Want to learn about the history of one of the Rio Grande Valley’s best-known enterprises and the geography of the Laguna Madre? If the answer is yes, hop on one of several charter boat companies based in the South Padre Island-Port Isabel area for a tour of the Port of Brownsville and the surrounding Laguna. The deep-water facility can be seen off State Highway 48, but an up close look…
Update: As of May 20, 2020, the Causeway Run and Fitness Walk has been cancelled for this year. Port Isabel’s sixth annual Causeway Run and Fitness Walk has a new date. Runners and walkers alike can look forward to Aug. 22 to cross the 2.6-mile Queen Isabella Causeway on foot. The annual event was originally scheduled for June 6, yet was postponed by the Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce due…
A new classic rock station, KRIX-FM, 105.5 Rocket, is now up and on the local airwaves. Dubbed “The Valley’s Classic Rock Station,” 105.5 Rocket broadcasts classic rock music from the ‘70s, ‘80s and early ‘90s. According to owner Eduardo Gallegos, 105.5 Rocket is the only classic rock station in the region. “Classic rock is very popular in metro markets,” Gallegos said, “and it’s actually a perfect format for the Rio…
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.…
The 80th Texas International Fishing Tournament is now in the books. This annual event is much more than going after shallow or deep-water fish. In fact, it’s a family event in which everyone from toddlers to grandparents in their 90s get together for a weekend of fun. Rewarding volunteers TIFT gives out tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships to students from throughout the Rio Grande Valley and the state as well. This…
The 2019 Commemorative Air Force Air Show will happen this weekend at the Port Isabel/Cameron County Airport. Locals and tourists alike can head out to enjoy aerobatic flybys and war-like aerobatic displays above the wide skies of this part of South Texas. Some 20 vintage aircraft will participate in the two-day event on June 22-23 at the airport located between the Towns of Bayview and Laguna Vista on West FM…
Little did Al Salazar know that a small bait and tackle stand on South Padre Island would become a multimillion-dollar enterprise that keeps growing as time goes by. Today, the family business owns and operates seven restaurants, and is about to open an eighth eatery, Josephine. Salazar, the family patriarch who wears no fancy outfits and who often advertises himself holding a beer mug, said he opened a fishing stand…
Inspired by a lifelong love of photography, and using creative computer software designed by her husband, Elisa Baker has embarked on a path to turn her personal passion into a business venture. Baker concentrates her photography on capturing images of Rio Grande Valley flora and fauna. Her husband developed the software that processes photos to create a sfumato effect. A style of painting associated with Italian Renaissance artists like Leonardo…
A limited amount of spots are open for the upcoming Kauffman FastTrac starting in January in South Padre Island. The NewVenture program provides tools to both develop business concepts and successfully launch a business. To be held at the Port Isabel Events and Cultural Center as well as the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center, the seven sessions encompass facilitated instruction. Students in the program identify market needs, understand business…
Area businesses who have an interest in Property Assessed Clean Energy are invited to attend an information session April 23 at the Port Isabel-San Benito Navigation District. During this time, PACE Executive Director Charlene Heydinger will discuss how property owners can upgrade their buildings and conserve energy while also saving money. Financing options are available for industrial property owners and multifamily property owners as well as commercial property owners. Industrial Property Owners The Texas…