san benito news
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© 2013, San Benito News LOCAL NEWS LOCAL NEWS OPINION SPORTS Demolition: City of San Benito crews are in the pro- cess of demolishing dilapi- dated structures ... Pg. 2 IDEA Bonfire: Students of IDEA Academy in San Benito held their first homecoming bonfire Thursday ... Pg. 3 All I Want Is You: Would you call me a liar if I said that, upon winning a $300 million lottery jackpot ... Pg. 4 NFL Play 60 Campaign: Miller Jordan Middle School is participating in a contest for NFL Fuel Up ... Pg. 12 WEATHER: 4 day forecast as of 5 p.m. Friday (Data obtained from the NOAA) Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday 80% chance of t-storms; High: 46° Low: 44° 80% chance of rain High: 46° Low: 43° 70% chance of rain High: 44° Low: 43° 40% chance of rain High: 51° Low: 41° WEEKEND EDITION, NOVEMBER 24, 2013 SAN BENITO, RIO HONDO, LOS FRESNOS, HARLINGEN AND THE RIVER COMMUNITIES SINCE 1930 BUILDING A CASE ‘CHEERGATE’ HEARD IN MUNICIPAL COURT Attorney considers insanity defense for cheerleader By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ Managing Editor [email protected] Cheergate is likely to continue well into the new year. At the pretrial hearing in the case of a San Beni- to High School varsity cheerleader with disabili- ties accused of assault- ing the parent of a fellow cheerleader, a trial date was tentatively set for 10 a.m. on Jan. 28—this to grant the cheerleader’s attorney with sufficient time to explore defense options. Seventeen-year-old se- nior cheerleader Alexan- dria Hernandez appeared in Municipal Court Friday to face a class “C” assault charge. Hernandez is the cheerleader whose left leg was amputated as a child Ralph Hernandez and his 17-year-old daugh- ter Alexandria Hernan- dez are seen along with her uncle, Noe Trevino (right), at a pretrial hear- ing inside the San Benito Municipal Building on Friday. San Benito News photo by Francisco E. Jimenez City officials speak candidly on stock show exit By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ Managing Editor [email protected] Officials with the City of San Benito ex- pressed disappointment Friday concerning the decision made by the South Texas Youth Stock Show committee to move its event elsewhere. City Manager Manuel Lara said Friday that STYSS directors had not previously ex- pressed intentions to move the event and did not learn of their plans until after reading the San Benito News story entitled “Stock show committee votes to move event out of San Benito,” which was published via sbnewspa- per.com Thursday evening. It was Thursday morning when Kathy Rike of STYSS made the announcement on behalf of the committee, which is comprised of stock show directors and volunteers, via email. Said email included correspondence with Lara and Assistant City Manager Hec- tor Jalomo, both of whom explained that the City of San Benito fairgrounds property— the unofficial home of the STYSS and where it would have held its 15th annual event in January—is in need of “major” repairs. Mayor Joe H. Hernandez confirmed Thurs- day evening that the fairgrounds may have sustained damages of up to $50,000 due to acts of theft and vandalism in which electri- cal wiring was targeted. “I heard the damage is pretty close to $50,000,” Hernandez said. “I don’t know how soon they (stock show organizers) wanted to move in. Electrical wires were removed… It was vandalism and theft (that occurred at the fairgrounds) at the same time.” It wasn’t until Tuesday, however, that Kathy Rike’s husband Glenn Rike and Dick Dorris—STYSS directors—said they found the fairgrounds without power. Teen behind bars for slapping mom By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ Staff Writer [email protected] A San Benito teen was ar- rested at a mobile home park after he al- legedly slapped his mother. Authorities confirmed that it was at approximate- ly 9:53 p.m. on Wednes- day, Nov. 13, when officers with the San Benito Police Department responded to a call in reference to a domestic disturbance at a mobile home park located on the 100 block of N. Helen Moore Road. Upon arrival, the offi- cers made contact with a 41-year-old woman who alleged that Jonathan Rios, her 17-year-old son, had slapped her across the face after she told him to turn off the lights and the tele- vision so she could sleep. “According to the sus- pect’s mother, he began pushing her and calling her names as well as using profanity towards her,” De- tective Rogelio Banda Jr. stated in an SBPD press re- lease. “And that’s when an- other family member called the police department.” Rios was placed under arrest Thursday, Nov. 14, for assault class “A” family violence. He was taken to City Jail where he was ar- raigned by Municipal Court Judge Ben Yudesis, who set bond at $10,000. According to SBPD Assistant Chief of Operations Michael Galvan, Rios is currently incarcerat- ed at the Carrizales-Rucker Detention Center in Olmito. RIOS File photo Trustees to hold another special meeting on interim appointment Weather prompts Indian Powwow to move indoors By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ Staff Writer [email protected] The San Benito Indian Cultur- al Powwow scheduled for Sat- urday, Nov. 23, has been moved indoors. “We changed the location of the powwow due to the bad weather coming in on Saturday,” said Ruben Cordova, one of the organizers of the event and a registered member of the Lipan- Apache Tribe of Texas. Cordova (a.k.a. White Horse) said the event will now be held inside the Old Greyhound Stadi- um gym. It was originally sched- uled at the Heavin Resaca Trail. “It’ll be Indian dancing, story- telling, some raffles and stuff like that,” Cordova said in a previous interview. “We’re also going to have some cake walks.” As previously reported, “Grand Entries” will feature participants conducting traditional dances in a circle. The first dance remains scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. fol- lowed by a two-hour break for the performers. The second grand entry will then be from 5 to 8 p.m. “It’s so that people get to know that Indians are still here, and that we’re still following our tra- ditions,” Cordova has said about the purpose of the powwow. “That is one of the main things that we try to promote during these powwows.” Cordova also said the timing of the event is fitting given that the month of November hap- pens to be Native American Month. “There will be Cherokee, Comanche and some Navajo [members present at the pow- wow], but they won’t be wearing traditional clothing,” Cordova added. “Most of the people will be wearing what they call pow- wow regalia. They’ll have really colorful feathers. Some of them will be in traditional, which will be like more of what they would have used back in the old days to go hunting.” The powwow is billed as the first of its kind for San Benito. The event will also be free and open to the public. By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ Managing Editor [email protected] No action was taken Thursday at the special meeting of the San Benito Consolidated Indepen- dent School District Board of Trustees, who were expected to vote on whether suspended Su- perintendent of Schools Antonio G. Limón would be reinstated or if an interim superintendent would be appointed to replace Alfonso Obregón. Another special meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Tues- day, Nov. 26, in which trustees will again consider the appoint- ment of an interim superinten- dent—this due to Obregón’s contract expiring Nov. 27—as well as the new interim superin- tendent’s salary and contract. Closed session items at Thurs- day’s special meeting included a status report on the investigation into Limón, who Obregón has replaced in an interim capacity since late May, as well as the discussion and possible action on reinstating Limón to his post. On Tuesday, trustee Hector Leal said he requested the item con- sidering Limón’s reinstatement to be placed on the agenda, adding that, prior to Thursday’s meeting, he and other board members had yet to speak to the attorneys, El Paso-based law firm Guerra and Farah PLLC, about the investigation. Upon reconvening in open session, however, Board Presi- dent Yliana González said no action would be taken on re- instating Limón. Still, board member Oscar Medrano made the motion to lift the superin- tendent’s suspension, which was seconded by Leal but voted down in the same 4-3 split that placed Limón on paid adminis- trative leave at a May 23 special board meeting. At that meeting, González, Board Vice President Julian Huerta, Secretary June Aguilera and Fatima Huerta VISIT US ON THE WEB AT SBNEWSPAPER.COM 50 c S AN B ENITO N EWS See CASE Page 10 See SHOW Page 12 See MEETING Page 6
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Transcript of san benito news
© 2013, San Benito NewsLOCAL NEWS LOCAL NEWS OPINION SPORTSDemolition: City of San Benito crews are in the pro-cess of demolishing dilapi-dated structures ... Pg. 2
IDEA Bonfire: Students of IDEA Academy in San Benito held their first homecoming bonfire Thursday ... Pg. 3
All I Want Is You: Would you call me a liar if I said that, upon winning a $300 million lottery jackpot ... Pg. 4
NFL Play 60 Campaign: Miller Jordan Middle School is participating in a contest for NFL Fuel Up ... Pg. 12
WEATHER:4 day forecast as of 5 p.m. Friday(Data obtained from the NOAA)
Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday80% chance of
t-storms; High: 46°Low: 44°
80% chance of rainHigh: 46°Low: 43°
70% chance of rainHigh: 44°Low: 43°
40% chance of rainHigh: 51°Low: 41°
WEEKEND EDITION, NOVEMBER 24, 2013 SAN BENITO, RIO HONDO, LOS FRESNOS, HARLINGEN AND THE RIVER COMMUNITIES SINCE 1930
BUILDING A CASE‘CHEERGATE’ HEARD IN MUNICIPAL COURT
Attorney considers insanity defense for cheerleaderBy MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing [email protected]
Cheergate is likely to continue well into the new year.
At the pretrial hearing in the case of a San Beni-to High School varsity cheerleader with disabili-ties accused of assault-ing the parent of a fellow cheerleader, a trial date was tentatively set for 10
a.m. on Jan. 28—this to grant the cheerleader’s attorney with sufficient time to explore defense options.
Seventeen-year-old se-nior cheerleader Alexan-dria Hernandez appeared in Municipal Court Friday to face a class “C” assault charge. Hernandez is the cheerleader whose left leg was amputated as a child
Ralph Hernandez and his 17-year-old daugh-ter Alexandria Hernan-dez are seen along with her uncle, Noe Trevino (right), at a pretrial hear-ing inside the San Benito Municipal Building on Friday.
San Benito News photo by Francisco E. Jimenez
City officials speak candidly on stock show exitBy MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing [email protected]
Officials with the City of San Benito ex-pressed disappointment Friday concerning the decision made by the South Texas Youth Stock Show committee to move its event elsewhere.
City Manager Manuel Lara said Friday that STYSS directors had not previously ex-pressed intentions to move the event and did not learn of their plans until after reading the San Benito News story entitled “Stock show committee votes to move event out of San Benito,” which was published via sbnewspa-per.com Thursday evening.
It was Thursday morning when Kathy Rike of STYSS made the announcement on
behalf of the committee, which is comprised of stock show directors and volunteers, via email. Said email included correspondence with Lara and Assistant City Manager Hec-tor Jalomo, both of whom explained that the City of San Benito fairgrounds property—the unofficial home of the STYSS and where
it would have held its 15th annual event in January—is in need of “major” repairs.
Mayor Joe H. Hernandez confirmed Thurs-day evening that the fairgrounds may have sustained damages of up to $50,000 due to acts of theft and vandalism in which electri-cal wiring was targeted.
“I heard the damage is pretty close to $50,000,” Hernandez said. “I don’t know how soon they (stock show organizers) wanted to move in. Electrical wires were removed… It was vandalism and theft (that occurred at the fairgrounds) at the same time.”
It wasn’t until Tuesday, however, that Kathy Rike’s husband Glenn Rike and Dick Dorris—STYSS directors—said they found the fairgrounds without power.
Teen behind bars for slapping momBy FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff [email protected]
A San Benito teen was ar-rested at a mobile home park after he al-legedly slapped his mother.
Authorities confirmed that it was at approximate-ly 9:53 p.m. on Wednes-day, Nov. 13, when officers with the San Benito Police Department responded to a call in reference to a domestic disturbance at a mobile home park located on the 100 block of N. Helen Moore Road.
Upon arrival, the offi-cers made contact with a 41-year-old woman who alleged that Jonathan Rios, her 17-year-old son, had slapped her across the face after she told him to turn off the lights and the tele-vision so she could sleep.
“According to the sus-pect’s mother, he began pushing her and calling her names as well as using profanity towards her,” De-tective Rogelio Banda Jr. stated in an SBPD press re-lease. “And that’s when an-other family member called the police department.”
Rios was placed under arrest Thursday, Nov. 14, for assault class “A” family violence. He was taken to City Jail where he was ar-raigned by Municipal Court Judge Ben Yudesis, who set bond at $10,000. According to SBPD Assistant Chief of Operations Michael Galvan, Rios is currently incarcerat-ed at the Carrizales-Rucker Detention Center in Olmito.
RIOS
File photo
Trustees to hold another special meeting on interim appointment
Weather prompts Indian Powwow to move indoorsBy FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff [email protected]
The San Benito Indian Cultur-al Powwow scheduled for Sat-urday, Nov. 23, has been moved indoors.
“We changed the location of the powwow due to the bad weather coming in on Saturday,” said Ruben Cordova, one of the organizers of the event and a registered member of the Lipan-Apache Tribe of Texas.
Cordova (a.k.a. White Horse)
said the event will now be held inside the Old Greyhound Stadi-um gym. It was originally sched-uled at the Heavin Resaca Trail.
“It’ll be Indian dancing, story-telling, some raffles and stuff like that,” Cordova said in a previous interview. “We’re also going to have some cake walks.”
As previously reported, “Grand Entries” will feature participants conducting traditional dances in a circle. The first dance remains scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. fol-lowed by a two-hour break for the performers. The second
grand entry will then be from 5 to 8 p.m.
“It’s so that people get to know that Indians are still here, and that we’re still following our tra-ditions,” Cordova has said about the purpose of the powwow. “That is one of the main things that we try to promote during these powwows.”
Cordova also said the timing of the event is fitting given that the month of November hap-pens to be Native American Month.
“There will be Cherokee,
Comanche and some Navajo [members present at the pow-wow], but they won’t be wearing traditional clothing,” Cordova added. “Most of the people will be wearing what they call pow-wow regalia. They’ll have really colorful feathers. Some of them will be in traditional, which will be like more of what they would have used back in the old days to go hunting.”
The powwow is billed as the first of its kind for San Benito. The event will also be free and open to the public.
By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZManaging Editor
No action was taken Thursday at the special meeting of the San Benito Consolidated Indepen-dent School District Board of Trustees, who were expected to vote on whether suspended Su-perintendent of Schools Antonio G. Limón would be reinstated
or if an interim superintendent would be appointed to replace Alfonso Obregón.
Another special meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Tues-day, Nov. 26, in which trustees will again consider the appoint-ment of an interim superinten-dent—this due to Obregón’s contract expiring Nov. 27—as well as the new interim superin-tendent’s salary and contract.
Closed session items at Thurs-day’s special meeting included a status report on the investigation into Limón, who Obregón has replaced in an interim capacity since late May, as well as the discussion and possible action on reinstating Limón to his post. On Tuesday, trustee Hector Leal said he requested the item con-sidering Limón’s reinstatement to be placed on the agenda,
adding that, prior to Thursday’s meeting, he and other board members had yet to speak to the attorneys, El Paso-based law firm Guerra and Farah PLLC, about the investigation.
Upon reconvening in open session, however, Board Presi-dent Yliana González said no action would be taken on re-instating Limón. Still, board member Oscar Medrano made
the motion to lift the superin-tendent’s suspension, which was seconded by Leal but voted down in the same 4-3 split that placed Limón on paid adminis-trative leave at a May 23 special board meeting. At that meeting, González, Board Vice President Julian Huerta, Secretary June Aguilera and Fatima Huerta
VISIT US ON THE WEB AT SBNEWSPAPER.COM 50c
SAN BENITO NEWS
See CASE Page 10
See SHOW Page 12
See MEETING Page 6
PAGE 2 SAN BENITO NEWS, WEEKEND EDITION, NOVEMBER 24, 2013 LOCAL NEWS
OBITUARIES
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
See CALENDAR Page 9 See VALLEY Page 9
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SAN BENITO, TX—Abel J. Rodriguez, 82 of San Benito, TX, entered into eternal life on Thurs-day, November 21, 2013 at his residence.
He is preceded in death by his parents Abel and Guadalupe Rodriguez and his brother Mariano
Rodriguez. He is survived by his his wife of 19 years Zoila
H. Rodriguez; his children Eliezer Badillo, Ana Maria, Sylvia, Abel, Mariano, Noemi, Eduardo; his brothers and sisters Calistra Rodriguez, Gil-bert “Teco” Rodriguez, Teodora Parra, Ray Ro-driguez, and Lola Rando.
Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., with a holy rosary prayed at 7 p.m. on Sunday, November 24, 2013 at San Benito Funeral Home. Mass of resurrection will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, November 25, 2013 at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church with Father Ignacio Luna offi-ciating. Interment will follow at Mont Meta Me-morial Park.
Pallbearers will be Gustavo Parra, Joe Parra, Santos Rando Jr., Robert Rodriguez, Ruben Ro-driguez and Ray Rodriguez.
You may send your condolences to the Rodri-guez family online to www.sanbenitofuneral-home.com.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of San Benito Funeral Home, 1400 W. Hwy 77, San Benito, TX 78586; (956) 361-9192.
Abel J.Rodriguez
City of San Benito photo
Members of the Harlingen Home Depot’s “Team Depot” pitched in to help construct a new bird and butterfly garden last Friday in San Benito’s Heavin Resaca Trail. The team, along with City parks’ personnel, constructed raised flower beds with bird baths and more than 120 Knock-Out rose plants around the grounds. The project was made possible by a $3,000 grant from the Home Depot.
Heavin Resaca Trail getsbird, butterfly garden
Special to the NEWS
HARLINGEN – Val-ley Baptist Medical Cen-ter-Harlingen and Val-ley Baptist-Brownsville have launched “Path to Health,” a community education and outreach initiative to raise aware-ness and understanding of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). “Path to Health” is designed to inform and educate the Valley’s unin-sured population and oth-ers within the community on how the changes imple-mented in the healthcare law will impact them and what they can do to secure healthcare coverage.
“We’re excited to bring
the ‘Path to Health’ cam-paign to the Rio Grande Valley and to partner with local organizations to educate the community on what the new health insurance exchanges may mean for them and their families,” said Manny Vela, President and CEO of Valley Baptist Health System. “We have al-ways been committed to delivering safe, quality care in the communities we serve. As care givers, ensuring that our com-munity and our patients understand all of the cov-erage options available to them is an extension of
Health MattersValley Baptist launches‘Path to Health’ campaignDate: Ongoing
Event: San Benito Historical Society annual fresh Texas pecan sale fundraiserMore Info: (956) 399-2502, (956) 245-8094
Date: Thru Dec. 31Event: American Military Support Operation: RGV Christmas Care PackagesMore Info: (956) 425-1549
Date: Nov. 23Time: 12 to 2:30 p.m.Event: Friends of the Library Saturday MovieWhere: San Benito Public Library, 101 W. Rose St., San BenitoMore info: (956) 361-3860
Date: Nov. 28Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.Event: Templo El Salvador 500 plate giveaway for ThanksgivingWhere: Templo El Salvador, 1605 S. Sam Houston Blvd., San BenitoMore Info: (956) 241-1616
Date: Dec. 4Time: 7 p.m.Event: Narciso Martinez Writers ForumWhere: Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, 225 E. Stenger St., San BenitoMore Info: (956) 350-3905
Date: Dec. 6Time: 8 p.m. to midnight
Event: Eighth Annual Pre-Posada DanceWhere: Knights of Columbus Hall, 826 E. Stenger St., San BenitoMore Info: (956) 456-1236, (956) 456-2946
Date: Dec. 7Time: TBAEvent: Stars of San Benito High School ShowcaseWhere: Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, 225 E. Stenger St., San Benito
Date: Dec. 7Time: TBAEvent: Community Christmas at the AmphitheaterWhere: W.H. Heavin Amphi-theater in Heavin Memorial Park, 705 N. Travis St., San BenitoMore Info: (956) 361-3800
Date: Dec. 14Time: TBAEvent: Longest Lighted Christ-mas Parade and Bazaar
Where: Downtown San Beni-to, Sam Houston BoulevardMore Info: (956) 399-5321
Date: Dec. 14Time: 12 to 2:30 p.m.Event: Friends of the Library Saturday MovieWhere: San Benito Public Library, 101 W. Rose St., San BenitoMore info: (956) 361-3860
Date: Dec. 19Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Event: Christmas Open HouseWhere: San Benito Municipal Building, 401 N. Sasm Hous-ton Blvd., San BenitoMore Info: (956) 361-3800
Date: Dec. 23Time: 12 to 2:30 p.m.Event: Friends of the Library Saturday MovieWhere: San Benito Public Library, 101 W. Rose St.,
City of San Benito photo
City of San Benito crews are in the process of demolishing dilapidated structures throughout the city. Picutred is a substandard home at 155 Wenchel being re-moved. Workers were required to wear bee suits after swarms of the insects were found at the old abandoned homesite. Four structures within the city have been torn down on Robertson and another awaits demolition at 191 N. Bonham.
City demolishesdilapidated homes
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BOARD MEETINGS
LOCAL NEWS SAN BENITO NEWS, WEEKEND EDITION, NOVEMBER 24, 2013 PAGE 3
See BOARD Page 9
Dear Boys and Girls ,It is that time of year again and I’d like
to know what you children would like for Christmas. Please write to me and tell me about your Christmas wishes. I will tell my good friends at the San Benito News to print your letter in their special Christmas edition. Deadline for all letters is 5 p.m., Monday, December 16. There’s no limit on length of the letters. Of course, this ser-vice is absolutely free.
Mail your letters to:Santa Claus c\o San Benito News
356 N. Sam HoustonSan Benito, Texas 78586
e-mail: [email protected] drop them off at the NEWS office
Love, Santa Claus
In Loving Memory - 1st Year Anniversary
LEONARDOYZAGUIRRE, SR.October 31, 1928 - November 24, 2012We thought of you with love today,
But that is nothing new.We thought about you yesterday.
And days before that too.
We think of you in silence.We often speak your name.
Now all we have is memories.And your picture in a frame.
Your memory is our keepsake.With which we’ll never part.God has you in his keeping.We have you in our heart.
With Love, The Yzaguirre Family
Special to the NEWS
BROWNSVILLE – A Tree of Angels will be on display at the Cam-eron County courthouse during the holiday sea-son adorned with per-sonalized angel orna-ments to remember the victims of crimes.
Family and friends are invited to decorate an angel ornament to reflect and honor loved ones lost from a crime committed against them. The Crime Victims Unit of the District Attor-ney’s Office is provid-ing the angel ornaments for decoration via mail, or in person at the DA’s Office.
“The holidays are a difficult time for fami-lies of victims, but we want the Tree of Angels to be an expression of remembrance,” Cam-eron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz said.
The angel ornaments may be placed on the tree from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 4, through Dec. 6. Ornaments may also be dropped off with the Crime Victims Unit at the Cameron County DA’s Office through Dec. 3 to be placed on the tree.
The Crime Victims Unit is mailing invita-tions to families of vic-tims to participate in the Tree of Angels, but ad-dress information is al-ways changing.
DA’s office invites victims’ family, friends to submit ornaments
“We want to en-courage all families and friends of victims to contribute to the Tree of Angels,” said CVU Co-ordinator Bea Salazar. “Sometimes, the phone numbers and addresses we have for families change without our of-fice being notified. We are trying to reach out
to those individuals, and also ask them to update their information with us.”
The DA’s office is lo-cated on 964 E. Harrison St. in Brownsville. For more information about the Tree of Angels and how to participate, call the CVU at (956) 544-0849, ext. 442.
Courtesy photos
Students of IDEA Academy in San Benito held their first homecoming bonfire Thursday, Nov. 21. Seen are students participating in the festivities, which was said to have been emotional for this year’s senior class.
IDEA Academy inSan Benito holds first homecoming bonfire
SBCISD Board Of TrusteesThe San Benito Consol-
idated Independent School District Board of Trustees holds regular meetings ev-ery second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. inside the John F. Barron Adminis-tration Building, located on 240 N. Crockett St.
San Benito City CommissionThe San Benito City
Commission holds its reg-ular meetings at 5:30 p.m. in the San Benito Munici-pal Building, 401 N. Sam Houston Blvd., every first and third Tuesday of the month.
San Benito EDCBoard ofDirectorsThe San Benito Eco-
nomic Development Cor-poration Board of Direc-tors meets the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. inside the San Benito Municipal Build-ing, 401 N. Sam Houston Blvd.
Parks andRecreation BoardThe City of San Benito
Parks & Recreation Board meets every second Mon-day at 6 p.m. inside the City Annex Building, 400
N. Travis St.Planning and ZoningThe City of San Beni-
to Planning and Zoning Board meets the third Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. inside the City Annex Building, 400 N. Travis St.
Board ofAdjustmentsThe City of San Benito
Board of Adjustments meets the third Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. inside the City An-nex Building, 400 N. Tra-vis St.
BuildingStandards and Renewal BoardThe City of San Benito
Building Standards and
Would you call me a liar if I said that, upon winning a $500 million lottery jackpot, I’d keep only 0.1 percent of the winnings? Would you think me a fool? Maybe you’d wonder why on earth I’d even think of giving all that money away.
Let’s look at that number, 0.1 percent, for what it represents to me before getting lost in imagining what you could do with hundreds of millions of dollars at your disposal.
Roughly, 0.1 percent of $500 million is about $500,000. With half a million dollars, I could pay off the debt my wife and I have incurred over the years, buy a modest home with comfortable living accommodations, pay for the education of our future children (as well as our own) and have plenty left over to put in savings.
That’s all I really want.I have desires for certain luxuries, of course, but
that’s all they are—desires. And I say this not to portray myself as some sort of holier than thou do-gooder, but to make a point about perspective.
Recently, there’s been much discussion in our community about the money spent by our municipal and school district leaders. “Waste” is actually the word that bloggers have used in their criticism of the San Benito CISD Board of Trustees for engaging in a costly investigation into suspended Superintendent of Schools Antonio G. Limón. Over at the City of San Benito, “expense” is all but a dirty word for the financially-strapped municipality. While I’m not in any position to decide whether the school district’s expenditures on the Limón investigation are reckless or justified, nor am I able to tell you whether the City has reason to implement a strict policy of fiscal conservatism, what I can say for certain is that it’s difficult to make any determinations until knowing the whole story.
Let’s find out if there was cause to investigate the superintendent before dismissing the situation altogether. The real waste would be to prematurely end a probe that, before it’s all over, will cost tens of thousands of dollars; if not up to $100,000 should the district pay another interim superintendent well into the new year.
I’ve also found it interesting that the City is often criticized for its hesitancy in funding certain projects and programs. Take the Boys and Girls Club of San Benito, for instance. I’m not saying that I was against funding the Club when it was in financial dire straits earlier this year and, at the threat of closure, pleaded for assistance. What I considered refreshing, though, was the fact that the City exercised the safeguarding of its monies to the extent that its officials first exhausted all other options and alternatives on the table before finally providing financial aid to the Club.
Take into consideration, however, that my opinion is limited to these specific cases. To offer my thoughts on whether these entities are currently exercising responsibility with our tax dollars may be unfair at this point.
Going back to my original questions about whether or not you might consider me a fool, a liar or perhaps just plain crazy for giving up $499,500,000 ... What if I were to tell you that I planned to give $2 million to each member of my family and my wife’s family, $50 million to our church (Grace Point Fellowship in Harlingen), $20 million apiece to the City and school districts in San Benito on the condition that the money is spent on widespread infrastructure repairs, economic development and education, and the remainder—about $160 million—to international charities?
It’s possible your opinion might change. How about we wait and see what transpires in our community before becoming judge, jury and executioner? Consider that the choices our leaders make may still turn out to be in our best interest.
Everything I do is for my wife, for my family. “All I want is you” is the thought (it’s also a fantastic U2 song) about my wife that keeps replaying in my head when I consider what I’d do with $500 million. I hope and pray that our leaders think the same of the people they represent when making those tough decisions. After all, we’re worth the careful consideration.
Michael RodriguezManaging Editor
CONSIDER THIS
Greg RangelSenior Pastor
Borderland Calvary [email protected]
Manuel LaraCity Manager
CITY DESK
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SAN BENITO NEWS
2013
PAGE 4 SAN BENITO NEWS, WEEKEND EDITION, NOVEMBER 24, 2013 OPINION & ADVICE
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
All I WantIs You
Why must we give thanks?I think sometimes that
it is good to just sit back and think…to accept who and what we are, and to give thanks for those things. That is what makes Thanksgiving one of my favorite holidays.
On the fourth Thursday in November of each year, most of us are generously given the day off and are encouraged to concentrate on all of the positive things in our lives…and to be grateful for them. (Exceptions of course, are our emergency responders: Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services, as well as some of our water and wastewater employees. Thank goodness for all of them, who often are unavailable to spend holidays with their loved ones.)
Yet, I wonder how many of us actually spend even a small portion
of the day in gratitude for our lives and livelihood.
I know that from our Mayor and City Commissioners’ perspective, they are grateful for living in San Benito, grateful for the opportunity to serve the community they love, and grateful to have been blessed with health, family and friends.
I am grateful for our truly talented city
employees, for the opportunities to contribute to the positive growth and development of San Benito and for the real honor and privilege of serving as your city manager.
This year, I am asking each city department head and coordinator to list their accomplishments completed throughout the calendar year. Often, we turn from one task to the next, and again to the next,
without stopping to consider that each is a significant contribution to a more beautiful San Benito. This is something that you too can do in your personal life. Just evaluate your accomplishments…It is a great way of increasing one’s own self worth.
I believe that sometimes we forget to realize the value of our own work. So, I want our own employees to list the projects they’ve completed throughout the year. I want them to feel proud of the things they have accomplished and realize what impact they have made to our City.
Clean water, fire and police protection, increased street improvements, sanitation services, special events, aid to non-profit entities, parks, customer service, our public library and code enforcement are vital services
Our first rightTo the Editor,I would like to start my letter
off by offering my opinion of the America we are living in today. In today’s America, we are seeing a very divided country, one in which neither side wishes to hear the other side’s opinion. It seems that whether you are liberal or conservative we each have our own opinions and we believe our side to be correct. I would like to ask those of you who truly care about your country to research for yourself on the internet topics that you find important.
If you have read my letters you know that I don’t believe in the global warming hysteria that is being shoved down our throats by politicians and governments that I believe only want more tax dollars from working Americans. Twice as much money this year has been spent on global warming initiatives than on border security. Look it up.
If you have read my letters you know that I don’t like Obamacare. This president had to lie to the American people before they could pass it. Even Nancy Pelosi said, “We have to pass the bill so we can know what is in the bill.” Obama himself knew that millions of people would not be able to keep their plans or doctors. Mind you these are Americans who were paying for their own insurance from money they were making by working.
The company that was hired to create the website happened to be owned by Michelle’s college buddy. So who cares? But wait, this company had already been fired by the Canadian government because they hadn’t delivered what they had promised. After the law passed, as a tax, mind you according to the Supreme Court, Kathleen Sebelius changed the law so that most Americans would not be able to keep their
plans. Why? Because in order for Obamacare to work, Americans who are healthy have to buy into that network. Now your medical records will be in the hands of a government that has been spying on its own people, discriminating against certain groups of people they don’t like, the IRS scandal against conservative groups trying to get tax exempt status. A government that made the computer programmers redesign the program so that Americans would not be able to see the huge hike in insurance rates.
“But Mr. Cañas, the government will be giving Americans subsidies.” Really? Where in the world is the government going to get the money from to pay those subsidies? From the pockets of hardworking, tax-paying Americans, that’s where.
