January / February 2020 - RGVision Magazine by RGVision Magazine

JAN UARY/FE B RUARY 2 0 2 0 | VO LUM E 12 ISSUE 1

Census 2020 has far-reaching impacts for RGV. FACES IN THE VALLEY

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Harlingen CISD PSJA ISD Luana Masso South Texas College Bill Martin Sergio Contreras Leonardo F. Chang Dr. Alfonso Mercado Tijerina Legal Group Quinta Mazatlán

WRITERS

Copyright by RGVision Publications Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without expressed written permission of the publisher is prohibited. The opinions and views expressed in the magazine don’t necessarily reflect those of our advertisers or collaborators. RGVision magazine is published bi-monthly and circulates 12,000 copies across the Rio Grande Valley in 450 locations with a direct mail distribution to major hospitals and Superintendents within Region 1. The RGVision office is located at 801 N. Bryan Road, Mission, TX 78572. To receive an annual subscription of RGVision publications for $29.99, email info@RGVisionMagazine.com.

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PUBLISHER'S NOTE

K ELS EY G R EEN E

CONTENT CONTRIBUTERS

“The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.”‭Isaiah 9:10 NIV‬‬

PHOTOGRAPHER

PHOTOGRAPHERS

We open this new year with hope and faith. Whatever the case may be, know this year will be one of revival and prosperity. At RGVision, we are humbled and extremely grateful to share the good news and success stories of our remarkable Rio Grande Valley. This region continues to see tremendous growth, and it is our honor to help tell the stories of all the great things we have right here. We hope you, our reader, continue to be educated, informed, and inspired. Thank you for picking up this issue of RGVision. Please share with others by visiting us online or through Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. We have much more to look forward to in this coming year!

Mariela Peña

For editorial comments and suggestions, please send emails to info@rgvisionmagazine.com. For advertising information, please call us at 956.431.0103 or email us at info@rgvisionmagazine.com. A special thank you to all the advertisers who support this publication: You are the power behind the flywheel igniting positive change that keeps the conversation going. P RI N T ED I N MEXI CO

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TABLE OF

CONTENTS 2020

VOLUME 12 ISSUE 1 RGVISION MAGAZINE

78 ON THE COVER

COUNT US IN

Census 2020 has far-reaching impacts for Rio Grande Valley.

EDUCATION

Harlingen CISD pg 10 Gaining a Competitive Edge pg 12 As Easy as 1-2-3 pg 14 Dual Credit Fast Track pg 16 The Value of Partnerships pg 18 A Head Start on the Job Hunt pg 20 Leader in Me pg 24 Signal Boost pg 26

BUSINESS

12 Lessons on Life and Money pg 28 Trade Surge pg 30 Living Smarter pg 32 Financial Focus pg 34 Safely Storing Valuables pg 38 A Long Legacy of Service pg 40 Celebrating Stories pg 42 Keep Trucking pg 44

FAC ES IN T HE VA LLEY

AC T IVE REA DING

FA M ILY B U S INES S

Powerlifting legend lifted sport in the RGV.

Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book getting readers to live healthier.

McAllen Ranch embraces past, adapts to future.

HEALTH

Impacts of Politics pg 46 Crowning Achievement pg 48 What is CBD? pg 50 Grade 'A' Quality Care pg 54 'Using Positivity' pg 60 Labor of Love pg 62

QUALITY OF LIFE

Winter Wonderland pg 64 Wheeling Away pg 66 Wild Nature pg 70 Communities of Camaraderie pg 72 RGVision Food Fave pg 74 Reputable Repairs pg 88 Open Books pg 90 Master Plan pg 92 Great Steaks pg 94

RGVISION ADVISORY BOARD

Each and every member of our advisory board charges RGVision with growth and commitment within our business development, social engagement, and editorial efforts. Through their feedback and contributions, RGVision will continue to help tell and share the Rio Grande Valley’s stories and extend the invitation to join the conversation.

J AV I E R D E L E O N

R O B ER T D U N K I N

M A R I T Z A ES Q U EDA

RE N E A. F LO R E S

BY R O N J AY LEW I S

ED D I E LU C I O I I I

S HAV I M A H TA N I

B I LL M A R T I N

A LB ER TO P EÑ A

M A RK P E T E R S O N

A ND R EA R O D R I G U EZ

F R ED S A N D OVA L

TO M TO R K E L S O N

V ER O N I C A V ELA W H I TAC R E

S A B R I N A WA LK ER H ER N A N D EZ

E D U C A T I O N

HARLINGEN CISD ENHANCES DYSLEXIA PROGRAM

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b y C r i s t i n a G a r ci a “Not every district has these resources for students with dyslexia,” Reyna said, adding that the partnership with Neuhaus is an exciting step toward reaching children with the learning disability. Harlingen CISD committed to placing dyslexia teaching specialists at every elementary school campus to reach all students. Those educators solely teach students with the disability and are not required to teach in a traditional classroom setting. Typically, students identified as having dyslexia “experience primary difficulties in phonological awareness,” according to a handbook provided by the Texas Education Agency. Characteristics may appear at an early age and may include difficulty reading words in isolation, trouble decoding words, slow or inaccurate oral reading, and spelling difficulties. By screening children at an early age, Harlingen CISD

Harlingen CISD expanded its dyslexia program this school year to include additional teaching techniques that benefit children diagnosed with dyslexia, a learning disability. Educators teaching students with dyslexia spent a week learning from specialists with the Neuhaus Education Center, a nonprofit organization working in partnership with Harlingen CISD. In a classroom setting, teachers underwent rigorous training intended to inform educators of research-based techniques that are proven to benefit children diagnosed with dyslexia. Across the state, about 8 to 10 percent of school children are diagnosed. Harlingen CISD provided teachers the opportunity to attain additional certifications as dyslexia practitioners or academic language therapists, according to the district’s dyslexia specialist, Shannon Reyna.

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“I want to see children succeed. I want to see them read for a lifetime of learning and improve their reading ability to succeed now and in the future.”

provides “comprehensive literacy strategies that combine foundational and advanced learning skills with digital and teacher-led reading intervention to significantly improve literacy skills,” according to the program’s website. “Once they are in middle and high school, they have the skills they need to be good readers,” Reyna said. “They earn high scores on the STAAR. They do well on the SAT and the ACT.” Harlingen CISD provides all its graduating students diagnosed with dyslexia a roadmap for success, which includes a plan on how to succeed in college, their career, or in the military. The plan serves as a resource and includes information about accommodations that graduates may request while attending universities and colleges. One accommodation includes audiobooks for students diagnosed with dyslexia. Audiobooks allow students to listen to almost any book, including science books and novels, read aloud by the narrator. Harlingen CISD provides its students with the reading disability access to 750,000 audiobooks at no cost. The district continues providing students access to audiobooks through their college and university careers.

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has committed to improving the classroom experience for children who are diagnosed. “Children with dyslexia have adequate or above intelligence,” Reyna said. “By the time they are in high school, many of our students with dyslexia are at the top of their classes and on our billboards across the city.” A dyslexia diagnosis allows teachers to intervene and provide quality education tailored to meet the individual needs of all children. “Our students with dyslexia are very talented, and they do very well when they receive the therapy,” Reyna said. “When we begin providing therapy at an early age, they’re ready to begin middle and high school.” For Stuart Place Elementary teacher Jennifer Esparza, teaching students with reading difficulties has been her passion. “I want to see children succeed,” she said after providing small-group instruction to four students diagnosed with dyslexia. “I want to see them read for a lifetime of learning and improve their reading ability to succeed now and in the future.” She advises parents to become advocates for their children. Parents of Harlingen CISD students may request a dyslexia screening for their child by contacting their child’s campus staff. Harlingen CISD screens students beginning in kindergarten. In elementary school, the dyslexia teaching specialists work with students from kindergarten through fifth grade throughout the school day. The group attends therapy for about 45 minutes to an hour four days a week. “Our kids really enjoy their therapy time,” Reyna said. “They look forward to it, and it’s extremely rewarding to see their improvement and success as they grow.” By middle school, students are transitioned to a hybrid program through Language! Live. The program

JAN/FEB 2020

J en nifer Espa rz a , Stua r t P l ace El e m e ntar y Te ache r

E D U C A T I O N

GAINING A

COMPETITIVE EDGE

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PSJA Institutes Offer High School Students Career-Advancing Opportunities

Hundreds of high school students can gain hands-on learning experiences in various fields through Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD’s eight PSJA Institutes launched during the 2019-20 school year. The PSJA Institutes expanded from one to eight at the start of the school year after the successful implementation of the PSJA Pre-Law Institute one year prior. The additional seven new institutes launched include Mental Health & Human Services, Engineering, Sports Medicine, IT, Education, Entrepreneurship, and Law Enforcement. As a way to celebrate the launch of these new PSJA Institutes, the district hosted kick-off events Oct. 18 and Nov. 1 where students interested in the careers had the chance to hear and interact with veterans in their field of study as well as participate in interactive activities and exhibits. As part of the institutes, students can receive one-toone mentorships from professionals in the field; learn what it takes to receive the degrees needed to excel in the profession; and be part of special workshops, job shadowing, and internship opportunities. Career development opportunities like internships and volunteer work for high school students can help them have access to better universities and future jobs, according to a study conducted by Millennial Branding and Internships.com. The study surveyed over 4,769

Stu den ts in th e PSJA Pre-Law I n stitu te h ad th e opportu n ity to h ear from elected officials an d attorn eys abou t careers in th e legal field. Pictu red are attorn ey an d UT RGV Professor Jaime Peñ a, sch ool board SecretaryTreasu rer Jesu s "Jesse" Vela an d sch ool board member Jesse Zambran o with stu den ts

"We are honored to offer these life-changing experiences that help students be better prepared when they go to college and enter the workforce." Dr. J or g e L . A r r e d on d o, PSJA Su perin ten den t

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T h e P S JA La w E n f o r ce m e nt Ins ti tute ki cko f f f e a tur e d i n t e r a c t ive ex h ib it s f r o m l o cal , s tate, and f e d e r a l a g e n c ie s . P ic t u r e d ar e P SJA ISD s tude nts w i th S u p e r in t e n d e n t D r. J or ge L. A r r e d o ndo.

high school and college students and 326 employers and found that 60 percent of companies agreed that students need to start focusing on their careers as early as high school in order to have a competitive edge when applying for jobs and careers in the future. "These kick-off events allowed our students to meet their mentors and learn what to expect throughout the year," PSJA Executive Director of College Readiness Linda Uribe said. "The PSJA Institutes exemplify family, as students from all of our high schools are taking part and leveraging on each other's talents." PSJA ISD provides an array of opportunities for students to get hands-on learning and experience in the field of their choice. The PSJA Institutes complement the district's Early College Program, which graduates students with up to an associate degree from South Texas College prior to their high school graduation. "Our students who participate in these PSJA Institutes will be connected to invaluable mentors and see what it's like to have careers in these fields," said PSJA Superintendent Dr. Jorge L. Arredondo. "We are honored to offer these life-changing experiences that help students be better prepared when they go to college and enter the workforce." The PSJA Institutes are open to all 10th- through 12thgrade students. To learn more about the PSJA Institutes, visit www.psjaisd.us/institutes.

Students in the PSJA Engineering Institute par ticipated in several team building activities during the f irst workshop held Dec 6.

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As part of th e Sports Medicin e I n stitu te kickoff, stu den ts h a d th e opportu n ity to Skype with PSJA alu mn u s Sammy Lopez an d participate in h an ds-on demon stration s with experts in th e field.

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As Easy as 1-2-3 IDEA-U Streamlines College Application Process

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b y RGVi s i o n | p h ot os b y E r i k We b s t e r IDEA-U is dedicated to taking the uncertainty out of attending college. One of the ways the organization achieves this occurs right at the beginning of the college experience: the application process. “The IDEA-U application process is as easy as 1-23,” said Monica Revuelta, college completion advisor at IDEA-U Brownsville. The simple process is designed to streamline potential students’ efforts in going back to college. Step one is the online application. Step two includes the enrollment process, which entails an in-person interview and financial aid application. Step three is orientation. “The biggest difference is that our students don’t really have to jump through hoops to get into college,” said Krystal Garza, college completion advisor at IDEA-U Weslaco. “You actually apply online — one place — and

we are completely supportive along the way. We guide you through the entire admissions process.” That process includes an online application that typically takes no more than 20 minutes to complete. The application calls for a minimum 250-word essay on a potential student’s education and career goals. “This is just for us to get an opportunity to hear from the student why they want to come back to school, what their college experiences were like, and how we can assist them through the program,” Revuelta said. The only other requirement is a high school diploma or its GED equivalent. Applicants don’t have to submit tests like the ACT or SAT — and they don’t have to include their high school grade point average. “At IDEA-U we don’t look at your GPA — you’re more than just a GPA to us,” Garza said. “If you’re ready to

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re-engage and recommit yourself to college, we’re ready and willing to take on the journey with you.” Revuelta agreed. “We want to be able to pick them up wherever they left off and build them up from there,” she said. "We serve a unique demographic of students. Some of them are comprised of first-generation college students and some of them are adult learners. Knowing that, we provide the resources that they may need to feel supported through the admission process.” That includes dedicated workspaces in Weslaco and Brownsville with comfortable seating, computers, printers, and other resources. Both advisors and student success specialists — IDEA-U interns — are on hand to offer in-person help. “I know when I was trying to go back to school, it got really busy. I didn’t know all the things that I had to do,” Garza said. “At IDEA-U, we provide a guided support system to help them along the process.” That support system extends through the admission process and beyond. IDEA-U tuition costs $5,500 per year, and most students complete an associate degree in eight to 14 months, the IDEA-U website states. All students applying at IDEA-U receive assistance with filling out and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Of those, 87 percent receive the full federal Pell Grant — $6,195 — to cover college costs. IDEA-U’s partnership with Southern New Hampshire University allows for monthly tuition

"We serve a unique demographic of students. Some of them are comprised of first-generation college students and some of them are adult learners. Knowing that, we provide the resources that they may need to feel supported through the admission process.” M on i ca Re v u e l t a ,

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payment plans. “Not a lot of universities do that,” Garza said. IDEA-U also offers academic onboarding — five weeks for students to adjust to the online learning model bolstered by weekly meetings with an advisor and 12 hours per week onsite in either Weslaco or Brownsville’s IDEA-U workspaces. “The biggest feedback that we get from our potential students is they are, one, very grateful,” Garza said. “They’re super excited and they’re also telling us, 'I didn’t know I could do this.’ A lot of students say they’ve never had this much support.” Learn more about IDEA-U — and apply — at idea-u.org.

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College Completion Advisor at I DE A-U Brown sville

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DUAL CREDIT FAST TRACK South Texas College Fills in ‘Missing Links’ for College Success

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sto ry a nd photo s b y Jo ey G o mez

seriousness of what the students were getting into. “Yes, a jaguar can be a car, mammal, and a jungle cat, but here at STC, it’s much more than that,” Sanchez told students shortly before the college mascot, Jerry, showed up to greet students in person. “It represents our student body, and each of our students is committed to their success in and out of the classroom.” Welcome to STC’s Dual Credit Fast Track Initiative — a new student onboarding program designed to meet the needs of first-time dual credit students. As part of this initiative, college staff works collaboratively with school districts to coordinate STC campus visits year-round for students getting their first glimpse of college life. Over the course of the next three hours or so, the students

On a chilly afternoon in November, at least 100 young students packed into a classroom at South Texas College’s Pecan Campus to get their first taste of college. Ushered into their seats, the PSJA Collegiate High School students gathered to be ceremoniously and officially welcomed into college for the first time as freshmen. It’s a big step, and the students are constantly being reminded of this by STC Dual Credit Program staff. Addressing some students as young as 14, Osiel Sanchez, a Dual2Degree specialist with the college, began the day by asking students to define a jaguar — receiving a few snickers in the process. Undoubtedly expecting a wide range of answers, Sanchez utilized the lighthearted moment to emphasize the

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Services for STC’s Dual Credit Program. “Now, other colleges are looking at us. They are looking at what we are doing with our students because we have been so successful at it.” Dual credit programs at STC collaborate with 24 school districts and 70 high schools, and are supported by more than 200 college faculty and over 300 dual credit faculty across Hidalgo and Starr counties. The program offers four options for high school students to earn college credit hours or a college credential. Since the inception of dual credit programs in 1997, STC has served over 106,300 dual credit students and awarded over 9,800 certificates and/or associate degrees. Dual credit courses offered at high school sites are provided at no cost to students. Since the year 2000, STC has saved families over $200 million in tuition and fees. “What we have learned through our experience having this program is that there is a lot more outside of the classroom that needs to go on to prepare these students,” Matamoros said. “We look at the population that we're serving, which is primarily Latino students. A lot of them are first generation students — the first in their families to ever go to college.” More than 3,000 students have participated in the Dual Credit Fast Track Initiative since its inception in 2017. During that time, studies produced by the college have shown that students who have taken the time to enter the initiative not only had a higher academic standing compared to their peers — their GPAs were significantly higher, 3.1 on average — but they were also completing more hours that they attempted (93.3 percent). Students entering the fast track initiative also saw significantly lower rates of withdrawal from classes — only 1.1 percent compared to non-participants. “We are very encouraged by this because it's one thing to go through the program, do a walkthrough and see, based on your experience, that it's working,” Matamoros said. “But when it's backed by data, it validates that what we are doing is truly making a difference in the success of our students. We have invested so much time working with schools and so we want to make sure that students are not only having a good experience, but they're actually getting something out of it.”

