Images Harlingen, TX: 2007 by Journal Communications

VISIT IMAGESHARLINGEN.COM FOR MORE COMMUNITY INFORMATION AND A VIDEO TOUR

IMAGES OF HARLINGEN, TEX AS

FALLING IN LOVE Popularity of tennis soaring throughout this community

GAMBA AL AJILLO Independent restaurants serve a variety of uncommon dishes

HARLINGEN STRIKES GOLD

Olympic heroes inspire dreams in area youngsters

SPONSORED BY THE HARLINGEN ARE A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • 2007

I M A G E S

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Harlingen

TABLE OF CONTENT S

2007 EDITION, VOLUME 4

Features

COPY EDITOR J O Y C E C A RU T HE R S ASSOCIATE EDITORS DI A NE B A R T L E Y, S U S A N C H A P P E L L STAFF WRITERS R E BE C C A D E N T O N, K E V I N L I T W I N, JE S S IC A MOZ O EDITORIAL ASSISTANT JE S S Y YA N C E Y DIRECTORIES EDITORS C A R O L C O WA N, A M A NDA K I N G, KRIST Y WISE CONTRIBUTING WRITERS E R R O L C A S T E N S, C R I S TA L C O D Y, K I MBE R LY DA LY, E IL E E N M AT T E I , DA N N Y M c K E N Z IE , J O E M O R R I S, G A R Y P E R IL L O U X

G A MBA AL A JILLO Harlingen has all bases covered when it comes to international cuisine.

AD PROJECT MANAGER R AC HE L T U R NE R ADVERTISING SALES ASSISTANT S A R A S A R T I N CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER G R E G E ME N S STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS W E S A L D R I D GE , A N T O N Y B O S HIE R , M IC H A E L W. BU N C H, BR I A N M C C O R D CREATIVE DIRECTOR K E I T H H A R R I S WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR S H AW N DA N I E L PRODUCTION DIRECTOR N ATA S H A L O R E N S PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR H A Z E L R I S NE R SENIOR PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGER TA DA R A S M I T H SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS C A NDAC E C O C K R E L L , AMANDA M C ALL I S TER, KR I S SE X TON, L AUR A TAYLOR GRAPHIC DESIGN C ANDICE HUL SE Y, AMY NEL SON, BR I T TANY SCHLE ICHER, V IK K I W IL L I A M S WEB PRODUCTION J I L L T O W N S E ND DIGITAL ASSET MANAGER A L I S O N HU N T E R

HARL INGEN S T R IK E S GOLD The Harlingen Foundation for Valley Sports trains boxers and judo fighters who aspire to compete in the Olympics. HE ALT H Y FOOD FOR T HOUGH T Good nutrition is part of the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District’s curriculum.

AD PRODUCTION MANAGER C HR I S T I N A C A R D E N AD TRAFFIC M I ND Y A R B O U R , S A R A H M IL L E R , PAT R IC I A M OI S A N, J IL L W YAT T CHAIRMAN G R E G T HU R M A N PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER B O B S C H WA R T Z M A N EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT R AY L A N GE N

FALL ING IN LOV E The Harlingen Tennis Foundation has big plans in store for the sport.

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SENIOR V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JE F F HE E F N E R SENIOR V.P./SALES C A R L A HE N R Y V.P./SALES HE R B H A R P E R V.P./VISUAL CONTENT M A R K F O R E S T E R V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING S Y BIL S T E WA R T V.P./PRODUCTION C A S E Y E . HE S T E R EXECUTIVE EDITOR T E R E E C A RU T HE R S MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS M AU R IC E F L IE S S

Departments

CONTROLLER C HR I S D UD L E Y ACCOUNTING M O R I A H D O MB Y, DI A N A GU Z M A N, M A R I A M C FA R L A ND, L I S A O W E N S, N IC O L E P U GH, S H A N N O N R IG S B Y MARKETING MANAGER T R AC Y R O GE R S RETAIL PRODUCTS MANAGER B R YA N C HI N E L L A DIRECTOR OF RECRUITING S U Z Y WA L D R IP DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR G A R Y S M I T H IT SYSTEMS DIRECTOR M AT T L O C K E IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN R YA N S W E E N E Y HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER P E G G Y B L A K E CLIENT & SALES SERVICES MANAGER/CUSTOM MAGAZINES PAT T I C O R NE L I U S

Images of Harlingen is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com.

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N , C O N TA C T:

Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce 311 E. Tyler St. • Harlingen, TX 78550 (956) 423-5440 • Fax: (956) 425-3870 E-mail: info@harlingen.com harlingen.com VISIT IMAGES OF HARLINGEN ONLINE AT IMAGESHARLINGEN.COM

©Copyright 2007 Journal Communications Inc., 361 Mallory Station Road, Ste. 102, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent. Member Member

Magazine Publishers of America Custom Publishing Council

Member Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce

On the Cover P H O T O B Y A N T O N Y B O S H I E R Boxing gold medal from 1988 Olympics

HARLINGEN BUSINESS T ECHNIC ALLY S P E AK ING . . . . . 30 Two high-tech arrivals illustrate how technolog y serves as a customer touchstone. BIZ BRIEFS

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CHAMBER REPORT ECONOMIC PROFILE

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The Marine Military Academy

t the Marine Military Academy, we focus on building character and leadership skills in young men. For over 40 years, MMA has been the only college preparatory school modeled on the values and ideals of the USMC. Our cadets leave the Academy with strong study habits, social skills, enriched athletic ability and a true sense of teamwork. To learn more, contact us today: (956) 421-9252.

Where Leadership Is Learned www.mma-tx.org The Marine Military Academy, located in Harlingen, TX, is a private boarding school for young men in grades 8-12 or seeking Post Graduate study.

R E A D M O R E ON L I N E

IMAGESHARLINGEN . com EDUCAT ION AND SCHOOL L I S T ING S Check out school districts, colleges and universities in the Harlingen area. >Read More

GARDENING How does your garden grow? Get the dirt on regional gardening. >Read More

FOOD What’s cookin’? Get a taste of regional cuisine. >Read More

REALTOR.COM Search for a new home, get moving tips and more at the National Association of Realtors’ Web site. >Read More

THE MOVIE Take a virtual tour of Harlingen as seen through the eyes of our photographers. See for yourself what sets this community apart. >IMAGESHARLINGEN.COM

A B O U T T HI S M AG A Z IN E I M A G E S

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Harlingen 2007 EDITION, VOLUME 4

Images of Harlingen is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is sponsored by the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce. In print and online, Images gives readers a taste of what makes Harlingen tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts.

“Find the good – and praise it.” – Alex Haley (1921-1992), co-founder

jnlcom.com

HARLINGEN

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Almanac Concentrate on This The first concentrated orange juice was produced in the Rio Grande Valley. Grapefruit and oranges first made their way into South Texas thanks to visiting Spanish missionaries. The first commercial shipment of concentrated orange juice left the Valley in 1920. Today, South Texas produces everything from Rio Star and Ruby-Sweet grapefruit to navel and Valencia oranges. Texas citrus is known to have a higher natural sugar content than similar fruit from California or Florida. The best time for harvesting citrus in the Rio Grande Valley is October through May.

Things You Should Know V The Rio Grande Valley Audubon Alert is a 24-hour recorded announcement that offers information on unusual bird sightings in the area. More

than 2 million people reside within a 50-mile radius of Harlingen.

Valley

International Airport in Harlingen has the most traffic of any airport in the region.

