes ($20 active duty military). Individual house tours $5; available at the symphony office, online at epso.org or at any of the homes the days of the tour. Information: 532-3776 or epso.org. A Sip, See and Socialize preview tour is 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, with holiday treats and beverages. Tickets: $40. nual lighted Christmas parade. Information: 541-4331 or elpasotex.gov/parks. Saturdays performance features El Paso Chamber Choir, conducted by Prentice Loftin, and El Paso Brass. Sundays concert is the Young Ladies Choir directed by Yvonne Marmolejo, and El Paso Brass. The choir performed on NPRs From The Top in 2009 and at the Vatican last year. Tickets: $10 ($8 military/seniors; $5 students). 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. The celebration offers open houses at art galleries and historic homes as well as holiday activities, food and arts and crafts shows and a $49.99 art sale. Admission is free. Information: (575) 895-5797. To get there: Take Interstate 25 north from Las Cruces to the NM 152 exit at Caballo, and go west 17 miles. For the $49.99 sale, anyone attending Christmas in the Foothills can purchase tickets for $1 each to place in a container associated with each art item. The person whose ticket is chosen pays only $49.99. Author Max Evans will sign his new book War and Music and the 50th anniversary edition of his classic The Rounders 1 to 3 p.m. at the Hillsboro Community Centers Betty Reynolds Conference Center.
Luminarias by the Lake Thousands of luminarias will line the walking paths at Keystone Heritage Park and El Paso Desert Botanical Gardens, 4200 Doniphan, 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2-3, featuring musical entertainment and holiday refreshments for sale. Proceeds benefit the park. Admission: $4 ($3 military, $1 children 12 and younger). Information: 5840563, pasonorte@sbcglobal.net or keystoneheritagepark.org. Memorial Candle Garden luminarias are available for $5 each.
Winter Paradise El
Paso Wind Symphony opens its 2011-2012 Spicy Season season at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, at UTEPs Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall. Tickets $12.50 ($7.50 military, students and seniors). Information: 760-5599 or elpasowindsymphony.com.
San Jacinto Plaza Christmas Tree Lighting The 76th annual Celebration of Lights holiday tradition of the plazas spectacular Christmas tree and displays is Saturday, Dec. 3, at San Jacinto Plaza downtown. The ceremony begins at 5:30 p.m. with live entertainment. The lighting of the Christmas tree at 5:55 p.m. followed by the 14th an-
A Big Band Christmas Concert Jazz Unlimited

Big Band, with vocalist Jachin Ford, hosts its 6th annual holiday concert at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at St. Marks United Methodist Church, 5005 Love Road. Admission is free, donations welcome. Information: 637-4569.
The Iveys El Paso band

The Iveys, along with Just Josh and Poema, perform a benefit concert at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at Baptist Student Ministry, 101 E. University with opening act Jon Roman. Admission by donation; all proceeds go towards the Red Threat Anti-Human Trafficking Program and toward Josh Lopezs Calvary Chapel Bible College in Budapest, Hungary. Information: 533-9881 or utepbsm.org. The Iveys second album will be released in January.
Remembrance and Hope vigil Mesilla Valley

DWI Resource Center hosts a candlelight vigil for victims of drunk driving at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, in the Old Mesilla Plaza in Mesilla, N.M. Information: (575) 382-6245.
Coronado String-athon The Coronado High

School Orchestras annual fundraising event is 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at the Lee Ross Capshaw Fine Arts Building Auditorium at Coronado High School (on Cloudview). The orchestra will perform holiday, classical and popular music throughout the day. Guest performances include the Morehead Middle School Orchestra at 11 a.m. Lincoln Middle School Orchestra at 2 p.m. and Morehead Middle School Orchestra at 4 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are sought to benefit the orchestra. Information: 630-1012 or coronadoptsa.org.
Spencer Theater for Performing Arts Airport Hwy 220 in Alto, N.M. (about 12 miles north of downtown Ruidoso). Free public guided tours are 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays (except show dates). Information: (575) 336-4800, (888) 818-7872 or spencertheater.com. The musical adaptation of the favorite holiday tale Miracle on 34th Street is 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. Based on the story famous by the 1947 movie, it tells the story a nice old man who claims to be Kris Kringle a.k.a. Santa Claus - who is institutionalized as insane. A young lawyer argues in court that he is the real thing. Tickets: $76 and $79.
SOUTHERN NEW MExICO

