September / October 2020 - RGVision Magazine

SE P T E M B E R/O C TO B E R 2 0 2 0 | VO LUM E 12 ISSUE 5

LEARNING FROM HOME Making the most of remote learning.

HELPING HANDS McAllen hotel makes nurses feel at home.

FABE THE MAGICIAN Human connection evolves despite lack of tangible venues.

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Ofsman Quintana, MD is on a mission to save your legs and restore your life September is National Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Awareness Month.

PAD is a chronic disease in which plaque, mostly made of fatty substances and cholesterol, builds up in and on your artery walls in the legs and those leaving the heart.

As a result, arteries narrow, restricting blood flow—a condition called atherosclerosis.

Left untreated, atherosclerosis can result in heart attack, stroke and chronic limb ischemia (CLI), a severe form of PAD, which can lead to amputation (removal) of the foot or leg.

Hidalgo County has the state’s second highest rate of amputation.

Dr. Quintana, board-certified in cardiovascular diseases, can diagnose PAD/CLI through noninvasive testing such as an ankle-brachial index (ABI), ultrasound and angiography.

He is using new ways to treat these diseases, helping patients get their lives back and avoid amputation when possible.

PAD RISK FACTORS: • Age 50 or older • Smoking • Diabetes • Atherosclerosis

• High blood pressure/ High cholesterol

• Family history of heart disease or PAD

• Abdominal obesity

• African American/ Hispanic

• Kidney disease

If you or a loved one has one or more risk factors and/or is experiencing pain in the buttocks or leg that may improve with rest, difficulty walking or cool skin, don’t delay. Speak to your doctor about PAD screening or schedule an appointment with Dr. Quintana*. It Could Save Your Life.

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Copyright by RGVision Publications Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without expressed written permission of the publisher is prohibited.

The opinions and views expressed in the magazine don’t necessarily reflect those of our advertisers or collaborators. RGVision magazine is published bi-monthly and circulates 12,000 copies across the Rio Grande Valley in 450 locations with a direct mail distribution to major hospitals and Superintendents within Region 1. The RGVision office is located at 801 N. Bryan Road, Mission, TX 78572.

Harlingen CISD PSJA ISD South Texas College Bill Martin Sergio Contreras Leonardo F. Chang Judith Benavides-Garza Dr. Alfonso Mercado Quinta Mazatlán

James Hord Jason Garza Alicia Rangel Jaime Villarreal

WRITERS

CONTENT CONTRIBUTERS

Colossians 3:23 "Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people."

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In the spirit of solidarity, we are proud to share with you our September/October 2020 issue as we tap into some ingredients of what makes the Rio Grande Valley truly unique. Resilience, perseverance, creativity, and passion have given those visiting our region during this season a taste of our culture. With safety measures in place, the Rio Grande Valley is open for business. In this issue of RGVision, you will find how our community unites and continues to support local businesses.

Artists, educational leaders and business owners adapt to the new normal to push through what is left of 2020. Despite what may be happening in the midst of the pandemic, there are beacons of hope all around us that we are proud to highlight. We are so happy you are reading this issue — stay informed, inspired, and educated!

Amy Casebier Karina Vargas Rocio Villalobos Nathaniel Mata Jose De Leon III Danya Perez Karla Arredondo Ashley Berrones

For editorial comments and suggestions, please send emails to info@rgvisionmagazine.com.

For advertising information, please call us at 956.431.0103 or email us at info@rgvisionmagazine.com.

A special thank you to all the advertisers who support this publication: You are the power behind the flywheel igniting positive change that keeps the conversation going.

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TABLE OF

CONTENTS 2020

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VOLUME 12 ISSUE 5 RGVISION MAGAZINE

40 ON THE COVER

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ADDI NG F L AVOR TO THE R G V

Business owner launches mini donut craze.

EDUCATION

HCISD Virtual Academy pg 10 PSJA Stronger Together pg 12 STC on IT pg 16 Working Together pg 20 Beyond the Degree pg 22 Inspired to Overcome pg 24

BUSINESS

We are the RIo Grande Valley pg 26 Building Wealth pg 28 Veteran-Owned Businesses pg 30 Collaborating on our Future pg 34 Mission on a Mission pg 36 Financial Focus pg 44 Cautiously Optimistic pg 46 RGV CompuTech pg 48 Contactless Culture pg 50

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LEA RNING FROM HOM E

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HELPING HA NDS

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FA B E T HE M AG IC IA N

Making the most of remote learning.

McAllen hotel makes nurses feel at home.

Human connection evolves despite lack of tangible venues.

HEALTH

They're Back pg 54 Adopting Healthy Habits pg 56 Mental Health pg 58 At-Home Workouts pg 60 Peace of Mind pg 62 Taking the Lead pg 64 'Standard of Care' pg 66

QUALITY OF LIFE

The Magic of the Mesquite pg 68 The Delgado Collective pg 70 Happy HalloZoom pg 72 Faces in the Valley pg 76 Trends & Tresses pg 78 The Dragon Warrior pg 80 The Year 2020 pg 82 La Sal del Rey pg 84 Que Suerte pg 86

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RGVISION ADVISORY BOARD

Each and every member of our advisory board charges RGVision with growth and commitment within our business development, social engagement, and editorial efforts. Through their feedback and contributions, RGVision will continue to help tell and share the Rio Grande Valley’s stories and extend the invitation to join the conversation.

M A R I T Z A ES Q U EDA

J AV I E R D E L E O N

R O B ER T D U N K I N

ED D I E LU C I O I I I

R E N E A. F LO R E S

BY R O N J AY LEW I S

B I LL M A R T I N

M A RK P E T E R S O N

A N D R EA R O D R I G U EZ

F R ED S A N D OVA L

TO M TO R K E L S O N

V ER O N I C A V ELA W H I TAC R E

S A B R I N A WA LK ER H ER N A N D EZ

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E D U C A T I O N

HCISD Virtual Academy

majority of the presenters are district staff, but there might be a few others that will be from out of the district.”

The goal of adding a parent component to the virtual academy was to keep parents and families informed with the latest information, allow them an opportunity to ask questions about specific topics, and let them have the chance to review important concepts before the start of the 2020-21 school year.

Some of these courses focused on assisting parents in setting up a learning environment from home. Others covered how to log in and track student academic progress. Additional options discussed plans and updates for the reopening of the school district.

“We want parents to know that they are partners in education with us, and so this is going to be a portal specifically to maximize that partnership,” said Veronica Kortan, administrator for organizational development.

“There are a lot of questions regarding health and safety in our schools, and we want our parents to be confident in the fact that their kids are going to be safe when they come back if they choose to do face-to-face learning.”

Different sessions were available for parents every week from Aug. 10 to Aug. 28. Courses within this portal offered a variety of academic and enrichment topics for the families of students at the primary and secondary levels. Classes included titles such as: Getting Ready to Write for Pre-K, College 101, Intro to Seesaw, and Social Media Gaming and Mental Health.

“This is all enrichment to empower parents and to keep them in the loop,” said Dr. Jose Luis Cavazos, director of parental involvement/dropout prevention. “Even though students are not in school right now, we are continuing to provide services. All of our departments will share information through these courses. We want parents to know about important topics like how we are still going to be taking attendance even though some students will not be learning from the classrooms.”

The topics presented in these courses came from various departments such as special education, athletics, health services, federal programs, parental involvement, multi-language, child nutrition, early childhood/dyslexia, guidance & counseling, advanced academics, and career and technical education, among others.

While some classes were very informative, others were a little more interactive and shared ideas on exercise, nutrition, or other activities that could be done from home. These courses also covered topics about living

Parent Component Prepares Families for Remote Learning

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

by A shley B er r o nes A strong partnership among parents, students, and teachers is needed in order to provide a successful education. To achieve this goal, it is important to increase the knowledge and preparedness not only of students and teachers, but of parents, too. Harlingen CISD had exactly this in mind when they created the HCISD Virtual Academy.

District staff worked tirelessly throughout the summer months to prepare the platform that would provide professional learning for multiple layers of the district — including students, staff, and parents.

On Aug. 10, Harlingen CISD launched the HCISD Virtual Academy. This platform included parent, student, and staff portals that provided live and pre-recorded sessions with information about academics, health, and wellness.

An essential part of this new website was the parent portal, which housed a variety of short but comprehensive courses and videos that families could sign up for or view as they prepared for the virtual learning that would take place the following school year.

“We are putting together some sessions specifically for parents on how they can support the virtual learning of their children from home,” said Beulah Rangel, coordinator of federal programs. “We are going to have a menu of sessions that parents can choose from. A

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

through and dealing with the pandemic.

“This will be like an HCISD virtual conference, but it is going to be happening for several weeks given the plethora of opportunities our parents have to choose from,” said Norma Garcia, director of the multilanguage department. “We want to make sure our parents know they are not alone in this season. More than ever, we must work together to impact our students’ futures.”

The specific needs and interests of parents and their busy schedules were kept in mind when courses were created. Sessions were offered in English and in Spanish. Each course was designed to be between 30 to 45 minutes long. The classes were spread out into morning and evening sessions with times ranging from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Courses were recorded and linked on the website for future reference for those who might have missed a class of interest.

All three portals — the students, parents, and staff components — became available at the same time in the second week of August.

Each portal varied slightly to meet the specific needs and interests of each audience.

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STRONGER TOGETHER

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

A Message from Superintendent Dr. Jorge L. Arredondo

On behalf of our Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD School Board of Trustees and Administration, I hope you are doing well and staying strong during this pandemic. For the safety of our students, staff, and families, PSJA ISD will begin the 2020-21 academic year 100 percent online.

Our team continues to communicate with local and state officials to ensure we are prepared to provide accessible, safe, and virtual online learning environments, as well as hybrid or in-person when we can do so. In the meantime, we will continue to keep you informed of any changes or updates.

As part of our preparations for the next school year, we will offer PSJA Parent Virtual Learning Academies to transition parents and students to our new virtual setting.

We would like our families and community to know that although school will be virtual, parents and students should expect the same high academic quality and rigor you have come to expect from PSJA ISD’s nationally recognized school programs and initiatives. Our team has been working arduously this summer to prepare for this new frontier in public education.

Thanks to the support of our great Board of Trustees, we have purchased electronic devices for students and have equipped 119 school buses with Wi-Fi connectivity to help bridge the digital divide that may exist in some households. These buses will be strategically located within our tri-city community to serve the areas with the highest need during the 2020-21 school year.

At PSJA ISD, we appreciate our experienced and passionate teachers, principals, and staff who care for our students and families.

For more information regarding our 2020-21 Guide, please visit our website at www.psjaisd.us/backtoschool.

Please stay safe and follow the advice from our public health and safety officials. Remember, health and safety are a shared responsibility. Stay strong, PSJA Family!

Dr. J or g e L . A r r e d on d o

Su perin ten den t of Sch ool s, Ph arr-San Ju an -Al amo I SD

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E D U C A T I O N

STC is on IT

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

High-Tech Careers Remain in High Demand Amid COVID Curveball Even as the unemployment rate crossed the 12 percent threshold, South Texas College Vice President Dr. David Plummer remained optimistic about the crisis-stricken Rio Grande Valley.

South Texans are resilient people, he figured. And STC is a resilient institution. And the pre-pandemic employment rates were nearly a record low in McAllen and Starr counties.

Recent reports suggest that the region is poised to rebound quickly. And when it does, he says, its workforce will be savvier than ever.

“Something is working,” Plummer said. “Our region is growing, and we’re doing really well. We have a much better-trained workforce than we did 25 years ago.”

Despite the COVID curveball, the need for skilled workers in Texas hasn’t subsided. A diverse labor market continues to create high-paying opportunities for those with college-level career education. The tech sector, in particular, will need qualified “middle skills” professionals to keep pace with projected growth in the region.

“I’ve referenced South Texas, along with the Rio Grande Valley, as being the next Silicon Valley of Texas,” said Julian Alvarez III, the first commissioner representing labor from the RGV on the Texas Workforce Commission.

Many of these burgeoning tech career pathways, from software developers to network engineers, require a bachelor’s degree or less. According to Alvarez, more and more students are skipping the student loans and declaring: “‘I’m going to a community college, pick up a software engineering associate degree, and someday work at Google or Amazon.’”

STC’s job-focused certificate programs cover everything from maintenance to programming, jumpstarting immediate IT careers and paving the way to a choice of three associate degrees. For those with even higher educational aspirations, STC is one of the few community colleges in the entire state to offer a

bachelor’s degree in computer information technology.

So whether students want to start working right away with a certificate or dive straight into a degree, they have options.

“We built these stackable credentials so that people can enter and exit as their life demands,” said Plummer, who maintains that a four-year degree isn’t the only viable option. “We give our students some flexibility toward what they want to do.”

In fact, starting with a workforce certificate may prove to be an even safer investment than diving into a degree.

“You can’t go wrong by receiving an industryrecognized credential,” Alvarez said.

Stackable certifications provide not only a strong foundation but a confident cushion to “fall back on.”

With 1,000 people moving to Texas every day, and new facilities popping up in the state for companies like Amazon, SpaceX, and Google, Alvarez says that tech will continue to grow — and STC will be there to catapult students into the careers of the future.

“It’s a border community that has the creativity of being able to provide students with college that’s affordable, and with opportunities that are in demand,” he said.

Among the many emerging IT fields in Texas is cybersecurity, where the need for information security analysts is booming at 32 percent annually. Median annual salaries in this surging sector have crossed into six figures.

STC’s cybersecurity program is the only one south of San Antonio approved by the Department of Homeland Security. In addition to industry-standard CompTIA certifications like A+ and Security+, the program also covers EC-Council industry creds like Certified Ethical Hacker. From quick certificates to a specialized bachelor track, the program remains a launchpad for the Valley’s high-tech professionals.

STC’s approach is all about building a local tech

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GO GET IT! SALARIES SURGE IN TEXAS

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

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.

Alvarez doesn’t doubt that the future-driven institution will continue to connect students to tomorrow’s top tech jobs. After all, it’s due to STC’s stellar track record that the TWC saw fit to invest $20 million in the first place.

“They graduate folks, and they know that there’s going to be a career waiting for them upon graduation,” Alvarez said. “I find it gratifying that I’m doing everything I can to improve the unemployment rate for the people of South Texas.”

With Texas being voted as one of the best places to do business, and with the IT industry expected to maintain a significant presence, South Texas will remain strong as long as higher education opportunities continue to adapt.

This article was derived from a news release provided by STC, references available upon request.

• Computer Systems Analyst $92,980 • Network Support Specialist $65,410 • Multimedia Artist/Animator $68,910 • Software Developer-Apps $107,000 • Network Administrator $83,790 • IT Project Manager $84,060

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pipeline that aligns with industry needs and launches students into critical careers. It’s the kind of innovative thinking that also guides the school’s globally recognized FESTO lab, a first-of-its-kind robotics training facility, and the FANUC lab, a standard for industrial robotics certification and soon to be a certified training center.

Throughout the health crisis, critical classwork persisted via virtual sessions, continuing to afford future industry professionals the industry knowledge they will need to maintain automation lines in factories.

“South Texas College has always been at the forefront of technical education … listening to what’s industrydriven,” Alvarez said.

STC’s proactive “boots on the ground” attitude, focusing on essential skills for essential careers, is what has made its students so successful.

That forward thinking was evident during the health crisis, when STC fast-tracked its pioneering efforts to bring tech classes online. According to Plummer, going virtual was already part of the backup plan.

“What it taught us is that we could do things we really weren’t too sure we could do,” Plummer said. “And I think our students feel the same way.”

With live feeds beaming into living rooms and kits mailed to each student, online classes proved to be such a success that some students are asking for more.

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Learning from Home Making the Most of Remote Learning b y Roci o V i l l a l ob os As the Rio Grande Valley became a COVID-19 hotspot, the region’s schools developed distance learning plans so the community could remain safe while continuing to learn and educate.

The situation is constantly changing and just how long schooling will be remote remains unknown, but in the meantime, there are ways to help ensure effective learning for your child as a parent or guardian.

Donna ISD Superintendent Dr. Hafedh Azaiez said as soon as the threat of COVID-19 hit the United States,

superintendents across the region and county officials began to meet to discuss whether to continue school as usual.

“We thought for the interest of everyone, in order to help decrease the number of cases and hospitalizations, it would be a good idea to keep students at home safe and provide distance learning so we can curb the trend,” he said.

To discover what barriers the close to 15,000 students have in their homes, Donna ISD began surveying the

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RGVision Ad for QM (kindnessTrail).pdf

“We’re going to make the online school experience feel as much as possible as if it’s in person. We want to be sure our teachers are teaching students directly and that everyone is interacting with each other.”

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teachers and peers.

“We’re all in this together for a common cause, which is to make sure students continue to advance academically,” he said.

“And with this schedule, we want to provide social-emotional balance and provide time for students to interact with each other remotely as much as possible.”

And while sports and other UIL meets will not be possible, certain electives, including physical education and technical courses, will be offered. Teachers continue to come up with ideas on how students can engage C with one another.

M Another change students can expect is a less traditional schedule. In late July, Y schools were still hashing out the detailsCMin preparation for the upcoming fall semester, MY but Azaiez said a standard eight-hour CY schedule would likely not be the case.

He encourages parents to reach out CMYto the school for support when they need it and K says students struggling in their courses will also be supported through virtual smallgroup tutoring with their teachers.

“We know in-person education is the best option, but the safety of our students and staff comes first and foremost,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we cannot open schools yet, but we will continue working to motivate and support the campus community remotely as much as possible.”

