 |
|
|
|
| 12/13/2007 11:32:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
|
| Maria Hadar |
|
Hadar to lead new Spanish language publication
Being informed benefits the entire community.
That's what excites Maria Hadar about the new Spanish publication called, "LaVoz," which means "The Voice." "There is a real need and I feel it is important to reach the Hispanic community to keep us better informed, and to feel part of the community in which we live," Hadar said. "There are Spanish publications that serve other parts of the state of Iowa, but none that serve this area."
Hadar, who lives with her family in Humboldt, is serving as Editor of LaVoz, which serves north central Iowa, including the communities of Humboldt, Fort Dodge, Webster City, Eagle Grove, Clarion and Belmond.
The first issue will be published Dec. 20. Published two times a month, LaVoz is being distributed for free at various locations in each community. LaVoz is a publication of Gargano Communications in Humboldt. For news or advertising information, people can call (515) 332-2514. The paper will concentrate on news and sports from north central Iowa.
"People want to be informed, and although many are learning the English language, it takes time. The goal of LaVoz is to bridge the gap, and inform people about news in north central Iowa," Hadar said.
Hadar was formerly employed as the Multi-cultural Outreach Coordinator for the Domestic and Sexual Assault Outreach Center (D/SAOC) based out of Fort Dodge.
Maria was born and raised in Costa Rica in the town of La Suiza. Her father, now retired, worked for the water department and her mother worked as a cook for the school.
The climate there is tropical, but the homes do not use air conditioning or have heating systems. Farmers grow coffee and sugar cane. The town of LaSuiza is similar in size to Humboldt.
Her high school was known as the Agricultural Institute of LaSuiza, where she specialized in social work. Her last year in high school, she worked in a clothing store. After graduating in 1983, she attended two years of college, studying in the secretarial program. While in college, she worked in a textile factory.
In 1988, Rawlings Sporting Goods opened a new baseball manufacturing factory in nearby Turrialba. Maria's father encouraged her to apply for a job at the new factory. She landed a job and started learning how to make a baseball, and later became a supervisor for the packing department.
While working at the Rawlings plant, she met a young engineer from the United States who was sent there to set up machines and to get the plant up and running. His name...Joe Hadar.
They married in May of 1989 and moved to the United States on June 23, 1989, when Joe started working at the headquarters of Rawlings in St. Louis, MO. Maria obtained a Visa and is now a naturalized United States citizen. She was a temporary U.S. resident for two years, then applied for permanent residency.
"I wanted to be able to vote where I lived," Maria said.
Maria's first job in the United States was at McDonald's. She took classes to learn English.
"It's very important to learn the language. I wanted to learn about the culture, about what the holidays mean. I'm very impatient and independent. I don't like to sit back and wait for people to tell me what to do. I didn't want to be afraid to go to the store because I couldn't speak the language," Maria said.
With the attitude of, "I'm here and I want to learn English," Maria watched The Cosby Show.
"Bill Cosby uses very proper English, and I thought it was funny. I taped the show and if there was a word I didn't understand, I'd play the tape for Joe when he got home from work and ask him to explain it to me. I watched soap operas, cartoons with the kids and read a lot of books," Maria said. Joe is fluent in Spanish and English.
While in St. Louis, they were involved in the community, especially in cultural things with the Catholic Church and with St. Louis University, which held an event each year on Oct. 12 to recognize the cultures of various countries.
After four years in St. Louis, the now growing Hadar family moved to Humboldt in 1993. Their daughter, Marie, was born in 1992 and son, Ian, was born in 1994.
Joe's father passed away in 1992 and his mother asked him to come back and work in the family business, Hadar Athletic Company, where they manufacture various athletic equipment. Joe is director of research and development.
It didn't take long and Maria was back to work in the Humboldt area. She joined Proteus as a career development coordinator helping find jobs for seasonal workers. She worked there from 1995 until 1997.
In 1997, she joined Hog Slat, working in accounts payable and receivable, and also did translating.
In 2002, she joined D/SAOC and worked there for five and one-half years.
"The job I was doing at D/SAOC was important. This new job will reach out to many more people. On a personal level, it's a new challenge. I don't have a lot of newspaper experience, but it gives me a chance to be creative," Maria said.
The Hadar family is very athletic oriented with Marie, now 15, and a sophomore at Humboldt High School, and Ian, 13, a seventh grader at Humboldt Middle School, both being involved in school athletics. Joe coaches the Humboldt High School soccer team, coaches kids teams, plays on area soccer teams and serves as a soccer referee. He's also been involved in helping start area soccer leagues.
Joe and Maria own and operate Roller Country, a roller skating rink in Dakota City. It is open on weekends.
From 2001 to 2006, Maria's parents spent six months in Humboldt and six months in Costa Rica. They are now staying in Costa Rica. Maria has a brother in Florida and sisters in Costa Rica.
"I enjoy living in the United States. It is my hope that LaVoz will be a paper to serve the communities of north central Iowa, providing local news that people need and want to know," Maria said. For more information, call Maria at (515) 332-2514, or email at mariah@humboldtnews.com.
|
|
|
|
|
|