Author Archives: VBR

McAllen PD “Christmas For Kids” Accepting Toy Donations

Christmas For Kids, toy drive

McAllen Police Department is holding its “Christmas for Kids” for local children in need and is seeking donations. The McAllen Chamber of Commerce is accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys to deliver to the department. The drop box location is at 1200 Ash Avenue. Hour of acceptance are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Toy distribution takes place Dec. 23 at the McAllen Convention Center. The event will…

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Shop Island Businesses to Win

Shop the Island

In a time when it is even more imperative to shop local small businesses comes the South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce‘s “Shop the Island” initiative through Dec. 27. For every $20 spent with all Island businesses, shoppers may register for a $500 shopping spree. Many businesses are open for outdoor shopping opportunities. Every dollar spent locally also ensures a healthy and growing South Padre Island economy. Original receipts may…

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Port of Brownsville Recognizes Keppel AmFELS

Mohd Sahlan Bin Salleh receives the 2020 Chairman’s Award from Sergio Tito Lopez.

Keppel AmFELS is the recipient of the Port of Brownsville’s with its 2020 Chairman’s Award. The award recognizes Keppel AmFELS’s work reintroducing shipbuilding to both the state of Texas and Brownsville. Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Sergio Tito Lopez presented the award to Mohd Sahlan Bin Salleh, president and CEO of Keppel AmFELS, on Dec. 3. Keppel’s work has helped build the ship building industry locally, bringing approximately 1,400 full-time jobs…

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Edinburg Hosts Drive-Thru Holiday Wonderland

Holiday in the Park

Beginning Dec. 12, residents can experience Edinburg Municipal Park as a drive-thru wonderland. Thousands of twinkling lights will be on display at Holiday in the Park from 6-10 p.m. nightly through Jan. 2. The festive event is free to the public and includes approximately one mile of themed entertainment. The Edinburg Chamber of Commerce, City of Edinburg and Edinburg EDC organized this year’s event. “Seeing our community leaders come together…

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VIDA Offers Paid Electrician Program

VIDA Executive Director Priscilla Alvarez and Director of Workforce Development Isidro Ramos

The Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement is offering to pay tuition, tools and books for the Commercial Electrician Program beginning Jan. 11. Classes will take place in McAllen and Brownsville. According to VIDA, with this training, anyone with construction or electrician experience will be closer to gaining their electrician license.  For individuals with no experience, the program will get them on a career path to achieve the Journeyman License.…

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Holidays Light Up Trail at Quinta Mazatlán

Thousands of candle luminaries will soon line the trails of Quinta Mazatlán in McAllen to celebrate the winter holidays around the world. ILLUMINA Fest 2020 takes place on Dec. 16-19 from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. nightly with more than 30 art installations sharing the light of the world. The outdoor exhibits celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and the Chinese New Year. It also features a Native American tipi village, the…

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STC Thanks-for-Giving Supports Food Pantry

STC Culinary Arts students recently held a virtual bake sale fundraiser to support the college’s student food pantry at its three main campuses.

South Texas College Culinary Arts students strapped on their aprons to support their peers in need this holiday season. In lieu of the department’s annual Thanksgiving Buffet this year, the South Texas College Culinary Arts Program hosted a Thanks-for-Giving Virtual Bake Sale in support of the college Student Food Pantry. In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, Culinary department chair chef Jennifer Guerra directed students in the fundraiser. Students baked thousands of cookies, hundreds of loaves…

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TSC Nursing Receives Nursing Innovation Grant

TSC Nursing program students will have a greater opportunity of training virtually thanks to a Nursing Innovation Grant.

The Associate Degree of Nursing program at Texas Southmost College will soon be able to increase its training opportunities thanks to a Nursing Innovation Grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. TSC’s nursing program is one of 45 nursing programs throughout the state to receive this grant. The $75,000 grant will support clinical learning experiences. It will also support the program’s use of evidence-based alternatives to hands-on practice with patients.…

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Dec. 5 Rings in IMAS Holiday Market

IMAS Holiday Market

The International Museum of Art & Science presents a community Holiday Market Dec. 5. The event helps kick off this year’s annual Christmas Tree Forest. The festive artist and artisan market takes place from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. near the west entrance and Welcome Pavilion. The community is invited to support these local artists and artisans and then visit the Christmas Tree Forest and museum exhibitions. In addition to…

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Port of Brownsville Again Ranks High in Exports

Foreign Trade Zone No. 62 consistently ranks in the top three for exports out of 193 FTZs nationwide since 2012. (Courtesy)

For the eight year in a row, Foreign Trade Zone No. 62 at the Port of Brownsville remains near the top in the nation for the value of exports. The recognition comes from information in the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board’s annual report to Congress. FTZ No. 62 ranks second in the country with more than $4.3 billion in exported goods in 2019. This is an increase from the $3.8 billion…

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