Carlsbad Winter Wine Festival 10 a.m.
to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Pecos River Village Conference Center, 711 Muscatel, in Carlsbad, N.M. (site of Christmas on the Pecos boat rides). Features wines from at least eight New Mexico wineries, arts and craft, holiday entertainment. Tickets available from the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. Information: Helping Hands Event Planning, (575) 522-1232 or carlsbadwinterwine.com. VIP party is Friday, Dec. 2. Admission: $10 in advance; $12 at the door.
The Gift of Christmas choir concerts

The 25th annual musical holiday celebrations, presented by the El Paso Choral Society, are 8 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3-4, at the Union Depot, 700 San Francisco. Tickets: $15 ($10 military/seniors; $5 students). Information: 479-0156 or elpasoconservatory.org.
Once In a Lifetime
American Southwest Theatre Company presents the play by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman Nov. 17-Dec. 14 at NMSUs Hershel Zohn Theatre. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Continues on next page
Christmas in the Foothills The historic

Black Range town of Hillsboro, N.M. invites Christmas shoppers for a holiday studio walk
SPOTLIGHT EP NEWS DECEMBER 02, 2011 PAGE 25 Continued from page 24...Sunday. Tickets: $15 ($13 seniors; $10 student with school ID), plus service charge. Information: 1-800-525-ASTC (2782). Set in the late 1920s, vaudevillians May, George and Jerry as they decide to take Hollywood by storm posing as voice coaches for the new talking films. The only problem is, none of them know anything about voice coaching. To make matters worse, an arrogant studio executive, a temperamental German director, talentless actors, a nosy gossip columnist and a frustrated writer all combine to make what might possibly be the worst movie ever. Free live music and other special events also planned each month. Information: 1-800548-9378 or silvercitymainstreet.com. Street. Hosted by the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce, the parade includes floats, banners, marching bands and a visit from Santa Claus. Information: (575) 437-6120.
FANFARLO OPENS DOOR ON ROOMS FILLED WITH LIGHT;
Ruidoso Festival of Lights The mountain village of Ruidoso hosts the following events though the Christmas season. Information: 1-888-71-LIGHTS (714-4448) or RuidosoFOL.org. The annual Parade of Lights is 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, in downtown Ruidoso (from Sudderth/Mechem to Pizza Hut), featuring floats packed with seasonal decorations and lights. Special events are planned all day at Wingfield Park in midtown including musicians, carolers, childrens rides and more.
Nuncrackers - The Las Cruces Community Theatre presents the musical comedy by Dan Goggin Dec. 2-18. Directed by Art Haggerton. Performances are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $7-$10. Information: (575) 523-1200 or lcctnm.org. The Little Sisters of Hoboken are back, bringing us their annual Christmas pageant - and this year, its being televised live from the basement of Mount St. Helens Convent. Private Fears in Public Places No Strings
Mountain communitys holiday season events include: The 29th annual Pet Parade is 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, on Burro Avenue, followed at 6 p.m. by the town Christmas Tree lighting and the 2nd annual Lighted Christmas Parade at 7 p.m. Stores on Burro will be open until 8 p.m. for holiday shopping. The Cloudcroft Community Choir presents Lead Me Back to Bethlehem at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at Cloudcroft United Methodist Church. bonfire, roasted marshmallows, Information: (575) 682-2733.
Christmas in Cloudcroft The Sacramento
Theatre Company presents the Alan Ayckbourn play Dec. 2-18 at the Black Box Theatre in Las Cruces. Directed by Ceil Herman. Performances are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11 and 18, and 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15. Tickets: $7-$10. Information: (575) 523-1223 or no-strings.org. Six people with six very separate lives are strangely linked by circumstance. Does Nicola still love Dan? Can Stewart be on the verge of an office romance? Will Imogen ever find true love? Does Ambrose have a secret life? And what on earth is Charlotte up to?
nual ceremony is 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, at Albert Johnson Park, 200 E. Picacho (between City Hall and Branigan Library) in Las Cruces. The celebration includes music by Las Cruces High School Choir Swing Ensemble, hot chocolate and light snacks. Information: (575) 541-2000. Also that evening is the 8th annual Trail of Lights Luminaria Walk at the Las Cruces Downtown Mall and Railroad museum, featuring cocoa, cookies, carols, model trail displays and more. Information: (575) 541-2288 or (575) 5412296.
City of Las Cruces Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony The an-
presents a recital at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at the Black Box Theatre, 430 N. Downtown Mall, in Las Cruces. The program will feature music by composers from North and South America spanning from the 1800s to the present, as well as the premiere of Barrs arrangement of Luis Moreau Gottschalks Souvenir de Porto Rico for guitar. His wife, Melanie, will join him on the acoustic bass guitar for several other pieces. Tickets: $10 at the door ($7 NMSU students). Information/reservations: (575) 523-1223. A meet-and-greet with the artists follows with light refreshments.
Barry and Melanie Jacquess The guitar duo
