The Harlingen Veterans Affairs clinic held a Vietnam Veterans commemorative ceremony this morning at the VA Health Care Center.

Many veterans and their families were on hand for the ceremony.

It is a “solemn ceremony in recognition of the Vietnam Era Veterans. Our nation’s Vietnam War Commemoration is a long-overdue opportunity for all Americans to recognize, honor and thank our Vietnam Veterans and their families for their service and sacrifices during one of America’s longest wars.”

SAN BENITO — U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela said entering Congress was like entering his freshman year of college.

“When I was first elected to Congress I had practiced law for 22 years and my involvement in politics really was from the outside. I never really had the guts to be the guy up in the front,” he said.

For Vela, entering Congress was a major wake-up call about how government works.

“You go in thinking you can move mountains and you realize there are three branches of government, bureaucracy in each of those branches and the division of Congress.”

Yesterday, those were some of the comments he made to members of the community and business community during the San Benito’s Chamber of Commerce weekly “Coffee With” session.

Vela prompted the session’s largest turnout so far with about 75 people.

To start off, Vela provided guests an inside look into his position.

Vela, a Rio Grande Valley native, was elected in 2012 to represent the 34th Congressional District which is anchored here in Cameron County, in the southernmost tip of Texas, and runs nearly 300 miles north to Gonzales County.

In Congress, he has been a strong advocate for immigrant rights, education programs including Head Start and Pell Grants for college students, and the community’s federal health care centers.

Vela currently is focused on bringing peace and security to the neighbors in Matamoros and Reynosa, and he is working to bring jobs and economic development to South Texas through many efforts including transforming the Port of Brownsville into a competitive, deep-water port.

“Things in Congress move pretty slowly,” he said. “At the end of the day there is little legislation going on.”

About 1 percent of the bills that get filed in Congress rarely get out of the House of Representatives.

Most of Vela’s time, he said, is consumed with his agency-related work and what his team does in the district offices.

“Most members of Congress are on at least two committees,” Vela said.

Vela sits on the House Agriculture Committee and the Homeland Security Committee.

The Agriculture Community today faces many challenges.

“Right now, we have threats to citrus with citrus greening, the Mexican fruit fly and fever tick,” he said.

“Those of us who represent producers who face those issues have to figure out ways to nudge our way through the legislature so that there is funding to do the research to eradicate those things.”

On a district level, Vela said his local offices, which are located in Brownsville, San Benito, Weslaco and Alice, receive between 20 to 30 calls per day.

“Sixty percent of those calls are from veterans who need help navigating the veteran’s clinical system,” he said. “IRS and immigration make up the rest of the calls.”

Veterans, Vela said make up an important part of his job. He said he tries to support any endeavors helping veterans obtain the services they need.

Cameron County Commissioner David Garza asked, “What do you think is our biggest challenge locally to move our region forward economically?”

Overall, Vela said the region is headed in a very positive direction, citing The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, medical school and SpaceX as contributing factors to progress.

“I believe that the merger of the two universities and the new medical school in the long run is going to be a tremendous accomplishment and move the region forward,” Vela said.

Also, with the implementation of I-69 and the new causeway to South Padre Island, Vela said it all looks very promising.

Some of the challenges Vela said are experienced by him and other elected officials.

“When we get into situation where our local communities are not on the same page, it makes it very difficult to move forward on a project,” Vela said.

“If no one is on the same page, it is very difficult for me to go to the decision-maker and give them an answer.”

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND – The sea turtles are here.

“We are really excited about nesting season,” said Jeff George, executive director of Sea Turtle Inc. “We are hopeful, There are indicators we will have a good year this year.”

Nesting season starts in April and the eggs typically hatch in June.

George and his cadre of Sea Turtle Inc. interns will be working extra hard over the next few months protecting the turtle nests on the beach.

“Mom will lay her eggs and goes back into the ocean,” George said. “She is done in one to two hours and then she’s gone.”

George said the Island should see 75 to 100 nests. Each nest has about 100 eggs which will produce 10,000 hatchlings this year.

“We find the eggs and protect them and then release the hatchlings when they’re born,” George said.

Sea Turtle Inc.’s public education component is to educate tourists to make sure they are aware there are endangered sea turtles on the Island.

The organization has multiple cameras rolling live for people from all over the world to see what’s happening at the facility, during releases and while patrolling the beach.

“Public awareness plays a big role,” George said. “We want people to want to protect these turtles.”