Nevertheless, about half of
The Two Witnesses“And I will give power unto my two
witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth” (Revelation 11:3).
After establishing the possible identity of both witnesses, we now see that their ministry will be that of prophesying. The word prophecy does not necessarily mean the foretelling of future events. The Complete Word New Testament explains that it is classed with ministry and teaching. It also states that, “a prophecy is something that any believer may proclaim as telling forth God’s Word.” This is also confirmed by Bible Commentator Matthew Henry who says that, “It is not meant of the extraordinary gifts of foretelling things to come, but the ordinary office of preaching the word.” John McArthur also states that “The gift of prophecy is simply the gift of preaching, of proclaiming the Word of God...”
Their ministry will last a total of a thousand two hundred and threescore days, that is, 42 months; put differently, three and a half years.
The ministry of Elijah as it is stated in Malachi 4:6 will be to “...turn the heart of the fathers to the
children, and the heart of the children to their fathers...” And I believe that their ministry will include that as well, to turn the hearts of the Jews back to the Lord.
Why do you believe that there will be two witnesses and not one or three? Why two? Because the Bible requires the testimony of two people in order to verify a truth as Deuteronomy 17:6 states. In order for God to remain true to His Word He will be using these two witnesses because His judgments will be coming down upon this world and many will die during the Tribulation Period.
These two witnesses will be clothed, not in the ultimate style of clothing, but in sackcloth? Why do you think that is? In Old Testament times people would wear
sackcloth when mourning the death of a loved one or when there was distress and grief (see Genesis.37:34, 2 Samuel 3:31, Daniel 9:3). And due to the judgment taking place these two witnesses will be wearing sackcloth because they will have much to cry for.
“These are the two olive trees, and the two
See LARA Page 11
See RANGEL Page 5
See LETTER Page 6
SMILEyou’re in the News
For the Week Beginning November 24
ARIES (March 21-April 19). There’s a perspective that comes over you from time to time, a feeling that life has few good days and even those are filled with trouble. Hang on, because the mood will pass and so will the trouble. What you really need is rest. You’ll soon be enjoying yourself without worry. An abundance of good times is in store.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Remember the story about the man who was sad because he had no shoes and then he met a man who had no feet? It is rare to find a person who can appreciate life without first witnessing a comparatively worse situation. This week you celebrate, knowing you have it good.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You can be too hard on yourself, expecting to outperform others even when your circumstances put you at a disadvantage. Be kind to yourself this week instead of over-committing to prove a point. Think of your entire situation, and take on only the amount of work you can comfortably fit in.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Some people will do nice things for you because they want you to think nice things about them. Some people will do nice things for you because it’s just how they are. If you can tell the difference between these two types and surround yourself with people who fall into the latter category, your week will be great.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You think you should
be able to take your belief system a la carte, picking and choosing the beliefs that suit you best. Unfortunately, many beliefs are package deals. If anyone can finagle new and better ways to think this week, it will be you. Stay optimistic, because you’re likely to find what you’re looking for.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your notion of vacationing may not match up to the realities of the week. Leisure time, unguarded, gets eaten up by some very unleisurely obligations and commitments. To some degree, it can’t be helped. However, if you make a few sacred commitments to yourself, you should be able to honor them by the week’s end.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You can’t always cure restlessness by getting rest. What you need is interesting stimuli. But don’t be fooled -- you can’t scratch this itch by buying things. That initial rush will be followed by a letdown, because this is not a material problem; it’s a spiritual one. Seek challenges that will force you to develop your skills.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Some say that all that counts in life is intention. But good intentions can be misunderstood, and negative consequences can come out of simple accidents in which there was no bad intent. You’ll wrestle with your own sense of morality this week and pin down some rules that feel right and good to you.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Would you really want to be someone’s hero, idol, guru or god? Maybe the admiration would feel good for a while, but power is addictive, and it has been known to corrupt even the most honest people. This week you’ll gravitate toward humility, modesty and lifting other people’s spirits.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). If you put your mind in charge, your heart will keep challenging its decisions. Because the heart doesn’t make consistent sense (if it makes any sense at all), parts of the week will seem complex and confusing. Still, the heart’s language is trustworthy. Over the long haul, some of the nonsense will prove wise.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You believe in teamwork, and yet once a person disappoints you, you don’t automatically hand your trust over again. A practical mindset rules the week. You’ll come up with secret contingency plans that will allow you to operate as a team without risking too much. You truly understand power.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Experience is often the best teacher, but it’s not the only teacher. You can follow the instructions left by people who learned before you and avoid doing work that’s already been done. Skip ahead. This is like a relay. You start at the point where the torch is passed to you, not back at the beginning.
HOROSCOPEBy Holiday Mathis
Special to the NEWS This week will not be without tension, as the sun and Neptune square off, but much can be resolved with a brilliant idea. The difference between adequate and brilliant is often in the brainstorming. You’ll go many rounds to come up with highly original ideas that in retrospect will seem like they should have been obvious. That’s how you know they are good! It’s like a melody that seems familiar the first time you hear it.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
LIFESTYLES & ENTERTAINMENT SAN BENITO NEWS, WEEKEND EDITION, NOVEMBER 24, 2013 PAGE 5
On the Town ACROSS 1 Droops 5 Plant threat 10 El ___, TX 14 Text translation 15 Jefferson’s portraitist 16 Commerical caller 17 A on the ticker 18 Army man 19 Tiresome chap 20 Give the heave-ho 21 Chorine’s angel 23 Wishes things dif-ferent 25 Family member 26 Drew back 28 Boiling 31 Religious item 35 Mus. chart 36 Mental conceptions 39 Four-star 40 Sport 43 Go for 44 Richard Mellon, e.g. 45 Israeli airport 46 Choose 48 Oak, Elm, etc. 49 Tartan wearers 51 Publisher Ballantine 53 Mask star 54 Sport 60 Director Gance 63 To you, to Magritte 64 One of the strings 65 Loblolly 66 Businessman Griffin 67 Barkin, in Switch 68 Arm bone 69 Peter Pan baddie 70 Deathtrap star 71 ___ ahead! DOWN 1 Effort 2 Woody’s scion 3 Risk everything 4 Rodin work 5 Make ___ at 6 Cole Porter’s birth-place 7 String up 8 Pelvic bones 9 Tea-leaf specialists 10 One of a fairy tale trio 11 Grasping
12 Closing word 13 Kind of child 22 Lusterless 24 Correct spelling 26 It holds 13 arrows on a $1 bill 27 Suffer the heat 28 Half a singing group 29 Maxwell Smart, e.g. 30 Knocks down 32 Treasury issue 33 Negatively charged atom 34 Yorkshire city 37 Marble 38 Ursula Andress star-rer 41 Resolute 42 Mischievous 47 Water source 50 Leave one’s feet, in a way 52 ___ again! 53 Boom on the set 54 Mahjong tiles 55 Social note
56 Bit of land 57 Shade of green 58 Welfare, in Wembley
59 Hgt. 61 Sicilian resort 62 Corned beef order
RICKHERNANDEZ
SBCISDMigrantProgram
RangelFrom “Rangel,” page 4candlesticks standing before the God of the earth” (Revelation 11:4).
This imagery is taken from Zachariah 4 where it speaks about Zerubbabel who laid the foundation of the temple after the Jews returned from Babylon, and Joshua who was the High Priest.
The temple laid in ruins. There was a mountain of rubble
because when the Jews were taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, the pagans desecrated and destroyed the temple. When the Jews returned to Jerusalem, they began to rebuild the temple. That became a difficult task for them because during the night the pagans would destroy the work that they had done the previous day. But the Lord showed Zachariah that the
temple would be built. But it was not going to be in their strength, but in the Lords (Zachariah 4:6, 11-14). Therefore these two witnesses in Revelation 11 will be the two anointed ones doing the work of the Lord in the power of the Lord and filled with the Holy Spirit.
The two witnesses are also called “...the two candlesticks...”
As previously
seen in Revelation 1 candlesticks were used in those days as light bearers. The candlesticks were used in the Temple and in the Old Testament to give light in a dark room. As the church of Jesus Christ is a golden candlesticks because we need to give light in a dark world, so too these two witnesses will be lights in this dark and wicked world
during the judgment of it (see Matthew 5:14-16, Ephesians 5:6-8, Philippians 2:14-15).
Another thing we saw in regards to the candlesticks was that the candlesticks are not the source of the light, but the ones through which the light comes out, the light that shines in a dark place, as the lampstand would light the temple. Jesus said that He was the light.
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12, 9:5).
These two witnesses will be two candlesticks that will be as a light unto the world. Proclaiming the Word of God and the judgments that will be coming upon the earth.
PAGE 6 SAN BENITO NEWS, WEEKEND EDITION, NOVEMBER 24, 2013 VALLEY AND STATE
CHURCH DIRECTORYLA TRINIDAD ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH
500 Harrolds Ave. • Rio Hondo • (956) 748-2012Pastor: Joe & Delia Cavazos Jr.TEMPLO EL SALVADOR
1605 S. Sam Houston • San Benito • 399-8550Pastor - Eliu I. Gonzalez
ABUNDANT LIFE CHURCH101 North “O” Street • Harlingen • 425-1696
Pastors Peter & Estela PiñonBAPTIST TEMPLE
1201 N. Reagan • San Benito • 399-2274FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF RIO HONDO
8 Miles NE of San Benito • 748-2251Pastor - Gene Horton
IGLESIA BAUTISTA LA PALMAMaria and Patricia Streets • San Benito • 399-0665
Pastor - Tomas A. BeltranPRIMERA IGLESIA BAUTISTA
501 W. Robertson • San Benito • 399-1298RANGERVILLE BAPTIST
FM 1479 South 6.2 Mi. - San Benito • 421-5797Interim Pastor David Mann
QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE CATHOLIC CHURCH
121 Garrison Dr. • San Benito • 399-2865Pastor Rev. Isaac Emeka Erondu
ST. BENEDICT’S CATHOLIC CHURCH351 S. Bowie • San Benito • 399-2353
Pastor Ignacio LunaST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA CATHOLIC PARISH
Pastor Miguel Angel Castro24380 West U.S. Highway 281, El Ranchito, TX
399-2022OUR LADY OF LOURDES
CATHOLIC CHURCHPastor Miguel Angel Castro
Padilla Rd. & Cinco de Mayo, La Paloma, TXSACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH
Pastor Miguel Angel CastroU.S. Hwy. 281 & Rangerville Rd., Las Rucias, TX
HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC PARISHPastor Reymond Nwuchakwu
210 Watts Avenue, Progeso, TX • 565-6856ST. THERESA CATHOLIC CHURCH
1300 Combes • San Benito • 399-3247Rev. Sam Arizpe
ST. HELEN’S CATHOLIC CHURCH228 Huisache St. • Rio Hondo • 748-2327
Father Rigobert P. MotFIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
400 N. Reagan • 399-2864Interim Minister Caroline F. Herbert
Alternative Service Jean CottenIGLESIA CRISTIANA EBENEZER
205 First St. • Los Fresnos • 233-4975 or 233-5198Rev. Feliberto Pereira
IGLESIA CRISTIANA EMMANUEL335 Corral • San Benito • 399-5695
Rev. Servando PeralezSAN BENITO CHURCH OF CHRIST399 N. Sam Houston • San Benito • 399-3153
Minister Darrel RobertsonCHURCH OF CHRIST OF LOS FRESNOS
5th & Alamo • Los Fresnos • 233-5503Minister Dale House
EL SALVADOR CHURCH OF GOD638 Julian St. • San Benito • 428-2621
Rev. Luis LunaALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH
499 N. Reagan • San Benito • 399-1795Rev. Judy Sessions
IGLESIA PRESBITERIANAGETSEMANI CHURCH
140 Diaz • San Benito • 399-3595Pastor David Anthony Coello
ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH1000 N. Crockett • San Benito • 399-3422
Pastor Lynn LubkeFIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
400 N. Sam Houston • San Benito • 399-2187Pastor Melissa S. Nelson
FIRST CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE490 N. Crockett • San Benito • 399-5094 or 399-3135
Rev. Judy PanoskyIGLESIA DE NAZARENO
490 S. Reagan • San Benito • 399-2195Pastor Jose Ayala
BORDERLAND CALVARY CHAPEL299 E. Heywood • San Benito • 399-3534
Pastor Greg RangelFAITH IN CHRIST FELLOWSHIP CHURCH
2 1/4 Miles. S. of Rio Hondo on State 345 • 748-3026Pastor Joe P. Hinojosa
VALLEY CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY32128 FM 2520 Sam Houston • 778-4209 or 399-1414
Pastor Armando EscamillaTHE PENTECOSTAL CHURCH875 Rd. Zillock • San Benito • 361-3555
Rev. J.C. MilliganPENTECOSTAL HOLINESS CHURCH
801 N. McCullough • San Benito • 399-3555 Pastor Tom Holderby
MISION CRISTO REY1650 Combes St. • San Benito • 264-4474
ABUNDANT LIFE FULL GOSPEL CHURCH299 West Ocean Boulevard • Los Fresnos • 233-8283
Pastors Rev. Steve MuseCENTRO DE ALABANZA Y PODER
297 S. McCullough • San Benito • 399-3455 or 361-0100Pastor Oralia Barker
THE COMMUNITY CHURCH OFRIO HONDO
122 Mira Mar • Rio Hondo • 748-2387 or 546-4304Pastor W.R. Aten
FAITH CHURCH645 Corral St. • San Benito • 399-5924
Pastor Manuel AnguianoVISION CHURCH
1435 S. McCullough • San Benito • 399-7286Pastor Fabiana Manzewitsch
IGLESIA EVANGELICA CRISTIANAESPIRITUAL
1350 Alamo St. • San Benito • 399-8729Pastor Joel Cervantes
IGLESIA EVANGELICA‘CRISTO ESLA ROCA’
101 North Williams Rd. • San Benito361-0409 or 622-0955Pastor Francisco Cantu
VALLEY INTERNATIONALCHRISTIAN CENTER
2007 E. Exp. 83 • San Benito • 399-5590Pastors Jaime and Rose Mary Loya
BAY AREA INTERNATIONALCHRISTIAN CENTER
P.O. Box 1298 • Port Isabel • 399-5590Pastors Arturo and Christy Del Rio
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH566 N. Reagan • San Benito • 399-2235
Pastor Charles GalbraithIGLESIA EMAUS PENTACOSTAL
29731 FM 1847 Paredes Line N. of Los Fresnos • 233-6712Pastor Maria Lourdes Cerino
TEMPLO EL SHADDAI32521 FM 2520 • San Benito956-577-6514 • 956-200-1855Pastor Candelario Guerrero
WILLIAM ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH951 N. Oscar Williams Rd. • San Benito • 956-577-1211
Pastor Darryl SmithCHURCH OF THE DIVINE SPIRIT
1005 South Arroyo Blvd. • Los Fresnos • 956-621-3520Pastor Darryl Smith
JANO’S
Heart of the Valley Hospice
399-9400
V.I.P. RealtyValley Investment Professionals800 E. Stenger, San Benito
399-7777
“For AllYour RealEstate NeedsUnder OneRoof”
ATTEND WORSHIP SERVICES AT ONE OF YOUR LOCAL AREA CHURCHES
Special to the NEWS
Calling all artists! All young Texans between the ages of 5 and 12 have a chance to win free va-cations, a class party at a water park, and have their artwork appear in a popu-lar calendar.
Texas Land Commis-sioner Jerry Patterson is calling for entries to the 18th Annual Adopt-A-Beach “Treasures of the Texas Coast” Children’s Art Contest. The deadline to submit artwork is Mon-day, March 3.
“Texas has some of the most talented young art-ists in the world, as well as some of the best beach-es in the world,” Patterson said. “That’s why we’re calling for all students between kindergarten and sixth grade to help us spread the word about
what a treasure our Texas beaches truly are.”
Ten winners will be cho-sen in mid-April from each of four grade-level cat-egories (K–second; third-fourth; fifth; and sixth) for a total of 40 winners. One grand prize winner will be chosen from among the 40 finalists.
This year’s grand prize winner will receive two, round-trip, coach-class tickets from United Air-lines to any United desti-nation in the 48 contigu-ous United States; one, seven-night Caribbean cruise from Royal Carib-bean International depart-ing out of Galveston, Mi-ami or Fort Lauderdale; and a class party at Schlit-terbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels.
The grand prize win-ner’s teacher will also receive two, round-trip,
coach-class tickets from United Airlines and one, seven-night Caribbean cruise courtesy of Royal Caribbean International.
All 40 winners will re-ceive a ticket to the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi, two all-day passes to Schlitterbahn Water-park in New Braunfels, two tickets to the perma-nent exhibit hall at the Houston Museum of Nat-ural Science, a certificate of recognition and prizes from the Texas General Land Office, and the cal-endar displaying winning artwork.
The winning artwork will appear together in a 2015 calendar that will be distributed next year.
The Adopt-A-Beach “Treasures of the Texas Coast” Children’s Art Contest began in 1996 to mark the 10th anniversary
of the Adopt-A-Beach Program. The annual competition encourages Texas schoolchildren to learn more about the Texas Coast and to artisti-cally express what they’ve learned.
Open to students in grades K-6 across Texas, the contest motivates thousands of young artists each year.
This year’s contest spon-sors are Royal Caribbean International, United Air-lines, Schlitterbahn Wa-terpark in New Braunfels, the Texas State Aquarium and the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Some important guide-lines for the “Treasures of the Texas Coast” 2014 Children’s Art Contest are as follows:
• Artwork must be dis-
Children’s art contest ongoing
See CHILDREN’S Page 9
MeetingFrom “Meeting,” page 1represented the four votes that suspended Limón while Medrano, Leal and trustee Anna Cruz opposed the ac-tion.
Following the 4-3 vote that rejected Limón’s re-instatement Thursday evening, a motion by Leal to appoint Assistant Superintendent of Cur-riculum and Instruction
Celeste Z. Sanchez as interim superintendent was also voted down by the same 4-3 split.
Limón has stated that his suspension was the result of the board’s four-member majority accusing him of blocking an online solicitation of a minor investigation conducted in October 2012 by
the Harlingen Police Department into former Berta Cabaza Middle School choir director Alfredo Hernandez Jr.
Hernandez, who re-signed his position via email just days follow-ing his initial arrest by Harlingen police, has also been arrested by HPD as well as the SB-CISD and Brownsville
ISD police on similar charges filed by students attending said districts.
A list of accusations against Limón number-ing 17, narrowed down from 64, has reportedly been documented, but SBCISD legal counsel Tony Torres of Edin-burg-based Flores and Torres LLC cites at-torney-client privilege
in his refusal to release the list to the San Benito News.
More than $2,000 has thus far been spent on the Limón probe, ex-cluding the $165,303 annual salary Limón is receiving while on paid leave and the $717.25 Obregón makes per day as interim superinten-dent. At an hourly rate
of $150, Guerra and Farah initially charged the district $2,137 for work conducted in the investigation from Aug. 5 to Sept. 23.
The News currently awaits response from the SBCISD on a public information request seeking the second invoice from Guerra and Farah.
LetterFrom “Letter,” page 4Americans still believe Obama is doing his best and that is their right as Americans. All I am saying is that before you believe the government, give yourself a chance to read about the other side or listen to radio stations like 740 AM or 710 AM. Check out conservative websites and compare the information. You may change your mind. I know I did back in the very early 80s. I noticed even back then, when I was not even 20 years old, that the liberal points of view were being given airtime but that the conservative points of view were just being ignored.
What were the conservative points of view? The points I had been taught in church. Respect for my elders, a pro-life belief, a faith based on truth, discipline and love, a Christ-centered faith where the ultimate role model was Christ; a faith that taught me that
each have a responsibility to each other and our families; a faith that valued hard-work and sacrifice; a faith that had clear boundaries for right and wrong. In essence, everything that modern pop culture tells our youth they should stay away from. Is it any wonder the vast majority of Hollywood and rap types vote for socialist things? Let the government take care of you and don’t ever strive to become anything because if you do we will take all your goodies away.
In closing, as I said at the beginning of my letter, this is my opinion and I’m not alone because many of my acquaintances have told me they believe the same way, but they don’t feel comfortable expressing their thoughts in public. I tell them this is America and our first right is the right of free speech.
Signed,Carlos R. CañasSan Benito
LOCAL NEWS SAN BENITO NEWS, WEEKEND EDITION, NOVEMBER 24, 2013 PAGE 7
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PAGE 8 SAN BENITO NEWS, WEEKEND EDITION, NOVEMBER 24, 2013 SAN BENITO CISD
SBCISD photo
Berta Cabaza Middle School hosted the Solo and Ensemble Contest, with ap-proximately 30 middle schools in attendance. The Berta Cabaza Middle School Choir received 67 “Superior” Ratings and five “Excellent” Ratings. The campus earned the most Superior Ratings in the entire region. Roddy Martinez serves as choir director and Rebecca Escamilla serves as the assistant director.
Berta Cabaza Middle School choir wins at contest
SBCISD photo
San Benito Veterans Memorial Academy students instructed by Hector Lumbrera placed third at the Gatekeeper Best Performance Robotics competition at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen. Shown are from left, Principal Gilbert Gal-van, Lumbrera, Luis Ramirez, Manuel Garcia and Director of Career Technical Education Hector Rendon.
San Benito Veterans Memorial Academy earns third
NO SCHOOLNOTICE
Monday, November 25 - Friday, November 29, 2013
There will be no classes for San Benito CISD stu-dents on the following dates:
• Monday and Tuesday, November 25 & 26 - Staff Inservice Days
• Wednesday through Friday, November 27-29 - Thanksgiving Holiday
Classes will resume at their normal time on Mon-day, December 2.
SBCISD Calendar
Special to the NEWS
Red, yellow, blue, and green are colors. San Beni-to High School students enrolled in Paul Hernan-dez’ Advanced Animation class now know that these very colors are also rep-resentative of personality styles.
San Benito High School (SBHS) Advanced Ani-mation class students re-cently completed the pro-duction of a user-driven, interactive navigation se-quence project that com-bined colors, personality descriptors, and animals to demonstrate various personality styles.
“Recently the Advanced Animation class part-nered up with E-Colors in Education to produce a user-driven, interactive navigation sequence. The students have learned new skills to produce work that is of industry standard quality,” explains Anima-
San Benito High School students animate E-animals
SBCISD photo
E-Colors in Education General Manager and Senior Coach Rosalinda Mercado-Garza, PhD. (far right, front) presents a personal $1,000 donation to the San Benito High School Animation SkillsUSA club and Advanced Animation class students for their partnership in a user driven interactive project. The student animators are Nicholas Becerra, Zelena Cuellar, Nataly Galvan, Jose Garcia, Jeremiah Gomez, Clarissa Huerta, Dakota Jones, Christian Resendez, Joe Sanchez, Miguel Sanchez, and Erika Sandoval; they are shown alongside SkillsUSA sponsor and Animation instructor Paul Hernandez and Career and Technical Education Director Hector Rendon. Not shown are students Luis Gonzalez and Fernando Trejo.
SBCISD photo
San Benito High School Advanced Animation students recently completed an elaborate interactive navigation project where jungle animals come to life. The animated sequence allows the pictured deer pictured to clearly say, “I am the deer. I am green/blue. By nature, I am gentle and extremely careful. I try not to hurt others. When I am hurt, it causes me to not trust in others. I pause and think before I take a chance on a relationship/friendship.”
tion instructor Paul Her-nandez.
Proprietary to Equilib-ria Services Limited, an international coaching organization that special-izes in providing culture development services to the oil and gas indus-try, the E-Colors process helps identify different personality styles, which then enable people to bet-ter understand themselves and those around them.
The E-Colors concept
combines four colors and four main personality styles. The most notice-able personality traits be-ing the following:
• Red - the “doer,”• Yellow - the “social-
izer,”• Blue - the “relater,”
and• Green - the “thinker.”To discover one’s own
E-color, individuals take the Personality Diversity
Indicator (PDI), consisting of 35 questions and taking approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
The PDI’s end result is a color combination, en-compassing the individu-al’s primary and secondary predominant E-Colors.
For example, a “red over yellow” personality describes a doer (red) and socializer (yellow). A “yellow over red” See STUDENTS Page 10
individual can be seen as a very active and constantly on the go individual that loves to influence and persuade.
E-Colors in Education takes the E-Colors con-cept one step further and strives to create a culture that empowers students and staff to realize their potential and become transformational leaders.
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NEED CA$H NOW?We Want to Make You a Loan!
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that mission.”The “Path to Health”
campaign will work with community partners and
offer educational materi-als and resources to help Valley residents better understand the insurance
ValleyFrom “Valley,” page 2
played on a plain sheet of white 8.5” x 11” paper and can be in any medium ex-cept computer-generated;
• Three-dimensional art or artwork displaying logos, product brands, and/or store names is in-eligible;
• Only one entry per student is allowed, and all entries must have a com-pleted parental release form taped to the back. Pa-rental release forms may be printed from the Land Office web site: www.tex-asadoptabeach.org;
• Students are encour-aged to color photocopy their artwork prior to send-ing it in because all art-work submitted becomes property of the Texas General Land Office and cannot be returned;
• Each contest entry must be postmarked by Monday, March 3, 2014, to the following address: Texas General Land Of-fice, Adopt-A-Beach Program: Children’s Art Contest 2014, P.O. Box 12873, Austin, Texas 78711-2873
For more information and official contest guide-lines, contact the General Land Office at (877) TX-COAST or visit the web site at www.texasadopta-beach.org.
Children’sFrom “Children’s,” page 6
Renewal Board meets the fourth Thursday of each month inside the City Annex Building, 400 N. Travis St.
Utilities BoardThe City of San Beni-
to Utilities Board meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. inside the Municipal Building, 401 N. Sam Houston Blvd.
VeteransAdvisory BoardThe City of San
Benito Veterans Board meets the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in the San Benito Mu-nicipal Building, 401 N. Sam Houston Blvd.
Special Events BoardThe City of San
Benito Special Events Board meets the fourth Monday of every month at 5:30 p.m. in the San Benito Municipal Building, 401 N. Sam Houston Blvd.
BoardFrom “Board,” page 3
San BenitoMore info: (956) 361-3860
Date: Jan. 11Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.Event: San Benito Market Days (Theme: Football Mania)Where: Heywood Street near Sam Houston Boule-vard in San BenitoMore Info: (956) 361-3804, Ext. 304
Date: Feb. 23Time: 2 to 5:30 p.m.Event: Second Annual Ms. South Texas Senior Pageant, celebrating “The Age of Elegance” Where: Harlingen Municipal Auditorium, 1018 Fair Park Blvd.More Info: (956) 357-1636 or email [email protected]
Date: Monday to FridayTime: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.Event: Starz School of Dance RegistrationWhere: 115 N. Williams Rd., San Benito
CalendarFrom “Calendar,” page 2
exchanges and the Af-fordable Care Act. The comprehensive campaign seeks to break down the barriers of this complicat-ed law, and provide user-friendly guidance and tips on what community mem-bers should know in order to make sure they are pre-pared to choose the best coverage for themselves and their families.
For more information,
come to a free educa-tional presentation at Val-ley Baptist’s Woodward Conference Center, 2101 Pease St. in Harlingen (on the first floor of the hospi-tal, South Tower entrance) on Monday, Dec. 2 (in English) or Wednesday, Dec. 11 (in Spanish) from 6 to 9 p.m. each evening, visit www.PathToHealth.com or call toll-free (866) 893-8446.
More Info: (956) 361-7827
Date: Monday to FridayTime: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Event: Volunteers SoughtWhere: Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley Inc.More Info: (956) 682-8101
PAGE 10 SAN BENITO NEWS, WEEKEND EDITION, NOVEMBER 24, 2013 LOCAL NEWS
PERSONAL18
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GENERALSERVICES5
PUBLICNOTICES20 PUBLIC
NOTICES20
E-Colors in Education General Manager and Senior Coach Rosalinda Mercado-Garza, PhD, ex-plains, “The E-Color pro-cess allows individuals to see their strengths and potential limiters. There are no ‘weaknesses.’ You learn to manage your lim-itations.”
The concept for the animated project began with an original piece of art, a 4 by 4 foot can-vas, capturing 12 unique animals depicting the 12 different E-Colors com-binations. Painted in the spring of 2013 by teacher Beth Waltman and stu-dent Kevin Lemus of Southwest High School in
Houston, Texas, the can-vas is the focal point of the animated project.
A digital photo of the canvas was sent to Her-nandez, and that’s when SBHS Advanced Anima-tion students transformed a still photo in to a live masterpiece – “E-Colors in Education: E-Animals in the Jungle.”
For the elaborate 9-week project, students brought life and gave a unique voice to the fol-lowing E-animals: a bea-ver, deer, eagle, elephant, fox, owl, parrot, raccoon, squirrel, tiger, turtle, and wildcat.
SBHS Senior and project animator Cla-
rissa Huerta, defined as a “blue over green,” brought life and a voice to the turtle.
“I am a turtle. I am Blue / Green. It’s true. I use my shell as protection. I value the emotions of others, but hold mine close, as well. I take some time to adjust to someone or a new sur-rounding that I am not familiar with. My shell is my comfort, which once I have a friend who con-vinces me to peer out of it, then I reveal a deeper personality,” says the ani-mated turtle in Clarissa’s very own voice.
Clarissa agrees with her E-Colors. “Sometimes, I take my time in doing
StudentsFrom “Students,” page 8
in the past I have asked for favors. This time I ask you this very special one (mention favor). Take it dear Jesus and place it within your own
heart where your father sees it. Then in your merciful eyes it will become your favor not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for 3 days, promise publica-tion and favor will be granted. Never known to fail.
G.M.
DEAR HEART OF JESUS,
AUCTIONTHE CITY OF SAN BENITO WILL
HOLD AN
AUCTION(Sealed Bids)
ON:Friday, December 6, 2013
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.925 E. Stenger (City Service Center)
ITEMS TO BE SOLD INCLUDE:Vehicles, bicycles, office
furniture, mowers, policedome lights
CITATION BYPUBLICATION — TRC
109 & 114THE STATE OF TEXAS
2013-DCL-04565-GALBERTO G. SALAZAR
VS.ESTELA SALAZAR
IN THE 404TH DISTRICTCOURT OF
CAMERON COUNTY,TEXAS
To: ESTELA SALAZAR,UNKNOWN ADDRESS, DEFENDANT: GREET-
INGS:NOTICE TO DEFEN-
DANT: “You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your at-torney do not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday next following the expira-tion of 42 days after the date this citation was is-sued, a default judgment may be taken against you.”
You are hereby com-manded to appear by fil-ing a written answer to the PLAINTIFF’S ORIGINAL PETITION at or before 10:00 o’clock A.M. on the Monday next after the ex-piration of 42 days after
the date of issuance of this citation before the Honor-able 404th District Court of Cameron County, at the Courthouse in said County in Brownsville, Texas. Said PLAINTIFF’S ORIGINAL PETITION was filed in said court on the 3rd day of July, 2013 in the above entitled cause.
A brief statement of the nature of this suit is as fol-lows, to-wit: Civil-Other/In-jury or Damage.
Plaintiff’s Original Peti-tion as is more fully shown by PLAINTIFF’S ORIGI-NAL PETITION on file in this suit.