Things Are Looking Up The busiest airport in the Rio Grande Valley now serves 1 million passengers each year. Valley International Airport in Harlingen has Southwest Airlines and Continental Express as its main airline carriers, while Sun Country Airlines offers winter season service from November to April. Cities that Southwest and Continental fly to daily are Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. The airport offers free wireless Internet service inside the terminal, and there is an HMS Host Restaurant and Cantina along with a Starbucks coffee location on site. There is also a KidsPort Play Area for youngsters.

Harlingen

has more than 30 murals that grace buildings throughout the city, with the tradition dating back to 1928.

Aloe

vera growers are only found in two places in the United States â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Rio Grande Valley and Arizona.

The

original model of the Battle of Iwo Jima monument stands on the grounds of Marine Military Academy in Harlingen.

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HARLINGEN

He Was Lowell Academy Award-nominated actor Thomas Haden Church was born in El Paso but has Harlingen connections. Church is perhaps best known for his early 1990s TV role as Lowell Mather on the sitcom “Wings” and then for two more seasons as one of the leads on “Ned and Stacey” opposite Debra Messing. He also starred in the critically acclaimed movie Sideways. The 46-year-old actor graduated from Harlingen High School in 1979 and he started in the entertainment industry as a radio personality. Today he resides on his large ranch in Kerrville, Texas.

Rock Around the Clock One of the country’s original rock and roll musicians spent the final years of his life in Harlingen. Bill Haley was a rocker from the mid-1950s whose hit single “Rock Around the Clock” is still being played today. He was born in Highland Park, Mich., was raised in Booth’s Corner, Pa., then put together the famed group Bill Haley & His Comets when he was in his late 20s. Haley was blinded in one eye due to a botched operation as a child, so he wore a spit-curl hairstyle to distract attention from the eye. A brain tumor in the late 1970s forced Haley to retire to his home in Harlingen, where he died in February 1981.

HARLINGEN At A Glance P O P UL AT ION (20 06 E S T IM AT E )

F O R MO R E INF O R M AT IO N

Harlingen: 66,459 Cameron County: 378,311

Harlingen Chamber of Commerce 311 E. Tyler St. • Harlingen, TX 78550 (956) 423-5440 • Fax: (956) 425-3870 harlingen.com

L O C AT IO N Harlingen is at the southern tip of Texas, at the intersection of Highways 78 and 83. It is two hours from Corpus Christi, four hours south of San Antonio and three hours north of Monterrey, Mexico.

BEG INNING S Lon C. Hill began buying land in Harlingen in 1902 and was a key character in the area’s development. His barns and corrals were used as Texas Ranger headquarters, and he was instrumental in bringing the railroad to the Rio Grande Valley.

Harlingen HARLINGEN

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Harlingen Arts and Heritage Museum It’s the only one of its kind in the Rio Grande Valley featuring three authentic historical structures: Lon C. Hill’s original home, the Paso Real (Stagecoach Inn) and Harlingen’s first hospital. The grounds have a historical building that houses permanent collections of artifacts and photographs. The HAHM’s main building displays rotating exhibits that emphasize our culture, art and history. Throughout the year, multiple events such as the “Taste of Harlingen” and the “Christmas Tree Extravaganza” are held to delight one and all. In addition, numerous educational activities are offered for the young and the young at heart! Before leaving, we invite you to visit our Red Gift Shop and take the experience home with you. So, to be seen at Harlingen’s place to be, come and take part in our events and activities.

Harlingen Arts and Heritage Museum 2425 Boxwood • Harlingen, TX 78550 myharlingen.us/harlingen_museum.htm (956) 216-4901

Almanac Everyone Is All Wet Things are going swimmingly at Lon C. Hill, Pendleton and Victor Parks. The Harlingen Parks & Recreation Aquatics Division operates a municipal swimming pool at each of these parks, with the availability of lap swimming, water aerobics and American Red Cross “Learn to Swim” programs. The American Red Cross certifies all three facilities. Classes are available for children as young as six months, so they can become comfortable around the water until they are old enough to learn how to swim.

And They’re Off Live Greyhound racing takes place every November through April at Valley Race Park, but betting occurs every day of the year. Gamblers can bet on more than 400 races throughout the world each day that are beamed via satellite to the park’s Fast Track Sports Bar. In addition, several other sports are broadcast on the numerous televisions gracing the lounge. The Fast Track Sports Bar & Grille also offers fine dining seven nights a week in an upscale casual setting and Valley Race Park rents its facilities out for groups ranging from 10 to 1,000.

Shrimp Story Cameron County is one of the top shrimp-producing counties in the United States, and much of that production comes from Harlingen Shrimp Farms, the oldest continuously operating shrimp farm in the country. Harlingen Shrimp Farms produces about 2 million pounds of edible Pacific White shrimp each year. The shrimp are produced in an on-site hatchery and then stocked in earthen ponds in early spring, with harvesting of the tiny creatures taking place from July to October. That enables Harlingen Shrimp Farms to always supply fresh shrimp to its customers across the nation. Fun Things To Do Take

a sunset stroll and watch the parrots flitter and flutter about at City Lake.

Hop

on your bicycle and enjoy some fresh air along the Arroyo on the city’s two-mile hike and bike trail.

Head

over to Jackson Street for Market Days. They occur on the first Saturday of each month and feature antiques, collectibles and handmade items.

Celebrate

the unique talent of South Texas artisans and crafters at RioFest, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary in April 2007.

Enjoy

the $2.95 breakfast at Las Vegas Café.

Stop

to smell the roses at Harlingen’s annual Flower Show.

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Foneast This W it h so many independent res t aur ant s, dining here is any t hing but ordinar y S TORY BY

Jessica Mozo

✦ PHOTOGR APHY BY

Antony Boshier

Azafran’s Marie Carmen Graña and Wanda Garcia studied cooking in Paris. Left: Crunchy chicken salad is one of many Azafrán specialties. HARLINGEN

rom unusual Israeli dishes at Jerusalem Café to the succulent San Lucas Snapper at La Playa Mexican Café, Harlingen has all bases covered when it comes to international cuisine, as well as a healthy sampling of American restaurants. Lifelong friends Wanda Garcia of Puerto Rico and Mari Carmen Graña of Spain fulfilled their longtime dream when they opened Azafrán on Commerce Street in June 2005. “We went to Le Cordon Bleu [culinary school] in Paris to take cooking classes,” Garcia says. “Our food is European – French, Italian and Spanish – with a little bit of Latino influence. We try to educate people about various cuisines – we’re not IMAGESHARLINGEN.COM

Azafrán specializes in European food with a Latino twist. Left: The Manhattan and Reuben sandwiches are big favorites at the New York Deli.

the typical tacos and enchiladas.” Azafrán’s specialties include the Poglio Balsamico, a Parmesan crusted chicken breast with balsamic vinaigrette sauce, and Gamba Al Ajillo, a shrimp and garlic dish. “Our menu is small, but we have a good variety. We sell a lot of our Chilean Sea Bass with sun-dried tomato sauce, and we sell a lot of ribeyes. Our beef is Black Angus Certified,” Garcia says. “Our famous Rio Grande Lasagna is also a best seller. It’s a very unique chicken lasagna.” For a taste of the Big Apple, there’s the New York Deli on A Street, famous for its made-from-scratch soups, sandwiches and salads. “Our biggest seller is the Reuben

