Congressman Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo/McAllen, featured second from left, on Thursday, August 12, announced that more that $1 million from the U.S. Department of Education had been awarded to South Texas College to help support STC’s campus-based child care programs, which primarily serve the needs of low-income students enrolled at any STC campuses in McAllen, Rio Grande City, and Weslaco. Cuellar, an attorney whose extensive educational career includes earning an associate’s degree from Laredo Community College, met with STC and area leaders during his swing through McAllen. Featured, from left, were STC leaders who accepted a symbol of the $1,002,156 grant: Juan Mejia, STC’s vice president for academic affairs; Congressman Cuellar; Verónica Rodríguez, chair of STC’s Child and Family Development Program, and Luzelma Canales, interim associate dean for STC’s Community Engagement and Workforce Entitlement.   

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McAllen Mayor Richard Cortéz practices a grito (Spanish for a war cry, which was used by Mexicans during the battle for independence from Spain, a two-year revolution which began on September 16, 1810) in anticipation on the upcoming first annual 16 de Septiember Fiesta, scheduled for Saturday, September 18, and sponsored by the McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Cynthia M. Sakulenzki, president and CEO of the McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, featured with the mayor, said the Mexican independence day celebration – the first for the organization – will be held at the McAllen Convention Center’s pond area from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. The 16 de Septiembre Fiesta will feature live entertainment, different vendors with food, crafts, clothing, jewery, etc. and a Kiddie Land for youngsters. Along with the live entertainment, there will be a talent contest for dancers or musicians and a grito de independencia contest. Participants in the talent show will get three minutes to perform. Participants in the grito contest will be judged by their gusto (passion) in their grito. Both competitions will have 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners.  The South Padre Island Bike Fest will also participate with a poker run, field events and bike show. Vendors are still needed as well as entertainment for the main stage.  Additional information on the 16 de Septiembre Fiesta is available by contact the McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at 928-0060.

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Auditions for the Spanish language play Una Huelga Singular, written by José Manuel Álvarez, will be held on Tuesday, August 24 and Wednesday, August 25 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Pharr Literacy Project & Cultural Arts Center, located at 203 West Park Avenue in Pharr. The comedic yet poignant play is set around the household of Teresa Pacheco, who is about to have a breaking point due to her abusive family, especially her husband, the tyrannical Rafael Pacheco. The play, to be directed by Pedro García, seeks four women and four men ranging in ages 13 to 75. No appointments necessary and tryouts will be cold reading from the script. The production will have nearly a dozen performances spread out from October to January, including several outreach tours around the Valley. Persons interested in being understudies are also encouraged to audition. For more information call 956/655-9308 or 956/783-7746. Pharr Community Theatre actors featured here, waiting to go onstage earlier this year for another play, Bless Me Ultima, are, from left: Anna Mardiros, Inocente  Gutiérrez, Raúl López and Armandina Sesin.

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Rep. Verónica Gonzáles, D-McAllen, featured first from left, who is facing a challenge in November from Rebecca Cervera, the Republican nominee for the House District 41 House seat, had more than $195,000 in her campaign war chest as of June 30, according to the Texas Ethics Commission. House District 41 includes southwest Edinburg, all but southwest McAllen, the northeastern and central portions of Mission, all of Palmhurst, Sharyland, Alton, and western portions of Hidalgo County. According to Gonzáles’ campaign finance report, the three-term lawmaker received $164,708.22 in financial contributions and spent $62,622.57 during the first six months of this year. With money forwarded from previous years, Gonzáles was able to maintain a balance of $195,349.34 as of June 30. She did not have any outstanding loans as of June 30. In this photograph, Gonzáles posed with area, state and federal leaders following her participation in a recent legislative luncheon hosted by the local chamber of commerce. Featured, front row, from left: Rep. Gonzáles, Edna Peña, Marissa Castañeda, Lucy Canales, Mari Garza Bird and Armando Díaz. Featured, back row, from left: Flo Prater, Eduardo Parra, and Ana García. See lead story on Gonzáles’ campaign report activities in this posting.

