Community
Community news from McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley.
CommunitySounds for Pets: Why Some Owners Share Music with Their Dogs
Pet owners are increasingly sharing music with their dogs to create calming environments and aid in training. Music can help distract dogs from stressors or ease anxiety, but its effectiveness varies based on the dog's temperament, the type of music, and the volume. Some shelters, like High Country Humane in Arizona, play classical music to reduce stress among dogs. Experts suggest that while music can be beneficial, it should not replace professional training or treatment for behavioral issues. Owners are encouraged to observe their pets' reactions to music and consult certified trainers for behavioral concerns.
CommunitySan Benito to host inaugural conjunto music festival in November
San Benito will host its first conjunto music festival on November 20 and 21, 2026, at Stookey Park. This event, organized by the Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame and Museum, celebrates the city's rich musical heritage, being the birthplace of iconic artists like Freddy Fender and Charley Crocket. The festival will showcase female conjunto artists and living legends, with a daily admission fee of $10. Proceeds from the festival will support the museum's operating costs and educational programs throughout the year, according to museum executive officer Joe Avila.
CommunityApplications open for back-to-school shopping spree hosted by In Cause Inc.
In Cause Inc., a nonprofit organization, is organizing a back-to-school shopping spree for 15 students in Hidalgo County. This initiative marks the first of its kind for the organization, which has been supporting families in the Rio Grande Valley for 12 years through various programs. Students in grades 5 to 11 from Hidalgo County Precinct 2 are eligible to apply. CEO David Irizarry emphasized the importance of this event for families facing financial challenges. The application deadline is Sunday, with selected families notified the following Monday. The shopping spree is scheduled for August 8, 2026.
CommunityVeterans deserve better: Marine veteran demands repairs for memorial in Mission
Marine veteran Domingo De La Garza is urging Mission city officials to repair a deteriorating veterans' memorial at Leo Peña “La Placita” Park, located at Conway Avenue and 9th Street. He discovered the memorial's poor condition through social media and was disheartened by its peeling paint and cracked monuments. De La Garza emphasized that veterans deserve better treatment and expressed disappointment in the current state of the memorial, built in the early 2000s. The city acknowledged the issue and is collaborating with the ACE Club, a volunteer group, to address the concerns and maintain the memorial's integrity.
Community86th annual Texas International Fishing Tournament brings visitors to South Padre Island
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The 86th annual Texas International Fishing Tournament, or TIFT, is officially underway. TIFT brings as many as 1,500 anglers and more than 500 boats to South Padre Island and Port Isabel. “A lot of these people come far and wide, you know all across the state, to be here,
CommunityWild Christmas and Wildbright Launch Holiday Season with New Local Experiences
The City of McAllen has announced the themes for its upcoming holiday festivities: 'Wild Christmas' for the 2026 McAllen Holiday Parade and 'Wildbright' for the South Pole Illuminated Festival. These events aim to celebrate the connection between holiday magic and McAllen's green spaces, inviting families to enjoy wildlife-themed experiences. The parade will feature illuminated floats and giant character balloons, with Michael Irvin and Julián Gil as hosts. Additionally, families can nominate pets for the first-ever Animal Honorary Grand Marshal. The festivities will kick off on November 27 with Wildbright, featuring light displays and an ice-skating rink.
CommunityRichard Moore Outdoor Report: South Texas Sunrise
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — There is no better way to start the day than with a beautiful sunrise, and the Rio Grande Valley displays some of the most breathtaking imaginable. From the shores of South Padre Island to the senderos of Wild Horse Desert, sunrise offers daybreak magic to the early riser. South Texas is renowned for its stunning
CommunityEdinburg Hosts Missoula Children’s Theatre “Red Truck Tour”, Aug 10th-15th
Edinburg is hosting the Missoula Children’s Theatre Red Truck Tour from August 10 to 15, providing students in grades 1 to 12 the chance to audition, rehearse, and perform a musical titled "Beauty Lou and the Country Beast" in just five days. The program includes auditions on August 10 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Edinburg ACE Center, with a limit of 100 participants. Rehearsals will take place from August 10 to 14 at the Edinburg Municipal Auditorium, with a participation fee of $30. Additionally, interactive workshops will be held from August 11 to 13, open to all community members.
CommunityAfter 150 Years, Hidden Book Found in Chimney Returned to Library
An Australian public library received the return of a book that was estimated to be 150 years overdue, and there is no way to locate the borrower who failed to return it, a librarian reported on Thursday. The book, 'Antiquities of Athens,' published in 1858, was returned to the library in the coastal town of Kiama last week by a man who found it during recent renovations in his home, inside a tea box embedded with bricks in a sealed chimney, explained Kiama Library Director Michelle Hudson. 'We have never had anything so old returned to us,' Hudson stated. 'I follow many libraries on social media, and often things that are 30 or 40 years old come up when they are clearing out estates and such.' The person who found the book did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.
CommunityGovernor Abbott Marks Historic Opening of Bob’s House of Hope
Governor Abbott celebrated the opening of Bob’s House of Hope in Justin, Texas, the first safe house in the U.S. dedicated to male survivors of human trafficking. He emphasized Texas' leadership in fighting human trafficking and highlighted recent legislation that imposes harsher penalties on traffickers, including first-degree felony charges and eliminating parole for those targeting children or disabled individuals. The Governor was accompanied by various officials and advocates, underscoring the importance of providing trauma-informed care and support services for survivors. Bob’s House of Hope aims to fill a crucial gap in the national response to commercial sexual exploitation.