The Donna ISD website contains more resources for parents (which is applicable for families in other districts) to best support their children.

In addition to setting routines for their families, the district encourages parents to not forget to take care of themselves, engage in fun, creative activities together, look for things to celebrate each day, and check in and take time to practice mindful breathing together.

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families and discovered more than 50 percent of households do not have internet access. So they came up with a plan to install 12 Wi-Fi towers near campuses to provide free internet to the students.

In addition, every student and teacher received personal devices. Students K-5 through second grade received iPads. Thirdto 12-graders received Chromebooks, and teachers got laptops.

“If we can provide one-to-one devices and Wi-Fi connection, I think our students will be in very good shape,” Azaiez said. “The reason we were able to make this work is through looking at ways to save and being creative with funding.

“We wanted to fix that technology barrier divide so students have equal access.”

These two projects cost the district more than $9 million and were made possible by putting other projects, such as the beautification of campuses, on hold.

Azaiez said this investment into technology is helping push the district ahead and will ensure students do not fall behind.

“We’re going to make the online school experience feel as much as possible as if it’s in person,” Azaiez said. “We want to be sure our teachers are teaching students directly and that everyone is interacting with each other.”

Teachers are also receiving new training to become adept at teaching using online platforms, including Google Classroom.

The goal, he said, is to keep as much normalcy as the circumstances allow.

Parents and guardians can aid this mission by following a schedule and creating a daily routine.

To keep their mind focused on learning, he encourages designating a spot in the house away from the television and other distractions where the students can perform their classwork and connect with their

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

Dr. Ha fed h Az a i ez , D onna ISD Sup e rin ten den t

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WORKING TOGETHER

Workforce and Educators Collaborate to Fill in the Gaps

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b y D a nya Per ez

Driving through the Rio Grande Valley, growth is evident not only in the number of businesses that its residents have started over the years, but also in the number of outof-town companies that have found a home in the Valley.

Having outside companies settling in the region depends on the support of local leaders who may offer incentives to startups.

But a company’s ability to grow will also depend on the availability of a wide-ranging workforce, from those who hold college degrees to those who have mastered other skills via training and certificate programs.

Local colleges and universities play key roles in satisfying these workforce needs, and there’s a lot happening behind the scenes to create courses and programs while keeping training up to date.

“The way program development works is 20

that you are sitting down with industry and you are asking them one simple question: ‘What do you need?’” said Dr. Joe Fleishman, associate vice president of instruction for workforce training and continuing education at Texas Southmost College.

Seems simple enough, right? But it doesn’t end with coming up with a curriculum and filling a room with students. It also involves having the flexibility needed to change the course along the way to reflect how the industry is changing — such as being up to date with new software and new machinery.

Having industry representatives at the table is key for ensuring a program is developed with a full understanding of what skills the students need to have in order to get hired.

A workforce program is required to have an advisory board to fulfill this need, said Laura Salas, program chair for the architectural and engineering design technology program at South Texas College.

“They are the ones that advise us and tell us what they need in their workforce,” Salas said. “What we get from them is a wellrounded summary and we take that into our curriculum … we strategically choose the courses that best align with what the board tells us.”

Industry advisors play roles in the creation of short-term training offered at TCS in various areas like industrial scaffolding and insulation installation. They also advise in other certificate programs that could lead to college degrees, such as STC’s architectural and engineering offerings.

Many of these industry partners are the ones that end up hiring their graduates, so the need for up-to-date curriculum and knowledge of software and machinery is mutual.

“The evolution is inevitable simply because the tools that we use are computer related and software related,” said Hugo Avila, engineer and project manager at DBR Engineering Consultants Inc. “So going to these advisory meetings, we start talking about, ‘Hey, this software just came out … do the (students) that you produce know this?’”

Avila has been involved in STC’s advisory board for 20 years. The collaboration allows the college to look ahead at what companies are implementing, or planning to implement,

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these relationships with current and prospective companies allows students to enter a field knowing their investment in time and money will pay off with a job.

“What I would tell every person in the world is that everyone is a college student,” Fleishman said. “As a comprehensive community college, we acknowledge that some students are seeking a degree and others a career.”

Whether it is for a degree or a career program, it's in a company’s best interest to become involved in such advising and even internship programs with colleges, Avila said. This allows them to provide needed input while exposing the students to the field early on.

“It gives both parties the ability to feel each other out and say, ‘I like the way you work,’ and hopefully that leads to a good relationship to where they get hired,” Avila said. “By the same token, a student may go in there and say, ‘This is not the right industry for me.’’’

“The way program development works is that you are sitting down with industry and you are asking them one simple question: ‘What do you need?’”

D r. J oe F l e i s h m a n , associate v ic e presiden t of in stru ction for workf o rc e train in g an d con tin u in g edu cation a t Texas Sou th most Col l ege

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he said, and it pushes the company itself to be up to date on changes coming down the pipeline to inform the educators.

Another key aspect of the evolution of some programs is understanding that once students get into a specific path, they may want to continue their education beyond a certificate or training, Salas said.

“We had to take a step back and analyze our programs for those that want to continue beyond the workforce program,” she said.

“So we brought in intro classes that are fully transferable to any architectural program for a professional degree.”

Many students choose to transfer to local universities and seek degrees that allow them to grow within their current company, she said, and others may leave the Valley to gain those degrees. Even if they leave, many end up bringing that knowledge back to the Valley to start new businesses or fill open positions that they didn’t qualify for in the past.

Both Salas and Fleishman said building

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BEYOND THE DEGREE South Texas College Prepares Students for Future in Infrastructure

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by Jo sie M. B a r r er a your own design and think ‘wow, I designed that.’”

From planning to designing to building, civil engineering technicians assist civil engineers on projects and are critical during all stages of the process. Some of the skills required in this field of work include critical thinking, decision making, problem solving, math, and observation, among others.

As Granados looks back at the moment she initially enrolled at STC, she realizes the program has a special place in her heart. “I really fell in love with it,” she said. “It was rewarding.”

With professors who have been there to guide her every step of the way, she feels fully prepared for the job she currently has.

In addition to equipping them with the tools to become successful beyond the program, STC aims to encourage women to enroll in male-dominated programs.

“Being a woman 20 years ago in this type of field was a bit challenging,” Salas said. “Now, there is a lot of support and a lot of teamwork and it is something that we need to continue to provide for our students because they are the ones that are going to move our community forward.”

According to the 2020-21 STC Catalog, a high percentage of the current technical and managerial positions in the industry are occupied by the engineers.

According to a 2019 study by Society of Women, only 13 percent of those engineers are women.

Though she acknowledges the reality of the statistics in place, Granados knows there is room for improvement.

Times are changing and education is, too. She firmly believes that anyone can pursue a career in engineering, no matter what stigmas there might be.

The next time you go for a drive around town, pay attention to the landscape. All around us, structures line the roads that we drive every day. Most of us don’t give the roads or buildings a second thought, but through the eyes of a civil engineering technician, the entire world looks different.

Civil engineering is a discipline that tackles several aspects of manmade structures like buildings, roads, canals, and others. From the initial design concept to the planning and construction, this is a field that oversees the framework that eventually comes to life in our immediate infrastructure.

Laura Salas, architectural and engineering design technology program chair at South Texas College, shares the two specialties in this program — architectural and visual technology or architectural and civil engineering technology.

“We’ve really invested and made a commitment to our students and to our local community,” Salas said. “We want to train our students so that they become pioneers in these fields, making it easier for them to market their projects.”

Students who complete this program can expect to work anywhere related to the architectural engineering construction industry: architectural firms, engineering firms, and even construction firms.

STC student and civil engineering technician Connie Granados recalls her experience throughout the Architectural & Engineering Technology (AEDT) program, admitting that it has felt surreal at times.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think ‘I’m going to design a building,’” Granados said. “You can walk into

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“Nobody should say you can’t do this or that — ultimately it’s your decision. I think women have as good of an opportunity as men do — we’re equal in what we do. I highly recommend women go and try this program.”

Con n ie Gr a na do s, S o uth Texas Co lle ge s tud e nt and Ci v i l E ngi nee r in g Te c h n ic ia n

“I have really learned to appreciate the AEDT program because you don’t see a lot of women in the field,” Granados said. “If you decide you want to pursue a career in drafting, engineering, architecture, I think [STC] is a great start.

“Nobody should say you can’t do this or that — ultimately, it’s your decision,” she added. “I think women have as good of an opportunity as men do — we’re equal in what we do. I highly recommend women go and try this program.”

There are many areas of focus when it comes to the AEDT program offered at STC. Civil Engineering Technology falls under the umbrella of an Associate of Science degree. This degree presents students with the opportunity to enroll in a core curriculum consisting of general education with an emphasis on civil engineering, preparing them for a brighter future.

POSSIBLE ENGINEERING CAREER PATHWAYS UPON COMPLETION OF SEQUENCE OFFERED AT STC: • Aerospace Engineering • Agriculture Engineering SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

• Bioengineering • Chemical Engineering • Civil Engineering • Computer Engineering • Electrical Engineering • Environmental Engineering • Industrial Engineering • Manufacturing Engineering • Mechanical Engineering • Nuclear Engineering • Petroleum Engineering • Radiological Health Engineering

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Learn more about this program and other career paths at South Texas College by visiting https://catalog. southtexascollege.edu/.

Funding has been provided through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board with funds received from the Carl D. Perkins Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century (Perkins V) Act of 2018

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INSPIRED TO OVERCOME Shattering Stereotypes Came with the Job for These Brownsville ISD Administrators

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Perseverance, fearlessness, and flexibility are only some of the traits that helped two recently hired educators achieve leadership positions at Brownsville ISD. Dr. Nereida Cantu, deputy superintendent of business and operations, and Dr. Anysia Treviño, deputy superintendent of curriculum and instruction and human resources, joined the district within the past year. While the women faced hurdles in their journey, they say it was their ability to welcome challenges and continue learning that brought them to where they are right now.

Higher education achievement wasn’t always expected, or even allowed, for many women growing up in the Rio Grande Valley. Cultural expectations often placed women at home raising families rather than pursuing degrees and work opportunities.

Such was the experience of Cantu, who grew up in a family of nine children with a father who did not believe in higher education. But Cantu wasn’t ready to give up on that dream, so she recruited her sister to join her in hopes of putting her father’s concerns at ease.

“At the time, they thought women got married, had babies, and that was their role,” Cantu recalled. “(My father) thought college was all drugs and promiscuity and that it was all bad. So I had to convince my oldest sister to come to college with me.”

Cantu began seeking an education degree, following

the footsteps of former teachers she admired.

For Treviño, college was also a must. While there were several educators in her family, she enrolled in a business degree path, thinking her math skills would be better suited for it. After a few courses in business and finance, she realized that wasn’t for her.

“I then went into education and I recognized immediately that this is where I was meant to be,” Treviño said. “It’s not a job. It’s something that I really feel I was called to do.”

Both Cantu and Treviño had seen the impact of education in their own lives and wanted to help others reach their own goals.

After college, both of them began their careers as teachers, a job they described as rewarding and fulfilling, as they get to see their efforts pay off in many ways. But the job didn’t only demand learning from students, but from them as educators, as well.

Their inquisitive minds and desire to keep learning opened the doors to be considered for new positions early in their careers. While they were up to the challenge, they also saw others who doubted their abilities based on their gender, a notion that didn’t totally surprise them.

“I didn’t find it difficult being in the classroom as a female,” Treviño said. “But I would find it difficult to get higher-level positions as a female.”

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to get my master’s.”

Now, both educators agree that there is still much work to be done in order to provide women with the same opportunities as men. They continue to share a passion for their work that doesn’t allow them to get discouraged by these instances.

It is that passion for education that they say has helped them get to the administrative roles they now hold at Brownsville ISD. But every opportunity along the way has come to allow them to grow personally and open doors for future generations who may want to pursue administrative roles.

“As a Hispanic woman who I feel has made it, I feel like I have an ethical and a moral obligation to send the elevator back down and bring other people up,” Treviño said.

There are still plenty of positions today that are male-dominated, something Cantu said she’d like to see change.

“I would like to see more women in the superintendent position,” Cantu said. “We are seeing a shift in politics and I would like to continue to see that. We have little girls looking up at us and we want them to be able to say, ‘I want to do that.’”

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Treviño knew she would have to fight harder than many men with similar, or even less, experience to be considered for leadership roles. She also knew she would be judged or interpreted in a different light as male counterparts vying for the same positions.

“Women are just sometimes overlooked, or our passion is sometimes seen as a negative,” she said. “I think now we are making a dent, but not as fast as we should.”

Cantu also encountered similar stereotypes in her path — what she recalls as a mentality of “males can do better at leading and being a disciplinary.” But her way around that was not to focus on the promotions and let her work speak for itself.

“It was a challenge, but I saw it as, ‘let me show you that I can do it, and I can do it better,’” Cantu said.

She recalled very early in her teaching career coming up to a principal with an idea about consolidating reports to make departments communicate more and being hit with an, “if you want to be an administrator, you have to go to school and become an administrator.”

“He was so offended with my recommendation,” Cantu said. “But that inspired me to go into administration. I signed up the next semester and went as a night student

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Dr. N e r e i d a C a n t u , depu ty su perin ten den t of bu sin ess an d operation s

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Dr. A nysia Tr evi ño, d e p uty s up e r i nte nde nt of c u r r ic u l u m and i ns tr ucti on and hum an r e s our ces

B U S I N E S S ARTICLE PROVIDED BY

Sergio Contreras President/CEO RGV Partnership

We are the

RIO GRANDE VALLEY to be mindful of others — social distance, wash your hands, wear a mask, and shop local.

It is heartbreaking to see that the virus is killing our friends, neighbors, and family members. The virus is also having a devastating impact on our economy.

Fortunately, although not easily, a lot of our residents are also overcoming the virus.

By working together and protecting each other, we can overcome these difficult and challenging times. Be reminded of what is important — family, faith/place of worship, health, employment, neighbors, and the strength of our community.

Vibrant energy encompasses our region, which is composed of approximately 1.5 million residents. That includes about 600,000 individuals under the age of 25.

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The entire Rio Grande Valley has been up against numerous obstacles recently. Even though we face uncertainty and danger on a daily basis, our front-line responders are working through extreme measures to keep us all safe and healthy — a reminder that our fourcounty region is driven by the courage and strength of our very own residents.

As we navigate through our fight against COVID-19, we simultaneously rolled up our sleeves to take on the aftermath left by Hurricane Hanna in late July. Our utility crews worked tirelessly to restore our power, water, internet, and gas. We are thankful for their commitment and passion for the RGV. As the Rio Grande Valley continues to face challenges that are beyond our control, we would like to remind you

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We need to continue to band together and protect each other to overcome these difficult and challenging times.

local chambers of commerce and economic development corporations and ask how they are working to provide opportunities under the new USMCA agreement.

We

have

also

seen

that

renewable

energy continues to grow in the RGV, with investments in wind farms across the region and liquified natural gas facilities at the Port of Brownsville. The Port of Brownsville brings

We Understand Commitment

$3 billion in total Texas economic results and creates nearly 51,500 jobs.

Wind farm projects will bring more than $1 billion in investments to the Rio Grande Valley.

Energy projects like NextDecade Rio Grande LNG, Texas LNG, and Annova LNG combine the regions strong energy sector; three

proposed

LNG

projects

are You can rely on Edward Jones for one-on-one attention, our quality-focused investment philosophy and straignt talk about your financial needs.

forecasted to bring 6,300 jobs to our region during the construction phase and add approximately 515 permanent jobs with an average salary of $70,000 and investment totaling $38.75 billion.

The RGV is unlike any other place in the Lone Star State. Outdoor recreation, nature,

To learn more, call today.

ecotourism, hunting, World Birding Centers, and National Wildlife Refuge destinations with interconnected bicycle trials are all in our backyard for us to enjoy safely!

www.edwardjones.com

We need to continue to band together

Member SIPC

and protect each other to overcome these

essential workers, and elected officials who are working hard to keep us safe and helping us drive our economy.

And do not forget to use your voice by voting and be counted in the U.S. Census!

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find ways to thank our heroes in health care,

4500 N 10th St Suite 40 Mcallen, TX 78504 956-630-0241

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Leonardo F Chang

difficult and challenging times. Continue to

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

the

MKD-8652B-A

Banding together will provide us the opportunity to foster a safe place for our children and grandparents.

The grit and drive of our small business owners, entrepreneurs, and corporate partners — along with the support of our local, state, and federal officials — will ensure that we overcome the current crisis.

We remind you to prepare yourself with the skills to adapt to a new economy and take advantage of the evolving opportunities in economic development — right here in the RGV. Be reminded that prior to the pandemic, communities across the region were rated high on entrepreneurship — best cities for retail workers, best cities for early retirement with multiple sites to visit for attraction, entertainment, shopping, and outdoor living.

As our lifestyles are altered to navigate through the pandemic, we remind you of local businesses — shop local.

Conduct business with your local auto dealership for a new or used car and auto repairs, support local restaurants, and do business with local vendors.

The region has contributed significantly to the tremendous increase in commerce across the U.S.-Mexico border, averaging more than $140 million in goods and services per day, with over $51 billion dollars of commercial trade per year flowing across 13 land ports of entry.