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were officially pinned, sworn-in, given a tour of the campus, and finally registered to begin their college experience. “It has been a really unique experience,” said Carolina Monjaraz, a freshman at PSJA Collegiate High School who says she would like to begin a degree in criminal justice. “It’s so cool that students get to be a part of this. I know it will be a hard path, but I know it will be worth it when I look back one day.” In fall 2017, STC implemented the Dual Credit Fast Track Initiative to prepare students for their first semester in college. Through the initiative, all students participate in a half-day campus visit that includes a campus tour, advisement, a review of academic progress standards, and finally registration to the college. At the center of it all is a student convocation with a welcoming address by campus staff, oath and pinning ceremony, and an obligatory photo opportunity with Jerry. The importance? A recent study conducted by the Research & Analytical Services Department at STC found that students who participate in the Fast Track Initiative tend to have higher academic success rates than students who do not participate. “This is unique because not everyone has the opportunity to take classes at such a young age,” said Diego Gomez, another freshman from PSJA Collegiate who attended the half-day event at STC. “I appreciate getting the exposure to the college life early on. When I actually begin college after high school, I feel attending will be routine and I will be ready to go.” While many higher education institutions are focused on expanding dual credit enrollments, STC Dual Credit Program staff say they have developed unique onboarding and transition services for dual credit students to ensure their academic success. In fact, STC has been contacted or visited by various institutions seeking to adopt the college’s best practices. College staff have presented at state and national conferences to highlight the institution's student service framework. It reinforces a dual credit program that lifted itself from humble beginnings in one of the nation’s poorest regions, ending up among the largest in the country not only for serving students, but also for enabling them to receive a college credential — many before their 18th birthday. “When we started this program, we were looking at those missing links for college success, and we found that because many of these students didn't have parents who went to college or were coming from low-income backgrounds. They often lacked contextual knowledge and skills that are essential for success in college,” said Tony Matamoros, director of Enrollment

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The Value of PARTNERSHIPS Sylvan Learning Helps RGV Schools Boost Academics

As school administrators search for effective and efficient solutions for RTI (Response to Intervention), Sylvan Learning tailors its programs to meet the school’s academic needs and goals regardless of subject and grade level. Sylvan can fulfill the academic needs of any school with programs such as ACE It! Tutoring, SylvanSync personalized tutoring, STAAR or End of Course (EOC) preparation, ACT/SAT Prep, writing tutoring, and academic and enrichment camps. This also includes creating curriculum for new programs to fit the schools’ needs and goals. For over seven years, Sylvan Learning has worked with IDEA McAllen College Prep founding principal Joan Alvarez. Garcia says they have seen academic growth through Sylvan’s ACT and TSI Prep courses. “The Sylvan team is proactive and solution-oriented,” Alvarez said. “We have seen student gains in our math, reading, and writing results.” With individual instruction and scientifically based programs to meet each students’ unique learning needs, Sylvan can help students cultivate the skills to excel academically and give them the confidence to thrive in every aspect of life. For more information on Sylvan Learning programs and school partnership opportunities, call (956) 682-9800.

Sylvan Learning of the Rio Grande Valley has provided high quality educational programming to over 85,000 students in 95 percent of the local school districts, which in turn has secured over 30 million dollars in academic funding since 2002. After 17 years of serving the Rio Grande Valley area, Sylvan has established a lengthy track record of success. Sylvan’s data-driven instruction and customizable academic programming, which is tailored to meet and exceed the state’s academic performance standards, has delivered unmatched academic growth. Students benefit through small group instruction, comprehensive, yet flexible programs, and highly trained certified teachers. Director of Contract Services Yuko Garcia explains that the most important question she will ask a potential school partner is what the specific needs are. “Every school is different,” Garcia said. “One school wants to prepare students for the STAAR exam. Another requests we introduce students to the fun world of STEM with our robotics, engineering, and coding programs. Some schools want to target Tier II or Tier III students with our ACE It! Reading and Math Tutoring programs.” Garcia adds that Sylvan has programs for every age and grade level, including high school. “High schools take advantage of our ACT/SAT Prep or TSI Prep seminars or boot camps, which helps increase their testing scores,” she said.

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by Brenda Garza

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E D U C A T I O N

A Head Start on the Job Hunt Local Resources Available for Teens and Young Adults Entering Workforce b y Roci o V i l l a l ob os

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Apart from the obvious benefit of earning money to do with as they please, having a part-time job can also provide teens with skills needed for their eventual career. And while they can blindly apply to any job posting and hope for the best, there are resources in the Rio Grande Valley that can help improve their chances of landing a job that fits their skills and helps them grow. Empower, Educate, Employ (E3) is a program from Workforce Solutions, a state agency promoting a workforce system that offers employers, individuals, and communities the opportunity to achieve and sustain economic prosperity. E3 connects youths to target occupations. Youth residents — from ages 14 to those in their early 20s — of Hidalgo, Willacy, and Starr counties meeting family income requirements are eligible for the program. Workforce Solutions provides the young person with a counselor to determine their interests and match them with an employer in a target market — the fastest growing regional occupations ranging from human resource specialists to electricians to

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UPCOMING EVENTS WEDNESDAY JANUARY 1-6 + FRIO! A Wonderland of Frozen Fun

SAT-SUN JANUARY 11-12 + Saxet Gun Show

SATURDAY JANUARY 11 + Gamers Expo

SUNDAY JANUARY 12 + RGV Wedding Fair 2020

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 15 + Winter Texan Expo

SUNDAY JANUARY 19 + McAllen Marathon Scott Crane Memorial Run

FRI-SUN JANUARY 24-26 + McAllen International CarFest 2020 10th Anniversary

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 2 + RGV Wedding & Quince Expo

FRI-SUN FEBRUARY 7-9 FRI-SAT FEBRUARY 14-15 + Texas HOSA

For More Info:

MC AC ON VE N T I O

MCALLEN CONVENTION CENTER

700 Convention Center B McAllen, Texas 78501 Phone: (956) 681-3800 Fax: (956) 681-3840

JAN/FEB 2020

+ 34th Annual All Valley Boat Show

“If we have a student come in with no job experience we ask them, ‘What do you do in your free time? Or what are you involved with?’” Kaufold said. “Do they have extracurricular activities? Are they involved with their church? Do they do any volunteer work where they’re working with communities to build and be a leader? “We ask them to assess themselves, and this is how they start building up their resume.” And for students who do possess work experience, Kaufold said staff at the Career Center can help them tailor their resume to best reflect their skills that match the criteria for the job they wish to apply. Additionally, UTRGV has a range of oncampus part-time jobs for students that can be pertinent to an individual’s area of study. Kaufold estimates roughly 30 percent of students are employed in various departments at UTRGV. “Working on campus, they get to create a network,” he said. “They can work with their peers that have the same skills and they can develop professionally together and build a bond. Plus, they have the staff that are mentors to them, too.” While some of the campus jobs help prepare students for their eventual career, Kaufold also recommends they complete an internship, which will provide them with “hands-on experience … tied to their field of study.” Through Handshake, the university’s job and event management platform, students have access to apply to more than 800 different internships — most of which, according to Kaufold, are paid. Or they can attend the Career and Internship Expo, which is held once per semester on both the Edinburg and Brownsville campuses. Kaufold encourages any UTRGV student seeking guidance on their prospective career, or help in finding part-time employment, to visit the Career Center where he and his coworkers will “take the time to connect with the student to really understand what they want to do with their career.”

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pharmacy technicians. “This is where we close that gap between finding out the desires of the applicants, figuring out where they want to apply their interests, and connecting them to that industry,” said Mike Gonzalez, Workforce Solutions’ communications specialist. “They’re able to identify early on what their passion is and what they realize is, ‘this is something to give me a head start,’ so they’re all too eager to participate.” Gonzalez said E3 currently has around 80 youths enrolled — some of whom are pursuing a four-year degree, and some looking for a career with a high school diploma — and that they’re all in positions with upward mobility. “One of the key advantages is it really gets our workforce off the ground from an early point,” he said. “So what we’re doing with E3 is not so much just helping people find jobs, but helping people get skills that are going to last them. That’s the ultimate goal.” Once the applicant’s interests are determined and they are connected to a workplace, the employer — or mentor — provides training for the job, while Workforce Solutions provides the mentee with payment at a rate of $7.25 an hour. For more information on the program and target occupations, go to wfsolutions. org, or visit one of their six offices located throughout the RGV. An alternative route for teens and young adults to find jobs while pursuing a college degree at UTRGV is through the university’s Career Center, which exists to help students in their career endeavors. Students can make an appointment and visit the center for help in developing their resume, interview skills, and more. John Kaufold, UTRGV’s Career Center internship coordinator, recommends students begin looking for a job as freshmen in order to get started on their professional development. Even if they have no experience, Kaufold said they can utilize their soft skills to create their resume and begin applying.

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I N ME

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Teachers, Students, Districts Enjoying Benefits of Teaching Model

Students at Weslaco Independent School District are changing the way leadership is looked at. Elementary and middle schools have been participating in The Leader in Me, an evidence-based, comprehensive school improvement model that empowers students with the leadership and life skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. Instead of focusing on academic measures alone, Leader in Me embodies a holistic approach to education, redefining how schools measure success. This approach empowers educators with effective practices and tools to: • teach leadership to every student, • create a culture of student empowerment, • and align systems to drive results in academics. Many students will enter the global workforce without the life skills needed to navigate an increasingly complex and globally interconnected world. With implementation of Leader in Me, students can: • think ahead about consequences/choices before acting • understand how goal setting applies at school and in one’s personal life • and set clear expectations for themselves and others.

Selina Martinez, Pre-K teacher at Memorial Elementary, says that Leader in Me has improved her personal experiences as an educator. “I run my classroom differently, using the 7 Habits myself. It’s caused my classroom to run more productively and effectively and I believe it’s helped me become a better teacher,” she said. “It’s integrated in everything we do.

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• believe they “belong” at school • have positive school culture • graduate from high school LOW-SOCIOECONOMIC STUDENTS • get suspended • are chronically absent • have emotional issues • move schools multiple times

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HIGH SOCIOECONOMIC STUDENTS • self-advocate

UPCOMING EVENTS

EQUITY FROM THE INSIDE-OUT: THE LEADER IN ME APPROACH Over half of our nation’s K-12 students now come from low-income households. Ensuring equity in education is essential to the future of our nation. Contributors to the Equity Gap in Education include:

HOW LEADER IN ME ADDRESSES THE EQUITY GAP IN EDUCATION Students deeply learn social and emotional teachings through classroom and schoolwide leadership opportunities. In this positive school culture, students are empowered to apply their social and emotional learned skills and lead their own learning through: • risk-taking • self-advocacy • enlisting social resources • developing experience-based selfconfidence A study conducted in predominantly lowincome schools found students proficient in using the 7 Habits Social and Emotional learning skills were far more likely to be at benchmark in English Language Arts state exams than their non-proficient peers. In a regional study, students who attended a Leader in Me middle school were more likely to be on time and have a higher GPA in high school than those who did not attend Leader in Me campus. “I love that students are responsible for tracking their progress and success. Each student understands that they each have their unique strengths, but it is the progress and growth that makes them proud,” said Leticia Flores, fourth-grade teacher at Weslaco ISD. “I often have students that have graduated and come back to visit me. To hear their successes and see that they have continued to use the principles of the Leader in Me shows that these are life-changing skills that mold a student for success.” If you’d like to find out more about how to become a Leader in Me school, visit www.leaderinme.org/.

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Students hold accountability even at the age of 4 for their emotions, behaviors, and how they treat others. I feel I’m molding my students to be good citizens in our community.” Social and emotional behaviors include management of emotions, social behavior, and classroom behavior. After seven weeks of Leader in Me training, Pre-K students receive • 33 percent increase in independent social/emotional behaviors and • 41 percent increase in interdependent social/emotional behaviors

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SIGNAL BOOST Following CSforAll Grant, Mission EDC Aims to Advance Computer Science Education Across RGV b y R GV i s i on Peña oversees the district’s 22 libraries — plus robotics and coding initiatives. In November 2019, when national computer science education organization CSforAll named the Rio Grande Valley as one of the 10 communities in its EcoSystemforCS cohort, Peña recognized that this would continue to mean good things for both Mission CISD and other districts in the region. “It’s a great honor because we, in partnering with the Mission EDC, were able to offer instructional technology that focuses on Scratch coding, for example, as well as promoting

Great things are happening at Mission CISD when it comes to computer science and coding, including converting an elementary school to be an engineering and technologyready school. Many of these efforts are enabled through partnerships with the City of Mission and Mission Economic Development Corporation. “There’s a great emphasis on the technology integration in the classroom,” said Lolly Peña, district coordinator for instructional technology and library media at Mission CISD. “We’re very excited. We have a lot of support from the EDC.”

coding within the community,” she said. “Our teachers have an opportunity to be exposed to professional development and training that provides them the opportunity to learn how to integrate coding within the curriculum.” The Mission EDC has spearheaded the EcoSystemforCS initiative, applying for and winning the $15,000 grant — which the EDC will match. Working with partner Youth Code Jam, Mission EDC looks to host a Low-Sensory Code Jam for neurodiverse students and their families, and distribute 10 bilingual “Jam in a Box” kits to Title 1 schools with the funding from CSforAll. “For CSforALL to have picked the Rio Grande Valley out of 74 applications is a huge accomplishment because it recognizes all of our previous efforts in bringing equitable access to computer science as well as noticing that there’s a big future ahead of us,” said Cristina Garza, director of social impact for

M i s s io n E D C D ir e c t o r of So ci a l Im p a ct Cr i s ti na Ga r z a, ei gh t h f r o m le f t , a t t e n de d the CSf o r A l l Sum m i t i n Octo b er. su b m it t e d p h o t o.

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Mission EDC. “We have a lot of potential in this area.” Garza leveraged Mission EDC’s previous coding and computer science education initiatives to help win the grant, highlighting such programs as Code the Town, computer science camps through Sylvan Learning, CREW coding camps for middle and high school girls, and more. “This is not the end-all, be-all solution to computer science in the Rio Grande Valley,” Garza said of the EcoSystemforCS designation. “Rather, this is the beginning of figuring out how to create programming that’s more inclusive for the whole region.” The 10 communities named into the EcoSystemforCS cohort will meet on a quarterly basis and serve as peer mentors to one another. “The other grantees are working on incredibly exciting projects,” Garza said. “It is a great opportunity for us to see how cities are solving similar CS-related problems — what kind of policies they put into place to make those solutions happen. That’s a great resource.” She adds that she aims to expand computer science and coding access and funding efforts across the region in the future. “At the end of this grant cycle, we want to establish a way to create a partnership or a committee with other partners in the Rio Grande Valley to move forward with regional approaches to grants and initiatives,” Garza said. “We want other cities to buy into this regional approach and to be our partners as we grow awareness for computer science and seek more funding.” Garza points out that the future’s most in-demand jobs haven’t been created yet, posing a unique challenge in preparing today’s students. “Making sure that kids have complete access to computer science education is a crucial part of it, but beyond that, we need to talk about computer science past workforce development,” she said. “It allows for creativity. It teaches kids to fail. It builds their confidence by allowing them to build projects. It expands their curiosity. It builds resilience. It allows them to discover new things about the world that they didn’t know.” These skills lend themselves to not only future careers in tech, but future well-rounded workers in a diverse range of industries and fields. Mission CISD will continue to use its computer sciencecentric partnership with Mission EDC to prepare students for that future. “We take pride in promoting that we teach four languages,” Peña said. “We teach English. We teach Spanish. We teach French. And coding. “We are very fortunate to have partnered with the Mission EDC and in doing so, we’re able to promote computer science and programming and coding to our students.” Learn more about the Mission EDC by visiting MissionEDC.com.

JAN/FEB 2020

E D U C A T I O N

B U S I N E S S ARTICLE PROVIDED BY

Bill Martin, CFP® Vice President, Investments 1845 Capital of Raymond James, 1400 N. McColl Road, Suite 101 | McAllen 956-331-2777

PART 3 1 OF OF 4: 4: MONEY LEARNING ISN’T HOW EVERYTHING TO — ANDTRANSFERRING SAVE, OTHER FINANCIAL RISK, LESSONS AND TO LEARN BUCKETS THREE EARLY

12 LESSONS ON LIFE AND MONEY From the Smartest People I Know … My Parents

but it’s meaningful for someone else, like the customer, patient, or student. Practically speaking, there are simple ways to accomplish this goal. If your employer or business has a retirement plan option, such as a 401(k) or SIMPLE IRA, invest those dollars first before they hit your bank. If that option does not exist, then you can auto deposit a portion of your pay to a savings or investment account; then, allow the balance of your paycheck to go to your spending account to pay everyone else. Every January, my wife and I discuss our church pledge and other charitable giving; then, make our commitments. That is our way of loving God and our neighbors as ourselves. In my very first job with a real paycheck, I signed up for 15 percent automatic deductions because I never wanted to feel like I missed it my spending account. If you are just starting this habit, then you may need to start with a lower amount, but with each raise or promotion, you should bump up

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Previously, I focused on healthy attitudes about money in part one. In part two, I defined money as it relates to work, choosing a career that pays and budgeting. This article is focused on building wealth, surviving the threats to your financial life, and investing money appropriately for its intended use. 7. PAY YOURSELF FIRST. I feel as if I should put quotation marks around this entire lesson because this concept was ingrained by my parents early and often. They would say something like: For your entire adult life, there will be a long line of others (people and places) with their hand out waiting to be paid: the grocery store, electric utility, gas station, bank, restaurant, government, and the list goes on and on. If you do not put yourself on the top of that list, your hard work and effort will go unrewarded. The only sign that you and all your labor are of value is if you can keep something to show for it. Don’t get me wrong — your work can be meaningful even if you don’t save a penny,

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8. MANAGE FOR CONSEQUENCES IF, NOT CHANCES OF. According to FEMA U.S. Fire Administration, in 2010, .317 percent of households experienced a fire. This may seem like low odds, but this translates to 362,100 residential fires and 362,100 families suddenly homeless. This could be you. The advice here is to understand that you must prepare for the consequences of a high-risk event — even if the chances of it occurring are low. Personally, I have seen the value of insurance in my life when I was diagnosed with leukemia in my 30s. Insurance companies exist to step in after such events and provide the resources to help rebuild and recover. Today, we use insurance to cover risks like a house fire, auto accident, loss of income, illness or disability, and even litigation. In our practice, we discuss these risks and others, while recognizing that even rolling out of bed in the morning has its risks. There are some risks we knowingly take because we can afford the consequences and others we manage with the help of insurance when we cannot afford to self-insure.

