The Catholic Diocese of Brownsville has begun a two-year, $24-million campaign to address key issues, including its growth in rural areas and colonias. Bishop Daniel Flores has titled the campaign “Love Builds Hope,” covering six key areas. The building of new mission churches and community centers is among those priorities. The Diocese is focusing on areas like those north of Donna. Here, it is planning to build a new mission…
The moment you open the door at Nicole Gates Photography on North Main Street in McAllen, you step into a place Gates designed so women would never want to leave. “Women are the caretakers, the nurturers,” Gates said. “We take care of everyone else, and we sometimes forget to take care of ourselves. I let women put themselves first again. My job is to help women fall in love with…
The City of McAllen is adding to its Women’s History Month celebrations with a recognition of trailblazing women in the community. The focus in previous years was honoring women working in McAllen city government. This year, recognition expands to include female community leaders and their contributions. The women receiving honors this month are: Paula Gonzalez, athletic director, McAllen Independent School District. Alma Johnson, region bank president for Wells Fargo Bank/South…
The 81st annual Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show kicks off on March 12 and will run through 11 event-filled days of exhibits, rodeos, carnivals and live music. It’s the largest show of its type south of San Antonio. The livestock show, as always, takes place at the livestock show grounds in Mercedes. The Valley iconic event has a reputation for its entertainment and fun times but at its heart is…
Women’s History Month encourages and celebrates the important roles women have had throughout American history. In the Rio Grande Valley, female artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, community leaders, educators and many others have been inspiring and helping to create a stronger, more unified region. Sirheem Fuentes is one of those women who continues to pave the way for others like her. She realized a couple of years ago that she needed a…
Anabell Cardona was 15-years plus into managing clinics and doctors’ offices in Weslaco and McAllen. It was then she figured the time was right, in her mid-30s, to make a career breakthrough. Cardona recalls having no fear in 2001 as she sat in front of a banker and faced a business loan with six figures in it. She was ready to purchase Valley Grande Institute of Weslaco. “Where do I…
Walking into Coastal Americana Sign Co. is guaranteed to have a calming effect on everyone who enters their doors. A lot of it has to do with the décor, but the true heart and soul of this space are the people who created it – Jimmy and Lyza Garza-Gerow. The beginning of livin’ coastal “It all started with a gift for a friend,” says Jimmy. “Usually we’re the people who…
The third Young Hearts Matter Teen Dating Violence Operation Safe Talk hotline is tomorrow, Feb. 27. Assistant district attorneys, victim advocates, law enforcement officers, and crime victim liaisons will be available to answer questions dealing with family violence. Anyone who needs assistance or has questions in English or Spanish can call 956-661-6000 from 4-6:30 p.m. and from 8:30-10:35 p.m. Deputies trained in domestic violence will be available to answer questions,…
Students pursuing a General Educational Development diploma through the Brownsville Independent School District can also now train and get certified as a phlebotomist through TSTC’s Workforce Training and Continuing Education department. The offering comes with a new partnership between Texas State Technical College and the BISD Adult Continuing Education program. “This is the first time we have partnered with BISD in this capacity,” said Myra De Leon, Workforce Training and…
Rio Grande Valley veterans will receive honors during a Rudy’s Barbeque-catered Veterans Appreciation Dinner Feb. 25. The free event is complements of senators Donna Campbell and Eddie Lucio Jr. “There is no more honorable title than to be a veteran. We want to honor and thank all veterans of the Rio Grande Valley and hope they will join us,” said Campbell. A public hearing of the Texas Senate Committee on…