Anna Martinez may not have imagined what coming home would mean for her and her 8-year-old daughter. Born and raised in Weslaco, Martinez and her family moved to Houston when she was in fourth grade. The years that followed were difficult. When Martinez became a teen parent, depression and anger sent her on a downward spiral. Then Martinez’s parents separated, adding to her pain. Three years ago, Martinez decided to…
Faculty in the UTRGV College of Education and P-16 Integration have been awarded a $1.2 million grant for Project PLEASE, a collaborative initiative to help grow leaders in special education administration. “Project PLEASE is a personnel training grant that will give scholarships and stipends to 14 vetted candidates to complete their doctorate in education in special education administration,” said Hsuying Ward. Ward is an associate professor of Human Development and…
Robert “Bobby” Calvillo is the board chairman of the Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. He began his service on the Weslaco Chamber board in 2015. For the last 23 years, Calvillo has served as executive director of Affordable Homes of South Texas Inc. AHSTI is one of the largest non-profit housing producers in the country. It serves as a subdivision developer, builder and mortgage company…
The Valley Baptist Health System and its landmark hospital in Harlingen have long been synonymous with Cameron County. Its reach was extended in the county to Brownsville last decade with the purchase of an existing hospital. The health system is now making a huge strategic move. In Jan. 2020, it will open a micro-hospital in Weslaco. Valley Baptist executives say is a first move to further expand its footprint in…
The Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors held its first-quarter meeting at Don Pedro’s Restaurant in Weslaco on Nov. 6. Here, Daryl Smith of Smith Security Group was elected to continue as Ambassador chairman. With the election, Maria Belmares of Designer Zoo Closet Exchange and Laura Lopez of LaserLux are now Ambassador chair-elect and Ambassador captain, respectively. The Weslaco Area Chamber Ambassadors are a highly visible group of volunteers who…
Kicking off the Weslaco 100 celebration on Dec. 6 is the Century Leader Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Knapp Medical Center Conference Center. Ray Perryman will serve as the keynote speaker. Perryman, the unofficial Texas economist with a sense of humor, is the president and CEO of The Perryman Group, an economic research and analysis firm based in Waco. His firm’s more than 2,000 clients since inception…
The Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual membership and awards luncheon Oct. 30 at the Knapp Medical Conference Center. Chamber recognitions included Man, Woman and Business of the Year, as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award. Also receiving recognition were Volunteer and Board Member of the Year recipients. Man of the Year The 2019 Man of the Year is Joe Vidales, Weslaco’s resident expert historian. Vidales has been…
The first Magic Valley Electric Cooperative utility pole went up in 1937. It was on Mile 9 West in Weslaco. The cooperative was in business and would establish seven principles that would guide it. The seventh principle is one that is at the heart of what Magic Valley has done for more than 80 years. It’s “Concern For Community,” as the value states. This is a value that still lives…
Rolling by the Kapal Cabinet House, a director with the Weslaco Economic Development Corporation makes an observation of what economic vitality means to a city. “Everyone enjoys seeing life back in the building,” said Steve Valdez as he moderates the Weslaco EDC’s 2019 bus tour. The tour is an annual event that brings together community and business leaders to view Weslaco’s economic gains. They also witness how the EDC’s efforts…
The Weslaco Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for its Man, Woman and Business of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement Award. Award presentations will take place Oct. 30 at the chamber’s annual Membership and Awards Luncheon Oct. 30. Nomination forms for these awards are online at weslaco.com. Board Member of the Year and Volunteer of the Year will receive recognition as well. The deadline to submit nominations is Oct. 23. The luncheon…