Any opinions are those of the author, and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected. Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC

9. PUT YOUR MONEY IN THE RIGHT “BUCKET.” Whether you are saving your first dollar or your net worth is in the multi-millions, everyone should understand the simple, time-tested concept of the “Three Money Buckets” that my parents taught. Bucket one is your emergency and short-term goal

LESSONS FROM MY PARENTS Have your questions ready for Bill, John, and Audrey Martin in their third Facebook Live event via @rgvisionmagazine at noon Tuesday, Jan. 7.

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COMING UP In the next issue of RGVision, planning for the successful hatching of your nest egg.

JAN/FEB 2020

bucket. At a minimum, it should cover three to six months of household expenses, and can be used on significant unexpected expenses like a job loss, health surprise, major car or home repairs, etc. This money is invested with safety of principal and liquidity in mind. Bucket two is for nearer-term goals. Its use is quite undefined, depending on the individual’s goals, such as a vacation home, new business venture, or other ideas. The point is that these are goals that are likely to happen in three to eight years. Typically, balancing growth and safety is the investment goal. Bucket three is money that is to be used later in life. Some people might refer to that time as retirement, but I prefer to call it financial freedom. Once bucket one is full, then buckets two and three can receive significant attention. Ultimately, my advice is to seek out a qualified financial advisor to develop a unique plan for your family that will adjust to life’s curveballs and address each bucket and your individual goals.

your savings rate. Ultimately, my parents advocated that work was a worthy endeavor and that paying yourself first was the only way to be truly compensated.

B U S I N E S S ARTICLE PROVIDED BY

Sergio Contreras President/CEO RGV Partnership

TRADE SURGE

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JAN/FEB 2020

United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Would Boost RGV Commerce

The regional economy of the Rio Grande Valley has been transformed in the 25 years since the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement. There’s more international bridges, additional commerce and trade over land and seaports, and a sense that the lowering of barriers to trade in goods and services has energized our region’s growth. The presidents of the United States and Mexico and the prime minister of Canada have signed the revision to NAFTA. The updated document — the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement — was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Dec. 19. At the time of publication, the Senate was likely to take up the legislation after the holidays. The need to pass the USMCA is urgent for our region. Looking at some of our key crossing points, we can see the need to build on what NAFTA started and boost trade and commerce with the new trade agreement. According to the Texas Workforce Commission, unemployment was at 21.1 percent prior to NAFTA, which has reduced to as low as 4 percent to 7 percent unemployment in some of our communities. At the Port of Brownsville, it’s estimated the seaport supported 3,052 direct jobs and generated $169.5 million in direct personal income in 2018. Much of that activity is connected to trade between the United States and Mexico. The need to keep this economic momentum going makes final approval of the USMCA essential. Every credible economic study points to the importance of enacting the USMCA. An International Trade Commission report recently released states that the USMCA is poised to raise the U.S. real GDP by $68.2 billion and result in an estimated 176,000 new jobs. The commission also estimates that USMCA would boost U.S. exports to Mexico and Canada by about $33 billion. According to the USMCA Coalition, trade with Canada and Mexico reached nearly $1.3 trillion in 2017, and the two countries bought more than one-third of all U.S. merchandise exports. The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement preserves and strengthens the benefits of North American trade for American workers, farmers, businesses, and consumers. Thirty-nine U.S. States count Canada or Mexico as their top trading partner.

PASSING THE USMCA WILL HELP BOLSTER THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY'S STRENGTH

4% to 7% unemployment in some of our communities Brownsville seaport supported 3,052 direct jobs and generated $169.5 million in direct personal income in 2018

U.S. trade with Canada and Mexico reached nearly $1.3 trillion in 2017

Bring all those numbers down to the local level and we will see a continued surge in the Valley’s economic activity. Our region’s ports of entry have seen total trade grow from $15.2 billion in 2003 to $35.4 billion in 2018. It’s a testament to how the push to more open and free markets with lower barriers and tariffs can generate growth in the import and export of key commodities like plastics, computer machinery, and automobile parts. The Valley is poised to see another great era of growth to expand on what we’ve seen in the 25 years since NAFTA was passed and enacted. The USMCA will add to what has already been done in international trade and commerce and help usher in another era of prosperity. Combine that with expected investments of $2.2 billion over the next decade in state funds for highway and transportation systems in the Valley and we can see a bright future for the Rio Grande Valley. We urge our senators in Washington to work out the final details of the USMCA and work toward its speedy final passage.

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Living Smarter

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Caza Group Incorporates Smart Home Features for Efficiency, Security, Comfort b y RGVi s i o n | p h ot os b y J a s on G a r z a Like many others, Armando Castro used to consider smart homes to be a luxury — until he started seeing the value in incorporating such features into his own life. “It makes me more efficient in my day,” he said, describing how he can ask a voice assistant to open the door for him when his arms are full of grocery bags, or to painlessly adjust the lights and television output for movie night. “I don’t have to spend time remembering to do this or to do that. It’s already done. I have a lot more time.” Recognizing the comfort and control he was enjoying in his home, Castro, partner and engineer at Caza Group, decided that it was time to offer smart home options for other homeowners. Caza Group is a custom homebuilding company making its mark with memorable, functional, and beautiful homes well suited to modern needs and connectivity in the Rio Grande Valley. In Caza Group’s top tier home line, smart home features come standard. This includes a video doorbell and lock, a smart garage door controller, interior and exterior smart light switches, and a smart thermostat. With proper setup, a smart thermostat can save families as much as $180 per year in energy costs, the governmentbacked ENERGY STAR organization finds. Those savings mean a smart thermostat can pay for itself — and then some — over time. Other smart home features pay for themselves in different ways. Programmable routines for smart light switches for interior and exterior lights can turn the lights on when the sun goes down — and back off at sunrise. Gone is the guesswork on whether a porch light was turned on before bed or off before commuting to work. Even without a routine in place, control of your home is just a couple of taps away on your smartphone. Getting home unexpectedly after dark? A quick command from something you always carry in your pocket or bag boosts your home security to make it look like someone is at home — and lights the way to welcome you home when you do pull in to the driveway. Another smart home feature with an added security benefit is a video doorbell. With products like Google Nest and

C a z a Gr o u p’s fe atur e d ho m e i n Ed i nb ur g ha s f ul l con n ectivity as a smart h ome. Con trol over exterior an d in terior ligh ts, t h e t h e r m o s t a t , t h e d o o r l ock a nd v i de o door b e l l , the garage door, th e sou n d system, an d more is possible with a s m a r t p h o n e a p p.

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Ring, homeowners can see who approaches their front door without even opening it first. Most video doorbells send an alert to your smartphone when someone comes knocking, often including a live feed and audio. Some devices even record encounters and store them for a certain period of time — an invaluable tool in the case somebody breaks into your home or vandalizes it. Smartphone app-controlled smart home functions also mean that you can be stuck late at work but able to remotely unlock your front door for a loved one. You can avoid rushing home in traffic while refusing to compromise on your privacy. Since you can control who goes in your home and when, smart locks eliminate the need to distribute copies of your key — or give out your security passcode to others. If you’re interested about how you can incorporate smart home features into your home, Caza Group can help. In all three home lines, the Caza team is happy to sit with clients to identify what needs they might have that smart home features can address. Clients can rest assured that they have expert input on the options and price points that work best for them — from individuals with relevant smart home experience. Using Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant as a hub, you can have voice and smartphone app control over everything from how bright your lights are to what genre of music is playing on your sound system. In an ever more connected world full of busy schedules, smart homes are much more than a luxury. These types of features help streamline lives, save money, and offer unparalleled security and comfort. Read more about Caza Group’s homebuilding vision at rgvisionmagazine.com/your-home-your-way/.

JAN/FEB 2020

CAZA Group is a custom homebuilding company making its mark with memorable, functional, and beautiful homes well suited to modern needs and connectivity in the Rio Grande Valley.

B U S I N E S S ARTICLE PROVIDED BY

Leonardo F. Chang Financial Advisor Edward Jones 4500 N. 10th St., Suite 40 | McAllen 956-630-0241

FINANCIAL FOCUS Financial Tips for Snowbirds … Present and Future

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Winter is here again — which may make you wish you were somewhere else. You might be thinking how pleasant it would be to become a snowbird and move to a warmer climate for the season. Of course, your stage of life will help determine if you are prepared to be a snowbird now or if you’re just hoping to be one in the future. But in either case, you’ll need to be financially prepared. So, let’s look at what it would take to be a snowbird — tomorrow and today:

advertisements from your porch or entryway, and arrange to have your snow shoveled. • NOTIFY YOUR BANK. To fight theft, the fraud departments of many banks are getting more aggressive in spotting and denying unusual charges. That’s why it’s important to give your bank your temporary address and contact information before you leave. By doing so, you can reduce the risk of your account being frozen temporarily if your financial institution can’t reach you with questions about charges from an unexpected location. You also might find it useful to open a bank account at your snowbird site.

SNOWBIRD TOMORROW. The further ahead you plan, the more options you’re likely to have when you embark on the snowbird life. If you’re going to be retired, you’ll need to review all your sources of retirement income — Social Security, your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored plan, your IRA, and so on — to determine if you’ll have enough money available for your yearly snowbird trips without jeopardizing your retirement lifestyle. Your calculations will depend on what sort of snowbird existence you have in mind. Do you want to buy a second home or just rent? Will you be gone just a few weeks each year or

• PAY YOUR BILLS. If you already pay all your bills automatically through bank authorizations, you may not have to do anything when you leave. But if you still pay some bills the old-fashioned way, with checks and envelopes, look for these bills in your forwarded mail. • TRACK YOUR INVESTMENTS. You can probably track the progress of your investments online, and it’s a good idea to do so, just as you would at your permanent address. Even if you’re only gone a couple of months, you may need to make some investment moves, so stay on top of your accounts and contact your investment professional, as needed. As always, though, don’t overreact to sudden market swings – ideally, you’ve got long-term strategies in place that can serve your needs in most investment environments. The life of a snowbird can be a pleasant one. So take the necessary steps before you leave — and enjoy your days in the sun.

several months? Clearly, to ensure a successful snowbird experience, you’ll need to identify your goals and create a strategy for achieving them. SNOWBIRD TODAY. If you’ve reached a point where you can indeed make your snowbird dream a reality, and you’re ready to pack your bags, you’ll need to take action on some practical matters, such as these: • SECURE YOUR HOME. If you have a security system, make sure it’s armed and working properly. Stop your newspapers and magazines, forward your mail, ask your neighbors to remove any stray papers, flyers, and

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones financial advisor.

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days a week with 24/7 after-hours services upon appointment. There are many benefits to commercial private high-value storage. According to Bryant Stone with Commonwealth Vault & Safe Deposit Co. in a 2016 Loudoun Lifestyle article, “Even expensive, hard-to-crack home safes can be defeated by breaking into a home and forcing the owner to open them. If no one’s home, criminals who can’t crack a safe’s lock have been known to remove the entire safe and take it to a remote location to open.” Government regulated banks also pose a risk to those who have bank safety deposit boxes. The 2015 banking crisis in Greece was a critical warning of what can occur when the banking system in any country is under government control. During this period in Greece, bank accounts as well as safety deposit boxes were frozen. Similarly, in the United States during The Great Depression of the 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed EO #6102, forbidding the “hoarding of gold coin, gold bullion, and gold certificates” within the United States. This example of government involvement resulted in the confiscation for purchase by the government of all gold in safety deposit boxes.

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How much money would you pay for peace of mind? At Freedom Vault, a high-value storage solution offered by the Affordable Attic Plus, the knowledge that your valuables will be safe and protected can come as economically as $7.50 a month. “The innovative spirit at the Affordable Attic is something we treasure,” said Azael Gomez, the director of corporate development and marketing at Affordable Attic Plus. In 1995, the Affordable Attic was the first to bring climate-controlled storage units to the Rio Grande Valley along with control access gates, surveillance cameras, and top-quality service. The Affordable Attic is more than the traditional storage facility — and is now introducing high value storage as another first in the region. The introduction of Freedom Vault provides an alternative to the traditional bank safety deposit boxes. Safeguarding items such as firearms, coin and currency collections, gold and precious metal, as well as all types of important documents is essential. At Freedom Vault, peace of mind is given by having valuables in a commercial vault to guard against burglary, home invasion, and natural disasters. Unlike traditional banking solutions, Freedom Vault is open six

Above, the biometric iris scan is just one security feature of the Freedom Vault. The interior of the Freedom Vault, at left and above right, is quiet, calm, and climate controlled, offering privacy to view and secure your valuables.

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boxes are insured up to $5,000 for each Your Neighborhood Freedom Vault™ by Affordable Attic Plus™ 1001 S. McColl Road Edinburg, TX 78539 2805 S. 77 Sunshine Strip Harlingen, TX 78550 Coming Soon Pharr, TX 78577

box and locker, with additional unlimited insurance for valuables easily able to be purchased online through the Safety Deposit Box Insurance Coverage, LLC. SDBIC has partnered with AXA ART, the world’s leading art and collectibles insurance specialist, to offer this unique new insurance solution available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Affordable Attic Self Storage currently has 10 locations throughout the Rio Grande Valley, with the 11th under

construction on Ridge Road in Pharr.

an excellent alternative to a bank or home

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Currently, Freedom Vaults are located

vault. One visit to the latest and most

Freedom Vault, a self-storage trademark, does not fall under the restrictions of banking law. As a division of the Affordable Attic Plus Self Storage, every locker and safe box legally has the same protection as that of a personal residence. This affords the customer the highest legal protection under the law for the belongings within each safe box. “At banks, most people believe items in their safety deposit box are insured,” Gomez said. “The FDIC insures bank accounts up to $250,000, yet the contents of safety deposit boxes are not insured.” However, Freedom Vault

at both the Harlingen and Edinburg Affordable Attic Self Storage facilities, with a third vault coming to the Pharr location this year. Freedom Vault provides

innovative private vault in South Texas will be more than enough to convince anyone that Freedom Vault is the best place to store your valuable items. To learn more about Freedom Vault™ by Affordable Attic Plus™, visit FreedomVault. com or call 877-433-4797.

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Natural disasters are another reason for storing high-value items in a commercialgrade, secure vault. The flooding that struck the Rio Grande Valley in both 2018 and 2019 is a poignant example of the dangers of unexpected natural disasters. Disruptions after a natural disaster, including the loss of power outages and unoccupied or unlivable home environments, give rise to looting and thievery. As homeowners and apartment renters are preoccupied with the basic safety needs of their personal family, safeguarding tangible valuable assets in a home or apartment becomes much more challenging. High-value items stored in a private commercial vault provide added peace of mind during the aftermath of natural disasters. Unlike a bank, Freedom Vault has designed a proprietary FV Security Protocol, which takes security to the next level. “It is basically designed like a bunker with 1-foot-thick, steelreinforced walls along with numerous other security systems,” Gomez said. “We are an alternative to traditional bank safety deposit boxes.” Whereas banks and banking law can limit the items that can be stored in bank safety deposit boxes,

A LONG LEGACY OF SERVICE Edwards Abstract and Title Co. Marks 140 Years of Business b y Amy Ca s eb i e r | p h ot os b y E r i k We b s t e r

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The mission at Edwards Abstract and Title Co. is to change lives through bringing people together for the successful transfer or mortgage of property. It is a purpose that the company has been fulfilling for nearly 140 years. “Our team is committed to promoting and practicing

four basic principles of respect, honesty, loyalty, and integrity,” Edwards President, CEO, and Sole Manager Byron Jay Lewis wrote in an email. “Our definition of integrity is to do what we say we are going to do, and that is do our best to provide remarkable service.” That dedication began in 1880 when Judge James

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“We help our clients by using our experience, expertise, and relationships to bring people together for the successful transfer or mortgage of real property. We can provide title settlement services throughout the state of Texas.” B yr o n Ja y Lew i s , Edwards Presiden t, CE O, an d Sole Man ager

Henry Edwards founded the company. Edwards had spent many years scouring archives and interviewing settlers in Hidalgo and Starr counties to gather land and deed records. He practiced law and operated his abstract business until his death in 1925. The following year, his widow and sons incorporated the company. In 1984, Jesse D. Hedrick purchased the company from the Edwards family, working to expand and grow it from its Edinburg location to offices across the Rio Grande Valley. Lewis joined Edwards as counsel with Suzanne Scott in 1999. “My mentor, Jesse D. Hedrick, had cultivated a relationship with me since we moved to Edinburg in July of 1986,” Lewis wrote. “He asked me to join Edwards to support Suzanne Scott and see how I liked it. It proved very rewarding to be able to come up with solutions and solve problems rather than engage in the adversarial process of practicing law. As it turned out, he was testing me to see if I would be a suitable leader to step in after his tenure.” Hedrick died unexpectedly a few years later, shortly after Lewis purchased Edwards from him. “My biggest point of pride is being selected and mentored by Jesse D. Hedrick to lead Edwards through tremendous growth and tremendous challenges, and still be operating as a successful business that the Edwards family and Jesse would be proud of,” Lewis wrote. Under Lewis’ leadership, Edwards Abstract and Title Co. has continued to thrive. The company staffs full-

service offices in Brownsville, Edinburg, Harlingen, McAllen, and South Padre Island. “We help our clients by using our experience, expertise, and relationships to bring people together for the successful transfer or mortgage of real property,” Lewis wrote. “We can provide title settlement services throughout the state of Texas.” All clients can expect excellent and professional customer service from Edwards’ experienced team. The average employee has worked at the company for more than 15 years, Lewis wrote. “My sincere hope is that people who choose to work with Edwards receive remarkable service to get their transaction successfully completed,” he wrote. “Along the way, they should have their calls, emails, or text JAN/FEB 2020

future,” he wrote.

