News

Mission Accomplished!

Details: Published: Wednesday, 07 August 2019 22:37; Written by Carina Brunson

Mission makes history by earning its first ever All-America City title

Mission, TX- It was a mission accomplished. For the first time ever, the City of Mission was named an All-America City on June 23, 2019 at the 70th annual All-America City awards in Denver.

“I have always known Mission is a city with endless possibilities,” Mayor Dr. Armando O’Caña said. “Being named a 2019 All-America City just emphasizes our place among the great cities of our nation. This is one of the goals I wanted to achieve for our community, and thanks to our civic engagement, our devoted delegation and our great projects we did it!”

The National Civic League recognizes ten communities each year for exceptional civic accomplishments. To win, each community must demonstrate civic engagement, innovation, inclusiveness and collaboration by describing effective efforts to address pressing local challenges. The finalist cities traveled to Denver to make presentations before a jury panel to demonstrate why their community deserved the All-America City designation. The presentations from each city included skits, music, impassioned speeches and testimonials from community members.

This is the first year the City of Mission applied for the award, and they were named a top 20 finalist. Their theme was: Mission Possible, a play off the American action spy films starring Tom Cruise. Part of Mission’s skit included Cristina Garza, the Director of Social Impact at the Mission Economic Development Corporation. Garza dressed up as “Ruby the Grapefruit,” the Mission Chamber of Commerce’s celebrated mascot.

“As soon as I saw the costume, I knew I wanted that to be my role,” Garza said. “I got the job by simply telling people individually that I was going to be the grapefruit, that it was decided. No one contested it or even questioned my assertion. Success is about creating opportunities for oneself.”

For this year’s award, the National Civic League placed an emphasis on creating healthy communities through inclusive civic engagement. Mission’s presentation highlighted the city’s pet adoption program — Mission Pawsible, the expansion of the local food pantry and the addition of outdoor food blessing boxes for families in need after closing hours, along with their tennis program for the visually impaired. The honor came at a time of deep sadness for the city following the death of a Mission police officer.

“A lot of people in the delegation didn't lose a city employee, they lost their personal friend. For many, it was hard to stay focused when their hearts were back in Mission, but their commitment to the competition mirrored their commitment to the city,” Garza said. “More than ever, the delegation wanted to show a united front and to share with everyone the closeness of our community in the face of adversity and pain. The delegation made sure to publicly uphold and celebrate the worth of the community Corporal Espericueta lived to protect and serve.”

Cpl. Jose Luis “Speedy” Espericueta was killed responding to a call of an armed man. The ensuing exchange of gunfire between the suspect and the responding officers resulted in the deaths of both Espericueta and the suspect.

“Our Mission delegation worked tremendously hard for this award. We arrived in Denver only to deal with the devastating news of the loss of our Mission police officer,” City Manager Randy Perez said. “I boarded a plane early the next morning and left even though I was part of the presentation. It was heartbreaking for our community. Our delegation rallied and they represented the best Mission has to offer and proved what a wonderful place Mission is to live, in memory of Speedy.”

The All-America City Award shines a spotlight on the incredible work taking place in communities across the country. The city dedicated its award to Espericueta.

“We did this for Speedy. Our community came together and honored his memory with this historic win,” Mayor O’Caña said. “We lost our friend and hero in the line of duty as he was protecting our community. The way our city responded with heart and soul shows why we are an All-America City.”

It was an anxious awards presentation for the Mission delegation of 27. Mission was the last city announced as a winner. Garza said the nationwide recognition was well earned.

“Mission won because our values can be measured in the quantity and quality of programs that engage our residents. We had a very strong application that highlighted our inclusive community programs, a great presentation coordinated by Roxanne Lerma and Aida Lerma, and an unmatched delegation of committed Mission residents that passionately represented our city.”

The City of Mission – where anything and everything is possible!

Canada vs USA All-Star games close out season

Details: Published: Wednesday, 20 March 2019 11:03; Written by Henry Miller

League Commissioner Ed Martens retires – maybe

It was only fitting that the sun came out at Westside Park during the annual Senior Texan Softball All-Star Games.