Issued and given under my hand and seal of said Court at Brownsville, Tex-as, on this the 30th day of October, 2013.
Attorney: Hon.Christopher Lee Phillippe
248 Billy Mitchell Blvd.Brownsville, TX 78521
(956) 544-6096
Aurora De La GarzaDistrict Clerk
Cameron County, Texas
By: Gloria Medrano,Deputy Clerk
(11-24-13; 11-27-13; 12-1-13; 12-4-13)
PUBLICNOTICES20 PUBLIC
NOTICES20
things. I like to analyze things. After working on this project, I feel a little more outspoken,” she ex-plains.
According to Clarissa and her fellow anima-tors, syncing the animals’ speech and mouth mo-tions was the most diffi-cult aspect of the project. However, the educational tools available to the stu-dents helped make the project a total success.
According to Hernan-dez, the animation proj-ect was built using Adobe Photoshop to redraw the animals’ mouths, Adobe Soundbooth to adjust vol-umes, and Adobe Flash to outline animated se-quences for the final vid-eo. The various multime-dia software used for the project are those available for students to use in their daily classroom instruc-tion and classwork.
“The finished product has already been up-loaded to the E-Colors in Education website and has been well received. The project will be shared globally as Equilibria and E-Colors in Education have partners throughout the world,” said Hernan-dez.
Not only will the proj-ect have worldwide ex-posure, it has also helped the Advanced Animation students hone their skills for future SkillsUSA competitions.
SkillsUSA, a partner-ship of students, teach-ers and industry working together, ensures that America has a skilled workforce. The career and technical student or-ganization, serves more than 320,000 high school and college students and professional mem-bers enrolled in training
programs in technical, skilled, and service occu-pations, including health occupations.
“In our Career and Technical Education pro-grams, we strive to instill a work ethic that will pro-duce students who will deliver ‘services that will be recognized as honor-able by their employers and fellow workers,’ as stated in the SkillsUSA Pledge. I strongly believe that this new partnership will help us achieve this,” Hernandez proudly con-cluded.
To view the elaborate interactive navigation project, visit the E-Colors in Education’s website at www.ecolorsineduca-tion.com/Personal-Inter-vention/e-animals.html. To take the PDI, visit the Equilibria website at h t tp : / /www.equi l ibr ia .com/ecolors.html.
CaseFrom “Case,” page 1and who also accused members of her squad of discrimination and bully-ing—claims which were dismissed on Oct. 30 as “unsubstantiated” by at-torneys Buechler and Associates, the law firm representing the SBCISD Special Education De-partment.
Her father Ralph Her-nandez and uncle Noe Treviño, who has identi-fied himself as the girl’s advocate, joined Hernan-dez at the hearing held inside the San Benito Municipal Building Ce-sar Gonzalez Meeting Room.
The misdemeanor charge stems from alle-gations that she accosted Colleen Duncan, the par-ent of another senior on the SBHS cheer squad, at an Oct. 11 pep rally held on campus. It was on Oct. 31 when the teen was ar-rested for the alleged as-sault.
“We were just here for a pre-trial motion, a hear-ing based on certain mo-tions that we filed,” Rick Godinez, the attorney representing Hernandez, said at the hearing on Friday. “The judge has set a trial date and given us some time to explore certain defenses that my client may have to the charges that are being made.”
One such defense Her-nandez may argue, ac-cording to Godinez, is insanity.
“Insanity is a legal term,” Godinez said. “I’m not saying insan-ity to the extent that she is crazy. Criminal law requires a certain crimi-nal intent for her to be responsible for whatever the charge may be. What we’re saying is that this debilitating condition of my client may prevent her cognitive ability to have that intent as a mat-ter of law. I don’t know if that’s the case. I’m discussing that with her medical providers. With the family, I’ll make the appropriate determina-tion on whether that is an appropriate defense or not.”
Godinez remarked that a January trial date af-fords him time to explore such a defense. “And
then should the prosecut-ing attorney challenge that position, give them time to get whatever they feel is necessary to challenge that,” Godinez said, adding, “I think this is damaging, clearly, to my client. I think this is damaging the com-munity. I know that the family would like to put the entire incident behind them, but we think these charges are baseless. We intend to fully present that to the court and hope-fully gain an acquittal for Alexandria. The criminal charges are what hap-pened at, I guess, the pep rally, so that would be the focus of the testimony, I would imagine.”
Additional research Godinez said he plans to conduct is seeking medical advice on Her-nandez’ condition and further noted that he’s thus far researched it on-line. “What I’ve read on the internet is that this particular condition can affect cognitive ability,” Godinez said. “So any-time you have something that affects cognitive ability as a matter of law, it may prevent someone from having the neces-sary criminal intent to be charged or to be convict-ed of the crime.”
“So it’s the same as an insanity defense,” Go-dinez continued. “She’s not insane. Obviously she is a very bright girl, considering her condi-tions. But the law only calls it insanity defense. She’s not insane. I’m not intending to stand up here and say that she is or that’s what caused it or anything else caused this. I need to visit with her medical providers to understand her position to determine whether that condition affects her cog-nitive ability which pre-vents her from legally being responsible for this or any other crime.”
In response, Charles L. Starling, the prosecutor in the case, said, “I haven’t seen the medical records; I really don’t know.”
In the meantime, Her-nandez has another court date to prepare for: A fed-eral hearing into an in-junction filed by Treviño on her behalf. Scheduled
for 1:30 p.m. Wednes-day, Dec. 4, inside U.S. District Judge Andrew S Hanen’s court, Treviño will argue that his niece should not have been removed from the cheer squad.
Hanen signed a tempo-rary restraining order that Treviño filed on Friday, Nov. 8, in a successful attempt to reinstate Her-nandez as a cheerleader. Hernandez had been re-moved from the squad on Nov. 4 for allegedly vio-lating the school’s cheer-leader constitution.
Seeking a trial by jury, a declaratory judgment, equitable relief, recovery of attorney fees and costs in addition to a perma-nent injunction allowing Hernandez back on the squad, Treviño specifi-cally alleges in the in-junction that Hernandez has been “discriminated and harassed since she began her participation in cheerleading, includ-ing accusations of taunt-ing and ridicule by other cheerleaders.
SBHS cheer parents, speaking under anonym-ity to protect their daugh-ters, have denied all al-legations and accused Treviño of litigious ac-tivity in what they be-lieve is an opportunistic attempt to build a case for a discrimination law-suit. Some parents have even reported Treviño to the San Benito Police Department, alleging that he has followed cheer-leaders in his vehicle and intimidated them.
Concerning the pep rally incident, Duncan has stated that Her-nandez ran up to her, grabbed the cheer mom by the T-shirt and pro-ceeded to yell obscenities while blaming Duncan’s apparel for Hernandez’ illness.
Section 9.2 of the cheer constitution states that “Immediate Dismissal” occurs when: “A member engaged in a conduct re-sulting in arrest from law enforcement officers;” and “verbal or physical confrontation with the sponsor, a member, stu-dent, staff or parent and the use of foul or profane language, threats, or any indecent gestures.”
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San Benito News photo by Francisco E. Jimenez
The Thompson residence, located on the 400 block of La Vaca Drive South, has been named the San Benito Pride Committee Pride Home of the Month for No-vember. Seen, from l-r, are Pride Committee representative Bertha Wilson, Ethan Hite, 13, homeowner Debbie Thompson, Tyler Hite, 9, and Pride Committee rep-resentative Debbie Layton. The San Benito Pride Committee is sponsored by the Rotary Club of San Benito.
San Benito News photo by Francisco E. Jimenez
Oak Hill Event Center, located on 1780 Highway 83 West, has been named the San Benito Pride Business of the Month for November. Shown, from l-r, are Pride Committee representative Bertha Wilson, business owner Yolanda Pala-cios, and Pride Committee representative Debbie Layton. The San Benito Pride Committee is sponsored by the Rotary Club of San Benito.
LaraFrom “Lara,” page 4provided by the city. It takes someone who really cares about these things to make them happen like clockwork, so our citizens can depend on them when needed.
It is my philosophy that when someone
cares about his/her job, they perform their duties to a higher standard. This simple exercise is designed to evaluate our progress, while simultaneously creating a feeling of pride in our work accomplishments
and thanksgiving for the abilities to do so. I will share those accomplishments more fully with you in a future column.
It has been a truly good year for the City of San Benito…one filled
with solid progress, with infrastructure upgrades, improved employee organization and efficiency, new construction and remodeling projects, public events, enhanced technology and more.
So, while we sit
down to a delicious turkey dinner, why not spend a moment and remember what you have accomplished…for your family, for your employer, and for yourself. And remember (to paraphrase Cicero, the philosopher) that
a thankful heart is not only a great virtue, but the founder of all other virtues.
And, from our elected officials and our city staff, please have a healthy, safe and blessed Thanksgiving holiday.
PAGE 12 SAN BENITO NEWS, WEEKEND EDITION, NOVEMBER 24, 2013
SPORTSSAN BENITO • RIO HONDO • LOS FRESNOS • RIVER COMMUNITIES
ShowFrom “Show,” page 1
“Yesterday, we attempt-ed to enter the fairgrounds to start making plans for a cleanup and work day,” Glenn Rike and Dorris stated in a Nov. 19 email sent to Lara, Jalomo and Assistant City Manager Arturo Rodriguez. “We found that the front gate only had the City of San Benito and AEP lock. We contacted Mr. Jalomo who had someone meet us so we could put yet another lock on the gate to allow us entry.”
“Upon reviewing the grounds,” Glenn Rike and Dorris continued, “we find that there appears to be no electrical service to the fairgrounds. The main panels are disassembled and wires cut, several of the service panels are damaged and all wires cut to them as well. We did not attempt to check the power in the Neumann building (located on the fairgrounds property and where the stock show holds its exhibits) once we saw the condition of the main service panels.”
In addition, Glenn Rike and Dorris indicated that the announcers booth at the arena, which they said was reconstructed after Hurricane Dolly, “has had both plate windows vandalized and is open to weather and nesting birds.”
According to the city officials, the fairgrounds, located on FM 510 near Business 77, has been
targeted for theft and vandalism “six or seven times in the past several months.” Jalomo stated in an emailed response to the concerns shared by Glenn Rike and Dor-ris that the city had al-ready spent $21,000 in repairs after the first case of vandalism.
Regarding the vandal-ism at the fairgrounds, the mayor said, “I’m upset by it. I don’t think there’s very much we can do ex-cept sit down and talk to them about it.
“Anything that has to do with the community that brings in people to the community is an asset, and I’d hate to see it go. If there’s any way we can sit down and talk about it with the city manager, if the cost is something the city can afford, let it be that. But at least give us an opportunity to see how much the damage will be.”
Lara and Jalomo con-firmed Friday that there alternatives are available that could restore power at the fairgrounds; alterna-tives they said have been utilized by groups that organized and held recent events at the old airport property, including the Texas Independence Day Celebration and the Adop-tion Awareness Picnic.
Specifically, Jalomo said that since all electrical wiring has been stripped from the facility—an act of theft he believes may
have been perpetrated by an individual or individu-als using a 4x4 pickup truck to yank all copper wiring from the breaker box—the use of a genera-tor was an option that has worked well for the afore-mentioned festivities.
What’s more, Jalomo said he has invited STYSS directors to the fair-grounds property to detail steps necessary in restor-ing power to the property for their event. However, Jalomo said that Dorris, Glenn and Kathy Rike, nor any other members of the STYSS committee have yet to accept the in-vitation.
“What came out in the paper today was very up-setting for the City of San Benito,” Jalomo said Fri-day about the stock show committee’s intentions to move its event to another location. “We have bent over backwards in ac-commodating them for 33 years.”
Prefacing his state-ments by asserting that the City has not “closed the door” on the STYSS, Lara expressed concern
that the news of the stock show’s exit, as reported by the Rikes and Dorris, unfairly portrays the City as unwilling to work with organizers.
“We’re good to work with anybody,” Lara said.
Jalomo added, “Actu-ally, last weekend the Adoption Awareness (Pic-nic) held their function there (at the fairgrounds). They brought their gen-eration and an electrician to look at the component to plug in, and they just plugged in the generator and had power inside the building. Next weekend another group will get a generator.”
In response, Kathy Rike said on Friday that the committee made its deci-sion based on the show’s power needs; needs she believes may require ac-commodations beyond a single generator powering one building.
“You need to understand that we not only use that building (Neumann facil-ity at the fairgrounds) but a rodeo arena that uses all the lights and the announc-ers booth as well. There
are electrical hookups for vendors that do conces-sions; some require 220, some 210. And all that was provided out there was stripped. If you go out to the livestock barn, there’s a series of three barns and a show arena that all have electrical power outlets throughout the buildings. We have lights through-out the buildings, and we have lights throughout the buildings so kids can groom livestock. With the generator situation, I don’t know what size generator it would take to power all that up or how
many generators it would take, but they would need to be operating 24 hours a day for a three-day period, and to me that’s just not feasible.”
In the meantime, Kathy Rike said she’s awaiting word from officials with the San Benito Consoli-dated Independent School District on the possibility of holding the 15th An-nual South Texas Youth Stock Show, a three-day event that draws up to 5,000 spectators and 400 competitors, at the SB-CISD Sonny Brazil Agri-cultural Complex.
MJMS students shoot NFL Fuel Up To Play 60 video
San Benito News photos by Francisco E. Jimenez
Miller Jordan Middle School is participating in a contest for NFL Fuel Up To Play 60 in conjunction with Quaker. MJMS will submit a 60-second video showing how its students remain active. Pictured are MJMS students and faculty on Friday morning at Greyhound Stadium, where they recorded the video. The school has a chance to win one of five $15,000 prizes or one of 10, $2,500 prizes. The con-test ends on Wednesday, Nov. 27.
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South Padre ParadeAcknowledgements
Ray Quiroga.....................................Publisher/EditorSasha Heller.........................................Parade EditorMargie Montalvo.................................................SalesSergio Treviño..............................................Graphics
Contributing writers: Jim Foster, Rene Torres, Scarlet Colley, Aarin Hartwell, Dr. Susan Duve,
Holiday Mathis and David Woods
The South Padre Parade Magazine is published every Thursday by New Horizon
Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 308,(101 E. Maxan Street) Port Isabel, TX,
78597, and is available on newsstands across the Rio Grande Valley. Email comments or
story suggestions to the editor at [email protected]
or call at (956) 943-5545.
I guess I can chalk it up as my first official cold of the 2013-14 cold and flu season, but I started off the week lying in bed, sick as a dog, feverish and nursing a sore throat compliments of whatever wicked virus my daughter brought home from school a week earlier; which was all kind of weird since my beard, the source of all my powers, is back up to full strength. Anyway, I was lying in bed, wrapped underneath the covers, when my favorite daytime TV program, “The View” came on the air. Now, I’m not up on current music trends; in fact, I’d be hard pressed to describe the differences between Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber (aside from the obvious). However, as I lied in bed convinced that this cold would be the end of me, another teenybopper, Demi Lovato, who was co-hosting the show on this day, talked
candidly about some of her life’s trials and I found myself quite impressed by her candor and poise. More importantly, as a father of young children, I’m often concerned with the lack of mainstream role models, especially female role models that are out there for young ladies to admire. But here, I thought, was a young lady, perfectly flawed, willing to share her story of being self-conscience, bullied and struggling through various disorders and addictions so that others can be empowered by her experiences.
There was poignancy to her words when she mentioned that, as she met and corresponded with many of her fans during her most trying times, she realized that so many others had it far worse than her and it was at that point she began to be grateful for what she had. Her words got me thinking of a time many years ago when I accompanied the Sheriff’s Department in a journalistic capacity on a holiday gift giving caravan to households in need. These homes were located mostly within the county’s colonias and in the River Communities along Hwy. 281. These families, as I recall, weren’t just going through some bad times. In many cases, they were hard working families that weren’t making enough to make it through; they were the working poor, if you will. They were severely deprived and struggling. On this particular day, I recall that the skies were overcast, and it was particularly cold and violently windy as we traveled from home to home. At one particular stop I recall a mother, looking older than her age would suggest, donned in outdated, secondhand jeans that fitted way to loose for her average-sized frame. Wearing a beat-up grey winter coat, she swayed from side to side as the wind knocked her around and as representative from the Sheriff’s office met the woman with a hug and a handshake, the woman broke into tears. As she stood there on her gravel driveway, I couldn’t help but notice that her home was nothing more than plywood held together by iron hinges and nails; and it probably was unsuited for human occupancy.
So as we officially enter into the holiday season, let us not get caught up with the fanfare and be blinded to the true meaning of the holidays. Let us not forget to be grateful for what we do have and not so much regret what we don’t, but also, let us not forget our neighbors in need, those that are hurting and those who are not as well off as we are. Until next week, have a happy Thanksgiving and be sure to find us online at www.portisabelsouthpadre.com.
As Lucky as the Next Guy
Ray QuirogaSouth Padre Parade
South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013 3
4 South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013
South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013 5
LAGUNA MADRE AREADate: TuesdaysTime: 1 to 2 p.m.Event: Children’s Reading HourWhere: Paragraphs Bookstore, SPIMore Info: (956) 433-5057
Date: Tuesdays thru Dec. 5Time: 7 to 9 p.m.Event: Valley Voices Chorale Membership Drive/Rehearsals For Winter ConcertWhere: Fishers of Men Lutheran Church, 603 S. Tarnava, Port IsabelAdmission: $20 (Membership Dues per Concert)More Info: (956) 572-6369; (318) 307-8076
Date: TuesdaysTime: 7:30 p.m.Event: Winter Visitors Club MeetingWhere: Port Isabel Community Center, adjacent to the Port Isabel Library, 213 N. Yturria StMore Info: (720) 273-4899.
Date: WednesdaysTime: 9 a.m.Event: Square & Compass Club Meeting (open to public)Where: Museums of Port Isabel, 317 E. Railroad Ave., Port IsabelMore Info: (956) 525-0541
Date: WednesdaysTime: 4 to 6 p.m.Event: Maxan Street Farmer’s MarketWhere: Maxan Street Garden (Lighthouse Square Mercado), Port IsabelMore Info: (956) 433-9675
Date: ThursdaysTime: 7:30 a.m.Event: Praise and Pray in the ParkWhere: Roloff Park, Laguna Vista at the small pavilion near marinaMore Info: (956) 466-1677
Date: ThursdaysTime: NoonEvent: Islanders Toastmasters Club MeetingWhere: SPI City HallMore Info: (956) 761-3078
Date: FridaysTime: NoonEvent: Rotary Club of Port Isabel Meeting
Where: Marcello’s Italian Restaurant, 110 North Tarnava St. (Lighthouse Square), Port Isabel
Date: SaturdaysTime: 1 to 2 p.m.Event: Author MercadoWhere: Paragraphs Bookstore, 5505 Padre Blvd., SPIMore Info: (956) 433-5057
Date: SaturdaysTime: 6:30 p.m.Event: Children’s Story HourWhere: Paragraphs Bookstore, 5505 Padre Blvd., SPIMore Info: (956) 433-5057
Date: SaturdaysTime: 8 p.m.Event: Port Isabel Historic Ghost ToursWhere: Port Isabel Light House/Museums of Port IsabelAdmission: $10 per personMore Info: (956) 943-2262
Date: SundaysTime: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.Event: South Padre Island Farmer’s MarketWhere: The Shores on South Padre Island, 8605 Padre Blvd.More Info: [email protected]
Date: Nov. 23Time: 7:30 a.m.Event: Run For A Child 5K Run/WalkWhere: Laguna Madre Park, Port Road, Port IsabelAdmission: $10 DonationMore Info: (956) 943-6310
Date: Nov. 23Time: 8 a.m. (Registration: 7 a.m.)Event: Cameron County Arbor Day 20 or 40 Mile ChallengeWhere: Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Office, 1390 W. Expressway 83, San BenitoAdmission: $15 (early); $20 (onsite)More Info: (956) 373-8543
Date: Nov. 23Time: 7 p.m.Event: SPI Chamber Gala: “A Celebration of Paradise: The People & The Place” Where: Isla Grand Beach Resort/Grand Ballroom – South Padre IslandMore Info: (956) 761-4412
6 South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013
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Happy HourM-F 4-7 p.m.
Date: Nov. 29Time: 9 to 10 a.m.Event: Banzaikon 2013 AT Schlitterbahn Beach ResortWhere: Schlitterbahn Beach Resort, 33261 State Park Road 100, South Padre IslandAdmission: VariedMore Info: http://www.schlitterbahn.com/spi/resort
Date: Dec. 1 (first & third Sunday)Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Event: Port Isabel Antique Flea MarketWhere: Beulah Lee ParkMore Info: (956) 455-6798
Date: Dec. 2 (First Monday of Each Month)Time: 4 p.m.Event: Friends of the Port Isabel Public Library, Monthly MeetingWhere: Port Isabel Public Library Conference Rm., 213 N. Yturria St., Port IsabelAdmission: $10/year (membership dues)More Info: Margie Jacobs (956) 772-9127
Date: Dec. 5Time: 4 to 7 p.m.Event: Reception Exhibition 2013 – Painting on FeathersWhere: Museums of Port Isabel, Port IsabelMore Info: (956) 943-7602
Date: Dec. 5Time: 6 p.m.Event: City of Port Isabel’s 6th Annual Community Tree LightingWhere: Beulah Lee Park, 213 N. Yturria St., Port IsabelAdmission: Open to the PublicMore Info: (956) 943-2682
Date: Dec. 7Time: 6 to 9 p.m.Event: 27th Annual Lighted Boat ParadeWhere: White Sands (Judging Venue)More Info: (956) 943-2262
Date: Dec. 9Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Event: Encaustics Workshops Where: Laguna Madre Art Gallery, 405 Maxan St., Port Isabel
Admission: $65More Info: (956) 943-1407
Date: Dec. 11Time: 6 to 8 p.m. Event: PIHS 2013 Christmas Literary Arts CelebrationWhere: Treasures of the Gulf Museum, 317 E Railroad Ave., Port IsabelMore Info: 943-7602
Date: Dec. 12Time: 11:30 a.m.Event: Holiday Season Fashion ShowWhere: South Padre Brewing CompanyMore Info: (956) 761-6456
Date: Dec. 13Time: 10 a.m.Event: Breakfast with SantaWhere: Schlitterbahn Water Park, South Padre IslandMore Info: (956) 761-6456
Date: Dec. 13 (Second Friday of each month)Time: 7 p.m.Event: RGV Bikers for Christ Regular MeetingWhere: Christ’s Harbor Church, 1441 Santa Isabel Blvd. Laguna VistaMore Info: (956) 943-5595
Date: Dec. 13Time: 7 p.m.Event: 26th Annual South Padre Island Holiday Street ParadeWhere: Padre Blvd., South Padre Blvd.More Info: (956) 761-6456
Date: Dec. 14Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Event: Open HouseWhere: Museums of Port Isabel, Port IsabelMore Info: (956) 943-7602
Date: Dec. 15Time: 4 and 7 p.m. (two concerts)Event: Christmas Concert; Brett Marshall and Friends “Give This Christmas Away 2.0”Where: Chapel by the Sea, South Padre IslandAdmission $6 benefiting programs to reduce infant mortality in Port-au-Prince, HaitiMore info: 612-309-2651; www.HeartlineMinistries.org
South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013 7
Date: Dec. 17Time: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.Event: Christmas Parade Awards Ceremony PresentationWhere: South Padre Island City HallMore Info: (956) 761-6456
Date: Dec. 18 to 19Time: TBAEvent: Santa MobileWhere: Port Isabel NeighborhoodsMore: (956) 943-2682
Date: Dec. 19Time: 9:30 to 11 a.m.Event: Bay Area Women’s Connection BrunchWhere: Isla Grand Resort, South Padre IslandAdmission: $15More Info: (936) 661-0704
Date: Dec. 19 to 20Time: 7:30 p.m.Event: El Paseo Arts Foundation Presents, Ken Ludwig: “The Game’s Afoot or Holmes for the Holidays”Where: SPI Convention Centre More Info: http://www.elpaseosouthpadre.com
Date: Dec. 21Time: 9:30 to 11 a.m.Event: November’s Bay Area Woman’s Connection BrunchWhere: Isla Grand Beach Resort, 500 Padre Blvd, South Padre IslandAdmission: $15More Info: (936) 661-0704
Date: Jan. 6Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Event: Paint Over Workshop Where: Laguna Madre Art Gallery, 405 Maxan St., Port IsabelAdmission: $50More Info: (956) 943-1407
Date: Jan.11Time: 10 a.m.Event: Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce 30th Annual Longest Causeway Run & Fitness WalkWhere: Beulah Lee Park, 213 N. Yturria St., Port Isabel (Start); Louie’s Backyard (Finish)More Info: 1-800-527-6102
Date: Jan. 20 to 21
Time: TBAEvent: El Paseo Arts Foundation Presents, “Polter-Heist”Where: SPI Convention Centre More Info: http://www.elpaseosouthpadre.com
Date: Feb. 4Time: TBAEvent: El Paseo Arts Foundation Presents: Almost Patsy Cline BandWhere: TBA More Info: http://www.elpaseosouthpadre.com
Date: Feb. 11Time: TBAEvent: Hope Stone Dance Company Visits the Laguna Madre AreaWhere: TBA More Info: http://www.elpaseosouthpadre.com
Date: Oct. 30Time: 7:30 p.m.Event: El Paseo Arts Foundation Presents, “God of Carnage”Where: SPI Convention Centre More Info: http://www.elpaseosouthpadre.com
Date: May 2Time: 7:30 p.m.Event: El Paseo Arts Foundation Presents, “Del Castillo”Where: TBA More Info: http://www.elpaseosouthpadre.com
Date: May 21 to 23Time: 7:30 p.m.Event: El Paseo Arts Foundation Presents, Neil Simon’s “The Sunshine Boys”Where: SPI Convention Centre More Info: http://www.elpaseosouthpadre.com
SAN BENITO, HARLINGEN, BROWNSVILLE, RIO HONDO,LOS FRESNOSDate: OngoingEvent: San Benito Historical Society annual fresh Texas pecan sale fund-raiserMore Info: (956) 399-2502, (956) 245-8094
8 South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013
Date: Thru Dec. 31Event: American Military Support Op-eration: RGV Christmas Care PackagesMore Info: (956) 425-1549
Date: Nov. 23Time: 12 to 2:30 p.m.Event: Friends of the Library Saturday MovieWhere: San Benito Public Library, 101 W. Rose St., San BenitoMore info: (956) 361-3860
Date: Nov. 28Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.Event: Templo El Salvador 500 plate giveaway for ThanksgivingWhere: Templo El Salvador, 1605 S. Sam Houston Blvd., San BenitoMore Info: (956) 241-1616
Date: Dec. 4Time: 7 p.m.Event: Narciso Martinez Writers ForumWhere: Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, 225 E. Stenger St., San BenitoMore Info: (956) 350-3905
Date: Dec. 6Time: 8 p.m. to midnightEvent: Eighth Annual Pre-Posada DanceWhere: Knights of Columbus Hall, 826 E. Stenger St., San BenitoMore Info: (956) 456-1236, (956) 456-2946
Date: Dec. 7Time: TBAEvent: Stars of San Benito High School ShowcaseWhere: Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, 225 E. Stenger St., San Benito
Date: Dec. 7Time: TBAEvent: Community Christmas at the AmphitheaterWhere: W.H. Heavin Amphitheater in Heavin Memorial Park, 705 N. Travis St., San BenitoMore Info: (956) 361-3800
Date: Dec. 14Time: TBAEvent: Longest Lighted Christmas Parade and BazaarWhere: Downtown San Benito, Sam Houston Boulevard
More Info: (956) 399-5321
Date: Dec. 14Time: 12 to 2:30 p.m.Event: Friends of the Library Saturday MovieWhere: San Benito Public Library, 101 W. Rose St., San BenitoMore info: (956) 361-3860
Date: Dec. 19Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Event: Christmas Open HouseWhere: San Benito Municipal Build-ing, 401 N. Sasm Houston Blvd., San BenitoMore Info: (956) 361-3800
Date: Dec. 23Time: 12 to 2:30 p.m.Event: Friends of the Library Saturday MovieWhere: San Benito Public Library, 101 W. Rose St., San BenitoMore info: (956) 361-3860
Date: Jan. 11Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.Event: San Benito Market Days (Theme: Football Mania)Where: Heywood Street near Sam Houston Boulevard in San BenitoMore Info: (956) 361-3804, Ext. 304
Date: Feb. 23Time: 2 to 5:30 p.m.Event: Second Annual Ms. South Texas Senior Pageant, celebrating “The Age of Elegance” Where: Harlingen Municipal Audito-rium, 1018 Fair Park Blvd.More Info: (956) 357-1636 or email [email protected]
Date: Monday to FridayTime: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.Event: Starz School of Dance Registra-tionWhere: 115 N. Williams Rd., San BenitoMore Info: (956) 361-7827
Date: Monday to FridayTime: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Event: Volunteers SoughtWhere: Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley Inc.More Info: (956) 682-8101
Real Estate Guide, November 21, 2013 9
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Prehistoric Trail to be added at Quinta MazatlanSpecial to the Parade
Quinta Mazatlan, an urban sanctuary, will be adding the Prehistoric Trail to the grounds as McAllen South Rotary and District generously sponsored the educational project.
“The creation of the Prehistoric Trail will be a permanent outdoor exhibit at Quinta Mazat-lan depicting the origins of our modern day birds,” said John Gerling, Quinta Mazatlan board president and rotary member. “We are very thankful for the donation from rotary to integrate history and science into the tours and programs at the nature center.” Quinta Mazat-lan offers science curriculum driven programs and works to educate and inspire more than 15,000 children annually.
The development of the trail will feature a bronze sculpture and fossil plaque of an Archae-opteryx (ancestor of modern birds), petrified wood garden and primitive plant landscaping. The Prehistoric Trail will benefit our community as well as tourists to the Rio Grande Valley.
McAllen South Ro-tary project chair Betty Ramirez-Lara presents an $11,000 check to Quinta Mazatlan Man-ager Colleen Hook for the creation of the Prehistoric Trail. The award celebrated the 40th birthday of McAllen South Rotary with club members gathered at Quinta Mazatlan.
Courtesy photo
10 South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013
LITERATURE
Guerrero slated at Paragraphs Nov. 23Special to the Parade
The Meet the Author Series at Paragraphs continues from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday with “A Tongue in the Mouth of the Dying,” featuring poet Laurie Ann Guerrero.
Filled with the nuanced beauty and complexity of the everyday—a pot of beans, a goat carcass, embroidered linens, a grandfather’s cancer—“A Tongue in the Mouth of the Dying” journeys through the inherited fear of creation and destruc-tion. Guerrero’s tongue becomes a palpable border, occupying those liminal spac-es that both unite and divide, inviting readers to straddle and explore that what is known and unknown: the body.
Guerrero explores not just the right, but the ability to speak and fight for oneself, one’s children and one’s community in poems that testify how, too often, individu-als fail to see the power reflected in the mirror.
At 1 p.m. on Saturday, Guerrero will be at Paragraphs on Padre Blvd., South Padre Island for readings and signing her book, “A Tongue in the Mouth of the Dying.” Copies of the work are available for purchase at Paragraphs.