Lewis recognizes that no one is perfect — even with the best possible knowledge and preparation. However, he and his team still strive to make things right. “When we miss a goal, we engage best efforts and

Overall, it’s all about bringing people together — a vision for the past 140 years. “My biggest passion at Edwards is people: our employees, customers, and our community,” Lewis wrote. Learn more about Edwards Abstract and Title Co. by visiting edwardsabstract.com.

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communication to remedy any shortfall and learn for the

messages promptly returned and be kept fully informed.”

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CELEBRATING

Stories RGVISION MAGAZINE

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RGVision Uses Storytelling, Empathy to Better Serve Clients, Community b y R GV i s i on When Gabriel Puente was working as an advertising director for a publication, his job was simply to sell the ads that helped fund the business. However, he found himself spending more and more time listening to the stories of potential clients on those kinds of calls. “Every time I would go to a lead, I was just fascinated with that entrepreneur, the business owner, the medical professional,” he said. “I was just like, ‘oh my God, that’s such an amazing story.’ So I would go back to the publisher and say, ‘yeah, I sold the ad, but also we need to tell their story.'"

In 2009, Puente created his own opportunity to tell stories through RGVision Magazine. “I found out when I eventually moved back to the Rio Grande Valley that there are a lot of stories to be told and there was really no medium to tell those stories,” he said, citing the limitations of space in newspapers and time on broadcast news. “We really weren’t touching on solid profile stories of individuals who have helped the Rio Grande Valley move in the direction it’s going in today.” Over the past 10 years, some of Puente’s most memorable stories that RGVision has told include ones

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We really want to let people know of the rockstars, the gems, the assets that we have right here in our backyard that are making a huge impact in our region, across the state, across the nation — also, across the world.” G abriel Puente, R GV is i on Pub l i s he r a nd CEO

Today, RGVision helps tell clients’ stories with full-service digital marketing lines, including social media management, video production, website development, graphic design, content creation, and much more.

Investing is about more than money.

“We like to work with small-, medium-sized businesses because we are one,” Puente said. “We try to come up with solutions for them. It’s real easy for companies to just create a product that has a set plan and to try to fit clients into that plan. We know that every client is different. They have different needs and they also have different budgets.” This includes helping clients adapt to today’s

complicated

and

sophisticated

market — and customers who are tired of sales pitches.

At Edward Jones, we stop to ask you the question: “What’s important to you?” Without that insight and a real understanding of your goals, investing holds little meaning.

“Whenever we’re sharing their story, it’s all about education and educating the market, educating the client, because that builds trust. It builds loyalty,” Puente said. “We’re really easy to identify whether I’m being sold

Contact your Edward Jones ﬁnancial advisor for a one-on-one appointment to discuss what’s really important: your goals.

something or not.” As more digital platforms emerge and marketing evolves, Puente predicts that storytelling will still play a central — albeit different — role. “I see more people wanting to slow down

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as the market is moving forward,” he said.

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“It’s always good to just sit down, stop, and

and it’s coming back in a big way. People are wanting to stop, take a break, and get engaged and digest more content — and also get more educated.” Join the conversation at RGVisionMedia.com.

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Leonardo F Chang

really engage, and that’s why I feel print —

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getting smarter and smarter and so it’s

MKD-8652B-A

that have both celebrated and impacted the Rio Grande Valley. That includes examining the concept of an RGV united as a region to boost the area’s growth as a whole, highlighting the innovative work of Harlingen’s Dr. Rick Bassett, an orthopedic surgeon who designed a joint for knee replacements, and working on website and smartphone app Explore RGV, a tourism tool that compiles nearly 1,000 features of the Valley. “We really want to let people know of the rockstars, the gems, the assets that we have right here in our backyard that are making a huge impact in our region, across the state, across the nation — also, across the world,” Puente said. The magazine’s storytelling lent itself organically to expanding RGVision’s marketing services. “There’s a lot of buzzwords going out for conversational marketing, drip campaign, storytelling, content creation,” Puente said. “We’ve been content creators and storytellers since 2009. And at heart, that’s ultimately what I’m passionate about — sharing the stories of the people because it’s inspiring.” Puente recognized that some of the advertisers featured in RGVision Magazine needed help with digital marketing services after being left high and dry by inexperience. “We kind of felt like, hey, we have a duty to help our clients and help our advertisers — to give them those services that a lot of people say they are providing,” Puente said. “They’re overpromising and underdelivering, and so we were able to help out. It just made sense for us to make it a service line after that because we just felt there was more of a need.”

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Keep Trucking RGVISION MAGAZINE

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Regional Freight and Trade Plan Aims to Address RGV’s Commerce Growing Pains b y Kel s ey G r ee n e | p h ot os b y J a s on G a r z a

The Rio Grande Valley’s growth has created the need for new infrastructure to keep up with the expansion of trade and development across the region, state, nation, border, and the world. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ Transborder Freight Data, in 2018 alone there was over $22 billion in exports and almost $30 billion in imports going in and out of the Valley. From Mexico, approximately 1,000 trains traveled north into the Rio Grande Valley, and close to 1 million trucks crossed in 2018, indicating an increase of 35 percent since 2010. “We have been growing by over $1 billion every year for

the last five years. It’s very significant,” said Luis Bazan, bridge director for the City of Pharr-International Bridge. In terms of cargo, the Port of Harlingen reports managing 1.7 million in cargo tonnage while the Port of Brownsville reports managing almost 11.3 million, according to each port’s respective website. The Texas Department of Transportation has identified the need to develop a Regional Freight and Trade Plan to keep up with and prepare for future growth by promoting “regional connectivity” and making trade at border crossings and “intermodal facilities” more efficient. The overarching goal of the plan is to prepare for “continued

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The lack of efficient connectivity can increase trade costs. Sandra "Shorty" Rocha, an import/export specialist at Ceva Freight LLC, says that the plan for new infrastructure “would be perfect.” “A lot of our trucks get damaged because of the routes they take now, or they have to go longer routes,” she said. Rocha adds that the inadequate road conditions can increase repair costs for the company, and longer routes mean more fuel expenses for each shipment going out. In her department alone, 100 skids — one skid equals two truckloads of cargo — went out each day in November, so the extra costs can add up quickly. TxDOT recognizes

economic prosperity for the region, Texas and the nation.” Bazan, who is the co-chair for the plan’s committee, says that one of the biggest challenges for implementing the new infrastructure is funding. However, there is funding available through programs like the Donation Acceptance Program, which was created by Customs and Border Protection for the purpose of creating infrastructure along the border. “Our current freight infrastructure is not adequate for the growth we have. We’re 10 years behind in necessary infrastructure,” Bazan said. The Valley’s growth has highlighted areas where the current roadways and trade processes could improve. According to the plan, the infrastructure previously in place lacks connectivity between regions where cargo is being shipped as well as alternative routes for truckers. Many routes to warehousing facilities cannot support large truck traffic because they are small, local roads that were not initially built with heavy trucks in mind. Some routes even go near or through neighborhoods rather than having a route better designed for vehicles of their size.

that “[o]versize and overweight truck traffic in the RGV require targeted strategies to improve mobility, asset condition, and safety in the region.” TxDOT’s plan seeks to address these challenges and bolster regional and border trade support so that JAN/FEB 2020

strengthened. The Rio Grande Valley Regional Freight and Trade Plan requires data collection both locally and regionally and forecasts for how regional freight and trade will be affected.

sure that people understand that it takes time up front for an efficient and high-quality infrastructure to be put in place. “It’s our job to make sure that the people are accurately informed,” he said. “We’re investing for them, their trade, their products to get them to the end-user, the customer, in a timely manner. We want to get it right the first time.”

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Currently in its fifth year of planning, the proposal is estimated to be completed in 2021. Bazan wants to make

the area’s growth trajectory can be maintained and

H E A L T H

IMPACTS OF POLITICS ON MENTAL HEALTH:

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Tips on Navigating the Current Political Climate Many often laud our current times as “the best time to be alive” as a result of remarkable advances in the dissemination of information that have undoubtedly improved the quality of life on a global scale. Breakthroughs in medicine have eased the burden of disease. As a society, we’ve secured personal freedoms to an unprecedented degree. And exponential technological growth continues to maximize our enjoyment of even the most mundane tasks. This gives rise to the following question: Have these advances, along with a soaring economy, made us, as Americans, happier?

fact, Americans are statistically more likely to experience stress and anxiety than much of the world, rising above the global average to a considerable degree. A 2019 study conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA) reported: DISCRIMINATION WAS A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF STRESS FOR 25 PERCENT OF ADULTS. • 63 percent for adults of color • 64 percent for adults who identify as LGBT THE UPCOMING 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION HAS BECOME A STRESSOR FOR 56 PERCENT OF ADULTS. • 71 percent for Democrats • 48 percent for Republicans

THE TRUTH IS IN THE STATISTICS Unfortunately, the answer is no. A 2018 Gallup poll found Americans are more stressed, angry, and fearful now than at most periods of time in the last decade. In

A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF STRESS FOR ADULTS (48 PERCENT) HAS ALSO BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO IMMIGRATION.

H E A L T H

• 66 percent for Hispanic adults 64 PERCENT OF ADULTS REPORTED STRESS DUE TO THE COSTS OF HEALTH CARE. • 71 percent for private insured • 53 percent of public insurance CLIMATE CHANGE HAS BECOME A STRESSOR FOR 56 PERCENT OF ADULTS. • 70 percent for Hispanic adults NEGATIVE FACTORS This negative turn in emotional well-being is especially compelling in the context of the United States — and considering that it developed during a particularly vibrant economy. In light of this paradoxical trend between the economy and increasing negative emotions among the American population, we can conclude that factors other than economic data, which includes measures like GDP, should be considered in the examination of emotional well-being. More recent studies have analyzed how various sociopolitical aspects of American life, particularly the fierce polarization, can be attributed to a deterioration in interpersonal relationships and even reports of suicidality. Distrust of the federal government, which sits among the top American fears, is another factor that has led to increasing discomfort among U.S. citizens. Understanding these correlations is the first step in establishing an effective protocol for gradually mitigating stress levels as we work to improve mental health not only among Americans but potentially on a global scale.

RESOURCES • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 • Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration 1-800-662-4357 • Tropical Texas Behavioral Health (956) 289-7000 ttbh.org/ • NAMI-RGV namirgv.org/recovery---resources.html • Stress Relievers (Mayo Clinic) mayocl.in/34sASY0 • Best Ways to Reduce Stress (Harvard University) bit.ly/2YZYvGc

TIPS ON HOW TO MANAGE STRESS Stress can manifest itself in different ways. Most commonly, stress may cause someone to experience: headaches, stomach issues, sleeping difficulties, and symptoms of anxiety and depression. With this in mind, the APA has listed helpful tips on how to manage stress related to political change: • Stay informed • Find commonalities with others • Find meaningful ways to get involved in your community • Seek solace • Take care of yourself

Co-authors include Dr. Mercado’s Mental Health Lab at UTRGV:

Stress management can be a form of effective self-care not just during difficult times but throughout your life. Per the Mayo Clinic, it is vital to first identify your stressors and

Stephanie Arellano, Stephany Navarro, Marcos Valdez, Andy Torres

ARTICLE PROVIDED BY

Alfonso Mercado PH.D., Licensed Psychologist Valley Psychological Services - Assistant Professor Department of Psychology at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | www.utpa.edu/psychology

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and Frances Morales.

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proceed by searching for coping strategies such as physical activity, good quality sleep, or simply enjoying oneself. Avoiding substance use, engaging in a healthy diet, seeking contact with friends and family, and meditation can be additional ways to alleviate stress, the Mayo Clinic adds. Also, doing something meaningful about your stress can also be rewarding. If you are truly concerned about certain political issues, address them by being active in your community, volunteering at local organizations or political campaigns, and engaging in positive and productive activities is highly recommended rather than spewing negativity on social media platforms and creating conflict among your friends and loved ones. The latter is not productive and increases anxiety rather than relieving it — and you may lose friends because of it. The APA further advises the public that if the stress related to political change has become unmanageable, then seeking the assistance of a mental health professional could be healthful. Navigating the current political environment can take a toll on mental well-being and become difficult to manage. Seeking help from your loved ones or reaching out to others in a similar position can be helpful during difficult times. The following means of help are also available. You’re not alone.

H E A L T H

CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT Rodeo Dental Continues to Polish Company Culture

The 120 doctors across all of Rodeo Dental’s Texas locations are in the business of keeping patients’ smiles healthy. Dr. Saam Zarrabi, dentist and cofounder of Rodeo Dental, is looking to keep the smiles on those doctors’ faces — and the team members who support their work. “Our company culture is phenomenal,” Zarrabi said. “I’d put it up there with any of the best in health care and even retail. We really want to lead a strong culture and it’s a testament to all of our team members.” Excellent company culture is intricately tied to quality customer service. And the patient experience at Rodeo Dental is unlike any other. “When you walk into a practice, you’ll feel a certain energy that is positive,” Zarrabi said. “You come by, we shake the bells, we celebrate.” Rodeo Dental lobbies are designed to be fun and engaging for patients. Many of them include arcades, movie theaters, crafts activities, and Pop Spirit Celebration themes for decor. “We are maniacally focused on the patient experience from starting on the phone to when they enter the lobby all the way through to when we give a tour,” Zarrabi said.

“Ultimately, even till the end of the appointment — what we call the epic sendoff. We wanted to change the dynamic of the traditional healthcare patient experience.” Much of the time, patients leave doctors’ offices in a hurry after an appointment, as eager as the medical professionals to wrap things up. At Rodeo Dental, it’s different. “We do all this cool different stuff to really leave a positive impression as they leave,” Zarrabi said, adding that his team is big on patient birthdays. “We have fun not just patient birthdays. Man, we’re crazy about employee birthdays and anniversaries. We do a lot of things. We have quarterly events. We’re big on learning, continuous education. We have an annual event that’s incredible — we just had our 10year annual event.” That event took place at the House of Blues in Houston, and hosted 700 people. Team members from the Rio Grande Valley’s 12 practices rode buses up to hear words of wisdom from motivational speaker Jonathan Sprinkles and author Capt. D. Michael Abrashoff, who wrote It’s Your Ship. Team members also took part in a game show and talent shows. As it turns out, Rodeo Dental team members are talented even away from the dental chair. A couple of them are professional wrestlers on the weekend and regularly performed at the company’s annual event. For the special 10-year gathering, they gathered four participants for a wild showing. “We embrace that. Maybe some companies are like, ‘not here.’ We’re like, ‘bring that here. Be you and show us the best version of yourself and bring that to the practice and share it with everybody,’” Zarrabi said of the wrestlers. “Man, they rocked it.” While Rodeo Dental already has a quality company culture, Zarrabi says he’s always looking to improve it.

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b y R GV i s i on

Ro d e o D e n t a l t e a m m e m b e r s gathe r f or the hol i days.

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“I feel culture is like this living, breathing organism,” he explained. “It has its ups, it has its downs. You’ve got to constantly love it, massage it, give it attention, and when you do, you bring the best of people. We’re constantly trying to up our game and really make sure we’re delivering, we’re empowering our employees, we’re really giving them a voice to do the things they think are great not just for the patients, but for each other.” Zarrabi celebrates Rodeo Dental’s RGV offices in particular for their superior company culture. “I think the culture of our company really started and has just blossomed from here in the Valley. The energy that the team brings here we share with the rest of the state,” he said. “Team members from here in the Valley will go and train the new offices and really help us grow.” That growth is a focus for the future — even as Zarrabi and Rodeo Dental embrace the company’s foundation of delivery high-end dental care to all its patients. “I really have learned it’s all about creating a culture that is served around the mission and core values, and then creating systems that allow the team members to really live through and deliver in those systems,” Zarrabi said. To learn more about Rodeo Dental, visit RodeoDental. com.

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Dr. Sa a m Z a r r a b i, r ig h t , c h eers as Ro d e o D e n t a l t ea m me m b e r s p u t o n a wr est l i n g d e m o n s t r a t io n d u ri ng a r e c e n t a n n u a l ev e n t f o r t h e c o m p a n y.

H E A L T H

WHAT IS CBD?

Experts at Your CBD Store on Hand to Answer Cannabidiol Questions

If you have never heard about CBD — or even if you have, and aren’t sure what everyone has been talking about — it’s only natural that you might have some questions. There are many facts — and more than a few fictions — floating around about CBD lately. Perhaps you’ve seen signs outside of buildings or markets advertising that the business now sells CBD. Or maybe you’ve even noticed CBD products on display at gas station convenience store counters. The team at Your CBD Store invites people who might be curious about CBD — or have questions about what it is and what it can do — to stop by one of four convenient locations. Find Your CBD Store in Brownsville, Harlingen, North McAllen, and Sharyland. Starting with the basics, CBD stands for cannabidiol. It represents one of the whole group of naturally occurring chemical compounds called cannabinoids, which are found in hemp plants. Though some people who use CBD report having a dry mouth, there are no other known serious side effects of CBD. And though there have been no serious drug interactions reported with CBD, it is best to consult with a pharmacist on how CBD could affect the levels of the medications you are currently taking. You do not need a prescription to purchase CBD. When used as directed, CBD is unlikely to trigger positive urine drug screening because of the negligible amounts of

Your CBD Store locations in the Rio Grande Valley offer a range of CBD products, including an award-winning skin care line. photo by Erik Webster

THC present in the product. It is legal to sell CBD as a dietary supplement. All legal CBD products contain less than 0.3 percent of THC — the substance that causes mood and alertness changes in users. People can use CBD in a variety of ways based on what their needs and goals might be, and every approach is different. CBD comes in many different forms, including water solubles, tinctures, edibles, vapes, gel caps, pet products, and skin care products. Your CBD Store is proud to offer highquality, laboratory-tested CBD products renowned for their consistency and caliber. In fact, Your CBD Store was recently awarded the Best CBD

Cosmetic Skincare of 2019 honor at the CBD Expo East 2019. The company stocks a variety of skincare products for customers to try, including: • • • •

Creams Lotions Bath bombs Lip balm

Learn more about the award-winning skincare line at Your CBD Store — and the additional CBD products available — by visiting your nearest Your CBD Store today. For more information about Your CBD Store and the products it offers, visit cbdrx4u.com.

