RGV Life

Vietnam era veterans and their families will get the thanks and honor of a grateful community. LZ:RGV - Operation Welcome Home is on Saturday, April 9 at the McAllen Convention Center. I am proud to be a part of this long-overdue tribute, which includes honoring those who never made it back home, like my good friend and war hero Freddie Gonzalez. The Healing Wall, a replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m, along with an exhibit, from Thursday to Saturday. It lists over 58,000 names of those who lost their lives during the war. I expect there will be tears shed and smiles made, I know that I've been moved by the stories I've heard and the veterans I've met. But, Operation Welcome Home is not intended to dwell only on the past. It will be a day of education, information and celebration. The Veterans War Memorial located just east of the McAllen Convention Center will kick off the day-long event at 10:30 a.m. with a de...

Producer/director Frank Aragon is doing a documentary on the 1961 Donna Redskins Football State Champions. He is looking for documentary crew and will also be conducting a one week film school. Below is the information. Please contact him with any questions you may have. __________________________________________________________ Miracle at Donna (Working Title) is an American sports film. In 1961, Donna High School in Donna, Texas, one head coach Earl Scott, was not influenced by a common racism that still existed and treated every team member equally resulting in inspiring his team to the State Championship. A miraculous story of a very special group of young men who overcame every unimaginable obstacle and a town that overcame racial barriers sooner then the rest of the country, this was a result of a couple of very special coaches and trainers, and town that saw deeper and who saw no color, just players. While South Texas has not seen another State Championship since 1961, Head Coac...

Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce Contact: Laura Espinoza/Martha Noell Address:  301 W. Railroad. Weslaco, TX 78596 Phone: 956-968-2102 Fax:       956-968-6451 Website: www.weslaco.com March 29, 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Food, Fun, and Music at Weslaco's 22nd Annual Onion Fest WESLACO - Weslaco's 22nd Annual Onion Fest proved to be another success with record numbers that came out to the City Park on Saturday, March 26.  Local food vendors, businesses, and all types of entertainers were featured at the event.  People of all ages showed up early to get a head start on all the different attractions and features, which included vendor booths, contests, and carnival rides for the children. The day's event kicked off with the Weslaco High School Mariachi Pantera on the MVEC Texas stage and Country Shades in our Cool Spot Mini Stage, sponsored by Shah Eye Center. The Inter National Bank Arts and Crafts tent highlighted local vendors wit...

A Diversity Initiative by the UTPA Office of Student Development In December of 2006, Felipe Calderón took office as president of Mexico and that same week launched the War on Drugs. Since then, some 95,000 soldiers have been dispatched throughout the country and violence has exploded, reaching over 30,000 drug war-related deaths and counting. Many experts calculate that the total by the end of the current administration will be more than twice that, with an increasing number of civilian deaths. The border city of Ciudad Juarez lies at the epicenter of the violence. Its drug-related homicide rate now makes it the murder capital of the world. It is also the most heavily occupied by Mexican military/police forces and the center of debate over Calderon's failed Drug War strategy. LIVING JUAREZ looks at the Juárez neighborhood of Villas de Salvárcar where in January 2010, of a group of youth attending a birthday party were brutally murdered and in the massacres immediate afterma...

APRIL 23, 2011 FREE T-SHIRT to FIRST 100...Must register by 04.15.11 Awards to 1st - 3rd each category Baton-style relay / Le Mans style start Water, Gatorade, Fruits, Snacks, Groomed trails, lots of fun & giggles! Texas Branding Iron Burgers & Beer at the finish line! Dry Camping Available For online registration, flyer download, and details, please visit web site: www.UnlimitedSportsAdventures.com ************************************************************************ WHERE: Monte Bella Trails Park (West Alton Gloor), Brownsville TX TIME: 8:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. 7:45 A.M. Racer's meeting 7:30 A.M. Registration Closes COST: $30 per person Before 04.15.11 $40 per person Late Registration, After 04.15.11 CATEGORIES: Solo - Male, Female, Clydesdale Teams - Male, Female, Coed, Male Masters (over 40+), Open Pee-wees (12&U) "TEXAS BRANDING IRON CHALLENGE": Gift cards from Texas Branding Iron... to the Fastest Lap Time, Solo ...

Smashburger opened their doors for  a series of VIP Sneak Peeks yesterday. The first started with members of the media and the RGV Chapter of the Social Media Club. We were treated to a free taste of anything on the menu. Participants were treated to try the delicious hand-made burgers, which start off as seasoned ground meat that is smashed into a patty, hence the name. Smashburger also provides delicious alternatives to their handcrafted hamburgers. You can order Smash chicken or a number of salads. Also in the works, there are plans for beer, wine, and vegetarian burgers. Tired of the same old fries? Smashburger offers fries that are uniquely seasoned in addition to alternatives such as sweet potato fries and Veggie Frites. Probably the greatest surprise of all is that you would expect handcrafted gourmet burgers to cost more than the average pre-processed hockey pucks at other restaurants; but not at Smashburger. You get real value from your dining experience. Smashburger ...