To attend the lunch, please contact Dr. Christopher Carmona in the English De-partment at [email protected].
At 12:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, lunch with the author will also be held at Lola’s Bakeshop before a 7:30 p.m. performance at Gran Salon. Then, at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, Guerrero will conduct a reading at Paragraphs on Padre Boulevard.
Born and raised in the south side of San Antonio, Guerrero received the Academy
of American Poets Prize, among others, at Smith College. Winner of the 2012 An-drés Montoya Poetry Prize, her first full-length collection, A Tongue in the Mouth of the Dying, selected by Francisco X. Alarcón, was released by the University of Notre Dame Press in 2013. Guerrero holds a B.A. in English Language & Lit-erature from Smith College and an MFA from Drew University. A Canto Mundo fellow and member of the Macondo Writ-ers’ Workshop, Guerrero has served on the faculty at University of the Incarnate Word, University of Texas-El Paso, Palo Alto College and Gemini Ink, a commu-nity-centered literary arts organization in San Antonio.
Events are free and open to the pub-lic. Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard is located at 5505 Padre Blvd., South Pa-dre Island. For information, call (956) 433-5057.GUERRERO
South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013 11
PUZZLE
SUDOKU LAST WEEK'S SUDOKU ANSWER
On the Town ACROSS 1 Droops 5 Plant threat 10 El ___, TX 14 Text translation 15 Jefferson’s por-traitist 16 Commerical caller 17 A on the ticker 18 Army man 19 Tiresome chap 20 Give the heave-ho 21 Chorine’s angel 23 Wishes things different 25 Family member 26 Drew back 28 Boiling 31 Religious item 35 Mus. chart 36 Mental concep-tions 39 Four-star 40 Sport 43 Go for
44 Richard Mellon, e.g. 45 Israeli airport 46 Choose 48 Oak, Elm, etc. 49 Tartan wearers 51 Publisher Bal-lantine 53 Mask star 54 Sport 60 Director Gance 63 To you, to Magritte 64 One of the strings 65 Loblolly 66 Businessman Griffin 67 Barkin, in Switch 68 Arm bone 69 Peter Pan baddie 70 Deathtrap star 71 ___ ahead! DOWN 1 Effort 2 Woody’s scion 3 Risk everything
4 Rodin work 5 Make ___ at 6 Cole Porter’s birth-place 7 String up 8 Pelvic bones 9 Tea-leaf specialists 10 One of a fairy tale trio 11 Grasping 12 Closing word 13 Kind of child 22 Lusterless 24 Correct spelling 26 It holds 13 arrows on a $1 bill 27 Suffer the heat 28 Half a singing group 29 Maxwell Smart, e.g. 30 Knocks down 32 Treasury issue 33 Negatively charged atom 34 Yorkshire city 37 Marble
38 Ursula Andress starrer 41 Resolute 42 Mischievous 47 Water source 50 Leave one’s feet, in a way 52 ___ again! 53 Boom on the set 54 Mahjong tiles 55 Social note 56 Bit of land 57 Shade of green 58 Welfare, in Wem-bley 59 Hgt. 61 Sicilian resort 62 Corned beef order
12 South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013
ARIES (March 21-April 19). There’s a perspective that comes over you from time to time, a feeling that life has few good days and even those are filled with trouble. Hang on, because the mood will pass and so will the trouble. What you really need is rest. You’ll soon be enjoying yourself without worry. An abundance of good times is in store.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Remember the story about the man who was sad because he had no shoes and then he met a man who had no feet? It is rare to find a person who can appreciate life without first witnessing a comparatively worse situation. This week you celebrate, knowing you have it good.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You can be too hard on yourself, expecting to outperform others even when your circumstances put you at a disadvantage. Be kind to yourself this week instead of over-committing to prove a point. Think of your entire situation, and take on only the amount of work you can comfortably fit in.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Some people will do nice things for you because they want you to think nice things about them. Some people will do nice things for you because it’s just how they are. If you can tell the difference between these two types and surround yourself with people who fall into the latter category, your week will be great.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You think you should be able to take your belief system a la carte, picking and choosing the beliefs that suit you
best. Unfortunately, many beliefs are package deals. If anyone can finagle new and better ways to think this week, it will be you. Stay optimistic, because you’re likely to find what you’re looking for.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your notion of vacationing may not match up to the realities of the week. Leisure time, unguarded, gets eaten up by some very unleisurely obligations and commitments. To some degree, it can’t be helped. However, if you make a few sacred commitments to yourself, you should be able to honor them by the week’s end.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You can’t always cure restlessness by getting rest. What you need is interesting stimuli. But don’t be fooled -- you can’t scratch this itch by buying things. That initial rush will be followed by a letdown, because this is not a material problem; it’s a spiritual one. Seek challenges that will force you to develop your skills.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Some say that all that counts in life is intention. But good intentions can be misunderstood, and negative consequences can come out of simple accidents in which there was no bad intent. You’ll wrestle with your own sense of morality this week and pin down some rules that feel right and good to you.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Would you really want to be someone’s hero, idol, guru or god? Maybe the admiration would feel good for a while, but power is addictive, and it has been known to corrupt even the most honest
For the Week Beginning November 24
This week will not be without tension, as the sun and Neptune square off, but much can be resolved with a brilliant idea. The difference between adequate and brilliant is often in the brainstorming. You’ll go many rounds to come up with highly original ideas that in retrospect will seem like they should have been obvious. That’s how you know they are good! It’s like a melody that seems familiar the first time you hear it.
HOROSCOPEBy Holiday Mathis
Special to the Parade
ASTROLOGY
people. This week you’ll gravitate toward humility, modesty and lifting other people’s spirits.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). If you put your mind in charge, your heart will keep challenging its decisions. Because the heart doesn’t make consistent sense (if it makes any sense at all), parts of the week will seem complex and confusing. Still, the heart’s language is trustworthy. Over the long haul, some of the nonsense will prove wise.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You believe in teamwork, and yet once a person disappoints you, you
don’t automatically hand your trust over again. A practical mindset rules the week. You’ll come up with secret contingency plans that will allow you to operate as a team without risking too much. You truly understand power.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Experience is often the best teacher, but it’s not the only teacher. You can follow the instructions left by people who learned before you and avoid doing work that’s already been done. Skip ahead. This is like a relay. You start at the point where the torch is passed to you, not back at the beginning.
[email protected] Expire Monday 11-25-13 PHARMACY
MATAMOROS & PROGRESO
“A Safe Place to Visit”
ARTHRITIS
90 TABSRUMOQUIN
$1699
MIGRAINE
100 MG / 20 TABSIMITREX
$3599 (GENERIC)
THYROID
100 MG / 100 TABSSYNTHROID
$699 (GENERIC)
ALLERGIES
10 MG / 3 MO. SUPPLYLORATADINA
$699
PAIN KILLER
10 MG / 10 TABSKETOROLAC
$299
MENOPAUSE
0.625 MG/ 42 TABSPREMARIN
$1199 (GENERIC)
HYPERTENSION
10 MG / 3 MO. SUPPLYLISINOPRIL
$1199
CHOLESTEROL
40 MG / 50 TABSLOVASTATIN
$1499
ACID REFLUX, ULCERS
30 MG / 3 MO. SUPPLYLANSOPRAZOLE
$1799
ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION
20 MG / 4 TABSLEVITRA
$4499
YEAST INFECTION
150 MG / 15 CAPSFLUCONAZOLE
$1199
DIABETES
5 MG / 100 TABS
GLYBURIDE
$599
ANTI-INFLAMATORY
100 MG /120 CAPSDICLOFENAC
$899
EMOLLIENT CREAM
0.05% / 40 GRAMSRETIN-A
$399 (GENERIC)
BLOOD THINNER
75 MG / 28 TABSPLAVIX
$1499 (GENERIC)
ANTIDEPRESSANT
20 MG / 60 TABSPAROXETINE
$2599
South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013 13
FILM / DOCUMENTARIES
‘Diabetesville USA’ to be shown in Harlingen SaturdaySpecial to the Parade
A new movie on diabetes in the Valley, which was filmed in Cameron and Hidalgo counties, will be shown for no charge in Harlingen at 11 a.m., 3 and 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Harlingen Municipal Auditorium, 1204 Fair Park Blvd.
The “Diabetesville USA” film tells the story of how diabetes kills, cripples and blinds thousands of resi-dents of Harlingen, Brownsville, McAllen and other Valley cities, where it is estimated that over 29 percent of the population has diabetes.
The filmmaker, Michael Seringer of San Antonio, will travel to the Valley for the 6 p.m. showing of the film on Nov. 23 in Harlingen. Seringer said while dia-betes hits the Valley especially hard, the impact on the country’s entire health system could become “cata-strophic” in the next few years.
“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the direct and indirect costs of diabe-tes were about $174 billion in 2007,” Seringer said. “Whether South Texas will be able to curb the dia-betes boom before it overloads the healthcare system remains to be seen.”
The film cites ongoing research involving 2,500 Cameron County residents being conducted by the University of Texas-Houston School of Public Health
and University of Texas at Brownsville. “With multiple generations of families dealing with
the myriad complications of diabetes, including stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and amputation, a certain brand of fatalism often takes root, diluting the motiva-tion of those suffering from or at risk of developing the disease from taking steps to improve their health,” Seringer added.
While the film documents the frightening picture of diabetes in the Valley, Seringer hopes that it will help bring greater awareness that diabetes can be prevented and controlled through education, a healthier diet and exercise.
The free showing of the documentary in the Valley is part of a series of educational events being held in November by the Valley Baptist Diabetes Center as part of National Diabetes Month. To RSVP for a free showing of the film in Harlingen, call toll-free (888) 902-5433. For more information on diabetes educa-tion programs in the Valley, call the Valley Baptist Diabetes Centers at (956) 389-1119 or (956) 698-5512 in Brownsville.
To view the trailer for the film, visit http://diabetes-villeusa.com/Trailers.aspx.
Courtesy photo
Diabetesville USA filmmaker Michael Seringer of San Antonio shows the DVD version of the movie. Seringer will travel to the Valley for the 6 p.m. show-ing of the movie on Nov. 23.
14 South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013
MUSIC / ART / ENTERTAINMENT
Special to the Parade
Fall and winter are great seasons to draw, paint and explore exciting art techniques. Laguna Madre Art Gallery members will help you stay busy while pursuing your favorite artistic pursuit. Virginia Eggert will be teaching a five-session drawing class; Beth Fedigan will hold a two-day workshop, “Paint-ing with Paper,” a one-day Encaustic workshop and a one-day “Paint Over Workshop.” These are only the work-shops scheduled to start through Jan. 6. More are in the planning stages for the new year.
A resident of Port Isabel for many years, Eggert is a prolific acrylic painter. She specializes in colorful local scenes and her work is very popular with lo-cals and tourists alike. Having studied under watercolorist Walter Hook, illus-trator Jerold Bishop and others, Eggert classifies her work as “impressionistic” and “somewhat realistic.” All the works she has in the Gallery are originals. She rarely makes prints of her work.
Believing that sketching or drawing is the first step an artist needs to take to produce a good painting, Eggert of-fers a workshop to teach both novice artists and established artists drawing fundamentals. The foundation of her teaching this important step in produc-ing a good piece of art is well-founded. In her master’s thesis at the University of Montana, Eggert explored the pro-cess of teaching children how to draw using their right brain functions. This five-session workshop will include ex-perimenting with drawing materials, drawing two dimensions, drawing three dimensions, other ways of seeing and perspective. This class is a good pre-lude to Eggert’s Pleine Aire classes that will meet in the spring. Classes start in February. “Drawing Exercises” meets from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays. A complete list of materials students need to bring is at the Gallery.
Fedigan is also a longtime Laguna Madre resident. She began her career in art working primarily in pastels but
turned to watercolors in the late 80s and started a line of clothing and giftware items. After moving to South Padre Is-land, she became known for her signa-ture “Fish Faces.” Although watercolor is Fedigan’s primary medium, she en-joys working with and experimenting with paper, wax, ink and found objects. She says she enjoys the “freedom” she experiences when she uses interesting techniques and materials.
Fedigan will be teaching a one day “Encaustics I” workshop on from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 9. Encaustic paint-ing is an ancient art that can be traced back to ancient Greek and Egyptian art forms. A mixture of pigment, filtered beeswax and damar resin which comes from the sap of an Asian pine tree is mixed together and heated to produce “paint.”
In this class, Fedigan will cover the basics, starting with safety, how to make Encaustic paints, supports that work and the basic techniques of paint-ing with hot wax. Each student will cre-ate two finished pieces. All supplies are provided by the instructor.
Fedigan will also teach the “Paint Over Workshop” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Jan. 6. In this one-day workshop, students will transform a favorite photo into a fun, funky piece of art.
The photo (perhaps of a favorite per-son) will be photocopied and enlarged and then attached to a canvas. “From there, the fun begins. We will paint over our piece with acrylics and alter the subject into a creative work of art.” Students are to bring several photos of a person, brushes and paints.
A detailed list of supplies is available at the Gallery.
All classes will be held at the Laguna Madre Art Gallery, 405 E. Maxan St., Port Isabel (on Lighthouse Square). To sign up for the workshops, call (956) 943-1407, or drop by. Classes are filling up rapidly, so sign up soon. While at the Gallery, feel free to browse through the Gallery’s fine selection of local paint-ings, photography, jewelry, fabric arts, wooden bowls and vases.
By JIM FOSTERSpecial to the Parade
South Texas deer hunters have been waiting for this special time. That time, the whitetail deer-breeding season, better known as the “rut.” It’s the rare time when bucks will forsake safety and food and spend his time looking for a recep-tive doe.
The sound of horns clashing together draws in younger bucks first and then as the action continues the older, larger bucks will respond to chase away other bucks or join in the fight. However, there are exceptions to every rule in hunting.
The art of “rattling in a buck” is not hard to learn. Actually it’s quite simple and many hunters have called in a buck on their first try.
On a hunt with an old friend several years ago, I tried rattling a buck for him in a long cedar covered draw. The large buck that responded didn’t come to us but instead took a direct route to his scrape looking for an invading buck. Since that time being close scrapes has been one of my favorite rattling loca-tions. The more scrapes in an area the better your chances.
The equipment needed for rattling is simple; a set of horns, a grunt call, at least a camouflage shirt, face net and gloves, and an area where you know there are bucks. Oh yes, and a hunter you can trust not to overreact.
Team rattling is a good way to cover all the bases and be able to see most of what your rattling effort produces. One hunter sits in a blind or stand while the other does the rattling. Many mature bucks will stay clear of established blinds. A tripod stand solves this prob-lem and it can be moved quickly and quietly to new locations.
Rattling is basically trying to come as close as you can to duplicating the
sounds two bucks make while fighting. In addition to the sounds of clashing horns, there should be the sound of hoofs stamping the ground and brush snapping and breaking.
Following the initial fight, the sound of a buck hooking and fighting a tree limb or brush. As crazy as it seems, it does work. I have rattled deer, not only in South Texas, but also all over Texas and several other states.
First, and most important, have faith in your ability to rattle up a buck. Bob Ramsey has been recognized for years as the foremost expert on rattling whitetail bucks. Bob Ramsey has been the topic of articles on this subject in major national magazine and many have replicated his methods.
It all started when Bob took San An-tonio Express-News writer Dan Klepper rattling. Dan wrote the first article in a 1965 issue of Field and Stream.
If all indications hold true Texas deer hunters will be having an average year, but there are still trophy bucks. Give rattling a try and that big old smart buck which only moves at night be lured into either coming to check out the fight or protect its territory.
Editor’s Note: To see more of Jim Foster’s writing and photography, visit www.jimfosteroutdoorsphoto.com and click on BLOG. If you have comments or news for Jim Foster, email him at [email protected].
Rattle for a Trophy
Art Gallery workshops ongoing
South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013 15
By Scarlet ColleySpecial to the Parade
Respecting the bay’s inhabitants
Now that there are many more of us out there on the Laguna Madre for the winter fishing and boating fun, we have to remember it is our dolphins’ home. The bay is their home.
We invite ourselves to their home and the home of all the creatures that live in the bay each time we get in our boats or water going vessels. Each fish we take is a life that is given to us. Remember that we are leaving the life of this bay to the next generation of our children and to the children of dolphins.
How do we want to leave it? Are we just taking or are we using the bay’s life responsibly? How are we treating the life? If dolphins are play-ing, why not stop at a distance and watch?
The last thing they want is a boater to run right up on top of them even if they have gone under for a few min-utes, they will come back up very close to where they went down if they are playing. If you see dolphin-watch boats, go way around them for dolphins are certainly nearby. And I see boats not even watching ahead of them and run right over the top of dolphins when they could go around. We all have to be considerate of each other when getting around and doing our activities. We don’t let kids ride four-wheelers and dirt bikes through our neighborhoods where children are playing. We don’t run over peo-ple with our methods of transport. Respect for nature is not something we are born with; it’s something we
are taught.How many of us out there on the
bay have been taught about the spirit of each species of animal out there? How many of us have been taught to treat each life with reverence and give that life the respect it deserves as we take its life? Just a thought. We can all be better out there and marvel at the amazing planet of life forms we live on with more respect. It’s our nature niche.
For more info, search “dolphin-whisper” on Facebook or visit www.spisealife.org. This photo is one of our mothers and her baby playing for us and letting us see how they love each other. Mama mia. For daily tours on the bay, call (956) 299-1957.
16 South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013
San Benito to host Indian Powwow SaturdayBy FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZSpecial to the Parade
The city of San Benito will host an Indian Powwow on Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Heavin Memorial Park be-hind the funeral home.
“It’s called the First Annual San Benito Indian Cultural Powwow,” said Ruben Cordova, who is a regis-tered member of the Lipan-Apache Tribe of Texas. “It’ll be Indian danc-ing, storytelling, some raffles and stuff like that. We’re also going to have some cake walks.”
The event will have two “Grand Entries,” which is when the dancers will go into a circle and perform their traditional dances. The first grand en-try will be from 1 to 3 p.m., followed by a two-hour break for the perform-ers. A second grand entry will then be held from 5 to 8 p.m.
“It’s so that people get to know that Indians are still here, and that we’re still following our traditions,” said Cordova, who is from Santa Rosa. “That is one of the main things that we try to promote during these pow-wows. I was asked to do this pow-wow so that San Benito could get more recognition for festivals.”
Cordova pointed out that the month of November also happens to be Na-tive American Month.
“There will be Cherokee, Coman-che and some Navajo [members pres-ent at the powwow], but they won’t be wearing traditional clothing,” Cordova explained. “Most of the people will be wearing what they call powwow regalia. They’ll have really colorful feathers. Some of them will be in traditional, which will be like more of what they would have used back in the old days to go hunting.”
The powwow will be the first of its kind for San Benito.
There will be no entrance fee to the event, and drugs and alcohol are prohibited.
Anabeth and Ruben Cordova are seen in front of an Ameri-can Indian tipi. Anabeth is dressed in a traditional Apache cloth dress; Ruben is wearing an Apache warrior’s apparel.
Courtesy photo
South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013 17
Hooked UpBY DAVID WOODS OF SHARKMAN SURF FISHING
Beach SafetyI’ve been getting a lot of feedback and
questions lately which is greatly appreci-ated. One question that has come up mul-tiple times regards beach safety. The beach-es north of the city are part of the longest undeveloped stretch of sand in the world. There are many hazards out there, typical of any vast uninhabited stretch of Earth.
While a venomous creature such as a Portuguese man-o-war, stingray or rat-tlesnake, strikes fear and concern into any observer, encounters with them are typically less severe or common than the most pressing danger, careless driv-ing. Many people and sadly, small children, are hit on the beach every year and most accidents are avoidable with more awareness. The beachfront is by law a highway in Texas and should be treated as such. Always look both ways when walking to or from the water’s edge just as you would any busy street.
In Cameron County, do not park at the water’s edge, always park in the dry sand above the high-water mark. It is an ordinance that makes sense, parking in the road creates blind spots. A person can suddenly emerge from behind a car and the roar of the ocean covers the sound of an oncoming vehicle. Also, parking at the water’s edge makes other vehicles have to drive around through dry sand where they may become stuck.
Just as you wouldn’t let your children play on a busy city street, they should never play unattended on the beachfront. There are numerous beach accesses in the city and county park system that do not allow vehicle traffic. These are by far better settings to take small children. I saw this summer where one small child had buried her brother or friend in the middle of the road, all that was sticking out was his head. She seemed quite pleased with herself and the parents were drinking beer on the other side of the car, oblivious to the situation. More re-cently, I saw what seemed to be a 12-year-old boy behind the wheel of a car with a parent giving instructions from the passenger side! Drivers themselves can prevent most accidents. Always observe speed limits and approach any camp-site with extra caution. Slow your speed to a crawl when driving through some-one’s camp and take note of everyone walking around. Too often people speed through a fishing camp at 30-40 mph on their way up the beach. I try to explain it away as “fish fever,” but really it says even more than that about the person be-hind the wheel. My space is limited, but hopefully I can revisit this topic again. The desert island wilderness that is South Padre Island is a tremendous gift to us, draw for tourism and sanctuary -- we must respect and protect it.
Editor’s Note: David Woods of Sharkman Surf Fishing is a regular contributor to the South Padre PARADE. If you have a question you’d like Shark-man to answer, email it to [email protected] or drop it off at the news office and we’ll make sure he gets it.
18 South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013
COMMUNITY EVENTS
High heel race on tap next monthSouth Padre Parade
The San Benito Funeral Home will be hosting the First Annual Thanksgiving High Heel Half-Mile Race next month.
Scheduled for 8 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 23, event participants can register at the funeral home, located at 1400 West Highway 77. Pre-registration will be available until Nov. 15.
The rules indicate that all participants must wear high heels of at least two-inches. No wedges or boots will be allowed. Participants must start and finish the race in heels. Win-ners will be awarded and volunteers are needed. All proceeds from the race will go to the Ronald McDonald House in Harlingen.
For more information, call (956) 361-9192.
ADOPT-A-FRIENDSpencer
Spencer is a white lab mix that is 7 months old. He is up-to-date on shots, will be neutered prior to adoption and
is heartworm-negative. Spencer is very playful and friendly. If you would like to meet Spencer or his furry friends, stop in at Friends of Animal Rescue located at
4908 Padre Blvd. FOAR is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily.
There are still animals at the Isabel Y. Garcia Animal Shelter that need to be adopted. The Isabel Y. Garcia Animal Shelter is open 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., seven days a week. The shelter is looking for volunteers to walk dogs, socialize cats, answer
phones and just help out in general. Want to volunteer? Call (956) 943-3888.
The Isabel Y. Garcia Animal Shelter is located at 262 Woodys Lane (off Port Road) in Port Isabel. For more information on how to adopt
a pet, call (956) 943-3888 or email [email protected].
South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013 19
COMMUNITY EVENTS
AMS raising funds for local troops, veteransSouth Padre Parade
American Military Support (AMS) is organizing two events to help ben-efit local servicemen and veterans.
The first event is called Opera-tion RGV Christmas Care Packages, in which the AMS will be accepting
monetary donations from November thru Dec. 31.
The donations will be used to as-sist with the distribution of Quality of Life Packages (QLPs), which will be sent to servicemen from the RGV during the holidays.
Then there’s Peace For Our Troops,
in which schools and organizations can help raise funds to benefit AMS. The monetary donations will be used to help send QLPs to local troops, support local homeless veterans as well as provide complimentary cof-fee and snacks for veterans at the lo-cal VA clinic.
Donations must be payable to American Military Support.
They can also be mailed to P.O. Box 533365, Harlingen, Texas 78553.
For more information call (956) 425-1549 or visit www.americanmil-itarysupport.com.
Valley banks lend support to holiday campaignSpecial to the Parade
Capital One Bank is partnering with American Military Support’s Operation: RGV Christmas Care Packages campaign, which is focusing on gathering mon-etary donations to help with the distribution of quality of life packages to local troops serving overseas and stateside.
Monetary donations from the community will go toward providing RGV troops with a Christmas quality of life package. Other items needed include the following: Blanket (50 x 60 or 50 x 80); hand warmers; foot warmers; black work socks; bath towels (natural colors: tan, brown, hunter green); sunglasses; sunscreen (SPF 30 and up; lotion only, no sprays); lens cleaning kits; sewing kits; body wipes (40 count and up); body powder; mini first aid kits; pain relievers of any kind (Tylenol, Motrin, etc.); antibiotic cream; foot powder; athlete’s foot cream; athlete’s foot powder; shoe insoles; granola bars; nuts; trail mix; and powdered drink mix (individual packets).
Valley residents are encouraged to enroll family and friends who are in the mili-tary to be recipients of these packages by completing an enrollment form online at www.americanmilitarysupport.com. Just click on the “Requests” tab.
AMS, a nonprofit organization, encourages the community to Rio Grande Val-ley troops by participating in this campaign. Specifically, contributors can make a donation to AMS at any Capital One Bank location Valley-wide. Donations can also be made via PayPal or by mailing a check, money order or cashier’s check to American Military Support, P.O. Box 533365, Harlingen, TX 78553.
For more information, call Emma Alvarado at (956) 425-1549 or Rudy Garcia at (956) 245-2898. To volunteer, call Minnie Garcia at (956) 245-0733 or email [email protected].
Vance Greek to perform at Christmas Concert
Special to the Parade
Vance Greek will be performing at the American Military Support Christmas Concert to be held Dec. 7 at Marine Military Academy’s Yeckel Hall, located at 320 Iwo Jima Blvd., Harlingen.
Doors open at 2 p.m. as the first performance will begin an hour later and a second at 7 p.m.
Greek has performed in Australia, Brazil, Mexico and the Philippine Is-lands.
Between 1990 and 1997, he per-formed in Branson, Missouri and be-came known as, “The Golden Voice of Branson” and is anticipated to per-form a variety of musical styles at the
Harlingen concert.Proceeds will assist American
Military Support, a local 501C3 non-profit organization, with the follow-ing projects: Help provide support to local homeless veterans, provide temporary assistance to local veter-ans in need; help provide complimen-tary coffee and snacks at the local VA clinic and help provide Quality of Life Packages to RGV troops serving overseas and stateside.
Valley residents are encouraged to enroll, via website, their valley loved ones and friends to be recipients of these Quality of Life Packages.
For more information, visit www.americanmilitarysupport.com or call (956) 425-1549.
20 South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013
COMMUNITY EVENTS
14th annual LUAU considered a successSpecial to the Parade
The Laguna Madre Christian Acad-emy located in Laguna Vista, held its 14th annual “LUAU” fundraising event this past Saturday, Nov. 16, at Louie’s Backyard on South Padre Island.
The event was again highly supported by hundreds from within the community that included residents from Los Fres-nos, Bayview, Port Isabel, Arroyo City, Laguna Vista and South Padre Island.
Beautiful weather contributed to an enjoyable evening for the LUAU that in-cluded a scrumptious buffet dinner, enter-tainment by the children of Laguna Madre Christian Academy, numerous raffles, along with the Silent and Live Auctions. Guests and bidders were able to partake of numerous items such as vacation get-a-ways, travel and airline packages, Schlit-terbahn Resort packages, art, unique and one-of-a-kind crafted items, jewelry, home décor items, as well as entertainment and musical packages. The event raised several thousand dollars on behalf of the school.
“The LUAU was a great success and we are so very grateful to all of those who came out and supported the event,” stated Janice Stewart, School Principal. “Every-one’s generosity was greatly appreciated as this event happens because so many peo-
ple care and that includes support from our sponsors, volunteers and parents; especial-ly our fundraising co-chairs Michelle Per-zan and Brandy Green who did an amazing job of pulling the event together.”
The event is held annually and serves as a key event to raise funds for the school’s ongoing educational and schol-arship programs. For more information on the event or on Laguna Madre Chris-tian Academy (LMCA), call Principal Janice Stewart at (956) 943-4446.
Laguna Madre Christian Academy (LMCA) was established in 1998 as an independent Texas non-profit corpora-tion. LMCA is a non-denominational Christian school which seeks to educate children in an environment of Christ-like love, Biblical truth and academic excellence. LMCA is governed by a Board of Directors composed of nine voting members who set policies, over-see general operations, employ person-nel, establish annual budgets and plan for future growth. Board members must endorse without reservation the school’s philosophy of education, statement of faith and be an active Christian.
The school is located at 30640 Holly Beach Road, in Laguna Vista, Texas, 78578. For more information, visit the website at www.lmcatexas.com.
Special to the Parade
Get involved – Help the City of South Padre Island’s SPIRIT Committee help people this holiday season.
The SPIRIT Committee is a group of colleagues who embrace and model the City’s core values, create team building events and promote positive working re-lationships. This holiday season, the committee encourages assistance from the public in providing 40 holiday food baskets to fight hunger within the community.
The Christmas food drive will run thru Dec. 18. Help by donating items from the list below at South Padre Island’s City Hall, located at 4601 Padre Blvd.
Christmas Food Basket List: $15 grocery gift cards for frozen turkeys; Bisquick or flour; canned evaporated milk; canned pie filling; canned veggies – corn and green beans; canned pumpkin; corn meal/corn muffin mix; dried beans; foil roasting pans; instant mashed potatoes; marshmallows; pie pan with crust; pudding mix; rice; stuff-ing mix; five-pound bag of sugar and yams. For more info, call (956) 761-8137.
Christmas Food Program runs thru Dec. 18
South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013 21
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Texas historical maps available as gifts
Special to the Parade
Texas is so big that even Santa needs a map – or three.Historical maps posted on the Texas General Land Office website make
quick, easy gifts for anyone who loves the Lone Star State and its colorful past. But best of all, proceeds from the sales preserve historic documents and help Save Texas History.
“Buying a map at SaveTexasHistory.com is not only a breeze, it will help preserve the very documents that tell the story of Texas,” said Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson. “We receive no funding from the Legislature to preserve the priceless historical documents we are entrusted with — this is how we do it.”
Maps from the General Land Office are not just beautiful and unique gifts, they’re educational, Patterson notes.
“Texas history is an epic tale,” Patterson said. “These maps don’t just tell that history — they show it.”
For example, Patterson said, a German map of the Kingdom of New Spain — hand-drawn in 1720 — shows that Texas began as a part of the Spanish Empire, ruled from Mexico. “The first illegal immigrants to Texas had names a lot like mine,” Patterson said. “Understanding our history gives you the context you need to better deal with the issues of today. Plus, this map just looks great on any wall.”
A perennial top-seller is an 1845 commemorative map showing the full size of the Republic of Texas when it stretched all the way up to present-day Colorado. Another favorite is an 1889 map — the first of its kind — that shows Texas as it is today, and is decorated with period advertising around the margins.
These and hundreds of other great maps can be found at www.savetexas-history.org. Click the “search entire catalogue” button to go to our archive of more than 80,000 city, county and state maps. Once on the archive page, select the “Bestselling Maps” search filter in red to see a set of more than 200 attractive maps specifically selected to be great gifts.
Maps can be purchased at www.savetexashistory.org. Online and phone orders before 5 p.m., Friday, Dec. 20, can be delivered by Christmas Day. Orders can also be called in directly to the Archives and Records Division of the Land Office at (800) 998-4GLO (4456).
Maps may be purchased at the General Land Office, 1700 N. Congress Ave., through Monday, Dec. 23.
