Savanah Arellano of San Benito had a job as a mental-health technician earning $10 an hour. While Arellano knew she wanted to stay in the healthcare arena, she also knew she needed to earn a much better salary if she wanted to be self-sufficient and not struggle just to pay her bills. Because Arellano’s parents divorced and her father passed away, she had seen those struggles firsthand. Arellano enrolled in…
Texas Southmost College business student Phoebe Paz was recently named executive director of the San Benito Chamber of Commerce. The position stems from an internship she received as a new student at the college. “It really is an honor to have been chosen for this position, it’s a huge step,” said the 20-year-old. “When I became an intern, I never imagined that this would become a possibility for someone like…
The San Benito Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual Casino Night Fundraiser Nov. 18 at Oak Hill Event Center of San Benito. Roulette, craps and blackjack will be played at the event. This event is strictly for entertainment purposes. All playing chips earned will be able to be used as raffle tickets to win door prizes. The chamber holds fundraisers to help fund various community events that it sponsors. Examples…
The city of San Benito is using specially crafted legislation that allows for the use of hotel/motel tax funds to develop a nearly 40-acre project of retail, restaurants and medical facilities near the corner of Paso Real Highway and Expressway 77. City officials and Western Spherical Developers broke ground on Oct. 23 for what people are calling the Rio Grande Valley Epicenter. It would arguably be San Benito’s most significant…
Enjoy a day of golf supporting the San Benito Chamber of Commerce at the 2021 Scholarship Golf Tournament July 31 at the River Bend Resort & Golf Club. The tournament raises funds for student scholarships, enhancing the local workforce, and making the community a better place to live and work. This scholarship will benefit a graduating San Benito junior/senior pursuing business administration or a related field. Each participant will receive a…
A whirlwind is how Erika Soveranes described it. A normal work week was proceeding at Brownsville Lopez High School where she works as a music program director. Mid-week, a call came in from Arlington, Texas. Mexican boxing hero Canelo Alvarez had a huge fight on tap at AT&T Stadium. Would the Mariachi Margaritas – an all-women group of which Soveranes is a member – be willing to sing behind legendary…
The 13th annual San Benito Resacafest is a family-friendly day of food, craft vendors, games and family activities July 3. An evening concert under the stars and a fireworks display cap off the evening. Resacafest supports the City of San Benito’s efforts to boost tourism by promoting the city’s unique history through family-friendly cultural events and programming. Admission is free.
To propel and prepare students for the workforce, Triumph Public High Schools has launched a comprehensive program for its students. The new Career and Technology Education, Industry-Based Certification Program will lead students to career readiness while also preparing them for entering the workforce. The program is available to Triumph Public High School students in all markets it serves. This includes McAllen, Mercedes, San Benito and Brownsville, locally. This latest initiative…
Avi Gonzalez and Karina Vela have plenty to do with their day jobs as public school music educators. In early 2020, they added even more to their duties in opening a business with a connection to what they know best. The Armonia Music Academy & Store in San Benito is their version of the School of Rock with an emphasis on violins, acoustic guitars and vocals. The partners have turned…
Aracely Salinas’ start in business was born of grief as well as inspiration from her late husband. Michael Bryant Salinas was a longtime Rio Grande Valley paramedic and CPR instructor. For years, Aracely accompanied her husband to classroom and training sessions. Here, her husband taught the essentials of emergency medical care. When he died in August 2018, Aracely had life-changing decisions to make. One came fairly quickly when she decided…