The implementation of the U.S.-MexicoCanada agreement brings certainty to international trade, increasing investment opportunities in our region to the current $259 billion in trade among Texas, Mexico, and Canada. Engage, support, and call your

B U S I N E S S ARTICLE PROVIDED BY

Bill Martin, CFP® Vice President, Investments 1845 Capital of Raymond James, 1400 N. McColl Road, Suite 101 | McAllen 956-331-2777

CONNECT THROUGH PHILANTHROPY Making charitable giving a family affair can provide opportunities to connect with younger generations and communicate values and ideals. When a philanthropic mission is shared among your family, it provides a forum for communication and sharpened decision-making in a situation where the money is going to others and there is no personal interest at stake. Donor-advised funds and private foundations can be effective vehicles for this type of endeavor. Charitable remainder trusts (CRTs) can also help if you wish to give assets to charity in order to leave a smaller inheritance.

TALK TO YOUR HEIRS ABOUT YOUR VISION Many squandered inheritances can be traced back to a root cause — poor communication. In nearly 60 percent of boom-and-bust inheritance cases researched by the Williams Group, trust and communication breakdown among family members played the largest role.

To help prevent a communication breakdown, consider sharing history, values, and a vision for the future of your family. This can be done in person at a family gathering or through a written statement, also known as an ethical will or legacy letter. With a common purpose and shared story, your family stands a better chance of preserving assets for future generations.

LEVERAGE A PROFESSIONAL’S PERSPECTIVE The Williams Group research points to a failure to properly prepare heirs as another cause of lost inheritance, affecting about 25 percent of the cases studied. Your financial advisor can play a role in educating you and your family about inheritance, as well as wealth management and its important principles.

Creating a lasting legacy is neither easy nor impossible — the difficulty lies in the details. Finding the tools and resources that will benefit your family and situation can help make the difference between a squandered fortune and an inheritance that lasts generations.

BUILDING WEALTH

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Tips for Creating an Inheritance That Lasts Generations

ESTATE AND GIVING Preparing your heirs for sudden wealth can help prevent unwise spending.

If you have wealth to transfer, you may worry about the sometimes adverse effect of sudden wealth and the squandering of assets within a generation.

There is a good reason to be concerned: 70 percent of family money disappears by the second generation, and 90 percent by the third generation, according to the Williams Group wealth consultancy. The cautionary tales of families like the Vanderbilts also feed into this worry.

The result? Around 60 percent of parents think their children aren’t prepared to receive a large inheritance, a study by U.S. Trust shows.

If you’re in this position, you have a number of options to help ensure your legacy lasts.

CONSIDER TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A TRUST Trusts can help eliminate some of the guessing game of where money might end up while allowing you to dictate how and when your assets are distributed after you die.

For individuals with relatively young heirs, age provisions that dole out trust income to beneficiaries only when they’ve reached certain ages can be beneficial. A common threshold for distribution is reaching age 25 or 30. Generation-skipping trusts are another helpful vehicle. In some cases, this type of trust can allow you to transfer money tax-free to your grandchildren or great grandchildren.

Raymond James is not affiliated with the Williams Group. © 2020 Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/ SIPC. © 2020 Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment products are: not deposits, not FDIC/NCUA insured, not insured by any government agency, not bank guaranteed, subject to risk and may lose value.

Raymond James® is a registered trademark of Raymond James Financial, Inc. 20-GWS-0295 TA 5/20 Raymond James advisors do not render advise on tax or legal matters. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.

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FROM A COLD ONE TO A COLD BREW Veteran-Owned Businesses Popping Up Throughout the Valley

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by Ja s o n G a r z a “There are many benefits to hiring a veteran in any job field,” former U.S. Special Intelligence Analyst Adam "Sarge" Shidler said.

“99 times out of 100, a veteran will have to put in more effort in doing something, but the output they’ll have will ultimately be greater,” he explained. “We’re accustomed to high demand, life and death situations. If you put us in something else, we will put that type of effort back into it.”

As a U.S. Special Intelligence analyst, Shidler dealt with drones and satellites daily.

“It had nothing to do with operating a business,” Shidler recalled. “The only thing it prepared me for was operating with people and operating in life and death situations.”

Shidler, 37, is the owner of Weslaco Daily Grind, a cafe that has been open for the last three years in Weslaco’s downtown area.

Schidler opened up Daily Grind after years

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5x5 and Weslaco Daily Grind are part of the Veteran Owned Business Directory, a network directory of small, medium, and large businesses owned by veterans, servicedisabled veterans, active-duty military members, reservists, and military spouses.

To get his business off the ground, Rice turned to the city of Mission for help, which directed him to programs that were part of the city’s economic development corporation and to the CEED building, where 5x5 is currently housed.

“We would not have been here without them and their guidance and support,” Rice recalled. “We do have a lot of veterans reaching out to us wanting to start their own business and asking us for advice, so we tell them the same thing. The military gave you so much to hone in your leadership skills and drive you to always push yourself. Capitalize on that and push it.”

To get his business started, Shidler got help from the UTRGV Veteran’s Outreach Center.

“That was the greatest resource. They got us in touch with the Small Business Administration, who got us under a business program, which provided us with workshops on how to conduct business,” he said. “It would’ve definitely been a whole lot harder to get started without that. These programs help you get a good foundation to help you open up your doors to prop you up to succeed, and then they let you operate on your own after that. After your business is established, it’s all about establishing relationships with the community — that’s the most important part of a business. Without it, the community will not support you. That’s what we spent the last three years building.”

Both men agreed that their military careers helped them succeed in business.

“Leading troops in combat and other soldiers makes the chaotic sense of leadership effective,” Rice said. “There’s a difference between being a leader and a manager — you learn that real quick.”

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of looking for a job after he was medically discharged from the military in 2012. He had been in the military since he was 20.

“I was looking for opportunities when I moved to the Valley, and briefly attended South Texas College and needed a job, but the only things available were welding or flipping burgers, so I went to the Air Force,” Schidler said. “After I was medically discharged, I went back to school for a semester and left because it was too expensive. I did a few odd jobs here and there and tried to find something that was meaningful again.”

After a few years, Schidler developed a hobby in brewing coffee and thought of a business opportunity.

“I’m very picky about the coffee I drink and wanted a good coffee shop that wasn’t a small operation,” he said. Weslaco Daily Grind prides itself in selling handcrafted coffee, teas, and pastries. It also hosts food trucks on its premises.

“I wanted a large place to have large groups of people coming in and found something in downtown Weslaco. We wanted to be part of the community — a reason for people to come down and gather here and be a staple in Weslaco,” Shidler said.

Shidler’s story is similar to that of George Rice, co-owner and director of operations of the Mission-based 5x5 Brewing Co. The brewery has been open since 2018, housed in the city of Mission’s Center for Education and Economic Development. All of its co-owners are military veterans, Rice said.

Rice signed up to the U.S. Army Infantry after 9/11, like many veterans prepared to serve their country, he said.

“Halfway through my military career, I decided I was tired of playing G.I. Joe and came back to South Texas, finished college, and after working, I now have this brewery,” Rice said. “I want to show that veterans don't have to be victims of professions. Their best days are still ahead of them, not behind them, so I wanted to show that they can succeed in the business world.”

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COLLABORATING ON OUR FUTURE Harlingen Entities Work Together to Create Stronger Workforce

The economy in the Rio Grande Valley is directly impacted by its community. When several different organizations come together and work toward a common goal, they are able to see the results firsthand in the workforce.

This is the case with the partnership between Texas State Technical College-Harlingen, Workforce Solutions Cameron, Harlingen Economic Development Corporation, and Boggus Ford Harlingen. With direct funding from Harlingen EDC, support from Cameron Workforce, and an internship program offered at Boggus, students at TSTC benefit from continuing their education in Harlingen.

Creating a stronger, skilled workforce is a task of many moving parts. Richard Mesquias, senior field development

officer at TSTC, is proud to be part of an education program that makes a difference in the lives of local students. He understands the importance of updated technology in the programs being offered today.

“Back in the day, you could learn to be a mechanic at home, but the way cars are built these days, you need a better understanding of the electrical work,” he said. “Our program at TSTC offers an education with advanced technology that makes students more likely to land jobs in this field in the RGV.” The auto collision repair training program at TSTC covers many areas of focus, including aluminum welding — something that is very prevalent in more current models of automobiles. As technology evolves, so should education. Having programs like these is essential to keeping the local economy running.

Pat Hobbs, executive director of Workforce Solutions Cameron, emphasized the importance of building a workforce in the economic development area that not only

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“My experience at Boggus Ford has been great — I’ve learned a lot there,” Rocha said. “The automotive program at TSTC has the latest technology, such as wheel alignments, aluminum welding, auto collision interactive technology board. It has everything I need in order to be better prepared and succeed in the industry.”

Garza stresses the importance of supporting programs generated by TSTC to help get our workforce ready and to ensure that our local employers have the workforce they need.

“I think it’s important that the Texas Workforce Commission continues to work with the local workforce boards in terms of bringing the monies down to this level so that our local workforce can get the skills they need and local employers will continue to not only be profitable, but efficient, as well,” he said.

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attracts people to come to the area but also helps locals want to stay. When students decide to stay and continue their education here, it boosts the local economy.

“Forty years ago, the landscape of the workforce was different,” Hobbs said. “If you got a bachelor’s degree in almost anything, you could probably find a job. Now, the emphasis is on skilled trades.”

Workforce Solutions Cameron and Harlingen EDC are major players in the funding aspect of programs being offered at TSTC. Together, they are securing a skilled workforce that in turn provides local businesses with talent.

“We are all trying to work together to rebuild our workforce and assist businesses to upgrade to higher level skills and pay better wages so our kids will stay here,” Hobbs said. “They want to stay here, and the first time a job becomes available in their path, they will come back — but they shouldn’t have to leave in the first place.”

Along with receiving funding for the programs, Mesquias sought other avenues of assistance. Jacob Boggus, general manager of Boggus Ford in Harlingen, initiated the Boggus Ford Scholarship Fund as well as an internship program for students enrolled in the automotive program at TSTC. Boggus Ford plays a huge role in the direct correlation between education and the workforce. Boggus hires many graduates from the automotive program, as they are fully equipped to work on the machinery found at the dealership.

“When the students consider a career path, they look at a program that's going to offer them not only the training in that industry, but something that offers them real-world training, too,” Boggus said. “Because the value in that is going to exceed any type of textbook training.”

Rather than hiring an entire crew that consists of people with specific skill sets such as tire rotation or electrical work, employers can benefit from hiring individuals who have gone through this program at TSTC. This ensures they are onboarding an employee that has been exposed to all aspects of the mechanics when it comes to autobody.

“This program offered at TSTC fits in line in terms of what we’re doing such as attracting manufacturers in the automotive sector,” said Raudel Garza, CEO of Harlingen Economic and Development Corporation.

TSTC student Rey Rocha shares the impact the program and internship have had on his life.

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Mission EDC Provides Local Residents with Additional Eatery Options b y Jo s i e M. B a r r e r a | p h ot os p r ov i d e d

Being with the Mission EDC for over 16 years, Daniel Silva has certainly seen the city grow — both in population and in opportunities for business owners.

Upon becoming the CEO of Mission EDC in December 2018, Silva embarked on a mission to bring a savory attraction to the City of Mission. This latest venture is something a lot of residents can get onboard with: Mission Food Park.

“Food truck parks are innovative — they definitely fill a niche,” Silva said. “We project that there is going to be

a lot of interest in a food park. The past times that 5x5 Brewing Co. has had events with food trucks here, there’s been a great outcome.”

Mission EDC has always been supportive of entrepreneurs and created their Ruby Red Venture Program specifically to be that relief. Their ultimate goal is to continue to grow a tight-knit community within the CEED building.

“We wanted to provide an opportunity for a location for those who are trying to grow,” Silva said. By providing

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“Food truck parks are innovative — they definitely fill a niche. We project that there is going to be a lot of interest in a food park. The past times that 5x5 Brewery has had events with food trucks here, there’s been a great outcome.”

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said. “People were left without electricity for days and restaurants were slammed. A food park like this definitely provides the community with additional options.”

Mission Food Park has plenty of open seating areas available at 5x5 Brewery and Jitterz on Bryan, which are looking to expand hours of operation. People can comfortably enjoy food from their favorite food trucks while physically distancing themselves from others.

“We just want to provide a space people can come hang out at and enjoy,” he said. “I think having a variety of food to choose from is a huge perk — there’s something for everyone.”

Silva anticipates a positive outcome as the food park is equipped with amenities like water and enough plugs for 10 food trucks as well as generators for any additional trucks during events. The food park will provide individuals with a family-friendly atmosphere that consists of live music and games, such as cornhole and pickleball.

In the past, 5x5 Brewing Co. has partnered with QweenieRGV, another food truck available at Mission Food Park, for events like Brews & Bends Beer Yoga hosted by Yoga with Ane. Guests were able to participate in a yoga session led by yoga instructor Ane Rodriguez Zamorano then enjoy brews and hotdogs afterward.

Mission Food Park is located at 801 N. Bryan Road in Mission on the north side of the CEED building and is expected to open around late summer/early fall 2020.

Food trucks interested in reserving a spot at Mission Food Park may do so for a daily rental of $99 or monthly rentals starting at $450 a month.

For more information on Mission Food Park and details on reserving your spot, visit missionedc.com or email Daniel Silva at dsilva@missionedc.org.

businesses with a location opportunity with no overhead, they are able to do just that.

The CEED building and Mission EDC has been flexible when it comes to providing food trucks space to operate.

The extent of this hospitality and support has not gone unnoticed by Jerry Leal, owner of Pineapple Ninjaz and co-owner of one of his latest projects, Taco Geeks, which highlights regional foods — tacos, elotes, nachos, and aguas frescas.

When Leal discovered the plans in place by Mission EDC, he took the opportunity and has no regrets about choosing the CEED building to house his innovative food trucks. They’ve allowed him the opportunity to be able to train staff, store equipment, and launch his businesses.

“With the city being so supportive and organized, it’s a little difficult to not choose Mission,” he said. “If it weren’t for the support of the CEED building and Mission EDC, we wouldn’t be where we are now.”

Just as it has seen success with the Ruby Red Ventures program — which provides entrepreneurs with opportunities to start a business — Mission EDC aims to provide its community with a food park they’ll enjoy.

Mission Food Park would provide solutions to many of the challenges we are currently faced with, one of them being closed dine-in areas at many restaurants. Having the option to stop by, order food, and eat it al fresco offers a level of safety that restaurants with four walls and a roof cannot currently provide.

Additionally, food trucks provide an extra level of convenience during an emergency such as natural disasters or global pandemics.

“With COVID and the recent aftermath of Hurricane Hanna, people are anxious to get out of the house,” Silva

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BUSINESS OWNER LAUNCHES MINI DONUT CRAZE

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for years, Jurkin’s wife, Rebecca Garcia-Jurkin, experienced the sweet taste of success because of hard work firsthand.

Every morning, Jurkin made the 45-minute commute to train at his newfound gym, and every morning, he drove past the location that would eventually become Yummy’s without even realizing it.

The narrow space next to Tacos Kissi on 10th Street just north of Business 83 was the perfect spot, and so it became Yummy’s new home.

His wife encouraged him to find a job, but going from playing basketball professionally, Jurkin found his job search to be a challenge.

As he searched, he drove for different thirdparty delivery services and assisted his wife at her family’s business, Blanquita’s Mexican Restaurant, in Harlingen.

“I was just looking for something part time,” he said. “Something that would allow me to come and go dependent on the basketball season.”

But no such luck ensued.

Traveling for basketball, he spent a lot of time in airports, and always gravitated towards candy shops full of vibrant colors and sweets. Jurkin dreamt of a place people could come in for a sweet, refreshing snack while hanging out in a relaxed environment.

“In Sudan, we didn’t have a lot of sweets,” he recalled. “So I figured, if I have my own candy shop, I’ll be surrounded by candy all day.”

Eventually, he and Garcia-Jurkin decided that he would open up his own place. Jurkin figured he could start something up and train someone to run it if and when he went away to play again.

They had the idea to create a mini donut and ice cream shop to

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The Rio Grande Valley is known for its rich blend of cultures thanks to its location on the U.S.-Mexico border. Two countries, two languages, but a heart that lives on both sides of the river. What brings us all together is food. Everyone eats — and we eat a lot here!

In addition to enjoying traditional, savory flavors, the majority of the Valley has a sweet tooth. Local business Yummy’s Mini Donuts and Ice Cream has satisfied that craving by adding loads of sweetness to our palate in the short time that it’s been open.

Yummy’s owner Peter Jurkin grew up in Sudan, long before coming to the RGV in 2019. Standing at 7 feet tall, well over the average height in the Valley, Jurkin was able to compete as a college and professional basketball player in the U.S., traveling around the world for many years.

Before coming to the RGV, he lived in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was no stranger to moving, but this time he wasn’t playing basketball anymore. After the first signs of the coronavirus outbreak, professional basketball was no longer a viable option, and Jurkin had to improvise.

As Jurkin settled into his new life in Harlingen, he searched for a place that would help him feel at home — a gym.

After finding Pistokache Training Facility in McAllen while searching online, he made his way over from the Lower Valley. He felt at home the minute he stepped in the door for the first time since he moved.

Settling into his new surroundings, Jurkin was anxious to find a job — with no immediate luck.

Having worked in her family’s restaurant

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b y N a th a ni el Ma ta a nd Jos i e M . B a r r e r a | p h ot os b y J a m e s H or d

serve up treats to cater to those with a sweet tooth, so he expanded on that thought after consulting with his mother.

