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Smithsonian traveling exhibit, local collections pay tribute to local sports

By
Nate Kotisso
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EDINBURG — A new exhibit can give Rio Grande Valley residents a chance to interact with the history of sports in communities across the country and in their own backyard.

In conjunction with the Texas State Historical Association, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is hosting “Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America” at its library now through Aug. 25. The traveling exhibit is a part of the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street series.

“The traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian focuses on the impact of sports and sporting culture within our communities,” UTRGV Library Head of Special Collections and University Archives Sean Visintainer said. “It explores things like the fan experience and the different types of fields people play on that draw the commonalities that reach across geographic areas.”

UTRGV’s presentation goes beyond the primary physical exhibit on the library’s second floor. The first floor includes a local companion exhibition called “Hometown Teams: Football in the Upper Valley,” in which the McAllen, Edinburg and Mission school districts and others donated some of their football relics from then and now.

Another exhibition called “Rio Grande Valley Hometown Teams” is a digital-only showcase in which visitors can browse the Valley’s past championship glories, read profiles on outstanding athletes and hear oral histories of teams from the people who played on, coached or covered them. The online exhibit can be found at hometownteamsrgv.omeka.net.

“We went out to a lot of local libraries and were grateful that we were able to get their participation,” Visintainer said. “We scanned those items and put them up online in our digital exhibition. The same thing happened with our football exhibition (on the library’s first floor). The response that we got from the high school football programs was uniformly positive.”

The exhibit had a soft opening Monday and will officially ring in the multi-platform presentation today. The UTRGV Library will throw the exhibit’s opening reception at 6 p.m. tonight, featuring talks from former Brownsville High baseball player and local baseball historian Rene Torres and UTRGV journalism professor Greg Selber.

“It’s neat to be involved with something like this,” Selber said. “To be a part of something with a little bit of heft, because when you put the Smithsonian behind something, that’s not too shabby. The ‘Hometown Teams’ exhibit is perfect for us. The bigger a city can be, the more distractions there are, and some things like high school ball may or may not be as important.”

Selber has covered the Rio Grande Valley’s ever-changing sports landscape for decades. He also wrote “Border Ball: The History of High School Football in the Rio Grande Valley,” among other books.

“I think I have a decent timeline of things that happened in sports in the Valley, but what I’ll touch on is the universal significance of sport in general,” Selber said. “Competition, instincts, aggression, excellence — these are the things that are taught in sports. There hasn’t been a football state champion in a long time, but people here seriously care about football. The games are phenomenally competitive. The fans are rabid. Places like Elsa or Rio Grande City will empty the town and fill up the football stadium on a Friday night.

“On a local level, sports gives us pride and a sense of place. I hope what folks take away from what I say is that we take pride in the things that we do.”

[email protected]

WHEN: Monday– Thursday: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Friday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday: noon – 8 p.m. through Aug. 25.

WHERE: UTRGV Library, 1201 W University Dr., Edinburg.

Free and open to the public.

For more information, call (956) 665-2726.

COMMENTARY: Pride for life

By
Guest Contributor
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BY EDWINA P. GARZA

In the mission to save lives through the power of organ donation, we are often met with a number of barriers in discussing donation with our communities. After pushing past myths and misconceptions, we find ourselves with a group of people who want to donate, but have been misinformed about their ability to give the gift of life.

That confusion comes from a good place. After all, we want to be helpful and not harm a person needing a lifesaving organ transplant. Another reason for the confusion is researchers are finding out ways to save lives and we often don’t even realize. Consider this fact: Thirty years ago, it was illegal for an individual living with HIV to be an organ donor. But today, an organ donor living with HIV can now be a lifesaving hero to other individuals living with the same illness.

The HOPE Act, signed into law by President Barack Obama in November 2013 with bipartisan support, provides individuals with HIV the opportunity to donate to transplant candidates who are also living with HIV. This law has become a vital step to getting lifesaving kidney and liver transplants to people who desperately need them.

