PUERTO RICO SUN

Que orgullo, a boricua is getting ready to go to space. Un verdadero orgullo. Como dicen, boricua hasta en la luna. Featured story 1st Puerto Rican astronaut, Joe Acaba, carries pride in heritage Ralph Acaba will never forget the day his son Joe called to let him know his life had astronomically changed. "He called me at work, so I answered as I used to do, 'Hi, this is Ralph,' and my job title," said the father, who was a private-school administrator. "He said, 'Hi, this is Joe, astronaut.' There are very few things in life that one remembers forever." Nearly five years after that phone call, the Acaba family is counting the days until Joe's first trip aboard space shuttle Discovery, which is scheduled to launch from Kennedy Space Center on Feb. 12. For the complete report, go to http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-acaba3109jan31,0,1083698.story

Community calendar SAVE THE DATE. Next National Congress for Puerto Rican Rights meeting in NYC is at 6 p.m. Wednesday, February 11, at the Community Service Society, 105 E. 22nd St., Manhattan, 9th floor board room. For more information on the NCPRR, go to www.ncprr.us .

The Santuario is a no-kill animal shelter in Cabo Rojo and it is in need of donations. According to the Santuario, this no-kill shelter "was created with the efforts of community members who saw the great need to protect the animals. It has not received any government help yet, despite its 9 years of operation. They have no water or electricity service but have an amazing volunteer workforce. It is quickly becoming one of the West coast's "Porta del Sol" sightseeing and tourist's visitor's points for animal lovers." For information, visit www.safapr.org Here's how you can help: 1. Donate via Paypal: http://safapr.org/donations/ 2. Make a deposit to Banco Popular de Puerto Rico in the name of: Santuario de Animales SFA Route No. 021502011 Account no. 255-279166 3. Mail a donation to Santuario de Animales San Francisco de Asis, Inc. P.O. Box 566 San German, PR 00683 source: Santuario de Animales San Francisco de Asis

Edwin Pagan is the man behind the Latin horror revolution If you are into horror flicks, "The HORRORphiles," featuring the work of emerging Latino directors working within the genre is playing a series of horror movies tonight in New York City. Latin Horror, in association with Anthology Film Archives, presents a special edition of the NewLatino Filmmakers Screening Series - "The HORRORphiles." NewLatino Filmmakers is billed as the best and only independent Latino “cinematheque” showcase in New York City -- now in its 7th year. "The HORRORphiles" will run from 7-9:30 p.m. tonight at Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Avenue at Second Street in the Lower East Side. The price is $6 at the box office. Tonight's "Horrorphiles" will feature "Monster Job Hunter" by writer/director Yehudi Mercado, "Sandman's Box," by writer/director Gilberto Flores, and "Repentance" by writer/director Julio Antonio Toro, all shorts....

Con Don Pedro Originally uploaded by carlos aviles . Today's featured shot from the Puerto Rico Sun photo group is by carlos aviles .

The majority of Puerto Rico Sun blog readers who took part in a PRSUN snap poll said they do not live in Puerto Rico but that they visit the island every year. Forty six percent responded this way. Meanwhile, 31% said they do live in Puerto Rico. Another 23% said they don't live in Puerto Rico but plan to move to the island in the future. Nobody chose the other two options available. The question asked in the poll was: Do you live in Puerto Rico? Thanks to those who took part in PRSUN's snap poll.

Community calendar Check out this link for the spring lineup of Puerto Rican-related activities going on at Centro/the Center for Puerto Rican studies @ Hunter College, NYC. The calendar kicks off with "On and Off the Avenue," Loisaida N.Y.C. 1976-2009, an exhibition by Marlis Momber on February 5. Activities, which run until May, range from research seminars on such topics as migration, religion, voting and welfare reform to a meet the author series. For more information and the complete calendar, http://www.centropr.org/documents%5Cevents%5CEvents_Spring_09.pdf