The Save Texas History Program is a unique campaign that brings together private and government efforts to preserve the 35 million maps and docu-ments at the Texas General Land Office.
After items are conserved, they’re digitally preserved and made available to the public via the Internet.
The Digital Preservation Project of the Save Texas History Program has been recognized by the Texas Historical Commission for its monumental ef-fort to digitally preserve these historic treasures.
To search for maps, place orders, or make a monetary donation to the Save Texas History Program, visit www.savetexashistory.org or call the Land Of-fice toll-free at (800) 998-4GLO.
22 South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013
By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZSpecial to the Parade
A recent San Benito High School graduate is in pursuit of greatness in mixed martial arts, and his goals do not seem too far out of reach.
Micky Gonzales, 20, competed in a MatShark Jiu-Jitsu Tournament at the Marine Military Academy in Har-lingen on Saturday, Nov. 9, and came home with two gold medals and one silver.
“I ended up competing in four divi-sions,” said Gonzales.
“I got gold in both of the Absolute [divisions], which is any weight, and I got silver in my division, which is from 156 to 170 (pounds),” Gonzales added.
Gonzales, who has been training in Jiu-Jitsu for approximately a year and a half, was informed about the competition by his instructor, Johnny Garcia, on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
He said that his instructor helped him pay his entry fee in order to com-pete in the tournament.
“I found out about it last Tuesday, and then after that I entered on Fri-day,” Gonzales said.
“I’m training in Brownsville at Garcia Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It’s under (Andre) Galvao, who is one of the biggest guys right now in Jiu-Jitsu,” he added.
Gonzales said that he started train-ing in Jiu-Jitsu because he wants to become a mixed martial artist.
“I really like Jiu-Jitsu, and at Brownsville we spar a lot, which is good,” Gonzales said.
“Other gyms I went to didn’t real-ly spar too much. They don’t do too
much hands-on. I really wanted to get into MMA (mixed martial arts), but I ended up liking Jiu-Jitsu,” he continued.
Gonzales, who graduated from SBHS in 2011, says that even though he wants to spend as much time as possible sharpening his Jiu-Jitsu
skills, he currently spends more time focusing on going to school.
“I just wanted to try it because I like it, but hopefully by this time next year I’ll be fighting more local fights to make a little bit of money,” said Gonzales.
“This was my first competition. I
did seven matches altogether. I won five and lost two.”
Gonzales’ father, Tony Gonzales of San Benito, expressed enthu-siasm and excitement in his son competing and doing well at the MatShark Jiu-Jitsu Tournament in Harlingen.
Golden Boy
Photo by Michael Rodriguez
Micky Gonzales, 20, of San Benito is seen in downtown Sam Houston Boulevard with the medals he won at a recent MatShark jiu-jitsu tournament.
San Benito’s Gonzales medals at jiu-jitsu tournament
South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013 23
CHRISTMASTIME
Special to the Parade
The South Padre Island Parks, Rec-reation & Beautification Committee is gearing up for a special holiday season.
On Dec. 12, catch a free Holiday Fashion Show at Padre Island Brew-ing Co. at 11:30 a.m.
The 26th Annual Christmas Street Parade will be on Dec. 13. Breakfast with Santa at Schlitterbahn Water Park will be from 10 a.m. to noon, Dec. 14.
There will be an awards ceremony on the steps of SPI City Hall from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Dec. 17. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a Kid’s New Year’s Eve Party will be held at Water Tow-er Park.
SPI Parks and Rec slates
holidayfestivities
24 South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013
Friday & SaturdaySeafood & Pasta Buffet
PadreRitaGrill4001 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island
(956) 761-7482
Food Served till 12 am nightly
All you can eatLunches $7.99Meatloaf - Mon.
Enchilada - Tues.BBQ - Wed.
Pasta - Thurs.Fish -Friday
Steak NightMonday 6PM
Fillet Mignon $13.50
Ribeye $16.50Includes 2 sides
Live Music J Micheal Laferty
. SSat – Mon 6 –9
…….... .. ...Chuck Comeaux
Tues 6 - 9
Nancy CookWednesday 6 - 9
$1 Oysters RockefellerMonday and Wednesday 6pm till close
5o¢ Oysters on Half ShellTuesday and Thursday 6 pm till close
Traditional Home Style Buffet Menu
Holiday Buffet
Turkey FeastTo Go…
12 lb Fried TurkeyStuffing Potatoes,
Gravy, RollsGreen Bean
Casserole,PieFeeds 6-10
$62.95
11:30 am – 7:00 pmAdults $19.95
Seniors $16.95Children 4 – 10 $10.95
NEW!Ask about our 2 for $20 Menu
Mon – Thurs 4-6pm
South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013 25
Date: Monday to FridayTime: 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.Event: RecyclingWhere: Paper Recycling Center, City Service Center, 925 W. Stenger, San Benito
Date: Every first TuesdayEvent: Writers ForumWhere: Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, 255 E. Stenger St., San BenitoMore Info: (956) 350-3905
Date: Every second SaturdayTime: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.Event: San Benito Market Days Where: Heywood Street, San BenitoMore Info: (956) 361-3800, ext. 304
Date: Every second and fourth SaturdayTime: 12 to 2 p.m.Event: Saturday Movie MatineeLocation: San Benito Public Library, 101 W. Rose St., San BenitoMore info: (956) 361-3860
Date: Every FridayEvent: Story Time at the Library for Head Start studentsWhere: San Benito Public Library, 101 W. Rose St.More Info: (956) 361-3860
Date: OngoingEvent: Volunteers SoughtWhere: Amenity Hospice, Inc.More Info: (956) 361-5100
Date: OngoingEvent: Mentors SoughtWhere: Valley International Commu-nity Development CorporationMore Info: (956) 399-3777
Date: OngoingEvent: Migrant Head Start Recruit-mentWhere: Head Start, La PalomaMore Info: (956) 399-6046
MID TO UPPER VALLEYDate: Begins Sept. 21Time: 10 a.m.Event: 40 Days For Life anti-abortion campaignWhere: Abortion clinics in Harlingen and McAllenMore Info: Harlingen - [email protected]; McAllen - [email protected]
Date: Every WednesdayEvent: Des Moines, Iowa East High School MeetingsWhere: Junction Cafe, 1/2 Block South of Expressway 83 on the Corner of Cage (US 281) and Park Street, PharrMore Info: (956) 781-6611
Date: Every SaturdayTime: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.Event: Texas Food RevolutionWhere: 519 S. 17th Street at Alhambra, McAllenMore Info: (956) 203-4152 or visit www.texasfoodrevolution.com
Submit your calendarentries to the
South Padre Paradeby emailing
Concert to benefit Friends of the Port Isabel Public Library
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Special to the Parade
A concert scheduled this month will benefit the Friends of the Port Isabel Public Library.
Set for 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, Leslie Blasing is expected to perform at the event, which will be held at Beulah Lee Park between the library and Dairy Queen in Port Isabel.
Donations can be accepted for the Friends at any time. Monetary contributions can be left at the circulation desk of each library (with a library staff member).
Meet the Author Series to feature Hall at Paragraphs Saturday
LITERATURE
Special to the Parade
The Meet the Author Series at Para-graphs will feature a book signing and reception with author and illustrator, Richard S. Hall, Ph.D. from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23.
“Lighthouses, Lightships & Beacons of Texas: A Comprehensive Field Guide” is the perfect companion to several books that focus on maritime history along the Texas Coast: Lindsey Baker’s, Lighthous-es of Texas; David Cipra’s, “Lighthouses, Lightships and the Gulf of Mexico;” and Richard V. Francaviglia’s, “From Sail to Steam: Four Centuries of Texas Maritime History 1500-1900.” Dr. Hall’s field guide is unique among lighthouse books. Most books on lighthouses focus on human in-terest and rightly so, or on the funding and operation of the lighthouses. This book focuses on the physical and geographi-cal features of each of the lighthouses: the towers, the dwellings and the site plans and navigational charts depicting these aids to navigation. Each lighthouse since 1854 is thoroughly researched and described with drawings, charts, maps and photographs. The author uses over 350 black and white images in what is one of the most visual of books on Texas lighthouses. Like many of the natural science and geological field guides he uses in his scientific studies, this
field guide has been written and designed to be used and carried on the road, with space in the margins for notes—a real working document. Prints of many of the pencil drawings of the lighthouses are available for individual purchase through Pintail Publishing.
A native Texan, Hall was born at Fort Bliss, El Paso but has spent most of his early life in Houston, where he roamed and floated Brays Bayou most every day with his long time friends. He learned early that the Texas Gulf Coast was full of natural; and historical treasures. Countless hours were spent hunting, fishing, sailing/boating and sketching the Gulf and bay environs of the coast and coastal prairie. As an architecture student at Texas A&M University, Rich-ard, by chance, did his first sketch of a lighthouse and that started his passion for these fascinating aids to navigation.
He is an accomplished natural scientist, illustrator and educator with a keen inter-est in history, particularly Texas history. He is also an avid outdoorsman, mariner, horticulturist and geographer—each inter-est providing professional awards in pho-tography, illustration, fine art and films.
This event is free and open to the public. Paragraphs On Padre Boulevard is located at 5505 Padre Blvd., South Padre Island. For information, call (956) 433-5057.
26 South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013
HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES
Port Isabel holiday events on tapSCHEDULE
Nov. 25 – Thanksgiving Turkey Craft (Library), 2 to 4:30 p.m.Nov. 26 – Pumpkin Mobile Craft (Library), 2 to 4:30 p.m.Nov. 27 – Cornucopia Art Project (Library), 2 to 4:30 p.m.Dec. 1 – Antique and Flea Market (Beulah Lee Park), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 5 – Community Christmas Lighting Ceremony (Beulah Lee Park), 6 p.m.Dec. 7 – Annual Christmas Lighted Boat Parade (Chamber), 6 p.m.Dec. 12 – Snowman Craft, 5 to 6:30 p.m.Dec. 14 – Open House (Muse-ums), 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Dec. 15 – Antique and Flea Market (Beulah Lee Park), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Dec. 17 – How to Make a Pine Cone Christmas Tree, 5 to 6:30 p.m.Dec. 18 – Christmas Ornament Craft (Library), 4 to 5:30 p.m.Dec. 19 – Christmas Wreath Craft (Library), 4 to 5:30 p.m.Dec. 21 – Movie Day Arthur Christmas (Library), 10 a.m. to noonJan. 5 – Antique and Flea Market (Beulah Lee Park), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Jan. 11 – Longest Causeway Run and Fitness Walk (Chamber), 10 a.m.Jan. 19 – Antique and Flea Market (Beulah Lee Park), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Feb. 2 – Antique and Flea Market (Beulah Lee Park), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Feb. 7 – Taste of the Laguna Madre Fundraiser (Museums), 7 p.m.Feb. 16 – Antique and Flea Market (Beulah Lee Park), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Special to the Parade
Port Isabel knows how to celebrate the holidays coastal-style! The season kicks off with the Sixth Annual Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and continues right through the New Year with the 30th Annual Longest Causeway Run and Fitness Walk.
Join the City of Port Isabel, Mayor Joe E. Vega and staff for the Sixth Annual Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6 p.m., Dec. 5, in Beulah Lee Park. The event is free to the pub-lic. Mr. and Mrs. Claus and their Elves will wrap up the night’s activities with goodie bags for all the children in atten-dance.
Community and school groups will entertain with a variety of holiday themed performances. Vendors setting up all around the park will offer food and treats.
For more information, call (956) 943-2682.
At 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, the Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce will host the 27th Annual Lighted Christmas Boat Parade. Decorated vessels of all sizes take to the waters of the Laguna Madre in this coastal tradition. Viewing areas can be found in several waterfront res-taurants and piers and Pompano City Docks. The parade route begins in Port Isabel and ends at Louie’s Backyard on South Padre Island.
For more information, call the Cham-ber at (956) 943-2262.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 14, the Museums of Port Isabel will host the annual open house. Both the Trea-sures of the Gulf Museum and the Port Isabel Historical Museum will offer dis-counts in their gift shops from 10 to 50 percent off, free admission and refresh-ments. The Museums will also offer kid friendly activities during November and December.
For more information, call the Muse-ums at (956) 943-7602.
The Port Isabel Public Library contin-ues its fall and winter events with mov-
ies and crafts and more. All events are free and open to the public.
For more information, call the Library at (956) 943-0778.
The Port Isabel Antique & Flea Market’s fall and winter schedule starts in November with the first and third Sun-days of each month and running through February. From March thru October, the Market reverts to a first Sunday of the month schedule. It is held on the grounds of the Beulah Lee Park from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Market is a favorite of both locals and Winter Texans. For more information, call (956) 455-6798.
The Santa Mobile rolls again! From Dec. 18-19, the Santa Mobile will make its way through all the neighborhoods in Port Isabel with Santa on board. Thou-sands of goodie bags will be distributed to the children of Port Isabel.
For more information, call Port Isabel City Hall at (956) 943-2682.
Throughout the season, the City of Port Isabel Public Works decorates
the Lighthouse and the median with hundreds of thousands of lights and in-house custom made Christmas and holiday
props.With the ap-
proach of 2014 comes the 30th An-
nual Longest Cause-way Run & Fitness Walk. Hosted by the Port Isabel Chamber of Com-
merce, the race starts at the Port Isabel Com-munity Center, follows
a route over the Queen Isabella Memorial Bridge
and makes its way to Louie’s Backyard and the finish line. The 10k route offers something for both walkers and runners with the option to start at the base of the bridge in Port Isabel and ending on the South Padre Island where participants can catch a shuttle back to Port Isabel. For more information, call the Chamber at (956) 943-7602.
Follow the events on Facebook via www.facebook.com/portisabeltx/events.
Photo by Valerie D. Bates
South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013 27
OPINION / ADVICE
I’m usually in too much of a Thanksgiving food coma to hit the sales on Black Friday, but millions of other Americans somehow find the energy. Last year, 89 million people took advantage of Black Friday sales (57 million of them online), while an estimated 247 million shopped throughout the four-day weekend, as stores increasingly have opened their doors on Thanksgiving itself. In addition, millions of bargain hunters spent another $2 billion on Cyber Monday, so it’s clear that online holiday shopping is here to stay. Unfortunately, cyber criminals have zeroed in on this trend and are redoubling their efforts to separate shoppers from their hard-earned cash. Whether you’re shopping online by computer, smartphone or tablet, here are some common cyber scams to watch out for and security precautions to take.
Tips for buying gift cards: • Only buy from secure websites of trusted retailers (look for an “s” in the “https://”
web address and a lock symbol).• At walk-in stores, only purchase cards from employees who have them locked
up. Avoid cards at unattended display racks, since thieves can scan the card’s unique serial number; then, after you’ve loaded it with cash, drain its value with online purchases before the recipient has a chance to use it.
• Never purchase deeply discounted cards or event tickets from online marketplaces like eBay or Craigslist—chances are good that the cards are counterfeit or were stolen.
Most retailers offer holiday sales as a way to boost their year-end bottom line. If you’ve “liked” a product or store on Facebook or Twitter, or have signed up to receive their emails, you may well get genuine offers for steep discounts or last-minute sales. But beware of bogus offers from sites that mimic those of legitimate retailers. They could be:
• Trying to harvest your credit card number and other personal information to make illegitimate charges to your account or open new accounts in your name.
• Attempting to sell you counterfeit or stolen goods.• Trying to gain access to your social media profile to log into other accounts tied to
it, or to post illegitimate offers purportedly endorsed by you to lure in your friends.Another common scam is to send an email claiming a courier is trying to deliver
a package or there’s a problem with your order. You’ll be told to click on a link to get details and will likely be asked to reveal account or other personal information to verify. Unless you previously provided them your email address, this is probably bogus.
A few additional holiday-related security tips:• When shopping online, avoid pop-up ads touting incredible deals. If you think it
might be real, log into the retailer’s website yourself to see whether the deal is posted.• Hackers create realistic-looking web addresses that, when clicked, take you
to a bogus site that can infect your device with malware or install a Trojan Horse program to steal your personal information. To be safe, let your cursor hover over web addresses you didn’t type in yourself and look for misspelled or weird-looking sequences of characters.
• Before completing an online order, visit the site’s “Contact Us” and “Terms and Conditions” pages for their phone number, mailing address, return policies, etc. Phony sites often either don’t have such pages or they’re filled with easy-to-spot errors.
Don’t let the prospect of getting a great deal on Black Friday allow you to drop your guard against scammers who would love to fill your stocking with coal.
Editor’s Note: Jason Alderman directs Visa’s financial education programs.
Cyber Grinches ruin your holidaysWhat should we be most grateful for?
In reading Thanksgiving poems, I came across this clever writing by Edgar A. Guest:
When turkey’s on the table lain, And good things I may scan,I’m thankful that I wasn’t made A vegetarian.Vegetarians and carnivores alike should
be grateful for this Thanksgiving prayer written by Steve, 10: “Dear Lord, thank you for my dear family and that none of them have been hurt physically. Thank you for my food, clothes and house. Lord, I especially pray for our police officers, our country and president. Give him wisdom to make the right choices.
“Thank you for sending your son to die for us. Thank you for all my blessings. Amen!”
The Apostle Paul called for all Christians to pray for “kings and all who are in authority,” (I Timothy 2:1). All Christians, regardless of your political persuasion, should pray for the president, his cabinet, the Congress, governors, military leaders, fire fighters, police officers and other government authorities.
I confess that I often take for granted the peaceful conditions in which I live in South Texas. All I have to do is travel about 30 miles to the Mexican border to realize why I should be giving thanks. If you ever have an opportunity to befriend a police officer, you’ll learn about the challenges the police face every day so that we can live in peace.
Even if you don’t patrol the streets with a gun in your holster, you can pull the trigger in the spiritual realm by praying for those in authority. The Bible tells us there’s a realm where demonic rulers war against God’s angels and God’s people for the control of nations (Daniel 10:4-14). The battle is hot; the casualties are real, and the consequences eternal.
Let’s be thankful for victory in the greatest battle, says Karla, 11: “This Thanksgiving, we should be grateful for what the Lord has done for us, and what he let his wonderful, loving son do for us.
Jesus Christ gave his life for our sins without complaining or even worrying what would happen to him. Even though Jesus Christ died at 33, he still lives inside of all of us, if you let him in.”
I’m glad you made it clear, Karla, that Jesus lives today.
Be grateful that Jesus looked evil in the eye and didn’t blink. When falsely accused at his trials, he didn’t answer. When mocked and spit upon, he refused to retaliate. When nailed to a cross, he asked his Father to forgive his tormentors. But when placed in a tomb after his murderers thought they had won, he burst the bonds of death to give eternal life to all who believe in him.
“This Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for being safe,” says Shelby, 11. “I am part of a great American body and under God’s control. I am thankful that God is a part of me, and I can trust he will take care of me. I will keep trusting God.”
We’re glad to be Americans, but we must remember that America is not unshakeable or eternal. Everyone who belongs to Jesus, however, is part of an everlasting kingdom. As the Bible says, “So let us be thankful because we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken.” -Hebrews 12:28 NCV
Happy Thanksgiving!Editor’s Note: Listen to a talking book,
download the “Kids Color Me Bible” for free, watch Kid TV Interviews and travel around the world by viewing the “Mission Explorers Streaming Video” at www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org. Bible quotations are from the New King James Version, unless otherwise noted. To find out more about Carey Kinsolving and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
Carey KinsolvingKids Talk About God
Jason AldermanPractical Money Skillstwitter.com/PracticalMoney
28 South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013
Special to the Parade
Calling all artists! All young Texans between the ages of 5 and 12 have a chance to win free vacations, a class party at a water park, and have their artwork appear in a popular calendar.
Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson is calling for entries to the 18th Annual Adopt-A-Beach “Treasures of the Texas Coast” Children’s Art Contest. The deadline to submit artwork is Monday, March 3.
“Texas has some of the most talented young artists in the world, as well as some of the best beaches in the world,” Patterson said. “That’s why we’re calling for all students be-tween kindergarten and sixth grade to help us spread the word about what a treasure our Texas beaches truly are.”
Ten winners will be chosen in mid-April from each of four grade-level categories (K–second; third-fourth; fifth; and sixth) for a total of 40 winners. One grand prize winner will be chosen from among the 40 finalists.
This year’s grand prize winner will receive two, round-trip, coach-class tickets from United Airlines to any United desti-nation in the 48 contiguous United States; one, seven-night Caribbean cruise from Royal Caribbean International depart-ing out of Galveston, Miami or Fort Lauderdale; and a class party at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels.
The grand prize winner’s teacher will also receive two, round-trip, coach-class tickets from United Airlines and one, seven-night Caribbean cruise courtesy of Royal Caribbean International.
All 40 winners will receive a ticket to the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi, two all-day passes to Schlitter-bahn Waterpark in New Braunfels, two tickets to the perma-nent exhibit hall at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, a certificate of recognition and prizes from the Texas General Land Office, and the calendar displaying winning artwork.
The winning artwork will appear together in a 2015 calen-dar that will be distributed next year.
The Adopt-A-Beach “Treasures of the Texas Coast” Chil-dren’s Art Contest began in 1996 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Adopt-A-Beach Program. The annual competition en-courages Texas schoolchildren to learn more about the Texas Coast and to artistically express what they’ve learned.
Open to students in grades K-6 across Texas, the contest motivates thousands of young artists each year.
This year’s contest sponsors are Royal Caribbean Inter-national, United Airlines, Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels, the Texas State Aquarium and the Houston Mu-seum of Natural Science.
Some important guidelines for the “Treasures of the Texas Coast” 2014 Children’s Art Contest are as follows:
• Artwork must be displayed on a plain sheet of white 8.5” x 11” paper and can be in any medium except computer-gen-erated;
• Three-dimensional art or artwork displaying logos, prod-uct brands, and/or store names is ineligible;
• Only one entry per student is allowed, and all entries must have a completed parental release form taped to the back. Pa-rental release forms may be printed from the Land Office web site: www.texasadoptabeach.org;
• Students are encouraged to color photocopy their artwork prior to sending it in because all artwork submitted becomes property of the Texas General Land Office and cannot be re-turned;
• Each contest entry must be postmarked by Monday, March 3, 2014, to the following address: Texas General Land Office, Adopt-A-Beach Program: Children’s Art Contest 2014, P.O. Box 12873, Austin, Texas 78711-2873
For more information and official contest guidelines, con-tact the General Land Office at (877) TXCOAST or visit the web site at www.texasadoptabeach.org.
Arbor Day Challenge
slatedSaturday
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Special to the Parade
The Cameron County Arbor Day 20- or 40-mile Challenge is set for 8 a.m., Nov. 23 at the Cameron County Master Gardener Arboretum in San Benito.
The bike tour registration begins at 7 a.m. A Tree Planting Ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. and is open to the pub-lic. There is an early registration fee and an onsite registration cost. Make checks payable to Master Gardener Operating Fund. Register online at www.active .com.
The first 100 registrants will receive native tree seedlings and T-shirts. All proceeds benefit the Cameron County Master Gardener Tree Fund.
For more information, call Salvador Alemany at (956) 373-8542 or email [email protected] or Jennifer Her-rera at (956) 361-8236.
Special to the Parade
The Bay Area Birders of Laguna Vista will offer free guided nature tours every fourth Saturday of the month at the La-guna Vista Trails Park at 9 a.m.
Meet at the parking lot at the end of Palo Blanco Road in Laguna Vista.
The public is welcome.
Bay Area Birders of LF
offer tours
OUTDOORS
Patterson announces 18th annualchildren’s art contest
Island to hold Christmas tree lightingSpecial to the Parade
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christ-mas on South Padre Island and an early visit from Santa will help officially kick off the holiday season with the Lighting of the Christmas Tree at 6 p.m., Dec. 3.
Everyone is invited to join the City of
South Padre Island’s Convention & Vis-itors Bureau as it hosts its annual light-ing ceremony at the front steps of City Hall, 4601 Padre Blvd. Councilwoman Alita Bagley will welcome guests and introduce the evening’s entertainment. Come enjoy snacks and refreshments, and get a free photo with Santa prior to
the program. All photos will be avail-able for download on the City’s Face-book page, www.facebook.com/South-PadreTexas.
For information on all holiday and is-land events, see the Calendar of Events at www.myspi.org or www.sopadre.com.
HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES
South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013 29
Matinee (before 3:00)Seniors (55+)
Send your email address to [email protected] receive email info about special events!
South Padre IslandHotline: 761-7828O�ce: 761-7839
“�e Friendliest Movie �eater Around”
4700 Padre Blvd
IslandCinema
Now Showing!Fri., Nov. 22 - �ur., Nov. 26
X No Passes Accepted
X Hunger Games: Catching Fire
(PG13)2:20 7:10 9:30*
* Late Shows Friday and Saturday Nights Only
Free Birds(PG)4:45
Last Vegas
(PG13)1:20 4:10 7:00 9:45*
(PG) 2D 3D 2D 3D
2:00 4:30 7:20 9:50*
Thor: The Dark World
(PG13)1:45 4:20 7:30 9:35*
X Delivery Man
FROZEN Starts Wednesday, Nov. 27
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Port Isabel partners with Welcome Home RGV to host Fam Tour
Special to the Parade
More than 50 visitors representing RV facilities from across the Rio Grande Valley were guests of Port Isabel hospitality this past Saturday at the Fam Tour. Organized by Welcome Home RGV and Port Isabel, this year’s itinerary started on the grounds of the Point Isabel Lighthouse Historic Site with welcoming remarks by City Commissioner Memo Torres and City Manager Edward Meza. After some light refreshments, the group then made their way to the Port Isabel Historical Museum and Treasures of the Gulf Museum for a guided tour with Museum Director Jeannie Flores. Throughout the morn-ing’s activities, attendees were challenged with a scavenger hunt featuring the six historical markers that are situated within walking distance of the Lighthouse Square. Questions and answers were based on the marker’s text. Before heading to Marcello’s for lunch, the group had a chance to climb the lighthouse or do some exploring in the local shops.
Lunch at Marcello’s featured a selection of dishes spe-cially prepared by Paul and Mercedes Tully, managers, and
was topped off with a scrumptious tiramisu. Each visitor was provided with a packet of Port Isabel information including literature for fall and winter events, museum tickets, a cause-way run T-shirt, lighthouse pin and the Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce’s new visitor’s guide.
Following lunch, the group headed dockside at the Pirates Landing Fishing Pier where they could choose between a ride on the Thriller or the Black Dragon. The Black Dragon pre-miered their new 21 and over cruise called “Bet Your Boo-ty.”
Saturday’s Fam Tour came on the heels of Port Isabel’s participation in Welcome Home RGV’s Activity Directors Show, held on Nov. 5, at Victoria Palms in Weslaco. Port Isa-bel Event Center Director Mari Galvan, EDC Administrator Robert Salinas and Marketing Director Valerie Bates took the opportunity to meet with more than 80 RV facilities during the event. Nearly 200 packets of material were distributed during the afternoon in an effort to promote Port Isabel to our winter visitors.
UT seeks public input on naming new universitySpecial to the Parade
A campaign to collect community input on a name for the new university in South Texas launches today and will run through Dec. 6.
The University of Texas System Board of Regents will approve the final name, but Regents first want to hear from the South Texas community and especially from students, staff and faculty of UT Brownsville and UT Pan American.
The UT System is working to establish a new university and medical school that will combine the talent, assets and resources of UT Brownsville, UT Pan American and the UT Regional Academic Health Campus. The goal for the university is to build a world-class institution that will help transform South Texas with educational, economic and health care opportunities.
A national search for the president and medical school dean is under way, and the new university is expected to enroll its first class in fall 2015. But first, the new university needs a name.
The UT System is asking for feedback on several ideas for names and is also looking for suggestions that have yet to be considered. The suggestions proposed so far along with instructions on how to participate are detailed in a video narrated in both English and Spanish. The information is also posted on the UT System Project South Texas website.
“Selecting a name will be one of the most important decisions we will make about the new university, and we don’t want to do it without first hearing from the people of South Texas,” Regents Chairman Paul Foster said.
The Regents are expected to select a name by the end of 2013. The new university’s logo and school colors will be deter-mined by the new president with input from students and the community.
There are four ways to submit comments and names:• “Like” the UT System Facebook page and comment on the proposed names that are posted;• Tweet @UTSystem using #ProjectSouthTX;• Send an email to [email protected];• Call (512) 499-4473 and leave a message.And stay tuned for an announcement about a live Twitter chat with representatives from UT System, UT Brownsville and
UT Pan American to talk about suggestions for names.For more information, visit www.ProjectSouthTexas.com.
30 South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013
Special to the Parade
The San Benito Chamber of Com-merce’s 63rd Annual Christmas Parade is scheduled here at 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, according to Special Events Board Chairman Danny Cortez.
Participating novelty float entries will be judged on “A Cowboy Christmas” theme, with prize money and trophies to be award-ed in three places in each of the categories including novelty floats, religious floats and marching bands, Cortez said. First place winners will win $100, second place will receive $75, and third place is a $50 cash prize. Other parade entries may con-sist of walking groups, cheer squads, danc-ers and horse clubs. Entry fees vary. The fee for any marching band will be waived.
Parade registration and food vendors may begin signing-up at the San Benito Annex Building, located at 400 N. Travis on Nov. 1. Deadline to reserve space is at 4:30 p.m., Dec. 9. The deadline to submit parade entry applications is at noon, Dec. 6, at the Annex. Applications will be accepted weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Christmas Carnival on the grounds of Plaza de San Benito (adjacent to the Mu-seums of San Benito at 210 E. Heywood and the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center at 225 E. Stenger) opens Thursday, Dec. 12, and runs through Dec. 15. The Christmas Bazaar is scheduled Saturday, Dec. 14, at Plaza de San Benito.
Food vendors may sell two food items, with no duplication of items allowed. A fee payment and a City Health permit are re-quired. For a complete set of rules or for more information, visit the City’s website at www.cityofsanbenito.com or call (956) 361-3804, ext. 301.
HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES
San Benito plans Christmas Parade Russian Nutcracker slated
Dec. 28 in HarlingenSpecial to the Parade
Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, inside the Harlingen Municipal Auditorium Colonial Theatre.
Local youth dance as snowflakes, mice, snow maidens and more in the show.
Harlingen youth ages 7 to 16 years old will perform along-side the Moscow Ballet company of 40 professionals.
Moscow Ballet’s “Dance with Us” program sends soloists Svetlana Todinova, Natalia Miroshnyk, Carolina Siscanu and Ekaterina Uksusnikova to cities on the 2013 tour in Septem-
ber and October. In each city the soloists audition young local dancers for roles that are exclusive to children and work with them in rehearsal. Rio Grande Valley Arts Studio, host dance studio, continues rehearsals until dress rehearsal, which is on stage with the full company. Student dancers from over four local dance schools are in the Moscow Ballet cast list.
Since 1993, Moscow Ballet’s “Dance with Us” program has benefitted young ballet students giving them the rare op-portunity of auditioning, rehearsing and performing with a professional and internationally touring ballet company.
For groups of 10 or more, call (800) 320-1733. For tickets, go to www.nutcracker.com.