Let’s review some numbers: Nearly 10,000 patients living with HIV are on the national kidney transplant waiting list and more than 1 million people in the United States are currently living with HIV.

According to researchers, 80 percent of patients living with HIV said they wanted to be donors when they die, but only 20 percent are actually registered and only 16 percent of those registered had discussed their decision with their families.

By allowing organ donation among individuals living with treatable diseases like HIV, we are able to save more lives, not just of patients living with HIV but patients who don’t have the illness will also stand tobenefit as well.

Ten years ago, it didn’t seem possible that individuals with HIV could be lifesaving heroes as organ donors, but because of researchers and doctors, there are daily discoveries that can maximize the opportunity to save lives.

During PRIDE Month, we want to address concerns about organ donation within the LGBTQ community who are disproportionately affected by HIV. It’s important to Texas Organ Sharing Alliance as the Rio Grande Valley’s organ procurement organization and Donate Life Texas, the official registry for organ donors, to let the community know we will work hard to ensure the promise a donor makes to save lives will be done in a safe manner to optimize the opportunity to save a patient’s life.

Being a participant in social norms like organ donation is important and a magnificent gift we want everyone to consider, no matter their health history. To share this message, we will join the South Texas Equality Project at their annual PRIDE in the Park event at the McAllen Convention Center on Saturday, June 23. We encourage everyone to visit our booth to learn more about donation and to sign up to save lives. No matter your health status, your gift is as good as anyone’s.

For information about organ donation, please visit www.DonateLife-Texas.org/PRIDE and for information about the HOPE Act, visit www. hopetransplants.org.

Edwina P. Garza is senior communications coordinator for the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA) in the Border-Rio Grande Valley Region. She is based in McAllen.

TFA alumni: ‘You strive to be a champion for students’

By
Staff Report
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TEACH FOR AMERICA EDUCATOR PROFILE

Special to The Monitor

Jose A. Avila was a 2016 Teach For America corps member who taught 10th grade AP World History at IDEA College Preparatory Alamo.

After teaching, he continued to serve at IDEA College Preparatory Alamo as an instructional coach and a director of college counseling in pursuit of his mission of ensuring “College For All’ was a reality for students from the community.

Avila currently serves as the National Director of Financial Literacy & Alumni Funding for IDEA Public Schools, where he contributes to efforts in fundraising for and distributing student scholarships, leads efforts of financial literacy for the district, and collaborates alongside a team dedicated to seeing students graduate from college.

What motivated you to apply to join Teach For America and choose to teach in the Rio Grande Valley?

It was my first semester at Texas A&M University, and what a surprise it was. I quickly realized that there was an opportunity gap existing between me and others at campus. I struggled to not only engage in basic classes but take part in simple tasks like taking notes. I tried to find out why and came to understand that the educational opportunities given to those in high socioeconomic communities were quite different from the opportunities I’d received growing up in the Rio Grande Valley. As I searched for help and resources, I found an alignment with Teach For America’s mission of educational equity, and that pushed me to want to give back to my community. It was to my delight that when I was accepted into Teach For America, I was placed in the Rio Grande Valley. I was excited to come back home and hopefully make an impact on the lives of students’ just like me. And my service quickly transitioned to a career that I have truly found fulfillment in.

What is one of the most surprising things you have learned about education throughout your career?

I wouldn’t say necessarily surprising, but rather reaffirming: there is a gap in opportunity between communities, one that runs along socio-economic lines. Talent is equally distributed between students, but resources and opportunities are not, which is why we must be intentional with the support and services we provide our students. We must recognize that how we prepare students in low-income communities for college is life-changing. And that knowledge makes the work that much more important! When you start working in the same communities that you grew up in and continuously see the need to fight against educational inequity, you realize that there is so much work to be done. You strive to be a champion for students and engage others in doing so as well.

How did your time as a classroom teacher inform your professional trajectory and commitment to educational equity?

