Retired Lt. General  Ricardo Sánchez (who was born and raised in Rio Grande City), who now lives in San Antonio, was the featured speaker in McAllen on Saturday, April 9, for the Welcome Home South Texas Vietnam Veterans Day celebration, which was co-sponsored by the City of Edinburg. A few days after his visit, he acknowledged that he is considering running as a Democrat for the U.S. Senate seat that will be vacated in 2012 by retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, a Republican. Sánchez’ possible candidacy drew support from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. "General Sánchez has spent his entire life serving our country, and there’s no question he would be a strong candidate if he decides to continue to serve his country in the U.S. Senate," said Matt Canter, a spokesman for the political group. "He has a tremendous life story, growing up poor, rising to the rank of general in the Army, and bravely leading more than a hundred thousand troops in both Gulf Wars." Featured during this portrait taken before he delivered the keynote speech at thecelebration, dubbed Landing Zone: Rio Grande Valley (LZ:RGV) are, from left: Agustín "Gus" García, Sr., commander, American Legion Post 408, Edinburg; LZ:RGV co-producer Brian Godínez, owner, Godínez Communications, McAllen; Dora Brown, senior vice president, IBC, McAllen; McAllen Mayor Richard Cortéz; State Rep. Sergio Muñoz, Jr., D-Mission; Retired Lt. General Ricardo Sánchez; Hidalgo County Judge Ramón García; Edinburg Mayor Richard García; Laura Gump, H-E-B regional vice president, San Antonio; LZ:RGV co-producer Miguel "Mike" Carrera, owner, Miguel Carrera Communications, Edinburg; and Julie Lara, H-E-B public affairs manager, San Antonio. 

•••••• 

Dr. Robert S. Nelsen, president of the University of Texas-Pan American, met recently with administrators, faculty and staff from UTPA, along with representatives from South Texas College and the McAllen Economic Development Corporation to discuss the planning process for a world-class Research and Education Park. The park is being developed under the direction of a subcommittee of the North American Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education Initiative (NAAMREI). The Research and Education Park, which has not yet been officially named, will be a unique, mixed-use, research and education development that will provide and/or incorporate a full range of interactive research and development, education, training and/or public support services in an interrelated format. A unique feature of the park will be an education campus. Featured, from left, seated: Wanda Garza, executive director for NAAMREI; Dr. Robert S. Nelsen, president of the University of Texas-Pan American; and Keith Patridge, MEDC president/CEO. Standing, from left: Helen J. Escobar, STC public relations coordinator; Jenny Cummings, STC public relations and marketing diretor; Dr. David Allen, dean of UTPA’s College of Engineering and Computer Science; Dr. Miguel González, associate dean of UTPA’s College of Engineering and Computer Science; Dr. Kimberly Selber, UTPA executive director for University Marketing and Communications and associate professor for the Department of Communication; and Mariana Múgica, MEDC marketing director. To learn more about NAAMREI, log on to their website at www.naamrei.org. 

•••••• 

“Hat’s off to Education” could almost be the theme for the upcoming RGV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Women’s Spring Luncheon & Style Show, hosted by the group’s Education Committee, which is set for Tuesday, May 24 at the Embassy Suites from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Anyone who wears a hat to the event will get $5 off of their ticket at the door.  In addition, their name will be added to a drawing for special prizes. Funds raised at the event will go towards scholarships that the RGVHCC gives out in June. Local retail stores have already committed to modeling their spring clothes, shoes and jewelry for the luncheon and style show. Vendors are also signing up to sell jewelry, purses, crafts, etc.  Sponsorships are: Queen $1,000; Princess $750; and Duchess $500. Exhibitors tables are $100. Ad’s for the program book can also be purchased. “We ask that the Valley step up to the plate and help us give out as many scholarships as possible by sponsoring or attending the luncheon” said Cynthia M. Sakulenzki, RGVHCC president and CEO. “We encourage gentlemen to attend as well. They’re guaranteed to have a great meal and fun among all the women." Debi Lou Modeling Academy will be coordinating the Style Show and music. More information on the luncheon and/or exhibit is available by calling the RGV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at 928-0060. Education Committee members featured here, from left, seated: Adelita Muñoz and Cynthia M. Sakulenzki. Standing, from left: Edna Posada; Alexandria Posada; Noemi Ochoa; and Jenise Díaz. 

