Seth Naranjo quips that Harlingen has two types of businesses all over town – car washes and gyms. He made that observation even as he and his wife, Nikki Solis Naranjo, sat inside of a gym they recently opened in the city. The Goon House on South Sunshine 77 Strip in Harlingen is located within a sprawling plaza with a call center as a next-door neighbor. The gym sits back…
Joe Vega’s family connections to Port Isabel and South Padre Island go back to the early 1900s when his great-grandfather, Jesus Vega, ran and owned a restaurant and hotel on what was then called Tarpon Beach. An old photo the parks director shares shows his forefather amongst a group of men in front of the “Restaurante, Jesus Vega,” with a balcony overhang providing shade from a summer sun. Tarpon Beach…
Playing the long game in scaling up a business is a cumbersome process and often met with disinterest from would-be partners. Karina Saldivar’s Amor Y Pan in Brownsville was established as a successful health lifestyle market and bakery by 2024. Her business ambitions always extended outward beyond one location to getting her products on grocery store shelves. Getting to that goal via phone calls and introductory e-mails and receiving no…
Summer in Texas means scorching temperatures and the risk of heat-related illness, so Texas State Parks offers seven tips to help parkgoers beat the heat and safely enjoy the beauty that Texas has to offer. Last year, 44 state parks reported a total of 192 heat-related illnesses, with 10 of those incidents involving pets. Texas recorded 36 more heat-related illnesses last year than in 2023. Texans can reduce heat-related incidents…
Motivation can be derived from a variety of sources. Maritza Hernandez didn’t need to look far to find hers. A single mother, she merely looked at her daughter to gain motivation, determined to provide her with a better future. Already earning a steady income as a private-duty nurse, Hernandez knew that she needed to further her education to open the doors of opportunity in her field. “I first heard about…
McAllen Municipal Court’s Teen Court Program has opened applications for local teens to volunteer as teen attorneys and jurors beginning in July and through December. McAllen Municipal Court’s Teen Court Program allows teenage offenders to dispose of their citations in a court of their peers. In lieu of a conviction and fees, the teens are represented by teen attorneys and the case is tried to teen jurors. As long as…
The Brownsville Navigation District has awarded 34 graduating high school seniors the 2025 Port of Brownsville Scholarship, recognizing academic excellence, community service and leadership. Each recipient will receive a $1,000 scholarship upon enrollment at a college, university or technical school. Students were selected based on their academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, community engagement, work experience and a personal essay. Recipients represent 17 public and private high schools within the navigation district.…
The McAllen Police Department is now accepting applications for its next Citizens’ Police Academy. Starting Aug. 14 and running through Oct. 15, the 10-week academy will meet every Thursday evening from 6-9 p.m. There is no cost to apply and selected applicants must be 21 years of age or older, able to attend all classes, work or reside in McAllen, and turn in a completed application by July 25. “The…
The U.S. Small Business Administration has opened a SBA Business Recovery Center in Hidalgo County to assist small businesses, private nonprofit organizations and residents who sustained economic losses and physical damage from severe storms and flooding occurring March 26‑28. SBA customer service representatives are now on hand at the Business Recovery Center in Weslaco to answer questions and assist with the disaster loan application process. The center is located in…
Michelle Rivera is the new deputy city manager for the City of McAllen, effective June 1. Rivera brings to the role a 30-year career in public service across the Rio Grande Valley, with experience in the cities of Harlingen, Mercedes and McAllen, where she has served as assistant city manager since 2014. Known for her collaborative leadership, business-minded approach, and results-driven strategies, Rivera has built a legacy of innovation, fiscal…