Digging into memories from his adolescence, Jurkin experimented with his mother’s recipes near and dear to his heart.

“The mini donuts are not my idea, they’re my mother’s idea,” he said. “She has been making those same donuts from her house and would do catering. I wanted them to be sold in a shop somewhere, but for her, she said it’s too much work, and she didn’t want to be working every day. It’s 24/7 kind of work.”

Ironically, Jurkin was not a fan of donuts. He was more focused on the ice cream component of the shop. His mother taught him how to make the donuts.

He followed her recipe and learned how to operate the mini donut machine.

Upon mastering the mini donut flavor and texture, the next order of business was presentation.

Jurkin’s mother advised him on decorating the donuts with pops of color and tasty glaze, and his imagination ran wild. This day and age, the more visually appealing a dessert is, the more likely people are going to take a photo and share it on social media.

He incorporated nostalgia and color into his topping options, like Fruity Pebbles, M&M’s, and colorful sprinkles, along with walnuts, almonds to

complement the Nutella, peanut butter, and original glazes. Powdered sugar and cinnamon sugar were also added, and the overall look was locked in.

Next was the name. Jurkin had his mind set on choosing something simple that kids would remember. And when he and Garcia-Jurkin were driving, a popular song started playing on the radio and inspired the shop’s name.

Despite not being a Valley native, Jurkin has embraced Valley culture and left his own mark on it since coming here.

He planned his opening for March of 2020, but he found himself head-to-head with the economic impact of COVID-19. Upon opening Yummy’s doors, the couple was forced to shut almost immediately.

With the stay-at-home orders issued and the collective anxiety of contracting and spreading the virus, it was a slow start for them.

Every day, Jurkin would wake up, train in McAllen, head back to Harlingen and deliver for Blanquita’s from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., then head back to McAllen and open Yummy’s from 6 to 9 p.m.

“For the first couple of weeks, it was just me, myself, and Netflix,” he said. It was during this downtime that he created the memorably colorful mural inside the shop.

The Jurkins knew that they needed to do something different because simply promoting the donuts and ice cream wasn’t enough — delicious and colorful as they are.

“We were open, but people were not coming,”

“To see people really care and come out and show their support. It’s telling us we’re not here alone. We’re all together.”

Peter Jur ki n , Yum m y’s o w ne r

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must be pranking me and paying people to stand outside so they could see me panic.” Although he was tempted to, he did not panic.

He did everything he could to keep the line moving while working the shop alone — taking each order and then proceeding to top one mini donut topping at a time prior to closing out each tab. And every time he looked up, Jurkin noticed the line growing.

“It was something that we didn’t even prepare for at all,” Jurkin said. “We got stormed by all the people and we ran out of donuts. We weren’t prepared to have that many people at one time.

Seeing all that support was a blessing.”

Thankfully, the surge in customers came hand in hand with the opportunity to hire and train a crew, and things started to look up despite the rough start.

By early August, Jurkin’s mother had sent over new flavors that would add more variety to the menu. Glazes are also now available in lemon, vanilla, raspberry, and marshmallow.

By mid-August, Yummy’s launched their latest addition to the menu — waffles.

All three menu items — mini donuts, ice cream, and waffles — can be customized with any variety of toppings imaginable.

Yummy’s now boasts over 7,000 followers on Instagram.

Jurkin summed up the ups and downs of the past few months in a heartfelt statement: “To see people really care and come out and show their support,” Jurkin said. “It’s telling us we’re not here alone. We’re all together.”

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he recalled.

After strategizing and bouncing ideas back and forth, his wife told him that he needed to show his customers who was behind the treats in order to gain interest in the sweet shop.

Jurkin was skeptical at first, but as soon as he started posting photos of himself inside Yummy’s, the comments and customers started pouring in. “People starting commenting, ‘what made you move down here?’” he laughed, “Like, ‘what are you doing here?’” “[The] beginning was tough because no one had even heard about the place,” he said. But it didn’t take long for a mini-donut craze to catch on thanks to the social media posts. People’s curiosity about Jurkin himself brought customers to Yummy’s, but the donuts are what made them keep coming back.

Each box of Yummy’s mini, bite-sized donuts is specially decorated to the customer’s liking with crumbles and glazes to top them off. The Jurkin’s parcels of sweets are Instagram-worthy from every angle.

Local Valley food vlogger Ismael Martinez of “Fork It” even featured the donuts in one of his Instagram posts, joking that he brought a box of donuts home and his kids ate them so fast that he barely got to eat one in time.

At one point in early June, Jurkin looked up from topping donuts and noticed the line of customers curving outside in the parking lot.

He was stunned. And working alone.

He thought to himself, “this has to be a joke — somebody

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B U S I N E S S ARTICLE PROVIDED BY

Leonardo F. Chang Financial Advisor Edward Jones 4500 N. 10th St., Suite 40 | McAllen 956-630-0241

FINANCIAL FOCUS

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When Facing Illness, Take Control of Finances

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the fear of becoming sick has lingered. But for people facing a serious, chronic illness, such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, or cancer, health concerns are an everyday matter. If you’re fortunate, you may never be afflicted with such maladies, but the future is unpredictable.

Going through these health challenges brings on physical and emotional concerns as well as financial burdens.

How can one prepare for this?

Essentially, you’ll need to consider four key areas: investments, insurance, legal arrangements, and taxes.

Let’s take a quick look at each of them: Investments: You’ll likely need to draw on your investments for at least some of the expenses associated with your illness. So within your portfolio, you may want to establish a special fund devoted entirely to these costs whether they be health care, modifications to your home, transportation, and so on. A financial professional can help you choose investments for this fund, as well as make recommendations for your overall investment strategy. Some of these may include techniques for boosting your income, such as adding investments that can provide an income stream that kicks in when you think your costs will rise.

Insurance: Depending on your health status, you may be able to collect Medicare earlier than the traditional starting point at age 65. Even so, you’ll likely need to supplement it with additional coverage. You may also want to look beyond health insurance. For example, you might be able to purchase a “chronic illness rider” that allows you to tap into life insurance benefits while you’re still alive, or you might consider adding a “long-term care

rider” to a life insurance policy. This rider offers financial benefits if you ever require daily care that you can’t provide for yourself. Additionally, some foundations, states, and drug companies offer programs that can help pay for some costs that your insurance won’t cover.

Legal arrangements: If you haven’t already done so, you may want to establish the legal documents most appropriate for your situation, such as a durable power of attorney for finances. This particular one gives someone the authority to manage your financial affairs if you become temporarily incapacitated, possibly due to flareups of your chronic disease. Once you’ve recovered, you regain control of your financial decisions. You might also want to consider a healthcare proxy, which appoints an individual to make medical decisions for you if you can’t.

In creating or revising these documents, you’ll need to consult with your legal professional.

Taxes: You might qualify for Social Security disability payments, which, like other Social Security benefits, are taxable, so you’ll need to be aware of what you might owe.

But you might also be eligible for some tax breaks related to your condition. If you still itemize tax deductions, you may be able to deduct some medical expenses, as well as certain home improvements, such as wheelchair ramps, bathtub grab bars, motorized stairlifts, and so on.

Your tax advisor may have suggestions appropriate for your situation.

Considering how your illness will affect all aspects of your life, it is important to keep your finances in order.

Dealing with a chronic illness is never easy, but getting the help you need may reduce the financial stress on yourself and your loved ones.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial

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B U S I N E S S ARTICLE PROVIDED BY

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Insight on Fourth Quarter Housing Market By the time you read this, everything could have changed — the local residential housing market is on fire! If you were in the market to buy or sell a home during the second or third quarter, you know what I am talking about. The worldwide pandemic did not slow down the residential real estate market. Assuming you were a buyer during these times, I guarantee you experienced some frustrations — among these, the low inventory of available homes and the bidding wars that come with a seller’s market.

The mortgage industry offering record low interest rates encouraged buyers to purchase homes at a higher price point while staying in their ideal monthly payment range.

Coincidentally, we also saw a surge in home price appreciation. Scarcity is one of the main reasons home values increased. “Unless an increasing number of new homes are constructed, some buyers could miss out on the opportunity to purchase a home or have the opportunity delayed. In the meantime, prices show no signs of decreasing,” said Lawrence Yun, National Association of Realtors’ chief economist.

But let’s take a minute to read the first line again.

Mortgage rates and regulations change daily. As I was writing this article, I had a lunch meeting with some of my lender partners, Laura Garza and Joe Cuellar with Geneva Financial. We discussed some big news the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) had just announced. They will be imposing a .500 percent fee on all refinances sold to Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac (FHLMC) starting Sept. 1 due to economic uncertainty.

Although it might not sound like much, that is an estimated $1,400 extra in fees for the average consumer.

In a time where homeowners are taking advantage of the low interest rates to refinance for a lower monthly mortgage payment, it might seem counterintuitive.

It’s estimated that 4.1 million Americans sought out mortgage forbearance at the height of the pandemic and that number has decreased over time. The CARES Act provides protection for borrowers but not lenders.

Bankers and mortgage servicers continued to make payments to investors for mortgages sold in the secondary market. With money going out but less money coming in, current reserves might not be adequate to sustain the industry long term.

Cue the new imposed fees for refinancing. It resulted in immediate backlash from mortgage insiders. “To us, this only makes sense if FHFA is worried that Fannie and Freddie will see losses spike in the coming quarters as forbearance ends and borrowers have to resume making payments,” said Jaret Seiberg, an analyst with Cowen Washington Research Group. “This could be a way to shore up their capital, which reduces the risk that the enterprises would burn through their limited capital and require taxpayer assistance through the preferred capital lines.”

The new fee increase is only being applied to the refinancing of homes, but what is next? Could we see similar fees added to home purchases? Only time will tell. If you are looking to buy a home now, first get approved for a home loan. Once you have that preapproval, it is like having a check on hand. Hire a realtor that can guide you through the process.

What does the fourth quarter for 2020 hold? Most economists predict that low supply and high demand will continue to fuel home prices. Our local economy has always fared better than other metro areas. Builders are building, investors are flipping, and we continue to push for homeownership because homeownership supports the broader economy.

This article was provided by Real Estate Agent from Caza Group, references available upon request.

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RGV CompuTech Local IT Venture Streamlines Day-to-Day Business Operations

by Jo sie M. B a r r er a | p h o to s b y Wa l d o Pa l om a r e s their IT department was unable to troubleshoot and fix the problem.

Cynthia mentioned the problem to Garcia, and though he was unsure whether it was something he was able to solve, he was more than willing to give it a try.

Not only was he able to solve the problem, but he helped streamline their efforts in keeping track of their medical records on file. The rest was history. Eventually, word got around and Garcia became well known in surrounding clinics.

Garcia began doing business as Computer Solutions in

What began as an attempt to provide a one-time solution to a tech problem at a sleep lab has blossomed into a successful business for president and founder of RGV CompuTech Omar Garcia.

When Garcia was studying electronics engineering, his girlfriend at the time, Cynthia Garcia, was completing the clinical rotations portion of her physician’s assistant studies with a pulmonologist.

As the sleep lab in the clinic was being set up in Weslaco, troubleshooting at 3 a.m. became a challenge.

At the time, remote access was not very common, and

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2000 and eventually grew into RGV CompuTech in 2008.

“We basically become your go-to IT department and point of contact between third-party vendors,” Garcia said.

“I’ve always been mechanically inclined,” he added.

“When I was 8 years old, my mom had a mantel clock that I took apart because I wanted to see how it worked.” Since then, he’s moved onto more complex systems, including custom computer programs.

RGV CompuTech has garnered an interest in the medical field, but is open to assist lawyers and other centers of interest, as well. Something that sets them apart from other IT companies is that they are proactive rather than reactive.

Upon onboarding a new client, Garcia and his team install agents in the computers and run all of the updates necessary on the server side, ensuring the backups are working.

RGV CompuTech provides bi-weekly and monthly reports that allow the client to view the analytics of their system. Garcia will travel all over the Valley when needed, but about 98 percent of the work they do is remote.

One of the most common solutions Garcia provides clients with is efficiency. RGV CompuTech provides workflow solutions for companies, which in turn saves business owners time and money. In the past, he has assisted clinics in converting their paperwork by building custom computer programs that scan charts and configure everything with the servers and computers.

Other services that RGV CompuTech is well equipped

“I’ve always been mechanically inclined.

When I was 8 years old, my mom had a mantel clock that I took apart because I wanted to see how it worked.”

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to provide are managed IT services, data backup and recovery, VOIP services, cybersecurity services, cabling services, and overall computer solutions. Whether clients need simple hardware repair or complex, full-scale IT solutions, RGV CompuTech is able to help.

In this day and age, we rely on technology for virtually every facet of society’s functions. Day to day functions need protection from viruses and spyware as well as IT management and data management. Much of our lives are stored online, from credit card and banking info to photos, passwords, and other sensitive information, so having protective data recovery and backup is essential.

More important than the services offered is the integrity Garcia possesses. “As a small business owner myself, I know how important peace of mind is,” Garcia said.

RGV CompuTech strives to find solutions for all clients while providing them with the best customer service possible.

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presiden t an d fou n der of RGV CompuTech

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CONTACTLESS CULTURE Curbside Coffee and Closed Spaces

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b y N a th a ni e l M a t a | p h ot os p r ov i d e d Myself and my business partner were trying to figure out what's the best move for Grind,” Pinon said. “We were doing coffee bag deliveries and cold brew deliveries. We found a way to sell coffee to people without having to be in contact. That was the first strategic step that we took.”

The shop elevated their game as the situation continued, turning their webpage into a virtual register and offering online payments.

“Our second one was we added our curbside menu to our website so when people started using that, it was a big thing,” she said. “It was like, ‘hey, purchase through the website, it’s contactless payment’ and all we do is take it to the car and drop it off.”

These creative technological solutions don’t come instantly. It takes brainstorming and consulting to pull off something never done before at a business.

“It took a lot of backend work to figure out what to do and what the steps were to make it happen,” Pinon said.

“And it’s still evolving.”

As the pandemic continues, there are other businesses taking safety into their own hands — sometimes beyond the state regulations.

Chopstix Chinese and Vietnamese restaurant in Mission has had the dine-in portion of the store closed for months now. Customers who go inside for take-out are able to buy masks and hand sanitizer on the spot.

During this extended uncertainty, even wedding companies are trying to do their part with socially distant and sanitized ceremonies to the best of their abilities.

These are just further proof that the business and consumer community is in the same boat, trying to weather the same storm.

“We’re constantly trying to improve it. We know it’s going to be a while before we go back to normal,” Pinon said.

“As a business, we have the ability to open at 25 percent capacity. We still decided it’s best to shut down the dinein for the meantime to give our employees an extra layer of comfort. They’re knowing there’s not people taking off their mask in the establishment.”

Maryann Pinon is a co-owner of Grind Coffee Co. That means a lot of important choices and quick pivots have been her responsibility as local businesses navigate an unprecedented difficult time.

Local signifies a lot. Most of the time, it means a lot more than just making money off of your neighbors.

Being locally owned and operated comes with an added layer of closeness to the people an establishment serves, entertains, feeds, and employees.

“Essentially what we decided is we aren’t doing justice to our community and we aren't being authentic in actually caring about the community if we don’t take a very drastic measure, which would be to shut down the dining area completely,” Pinon said.

When operational decisions are made, especially during a pandemic, the ripples effects are something to think about.

Words like “curbside” and “contactless” have taken the food and service industry by storm, but it’s not something that comes easy and it’s impossible without proper planning.

Coffee shops aren’t built for sheltering or discouraging patrons from hanging out with friends or studying, but this has to be put on hold for the greater good, in Pinon’s opinion.

“It’s been really hard,” she admitted. “It’s not easy running a coffee shop where people can’t come out or do their homework. Recently, with Hurricane Hanna, people have been calling to try to connect if they didn’t have electricity.”

They have opened outdoor seating and even offered internet access to loyal customers who need to connect for a Zoom meeting or make calls.

Just steps away from Edinburg City Hall, UTRGV’s Edinburg Campus, and the Hidalgo County Courthouse, Grind had tough decisions to make when COVID cases reached the Rio Grande Valley.

Before COVID worsened from a handful of cases in March and April to a wave of illness in June and July, Grind was proactive about changes.

“What we decided as a crew was to close for two weeks.

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A Warm Welcome For Helping Hands McAllen Hotel Makes Nurses Feel at Home b y Jo s i e M. B a r r e r a | p h ot os p r ov i d e d

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Nestled on Second Street and Savannah Avenue in McAllen is a new, temporary home — a home that is nine stories high and well-known for handing out the warmest chocolate chip cookies to its guests upon arrival. A home that is currently housing the hands and hearts of nearly 200 nurses from all over the country. A home that serves as an oasis away from reality day in, day out.

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel is a hotel loved not only by guests but by locals, as well. Lately, their hospitality has exceeded all expectations, as their lobby is filled with a lot more than just warm cookies.

Wander through the halls at any given moment in late summer, and you would witness cartloads of snacks, coffee, and Girl Scout cookies — along with dozens of handwritten thank-you cards dropped off nearly every day.

When the pandemic struck the RGV in the summer of 2020, nurses from all over the country made their way into our community to assist our overwhelmed, overworked healthcare professionals as Valley hospitals reached capacity. Nearly 200 of these nurses were housed at the DoubleTree.

After learning about their newest guests, DoubleTree Suites Director of Sales & Marketing Andrea RodriguezCavazos called everyone at her disposal — from friends to community leaders to the mayor and city commissioners — and challenged them to come together and make sure our healthcare workers felt appreciated.