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sandwich – corned beef and sauerkraut on rye bread,” says Gilbert Rendon, owner of the New York Deli. “The Manhattan is also popular. It’s turkey, bacon, lettuce and tomato on an onion roll.” Started in Brownsville in 1982 by Rendon’s father, the New York Deli is a true taste of New York City. “My father worked at a New York City deli 30 or 40 years, and he brought all the original New York recipes back to Texas,” Rendon says. The Brownsville location is still in operation, along with the New York Deli in Harlingen and another in McAllen. “People love the food, but they love the atmosphere just as much,” Rendon says. “We decorated the walls with Beatles items and movie posters, and lunchtime is always very busy. When you walk in the door, it’s like walking into New York City, and when you walk out again, you’re back in Texas.” Another gem that sparkles in the Harlingen restaurant scene is the Magnolia Grille, located in the East Tower at Valley Baptist Medical CenterHarlingen. Because of its affiliation with the medical center, many people come to the Magnolia Grille expecting mediocre cafeteria food. They’re pleasantly surprised to find a full-service,

Victorian-style restaurant with crown molding, tablecloths, elegant silverware and plates, and a menu offering hearty, multi-course meals. “We have a couple of signature soups, like our Wild Mushroom Bisque and our Tomato Jalapeno Chilaquiles, similar to chicken tortilla soup,” says Renee Ilog, chef at the Magnolia Grille. “Our salad sampler is also popular. People can choose three from choices like honey pecan chicken salad, tuna salad, pasta salad, lime congealed, oriental shrimp Louis and chicken cobb salad, and it comes with a fresh baked muffin. We’re known for the honey pecan chicken salad. Several customers order three scoops of that, because they like it so much.” The Magnolia Grille recently added several new entrees, including a Paris bistro-style Salmon Scampi with sautéed whole garlic cloves, white wine, butter and lemon juice, and a Blackened Grouper Panini. And dessert is certainly not to be missed. “We do a frozen Bunker Pie with a peanut butter and cookie crust, butter pecan ice cream and fudge icing,” Ilog says. “We also make individual Molten Lava Cakes. When you cut into them, fudge pours out.” The Magnolia Grille is open weekdays for lunch only. HARLINGEN

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always rush hour at the New York Deli, where South Texans can get a delicious taste of the Big Apple. HARLINGEN

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PRECIOUS MEDALS

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HARLINGEN

Oly mpic heroe s nu r t u re hop e a nd d rea m s i n H a rl i n gen you n g ster s S TORY BY

Gary Perilloux

✦ PHOTOGR APHY BY

Antony Boshier

n a Friday afternoon, dreams echo loudly through a former furniture store in Harlingen’s La Placita

district downtown. Youngsters punch body bags and martial artists kick life into the old showroom, with visions of Olympic medals

Leo Hernandez Jr. is one of the aspiring Olympic boxers training at the Harlingen Foundation for Valley Sports, which moved from Brownsville in 2006.

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dancing in their heads. Their coaches know something of that. At the Harlingen Foundation for Valley Sports, Israel Hernandez instructs judo athletes after having won bronze medals in 1992 and 1996 for Cuba. Boxing coach Andrew Maynard earned a 1988 light heavyweight gold for one of the greatest U.S. teams, a lineup that included Ray Mercer, Riddick Bowe, Michael Carbajal and Roy Jones Jr. The gold medal decorates Maynard’s life daily. But the Maryland native who fought in Sugar Ray Leonard’s camp as a pro didn’t box until age 20 and won

the gold at 24. He’s helping two dozen Rio Grande Valley boxers start by their early teens. “My goal is to see somebody from this Valley take the style that I have envisioned, and this program will explode,” Maynard says. “Because everything comes off of what you see. If you see it, you can do it.” That might serve as a vision statement for the foundation, which came to Harlingen in 2006 because of its central location in the Rio Grande Valley. The program, which receives $150,000 in annual seed money from Harlingen

Boxing coach Andrew Maynard won a gold medal in the light heavyweight class during the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.

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officials its first two years, boasts one of two national training sites for judo. Half of Hernandez’s pupils are elite, with several favored to win spots on the 2008 Beijing team. The foundation hopes to gain similar Olympic status for boxing and a planned weightlifting program. Having advanced Olympic hopefuls helps younger athletes focus on their dreams and become more disciplined, says Henry Perkins, the foundation’s executive director. “We’re looking to expand this program and use it to reach out to other kids in the area, not just in this city,” he said. “What we’d like to do is eventually develop a couple of these athletes who make it to the Olympics, whether it’s 2012 or 2016 or beyond.” Hundreds more will benefit from

regimens that fuel college and career successes, and the foundation plans fundraisers to make that happen. It also fosters sports tourism. A USA Judo competition on the 2006 Labor Day weekend brought more than 200 athletes plus coaches, families and friends. Harlingen’s hotel occupancy rate rose from a typical 55 percent to 91 percent that weekend, says Kenneth Benton, a foundation consultant who’s planning a U.S. weightlifting team exhibition and a reunion of Maynard’s 1988 boxing team. “I think we can generate enough revenue through those type of events and corporate sponsorships that we could pay for an Olympic training village and still have enough money to underwrite our operations,” Benton says. “That’s the vision, that’s the goal.”

Harlingen Foundation for Valley Sports provides a training site for USA judo.

Harlingen, TX 1725 W. Filmore Ave. Ph: 956.412.7800 • TF: 888.267.8297 Mexico: 0018000105039

Where Business Meets Pleasure! Cafe Courtyard Full Breakfast Buffet, Dinner and Restaurant Service Access Free High-speed Internet and Cable TV in Every Room Meeting Space For Small and Large Groups • Lounge Open to Public Catering Available For All Types of Events Group Rates Reunions, Weddings, Sporting and Corporate Groups

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Portfolio / B Y J O E M O R R I S

A Park for the Birds H U G H R A M S E Y N AT U R E PA R K I S P L A N N E D G AT E WAY T O W O R L D B I R D I N G C E N T E R

thousands of hours into the park.” The organizations have planted Ramsey Park with native plants, including Texas ebony, huisache, retama, honey mesquite and granjeno, which thrive in the conditions and also provide protective cover for birds and other wildlife. A butterfly garden connects to trails and open areas, making the entire area walkable and the wildlife watchable. A matching grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department led to $1 million in recent improvements, which has meant that the birding center has become one of the nation’s finest, Lyssy says. “We’re looking to develop a visitors center and do more work on McCullough

Park, which is adjacent to Ramsey,” he says. “We want to build a footbridge across the Arroyo Colorado to connect the two sites. The community has really gotten involved with the parks, and we’re seeing a lot more people starting to come through and enjoy all the new amenities.”

