BROWNSVILLE — Michael Quantz, associate dean of fine arts at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, likened the new academic facility being built on the Brownsville campus to a bridge at the ‘Can You Dig It?’ ceremony Tuesday afternoon outside the Main Building.

It is a symbol for the growing education opportunities in South Texas, Quantz said.

“It can be seen as a symbolic bridge, if not a structural one. A bridge of a sort for the interweaving of legacies of education in South Texas,” Quantz said.

The 102,551-square-foot facility will support general academics, music instruction and recitals, and science teaching labs. It will consist of two buildings, each three stories, arranged to create a courtyard that reflects the campus architecture.

Dean of Sciences Parwinder Grewal said the $54 million building was desperately needed.

“As a dean, the first thing the faculty ask is: where is my lab? We are expanding, and this is an exciting time for UTRGV and the College of Sciences,” Grewal said.

The building will offer four new chemical labs and two environmental science labs, Grewal said.

Quantz said once the facility was complete, professors and students — especially music students — would experience a more productive environment than they have now.

“Think of a student being trained to learn music while someone is in the room cutting lumber with a power saw. That’s a close approximation to the acoustics we currently inhabit,” Quantz said.

UTRGV President Guy Bailey said this was a good first step toward addressing potential overcrowding issues and moving away from leasing space from Texas Southmost College.

“We don’t have enough space on either campus, but if we can continue building like this, we’ll be fine,” Bailey said.

Moving forward the university will look at constructing another multipurpose facility on the Brownsville campus parking lot and moving some academic programs from Edinburg to Brownsville.

“We can’t do it all at once. But we did rehabilitation sciences last fall, and we have a list of half a dozen programs that will be offered here,” Bailey said. “As we get more space and in some cases, (earn) accreditation and approval for some programs, we’ll begin to offer them down here as well.”

HARLINGEN — Mayor Chris Boswell and schools Superintendent Art Cavazos want the community to lace up their sneakers to get fit.

The city has taken on the “IT’S TIME TEXAS Community Challenge,” presented by H-E-B.

“It’s really exciting that our city and our school district are coming together in an effort to be healthier,” said Sandra Flinn, chairwoman of Mayor’s Health Council.

“It promotes our city and makes it an even better place to live.”

Yesterday, Cavazos fired off a Tweet showing a video of him and the mayor calling the community to action to take part in the challenge and live a healthy lifestyle.

It’s a free, statewide competition in which Texas communities compete to see which can demonstrate the greatest commitment to healthy living.

“We have more than 107,000 points, which is nearly double what Brownsville has,” Flinn said. “Harlingen is a mid-sized community and Brownsville is a large community and we have almost doubled the points Brownsville has.”

The challenge began in January and ends March 31.

Harlingen has stacked up points in the top five among the mid-size towns in Texas and is looking to move up in the rankings by the time the challenge caps off at the end of the month.

“We’re excited that people that hear about this are getting on board,” Flinn said. “If we all get on board and keep logging our activity, we can jump up on the leader board and be in fourth.”

Boswell was challenged by Brownsville Mayor Tony Martinez earlier this month and the challenge was answered with a bang.

Residents have been stacking up points for Harlingen doing healthy activities and posting on the community page with healthy selfies.

Residents and businesses can help the city rack up more points by uploading a workout selfie to the It’s Time Texas website after registering for the challenge.

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SAN BENITO — City officials’ dreams of having a new swimming pool are still on the table.

Last night, city commissioners took no action to move forward on plans regarding the building of a new pool.

Last month, project officials were given about a month to come back to the commission with more concrete plans.

However, according to Parks and Recreation Director Art Garza, they are still in the research phase.

The issue is whether to build a new pool all together or build on the existing pool.

Garza said a new pool would take about two to three months to build and cost more than $100,000.

The existing pool, according to Garza, is still being assessed by the proper engineering authorities.

Those findings were not readily available, confusing the commissioners and the public.

Commissioners urged Garza to talk to the engineers in order to get the assessment to move the process along.

Once those findings are available, Garza said they will know whether they can build on the existing structure or build a new pool.

Any action on the swimming pool idea has been up in the air since it was introduced by former City Manager Manuel Lara several years ago.

The swimming pool has been closed a little more than seven years.

Last month, city leaders discussed either remodeling the current pool or building a new one.

They took no action then.

