Citizen Weekly

WEECITIZENKLY

2023

DESTINATION CITIES PRESENTS: BROWNSVILLE

TRAVELING ON A BUDGET: HOW TO NAVIGATE ON BUS

CHARRO FOR DAYS

BEST PLACES TO VISIT AND EAT

EXCLUSIVE ON CROSSING THE MEXICAN BORDER

Letter from the editor

Thank you for picking up a copy of my magazine. Brownsville is a beautiful city. It may be crawling with tlacuaches-- both human and animal-- but it's got some sort of special charm. Imagine a city where you are as safe as in Laredo Tx., but with a Mexican feel and environment. Where whole streets are dedicated to tacos, and sections of cities are divided by the rich and the poor, but still, there is a sense of community, family. People identify with each other by the streets they grew up or currently reside in, and if you pass by a stranger you always hear “hola, como esta?” There is no telling what the weather will be either. Hellish heat one day, and the next hurricane type rain. I learned to appreciate this city as I grew up, because I no longer defined it by what it lacked but what it has to offer. Affordable housing, job opportunities, close proximity to family and the beach, nice weather, endless and ever growing small businesses, comfort and lastly security. It is a city that is big enough to get bored of the same things over and over again, but it is small enough that if I get a flat tire on the opposite side of town, my dad can come to the rescue in 15 minutes or so. I don't know if I will stay here forever or where the future might take me, but I am glad to say that Brownsville has treated me with care, love and I am proud to call it home. I hope you can apreciate it like I do once you finish reading.

Brunch Spots Sunday

Brunch is a meal, sometimes accompanied by alcoholic drinks (typically champagne or a cocktail). While there is no universally accepted exact time at which the meal

TOP

4

“Located in the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art, Crepe Town is a healthy eatery specializing in tasty crepes in a classy dining setting. Dine-in or order to-go! Sirviendo las mejores crepas y comida saludable.”

“Very good service and friendly staff. There were 2 other parties, however service was quick. Server and manager would check in regularly. Place not too spacious but very much worthwhile. Food and coffee simply delicious,”

Google review from Tati J

“My kids took me here for my birthday. very buetitiful place. Has a lake and music. It rained alittle bit. Just enough to make it awesome. Food was great. Service was great. Love this place,”

Google Review from Shawnene Speer

“Excellent cuisine, great atmosphere, highly professional service. Chicken & waffles had a nice slightly spicy twist in the syrup. Cinnamon role frosting was velvety. Will be returning regularly,”

Google Review from Nikolas Butler.

How to Navigate Brownsville

While learning how to ride the bus to get from point A to point B may seem overwhelming, it’s usually relatively simple. After taking a couple of trips on the bus, you’ll be riding it like a pro.

STEP: 2

Refer to the route map’s timetable for arrival and departure times. While each bus route map is a little different, they usually all have a timetable included. The timetable should display the times when the busses that travel along each particular route arrive at and depart from each stop. Find the section of the timetable that specifies your route and write down the arrival time for the stop that’s closest to your location.

STEP: 1

Look at a bus route map. Nearly every public transportation bus has a set route that they travel on. To find out how to get to where you need to go, get a bus route map.

These typically have different colored lines with dots along them that represent the different busses and stops. The bus route map should also have a timeta-

STEP: 3

Look for intersecting routes if you think you’ll need to transfer. If no routes take you directly to where you need to go, look on the map at the different routes that stop near your starting location. Then, see if those routes intersect with any other routes that lead to your destination.

STEP: 4

Use an online trip planning feature if your city has one. Go online to your city’s public transportation website. Look for a public transportation trip planning feature that allows you to to type in your starting location, your destination, and possibly also the time of day that you want to travel. When you submit this information, the feature will likely show you what route you should take.

STEP: 4

STEP: 5

Sit in a seat and/or hold on. Once you’ve paid, look for an open seat and sit in it. If you can’t find one, stand somewhere that’s as out of the way as possible. Be sure to hold onto a pole or a handle so that you don’t fall and hurt yourself or someone else once the bus starts moving.