Not only did it shine, but it seemed to shine even a little brighter around Ed Martens. Martens, from Minnesota, is the father – the creator – of the Senior Texan Softball League and All-Star Game. The players call him “Commissioner.” He has worked (even though he's retired) endlessly during those two-plus decades, promoting a sport he loves, a game he's played for decades.

But this is his last year – oh, he'll still be around (there's no way you can tear him away from a passion that is as close to him as his own skin) but more in an advisory role, so he says.

20190320 Baseball Marten IMG 4223 He's 86 years old now and uses a softball bat to help him walk on a gimp ankle that he said he may have to go home to Minnesota early to have taken care of. He played softball for 28 years back home, until he needed a new shoulder; he also played until about two or three years ago in the Valley, the shoulder again giving him problems.

But Martens is more than a softball player, he's softball personified – from playing to coordinating to making sure everything is done. He said his floor at home in his Winter Texan park's RV is covered with papers, all softball related. His phone rings endlessly with questions about the teams and league.

Two games took place this year at Westside Park and the annual Canada vs USA friendly contests were dominated by the Canadian teams. They won the first game, a more competitive game, 8-6 and rolled in the latter game “something like 13-2,” Martens said. “But they are both just friendly games. There were even three guys from the U.S. in the first game on the Canada side. It's all about being able to play and having fun.”

Easy plays were fumbled, tough plays were made and Canada fans heavily outweighed USA fans, donning the maple-leaf flag. However, many fans were fans of both, enjoying hot dogs, laughing at the silliness some plays turned into and, cheering for the success of both teams.

All this lies on the shoulders of Martens, who was asked those 25 years ago to help start a league – and he took it to heart. Yet, he never takes credit for the big role he plays in putting the league together.

He said last week's event seemed a little strange.

20190320 Baseball IMG 3958 “It's the last one,” he said, his eyes never leaving the field as he watched the two teams battle it out. “I'll help out a little with the Monday/Wednesday group and build that and get more players and we'll start the league in November.”

He has plans, however, plans to do things he hasn't done with regularity for some time.

“I want to start biking more, I like that,” he said. “And we have two pools at the park, and I'll go to South Padre or San Antonio for a week maybe here and there if I just want to get away. The guys who will run the committee for the softball league are very capable and will be able to handle it.

“I'm not going to interfere – but if they need my advice, they can always call on me.”

Still, everyone who knows Ed knows that softball will be within a softball bat's reach from him. He's already devising a plan to get more softball players next year – hit 'em up early.

20190320 Baseball IMG 4106 “I’m in an RV park that has probably 80 activities or more,” he said. “Pickleball is incredibly popular and now there’s beanbag baseball, and darts are getting very popular again and they don't have to leave the park to have this competition.

“So we're going to try to get them as soon as they get to the Valley. Maybe we can gain some interest before they settle and commit to a certain routine.”

Many of the players have been involved with the league and have played several times in the all-star game. Ken Subbert, of Iowa, said he enjoys playing not only because of the camaraderie but also because it provides him some exercise. He made some good plays for the U.S. in the second game.

Cindy Ellis, who stays at Wagon City South, was there to watch and support two players – one from each team. She said not only does she enjoy watching the games but it's yet another fun event to spend time with friends and make new ones. “It's always different, every year,” she said. “But everyone has a good time – plus we're not back home where it's still terribly cold and snowing.”

20190320 Baseball IMG 4190 Temperatures reached the low 80s on this day – a near perfect day for softball. Meanwhile, back in St. Paul, Minn., the high was 38 and the low was 15. On March 2 in Denver, the high was 6 and the low was -6, making it the coldest March day in Denver since March 12, 1880. Nearly everyone we asked wasn't in any rush to head back north, many saying they would return in mid-April.

Martens remembers playing South Texas softball before the Senior Texan League was established. Only three parks were playing then, he said – Tip 'O Texas, Tropic Star and Bentsen Grove. That's when he took over and opened it for everyone.

“We had players coming from Edinburg, La Joya, Mission and even Harlingen,” he said. “Now we're hoping to get five teams for the league next year. It's funny, during all these years, all the people have been nothing but nice. I've put a lot of time in it and never really had a problem with any of them.

“I'm going to miss that contact with them.”