PHOTOS BY ANTONY BOSHIER

f feathering the nest is something you take literally, then Harlingen’s Hugh Ramsey Nature Park is a definite destination. The 50-acre nature park has come a long way since 1992, when a former landfill was converted to park space. In the ensuing years and prior to its opening to the public, city workers and volunteers have transformed the space, which now is one of the planned gateway sites to the World Birding Center. “We have done a lot of work, but our volunteers have really done the most,” says Jeff Lyssy, public services director for the city of Harlingen. “The Arroyo Colorado Audubon Society and the Texas Master Naturalists have put

HARLINGEN

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Oak Terrace Apartments We would once again like to thank the readers of Valley Morning Star and the Oak Terrace tenants for the “Best of the Best” in the category of “Apartments.” Valley Morning Star Reader’s Choice Awards 2006

OaK TERRaCE APaRTMENTS Swimming Pools • Playground • BBQ Area • Tennis Courts • Lighted Jogging Trail Three Hole Par Three Golf • Laundry Facilities • Limited Access Gate • Owner Managed

Available Floor Plans: One Bedroom/One Bath ............................ $525 with washer/dryer .................................$555 with private backyard ...........................$575 One Bedroom/1-1/2 Bath Loft with private backyard ...........................$620 Security Deposit ...........................................................$250

Two Bedroom/Two Bath ........................... $650 with connections or washer/dryer .....$680 Two Bedroom/2-1/2 Bath Townhouse ..... $765 with private backyard ...........................$800 Non-refundable Pet Deposit ......................................$300

902 South Loop 499 • Harlingen, Texas 78550 • 956-428-1281 • oakterraceapts.com

Portfolio

Seeing the Big Picture G

ANTONY BOSHIER

eorge McShan is more than happy to talk to anyone about the importance of an education. And as a former president of the Texas Association of School Boards, National School Boards Association and current member of the Harlingen School Board, not to mention 20 years as dean of Texas State Technical College, he brings both a local and national perspective to the table. “It has a lot to do with balance,” he says of his career in education. “While serving in Harlingen, I represent the 17,000 students we have here, and serving nationally I represented 48 million students. What I have to realize when I put on my national hat is that there will be things that my local school district might align with, and others that it may not. But for me the big picture is working to see that public education supports the greater good for the entire nation as well as Harlingen.” McShan says that effective leadership, be it local or national, has to be based on trust. “You want to make sure that the people who elect you trust you for the right reasons, that you are doing what is ethically right,” he says. “I have always known that I am not there to serve for myself, but to be there for the children because they do not have a voice. I have to be that voice.” During his tenure as head of the NSBA, he worked closely with the White House on the No Child Left Behind Act, a process he says was eye-opening in a lot of ways. “That was a very good piece of legislation, but there have been a lot of unintended consequences as a result,” he says. “We’ve had to embrace accountability and standards like never before. We’ve always done well in our district here, but we’re doing more now with special-needs and lower-economic kids. As accounting and standards changed, we’ve allocated resources to support those goals. We’re elected to do what’s right for the children, and I’ve always taken that very personally.”

George McShan brings a national perspective to Harlingen schools. HARLINGEN

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Portfolio

Keeping Harlingen Clean N

eed to do something with all those used cans and bottles? In Harlingen, you can recycle them and be proud – literally. Founded in 1990, Harlingen Proud is composed of citizens who have two goals: community beautification and a meaningful recycling program. The organization set out in many directions, including a graffiti-abatement program that has reclaimed whole neighborhoods, and a beautification committee that has brightened dozens of spots around town. But the recycling efforts may be Harlingen Proud’s hallmark contribution to the city, says Mandy Key, executive coordinator. “Our recycling center has just grown immeasurably since the beginning,” Key says. “This year we took 850 tons of debris out of the waste stream.” The drop-off center handles a variety of recyclables for the entire area, and then uses funds generated to fund education programs and cleanup efforts around the city. Since Harlingen doesn’t have a curbside recycling program, it’s become a one-stop shop for the environmentally conscious, Key says. “People have been very receptive to what we have to offer,” she says. “Over the last couple of years we’ve been focusing on the graffiti-abatement and clean-neighborhoods programs, so now we’re revamping our whole recycling

program. But whether it’s the recycling center or our specific events, such as the fall cemetery cleanup and the Don’t Mess With Texas Trash Bash the first Saturday in April, the people have been extremely supportive.”

Harlingen Proud does the dirty work in town.

Driving Community Spirit S

Frank Boggus believes in giving back to the community.

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ince 1933, there’s been a Boggus selling Fords in Harlingen and nearby McAllen. But the family has done much more than provide transportation for area residents. Frank Boggus, who took over the dealerships founded by his father, has long been one of Harlingen’s movers and shakers on the community scene. It’s hard to find a board or organization that hasn’t sought his input, even in recent years when declining health forced him to cut back a lot of his activities. “He has a real passion for the Salvation Army and another organization, Loaves and Fishes,” says Bob Boggus, Frank’s son and current president of Boggus Ford McAllen and Boggus Ford Harlingen. “Things like Loaves and Fishes, food banks

and that kind of group, he just feels real passionate about.” Asked about his father’s board work, the younger Boggus ticks off a lengthy list: the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce, Jaycees, the Rio Grande Valley Boy Scouts and the local United Way are just a few. “He taught us to give back to the community,” Boggus says. “When you’re in the Ford business you rely on the community to rely on you, not to go out of town, but we were brought up to believe that you have to give back to make that work. We’re not doing that for exposure on the community, per se, but it does help. And we’ve always had good people running our store, so it allows us to get out and do things in the area.”

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Semper Fidelis or 41 years, the Marine Military Academy of Harlingen has been producing future leaders, not just for the United States, but the world. The Academy, which is based on the traditions of the U.S. Marine Corps, serves students in grades eight to 12, with one year of postgraduate study offered. Its current enrollment is around 340 young men representing 30 states and foreign countries including China, Mexico, Russia, Korea, France, Ireland, Great Britain and the Virgin Islands. “We are very unique in that we are one of the only military boarding schools for all boys in grades eight-12 that also offers a year of postsecondary education,” says Deb Wieland, public affairs officer. “And we’re the only school in the United States with the U.S. Marine Corps values of courage, commitment and honor.” The academy also benefits from its president, retired Brigadier General Steve Cheney, whose rank helps nominate graduates for the military’s service academies. “That definitely gives us a competitive edge,” Wieland says. “We currently have one graduate in the U.S. Naval Academy, two in The Citadel and one in the U.S. Air Force Academy. Getting into those institutions takes more than the recommendation; it takes good grades. We push academics first and think we have the recipe here for helping make all that happen.” Service to the community also is a hallmark of the academy, with many of Harlingen’s charitable endeavors benefiting from the students’ involvement. “They set up and man the phones for the Jerry Lewis muscular dystrophy telethon, help with cemetery cleanup and the Rio Grande reforestation project, work with the homeless, do tutoring, and more,” Wieland says, adding that working with seniors is one of her favorite ways the cadets interact with the community. “On Valentine’s Day they dressed up in their blues and went and gave roses to the ladies in the nursing homes,” she says. “It was really wonderful.”

HARLINGEN

WE S ALDRIDGE

More than 300 students are enrolled in the Marine Military Academy.

Harlingen’s Only Premier Suite Hotel For some, it’s the cozy accommodations, in-room coffee, complimentary continental breakfast and great rates. For others, it’s the little things we do … a warm smile, a friendly hello, followed by a call to make sure you’re comfortable. You’ll appreciate the extras ... • Business center • Free local calls • Microwave and refrigerator in every room • Pool and exercise room • Beautiful family suites available • Free continental breakfast • DSL in guest rooms 3825 S. Expressway 83 Harlingen, TX 78550 (956) 428-0043 Fax: (956) 428-0053 countryinns.com/harlingentx

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I M A G E gallery

PHOTOGR APHY BY

Antony Boshier

Black-bellied whistling ducks

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I M A G E gallery

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PHOTOGR APHY BY

Wes Aldridge

Iwo Jima Memorial at the Marine Military Academy

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Business H A R L I N G E N

S TORY BY

Gary Perilloux

â&#x20AC;˘ PHOTOGR APHY BY

Antony Boshier

A Technology

Touchstone I n H a rl i n gen , f i r m s f i ne-t u ne t hei r c u stomer con nect ion s

EchoStar Communications employs more than 1,000 people in its Dish Network call center.

