The Monitor from McAllen, Texas • 19

Mooday. Juty 22, 2002 THE MONITOR, McAfen, Texas SC Event Of the Week Two additional Football Camps will be held from July 22-25. See Community Notebook below for more information. FOCUS ON: BUSINESS Fairy Tale Ending COMMUMIY sTs Roberto and Jeannie Pena and their daughter Blanca can be found every night in the Border movie theater in Mission. ft -A I Joel MartinezThe Monitor Couple's romance continues to flourish at Border Theater Carpeted floors, the replacement of some of the seats, a room with video games and an upgraded sound system are some of the renovations the couple has made since they've taken over.

More are planned, Robert said, and already the couple has seen an increased interest in the old theater, with the community forming long lines for showings of movies like Spiderman and the rereleased T. The Extra-Terrestrial. "It's nice, because I see the families coming back," Jeannie said. "It's a great feeling to see all the old faces." "That's what we're hoping for -to make it more family oriented," he said. The couple, who kept their day jobs, said the Border is claiming a new generation of fans.

Jeannie. He became the custodial foreman with the McAllen school district while Jeannie worked as an administrative assistant with the Mission school district. After moving out of the theater and the birth of their daughter Bianca, the couple heard that the Border was being put up for lease and they became concerned. "I was afraid nobody would run it," Robert said. "I can just sit here (in the theater) and see so much history." "We just loved the theater and there are so many memories here," Jeannie said.

"We loved the theater and we knew the business." So on Jan. 5, 2001, the Border was turned over to its two biggest fans. "I knew we could do it," Robert said. "Our lives wereo much simpler before, but we enjoy it." 1982 during a showing of Stephen Spielberg's E.T. at the Border.

"That was the first time we sat down together and held hands," Robert said1. "The Border is where we first held hands, it's where we firsf kissed." "But not on the same date," Jeannie said with a smile. As their relationship bloomed, Robert took over operations at El Rey Theater in McAllen while Jeannie continued to work at the Border. After their marriage in 1985, the couple was asked to manage The Pioneer Theater in Falfurrias, which they did for three years before moving back to Mission and into the apartment above the Border. "That's where our true love for the theater began," said Robert.

But as the movie industry moved on, so did Robert and a lot of friends," Robert, 36, said. "It was just a lot of fun working here. We worked together like a family." Jeannie, 35, said she is originally a McAllen girl who began helping at the theater with her father, who was the projectionist at the Border, when she was 13 years old. Robert, whose uncle owned a boot shop next to theater, began coming over to the theater at age 15 to help with cleaning. "And that's how we met," Jeannie said.

"He was the guy that my parents told me to stay away from." Though the-two kept their relationship professional during work hours, Robert confided that an interest for his co-worker soon began to grow within him. Then something happened in By Juan Ozuna The Monitor MISSION It's like a story straight out of the movies. Boy meets girl. Boy falls in love with girl. Boy marries girl and they take over operations of the 60-year-old historical movie theater they worked in as teenagers, where they met.

"It sounds corny, but the Border really is like a dream come true for us," said Robert Pena of his relationship with his wife and business partner Jeannie. A little more than a year ago, the Mission couple, who worked together as a concession clerk and janitor at the Border Theater, took over as proprietors of the showplace they said has brought them so much love. "We grew up here and we made COMMUNITY NOTEBOOK Mission residents, have been added this summer. Classes are now available for 6-9 p.m. on Thursday evening, as well as continuing from 9:30 a m.

until noon on Saturday mornings at Mission's Speer Memorial Public Library, 801 E. 12th 580-8750. The self-paced, individualized help, in English or Spanish, including Math, Writing, and other subjects needed to complete the GED, TAAS, TASP, other tests, or for self-improvement, is needed by many in these times of high-stakes, increasingly difficult testing at all levels. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED There are numerous opportunities for volunteers to make a difference in a friendly healthcare setting at Mission Hospital. Opportunities to interact with patients and their families as couriers, transporters, at surgery waiting area desks and in-patient care areas.

We have the opportunity that you've been looking for, call us at 580-9289 and ask for Sandy Rivas-Harriot. See NOTEBOOK page 5C Veteran's Memorie i School (formally known as 'on Ninth Grade Center). This one di together more than sion area merchants to showcase eir businesses and make sales to the thousands of people that come to see what Mission has to offer. This fun-filled, fast-paced day will give maximum exposure and build personal relationships with potential new customers. Retailer, restaurants, and service providers are encouraged to purchase one booth or two and let the community know what you have to offer.

Participants can" sell merchandise, distribute flyers, coupons, offer samples and build their direct mail lists. Space is limited. Reserve your booth today, $50 for Chamber members and $100 for non-members. For more information call Betty Muro, Special Events Assistant at 585-2727. LITERACY SERVICES The City of Mission will provide funding for the Coalition of Literacy Services beginning next fall, extra hours of free Basic Skills help, open to all with meeting to follow on Mondays at Trinity Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall at 1 4th and Oblate in Mission.

For more information, call 581-5766 or 585-7807. SUMMER ATHLETIC CAMP Two additional Football Camps will be held from July 22-25. The Little Eagle Football Camp is for students in grades 3-6. It will be held 9 a.m. to noon.

