MERCEDES — Israel Formacio came into town with an idea everyone was going to love, and he knew it.

Mercedes now has a taste of pizza all the way from the Jersey shore with Formacio Pizzeria.

“The people like it, and a lot of people say it’s really, really good,” Formacio said. “It’s a small town for a small pizzeria.”

Formacio sells pizza by the slice and with toppings only a restaurant in northern cities might have.

Every day since 2012 the Formacio’s have been pulling pizzas out of the oven and pushing them out the door so fast they have recently moved into a new and bigger location on the same street they have always been located.

The husband and wife duo do it all together. One works the day and the other works the evening shift.

It’s a long way from his poor upbringing in Mexico. Formacio is living the American Dream giving the people of Mercedes what they want and love.

Formacio said he learned the pizza recipes from an Italian restaurant in New Jersey where he worked for many years.

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HARLINGEN – A new $1.8 million medical treatment clinic should break ground within the next two weeks, and eventually will double the number of staff it employs at its present location.

Valley Day and Night Clinic, with its headquarters in Brownsville, will move from its current location at 1214 Dixieland Road to the new facility at 1610 South F Street late this year or early 2017.

Valley Day and Night has two medical clinics in Brownsville, one in Mission and one in Laredo, in addition to its Harlingen location.

The facilities provide treatment for minor emergencies, school and sports physicals, EKGs, vaccinations, X-rays and therapy. They have their own in-house labs.

The new clinic is the latest evidence of Harlingen’s rapidly-expanding role as a health-care destination in the Rio Grande Valley.

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RIO HONDO — Imagine being chased by super hero villains.

That is exactly what will happen later this month all with a goal to raise money.

The 5K Fun Run/Walk Super Hero challenge has been organized by the Rio Hondo High School band.

The race is Feb. 27 and starts at 8:30 a.m. People can register for the event at Footworks in Harlingen for $25 per person.

The band organized the race to raise money to go to Colorado where they have been invited to perform at Royal Gorge in June.

The race will start at Bobcat stadium and go to Rio Hondo City Hall and back.

“I enjoy how the band has come together to do the race,” said Juan Torres, ninth grade band student. “Its going to be fun.”

The high school band’s superhero challenge is to help them travel through Colorado.

They have also planned sightseeing trips, attend a Colorado Rockies baseball game and visit the Elitch Gardens amusement park in Denver.

“The race is going to be a big help to the Bobcat band,” said Ben Keltner, band director. “We want to bring the community together and showcase our students, community and local businesses.”

Keltner said it’s going to be a win-win for everyone.

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HARLINGEN – The stop-and-start development of the Las Colinas of Treasure Hills residential subdivision is once more a go.

A partnership group in Arizona took over the property in November.

The subdivision consists of 124 finished residential lots, including lake frontage and frontage on the Treasure Hills Golf Course. The lots range from 8,000 square feet to 13,500 square feet.

“We are excited about this project,” said Danny Riggs, of Oasis Financial LLC, located in Tempe. “We are providing well-located golf course and lake lots within a prestigious area. In addition, we will be able to offer the lots at much lower prices than previously marketed.”

Riggs said that retail home prices within the subdivision are expected to range from $160,000 to $260,000.

The company said power has been completed to most of the lots, and the site has been cleaned.

The City of Harlingen, Oasis officials said, is scheduled to finish road maintenance.

Company officials said while experienced at home construction, they are focusing their current building at developments in Arizona and Southern California. They say they are offering homebuilding at Las Colinas to construction firms in the Rio Grande Valley.

Oasis stressed the lots on what had been a troubled development are free of liens and ready for sale.

“Basically the properties at Las Colinas were in a bad situation,” said Paul Sargent, a principal at Oasis Financial. “We were an investor in it, and we have taken over the property.”

HARLINGEN — The city has paved the way for a future industrial park on its northwestern edge.

City commissioners approved Wednesday an ordinance rezoning land from residential, single-family use to light-industrial use as part of a move to create the industrial park off Roosevelt Road near Interstate 69.

In December, the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation postponed the $220,000 purchase of 34 acres to rezone 15.9 acres of the tract.

The EDC has paid $255,000 for 20 acres of farmland adjacent to the 34 acres.