The first sign of appreciation was demonstrated

by Debi Chavez of Debi Lou Productions. She heard of Rodriguez’s mission and, shortly after, Miss South Texas Teen Angela Yvette posed for a photo with a homemade thank-you poster that was shared on social media platforms.

Rodriguez wanted to make the nurses feel more than just welcome. She wanted them to feel appreciated, and

so the Wall of Love and Gratitude was born.

Local tourism site Explore McAllen caught wind of the movement and shared that post on their page as well, encouraging others to volunteer and send any token of appreciation Rodriguez’s way. After this, many people joined the movement and did what they could to show their appreciation.

Rodriguez was ecstatic to see that the community has shown their support and love for our healthcare workers — not only for the ones visiting but our local heroes, too.

She even took on the task to organize a drive-by event where people could attend and cheer on the nurses as they returned to the hotel from their shift.

After being with DoubleTree for 17 years, hospitality runs through Rodriguez’s blood.

“Hospitality is all about making people feel like they’re home away from home,” she said, “It’s the best part of

community come together,” she said. “And there are so many people to thank for their efforts. Everything was greatly appreciated.”

Valley natives have purchased sweets from Bonhomia and other local restaurants, Chick-Fil-A and Stars donated $5 coupons, and Siempre Natural donated meals. People have donated masks, coffee, bags of snacks, and tangerines to show gratitude for the nurses.

If there’s a key takeaway Rodriguez has gathered from this experience, it’s that there is a silver lining in the times we are experiencing. Her goal was to bring the nurses joy after a long shift of being in the front lines of the pandemic, and the support she received to help garner that has been overwhelming.

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angles. “It’s been such an amazing thing to see the

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Rodriguez emphasizes that this all wouldn’t be possible without the support she’s received from all

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They’re Back!

Husband and Wife Doctors Promote Health and Prevention in Return to South Texas b y Amy Ca s e b i e r | p h ot os p r ov i d e d The Rio Grande Valley holds special memories and milestones for Dario Arango, MD, FACOG, and Maria C. Arango, MD. They spent about 25 years here, completing their medical residency training with South Texas Health System, establishing their solo practice, Arango Family and Industrial Clinic, raising their children, and enjoying the weather, food, and culture.

Now, after spending three years practicing medicine in Central Texas, they are returning to serve the RGV. “It’s one of those places that you carry with you in your

heart and you call home,” Dr. M. Arango explained.

The couple met at school in Monterey, Mexico, and decided to move to the United States following graduation.

In September, they will reopen their RGV practice through South Texas Health System Clinics. As their loyal following can attest, their patients can expect excellent patient care.

“We always believe in the saying, ‘treat others as you would like to be treated,’” Dr. D. Arango said. “We’re going to treat [patients] with professionalism, respect, compassion, understanding — and all with the highest level

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of medical care.”

A prompt and pleasant experience can help ease the stress of a doctor’s appointment, he added. And with doctors who empathize with the health challenges facing RGV residents, patients can also expect sound, actionable advice.

“The Valley has a lot of its own issues — a lot of them around food,” Dr. M. Arango said. Both doctors personally support diet and lifestyles that steer clear of consuming animal products. “We hope that we can help our community by bringing awareness.”

“We know it's hard to be compliant with food and understand patients are not always able to do so. They crave the food — we all do. The goal is for patients to try and control their medical problems with good habits,” Dr. D. Arango said.

The Arangos emphasize the power of treating patients’ whole health — their mind, body, and spirit, as one.

“We believe it’s very important that people get to know their bodies,” Dr. M. Arango said. “Your body will always tell you when it’s not balanced.”

She urges patients to pay attention to everything from sudden weight loss and new pain to changes in your mood or your senses. Even noticing small differences could indicate the early stages of more serious health issues, giving doctors the opportunity to start life-saving treatment as soon as possible.

“Let's say you're diagnosed with borderline diabetes,” Dr. M. Arango said. “You want to take care of it and make all the changes necessary in your lifestyle to avoid the comorbidities that will come with it. You have to see your body as a whole: ‘What are the changes I need to make so I can avoid more problems?’”

Dr. D. Arango recommends taking a few moments to examine a patient’s lifestyle in order to determine what needs to change. Are you eating processed foods? Are you exercising? Do you engage in habits like smoking, drugs, and drinking in excess? Find the areas you can fine-tune for greater health. For example, walking for 45 minutes a day five or six times a week is enough, he said. Or you can try shifting a diet centered around unhealthy food to a more natural diet of fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and legumes.

But perhaps one of the most important changes you can make for your health is the way you see yourself.

“If we think positive and we love ourselves, we are able to take better care of ourselves,” Dr. D. Arango said.

Dr. M. Arango agreed.

“We have to be good to ourselves,” she said. “We are our best friends and we only get one body. We have to take care of it.”

The same goes for how you support your own mental health and happiness. She encourages people to enjoy the relationships they share with friends and family, engage in hobbies, and complete community service projects.

“Serving others makes us feel very good, as does living life to the fullest,” she said. “We have to give our life some meaning.”

Learn more about the medical services available at Valley Care Clinics (transitioning into South Texas Health System Clinics) by visiting valleycareclinics.com.

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• Diabetes • Thyroid issues • High blood pressure • Heart problems • Elevated cholesterol • Obesity • Arthritis • Back pain • Depression • Anxiety • Infections • Kidney problems • Respiratory problems • Gastrointestinal problems

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Drs. Dario and Maria Arango pinpointed the illnesses they manage and treat most often in patients in this region. They include:

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H E A L T H

Adopting Healthy Habits A Vision-Board Approach

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by Ka r la A r r ed o nd o

Sometimes, the not-so-smooth flow of our everyday life begins taking its toll on us. Between juggling work, school, parenting, managing the house, and whatever else there may be in your unique equation, we are functioning under stress and leaving little to no room for healthy habits.

What are healthy habits? To put it simply, the Medical Dictionary defines a healthy habit as a behavior that is beneficial to one's physical or mental health, often linked to a high level of discipline and self-control. We choose healthy habits that help us perform optimally in our responsibilities and for our well-being. When we are functioning on autopilot, completing all the tasks in a mindless way to check off our mental list rather than being present as we engage in each task, we lose the opportunity to assess ourselves and adopt healthy habits.

Adopting healthy habits does not have to be a headache or yet another square to check off in your todo list. Occupational therapists are very skilled at helping their clients adopt healthy habits to improve, restore, or maintain a quality of life. To talk about how to effectively do this, Cynthya Cantu, OTR, shared her input and what works with her patients.

“Adopting a healthy habit requires change. For change to happen, it is important for us to understand the reason we want this change in our lives,” she said. “This can be as simple as, ‘because I feel mentally unsettled,’ or ‘because I'm constantly getting sick,’ or even ‘because I'm ready to

start on my new year's resolution!’ This reason will be the motivation that you will go back to if or when you start going back to your old habits. After finding this reason, set and write down a realistic goal.” Small, consistent changes make a difference in the long run. Start with one doable habit and add a new one every other week or every month — whatever works for you. As these add up, they make a huge difference in overall health.

Healthy habits can address different aspects of our lives such as rest, exercise, diet, organization, mental health, spirituality, and more. Whether you are trying to wake up earlier, de-stress, improve your diet, meditate regularly, or be more organized, the following tips can help you choose goals and stick to them.

MAKE IT VISUAL When you have your goal written down or drawn out in a place where you will see it frequently (like the bathroom mirror, window by the sink, or nightstand), your chances of completing that goal increase. If you can see your reflection while looking at your goals, even better.

According to psychologists, we are more likely to stick to our ideals when we become self-aware, as when we look at ourselves in a mirror. Motivational quotes and affirmations work wonders, too. On Post-It notes, write down quotes or affirmations to remind you of your goal such as, “I am in control of my actions,” “One day at a time,” “I am healthy in body and mind,” and place these in places you see throughout the day. Your mind is your best coach and cheerleader.

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BREAK IT DOWN So maybe your goal is big: You want to eat clean but up until now, pizza, chicken nuggets, and other frozen foods make up your menu. Break up your goal into doable objectives. “Ask yourself what is the smallest change you could make right now, where you are, with what you have?” Cantu said. “Setting a realistic goal would make it easier to achieve because it requires the least amount of effort. Last but not least, execute that goal and modify/ adapt as you go on your road to change.” For example, a new habit: to eat whole foods and zero packaged or processed foods by the end of two months. Great! Now we have some time to prepare for that huge change.

The first week, drop the pizza and add fresh, organic veggies to your grocery shopping list, and make it your objective to eat one serving of veggies a day. The next week, maintain that first objective and add a new one: drop the chicken nuggets and add organic chicken to your grocery list; now you get to cook chicken and fresh veggies for three meals a week (or what feels right for you). Each week you drop an unhealthy habit, and you add a new healthy one. See how they accumulate? Before you know it, you will have dropped most of those negative habits that were making you live in guilt and shame, you will feel better about yourself, and your health will have begun improving since day one. You will come across roadblocks, and even steps backward. Don’t dwell on these. Let it go. Tomorrow is a new day, and you pick up where you left off.

FIND YOUR TRIBE Find friends and groups of like-minded people. People who practice the kind of lifestyle habits you want to adopt will validate your efforts and inspire you to keep going. Also, knowing other people who have gone through their own journey of improving their habits will help you see that change is possible and attainable. Even in the current physical isolation practices, you can find

motivate you.

No matter what your lifestyle situation is right now and regardless of your age, change is possible. If you have identified habits that are not serving you and even be harming you, drop them. Habitual practices can be difficult to change when we have become accustomed to them, and our life fits our current practices.

Change can feel daunting and insurmountable, but in order to improve your wellbeing, it is important to adopt healthy habits. Healthy habits can encompass all aspects of your life, such as exercise, diet, rest, organization, spirituality, mental health, quality social connections, and more. No matter what aspect of your life needs tending to, sticking to small, doable changes that add up over time can help you achieve that big change you desire. Be consistent, be strong, and surround yourself with people who inspire and motivate you.

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tribe so you feel surrounded by like-minded people who

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habit your desire, there is likely a group for that. Find your

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groups online in social media. Whatever the lifestyle

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Racial Discrimination & Mental Health Impact on Black and Ethnic Minority Communities RACIAL DISCRIMINATION Racial discrimination is defined as any form of discrimination against individuals on the basis of their skin color or racial or ethnic origin. People engage in discriminatory behaviors when they refuse to do business with, socialize with, or share resources with people belonging to a specific racial or ethnic group. Around the globe, racial discrimination gives rise to a multitude of systemic barriers that negatively affect racial and ethnic minorities. In this way, racial discrimination in the

U.S. has led to unequal access to housing, education, and employment opportunities. Likewise, in the U.S., on average, individuals from ethnic minorities — and specifically Black individuals — are exposed to higher rates of crime, homicide, police harassment, and incarceration compared to the rest of the population.

Sadly, even today, many people of color often face the unconscious judgments of others. These unconscious judgments, also known as implicit biases, can range from being assumed to be a criminal, being treated as

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challenges and experiencing racial discrimination is further compounded by mental health disparities affecting individuals from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds.

A TAKE-HOME MESSAGE In our day, people are using their voices to take a stand against racism and racial discrimination in all its forms. The Black Lives Matter movement, a movement in reaction to the violence inflicted upon Black communities, has had protests and marches in all 50 states over the past months. As movements such as BLM gain traction, it is important that, as a society, we recognize that racism has served as a foundation for many of the nation’s institutions on a broader scale and attempt to better understand the negative effects of racism on an individual scale. In particular, we must tend to the mental health needs of racial and ethnic minorities in our country.

By raising awareness of this issue, we can be better equipped to continue to press for the eradication of racism altogether. One can be a powerful agent of change by becoming familiar with social inequalities affecting Black individuals and those belonging to other ethnic minority groups, by listening to their voices, and by promoting dialogue about these matters with others.

Equally, it is important that we all, regardless of our racial or ethnic background, engage in self-reflection about our own prejudices.

If you are experiencing challenging moments due to the current racial tensions experienced in the country or ongoing racial stress, you can find some available mental health resources below.

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND MENTAL HEALTH Without a doubt, poverty and community violence can have major negative consequences on the mental health of racial and ethnic minorities. However, racial discrimination has also been associated with adverse psychological effects, such as heightened emotional and stress responses among Black individuals and those who belong to ethnic minority groups. Most importantly, multicultural researchers have noted that racial and ethnic prejudice and discrimination faced by racial and ethnic minority groups may contribute to various forms of mental health pathologies, including mood and anxiety disorders. It is important to emphasize that the detrimental mental health effects observed are not circumscribed to experiencing overt racism. Rather, more covert instances of racism such as microaggressions or institutional racism can also have a huge impact on the mental health of racial and ethnic minorities.

In these uncertain and difficult times, incidents of racial injustice and harassment are also easily accessible in the media and on all social media platforms. Many people will experience anxiety and some post-traumatic stress symptoms by simply observing these incidents, over and over again. Experiencing direct or indirect racial discrimination is taxing and has physical and psychological consequences.

Unfortunately, this is made worse by the fact that individuals from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds are often less likely to receive treatment for mental health problems:

• U.S. Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 • Black Mental Health Alliance: (410) 338-2642 • Black Women’s Health Imperative: https://bwhi.org/ • Tropical Texas Behavioral Health crisis hotline (available 24 hours): 877-289-7199

• On average, 40 percent of white Americans will receive mental health and substance use treatment.

• Only 25 percent of Black Americans will receive treatment.

• Only 22 percent of Latinx will receive treatment.

Co-authors include Dr. Mercado’s Mental Health Lab at UTRGV:

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Frances Morales, Nyla Vela, and Andy Torres.

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a second-class citizen, or being presumed to be inferior.

However, unconscious biases can also take more subtle forms such as in microaggressions. These experiences are commonplace and can lead to psychological distress and lower self-esteem in targeted groups. Therefore, it is important to understand how this impacts the mental health of Black and ethnic minority communities.

Furthermore, many mental health professionals lack training in cultural competence and are unprepared to discuss issues around race to ameliorate the effects of racial stress and trauma during clinical interventions. Thus, the impact of facing societal

Alfonso Mercado PH.D., Licensed Psychologist Valley Psychological Services - Assistant Professor Department of Psychology at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | www.utpa.edu/psychology

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H E A L T H

AT-HOME WORKOUTS Achieving ‘Gym Results’ Without Leaving the House

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b y Roci o V i l l a l ob os this and once everything gets better, I’m probably going to do maybe half, if not all of it, online.”

On average, she does strength training with clients four times a week, which she said is enough to “keep fit.”

And while Perales believes online videos are a great resource for finding different workouts to try, she recommends live virtual workouts because they still provide connection between the parties.

“We still need to see people sometimes and hear from people and have that person know we’re here for them,” said Perales, explaining that this also allows her to correct her client’s form to avoid injury.

Perales can be reached via her Instagram, @sweatrgv, where she also shares her workouts.

Bad Boys Boxing Club in McAllen has also been providing their clients with workouts to complete from home. While they have reopened and incorporated extra sanitation practices — along with social distancing and limiting the number of people in the building — manager Ashley Tovar says a percentage of the members are still more comfortable working out remotely.

“The biggest challenge is that they can’t have the one-on-one of getting in the ring, but other than that, everything is coming into place and working out well,” she said, adding that boxing entails more than just sparring with a partner.

The exercises are meant to strengthen the core and legs and provide a full-body workout. And the sport has the added benefit of relieving stress and aggression, which Tovar said is one of the primary reasons people get into boxing. Others join for weight loss or self-defense.

As for how the members continue boxing from home,

While gyms and exercise centers have reopened, with the rate of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, many people in the RGV are still opting to stay away.

But that doesn’t mean they cannot maintain their level of fitness.

Local personal trainer Nelda Perales says there are exercises relying solely on body weight one can do to work out the same muscles that the heavy, expensive equipment from the gym targets.

“It’s just a matter of being able to get creative,” said Perales, who has been working with her clients via Zoom video conferencing since April. “It’s absolutely possible to keep your muscle.” A few exercises she recommends are planks to work the abdomen, squats, pushups for the chest and triceps, and glute bridges for the hamstrings and glutes.

And to increase the effectiveness of the workouts, she recommends investing in a few pieces of equipment.

“A jump rope is always good to have because it adds that cardio, a set of dumbbells of any weight to start off, and a mat,” Perales said. “Then, there is Youtube, so people can look for classes on yoga, Zumba ... pretty much anything you want is out there.”

Perales admits when the pandemic first hit, she was nervous. But she found the adjustment to virtual training to be smooth. Even when things return to “normal” and physical meetups no longer pose a danger, her training will likely remain, in part, online.

“As far as the industry goes, people are already offering online, but this has opened the doors for a lot of us to continue to connect with our clients in different ways,” she said. “So we’re realizing we don’t need the gym to do

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“It’s just a matter of being able to get creative. It’s absolutely possible to keep your muscle.”

Nelda Pera les, p e r s o nal tr a i ne r

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they receive a weekly workout plan set by USA Boxing, which includes instructions for both a warm-up and workout six days of the week. For instance, Monday’s warm-up involves two rounds of jogging in place for one minute, 20 jumping jacks, and 20 high knees. It is then followed by the workout of 15 pushups, 20 mountain climbers, 10 alternating lunges, one minute of jumping rope, 20 bodyweight squats, and 50 toe touches — repeated three times with a oneminute rest between sets.

