Memorial Day Ceremony Set at Veterans War Memorial

Two keynote speakers will highlight the 2010 Memorial Day events at the Veterans War Memorial of Texas set for May, 31, 2010.

The ceremony is set to begin at 10 am, at the memorial site, off of 29th and Galveston, east of the Mcallen Convention Center.

The two keynote speakers are Chaplain Reverend Richard Jenkins, National Chaplain of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and Chaplain and Pastor Conrad (Connie) Walker, National Chaplain Emeritus Military Order of the Purple Heart and Chaplain, International and National Emeritus, 173rd, Airborne Brigade. 

In addition to the national memorial services, the two Chaplains along with Reymundo Peña, former Bishop of the Brownsville Diocese, will dedicate a granite wall inscribed with the photos and citations of three military Chaplains awarded Congressional Medal. of Honor.  This medal is the highest award bestowed on the U.S. military for valorous actions and courageous deeds under enemy fire.  Chaplains Capadonna, Watters and Liteky were awarded M.O.H.  Chaplain Capadonna and Chaplain Watters did not survive their wounds.

Taps will be sounded by Rick Estrada of the U.S. Border Patrol, Stephen Lopez a North Edinburg High School student will sing the American Soldier.  VFW 8788’s Honor Guard will fire the 21 gun salute in honor of all U.S. Military honored in the Memorial and John John Ingram student of Academy will participate in the pledge of allegiance. 

Following the ceremony the South Texas Indian Dancers will present a ceremony of drums, music and dancing commemorating the warriors of our Nation.  A special drum/song/dance will be presented for the 3 Chaplains who have been awarded the M.O.H.  and two who have given their lives for this Nation.

LOW COST PET VACCINATIONS

They will be having another low costs pet vaccinations in McAllen on Saturday, May 15.  The event will be hosted on from 1pm to 3pm and will be at the HEB on 901 Trenton Road in McAllen.

Package Prices:

Package A (dog & cat):

Rabies 1 Year....$10

Package B (dog):
Rabies, DHLPPV.....$24

Package B (cat):
Rabies, FVRCPC....$20

Package C (dog):
Rabies, DHLPPV, Bordetella....$35

Package C (cat):
Rabies, FVRCPC, FeLV....$35

Package D (dog):
Rabies, DHLPPV, Bordetella, Lyme....$55

Package D (cat):
Rabies, FVRCPC, FeLV, FIV....$55


Microchips...$27

Heartworm Tests are only $5 w/negative results & purchase of a year's worth of heartworm preventative.  You can get more information by visiting the website http://www.lowcostvacc.com

LOW COST PET VACCINATIONS

They will be having another low costs pet vaccinations in McAllen on Saturday, April 17.  The event will be hosted on from 1pm to 3pm and will be at the HEB on 901 Trenton Road in McAllen.

Package Prices:

Package A (dog & cat):

Rabies 1 Year....$10

Package B (dog):
Rabies, DHLPPV.....$24

Package B (cat):
Rabies, FVRCPC....$20

Package C (dog):
Rabies, DHLPPV, Bordetella....$35

Package C (cat):
Rabies, FVRCPC, FeLV....$35

Package D (dog):
Rabies, DHLPPV, Bordetella, Lyme....$55

Package D (cat):
Rabies, FVRCPC, FeLV, FIV....$55


Microchips...$27

Heartworm Tests are only $5 w/negative results & purchase of a year's worth of heartworm preventative.  You can get more information by visiting the website http://www.lowcostvacc.com

McAllen Hosts 2010 Earth Day Festival, Vida Verde, April 17

The City of McAllen hosts 2010 Earth Day Festival, Vida Verde, on April 17th, from 9 am to 4 pm, at Quinta Mazatlan, in McAllen.

The annual Earth Day Festival is a celebration of the Rio Grande Valley’s environmental community. The festival provides many educational opportunities highlighting the areas successes and challenges.
The festival has increased in popularity each year with more entertaining shows and educational booths. Manager, Colleen Hook states, "We are excited to host this festival as it give us an opportunity to reach out to our community and to share the benefits of all our city programs related to the environment."
This year, the festival will feature the winner of the art contest, Frank De La Rosa, fourth grade teacher at John H. Shary Elementary. De La Rosa’s design best celebrated the theme of the festival, VIDA VERDE or "Living Green".

