Gracias por SEGUIRNOS, este artículo contiene la revista digital de HOUSTON de ¡Que Onda Magazine! De fecha 16 de septiembre – 22 de septiembre / 2021
72 Miles to Go… Brings a Gripping Drama about a Mexican-American family to the Neuhaus Theatre Featuring Alley’s two new Resident Acting Company members
Melissa Molano and Christopher Salazar will make their debut as Alley Theatre Resident Acting Company members in Hilary Bettis’ 72 Miles to Go… this fall. Directed by José Zayas, 72 Miles to Go… will run October 15 – November 14, 2021 in the Neuhaus Theatre.
72 miles is the distance between Tucson, Arizona and Nogales, Mexico—and the distance between a recently deported mother and her American-born husband and children. 72 Miles to Go… follows one family over a decade as they grow up, fall in love, fight in wars, and fight for each other. This play by Hilary Bettis (“The Americans”) returns to the Alley following development in the 2019 Alley All New Festival, its finalist nomination for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, and its world premiere Off-Broadway at Roundabout Theatre Company.
“I cannot wait to be back at the Alley, which is my home away from home. Returning to the Theatre where this play was first developed is truly a full circle moment,” said playwright Hilary Bettis. “Yes, this is a story about a family separated by deportation. But I wanted to focus on the quiet, intimate, everyday moments of profound joy and love and resilience and loss that don’t make our news cycle: growing up, weddings, anniversaries, how hard a family has to fight to stay connected. And connecting through separation is so vital, as we’ve all come to recently realize.”
Melissa Molano (Murder on the Orient Express, The Winter’s Tale) will portray Eva and Christopher Salazar (The Humans, The Winter’s Tale) will portray Christian in the production. The cast also includes Orlando Arriaga (Quixote Nuevo and El Chuco Town Forever) as Billy, Juan Sebastián Cruz (The Winter’s Tale) as Aaron, and Briana J Resa (El Chuco Town Forever and A Christmas Carol) as Anita. Both Arriaga and Cruz originated their roles in the workshop staging of 72 Miles to Go… during the 2019 Alley All New Festival.
The creative team of 72 Miles to Go… includes Scenic and Lighting Designer Kevin Rigdon, Costume Designer Haydee Zelideth, Sound Designer Megumi Katayama, Fight Direction and Intimacy Coordinator Adam Noble, Stage Manager Rebecca R. D. Hamlin, and Assistant Stage Manager Rachel Dooley-Harris.
PRESS NIGHT: Wednesday, October 20 at 7:30pm. Invitations will be sent at a later date.
COVID-19 POLICIES AND PROTOCOLS: Alley Theatre is thrilled to welcome back guests to our upcoming 75thAnniversary Season.
As we resume live performances, we are committed to the health and safety of all of our artists, employees, and guests. In order to maintain the safest environment possible, all Alley Theatre staff, artists, creative teams, crews, and ushers are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Beginning October 1, 2021, and to ensure the safety of all Alley Theatre lovers, we’ve implemented the following policies for performances held within our Theatres:
- All guests will be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to the performance. Both PCR tests and antigen tests are acceptable. The results must have been performed by a third party, such as a lab. At-home tests will not be accepted. Guests can show either paper or electronic documentation (including photo of negative results).
- Guests who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (at least 14 days after final dose) may bring proof of vaccination as a substitute for a negative COVID-19 test result. Guests can show either paper or electronic documentation (including photo of card).
- Alley Theatre requires all guests to wear a mask covering nose and mouth at all times while in the Theatre building, except while actively eating and drinking. Alley Theatre will provide complimentary masks to guests who forget to bring one. If guests choose not to wear a mask, there will be no admittance to the Theatre building and a refund will be processed.
- As always, food and drinks will not be allowed in the Theatres.
We suggest guests arrive 45 minutes or more before the start of the performance in order to be screened and enter.
In order to streamline entry, we encourage you to use the Bindle App, a secure, easy to use digital pass for entrance to the Alley Theatre. Click here to learn more about our partner, Bindle, which securely stores your self-attested negative test status or vaccination record and creates a QR code for fast-pass access to the Theatre.
If guests feel ill, or test positive for COVID-19, we ask that they do not come to the Theatre, and contact boxoffice@alleytheatre.org to reschedule, move funds to on account for future use, or request a refund.
Alley Theatre’s COVID-19 Guest Policy is subject to change as we continue to work with health and government officials. We will update all ticket holders in advance of their ticketed performance if changes occur. Guests who purchase or reserve tickets to performances and events acknowledge and consent to the adherence of these policies.
Should COVID be detected in staff, cast, crew, creative teams, or usher corps, Alley Theatre may be forced to close a production early, cancel performances, and re-open when it’s safe to do so. We ask that in order for live theatre to return and thrive, everyone entering the Alley follow the above guidelines.