With access to utilities, the site could be used to attract business prospects, EDC Chief Executive Officer Raudel Garza said, or it could be developed into an industrial park.

Garza said the site offers “options” with which to attract prospective businesses.

Located off I-69, the site offers access to Valley International Airport, the ports of Harlingen and Brownsville and international bridges.

The land also could be used to develop an industrial park in the area where companies such as FedEx and Prism Plastics have launched operations.

Garza said only 80 acres remain available at the Harlingen Industrial Park on the city’s east side.

HARLINGEN – Bigger isn’t necessarily better, especially when the sign violates city ordinances.

A petition to the Zoning Board of Adjustments for a hardship variance for a sign already installed without receiving the go-ahead first, was rejected on a 5-0 vote yesterday.

Footy Rooty, a foot care and massage business at 1342 Ed Carey Drive, installed a new sign without receiving city clearance. That sign, about 70 square feet in size, was far larger than the 32 square feet of signage allowable under city law for a business at that location.

Since signage variances already have been granted for two other businesses in the plaza, Lucky Sushi and Pena Eye Institute, officials with the city’s Planning and Zoning Department recommended the variance be granted.

“The applicant had hired a side contractor to install the sign,” said city planner Carlos Guerra. “And when it was brought to his attention that he was going to need permits, he was not able to get hold of the sign contractor.”

Guerra said his department recommended the variance be granted, since it was “generally consistent with other signage at the retail location.”

But board members questioned why the sign had been installed before the owner applied for a hardship exemption for the oversized sign.

And they also questioned how the sign installer could just disappear.

“It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission,” said board Chairman David Wolf.

Footy Rooty has six franchise locations in South Texas. The owner of the Harlingen franchise did not attend yesterday’s meeting.

“As a business owner … I follow these rules myself,” said board member Cesar Perez. “These guys, its not their first rodeo, they’ve done this before. Everybody should abide by the same rules.”

Board member Frank Garcia also questioned granting a variance for the oversized sign, which crowds existing signage of businesses on each side of Footy Rooty. Garcia said the board needed to apply “common sense” in this case.

Garcia made a motion to reject the hardship variance. It was approved unanimously.

There is no point in me reading Mr. Navarrette’s article, “Trump has a particular ire for minority commentators.”

Like Jorge Ramos, Mr. Navarrette is more an activist than a journalist. They are both activist for the Mexican government and for the never ending tide of illegals to continue.

Seems to me it’s Americans of Mexican descent like myself and Americans from other Spanish speaking countries that are most affected by “illegal” immigration.

Here are just a few examples. Unless a person is fortunate enough to get a government job here in the Valley, (i.e. local, county, state, federal, such as in education, law enforcement, politics etc.) their wages will always be stagnant and on the bottom of the scale.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that an abundance of low-skilled or semi-skilled workers, no matter how hard working they are, will keep wages at or close to minimum wage.

Every single illegal will take a job or benefits or both from U.S. citizens. They know the system and how to take advantage of it better than you or I.

Look up the statistics not just for the Valley, but all the counties along the Rio Grande. We are the poorest, have the highest unemployment, the least educated, etc. etc. in the state and nation.

But then again, illegal immigrants are good for business, more consumers, along with cheap labor.

They’re good for the school districts.

Every student means an additional $7,000 in the kitty. Where or how they get there doesn’t matter. Tax payers will foot the bill.

Illegals in the U.S. are an excellent source of revenue to whatever their country of origin may be. Billions of dollars are sent back home instead of being spent here.

With every passing day and with every new illegal, the Valley, Texas, and the U.S. become more and more like Mexico.

Look at the corruption at every level, the poverty, the unemployment, the l stagnant wages, the huge number of people that can’t speak a word of English, the number of people on public assistance or food stamps.

Give me a break! I was born at night, but not last night.

N. Rodriguez Harlingen

HARLINGEN — City officials plan to use property tax revenue to help build the proposed $14 million convention center.

Last night, city commissioners amended the city’s three tax increment financing reinvestment zones to allow property taxes there to help fund the construction of the proposed 43,000-square-foot convention center.

As part of the action, officials added the proposed convention center project to a list of other projects to be funded through property tax revenues generated within the three zones.