By KURT LODERSpecial to the Parade
“Charlie Countryman” isn’t a bad movie; it’s a movie of jaw-dropping aw-fulness. We realize this right at the begin-ning, watching the young slacker Charlie (Shia LaBeouf) in a hospital room where his mother (Melissa Leo) is dying. The minute she kicks it, a twirling wisp of soul-steam or something dances up out of her body, and we’re immediately alerted -- uh-oh, magic realism. This fear is con-firmed moments later when now-dead Mom reappears to Charlie in a hallway outside the room, looking none the worse for being deceased, and tells him to go to Bucharest, Romania. “Why?” Charlie asks. “Because it’s a cheap place to shoot a movie,” Mom says. Well, no, she doesn’t. What she actually says is, “I don’t know. It seems specific.”
Did any of the people involved in making this picture see the script before the cameras started rolling? Was there a script? Or did writer Matt Drake simply refuse to show it to them? We probably will never know and certainly never will care.
Charlie, a young man with an appar-ently empty appointment calendar, boards
a flight to Bucharest and finds himself sitting next to a hearty Romanian gentle-man, named Victor (Ion Caramitru). Just as we’re beginning to find this character annoying, he suddenly dies, right there in his seat. Then -- as if by magic! -- he’s back, imploring Charlie to deliver to his daughter, Gabi, a funny hat he has bought for her in the States. Then he returns to being dead.
In Bucharest, after one of the movie’s many expanses of shameless runtime pad-ding, Charlie hooks up with Gabi, who’s played by Evan Rachel Wood under a heavy spackling of mascara, with an ac-cent as thick as Carpathian molasses. Gabi plays the cello with a symphony orches-tra, but she also packs a gun and hangs out with local drug dealers, chief among them her Romanian ex-boyfriend (Mads Mikkelsen), whose name, most oddly, is Nigel. Charlie is instantly smitten.
As Charlie races around Bucharest (where slo-mo is apparently a favored mode of transport), the movie pokes around in search of a reason to exist. Char-lie checks in to a neo-hippie hostel and shares a room with two comic-relief Brits, played, likably enough, by Rupert Grint and James Buckley. They soon are joined by a swarm of topless fantasy chicks.
There’s a witless Viagra overdose scene, and there’s an appearance by a Nigel sub-thug named Darko (Til Schweiger). Then there’s a cat-and-mouse subway chase that was surgically removed from “The French Connection” and dropped in here to re-mind us, as this movie stumbles on, what a good movie that one was. The magical stuff won’t quit, either. Staring down into the bottom of a restroom urinal, Charlie sees a Surrealism 101 eyeball staring back up at him. Just because, I guess.
It would be wrong to blame the ac-tors for this mess. They do what they can with what little they’ve been given, and LaBeouf, especially, should be en-couraged whenever he chooses to step away from his unending “Transformers” franchise, even if it requires adopting a sad little ponytail. The Swedish director, Fredrik Bond, a specialist in high-end corporate TV commercials, can be faulted mainly for terrible judgment in signing on to a ghastly project such as this. Nobody could be blamed for walking out on it.
Editor’s Note: Kurt Loder is the film critic for Reason Online. To find out more about Kurt Loder and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
AT THE MOVIES
Charlie Countryman: A Romanian Holiday with Shia LaBeouf
In the article entitled, “Grateful Win-ter Texan thanks SPI Fire, Rescue,” published in the Nov. 14 edition of the South Padre Parade, the author of the article was incorrectly attributed to Sa-sha Heller. Pamela Cody was the author of the story.
Correction
South Padre Parade, November 21, 2013 31
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TABLE OF CONTENTSWinter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley GETTING STARTED / Page 5
The 2013-2014 Winter Tourist Guide is published by New Horizon Publishers, Inc./
San Benito News, 356 N. Sam Houston Blvd., San Benito, Texas 78586 • (956) 399-2436;
Port Isabel-South Padre Press, 401 E. Maxan St.,Port Isabel, Texas 78578 • (956) 943-5545
STAFFPublisher................................................................Ray Quiroga
Production Manager.................................................Rudy Pena
Bookkeeping..................................................Selma Bermudez
Managing Editor...........Michael Rodriguez (San Benito News)
Sasha Heller (Port Isabel-South Padre Press)
Sales.............Robert Perez, Margie Montalvo, Mary Escobedo
Contributing Writers.........Sasha Heller, Francisco E. Jimenez,
Pamela Cody, Ray Quiroga
Contributing Photographers..........Sasha Heller, Pamela Cody,
Steve Sinclair, Valerie D. Bates, Andrea Mosqueda
Graphics.............................Sophia Rodriguez, Sergio Trevino
Many of the photos shown in this magazine werecontributed by the South Padre Island Convention Centre.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Here we are again, winter friends! You’re back in the beautiful Rio Grande
Valley, home to one of the most unique shopping/sightseeing/vacation destinations in the world that’s as rich in activity as it is in attractions and culture.
Boasting a subtropical climate where fishing and boating enthusiasts thrive, Cameron County, located in the lower Rio Grande Valley area, showcases not just authentic Mexican food but all the flavors of American lifestyle with a Texas twist. Specifically, agriculture, art and entertainment are important parts of the area’s economy and way of life.
You’ll find museums chronicling the area’s colorful history, beachside hotspots and accommodations, lush geography, community-based events showcasing local and nationally-known talent, birding and public hunting opportunities, not to mention some of the best fishing holes this side of the Rio Grande.
Hungry for more? Consider this magazine your guide to all things Rio Grande Valley.
South Padre Islandpage 6
Port Isabel Lighthousepage 7
Laguna Madre Art Gallerypage 9
Wildlife Refugespage 10
Feature: Amazon Kingfisherspage 11
Sea Life Nature Centerpage 12
Sea Turtle, Inc.page 13
San Benito Churchespages 14-15
SPI Birding and Nature Centerpage 16
Public Transportationpage 17
RV and Mobile Home Parkspages 18-21
Brownsville/International Travelpage 23
Museumspage 24
Port Isabel Holiday Eventspage 25
Market Days/Farmer’s Marketpage 26
Valleywide Directorypages 28-29
Visitor Centerspage 30
Golf Coursespage 31
Port Isabel Churchespage 32
Parks and Historical Sitespages 33-36
Art Gallery Workshopspages 38-39
Feature: The Island’s Heroespage 39
Movie Theatersand Cinemas
page 40Hospitals and Health Care
Providerspage 41
Feature: Bikers for Christpage 42
SOUTH PADRE ISLANDSouth Padre Island is an ideal tourist
destination for either a weekendgetaway or an extended vaca-
tion. Located at the southernmost tip of the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the Island is bordered by the Gulf on one side and the Laguna Madre Bay on the other. The Island’s only link to the mainland is the two-mile Queen Isabella Memorial Bridge. As the largest barrier island in the world, SPI mea-sures 34 miles long yet is only a half-mile wide or less. South Padre Island has approximately 5,000 permanent residents and welcomes nearly a million visitors each year. Padre’s boulevards are lined with various retail shops, resort hotels and conference centers, towering condominiums, restaurants and everything in between. South Padre Island, first charted in 1519 by Spanish explorer Alonzo de Pineda, was original-ly named “Isla Blanca” or “White Sand.” Missionary priest Jose Nicholas Balli established the Island’s first settlement in 1804 after Spain’s King Charles IV issues the initial land grant. SPI was incorporated in 1973 and the bridge was con-structed the following year. The Island’s sub-tropical climate makes the area a prime vacation locale throughout the year. With average winter temperatures around 65 degrees and summers that hover in the mid-80’s, SPI’s beaches can be enjoyed any time of the year.
Page 6 / COMMUNITIES Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley
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PORT ISABEL LIGHTHOUSE
ThePort Isabel Lighthouse State Historic Site is located in the heart of historic PI and features daily Lighthouse tours, from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. that are open to the public. The lighthouse was built in 1852 as a means to direct navigators through the Brazos Santiago Pass as well as the barrier islands. The lighthouse played a key role during the American Civil War as the site was used by both Union and Confederate forces at varying times. Over the years, the lighthouse’s relevance be-gan to fade, with its light having been extinguished in 1905. In 1947, the site received financial assistance from the Texas State Parks Board. The lighthouse was restored and the site was dedicated as a state park in 1952. Tickets for admission to the lighthouse are available at the Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce, located at 421 E. Queen Isabella Blvd., or at the Museums of Port Isabel, at 317 E. Railroad Ave. Package tickets with admission to the Museums are available.
Lighthouse Square offers visitors a diverse array of spe-cialty boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and bars. Visitors to the Square’s shops can park and then stroll through the picturesque area.Whether it’s finding that perfect paint-ing to hang over the fireplace, spotting a must-have piece of jewelry at the Faro Mercado, or stopping to enjoy a refreshing ice cream cone, the shops in Port Isabel have something to offer everyone in the family. The kids are bound to love the pirate atmosphere! The local flavor is served every day in Lighthouse Square. Isn’t it time you tasted it for yourself?
Page XX / OUTDOORS Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande ValleyWinter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley LEISURE / Page 7
The Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historic Site is located in the heart of historic PI and features daily Lighthouse tours, from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. that are open to the public. The Lighthouse was built in 1852 as a means to direct navigators through the Brazos Santiago Pass as well as the barrier islands. The Lighthouse played a key role during the American Civil War as the site was used by both Union and Confederate forces at varying times. Over the years, the Lighthouse’s relevance be-gan to fade, with its light having been extinguished in 1905. In 1947, the site received financial assistance from the Texas State Parks Board. The lighthouse was restored and the site was dedicated as a state park in 1952. Tickets for admission to the lighthouse are available at the Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce, located at 421 E. Queen Isabella Blvd., or at the Museums of Port Isabel, at 317 E. Railroad Ave. Package tickets with admission to the Museums are available.
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Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley ART / Page 9
HALF PAGE(7.375 in. x 4.85 in.)
LAGUNA MADRE ART GALLERY
TheLaguna Madre Art Gallery has a worksohp this winter for every artist, from those picking up a paintbrush for the first time to the
ones who consider themselves almost-Picasso’s.Located at 406 Maxan St. in Port Isabel’s charming Light-
house Square, the Gallery features original works from mem-ber artists who specialize in various forms, like oil painting, watercolors and mixed media.
Local artist Beth Fedigan will teach a one day “Encaustics I” workshop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 9. Encaustic paint-ing is an ancient art that can be traced back to ancient Greek and Egyptian art forms. A mixture of pigment, filtered bees-wax and damar resin which comes from the sap of an Asian pine tree is mixed together and heated to produce “paint.” In this class, Fedigan will cover the basics, starting with safety, how to make Encaustic paints, supports that work and the basic techniques of painting with hot wax. Each student will create two finished pieces. The cost for this class is $65. All supplies are provided by the instructor.
Fedigan will also teach the “Paint Over Workshop” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Jan. 6 In this one-day workshop, students”will transform a favorite photo into a fun, funky piece of art. The photo (perhaps of a favorite person) will be
photocopied and enlarged and then attached to a canvas. “From there, the fun begins,” Fedigan said. “We will paint over our piece with acrylics and alter the subject into a creative work of art.” Students are to bring several photos of a person, brushes and paints. A detailed list of supplies is available at the Gallery. The total cost for the class is only $50.The Gallery’s hours are from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The Gallery is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
For more information, call (956) 943-1407.
Page XX / XX Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley
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WILDLIFE REFUGES
The Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most biologi-
cally diverse regions in North America. It is home to more than 400 species each of
birds and plants, 40-plus varieties of mam-mals and retiles and 130 species of butterflies.
Nearly half of all bird species found in the continental U.S. rest, feed, nest or migrate in this great habitat. They have documented more species of birds than any other refuge in the country. Sprawling 97,000 acres, parts of which are available to the public, Laguna Atascosa offers such activities as bird and wildlife watching, hunting, fishing, photogra-phy, nature hikes and environmental educa-tion. Visitors can hike, bike, drive, kayak or take a guided tour. Trails are open sunrise to sunset, ranging in length from 1/8-mile to 15 miles.
Enjoy resting in shady gazebos, experience wildlife sight-ings from their viewing platforms and witness the bird feed-ing areas.
They also have trip cameras at various spots within the refuge that enable biologists to learn more about the habits and needs of wildlife, including the endangered ocelot, a rare cat species found only in deep south Texas.
This particular region of Texas is a rare and unique con-fluence of habitats with thorn forests, freshwater wetlands, coastal prairies, mudflats, beaches, brush and grasslands and dunes.
And it’s not just for the birds -- Laguna Atascosa is home to endangered ocelots, javelina, white-tailed deer, coyote, alligators, butterflies, dragonflies, moths and many other creatures.
The refuge emphasizes endangered species conservation and management for shore birds.
Their resource management works tirelessly to protect and restore habitats for wintering water fowl and other migrat-ing birds, with an emphasis on wading birds, shore birds and larger water birds like pelicans.
They work hard to provide quality water sources for the many species that depend on fresh and saline wetlands. Other management efforts include: controlled burns; protecting native species from invasive plants, creating wildlife “corri-dors” that provide food, shelter, breeding and nesting grounds and planting native trees and shrubs.
The Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge is located at 22817 Ocelot Road in Los Fresnos and is open daily. For more information, call (956) 748 –3607.
The Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge sits on a 2,000 acre parcel located at the juncture of 2 major migratory routes for scores of bird species. Despite its small size, Santa
Ana allows visitors the chance to see birds, butterflies and many other species only found in deep south Texas. Relax in the refuge’s breezeway and check out the birds, or enjoy hik-ing the more than 12 miles of available trails. There are also open-air tram rides and guided nature tours.
Established in 1943, the refuge has been for the pro-tection of migratory birds.
Considered the ‘jewel’ of the refuge system, this essential ‘island’ of thorn forest habitat is host or home to nearly 400 different types of birds have been documented within the parks borders.
Many of those are migra-tory species on their way to and from Central and South America.
Besides winged creatures, visitors may also enjoy sight-ings of ocelots, jaguarondis, bobcats and coyotes. Other wildlife include armadillos, snakes, lizards and tortoises.
Come visit the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, located along the banks of the Rio Grande in Hidalgo County, Texas just south of Alamo.
For additional information about hours, activities and tram tours, call (956) 784-7500.
Page 10 / WILDLIFE Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley
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Amazon Kingfisher
A rare bird has birders expressing excitement after it was spotted just outside of San Benito this week-end.
According to Marci Madsen Fuller, Chair of the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival, the Amazon Kingfisher was located at a resaca near State Highway 100 and Business 77 on Saturday, Nov. 9.
Just how rare is the Amazon Kingfisher to the area? This weekend’s discovery marks only the second recorded sight-ing of the bird in the United States.
“The first U.S. record was about four years ago, and it was up in the Laredo area,” said Fuller. “This is the second U.S. record, and also the first record for the lower Valley.”
The Amazon Kingfisher is native to Southern Mexico and Central America. Fuller said that in order to understand why the bird is considered a rare find for the birding community, one must first understand birders.
“There are millions of birders in the United States, and most of them like to keep track of the birds they’ve seen. It’s sort of like a scavenger hunt,” Fuller said. “They have to travel to different parts of the United States to see different birds in different areas. One of the big target areas for birders is the Rio Grande Valley, because we have about 30 differ-ent birds here that they can’t see anywhere else in the United States.
“The Valley is already a huge destination for birders, and to throw a rarity into that is an amazing thing. Anytime a rarity from Mexico or Europe shows up on this side of the border, it’s a big deal.”
Fuller said that there were more than 1,000 birders from at least 40 states, seven countries and three Canadian prov-inces in the Harlingen area for the 20th Annual RGV Bird-ing Festival, held from Nov. 6-10, when the rare bird was sighted. Fuller said that she had to direct traffic at the site of the Amazon Kingfisher before three deputies with the Cam-eron County Sheriff’s Department arrived due to the influx of traffic in the area. She said that there were approximately 300 birders trying to get a glimpse of the bird.
“We have 20 to 30 trips every day that run out to all parts of the Valley,” Fuller said. “A lot of our trips just dropped what they were doing, turned the buses around and headed towards the Amazon Kingfisher. There were just tons of people showing up all the time, more people that we could fit on the side of the road.”
Fuller said that there is a good chance that the rare bird is still in the area. She explained that while the Birding Festival has always been on the second week of November, birding in the RGV is a year-round activity.
“The birders come anytime,” Fuller said. “Oftentimes they’ll come in the spring because of the Spring Migration. Fall is kind of like an extra time for birders in the Valley, as the birds are moving through. But our basic, core birds that most birders come to see are here year-round. The Winter rarities are just kind of like a bonus on top of that.”
According to Fuller, who referenced a 2011 study conduct-ed by Texas A&M University, birders spend approximately $463 million a year in the Rio Grande Valley, second only to Winter Texans.
Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley WILDLIFE / Page 11
San Benito host to second-ever sighting of rare bird
Photo (left) by Steve Sinclair
Birders from all over the country descended upon the area over in November hoping to catch a rare glimpse of the Amazon Kingfisher, which was spotted just out-side San Benito during the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival. The rare bird is expect to remain in the area, possibly through the winter.
Page 12 / WILDLIFE Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley
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(3.6 in. x 4.85 in.)
SEA LIFE NATURE CENTER
Scarletand George Colley,proprietors of the non-profit
Sea Life Nature Center, are well known in the Laguna Madre area for their knowledge about the ocean and its creatures, as well as their dedication to preserving them for future gen-erations. Scarlet is an expert on dolphins, but the “Dolphin Whisperer,” as she is known in these parts, is an advocate for all things regarding nature, especially the local ecosystem. Their Facebook page sports the motto “S.O.S. – Saving Our Seas.” She can regularly be found on her boat, the Skim-mer, offering dolphin and eco-tours, with her faithful dolphin dog, Rozzi, at her side. She has tracked and observed dolphin families in the Laguna Madre for almost 20 years and can identify specific dolphins by the marks on their fins and tails. She even names them and enjoys seeing new generations of dolphins appearing in the families. The Sea Life Center also takes in non-native species and assists with injured creatures of all kinds. Scarlet declares, “We all should make an effort to be more eco-friendly.”
That’s why the Colleys established the SPI Dolphin Re-search and Sea Life Nature Center in 2005. They wanted to create an environment where guests could have a hands-on
experience with harmless ocean creatures while learning about preserving and respecting their environment. Visi-tors will enjoy a sensory experience with the Center’s touch tanks, and interact with creatures such as starfish, turtles and a variety of fish. So, stop in and experience their amazing as-sortment of sea creatures -- they’re located at the foot of the Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway in Port Isabel. Or, check out their Facebook page or visit www.spisealife.org. Admis-sion is $3 for adults and children two and under get in free.
Page XX / OUTDOORS Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley
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Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley WILDLIFE / Page 13
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(3.6 in. x 4.85 in.)
SEA TURTLE, INC.SeaTurtle, Inc., a non-profit organization on
South Padre Island, began modestly 35 years ago at the home of Ila Fox Loetscher,
affectionately known as “The Turtle Lady of South Padre Is-land.” In 1999, Sea Turtle, Inc. (STI) moved from Ila’s home to the north end of the Island, where they have grown to include a top-notch staff of pedigreed experts, marine biology interns and a large number of volunteers. Their mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and release injured sea turtles. STI patrols 50 miles of beach up to Boca Chica Beach, and is federally licensed to handle and help sea turtles. They are dedicated to the preservation of the Kemp’s Ridley turtle, monitoring and protecting the turtles each year during nesting season. This past September, Sea Turtle Inc. began the process of building a new, expanded facility to accommodate the 90,000 visitors they have annually. Construction is currently underway on a large education center that will include a 234-person amphitheatre, new larger tanks for permanent resident sea turtles, a bigger gift shop, classroom and office space and updated educational displays. Their current facility will be used for rehab space and house a veterinary clinic with viewing windows. Visi-tors can see the turtles in residence up close and personal and learn about their habitats and how they can be protected.
Sea Turtle Inc. is located at 6617 Padre Blvd. and is open year round from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays.) Admission is a $3 donation for adults and $2 for children under 4. For more information, call (956) 761-4511, visit their website at www.seaturtleinc.org or their Facebook page, and download their free app at Google play and iTunes.
Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley OUTDOORS / Page XX
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(3.6 in. x 4.85 in.)
Page 14 / SPIRITUAL Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley
HOPE & FAITHDevotional Guide
“For in the gospel a
righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will
live by faith.” -Romans 1:17
399 N. Sam Houston • San Benito, Texas(956) 399-3153
Minister Darrel Robertson
San Benito Church of Christ
SUNDAYBible Class@ 9:30 a.m.
Worship@ 10:25 a.m.Bible Study@ 7:00 p.m.
1201 N. Reagan • San Benito • 399-2274Pastor Richard Bekesi
Baptist Temple
SERVICESSUNDAY
9:30 a.m. Sunday School10:45 a.m. Morning Worship
6:00 p.m. Bible StudyWEDNESDAY
6:00 p.m. Prayer Seasons(Instead of Prayer & Bible Study)
6:00 p.m. Team Kids6:00 p.m. Youth
[email protected] 10:00
EucharistService
EucharistService
12:00EveningPrayer
5:30
9-1
8-11
HOPE & FAITHDevotional Guide
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will
counsel you with my eye upon you.” -Psalm 32:8
Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley SPIRITUAL / Page 15
205 W. First St., Los Fresnos, TX 78566956-233-4975 • 956-233-5198Rev. F. Feliberto Pereira
Iglesia Cristiana Ebenezer
SERVICIOS:DOMINGO
9:45 a.m.-Escuela Dominical11:00 p.m.-Culto De Adoración
6:00 p.m.-Culto VespertinoMIÉRCOLES
7:00 p.m.-Estudio BíblicoVIERNES
7:00 p.m.-Culto De Oración
LIVING WATERS CHURCH
MARK A. MOLINASenior Pastor/FounderLiving Waters Church
P.O. Box 534209Harlingen, TX 78553-4209
956-238-0089
Come celebrate with us1257 N. Sam Houston,
San Benito, TXa few blocks north of Business 77.
ST JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH
1000 N. Crockett Street San Benito, Texas 78586
956-399-3422
“We love because God first loved us!” 1 John 4:19
9:30am Sunday School & Bible Class8:00 & 10:30am Divine Service (Nov.-March)10:30am Divine Service (April-Oct.)[email protected] Congregation of the LCMS
9:30 a.m. Sunday School & Bible Class8:00 & 10:30 a.m. Divine Service (Dec.-Mar.)10:30 a.m. Divince Service (April-Nov.)[email protected]
566 N. Reagan • San Benito • 399-2235The Friendliest Church In The Valley
Rev. Ed Robertson, Pastor
First Presbyterian Church
SERVICESChildren’s Sunday School
During WorshipMorning Worship - 10:30 a.m.Meetings of PresbyterianWomen
Circles at 10:00 on2nd Tuesday of each month.
228 Huisache • Rio Hondo, Texas • (956) 748-2327St. Vincent de Paul, Mission Church • Lozano, Texas
Father Rigobert Poulang MotDaily Mass 6 p.m. Divine Mercy Chapel
St. Helen Catholic Church
Tuesday (S) Wednesday & Friday (E)Thursday: St. Vincent de Paul, Mission
in Lozano (S)Adoration in Chapel: Tues.-Friday
6:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m.Weekend Mass: Saturday 5 p.m. (E)
Sunday 8 a.m. (S) 10 a.m. (E)12 noon (S) St. Vincent de Paul-Lozano
SPI Birding and Nature CenterThe South Padre Island Birding and
Nature Center is a non-profit facility created by the City of South Padre Island to
showcase the unique bird sightings found in the Rio Grande Val-ley and to offer the public an opportunity to learn about the birds, fish, plant and animal life found on the Island. It is the newest of nine locations that form the World Birding Center (WBC), which is comprised of three state parks and five other centers. Its trail covers a 120-mile route along the Rio Grande from Roma on the west to South Padre Island on the east. The other locations of the WBC are the Harlingen Arroyo Colorado, Edinburg Scenic Wet-lands, Quinta Mazatlan, Roma Bluffs, Old Hidalgo Pumphouse, Estero Llano Grande State Park, Resaca de la Palma Park and the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park.
The SPI BNC encompasses 43 acres, with a five-story observa-tion tower that boasts unparalleled views of the Gulf of Mexico and the dunes and skyline of South Padre Island. There is also an auditorium, interactive exhibits, a gift shop, seven bird blinds and beautiful bay view boardwalks. It is a one-of-kind facility along the Laguna Madre, offering sightings of more shorebirds than any other center. It is also available for weddings, conference meet-ings, memorials, class re-unions, school groups and field trips.
Beginning Nov. 1, the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center will be holding a raffle for a handmade guitar. This unique
instrument is carved with the silhouette of the SPI BNC and a flock of pelicans. Tickets are $5 and you need not be present to win. The drawing for the guitar will be on Jan. 14, 2014. The hours of operation for the Birding Center are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily and the prices are $5 for adults, $4 for students and seniors, $2 for children ages 4-12 and children under 4 get in free. There are also weekly, three-month and annual passes available. For more information, call (956)-249-8179 or visit their website at www.spibirding.com.
Page 16 / WILDLIFE Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATIONVisitors to the Lower Laguna
Madre area don’t always have to concern
themselves with driving their own cars around an unfamiliar vacation destination.
The WAVE public transit system offers free rides throughout South Padre Island, Port Isabel and Laguna Heights.
The WAVE’s convenient schedule repeats itself every hour and stops at 59 various locations.
The WAVE transportation service is a fare-free system, funded by the Texas Department of Transporta-tion through its Section 5311 Rural Transit Program and local match from the City of South Padre Island and City of Port Isabel Economic Development Corporation.
The WAVE also connects to the Valley Metro Bus at a drop-off point in Port Isabel.
Valley Metro’s service transports passengers directly to the Port of Brownsville, the Brownsville-South Padre Island
International Airport and downtown Brownsville’s Market Square and the city’s Metro System.
For more information about the WAVE, call (956) 761-3864 or visit www.myspi.org.
Valley Metro, the bus line that has connected the Rio Grande Valley via bus, lowered the regular adult fare from $1.50 to $1 last year.
Also included in the move will be a drop in fares for the students, elderly, disabled, veterans and Medicare recipients, a quarter dis-count from $.75 to $.50.
Children under the age of 7 and transfers are still free.
Bus passes are also planned to get cheaper: A regular adult 20-ride
pass will now cost $10, others will cost $5.However, nothing is yet decided upon concerning a Satur-
day San Benito/Harlingen bus line.For more information, call Valley Metro at (800) 574-
8322.
Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley COMMUTE / Page 17
Page 18 / LIVING Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley
HALF PAGE(7.375 in. x 4.85 in.)
RV AND MOBILE HOME PARKS1015 RV Parkis located at 1402 S. Interna-tional Blvd., Weslaco, 78596, 1/2 Mile S. of Bus. 83 on FM 1015, 956-968-7516.
4-Z RV Parkis located at 3111 E. Bus. Hwy. 83, Donna, 3111 East Bus. Hwy. 83, 78537, 956-7735.
A-1 Trailer Parkis located at P.O. Box 1413, San Juan, 78589, on Sam Houston and South Standard, 956-783-15656.
Acacia RV & MH Parkis located at 89 E. Bus. 83, Alamo, 78516, West Bus. 83 agt Border Road.
Adams GardensMobile Estatesis located at 9501 Bus. Hwy. 83 #813, Harlingen, 78552, 5 Miles West on Bus. 83, or 2 Miles E. of La Feria.
Adobe Wells Country Clubis located at 4901 Daffodil-465, McAllen, 78501, 1 Mile West of Ware Rd. on Daffodil, 956-868-8801.
Adolph Thomae Jr. County Parkis located at 37844 Marshall Hutts Rd., Rio Hondo, 78583, Arroyo City, East end on FM 2925, 956-748-2044.
Aladdin Villas West Subdivisionis located at 1415 Aladdin Villa Blvd., Mission 78572, 1/4 Miles South of Bus. 83 on Stewart Road, 956-581-1288.
Alamo Palms MH & RV Parkis located at 1341 W. Bus. 83, Alamo, 78516, Between Cesar Chavez and Alamo Rd. on Bus. 83, 956-7877551.
Albertson Gardensis located at 10501 S. Jackson (ofce, Pharr, 78572, 1503 S. Jackson Rd., 956-686-5076.
Americana RV Parkis located at 721 N. Bentsen Palm Dr., Mission, 78572, Fr. Exp. 83, 1 mi. S. on Bentsen Palm Dr., 956-581-1705.
Autumn Acres MH/RV Resortis located at 5034 Boca Chica Blvd., Brownsville, 78521, 5034 Boca Chica Blvd 1-877-845-3319, 956-546-4979.
Page 10 / LIVING Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley
WelcomeBack
WinterVisitors!
LOS FRESNOSMain Office
205 E. Ocean Boulevard(956) 233-4100
RAYMONDVILLE729 E. Hidalgo Avenue
(956) 689-3999BROWNSVILLE
470 E. Morrison Road(956) 832-6105
SAN BENITOMain Office
1151 W. Highway 77(956) 399-3331
SAN BENITOExpressway
600 S. Sam Houston(956) 399-3331
HARLINGENMain Office
806 S. 77 Sunshine Strip(956) 428-4100
HARLINGEN405 N. Stuart Place Road
(956) 428-4100
860 S. SAM HOUSTON • SAN BENITO, TXPH: (956) 399-4111 • FAX: (956) 399-4481
Welcome BackWinter Texans!
Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley LIVING / Page 19
HALF PAGE(7.375 in. x 4.85 in.)
RV AND MOBILE HOME PARKSAvila MH Parkis located at 2008 N. Ave. Donna, 78537, 956-646-4497.
B&J Trailer Parkis located at P.O. Box 320, Port Isabel, 78578, Laguna Heights on Hwy. 100 West, 956-943-2981.
Baldwin MH Manoris located at 400 Date Palm, McAllen, 78501, 4 blocks North of Bus. 83 on 2nd St., 956-681-4411.
Barnett Mobile Villageis located at 3811 S. Sugar Rd., Edinburg, 78539, 1/4 mi. W. of US 281 corner of Sugar & Canton Rd., 956-383-1074.
Barnhart RV Parkis located at 225 E. Harris, Raymondville, 78580, Fr. Bus. 77, 1 Blk. East on Rodriguez Ave., 956-689-5024.
Barnhart Trailer Parkis located at Rt. 2, Box 128, Raymondville, 78580, 1 1/2 Mile South of Raymondville on Bus. 77, 956-689-5024.
Barrientos MH Parkis located at 201 S. Reagan, P.O. Box 492, San Benito, 78586, 956-399-5716.
Circle RV Parkis located at 1400 E. Bus. Hwy. 77, San Benito, 78586, 956-399-5450.
Destination SPI RV Resorti s located at 1 Padre Blvd . , S . Padre Is land, 78597, 1 Mi le West of Ware Rd. on Daf fod i l , 956-761-5665.
Diving Dolphins RV Parki s located at 32773 FM 2925, Rio Hondo, 78583, 3 1/2 mi les West of Arroyo Ci ty on FM 2925, 956-748-9012.
Dixieland MH & RV Parkis located at 1325 S. Dixieland Road, Harlingen, 1/2 mile S. of Valle Vista Mall, 956-425-6707.