Being in the classroom has been one of my favorite parts of my professional career so far. I was able to see students develop in so many areas of their lives and become active participants in society. You are able to guide them and show them that they are capable of so much!

After teaching, I became the director of college counseling at IDEA Alamo. In that role, I was able to meet with students who had doubts about going to college. They were oftentimes scared of going to a place that no one in their family had ever attended. This would lead to the beginning of the imposter syndrome many first-generation students feel when going to college. Students would question their ability to succeed and be part of a system that was at times not created for them. Nonetheless, our work is to show them they are capable. Capable of achieving and being anything they set their mind to. Knowing that their ability is endless, it pushed me to be part of the To & Through College team at IDEA. The To & Through College team ensures that students have the content knowledge and support by providing meticulous and intentional guidance on their pathway to college. I want to make sure we could directly impact students’ lives by not only sending them to the country’s best colleges and universities but help them graduate from there as well. When research tells us that most of the students who dropout of high school are of color and/or from low-income families, you cannot standby and wait for things to change. You must partake in the efforts of breaking such cycles, and education remains the leading contributor to doing just that. Having access to higher education and helping students overcome societal barriers is part of my commitment to fighting educational inequity.

If you could change one thing for students, either college students or K-12 students, what would it be?

While a rigorous and impactful K-12 education are some of the most important parts of a student’s development, financial access to higher education can create a barrier for a student’s learning. I would push for clearer and more inclusive reform on financial access for students in every college or university. When I think of the students I serve, I see the access to a college education almost always ends with finances. This is at times due to lack of financial access, financial literacy, or special circumstances a family can suddenly experience. I can vividly remember having conversations with families as a college counselor in which the student was so excited to hopefully matriculate to the college of their dreams. The family would usually ask the student to step out of the room, and they would share their concerns with me about the financial aspect of college. Their concerns were always valid. They shared how it would be impossible to cover any gap that the student would have. I always tried to reassure them of the possible financial support that the student and family could receive, and we would plan out what would be the most feasible opportunities. These conversations were constant with all types of families, and led me to partake in the work I currently do. We lead efforts in finding the best possibilities in closing financial gaps for students going to college. These efforts, though, need to be across the board. We need our government, higher education institutions, and stakeholders to actively pursue a more encompassing approach to funding higher education. Studies have shown how access to a financially stable education has higher graduation rates and higher performing students. The added stress of having to take out loans or finding solutions to close these financial gaps in college is another contributor to the opportunity gaps existing in the communities we serve.

Teach for America (TFA) is the national nonprofit organization committed to the idea that one day, all children will attain an excellent education. To this end, the organization partners with communities to inspire the next generation of leaders to address unequal educational opportunities that fall along the lines of race and class. They begin this lifelong work with an initial twoyear commitment to teach in some of the nation’s most underserved schools. Here in the Rio Grande Valley, 61 corps members work in seven districts across the region.

SPI’s first skate competition on National Go Skateboarding Day

By
Staff Report
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(Courtesy of Erica Lerma-Macaulay) In these undated courtesy photos, skaters enjoy a day at the SPI Skate Park on South Padre Island.

By Omar E. Zapata

The Coastal Current

The days of skating in empty pools and parking lots are no more, as Technology Created Arts Media Studio Group hosts Beach Bash Skate Jam from 2 to 5 p.m. on June 21 at the SPI Skate Park at Tompkins Park on South Padre Island.

It will be the Island’s first skating competition with cash prizes, organizers said.

“It’s a community event,” said Michael De La Fuente, team lead for the event. “ With National Go Skateboarding happening every year, this is the first time with that new skatepark in place. It is kind of like an historical event. Not only is it a community-driven skate jam but on top of that it’s gonna be South Padre Island’s first actual concrete skatepark competition.”

The event is for all ages, all levels of skaters and has no admission charge.