RAYMONDVILLE — After about five years of planning, the Willacy County Housing Authority might be the latest proposed site for a federally-funded storm shelter.

But the move from the Raymondville High School area would boost project costs in the county facing a financial crisis.

On Wednesday, Willacy County commissioners will consider paying more money to build the 8,000-square-foot shelter near the housing authority, located outside the city limits.

County commissioners could not be reached for comment yesterday.

But County Judge Aurelio Guerra has said the housing authority could help the county fund the project.

Meanwhile, officials do not want to lose a $750,000 federal grant that requires the county build the shelter by August 2016.

That means time is running out.

The storm shelter would be funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency grant and $275,000 in county funds.

County leaders had planned to build the shelter near Raymondville High School, where officials hoped the building could double as the county’s first Boys and Girls Club.

But money has been tight.

BY Cheryl Taylor

BROWNSVILLE – Lively percussion from the School of Music drumline started the noonday Tuesday program celebrating the first building to begin construction on the UTRGV Brownsville Campus.

The 102,551-square-foot, $54 million Academic Building will consist of two structures, each three stories, and will support general academics, science teaching labs, music instruction and recitals, and provide flexible spaces for study and student collaboration.

The celebration was held under a tent on the Main Lawn, along the circular drive and adjacent to a fenced area where construction crews already have started clearing the land for the new facility.

Local dignitaries, among them UT Regent Ernest Aliseda, Texas Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. and Brownsville Mayor Tony Martinez, joined university administration, faculty, staff, students and community members for a short program to recognize the facility.

Dr. Michael Quantz, professor of music and associate dean for the College of Fine Arts, began the program by asking guests to observe a moment of silence out of respect for the victims of the terrorist attacks that took place in Brussels, Belgium, earlier in the day.

He then introduced Dr. Havidán Rodriguez, UTRGV provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs, and presented two new deans whose colleges will utilize a large portion of the new multidisciplinary building.

Dr. Parwinder Grewal, dean of the College of Sciences, expressed delight at the four chemistry and two environmental sciences labs that will be in the building.

“With the new programs such as marine biology being added, and the new doctoral program in physics that is being approved, we need lab space desperately,” Grewal said.

Dr. Steven Block, dean of the College of Fine Arts, said he was thrilled to have come to a new university and have the bonus of a new building to accommodate the needs of the School of Music.

“This is part of the UTRGV dream, and we are dreaming big, with more new buildings to come,” Block said. “Hold onto your hats!”

Quantz noted that the building symbolizes the commitment and substantial financial investment in UTRGV by The University of Texas System.

“This building is a symbolic bridge, interweaving the legacies of the two institutions that UTRGV has built upon,” Quantz said. “This symbolizes a vast expansion of what has come before, and will provide a better, more productive environment and a working tool to accomplish the goals of UTRGV.

“This is a tangible step toward meeting the challenges ahead,” he said.

UTRGV Founding President Guy Bailey said most universities have a long, established history and place most of their effort in maintaining that legacy.

“UTRGV, however, is new, and the future is ours to create,” Bailey said. “We are building our future, the future for our students and the Valley. Educational opportunities are available here like never before, and it’s imperative we have the necessary tools for our students. We cannot develop programs without appropriate facilities.”

Bailey invited the dignitaries and students representing music and the sciences to join him in signing a ceremonial construction beam that will be used in the new building. The beam will be available for signing in the Main Courtyard, next to the Academic Advising Center, through Friday, March 25.

Percussion students concluded the program as it had started, this time with the lively strains of student marimba music.

Along the sidewalk to Main, student organizations continued their lunchtime sales. Their costs were covered by the generosity of the company that will build the new Academic Building: Bartlett Cocke General Contractors of San Antonio and Austin.

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 25 mins

INGREDIENTS

4 cups vegetable broth $0.52

2 Tbsp olive oil $0.32

12 oz. fettuccine $1.33

8 oz. frozen chopped spinach $0.79

1 (28 oz.) can diced tomatoes $1.73

1 medium onion $0.43

4 cloves garlic $0.32

½ Tbsp dried basil $0.07

½ Tbsp dried oregano $0.07

¼ tsp red pepper flakes $0.02

freshly cracked pepper to taste $0.05

2 oz. feta cheese $0.87

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add four cups of vegetable broth to a large pot. Break the fettuccine in half to make stirring easier later, and then add it to the pot. Also add the canned tomatoes (undrained), olive oil, frozen spinach, onion (thinly sliced), garlic (thinly sliced), basil, oregano, red pepper, and some freshly cracked black pepper.