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HARLINGEN

eeping in touch with customers is critical, a link that reigns supreme in technology-rich environments. In Harlingen, two high-tech arrivals illustrate how technology serves as a customer touchstone. T h ree yea rs ago, EchoSta r Communications launched a call center to support its Dish Network base of millions of satellite TV customers. Seven years ago, Gibbs Die Casting moved to the Harlingen Industrial Park to craft precision steering wheel components for a customer in Matamoros, Mexico. “Since then, we’ve seen three or four other major steering-wheel manufacturers move to Mexico,” says Norwood Fedie, Gibbs regional marketing manager. “So right now we’re really well-positioned. Mexico is essentially where the steering wheel manufacturing is all going, simply because the finishing of the steering wheel – as far as mounting the electronics and the leather-wrapping – is pretty labor-intensive.” In Harlingen, Gibbs established a 38,000-square-foot manufacturing center to stamp out steering wheels. The precise aluminum and magnesium alloy armatures are created through computercontrolled presses, a 720-ton machine and a pair of 930-ton presses. Gibbs employs a highly skilled team of 60 people to make the steering wheel backbones shipped to suppliers in Mexico, such as Key Safety Systems, Autoliv, TRW, KS Centoco and Delphi. “We hope this plant expands,” says Fedie, and there’s a good chance it will. Harlingen is minutes away from the fourlaned Free Trade Bridge at Los Indios, a key link for the future Interstate 69 corridor from Canada to Latin America. For connecting to Gibbs’ Kentucky headquarters or to customers, the Valley International Airport aids travel as the region’s busiest airport – nearly 1 million passengers annually – with the longest runway at 8,200 feet. Harlingen also offers significant quality of life in a city of 66,000, Fedie says, with convenient retail and services but traffic that’s not overbearing. Like Gibbs, EchoStar tapped local education resources to train a crew of 1,000, the largest Harlingen workforce

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outside the education and health-care arenas. Through a vocational program with Harlingen high schools, EchoStar pays seniors as they experience the call center environment in part-time training positions. Each year, a student from each school earns a $1,000 scholarship, and every student and employee receives career-path planning. Such programs and incentive packages have doubled the average call center agent’s tenure to 19 months, something that boosts service quality for Dish Network customers.

“We plan to continue to work toward helping as many people as possible in Harlingen find a career with benefits and a future,” says Brad Baumunk, the company’s director of customer service operations. Local firms also benefit from Harlingen Manufacturers Association that helps harness relationships across the border, Fedie says. “It’s growing by leaps and bounds there,” he says. “I could take you to an industrial park that was just getting started three years ago. Today, it’s full.”

EchoStar’s Brad Baumunk vows to keep good jobs in Harlingen. IMAGESHARLINGEN.COM

Business H A R L I N G E N

B R I E F S

ANTONY BOSHIER

B I Z

Palm Gardens Resort has been a favorite of Harlingen’s ‘Winter Texans’ since 1928.

A H O M E A W AY F R O M H O M E “Human beings are creatures of habit,” says Jack McMullen, general manager of Palm Gardens Resort. Still, there must be other reasons why people have been visiting Palm Gardens since 1928. The “manufactured home and RV community for adults 55 and better” does have about 85 year-round residents, but it gets between 600-900 visitors per year. The central location, warm climate, 245 units with full hookups and good rates all draw visitors in, but it’s probably the profusion of activities that keeps the “Winter Texans” coming back. There’s a wood shop, a ceramics shop, a pool hall, a heated pool and spa, a coffee shop, a library, craft sales, golfing, birding, tennis, dancing on Saturday nights in Fiesta Hall and a free pancake breakfast every Tuesday. “The most popular thing we’ve got going now are the jams – two a week,

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one acoustic and one electric. And eating,” McMullen laughs. “You can stay as busy as you want or just sit back and watch others go by.” The sense of nostalgia can’t hurt either. McMullen says, “We have people here who are second-, third-, even fourth-generation visitors. Someone brought me an old Palm Gardens postcard from 1949 or ’50, and someone else turned up an old rate sheet from when it was 25 cents a week to stay here back in ’55 or ’54.” AROUND THE WORLD AND DOWN THE STREE T We all know that it’s a small world after all. Austin-based Lynxs CargoPorts helps the world run a little smoother with its cargo distribution facilities at airports and seaports around the globe. Cities where Lynxs facilities are located include Houston, Austin, Fort Lauderdale, Sacramento, Chicago, Tulsa, Los Angeles, New York,

Philadelphia, San Antonio, Anchorage, Vienna – and Harlingen, at Valley International Airport. Chairman Raymond J. Brimble founded Lynxs CargoPorts in Austin in 1995. The company’s signature product is its CargoPort, which provides intermodal, direct ramp-side access, parking space for wide-body aircraft, fueling stations, office space, and other amenities to help customers and tenants facilitate smooth transitions from air or sea to ground transportation. With its recent work at the Vienna International Airport in Austria, Lynxs is looking to expand into more European markets. As wide as its reach may be, however, Lynxs believes in being a part of the communities it serves. Through volunteer work and financial contributions, the company is involved in projects that help make life better in the cities where Lynxs facilities are located. For example, Lynxs supports HARLINGEN

the Inter national Center of Austin, the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless, Conspirare, Mobile Loaves and Fishes, and others. RO O T S T HAT RUN D EEP Bob Dunkin is enthusiastic about First Community Bank’s mission to be true to its roots. In fact, the CEO keeps the bank’s mission statement in his wallet, where he can quickly access it for anyone who’s interested in hearing about the oldest chartered bank in Cameron County, which is also the only locally owned bank in Harlingen. Dunkin, who started as a parking lot attendant at his father’s bank in 1954, attributes First Community’s success to those local roots. “We’re local people who have been in banking in this community for years. We know everyone in the community. We are the community’s bank.” In fact, Dunkin says that 96 percent of all of the bank’s stock is owned by people who live within 15 miles of the bank. That translates into decision-making by people who know the area well. “When people come to us with lending requests, we know the situation. We’re looking at the people involved, not just the numbers,” he says. Chartered in 1979, Dunkin says Harlingen is a great place for First Community, where it has three locations. “We are nicely centrally located. We’re very proud of our school system and our medical community here. We have a really good quality of growth.” SPREADING SUNSHINE You might say that spreading sunshine runs in the Davis family tree. Back in 1926, Frank Davis Sr., along with his partner, Howard Pittman, started a mail-order business that specialized in shipping the Rio Grande Valley’s signature red grapefruit all over the country. Today, Pittman & Davis still specializes in deluxe citrus fruits and other gift foods, and the company is still run by the Davis family. Frank Sr.’s son Ned, 83, is the CEO, and Ned’s children, Frank, Ted and Cathi, all work for the family business. The company now has a whole cornucopia of gift foods from which to choose. Frank Davis II, president, says that along with grapefruit, the pears, HARLINGEN

apples, smoked meats and pastries are among the most popular items. “There’s everything you could think of for a gift food item, and it all stands up to our quality requirements,” Davis says. It’s not just the quality selection that drives the company’s success. It is Pittman & Davis’s family values that keep customers around the United States satisfied, says Davis. “A lot has to do with customer service and honesty and price. By shipping by refrigerated freight to local distribution centers, we can deliver less expensively and more quickly than most companies. And we pass that savings on to customers.” A GOOD MOVE When Douglass and Ruth Wacker expanded an orthotics and prosthetics business into the Rio Grande Valley from Houston, the couple found themselves spending more time here than they were in Houston. When they finally realized that they would much rather live in Harlingen than Houston, they opened NUTECH