This Week's Featured Events: Women's History Month Film Showing: "North Country"             March 24, 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.             Mid-Valley Campus Library A fictionalized account of the first major successful sexual harassment case in the United States -- Jenson vs. Eveleth Mines, where a woman who endured a range of abuse while working as a miner filed and won the landmark 1984 lawsuit. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information contact Jessica Cruz at jrcruz@southtexascollege.edu or at 956-872-6664 .              Women's History Month Film Showing: "North Country"             March 24, 1 p.m.             Pecan Campus Library Room F.102 A fictionalized account of the firs...

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Dear Friends and Neighbors in the 28th District, Starting Tuesday, March 22 through Thursday, March 24, I will be hosting a series of veterans forums throughout the 28th District of Texas. I encourage all veterans to join me in these events, which will provide a wealth of information. I will be joined by representatives of the Veterans Administration, who will talk about the services they provide during an open dialogue for you to discuss issues of importance. During these forums, I will provide a legislative update on issues related to access to the VA healthcare system, an update on the G.I. Bill, and how we can work together to best encourage measures that advance the health, benefits and well-being of our veterans. We owe our veterans our deepest respect and admiration for their service to this country, and I am committed to looking out for their interests. I encourage all veterans to join us during these events, and look forward to seeing you. Below is the date, time, and locat...

I'm headed up to Austin for an event and for South by Southwest. My rusty green van is still out of commission; and I do not really want to face airport molestation. So, I'm taking the bus. This is my third trip on the long chariot. I find that it's more relaxed than air travel. On the route to San Antonio and Austin, the seats have not been full. I find that it is more pleasant than driving, certainly less stressful. I am surprised that the McAllen Bus Station is open all night. Logically, it should be, but it isn't something I gave much thought to until I booked my trip at night. Is this also a red-eye?

Great place for a guy to get an old school haircut before 9 am, when other shops are closed. You'll even get shaved with a straight razor. It was a great experience. My grandmother used to take me to barber shops in Reynosa; this brought back memories. I hadn't had a barber use a razor on me in ages. There is something to be said for the barber shop experience that you won't get at a styling salon. My barber had some extra time, so he even threw in a massage.

WESLACO - Two Weslaco citizens were inducted into the 2011 Rio Grande Valley Walk of Fame on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 for their service and dedication to the community. Noble Allen and Robert McAllen were inducted for their life achievements and significant civic contributions to the Weslaco community, Rio Grande Valley and South Texas. Each year nominations are received from cities and chambers in the Rio Grande Valley and the inductees are then recognized during BorderFest at the Rio Grande Valley Walk of Fame dinner.  The 2011 Induction Ceremony and unveiling took place at the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo.  Over 500 community members from the Rio Grande Valley attended the dinner. Noble Allen has devoted his life in making Weslaco a better place to live and raise a family. He has been involved in many valley-wide efforts including Rio Grande Valley Partnership, Valley Congress of Jaycees, UTPA Alumni Association, the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville and more.  "The Jaycees ta...

Pharr Chamber of Commerce "Works For You" Weekly Calendar February 28th - March 4th 2011 Because we know what works for you, we're working for you! Chamber Members and Community Associates: Connect with success at the Pharr Chamber of Commerce, your link to people, programs and resources you need to grow your business.  Join our member businesses that benefit from the Chamber's pro-business advocacy, business and professional development programs and high-visibility events throughout the year. Motivators In Business (MIB's) meeting TUESDAY, March 1st 11:30PM Noon - 1:00PM Motivators in Business (MIB) Ambassador Committee monthly meeting. For more information, call (956)787-1481 or email pdougherty@pharrchamber.com Pharr Partners (Winter Texan Council) Final meeting TUESDAY,  March 1st 2:00PM - 3:00PM Pharr Partners will be conducting their last meeting for the season at the Pharr Chamber Conference room.  ...

Gone Hollywood Movie Premier Screening at Cine El Rey in McAllen will be THIS WEEKEND ONLY March 4th, 5th and 6th. Cine El Rey 311 S. 17th St. McAllen, TX Movie Schedule: Friday, March 4th - 5PM & 7PM Sat & Sun, March 5th & 6th - 11AM, 1PM, 3PM, 5PM & 7PM Tickets available ONLY at the door for $7. CASH ONLY -No credit card please. Gone Hollywood is a family friendly movie so bring the whole FAMILY! Come MEET David Rice (Crazy Loco) co-wrote the screenplay, and it’s co-produced by Valente Rodriguez (and he stars in it too), UTPA graduate, and co-star of the George Lopez Show and several of the cast and crew members from the valley who worked on the film this summer right alongside top Hollywood professionals. It is shot on location in Edcouch-Elsa, Edinburg and McAllen. Check out their IMDb Page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1710354/combined Check the credits because you may find someone you know! After the film you will be asked to RATE the movie...

Just set up today. Bring the family.