Registration for the skate competition will be from noon to 2 p.m. and the categories are advanced, intermediate and beginner. For advanced, first place wins $400, second place takes $250 and third place gets $125. For intermediate, first place wins $100, second place takes $75 and third place gets $50.

For the beginner category, place holders will win a gift ranging from skateboards and skateboard accessories.

Starting with an idea that around 100 people would show up, De La Fuente said the expectation is now between 200-300.

“We’ve been out there talking with the shops and everything like that,” he said. “ Everybody’s stoked about it, everybody’s ready to go.”

The event is sponsored by local businesses from 77 Surf & Skate, Island Style, The Painted Marlin and others.

77 Surf & Skater co-owner, SPI native skater and surfer and mother of four, Erica Lerma- Macaulay said, “We’re excited to have something like this on the island and we’re happy to be a part of it.”

Learning to surf and skate around the island in empty pools or parking lots, Lerma- Macaulay said she was a part of an organization in which they tried to get a skate park.

“We tried to raise money,” she said. “We tried to convince the city to help us but it took I don’t know, like 20 years probably before we ended up finally getting a skatepark, so we were really excited about it and it finally provided a safe spot for us to come together and skateboard.”

Lerma-Macaulay said what she enjoys the most about skating is the feeling of being able to glide around.

Asked what benefits there are to skate, she replied, “It provides something that you can focus on and get better at. Spend time outside and spend time exercising.”

What she is most excited about the skate jam is to see skaters from all over the Rio Grande Valley show what they can do at the competition.

“We go pretty much every day and it’s exciting when we see like really good skaters come from other places and see how they skate,” Lerma-Macaulay said.

For updates, more information or questions about the Beach Bash Skate Jam, follow the events Instagram @beachbash_skatejamspi.

Charity fishing tourney to benefit Valley children

By
Staff Report
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(courtesy)

To register for the tournament, contestants can show up at Louie’s Backyard at 2305 Laguna Boulevard on South Padre Island during registration hours on Friday, June 10, or can register online at one.bidpal.net.

By Omar E. Zapata

Staff Writer

The 11th annual Battle on the Bay, hosted by Friends for Hope, will take place Saturday, June 11, at Louie’s Backyard on South Padre Island.

Benefitting the Vannie E. Cook Jr. Children’s Cancer & Hematology Clinic in McAllen, the annual tournament is returning for its 11th time.

“In essence, you know, Friends for Hope is a nonprofit organization with our main objective is to raise funds for the local children’s cancer clinic called Vannie E. Cook,” Friends for Hope President Beto Manrique said. “This money from the [fishing] tournament does not leave the Valley. It doesn’t go to like St. Jude’s or anything else. It’s exclusively for our kids and needs in our region.”

The fishing tournament, which was established in 2004, will start Friday with registration from 6 to 8 p.m. and a captain’s meeting at 7:30.

To register for the tournament, contestants can show up at Louie’s Backyard at 2305 Laguna Boulevard during registration hours on Friday or can register online at one.bidpal.net. Participants still must show up on Friday to receive gear and flags for the competition. A boat entry is $500 and includes one captain and 4 anglers per boat.

“That’s when they get their gear and their flags and also, you know, we read the rules for the captains,” Manrique said. “There is cash prizes in this fishing tournament. We’ve been blessed in the past that some of the people that won, they actually donated the money back so we’re so grateful to our community for going above and beyond.”

The three categories for cash prizes are redfish, trout and flounder. In each of the categories first place is $600, second place is $400 and third place is $200. A total of $3,600 in cash prizes.

Fishing hours for Tournament contestants start at 6 a.m. Saturday and end at 4p.m. with weigh-in from 2 to 4 p.m.

Awards and Dinner will start at 5 p.m.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “You know, there’s a lot of repeat fishermen and anglers. There’s a lot of local people that participate. We have people coming in from other coastal areas here in Texas.”

Asked what his favorite memory from Battle on The Bay has been, Manrique said that before the COVID-19 pandemic, patients were able to come and join some of the board members that were fishing on their boats.