Orthotics and Prosthetics in 2004 and have never looked back. “We have always had a fondness for the Valley itself. We like the people and the culture of the Valley. Harlingen was, of all the locations, the best for our home base because it is centrally located, and we’ve always had a fondness for Harlingen,” Ruth says. But it wasn’t just their lifestyle preferences that figured into their decision. Ruth says of their business, “There was a need here that wasn’t being met. We service patients from Mission to Brownsville.” The company makes custom arm, leg, and mastectomy prosthetics as well as orthotic braces. People who have been in accidents or people with birth defects or diseases such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy are all possible users of the orthotic products the company makes. NUTECH is also involved in managed care for diabetics and in the manufacture of myoelectric arms and hands. “It’s very rewarding,” Ruth says. – Kimberly Daly

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Business H A R L I N G E N

C H A M B E R

R E P O R T

Giving Back to the Community Leadership Harlingen teaches participants about their community etting people involved in the community by giving back is what it’s all about for participants of Leadership Harlingen. In fact, that’s the whole mission of Leadership Harlingen – to identify, develop and place leaders in the community. The program, started by the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce in 1985, impacts lives through a series of 10 all day sessions ranging from agriculture to law enforcement. Most of the sessions are held on Thursdays, requiring participants to give up one day of work a month. But employers don’t mind the missed time because of the bigger payoff for employees with honed leadership skills. “Participants learn about the ins and outs of their community through the program,” says Melissa Boykin, Special Events Manager for the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce. “Our objective is to build leaders,” Boykin says. “To prepare them to serve on local committees and boards and to give back to the community. It is a great program.” Each year participants are required to develop a class project that gives back to the community. The project is also a great team building experience. “Every year it’s a different project,” says Boykin. “Last year participants made personal visits and sent letters out to major corporations requesting donations. They raised $25,000 for the renovation of the teen room at Valley Baptist Medical Center Harlingen. Program participants in 2004-05 raised money for a mural, and the year before, through donations, class participants purchased computer equipment and much needed supplies for an area homeless shelter.

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This year’s class has chosen to raise funds to renovate Harlingen’s Family Crisis Center. The project also includes upgrades to the playground for the enjoyment of the children staying at the center. Leadership Harlingen class participants must complete their projects before they graduate from the program in May of each year. The students for the 2006-07 class come from a wide range of industries, such as the Harlingen Fire Department, United Launch Alliance, Texas State Technical College and the Harlingen Housing Authority. Each year more than 20 students graduate and carry their leadership skills into their business and community relations. – Cristal Cody

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From left: Leadership Harlingen’s Ricky Leal, Paul Durant and Ed Rodgriguez in VBMC’s Teen Room HARLINGEN

E C O N O M I C BUSINESS CLIMATE

P R O F I L E

Harlingen attracts worldwide attention because of its strategic location on the U.S.-Mexico trade corridor. Harlingen is centrally located in the Rio Grande Valley at the southern tip of Texas, with more than 2 million people within a 50-mile radius in the Valley and Northern Mexico.

HOUSEHOLD INCOME

TRANSPORTATION Air Service Valley International Airport â&#x20AC;˘ (956) 430-8600 iflyharlingen.com Border Crossing The Free Trade Bridge at Los Indios provides passage from Texas into Mexico. The Free Trade Bridge accesses a four-lane highway in northern Mexico, offering a fast route to the border cities of Matamoros and Reynosa, as well as connecting with Monterrey and the interior of Mexico. NAFTA CargoPort Federal Express, United Parcel Service, Airborne Express and several private charter operators provide airfreight services. Federal Express provides international service to Mexico from the VIA terminal. The NAFTA Air Cargo Port opened in February 2004 and provides multiple tenants with 38,800 square feet of warehouse space, truck docks for intermodal accessibility and a public (nontenant air freighter) ramp. Current tenants include Menlo Forwarding and BAX Global. The Cargo Port is a perfect location for logistics and distribution companies and their suppliers that seek proximity to scheduled air cargo hubs.

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2000 Census

2004 Estimate

Average household income

$41,552

$44,014

Median household income

$30,433

$32,436

Per capita income

$13,433

$14,523

Port Access The Port of Harlingen is located four miles east of Harlingen on Highway 106. It is 25 miles west of Mile Marker 646 on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, which provides more than 1,300 miles of protected waterway. The Harlingen Channel is maintained to a width of 125 feet and a depth of 12 feet. Rail Union Pacific Railroad has a local terminal and switching yard in Harlingen. The Harlingen Industrial Parks and the Port of Harlingen have direct rail access.

BUSINESS PARKS Harlingen has prime industrial property ready for development. Harlingen Industrial Parks include the AirPark, Port of Harlingen and Harlingen Industrial Parks I through IV. Lots within the Industrial Parks offer these amenities: full infrastructure, affordable and reliable utilities, enterprise zone, foreign trade zone, and easy access to Mexico and a state-of-the-art airport.

TOP PRIVATE EMPLOYERS Valley Baptist Health System EchoStar Communications/ Dish Network Vicki Roy Home Health West Corp. Harlingen Medical Center Wal-Mart Su Clinica Familiar Advanced Technologies Acetylene Oxygen Time Warner Cable

FOR MORE INFORMATION Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce 311 E. Tyler St. Harlingen, TX 78550 (956) 423-5440 â&#x20AC;˘ (800) 531-7346 Fax: (956) 425-3870 E-mail: info@harlingen.com harlingen.com Source: Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce

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EDUCAT ION

Healthy Food for Thought G O OD NU T R I T ION I S PA R T OF T HE HA R L ING EN S CHO OL DI S T R IC T ’ S C UR R IC ULUM

o french fries – in fact, no fried foods at all – are served to students in the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District. Instead, the HCISD’s 17,680 students are discovering that foods good for them, such as fruits, salads and baked potato chips, can taste good, too. And in an era when childhood obesity and diabetes are rising rapidly, getting children to eat healthier meals is a crucial mission. “Diabetes is linked with obesity, so the most effective preventative measure you can take for children is to reduce obesity,” says Kitty Wade, Child Nutrition Director for HCISD. “The more we can get kids eating right and developing a lifelong habit of making good food choices, the easier it will be for them to avoid becoming overweight. With our menus, we can show kids what foods are healthy.” The district’s impact on what the children eat is significant: 70 percent of the students are eligible for free or reduced cost lunches and breakfasts, and, for the youngest, after-school snacks. Ten years ago, Harlingen became one of the first school districts in Texas to adopt the USDA’s NuMenu program. Using software to nutritionally analyze every ingredient in a food item, HCISD’s Child Nutrition dietitians are able to plan menus with recipes that meet or exceed the USDA’s requirements for protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron. The nutritional requirements and serving size depend on the child’s age, and that’s why – with the NuMenu system – the dietitians can design three separate menus to meet the different caloric needs of elementary, middle school and high school students. And students can choose between multiple entrees, including vegetarian plates. Close attention to nutritional values is paying off in several ways. “We received the Region One award for meeting nutritional program requirements. In fact, we had a perfect score,” Wade says. The honor recognizes that everything served to students in a specific one-week period met

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USDA standards. At first, many students were reluctant to try the whole grain bread. “We’re like a living laboratory,” Wade explains. “We have seen the students become very excited about eating fresh fruit and chef salads. We have changed their thinking about what is healthy to eat. Kids tell their mothers, ‘This is what we eat at school. It’s supposed to be better for growing kids.’ ” A decrease in excess weight is already

being seen in third-graders who have had no access to candy and soft drinks at school. The Child Nutrition department, which has a diabetes educator on staff, operates in conjunction with the nutrition education and physical activities programs. “Kids overweight in high school tend to stay overweight as adults. Good food choices can make the difference,” Wade says. – Eileen Mattei