OTHER SAFETY UPDATES
- Contactless options will be available for transactions upon entry and for in-venue purchases.
- All auditorium ventilation systems have been upgraded to MERV 13 filters.
- EPA approved cleaning products are used along with rigorous cleaning and sanitation protocols.
GBAC STAR
The Alley is a GBAC STAR™ accredited facility. The accreditation means that the facility has:
- Established and maintained a cleaning, disinfection, and infectious diseases prevention program to minimize risk associated with infectious agents like the novel coronavirus
- The proper cleaning protocols, disinfection techniques, and work practices in place to combat biohazards and infectious disease
- Highly skilled cleaning professionals who are trained for outbreak and infectious disease preparation and response
- Created a checks and balance system to ensure that all employees and artists are following PPE protocols and disinfecting procedures
For a full list of ticket policies including exchanges, cancellations, and digital distribution options, visit alleytheatre.org.
DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION: From November 15 through November 28, a paid digital version of 72 Miles to Go… filmed live at the Alley, will be available for viewing. Guests who have purchased an in-person ticket and do not feel comfortable attending in-person may transfer their ticket before the start of their ticketed performance to a digital ticket. Digital tickets are $25 and can be purchased at alleytheatre.org. Limited digital tickets will be available for purchase beginning October 15.
SPONSORS: The Alley Theatre is supported by the 2021-22 Season sponsor United Airlines, the official airline of the Alley Theatre.
TICKETS: Tickets to 72 Miles to Go… are now on sale and start at $28. Discounted tickets are available for military, seniors, and any student or educator, regardless of age, with a valid student ID for designated performances. Tickets can be ordered online (alleytheatre.org) or by phone (713.220.5700).
Met Gala 2021: Ellas deslumbraron en la alfombra roja
Tras un año de ausencia, hoy está de vuelta. La Met Gala 2021 tiene como coanfitriones a Timothée Chalamet, Billie Eilish, Naomi Osaka y Amanda Gorman.
El tema de la Met Gala 2021 es In America: A Lexicon of Fashion, mediante el cual se busca rendir homenaje al 75 aniversario del Costume Institute, por lo que en la red carpet vimos cómo los invitados llevaron su creatividad a explotar la moda estadounidense moderna y contemporánea, gracias a diversos diseñadores norteamericanos.
El Metropolitan Museum of Art de New York fue testigo de cómo diversos invitados deslumbraron en esta alfombra roja y se llevaron la velada más importante de la moda en todo el mundo.
Gobierno de AMLO afirma reducción de COVID-19 en 32 estados
Con la esperanza latente de salir de la tercera ola por COVID-19, el subsecretario de Prevención y Promoción de la Salud, Hugo López-Gatell, afirmó este martes que los 32 estados que conforman la República Mexicana presentan una reducción en casos por SARS-CoV-2.
En el tradicional reporte semanal, “El Pulso de la Salud”, López-Gatell aseguró que las 32 entidades federativas de México registran una “clara tendencia de reducción” y resaltó que la “enorme mayoría de los casos que existen todavía son casos leves”.
“Seguimos viendo que, de las personas hospitalizadas, arriba del 95% son personas que no se vacunaron por lo cual hacemos un llamado nuevamente a vacunarse”, enfatizó el funcionario de la salud.
“La vacunación contra COVID es el elemento de protección específica más importante”, agregó.
López-Gatell, quien informó que dos tercios de la población ya cuenta con el esquema completo de vacunación, precisó que al igual que los casos, el índice de hospitalización también presenta una reducción por sexta semana consecutiva.
El funcionario, además, sostuvo que no existe un aumento en los casos por COVID-19 en menores de edad tras el polémico regreso a clases presenciales el pasado 30 de agosto.
“No se muestra que haya incremento de los casos en personas menores de edad a pesar de que llevamos ya dos semanas desde que se abrieron las escuelas”, precisó López-Gatell. “No ha repuntado la pandemia en personas menores de edad en general”.
De acuerdo con la autoridad sanitaria, menos del 10% de los casos por COVID-19 que se registran en México pertenecen a personas menores de edad y más del 95% de los casos en general son casos leves.
Por su parte, la titular de la Secretaría de Educación Pública, Delfina Gómez Álvarez, informó que han regresado a las aulas un total de 13 millones 220 mil 916 alumnos, presentándose un ligero aumento a comparación de los 12 millones 782 mil 555 que asistieron a la escuela la semana pasada.
Asimismo, la funcionaria de la educación dio a conocer que tras el sismo del pasado 7 de septiembre, fueron afectadas un total de 528 escuelas en 133 municipios de 11 estados.