HARLINGEN — Project Thor is a new lumber company that will hire about 14 employees.

Last night, city commissioners met in closed session for about 20 minutes before entering into agreements with El Clavo, a Brownsville-based lumber company.

The Harlingen Economic Development Corp. code-named the company Project Thor as it entered into discussions with the company that opened in Brownsville 41 years ago.

“They want to expand their presence in the Valley,” Raudel Garza, the EDC’s chief executive officer, told city commissioners.

As part of the agreements, the city will allow the company to use as much as $141,000 of its sales tax revenue over a five-year period to improve a rail spur leading into its building at 417 N. H St.

The company is projected to generate about $300,000 through its first three years in business here, EDC documents showed.

The company, which plans to open with about nine employees this summer, will hire about 14 employees over a three-year period, Garza said.

Former employees of Zarsky Lumber, which recently closed here, are seeking jobs there, Garza said.

The company also will spend about $250,000 to renovate its building in the downtown area.

“It’s a great project on several levels,” Mayor Chris Boswell said.

Boswell said the company’s renovation of its building will help revitalize the downtown area while part of its sales tax revenue will improve the rail spur.

Ms. Campos, “Love God, enemies” seems to have missed the whole point of my March 25 letter, “How can this happen?”

But I’d like to thank her for writing more Scripture than a lot of people will hear or read this year.

My whole purpose of that letter was to make light of the hypocrisy that the media allows to go unchallenged.

The Pope, the rulers of Muslim nations, along with many politicians here in the US proclaim Islam to be a “religion of peace,” while Muslims kill and also want to kill or enslave anyone who doesn’t believe like they believe.

These same people that proclaim Islam to be a religion of peace also want Western nations to absorb millions of Middle East refugees while the Vatican and extremely wealthy Arab nations ignore the refugees and their plight.

And what is the reason that there are millions upon millions of refugees?

Unless any of these Muslim nations are ruled with an iron fist, the conflicts within these nations are never-ending.

Also Ms. Campos needs to share her message with the Pope.

He rides in his Popemobile surrounded by more bodyguards than the president of the United States.

During his visit to Morelia, Mexico, the Pope scolded some of the individuals who reached out to touch him. These people were his admirers, not his enemies. Where was the love?

The Pope also lives an extravagant lifestyle surrounded by servants in a palatial setting, all behind 39 foot walls. At the same time he’s telling everyone else to do more for the poor.

My question for Ms. Campos who makes a case for separating politics from religion, and all others who attend church or claim that they believe in God (90 percent of the US population) is, what party do you vote for?

Is it the party that is for taxpayer- funded abortion for any and all reasons (pro-choice sounds so much better than pro-abortion) or the party that is pro-life?

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life …” Deuteronomy 30:19 NKJV,

N. Rodriguez Harlingen

Our country is being manipulated by a friendship. The ramifications of which, have no present day equal. I refer to the friendship existing between Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Trump. They have shared family weddings and for the majority of their voting lives, they have supported the Democratic Party.

Donald Trump is running for the Republican nomination at the behest of Mrs. Clinton. In so doing, he has totally destroyed the Republican Party and has subordinated her “political baggage” to his, by virtue of his outlandish statements and positions that render her negatives pale by comparison.

His tomfoolery has rendered her as being the only reasonable and viable candidate for president. A significant number of Republicans will not vote for Trump, which, in essence becomes a vote for Clinton.

So, what’s in it for Mr. Trump? Additional ego-building upon which he thrives, i.e. he ran for the highest office in the land, an accomplishment not experienced by many.

Further, if/when Mrs. Clinton becomes president she will have a plethora of means to reward Mr. Trump for his contributions to her success.

Thus, our country will have been manipulated by Mrs. Clinton, a diabolically devious individual, who is without equal.

John Hollingsworth Palm Valley

HARLINGEN — Everyone needs a little “vroom-vroom” in their lives.

Come on out Saturday, April 16, to the Drive 4 UR Community at the Treasure Hills Presbyterian Church parking lots and you can do just that.

You’ll also be donating to a worthy cause.

Harlingen Sunburst Rotary Club and Boggus Ford Harlingen have partnered to raise money for a wheelchair-accessible playground, said rotary board member Bill Elliott.

“Every time someone drives one of the cars, Ford Motor Company will donate $20. The goal of the fundraiser is to raise $6,000, so 300 drivers are needed,” he said.

Proceeds go toward the writing of a grant that will hopefully bring wheelchair-accessible playground equipment to a local park.

