The “Better Block” project is a demonstration tool that temporarily redesigns an area to show the potential to create a great walkable, vibrant neighborhood center. The project creates a real life model for the community to actively engage in “complete streets” design concepts. Pop-up businesses are also developed to allow the community to see the potential for revitalized economic activity in an area.

This is part of a larger effort with Better Block projects now being performed throughout the country. The goal is to allow cities to rapidly implement infrastructure and policy changes that spur downtown revitalization.

“Brownsville has a historic downtown that is a real sense of pride and passion for our citizens.”, said Mayor Tony Martinez. “Better Block Market Square is an opportunity for our citizens to take a hands on approach to reviving our city center”.

Accelerating Brownsville’s downtown renewal will take various interconnected projects and concepts, many of which were reviewed during the Imagine Brownsville Comprehensive Plan process. One such interconnected concept is implementing “Complete Streets” standards. Complete Streets are designed and operated so they work for all users – pedestrians, bicyclists, motorist and transit riders of all ages. The City of Brownsville is hosting a public Complete Streets Workshop scheduled for May 16 at 6 p.m. at the Brownsville Event Center.

“For the last several decades, development in the U.S. has focused on cars, not people”, said Mike Gonzalez, Executive Director of United Brownsville. “Complete Streets designs puts the focus back on individuals and families by creating more enjoyable spaces balanced against the need for motorized transportation”. The Better Block Market Square project will transform Market Square for one day as a redesigned center with expanded retail amenities and “complete streets” concepts. This will include current restaurants with “cafe style” seating, new landscaping, expanded lanes for pedestrians and cyclist, and several new demonstrative retail businesses.

A key concept of Better Block is to move beyond artist renderings of what downtown could be, to actually taking action today by creating demonstrative changes to Market
Square. However, this project is beyond simply being a street festival or even a “beautification” effort. It actively questions outdated concepts and current development standards that may be stifling the very development our community wants to encourage.

“Planning for this project has been an exciting process with community leaders, city staff, business owners, historic preservation professionals and citizen volunteers all coming together to remake Market Square”, said City Commissioner Rose Gowen.

“This collaboration has allowed us to leverage resources and bring this demonstrative project to our citizens quickly and at very low cost.” Residents from Brownsville and surrounding communities are invited to visit Market Square during this time to interact with a redesigned city center and offer feedback. Bring a chair, chessboard, umbrella or musical instrument to help us revive our Market Square!

“In Celebration: Fifteen Years of Making Musicians” will feature performances by current and former students.

“As the title of the concert reflects, the Department of Music has spent 15 years making a wealth of professional musicians,” said Dianne Brumley, Director of Choral Studies and Conductor of the Master Chorale. “These young men and women represent not only a musical ‘best of the best,’ but also they have been instilled with character and leadership skills that will serve them and their communities throughout their careers.”

In May of 1997, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved the UTB Bachelor of Arts in Music degree. Leo Zamora, choir director at Brownsville’s Oliveria Middle School, was part of the crusade of students and faculty that went to Austin and convinced the state board the degree was needed.

“The degree was something students really wanted and it was nice to have the support of our professors and the administration,” said Leo Zamora. “After it was approved, my advisor said to me, ‘You’re about to graduate.’ I found out that I would be the first graduate; it was really exciting and I even got to sing the alma mater at graduation.”

Since then, the Department of Music has awarded more than 150 bachelor’s degrees and more than 20 master’s degrees. Graduates also have a 100 percent pass rate on the music portion of the state teacher certification exam.

Graduating senior Victoria Rodriguez is a music education voice major who has just completed her student teaching. The 2007 Brownsville Hanna High School graduate will be among the voice students in the Master Chorale for the concert.

“I am looking forward to ending my days with the Master Chorale by being a part of this special event,” Rodriguez said. “Beyond that, I am focusing on becoming an educator and being a bright spot in a student’s day. People will be trusting in me, in a sense, to help raise their children, and I will have a say in what kind of day a child has.”

Eradio Martinez, 2008 San Benito High School graduate, is another a music education major specializing in both voice and piano. He also just completed his student teaching. In addition to singing with the Master Chorale at the concert, Martinez will perform “La Campanella,” a piano solo by Franz Liszt.

At Commencement Saturday, May 19, eight music majors will walk across the stage to receive bachelor’s degrees and two will receive master’s degrees.

David Jimenez, percussion major, said he is looking forward to graduation.

“My professor Dr. Thomas Nevill has made a strong influence in my life,” Jimenez said. “I am very grateful for everything he has taught me and pushed me to accomplish. My advice to those contemplating this degree: If you are going to be a music major, make sure you are prepared to practice and practice.”

