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STC students use skills to support Valley children living with diabetes

Details: Published: Wednesday, 10 December 2025 12:11

20251210 STC STJDA1 web By Joey Gomez, STC

South Texas College students are helping to transform a developing 30-acre camp for children with Type 1 diabetes by utilizing their skills to build furniture, recreational features and sensory stations for the South Texas Juvenile Diabetes Association (STJDA).

For more than a year, STC faculty and students from multiple programs have partnered with STJDA to support its vision of creating a residential camp for children with chronic illnesses and special needs. Since then, STC programs including Construction Supervision, Architecture, Culinary Arts and Welding have contributed to the camp’s development on the outskirts of Willacy and Hidalgo counties.

Food Bank RGV to host ribbon cutting for new facility

Details: Published: Wednesday, 10 December 2025 11:59

The Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley will celebrate the completion of its new cooler and freezer facility with a ribbon cutting on Friday, December 12 at 10 a.m.

The new cold-storage facility is located on-site behind the Food Bank RGV’s historic Valley Fruit Company building. The Food Bank RGV is located at 724 N. Cage Blvd. in Pharr.

Lobo Del Mar: Great food with a view

Details: Published: Tuesday, 09 December 2025 14:54

20251130 Lobo Del Mar TOV ALB 0004 web We recently made the trip out to South Padre Island to visit Lobo Del Mar where we were greeted by a sociable staff and atmosphere. A unique thing here is that the restaurant features an outdoor area situated on a pier. On this visit, we sat inside but made sure to get a table with a view of the bay.

Once seated, our waitress informed us that they offer a Happy Hour menu from 3 to 6 p.m., there are select cocktails and draft beers, as well as appetizers for a good price. We settled on an order of buffalo bone-in wings, which had an ample amount of meat and weren’t overly spicy, still needing some time to look over the menu and decide on entrees. Whenever I go out to the island, I always opt for seafood, though Lobo Del Mar has plenty of other selections to serve a variety of palates including breakfast.

After debating over some options that were all equally appetizing, I ordered the Lobo’s Coconut Shrimp with a side of Spanish rice. My boyfriend selected the Lobo Fish Sandwich, which has options to be grilled, blackened, or the beer batter fried that he opted for.

Sante Fe Steakhouse: Memorable Fine Dining

Details: Published: Tuesday, 09 December 2025 14:51

20251115 Santa Fe TOV ALB 0006 web With options for outdoor or indoor seating, welcoming and knowledgeable staff, and a menu that is sure to satisfy you – Sante Fe Steakhouse makes any visit a memorable experience. Low lighting and cozy seating create a warm ambience. The staff, from those that greet and seat you to those that tend to you and your table throughout your meal, are attentive and poised. Even when the restaurant is filled with patrons, you’ll still feel well accommodated to.

The evening I stopped by, my boyfriend and I opted for indoor seating. Though they open at 5 p.m., there were already people both being seated and waiting for their table. From that alone I figured this is a good place to eat if it’s busy as soon as the doors open. Regardless, our wait time was only a few minutes. Beverages were brought out quickly and a cocktail menu was offered as well, if that’s something that interests you.

For an appetizer, we got the Mini Beef Wellingtons. Honestly, I think I would go back simply to have these again. Five beef tenderloin tips baked in puff pastry, perfectly cooked and easy to cut into. Just the right amount of food to keep you from getting too hungry as your entrée is prepared.

Between the appetizer and entrée, bread and butter as well as a house salad is brought out. You can get a different type of salad for an additional charge. The bread was so fresh and warm, I had to be careful not to fill myself up on it alone. The salad was a refreshing intermission between courses too.

December 3, 2025 - Rina's Ramblings

Details: Published: Thursday, 04 December 2025 09:21

I had the chance to volunteer at the Giving Machine in San Antonio this past week. It was only for a two-hour slot, and it was in the morning, while it was still slow, but I was so thankful to learn about The Giving Machine, San Antonio, and the organization the machine is supporting in the area.

Next week we will be sharing the information about The Giving Machine that will be opening right here in the Valley, at the McAllen Food Park. I am excited to see what organizations the machine will have items for.

In the San Antonio machine, you can donate as little as $1 for seven meals for the San Antonio Food Bank, $35 for diapers for the local homeless shelter, or even $115 for a goat for a worldwide service organization.

There are so many organizations in the Valley that we can donate to, so it will be nice to see who gets sponsored through the machine this year.

This machine is like a vending machine, but you get to give something to someone in need. One hundred percent of the proceeds go to the organization you choose to support. The machines are placed around the world for visitors to give a little bit to their communities.