“Right now, the priority is the convention center,” City Manager Dan Serna said before the meeting.

Serna said the zones’ funding of the proposed convention center project would reduce funding available for other projects on the list.

“This is kind of a natural to utilize this money for the convention center that would benefit the entire community,” Serna said. “It would benefit hotels and restaurants.”

The list of projects was not immediately available.

Serna said the city plans to use different revenue sources to fund the project.

The city plans to sell about $8 million to $9 million in certificates of obligation to help fund the construction project, officials said.

“We’re looking at the entire finance plan,” Serna said.

In 2006, the city created three zones from which to generate property tax revenue earmarked for economic development.

This year, officials project the three zones will generate a total of $123,000, Serna said.

Serna said officials have not determined the amount of tax revenue that will help fund the convention center’s construction.

As part of an agreement, the city plans to build the convention center at the fast-growing Harlingen Heights shopping district anchored by Bass Pro Shops.

The agreement calls for San Anto nio-based developer BC Lynd Hospitality, with Weslaco developer Ezequiel Reyna, to build a 150-room hotel next to the convention center.

Officials plan to pay back that debt through sales tax revenue generated through the Harlingen Community Improvement Board, which operates with a $2.7 million fund balance while generating about $1.3 million a year.

The city, which generates about $1 million a year in hotel occupancy tax revenue, also plans to dip into that revenue stream to pay back the debt.

HARLINGEN – Heart disease claims the lives of more men and women, in the U.S., than any other disease. It is sometimes referred to as the silent killer, because symptoms are hardly felt until an extreme episode occurs, asuch as a heart attack or stroke. But, you can prevent it from affecting your life by making healthy food choices, opting to exercise, and manage any chronic health conditions you may have.

To educate the community about heart disease and raise awareness of its effects, Harlingen Medical Center is observing National Heart Month by hosting the Annual Healthy Heart Expo on Friday, February 5, 2016, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. in the hospital’s main lobby.

“The Healthy Heart Expo is a wonderful opportunity for community members to come and receive free medical screenings and educate themselves about heart disease and its dangerous effects,“ said Maggie Ramos, Marketing Coordinator at Harlingen Medical Center. “This is also a wonderful opportunity for people to learn the importance of making healthy food choices, incorporating regular exercise into their daily life, and managing any chronic disease they may have, such as Type II Diabetes, which may lead to a heart attack or stroke if left untreated.“

The Annual Healthy Heart Expo will feature free medical screenings, among others, that include: cholesterol level, blood sugar level, blood pressure, vision and dental. Health and wellness education, as it relates to the heart, will be available. A Diabetes Educator will be on hand to discuss the illness, its affects and treatment. A Nutritionist will be in attendance to discuss healthy food items, offer tips on how to prepare healthier meals and what you need to eat and foods to avoid. A Doc Talk Lecture, featuring the Nutritionist, will follow the Expo at 10 a.m. in the hospital’s Administration Classroom. The topic is “Eat Healthier, Live Healthier.“

“Education is key to maintain health. If people equip themselves with the knowledge to prevent heart disease then they will have a better chance of keeping the disease at bay,“ said Eva Selvera, Registered Dietitian at Harlingen Medical Center. “People who want to lower their risk of heart disease should 1) maintain their weight at a healthy number, 2) if they smoke, they should quit and stay away from second-hand smoke, 3) control their bad cholesterol and high blood pressure, 4) if they drink alcohol, drink only in moderation, and 5) get active and eat healthy.“

Stroke Prevention

Vascular Screening

In recognition of National Heart Month, Harlingen Medical Center will offer its month-long special, “Stroke Prevention: Vascular Screening.“

The non-invasive vascular screening is used to take an image of the 1) Carotid Artery, 2) Abdominal Aorta, and 3) Peripheral Arterial. The carotid artery is screened for buildup of fatty plaque, which can lead to a stroke if left untreated. The abdominal aorta is screened for the presence of an aneurysm, which can lead to a ruptured aortic artery and cause instantaneous death. The peripheral arterial are screened for plaque buildup in the lower extremities, which if present can lead to Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), also known as atherosclerosis, and even cause heart disease.