Having earned international acclaim for their 2009 debut, RESERVOIR, Canvasback Music/Atlantic recording group Fanfarlo has announced the upcoming release of their eagerly awaited new album. ROOMS FILLED WITH LIGHT. The album is heralded by the new track, Deconstruction". The track is accompanied by the Londonbased bands own 15-minute meditation on the songs musical components and what happens if the song just continues, entitled Reconstruction. NPR just debuted Deconstruction as its influential Song of the Day, hailing the uplifting track for pack(ing) an awful lot of winning ingredients into a little less than five minutes Next year is only minus-three months old, and this is already one of 2012s best songs. Whats more, Stereogum recently premiered the Deconstruction companion video, directed by filmmaker Alex Southam. The inventive black-and-white clip is streaming now at Fanfarlos own newly relaunched www.fanfarlo.com. Fanfarlo is set to introduce fans to the songs of ROOMS FILLED WITH LIGHT via a brief series of upcoming U.S. tour dates (see attached itinerary). A fullscale North American live schedule will coincide with the albums release details will be announced shortly. ROOMS FILLED WITH LIGHT marks a major step forward for Fanfarlo, incorporating new textures into their already eclectic sonic palette. Songs such as Replicate available now for free download at www.fanfarlo.com feature
First Fridays in Silver City Several of historic Downtown Silver Citys restaurants, shops and Red Dot galleries will stay open late the first Friday of each month as part of the monthly First Friday shopping event.
WinterFest The holiday event in conjunction with the City of Las Cruces tree lighting ceremony and Downtown Ramble is 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, on Main Street with food and craft vendors, musicians, school choirs and horse and wagon rides following the trail of thousands of luminarias. Admission is free. Information: (575) 525-1955. Alamogordo Christmas Parade The annual
lighted parade, Winter Wonderland begins at 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, down 10th
Night of Lights (Noche de Luminarias) Southern New Mexicos largest luminaria display is 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, on the New Mexico State University Campus, a tradition since 1984. Luminarias will light up the International Mall and the path from the Pan American Center to the Corbett Center Student Union. Also offered are horse-drawn carriage rides, live dance performances, free hot apple cider and holiday treats. Information: (575) 6463200 or nmsu.edu.
more experimental instrumentation than those found on the bands debut. The guitars are now electric instead of acoustic, while synths and samplers have emerged in place of mandolins and glockenspiels. At the same time, ROOMS FILLED WITH LIGHT takes all the themes, musical and lyrical, of its predecessor and vastly expands them with all the confidence of a band gaining control of their aims and abilities. To me the record is really about what a weird and intense experience it is to just be alive and to try to make sense of the modern world with all its bewildering pressures and possibilities, says singer/main songwriter Simon Balthazar. We wanted to figure out what new things were possible with the tools we were using, adds violinist/keyboardist Cathy Lucas. This time there is more of an emphasis on patterns, repetition and hypnotic atmospheres. We were trying to achieve more light and dark, while maintaining the subtlety and elegance. ROOMS FILLED WITH LIGHT was produced by Ben Allen (Animal Collective, Deerhunter, Gnarls Barkley) and engineered by award-winning producer/engineer David Wrench (Bat For Lashes, Everything Everything, Beth Orton) at North Wales Bryn Derwen Recording Studio. Fanfarlo is: Simon Balthazar: lead vocals, guitar, saxophone * Cathy Lucas: violin, keyboards, vocals * Justin Finch: bass * Amos Memon: drums * Leon Beckenham: trumpet, keyboard. For more, please visit www.fanfarlo.com, www.facebook.com/Fanfarlo, www.twitter.com/fanfarlomusic, http://youtube.com/fanfarlomusic, and www.canvasbackmusic.com.
NEW MUSIC
Dec 6th
Bass Nectar - Divergent Spectrum
SKRILLEX
step hybrid ROCK N ROLL (WILL TAKE YOU TO THE MOUNTAIN). Ive listened to so much music for so long, its more about instinct than influence, Moore explains about his sonic inspirations. Coming up, I was into a lot of artists on the Warp record label like Autechre, Squarepusher, and Aphex Twin, so SKRILLEX tracks are inclined to have more changes than most dance tracks normally have. I can draw influences from almost anything. I just like to mess around and create cool new sounds and noises. I just go where the music takes me. After just one hugely successful independent release, SCARY MONSTERS AND NICE SPRITES is the first SKRILLEX release on Big Beat Records, in conjunction with fellow electronic revolutionary Deadmau5s freshly minted Mau5trap record label. For years, the artists needed the record labels. I dont feel that way at all, Moore stresses. SKRILLEX has been 100% independent until now. I think its so important to be self-sufficient as artist. Working with Atlantic / Big Beat, and cooperating with Mau5trap, allows us all to work as a team and ex-
The Black Keys- El Camino
Following its release on Beatport, the 9-song EP dominated the charts on the site, with the title track claiming the site's #1 slot (the first time a dubstep track has ever done so), 8 songs breaking into the top 10, and multiple tracks claiming the #1 slots on several of the sites subgenre charts, including Dubstep, Electro House, Progressive House. Aside from the immediate success of SCARY MONSTERS AND NICE SPRITES, SKRILLEX has also made a name for himself as a highly sought-after remixer. Hes already produced officially commissioned remixes for such A-list artists as the Black Eyed Peas (Rock That Body), Lady Gaga (Bad Romance and Alejandro), and La Roux (In For The Kill). SKRILLEX stands not only at the vanguard of electronic dance music, but the perpetually evolving new music industry as a whole. For me, its important to believe in and love the music youre making. I gave away my first EP on my managers website, just so people could hear the music, he enthuses. It was downloaded by the thousands in just a couple of months, and it hasnt let up since. Thats all the inspiration I need to keep making music. SKRILLEX can be anything I want it to be, he continues hopefully. There are so many different av-
The Cure- Bestival Live 2011
The Roots- Undun Amy Winehouse- Lioness: Hidden Treasures T-Pain- Revolver
Ive been deep into electronic music my entire life. The first records I ever owned were Fat of Land by the Prodigy and Come To Daddy by Aphex Twin, raves Sonny Moore, better known as emerging electronic visionary SKRILLEX. Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails were also early influences. Ive been dabbling in making electronic tracks on programs like Fruity Loops since I was 14 years old. SKRILLEX is part of a new generation of artists that refuse to be restricted by preconceived notions or outside expectations. Genre