Rodriguez, along with two other music students, received a scholarship from Brownsville Episcopal Church of the Advent to be a member of the choir.

The organist at the same church, Ruben Rincon Jr., received his music education degree specializing in instrumental music in 2009. A 2004 Harlingen High School graduate, Rincon’s fulltime job is assistant choir director and piano teacher at Brownsville’s Lopez High School.

“We are so pleased to have found Ruben; he and our choral scholarship students make a tremendous contribution to the worship in our church through their talent and their dedication,” said Lindsay Irwin, Advent Music Director. “It has been my pleasure to work with all of them.”

Many and varied musical selections are planned for the Thursday, May 3 concert, including the Master Chorale, Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. Guests will also enjoy performances by some of the smaller ensembles, among them flute, clarinet, saxophone, marimba, brass, strings and voice.

“We have extremely talented students, a consistent curriculum and a dedicated faculty,” said Dr. Sue Zanne Urbis, Chair of the Department of Music. “We have 15 years of success to commemorate, and we hope for a packed house.”

For more information about the music programs, contact the Department of Music at 956-882-8247.

This outdoor concert is an extra addition to the Signature Series and is sponsored in part by the generosity of the Brownsville Society for the Performing Arts.

Wristbands for the concert are $30 and half price for children under 12 and are available for purchase in the box office of The Arts Center or online at utb.edu/artscenter

Fresh off their new album, “Infinitas Rapsodias,” Del Castillo began as a CD project for relatives in winter 2000 and is now an internationally-known band that blends flamenco, rock, Latin, blues and world music. Four members of the band – Mark del Castillo, Ricky del Castillo, Mike Zioli and Albert Besterio – played in the UTB and TSC university jazz bands in the 1980s. The university honored the band in 2010 with the Distinguished Alumnus award.

“We always look forward to coming back to Brownsville to play for our family and friends,” said Rick del Castillo from Berlin where they are completing a European tour. “Where else can you get world-class tamales?”

Between the release of their first album, “Brothers of the Castle,” back in 2001, to their 2006 release, “Brotherhood,” Del Castillo has received an astonishing 18 awards including SXSW/Austin Music “Album of the Year” Awards for “Vida” (2002) and “Brotherhood” (2006), “Band of the Year (2003),” ASCAP’S “Best Independent Group of the Year (2005),” and Austin Music Pundits “Best Live Act (2004).”

Based in Austin, the band is good friends with Film Director Robert Rodriguez who attended a Del Castillo concert in 2002 and a great friendship developed between the two. Rodriguez then enlisted the group to contribute music to the soundtracks of his movies and perform with him at the premieres. The group also counts Willie Nelson as a fan as well.

Joining Del Castillo will be Brownsville favorites and also from Austin, The Brew. Brothers Michael, Joe and Mark Rodriguez were born and raised in Brownsville.

“We are looking forward to seeing our family, friends and all of our fans,” said Mark Rodriguez. “We love Brownsville and always enjoy coming home.”

In the 1970s, the Rodriguez brothers and their late brother Rudy formed The Brew and eventually relocated to Austin in the early 1980s. They have since become an Austin original and a perennial favorite of audiences young and old.

The Brew has opened for such diverse notables as the Rippingtons, George Howard, Everette Harp, Jeff Lorber, Chuchito Valdez, Hiroshima, Acoustic Alchemy, Larry Corryel and Kirk Whalum. Currently working on their fifth album, their others works include “In the Beginning,” “Rio Vista,” “Latin Brew” and “Rumba Caliente.”

Joining Del Castillo and The Brew will be local band and favorite, The Connectors.

A wristband will be needed to enter the concert area. Patrons are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs or blankets to enjoy the outdoor concert. There will be food vendors, and no outside food and drinks will be allowed on the grounds.

Additional sponsors are Brownsville Living and the Mexican Consulate. Sponsorships are available which will include reserve seating. For information, call (956)882-8587.

The Signature Series will soon unveil the third season and already announced is a performance of the Ballet Folklórico de México for Oct. 22.

The new President of Rancho Viejo Resort & Country Club is Xavier Montemayor. Also, with over three decades of experience working with three of the hospitality industry’s leaders, Andy MacLellan, President and CEO of Scottford Enterprises, serves in a consulting capacity for Rancho Viejo. Scottford Enterprises has specialized in management, asset management and consulting on hotel and resort properties and communities, since 1995.