Exit through the back door. Typically, passengers get on through the front door and get off through the back door. This makes getting on and off easier and smoother for everyone. Be sure to head to the back door once the bus has stopped at your stop.

South

Padre

Island

named second most popular spring break destination in the world

South Padre Island lies on the southernmost tip of Texas and is situated on the south end of Padre Island , the longest Barrier Island in the world and the largest stretch of undeveloped ocean beach in North America . It sits just 30 miles north of Mexico and is linked to the mainland by a two and a half mile long bridge, the Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway.

Beaches for days

sla Blanca Beach is one of South Padre Island’s best and most popular beaches. There is a lot that you can do here. You’ll find people surfing, hiking, biking, and more. A boardwalk near the beach connects you to more shaded areas, picnic pavilions, restrooms, and showers.

The City of South Padre Island is home to an estimated 5,000 people, and according to the Convention and Visitors Bureau, over one million people visit the Island every year.

It is a hotspot for retirees from northern regions to stay throughout the winter months. These residents are known throughout the Rio Grande Valley as “Winter Texans.”

Best Kept Secrets

One of the best kept secrets in Texas has finally been revealed and the value of this jewel has been made known. It is a unique setting that lures people to return again and again to enjoy the spirit of adventure that can be found there. South Padre Island is a year-round vacation destination located at the same latitude as Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The Island enjoys a sub-topical environment with mild dry winters, and warm breezy summers. With a winter average temperature of 65 degrees, a summer average temperature of 82 degrees and and an average of 253 days of beautiful sunshine.

Historic Lighthouse

The Port Isabel Lighthouse has been a beloved landmark on the Laguna Madre near South Padre Island for nearly 170 years.

The light was extinguished between 1888 and 1894 during negotiations over ownership of the site; when finally reactivated, its years of service were numbered. The lighthouse was abandoned permanently in 1905 after shipping traffic declined. Charming, coastal, historic and home to the Port Isabel Lighthouse, Port Isabel is the only town in Texas with a real Lighthouse in the middle of its town square.

Bird Watching

In 2022 Brownsville has been igently working to become City Texas designation and apply to become officially certified from Audubon Texas, and Parks and Wildlife Department’s inaugural Bird City Texas cation program.

This new, community-focused certification program has created to help people protect birds and their habitats. growing popularity of planting native plants, restoring the prairies, bird-friendly education programs, and Visit Brownsville’s program were among the many forts and programs that will Brownsville a Bird City Texas ignation.

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been dila Bird and will certified and Texas Department’s certificommunity-focused has been protect habitats. The planting native education Brownsville’s many efwill make Texas des-

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TOP #2 PUBLIC UNIVESTIES IN TEXAS

OGE advances knowledge, research, and learning that promote the common good. We contribute to the academic and cultural environments of UTRGV through the movement of people and ideas across borders. We support our faculty, staff, and students to become effective global leaders who will create a more just global society. Innovation. Opportunity. Purpose. Careers. That’s what the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is about. With campuses throughout the Valley, UTRGV empowers successful futures, enhances daily life, and lets our region shine as a global innovator in higher education, bilingual education, health education, biomedical research, and emerging technology that inspires positive change.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s (UTRGV) mission is to transform the Rio Grande Valley, the Americas, and the world through an innovative and accessible educational environment that promotes student success, research, creative works, health and well-being, community engagement, and sustainable development.

The Office of Global Engagement’s (OGE) mission is to globalize UTRGV by identifying, creating, and supporting global initiatives while opening a range of opportunities for the faculty, students, the community, and senior leadership. OGE provides funding, vision, logistics, and other support that helps the University realize its strategic priorities. To this end, OGE will

support globalization of our faculty and staff so they can educate students who “will inspire the world.”

Globalization is a conscious commitment, confirmed through action, to infuse global and comparative perspectives throughout the teaching, research, and service missions of the university. It shapes institutional ethos and values and touches the entire university endeavor. It extends the reach and scope of the university’s mission and purpose, and helps UTRGV to carry out its mission in more ways, with more people, and in more places.

