By Mary Torres, Special to the Star
The Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Genealogical Society meets today at 1:30 p.m. at the Harlingen Arts & Heritage Museum, 2425 Boxwood St. for a presentation by guest speaker, Gordon White, Ph.D, “Interpreting Your Ancestry.com DNA Results.” DNA testing has become a major tool in genealogical research, but often the results can be confusing and difficult to understand. Dr. White will present techniques to help you decipher those results. Dr. White was born in Fulton, MO and has lived in Carbondale, Il for 48 years. He has a BS in Education from Central Missouri State College (now U. of Central Missouri), an MA and a Ph.D in Educational Measurement from the University of Iowa. He began his career in 1963 as Junior High math and science teacher; later he was a Research Associate in the St. Louis, MO public schools from 1969-1971; and an Assistant Professor and Professional Administrator, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL from 1971-2002. Gordon and his wife, Carol Smith, are Winter Texans who have resided at Fun n Sun, San Benito since 2004. They have three daughters and three grandsons. The meeting is free and open to the public. For more information call 956-345-4756.
The Mariachis are coming! On Monday, January 20 from 9:30-11:30 A.M. the Edcouch-Elsa High School Varsity Mariachi Band will perform again for the members of the Center for Creative Retirement in the Texas Room at Golden Palms, Harlingen, TX. For more information contact Ellie Mosimann at (860) 970-8616.
Join the City of Harlingen for the annual Harlingen Winter Texan Fiesta Expo! The 2020 Business Expo and Antique Car Show being held Monday, January 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. is free. This year’s fiesta will take place at the new Harlingen Convention Center located behind Sam’s Club/Bass Pro Shops at 701 Harlingen Heights Dr. There will be live entertainment, free T-shirts and other activities.
The Harlingen Arts & Heritage Museum is hosting the “New Quilts From an Old Favorite 2019” exhibition through March 15. The exhibit features 21 works of art based on original quilts using the classic oak leaf and reel block patterns. The exhibition is organized by the National Quilt Museum, Paducah, KY with support from MODA Fabrics and Janome America, Inc. Gallery Talks are scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 21 and February 21. Reservations are not required. Local support is provided by the Harlingen Arts & Heritage Museum and the RGV Museum Association. For more information call 956-216-4901.
Join the Harlingen Public Library and the RGV Byliners for Poetry Night on Tuesday, January 21 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Bring your favorite poem or a poem you have written to share with the group, or just simply sit back and enjoy the readings from local poets. This event is family- friendly, and light refreshments will be served. Please call Eva Bielicke at 216-5823, to let her know that you plan to attend.
The Tip O’ Texas Genealogical Society will meet Thursday, January 23 at 10:15 a.m. at the Harlingen Public Library for a program by Michael Jones, Reference Librarian, “Digital History Through the Valley Morning Star Archives.” Mr. Jones is from north Tennessee, 45 minutes from Nashville and attended Ohio University and Kent State University. He has been associated with the Harlingen Public Library for almost two years. The program is free and open to the public. For more information visit the society’s Facebook page.
The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) and the National Park Service’s Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park (NPS) will be hosting a launch party for the U.S.-Mexican War Soldier & Sailor database at the Palo Alto Battlefield, 7200 Paredes Line Rd, Brownsville, TX on Monday, January 27 at 3 p.m. The event is free and the public is invited. For more information call the Park at 956-541-2785.
Southwest Studies historian Evalissa Fuentes will be the guest presenter at the Saturday, February 8, 2020 all-day Valley Byliners Writers Workshop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Harlingen Public Library auditorium. Her presentation, “The Narrative in Place and Memory,” will, also, include a free field trip on February 7 to different locations in Brownsville from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. To add your name to the list for the field trip please email [email protected]. For more information or to register for the event, visit [email protected] or the rgvvalleybyliners Facebook page.
