Nearly 260 recreational parks are listed in a directory of a Rio Grande Mobile Home & RV publication. The vast majority of these facilities are located in Hidalgo County, followed by Cameron, Zapata and Starr counties. Some parks have been there for decades, catering to the Winter Texans industry, which appears to be booming this year. In Brownsville, one of the newest and largest such facilities opened its doors recently and…
Diana Padilla describes it as seeing a piece of land and knowing it’s where she wanted to be. The Chicago native and retired federal government employee chanced upon the farmland near the corner of Rangerville and Morris roads in Harlingen and had a good feel for it. She and her husband Saul purchased a 15-acre plot, including the old farmhouse where they live, and then began farming. It was 2004…
The first official Earth Day dates back to April 22, 1970, starting as a way to educate the general public about environmental issues. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and now, more than ever, we have the power to contribute to the planet’s well-being. One of the changes we can implement in our everyday lives is transitioning to a plant-based diet. There are many benefits that accompany…
Robert Treviño winds his city-issued truck through 20-foot-plus high piles of brush – grinded and raw – at the McAllen Composting Facility. The city’s renewable resource manager oversees a facility that annually sells 25,000 bags of compost and mulch, and also hauls and delivers products all over South Texas. It’s a valuable commodity among growers and gardeners for the nutrients and microbial activity it provides to soils for plant use…
Seafood consumption has been on the rise locally and nationally and even more so this time of year during Lent. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that the average American consumes 16 pounds of seafood a year. Consumers in the Rio Grande Valley have excellent options when buying fish and shrimp. Many local businesses sell seafood caught in the Gulf of Mexico and take pride in having fresh products.…
Esteban Mejia Jr. has the restless energy of an Air Force veteran who once worked long shifts as a nuclear cruise technician. Returning home, the Mercedes native built an information technology business from scratch. He’s now working to extend his brand. “My dad would tell me, growing up, ‘Never back down from work,’’ he said. “So I’m always thinking, ‘what else, what else can I do?’” Mejia is the founder…
The new place still feels like the old place. That’s the vibe Rodney McClanahan was going for when he transplanted his Hardknox Strength & Performance Club across town in Brownsville. It looks like he succeeded. The new 10,000-square-foot facility just off Pablo Kisel Blvd. near Sunrise Mall is over twice the size of the old club on the Military Highway in the west Brownsville neighborhoods where McClanahan grew up. The…
In their effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, two Brownsville-area hospitals are reaching out to the business community for assistance in obtaining personal protective equipment. Both Valley Baptist Medical Center and Valley Regional Medical Center are low in supplies. The hospitals are looking to purchase or borrow and replace PPE equipment. This includes face shields, gloves, masks and other types of PPE. They are looking for all types of PPE,…
Small businesses across the Rio Grande Valley are moving quickly to adapt to a new and shocking environment they were thrown into by the coronavirus crisis. New days, new paths Linda’s Cakes & Desserts in Brownsville is now selling essential items such as eggs, milk, potatoes and beans in addition to their usual assortment of sweets. Hardknox Strength & Performance, also of Brownsville, is using its social media outlets to…
Working to fill a national nursing shortage, the Licensed Vocational Nursing program at Texas Southmost College recently saw its largest graduating class. In addition, it is maintaining a solid 92-percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination. “I am so proud of what our team and students have been able to achieve,” said TSC Vocational Nursing interim program director Molly Showalter. “This type of success gives our program a…