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Nutrition Director Kitty Wade is bringing healthy choices to HCISD’s students. IMAGESHARLINGEN.COM

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HARLINGEN

ARTS/CULTURE

One Piece at a Time MU S E UM OF F ER S A VA R IE T Y OF E X HIBI T S, AC T I V I T IE S IN MULT IPL E L O C AT ION S

of history for its visitors. Its five buildings ring a courtyard and feature city father Lon C. Hill’s original home, the Paso Real (Stagecoach Inn) and Harlingen’s first hospital. Its main building, the HAHM Historic Museum, features a gift shop, exhibit halls for temporary and traveling exhibits and conference space. Recent shows have included an exhibit devoted to altars for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), and photographer Mary Andrade’s photos of that holiday in Mexico. The mix of Harlingen history and a rotating roster of exhibits already are getting the museum positive local feedback, Arizpe says. “We can add things from our permanent artifacts to enhance an exhibit that is coming,” he says, “or if there’s nothing coming, we can create our own. We have a collection of pianos in our artifacts, for example, that one day may be displayed as a showcase of the instruments from different eras, maybe with a specialist coming in to give a lecture on them.” With new leadership and the unflagging support of its dedicated volunteers, the museum is poised to make Harlingen’s residents very proud. “We think we’re waking up a giant,” Arizpe says. “Now we’re making enough noise to where we’re getting some attention and people are getting excited. The community is becoming aware that they really do have a museum, and that we’re focusing on preserving the history of Harlingen. We think that gives the local people ownership.” – Joe Morris

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f people around Harlingen don’t know much about their local museum, they can be excused. For the last few years, the Rio Grande Valley Museum has been barely hanging on, with a core group of volunteers keeping the doors open. But with a new name and renewed focus on preserving the area’s unique history, this hidden treasure is back and better than ever. Now known as the Harlingen Arts & Heritage Museum, the five-building complex is actively reintegrating itself into the community and working to showcase its treasures, says Tomas Arizpe, coordinator. “The museum opened in 1967, when the old air base barracks were donated to it,” Arizpe says. “From there, little by little, the historical buildings around it were acquired. And then in the 1980s, the main building was built.” There was no lack of interest in the former Air Police Station & Brig of the former Harlingen Air Force Base, but over time, the museum lost focus and faced closure. And even with a new name and top-notch homegrown and traveling exhibits coming in, Arizpe says there is much work to be done. “A lot of our artifacts and archives were in poor condition,” he says. “Now we’re in the process of organizing what we have, putting things into categories and catalogs. When we get to the point where we feel comfortable with things, we’ll be accepting large artifacts or archives again and start expanding our collection. But our focus is on preservation: We’re here to preserve history, not to collect it.” Even in flux, the museum itself offers plenty

The Paso Real (Stagecoach Inn) allows one to relive what travel was like during Old West times and is just one of several buildings making up the Harlingen Arts & Heritage Museum at the former Harlingen Air Force Base. HARLINGEN

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HARLINGEN

ANTONY BOSHIER

SPORTS/RECREAT ION

The Harlingen Tennis Foundation is overseeing a $1.9 million renovation of the 18-court H-E-B Tennis Center.

Slamming Aces in Style T HE F U T URE I S BECOMING E VEN BR IGHT ER FOR T ENNI S FANS IN HARL INGEN

ennis has been strong in this South Texas city for many years, but when the Harlingen Tennis Foundation’s plan for the very near future reaches fruition, it will be living large, indeed. The foundation has plans for a $1.9 million renovation of the 18-court HEB Tennis Center at Pendleton Park, with nearly half coming from the publicprivate sector. “We’ve got a lot of people who don’t even play tennis who are behind this project because they recognize the value of it to Harlingen,” says Bert Wolf, president of the foundation. “We’ll also ask major corporations to sponsor various parts of the center.” City commissioners have already agreed to match up to $750,000 for the project, and they’ve also pledged to match a state grant that will add another $395,000. Supermarket giant HEB is giving $200,000 for the naming rights to the complex that is expected to be complete in early 2008. “It will be a great HARLINGEN

facility for the public and will really help promote tennis,” Wolf says. Already the largest tennis center in the region – and perhaps the busiest – the H-E-B Center will soon become the nicest. In addition to resurfacing the courts, a new pro shop and locker room complex are on the drawing boards, as are new lights for the 12 oldest courts. The six newest courts already have stateof-the-art lighting. “It’s good for Harlingen, and our city commissioners have all realized that and support us,” says Don Van Ramshorst, director of tennis. “It will help us draw even more tournaments – both amateur and professional – to the area on weekends, which will be a big boost to the economy.” Van Ramshorst says the 18 courts are constantly in use, from early morning to late at night. “In the summer, they stay filled up,” he says. “We’ll have 40 or 50 kids out here in the morning and then in the evening, the adults come out. During

the school year, we’ll have teams out here practicing in the mornings before school starts. And it stays pretty busy all day long. We have USTA (United States Tennis Association) team tennis going on, and we have a group of about 20 ‘Winter Texans’ that is pretty active when they come down from the North.” Coaches at the local middle and high schools are, says Van Ramshorst, one of the reasons Harlingen tennis is recognized statewide. “We’ve got some really good coaches, and most of them are from here. They want to see tennis succeed, and they work hard at it.” Wolf says that attitude permeates the Harlingen community. “This town has always put a strong emphasis on recreational activities because we want to be a better place to live,” he says. “It’s really not any more complicated than that. It’s already a great place to live, but we believe we can make it better and tennis is a big part of that.” – Danny McKenzie IMAGESHARLINGEN.COM

HEALTH/WELLNESS

Setting the Standard HARL INGEN ’ S VALL E Y BA P T I S T MEDIC AL CEN T ER I S F O CU S ED ON T HE ‘ C U S T OMER ’

“

summoned by any bedside caregiver when a patient’s condition seems to be worsening. Evidence-based treatments that have sprung from Six Sigma facilitate quicker interventions and more effective procedures that mean higher survival rates. “When it comes to heart attacks, every minute counts,” says Six Sigma expert Blake Hubbard. “It’s important for patients to seek care immediately. Early administration of clot-busting drugs – or treatment with catheters, balloon angioplasty, stents, and other devices to open blocked arteries – can make the difference between life and death.” With the implementation of Six Sigma, Valley Baptist is now in the top 10 percent of hospitals in the nation in management of acute myocardial infarction patients, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “What we have accomplished to date is a powerful example of how the databased Six Sigma system is used to improve clinical outcomes,” says Dr.