“They would invite some of the patient’s families to come over and join as well,” he said. “At the end I think that the generosity of our sponsors and our community, the response to the tournament is what is most fulfilling. Knowing that every dollar that we raised you know, fulfills a great purpose. You know, and it’s for our local kids and local community.”

Splash Unity hosts LGBTQ community on Island

By
Gary Long
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The sea turtle patrol drives along the sand as beachgoers sit under umbrellas recently at city beach on South Padre Island.(Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)

South Padre Island is welcoming the LGBTQ community with open arms to Splash Unity, a four-day bash headquartered at the Holiday Inn Resort and featuring some of the biggest names in gay entertainment.

“It’s a great getaway, otherwise known as a ‘gaycation,’” Paul Magee, event organizer and producer, said Tuesday from the road on his way to the Island. “The famous Splash Unity South Padre Island is back with a bang after being away for two years.”

Magee said unity is part of the event’s name for a reason.

“I believe that we need to unify people and that’s whether youre black, white, gay or otherwise. If you’re a good person, you’re a good person and it’s time to unify this country, if not this world,” he said.

Headlining an all-star Splash Unity cast will be Willow Pill, the newly crowned Season 14 winner of “Ru Paul’s Drag Race,” the most prestigious and visible drag queen event in the United States, according to The Denver Post.

Willow Pill is the first out trans winner of a non-All Stars season of American Drag Race, “a title she wears proudly,” Entertainment Weekly wrote, but has said in the past that it can feel overwhelming to be “hoisted into the spotlight as the face of representation for any community,” The Post reported Tuesday.

Willow Pill is to appear Thursday at the kickoff Fusion Fashion Show/Welcome Party from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m at Sea4Ever at at the Holiday Inn Resort.

Splash Unity registration is online at SplashSouthPadre.com Guests are picking up credentials at a table in the lobby of the Holiday Inn Resort. Magee said VIP registrations had closed as of Tuesday but that limited general admission tickets were still available. He said he expects as many as 2,000 to attend Splash Unity over four days of events.

“We’re expecting record crowds,” Magee said. “The outpouring of support has been overwhelming. It’s four days of so much to do. Splash is now at the biggest resort on the Island, the Holiday Inn Resort. That’s going to be our base. Basically people can get their tickets online and pick up their credentials at the table in the lobby on Thursday and Friday.”

The party moves into full swing Friday from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. with the Ru Paul To the Beach event at Clayton’s. It features Willow Pill, along with drag performers Jasmine Kennidie and Daya Bittie, according to an event poster provided by Magee.

“Saturday we’ve got a long day with the Splash Pool Bash at the Holiday Inn from noon to 5 p.m.,” with pop-up performances and hosted by Kitana York and DJ DannyDesmadre, Magee said. The VIP-only Splash Party Cruise is from 5:30-7 p.m.

“Saturday night we’ve got ‘A Night in White’ at Louie’s Backyard, where people come all in white. The event is hosted by Carson Kressley, with Alondra Garabay making a guest appearance as Gloria Trevi.” Kressley is well known as a celebrity judge in Ru Paul Drag Race competition and as a television personality on CBS, Magee said.

The event features performances by Katelynn & Kathlynn York, music by DJ Radar, and additional performances by Miss Splash and Miss Splash Newcomer. This event is also from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

The Splash Farewell Party is from 1-6 p.m. Sunday at Clayton’s. Performers include DJ Radar and the RGV All Stars.

[email protected]

Roadside finds: Check out Port Isabel market on Sunday

By
Gary Long
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Buyers look over jewelry as a vendor shows available items at a recent Port Isabel Antique and Flea Market. (Courtesy)

By GARY LONG

Staff Writer

The Port Isabel Antique &Flea Market returns Sunday to Beulah Lee Park in Port Isabel from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring a wide variety of local creations, collectibles and plants.