•••••• 

High school students Dennis Luna and René Mendoza, both from Edinburg, were named "Students of the Year" on Monday, April 11, by the Migrant Student Graduation Enhancement Program at The University of Texas at Austin. Each student received a $2,000 college scholarship funded by a gift from the ExxonMobil Foundation. The Migrant Students of the Year were selected on the basis of obstacles overcome, overall academic achievements, participation and leadership in extracurricular activities, and their performance in distance learning courses offered by the university’s Migrant Student Program. Featured, from left: Roberto García (counselor at Edinburg High School); Carlos Mendoza (brother of René and senior at St. Edward’s University in Austin); René Mendoza (Migrant Student of the Year); Dennis Luna (Migrant Student of the Year); Rep. Aaron Peña, R-Edinburg; Diana Alejos (counselor at Johnny G. Economedes High School); and Cory Crow (Montana counselor). See story later in this posting.  

•••••• 

A career panel opened the second annual South Texas College Communication Arts Festival, held at the Pecan Campus in McAllen on Friday and Saturday, April 1 and 2. The event offered a rare glimpse into the participants’ humble beginnings, and how education and the art of communication played key roles in their lives, leading them to successful careers in diverse fields. Participants in the panel were, featured from left: Hidalgo County Judge Ramón García; Dr. Shirley A. Reed, the president of STC; David Guerra, the president and CEO of International Bank of Commerce; Brent Branham, deputy city manager for McAllen; and Óscar Adame, news anchor for KRGV-TV Channel 5, who served as moderator for the panel. Also during CommFest 2011, representatives for several media outlets such as Telemundo, Entravision Radio, El Periódico USA,City Magazine, Social Life Magazine, among others, were on hand to speak to students and answer questions they had about careers in the media industry. See story later in this posting.  

•••••• 

The Edinburg Chamber of Commerce supports the 60th annual “National Day of Prayer”, set for Thursday May 5 from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the East Lawn at the Hidalgo County Courthouse. Millions will unite in prayer at thousands of events from coast to coast. The National Day of Prayer Task Force’s mission is to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, mobilizing the Christian community to intercede for America and its leadership in the seven centers of power: government, military, media, business, education, church and family. Please call 956/533-0000 for more information or email to:Adrian@ndprgv.com. Featured, from left, promoting the local event are: Adrian Esparza Sr.; Elma E. Esparza; and Letty González, president of the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce President.

For the rest of these, and other stories featured above, click here… »

Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, center, and Terry Burkett, chairman of the Outreach Veteran Committee for the Texas Capitol Vietnam War Monument Committee, on Wednesday, March 30, are featured reviewing the cast model for a planned $1 million monument, to be located on the Texas Capitol grounds, which will pay tribute to Texas veterans who served in America’s longest war. Earlier that day, the Texas Senate approved Hinojosa’s Senate Resolution 649, which celebrated March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day. In a related measure, Gov. Rick Perry, also on Thursday, March 24, signed House Concurrent Resolution 56 by Rep. Sergio Muñoz, Jr., D-Mission, and Hinojosa, who served as a Marine combat squad leader in Vietnam, recognizing Saturday, April 9 as Welcome Home South Texas Vietnam Veterans Day. Muñoz said HCR 56 also is intended to draw more attention to the major celebration – which is free and open to the public – which will be held at the McAllen Convention Center on Saturday, April 9. See stories on the both measures later in this posting.

••••••

Rep. Aaron Peña, R-Edinburg, featured on Friday, March 25, speaking from the podium in the Speakers Committee Room at the State Capitol, praises the House passage of Senate Bill 14, the so-called "Voter ID Bill", which would require Texas voters to provide one of several government-issued photo IDs, such as a Texas drivers license, before being allowed to cast a ballot at a polling place. Peña, surrounded by fellow Republican House members, contends the measure is part of several major pieces of legislation he will support this spring to crack down of voter fraud. However, his support for the voter ID bill was not shared by the rest of the Valley’s state representative delegation, including Rep. Sergio Muñoz, Jr., D-Mission, and Rep. Verónica Gonzáles, D-McAllen, who issued their own statements detailing the reasons for voting against the voter ID measure. That legislation now goes to a conference committee made up of five senators and five state representatives who must hammer out differences between the version approved by the Senate earlier this month, and the version approved by the House on March 24. See related stories later in this posting.

