By Mary Torres, Special to the Star
St. Patrick’s Day, March 17 is all about celebrating your Irish heritage, and what better way to celebrate your connection to the Emerald Isle than to make discoveries about your ancestors who lived there? Until March 18, you’ll be able to do just that on MyHeritage for free! They’re opening all Irish records to the public.
Don’t miss your chance to delve into the historical records and find new information about your relatives! MyHeritage’s Irish record collection includes around 14 million records of all kinds: census records, vital records, directories, wills, and much more. Search Irish records at https://blog.myheritage.com/tag/irish-family-history/.
The Valley Byliners, a nonprofit writer’s organization “that cares” about writers and provides support to writers in the Rio Grande Valley and the Harlingen Public Library invite you to “Poetry Night,” via Zoom on Tuesday, March 16, 2021from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Join the meeting at https://zoom.us/j/91395354611, Passcode: 744187. The Byliners are waiving membership fees until they can meet face-to-face and you’re invited to join the group and recite your favorite poem or just pop in and enjoy the poetry being read.
The Harlingen Public Library invites you and your family to an online event on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, at 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. when Sea Turtle Inc. will present a super cool virtual presentation that is free and available to anyone on or off Facebook. Space is limited and registration is required. To register please call 956-216-5819 or email [email protected]. In your email please indicate whether you prefer to attend the 2:00 or 3:00 p.m. session.
Just a reminder that the Youth Services Department of the Harlingen Public Library is hosting a Virtual Science Fair in March for kids (0-17) who are invited to participate individually or as a group. The library will put together a slideshow on its social media for everyone to enjoy. All participants will be entered into a raffle for science kits. Submission deadline: March 18, 2021, 5 p.m. Visit the Harlingen Public Library’s Facebook page for the entry form and information on virtual science fair resources. Please direct questions to [email protected].
Would you like to see your artwork on an official Brownsville Historical Association T-Shirt? The BHA has a special contest for you! Two winners will receive prizes and have their artwork printed on t-shirts for sale at their museum gift shops. There is a limit of one entry per person and designs must be inspired by the three main categories: Brownsville’s historical architecture, Brownsville’s historical landscapes/nature, and Brownsville’s historic events/festivals. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2021. Please note: winning designs become the property of Brownsville Historical Association. For entry and official rules, visit the BHA’s Facebook page or website at www.brownsvillehistory.org.
On March 2 Governor Greg Abbott issued Executive Order No. GA-34 relating to the opening of Texas in response to the COVID-19 disaster wherein the wearing of masks and other restrictions on businesses would be lifted in Texas effective on March 10, however, businesses and other organizations can still set their own guidelines.
On March 8, the CDC (CDC.gov/media/releases/2021) stated that If you’ve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, keep wearing your mask in public! But, the CDC says that fully vaccinated people can hang out with others indoors as long as everyone is either vaccinated or at low risk of serious illness from the virus. It says the new guidance is a “first step” to returning to everyday activities. The City of Harlingen is still requiring that safety precautions such as wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing be followed in all city-owned buildings such as the library and the museum. Please be careful and stay safe.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
