SAN BENITO — Splashes of emerald green and sapphire blue whirl into the air.

The glittery popping of accordion music, energetic classical guitars cutting through the air, and the carefully crafted sounds of brass instruments will come together tomorrow night at the Cinco de Mayo Concert.

Several music and dance groups from San BenitoHigh School, including the Flamenco Ensemble, Conjunto Esperanza and Folklorico Azteca, will provide the entertainment. The concert will take place at the San BenitoCommunity Center at 210 E. Heywood St. from 6 to 7 p.m. It’s free and open to the public.

The event is being sponsored by the city of San Benito and organized by Henry Sanchez, principal of San BenitoHigh School.

Sanchez said he wanted to give the school district’s numerous music and dance groups a chance to share their talent with the community.

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MERCEDES — Each day, everyday freedoms like walking, hugging, playing and even breathing are taken away from kids and adults in the community with muscular dystrophy, ALS and related muscle-debilitating diseases.

The money raised by the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s efforts goes to combat these diseases and help families suffering through these battles.

The community is encouraged to donate and participate in this effort through the MDA Muscle Walk of the Rio GrandeValley on Saturday at the Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets from 8 a.m. to noon.

Money raised goes to fund research, to care for kids and adults from day one and to empower families in hometowns across America with services and support.

To register for the walk and donate to the cause go to www.mdamusclewalk.org. There, participants also can register to walk with Team Captain Jack or another team of their choosing.

To donate directly to the cure for SMA go to www.curesma.org

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HARLINGEN — Officials here are planning to save about $2.8 million.

Today, city commissioners will consider refinancing $25.7 million in bonds at lower interest rates to save the big bucks.

“We’re trying to position ourselves to take advantage of the market and lower interest rates,” City Manager Dan Serna said yesterday. “This is an opportunity for the city to realize some savings.”

First Southwest, the city’s financial adviser in San Antonio, has recommended the city refinance bonds issued in 2006 and 2007.

Anne Burger Entrekin, the company’s managing director, recommended officials refinance the bonds amid market forces that have driven down interest rates to about 3.5 percent.

Officials plan to refinance $2.1 million in 2006 general obligation bonds to save $165,000, Serna said.

Serna said officials will consider refinancing $15.8 million in 2007 certificates of obligation to save $1.7 million.

Officials also plan to refinance $7.8 million in 2007 general obligation bonds to save $856,000, Serna said.

The outstanding 2006 general obligation bonds were sold as part of a $3.27 million bond package in 2006 to fund street, drainage and sidewalk improvements, the relocation of a railroad right-of-way and fire department upgrades.

The bonds were sold at interest rates ranging from 4 percent to 4.25 percent, with a maturity date of 2027.

The refinanced bonds would mature in 2027.

Further information regarding the 2007 certificates of obligation and the 2007 general obligation bonds was not readily available yesterday.

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

2 garlic cloves

¼ teaspoon coarse salt

1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard

2 tablespoons honey

Freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons balsamic or fig vinegar

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

6 cups mixed greens, such as arugula and Romaine

½ cup roasted salted pumpkin seeds

2 oranges, peeled and sectioned

½ cup thinly sliced red onion

Instructions

1. Mash garlic cloves with salt in a large wooden salad bowl. Let stand 10 minutes. Add mustard, honey, pepper, balsamic vinegar and oil. Stir well, and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes or all day.

2. Add greens, pumpkin seeds, orange sections and red onion. Toss well. Serve.

Yield: 14 servings

Prep: 5 mins

Cook: 25 mins

Ingredients

3 cups uncooked oats (old-fashioned, not quick)

1/3 cup wheat germ

1/3 cup sunflower seed kernels

1/3 cup chopped almonds

1/3 cup chopped pecans

2 tablespoons sesame seeds

2 teaspoons cinnamon

½ cup butter

½ cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup roughly chopped dried fruit

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Combine oats, wheat germ, sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans, sesame seeds and cinnamon in a large bowl.

2. Melt butter and brown sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly. Stir in maple syrup. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla.

3. Pour sugar mixture over oat mixture and stir to combine. Spread evenly on a greased baking pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, stirring 3 times during baking. Cool. Stir in dried fruit.

Yield: 18 servings

Ingredients

1 cup buttermilk

1/8 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon active dry yeast

1 tablespoon sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup warm water (100F to 110F)

3 to 3 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

½ cup shortening

Instructions

1. Mix buttermilk and baking soda together.

2. Mix yeast, sugar, salt and water together. Let stand until foamy.

3. Combine flour and shortening, stirring with a fork until mixed well. Mix in buttermilk mixture. Mix in yeast mixture. (Dough will be wet.) Cover loosely with a kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size.