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Leaders with the Renaissance Cancer Foundation on Wednesday, July 28, received a check totaling $3,500 on behalf of employees of Hidalgo County District Clerk Laura Hinojosa to help area patients. The money is part of the District Clerk Office’s Blues for Bucks Workplace Fundraising Campaign, which benefits local charitable organizations. The Renaissance Cancer Foundation is a private, non-profit organization established to help local cancer patients with the medical needs and emotional challenges related to the illness. “We are delighted to contribute to the Renaissance Cancer Foundation to assist in their efforts in addressing the needs of cancer patients in our region,” said Hinojosa. “We encourage other organizations to give of their time and/or money to this important endeavor. Together, our contributions can help make cancer services and education more accessible to the many friends and families who are affected by this disease and the community at large.” Featured, front row, from left: McAllen City Commissioner Jim Darling, who also serves as DHR General Counsel; Yadhira Y. Huerta, Cancer Care Coordinator; Norma Cavazos-Salas, D.O., Chief-of-Staff; and Sandra Yañez, Radiation Oncologist Director. Featured, back row, from left: Mario Lizcano, DHR Marketing Director; Chico Meyer, DHR Associate Administrator; and Ricardo Contreras, Chief of Administration and Public Information, Hidalgo County District Clerk Office. See story later in this posting.

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South Texas College students Juan Solis, Ariana Castellanos and Marisela Chávez show off the college’s 2010 summer enrollment figures in front of registration lines as the college gears up for an equally busy fall semester. Approximately 16,457 students took advantage of summer 2010 classes at STC, an increase of 3,820 students over the summer 2009 enrollment of 12,637 students. Geographically, the college saw large increases in summer enrollment at several of its campus locations. Summer enrollment was up 62 percent at the Mid-Valley Campus in Weslaco, 26 percent at its Pecan Campus in McAllen and 42 percent at its Starr County Campus in Rio Grande City. See story later in this posting. 

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María Medina, featured right, Director of Operations for The Boys & Girls Clubs of Edinburg RGV (Rio Grande Valley), on Thursday, July 22, was chosen as the 2010 Administrator of the Year for the South Texas Professional Association RGV Chapter. “It was such an honor and surprise to be selected for the award, considering the high caliber of club professionals that were nominated,” Medina said. “I know the value of working with youth and have spent more than three decades championing youth development for our kids.” The Administrator of the Year award recognizes a Boys and Girls Clubs professional who holds the title, duties and responsibilities of an executive director, assistant executive director, or director of operations within their organization, and who has made a significant contribution to the work of the Boys & Girls Clubs profession while in their current position. Teresa Walch, featured left, the Southwest Regional Vice President Boys & Girls Clubs of America, made the presentation to Medina. See story later in this posting.

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Kimberly Ann Rodríguez of Edinburg this summer in Houston participated in the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine (NYLF/MED), considered the nation’s foremost program in pre-medical education for high school students. Rodríguez, daughter of Johnny and Melissa Rodríguez, was joined with other high school students from around the country who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential and an interest in a career in medicine. NYLF/MED introduces outstanding high school students to the world of medicine. This 10-day program familiarizes students with professionals from some of the nation’s top medical centers and faculty from renowned institutions of learning. See story later in this posting.

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Someone will walk away with $100,000 in their pocket from the Jalapeño Golf Classic, hosted by the McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, on Saturday, August 28 at Los Lagos Golf Course in Edinburg. To qualify for the $100,000 Shootout, a contestant must be a participant of the Jalapeño and be an amateur player. Men will drive from 165 yards while women from 150 yards. Two lucky people will get to participate in the hole-in-one event. Sponsoring the $100,000 Shootout event is Deutsch & Deutsch of McAllen/Laredo. Featured at Los Lagos Golf Course promoting the event are, from left: Cynthia M. Sakulenzki, the president and chief executive officer for the McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce;  Pres/CEO; Donna Saccomanno; John Haley, the Los Lagos golf pro; Ruth McCollough; Hector González; and Chuy Negrete, chair of the Jalapeño Golf Classic. More information on the golf classic or the $100,000 Shootout are available by calling the MHCC office at 928-0060.

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Hidalgo County Judge-Elect Ramón García on Monday, July 19, addressed the need for the Valley to have an extra congressional district during testimony he presented at the McAllen Convention Center before state lawmakers, including Rep. Armando "Mando" Martínez, D-Weslaco. The Mid-Valley lawmaker, who was appointed Chairman of the Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Subcommittee on Redistricting, said the stakes – and potential payoff – are high for South Texans in next spring’s legislative battle on legislative redistricting. "Make no mistake about it – we are talking about billions of dollars in additional state and federal funds for deep South Texas over the next 10 years – and it all revolves around a map-drawing process called legislative redistricting, where the boundaries of congressional, state senatorial, and state representative districts are created," said Martínez. "Even for people who could care less about politics, the stakes are enormous, especially for the Valley, which could gain power and money for every important program, from education to transportation to heath care." In the case of the Valley, one of the fastest-growing areas of Texas, the area is in good shape to get a new congressional district, with western Hidalgo County – including McAllen and Mission – and Starr County serving as the population base, he envisioned. See lead story in this posting.

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