Entertainment

• Live Birds of Prey Show with Jonathan Woods
• Live Reptile Adventures with Danny Conner
• Music in the Park
  • Eco-Elvis from Missouri
  • Ensamble la Mision from Brownsville
  • And other Earth Day Music
• Eco-Fashion Show by students from UTPA
• Theatre on the Trails "Creatures of the Thornforest"

Exhibits

• McAllen Parks and Recreation
  • Hike and Bike Trails --Where and How Far
  • Game "Aim t
  • Recycle" Plastic Bottles
  • Scavenger Hunt on the Trail "World of Birds"
• McAllen Public Works
  • Keep McAllen Beautiful– Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
  • Composting – Compost Your Garden
  • Recycled Glass Pulverized – Walk on Recycled Glass
  • Urban Forestry – Plant and Care For Healthy Trees
• McAllen International Airport
  • Workplace Recycling of Cardboard and Paper
• McAllen Transit
  • Public transit opportunities
  • Bus for visitors t
  • tour with "McFun Passes"
• McAllen Public Utilities
  • Water Conservation Exhibit
• McAllen Library System
  • Kids Nature Book Nook
• McAllen Public Information Office
  • Going Green--Success Stories
• Sierra Cool Cities
• Resaca de la Palma State Park
• Hidalgo County Extension Agency
• Caterpillar Caregiver by Mary Thorne
• Arroyo Colorado Watershed Partnership
• Native Plant Sale by Mike Heep
• Making Recycled Paper by STC Biology Club
• Texas Plant and Soil Lab
• Plus many more!

Experts Speaker Topics

• Design a Wildlife Garden PLUS PLANT SALE
• How to Plant and Prune a Tree
• Recycling – What goes where?
• Design a LEED Building/Home – Leader in Energy & Environmental Design
• Raising Caterpillars
• Cooking with Native Plants
• Mile Long Trail "Walk through Time"

Eco-Art for All Ages

• Newspaper Hats
• Coffee Painting
• Take-Home Planters
• Hummingbird Drawing Classes

Art Exhibits

• Santiago Family "According to Nature"
• Daniel Adams "Watercolors in Nature"
• MISD "Recycled Art" Outdoors

The VIDA VERDE Earth Day Festival is brought to you by the City of McAllen and sponsored by the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, Magic Valley Electric Cooperative, KVEO Channel 23, The Monitor, Chick-fil-A, Valley Memorial Gardens and CopyZone plus many other generous donors.

This year celebrates the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Established in 1970, Earth Day is now the largest secular holiday in the world celebrated by over one billion people. Celebrate Earth Day at Quinta Mazatlan in McAllen, Saturday, April 17th, 9 am to 4 pm. For more information please visit www.quintamazatlan.com or call (956) 681-3370.

Rep. Gonzales to Host Border Security Hearing April 29

District 41 State Representative Veronica Gonzales has set a date for a border security hearing. Representative Gonzales will host it in McAllen on April 29, 2010.

Here's a press release from here office, from earlier this month:

McALLEN- State Representative Veronica Gonzales announced today that the security of Texas' international border and the state's ability to protect Texas residents from violence in Mexico will be studied in an upcoming joint hearing of the committee she chairs, the House Border & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, and the House Public Safety Committee, chaired by Representative Tommy Merritt, as assigned by House Speaker Joe Straus.

"The growing violence occurring between the drug cartels in Mexico is extremely concerning and Speaker Joe Straus has specifically charged my committee, along with Chairman Merritt's Public Safety Committee, to study Texas' preparedness to address those drug- related crimes," Rep. Gonzales said. "We need to hear from our state law enforcement officers and other agencies on what is being done to keep our residents safe from the drug cartels fighting in Mexico."

Gonzales and Merritt have been planning to hold their joint interim hearing in McAllen since their joint charge was issued in November 2009, but the hearing has been pending due to the availability of committee members' schedules. A definitive date is forthcoming. Interim charges are given to House Committees to study so that they can make recommendations when the Texas Legislature meets again in 2011. Speaker Straus asked Gonzales's committee to join with the Public Safety Committee and "evaluate the effectiveness of state operations at controlling drug-related crimes and other violence along the Texas-Mexico border."

Other temporary committees charged by the Speaker to study separate issues also plan to overlap interim charges appointed to standing committees. After several Mexican journalists were kidnapped, State Rep. Aaron Pena said his Select Committee on Emergency Preparedness will also meet in McAllen on border security. Pena's committee is charged with looking at the state's preparedness level for natural disasters and terrorist activity, though the reported drug violence in Mexico has been financially motivated, and has not been classified as acts of terrorism against the state of Texas.

"I welcome the feedback of other lawmakers on the issues that the Speaker asked my committee to study, especially one as crucial and close to home as border security," Gonzales said.

For more information about the hearing, call (956) 686-5501