Veteran Firefighter Leads By Example
Ubaldo Perez joined the Edinburg Volunteer Fire Department at the age of 18 before beginning his professional career with the McAllen Fire Department as a dispatcher.
Perez would later become a firefighter with McAllen while continuing to volunteer and serve in his hometown. His willingness to serve carried forth in both communities.
“When people need help, often during some of the worst moments of their lives, they count on us,” Perez said. “The work we do can sometimes put our lives in danger, but when the call comes in, your focus is on your training and helping the people who need you the most.”
Perez says preparation and training have become the foundations of his career. To that end, he recently earned his Associate of Applied Science in Fire Science. Perez is currently the Edinburg Fire Department’s training chief and hopes to inspire others to pursue lifelong learning.
“Education should never stop,” Perez said. “Once you earn a degree, nobody can ever take it away from you.”
As Edinburg FD’s training chief, he oversees firefighter training, certification requirements and the mentoring of young firefighters as they begin their careers. Perez’s enrollment in STC’s Fire service program in 2024 serves as an example to firefighters coming up that the need to learn and grow is ongoing.
“I realized I needed to lead by example, so at 52 years old, after 36 years in the fire service, I went back to school,” he said “Hopefully, it motivates others to realize it’s possible, even if you start later in life.”
‘Roundabouts’ Boost Safety in McAllen
designed to improve safety by reducing likely collisions. (Courtesy)
McAllen is investing in roadway improvements by introducing modern traffic circles at key intersections in the city.
The traffic circles are known as roundabouts and are designed to keep vehicles moving using a yield-on-entry system rather than stop lights or stop signs. This approach is intended to reduce congestion, lower vehicle speeds, and decrease the likelihood of severe crashes. The Texas Department of Transportation estimates that roundabouts can reduce serious injuries and fatal crashes by as much as 90 percent as they likely eliminate head-on collision possibilities.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that safety remains at the center of every infrastructure decision we make,” City Manager Isaac Tawil said. “Projects like modern traffic circles help us manage increased traffic while protecting our residents.”
The first roundabout is at Freddy Gonzalez Drive and 33rd Street and is considered by the city to be a major engineering milestone in seeking to improve and modernize McAllen’s roadway infrastructure. The roundabout design has been studied by McAllen planners over the last five years. The Freddy Gonzalez/33rd Street roundabout is the first of five such projects planned for the near future.
The initial roundabout in McAllen does not currently include aesthetic upgrades such as landscaping and enhanced illumination, but those features can be added in the future as the corridor continues to develop.
Flower Market Expands To Weslaco
Southern Roots Market is opening its fourth Rio Grande Valley location in downtown Weslaco.
It will bring to the Mid-Valley city a flower market, boutique, a full kitchen, and a specialty coffee bar. Southern Roots will occupy a historic building on the corner of Fifth Street and Texas Boulevard in the downtown area. The building formerly housed Guaranty State Bank and opened in 1920.
Mariana Linaldi, the founder and owner of Southern Roots Market, said choosing Weslaco to open a fourth store fills a void in the regional market for her business, which also has locations in McAllen, Mission and Pharr.
“We’re hoping to become Weslaco’s go-to spot for brunch while attracting a younger crowd that is not currently being catered to,” Linaldi said. “It’s all about the experience, not just going to a restaurant to eat, but immersing themselves in the community.”
Steven Valdez, the executive director of the Weslaco Economic Development Corporation, said the opening of Southern Roots Market will boost foot traffic in downtown Weslaco and help support neighboring businesses.
“It will fill a gap in the area while preserving the charm and the ongoing effort to keep downtown historic,” he said.