Montemayor states, “Rancho Viejo has so much to offer—from world-class golf and fine dining to an award-winning swimming pool and a variety of other activity options—that we want to be accessible to the general public, not just the community’s homeowners and existing corporate clients. We hope that our current remodel and proposed changes for the near future will entice locals, Texas travelers and Mexican nationals alike to join our country club and utilize all of the features of our resort.”

Along with this new attitude of accessibility, the new owners bring new membership opportunities. Membership now includes the following categories: Dining, Social, Recreational, Young Professional Golf (under 40 years of age), General Member Golf and Corporate (encompassing up to 10 memberships). Initiation fees span from $750 to $5,000 with monthly dues ranging from $55 to $375. While Dining Membership entitles one to restaurant access and delivery, Social Membership includes Dining privileges plus pool access and access to golf with special green fees. Recreational membership includes all Social privileges with two free green fees per month as well as access to the fitness facility, tennis courts, golf range and putting green.

Members and visitors alike will notice a wide variety of upgrades throughout the resort over the next couple of years. For starters, the two 18-hole championship golf courses (“El Angel” and “El Diablo”) will undergo extensive landscape work, return of the water features that were previously abandoned, new tee and yardage markers, new cups and flags, and continual repairs to infrastructure.

Besides golf, a main recreational draw to Rancho Viejo is the Alberca Grande, the Club’s 6,000-square-foot lagoon-shaped “fantasy” swimming pool featuring an impressive cascading waterfall, a swim-up bar, an oversized whirlpool spa and a kids’ play area. Nestled amidst the lush, tropical landscaping of palm, ebony, citrus trees and bougainvillea, it is a picturesque place to relax, get some sun and “take it easy”.

The immediate pool renovation will include a new pool deck, increased seating and family areas, and kitchen updates that will allow for an expanded poolside menu that will feature fresh fish tacos, cold ceviche, hot grilled items and more. The season opening of the pool is tentatively set for March 31, 2012, for the Semana Santa (Holy Week) break in Mexico.

According to Rancho Viejo’s General Manager, Kelly Cuff, “We hope the improvements to the golf courses and pool will bring an immediate influx of guests to our resort. With Spring Break right around the corner and the start of peak season at Memorial Day in May, we want to be prepared to offer our guests and potential members upgraded amenities. To that end, we are also planning changes to our guest rooms and restaurant.”

The hotel rooms at Rancho Viejo consist of 58 individual guest rooms housed inside 17 private villas. The Spanish Colonial styled villas are designed with a central suite and bedrooms on each side and are conveniently located by the lush fairways of the “El Diablo” golf course or the serene waters of Resaca del Rancho Viejo, a waterway that used to be a part of the Rio Grande River Delta.

The 58 individual guest rooms offer the privacy of a conventional hotel room with all the amenities of home. The Villa Room remodel will be a total remodel including new Saltillo tile floors, new carpet, European Kitchens, new furniture and beds, and upgrades in the bathrooms. Also, there will be an addition of high-speed wireless Internet access and new room phones.

To top off all of the improvements, Rancho Viejo will re-open their fine-dining restaurant, Casa Grande, for three nights a week plus Sunday Brunch. Casa Grande will still offer authentic regional specialties, classic continental cuisine and a connoisseur’s collection of fine wines and spirits, in an elegant setting. The restaurant upgrades will include new china, glass and silver as well as new menus created by the new Executive Chef, Ronald Ange.

In addition to all of the current proposed changes and improvement initiatives, other planned upgrades on the horizon include additions to the fitness facility, a new beach club and additional kids’ activities.

Carved through citrus groves and built along resacas, the ancient waterways of the Rio Grande Delta, Rancho Viejo Resort & Country Club is a golf-oriented community and resort boasting two championship 18-hole golf courses, tennis courts, a fantasy swimming pool, two restaurants, hotel accommodations, boating and other recreation. Rancho Viejo offers the area’s only private country club featuring a conference center with meeting and party rooms, including the area’s largest ballroom. Rancho Viejo stretches across 1,400 verdant acres in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of tropical Texas. At 26.04 degrees latitude, the Lower Rio Grande valley is at the southernmost point of the mainland United States, practically due west of Miami. For more information or to make reservations, visit www.rvrcc.com or call 956-350-4000 or 800-531-7400.

March’s kidDIY is entitled Luck of the Irish and will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 10. Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, kids ages 5 years and older will learn about Irish settlers in Brownsville as well as the history of Saint Patrick’s Day. After a short tour of the Brownsville Heritage Museum, children will make crafts that are sure to bring home the luck of the Irish!

This program is free and parents are welcomed to stay and craft with their children. For more information, please call Pati Molinas at 956-541-5560.