has never been important to me, he insists. Ive never thought about music that way. Describing his current sound as a mix of dubstep, electro and glitch all thrown together, new SKRILLEX release SCARY MONSTERS AND NICE SPRITES reflects all of the above and beyond. The uplifting post-trance synth melodies of ALL I ASK OF YOU (featuring the soaring vocals of Penny) stands in stark contrast to the face-melting electro bass blasts of the massive electro-dub-
Shakira- Live from Paris Robin Thicke- Love after War Carl Thomas - Conquered Bow Wow- Underrated
pand on whats already been built.
enues for music now. Video games, movie scores the possibilities are endless, and Im excited to be a part of it.
Nightlife calendar
Dec 2nd
La Parada @San Carlos Building Vinyl Night w/ House shoes(Detroit)
Local support by One Man Jazz, Zeque Penya, System A. and Birth Defects El Paso TX 18+ Door Open 9pm - 4am $5 active military $10 21+ $15 18 +
Dec 17th
The Gift - Child Crisis Center Benefit Show at The Lowbrow Palace Thump Lab brings you The Gift, a benefit show / toy drive for the Child Crisis Center! Whizkid - Rob Bass - Noevol - Elohim Joe N. - Anthony Thump Entry Toys - Unwrapped and new for children ages 0-17 or Suggested Donation - $5
Dec 9th
Ware Present: We Are Local @ Brick & Mortar
Victor Valdez 10 - 12 Ryan Revelez 12-2 Drink Specials $1 Wells from 7 to 10 $4 Effen Cucumber $3 Brick Shots!!! $3 Champagne Brick & Mortar 115 Durango St. Suite C, El Paso, TX 79901 21+ No Cover www.groovetickets.com, All that music, The Headstand 9pm to 2am line starts at 8pm 18+ Dress Code Enforced // Dress funky not junky
La Parada is an ongoing Arts, Music, & Social Part held every First Friday of the month in Downtown El Paso. A grassroots festival representing the local culture and lifestyles of the borderland & the Southwest. Each and every month La Parada features and showcases a revolving roster of local and national talent; live dj sets, performances, live art and cold drinks.
Dec 17th
Stacey Pullen (Cadenza) @ The
OP Ware presents: Stacey Pullen ( Cadenza / Detroit) special 4 hour dj set 12-4 The OP 301 S. Ochoa St. El Paso TX 18+ Door Open 9pm - 4am
Dec 16th
INSOMNIAC AND SMG EVENTS PRESENT an evening with Desolat...
Dec 3rd
Juan Atkins (Metroplex) & Traversable Wormhole (CLR) @ The OP The OP 301 S. Ochoa St.
LOCO DICE
Nova Luna 2270 Joe Battle Blvd, Suite J, El Paso, TX 79938 915.329.4511 Cover: LIMITED $10/$15/$20
Black Friday at Rockstar
Pictures by: Eddie Lopez
On Friday Nov 25th Select hosted a Black Friday event at Rockstar Sushi Fusion Lounge with Los Angeles Dj Metric. Lots of good times attended by great people, check out the pictures.
By RICK MINTER / Cox Newspapers
Gaining perspective
For drivers, racing in other divisions like hitting a reset button
Winning a race in the World of Outlaws sprint car series last summer appears to have helped the newly crowned Sprint Cup champion. Back in July, Tony Stewart outran the best sprinters in the business at Oshweken Speedway in Oshweken, Ontario, for his first career win in the elite sprint car series. He acknowledged during his champions interview at Homestead-Miami Speedway that his sprint car win likely had something to do with his turn-around in Cup. Maybe it sparked something then, Stewart said, adding that he had a lot of fun this season running races outside of NASCAR. I got to run 30 nights this year away from NASCAR and had a blast doing it. I think that was as much as it scares Eddie Jarvis and our management worrying about me getting hurt and how many people it can affect, [Crew chief] Darian [Grubb] can tell you, when I would come back, it energized me. It was like hitting a reset button. It was fun. I had fun racing again this year. I think it transferred to what we were doing with the Cup car, too. We would have fun Saturday night and Sunday, even if it wasnt right or didnt work out, I still had fun doing what I was doing again, and I think that made a big difference. Stewarts comments brought to mind a similar story from 2001. In late October, Bill Elliott, who hadnt won a Cup race since the Southern 500 in September, 1994, was in his first year driving a Ray Evernham Dodge. He took a night off from Cup racing and ran a dirt Late Model race at Sugar Creek Raceway in Blue Ridge, Ga. Racing against a field of 21 of the Southeasts best dirt drivers, and racing a modern dirt Late Model for the first time ever, he qualified second and sped into the lead at the drop of the green flag. It wasnt long before Elliott was looking like the driver who dominated the Cup circuit in the mid-tolate 1980s. As the laps wound down, it got more interesting. Elliott, who had built a straightaway lead, was hung up in lapped traffic, and local hotshot David Payne had closed the gap and was waiting for a single mistake on Elliotts part so he could pounce into the lead. Even when Elliott had to deal with the lapped car driven by one of Paynes relatives, he made all the right moves, and when the checkered flag finally fell, the No. 9 was a winner again. Afterward, he seemed as excited about the victory as if it had been on the Cup level. How did it look? he asked. How did I do? Three races later, Elliott broke his seven-year losing streak. With five laps to go at Homestead-Miami Speedway, he passed his then-teammate Casey Atwood to get the win. The next year he had two Cup wins, including the prestigious Brickyard 400.
Tony Stewart, driver of the No.14 Chevrolet, leads during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20. (NASCAR photo)
ometimes, in motorsports in particular, the way to move forward is to first take a step backward. Even some of NASCARs most talented drivers, when they find themselves in a dry spell, seem to get a big boost from dropping down a division or two and rediscovering how it feels
to be a winner. Darrell Waltrip has suggested in the past that Dale Earnhardt Jr. should step back and run some Camping World Truck Series races, so hed have a good chance of finding Victory Lane and thereby regain some confidence and enthusiasm.
Luxurious Acura MDX is a great family mover.