El Camino Realis located at 777 W. Bus. 77, El Camino Real, San Benito, 78586 956-399-2221.
El Ranchito RV Parkis located at 427 Line 17 Rd., San Benito, 78586, Fr. Bus. 77, 1/4 mi. N. on Sam Houston then E., 956-399-8326.
Falcon HeightsMotel & Parkis located at P.O. Box 17, Falcon Heights, 78545, on FM 2098 1/4 mile SE of Jct. PR 46, 956-848-5229
Falcon State Parkis located at P.O. Box 2, Falcon Heights, 78545, Fr. US 83, 3 mi. NW on FM 2098 then NW on PR 46, 956-848-5327.
Family Courtis located at 100 Bridge St., Port Isabel, 78578, 956-943-1001.
Fiesta Mobile Home Parki s located at 102 N . I Road, San Juan, 78589, Corner of “I” Road and Bus . 83, 956-781-6201.
First Colony MH & RV Parki s located at 2800 Turner Road, San Beni to , 78586, Fr . Exp. 83 exi t Paso Rea l Hwy. E. to Z i l lock Rd. then S . , 956-399-8595.
Fun N Sun Resortis located at 1400 Zillock Road FM 509, San Benito, 78586, Fr. Exp. 83 & Paso Real Hwy. East to Zillock Rd. S., 956-399-5125.
Garden MH Parkis located at 1557 Combes St., San Benito, 78586, Fr. Exp. 77 & Ratliff Road N. to Combes St., 956-399-2442.
Hideaway RV & MH Parkis located at Rt. 1, Box 233, Donna, 78537, Fr. Exp. 83 -- 4 miles N. FM 493 & 1/2 mile W. on Roosevelt, 956-464-3725.
Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande ValleyPage x / LIVING
1702 E. Tyler Ave., Ste. 5 • Harlingen, TX 78550
956-423-6333
Our Services:• Medical Equipment
• Mobility Aids
• Nutritional Formulas
• Incontinence Supplies
• Diabetic Shoes and Supplies
• ED Therapy Device
• Wheelchair Lifts/Carrier
• Orthotics/Braces
Call to schedulean appointment.
We offer a full line of Mastectomy Products, including:
• Breast Forms (Silicone) • Breast Forms (Foam) • Mastectomy Bras• Compression Garments• Lymphedema Pumps • Wigs and Accessories
Private Fitting Room • Registered Nurse and Certified Mastectomy Fitter
FreeDiabetic Foot ScreeningrN/Certified Pedorthist
on staff
www.mediforcedme.com
Come start your new career with
Application Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. We are located at: 712 Morgan Blvd., Ste. 104, Harlingen, TX
(956) 366-4029 • www.acttoday.com
ADVANCED CALL CENTER TECHNOLOGIES LLC
WELCOMEBACKWINTERTEXANS!
Page 20 / LIVING Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley
HALF PAGE(7.375 in. x 4.85 in.)
RV AND MOBILE HOME PARKSHoliday Out RV Parkis located at 400 E. 3rd St., Los Fresnos, 78566, 1/4 Mile E. of FM 1847 on Hwy. 100, 956-233-5111.
Holiday Village, Inc.is located at 1501 N. Cage Blvd., Pharr, 78577, Fr. Exp. 83 -- 300 Ft. N. on Hwy. 281, 956-787-9493.
Homestead Ranchis located at 744 Lora’s Lane, McAllen, 78501, 400 N. McColl Road, 956-686-3164.
Honeydale MH & RV Parkis located at Box 22, 505 Honeydale, Brownsville, 78520, 5 Blocks W. of Central Blvd. on Los Ebanos and 1 Block S., 956-982-2230.
Indian Lake, Town ofis located at 62 South Aztec Cove Drive, Los Fresnos, 78566, Fr. Hwy. 100, N. on FM 1575 then left on Henderson Rd., 956-233-4021.
Isla Blanca Parkis located at P.O. Box 2106, South Padre Island, 78597, 1/2 mile S. of Bridge (Causeway), 956-761-5493.
J Five MH & RV Parkis located at 3907 N. Taylor Road, Mission, 78572, Fr. Bus. 83, 2 1/2 Miles N. on Taylor Road, 956-682-7495.
Juan Vela Trailer Parkis located at Rt. 1 Box 890, Zapata, 78076, 16 miles S. of Zapata on Us 83 & 3 1/2 miles w. on Private Rd., 956-848-5332.
Kenwood RV & MH Resortis located at 1221 N. Main #1, La Feria, 78501, Exp. 83 & FM 506 then 1 block North, 956-797-1851.
Keyes Wheel Estatesis located at 17 South 35th St., Donna, 78537, 956-2686-4911.
Koenig’s Resortis located at Rt. 8, Box 4789, Donna, 78537, Fr.Bus. 83, 1/4 Mile s. on Bal Verde Road, 956-464-8000.
Kountry Corralis located at 307 S. Bentsen Palm Dr., Mission, 78572, Fr. Bus. 83, 8/10 mile S. on Bent-sen Palm Drive, 956-581-1064.
La Feria Motel & RV Parkis located at 1700 E. Bus. 83, La Feria, 78559, 320 E. Bus. 83, 956-797-2867.
La Feria RV Parkis located at 450 East Front-age Road, La Feria, 78559, Exp. 83 & Parker Road, 956-797-1043
La Floresta RV Parkis located at 16000 La Flo-resta, Mercedes, 78570, 3 3/4 Miles N. on FM 491 (Baseline Road), 956-565-6314.
La Hacienda Es-tatesis located at Rt. 2, Box 802, Alamo, Fr. Bus 83, 1 1/4 Mile S. on Tower Road, 956-783-8131.
La Mirada Country Estatesis located at 8901 W. Bus. 83, Harlingen, 78552, W. Bus. 83 amd Tamm Lane, 956-343-5059.
Laguna Seca Parkis located at 1338 Hwy. 100, Laguna Heights, 78578, 956-943-6578.
Lake Texano Parkis located at P.O. Box 4210, Hidalgo, 78557, Fr. 281, 1 block S. on 4th, 11 blocks E. on Texano S. on 15th, 956-843-8435.
Lakefront Lodgeis located at Box 5901, Zapata, 78076, Fr. Hwy. 83, 4 miles West on FM 496 to end of road, 956-765-4346.
Lakeside RV Parki s located at P.O. Box 606, Zapata , 78076, Fr . Hwy. 83, 4 mi les West on FM 496 to end of road, 956-765-4105.
Lakewood Villagei s located at 4515 Graham Road, Har l in-gen, 78552, Fr . Exp. 83 exi t Lewis Lane N . to Graham Road W. 1/2, 956-423-1170.
Lamplighter MH Subd.i s located at 625 N . Bentsen Palom Dr . , Miss ion , 78572, Fr , Exp. 83, 1 1/2 mi les S . on Bentsen Palm Dr . , 956-580-4104.
Page xx / LIVING Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley
Holiday Out RV Parkis located at 400 E. 3rd St., Los Fresnos, 78566, 1/4 Mile E. of FM 1847 on Hwy. 100, 956-233-5111.
Holiday Village, Inc.is located at 1501 N. Cage Blvd., Pharr, 78577, Fr. Exp. 83 -- 300 Ft. N. on Hwy. 281, 956-787-9493.
Homestead Ranchis located at 744 Lora’s Lane, McAllen, 78501, 400 N. McColl Road, 956-686-3164.
Honeydale MH & RV Parkis located at Box 22, 505 Honeydale, Brownsville, 78520, 5 Blocks W. of Central Blvd. on Los Ebanos and 1 Block S., 956-982-2230.
Indian Lake, Town ofis located at 62 South Aztec Cove Drive, Los Fresnos, 78566, Fr. Hwy. 100, N. on FM 1575 then left on Henderson Rd., 956-233-4021.
Isla Blanca Parkis located at P.O. Box 2106, South Padre Island, 78597, 1/2 mile S. of Bridge (Causeway), 956-761-5493.
J Five MH & RV Parkis located at 3907 N. Taylor Road, Mission, 78572, Fr. Bus. 83, 2 1/2 Miles N. on Taylor Road, 956-682-7495.
Juan Vela Trailer Parkis located at Rt. 1 Box 890, Zapata, 78076, 16 miles S. of Zapata on Us 83 & 3 1/2 miles w. on Private Rd., 956-848-5332.
Kenwood RV & MH Resortis located at 1221 N. Main #1, La Feria, 78501, Exp. 83 & FM 506 then 1 block North, 956-797-1851.
Keyes Wheel Estatesis located at 17 South 35th St., Donna, 78537, 956-2686-4911.
Koenig’s Resortis located at Rt. 8, Box 4789, Donna, 78537, Fr.Bus. 83, 1/4 Mile s. on Bal Verde Road, 956-464-8000.
Kountry Corralis located at 307 S. Bentsen Palm Dr., Mission, 78572, Fr. Bus. 83, 8/10 mile S. on BentsenPalm Drive, 956-581-1064.
La Feria Motel & RV Parkis located at 1700 E. Bus. 83,La Feria, 78559, 320 E. Bus. 83, 956-797-2867.
La Feria RV Parkis located at 450 East FrontageRoad, La Feria, 78559, Exp. 83 & Parker Road, 956-797-1043.
La Floresta RV Parkis located at 16000 La Floresta,Mercedes, 78570, 3 3/4 Miles N. on FM 491 (Baseline Road), 956-565-6314.
La Hacienda Estatesis located at Rt. 2, Box 802, Alamo, Fr. Bus 83, 1 1/4 Mile S. on Tower Road, 956-783-8131.
La Mirada Country Estatesis located at 8901 W. Bus. 83, Harlingen, 78552, W. Bus. 83 amd Tamm Lane, 956-343-5059.
Laguna Seca Parkis located at 1338 Hwy. 100, Laguna Heights, 78578, 956-943-6578.
Lake Texano Parkis located at P.O. Box 4210, Hidalgo, 78557, Fr. 281, 1 block S. on 4th, 11 blocks E. on Texano S. on 15th, 956-843-8435.
Lakefront Lodgeis located at Box 5901, Zapata, 78076, Fr. Hwy. 83, 4 miles West on FM 496 to end of road, 956-765-4346.
Lakeside RV Parkis located at P.O. Box 606, Zapata, 78076, Fr. Hwy. 83, 4 miles West on FM 496 to end of road, 956-765-4105.
Lakewood Villageis located at 4515 Graham Road, Harlingen,78552, Fr. Exp. 83 exit Lewis Lane N. to Graham Road W. 1/2, 956-423-1170.
Lamplighter MH Subd.is located at 625 N. Bentsen Palom Dr., Mission, 78572, Fr, Exp. 83, 1 1/2 miles S. on Bentsen Palm Dr., 956-580-4104.
Lariat RV & MH Parkis located at Rt. 1, Box 10546, La Feria, 78559, Jct. Exp. 83 and Mile 3 East, 956-565-3172.
LaVista Park MH Subd.is located at P.O. Box 4702, McAl-len, 78502, 2707 N. Sugar Road, 956-630-0902.
Lazy C RV Parkis located at 11304 4th St., La Feria, 78559, Exp. 83 & Solis Road, then 1/3 mile E. & 2 Blocks S., 956-797-1503.
Lazy Days Trailer Parkis located at P.O. Box 1687, Port Isabel, 314 East N. Railroad, no phone.
Lazy Palm Ranchis located at Rt. 3, Box 112-B, Edinburg, 78539, 15 Miles N. of Jct. US 281/Hwy. 107 & 2 miles W. on Floral, 956-383-1020.
Lazy R MH Parkis located at 2100 East Gayle Ave., Harlingen, 78550, Six blocks west of Harlingen Airport, 956-423-7372.
Leisure Valley Ranchis located at 7400 W. Exp. 83, Mission, 78572, West Exp. 83, no phone.
Leisure World MH Vil-lageis located at 400 E. 18th St., Weslaco, 78596, Fr, Exp. 83, 1 1/2 miles S. on FM 88 then East 1 Block, 956-968-8412.
Lemon Tree Trailer Innis located at 1510 E. Bus. 83, Mission 78572, 1 1/2 Mile East Bus. 83, 956-585-6861.
Lisa’s Mobile Home Parkis located at Rt. 1, Box 301-2, Weslaco, 78596, Donna -- Exp. 83, N. 6 miles on 493 & 1/2 Mile W, 956-969-4937.
Live Oak MH Parkis located at 1721 N. McColl Rd. #147, Edinburg, 78539, 1 Mile N. of FM 107 on N. McColl Rd. (FM 2067), 956-380-1313.
Llano Grande Lake Park Resortis located at 489 Yolanda St., Mercedes 78570, www.llanogrand-eresort.com, 56-565-2638.
Long Island Villageis located at 950 South Garcia St., Port Isabel, 78578, South Garcia St., across drawbridge, 956-943-6449.
Los Ebanos Mobile Parkis located at 703 Los Ebanos Road, Mission,m 78572, 956-585-6161.
Ma & Pa RV Parkis located at Rt. 8, Box 4788, Donna, 78537, Fr. Bus. 83, 1/2 Mile S. on Val Verde Road, 956-464-9435.
Magic Valley RV & MH Parkis located at 2300 E. Bus. Hwy. 83, Weslaco, 78596, www.magicval-leyrvpark.com, 56-968-8242.
Magnolia RV Parkis located at 3707 E. Hwy. 83, Donna 78537, 2 Miles East on Bus. Hwy. 83, 956-464-2421.
Mar-Lew RV Parkis located at Rt. 1, Box 208, Edcouch, 78538, 7 Miles N. of Elsa (1 Mile N. of Monte Alto), 956-262-1869.
McAllen Mobile Parkis located at 4900 N. McColl Road, McAllen, 78504, 3 Miles North of Bus. 83 on McColl Road, 956-682-3304.
Mesquite Haven RV & MH Parkis located at 4606-A Goolie Road, Donna, 78537, 1 1/2 mile N. Goolie Rd. off Exp. 83, 956-464-3782.
Mesquite MH Parkis located at 1408 N. Closner, Edinburg, 78539, 956-381-1540.Mesquite Park & Salesis located at P.O. Box 295, La Feria, 78559, 1/4 Mile West on Bus. 83, 956-797-2514.
Miller’s RV Parkis located at P.O. Box 164, San Juan, 78589, 424 West Bus. 83, 956-797-1393.
Mission Bell Resortis located at P.O. Box 295, Mis-sion, 78572, 11924 W. Bus. 83, 956-585-4833.
Mission Canyon Lake Resortis located at 4770 N. Mayberry Road, Mission, 78572, 3 1/4 miles North of Bus. 83 on Mayberry Road, 956-580-4545.
Mission Garden Resortis located at 930 W. Exp. 83, Mission 78572, 1/2 mile W. of Conway on Exp. 83 Frontage Road, 956-585-5671.
Mission Split Railis located at 513 North Los Ebanos Rd., Mission, 78572, www.splitrailrvpark.com, 956-585-8135.
Mission West RV Parkis located at 3805 W. Hwy. 83, Mission, 78572, 1 1/2 miles West on Bus. 83, 956-585-5551..
Mobile Home Villais located at 1901 N. Glasscock Road, Mission, 78572, between Bus. 83 and Hwy. 495 on Glasscock Road, 956-585-9829.
Mobile Home Villais located at 704 North Ave., Donna, 78537, Fr. Exp. 83, N. on Main St. to N. Ave. then 1 Block West, 956-464-2089.
Monte Cristo RV Parkis located at Rt. 7, Box 423, Edinburg, 78541, Fr. Bus. 281, 3 1/2 Miles W. on FM 1925 (Monte Cristo), 956-381-0964.
Moonglow Mobile Parkis located at 106 S. Palm Dr., #11, Pharr, 78577, 956-781-0145.
Moore’s RV Parkis located at 13892 E. Bus. 83, La Feria, 78559, 600 feet East of White Ranch Road on Bus. 83, 956-797-1154.
New Harbor Lodge RV Parkis located at Box 6405, Zapata, 78076, 209 Lakeshore Drive, 956-765-3095.
Northside MH Parkis located at P.O. 954, Edinburg, 78540, 2 1/2 miles N. of FM 1925 on US 281, 956-383-7033.
Oak Haven MH Villageis located at 8300 N. Taylor Rpad #8, McAllen, 78504, 5 1/4 miles North Taylor Road, 956-686-1579.
Oasis Family Parkis located at 16678 W. Wilson Rd. #89, Harlingen, 78552, 1 mile West of Ware Rd. on Daffodil, 956-365-4464.
Old 83 Family Parkis located at 2717 E. 4 Mile Line #27, Mission, 78572, 800 feet west of Bentsen Palm Dr. on Bus. 83, 956-664-2695.
Oleander Acresis located at 2421 S. Conway, Mission, 78572, Fr. Exp. 83, 1 mile s. on FM 1016 (Conway), 956-585-9093.
Orange Grove RV Parkis located at 4901 East State Hwy. 107, Edinburg, 78539, 2 Miles E. of Exp. 281 on Hwy. 107, 956-383-7931.
Orange Wood Estatesis located at Rt. 2 Box 964, San Juan, 78589, Frm. Bus. 83, 1 Mile S. on Stewart Rd., 956-581-5493.
Oso Blanco Motel & RV Parkis located at P.O. Box 1118, Zapata, 78076, on US 83, 1/2 mile S. of Veleno Bridge, 956-765-4339.
Palm City RV & MH Estatesis located at P.O. Box 84, San Juan, 78586, 1/8 Mile E of “I” Road on W. Bus. 83, 956-781-2888.
Palm Drive RV Parkis located at 106 N. Palm Drive, Pharr, 78577, Fr. West Bus. 83, 1/4 Block N. on Palm Drive, 956-781-6787.
Palm Gardensis located at 3401 W. Bus. 83, Harlin-gen, 78552, 1/2 mile W. on Bus. 83 Rev. line 888-960-7256, 956-423-7670.
Port Isabel Park Center Inc.is located at P.O. Box 295, Port Isabel, 78578, 702 Champion (South of Hwy. 100 behind Stadium), 956-943-7340.
Queen City Estatesis located at 333 E. 5th St., Mercedes, 78570, (behind Civic Center), 956-565-1331.
Resaca Bend RV Parkis located at 251 Line 17 Road, San Benito, 78586, Fr. Bus. 77, 1/3 mile N. on Sam Houston and 1/4 E. Line 17 Rd., 956-399-4041.
Resaca City RV & MH Parkis located at 924 E. Stenger St., San Benito, 78586, 956-399-5391.
Sleepy Hallowis located at Rt. 7, Box 447, Mission, 78572, Fr. Bus. 83, 1 mile S. on Bentsen Palm Dr. (FM 2062), 956-584-9721.
Stuart Place MH & RV Parkis located at 7901 Bus. 83, 3 miles West on Bus. 83, 956-423-7308.
Tarpon RV Parkis located at 226 Basin St., Port Isabel, 78578, Hwy. 100 West across street from Jr. High School, 956-943-2040.
Tropical Trail MH Parkis located at 690 N WilliamsRoad, San Benito, 78586, corner of Williams Road and Bus. 77, 956-399-3186.
Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley LIVING / Page 21
HALF PAGE(7.375 in. x 4.85 in.)
RV AND MOBILE HOME PARKSMission West RV Parkis located at 3805 W. Hwy. 83, Mission, 78572, 1 1/2 miles West on Bus. 83, 956-585-5551.
Mobile Home Villais located at 1901 N. Glasscock Road, Mission, 78572, between Bus. 83 and Hwy. 495 on Glasscock Road, 956-585-9829.
Mobile Home Villais located at 704 North Ave., Donna, 78537, Fr. Exp. 83, N. on Main St. to N. Ave. then 1 Block West, 956-464-2089.
Monte Cristo RV Parkis located at Rt. 7, Box 423, Edinburg, 78541, Fr. Bus. 281, 3 1/2 Miles W. on FM 1925 (Monte Cristo), 956-381-0964.
Moonglow Mobile Parkis located at 106 S. Palm Dr., #11, Pharr, 78577, 956-781-0145.
Moore’s RV Parkis located at 13892 E. Bus. 83, La Feria, 78559, 600 feet East of White Ranch Road on Bus. 83, 956-797-1154.
Natures Resort Nudist Parkis located at 10201 Monte Cristo Rd., Edinburg, 78538, www.natures.net, 956-78538.
New Harbor Lodge RV Parkis located at Box 6405, Zapata, 78076, 209 Lakeshore Drive, 956-765-3095.
Northside MH Parkis located at P.O. 954, Edinburg, 78540, 2 1/2 miles N. of FM 1925 on US 281, 956-383-7033.
Oak Haven MH Villageis located at 8300 N. Taylor Rpad #8, McAl-len, 78504, 5 1/4 miles North Taylor Road, 956-686-1579.
Oasis Family Parkis located at 16678 W. Wilson Rd. #89, Harlin-gen, 78552, 1 mile West of Ware Rd. on Daffodil, 956-365-4464.
Old 83 Family Parkis located at 2717 E. 4 Mile Line #27, Mission, 78572, 800 feet west of Bentsen Palm Dr. on Bus. 83, 956-664-2695.
Oleander Acresis located at 2421 S. Conway, Mission, 78572, Fr. Exp. 83, 1 mile s. on FM 1016 (Conway), 956-585-9093.
Oleo Acresis located at P.O. Box 383, San Juan, 78589, 106 West 6th St., 956-781-8616.
Orange Grove RV Parkis located at 4901 East State Hwy. 107, Edinburg, 78539, 2 Miles E. of Exp. 281 on Hwy. 107, 956-383-7931.
Orange Wood Estatesis located at Rt. 2 Box 964, San Juan, 78589, Frm. Bus. 83, 1 Mile S. on Stewart Rd., 956-581-5493.
Oso Blanco Motel & RV Parkis located at P.O. Box 1118, Zapata, 78076, on US 83, 1/2 mile S. of Veleno Bridge, 956-765-4339.
Palm City RV & MH Estatesis located at P.O. Box 84, San Juan, 78586, 1/8 Mile E of “I” Road on W. Bus. 83, 956-781-2888.
Palm Drive RV Parkis located at 106 N. Palm Drive, Pharr, 78577, Fr. West Bus. 83, 1/4 Block N. on Palm Drive, 956-781-6787.
Palm Gardensis located at 3401 W. Bus. 83, Harlingen, 78552, 1/2 mile W. on Bus. 83 Rev. line 888-960-7256, 956-423-7670.
Port Isabel ParkCenter Inc.is located at P.O. Box 295, Port Isabel, 78578, 702 Champion (South of Hwy. 100 behind Stadium), 956-943-7340.
Page xx / LIVING Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley
BROWNSVILLEWith stately palm trees and warm Gulf
of Mexico breezes, Brownsville, Texas, offers the history, culture,
traditions, language and people of two great countries all in one, great border destination. With an average of about 320 days of summer it’s no wonder why Brownsville is the best place to spend a day out enjoying all the wonderful treasures the city has to offer.
Steeped in a rich South Texas heritage and located on the banks of the Rio Grande River, Brownsville is a perfect two nation leisure travel destination with two beautiful Gulf of Mexico beaches less than half an hour away.
The relaxed Brownsville way of life plus the mystique of an exotic blend of culture, food, and people will charm you and the longer you stay the more you’ll love Brownsville.
Brownsville’s semi-tropical environment of purple bougain-villeas and exotic birds awaits you. Glorious sunrises and scar-let sunsets paint the skies every day. Even in the center of the city, there is a lush natural landscape that borders numerous natural waterways, long since cut off from the once mighty Rio Grande, now locally known as resacas.
Brownsville’s roots are as deep as those of colonial Mexico and as strong as Texas. The city’s bi-cultural heritage comes alive at numerous special events throughout the year. There
is the Charro Days Fiesta, which celebrates Brownsville and Matamoros bi-cultural heritage, Air Fiesta hosted by the Commemorative Air Force Museum and Latin Jazz Festival. Each is special to our area; each tells a different story that is Brownsville.
Always a Fiesta!Brownsville’s eclectic mix of old Mexican charm and festive at-
titude make it the perfect bi-national travel destination. With year-round celebrations, natural treasures, one of the nation’s best zoos, and a history as big as Texas you won’t find anything short of excit-ing adventures in this exciting Rio Grande Valley destination.
Celebrations in Brownsville begin in January with “Taste of La Frontera,” a showcase of some of the best border cuisine in Texas. Brownsville continues the celebration with its interna-tionally famous Charro Days Fiesta, Sombrero Festival and Air Fiesta and a slew of events and festivals throughout the year.
Charro Days Fiesta, begun 76 years ago, is an annual event where residents of Brownsville and its neighbor Matamoros, Mexico celebrate their rich cultural heritage with parades, car-nivals, games, and costume balls. In a Mardi Gras-like fashion residents dress up in traditional regional costumes of Mexico and host a number of events throughout the streets of the Historic Downtown District.
Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley COMMUNITIES-TRAVEL / Page 23
INTERNATIONAL TRAVELOfficials with the U.S.
Customs and Border Protec-
tion in Brownsville have said no U.S. citizen will be denied entry into the United States even if they don’t have a pass-port--this despite the 2009 U.S. travel rule stipulating that Americans must have a valid passport or PASS Card in hand to re-enter the the country from Mexico through a land port of entry, such as at the Gateway International Bridge between Brownsville and Matamoros, Mexico, the Los Indios Free Trade Bridge and the Progreso International Bridge. Some form of identification to prove their status, however, will be necessary.
Although visiting Mexico can be a lot fun, there are a number of things tourists must do when coming back to the United States.
Each visitor is allowed $400 worth of duty free goods for personal use every 30 days. Thereafter, every $100 is taxed at a flat rate of 10 percent. Among some of the items not al-lowed to be brought back include illegal drugs, some fruits and vegetables including mangos, avocados with seeds, citrus (except limes) and potatoes, all poultry, pork and products made from them. Birds and exotic animals including sea turtles, stuffed or alive, and most exotic animal products such
as skins and most animal hides except cowhides are also il-legal.
Cigarettes are allowed, but a person must be 18 years of age to import them. The tax on cigarettes is $15 per carton of 10. Liquor is another item people bring back but on a limited amount. Texas residents are allowed one quart or liter of distilled spirits, three gallons of wine, or 24, 12-oz. cans, or bottles, of beer. Non-Texas residents are allowed one gallon of distilled spirits or wine (or any combination of the two), or 24, 12-oz. containers of beer.
The Historical Museum of Port Isabel and is located in the Charles Champion Build-ing, which was constructed in 1899, and
the first floor was used as a dry goods store, post office, rail-road station and as a U.S. customs office. The second floor served as the Champion residence. The museum “Fish Mural” that was painted in 1906 represents the different species of fish from the Laguna Madre.
Featured exhibits are the Spanish Exploration Period, the Struggle for Texas Independence, the Civil War, Maritime History and the Shrimp Industry and more are located on the bottom floor. The second floor of the museum exhibits are the Champion Family exhibit and the U.S.-Mexican War display with one of the largest displays of memorabilia from that area. The second floor also houses the museum theatre.
Located within walking distance from the Historical Museum is Treasures of the Gulf Museum, which exhibits three Spanish shipwrecks that occurred in 1554, 30 miles north of Port Isabel. The artifacts tell the stories of victims and the survivors.
Page 24 / HISTORY Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley
MUSEUMS
The San Benito History Museum is the first exhibit on display when entering the Mu-seums of San Benito on 210 E. Heywood
St. in San Benito. Greeting you are artifacts highlighting the area’s geography, wildlife, plant life and culture.
Then there’s the Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame and Museum, an exhibit educating the public about the history of conjunto music and the genre’s pioneers, including the Father of Texas-Mexican Conjunto: Narciso Martinez.
The Freddy Fender Museum is dedicated to the famed rock and roll and country music star via his quotes, which serve as a sort of narration that will guide visitors through an exhibit featuring the significant events that occurred in Fender’s life.
PORT ISABEL HOLIDAY EVENTSWinter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley EVENTS / Page 25
The 30th Annual Longest Causeway Run and Fitness Walk, is scheduled for Sat-urday, Jan. 11, 2014. Runners will start
at Yturria and Houston streets at 10 a.m. and walkers will begin at 10:15 a.m. Participants will cross the Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway, which spans 2.6 miles.
The Fitness Walk will end at the Balli statue while the runners finish at Louie’s Backyard. The event is sponsored by: the City of Port Isabel; Port Isabel Economic De-velopment Corporation; Allied Waste Services; Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS/Parade; First National Bank of South Padre Island; Nestle Waters; Cameron County Insurance Center; DBA; Coleman Hall & Heinze Insurace; and HEB.
For more informa-tion, call the Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce at (956) 943-2262.
Dec. 5 - Community Christmas Lighting Ceremo-ny (Beulah Lee Park), 6 p.m.
Dec. 7 - Annual Christmas Lighted Boat Parade (Cham-ber), 6 p.m.
Dec. 12 - Snowman Craft, 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 14 - Open House (Museums), 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Dec. 15 - Antique and Flea Market (Beulah Lee Park), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Dec. 17 - How to Make a Pine Cone Christmas Tree, 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 18 - Christmas Or-nament Craft (Library), 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 19 - Christmas Wreath Craft (Library), 4 to
5:30 p.m.Dec. 21 - Movie Day Ar-
thur Christmas (Library), 10 a.m. to noon
Jan. 5 - Antique and Flea Market (Beulah Lee Park), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Jan. 11 - Longest Cause-way Run and Fitness Walk (Chamber), 10 a.m.
Jan. 19 - Antique and Flea Market (Beulah Lee Park), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Feb. 2 - Antique and Flea Market (Beulah Lee Park), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Feb. 7 - Taste of the Lagu-na Madre Fundraiser (Muse-ums), 7 p.m.
Feb. 16 - Antique and Flea Market (Beulah Lee Park), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
MARKET DAYS / FARMER’S MARKETThe San Benito Economic Development
Corporation’s Downtown Market Days is quickly progressing as one of
the community’s more heavily-attended and crowd-pleasing festivities.
Held off Sam Houston Boulevard near the railroad tracks and the Veterans War Memorial in San Benito, the November event alone attracted approximately 75 vendors, up from 50 the month prior, and hundreds of attendees.
“The first one we had in October, we had a goal of 30 vendors, and we had 50 at the first one,” said EDC Director Salomon Torres said just days following the corporation’s sec-ond of such festivities, which was held Nov. 9. “This time we wanted to hit 50 again because we were able to do it the first time, and we hit 75 vendors. We were very pleased with the participation of vendors, and there were also quite a number of shoppers from San Benito and the surrounding communities. It was a really big success.”
Torres believes the next Market Days event, which is sched-uled for Saturday, Dec. 14, will be just as successful, in large part due to the City of San Benito’s annual Christmas Parade scheduled for later that evening.
“It’s a busy day that day in San Benito,” Torres said. “The City, on their own, they’re having the parade at night, and then the carnival and some other activities going on later in the day. Ours is earlier in the day, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., so I think it’s going to generate a lot of traffic again for the vendors.”
The next Market Days event will be called “Holiday Cheer.” Other Market Days events will be themed “Football Mania” for the Jan. 11 event, “Love is in the Air,” for Feb. 8 and “Cel-ebrate Texas” for March 8.
