South Texas College expansion could cost $134.5 million, according to draft report

by Legislative Media | Jul 19, 2010 | Politics

Earlier this month, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst appointed Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, featured here reading to elementary school students, to the Select Committee on Redistricting. In her guest column, featured later in this posting, Zaffirini explains how the upcoming congressional redistricting battles in the Texas Legislature next spring will have a major impact on how much federal money comes for public school education. Zaffirini says South Texans can help funnel more federal funds for local school districts by fully participating in the final rounds of the U.S. Census. "An accurate census count is critical to fair representation for all Texans. Congressional seats are awarded to states based on population, and regions of Texas with greater population are given greater representation in the state legislature and board of education," she contends. "Census counts also will play a major role in determining how $4 trillion in federal funds will be spent over the next decade for critical needs including roads, hospitals, school lunch programs and senior centers."

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The Edinburg Chamber of Commerce Restoration Committee has undertaken the task of preserving the Southern Pacific Train Depot, a historic site constructed in 1927 that has served the community and the Valley for many decades, including housing the local chamber and the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation. The facility was presented with a historical designation by the Texas Historical Commission once the initial restoration project was completed in 1995. Volunteers of the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce Depot Restoration Committee, members of the Board of Directors and Chamber staff have united to restore one of the city’s jewels. Committee members gathered recently to plan the next phase of the ongoing restoration project. Featured, from left: Marty Martin, Rio Valley Realty; Flo Prater, Rio Valley Realty; Letty González, President of the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce; Elva Jackson Garza, Depot Restoration Committee Chair; Maggie Kent, General Dentistry Centers; and Johnny Rodríguez, Austin Personnel Services and Chairman-Elect of the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce. See story later in this posting.

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On Tuesday, July 13, the Workforce Solutions (WFS)Board of Directors recognized Cellular One for their continued support and creation of jobs in South Texas by presenting the telecommunications company with an Employer Partnership Award. In April 2008, Cellular One approached WFS with the idea of creation a call center in McAllen – their first in Texas.

With an initial staff of 20 employees, the Cellular One call center now employes 79 staff members – who also receive excellent benefits packages – which were referred by WFS. Featured, from left: John Hershey, Workforce Solutions; Rosie Welborn, Cellular One; Sam Vale, Workforce Solutions Board Chairman; and Ryan Murphy, Cellular One.

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Alexander Cantú, a graduate of Edinburg North High School, was one of four Edinburg area students who were recently honored for their academic achievements with public recognition and scholarships by the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors Committee. The Ambassadors Committee last month held the 1st Annual Night Golf Tournament, which raised $4,000 for scholarship funds for Cantú and three other worthy students: Evan Brough, a graduate of the South Texas BETA Academy; Alexis García, a graduate of Edinburg High School; and Christian Henry, a graduate of Johnny G. Economedes High School. Those funds also were used for a restoration project for the Edinburg Depot, which currently houses the chamber of commerce and the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation. Featured with Cantú is Celeste Cabrera, a Chamber Ambassador, who also co-chaired the Night Golf Tournament.

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Evan Brough, a graduate of the South Texas BETA Academy, featured right, proudly accepts his Certificate of Accomplishment, which also brought an academic scholarship, during a recent ceremony hosted by the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce. Bough, shown here receiving the public recognition from Martín Rivas, Director of Membership for the local chamber, was one of four Edinburg high school graduates who were awarded scholarships from proceeds of a June 11 golf tournament hosted by the chamber. In addition to Brough, the other accomplished area high school graduates who were honored and bestowed with scholarships were: Alexander Cantú, a graduate of Edinburg North High School; Alexis García, a graduate of Edinburg High School; and Christian Henry, a graduate of Johnny G. Economedes High School. The golf tournament, held on Friday, June 11 at the Ebony Municipal Golf Course, fielded teams whose entry fees help raise the crucial funds for the scholarships and the renovation work. From that competition, the follow teams placed accordingly: 1st Place: Jerry Salazar, Eric Cubriel, Víctor Prado, and Adolfo Cubriel; 2nd Place: Albert Ochoa, Chris Brasher, Eloy Alberete, and Mike Salinas; and 3rd Place: Guy Marroquín, Justin Esparza, and Rey Chavana.

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Alexis García, featured right, a graduate of Edinburg High School, poses with Celeste Cabrera, a member of the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors Committee, after being honored by that group for the EHS student’s achievements in school, a ceremony which included García receiving a scholarship from the Ambassadors Committee. In addition to García, the other accomplished area high school graduates who were honored and bestowed with scholarships were: Evan Brough, a graduate of the South Texas BETA Academy; Alexander Cantú, a graduate of Edinburg North High School; and Christian Henry, a graduate of Johnny G. Economedes High School. The Ambassadors Committee also expressed their appreciation to the following sponsors for their commitment and support for: Allure Marketing Firm; Berton Auto Industrial; Beyamar Home Health & Hospice; Briggs Equipment; Budweiser; Convention + Expo Management Services LLC; Edinburg International Race Track; Edinburg Road Runners; Elsa State Bank; Gilbert Enríquez Enterprises; H20 Only; Home Depot Store #516; Klean Kits; Law Office of Roy Valdéz; ING/Rolando J. Guerra & Associates; Magic Valley Electric; Melden & Hunt; Lowes; Pro Nails II; Ramón’s BBQ; Rescue EMS; Sandia Depot; Security Depot; Stepping Stones Rehabilitation; Tiger Rock Taekwondo; and Valley Grande Manor.

