The City of Weslaco held a groundbreaking ceremony on July 23 for a new 45-acre park off of FM 88 and Mile 11 Road. This project will feature a one-mile park trail and additional nature trails, a fitness equipment station. Other athletic amenities will include tennis courts, basketball courts, sand volleyball courts and youth soccer fields. Kids will be able to enjoy a splash pad, while entertainment will have a…
The City of McAllen is hosting this year’s Texas Festival & Events Association Annual Conference August 9-11 at the McAllen Convention Center. With more than 450 member festivals and events, organizers are expecting attendees from Texas and beyond. Attendees also hail from Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and even Mexico. McAllen is the first city in the organization’s 26-year history to host two years in a row. This year’s conference…
The eighth annual “Fill the Bus” is going on today, Aug. 8, at the Shary H-E-B until 6:30 p.m. The one-day event accepts donations of school supplies and backpacks, with those making donations of a value of $25 receiving a free Schlitterbahn ticket. Donations of a value of $40 receive two free Schlitterbahn tickets. All donations benefit the school tools program through the RGV Food Bank. Channel 4 is serving…
The RGV Matters is a youth-led organization that was founded in 2017 by recent McAllen ISD graduate Sydney Ramon. The organization’s main focus is to work within the community to further educate and empower the community. Read about how The RGV Matters was founded and what its focus is here. Q: Why was it so important for y’all to host this forum? A: I think what made it really special…
Judge JoAnne Garcia presides over the Hidalgo County Probate Court. When she was asked to serve on the PSJA ISD Pre-Law Institute Advisory Board, she readily agreed. As she looks back on its first year, she identifies three aspects of the Institute that stand out for her. “Number one,” Garcia said, “is it’s a great opportunity for the kids, at a minimum, to be exposed to professionals in the legal…
Just one day before the Back-To-School Jamboree and three days before the official first day of school, Jubilee Harlingen will have one of its biggest celebrations of all. After months of construction, the state-of-the-art facility is ready for its debut to administrators, teachers and community members. The campus celebrates with a 10 a.m. ribbon cutting Aug. 9. The event will be the official merging of the Jubilee-Harlingen and Jubilee-Destiny campuses.…
South Texas College is the recipient of a $75,000 grant by Texas Workforce Commission for high-demand job training in its Associate Degree of Nursing program. The grant provides funding for equipment to eligible educational institutions for developing programs. These programs can be career and technical, leading to a license, certificate or post-secondary degree. The Jobs and Education for Texans grant is part of an initiative by TWC. It supports TWC’s efforts…
McAllen ISD will be at the center of the fifth annual TECHnovate Aug. 9. The all-day event for educators focuses on creativity, social collaboration and engagement. It also explores compelling ways schools integrate technology into their classrooms. The event is open to all teachers, not just McAllen ISD. There will be presentations on 100 topics. This includes15 Tools for Digital Readers, Deepening Learning with Digital Portfolios and Promoting Engagement and Classroom Culture through…
1 Million Cups McAllen is currently seeking local startups to present their companies to a diverse audience of mentors, advisors and entrepreneurs. The group meets the second Wednesday of every month, engaging entrepreneurs in the McAllen community. Each month, 1 Million Cups offers two local startups an opportunity to present. In turn, speakers expand business reach and receive feedback from McAllen city leaders. The program is a simple way to engage entrepreneurs in…
A drive into town for Jose Platon Ortega usually meant a stop at the bank. For Ortega there was only one bank – the First National Bank of Mercedes. He was greeted there by friendly tellers, with one in particular knowing his account number by memory. “Veinticinco, cuarenta dos, diecinueve,’” said Saul Ortega, Jose’s son, who grew up knowing his Dad’s account number of 254219. Jose Platon Ortega was a…