The event has been a Port Isabel favorite right from its start back in 2011, Port Isabel Marketing Director Valerie Bates said. Sunday’s market will be the second coming back from the pandemic. The event has proven popular with vendors and shoppers alike.

“Its a fairly small park nestled there right off the highway, on the frontage road, but yeah, we fill it up with sellers and buyers,” she said. On April 10, the event was nearly sold out.

There were no spaces left for Sunday and only a few for June as of mid-week Markets are held the first Sunday of every month.

Artisans display original artwork, jewelry, items crafted from beach finds and pieces inspired by local culture. Antiques and collectibles include glassware, tools and other estate items

The Port Isabel Antique and Flea Market is a pop up experience that features original, custom, upcycled, recycled and repurposed treasures and is hosted by the City of Port Isabel in Beulah Lee Park, 213 N. Yturria St. Admission is free.

Following are City of Port Isabel rules for the event:

VENDOR SPACE COST:

$30 (Spaces 1 – 4: $50 each). Rain or shine event. Schedule is subject to change. Vendor space is limited to 10 x 20’.

SETUP:

• Vendor space is available on a first come, first served basis. Cost: $30 (spaces 1 – 4: $50 each). PAYMENT MUST BE MADE BEFORE DAY OF SETUP TO RESERVE SPACE. If you have not paid for booth rent before Sunday you will be turned away.

• Vendors will need to supply their own tent, table or chairs or other furnishings.

• Electricity is not available. Vendors are prohibited from using any electrical receptacles in Beulah Lee Park.

• Setup should be completed by 9 a.m.

• Vendors should not park onsite. Vendor vehicles should be moved immediately after booth setup. Please do not use Dairy Queen’s parking lot for vendor parking.

• Vendors not utilizing a booth space will be charged a $30 roaming fee. PAYMENT MUST BE MADE BEFORE DAY OF SETUP TO RESERVE SPACE. Vendors who have not paid will be turned away on Sunday.

• Vendors are prohibited from using the parking lot for booth setup or to sell from their vehicle.

• Absolutely NO tent stakes are allowed.

• Pack in, pack out. Leave no trash or any other items behind.

BEULAH LEE PARK RULES:

• Pets on a leash or carrier are allowed. You must pick up after your pet.

• No alcoholic beverages are allowed on the grounds of Beulah Lee Park.

• No smoking is allowed on the grounds of Beulah Lee Park.

• No vehicles are allowed inside the park.

STATE SALES TAX COMPLIANCE:

• Vendor must collect and remit taxes collected on taxable items directly to the State Comptroller’s Office.

• Vendors selling taxable goods at the Port Isabel Antique &Flea Market are required to register with the Texas State Comptroller’s Office and display their sales tax certificate during the event. City of Port Isabel staff will be asking for a copy of sellers’ sales tax certificate.

• Permit info: https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/permit/

SPACE RENT:

• Space rent will be collected BEFORE THE EVENT AND NOT ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT.

• $30 space (spaces 1 – 4: $50 each), payable BY CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD or by CHECK payable to: City of Port Isabel.

• No refunds. This is a rain or shine event. In the event of bad weather, your fee will be applied to the following month’s event only.

WHAT YOU CAN SELL:

• Collectibles, antiques, original and custom creations, pre-packaged foods compliant with the Texas Cottage Rule, clothing, shoes, accessories, crafts, jewelry, artwork.

• Items restricted: food prepared onsite, firearms, illegal items, CBD products or derivatives.

CONTACT:

Email: [email protected]

Facebook DM: facebook.com/portisabeltx

Phone: 956/433-1015

Happening Soon: Events to plan for in the Valley

By
Ryan Henry
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Looking to mix things up?

Here’s a selection of upcoming events across the Rio Grande Valley for the coming weekend—and beyond:

ONGOING

The Artworld of Manuel Hinojosa: An exhibit at the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art at 660 E. Ringgold St. in Brownsville.