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South Texas Health System has recently named Steven C. Foster as Chief Operating Officer for Edinburg Regional Medical Center and Edinburg Children’s Hospital. “I am pleased to announce the promotion of Steven Foster to the position of Chief Operating Officer at Edinburg Regional Medical Center and Edinburg Children’s Hospital,” said Douglas Matney, Vice President of the Acute Care Division and Group Director for South Texas Health System. “We extend congratulations to Steven on his promotion and wish him continued success.” As Chief Operating Officer, Foster will help lead Edinburg Regional Medical Center and Edinburg Children’s Hospital’s strategic, operational, and administrative activities with Linda Resendez, RN, CEO. See story later in this posting.

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Work underway on landmark history book: McAllen’s First 100 Years – Leading the Way

by Legislative Media | Jul 6, 2010 | Politics

Prayers in South Texas were answered on June 30, when Hurricane Alex, shown here a day earlier as an approaching tropical storm, was making a predicted path to the Valley. But the powerful eye of the soon-to-be Category 2 hurricane moved westward instead, striking northeastern Mexico with heavy rain and powerful winds of more than 100 miles per hour. Although deep South Texas was spared a dreaded repeat of Hurricane Dolly in 2008 – where damages exceeded $1 billion – the northern section of Hurricane Alex still managed to dump

up to a foot of rain in key areas of the Valley, causing flooding problems, shutting down businesses, and related concerns. Hurricane Alex was the first tropical cyclone to form in the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season, which is expected to be one of the more active hurricane seasons in recent years. The 2010 Atlantic hurricane season doesn’t end until November 30.

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As day breaks over the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, June 29, an opening in the clouds of Hurricane Alex allows the Hurricane Hunter aircrew aboard a WC-130J Hercules a brief glimpse of the water surface. The powerful storm, the strongest June hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. since 1966, came ashore late that evening on an unpopulated stretch of coast in northern Mexico about 110 miles south of Brownsville. Alex reached Category 2 classification on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale with sustained winds of 105 miles per hour, and spawned tornadoes in southern Texas. See story later in this posting.

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After recovering from a hard weekend of activities and "Honey Do’s", mark your calendar to do some fun business networking at the McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Manic Monday Mixer to be held on Monday, July 12 at Pepper’s at Uptown, 4620 N. 10th, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Special drink prices will be offered as well as some appetizers. Come and meet MHCC members and learn how the Hispanic Chamber has been recognized as the Top Small Chamber of Texas as well as the nation. The MHCC’s focus on small business has been recognized throughout the country as well as their work on education, health, women’s issues and government issues. Bring plenty of business cards to exchange with your new contacts. Door prizes will also be given. Featured making plans for the July 6 mixer are, from left: Hari Namboodiri, a member of the MHCC Advisory Board; Oneida López, chef; Fernando Niño, general manager; Cynthia M. Sakulenzki, MHCC president and CEO, and Giselle Mascarenhas-González, general manager.

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Samuel García, a rising junior at Sharyland High School in Mission, poses with Congressman Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo/McAllen, during a recent visit to Cuellar’s office in Washington, D.C. García is in Washington, D.C. through July 11 as part of the Georgetown University Junior Statesmen Summer School program, a student-run organization aimed at increasing civil engagement and fighting apathy among young people. The summer program is sponsored by The Junior Statesmen Foundation and allows students to take college level courses while still in high school as well as having the opportunity to tour Capitol Hill, the CIA, and the Pentagon.

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South Texas and McAllen leaders gathered on October 21, 2003 for the ground-breaking ceremony of the Alfredo González Texas Veterans Home in the City of Palms, one of the most highly-sought state facilities in Texas that year. Bringing the $13 million, 160-bed veterans nursing complex was one of the major milestones that year for McAllen, and that success has become part of the community’s many milestones as it approaches its 100th anniversary next February. Work is already well underway to capture – in printed words and photographic images – that event and other major highlights of what has become one of the most influential and highly-regarded cities along the U.S.-Mexico border. "The McAllen Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with McAllen Centennial Publications, is publishing a beautiful, professionally produced, hard-covered keepsake historical book on McAllen’s first 100 years," reports Eileen Mattie, a prolific South Texas writer who will be the author of the landmark publication, McAllen’s First 100 Years – Leading the Way. Among the city’s elected leadership featured in this 2003 photograph are, from left: McAllen City Commissioner Ric Godínez; Rep. Roberto Gutiérrez, D-McAllen; McAllen Mayor Leo Montalvo; Congressman Eligio "Kika" De la Garza, D-Mission; Rep. Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg; Rep. Ismael "Kino" Flores, D-Palmview; Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen; and McAllen City Commissioner Jan Klinck. See lead story in this posting.

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