Tomas A. Gonzalez, vice president of Six Sigma for Valley Baptist Health System. “We continue to discover clinical areas that must be improved by utilizing the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control Six Sigma methodology.” While much of the measurement in Six Sigma is in processes and outcomes, the overall focus is on patients. Six Sigma’s terminology – frequently referring to patients as “customers” – is a reminder to all that health care is, first and foremost, a service. That customer focus helped Valley Baptist-Harlingen meet its goals as part of the 100,000 Lives Campaign, a recent nationwide effort to improve specific processes in health-care settings. With the completion of the campaign, however, the improvement efforts continue. Valley Baptist Health System CEO James Springfield says, “There is no greater priority for our health system than continuous improvement so that we can provide the best possible outcomes for each of our patients.” – Errol Castens

ANTONY BOSHIER

ix Sigma” is hardly an everyday term to most people, but at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen, it is the term that helps measure the quality of what they do. That translates to lives saved and abilities recovered. The Six Sigma focus takes its name from the Greek letter ó, used in mathematics to represent standard deviation. Each level of sigma means higher quality; “Six Sigma” denotes a process that produces the phenomenal rate of only 3.4 defects per million opportunities. At Valley Baptist-Harlingen, a 611bed acute-care hospital serving South Texas and beyond, that ambitious but technical-sounding goal means improvements from cost savings to enhanced patient outcomes. (Even before Six Sigma was instituted, the medical center was home to the topranked orthopedics service in Texas, a state-of-the-art children’s center and a Level III trauma facility.) In cardiac care, for instance, Six Sigma has led to the formation of Rapid Response Teams that can be instantly

Harlingen’s Valley Baptist Medical Center has instituted ‘Six Sigma’ principles to improve care for its patients. HARLINGEN

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HARLINGEN

Harlingen C O M M U N I T Y SNAPSHOT

P R O F I L E

Just north of Mexico and minutes from the Gulf Coast, the Harlingen area – in the center of the lush Rio Grande Valley on the southern tip of Texas – is a laid-back blend of South Texas charm and the rich traditions of Mexico.

CLIMATE Average July high 94 F Average January low 46 F Average annual precipitation 27.5 inches

LIFE IN HARLINGEN Thousands of birders flock to Harlingen for year-round birding and the internationally known Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival. Seasonal seniors, affectionately called “Winter Texans,” travel to Harlingen each year to bask in the mild, tropical winters. Among the city’s 25 park sites are playgrounds, gardens, nature trails, tennis courts, soccer and softball fields, pools and picnic shelters. Enjoy the 2.1-mile Arroyo Hike & Bike Trail, connecting four city parks, and the Harlingen Thicket bird sanctuary. Sports facilities include a roller hockey pavilion, the 27-hole Tony Butler Municipal Golf Course, and a new skate park for teens. Pack your putter when you come to Harlingen and enjoy seven challenging area courses at outstanding values.

MEDICAL FACILITIES A Hub for Health Care Home of the region’s largest hospital, Valley Baptist Medical Center, Harlingen and Harlingen Medical Center can claim to be the heart of the health care in the Rio Grande Valley. The medical school campus, the Regional Academic Health Center of the University of Texas Science Center-San Antonio is located in Harlingen. Third- and forth-year medical students are trained at the facility, and doctors who have just graduated go through a three-year internal medicine residency program there. Harlingen’s Ronald McDonald House offers a home away from home for families of hospitalized children. Nearby Su Clinica Familiar is one of the largest federally funded community health-care clinics in the state. Harlingen Medical Center 5501 South Expressway 77 Phone: 365-1000

UTHSCSA Regional Academic Health Center 2102 Treasure Hills Blvd. Phone: 365-8600 Valley Baptist Health System 2101 Pease Street Phone: 389-1100 Ronald McDonald House 720 Treasure Hills Boulevard Phone: 412-7200 Su Clinica Familiar 1706 Treasure Hills Blvd. Phone: 365-6750

TRANSPORTATION Airlines Southwest Airlines (800) 435-9792 Continental Airlines (800) 525-0280 Sun Country • (800) 359-6786 Airport Valley International Airport 430-8600 Bus Valley Transit Company 423-4710 Highways U.S. Highway 77 connects to Interstate 37 at Corpus Christi, and U.S. Highway 83 connects with Interstate 35 at Laredo.

With more than half of the current commercial trade between the United States and Mexico flowing through Texas, Harlingen/Rio Grande Valley is gaining a reputation as the newest corridor of international commerce. The area code for Harlingen is 956.

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Rental Cars Advantage Rent A Car • 421-5878 Avis Rent A Car • 430-8690 Dollar Rent A Car Systems 430-8916 Enterprise Rent A Car • 423-9104 Shuttle Go with Jo Tours & Travel 423-1446 Valley Transit Company 423-4710 Taxi Rio Grande Transit Inc. 428-4614 Tours and Travel Go with Jo Tours & Travel 423-1446 Vamonos Travel • 428-1932

ATTRACTIONS Downtown Jackson Street District D’Arte Centre Harlingen Heritage Trail Harlingen Murals Harlingen Parks & Recreation Department

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Harlingen is one of three major trade areas along the Texas/Mexico border and has the experience in international relations to capitalize on Mexico’s $187 billion market. Harlingen Trolley Tours Iwo Jima Monument & Memorial Museum Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge Los Ebanos Preserve Harlingen Arts & Heritage Museum Valle Vista Mall Valley Race Park

EDUCATION 216-4910 425-4030 216-4910 216-4910 216-5954

Public Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District • 427-3400 Private Calvary Christian School 425-1882

428-1392 421-9235 748-3607 399-9097 216-4901 425-8374 412-7223

Marine Military Academy • 423-6006 St. Alban’s Episcopal Day School • 428-2326 St. Anthony Area Catholic Schools 423-2486 St. Joseph Academy • 542-3581 St. Paul Lutheran Church School • 423-3926 Higher Education Texas State Technical College – Harlingen 364-4000 University of Texas at Brownsville • 544-8200 Regional Academic Health Center • 365-8650 University of Texas Pan American • 381-2011

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UTILITIES Cable TV Time Warner Cable Communications (800) 222-5355 Satellite TV EchoStar Communications

(800) 333-DISH

Electricity American Electric Power (888) 216-3523 Constellation New Energy (888) 350-4040 CPL Retail Energy (866) 322-5563 Hino Electric Power Co. 428-2800 Magic Valley Electric Cooperative Inc. (866) 225-5683 Reliant Energy (800) 528-8568 Texen Power Co. 357-0070

Harlingen Pediatrics Associates Infant, Child & Adolescent Care

Gas Hino Gas Sales Inc. 423-9178 Texas Gas Service (800) 743-2945

321 S. 21st St. • Harlingen, TX 78550 956.425.8761

Telephone Foremost Telecommunications 440-9990 Southwestern Bell/AT&T Telephone (800) 585-7928 Time Warner 425-5897 Water and Garbage Harlingen WaterWorks

myhpa.org

Digital Communications

430-6100

NUMBERS TO KNOW Ambulance/Emergency Medical Services • 364-2711 Building Inspector • 216-5160 City Hall • 216-5000 Emergencies • 911 Fire Department • 216-5700 Harlingen Recycling Center 427-8824 Public Library • 216-5800 Police Department • 216-5400 Post Office • 423-1464 Social Security Office • 412-5305 County Offices Cameron County Appraisal District • 428-8020 Cameron Works Workforce Center 423-9266

The area code for Harlingen is 956.

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Business Telephone Systems Voice Mail IP Networking Relocations and Upgrades • Fiber Optic Installations • Network Cabling 605 E. Tyler Harlingen, TX 78550

(956) 421-2322 (800) 470-2322

digitalcomco.com IMAGESHARLINGEN.COM

Cameron County Tax Collector • 427-8013 State Offices Texas Department of Public Safety – Drivers License • 423-4431 Texas Department of Public Safety – Highway Patrol • 440-6700

SINGLE-FAMILY NEW HOUSE CONSTRUCTION BUILDING PERMITS 2003: 332 buildings, average cost: $97,200 2004: 383 buildings average cost: $106,503 2005: 414 buildings average cost: $101,297 2006: 425 buildings average cost: $102,232 Source: city-data.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce 311 E. Tyler St. Harlingen, TX 78550 (956) 423-5440, (800) 531-7346 E-mail: info@harlingen.com harlingen.com Sources: Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau

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