And for those who want a semblance of group interaction, the gym also offers online classes of cardio kickboxing. All that is required are a jump rope and light dumbbells (or makeshift weights), making the plan easy to follow from anywhere.

“Also, the personal trainers we provide are sending nutritional plans so they can maintain their weight and are not as tired whenever they do return back to the gym,” said Tovar, explaining the plans are devised after taking an in-body analysis of the client, which details their body composition in terms of the amount of fat, lean body mass, minerals, and water.

Though they are making the best out of the situation and providing virtual resources, Tovar said she and the rest of Bad Boys Boxing Club community are looking forward to the day everyone in their roughly 300-person membership returns.

“That's the main feedback we've been getting: how they miss going into the gym and being around everyone's good energy,” Tovar said. “It’s not just somewhere you come in and get your workout and go. We take care of each other like we’re a family.”

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Peace of Mind Balance and Well-Being in Stressful Times b y Ka r l a A r r e d on d o Right now, the entire world is responding to a pandemic, and our daily social media feeds inundate us with devastating news and more and more uncertainty.

When we experience stress, our bodies may go into the physiological response of fight-

or-flight response: Our brains sense danger and attempt to mobilize us for survival.

Right now, the human mind is working in superhuman mode.

Staying safe and healthy at home during a pandemic is an act of survival.

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MOVE YOUR BODY Physical and occupational therapists utilize exercise as a way to help patients improve emotional regulation and decrease stress and anxiety. Move your body, clear your mind. If you are in tune with your body, it can tell you what it needs.

Exercise sessions that focus on workout quality rather than duration also boost your mood, enhancing your outlook and interactions with others. You are allowed to cherry-pick your approach to wellness, whether for your mental wellbeing or to improve physical fitness. Try different things, find an accountability partner, connect to your spirituality, and nurture meaningful connections with others.

Balance and well-being are not an end goal but a lifestyle. Build that lifestyle with kindness and compassion for yourself one step at a time (even if you take a few steps backward). You can do hard things, and when the going gets tough, know that you have everything within you to return to balance. You got this.

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MENTAL HEALTH Whether you experience particular mental health issues or general stress and anxiety, turning inward can help you release some of that negative energy and feel recharged and at peace. Activity-based therapeutic approaches include gardening, freewriting or journaling, or expressive art such as drawing, coloring, painting, or making crafts — especially easy if you have young children!

Other activities shown to reduce stress and improve overall health are meditation and yoga. Matthew Morales, yoga instructor and founder of Quiet Mind Yoga, shares his routines and practices to stay balanced during stressful times. He emphasizes that “during these times where everything is changing, it is imperative that we all partake in some form of self-care.”

The goal of meditation is to invite you to be present rather than stressing about the past or future.

“Mindfulness and yoga help restore balance because they give you tools to be present and release whatever thoughts/energy are going through you that are not serving you,” he said. “With meditation, your mind stays focused on the present moment, which also helps release suppressed feelings. The asana form of yoga is also a beautiful tool to restore balance, utilizing the breath to keep you in the present moment while moving through poses that release energy that may be stuck in the body.”

Quiet Mind Yoga offers free Facebook Live Videos for people of all levels. There are also many yoga tutorials on YouTube and apps that offer guided meditations, such as Waking Up, Headspace, Insight Timer, and Buddhify.

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DIET What we eat every day has a direct impact on our overall physical health. The best approach is to focus on eating whole foods, avoid processed foods, minimize added sugars, eat organic when you can, and primarily eat plant-based foods.

Refined carbohydrates, dairy products, alcohol, processed meats, and sugars cause systemic inflammation, so limit these as much as possible, or cut them out entirely if you can. Almond, soy, and oat milk are great options to cut out dairy and extra sugars and hormones. You can also substitute simple carbohydrates with vegetables, legumes, or quinoa.

Fat is a necessary macronutrient and healthy options include avocado and coconut oils for cooking, olive oil for salads and cold meals, and natural fat-rich foods for snacking such as avocado, almonds, and cashews.

“One thing I love to do is drink a hot tea that helps the immune system and inflammation,” Morales said.

“It consists of juice from one whole lemon, turmeric, a pinch of pepper, honey, and doTerra Lemon Essential oil (about 2 drops). I also make sure that I am taking multivitamins. Those items stacked with the self-care tools I mentioned will do wonders for you! And, of course, take care with what you eat — it's all about balance!”

Our basic needs have been compromised, and yet we still have to function in every other high-level aspect of our lives.

Psychologist Abraham Maslow would deem it impossible to be productive with work responsibilities and remain calm, cool, and collected when we are struggling to survive.

Pause. Take a deep breath. Even superhumans need rest and balance.

This is hard, but you are doing a great job. It is normal to feel overwhelmed by a full range of emotions. There are positive ways to cope with these high-stress challenges.

It is important to have ways to manage the constant stress and help our bodies and minds find balance.

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TAKING THE LEAD At Rodeo Dental, ‘Patient Safety is Paramount’ b y Jo s i e M. B a r r e r a | p h ot os b y M a r k P u e n t e Rodeo Dental founder and dentist Dr. Saam Zarrabi is sensitive to the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the lives of many in numerous ways.

Viewing the reality of the situation through the company filter allowed him to put things into perspective and take action.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Rodeo Dental developed an alliance with Infection Control Consulting Services, a team with dedicated individuals working to

provide nationwide services to the healthcare sector to ensure the safety of their patients and staff.

“Since our founding in 2008, our number one core value has been ‘patient safety is paramount,'” Zarrabi said. “Our alliance with ICCS allows us to honor that commitment in this unprecedented time to ensure the safety of our patients and staff.”

In addition to their alliance with the ICCS, Rodeo Dental has developed a rigorous five-part strategy in order to

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continue to operate safely and effectively. The strategy consists of a patient screening process, elite-level COVID education, advanced sterilization protocols, enhanced PPE equipment, and mandatory COVID-19 testing for all staff.

“As CEO, it’s my responsibility to drown out the noise and ensure the safety of our incredible patients, as well as trusted Rodeo team members,” he said. “Testing all of Rodeo’s team members, including myself, is simply an important tool to potentially lessen the impact of community spread.”

Staying true to their ninth core value, “do the right thing,” Rodeo Dental has gone beyond the existing protocols and chose to implement the most proactive protocol — a frequent testing approach.

The mandatory testing being implemented at Rodeo Dental consists of a test-based approach as opposed to a symptom-based approach. A symptom-based approach is a responsive-centered approach, as it is only facilitated after coronavirus symptoms have been exhibited, and is used by organizations in order to prevent massive staff shortages.

Zarrabi believes a symptom-based approach to testing has caused healthcare workers across the country added stress. Implementing mandatory frequent testing was a no-brainer for him, and so Rodeo Dental went on to immediately test every employee in the company, spanning 25 locations across the state of Texas.

Dental assistant June Alonzo says that Rodeo Dental has taken extra safety measures in order to ensure team members feel safe.

“In the beginning, I was fearful of coming into work, but Rodeo Dental has done such a great job of making us feel protected every day,” Alonzo said. “Even before the virus, we had full PPE and they implemented us wearing our goggles and lab coats. They’ve provided testing for us and have gone above and beyond. I feel really safe here at work.”

All team members are tested regularly by a local laboratory, My Labs Direct, and are notified of any potential asymptomatic cases as well as pre-symptomatic cases.

Anyone who tests positive is required to stay home until they are tested again and cleared with a negative result.

“In the role of leadership, it’s our responsibility to assist in trying to solve or at least minimize this problem,” Zarrabi said. “In this manner, we ensure the ongoing safety of patients and Rodeo associates.

“We are confident that we conduct the very best, state-of-the-art testing to minimize any potential patient exposure and to ensure the safety of our offices,” he added. “If these actions prevent one person from contracting COVID-19, the effort was worth it. As I see it, that’s the value of human life.”

As we all continue to navigate the rough waters that lie ahead, one thing is sure — Rodeo Dental is living up to its number one core value. Patient safety truly is paramount, and team members are doing everything they can to portray that in their actions on a daily basis.

“We know that dental care is truly essential to living a healthy life, and with these plans and protections in place, we’re confidently able to safely serve our family of patients,” Zarrabi said.

To learn more about the safety measures Rodeo Dental has in place, visit rodeodental.com.

Rodeo Den tal Fou n der & Den tist Dr. Saam Zarrabi

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COVID-19 SAFETY MEASURES: • Patient screening process • Elite-level COVID-19 education • Enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE) • Advanced cleaning and sterilization protocol • Comprehensive COVID-19 testing for all staff

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H E A L T H

‘The Highest Standard of Care’ Valley Baptist Neuroscience Institute Sets Pace for Comprehensive Treatment

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by A my C as eb i er

the human brain using catheters and wires.”

From clinical studies to research leading to the expansion of the treatment window for some stroke patients, Valley Baptist Health System has continued to contribute to the evolving landscape of stroke care.

“A lot of our [cutting-edge] research has been published in great scientific journals and actually changes the guidelines for stroke treatment,” said Dr. Ameer E. Hassan, head of the Neuroscience Department at Valley Baptist Neuroscience Institute. “I am very confident in our treatment here and I know that if you come [to Valley Baptist] with a stroke or neurological disease, you will get the best treatment possible.”

Stroke care is just one facet of Valley Baptist’s comprehensive Neuroscience Institute, which is dedicated to the prevention, treatment, and cure of conditions and diseases of the brain and spine.

Dr. Victoria Parada, a neurohospitalist at Valley Baptist, is the founder of the Valley Baptist Neuroscience Institute and served as its medical director from 2004 to 2016, pursuing the goal of serving the RGV’s multiple neurological needs.

“Historically, when I started here in the Valley in 2003,

When Dr. Sohun Desai, a Valley native and a neurosurgeon at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, was in training, he witnessed Rio Grande Valley children with serious neurological issues being transferred to hospitals outside the region for care. It had a snowball effect on their family, causing hardship that compounded the original diagnosis.

“I think all of us in the back of our mind have the goal of delivering the highest quality of neurosciences care locally in a way that patients don’t have that happen to them,” he said.

Now, Valley Baptist Health System is on the cutting edge of stroke and neurological care not only in the RGV, but across the nation. The experts in the medical center’s Neuroscience Institute routinely participate in clinical trials that continue to set the pace for endovascular stroke treatment throughout the United States.

“A lot of people dare to say that one of the most impactful treatments that has been discovered in neuroscience over the last 100 years is stroke thrombectomy,” said Dr. Wondwossen Tekle, director of stroke and neurocritical care for Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen.

“Thrombectomy is the physical removal of the clot from

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"I think all of us in the back of our mind have the goal of delivering the highest quality of neurosciences care locally in a way that patients don’t have that happen to them.”

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Baptist Neuroscience Institute includes many people — from the physicians, nurses, staff, and administration — Parada emphasizes the importance of the patient and their family becoming a part of the team. Patients must be willing to follow treatment and understand their disease, while their loved ones must support them throughout their journey.

Technology also plays a major role in neurological care at the Valley Baptist Neuroscience Institute. Because time is of the essence when it comes to stroke treatment — data show that patients lose 2 million neurons every minute that treatment is delayed — the Valley Baptist Neuroscience Institute also utilizes advanced artificial intelligence to help improve patient outcomes.

The AI software in conjunction with advanced imaging allows the team to quickly determine the areas of the brain that can be saved by mechanical intervention, improving treatment times, and providing neurologists with critical information to rapidly plan a course of treatment.

Though the COVID-19 surge in the RGV hasn’t changed the quality of care being delivered at Valley Baptist, it has required extra steps to keep patients safe. Desai referenced protocols for rapid testing upon admission, and using an operating room solely dedicated to COVID-positive patients with an antechamber and sterilization protocols. Desai, Parada, Hassan, and Tekle all mentioned the growing link between COVID-19 and strokes, noting that COVID has been shown to cause development of microthrombi (small clots), which can travel to the lung and obstruct blood flow to the lung — called pulmonary embolism, or travel to brain circulation and cause ischemic stroke. This seems to be happening to those affected with severe COVID symptoms, but can occur suddenly in any age group.

An unexpected side effect of COVID-19 is people’s avoidance of hospitals for fear of being exposed to the infection, but making the decision to delay care for a medical emergency such as stroke can lead to long-term disability or even death, Tekle said.

“We understand the anxiety around potential exposure for COVID-19 infection if they come to the hospital,” he said. “We want the public to be assured that we do have a number of strategies in place to protect them from COVID-19 infection while taking care of them.”

there was limited access to neurological services,” Parada said. “We strongly believe that this is a center that was built with the talents of different neurologists and their different areas of interest, but overall we work in unison as a team. It has been a magnificent experience.”

Through Parada’s hard work and the collaboration of talented colleagues, the Valley Baptist Neuroscience Institute has significantly grown to a team of more than a dozen experts, including neurologists, neurohospitalists, endovascular neurologists, epileptologists, and neurosurgeons — all transforming the outcomes for the patients they serve.

“The highest standard of care is now the expectation, and that’s really our goal,” she said.

Neurological care at Valley Baptist is organized into different tiers to deliver seamless treatment for all patients who receive care. Parada is among three neurohospitalists dedicated to stroke care, sleep disorders, and general neurology consultations. Neurocritical care services include neurointerventional stroke physicians like Tekle and Hassan, who treat some of the region’s most difficult and complex strokes.

“They’re among the best neurointerventionalists in the entire United States,” Parada said.

Parada says that knowledge plays an important role in positive outcomes for neurological patients. To that end, Parada and her colleagues work hard to educate the community on the signs, symptoms, and treatments for a wide array of neurological conditions, including epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and other diseases.

When dealing with stroke, Tekle says that educating local residents to understand their role in reducing their risk factors is a critical component of stroke care. Understanding risk factors is essential for all patients, especially those with a family history of stroke, Tekle says, adding that preventive interventions such as quitting smoking, moderating alcohol, eating right, exercising regularly, and other lifestyle changes can greatly reduce an individual’s stroke risk.

“If you have a stroke, coming to the hospital early is technically a preventive strategy because if you catch the fire early, you can put out the fire early and prevent long term damage,” he said.

Though the team-based treatment approach at the Valley

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D r. So h un D es a i , a ne urosu rgeon at Val l ey Baptist M edical Cen ter

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of the

The Magic Mesquite Versatility in Nature Provides Benefits to All

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

by C o lleen Cur r a n Ho o k, E xec uti ve D i r e ct or, Q u i n t a M a z a t l á n | p h ot os b y J a i m e V i l l a r r e a l tree a survivor in severe conditions.

We’ve all heard of the mesquite tree in Texas — whether we’ve sat around a mesquite fire cooking fajitas

As the mesquite was the most important food plant

or enjoyed the shade of the beautiful tree. It has been

for Native Americans, village sites were selected based

dubbed the “Tree of Life” because of its ability to offer

on mesquite trees. The bark was harvested and used to

life-giving sustenance in harsh environments. The tree

weave baskets and pounded to make mats and fabrics.

has an amazing history and provides native people,

The wood was used for firewood, pillars, furniture, and

past and present, with the Big Five; food, fuel, fertilizer,

tool handles. Today, the wood is still popular for fencing

furniture, and fence posts. Literally every part of the tree

and corrals.

The most important uses for mesquite trees are the

is useful.

The nitrogen-fixing attributes of mesquites are well

pods, which hang in clusters. Native Americans ate great

known and left in fields, returning much-needed nitrogen

quantities of fresh beans. The seeds or beans are sweet

to the soil. The deep roots go out as far as the canopy of

and offer nutritional benefits. The pods were ground into

the tree, reaching down to the water table and making the

a meal, usually with a metate, to make small sun-dried

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At left, Texas holds 76 percent of all the mesquite trees in the United States, making mesquite a true Texas treasure.

Th e s w e e t be a n p ods a r e nutr i ti o nal and e a ten b y p e o p l e and w i ldli f e ali ke.

T h e Hon ey M esqu ite tree can reach u p to 36 feet tal l an d makes for a beau tifu l sh ade tree.

and mortar.

Today, local companies like the Cappadona Ranch sell mesquite goods. They roast the pods and grind them

Of course, mesquite trees not only benefit people but

into a beautiful dark flour, which smells like roasted

wildlife, as well. Hundreds of animals and plants rely on

chocolate. The Cappadona banana bread recipe is a

the mesquite tree for survival and reproduction.

Bees rely on the pollen to produce food for their

must for your family — mixed with half all-purpose flour

young and honey for the winter. Deer, javelina, coyotes,

and half mesquite flour.

jackrabbits, skunks, quail, and dove consume the beans

Although the pods were the most important resource,

— as do livestock.

all parts of the mesquite were used. The flowers were

to grow our relationship with our native plants and animals.

used as an eyewash and treatment for stomachaches.

Enjoy the magic of the mesquite at Quinta Mazatlán from 8

The mesquite gum that oozes from the tree bark has

a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and Thursday

medicinal benefits, including helping with a sunburn,

nights. Follow Quinta Mazatlán on YouTube, Facebook,

.

In order to protect our environment, we need to continue

ball. The leaves were boiled in water for a tea that was also

easing stomach distress, and reducing headaches. The

and other social media platforms to learn more about our

sweet chewy sap was used as a spoonful of sugar to help

natural heritage in South Texas.

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collected in the spring, roasted, and pressed into a food

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the medicine go down. The sap was also used as a glue

cakes and flatbreads.

