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Seniors, “Let’s play ball again”

20241106 Ed Martens SEnior Softball League Courtesy Mike Brower webIt’s that time of year again for senior slow pitch softball in the Rio Grande Valley.

The Ed Marten’s Senior Texan Softball Leagues are open to all individual men and women aged 55 years and older. You don’t have a bat or glove? No problem, they have equipment to loan you. No matter what your skill level is, they have a league just right for you.

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Operation Christmas drop off begins soon

20191017 Operation Christmas Child Samaritans purse PR 0003 webIt’s that time again. As the Thanksgiving season approaches, many families and children are giving thanks for all their blessings and sharing those blessings with children in need by packing shoeboxes with Operation Christmas Child.

For more than three decades, these gift-filled showboxes have been delivered to millions of children around the world. Shoebox gifts prepared by generous donors and filled with fun toys, personal care items, and school supplies bring joy and hope to boys and girls who may have never received a gift of their own. These shoeboxes can be dropped off soon during National Collection Week, from November 18 ¬through 25. More than 4,500 drop-off sites are now open.

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Operation Green Light for Veterans

20220614 Rio Grande Valley Veterans Cemetary CAB 0003 webThe Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery sign has been illuminated green as part of Operation Green Light for Veterans, a nationwide effort by counties, the National Association of Counties (NACo), and the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers.

From November 4 through 11, county buildings and landmarks across the country will be illuminated green to show support for veterans and raise awareness around the resources available at the county, state, and federal levels to assist veterans and their families.

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Voices of Veterans: Sergeant Corby Vinson shares his story of service

Vinson 02 webAUSTIN — Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, M.D., is proud to introduce another installment of the series highlighting the VLB's Voices of Veterans oral history program. In this article, we highlight the service of Sergeant Corby Vinson who served in the U.S. Army and completed three service tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Vinson was born in Frankfurt, Germany. His father was in the military, so his family moved every few years. Vinson enlisted in the U.S. Army after he graduated high school and worked in Air Defense as a Stinger Gunner, lived in the Schofield Barracks in Oahu, Hawaii and participated in Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti.

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It’s the season of Thanksgiving and giving

Angels of Love is collecting food, large baskets, turkeys and monetary donations for their annual Canastas de Corazon Operation Gratitude from now through November 20.

Donations for the food baskets can be dropped off at the Angels of Love headquarters, 1305 E. Nolana Ave., Suite D, in McAllen. Delivery of the food baskets will be made on November 22 and 23.

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Celebrate Texas State Parks Day with free admission

20241030 Bentsen State Park Hawk Tower webAUSTIN— On November 3, visitors will get free day-use entry at all Texas State Parks in honor of Texas State Parks Day, a tradition born from 2023's centennial celebration.

“Any day in a Texas State Park is a good day,” said Rodney Franklin, Director of Texas State Parks. “I hope this continued event from our centennial celebration motivates all Texans to explore what the outdoors has to offer. You are invited to visit a park that is new to you, take a friend and try a new adventure.”

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Port Isabel Historical Museum hosts special exhibit

20241030 SPI Port Isabel Museum of History KO 0086 webThe Port Isabel Historical Museum will host a special exhibit through December 15. The exhibit is called Ancient Landscapes of South Texas, Hiding in Plain Sight.

Explore 50 million years of natural history and 15,000 years of cultural history of the Rio Grande Valley. From Pleistocene hunters to Spanish rancheros, to the construction of dams, and wind turbines discover how human adaptations were shaped and in turn are shaping the region’s natural history.

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A new ocelot joins the Gladys Porter Zoo family

Gladys Porter Zoo staff are inviting the public to come out and meet our newest resident, Ignacio, a seven-year-old ocelot. Iggy, as he is affectionately called, joins a female ocelot that currently resides at the Zoo, Leeloo.

Iggy arrived at the Zoo in early August from the Palm Beach Zoo in Florida. After completing the mandatory quarantine period, he is now slowly being introduced to Leeloo. To ensure a safe and easy transition for both cats, zookeepers are gradually allowing them to get acquainted with one another.

Zookeepers are working hard on acclimating the pair. As of now, the pair are becoming familiar with one another’s scent behind the scenes and taking turns spending time in their shared outdoor habitat. This is an important process that must take place in order to ensure the safety and comfort of both animals.

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A celebration of Monarch Migration at HalloWings

South Padre Island is thrilled to announce the annual HalloWings Across South Padre Island Monarch Migration Celebration. The event will take place on Sunday, October 27, at the South Padre Island Birding Nature Center and Alligator Sanctuary.

The fall season is a gorgeous time of year on South Padre Island. Monarchs are unique due to their two-way migration. Celebrate the beautiful and spectacular fall migration as they travel down the Texas coastal flyway to their winter home in central Mexico.

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MPL announces South Texas Book festival

20241023 Picture2 webMcAllen Public Library will be kicking off its 11th annual international-award winning book festival with an extensive slew of authors for readers of every age. Go find out who’s coming and all the exciting and fun activities taking place during the event, including storytelling, book sales, author signings and other special guest appearances. Visitors can also meet the new mascot, Marty the Library Cat.

The South Texas Book Festival will take place from October 29, through Saturday, November 2, at the McAllen Public Library, 4001 N. 23rd Street. The event will be free and open to the public.

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Arbor Day Celebration registration open

20241023 Picture1 webKeep McAllen Beautiful (KMB) is hosting its 13th annual Arbor Day Celebration on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at Westside Park, 1000 S. Ware Rd. The Arbor Day Celebration is a run, bike, and walk event that benefits everyone interested in personal health and the environment. Registration for the event is now open. This fundraiser will also benefit Keep McAllen Beautiful, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and will help increase awareness of the importance of planting and caring for trees in McAllen.

All events are open to everyone from amateurs to professionals. The day will begin with a 25 Mile/100K Bike Ride; 5K Run; 10K Run; a Kids’ Fun Run; and an ongoing Tree Workshop. This new location will feature exciting experiences for participants.

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New shop empowers special needs students through real-world experience

20241023 IMG 7342 webThe Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (PSJA ISD) celebrated a groundbreaking moment with the grand opening of the PSJA Family Shop on Friday, October 18. This unique store, the first of its kind in the district, is not only a place to purchase exclusive PSJA ISD merchandise, but it also serves as an essential job training site for special needs students ages 18-21 from the PSJA Pathways Toward Independence (PTI) and LIFE Programs.

The PSJA Family Shop exemplifies the district’s commitment to creating opportunities for all students. By operating this retail space, students gain hands-on experience in retail management, customer service, and other essential workplace skills that prepare them for life beyond the classroom.

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Registration open for Texas Master Naturalist training program

20241023 Workday at chapter project garden webRegistration is open to join the 2025 South Texas Border Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist training class. Training will be in-person. Cameron, Hidalgo, and Starr County residents over the age of 18 and Winter Texans are welcome.

As a chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist Program, the group develops well-informed volunteers to educate, outreach, and serve in the beneficial management of natural resources and areas in the Rio Grande Valley. Texas Master Naturalist is a unique educational volunteer program sponsored by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Sea Grant Program, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Read more: Registration open for Texas Master Naturalist training program

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