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H E A L T H

FACES IN THE VALLEY:

TITO MATA

Powerlifting Legend Lifted Sport in the Rio Grande Valley b y N a th a ni el M a t a | p h ot o b y J a m e s H or d

If you’ve been lucky enough to visit local bodybuilding and strength legend Tito Mata’s home, there is a lot to take in. His walls are lined with photos of all classic bodybuilders. “All the old pros” is how Mata describes them. He is in the some of the images. Others look like they just came out of the magazine they appeared in. On a large shelf he has trophies, many in the shape of a chiseled man starting a power clean or sitting on a bench press. Of course, there is an exercise machine, as well, standard for any hardcore fitness fan. But that wasn’t the case when Mata started his career as a strongman. “When I started lifting weights in the early 1970s, nobody was lifting weights,” he said. “Everyone told me not to do it. ‘You’re going to get muscle-bound’ and all the negative rumors and myths that you hear about weightlifting.” In fact, Mata didn’t even have actually weights to put on a barbell when he started. He had to improvise from the start. “I started off with bricks, lifting bricks,” Mata said. “And then I got cement in coffee cans. I wanted to open up a gym. I opened up probably the first hardcore gym in the Valley and I was probably the first one to promote body building and to promote powerlifting in the Valley. Now powerlifting and bodybuilding is everywhere.” Tito’s Gym on Kings Highway in Brownsville is where the magic started. Before there were school-sanctioned lifting meets and bodybuilding competition at South Padre Island, it was Mata who hosted events for those who grew up in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in the ’80s and ’90s. That makes the Brownsville native proud. He worked to spread the movement. Now when he drives around his city and sees gyms and fitness centers on nearly every corner, he knows he had a lot to do with it. He even lobbied for decades to get powerlifting into Brownsville ISD schools. “Everywhere I go, any gym I walk into, I run into all

these people that are training. I trained them. I go to the (powerlifting) meets and a lot of the coaches, I trained,” Mata said. The 65-year-old veteran of steel pointed to one of his former prodigies, Rodney McClanahan, who he calls “the most famous guy in Brownsville” because of popular gym he owns: Hardknox Strength & Performance. “We give thanks to him and I kind of owe a lot to him because my first experience with any type of gym was his. I was 10 years old at the time,” McClanahan said of Mata. “I can honestly say it literally sparked what I now call my love and my passion for the field. I ended up going to school for it, getting a master’s degree in it.” McClanahan’s gym on Military Highway is similar in a lot of ways. No air conditioning, just individuals working hard to improve, strengthen, and bulk up. The fitness craze has reached new heights in the last five to 10 years. Gyms are only the tip of the iceberg. There are businesses in clean eating and meal prep as well as personal trainers and sports training for youth sports. Around the RGV, men and women are buckling down, stretching out, and bulking up at gyms to fine tune their bodies to peak performance and physique. Even the attitude is different than when Mata idolized “It’s incredible,” he said. “What really gets to me is Latinas and Latinos didn’t work out (back then). They thought if you were sweating, it implied that you are a laborer.” Poetically, Mata met his wife in a gym after seeing her lifting weights. He has a message to adults who are trying to battle “Cardio helps your lungs and heart. Progressive

resistance, which is weightlifting, helps you produce

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father time.

hormones,” he said. “So if you’re lifting weights, you’re going to produce more hormones naturally. It’s good to do both. What the aging process is, your body slowly stops producing hormones. So being involved in progressive resistance, you’re turning the clock backwards.”

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the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbo.

H E A L T H

Grade ‘A’ Quality Care Valley Baptist-Harlingen Touts Teamwork in Recent High Rating

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b y RGVi s i on | p h ot o b y J a s on G a r z a Most people don’t look forward to a trip to the hospital. But when they’re headed to Valley Baptist Medical CenterHarlingen, they can look forward to the fact that they’re going to a facility highly rated for its safety, quality of care, and patient experience. “If people come to us, it’s not because they’ve won the lottery. People come to us when they’re most vulnerable,” said Archie Drake, COO of Valley Baptist Health System-Harlingen. “We want people to trust that they can come to Valley Baptist and they can be certain that they’re going to get top-notch care from a top-notch group of people who are there to serve them.” Valley Baptist-Harlingen recently received an “A” score via Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade. “Texas ranks 16th in the nation when it comes to the number of hospitals that are an ‘A’ or higher,” said Dr. Christopher Romero, physician advisor. “In Texas, less than 40 percent of hospitals have been able to achieve a Leapfrog score of ‘A,’ so

we’re really proud to be able to lead the charge in the state for improving patient care overall.” The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization focused on publicly reporting hospital performance to advocate for increasing transparency and saving lives. Nearly 2,000 hospitals in the United States voluntarily participate in the evidence-based survey. “It’s a very objective measurement, and that’s why I like it,” said Manny Vela, Valley Baptist Health System-Harlingen CEO. "It weighs and then judges you against your peers around the country. So a strong Leapfrog ‘A’ score truly indicates that you’re concentrating on the right thing.” The Leapfrog survey examines more than 20 metrics centered around hospital-acquired infections, surgery issues, error prevention, safety problems, and staffing. The measurements are tallied into a numeric score, which is then translated to a letter grade.

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which we provide care at Valley Baptist,” he said. Initiatives to improve include everything from reducing the number of unnecessary tubes and lines in patients to encouraging hand washing from hospital visitors before they enter a room and after they leave. Self-improvement takes attention to detail and hard work. “There’s no ego at Valley Baptist, but a lot of pride,” Drake said. “We’re very proud of the fact that we have earned the score of ‘A’ because we didn’t get there by coincidence. It has to be in our culture, in our DNA, to be excellent and that’s what we really strive for.” It’s a team effort. “You cannot achieve the high Leapfrog score that we’ve recently achieved without a complete collaboration with every member of our staff,” Vela said. “It’s a highly dedicated, highly skilled, highly trained group of folks across the board that allow us to do the things that we do on a daily basis for our patients.” In the end, Valley Baptist’s ‘A’ Leapfrog score more than just a good grade. “It’s affirmation that in fact our folks don’t have to leave the Rio Grande Valley to receive the highest level of care available,” Vela said. Learn more about Valley Baptist Health System by visiting valleybaptist.net/.

“It gives a nice snapshot picture of the ongoing care that hospitals provide for the community,” said Roy Evans, chief quality officer for Valley Baptist-Harlingen. “Our score this year was the highest we’ve ever achieved.” The rating represents life and death challenges that hospitals face. “The reason why we take this so seriously is there’s some alarming statistics when it comes to patient safety nationwide,” Romero said. “Disturbingly, over 400,000 people will die in this country due to errors that happen during hospitalization. We find that to be unacceptable for the patients we care for here at Valley Baptist.” Valley Baptist self-evaluates the ongoing care it provides to the community, examining its strengths and areas of improvement. The Leapfrog score is just one method to continue to grow as an organization. “We’re not satisfied with just being an ‘A,’” Romero said. “We want to have all of the measures all across the board be as highly ranked as possible.” This is the fifth consecutive A score that Valley Baptist has received, Vela adds, but that doesn’t mean that the health system is complacent about where it stands. “The reality is this: We’re going to get better every day we come to work because we’ve learned something yesterday that’s going to allow us to continually improve the manner in

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Au t h o r D a vid C er on w r o te hi s chi l dr e n's book , cov er at left, to h elp combat diabetes.

ACTIVE READING Local Author Pens Children’s Book Designed to Get Readers Living Healthier

due to complications of diabetes. “Anybody who knows somebody with diabetes knows that it kills slowly and painfully,” Ceron said. “Losing two siblings in back to back years was so difficult.” Several months after losing his sister, Ceron sent up a prayer while driving home. “‘If you want me to do something different with my life, Lord, put it in my heart right now,’” he recalled saying. “And so the idea of writing a children’s book, calling it The Adventures of Exo and Cy — which is a play on the word ‘exercise’ — came into my mind.” The book is full of plays on words that tip off readers to characters’ and places’ true intentions. It features a boy, Exo, and his dog, Cy, who live in O.B. City (obesity) — overseen by Mayor Diane Beeties (diabetes) and Chief Will Ness (wellness). There, Exo and Cy work to thwart a bully,

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Most people would assume that reading a book would be a passive, sitting activity, but children’s author David Ceron isn’t most people. Ceron, a former teacher, created an innovative and interactive story designed to educate its readers while getting them up and moving: The Adventures of Exo and Cy. He reversed the letters in his last name to create the pen name David Norec. “This book wasn’t about me, and has never been about me, and I don’t want it to ever be about me,” Ceron said. “I want it to be about the message and the story behind the book.” The story behind the book is one of loss. Diabetes took its toll on Ceron’s family. In 2013, he lost his brother to a long battle with the disease. In 2014, Ceron’s sister died

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b y Amy Ca s ebi e r | p h ot o b y E r i k We b s t e r

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“We’re all up, we’re moving, we’re exercising and we’re having fun. We’re reading a book that is educating them on healthy eating and healthy living.”

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D a vi d Cer o n, Author, on presen tin g h is book in sch ools

Chip, and his bulldog, Nacho. Throughout the adventure, instructions call on readers to mimic the actions of Exo and Cy, such as completing a series of 20 lunges to get across a board connecting two buildings, or doing high jumps for 30 seconds to avoid rolling baguettes. “By the time they finish reading it, they’ve gotten an exercise workout,” Ceron said. In all, Ceron has planned for seven books in this series. The next one will feature a girl, Aero, and her cat, Bix — aerobics. Ceron aims for all four heroes to team up by the final volume to save their city. Richly illustrated by local artist Edgardo Gonzalez, the first book took about six months for Ceron to write. That span of time was punctuated by an unexpected blow — Ceron himself was diagnosed with diabetes. “I was pretty upset about that at the time because here I am, I’m thinking I’m doing something good to try to educate kids and people on diabetes, and then I have diabetes,” he said. “Actually, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise because now when I go present and speak to people, I’m coming with that background of not only having people I love diagnosed with diabetes, but me, myself — so I know a lot of the stuff, the insulin, the other medications that doctors prescribe for diabetes.” Ceron added that taking those kinds of medicine isn’t fun — and it’s expensive. That’s all the more reason to combat type 2 diabetes with healthy eating and exercise. The community has taken note of the power of the message within The Adventures of Exo and Cy. Ceron won the McAllen Chamber of Commerce’s GoodPitch Competition in 2018. Last year, he won the chamber’s innovation grant, which has helped him fund printing. Teachers and principals at local schools have also been impressed with Ceron’s book and accompanying presentation. Ceron has students standing and acting out the exercises throughout the book. “We’re all up, we’re moving, we’re exercising and we’re having fun,” he said. “We’re reading a book that is

educating them on healthy eating and healthy living.” In 2019, the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area received the dubious distinction of being named the fattest metropolitan area in the United States by a Wallethub study. Ceron recognizes that the region has its work cut out for it to get healthier, but hopes that The Adventures of Exo and Cy can be a first step. “With proper exercise with good healthy eating, we can reverse this,” he said. “We can take the ‘die’ out of diabetes if we do things right. It’s going to take time. It’s going to take effort. We can change the culture of the Rio Grande Valley, and I hope that I can, years down the road, meet people who this book helped.” Ceron plans to give back to local organizations that have helped him with this first volume in his series. He wants to donate proceeds from book sales to groups like the South Texas Juvenile Diabetes Association, the Rio Grande Valley Diabetes Association, and the South Texas Literacy Coalition. And as he continues to write six more installments of his series, Ceron plans to release each new book every Nov. 17. “Nov. 17 would’ve been my sister’s birthday and this is Diabetes Awareness Month, November,” he said. “I think it’s perfect in the month and on the day to honor my sister and all those who have been affected by diabetes.” Ceron also looks forward to translating the stories into Spanish so he can present the concept in Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries — taking Exo, Cy, and other characters global. “I want to make myself available to go to schools and present — or libraries, wherever. Whoever will take me in,” Ceron said. “I think we need to spread the word. Hopefully, we can change some lives.” Purchase The Adventures of Exo and Cy through Amazon, DavidNorec.com, through David Ceron himself, or, soon, at local Barnes & Noble stores.

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‘USING POSITIVITY’ Palmer Drug Abuse Program Tackles Use One Individual at a Time b y N a th a ni el M a t a | p h ot os b y J a m e s H or d Addiction is a struggle. Even saying that is a massive understatement because overcoming addiction can be a full-fledged battle fought on many fronts. Drug use takes a toll on the body, the wallet, and even close relationships. The toll of drugs on the body doesn’t discriminate. Even socially acceptable substances such as alcohol and tobacco can have irreversible effects. A few years back, the trend was synthetic marijuana, which was legal before health officials and lawmakers realized the effects were worse than actual cannabis.

"We've tied in criminality with drug use in this country,” UTRGV addiction studies professor Eluterio Blanco said. "People still follow that old formula and only drug use as against the law. So if a drug is not against the law, it's not harmful. That's why alcohol is the most prevalent drug used here … because it's legal. It's a very erroneous way of thinking about it." Behavioral Health Solutions of South Texas Prevention compiles data in its Prevention Resource Center. According to PRC11.com, there were 3,354 disciplinary actions in schools across South Texas related to

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The tug-of-war between punishment versus compassion has complicated the approach to finding solutions. “We do outreach work, prevention work,” Ochoa said. “However, we do not charge for our services. All of our services are free. So anybody could literally walk through that door. We do work with some pediatricians that come across kids that are addicted. We also have other counselors in the community that refer because we have a strong afterschool program.” PDAP assists minors with individual and family counseling and has a 12-step program and alternative peer group for adults similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. As a nonprofit organization, funding comes from grants rather than the federal or state government. Still, adults can find PDAP on their own or be referred by a counselor or even as part of probation. “Let’s say you’re on your second or third DWI. Obviously, that alcohol education class isn’t doing it for you,” Ochoa said. “We often recommend probation offers to let them give us a try. At least if they’re not ready to change now, they’ll know where to go when they are ready.” Through his classes, Blanco teaches theory to addictive behavior. He applauds the PDAP’s holistic approach, which is often missing in recovery. “PDAP doesn’t fit under the other type of treatment models since it’s an alternative peer group,” Blanco said. “It’s more about using positivity, using the peers, and serving as positive role models and mentorship. It’s not just about the drugs. It’s about so much more, and that’s why it’s so valuable.”

possession of controlled substances. The organization also reported that 3 in 5 students say underage and binge drinking is a problem in college settings. For a recovery approach that goes beyond crime and punishment and aims to uproot drug usage at the source, there is a beacon of light in McAllen. The Palmer Drug Abuse Program (PDAP) in McAllen has been offering peer-to-peer assistance in this area for the last 31 years. Nadia Ochoa has served as executive director of PDAP in McAllen for five years. The parent organization began in Houston at the Palmer Episcoal Church back in 1971. “I think addiction, the disease itself, is the same anywhere you go,” Ochoa said. “The drugs that people are addicted to are different. Trends change every year. When I first started here six years ago, the hot drug was spice — synthetics. Kids were dropping like flies at school. It was really, really bad.” Ochoa’s team of five counselors also gets a boost from students studying addiction and recovery. Blanco, a member of the state’s association of addiction professionals, brings students to intern at the center. Blanco explained that there are nuanced approaches to recovery and addiction treatment from what is covered by insurances to what practices are used. A person can be ready to face their problem head on, but that’s just the first step in the path to recovery. Medical detox is the most severe approach, necessary for emergencies like alcohol withdrawals. There is one resident rehab center in the RGV, but it only serves minors. Facilities like Renaissance Behavioral serve as psychiatric care, not as drug rehab.

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N a d ia O c h o a i s exe cuti v e di r e ctor of the Pal m e r Dru g Abu se Program, at left.

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Labor of Love Valley Baptist-Harlingen Delivers Quality Care for Newborns, Mothers b y RGVi s i o n | p h ot os b y J a s on G a r z a

When it came time for Aubree Robinette, BSN/RN, to choose a hospital to give birth in, she kept it close to home, so to speak: Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen — where she works. “Having a baby is a very personal thing,” she said. "I trust the doctors here. I trust the people I work with, so I know, regardless, that they would take good care of my baby.” Just like her coworkers were a part of her baby’s beginnings, Robinette says she enjoys the opportunity to be involved with other new lives through her role at Valley Baptist’s level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. “What I’m most proud of is I get to be a part of a baby’s life and I get to see them go

“We are making a difference in a mother’s life.” Samantha Rob b i n s , RN , Valley

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their infant could be admitted to the NICU. It’s a jarring thought even with the high level of care available of the 38-bed unit. Thankfully, Valley Baptist patients can expect kind, empathetic, and professional attention from doctors and staff. “We treat all our patients as family,” Corona said. “Our patients are always our number one priority. Our patient satisfaction scores — especially on this floor — they’re always really high.” Samantha Robbins, RN, recalled recent feedback she received while discharging a patient. “She told me she’s been here a few times already in preterm labor and she expressed to me she was very happy with the care she received here. We made her feel better about her pregnancy,” Robbins said. “For me, that means that we are making an impact. We are making a difference in a mother’s life.” From excellent patient satisfaction to advanced infrastructure and facilities, Valley Baptist offers parents-to-be and others in the community a good choice for care. “I think if they’re looking for a place for high-quality care — something that’s beneficial to mom and for baby — I think this is the place to be,” said Dr. Ruben Torres, department chair of the OB/GYN Department at Valley Baptist. “I really think that we have services here that are second to none for the rest of the Valley.” Learn more about Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen by visiting ValleyBaptist. net. Schedule a tour of the birth center by calling (956) 389-5254.

medical center for the level of care Valley Baptist is able to provide new families. “There’s no way I would be able to take care of all the babies here without having a strong nursing staff,” he said. “I also have a dietician that specializes in the nutrition of the newborn at my disposal. I have a pharmacist that helps me also make sure that the dosage that I’m giving does not exceed a level that we think is safe. We have different programs that allow us to calculate and make special IV nutrition for babies customized for that particular baby for that particular day.” Before their little ones arrive, expectant parents can visit Valley Baptist. “Valley Baptist offers in-house tours prior to delivering so the patients have the opportunity of coming and looking at the rooms and looking at the equipment that we have and getting to meet our nurses so when the time comes, they already know — they feel like they’re at home,” Barrera said. “It’s always good to know where you’re supposed to come to. Knowing where to go at that time is always a plus.” That level of preparation also goes into prenatal consultations with the neonatologist. “Before even she goes into labor or before even her following admission for when she comes to have her baby, she can speak with a specialist and give her some sort of guidance on what potentially can happen and what to expect,” Soarez said. That can help new parents mentally prepare themselves for the possibility that

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A b o v e a nd a t left, moth ers bon d with th eir n ewborn s at Valley Baptist Medical Ce nte r i n H a r lin gen .