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The Delgado Collective Adapting and Evolving

b y Kel s ey G r eene | p h o to s p r ov i d e d

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heard about closures in other parts of the state, the impact of COVID-19 hadn’t felt like reality until the order came to close dining rooms across the state — the day after they had just ordered truckloads of groceries for the following week.

The restaurateurs had to think quickly on their feet, and made the fast decision to rely on carry-out, then delivery methods, and then meal kits for those who wanted to cook at home. “It was just enough to keep a limited staff on payroll,” said Larry, explaining that he didn’t take a paycheck for almost three pay periods himself.

Then, they heard that another chef in Houston had started selling meals at H-E-B, and the Delgados immediately picked up the phone and started making calls to do the same in the Valley. There were some roadblocks, but after some persistence, they finally found their opportunity with a local H-E-B representative. Within five days, their products were in stores, incorporated into the “Meal Simple” line.

“We’ve learned a lot of things, but for me it’s how resilient our team is and can be, and how resilient we can be in a moment of crisis,” Larry said, summing up their restaurant experience of 2020. “We adopted the mantra of ‘keep the fire burning.’ It didn’t matter how grim things look or how bad things were getting, somebody would say that phrase and everybody’s attitude [perked up] and everybody would get fired up. ‘OK, we can get through one more day.’”

Salt: A New American Table is currently offering curbside, carryout, and delivery for limited hours, while house.wine.&bistro is offering dine in, curbside, carryout and delivery for limited hours.

At Salomé, while dinner service is still temporarily suspended for the time being, the Delgados are excited to relaunch on October 5. In the meantime, they continue to offer curbside, carryout, and delivery, and their delicious meal kits continue to be available at H-E-B. We recommend following each of the restaurants for the most up-to-date hours and services.

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Owning any business comes with a particular set of obstacles and everyday worries. Then, when a pandemic sweeps across the globe, it only makes sense that those hurdles would magnify. How would anyone be able to prepare? It has required business owners to adapt, be flexible, and roll with the punches — or else be swallowed up.

Restaurant owners Larry and Jessica Delgado of Salomé on Main, Salt: A New American Table, and house. wine. & bistro — known as the Delgado Collective — were no exceptions. They talked through their decision-making process in order to keep their restaurants afloat.

“Are we making the right decision staying open for curbside and carry-out and delivery? That was a tough decision, and we knew that we needed to, and we knew that we needed to keep our business going,” Jessica said. “We didn’t really have the luxury of closing down.”

The Delgados turned to delivery and carryout, even delivering food themselves, to keep in business. “Will it be enough to reopen one day?”

Jessica recalled asking herself.

Despite being able to keep orders coming through delivery, curbside, and carry-out, the Delgados had to come to make some cutbacks to ensure that the restaurants would make it through the pandemic.

“We went from 115 team members to 43 to keep the three restaurants going, and that was so heartbreaking,” Jessica said.

Larry Delgado agreed. “Making that decision, we struggled every day,” he said, shaking his head.

“In the end, we just made the commitment that we needed to get through this so that all of those families would be taken care of when we get out of it. Y’all have a place to come back to work to great income for their families.

“That became our mission. Even if we have to lay somebody off temporarily, we’re doing this — and everybody who’s still here is doing it — so that those people have jobs to come back to.”

The Delgados explained that even though they

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HappyHalloZoom Adjusting To Remote Celebrations

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b y Roci o V i l l a l ob os While we await a vaccine and do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19 through adjusting to the “new normal,” avoiding social gatherings does not mean we need to avoid being social — especially with some of our favorite fall holidays coming up, like Halloween and Día de los Muertos.

Psychotherapist Dr. Lisa Cortez of Cortez Counseling Center specializes in depression and anxiety. When Texas first began a lockdown in March, she received an uptick of calls from people experiencing anxiety.

“Here in the Valley, it’s a little harder because the majority of our population is Hispanic, so we’re used to going to our abuela’s house,” she said. “We do a lot of things together — cookouts, parties, celebrations. We’re such a close community and right now, we can’t do that.”

The feeling of isolation, she said, can be compounded during holidays because they are so different than how they used to be. That is why she recommends utilizing technology to stay in touch with friends and family.

“It’s not the same as live. I think we do need that actual physical communication,” she said. “But for now, the best we can do is through Zoom.”

Just as companies are utilizing the platform to host meetings and stay in touch, individuals can use Zoom to celebrate milestones and holidays. Birthday parties, baby showers, and weddings are looking a bit different this year.

This begs the question — what will Halloween 2020 look like? Just because we are urged to social distance doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate at all. People can still dress up in their favorite costumes and have their own costume contests. Families can also lean into the “trick” part of “trick or treat,” entertaining one another through the screen.

There are several other ways to get creative while virtually celebrating. Though it won’t be possible to pass the candy to virtual guests, Zoom allows a large number of people to connect on one screen to share family meals as if they were all together.

The components of what makes a holiday or occasion special — what is eaten, worn, or watched — can still be enjoyed in multiple individual households so everyone on the call experiences the same things.

Besides keeping in contact with loved ones, there

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become a popular option. People simply drive by the house of whoever is being celebrated as that person stands outside on their lawn. They can see friends and family in person, but a safe distance apart. This may be a good way to trick or treat this year — and remember the loved ones we celebrate on Día de los Muertos.

People can get creative in finding ways to celebrate holidays by decorating their cars with paint, balloons, and other materials. They could even drop off a gift or card.

Cortez shares advice and best practices for coping during these stressful times on her Instagram and Facebook @drlisacortez. She recommends reaching out to a therapist if people need extra support. While she is not currently accepting clients, visit drlisacortez.com to find other therapists in the area.

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are other ways to recreate the emotions one feels when around others in person. For instance, the act of hugging someone releases a hormone that causes happiness and joy. Cortez explains the same feeling can be experienced while working out.

“I keep telling everyone, even if you don’t normally work out, making it a habit is important not only for physical but also mental health because you release those hormones,” she said. However, it can be difficult to maintain a routine when you stay at home.

Zoom can be a great way to hold one another accountable by doing coordinated group workouts.

It’s also a handy tool to check in on loved ones’ mental health, especially over the next couple of months during the holiday season.

For many, the holidays spark warm, fuzzy feelings and love of family. For others, however, it can be a time of loneliness. Long periods of social isolation may exacerbate those negative feelings. That’s why it’s even more important to utilize video chat platforms to build and maintain a community.

Drive-by socially distanced gatherings have also

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FABE THE

MAGICIAN Human Connection Evolves Despite Lack of Tangible Venues b y Jo s i e M. B a r r er a | d i gi t a l a r t b y A n n a Wa l p e r | p h ot o p r ov i d e d

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People attend magic shows when they want to experience the element of surprise. They go to be captivated and escape the real world for a bit — to be reminded that a whole universe exists within us all, and magic is one way we can access it.

Close your eyes and picture yourself sitting in a crowd at a university auditorium, anticipation building up before the opening act. People are chattering, making final drink runs, and checking into the venue on social media, posting to their Instagram stories and tagging @magicfabe as the lights dim before the show begins.

Now imagine yourself sitting in front of a computer or mobile screen in the comfort of your home on a Friday night, cozying up on your couch and posting a story of your setup before the magic happens. The same anticipation builds as you log into your Zoom app, your drink of choice in hand.

These are two exact parallels at two completely different points in time illustrating the moments Valley native Fabian Moreno’s audience experience prior to the moment he steals the spotlight.

Moreno, also known as Fabe the Magician, has mesmerized college students all over the nation with his shows and has recently

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lot of outreach involved. I also had to rebrand myself and my website, and rethink my entire show.”

Moreno has conjured whiskey on stage, among other acts that have left his audience speechless. Such feats granted him reviews like “The Mumford and Sons of Magic” from The Cowl, Providence College’s student-run newspaper.

Moreno is also a published author and has been featured as a guest speaker at TEDxMcAllen. In his 2015 talk, The Great Pretenders, he talked about magic and what it means to him.

“For me, it's about moments. It’s about being able to protect the ability to create and partake in human experiences,” he said. “Because, let’s face it, at the end of the day, I can show you the best piece of magic that I know, but if there’s no human connection, it’s just a trick. And nobody likes to be tricked.”

As we might find ourselves feeling like we’re about to unravel because of the events of 2020, Moreno is one step ahead of the game.

Moreno continues to roll out dates for the virtual magic experience while continuing to restructure his entire performance to keep it safe. He looks forward to his very first live in-person show at his alma mater, Texas State University, in the near future.

As things continue to change, a new way of living presents itself.

“I'm just excited to see what this new abnormal brings. I’ve always been good at dealing with the hand I’m dealt. We have to be resourceful and get creative with it,” he said.

“It’s nice to see everything that we’ve been doing collectively as a people — as entertainers, as artists, as musicians, as creatives — is now at the forefront of things. There’s a silver lining after all.”

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taken on that task via a virtual platform.

Moreno recalls being at the airport waiting to board his flight for the next city on his tour lineup when he heard the news of the first COVID-19 case in Boston — the exact city where he was headed. From there, the Virtual Magic Experience began to take form.

This new way of performing was born out of necessity more than anything, proving that human connection is possible through virtual performances even when tangible venues aren’t available. During the effects of the pandemic, Moreno has created a way to share magic, entertain, and provide positive distractions by creating a show strictly for Zoom.

Though magic and optical illusions consume his time, he didn’t always expect to be a full-time magician. Moreno originally had his mind set on law school. However, his passion for magic began at an early age.

“I was about 3 or 4 years old when my dad showed me the first magic trick purely to get me to calm down and to entertain me,” he said. “Then, when I was 6 years old, my father brought home the very first magic trick from a local magic shop. He started taking me to the magic shop every Sunday and every time I learned a trick, we’d go back and get another one, and the cycle continued from there.”

Moreno kicked off his magic career with talent shows.

Throughout high school, he was getting booked for private local events for doctors and attorneys. By the time he graduated, he had bookings all over the country.

The moment he thought that there might potentially be a future in entertainment came to him when he realized he was live on stage in Washington, D.C., while his friends were just vacationing on spring break.

In fall 2014, Moreno received his bachelor’s degree in public relations at the then-University of Texas-Pan American.

He realized there was another passion he hadn’t pursued — American literature. He decided to enroll in graduate school and received his master’s degree from Texas State University in 2019, all while continuing to tour and perform at some of the finest universities in the country.

Moreno’s love of literature helped him bring the art of storytelling and life lessons into his performances all while incorporating author Ernest Hemingway’s Iceberg Theory — that the deeper meaning of a story isn’t readily apparent.

There is nothing overt about his shows.

People will take from them what they need to hear at that moment, he says, they are all open to interpretation.

Going from performing for corporate organizations to a university audience resulted in Moreno having to restructure his entire show, which allowed him to put his public relations degree to work.

“To be honest, I never intended to use my public relations degree. To me, it was a stepping stone to get to law school,” he said. “When I started working for the universities, there was a

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FACES IN THE VALLEY:

KRISTI COLLIER Provides Annual Welcome to Winter Texans b y Jo s e D e Le on I I I | p h ot os p r ov i d e d

year,” Collier explained. “We are the go-to source for information on what’s going on in the Valley. It’s very much like a chamber of commerce for Winter Texans.”

Collier’s website — welcomehomergv.com — compiles information ranging from a list of activities for all retirees across the Valley and an events calendar to a “robust” mobile app.

“It’s about providing Winter Texans with the services they are looking for,” Collier said. “Each of our communities does a good job of promoting their respective cities for Winter Texans, but there isn’t an organization that works with the entire Valley to promote it all for Winter

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Every year, the Valley becomes the second home to over 100,000 Winter Texans who spend their falls and winters here.

And every year, one local woman is in charge of making sure these honorary Valley citizens feel at home.

Kristi Collier, a McAllen native, is the creator of the organization Welcome Home Rio Grande Valley, which she says specializes in serving the Winter Texan population.

“Here in South Texas, we have close to 300 RV parks and retirement communities and it’s estimated we have over 100,000 Winter Texans coming to our area each

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Welcome Home RGV also features the annual Winter Texan Expo & Health Fair, an event for Winter Texans and the senior community in South Texas held every January at the McAllen Convention Center.

During the previous Winter Texan season, Welcome Home RGV also conducted a traveling tour.

“We took Welcome Home RGV on the road and hosted six events over a 10-day period across Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota to promote the area and bring people together to encourage them to invite friends who are interested in learning about the area,” Collier said, adding that she hopes the tour continues next year.

Collier wants her company to not only welcome Winter Texans, but function as a sign of appreciation for all they do for the Valley.

“Winter Texans bring an estimated $700 million to our local economy every year, so it’s important we recognize them not just for the financial gain the Valley sees but for what they also do,” Collier said. “They participate in a large amount of volunteer work through the school districts, organizations, hosting food drives ... they do a lot of community service and that’s something that’s been measured in the past. Whenever they volunteer and spend money in the area, the Valley sees that positive side effect.

“Winter Texans come from such diverse backgrounds and it’s so fun and refreshing to listen to their stories and where they come from,” she added. “It’s fascinating to me, quite frankly, and I love every minute of what we do. Helping new people navigate a new area feels good and providing that service to our local community does that — it’s a win-win for everyone. It’s heartwarming to see and hear what they do and how we can help. It’s a lot of fun.”

Texans and understand their needs and what’s important to them.”

This need to help Winter Texans is one that Collier has been nurturing since she was a child, the McAllen native recalled.

“I grew up here, so I’ve never known life without Winter Texans,” Collier said. “I remember as a kid going to the annual Texas Citrus Fiesta and seeing Winter Texans there and loved everything about it. When I grew up, I wanted to be a Winter Texan because who wouldn’t want to be here in the sunshine doing so many different activities instead of being stuck at home in the snow?”

Welcome Home RGV was birthed as an opportunity for Collier to promote a different small business to the Winter Texan market.

“But there wasn’t one thing that would promote it to all the RV parks in the area, so I had to go to each RV park individually to promote it,” Coller recalled. “Eventually, another good friend also wanted to promote their business with me and it's grown since then.”

In 2008, Welcome Home RGV was born. It included an annual magazine for Winter Texans that eventually turned into a weekly magazine published during the traditional Winter Texan season.

“As I was going through all the RV parks to promote my small business, Winter Texans would always ask me, ‘where do you go for this?’ They wanted a local opinion on where to go and what to do, so I thought ‘why not be that go to source of information?’” Collier said. “Welcome Home RGV sprung from there.”

Collier’s decision to create Welcome Home RGV came from one belief she has: If you can’t find what you’re looking for, create it.

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TRENDS& TRESSES Diversity Expands Hairstyles in RGV b y N a th a ni e l M a t a | p h ot os p r ov i d e d As the population grows in the Valley, hair salons and barbers are increasing in diversity as well. For Black people and others who love those hairstyles, the options are here. You can get a taper fade, box braids, or even dreadlocks by Black people experienced in the sacred arts of hairstyles.

Three prominent stylists who have been in the game for a few years are gaining traction in this area as Black and protective hairstyles are becoming more popular for

Black and other folks alike. This trio doesn’t shy away from working with straight and wavy hair but can work with even the tightest curls.

Meesh Duru is the owner of Dread House. She explained the uniqueness and mystique around Black hair.

“Afro-textured hair is the only hair on the planet that grows towards the sun,” Duru said. “Just like when a plant comes out of the ground, it sticks up and grows towards the sun. When our hair naturally comes out our

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“Our hairstyles encourage confidence, symbolize strength and freedom, spark conversations, form bonds, inspire change, and it has also grown to influence a magnitude of cultures."

M ees h D ur u , o w ne r o f D r e a d H o use

head, it sticks up the same way. Black hairstyles matter

important community figures because everyone has hair.

because it is how we have expressed ourselves since

So many people head to these establishments when they

the beginning of man. These styles: braids, twists, locs,

want to look and feel their best.

etcetera have infinite possibilities and have been passed

“As far as clientele and culture, it’s different. But as far

down through generations.”

as hair, it’s no different,” he said. “Hair is hair. Whether it’s

Debates have persisted if this hair is acceptable in

curly or coarse, whether it’s straight, hair is hair. You’d

professional settings. Oftentimes, those who criticize

be surprised here in the RGV. I’ve cut it all. Cutting down

or ridicule this hair either don’t understand or approach

here has been fascinating. I’ve had both sides of the

from an ignorant or even racist perspective.

spectrum. I’ve had people look at me funny with extreme

Antonio Burgess Sr. cuts as a barber at Fresh

ignorance and I’ve had people embrace me and seek out

Barbershop in Edinburg and he also acknowledged the

my services.”

role that Black people and their hair play in popular culture.

large Black populations who are more experienced with

was our identity. We went from the kinky hair to braids to

handling these hairstyles.

dreads. We can do absolutely everything with our hair —

She’s happy to eliminate the need for people to leave

there’s absolutely no limit to it.”

to get their locs retwisted or put in for the first time.

Duru knows rocking dreads or braids is a much more

“Instead, they save money because I am conveniently

positive approach if you understand its intentions and

serving the Rio Grande Valley to consistently maintain or

the feelings around those who wear the styles.

begin their loc journeys for any texture of hair,” Duru said.

“Our hairstyles encourage confidence, symbolize

“I also thought it would be fun to normalize seeing any

strength and freedom, spark conversations, form bonds,

hair texture in a locked form, because anyone can have

inspire change, and it has also grown to influence a

dreads.”

magnitude of cultures,” Duru said. “We deserve to style

Nigerian-American Tamara Onuorah runs Slayed by T

our hair in any way we see fit. This world is already a

and she specializes in braids for all textures of hair. She

show, so we should play it our way.”

is a big hit on Instagram, with clients constantly sharing

Burgess has been cutting hair as a profession for

their new hairdo that she “slayed.”

years, starting the practice when he was just 14 years old.