2. Make sure the ingredients are submerged under the liquid, place a lid on top of the pot, and then turn the heat on to high. Allow the pot to come up to a full, rolling boil over high heat then remove the lid and turn the heat down to medium.

3. Allow the pot to continue to boil over medium heat, without a lid, for 10-15 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Stir the pot every few minutes as it cooks to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom, but avoid over stirring which can cause the pasta to become sticky and mushy. The pot must be boiling the entire time.

4. After the pasta is cooked, crumble the feta cheese over top and serve.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 10 mins

Total Time: 30 mins

INGREDIENTS

12 ounces linguine pasta

1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes with liquid ( I used zesty red pepper flavor style)

1 medium sweet onion, cut in ¼ inch julienne strips (use an onion such as Vidalia or Walla Walla)

4 cloves garlic, very thinly sliced

¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves

4½ cups vegetable broth (use regular broth and NOT low sodium)

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 bunch (about 10 to 12 leaves) basil, diced

Parmesan cheese for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place pasta, tomatoes, onion, and garlic in a large stock pot. Pour in vegetable broth. Sprinkle on top the pepper flakes and oregano. Drizzle top with oil.

2. Cover pot and bring to a boil. Reduce to a low simmer and keep covered and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes or so. Cook until almost all liquid has evaporated – I left about an inch of liquid in the bottom of the pot – but you can reduce as desired .

3. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add basil leaves and stir pasta several times to distribute the liquid in the bottom of the pot evenly throughout the pasta as you are serving. Serve garnished with Parmesan cheese.

HARLINGEN — A rainy washout stopped the city’s Trash-Off Day last weekend, but officials have rescheduled the event for April 2.

The city of Harlingen will hold Trash-Off Day from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Harlingen Soccer Complex at 4515 E. Harrison Ave.

Those participating must prove they’re Harlingen residents by showing valid identification and a current water bill.

The city bans contractors from the event, and trash must be delivered by car or truck and trailer only.

Suggested items for the trash pile are furniture, appliances (nothing with Freon, so no air-conditioners), tires (limit of four) and electronic devices.

Not accepted will be hazardous waste, paint in liquid form, concrete, batteries, motor oil or brush and tree limbs.

Anyone with questions can call 956-216-5200 for advice.

U.S. Border Patrol agents reported Tuesday two bodies of suspected illegal crossers and the skeletal remains of a third person found over the weekend in the Rio Grande Valley Sector.

The body of a woman was found by Kennedy County Sheriff’s deputies in an area known to be used by immigrants attempting to circumvent the checkpoint. McAllen agents found a second body floating in a Mission canal after they received information from a concerned citizen, the release states.

“It’s these types of tragedies that remind us of the extreme callousness of human smugglers,” wrote Sector Chief Patrol Agent Manuel Padilla in the release. “They have no regard for human life and force immigrants to take unnecessary and often deadly risks. They carelessly leave people behind to die if they cannot keep up with the group.”

The skeletal remains of a third person were found near Rivera. The unidentifiable remains were sent to a forensics lab in San Marcos for examination. Autopsies were ordered for the two bodies, which were transported to local funeral homes, the release states.

Padilla also urged immigrants not to jeopardize their lives by illegally entering the country or by attempting to circumvent a checkpoint and to report any stash houses or suspicious activity to their tip line at (800) 863-9382.

[email protected]

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND – Search patrols cleared the marshy areas near Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark on South Padre Island Tuesday morning, as the investigation and search for missing spring breaker Justin Kirby Walker, 18, of Kendall, Texas continued.

Cameron County Park Police Chief Horacio Zamora said the sand dunes behind the water park were also cleared by search crews from the Cameron County Park Police, U.S. Border Patrol and the Cameron County Sheriff’s office.

Zamora said the Texas Rangers have started to interview Walker’s friends who accompanied him to the Ultimate Music Fest at the Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark where Walker was last seen Saturday.

“At this time we are moving the investigation into the leads we have and are talking to other people who were with Walker at the campsite,” Zamora said.

Authorities said Walker had been staying with friends at a camp site located inside Isla Blanca Park.

Anyone with information on Walker’s whereabouts is urged to call the Cameron County Park Police Department at (956)761-5283.