CHARRO

Brownsville is celebrating its 86th annual Charro Days through Saturday with traditional dances, parades, a costume ball and a carnival. Charro Days kicked off last Saturday with Baile del Sol, featuring students from the Brownsville Independent School District and live music by Tejano musician Gary Hobbs, according to the Charro Days Fiesta Facebook page. Henry LeVrier, president of Charro Days Fiesta, encourages Brownsville residents to

dress up to promote the Charro Days spirit.

“I would like to encourage everyone to dress up in the Charro Days attire during the Charro Days week and to decorate their business and home to promote the Charro Days spirit,” LeVrier said.

Charro Days was created in 1938, during the depths of the Great Depression, said Anthony Knopp, vice president of the Brownsville Historical Association and an emeritus professor of history at UTRGV.

In the hope of attracting people to Brownsville to increase revenue while also boosting local morale, businessman Kenneth Faxon got together with other local dignitaries to see what they could do. Faxon was known as the “father” of Charro Days, according to the Texas State Historical Association. “They decided they would try to have a celebration, you know, focusing on Mexican cultural aspects,” Knopp said. Charro Days was created to try to stimulate the economy when

“They decided they would try to have a celebration, you know, focusing on Mexican cultural aspects,” Knopp said. Charro Days was created to try to stimulate the economy when there “wasn’t much going on,” LeVrier said.

“We needed to improve the spirits somehow of all the citizens, and since then, we continued to promote the spirit and we continued to involve the community to have a celebration,” he said.

Downtown merchants and

political figures focused on Mexican culture in the hope of promoting the event as something unique and interesting to entice people to attend, LeVrier added.

He said organizing the event takes almost a year.

“It’s almost a 12-month operation,” LeVrier said. “We always try to do it bigger and better.

So, it’s continuous planning and planning to make sure we put the best possible fiesta on.” He encourages everyone to check out the events.

“You will see a lot of beautiful costumes,” LeVrier said. “You will see a lot of great foods being introduced. We encourage [people to attend].”

UTRGV will get into the spirit of the celebration Wednesday with Charreada on the Brownsville campus. The campus event will have a similar theme, according to Cristina Rodriguez, assistant director of Student Activities. Charreada will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday on the Student Union lawn as

DAYS

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (Border Report) – A massive group of about 1,000 migrants tried to cross from Matamoros, Mexico, into Brownsville, Texas, overnight, prompting U.S. border officials to close the Gateway International Bridge for several hours, police told Border Report.

“Individuals were trying to cross. Barricades were set up. It was pretty much peaceful. Nobody got hurt,” Sandoval said. “They were trying to cross in the lanes where the vehicles go through and it was just a mass of people.

Sandoval says CBP officers responded quickly along with Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, fede He believes the group was asylum-seekers who have been living in the various makeshift encampments that have sprung up throughout the border city of Matamoros where immigrants are living in parks, on concrete slabs and in abandoned gas station lots waiting to try to cross the border when Title 42 lifts next month. ral police, Cameron County Sheriff’s deputies, and Brownsville Police Department.

“They were saying they’ve been there for a while. Some were coming from Guatemala, Honduras. They were from very different places,” said Sandoval, who livestreamed the bridge closures for several hours overnight on Facebook.

Living in Mexico brings in a lot of benefits. And this time I am not just talking about the benefits for your wallet, but more about those personal experiences that you can only have by living in Mexico and experiencing its culture first-hand.

In the time that I have lived and worked in Mexico, I’ve seen many things that make this culture very special, and here I want to share some of these benefits with you.

One of the things that I admire is that the people have a capitalistic sense of entrepreneurship. There are little to no free handouts in Mexico. The people use their god given talents to make a living and they pride themselves on becoming great at what they do.

The Mexican people provide us with a good product and exceptional service for a fair price. That is something that a lot of the world has for-

gotten how to do. When a family member opens a business, the whole family pitches in to make it successful. The family spirit is alive and well in Mexico and that is a big benefit to anyone who appreciates self-ownership.