Page 26 / EVENTS Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley
Brownsville Brownsville Farmers’ MarketEvery Saturday9 a.m. to 12 p.m.Linear Park(956) 542-4341
HarlingenJackson Street Market DaysFirst Saturday of every month9 a.m. to 3 p.m.On Jackson St. between 4th St. and Commerce St.(956) 423-4041
Harlingen Farmers’ MarketEvery Saturday3 to 4 p.m.“A” St. between Jackson and Monroe
Market DaysEvery other Saturday3 to 5 p.m.“A” St. between Jackson and Monroe(956) 423-4041
South Padre IslandSPI Market DaysJan. 10 to 12; Feb. 21 to 23SPI Convention Centre(956) 761-3000
SPI Farmers’ MarketEvery Sunday11 a.m. to 1 p.m.The Shores, 8605 Padre Blvd.(956) 761-2606
Port IsabelPort Isabel Antique Flea MarketFirst and third Sunday of Dec., Jan., Feb.;First Sunday year-round9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Beulah Lee Park(956) 455-6798
Laguna VistaLaguna Vista Farmer’s MarketTuesdays4 to 5:30 p.m.1 Golf House Rd.(956) 525-3553
Weslaco Al Fresco WeslacoThird Thursday of every month6 to 8 p.m.Texas Blvd. in downtown Weslaco(956) 969-0838
VALLEY-WIDE DIRECTORYPage 28 / CONTACT INFORMATION Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley
Brownsville City Hall1001 East Elizabeth StreetBrownsville, TX 78520(956) 548-6000http://www.cob.us/
Brownsville FireDepartmentCentral Fire Station1000 East Adams St.Brownsville, TX 78520(956) 546-4674, (956) 541-2252http://fire.cob.us/
Brownsville PoliceDepartment600 East Jackson St.Brownsville, TX 78520(956) 548-7000 (Business Line)http://police.cob.us/
Brownsville Public Library4320 Southmost RoadBrownsville, TX 78520(956) 548-1055
Edinburg City Hall415 West University DriveEdinburg, TX 78539(956) 383-5661
Edinburg FireDepartment212 W McIntyre StEdinburg, TX 78541(956) 383-7691
Edinburg PoliceDepartment1702 South Closner BoulevardEdinburg, TX 78539(956) 289-7700
Edinburg Public Library1906 South Closner Blvd.Edinburg, TX 78539(956) 383-6246
Harlingen City Hall502 East Tyler AvenueHarlingen, TX 78550(956) 216-5100
Harlingen FireDepartment3510 East Grimes StreetHarlingen, TX 78550(956) 216-5700
Harlingen Humane Society1106 MarkowskyHarlingen, TX 78550(956) 425-7297
Harlingen PoliceDepartment1018 Fair Park BoulevardHarlingen, TX(956) 216-5400
Harlingen PublicLibrary410 76 DriveHarlingen, TX 78550(956) 216-5888
McAllen City Hall1300 West Houston AvenueMcAllen, TX 78501(956) 681-1000
McAllen FireDepartment201 North 21st StreetMcAllen, TX 78501(956) 681-2500
McAllen PoliceDepartment1601 North Bicentennial Blvd.McAllen, TX 78501(956) 681-2000
McAllen Public Library4001 North 23rd St.McAllen, TX 78504(956) 681-3000
Port Isabel Animal Shelter262 Woody LanePort Isabel, TX 78578(956) 943-3888
Port Isabel City Hall305 East Maxan StreetPort Isabel, TX 78578(956) 943-2684
Port Isabel FireDepartment204 South Musina StreetPort Isabel, TX 78578(956) 943-3523
Port Isabel PoliceDepartment110 West Hickman AvenuePort Isabel, TX 78578(956) 943-1242www.portisabel-texas.com
Port Isabel Public Library213 North Yturria StPort Isabel, TX 78578(956) 943-2265http://www.port-isabel.lib.tx.us/
South Padre IslandPolice/Fire Department4601 Padre BoulevardSouth Padre Island, TX 78597P: (956) 761-5454F: (956) 761-3040
South Padre IslandCity Hall4601 Padre BoulevardSouth Padre Island, TX 78597(956) 761-6456
South Padre Island Friends of Animals Rescue4908 Padre Blvd.South Padre Island, TX 78597(956) 772-1171
Laguna Madre Humane Society(956) 943-5647
Laguna Vista Public Library1300 Palm BoulevardLaguna Vista, TX 78578(956) 943-7155
San Benito City Hall485 North Sam Houston BoulevardSan Benito, TX 78586(956) 361-3800
San Benito FireDepartment340 N North Oscar Williams RoadSan Benito, TX 78586(956) 361-3855
San Benito PoliceDepartment601 North Oscar Williams RoadSan Benito, TX 78586(956) 361-3880
San Benito Public Library101 West Rose St.San Benito, TX 78586(956) 361-3860
Weslaco City Hall255 S. Kansas Ave.Weslaco, Texas 78596(956) 968-3181
Weslaco FireDepartmentStation 1 901 N. AirportStation 2 120 E. 5th St.Station 3 1014 W.18 St.Weslaco, Texas 78596(956) 968-3181
Weslaco PoliceDepartment901 North Airport DriveWeslaco, TX 78596(956) 968-8591
VALLEY-WIDE DIRECTORYWinter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley CONTACT INFORMATION / Page 29
502 E. Tyler StreetHarlingen, TX 78550
Phone: 956-216-5240http://hsbmpo.org
The HSBMPO is updating the 2000 Bicycle and Pedestrian Mobility Plan. This Plan will identify and help prioritize strategies that will increase the number and frequency of people walking and bicycling within the HSBMPO area, which includes: Harlingen, San Benito, La Feria, Rio Hondo, Prim-era, Santa Rosa, Palm Valley, Combes, Los Indios, and Cameron County Precinct 3 & 4. For additional information, call us at (956) 216.5240.
We’re your Rio Grande Valley Hearing Aids
Specialist since 1973 with three locations to better
serve you.
VISITOR CENTERSPage 30 / CONTACT INFORMATION Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley
BrownsvilleConvention & Visitors Bureau, 2305 N. Expressway, Brownsville, TX 78520,(956) 546-3721
HarlingenHarlingen Convention & Visitors Bureau, 311 E. Tyler St., Harlingen, TX 78550,(956) 423-5440
McAllenMcAllen Convention & Visitors Bureau, 1200 Ash Ave., McAllen, TX 78501,(956) 682-2871
San BenitoSan Benito Visitor’s Center, 210 E. Heywood St., San Benito, TX 78586,(956) 361-3830
South Padre IslandSouth Padre Island Visitors Bureau, 600 Pa-dre Blvd. #A, South Padre Island, TX 78597(956) 761-6433
WeslacoWeslaco Visitor’s Center, 301 W. Railroad St. Weslaco, TX 78596, (956) 968-2102
GOLF COURSESWinter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley HITTING THE GREEN / Page 31
Brownsville Golf & Recreation CenterThis 18-hole golf course located at 1800 W San Marcelo Blvd. in Brownsville, Texas 78526. For more information, call (956) 541-2582.
Cottonwood CreekGolf CourseThis 18-hole golf course is located at 1001 S Ed Carey Dr. in Harlingen, Texas 78552. For more information, call (956) 428-7758.
Ebony Golf CourseThis golf course is located at 300 W Palm Dr. in Edinburg, Texas 78539. For more information, call (956) 381-1244.
Ft. Brown Municipal Golf CourseThis golf course is located at 300 River Levee Rd. in Brownsville, Texas 78520. For more information, call (956) 541-0394.
Jim Paul Golf CourseThis 18-hole golf course is located at 950 S Garcia St. in Port Isabel, Texas 78578. For more informa-tion, call (956) 943-7520.
Llano Grande Golf CourseThis 18-hole golf course is located at Golf Course Rd. in Mercedes, Texas 78570. For more informa-tion, call (956) 565-3351.
Los Lagos Golf ClubThis golf course is located at 1720 S. Raul Longoria Rd. in Edinburg, Texas 78539. For more information call (956) 316-0444.
Martin Valley Ranch Golf CourseThis 54-hole golf course is located at 7400 W. Expressway 83 in Mission, Texas 78572. For more information, call (956) 585-6330.
Monte Cristo Golf & Country ClubThis semi-private 18-hole golf course is located at Rte 20 in Edinburg, Texas 78539. For more information call (956) 381-0965.
Palm View Municipal Golf CourseThis 18-hole golf course is located at 2701 S Ware Rd in McAllen, Texas 78503. For more informa-tion call (956) 687-9591.
Rancho Viejo Resort & Country ClubThis resort 18-hole golf course is located at 1 Rancho Viejo Dr in Rancho Viejo, Texas 78575. For more information call (956) 350-4000.
Raymondville Municipal Golf CourseThis golf course is located at 1 ½ mile S of Business 77 in Raymondville, Texas 78580. For more information call (956) 689-9904.
River Bend Resort & Country ClubThis resort 18-hole golf course is located at Route 8 in Brownsville, Texas 78520. For more information call (956) 548-0192.
Seven Oaks Resort & Country ClubThis semi-private 18-hole golf course is located at 1300 Circle Dr in Mission, Texas 78572. For more information call (956) 581-6267.
Shary Golf CourseThis golf course is located at 2201 N Mayberry St in Mission, Texas 78572. For more information call (956) 580-8770.
South Padre Island Golf ClubThis 18-hole golf course is located at 1 Golf House Rd in Laguna Vista, Texas 78578. For more information call (956) 943-5678.
Treasure Hills Country ClubThis semi-private golf course is located at 3205 N Augusta National Dr in Harlingen, Texas 78550. For more information call (956) 365-3100.
Valley International Country ClubThis semi-private 27-hole golf course is located at FM 802 and Exp 77 in Brownsville, Texas 78520. For more information call (956) 548-9199.
Great City…Great Shopping!
Local Vendors • Live Music • FoodContact San Benito Economic Development Corporation
956-361-3800, Ext. 302 or Ext. 304
Second Saturday of every month@ Batts Street & Railroad Tracks(Take the Sam Houston Blvd. exit)
DOWNTOWNSan Benito Market DayS
9 a.M.- 2 p.M.
Page 32 / SPIRITUAL Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley
PARKS and HISTORICAL SITESWinter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley LEISURE / Page 33
Brownsville Battlefields
The last battle of the Civil War was fought at Palmito Ranch, located 12 miles east on Texas Hwy. 4 near Brownsville, several
weeks after the Confederate surrender. Brownsville also got caught in the crossfire of the Mexican-American War, that time at Palo Alto, located on 7200 Paredes Line Road. Both battlefields have been preserved as national historical sites. For more information on Palo Alto, (956) 541-2785.
Gladys Porter Zoo
Opened in 1971, Gladys Porter Zoo continues to be one of the premier zoos of
the world. With more than 1,700 animal specimens, the zoo specializes in collecting and breeding endangered species. This 31-acre park has all zoo favorites like gorillas, giraffes, lions, rhinos and other exotic animals. Virtually all animals live in open exhibits where visitors are able to view them in their natural surroundings. The zoo, located on 500 Ringgold in Brownsville, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for 365 days a year with extended weekend and summer hours. Call (956) 546-7187 for more information.
Coastal Studies Lab
This satellite of the University of Texas-Pan American studies and exhibits marine life like mollusks, crustaceans and marine
vertebrates along with plant life. The lab, located on 100 Marine Land Dr., Isla Blanca County Park, South Padre Island, is open from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday thru Friday, and group tours are by appointment at the same times. Call (956) 761-2644 for more information.
Historic Brownsville Museum
Housed in the historic Southern Pacific railroad passenger depot, this
museum chronicles Brownsville’s history with photo exhibits and other permanent and rotating exhibits. The Brownsville Heritage Education Center within the museum also presents slide shows, lectures and other special events. Group tours are available with advance notice. The museum, located on 641 E. Madison St. in Brownsville, is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. Call (956) 548-1313 for more information.
Hidalgo County Historical Museum
Visit the “Valley’s Time Machine” and learn all about colorful South Texas and Northern Mexico...the land of unique
heritage and history that spans centuries and cultures alike. Housed in the 1910 Hidalgo County Jail Building and adjacent structures, with over 7,000 square feet of professionally-curated exhibits, HCHM makes history come alive. Tours are available by appointment. The museum, located on 121 East McIntyre in Edinburg, is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday thru Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Call (956) 383-6911 for more information.
Hidalgo Pumphouse Heritage and Discovery Center
This first class museum shows how the Valley was turned from brush land to lush farmland by irrigation. Its modern
visitors’ center has a model steam engine among its exhibits, and a protected walkway allows visitors to tour the plant. Guided tours are available. The museum, located on 902 S. 2nd St. in Hidalgo, is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday thru Friday and from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Call (956) 843-8686 for more information.
Iwo Jima Memorial
This memorial on the campus of Harlingen’s Marine Military Academy, fashioned from a photo of U.S. Marines planting the
flag on Iwo Jima, was the original statue used to cast the more famous monument in Arlington, VA. A visitor’s center includes a museum focusing on the battle with a 30-minute film, a gift shop and a scrapbook of all Iwo Jima veterans who have visited the monument. The memorial, located on 320 Iwo Jima Blvd. in Harlingen, is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday thru Saturday and from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Call (956) 421-9234 for more information.
PARKS and HISTORICAL SITESPage 34 / LEISURE Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley
La Lomita Mission
The little adobe chapel built by the Oblate Fathers in 1865 still stands next to the Rio Grande, south of the city of Mission that
was named for it, on FM 1016 (Conway) three miles south of Mission.
La Lomita Plaza
Located in downtown Mission, this town square features cascading waters and a
sunken amphitheater where visitors can catch plays, arts and crafts, shows and musicals on Conway Street and Business 83 in Mission. Call (956) 424-3769 for more information.
Los Caminos del Rio
Los Caminos del Rio (the Roads of the River) is a compilation of more than 45 sites along both sides of the Rio Grande that have contributed to
the area’s heritage. The corridor stretches from Laredo to the Gulf of Mexico, along both U.S. Highways 83 and 281 and Mexico’s Highway 2. Pick up the Los Caminos del Rio brochure, which includes site descriptions and a detailed map, at your closest Chamber of Commerce and explore Indian trails, Spanish colonial villages and vast ranching empires--a three dimensional history of the past 250 years.
Los Ebanos Ferry
The only remaining hand-drawn ferry across the Rio Grande connects the U.S. with Diaz Ordaz, Mexico, a short drive down a dirt
road from the river. The ferry will hold three cars and several people. Visitors may park on the U.S. side and ride across and back for a small fee. Los Ebanos is 14 miles west of Mission on U.S. 83, then three miles south on FM 886. Hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
McAllen International Museum
Three large galleries keep visitors busy. The North Gallery features a collection of Mexican folk art. The Main Gallery shows
changing exhibits and can feature anything from modern art to a popular Christmas tree decoration contest. The Earth Science Gallery is a winner with the kids. Dinosaur tracks, fossils, minerals and other science exhibits are attractively displayed. You won’t miss the huge fragments of a woolly mammoth’s tusks unearthed in nearby Sullivan City. The museum, located on 1900 Nolana in McAllen, also has frequent educational programs in its roomy lecture hall and has a popular gift shop. Hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday thru Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Call (956) 682-1564 for more information.
Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center
This is the only Latino cultural arts center in the Rio Grande Valley. Named for the renowned Mexican accordion player known as the
Father of Conjunto, a popular form of Tex-Mex music, the center promotes Latino heritage through art, music, theater, film, dance and literary programs. It also serves as a community resource center and offers accordion lessons on 225 E. Stenger St. in San Benito. The center is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday thru Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. The center is closed on Sunday and Monday. Call (956) 361-0110 for more information.
Old Clock Museum
It’s high time you visited this incredible private collection of more than 1,000 clocks owned by the Jim Shawn family, including many rare antiques. The museum,
located on 929 E. Preston in Pharr, is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday thru Friday. Call (956) 787-1923 for more information.
Raymondville Historical and Community Center
See dioramas of early ranch life in the Valley along with old ranching equipment and furnishings from Spanish land grant days. The Farm and Ranch Museum,
adjacent to the center, has collections from pioneer ranching families. The center, located on Harris and Seventh Street in Raymondville, is open by appointment from 2 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday and from 9 to 11 a.m. on Friday. Call (956) 689-6604 for more information.
PARKS and HISTORICAL SITESWinter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley LEISURE / Page 35
Rio Grande Valley Museum Complex
This five-building complex in Harlingen has permanent and changing exhibits that show off the heritage of the Valley. Visit the New
Museum, the Historical Museum, the Lon C. Hill Home (the restored 1905 residence of Harlingen’s founder), the Paso Real Stagecoach Inn and Harlingen’s Hospital Museum. The compex, located on Boxwood and Raintree Street near the airport in Harlingen, is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday thru Saturday and from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Group tours are by appointment. Call (956) 430-8500 for more information.
Rio Grande City/Roma
Rio Grande City and Roma are among the Valley’s oldest communities and are rich in history. At Rio Grande City, visit the beautifully restored
La Borde House, the former Fort Ringgold, now home to the Rio Grande City Independent School District, the replica of the Grotto of Lourdes in France, and enjoy the past and present as they blend in this border city. Roma was a center for a thriving river trade in the 19th century. See how some of its historic buildings by the plaza have been restored as you explore its National Historic Landmark District. Walk across its 700-foot long pedestrian-only Miguel Aleman steel suspension bridge built in the late 1920s.
Sharyland Plantation
Home of the late John Shary, the so-called Father of Valley Citrus, the plantation is not open to the public.
President Eisenhower stayed here when he was in South Texas for the dedication of Falcon Dam in the 1950’s. From Expressway 83 between McAllen and Mission, take the Shary Road exit and go north. The plantation is marked by a chapel.
The Brownsville Historical Society
The society has preserved the house of Brownsville’s founder, John Stillman, beautifully with the family’s original furnishings. A popular annual
attraction is the teddy bear display during the Christmas holidays. The Greek Revival style brick house, built in 1850 and located on 1305 Washington Street in Brownsville, is open from 10 a.m. to noon Monday thru Friday, 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Call (956) 542-3929 for more information.
Texas Travel Information Center
This is operated by the Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation. Free maps, calendars and literature are available as well
as help chart routes. Tourism audio/visual shows on Junction U.S. 77 and U.S. 83 in Harlingen. For more information, call (956) 428-4477.
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PARKS and HISTORICAL SITESPage 36 / LEISURE Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley
Virgen de San Juan Shrine
The first incarnation of this now-famous shrine to the Virgen de San Juan de Los Lagos was a small wooden sanctuary, which was moved
to Lopezville between Pharr and Edinburg. The second shrine, built in 1954, was destroyed by fire in 1970 when a suicidal pilot crashed into the tower, radioing ahead for the children to get out. Church officials say that the only thing to survive the flames was a statue of the Virgin that was then kept in the cafeteria. The current 2,000-seat shrine was dedicated in 1980 with Vatican officials on hand and still draws thousands of pilgrims each year from across Latin America. The shrine, located on 400 N. Nebraska St. and Expressway 83 in San Juan, is open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Call (956) 787-0033 for more information.
Weslaco Bicultural Museum
Adjacent to the Weslaco Public Library, this museum
highlights the mid-Valley town’s bicultural heritage. The museum, located on 515 S. Kansas Ave. in Weslaco, is open from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday thru Friday. On the weekend, the musem opens from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Call (956) 968-9142 for more information.
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Page 38 / LEISURE Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley
Fall and winter are great seasons to draw, paint and explore exciting art techniques. Laguna Madre Art Gallery members will
help you stay busy while pursuing your favorite artistic pur-suit. Virginia Eggert will be teaching a five-session drawing class; Beth Fedigan will hold a two-day workshop, “Painting with Paper,” a one-day Encaustic workshop and a one-day “Paint Over Workshop.” These are only the workshops scheduled to start through Jan. 6. More are in the planning stages for the new year.
A resident of Port Isabel for many years, Eggert is a pro-lific acrylic painter. She specializes in colorful local scenes and her work is very popular with locals and tourists alike. Having studied under watercolorist Walter Hook, illustra-tor Jerold Bishop and others, Eggert classifies her work as “impressionistic” and “somewhat realistic.” All the works she has in the Gallery are originals. She rarely makes prints of her work.
Believing that sketching or drawing is the first step an art-ist needs to take to produce a good painting, Eggert offers a workshop to teach both novice artists and established artists drawing fundamentals. The foundation of her teaching this important step in producing a good piece of art is well-founded. In her master’s thesis at the University of Montana,
Eggert explored the process of teaching children how to draw using their right brain functions. This five-session workshop will include experimenting with drawing materials, drawing two dimensions, drawing three dimensions, other ways of seeing and perspective. This class is a good prelude to Egg-ert’s Pleine Aire classes that will meet in the spring. Classes start in February. “Drawing Exercises” meets from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays. A complete list of materials students need to bring is at the Gallery.
Fedigan is also a longtime Laguna Madre resident. She be-gan her career in art working primarily in pastels but turned to watercolors in the late 80s and started a line of clothing and giftware items. After moving to South Padre Island, she became known for her signature “Fish Faces.” Although watercolor is Fedigan’s primary medium, she enjoys work-ing with and experimenting with paper, wax, ink and found objects. She says she enjoys the “freedom” she experiences when she uses interesting techniques and materials.
Fedigan will be teaching a one day “Encaustics I” work-shop on from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 9. Encaustic painting is an ancient art that can be traced back to ancient Greek and Egyptian art forms. A mixture of pigment, filtered beeswax and damar resin which comes from the sap of an Asian pine tree is mixed together and heated to produce “paint.”
ART GALLERY WORKSHOPS
ART GALLERY WORKSHOPSIn this class, Fedigan will cover the basics, starting with
safety, how to make Encaustic paints, supports that work and the basic techniques of painting with hot wax. Each student will create two finished pieces. All supplies are provided by the instructor.
Fedigan will also teach the “Paint Over Workshop” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Jan. 6. In this one-day workshop, students will transform a favorite photo into a fun, funky piece of art.
The photo (perhaps of a favorite person) will be photo-copied and enlarged and then attached to a canvas. “From there, the fun begins. We will paint over our piece with acrylics and alter the subject into a creative work of art.” Students are to bring several photos of a person, brushes and paints.
A detailed list of supplies is available at the Gallery.All classes will be held at the Laguna Madre Art Gallery,
405 E. Maxan St., Port Isabel (on Lighthouse Square). To sign up for the workshops, call (956) 943-1407, or drop by. Classes are filling up rapidly, so sign up soon. While at the Gallery, feel free to browse through the Gallery’s fine selec-tion of local paintings, photography, jewelry, fabric arts, wooden bowls and vases.
Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley LEISURE-FEATURE / Page 39
His voice still raspy from the ventilator tube, Frank Keenan of Syracuse, N.Y. recalled the circumstances of his automobile accident
last December. “I’d had a really bad reaction to a flu shot and was on my way to the pharmacist to see about getting some-thing to counteract the nausea and diarrhea I was having,” he said. “The next thing I know, I woke up in my crashed truck.”
Frank, a winter Texan since 2003 who resides at Isla Blan-ca Park in his RV, said he does not remember the accident, which took place in Laguna Heights. “I’m diabetic and I must have blacked out. I went across several lanes and hit a parked truck.” Fortunately, no one was in the truck at the time, and amazingly, no one besides Frank was injured.
Jeff Lutrick, an Island firefighter/paramedic, described the accident scene. “Mr. Keenan was conscious and able to an-swer questions, but he was seriously injured. He had four broken ribs from the airbag, a broken leg and his blood pres-sure was dangerously high.
“He knew his name but he had no recollection of the accident,” Lutrick continued. “At first, we thought he was intoxicated, but it was probably diabetic shock that caused him to black out.”
Lutrick and his colleague and driver that day, Luis Faudoa, transported Frank to Valley Baptist Hospital, where he was kept for 29 days. While in the hospital, he suffered kidney failure and
spent a month receiving dial-ysis treatments. He returned to Syracuse and spent anoth-er month in a hospital there, as well as a month in rehab.
Firefighters Lutrick and Faudoa were surprised and appreciative of Frank’s visit, saying modestly, “It’s just part of the job and they don’t expect this kind of attention.”
Keenan disagrees. He didn’t want to talk about
himself, saying, “Talk about these guys, not me. They’re the heroes. I’ve been thinking about this visit for months, and I really wanted to see these guys when I got back down here and thank them for saving my life. It’s been very emotional for me.”
His gratitude and appreciation palpable, Frank came by the firehouse to personally thank Lutrick and Faudoa and shake their hands. “If I can ever do anything for these guys, I owe them my life,” he said. “If they fish, they should come to Syracuse and we’ll fish for some salmon together.”
Winter visitor credits first responders for saving his life
Photo courtesy of Pamela Cody
South Padre Island fire-fighter Jeff Lutrick is seen with Frank Keenan.
The Island’s Heroes
MOVIE THEATERS and CINEMASPage 40 / LEISURE Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley
Brownsville:Cinemark Movies 103471 Old Hwy. 77Brownsville, TX 78520(956) 544-7428
Cinemark Movies, Sunrise Mall2370 N. ExpresswayBrownsville, TX 78521(956) 547-9213
Edinburg:Carmike 203003 S. Expressway 281Edinburg, TX 78542(956) 380-2203
Harlingen:Cinemark Movies 10629 N. 13th St.Harlingen, TX 78550(956) 421-3253
Cinemark 16401 S. Expressway 85Harlingen, TX 78550(956) 428-3224 McAllen:Cinemark Hollywood USA100 W. Nolana Ave.McAllen, TX 78504(956) 682-9438
Cinemark Movies 61800 S. 16th St.McAllen, TX 78501(956) 686-0170
Mercedes:WesMer Drive-In Theater2090 W. Busi-ness 83Mercedes, TX 78570-4596(956) 514-9292
Pharr:Cinemark Movies 8El Centro Mall500 N. JacksonPharr, TX 78577(956) 781-0528
South Padre Island:Island Cinema4700 Padre Blvd.South Padre Island, TX 78597(956) -761-7828
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HEALTH CARE PROVIDERSWinter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley HEALTHY LIVING / Page 41
BrownsvilleValley Baptist Medical Center1040 W. Jefferson St.Brownsville, TX(956) 698-5400
Valley Regional Medical Center100 E. Alton Gloor Blvd.#100A Brownsville, TX(956) 350-7000
South Texas Rehabilitation 425 E. Alton Gloor Blvd.Brownsville, TX(956) 554-6000
Solara Hospital Brownsville333 Lorenaly Dr.Brownsville, TX(956) 546-0808
Brownsville Community Health Center2137 E. 22nd St.Brownsville, TX(956) 548-7400
Port IsabelPI Medical Clinic1200 Hwy. 100 #5Port Isabel, TX(956) 943-6675
Port Isabel Health Clinic202 Second St.Port Isabel, TX(956) 943-1774
Laguna VistaLaguna Vista Health Clinic711 Santa Isabel Blvd., Suite GLaguna Vista, TX(956) 825-0410
HarlingenValley Baptist Medical Center2101 Pease St., Harlingen, TX(956) 389-1100
Harlingen Medical Center5501 S. Expressway 77Harlingen, TX(956) 365-1000
South Texas Veterans Health Care Center2106 Treasure Hills Blvd.Harlingen, TX(956) 366-4500
Su Clinica Familiar1706 Treasure Hills Blvd.Harlingen, TX(956) 365-6000
Harlingen FamilyNight Clinic2226 Haine Dr.Harlingen, TX(956) 423-0085
Valley Woman’s Clinic1717 N. Ed Carey Dr.Harlingen, TX(956) 423-4030
San Benito Medical Associates721 W. Harrison Ave.Harlingen, TX(956) 440-8470
San BenitoSan Benito Medical Associates351 S. Sam Houston Blvd.San Benito, TX
McAllenRio Grande Regional Hospital222 E. Ridge Rd. # 211McAllen, TX(956) 632-6000
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Bikers for ChristIf you happen to run into them at a truck stop or
gas station, your initial reaction might be to take a step back or avoid them all together. Donned
in typical biker gear—leather vests and denim adorned with their multi-colored patches—their appearance alone can prove intimidating, never mind the thunder produced by their motorcycle engines.
Some of these bikers sport long hair and even longer beards, while others have cleanly shaven heads and facial hair. In oth-er words, they’re gnarly lookin’ and a whole bunch of them rode into the sleepy town of Laguna Vista in March 2012 as they drove up to Christ’s Harbor Church for a Sunday wor-ship… “What?”
That’s right. They’re not your typical bikers and this is not a typical biker club. And looks, patches and thunderous engines aside, they just might be the guys and gals you want to look for when you’re spiritually down and out, and you have nowhere or no one to turn to.
Their motorcycle club is called Bikers for Christ and the first official chapter south of Corpus Christi was installed here in 2012 during regular services at Christ’s Harbor Church. Joining the special occasion were club members from chap-ters across the Lone Star State, including Dallas. Presiding over the service was Senior Pastor Don Ceglar who, on most official occasions, can be seen Sunday mornings wearing a button-down dress shirt, but the good pastor is a biker, too. In fact, he arguably owned the most impressive bike on the lot – a handcrafted, candy apple red chopper complete with amazing renderings of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.
No, Pastor Don is not a poser and neither is the chapter elder, Gary Synder, who can be seen riding around on an impressive Indian Motorcycle.
Another non-poser, complete with a tattooed “sleeve” on his arm, is Dallas’ own Rodney Dixon, who looks the part of a tough biker, and by his own admission, he was, until the Lord spoke to him and turned his life around. Today, he’s the State Elder for Bikers for Christ and broke out in tears as he dedicated the local chapter. “Bikers for Christ is an indepen-dent, non-denominational ministry that does evangelism and missionary work among the biker community. Today we are commissioning a new chapter of Bikers for Christ in this area following that model,” Dixon said.
Today, the local chapter boasts seven members not just from Christ’s Harbor but from other congregations as well, and while members can be from other churches, all members must be under the authority of Christ’s Harbor. “It’s so we can have an accountably to our church and we go out under their prayer covering,” Dixon said.
Dixon added that the missionaries, as he described club members, will typically minister at biker rallies, jails, truck stops and anywhere bikers usually convene and anywhere that typical churchgoers may not be accepted.
“Every gas station we stop at wearing our colors, you can engage in a conversation about what’s going on in their lives because they are interested in the bike or interested in what you are doing as an instrument of the Gospel,” Dixon said.
Businessman Joel Beal, of Arlington, said that the Bikers for Christ membership spans all walks of life from professionals to professional bikers. He said his greatest pride and fondest memories come from comforting families of fallen servicemen and women as well as escort-ing those military coffins to their final resting places.
Bikers for Christ celebrat-ed its 20th anniversary in Au-gust 2011. It was founded in Southern California by Pas-tor Fred Zariczny (aka Pastor “Z”) who once led an outlaw biker life.
For more information on how to join or on Bik-ers for Christ, long onto Bi-kersforchrist.org or contact Christ’s Harbor Church at (956) 943-5595.
Page 42 / FEATURE Winter Tourist Guide to the Rio Grande Valley
Laguna Vista home to motorcycle club’s first Valley chapter
Photos by Ray Quiroga
Pictured are members of Bikers for Christ, who rolled into Christ’s Harbor Church in Laguna Vista in March 2012 to form its first chapter south of Corpus Christi.