Grito de Independencia será sin público “es sorpresa”
El presidente Andrés Manuel López Obrador confirmó que el Grito de Independencia será sin público e hizo un llamado a los mexicanos que sigan la ceremonia a través de sus casas.
AMLO anunció que el 15 y 16 de septiembre se suspenderán las conferencias mañaneras debido a los preparativos de las fiestas patrias.
“Mañana no vamos a tener mañanera, ni el 16, o sea, nos vamos hasta el viernes, porque estamos todos preparando los actos cívicos. Invito a todo el pueblo de México. La ceremonia del grito va a ser excepcional, muy importante, es sorpresa, no va a haber asistencia, porque tenemos que cuidar todavía los contagios de la pandemia, tenemos que seguirnos cuidando; pero va a ser un espectáculo cívico de primer orden, una gran sorpresa”, señaló.
López Obrador hizo un llamado a las televisoras y radiodifusoras para que se enlacen para que todos los mexicanos desde sus hogares puedan sintonizar la ceremonia del Grito de Independencia.
“Aprovecho para hacer un llamado respetuoso, fraterno a las televisoras y a las estaciones de radio, ojalá y se enlacen para que todos los mexicanos, desde sus hogares, puedan presenciar la ceremonia del grito con los festejos y que todos en nuestras casas también conmemoremos esta fecha histórica. Todavía tenemos tiempo de colocar nuestras banderas, que es nuestro orgullo como nación, no olvidar nuestra historia, no olvidar nuestro pasado”.
AMLO invitó a presenciar la ceremonia por los 200 años de Independencia y el Desfile Militar el 16 de septiembre; “el 17 tenemos la recepción de todos los presidentes para la reunión de la CELAC que será el 18 de septimbre. El 19 se izará la bandera a media asta recordando a los que perdieron la vida en 1985. El 27 de spetimbre son festejos”.
Tropical Storm Nicholas weakens further
Heavy rain moves east
Nicholas has continued to weaken and is now down to 40 mph sustained winds with gusts still recorded of 50 mph as of the 4 pm advisory. The forward movement has increased by 1mph and turned more toward the east. It is now moving in an ENE direction.
The forecast track still keeps “Nichols in the region tonight and close to the Texas-Louisiana border by Wednesday morning. The continued uncertainty of the forecast from there is indicated by the circle at the end of the cone. It means as of right now the expectation is for “Nicholas” to in essence rain itself out over Central Louisiana through the next several days as a remnant low.
With our exclusive partnership with Harris County Flood Control District, you can see there are a few areas that are close to flood concerns. The areas in yellow and red are spots along the creek where the water is either near its bankfull or has gone over the top of the bank and is causing some ongoing flooding.
A closer look shows two channels still indicating a red, flooding likely, condition. But a closer look also indicates that while those areas were indicated as out of the bank, they were in a falling trend which means it is just a relatively short matter of time before all areas will be back in their banks. You can get all of this information as well by downloading https://www.click2houston.com/floodtracker/
You can also download Frank’s Free Weather App to your phone and receive flood alerts specific to your area. Please stay informed and remember to Turn Around, Don’t Drown!
Source: www.click2houston.com
RRC Begins Important Steps to Ensure Natural Gas Supply for Weather Emergency Power Generation
Today Railroad Commission of Texas commissioners approved publishing for public comment proposed rules for critical designation of natural gas infrastructure during energy emergencies.
The proposed rules specify the criteria and process for entities associated with providing natural gas to be designated as critical customers or critical gas suppliers during an energy emergency.
The rules implement House Bill (HB) 3648 and several provisions of Senate Bill (SB) 3, which lawmakers passed in response to February’s Winter Storm Uri.
Examples of critical infrastructure include, but are not limited to, gas wells, gas processing plants, natural gas storage facilities, and pipelines and pipeline facilities.
Today’s action is another step in an extensive process RRC staff has engaged in to fortify the state’s energy supply chain and assist residents during future energy emergencies.
“The draft rules are part of multiple collaborations our agency began during the legislative session,” said Wei Wang, RRC Executive Director. “We have been working diligently with the Public Utility Commission during the summer to ensure both our agencies’ rules on critical infrastructure go hand-in-hand.”
Under the proposed rules operators will be required to submit forms to the RRC acknowledging critical status or seek exception as provided by legislation. Operators will also be providing information on their critical facilities directly to their respective electricity providers.
The forms are being drafted and will be voted on in an upcoming RRC Commissioners Conference.
To view the proposed rules and submit comments online by Monday, Nov. 1, 2021, visit the RRC website at https://rrc.texas.gov/general-counsel/rules/proposed-rules/ under “Chapter 3: Oil and Gas.”
The RRC will have a public workshop on the draft rules on Oct. 5. Details on that workshop will be provided soon. The rules will be adopted by Dec. 1, 2021.
