Gladys Porter Zoo staff are excited to introduce two new babies at the Zoo: a dromedary camel and a reticulated giraffe. Both babies made their debut on exhibit this week.
The healthy male giraffe was born to parents Priscilla and CJ on June 14, 2021. Now one month old, he joins another calf in the giraffe yard that was born just a few months ago.
Reticulated giraffes, like the ones at the Zoo, are listed as Endangered with an estimate of less than 10,000 remaining in the wild. Their numbers have decreased by 50% in the last three decades.
Read more: Gladys Porter Zoo Debuts Two New Babies
Everyone loves a Superhero with a great story, especially real-life Superheroes of today. Rio Grande Regional Hospital is proud to sponsor the outdoor Superhero Trail at Quinta Mazatlán in July and August.
Cris Rivera, Chief Executive Officer of Rio Grande Regional Hospital states, “We are proud to sponsor the outdoor Superhero Trail at Quinta Mazatlán. Our health system and many other first responders tapped their ultimate superhero strength during the pandemic. We have true superhero stories of people changing the world for the better!”
Read more: Heroes Walk the Superhero Trail at Quinta Mazatlán
The Museum of South Texas History will host the Sunday Speaker Series Online presentation, “Mitigation, Preparedness and Disaster Response,” featuring Suzanne A. Pierce, Barry Goldsmith and Raul E. Sesin at 2 p.m. on Aug. 1 on Facebook Live.
Using historical context established in the previous two Sunday Speaker Series Online presentations on Hurricane Beulah and the effects of flooding in the Rio Grande Valley, scientists will discuss ways local communities can mitigate against natural disasters. The panel will also reflect on approaches to developing regional action plans. This is the final presentation in a three-part collaborative series between MOSTHistory and Planet Texas, a University of Texas research center dedicated to the rigorous study of climate change.
Read more: Sunday Speaker Series Online presentation on mitigation, preparedness, disaster response
Although you might not need school supplies for your family, this is a great time to start collecting items for any charities or schools you help out during the winter season. I fyou aren't in Texas, check with your state to see when their Sales Tax Holiday i happening.
(AUSTIN) — Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar is reminding shoppers they can save money on clothes and school supplies during the state’s sales tax holiday on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 6-8.
State law exempts sales tax on qualified items — such as clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks — priced below $100, saving shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend. The date of the sales tax holiday and list of tax-exempt items are set by the Texas Legislature.
Read more: Texas Sales Tax Holiday is Aug. 6-8
Learn about the world of birds and birdwatching, full of colorful birds with interesting lives. After a fun-filled introduction to the diversity of birds, we will focus on the tips and tricks to identifying birds. The Rio Grande Valley is one of the best regions in the country for birdwatching - all we need is to look outside!
Join John Brush, urban ecologist from Quinta Mazatlan, for a presentation on how to begin birdwatching! The class will be available on Saturday, July 31 from 2-3 p.m. at the McAllen Public Library (Main Library, meeting room A, 4001 N. 23rd St.)
Register here: https://mcallenlibrary.libnet.info/event/5268889 . For more information, contact Grace or Nicole at (956) 681-3060.
AUSTIN – The Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine’s Great Outdoor Scavenger Hunt (GOSH) returns for another year of summer fun across Texas. Travel to various locations regionally or statewide, take a selfie and post it with the hashtag #GOSH2021. Discover history, wildlife, parks, waterways and quirky attractions — plus iconic Texas food stops as a “bonus” to enjoy along the way. The GOSH 2021 challenge ends at midnight on Labor Day, Sept. 6.
Select from six regions, including Dallas, Central Texas, Houston, Panhandle, South Texas and West Texas. Register on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine website or the TPWD Facebook Page, then find the spot, take a smiling selfie and tag it on Twitter or Instagram. Participants can also post and tag it on the TPWD Facebook Page with #GOSH2021. Partakers can visit locations regionally or statewide and complete one or all GOSH activities.
Read more: Join Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine’s Great Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
AUSTIN — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will be launching the long-awaited Monarch Butterfly conservation license plate on June 21 that will raise money to help conserve monarch butterflies and other native Texas, non-game, at-risk species.
“The monarch butterfly is a species that is beautiful and iconic in that it is one of nature’s great migration stories,” said John Davis, TPWD’s Wildlife Diversity Program Director. “This species migrates through Texas from Mexico in the spring making its way to the northern extremes of the U.S. and into Canada, then reverses that feat in the fall to overwinter in Mexico. This great migratory story is in jeopardy with the overwintering population experiencing steep declines in the last decade. By adding the monarch to our family of plates, we hope to increase support for this beautiful migration event and through our conservation efforts, brighten the future for this, and many other species.”
Read more: New Monarch Butterfly Conservation license plate available for Texas drivers
The City of South Padre Island is kicking off the summer season with beach and bayside fireworks displays running through Labor Day. South Padre Island, also known as “The Fireworks Capital of Texas,” an honor proclaimed by the Texas Senate, the Island’s recognition highlights the abundance of spectacular fireworks displays for visiting individuals, couples, and families to enjoy.
It is time to celebrate the season with beach and bayside fireworks on South Padre Island. On Tuesday evenings, fireworks are shot from a barge anchored a few hundred yards offshore in the bay. The best viewing spot for bayside shows is the Entertainment District, including many bayside restaurants and on “The Green,” a great lawn where people can bring their own chairs to view the display.
Read more: South Padre Island kicks off the summer season with fireworks displays
Harlingen, Texas – The Humane Society of Harlingen’s cat spaces are completely full. Yesterday, someone reached out to HSH looking for help rehoming 13 cats, as their living space was increasingly unsafe and unsustainable. HSH answered the call, and this morning HSH took in all 13 cats. HSH is asking the community to help us find foster or forever homes for our feline friends!
All adoption fees are completely waived. All adopted pets will go home up to date on vaccinations, dewormed, on preventatives for fleas/ticks/heartworms, microchipped and either already spayed/neutered, or with an appointment to spay/neuter at no cost to the adoptive family.
Read more: Humane Society of Harlingen At Capacity for Cats, Calling Community to Help
Blankets for Veterans, a non-profit organization created by a 17-yr-old in Wisconsin, has made it to a local Valley Winter Texan park this season. Park resident Kathy Hanson is the proud grandmother of Aubree Leitermann, the founder of the organization. Leitermann, who visited Heier recently, was able to give some of the blankets that were made by Heier, and others, to Veterans in the park.
Speaking of Leitermann, Hanson says she has always been interested in how people were making big differences doing small, simple good deeds.
Read more: Blankets for Veterans spreads to Valley