No one likes hearing when I say the most practical vehicle to haul the family around in is a minivan. Minivans are the opposite of cool, exciting and sexy. Ok, so what is the next best thing to a minivan to do the job as a people mover? Well I recently found out when my two nephews came to stay with us for a week the exact same time I was handed the keys to an Acura MDX SUV. What perfect timing. The MDX is a seven-passenger, three-row luxury crossover vehicle that has an emphasis on both sport and luxury. Since there would be four of us in the vehicle, the third-row seat wasnt a necessity, but it was nice to have, just in case. Plus, it was easy stowable, so it never got in the way. Soon after our adventure started with both the kids and the SUV, I soon found out everyone had something in the MDX that they liked. All agreed that the MDX is good looking SUV. With its bold front end and distinguishing V grill now an Acura trademark, the MDX was always easy to spot and find in crowded parking lots. And its the perfect height too high enough to see above traffic, but not too tall that makes getting in and out of difficult. Both my wife and nephews loved the inside of the MDX, but for different reasons. She liked the luxurious seating with the heated and vented seats. I have to admit, sitting in the MDX was pretty nice, as were all the cutting-edge technology features ours had. When equipped with the Technology and Advance Packages, the MDX gets a multiview parking camera, navigation system, real-time traffic and weather updates, an adaptive suspension, adaptive cruise control, auto-leveling headlights and a blind-spot warning system. So not only did we feel very hightech, we felt very safe a good thing since we had little ones on board. Speaking of which, my nephews loved being seated in the second row of seats. And with good reason our MDX was also equipped with the Entertainment Package that included a 9 display with wireless headsets. They even had heated seats back there if needed (they didnt, but they got a kick out of them anyway). Behind the second row, there was still plenty of room to hold an ice chest, large suitcases, etc. For serious cargo hauling, both second and third row seats can be folded down to accommodate about 84 cubic feet worth of stuff. As for me, my favorite features of the MDX were found under the hood and how it drove. Every Acura MDX comes with a 3.7 liter V6 engine that makes 300 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. It uses a six-speed transmission to sends power to Acuras Super-Handling allwheel drive system (SHAWD). Now in case you have never heard of SH-AWD, this By The Numbers: system is pretty amazing. It not only distributes power between the front and rear axles (like most other all-wheel drive systems do), but also between the left and right wheels. I really liked the way the MDX drove. It does a fine job at acting as if it is not the three-row SUV that it is. Initial acceleration isnt anything to write home about, but once the MDX gets moving, the engine pulls with enthusiasm. Rarely was I alone in the MDX, but when I was, I drove it a little more aggressively to test the SH-AWD system. I couldnt really notice the system modulating power at each wheel, but what I did notice was precise handling. And this was on a dry-road. I can see the real advantages of SH-AWD in snow or other inclimate weather. The Acura MDX comes in one trim level, but the three packages that ours had are available individually. With a starting price of $42,930, if you opt for all three packages, expect the MDX to come out to $55,340. After a week, it was sad to see both the kids and the MDX go. The kids were great to spend time with and spoil and the MDX, well, it still didnt change my mind about minivans being the best family haulers; but it did show me that MDX is one heck of a good alternative. -- Christopher A. Randazzo
NOTEBOOK
Racing Farmer Ray Elder dead
2011 Acura MDX