The RRC is also continuing work to implement other provisions of SB 3, including collaborating with the Public Utility Commission on mapping critical infrastructure along the state’s electricity supply chain, as well as rules for operators to prepare facilities for weather emergencies.
Source: www.rrc.texas.gov
US Department of Labor cites Foundation Food Group Inc. for exposing workers to safety hazards, proposes $154K in penalties
On Jan. 28, 2021, an uncontrolled release of liquid nitrogen at a Gainesville poultry processing facility claimed the lives of six workers. Less than two months later, workers were again subjected to a chemical release at the plant, after an ammonia leak on March 11.
A U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation identified 23 safety and health violations at the facility. OSHA cited Foundation Food Group Inc. for exposing workers to dermal and respiratory hazards associated with the potential unexpected release of anhydrous ammonia and for failing to install a system that protected employees.
In addition, OSHA found Foundation Food Group failed to:
- Guard horizontal shafts on conveyors, which exposed workers to caught-in hazards.
- Provide adequate training and ensure workers used locks to isolate hazardous energy while servicing conveyors.
- Label electrical breakers, cover unused openings in electrical boxes, and use electrical devices as designed, which exposed workers to electrical shock hazards.
- Provide fall protection while working from equipment at heights over 4 feet.
- Require employees to use eye protection while working with compressed air.
- Provide adequate hearing protection, testing, and training for employees exposed to high levels of noise.
- Maintain drainage in areas of wet processes, exposing employees to slip hazards.
The agency proposed $154,674 in penalties.
“There is no situation where employees should be expected to risk serious injury or death, especially on the heels of a tragic incident that took the lives of six co-workers,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Jim Frederick. “Foundation Food Group has again flouted their responsibility to assess workplace hazards and ensure measures are taken to protect employees. This is unacceptable and OSHA will continue its mission to hold employers accountable.”
Foundation Food Group Inc. provides fully cooked and precooked poultry products to the foodservice and retail clients, and national restaurant chains.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s workers by setting and enforcing standards and providing training, education, and assistance.
Source: www.osha.gov
Governor Abbott Adds Counties To Disaster Declaration, Waives Permits To Accelerate Recovery, Urges Vigilance In Responding To Hurricane Nicholas
During a briefing at the State Operation Center today, Governor Greg Abbott updated the action that Texas is taking to help communities respond to Hurricane Nicholas. To accelerate the response, the Governor temporarily waived the limit on commercial drivers’ hours of service and the oversize and overweight permitting requirements.
Governor Abbott also added Liberty and Wharton counties to the disaster declaration issued yesterday.
State Agency leaders updated the Governor about the resources deployed to assist with the recovery efforts. Of significance, the following actions have been taken to aid affected communities in Texas:
- The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) is making damage assessments in coordination with local officials to provide assistance with damage cost and debris assessments.
- The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) directed transmission companies to delay maintenance outages and directed industry entities to activate emergency plans.
- The Public Utilities Commission of Texas (PUC), local officials, and electric companies are coordinating on power restoration. Currently, power has been restored in over 297,000 customers out of 530,000 reported outages.
- The National Guard is assisting with traffic control operations in areas that have not yet had power/traffic signals restored.
- Texas A&M Task Force One has deployed a total of 9 Swiftwater Boat Squads. They have rescued 5 people and a dog.
- The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) reports only one road closure and continues to monitor road conditions, and clearing debris from roadways in impacted areas.
- The American Red Cross and Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster have two open shelters across the impact area. As of Tuesday afternoon, all five shelters had a population of zero.
Governor Abbott urges Texans to remain vigilant about the lingering Tropical Storm and the dangers of flooding. “We are not yet in the clear,” he said.
The Governor is also urging Texans who have been affected by Hurricane Nicholas to complete the Self Reporting Damage Survey to help the state identify damages to private homes and businesses and to assist emergency management officials to assess the damages that occurred. This data will determine if the state of Texas and our communities meet federal thresholds for disaster assistance. The voluntary survey, available in both English and Spanish, can be accessed by visiting damage.tdem.texas.gov. Reporting damage to TDEM is a voluntary activity, is not a substitute for reporting damage to an insurance agency, and does not guarantee disaster relief assistance.
“The State of Texas is working alongside local officials to ensure that our communities have the resources and support they need to recover from the impact of Hurricane Nicholas,” said Governor Abbott. “I am also urging Texans who experienced damages to complete the Self Reporting Damage Survey so the state can identify impacts and better serve our communities.”
Nicholas made landfall in Texas overnight as a hurricane but has been downgraded to a tropical storm as it continues to travel through the state.
For more safety tips and recovery resources, visit gov.texas.gov/hurricane.
Texans can also visit www.TexasFlood.org for resources and tips on how to stay safe during flood events.