Critical Mass is a worldwide movement that at the very least, is setting a meeting time and place, generally the last friday of the month, and riding around your city with a group of fellow cyclists. Some critical mass groups take it one step further, and use their collective momentum to raise bicycle awareness and lobby for bike-friendly resources in their local government. The first recognized critical mass was in 1992 in San Francisco

As the Critical Mass rides organized by the Brownsville Bike Brigade have grown from 4 to 40 people, the goals of these citizen activists have grown as well. The Brownsville Bike Barn, a brainchild of the Brownsville Bike Brigade, is one of their recent initiatives to come to fruition. The group of cycling volunteers partnered with the Brownsville Parks and Recreation Dept. and local non-profit, Rio Bravo Wildlife Institute to make this cooperative effort a reality. The Bike Barn is located at Gonzalez Park in the Southmost community of Brownsville. This community resource will be a hub of education and events for cyclists of all ages, as well as a place to build your own bicycle if you do not yet have one. It seems Rosio and Cat’s vision of “everyone in Brownsville on a bicycle” has taken a huge leap forward in 2012.

The Bike Barn is a cooperative community endeavor, and needs the support of many to be a success. Your first chance to give back and donate old bikes and tools is this week at the four day Brownsville Bike Barn Inaugural Swap Meet. The Bike Brigade will be printing custom screen print t-shirts for donations.

Brownsville Bike Barn Inaugural Swap Meet
Brownsville Bike Barn at Gonzalez Park
24 Tony Gonzalez Drive, Brownsville, TX.
Wednesday, Feb. 22nd 4-7 pm
Thursday, Feb. 23rd 4-7 pm
Friday, Feb. 24th 4-7 pm
Saturday, Feb. 25th 8-11 am

The President’s Costume Ball & Fiesta de Bienvenida is a dinner-dance with guests dressing up in their best regional Mexican costume. This year Chef Ricardo will be catering a delectable dinner and guests will enjoy a music lineup that is sure to entertain. During the Awards Banquet various dignitaries will present awards and recognize Arath’s contribution to goodwill between the two countries.

Tickets are available at Brownsville Convention & Visitors Bureau Information Center for $100.00.

Arath De La Torre has currently taken Mexico by storm with his portrayal of Pancho Lopez, the zany but dreamy character in Mexico’s #1 rated soap opera, “Una Familia Con Suerte”, which has launched him into international stardom as he prepares to start a U.S. promotional tour that will take him to the biggest markets in the North American continent.

The Mr. Amigo Association chooses candidates from a wide range of fields based on criteria of endeavors and accomplishments as is reflected in the past Mr. Amigos which includes Angelica Vale, Cantinflas, Jose Suliman, Lucero, Lic. Miguel Aleman, Veronica Castro, and many, many more.

As the tradition continues, Arath De La Torre will make a great addition to the Mr. Amigo roster, so make sure that you catch a glimpse of this incredible actor, loving father and genuine “Mexicano” who wears his country’s color with pride and represents his land with dignity and dedication to his art.

BROWNSVILLE — Mayor Tony Martinez on Monday, February 8, will officially dedicate the month of February as “Brownsville WOW” month to help inaugurate a new city marketing strategy by the Brownsville Convention and Visitors Bureau (BCVB). Martinez will join BCVB president and CEO Mariano “Bean” Ayala at the official kickoff of the marketing campaign at Cobblehead’s Bar & Grill at 5:15 p.m. on February 8.

Martinez will be joined by members of the BCVB board of directors in the marketing kickoff announcement.

Ayala says it’s only fitting that Brownsville “WOW” begins in February, since this month is heavy on celebrations, including Charro Days, Mr. Amigo and Sombrero Fest. Ayala also notes the Air Fiesta in March, the Latin Jazz Festival in October and the Holiday Village in November and December.

“We are a city,” says Ayala, “that has for the longest time been promoted as On the Border, by the Sea and now we’re adding WOW, and its accompanying slogan “Always a Fiesta.”

BCVB is located at the corner of Ruben Torres and Expressway 77 and its headquarters have been decorated with festive “banderas” to help get the WOW message to the public. BCVB is charged with marketing the City of Brownsville throughout the U.S. and foreign countries.

Martinez joins Ayala in encouraging businesses and individuals who may be interested in helping to promote WOW to call the BCVB at 546-3721 for information in acquiring decorations and banners.

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The team will make trips to Brownsville, Harlingen and McAllen on Feb. 1-2. A summary of the team’s activities and the players participating are listed below and a list of stops open to the public is posted at www.astros.com/careavan. Please note that players may be added and are subject to change.