THURSDAY, APRIL 7

Edinburg UFO Festival 2022: At 6 p.m. at the Edinburg Municipal Auditorium, 415 W. University Drive, in Edinburg. Admission required. Log on to www.edinburgufo.com for details.

FRIDAY, APRIL 8

McAllen Food Park Unplugged: Enjoy food trucks and live music by Bolero 3 at. 10 N. Broadway St. in McAllen from 8 to 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, APRIL 9

Pharr HubPhest: Starting at 5 p.m., music at the HubPhest is back and bigger than ever in downtown Pharr. Entertainment includes music from Joe Nichols, La Mafia, Solido, Southern Ashes and more.

2022 Hubphestival Car Show: At 4 p.m. at the Pharr HubPhest in downtown Pharr.

Pharr HubPhest Cook-Off: Cooking begins at 8 a.m.

Beach Cleanup: From 9 a.m. to noon at Beach Access 11 on South Padre Island. For more information, call (956) 648-4222.

Walking at the Beach: Join Martha Campos and friends every Saturday at 7:30 a.m. at Beach Access 3 for a walking group along the beach.

Keep America Beautiful Cleanup: From 8 a.m. to noon, join a cleanup hosted by Reynaldo Garza Elementary at 6300 N. 29th St. in McAllen.

SUNDAY, APRIL 10

Surf N Sunday: Free surfing lessons at 10 a.m. at Isla Blanca Park on South Padre Island with SurfVive. Meet behind the DJ Lerma Pavilion in the park. More information online at www.surfvive.org.

Port Isabel Flea Market: The flea market opens at 9 a.m. at Beulah Lee Park off Highway 100 in Port Isabel.

THURSDAY, APRIL 14

Hope Springs Trumpet Eternal: The Patron of the Arts events continues at 7 p.m. at the TSC Performing Arts Center in Brownsville. Free admission.

FRIDAY, APRIL 15

Siggno Tour 2022: At 6 p.m. at the Cameron County Aphitheater and Event Center on South Padre Island. Tickets are online at bit.ly/SiggnoSouthPadre15abr22.

Downtown Market on Main: Shop vendors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Main Street in McAllen. If you are a local artist who would like to participate, call (956) 687-1904.

SATURDAY, APRIL 16

Port Isabel Lighthouse Easter Egg Hunt: Scramble for hidden eggs at this event starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Port Isabel Lighthouse.

TUESDAY, APRIL 19

Master Chorale Spring Concert: UTRGV presents a concert at 7 p.m. at the TSC Performing Arts Center in Brownsville. $5 general admission.

SATURDAY, APRIL 16

Ultimate Motor Madness: This car, truck and motorcycle show is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Harlingen Convention Center. For information, call (956) 454-3065.

McAllen Downtown Market on Main: From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. vendors will be set up along Main Street in an event by the McAllen Heritage Center. For information, call (956) 687-1904.

THURSDAY, APRIL 21

TUESDAY, APRIL 19

Master Chorale Spring Concert: UTRGV presents a concert at 7 p.m. at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex in Edinburg. $5 general admission.

SATURDAY, APRIL 23

South Texas Maniyak Fish Tournament: Redfish and speckled trout fishing tournament with check-in at 6 a.m. at Gilbert’s Bait Shop, at 803 Highway 100 in Port Isabel. Weigh-in from 2 to 3 p.m. at Gilbert’s. Entry fee is $30.

SATURDAY, APRIL 30

Star Wars in Brownsville: The Valley Symphony Orchestra will perform at 8 p.m. at the Texas Southmost College Performing Arts Center in Brownsville. Tickets cost $25.

FRIDAY, MAY 6

McAllen Art Crawl: From 6 to 10 p.m., a self-guided walk through the McAllen art district with restaurants, galleries, small businesses and more featuring special art exhibitions, live music, performances, food and drinks.