Last year, the rotary club raised about $2,000 for a pavilion at La Posada Providencia in San Benito.

Construction on the 20-by-30-foot screened-in structure started in February.

Elliott said the Rotary Club will coordinate with the city on where the park equipment should go.

We just want to make the parks more accessible to more handicapped people, he said.

About 10 to 15 cars will be available for people to test drive. The vehicles to be driven will be new model Fords, including Mustangs and trucks.

“They’ll have the opportunity to test-drive a new car,” said Elliott.

The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will feature an old and exotic car show.

There also will be live music, hotdogs, popcorn and drinks. Everything has been donated and access to the event is free and open to everyone.

Drivers must be at least 18 years old, have a valid driver’s license and auto insurance.

SAN BENITO — It was phenomenal.

That’s how Superintendent Dr. Adrian Vega described the first meeting of the district’s five-year strategic planning process.

Saturday, officials kicked off planning with the first of five meetings for the Re-Imagine 2021 Strategic Plan.

Individuals from the district and community, including staff, parents, students, religious officials, business leaders and members of the media, were invited to partake and provide their input.

It’s was a complete cross-section of people, Vega said.

“The level of turnout and engagement speaks to the commitment of the community,” Vega said.

“The student representatives were able to give their voice to the issue. We very rarely ask for their opinion. I was very impressed with their level of input.”

More than 100 people responded to the invitation, but more than 200 people were considered.

About 145 people attended the meeting.

During Saturday’s meeting participants discussed the main areas of concern following presentations by leaders in the field from as far away as Arizona.

The issues include curriculum, finance, facilities, communications and other areas.

The attendees were assigned to tables of eight or more, which also included a facilitator and note-taker. Those at each table discussed the issues of curriculum, facilities, finance and communication.

The information gathered will be processed and the data will be used for future meetings about the topics.

“The real work begins in the next sessions,” Vega said. “Here we can craft a plan and put it together.”

During the meetings in the coming weeks, Vega said together the community and leaders will identify the key areas of concern and tackle the issue.

The large group will now be broken down into smaller groups to focus on different areas.

Those in attendance are expected to offer their interest and expertise on the different committees.

That’s where the real work will happen. The committees include curriculum, finance, facilities, P-20, communications and vision and mission.

“By summer, we should have a plan to take to the school board,” he said. “Then we can start to implement the plan at the start of fall 2016.”

Vega, who is willing and eager to do what is necessary, said it’s going to be a lot of work.

“I see no alternative. We cannot start the school year without a new plan,” he said.

Even though the group faces weeks of work, Vega said it’s an exciting time for the district.

“We want to make sure the kids get the best by making sure we have a good understanding of all the areas. Without this plan that won’t happen,” he said.

“The last time we had a plan like this was from 1998 to 2003.”

The next work session will be April 23. There will be a total of four, two each in April and May.

HARLINGEN — The city has mapped out its course for the next 10 years.

Last night, city commissioners approved the plan titled One Vision, One Harlingen Comprehensive Plan.

Consultants Halff & Associates began working on the plan in March 2013, holding four community workshops in which residents spoke about how they wanted the city to evolve over the 10-year period, Assistant City Manager Gabriel Gonzalez told city commissioners.

“It is a great plan for the long-term of our community,” Mayor Chris Boswell told the audience. “It addresses so many of our needs and concerns on a multi-layer basis. Everybody was involved in pulling this together — every department was involved.”

Boswell called for a workshop to prioritize goals.

“There are some specific goals and objectives that we can accomplish,” Boswell said.

Gonzalez said staff is meeting to review the finalized plan.

“It took a lot of work but now the work is beginning to plan this out,” Boswell said.

City Manager Dan Serna said the city paid $175,000 for the plan and a complementary 79-page parks master plan.

“The comprehensive plan’s development was an extensive process because we wanted to ensure that the community and all stakeholders had adequate time to prepare, review and provide input,” Serna said in a statement. “It certainly was a very thorough, cohesive effort and our end product is now a very useful, significant, municipal tool for continued growth.”

The plan envisions the city as a transportation hub boasting a vibrant retail district and a thriving medical complex.

“The 150-page plan consists of the city’s vision, goals, strategies and implementation measures for growth and prosperity,” a city press release stated. “It is an integrated approach to future development with a focus on all elements that make up a city: Housing; transportation; parks and open space; economic growth; downtown; history; public services and facilities; neighborhoods and community identity.”