4. Pat out dough to 1/2-inch thickness on a heavily floured board. Cut biscuits with a 2-inch cutter. Place on a baking sheet and let rise 20 minutes.

5. Preheat oven to 400F.

6. Bake biscuits 10 to 12 minutes, until golden brown. Makes about 18.

Note: Angel biscuits are a cross between a biscuit and a yeast roll. Placing them close together on the baking sheet makes them rise more.

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

Crust:

Cooking spray

1/2 cup cornmeal

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg

2 tablespoons butter

2 to 4tablespoons ice water

Filling:

1 tablespoon butter

3medium Vidalia or sweet onions, slivered

2 eggs

1/2 cup half-and-half

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for top

1 cup (4-ounces) shredded white Cheddar cheese

1/2 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen

4 slices thick, smoky-style bacon, cooked and chopped

Instructions

1. To prepare crust, coat a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate with cooking spray.

2. Place cornmeal, flour, baking powder and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a pastry cutter blade; pulse to combine. Add egg and butter; pulse until mixed. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until a dough ball forms. This will form a sticky mass of dough. Press into pan. If the dough is too sticky, add a little cornmeal.

3. Preheat oven to 350F.

4. To prepare filling, melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Drain if necessary.

5. Combine eggs, half-and-half, salt and pepper in a bowl. Whisk well. On bottom of pie, sprinkle half the shredded cheese. Top with corn kernels, onions and bacon. Pour egg mixture over top. Top with remaining cheese and freshly ground black pepper.

6. Bake 40 minutes, until top is set and browned.

At least 600 WWII Veterans die each day. At that rate, in about 10 years or less, most of the Greatest Generation will have died out.

After that, it’s on to the Korean Veteran and then after that in about 25 years or less, most of the Vietnam Veterans will be gone.

But, let’s go back to the Greatest Generation who fought against some of the most brutal dictators the world had ever known up until that time. They fought on several fronts in some very primitive conditions, sometimes even with inferior equipment.

Does this country remember when one of those veterans passes away? We certainly do not hear about their deaths in the newspaper or the news media.

And when a singer or a rock star dies and the whole world, including this country, goes crazy, and there are tributes and people crying, including adult males.

Why doesn’t the United States or the state of Texas grieve when a WWII Veteran dies?

Because we have lost our Veteran/ moral compass. We are looking in the wrong direction.

This rock star that died suddenly, I am sure he wrote some good songs, sang some good music and I am sure he put on some good shows. But, what did he do for this country, for this United States of America?

Was he even in the military? Did he fight for his country?

It is unbelievable the attention that is being paid by the news media to the death of this man.

Why, even President was heard to comment that he was listening to his songs. He made this comment on national TV.

Does he listen to the “Star Spangled Banner” when a United States Veteran passes away?

This nation is in a sad state of affairs when we don’t hear of a veteran passing away.

My father, Pilar Espinosa Jr. was a veteran and part of the Greatest Generation.

To me and to my family, he was the “Greatest Rock Star” who ever lived.

Pilar Espinosa Harlingen

Do you want something to do on Saturday night? Jarekus Singleton will be the headliner at Blues on the Hill at McKelvey Park.

In a review the Washington Post said, “Jarekus Singleton is an exciting new young blues guitarist with melody, hooks, swagger and a strong, original voice. His lyrics are modern, personal, acutely poetic and deeply mature.”

The concert will also feature the John Cortez Band and the Riverside Boys.

The music, food and fun runs from 7 to 11 p.m. Remember to bring a lawn chair or blanket.

HARLINGEN — Cameron County officials are discussing ending the freeport tax on businesses.

Their problem? How to replace the $1.6 million in annual freeport tax revenue if they grant an exemption.

The freeport tax option was given to counties, cities and school districts by Texas voters who in 1989 passed a constitutional amendment incorporating it into law.

Most counties, cities and school districts, wary of the negative effect an additional tax on businesses might have on economic development, decided to forego additional tax revenues and grant freeport tax exemptions instead.

Cameron County wasn’t one of them.

The impetus for Cameron County’s discussion of whether to grant an exemption on freeport taxes appears to be related to a new study by University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s Data and Information Systems Center.

UTRGV’s Sai Mullapudi and Michael Uhrbrock conducted the study, which used computer models to process different job loss or gain scenarios and their economic impact on the county.

The work, made public in April, concluded Cameron County has been placed at a competitive disadvantage with counties such as Willacy County because Cameron imposes freeport taxes on businesses and Willacy does not.

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