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home,” she said. “The best part is when the parents bring them back. When we have a little, tiny baby that was maybe just 1 pound and maybe three or four months down the road, the mom brings them back and they’re happy and they’re chunky and they’re healthy. Then we’re like, ‘OK, we did our job.’” The NICU is one of many draws Valley Baptist offers to expectant families. “Having a neonatal intensive care unit in house is a big plus for this hospital,” said Dr. Alejandro David Barrera, OB/GYN. “If, in any event, their baby needs special care, mom can always come and visit the baby in the unit so they don’t have to be separated.” Minimizing separations between newborns and new mothers is essential for a number of reasons. “The more that the mom and baby are together, the more it’s easier for the mom to breastfeed,” said Anisha Corona, RN, of Valley Baptist’s Mother Baby Unit. “We also have a lactation consultant that’s always available to help the mom breastfeed and to help the mom bond with the baby more. I know that if the baby does have to be transferred, that’s time that the bonding will never get back — especially the first few hours.” Valley Baptist’s Couplet Care is another initiative that paves the way for mothers and babies to spend more time together. This supports bonding, skin-to-skin contact, and breastfeeding. New parents can also look forward to care from a dedicated neonatologist — a pediatrician who specializes in the care of premature or other babies who require essential care. “A lot of places have general pediatricians taking care of their newborns and that’s totally fine,” said neonatologist Fernando Soarez. “When they come here, I see not only the very sick babies, but I also see those well babies. If there’s anything that perhaps an untrained eye would not be able to detect, again, you would have a neonatologist seeing well babies upstairs in a well baby nursery.” Having a neonatologist on staff means immediate response to serious situations. “Time is critical and when we have an inhouse neonatologist 24/7, they’re always available within minutes,” Barrera said. “And when I say minutes, that’s minutes — not 10 minutes, not 30 minutes, a few minutes. They’re right next door.” Soarez credits the teamwork of the entire

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WINTER WONDERLAND Cooler Weather Opens Doors to Outdoor Activities in RGV

Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park interpreter Roy Rodriguez explained why a trip to a local nature center is the best way to spend a beautiful day. “For those of us who live here, we’re always looking for an escape in the summer,” Rodriguez said. “We’re always looking to go to the beach or head north because it’s so warm down here. We actually have lots of things to escape that are nature sites, and we don’t really notice it that much. We notice the urban sprawl and a lot of roads and Walmarts.”

When the weather drops below 80 degrees in the Rio Grande Valley, it’s a cause for celebration. Time to bust out the Abuelita hot cocoa and oversized coats. In our area, it’s imperative to hang onto the cold air while it lasts because we know that the upper 90s are never too far away. When our seemingly endless summer turns into a short winter, it’s best to take advantage — even if it’s only for a couple of days at a time thanks to the latest cold front. So what exactly is there to do when it gets nice out beyond just the seasonal holiday events that normally wrap up in December? (And no, binge-streaming on your couch doesn’t count because you were going to do that regardless of the weather outside.)

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Rodriguez said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All of those birds and a lot of insects have to fly through here in order to go down south. Many of these things donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fly over water, so they have to fly around the Gulf of Mexico to get there.â&#x20AC;? Enjoy the Tamaulipan Biotic Province while you can because, thanks to development, population growth, and now a proposed wall running alongside the Rio Grande, the amount of forested area and wildlife activity could be threatened. South Padre Island and the coastal wetlands are an attractive destination, even outside of the scorching hot season. Vicky Harding is in charge of activities for Winter Texans for Cameron County. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Being on the ocean itself is a big draw,â&#x20AC;? Harding said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think that the turtle rescues are a big interest of people down here.â&#x20AC;? The South Padre Island Nature and Birding Center is also in the World Bird Center Network. Harding explained how nice cultural wildlife can be. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Getting in touch with nature in an ocean setting is completely different than getting in touch with nature in a wooded area up in the Midwest,â&#x20AC;? Harding said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We love to search for the shells, we love to watch the lizards scamper along.â&#x20AC;? Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re staying inside with some Abuelita and a cozy blanket or out taking a hike, there is always something to do in cold weather in the RGV.

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The World Birding Center has nine unique sites in the RGV, including Bensten. Each center highlights the outdoors from as far west at the Roma Bluffs to the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center. With the amount of natural beauty in the Valley, the cold can sometimes allow us the option to go outside where the heat would normally stop us. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a whole bunch of opportunities in the Valley for folks who maybe donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get a chance to do this kind of outdoor stuff in the summertime,â&#x20AC;? Rodriguez said. He said there are 21 nature sites, including national wildlife refuges, state parks, and even city-owned properties that are natureÂ based. While Winter Texans and ecotourists spend millions of dollars each year to enjoy this one-in-a-kind region, locals can finally enjoy their own backyard. With millions of dollars pouring into the local economy via ecotourism from bird, insect, and nature enthusiasts, if you follow the money, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find the best activities in the Valleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s backyard. Rodriguez said the unique geography of the region is often overlooked. Forget about the border between the U.S. and Mexico and think about the wildlife that populates this area thanks to its prime location. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are on two migratory flyways: Central Flyway and the Mississippi Flyway,â&#x20AC;?

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Th e L in e a r Par k Tr a i l s tr e tche s thr ough Br ow ns ville. I t is on e of 4 1 bicyclin g trails featu red in E xplore RGVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s n ew B ic yc lin g A d ve ntur e Gui de. p hoto b y M ar k Le hman n , cou rtesy Rails-to-Trails Con servan cy

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WHEELING AWAY Explore RGV Launches Bicycling Adventure Guide

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Nearly two decades ago, Jim Darling’s doctor told him that he needed to get more exercise for his heart. “So about 18 years ago, I got on a bike, and I’ve been riding ever since,” the McAllen mayor said. “It’s a great way to see everything. I go explore. If I have zoning issues come up for the city, I get on my bike and ride out there. It’s a great way to look around and actively observe things.” Darling says he frequents McAllen’s Second Street Hike & Bike Trail — and that he’s pedaled all the way to Port Isabel. “It’s the most fun you can have seeing your area,” he said. “It’s a great way to see all the great things in the Valley and it’s a fun way of doing it.” Darling isn’t the only leader in the Rio Grande Valley who recognizes the power and potential of bicycling in this region. “We want to help promote bicycling in the Rio Grande Valley and help promote healthy culture,” said Ron Garza, executive of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council. That’s why Valley tourism app and website Explore RGV has released its second curated Adventure Guide with a focus on bicycling. “The great thing about the Bicycling Adventure Guide is that anybody — from a very beginner bicyclist to somebody that is an expert in bicycling — they can find the resource that best meets their need,” Garza said. The LRGVDC created the Explore RGV initiative. The Bicycling Adventure Guide is organized into three categories: Recreational Bicycling (Hike & Bike) Trails, Road Bicycling Routes, and Mountain Bike & Gravel Trails. Those categories represent 41 bicycling trails of different lengths and terrains, offering diverse options for cyclists of all ages and abilities. “The Rio Grande Valley has a lot of hike and bike trails and other resources to use for bicycling. It’s a great place to bicycle,” Garza said. “The cool thing about it is our city leadership really understand the value of those quality of life projects. There’s more and more investment occurring in more bike trails across the communities.” Dr. Rose Gowen, physician and Brownsville city commissioner, has been one of many leaders instrumental in boosting access to bicycling in the RGV. She became involved in initiatives to help make Brownsville healthier, including restarting the Brownsville Farmers Market and instituting a springtime weight-loss challenge. “We also looked at the built environment in terms of what did our built environment need to encourage people to be more active in their daily

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lives?” she said. “That included looking at bicycle riding in addition to walking. We started looking at, is it safe to ride a bike? That led us to find a lot of gaps in our infrastructure for safe bicycle riding in Brownsville.” Using money earned from the city’s plastic bag ban, in 2012, Gowen and other city leaders funded a master hike and bike trail that brings a safe route within one-half mile of every home in Brownsville. In 2014, Brownsville and surrounding cities attended an active transportation conference on bicycle tourism that led to the funding of the Caracara Trail, a network of routes that connects 11 cities in Cameron County. This project paved the way for both economic growth in the form of more bicycle shops as well as increased health. For the first time in 10 years, the rate of diabetes cases in the area has started to drop, Gowen says. “Together, with a lot of really passionate people, we worked hard to develop the arguments, the logic, the connections between a simple bicycle and economic development or increased tourism or health or improved educational levels because many people see a bicycle as a toy, but quite honestly, a bicycle can be a tool — and that’s how we’re using it in Brownsville and in many cities in Cameron County,” she said. That two-wheeled tool can galvanize both the health of the Rio Grande Valley and its economy. Often, the two are intertwined, Gowen says. “What does influence our choices for lifestyle and health are who do we live with, where do we live, what does our city government provide for us?” she said. Bicycling tourism has the potential to infuse millions of dollars into the RGV economy thanks to active tourists who frequent local businesses, Gowen adds. “It means more money into the cities of the Valley and it also means more money to feed into better infrastructure for bicycling and walking and jogging,” she said. “The additional benefit is it’s the same tool that can be used to get our own people off the couch. It’s a win-win situation. It helps our own people, it helps outside new income. “We’ve never been a destination nationwide or internationally for active tourism. This guide and these initiatives are all aiming to establish that.” Cycling enthusiasts can enjoy the Bicycling Adventure Guide’s resources in several different ways. All 41 listings picked for inclusion can be downloaded for easy reference on a double-sided PDF. On the back side of the listings, cyclists can reference a series of safety tips to follow while riding. The digital Bicycling Adventure Guide maps out the 41 sites and includes links to additional biking references, including: • RGV bike shop listings • The U.S. Bicycle Route System, a national network of public bike routes • Cameron County’s Caracara Trails • McAllen BCycle, an app-based bicycle rental service • Strava, a fitness tracking and analysis app • TrailLink, a Rails-to-Trails Conservancy initiative that connects people with trails "We really think this is a Valley initiative — not just one city or another,” Darling said. “The Rio Grande Valley’s a fantastic place. We’ve been trying to get the cities to think regionalism and this is a fantastic way of doing it — by something that’s going to be fun and healthy for our citizens.” Explore RGV’s first Adventure Guide highlighted choice birding locations across the region. People can expect the third guide out early this year — and subsequent guides released about every quarter. “These have been so much fun to put together. They’re a challenge making sure we don’t forget any of the top resources,” Garza said. “We want to make sure we promote all our great, beautiful assets across the Valley. Some of those have zero cost, which is exciting.” Check out Explore RGV’s Bicycling Adventure Guide at goexplorergv.com/ bicycling/.

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“We want to help promote bicycling in the Rio Grande Valley and help promote healthy culture.”

A c yc lis t p e d a ls a lo n g the M i s s i on H i ke a nd Bi ke Tr a i l , an oth er on e of 4 1 bicyclin g trails featu red in E xplore RGV’s n ew Bi c y c lin g A d ve n t u r e G ui d e. p ho to by Er i k We b s te r

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Ron Garza, executive director of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council, on Explore RGV’s Bicycling Adventure Guide

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WILD NATURE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS

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by Jo hn Brush, Qu i nta Ma z a tl á n, Center fo r U r b a n E col og y Think of a nature documentary. Specifically, think of where that documentary took place. Odds are it was filmed in a vast expanse of nature — perhaps an African veld, or a Pacific island — far away, removed from people. In those places, we learn about the strange, and sometimes gruesome, natural histories of life: of brain-controlling fungi, incredible camouflage, bizarre mating displays, and fierce struggles between predator and prey. They are beautiful reminders of how diverse our world is, and how wonderful. However, it does not take a trip to the Australian outback for nature to be amazing. Sometimes all it takes is a step outside. Take the relationship between the Eastern Screech Owl and Texas Blind Snake, for example. Two wildlife biologists from Baylor University (Gehlbach and Baldridge) saw that the prey owls brought to their young were, expectedly, dead. When they brought blind snakes, however, sometimes the snakes would be alive, coiled around the owl’s beak. They followed up and found something wild; the snakes were living in the owl’s nests! Even more incredibly, owlets with their blind snake roommates grew faster and had lower mortality, presumably due to the snakes eating parasitic insects in the nest. If you have an owl box in your yard, you may also have blind snakes! Not all wildlife relationships are so positive, however. Thievery is quite common in the animal world. Birds steal nesting material and food from each other (looking at you, sea gulls, you pirates), for instance. Cuckoo leaf-cutter bees, however, take it a step further and add home invasion. Unlike many other bees, the cuckoo leafcutter bee does not gather its own pollen. Instead, it waits until

one of its cousins, the resin bee, does. When the resin bee has constructed a nice leaf-made home, fully stocked with pollen for its larva, the cuckoo leafcutter bee forces its way inside and lays its eggs. They then hatch and eat the resin bee’s pollen supplies in the resin bee’s own home! This domestic drama unfolds in backyard gardens, right under our noses. Perhaps the most dramatic of all is the deadly hunts of carnivores. Nature documentaries following packs of wolves as they track and stalk their prey. While we do not have wolves in the Rio Grande Valley, we do have cooperative hunters — Harris’s Hawks. Harris’s Hawks are common throughout the Valley. They are unusual among hawks in their cooperative hunting. Before the hunt, the group of hawks (usually two to six individuals) will perch together as part of an assembly ceremony. After locating their prey, the group may attempt different hunting tactics: sometimes converging all at once from different directions, other times taking turns pursuing and tiring out their prey. Watch for them on telephone poles, their chocolate-brown plumage blending with the wood, where they hunt late into the evening. As I type this at Quinta Mazatlán, a Green Jay came to my office’s windowsill. It delicately poked and prodded into cracks and crevices, its astute mind working the angles; most likely recalling times it found food there before. How lucky we are to have wild nature in our neighborhoods. Leaf-Cu ttin g Cu ckoo Bee

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COMMUNITIES OF

CAMARADERIE RGV Organizations Offer Friendship, Character Growth b y Ro c i o Vi l l a l ob os | p h ot os b y J a s on G a r z a

are held once a week, typically on Thursdays, at Moonbeans Coffee in McAllen. Omar Montoya started the club just under two years ago along with a friend so they could play the game on a consistent basis. “I think it’s a very respectful, classical game,” said Montoya, 22, who is studying criminal justice at UTRGV. “There’s nothing required but your mind. The way you beat someone is not just by playing a game. You have to out-think them, out-strategize them. It’s a battle of the minds.” By word of mouth, the organization started to grow, leading Montoya to create a Facebook group to simplify announcements. He said it has around 40 active members and that through the game, some of them have become good friends. “Everyone who goes Thursday I didn’t know prior to the chess club,” he said. “It’s super cool because I would say some of my best friends now are from the chess club.” People attend the meetings from as far as Rio Grande City and Harlingen and Montoya welcomes anyone of any age to play. The youngest attendee he’s seen was an 8-year-old and the oldest was someone in their 60s. And even if one is unfamiliar with the game, Montoya said he or one of RGV Chess Society’s more experienced players are always happy to teach a new member how to play. To make the game available to everyone, he provides extra chess boards, but says people are welcome to bring their own should they prefer. In the future, as the RGV Chess Society continues to grow, Montoya hopes to create a tournament. “I feel it’s a game that’s kind of being neglected, but I think a lot of people would enjoy it if they sat down and had the right group of people to join with,” Montoya said. “And I think my group is the perfect kind of group for that because we’re not competitive. We just like to play for fun. It’s the perfect environment.”