Schedule

Wednesday, February 1 – Brownsville, TX

Jose Altuve, Jimmy Paredes, Fernando Rodriguez, Alex Trevino

Chick-fil-A
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch service for fans
Open to fans and all media

Lucio Middle School Welcome to Brownsville Reception
1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Fielder’s Choice assembly
2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Open to all media

CAREavan Baseball and Softball Clinic
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Open only to pre-registered youth players and all media

Academy Sports + Outdoors
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Open to fans and all media

Founded by Choice Hotels International (NYSE: CHH), Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H), InterContinental Hotels Group (NYSE: IHG), Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) and Wyndham Hotel Group, part of the Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), or their respective affiliates, and led by a highly regarded management team, Roomkey.com provides travelers a search and book experience tailored for ease of hotel shopping through an uncluttered and trustworthy site. It will give consumers confidence that they have made the right choice by providing accurate hotel information straight from the source. From searching through to booking directly with the hotel, Roomkey.com enables consumers to search, book and relax.

This unique offering will quickly evolve to offer independent reviews, and the ability to compare, plan and share with friends and family. Room Key will initially focus on serving U.S. travelers, followed shortly after launch by the expansion of the site to English-speaking regions outside the U.S.

John F. Davis III, a highly experienced hospitality industry visionary with a history of entrepreneurial successes, is Chief Executive Officer of Room Key. He leads a veteran executive team with deeply relevant and complementary experience and accomplishments, including Chief Marketing Officer Stephany Verstraete and Chief Technology Officer J. Kurt Zimmer.

The Company acquired its technology platform from hotelicopter in an asset deal that closed last year. This innovative and flexible hotel search and direct connect platform allows Room Key to evolve and enrich the user experience quickly. Additionally, hotelicopter’s affiliate platform will provide destination marketing organizations with a hotel marketing platform that helps drive more direct bookings to their local hotels, now under the Room Key Solutions brand.

Mr. Davis said, “Finding the right hotel is complex and, unlike booking a flight or reserving a car, it is a personal decision process – one which no one understands better than hoteliers. We believe Roomkey.com will provide consumers with an innovative resource that will give them unprecedented confidence in their booking decisions by fulfilling their hotel search needs with comprehensive and trusted content, and over time, through additional features such as the ability to connect and share their plans with family and friends – all provided through a simple and flexible site experience.”

Robert McDowell, Senior Vice President, Global Distribution, Choice Hotels International, said, “We at Choice are thrilled to be a part of Room Key alongside these five other global hotel companies. In the face of a staggering number of online booking options, our goal is to make the experience of finding the right hotel as personal and enjoyable as the experience of staying in one.”

Chuck Sullivan, Senior Vice President, Global Online Services, Hilton Worldwide, said, “Hilton Worldwide is extremely pleased to join this unique venture that will provide customers with a wide range of travel options and the confidence that they will receive exceptional rates by booking directly with suppliers through Room Key.”

John Wallis, Global Head of Marketing and Brand Strategy, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, said, “With an experienced management team in place and a compelling search tool unique to the market today, Room Key is well positioned for success and will quickly become a large scale marketplace offering highly qualified hotel booking leads to our owners and franchisees. We welcome and encourage additional hospitality companies to become commercial partners with Room Key.”

Steve Sickel, Senior Vice President, Distribution and Relationship Marketing, InterContinental Hotels Group, said, “IHG is always seeking new ways to innovate in order to consistently deliver a world class experience for guests – from the moment they choose to book one of IHG’s seven hotel brands, through to the quality of their stay and beyond. Like so many of IHG’s online innovations, Roomkey.com is another industry first, offering guests breadth of choice alongside all the benefits from booking directly through our own websites.”

Shafiq Khan, Senior Vice President of eCommerce, Marriott International, said, “Room Key’s new and unique offering will embody the best of what hotel company websites offer consumers, giving them confidence in their booking decisions – a personalized and welcoming experience that offers flexibility, accuracy, and benefits of booking with the hotel companies’ proprietary sites. In addition, the immediate scale of this venture will deliver meaningful value to our owners and franchisees by showcasing their properties. This is an exciting new venture, and Marriott International looks forward to actively supporting Room Key’s growth.”

Flo Lugli, EVP Marketing, Wyndham Hotel Group, commented, “This offering will be of great value for our owners and for consumers as well. The Room Key website will enable our owners and franchisees to expand the reach of our own, cost-effective direct booking channels, and will also provide consumers with all of the information they’ll need to have confidence in their booking decisions. We believe consumers will value the relevant pricing information, independent reviews, and in-depth property information the site will offer, and we are proud to be part of an effort that brings such clear benefits to the industry and consumers.”