Brownsville CycloBia: The city is planning to close a portion of Morrison Road in Brownsville for a street event from 6 to 9 p.m. centered on pedestrians and bicylists.

SATURDAY, MAY 7

Run the Jailbreak 2022: At 9 a.m., take on the 10th annual run at Clayton’s Beach Bar on South Padre Island, 6900 Padre Boulevard. The Jailbreak is an adventure run covering 3.1 miles and more than 20 sandy, wet, fun-filled obstacles. Tickets are available at runthejailbreak.com/padre-jailbreak

SATURDAY, MAY 21

Franco Escamilla: Payne Arena in Hidalgo will welcome comedian Franco Escamilla.

Tickets are sold via ticketmaster.com.

Ohana Go Topless Day: Jeep owners will gather at beach access No. 6 on South Padre Island. All Jeep drivers are welcome.

Nonprofit rescuers to release rehabbed sea turtles

By
Ryan Henry
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Atlantic green sea turtles are the primary species in Laguna Madre, a bay that provides an abundance of seagrasses for feeding and protection from larger predators. (Photo courtesy of Pixabay)

Sea Turtle Inc. is preparing to release its first Atlantic green sea turtles of the year on South Padre Island.

The public is invited to view the release April 11.

The nonprofit announced this week that the rehabilitated turtles were named Sublime, Tumble, Blessed, Mushroom, Ciabatta, and Cowgirl.

Atlantic green sea turtles are the primary species in Laguna Madre, a bay that provides an abundance of seagrasses for feeding and protection from larger predators.

“Education is such a critical part of the Sea Turtle Inc mission, and being able to share the months of hard work with the public is something we enjoy so much,” said Wendy Knight, chief executive officer at Sea Turtle Inc. “Being able to see the release of 6 patients at one time is a unique event you will not want to miss!”

Parking will be available at South Padre Island Convention Centre. Spectators will gather in the back parking of the convention center.

This free public event promotes the year-round work of rescuing and providing medical care for these threatened species, organizers said.

For the latest information on this event, follow the nonprofit group on Facebook at facebook.com/seaturtleconservation.

Edinburg police investigating vandalism at St. Joseph’s Church

By
J. Edward Moreno
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EDINBURG — An investigation is underway here after St. Joseph’s Catholic Church was vandalized over the weekend, resulting in a broken stained glass window and the desecration of a statue of Jesus Christ.

Cleaning staff arrived Saturday morning to find that one of the church’s stained glass windows was partially shattered after having what appeared to be a piece of concrete thrown at it. Staff subsequently discovered the statue at the front entrance had been vandalized as well — its hands broken off and face chipped.

Daniel E. Flores, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville, tweeted about the incident on Sunday, calling it “a cause of great sadness in (him) and in the community.”

“Please pray for whomever was capable of such a thing,” Flores added.

The statue is a memorial to Ted Koen, the son of the church’s builder, who was killed in a car accident in 1957.

Pastor Greg Lebus believes the damages occurred sometime between late Friday evening and 8 a.m. Saturday. As far as a motive, Lebus said he “does not want to speculate just yet.”

St. Joseph’s does not have security cameras and Assistant Police Chief Orlando Garcia said investigators are working to obtain surveillance footage from surrounding businesses.

Garcia said the department has “no solid leads to follow up on” at this time.

The damages to the statue are estimated at $2,000 and those to the window at $1,000, according to the incident report.

The church is working to restore the statue and window with the help of the art department at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

After parishioners became aware of the vandalism during Sunday’s services, they took to social media to voice their frustration. A post that received approximately 1,800 shares on Facebook stated: “Whoever did this deserves to pay the consequences. In fact, get help because you just don’t do stuff like this. Especially a church.”

“Everybody was very upset, obviously,” Lebus said. “We pray that (the vandals’) hearts be touched. … Hopefully, they never do something like this again and they repent for their actions.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Edinburg Police Department at (956) 289-7700 or the Edinburg Crime Stoppers at (956) 383-8477.

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