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Post high school, college, or graduate school adulthood does not mean there’s no longer an abundance of activities or organizations available for you to participate in. And depending on your interests, joining a community group can mean making new friends, learning something new, relieving stress, and sharpening your mind. Since joining Texas Valley Sports, an adult sports league across the RGV, Daniel Villalpando, 26, says he’s matured and learned to work alongside people who hold different opinions. But his favorite part about playing for the Pharr Phantoms — one of the six TVS football teams, each made up of about 50 players — is being able to continue his passion for football, which he played all throughout high school, and make friends in the process. “People come from different walks of life and come together for one common goal,” said Villalpando, who joined TVS when he was 23. “So the best thing is the locker room feel, the camaraderie and brotherhood. TVS has pretty much given me brand-new family members.” Jose Perales founded TVS in 2016 for a similar reason: to offer an outlet for athletes to continue their sport beyond high school. “A lot of players, when they come out of high school, still want to continue to play football,” he said. “And sometimes they don’t make it in college, so that’s pretty much what we established here — a league where they can continue to play.” TVS began as just football, but has expanded to include basketball, volleyball, and cheerleading. Anyone over the age of 18 can try out for a sport and be placed in a team, which is divided by region ranging from Rio Grande City to Brownsville. Each sport has a season and a series of games leading to the championship. Perales said TVS has also received players with mental conditions, such as depression and anxiety, who have been able to overcome, or better manage, their disorder through being involved in a team. “People come in and this is their outlet,” he said. “We had a cheerleader who was battling depression, and she was able to use this to get out of that space.” He adds that being in a league provides exposure for the players and that in the past season, 21 players moved up to play on an arena professional team, which is paid. For anyone interested in joining, Villalpando encourages they check out a game, which are played at Golazo Soccer in Pharr. “If your body works, you can do it,” he said. “Yes, at the end of the day, it is competitive, but it gets you doing something active again and gets you doing something important that allows you to build your character.” For more information on the leagues and tryouts, visit texasvalleysports.com. Another RGV community organization that utilizes a different set of skills is the RGV Chess Society. Meetings

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RGVision Food Fave

Milano’s La Piccola Italia Rio Grande Valley’s First Italian Restaurant Lives On b y Ka r i na Va r gas | p h ot os b y J a m e s H or d

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On the west side of Weslaco, just south of Expressway 83, resides a quaint brown brick home with a black tile roof. From the outside, the only clues that it’s a business are the red Milano’s logo and surrounding parking lot. Milano’s La Piccola Italia is the oldest Italian restaurant in the RGV, and it’s still standing after nearly 70 years of business. To this day, the original Milano family home, which is roughly 100 years old, serves as the restaurant building. In 1944, Milano’s founders, Lisetta and Emidio Milano, along with son Lino and daughter Francis, moved from Chicago to Weslaco. They bought their home and land, but after experiencing hardships with citrus farming, turned their focus to catering for friends and family. They soon realized the Valley was in dire need of Italian food — namely, pizza.

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longtime Milano family friend and patron of 50 years. He “We were the first to bring pizzas to the RGV said some of his fondest childhood memories are eating back in 1950,” said owner Angela Milano-Hernandez, pizza from Milano’s. granddaughter of Lisetta and Emidio. “Back then, “It still has that home atmosphere and that’s always nobody knew what pizza was.” nice,” Cardenas said. “The restaurant is actually in the After catering for a while, the Milano family began original Milano’s home building, so it making frozen pizzas out of their still has that feel to it.” home and selling them to small “It feels like a home The restaurant exudes a grocery stores. Their popularity because it was and Mediterranean ambience from the grew and the family decided to still is. Our customers exterior design details to the series open a sit-down restaurant for of Italian city-themed murals in each customers to enjoy freshly made are like family now of the restaurant’s rooms. Each traditional Italian meals in a relaxing after all these years. city’s depiction and theme hold and cozy environment. On Nov. 4, We see generation special significance to the Milano 1955, the Milanos officially opened after generation.” family. For example, one mural Mrs. Milano’s Pizza Place on the depicts Venice and was painted by porch of their home. From there, Angela M i l a n o- H e r n a n d e z , o w ne r of Milan o’s La Piccola Giovanna “Mama” Milano’s sister, the restaurant evolved over time Ital i a r estau ran t Clara Pia Corrente, who is an Italian into the Italian eatery it is today, artist. featuring numerous menu items “It feels like a home because it was and still is,” Milanofrom traditional to modern recipes. Hernandez said. “Our customers are like family now after The cozy, family-friendly environment combined with the authentic Italian food on the menu makes for all these years. We see generation after generation.” While Milano’s menu started out with pizza, over an enjoyable eating experience that keeps customers time, the family began adding a variety of classic pasta coming back, according to Charles “Trae” Cardenas III,

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“My brother, my sister, and me all grew up working there from when we were little … since elementary school we were washing dishes on top of a crate so we could reach,” she said. She began working at Milano’s in 1982, when she was in middle school, until college in 1988. She returned in 1993 and began to help manage the restaurant. She took over ownership in 1997 and has continued in the same role since then. Milano-Hernandez met her husband, manager Moses Hernandez, when he started working for the restaurant in 1989. The couple has now been married for 13 years. Their son, Josiah, is also involved in the business and plays music with his friends outside for customers to enjoy as they enter the restaurant.

dishes, like spaghetti and lasagna, chicken parmesan, eggplant parmesan, and more. Milano’s is still known for these traditional dishes and continues to follow the same family recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation. Since the restaurant’s inception, Milano-Hernandez said the family has grown five generations. The third generation has now taken over operating the restaurant. “The hardest shoes to fill are my grandparents and parents,” Milano-Hernandez said. “But I’m a lot like my grandma and mom in that I’m a perfectionist and want to see that everything is being done right, the way they envisioned it.” Milano-Hernandez has literally grown up in the restaurant and evolved in her role throughout the years.

“I like to cook for them and know that they enjoy the meal,” Garcia said. “They’ll either send their compliments to the chef or a tap on the window. It’s also the teamwork that I have in the kitchen.” At the core of the business, Milano-Hernandez credits her family restaurant’s continued success to their foundation in their faith. “Nothing would be possible without God at the center of our business,” she said. Although the family business has faced its fair share of challenges throughout the years, MilanoHernandez said seeing the positive impact Milano’s has on the community makes it all worth it. “None of the moments that make it challenging can replace the joy in seeing customers excited about our food and service,” she said. Milano’s Italian Restaurant is located at 2900 W. Pike Blvd. in Weslaco. The restaurant is open for dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and 5 to 9 p.m. on Sunday. For the latest news and upcoming events, follow their Instagram and Facebook accounts @ milanosrestaurant. For additional information, contact the restaurant at (956) 968-3677 or visit their website at milanos.us.com.

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Presently, Milano’s has entrees named after family members or friends who have helped to inspire or create them. For example, Eric Daniel’s Spaghetti Spectaculare is named after Milano-Hernandez’s nephew, Eric Daniel, who came up with the recipe for the dish. It is spaghetti tossed in Milano’s traditional sauce with oil and garlic, Italian cheeses, gorgonzola cream, and crushed red pepper topped with two homemade meatballs. According to Milano-Hernandez, it is one of the most popular menu items. Chef Albert Garcia has been an integral part of the Milano’s team since 1996. “He knows all the recipes like the back of his hand,” Milano-Hernandez said. “People who have been coming for 20 or more years will sometimes request old recipes and he is able to make them for them.” Winter Texans are some of Milano’s longtime patrons who know Garcia and his cooking well. “They always come back straight to the kitchen just to see me and say hi,” he said. “If there’s a day somebody else cooks a meal for that person, they’ll automatically know I’m not there.” Garcia said his favorite part of his job is making customers happy.

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Census 2020 Has Far-Reaching Impacts for Rio Grande Valley

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by Amy Casebier

Free and reduced lunch at public schools. Medicaid.

When people say they want to see change in their

Programs to benefit the elderly. Road maintenance

community, self-reporting so they can be counted in the

and infrastructure. Pell Grants for college students.

census is one of the most effective ways to achieve it. “We do this every 10 years, and the goal is to count

Congressional representation and redistricting. What do all of these have in common? They’re among

every single person,” Mary Jane Garza said. “It’s about

some 200 federal programs and other initiatives affected

counting everyone once — only once — and in the right

by the census.

place. People need to realize we only do this once every 10 years and it’s crucial because funding, congressional

“Sometimes, people say, ‘does it really make a

districts, redistricting relies on the count we get.”

difference that I be counted?’” said Mary Jane Garza, census

partnership

coordinator.

“The

answer

The very first census tally was in 1790. This year’s

is,

count will be the first time participants will be able to self-

absolutely it does.”

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report both online and over the phone. “In 2010, there was only one way to respond, and that was with our paper forms,” Mary Jane Garza said. During that last count, nationally, “74 percent of the entire population responded. In Texas, 71 percent responded.” Response in the Rio Grande Valley was lower than that. “We had counties that only responded 40 percent, 50 percent, so that already tells me that there’s a severe undercount of the population.” There are a number of challenges facing a complete tally in this region, including hard-to-count populations of young children, immigrants, individuals who speak English as a second language, people without access to the internet, and the prevalence of rural, unincorporated, and low-income communities, among others. “I think we also have a unique challenge in the fact that we have over 45 cities in the Rio Grande Valley,” said Ron Garza, executive director of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council, an organization that has been instrumental in organizing and facilitating census efforts in the region. “So the fact that we have a lot of different cities, sometimes, people can fall through the cracks.” The previous count kept complete funding from the RGV. “We had to stretch our resources more,” Ron Garza said. But there’s a bright side to 2010’s RGV undercount. It has motivated local organizations and entities to coordinate and mobilize to maximize the count this year. “The pinnacle of all the efforts really start at the complete count committees,” Ron Garza said. “We are way ahead of the curve when it comes to the number of complete count committees and how robust they have been in terms of the

can include leaders from school districts, city government, private businesses, faith-based organizations, nonprofit groups, and more. Those committees are trained by U.S. Census partnership specialists on strategies to boost the success of the count. Local preparation efforts for the 2020 census began more than two years ago. “Right now, it’s been a tremendous amount of outreach,” Ron Garza said. “I think the number one strategy that they’ve

a community. Members of a complete count committee

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Complete count committees represent a snapshot of

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activities they have done.”

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Complete count committees aim to tally higher percentages of participation in this year’s census. According to Census Partnership Coordinator Mary Jane Garza, during the last count in 2010, percentages of response were:

74 PERCENT of the U.S.

40-50

of Texas

of some RGV counties

PERCENT

used is that they are tailoring their message for their own

dry cleaners, and when you go to a community clinic.

communities.”

Hopefully, depending on where you live, you’ll also get direct notification at your house.”

Some cities have created their own census 2020 logo, for example. The City of McAllen created a census-themed

During March, most people will receive a postcard in

parade float. The City of Harlingen will host a concert and

the mail that includes a secure code they can reference

outdoor festival that will encourage participants to self-

online, by phone, or via mail when self-responding to the

report, Ron Garza said.

census’ nine questions. If participants lose the postcard,

All funding for these efforts is generated locally

they can simply use their address to respond. April 1

through organizations’ own investments, he added,

marks Census Day. In May, census takers will begin

explaining that the population-based funding formula for

reaching out to households who did not self-report. By

grants and programs is too important to overlook.

December, the U.S. Census Bureau will deliver the counts to Congress and the president.

“If we don’t invest the time and effort now, we could

Mistrust of the government — and fear over the added

have 10 years of not having the resources we need to

citizenship question proposal that was defeated by the

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serve our area,” Ron Garza said.

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P E R CE N T

U.S. Supreme Court last summer — may also contribute

There are almost 25 complete count committees

to low counts in this region. But census data is among the

across the Rio Grande Valley.

most secure data there is, Mary Jane Garza pointed out.

“The complete count committees are designed to get all the different ways that people interact in the

“That person at that door with that Census badge,

places they live,” said Christina Patiño Houle, a network

that person has taken an oath and everything we ask

weaver with the Equal Voice Network, an organization

is confidential,” she said. “There are no names given,

that focuses on community development issues and

no telephone numbers, nothing. We don’t ask for social

encourages collaboration among local nonprofit groups.

security numbers, we don’t ask for driver’s license

“The hope is that you will get information about the

numbers. We just ask nine basic questions. In the end,

census when you drop your kids off at school, and when

when we give the president the report in December of

you go to the grocery store, and when you go to your

2020, that report is only statistics.”

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RGV organizations like the Equal Voice Network aim to assuage those worries. “We have such a strong history of community organizing in the Rio Grande Valley,” Houle said. “There are a number of nonprofits that have done incredible work to build relationships with these communities that are hard to count. That’s really important because that’s going to be the bridge between the community and the government.” Everyone has a chance to participate in this year’s census beyond self-reporting, too. “Right now, we need people to apply for jobs,” Mary Jane Garza said. “We’re going to be hiring starting in January. We have about 4,000 jobs that are going to be available in the four-county area of the Rio Grande Valley.” The temporary positions will include day, evening, and weekend shifts, and the pay is from $17 to $19 an hour. Anyone interested may apply online at 2020Census.gov jobs. Houle added that there are volunteer opportunities available at RGVEqualVoice.org. People can also follow the organization on Facebook and Instagram for more information on outreach sessions and other events. Complete count committees and others involved in this year’s census have reason to believe that the hard work they’re putting in now will pay off come tally time. Much of it comes down to making sure residents understand just what’s at stake for the community — and that their participation is crucial. “The census is a way that is very important for us as a region to say, ‘our voice matters, we are here, we are important,’” Houle said. “This is the way to place our voices on the map.”

not, then we won’t have the political power that we are due as a geography.” From representation to federal funding and programming, this year’s count affects every facet of the Rio Grande Valley. “Absolutely everything that we get and every resource available to our community starts with obtaining an accurate census,” Ron Garza said.

important that that is recognized in the census count. If it’s

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“The more people that we have here, the more political power that we’re going to have,” Houle said. “It’s incredibly

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Those voices are particularly essential in obtaining representation.

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E ve n as J a m e s M cA l l e n l o o ks to the fu tu re of h is family’s McAllen Ran ch , h e takes h is cu es f r o m the p as t to exp l or e d i f f e r e nt w a y s to preserve ran ch in g h istory for gen eration s to come.

Family business McAllen Ranch Embraces Past, Adapts to Future b y Amy Ca s eb i e r | p h ot os b y J a s on G a r z a

Inside the Rock House on the McAllen Ranch, an old building where the ranchers meet every morning at 6:30 to go over the day’s plans, there’s a row of saddles arranged on one end of the front room. The polished leather gleams like it’s just ready for a horse. Like jerseys hung from arena rafters, these are the saddles from the retired vaqueros who, over the years, held the foreman position at the ranch. They represent the way life used to be here. The vaqueros — and the horses they rode — are

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a movie. “For us, it’s a lot more about maintenance. We’re fixing fences, we’re fixing water pumps, windmills, we’re trimming trees, we’re digging lines for new water lines and fixing old water lines. Every day is different,” McAllen said. “I’m kind of a glorified maintenance man, so to speak, with a cowboy hat. Not much more than that.” The ranch still maintains a herd, and everyone there still works cattle. It’s a responsibility that ebbs and flows depending on the time of year. Calves are born in the spring, when they are given vaccinations and identification. They’re weaned in the fall — the ranch’s harvest period. And every two to three months, the cattle are rotated to different pastures. But cattle isn’t the only business McAllen Ranch does these days. McAllen has worked to diversify and adapt to changing times, looking ahead to what the future might bring to his family’s land even as he remembers a less complicated time for those acres. The vaqueros’ saddles aren’t the only relics in the Rock House. Every time it rains, history resurfaces, arrowheads, Civil War-era artifacts, and metal elements

becoming memories as the McAllen Ranch adapts to modern times and James McAllen takes the reins of his family’s business. He rode many a horse as a child on the ranch, but McAllen recognizes that there are less risks — and greater rewards — for phasing them out of day-to-day operations. “We’ve been training the cattle to work with us rather than us working with the cattle,” he said. “There’s a lot of good that’s come from it. The cattle are a lot more gentle these days. We can work them on foot now.” A skittish bull bolts back from the fence of a cattle pen that dates back to 1860 just beyond the house where McAllen and his family live — built by McAllen’s greatgreat grandfather in 1900, just a handful of years before a city would be named for him. Within sight of the house are an old blacksmith shop and commissary, preserved for posterity. It’s hard not to think about the ranch’s almost 230year history when you’re there. But McAllen’s quick to dispel romantic notions about the ranching life. Those stereotypes are better suited to paperback Westerns — or riding off into the sunset on horseback at the end of

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A s ki tti s h bul l w atche s ca r e f ul l y f r om i n side its h oldin g pen . Ran ch ers are workin g with it on its s hy ne s s . Though s ti l l i n us e o n the McAllen Ran ch , th e pen itself dates back to 1860.

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“It was wilder times on the ranch — of what you would think a ranch would be,” he remembered. “Those are probably some of my greatest memories of some of the people I worked with back then. Unfortunately, a lot of them have passed away, but that’s what they knew. That was their specialty.” The vaqueros were talented and dedicated. They could gather the herd in the brush without the aid of fencing, read the cattle to tell what direction they were traveling, and even divine the age of a calf just from its tracks, McAllen recalled. “I think the vaquero culture that I grew up with, I’m lucky to have seen the tail end of it,” he said. The hyper-specialized vaqueros rode horseback, worked cattle, and dealt with the horses. They didn’t do maintenance work around the ranch. Now, things are different. The ranch’s past 20 to 25 employees have been whittled down to six or seven, and they’re doing the same amount of work. “The employees that we have now are very different. Everybody’s got to do everything,” McAllen said. “Not only are we working cattle or on a horse or fixing a windmill, but they’re mowing a lawn. They’re doing all jobs across the board.” Operations around the McAllen Ranch are streamlined for a more efficient workflow these days. “We still have very skilled employees, but they have a greater range of things that they do versus something that’s singular,” he said. “We wear lots of hats.” Though the land has remained in the same family, the ranch has changed to respond to the needs of the times — a two-century weight that McAllen shoulders. “It’s a huge responsibility,” he said. “To look after

like hand-forged gate hinges long ago discarded in a burn pile. McAllen collects everything, preserving them in cases in the Rock House. “When you start putting this stuff together, it really starts to tell a story,” he said. “And we’re big on history.”

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A STORIED PAST Behind the glass in the Rock House, beside the gate hinges, there’s another important piece of metal. A branding iron bearing the ranch’s distinct “SM” is there, too, registered in the county in the late 1880s. The initials stand for Salomé Ballí de Young McAllen — McAllen’s great-great grandmother. Spain’s King Carlos III granted Salomé’s family the land here in 1790. Salomé married John McAllen in 1842. Together, they worked in a mercantile in Brownsville, amassing a fortune and investing in land throughout the Rio Grande Valley. They sold a piece of their holdings to some businessmen to build a train depot, and the namesake city of McAllen grew up around it. Ranching has been a family business for almost 230 years. McAllen himself is simply the latest steward of the land. “I’m not going to say growing up with my dad and my grandfather and working under them was always easy. It took some getting used to,” he said. “I think we’ve all learned our place on the ranch and what we excel at. I really enjoy working with my dad. He has a very deep knowledge of the ranch and all its parts. Even though I’m 46 years old and I think maybe I’ve got it figured out by now, I really don’t. I always go running back to my dad.” When McAllen was a boy, the ranch’s operations still revolved around vaqueros.