Base Price: $42,930.00 Price as Tested: $55,340.00 Layout: front-engine / all-wheel drive Engine: 3.7 liter SOHC V6 Transmission: six-speed automatic Horsepower: 300 hp Torque: 270 lb-ft EPA Fuel Economy:16 city / 21 highway mpg [Visit me at www.carsbycar.blogspot.com or email me at autocran@gmail.com]
Ray Elder, a six-time champion of NASCARs K&N Pro Series West division and a two-time winner in the series now known as Sprint Cup, died last week at the age of 69. Elder, driving his familys No. 96 Dodge, won in 1971 and 1972 on the road course at Riverside, Calif. Elders father was his car owner and his brother the crew chief. In just 31 career starts in the division now know as Sprint Cup, Elder had two wins, nine top-five and 16 top-10 finishes. He and his family members were known as the Racing Farmers. Elder returned to the farm after his driving days.
NOTEBOOK
Fine levied for Busch outbursts

The YouTube.com video of NASCAR driver Kurt Buschs profanity-laced rant as ESPNs Dr. Jerry Punch was preparing to interview him at Homestead-Miami Speedway drew nearly 600,000 hits in the first week it was online. Some NASCAR executives likely were among those 600,000 as last Friday Busch was fined $50,000 for his actions at Homestead, which also included an inappropriate hand gesture as he drove to the garage with transmission problems. The penalty notice cited Buschs disrespect toward a media member, Kurt Busch (NASCAR) and similar inappropriate media confrontations earlier in the season. Busch also used profanity as ESPN reporter Jamie Little attempted to interview him at New Hampshire, and at Richmond he tore up a transcript of his own comments when AP reporter Jenna Fryer offered to show him comments from an earlier interview. Buschs Penske Racing team issued an apology for his actions at Homestead, saying: These actions do not represent Penske Racing and are inconsistent with the companys standards for behavior, respect for others and professionalism. In a personally issued statement, Busch said, Unfortunately, our result in the seasonending race at Homestead on Sunday was not what we had hoped for as a team. In my frustration with the loss of my transmission early in the race, I let my emotions get the better of me. I regret having done this and apologize to the sponsors of Penske Racing, to NASCAR, its fans, to the media and in particular, Dr. Jerry Punch.
Crew chiefs head for new teams, new jobs in off-season shake-up
The off-season crew chief shifts are under way. Steve Addington has confirmed that hes leaving his job as crew chief for Kurt Busch. Many in the sport expected Addington to replace Darian Grubb as crew chief for Tony Stewart, but after Grubb led Stewart to the 2011 Sprint Cup title, those plans could be in flux. At Richard Childress Racing, Shane Wilson, who was crew chief for Clint Bowyer, will take over Kevin Harvicks team. Harvicks crew chief Gil Martin will become director of team operations, reporting to director of competition Kent Day. At Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, Chris Heroy has been named crew chief of the No. 42 Chevrolet of Juan Pablo Montoya. He most recently was the lead engineer on the No. 5 car at Hendrick Motorsports. He replaced interim crew chief Jim Pohlman, who is expected to remain with the Ganassi organization.
MWR car rechristened No. 55

