by Legislative Media | Oct 9, 2007 | Politics |
Javier Villalobos of McAllen, who is seeking the House District 41 state representative seat currently held by Rep. Verónica Gonzáles, D-McAllen, points to more than 300 friends who showed up on Thursday, October 4 in McAllen for a fundraiser to help power his campaign. “The winds of change are coming,” Villalobos told his supporters. “I think people are interested, and they do want to help. We were hoping to raise about $20,000 or $25,000, but we were able to raise $61,400.” See story later in this posting.
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Ramiro Garza, Jr., executive director for the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation, gestures to a screen containing economic and demographic information about the city during a Thursday, October 4 commercial real estate roundtable hosted by the EEDC at the Edinburg Depot. Leticia Reyes, EEDC project manager featured left, also participate in the presentation. See story later in this posting.
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Sebastian J. Izaguirre, son of José and Mayra Izaguirre from Edinburg, was the first baby born at the newly-opened, $67 million Women’s Hospital at Renaissance. The baby was delivered at 3:14 p.m. on Monday, October 1, weighing seven pounds and measuring 20.5 inches. “This modern state-of-the-art facility is the Valley’s only hospital dedicated exclusively to women’s healthcare needs,” says Marissa Castañeda, DHR Chief Operations Officer. “We are elated to join with over 45 obstetric and gynecological physicians in providing the highest quality care to women in South Texas.” In recognition of being the first baby born at The Women’s Hospital at Renaissance, Baby Izaguirre received a $10,000 savings bond from Lone Star National Bank and Doctors Hospital at Renaissance. HEB Food Stores was present during the formal presentation to the community and will be providing a supply of diapers and wipes for the first year to the Izaguirre family. The Women’s Hospital at Renaissance is scheduled to deliver 8,000 babies in its first year of operation and will revolutionize women’s healthcare in our region. For more information please call the Women’s Hospital at Renaissance at (956) 688-4000.
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by Legislative Media | Oct 3, 2007 | Politics |
Only the appearance in Edinburg of Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, the highest ranking elected woman in American history, could take attention away from the grand opening of the latest treasure in the city’s economy – the $67 million Women’s Hospital at Renaissance. Pelosi, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, helped draw hundreds of area residents, hospital leaders, and other political figures to the Thursday, September 27 ribbon-cutting event at the 200,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art medical complex, located in southwest Edinburg at 5502 South McColl. Featured during the ribbon-cutting, from left, were: Rep. Verónica Gonzáles, D-McAllen; Rep. Ismael “Kino” Flores, D-Palmview; Dr. Carlos J. Cárdenas, chairman of the board of Doctors Hospital at Renaissance; Congressman Ruben Hinojosa, D-Mercedes; Pelosi; Rep. Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg; Pharr Mayor Leo “Polo” Palacios; and Edinburg Mayor Joe Ochoa. See story later in this posting.
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U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, featured second from right, poses for a portrait taken on Thursday, September 27, with Rep. Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg, along with Blanca Cárdenas, McAllen Chamber of Commerce, and Marissa Castañeda, Chief Operations Officer for Doctors Hospital at Renaissance. Pelosi, the first woman Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, was in Edinburg that morning to help celebrate the grand opening of the $67 million Women’s Hospital at Renaissance. Pelosi is the first U.S. Speaker of the House in office to visit the three-time All-America City. See story later in this posting.
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Memorial Funeral Home, located at 208 E. Canton Road, has been selected as the Small Feature Business of the Month by the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce. Leon and Velma de León, shown fourth and third from the right, “are small business owners who believe in making a contribution in the communities they serve,” said Elva Jackson Garza, vice-chair of membership for the local chamber. “Not only do they support the various programs and events sponsored by the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce, but they take it to the next level by actively participating personally.” Featured in this portrait, from left, are: Melissa Rodríguez, representing the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce; David Rubio; Paula Ysquierdo; Martín Ortíz; Verónica Moreno, funeral director; Leon De León, owner/funeral director; Velma De León, owner/funeral director; Lee Castro, funeral director and vice-chair of tourism for the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce; and Illiana Aldrete.
