Sonia Marroquin contemplated naming her ice cream shop the Golden Spoon or Golden Scoop. She also seriously considered investing in a franchise. The shop she envisioned had its own vibe so Marroquin decided to go to school instead – the ice cream school. This wasn’t Marroquin’s first trip to school. She earned her undergraduate degree at The University of Texas at San Antonio before gaining acceptance into the highly competitive…
Elsa was once a city off the Rio Grande Valley’s beaten path. Tucked away from the region’s vehicle-heavy corridor – Expressway 83 – Elsa’s location along state Highway 107 formerly made it appear as if nothing of significance could happen here. Times change, however, as do growth patterns and emerging traffic routes where commuters seek new ways to get to work. Elsa has become one of those places where remoteness…
McAllen’s ongoing efforts to grow more trees within its urban landscape got a significant boost recently with the Texas A&M Forest Service awarding the local school district a $2.7 million grant. The grant will benefit seven elementary schools that are part of the McAllen Independent School District. Each campus will receive $390,000 to purchase and plant trees over the next three years from the $2,730,000 grant. A key goal at…
Highlighting Daniel Silva’s two-year tenure as the chief executive officer of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership is his organization’s “one region, one voice” message. Silva’s predecessors also preached regional unity when it came to the Valley’s nearly 50 cities working more collaboratively when marketing and promoting the region. He has tried to intensify those efforts by having the many economic development corporations in the Valley band together under one regional flag…
The space now taken by The Deep End restaurant and entertainment center has lived many lives over the years on the west side of Harlingen. The spacious Business 83 location has been a dance hall, a honky-tonk and sports bar, among other variations. Under new ownership, there is a fresh concept with investments in facilities that have reimagined dance floors and traditional bar setups into a place suited for family…
La Plaza Mall invites area families to a Back-To-School Bash on Aug. 3, featuring a fashion show and backpack giveaways. The bash comes one week before the state’s Tax-Free Weekend Aug. 9-11. The Back-To-School Bash will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Grand Court. Radio United will offer giveaways every 30 minutes, with prizes including tablets and Simon gift cards. The first 400 children will receive a…
The City of Pharr has launched its Public Safety Sticker Program, a new initiative designed to enhance interactions between first responders and citizens with special needs such as autism, Alzheimer’s, diabetes or deafness. This program is part of the city’s commitment to ensuring a high level of customer service and safety for all residents. The Public Safety Sticker Program provides reflective stickers that can be placed on the rear window…
The McAllen Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the 69th annual Man & Woman of the Year Awards. Since 1955, the McAllen Chamber of Commerce has been honoring remarkable individuals who have made a substantial contribution to the City of McAllen through their exceptional service and volunteerism. Winners will be recognized during the Man & Woman of the Year Awards that will take place on Nov. 7 at…
After adding 49,100 people over the month, Texas’ seasonally adjusted civilian labor force achieved a new high of 15,311,500 in June. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate registered at four percent, which is 0.1 percentage point below the national unemployment rate. The state’s seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment, which is estimated independently of the civilian labor force statistics and refers to the number of filled jobs within Texas, showed a decrease…
Registration is now open to bikers, walkers and runners for Keep McAllen Beautiful’s 13th annual Arbor Day Celebration taking place Nov. 2 at Westside Park. The run, bike, and walk event benefits everyone and helps KMB, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, increase awareness of the importance of planting and caring for trees in McAllen. The day will begin with a 25 mile/100K bike ride, 5K run, 10K run, a kids’ fun…