CommunityThe Kitchen Heats Up on Top Chef VIP: Telemundo Announces New Premiere Date
Telemundo announces that the highly anticipated fifth season of Top Chef VIP has a new premiere date: Tuesday, August 11 at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT. Hosted by Carmen Villalobos, 20 celebrities will face the most demanding culinary challenge on Hispanic television in a competition filled with unexpected ingredients, high-level challenges, emotional eliminations, and moments that will surprise both inside and outside the kitchen. Only one competitor will take home the coveted title of Top Chef VIP and the grand prize of $200,000. Top Chef VIP is a production of RCN for Telemundo based on NBCUniversal Formats' Top Chef, supervised by Adrián Santucho, Senior Vice President of Unscripted Content, along with Pancho Calvo, Vice President of Unscripted, and Luciano Cardinali as the executive producer of the competition. Which celebrities will be on Top Chef VIP? These celebrities will heat up the kitchen in search of impressing the demanding jury, composed of Antonio 'Toño' de Livier, Chef Tita, and Chef Betty Vázquez: Athenea Pérez, Aylín Mujica, Carlos 'Caramelo' Cruz, Carlos Ferro, Carlos Ponce, Diana Haro, Gaby Borges, Guty Carrera, José Joel, Kelly Ríos, Lupillo Rivera, Mauricio Garza, Miguel Arce, Nailea Norvind, Nievelis González, Ninel Conde, Pedro Luis 'La Divaza' Figueroa, Roberto Romano, Sheynnis Palacios, and Stephanie Salas. How to watch Top Chef VIP? Audiences can enjoy episodes of Top Chef VIP on Telemundo or catch up through the Telemundo app, available on Google Play Store and Apple Store. Episodes will also be available the next day on the streaming service Peacock. Viewers can visit Telemundo.com/TopChefVIP and the YouTube channel @TelemundoEntretenimiento for content related to the competition, as well as use the hashtags #TopChefVIP5 on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X via @TelemundoRealities. The show is also broadcast through Telemundo Internacional for all of Latin America.
CommunityPharr PD Invites Community to Pharr Night Out August 4th
Pharr Night Out is scheduled for Tuesday, August 4, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Pharr Town Center's Main Event Parking Lot, located at 500 N. Jackson Rd. This event, organized by the Pharr Police Department and the City of Pharr, aims to strengthen community ties and promote public safety. Attendees can enjoy live music, food, market vendors, and free school supplies while supplies last. There will also be activities for children and opportunities to engage with local law enforcement and city officials. This family-friendly event is free and encourages neighborhood unity.
CommunityUTRGV marketing student helping expand Roma Birding Center and Museum
Brizeida Ramos, a 20-year-old marketing student at UTRGV, is dedicated to enhancing the Roma Birding Center and Museum. Her passion for local history, instilled by her father, drives her efforts as an intern. Ramos is working with volunteers to modernize museum materials and establish a structured volunteer program to ensure long-term sustainability. She has presented her ideas to city officials, including Assistant City Manager Alfonso Ramirez Jr., who is eager to implement them. The city plans to recruit more volunteers from local schools and nonprofits, aiming to expand the museum's reach and engagement in the community.
CommunityHarlingen seeks public input on proposed indoor rec center plan
Harlingen is inviting residents to provide feedback on a proposed indoor recreation center, with the deadline for input set for Wednesday night. The planned facility at the Wilson Sports Complex will feature a multi-purpose gym, exercise room, and indoor track. Parks and Recreation Director Juan Mendiola emphasized the importance of community involvement in shaping the center's design. The city anticipates learning in January if it will receive a state grant to assist with funding. An online survey link is available for residents to share their thoughts on the project.
CommunityDonna museum set to open 50-year-old time capsule
The Donna Fletcher Museum in Donna will unveil a time capsule sealed in 1976 this Friday, July 31, at 10 a.m. This event marks the 50th anniversary of the capsule's sealing during the U.S. Bicentennial celebrations. Elvira De La Garza Tovar, the museum's director, expressed personal significance in the event, noting her graduation year coincided with the capsule's sealing. The museum also invites the community to contribute items for a new time capsule, which will be opened in another 50 years, continuing the tradition of preserving local history.
CommunityCity leaders unveil 2026 McAllen Holiday Parade theme
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- The most wonderful time of the year made an early arrival in McAllen on Wednesday. City leaders gathered on Wednesday at Quinta Mazatlan to get a kick-start on the festivities for the annual McAllen Holiday Parade. The theme of the holiday parade was also announced: Wild Christmas. Wild Christmas is meant
CommunityPublic survey aims to bring recreation center to Harlingen
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- The city of Harlingen is calling on residents to participate in a survey to help bring a proposed recreation center to the Wilson Sports Complex. The survey is part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Local Parks Indoor Recreation Grant to move forward with bringing the recreation center to life.
CommunityAylín Mujica Returns to Top Chef VIP After the Death of Her Eldest Son, Mauro
Aylín Mujica has rejoined Top Chef VIP, the successful Telemundo reality show set to premiere its fifth season this September, following the death of her eldest son, Mauro Menéndez. Her return surprised her fellow contestants and the production team, who welcomed her in Colombia, where the show is filmed, with expressions of love and support, as the actress shared on her Instagram stories. 'I have to continue with my life because that’s what Mauro would have wanted the most,' the Cuban-born actress and host responded to the wave of comments and criticism on social media. This strength she has shown has allowed her to face her grief and support her other two children, who are affected by the unexpected passing of their brother Mauro in Barbados.
CommunityWeslaco salon offering free back-to-school haircuts for students
The Hair Bar by Monika in Weslaco is offering free haircuts for students ahead of the new school year. This event will take place on Saturday, August 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 3924 N. Westgate Dr. Haircuts will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, with three stylists aiming to provide up to 100 haircuts. Owner Monika Galvan expressed gratitude for the opportunity to support the community, noting that even a $15 haircut can be a burden for families with multiple children. The service is available for students from kindergarten through 12th grade.