Mexico’s way of life isn’t always fast-paced, where you have to be somewhere at the exact time requested. People here don’t worry about problems that might pop up during a task, or make sure they have the perfect tool or component to complete a project. I love the idea of cruising along at a pace that is acceptable to all involved. I enjoy watching the workers taking the time to anticipate their next move. If an obstacle happens to appear or the day doesn’t go exactly as they planned it, that’s ok: there is always tomorrow to figure out a solution.

That to me is a lifestyle that should be practiced on a daily basis. Stay relaxed, because there will always be another day. This doesn’t apply to me since I’m still working. But I’ve noticed this lifestyle in several people living in Mexico, both Mexicans and retirees, who have soaked in the relaxed culture of this country. Here it doesn’t look like anybody needs to be surrounded by technology to get through the day. People enjoy not having to answer a phone, or constantly checking their devices looking for messages. Here nobody seems to be interested in body monitors to tell them what their minute-to-minute vital signs are. People here enjoy getting up in the morning and going outside to enjoy a cup of coffee, looking up and seeing the beautiful Mexico skies, listening to the wildlife sing, and enjoying the fresh morning air. The simple things in life bring in a lot of pleasures

If you are looking forward to new adventures, it is nice to wake up in a different town not knowing what the day will bring. Taking a walk through unfamiliar communities to see and meet new people brings you that much closer to becoming a local. Taking a colectivo or bus to a neighboring city allows you to explore and find other shops, restaurants and attractions. It draws a bit of anxiety not knowing what to expect, what you

MEXICO TO CLOSE

are going to see and/or how you will get back. You don’t just jump in a car that is equipped with GPS or On-Star technology to help you out with the unknown.

CLOSE

This type of adventure will keep you alert and the blood pumping through your body. Once you get back from your adventure, a calm feeling falls over you that gives a sense of accomplishment. Exploring new places keeps your curiosity alive and your mind sharp. It also eliminates the daily mundane way of life that most of us gradually fall into.

Similar massive crossing attempts by migrants also have occurred recently in Juarez and El Paso, Texas; and Tijuana and San Diego.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials erected barricades on the popular pedestrian and vehicular port of entry, preventing anyone from crossing from about 11 p.m. Wednesday to 3 a.m. Thursday, Brownsville police investigator Martin Sandoval said. This international bridge unites the Matamoros–Brownsville Metropolitan Area, which counts with a population of 1,136,995, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area in the Mexico-US border.

The Gateway International Bridge links the downtown business districts of Brownsville and Matamoros. This bridge is primarily used for local traffic, maquiladora employees, tourists and pedestrian traffic. Eighty percent of the pedestrian

traffic in Brownsville uses this bridge to go from downtown Brownsville to Matamoros and vice versa. Gateway International Bridge is the only bridge in the system that is operational twenty-four hours a day and is 100% owned and operated by Cameron County.

The West/East University Blvd. by Texas Southmost College and the newly created University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) connects the Gateway Bridge area with the Southmost area in Brownsville, which is one of the fastest growing areas in the County. This road provides a good connection between Gateway Internation-

al Bridge and the Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates.

Gateway is located in Downtown Brownsville and a block from the University of Texas at Brownsville. It is the most used international bridge in the city for pedestrian crossings. People on the US side wanting to go to Mexico can simply park their car on the US side, walk over to Mexico and have access to several tourist attractions in Matamoros. People on the Mexican side are able to walk over to the United States and have access to hundreds of retail outlets in Downtown Brownsville.

RUN THROUGH BROWNSVILLE

“I live here in Miami, and I see people in Hokas in restaurants and bars,” Mr. Haines said. “It’s a comfort thing but also a form thing. People are wearing them because it’s stylish and trendy.”

Years, attested to the growth in markets, agreeing that the company is, broadly speaking, reaching streetwear and fashion types a well as runners,

Their First fans were not sneakerheads, though. Hokas began their life in the French Alps, when three athletes and product developers, Nico Mermoud, Jean-Luc Diard

But Hoka would not be where it is today if only runners had embraced the bulbous sneaker. Mr. Doolan, who has been with the company for 13

Older people or anyone who is injured or needs a reason to embrace comfort.

It’s true that, as unlikely as it may have seemed a few years ago, Hokas are stylish and trendy.