By Mary Torres, Special to MyRGV.com
Humanities Texas sponsors Texas Storytime, a family reading program that supports school readiness and promotes early childhood literacy. On Thursday, Aug, 5, 2021 from 6:15–7 p.m.
Humanities Texas is presenting a special Texas Storytime event featuring author Xelena González and illustrator Adriana M. Garcia. This virtual family reading program will feature a read-aloud of their award-winning book All Around Us. In addition to sharing their perspectives as an author and an illustrator, González and Garcia will lead children, parents, and family members through a series of fun, interactive activities. The reading and activities will be followed by a Q&A session with the audience. This live, virtual event is free and open to the public. Please register at https://www.humanitiestexas.org/storytime to attend. You will receive a Zoom link via email prior to the event.
Jackson Street Market Days, one of the Rio Grande Valley’s largest and most popular outdoor monthly events for the entire family will be held on Saturday, Aug.7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Historic Jackson St. This event, sponsored by Downtown Harlingen merchants features antiques, arts & crafts, collectibles, downtown shops, food vendors, live music, and much more! Jackson Street Market Days is held every first Saturday of the month. If you’re interested in becoming a vendor or want more information about Market Days please call (956) 423-4041.
The Harlingen Story Walk Program ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Saturday, August 14, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Lake Harlingen. The Harlingen Public Library, the South Texas Literacy Coalition, the City of Harlingen, local children’s author David Norec, and a host of local sponsors invite you to this outdoor reading experience and a free community book distribution. Don’t miss this amazing community event just in time for back to school. Other upcoming events at the library include the Frontera Quilt Guild meeting on August 9th and the RGV Master Naturalist meeting on August 10th. Questions? Email the library at [email protected].
The Family History Library is offering a variety of free online genealogy classes for August and September 2021. The classes, including handouts, are listed under the following categories: General & FamilySearch Webinars; European Research Webinars; British Isles Research Webinars; Asia Research Webinars; United States and Canada Research Webinar, and Research Webinars in Spanish. The classes can be accessed at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Family_History_Library_Classes_and_Webinars? To view past webinars check out the page at Classes in the Learning Center.
The Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Genealogical Society (RGVHGS) is hosting the 41st Annual State Hispanic Genealogical and Historical Conference, “1821-2021, 200 Years of Discoveries: From Revolution to New Frontiers,” on October 14-16, 2021 at the Hilton Garden Inn, South Padre Island. This annual event, held during National Hispanic Heritage month is the largest conference of its kind in The U.S. and draws participants from across the country and Mexico.
The conference will feature tours to areas of local historic interest and concurrent lectures on the second two days. In addition to the speakers listed in this column last week, the following individuals will also be presenting: Crispin Rendon, California; Brian Stauffer ,and Carlos Varela, Texas General Land Office; Martin Salinas Rivers, Reynosa, MX; Joe Lopez, San Antonio, and Susan Kaufman, Clayton Center for Genealogy, Houston. Participants can look forward to an exhibit hall, free receptions, and a banquet.
Registration through Aug. 31 is $150 with optional activities such as tours and the banquet available for an additional cost. Sponsorship opportunities are still available in a number of gift-giving opportunities and your support will be highlighted in the society’s promotional materials and conference book. To learn more about the conference and for registration forms visit www.rgvhgs.org and follow the RGV Hispanic Genealogical Society’s Facebook page.