••••••

American Electric Power representatives Ben Crandall and Ryan Smith on March 8 presented a $17,371.50 energy savings incentive check to the Edinburg school board during its regular meeting.  Accepting the check were board members Jaime Chavana, Juan “Sonny” Palacios, Carmen González, David Torres, Robert Pena, Jr., and Dr. Martín Castillo as well as Superintendent of Schools Dr. René Gutiérrez, Robert Estrada, district architect, René Olivarez, district engineer, and Mario Salinas, assistant superintendent for District Administration. The incentive check, which comes through AEP’s 2010 Entergy Texas SCORE Program (Schools Conserving Resources) program, rewarded the district for choosing to install energy-efficient appliances The SCORE Program provides support to select school districts and higher education partners through energy performance benchmarking, energy master planning, and cash incentives for SCORE participants who complete projects that result in peak demand savings.

••••••

Sgt. Patricio Castañeda, a Weslaco native, was a combat soldier in Vietnam. Lyndon B. Johnson was our president at the time. The two come together in the locally-produce play, Pat & Lyndon, which began in Pharr on Thursday, April 7. In the performance, produced by Pedro García, a wide array of characters, portrayed by the actors featured in this photograph, is at the Café Saigon and in their own backyards. Pat dreamed of a family life and Lyndon had nearly 500,000 soldiers deployed. Together they share their lives, their views and their experiences of this controversial time. Join the Pharr Community Theatre (PCT), 203 West Park Avenue in Pharr, on April 7 through 16, and again on May 19 through 22, at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and  3 p.m. on Sundays. Advanced tickets are recommended (80 seats available per show) and can be purchased at the theatre Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and noon, or call Carol at 956/460-5473 or 956/783-7746. Tickets are $7 apiece. Featured, from left: Abelardo "Cha Cha" Jiménez; Kenny Reyes; Robert Martínez; Omar Treviño; Lassiter Holmes (who portrays President Johnson); Cecilia Hinojosa; Noel A. Reyna (who portrays Sgt. Castañeda); Araceli Casares; Rigo Ordaz; Armandina Sesin; Daniel Román; José E. Martínez; and Viridiana Garza. Kneeling, from left, are: Emily May-G. and Rebeca Ortiz.

••••••

Area residents who were near South Texas College’s Technology Campus in McAllen on Thursday, April 7 between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. may have noticed a slight pink glow covering the buildings. Why? It was Ladies Night on campus and the facilities were flush with Valley women enjoying an evening of fun, fashion, refreshments and career exploration. Admission was free and open to the public. Some of the women of STC’s Technology Campus showed their pink power ahead of the college’s April 7 event, including, featured from left: Irma Rosales, STC Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) instructor; Esmeralda Adame, STC precision manufacturing instructor; Laura Salas, STC CADD instructor; Margarita Vanguelova, STC CADD instructor; and Sara Lozano, STC CADD instructor. See story later in this posting.

••••••

Depression and Alzheimer’s will be some of the topics that will be covered at the South Texas Senior Summit – hosted by the Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce through its Health Committee – on Friday, April 29. Dr. César A. Matos will address those related issues in English and Spanish during the morning portion of the gathering, which is free and open to the public. A free lunch, sponsored by HEB, also will be provided for residents who attend the sessions, which will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Palm View Community Center, 3401 Jordan Avenue in McAllen. Matos, who will be one of several medical professionals who will make presentations during the day, received his education at the University of Puerto Rico, University Autónoma of Guadalajara, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, University of Florida and the New York Psychiatric Institute. He began his practice in New York in 1983 and established his private practice in McAllen in August 1992.  He is currently the General Medical Director for the South Texas Behavioral Health Center in Edinburg.  The public is invited to register and also learn about Medicare/Medicaid, senior abuse and crimes against the elderly. Exhibitors will be available giving out information and marketing items that are useful to all seniors. In addition, free eye exams, foot exams, glucose and blood pressure readings will be made available at no cost to the audience. For more information and/or to register, residents and prospective exhibitors may contact the RGV Hispanic Chamber at 928-0060.  Sponsorships and exhibit space are still available. Committee members featured with Matos are, from left: Lidia Limas, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program; Delia Estrada, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program; Norma Brewster, Office of Congressman Rubén Hinojosa, D-Mercedes; Dr. César A. Matos; Cynthia M. Sakulenzki, president and CEO of the RGV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; and Adelita Muñoz, Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

••••••

Edinburg High School senior Audrie Vela, a Senior Cross Country Athlete, recently signed a National Letter Of Intent to run cross country and track at Texas A&M University-Commerce for the fall of 2011. Featured on her big day are, front row, from left: Carlos Vela; Audrie Vela; Rachel Mascorro; and Ernie Mascorro. Standing, from left: Joe Filoteo, the athletic director for the Edinburg school district; and Tencha Lancaster, cross country track coach for EHS. 

•••••• 

For the rest of these, and other stories featured above, click here… »