All three screenings are performed for a nominal fee of $139.00. Most insurance companies usually do not cover the cost of this screening unless the person has already suffered from heart disease. The screenings are completed all at once, in the same room (Radiology and Imaging Services Department at Harlingen Medical Center), and take about 45-minutes to complete.

To register for the “Stroke Prevention: Vascular Screening,“ please call the Scheduling Department at (956) 365-1839, to book your appointment.

HeartSaver CT Scan

If you suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormally high cholesterol level, use tobacco, have a family history of heart disease, and/or are post menopausal, then you may want to consider having a “HeartSaver CT Scan“ performed.

The HeartSaver CT Scan is a non-invasive tool that is exclusively available at the Harlingen Medical Center Imaging Center, located at 512 Victoria Lane, Suite 5, in Harlingen. It is the only one of its kind in Cameron County. It is considered to be one of the finest ultimate heart disease risk assessment tools available today. It can indicate calcium or plaque build-up in the coronary arteries and it can disclose heart disease, at all stages, making it easier for your cardiologist to treat.

This unique, prevention and risk assessment costs only $50.00 and takes less than 45-minutes to complete. To register for the “HeartSaver CT Scan,“ please call the Scheduling Department at (956) 365-1839, to book your appointment.

About The Cardiovascular Center at HMC

The Cardiovascular Center at Harlingen Medical Center is paving the way for progressive treatment of cardiac patients. The award-winning and nationally recognized hospital specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. It features a top-ranked heart team that provides minimally-invasive diagnostic testing and treatment, as well as advanced cardiac and vascular interventions, such as angioplasty, stenting, cardiac ablation, open heart surgery, minimally invasive heart valve repair and replacement, and coronary artery bypass graft.

At its inception in 2002, Harlingen Medical Center opened its doors to the South Texas as a heart hospital. But, since then, in meeting the increased medical needs of the community, the nationally recognized hospital has expanded its clinical service lines and health and wellness programs.

Harlingen Medical Center’s heart program continues to be at the center of this hospital. Its commitment to this program has catapulted the hospital to national recognition for its heart program and has saved and improved the lives of thousands.

To learn more about Harlingen Medical Center, log on to www.HarlingenMedicalCenter.com.

HARLINGEN – The community is invited to a “Love Your Heart” Health Fair with free health screenings on Saturday, Feb. 20, from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Valley Baptist Medical Center, 2101 Pease Street in Harlingen (on the first floor of the hospital, South Tower entrance, in the Woodward Conference Center).

Free screenings will include blood glucose testing for diabetes, blood pressure, and body composition (percentage of fat, muscle, water and bone in the body).

Also there will be a free “lipid panel” screening (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides) for the following groups of patients who could be at potential risk for heart disease:

– Men ages 35 years or older

1 of 2

– Women ages 45 years or older

– Men ages 20 to 35 years and women ages 20 to 45 years with risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as family history, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure or other risk factors.

Fasting is required for the screenings, but Valley Baptist will serve a free heart-healthy breakfast after participants are tested.

Participants must make an appointment for the screenings in advance, by calling toll-free 1-888-902-5433.

Valley residents are encouraged to find out whether they are at risk for heart disease, and to learn how to recognize and prevent the symptoms of heart disease.

The testing at the “Love Your Heart” event will allow Valley residents to complete an online risk assessment, to estimate their risk of developing heart disease at http://www.valleybaptist.net/medical-services/cardiovascular/multimedia/heart-risk-assessment, and / or on peripheral artery disease, at http://www.valleybaptist.net/medical-services/cardiovascular/multimedia/pad-assessment.

The screenings and breakfast are part of a series of events being held at Valley Baptist in February in observance of National Heart Month.

Residents are also invited to a free “Dessert with the Doctors” event on heart disease on Monday, Feb. 22, at 6:30 p.m. at Valley Baptist (also in the Woodward Conference Center on the first floor of the hospital).

Speakers on heart disease will include Dr. Charles Mild and Dr. Mark Morales, a new Cardiovascular Surgeon.

Please RSVP for a free heart-healthy dessert by calling 1-888-902-5433.

Valley residents can also sign up to receive educational information by email from Valley Baptist on how to stay “heart-healthy” during the month of February, by going to www.ValleyBaptist.net/HealthyHearts.