Beginning next year, the No. 00 Toyota team at Michael Waltrip Racing will carry the No. 55. David Reutimann, who has driven the No. 00, has been released from the team, and Mark Martin, team owner Michael Waltrip and other, as-yet-unnamed drivers will share driving duties in the No. 55, which commemorates Charlie Loudermilks founding of Aarons, Inc., the cars sponsor, in 1955. Martin will drive 25 races each of the next two seasons, and Waltrip will drive seven times.
Steve Addington (NASCAR photo)
HOME OWNERS - RENTERS INSURANCE AVAILABLE FREE QUOTES 6560 Montana Ave., Suite 6. El Paso 915-779-2489

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SPOTLIGHT EP NEWS DECEMBER 02, 2011 PAGE 2

Local Team Brings Home National Championship

It was a season that most youth football

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Pushing Deregulation in the Name of Small Business? That's Identity Theft

Big Changes in the House

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By: Doppler Dave Speelman

Mostly Cloudy Windy

AM, Partly Cloudy

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Ways to Outsmart Inflation

The Sin Fin Column by Joe Olvera

2. Learn to DIY. We are a lazy

1. Build hedge funds.

3. Reduce your needs. I

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Do dress with personality. This is the perfect time to

Do add some color.

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DEAR ABBY by Abigail Van Buren

Rose Bennett Gilbert

Q: Our living room is

A: Even better, I can

DEAR ABBY: A while

Q: Need to refurbish your

A: Help is at hand from one of

Parenting 101: Getting Kids to Talk About

Tis the Season to Cut Down on Stuff

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Cut Down on Stuff...

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Q: Our 7-year-old daughter is

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A model swing: The top

BIRDIES AND BOGEYS

Caddyshacks Judge Smails offered this classic toast.

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My Week With Marilyn

HAPPY FEET TWO

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN - PART 1

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CINEMARK CIELO VISTA

6101 Gateway West S.15 Schedule good for 12/02 - 12/08

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The Boys Next Door

Del Valle Christmas Fair The Del Valle High

Desert Crossing Holiday Market Ardovinos

at Cultural/Heritage Tourism & Initiatives.