Black-owned businesses are flourishing in the Rio

Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, he’s made a career

Grande Valley, and when diverse cultures and commerce

out of fresh fades and clean line-ups here in the Valley.

prosper, the whole region benefits.

He also explained how barbers and stylists are

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trendsetters,” Burgess said. “A little bit of history — that

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often included long trips around the state to cities with

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Growing up in the RGV, Duru said getting her hair done

“Black people are definitely the frontrunners of

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The Dragon Warrior Ramen Shop Thrives Amid Setbacks b y Jo s i e M. B a r r e r a | p h ot os b y M a r k P u e n t e meet a lot of people through music,” he said. “Austin is a tourist town — the hospitality is huge. There's a lot of top chefs there, so the standard [for food] is really high.”

Through music and food, he was able to learn about different cultures and meet people of different ethnicities.

He was on the road when he was first introduced to a new concept of ramen. He has always had a soft spot for Asian food, and when he had Ramen Tatsu-Ya for the first time, he was hooked.

The combination of flavors in the marinades at Dragon Warrior Noodle is an ode to all of the food Villarreal tried while touring. When he moved to Colorado in 2013, his love for ramen lingered in the back of his mind. He recalls wondering why there weren’t any ramen shops in the area, and the idea to open his own ramen shop became tangible.

With a push from his son’s mother, Villarreal considered it.

Putting this into perspective, he reveals that he had only ever made ramen at home, and never in mass quantities.

“I had tons of kitchen experience and worked for amazing

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Stepping into the new Dragon Warrior Noodle location in Edinburg, you will experience the original concept of what Jason Jon Villarreal has always had in mind for his ramen shop. From the layout of the room to the furniture, to murals on the wall, this is it. It always has been.

“This is what I envision when I think ‘dragon warrior,’” he said, admitting that closing the doors to the McAllen location was bittersweet. “That was a great restaurant, but this is truly a ramen shop.”

Dragon has grown more in popularity since it first opened its doors in 2018. Every single bowl of ramen is prepared individually, and it's the attention to detail that continues to rope in visitors from all over the Rio Grande Valley.

Born into a musically inclined family in San Juan, Villarreal fell in love with music at a young age. Villarreal left the Valley when he was 18, and by 2008 found himself in the capital of Texas, touring with several bands while also working in the culinary world.

“I was fortunate to work with a lot of great places and

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As 2020 continues to surprise us, Villarreal is excited to share his culinary creations with the people of the Rio Grande Valley. In late July, at-home ramen kits became the latest addition to their neverending list of adaptations implemented upon the pandemic’s arrival.

With these kits, Villarreal hopes people will be able to truly see how much work goes into each bowl of ramen.

“It’s a labor of love,” he says, admitting that some of the ingredients in the dishes take upward of 10 hours to make.

Though he has experienced many setbacks throughout his journey, they serve as a reminder of the meaning behind the ramen shop’s name.

“Dragon Warrior Noodle is based on all the obstacles in my life,” Villarreal said. “When my son was born, I was playing music and I was living a certain lifestyle. He brought me back from one extreme to the other, and that other brought me in this direction and I'm really grateful for it.”

A huge Jack Black fan, Villarreal introduced his son to the Kung-Fu Panda series when he was about 3 years old. His key takeaway is Po overcoming obstacles no matter how bad he’s being told he can't do something.

“If you have the heart, that's all that matters and that’s really the main point for me,” he said. “He goes through all of these obstacles and everybody thought he was a joke and it turns out he’s the ultimate dragon warrior.”

Dragon Warrior Noodle is located in Edinburg on University Drive between Jackson and McColl. For updated hours of operation, follow it on social media.

chefs in the past,” he said. “But that’s different.”

Everything on the menu was inspired by the foods he had on the road while touring.

“I tried ramen from about 50 to 75 different places, studied flavor profiles, talked to some Japanese chefs in Austin, and from there I just figured it out,” he said.

What he was hoping to start as a small ramen shop in the Valley ended up growing fast. Villarreal has taken his love for the culinary arts and incorporated his own variations into every dish at Dragon Warrior Noodle.

Foodies can expect to be blown away by the Japaneseinspired ramen, and experience an abundance of Asian elements throughout the menu at Dragon Warrior Noodle.

Villarreal believes ramen is a dish best served and enjoyed hot, immediately after it’s ready. For that reason, ordering ramen to go wasn’t an option until last year. Reluctant to take away from the full ramen experience, he cautiously tampered with the idea of going curbside mid-March.

The decision to finally do it was more so due to the mandatory shutdown implemented at the time. And with what seemed like a tough, uphill battle, Villarreal improvised time and time again to cater to Dragon Warrior Noodle diehard fans.

From having to close the McAllen location temporarily; to offering curbside and being slammed with orders the first two hours after reopening after the shutdown; to offering delivery; to now only being open for exclusive hours to accommodate his crew, Villarreal’s resilience is evident in his determination to overcome all odds.

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THE YEAR

2 02 0 The Valley, the Nation and the World Get Through a Difficult Year

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by Nathaniel Mata

If I were to tell you that your “Roaring ’20s” New Year’s Eve Party on Dec. 31, 2019, would be one of the last few times you’d be able to gather freely with friends without the risk of spreading a deadly virus, you might have thought I’d had a little too much to drink.

For many of us, 2020 felt like a year full of hope — a new decade, something fresh and exciting.

Many millennials were starting to see their lives and careers come together and take off. Plenty of small businesses and industries in the RGV flourished as our population grew and our cities touted their safety and commerce.

Then, a new coronavirus strain — SARS-CoV2 — hit society, the economy, and our healthcare systems like a ton of bricks.

A novel, previously non-existent, strain of the virus that spread across the world confused scientists, baffled researchers, and, of course, caused a partisan political battle in the United States about how to mitigate the spread and also care for the beleaguered economy.

Masks became a debate and social distancing turned into a mandate, which some people felt was an attack on individual liberty.

The U.S. has been battered hard by this virus. At the time of publication, 5.54 million Americans have been infected with COVID-19 and some 173,000 souls have

lost their fight.

Recently, our region has turned into a hotspot for the virus. With hospitals in all four counties struggling to keep up with the demand for beds and ventilators, the state had to import doctors and equipment as our healthcare systems have been overwhelmed.

Hundreds have died as this public health crisis continues.

As if the new coronavirus and its effects weren’t enough, American society was about to face another conflict: racism.

Racial-based violence in this country has a long history. From the African slave trade that built much of this nation to border violence when our area changed hands from Mexico to the U.S., there have been cries of injustice and inequity.

A string of Black deaths this summer in combination with economic and emotional turmoil from COVID-19 caused civil unrest to rise.

Ahmaud Arbery was hunted down on a jog and killed with a point-blank shot that was caught on camera in a horrifying manner. Breonna Taylor was killed in her apartment when police conducted a drug raid that turned deadly for the sleeping 26-year-old EMT. And, of course, George Floyd’s extremely public and graphic murder is the straw that broke the camel’s back

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Some will argue that police should be defunded and have resources reallocated so other sectors can flourish.

Are there still instances of racism, anti-blackness, and colorism in the RGV? Yes. Many Black people shared their stories in the aftermath, explaining the ignorance and racism that they have felt.

As if the Valley needed any more hardship, Hurricane Hanna, a category 1 storm, made landfall on July 25 and we were her target.

Areas known for bad flooding were hit with heavy rain once again as Weslaco, Edinburg, and colonia communities now deal with the fallout of the storm.

The Valley needs healing. We need compassion, patience, and understanding as different groups struggle together, but in unique ways.

While our business community struggles to make a profit to keep doors open and employees paid, our poor neighbors struggle to make ends meet with government benefits not always available.

One thing that remains true is that the RGV is a tightknit community. We can learn and get better from the events of 2020 and come out of this year and pandemic more understanding.

Listening and patience with one another is key, but do we all have the ability to hear each other when frustration gets so loud?

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of a stressed and frustrated community.

We are still seeing the aftermath of his death, along with the protests and riots that spread across the country as everyday people — Black, brown, white, and everything in between — asked for comprehensive change against systemic racist and violence.

Not everyone is on the same side. Not everyone supports the Black Lives Matter movement.

In the RGV, it’s a unique situation because the Black population isn’t large and the respect for law enforcement and police is prominent.

Many ask, “Why are Black lives important when that’s not my identity?”

This tension boiled over when a man wielding a chainsaw yelled a racial slur heard around the Valley at protesters who were making in support of the latest Black equality movement.

As someone who is both African American and Latino, what I will say is that so much can come from conversation.

Do we have police brutality and oppression on the same scale as larger American cities with a bigger Black population? No, we don’t. But we do have a large police, Border Patrol, and ICE presence in a community that grapples with poverty, food insecurity, and numerous health issues.

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La Sal del Rey A Local Gem Worth Its Salt

by Kelsey Greene | p h o to s b y Al i c i a Ra nge l La Sal del Rey is one of the Rio Grande Valley’s hidden pearls, or at least that’s how Félix María Calleja del Rey y de la Gándara, Count of Calderón, described it when writing to the Spanish Crown back in 1795 when surveying the area, mentioning that it was the “color of the mother of pearl.”

The lakes are thought to be the remains of an inland sea that eventually receded, leaving behind 4 million tons of coagulated salt, according to Chris Quezada, a visitor services ranger at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge.

La Sal del Rey, or The Salt of the King, has been

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decades of farming. Quezada gave some insight into what that means for local wildlife.

“Throughout the RGV, these impacts have reduced wildlife such as ocelots, jaguars, bears, and coatimundi to limited areas of the RGV (ocelots) or pushed these into Mexico (jaguars, bears),” he said. “La Sal del Rey is important because it provides habitat to species like these — although it is more common to find wildlife such as javelinas, deer, nilgai, sandhill cranes, turkey, and other bird species. You'd be surprised at some of the wildlife you can find in the RGV.” Both Quezada and Flores highlighted the local wildlife as a focal point of attraction that tourists should look forward to seeing when they go visit.

Thankfully, there is a plan in place to recover the effects of human impact on the area.

“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working to restore these agricultural fields into native habitat,” Quezada said. Rio Reforestation is a public planting event, and Quezada described that “partner nurseries provide roughly 12,000 saplings that are then hand planted in farm fields ranging from 15 to 25 acres. This event brings anywhere from 700 to 1,500 community volunteers.”

Although the reforestation project still has work to do, a trip to the lake rewards visitors with “outstanding views of this unique area.”

To see photos of the area, make sure to check out the following hashtags so you can plan your own trip! #SalDelRey #LiveYourWild #NationalWildlifeRefuge

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National Wildlife Refuge.

Although the mining came to a halt, the area around the lake had been depleted after

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used for centuries as a bounteous resource for both different people and local wildlife well before the arrival of the Spanish. “The people that originally lived around the lake were a Coahuiltecan tribe called the Sepinpacam.

Living by the lake gave them access to the animals that came to the lake,” explained Dr. Ruben G. Flores, a professor at South Texas College and self-described history buff.

Flores is known to delve into archives of the history of the Rio Grande Valley, and recently found information on La Sal del Rey in UTRGV’s Community Historical Archeology Project with Schools (CHAPS). “I was enthralled,” he said.

The Spanish used the salt for international trade, and Peñitas and Reynosa were booming trade centers because of the salt lake as well as other natural resources in the area. “People became rich here through the trade of salt,” Flores said.

During the Civil War, the lake was seized by the Confederacy, which used camels (yes, camels) from the experimental Camel Corps to transport salt to Brownsville and Matamoros to be loaded onto ships for export.

According to the research conducted

by Flores, La Sal del Rey was eventually reclaimed by the Cardenas family, one of the original owners of the lake, before being forced to flee to Mexico upon the arrival of the Confederate Army. The lake continued to be mined until the 1930s, after many changing of hands, inheritance lawsuits, and land grant agreements, while the land around it was developed for agricultural purposes.

In the early 1990s, management of the lake passed to the Lower Rio Grande Valley

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İQue Suerte!

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RGV Bar & Grill Adjusts Practices to Continue Serving Customers Amid the Pandemic b y Ka r i na Va rg a s | p h ot os b y J a s on G a r z a

Food Fave The COVID-19 pandemic has been the cause of many negative ripple effects on the public’s health, job security for non-essential workers, and even the livelihood of local businesses.

One Valley business that has decided to change the way they operate in order to better serve customers and keep employees working during these trying times is Suerte Bar & Grill in McAllen.

The family-owned and operated establishment has been in business since owner Ben Peña opened it in fall 2013 with his brother, Eric Peña, and wife Jessica Aguilar.

Suerte currently has two McAllen locations, a downtown location at 301 South 17th St. and a newer uptown location at Nolana Tower, 400 Nolana St., Suite

N1, that opened in 2019.

Decorative accents throughout Suerte reflect Mexican culture in art, music, and life. Loteria cards and characters reside on canvases on the wall as well as a large Selena mural dedicated to the Tejano star. The space is also adorned with Mexican cultural items, such as a sarape draped over the back wall of the bar, papel picado lining the ceiling along with whimsical gold-framed mirrors, luchador art, and various Catholic art and imagery.

Guests have the chance to step into a real-life Loteria card when they take a photo in front of Suerte’s popular El Borracho wall, modeled after the famous Loteria card.

Much like their mixed interior design, Suerte plays a variety of music for all patrons to enjoy.

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“Honestly, the thought of a bar having an impact on the Valley is crazy, but we’re grateful for the platform our following has given us,” she said. “It means the world to us when our customers tell us it’s what they miss about home. “‘Only in the Valley’ — we love receiving those comments when we drop a new drink,” Luna added. “We’re so proud of the Valley, how it’s evolving and influencing other parts of Texas. The 956 truly has the best of everything!”

Current Suerte fans will be happy to know that there will soon be a third location in the Sharyland area, according to Luna. Stay tuned to Suerte’s social media pages for the latest information.

To view Suerte’s full menu online, visit their official website at www.suertebargrill. com. Here, customers can place orders online and pick up curbside. Social media handles on Instagram and Facebook are also @suertebargrill. Customers can check their social media pages for the latest events, promotions, hours, and availability of items.

Current uptown location curbside hours are from noon to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and noon to 11 p.m.

Friday and Saturday. Downtown location curbside hours are currently 6 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

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just can’t go wrong with these tacos,” she said. “They feel like home to me.”

For those who want to bring the flavor home, Suerte offers Family Packs and Taco and Lonche Platters, available to be ordered in advance and carried out.

Luna expressed that although the pandemic and its health repercussions have greatly affected the way Suerte does business, it hasn’t kept them from connecting with customers and sharing their unique flavor.

“Suerte pretty much converted into a drivethru overnight,” Luna said. “We did hit some rough patches, never having done carry-out before — but we definitely improvised and adapted. Thankfully, we have a very creative team (family) that never stops, and our revamped to-go cocktails created quite a buzz, so we were able to reach new clientele and continue serving our regulars.”

Luna said with current regulations, Suerte is only able to operate through curbside orders, which their team feels is best for their business and both their staff and the RGV community.

“All of us in the industry need to do our part to get this virus under control,” Luna said.

“We’ve created a new curbside menu and we also plan virtual events so that our customers are able to have that Suerte experience — safely at home.”

When it comes to Suerte’s legacy, Luna said it’s an honor to be a part of it.

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Analisa Luna, Suerte’s bar manager and social media and event manager, has been a vital part of the Suerte team since they first opened back in 2013.

Luna said Suerte’s music selection can range from Bad Bunny to Chente (Vicente Fernández) to Drake. “[There’s] a little something for everyone!” she said. “I think that’s what makes us Suerte.”

At Suerte Bar & Grill, customers can expect to find a wide array of beverages on the drink menu with a Mexican Loteria theme. La Sirena is an ocean blue specialty cocktail made with fruit juices and rum topped with pineapple.

El Camaron is Suerte’s Michelada mix made to order with the customer's choice of beer finished with chamoy, house trechas, dried shrimp, and olives. From simple, classic drink recipes to sugary, sweet, and exotic flavors, Suerte has something on their menu to satisfy tastes across the spectrum.

Throughout this time, Suerte’s to-go cocktails have been a hit with customers.

From single beverages to sharable 32-ounce specialty drinks to their gallon margarita, guests can find the “cure” for their antojito, whatever it may be.

One of the newer drink recipes that can be found immaculately documented on Suerte’s Instagram is the El 956 Cuhh, which is a lime green colored tropical drink blend mixed with strawberry rum, topped with fresh pineapple and mango-flavored chamoy and trechas.

Suerte’s top-selling drink is their Mangonada, known as La Maceta on their menu, which is a mango margarita draped with chamoy and mangos with trechas.

Besides their wide array of drinks, Suerte also has a growing kitchen menu. Items range from appetizers and snack options like chips and salsa or edamame to spiro-papas and Mexican corn in a cup. Suerte also offers sandwiches and tortas, burgers, specialty fries, tacos and tostadas, wings, hotdogs, and even vegan and gluten-free options for those with restricted diets.

Karla Tovar, a Valley native, says her favorite thing on the menu is Suerte’s popular Tacos de Bistek. They are served as either five corn or three flour tortillas filled with bistek (thinly sliced beef filets) and served with onion, cilantro, limes, and green salsa on the side.

“I’ve been coming here for years and you

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