The Big Eagles Football camp for incoming 7th through 9th graders will also be held fromJuly 22-25 but from 4-8 p.m. Both camps will run at the Mission High School Practice Fields. Registration for either of these football camps is $30. For more information, call Coach Jeff Dicus at 585-8811 EL MERCADITO The Great Mission Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring an event where you can reach approximately 3,000 potential customers in one day. Mission Marketplace "El Mercadito" will be held Saturday, July 27, 2002 at the Senior registration by prior ap'pointment will held July 30 through Aug.

1. Junior registration will be from 8:30 to 1 1 :30 a.m. and 1 :30 to 3:30 p.m., on Aug. 5 and 6. Sophomore registration will be held from 8:30 to 1 1 :30 a.m.

and 1 :30 to 3:30 p.m. on-Aug. 7 and 8. New-to-the-district high school students will register from 9 to 1 1 a.m. Aug.

9-13. For more information, call 580-5300. BOOSTER CLUB The Sharyland Diamondback Athletic Booster Club invites you to become a member or to participate in the spirit of sports by placing an ad andor photo in the all-sports program to be sold at the football games, please contact Alicia Koeneke at 682-1979or 607-8780. TOPS Take Off Pounds Sensibly, a nonprofit weight loss support club meets from 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

for weigh-in CHARTER SCHOOL One Stop Multi-Service Charter School, Mission Campus, is now registering students at 115 South Mayberry in Mission. Elementary grades pre-kindergarten through third registers 2-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. High School grades ninth through twelfth register 8 a.m. through 5:30 p.m.

Monday through Friday. For more information, call 519-2227. JAM SESSIONS Big Band Era Jam Sessions are being held from p.m. the first and third Saturdays monthly at Enchanted Valley Ranch, 7300 Monroe Street in Mission. All interested musicians are invited.

It is open to the public to enjoy the music and dance. Refreshments are available. SCHOOL REGISTRATION Sharyland High School staff will register students for the 2002-03 school year at the times listed below. FISH Camp for freshmen will be held from 8 a.m. to noon, July 22 25.

APPLAUSE Ramirez is the 18-year-old daughter of Jose and Anita Ramirez of Sharyland and is a 2002 graduate of Sharyland High School. She will be competing with her horse. Call Me A Leaguer, a 7-year-old sorrel quarter horse, gelding, in Hunt Seat Equitation. She is also nominated by trie Texas Quarter Horse Association as an alternate in Trail should she be needed. Coffman is the ,1 7-year-old daughter of Dennis and Laura Coffman of McAllen and is a senior at Sharyland High School.

She will be competing with her horse, Must Be A Lyn, a 1 -year-old chestnut quarter horse gelding, in Hunt Seat Equitation. events as well as prizes. Aikmap and Ramirez earned the required number of points between May 2, 2001 and April 30, 2002 necessary to receive automatic invitations to the event. Coffman is one of two additional youth nominated by the Texas Quarter Horse Youth Association as a representative for her event. All three will be members of the Texas contingent at the show.

Aikman isthe 12-year-old daughter of Harvey and Vlcki Aikman of Sharyland and is an eight grade' student at B.L Gray Junior High, She win be competing with her horse, Motion by Pro, a 14-y ear-old sorrel quarter horse gelding, in rail. AQHYA The 31 st Annual American Quarter Horse Youth World Championship Show and Convention will be held in Fort Worth, Aug. 1 through the 10. Ashley Aikman, Darby Coffman, and Debbie Ramirez will be among the 2,000 youth, ages 18 and under, from the United States, Canada and several other countries competing in the show. The AQHYA World Championship Show is an Invitational event which serves as a showcase for the top American Quarter Horse youth exhibitors, so competition is Intense and exciting.

Competitors will be vying for world championship titles in 30 To run for a national office, Sk'illsUSA-VICA members must be nominated by their school, local training program and state leaders. They must also.be participating in the Professional Development Program a curriculum that focuses on professionalism and making the advancement from school to work and have proven speaking ability. Once they have made it to the SkillsUSA-. VICA National Leadership and Skills Conference, candidates must then pass a knowledge test and begin the campaign process to more than 460 student delegates representing the 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, asked to speak about SkillsUSA-VICA and skills raining before students, instructors and representative of business and industry. She will also be called on to represent the national 1 organization at various state and local events.

Guerra's term of office could involve many travel opportunities during the coming school year, the first of which is officer training, neld July 25 to Aug. 2 In Restart Va. During training, office will visi Washington, D.C., and none their public speaking and professional skills to prepare them for future assignments. STUDENT LEADER Natalia Guerre, of Mission, an auto mechanics student attending South Texas Community College in McAllen was elected National Postsecondary Vice President of SkillsUSA-VICA. Elected during Skills USA-VICA's 38th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference in Kansas City, Mo.

Guerra campaigned and spoke to 6tudent leaders from across the nation to win her position. Guerra will serve as a student leader, spokesperson and ambassador for the organization and participate national membership and -industry tours during the 2002-2003 school year. She will be.