Growing up in Mercedes, Skyler Howell knew the name of Dr. Hector P. Garcia, but not much else about the man whose likeness graces the front of the local library. “I knew his name was on the library, but there was no context for it,” said Howell, a recent UTRGV graduate. Garcia was a Mexican immigrant whose family came to the Rio Grande Valley and Mercedes in the early 1900s.…
Plein-air artist Ryan Henry always thought of taking a brief break from his usual landscape work to try murals and create art on the sides and fronts of buildings. “I had it in my mind for years,” said Henry, a South Padre Island-based artist. In late July, Ryan on an artistic limb, painted a great kiskadee above the entrance to his Meridian & Muse Fine Art Gallery on Padre Boulevard.…
Firefighters are in steady and acute demand nationally as training requirements become more complex and those in the profession face risks to their mental and physical health. In the Rio Grande Valley, South Texas College is expanding its fire academy regionally with plans to open a new training facility at its Mid-Valley campus in Weslaco. Some local school districts such as Harlingen CISD have established their own fire academies that…
McAllen Honors Clark Chevrolet Clark Chevrolet’s contributions to the city of McAllen were highlighted recently when the auto dealership was recognized as a SHINES Champion. McAllen SHINES is a community-wide civic pride and environmental initiative that focuses on promoting cleanliness, respect and responsibility among residents, businesses, and visitors. Among its key focus areas are honoring local businesses for their beautification efforts through mural creations and a commitment to keeping the…
The Port Isabel Lighthouse is more than a nearly 175-year-old landmark that once guided ships safely through the Gulf of Mexico and past the dangerous shoals near the Rio Grande. It shone a bright beacon that was visible for up to 16 miles in preventing shipwrecks and also acted as a strategic observation post for both Union and Confederate troops during the Civil War. Today, the historic lighthouse still stands…
The outdoor college graduations that became hallmarks of community life in Brownsville ended abruptly in late 2024. Brownsville Mayor John Cowen was not pleased when learning that UTRGV was moving all graduation ceremonies – including those of its Brownsville-based students – to Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg. What made it worse for the mayor was that he first heard of the move as “a rumor prior to the official announcement,”…
Harlingen has been named by the National Civic League as an All-America City for its efforts in civic engagement and inclusiveness in solving local problems. For Harlingen, it is the second time the city has received the All-America honor, with its first designation being in 1992. Seven other cities in the Rio Grande Valley have received the honor since the 1960s, and they are Brownsville, Edinburg, Hidalgo, McAllen, Mission, Pharr…
Starr County Health Care Gets Boost Healthcare in Starr County recently received a major boost through internship grants for students pursuing careers in medical fields while completing their clinical training. A $100,000 Healthcare Internship Fund Grant with resources provided by the Texas Workforce Commission will offer stipends of up to $900 for Starr County students seeking health care careers. The grant program is a partnership between the Roma Independent School…
The city of McAllen’s Fourth of July parade is nearing its 100th birthday as the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary. The convergence of the two is adding an extra element to this year’s early July celebrations in McAllen. The city has perhaps the most event-filled July 4th of any Rio Grande Valley city. The longstanding parade down Main Street got its start in 1928 and is a mainstay event in…
Hidalgo County Commissioner David Fuentes admired the completed project of a neighboring colleague and knew he wanted the same for his precinct. It was 2020. The Precinct 2 commissioner, Eddie Cantu, invited Fuentes and other county and community leaders to view the finishing touches on his nearly eight-mile-long hike-and-bike trail that connects McAllen, Pharr and San Juan. “I told Eddie, ‘I’m going to figure out a way to connect to…