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“I’ve always wanted to be working on the ranch. Of course I have other interests, but my heart is really here and this is home. I grew up here and I love being here.” James McAllen, on the ranch that has

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been in his family since 1790. History abounds on the 40,000-acre property. This windmill, seen at left and below left, is about 100 or 120 years old, McAllen said. Below left, Pancho the dog waits in the grass.

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the ranch and look after the property, maintain its history for the years to come … that’s getting more and more difficult as the years go by.” POWERING THE FUTURE A drive shaft rotates, tilting nearly 7 acres worth of solar panels to catch the sun at the most optimal angle. Inverters hum like bees. “When you look at projects that can help sustain the ranch for future generations, I really feel like this is it,” McAllen said. “The ranch is a big place. We can afford to set aside 100 acres for a solar array.” The array is low maintenance, and just as every employee can work cattle, they can also maintain the panels. An added advantage is the array’s low profile — not as noticeable as the wind turbines other properties are leasing land for. You don’t know they’re there until you’re at the fence that surrounds them. The ranch owns the 1-megawatt array, which has generated power for Magic Valley Electric Cooperative — and money for McAllen Ranch — since the summer of 2018. Cattle alone won’t sustain the ranch. Not anymore. “As things go, everything tends to get a little more expensive, whether that be insurance, taxes, just everyday overheads. Everything seems to keep rising in costs,” McAllen said. “One of the problems is I feel that our cattle market is not keeping up with those price increases.” As McAllen describes it, the scale at the sale barn doesn’t weigh the time, effort, and care that has been put into each cow. The responsibility falls on him to locate that niche elsewhere — where he’ll get a premium for his premium beef. He’s seen some success supplying steaks to local restaurants like house.wine and Salt New American Table, in McAllen, and other various eateries in Austin. Still, McAllen looks elsewhere to diversify and maximize the dollar per acre he’s able to earn to sustain the ranch. He allows hunting on the ranch — deer and quail. And he’s mulling a phase two of the solar array that would double the acreage for the panels. He finds the cattle pricing situation frustrating, but, “if I had to paint a silver

J a mes McAllen plan s on restorin g th is 180 0 -era h ome u sin g origin al m a te r ials an d h istorical con stru ction tech n iqu es. He h opes to u se it as a place wh ere people can learn abou t early ran ch in g.

lining around it, it drives us to go look for other things. To keep our mind open,” he said. “We’re caring for a legacy that’s been left behind and doing what we can to sustain that. If someday we’ve got to raise guinea pigs, then that’s what it takes, but we haven’t really figured out what the next step is.” PRESERVING A LEGACY In spite of his family’s 40,000 acres, a young McAllen used to jump the fence of a neighboring property when he was a kid to explore the two buildings and well there. At 17, he made a bold offer to that landowner, looking to purchase the 9 acres. Just over a decade later, the neighbor contacted McAllen to take him up on the offer. The land dates back to the 1805 San Ramon Grant. The two houses were built in the early 1800s. The well goes back further, to the mid-1750s. All three stone structures are in disrepair — one home’s lean stopped by posts, the other’s walls opening to blue sky, sans roof. “What I’m trying to do is restore these buildings correctly, as they once were, and create a place where people can come and learn about early ranching,” McAllen said. “I’m gathering up all the materials because it’s a very tricky process. We’re trying to rebuild things as they were 200 years ago, so you just can’t run out to Home Depot.”

One of his sisters works at San Antonio’s Witte Museum, and put McAllen in contact with a conservator at the Alamo to consult on the materials to use in the restoration. Utilizing their guidance, materials and processes sourced from across the country, and the buildings’ existing beams and bricks, McAllen hopes to have the project completed by the end of the year. McAllen has also been working with his wife, Katherine Moore McAllen, who is the director of the UTRGV Center for Latin American Arts, on this undertaking. “What we want to do is create a foundation out here and possibly build a pavilion to where people can come and have possible art exhibitions out here,” he said. “A space where people could come, bring in their artwork, and have discussions about border issues, whether it might be about art, about architecture, immigration, political.” It’s a conversation — and legacy — centered around the history of this region and its ranching roots that McAllen hopes will continue for years to come. “I’ve always wanted to be working on the ranch. Of course I have other interests, but my heart is really here and this is home. I grew up here and I love being here,” he said. Learn more about the McAllen Ranch by visiting mcallenranch.net.

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Tijerina Legal Group Guides You on Towing Tricks to Avoid and Getting Your Car Fixed After a Crash out of the pound right away.” So what alternatives do you have when towing your car away from the scene of the accident? “If you can and if it’s safe, have that car towed to your house,” Tijerina said. If you have full coverage insurance on your vehicle and want to have it worked on right away, have it towed to the dealership. For example: “If it’s a Ford, or it’s a Chevy, have it towed to the [dealership]. Call ahead. ‘Hey, can I have a vehicle towed there for evaluation?’” The service team at the dealerships are usually the bestequipped experts to know exactly what is wrong with your car — and what it will take to fix it. This is all important information that insurance companies need to know so that you can get the funds to repair your vehicle. Getting your vehicle towed to any repair shop with a stellar reputation is a good plan after being involved in a wreck. Where you need to be careful is if the shop has poor reviews and no real clout to back up repair claims. “The insurance company’s going to say, ‘we don’t know who these guys are. We’re not going to pay you what they’re offering you,’” Tijerina warned. “That’s why it’s important to go to a reputable shop.” As part of its service, Tijerina Legal Group provides clients with a list of recommended repair shops that the firm has worked with in the past.

So a careless driver’s crashed into you. You’ve received medical treatment for injuries, filed a police report, contacted your insurance provider — and perhaps even called an attorney to help you navigate the process. You’re already on the road to recovery from this unfortunate incident … except that you still have a damaged vehicle on your hands and no way to get to work. What can you do to make sure your main mode of transportation gets repaired the best — and most reputable — way possible? Attorney Humberto Tijerina of Tijerina Legal Group, states that it’s essential to begin making the right decisions regarding your vehicle at the scene of the wreck — starting with the towing. “The worst thing that you can do is have that vehicle towed to a towing company or to a pound,” he said. “That’s what those companies want.” Tijerina explains that these kinds of companies not only charge a towing fee, but also are able to charge a fee for every day that they are able to keep a damaged vehicle at their storage facility. Those kinds of charges can add up quickly for the unaware. “The problem is, the longer the car stays at the storage facility, the larger the client’s bill is going to be,” he said. “And if there’s no insurance on the other side, this pound is not going to care and will use every tool they have to get their money.” In fact, after 30 days of keeping the vehicle — and after sending proper notification — without the owner being able to claim it, the towing company can consider the vehicle “abandoned.” Once a vehicle qualifies as “abandoned,” the company may then legally sell the vehicle through a public sale. “A lot of people don’t have the money to get their car out,” Tijerina said. “We’ve had to help clients routinely to get that car

COMING UP In the next issue of RGVision, Humberto Tijerina examines the different types of injuries — seen and unseen — that Tijerina Legal Group can help clients heal from.

L I F E

Open Books RGV Bookstore Owners Share What Sets Them Apart

RGVISION MAGAZINE

JAN/FEB 2020

b y Roci o V i l l a l ob os

A bookstore is more than just a place to buy a book. It can be a place to make friends, start a book club, and meet local authors — at least that’s the case when you visit one of these local bookstores. Martha Medina owns J’aime Les Vivres (which translates to “I love books”), a used bookstore in McAllen housed in a 100-year-old home. It’s been open for nine years and carries a wide variety of books to suit every reader. “I believe we should be open to all genres, so I do have just about everything even if I don’t read it,” she said. “I know people who do, so there’s no judgment here.” Medina also encourages people to check out her store if they’re looking for an older book that might be out of print, because rather than ordering it at full-price, they might find it at J’aime Les Vivres. “Another thing I really try to do is have a lot of the required reading for high school students because it’s less expensive for them to buy from me,” she said. While the main purpose of the shop is to promote literacy, Medina said she finds that it serves another purpose: connecting people. J’aime Les Vivres regularly hosts events, inviting local vendors and authors to showcase their works — all in an effort to get the community to “shop small” and support local businesses. Recently, she began offering painting classes taught by an experienced instructor and close friend of the shop. “Even if you’re not going to read, you should come to our painting sessions,” Medina said. “Just this environment, being able to paint with others, I think is good therapy and it feels good. It’s part of the arts — reading, painting, drawing. I think it all meshes.” Also in McAllen, just a few miles away, is Books-N-Things, a trade bookstore dating back to the ’90s. Florence Chapa bought the store just over a decade ago to keep it from

closing and to provide a space where parents can visit with their children to introduce them to the world of reading. “When children read, they tend to have incredible vocabularies,” she said. “When you’re reading a book, you’re watching how the author took the information and put it together to tell a story. It transcends to what you do in life.” One way she’s kept the store in operation is through utilizing social media. Whenever the store receives a new book, Chapa takes a photo and posts it on Facebook and Instagram to alert potential customers of what’s in stock. She also said business at the store is picking up due to the increasing rarity of physical copies of books. “People have always read, but young people are now wanting to get their hands on a book because they’re seeing less and less of it,” she said. “The school is going to computers for teaching, which means they’re not seeing books. So we have a generation starving for books.” An advantage she sees Books-N-Things having over national bookstores is that it tries to carry the complete works of an author. “If you’re interested in, say, Janet Evanovich, and wanted to buy one of her first books, you wouldn’t find it at Barnes and Noble,” Chapa said. “They’ll have her last two books and that’s it. So you won’t be able to find it unless you go online and look everywhere. Or you can walk into a bookstore like this and Evanovich goes on and on.” She adds her store is also a better alternative for dedicated readers who read as much as she does, which is an average of six books a week. Customers can bring in their books to trade and receive a credit. When it comes time to pay for the new books they’ve selected, the credit covers half the bill. Books-N-Things has a second location in Harlingen. Paragraphs on Padre, located on South Padre Island, sells both new and used books.

L I F E

Pa ra gra p h s o n Pa d r e, a bo v e l e f t and r i ght, s ugge s ts b o o ks to rea d ers o n S P I. p h o t o b y R GV i s i on

ph oto by Rocio Villalobos

After coming down to South Texas for years as a Winter Texan, and after finding the “right” piece of property, Joni Montover decided to move permanently to South Padre Island and open a bookstore. Montover said she considers her offerings “general interest,” but curates the selection seasonally based on tourists — who, she added, make up the majority of the clientele, apart from her loyal customers from Brownsville, Harlingen, and SPI. “In summer, we get a lot of people from Austin and San Antonio looking for more literary things,” Montover said. “And in the winter time we have Winter Texans, so we sell a lot of Spanish dictionaries.” The shop also hosts a monthly book club and regular author visits, which she said can be a little challenging to plan for considering many people visit SPI to check out the beach and don’t necessarily think about dropping into a bookstore. But despite the challenges, Montover finds the experience of operating a local bookstore rewarding. “Probably the biggest compliment is when a customer comes in and says I picked out a really good book for her last year and asks if I can help her pick something out again,” she said. “I think that’s what independent bookstores can offer that maybe online stores or bigger stores can’t. We can actually put a book in someone’s hand.” To find out when these bookstores are hosting their next event or sale, follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Books-N -T h in gs offers trade-in plan s for McAllen an d Harlin gen readers. ph otos by Barbara Delgado

RGVISION MAGAZINE

JAN/FEB 2020

J’aime Les L ivres sh elves afforable option s to readers of all in terests in McAllen .

RGVISION MAGAZINE

6:30 PM 4 PM-5 PM 2 PM-3 PM 2 PM-6 PM 4 PM-5 PM 2 PM-3 PM 2 PM-8 PM 6:30 PM

WED, JAN 15 THURS, JAN 16

Community stakeholders and members of the public are invited to give their input on what they would like to see in a new master-planned development spanning McAllen and Mission. The project, announced in December 2019 by Killam Development, includes 3,400 acres stretching through farmland around Anzalduas International Bridge and south of Interstate 2. Construction could begin early this year with home sales likely by this fall. “This is this is a large project and so there’s a lot of different components to it,” said Cliffe Killam, a partner at Killam Development. Those components entail single-family homes, multifamily units, retail and industrial spaces, walking trails and green space, and entertainment options. Perhaps most importantly, the development aims to include whatever the community itself wants to see.

FRI, JAN 17

JAN/FEB 2020

by A my C a s eb i er

6:30 PM 4 PM-5 PM 2 PM-3 PM 2 PM-6 PM 2 PM-3 PM

Organizers of New McAllen-Mission Development Solicit Community Input

TUE, JAN 14

MON, JAN 13

MASTER PLAN

4 PM-5 PM 2 PM-3 PM

L I F E

Community Conversation: Housing Options

How do we choose where to live? What options do we have, and, most importantly, what other options would we like?

Community Conversation: Arts and Culture

Come learn how all of the places you have always wanted to live in at or visit have one thing in common. Here’s your chance to tell the team what you think will enhance arts and culture within the community.

Open Studio

Drop by anytime and join the conversation. Share with the team what your perfect city looks like.

Community Conversation: Health and Wellness

The environment around us shapes our daily activities as well as the access we have to parks, trails, healthy food, and services. Here’s your chance to get a first-hand look at how town planning can make it easier to live healthier lives!

Community Conversation: Child-Friendly Design

Children are invited to attend! We want to hear from them and their parents: “What does your perfect city look like?”

Open Studio

Drop by anytime and join the conversation. Share with the team what your perfect city looks like.

Your city should be a place you can enjoy and experience at any age. Baby boomers and Millenials have more in common than they think!

Community Conversation: Young Professionals

Young entrepreneurs are defining the growth of our cities. What do we need to make this a desirable place to live in and invest in? Join the conversation in an open forum discussion with the planning team – everyone is invited to participate!

Community Conversation: Mobility

How we get around during our day-to-day activities is a critical element in town planning. The types of mobility options we have access to as a community and how our streets are designed directly affect the way we live, how connected we are, and how safe our streets are.

Open Studio Drop by anytime and join the conversation. Share with the team what your perfect city looks like.

Focus Group: Border Relations and Improvements One of the most unique characteristics of our town is defined by our border. Culture and trade, among others, are just a few items that can help define our growth!

Focus Group: Environment and Green Space Parks, plazas, and trails are a few examples of how our environment can enhance our surroundings, making this a crucial part of town planning.

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Rio Grande Valley, which could potentially combat “brain drain” — individuals earning their degree and leaving the region in favor of living elsewhere, Killam said. “We can create those spaces here and help bring in the different lifestyle things that people want to see in the Rio Grande Valley,” he added. Local residents and stakeholders have already welcomed the development with open arms, Killam said, adding that this represents a long-term commitment for his company to make a positive impact on the RGV. “I think that’s been a part of the motivation aside from all the great things happening there, like international trade and the type of growth that’s going on — just the business community and the community at large has been really great and we really appreciate that,” he said.

1710 North Ed Carey, Harlingen, TX (956) 365-4100 | (956) 365-4300 www.erigrants.com

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“We really just want to listen to folks and help create a place where they want to live,” Killam said. “I think we’re just excited to be a part of the community and hear what everyone wants.” Killam Development has partnered with Able City and Dover Kohl, a group of professional architects, designers, land planners, and artists, to help interpret public input into a plan for the development. They look to achieve this through public workshops at the Mission Economic Developmentmanaged CEED building, 801 Bryan Road in Mission. Workshops are scheduled each day during the week of Monday, Jan. 13 and address such topics as housing options, arts and culture, health and wellness, child-friendly design, design for all stages of life, young professionals, mobility, border relations and improvements, and environment and green space. Throughout the week, there are times set aside for open studio, which is a chance for community members to stop by and share ideas for what their perfect city looks like. The final session at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17 will include a presentation based on the week’s feedback — and a roadmap for what the space may look like in the future. This feedback aims to deliver what community members want to see in the

L I F E

GREAT STEAKS

2020

RGVisionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Picks for the Top 5 Steaks in the Rio Grande Valley

RGVISION MAGAZINE

JAN/FEB 2020

b y R GV i s i on

T h e Cen ten n ial Clu b. ph oto by Darel Pa rker

P ri me b y Il F o r n o. p r o v id ed p hoto.

L I F E

For those who love it, there’s nothing quite like cutting into the perfect steak. That first juicy, velvety bite has the power to transport, lift, and inspire. Coupled with the perfect glass of wine suggested by a knowledgeable and attentive server, and a comfortable seat in a beautiful atmosphere, you’re in for a special night. In that spirit, RGVision is excited to present our top five picks for the best steaks to sink your teeth into in the Rio Grande Valley. We based our choices on taste, service, ambience, and wine selection. Bon appetit!

THE CENTENNIAL CLUB thecentennialclub.com 1410 Austin Ave. McAllen, TX 78501 (956) 627-6257 Order: 12 oz. center cut tenderloin with potato

SALT NEW AMERICAN TABLE saltnewamericantable.com 210 N. Main St. McAllen, TX 78504 (956) 627-6304 Order: Filet, 8 oz Texas beef with parsnip puree, braised onion, pink oyster mushrooms, and bordelaise SANTA FE STEAKHOUSE & CANTINA santafemcallen.com 1918 S. 10th St. McAllen, TX 78503 (956) 630-2331 Order: 14 oz. aged, USDA prime New York strip steak

PRIME BY IL FORNO primebyilforno.com 3400 W. Expy 83, #140

RGVISION MAGAZINE

PAPPADEAUX pappadeaux.com 1610 W. Expy 83 Pharr, TX 78577 (956) 783-1471 Order: Aged beef rib-eye with mashed potatoes and broccolini

JAN/FEB 2020

McAllen, TX 78501 (956) 391-1397 Order: 10 oz. Chef’s Prime Spinalis Cut

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