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by Legislative Media | Sep 26, 2007 | Politics |
U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, will be in Edinburg on Thursday, September 27, first to address students in South Texas at the University of Texas-Pan American, then to participate in the grand opening ceremony for the Women’s Hospital at Renaissance. See story later in this posting.
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A new state law that could eventually lead to the construction of a light rail train system that would transport passengers from Brownsville to Rio Grande City is still on track, said Rep. Armando “Mando” Martinez, D-Weslaco, the author of the legislation. House Bill 2510 creates a mechanism to allow Hidalgo County and any of the other 13 Texas counties that border Mexico to create Commuter Rail Districts. Under HB 2510, each border county will have the opportunity to organize and create a commuter rail board to determine the feasibility of establishing a commuter rail system within their respective county. The legislation, which was sponsored by Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, was endorsed by Gov. Rick Perry, shown here recently signing the measure into law. In attendance at the bill signing ceremony, held in Austin last month, were Hidalgo County Judge J. D. Salinas III (standing, back row, second from left), his wife Janie (standing, first row, first from left) and their two children, Nicholas and Samantha. Also present with Martinez (featured standing, second from right) for the ceremony were Veronica de la Fuente, who is Hidalgo County ‘s governmental director, and Jerry Haddican, General Counselor for Hinojosa.
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STC President Shirley A. Reed addresses the college’s faculty, staff and administration at Professional Development Day, laying a roadmap for the college’s future. The community college system, created by the Legislature in 1993 through a law carried by Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., D-Brownsville, and then-Rep. Roberto Gutiérrez, D-McAllen, is now approaching a 20,000 student enrollment. See story later in this posting.
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by Legislative Media | Sep 19, 2007 | Politics |
Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, shows off his hat in recognition of the cowboy/vaquero culture that is deeply rooted among many families in his legislative district, which stretches from McAllen/Edinburg/Mission through Corpus Christi. “This is for the people,” Hinojosa told several hundred supporters in McAllen, as he tipped his hat in their honor, during his campaign kick-off, held Thursday, September 13, at the Holidome. See story later in this posting.
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The construction of the first private student housing development to serve the University of Texas-Pan American will give the local economy an estimated $18 million shot in the arm, and send yet another message that both the university and city are growing by leaps and bounds, the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation has announced. The complex, to be called The Veranda Place, is being built on North Sugar Road.
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Steven J. Escobar, a 1987 Edinburg High School graduate, has sparked Bobcat pride for alma mater and for his hometown with his recent Emmy® Award for Outstanding Picture Editing for Reality Programming at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 2006-2007 Creative Arts Primetime Emmys in Los Angeles. See story later in this posting.
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by Legislative Media | Sep 11, 2007 | Politics |
J.J. Rodríguez, the interim city manager since July 2006, on Tuesday, September 4, was offered the top city job on a permanent basis by the Edinburg City Council. Rodríguez, 43, whose entire public service career has been with the local municipal government, said he would accept the position, subject to final negotiations on his pay. See story later in this posting.
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Claudia P. Mata, a teacher at Edinburg North High School, and Kimberly Baus, a fifth grade teacher at Canterbury Elementary, accept their award from Region One officials after being named Regional Secondary Teacher and Regional Elementary Teacher of the Year for 2007 at a recent awards dinner. See story later in this posting.
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The Edinburg CISD had eight elementary campuses rated “Exemplary” by the Texas Education Agency in August. The ECISD had more exemplary schools than any other school district south of San Antonio. Featured with the superintendent are the principals of the campuses, from left: (1st row): Erika Playle of De la Viña Elementary and Sandra Guerra of Cavazos Elementary; (2nd row) Eva Sandoval of Lincoln, Dominga Vela of Jefferson Elementary and Ana Villalobos of Hargill Elementary; (3rd row) Nelda Gaytán of Austin Elementary; Superintendent Gilberto Garza, Jr.; and Cynthia Sáenz of Treviño Elementary; and (4th row) Gloria Rivera of Escandón Elementary. See story later in this posting.
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