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Slice Of Life

Labor of Love: Douglas Schmidt

  Doug Schmidt, a volunteer at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, assists Valley Baptist Newborn Intensive Care Unit nurse Yvette De La Rosa in holding newborn baby Israel Ayden Gonzalez of San Benito. Schmidt, a Winter Texan at Park Place Estates RV Resort in Harlingen, says he enjoys helping nurses and parents with holding the newborn babies and feeding them — and is staying busy this winter, as Valley Baptist has the only Newborn ICU in the Harlingen area.
Winter Texan volunteers time to care for premature babies

When Douglas Schmidt walked into the nursery, the nurses gawked.“I don’t think they saw a man in there before,” said Schmidt, a retired heavy equipment operator from Wood Lake, Minn.For three months, Schmidt has been caring for...... Full story

Life’s a Stage: Frank Garcia

Frank Garcia is a senior at Lyford High School who has dreams of becoming an actor or theater arts teacher.

Frank Garcia is a senior at Lyford High School and he has big plans for the future.Frank is torn between becoming an actor or a theater arts teacher.“I want students to feel the same joy I feel for acting,” Frank said. “Some people...... Full story

Nature's Beauty: Virginia Kinzer

Virginia Kinzer, who has a degree in art education, has turned her passion for creativity into a lifelong hobby, creating oil and acrylic landscape paintings.  Examples of her work are currently on display at the D'Arte Center in downtown Harlingen. (Dina Arevalo/Valley Morning Star)
Artist shares special gift for painting scenery

Water gushes over steep banks into a pristine blue river wandering through tall cliffs.So powerful is the painting “Feeding the Nanana River” on display and for sale at D’Arte Center at 115 E. Jackson Avenue in Harlingen, the...... Full story

Autumn Wonder: Kathy Rinearson’s

Kathy Rinearson, an artist from Indiana, has several paintings on display in the Rio Grande Valley, including at Harlingen's D'Arte Center on Jackson Avenue and the South Padre Convention Center.
8-year painter displays artwork across country

Trees dappled with bright yellow rise from a colorful forest floor along a country road, drawing the viewer into a spell of autumn wonder.Kathy Rinearson’s work “Autumn in Michigan” stands proudly in the window of D’Arte...... Full story

Power teacher: Sandra Caglia

  Sandra Caglia a fifth-grade teacher at Dr. Rodriguez Elementary School, uses a technique that involves gestures and performance to engage students, known as power teaching. She is a second-year teacher who came to Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District through the Teach for America program.
Caglia uses unique method to help her students learn

Scanning back and forth across a Dr. Rodriguez Elementary classroom filled with fifth-grade students, all sitting attentively in grouped tables, Sandra Caglia rhythmically taught a lesson about the solar system.The second-year teacher, who came to...... Full story

Found Passion: Greg Rustico

Clockwise from left, Jose Luis Almazan, Luis Daniel Munoz and Luke Disque huddle with their basketball coach, Greg Rustico, who prides himself in coaching the Saint Anthony elementary team.
Volunteer teacher travels, educates Valley students

There was no time for Greg Rustico to get adjusted to the Lower Rio Grande Valley when he first arrived to begin his teaching assignment at St. Anthony Catholic School.An Alliance for Catholic Education teacher — a position similar to Teach...... Full story

Family Ring: The Davidson Family

Pat, left, Tess, and Mabelle together form Pat Davidson and Family, a performance trio that wows visitors at a wide variety of events with juggling, unicycle riding and hula hooping.

The Davidson family has transformed their love of performing into a business and a true bonding experience, simply by having fun and doing what they love.The trio, made up of father, mother and daughter, go by the moniker Pat Davidson and Family....... Full story

Advocate for education: Lorezno Hernandez

Lorezno Hernandez is the head custodian at Dishman Elementary School and the public relations officer for the Harlingen branch of the Texas State Teachers Association. Last fall, he was recognized for his commitment to serving public schools, winning first prize at the local and regional level for educational support staff excellence.
Hernandez recognized for commitment to public schools

Standing in front of a crowd of teachers, parents and education professionals from across the Rio Grande Valley last spring, Lorezno Hernandez did his best to stay calm and represent his professional organization well.As a result of impending budget...... Full story

Valuable Experience: Gabriela Contreras

Gabriela Contreras, a San Benito High School graduate, is studying biophysics at the University of Texas at Brownsville and is shadowing a professor who is working on obesity and diabetes research. (Courtesy photo)
Contreras studies physics, researches obesity, diabetes

Gabriela Contreras learned quickly there is more to research than reading. Contreras, 20, is a San Benito sophomore working on a bachelor’s degree in physics — specializing in biophysics — at the University of Texas at...... Full story

Class Act: Emma LePore

Emma LePore, a fourth-grade bilingual teacher at Dr. Rodriguez Elementary, came to Harlingen through the Teach for America program. She says she can't imagine any career outside the classroom. (Courtesy Photo)
Young woman finds niche as educator

Growing up in Connecticut and attending college in Washington, D.C., the Rio Grande Valley was a distant land for Emma LePore, a fourth-grade bilingual teacher at Dr. Rodriguez Elementary.But now LePore, a second-year teacher who came to Harlingen...... Full story

Making a note of it: Don Clifford

Don Clifford writes his best work while tucked away inside his “think factory,” a small, dimly lit office at his home. The retired Air Force veteran spends his time working in his vegetable garden when he is not typing away inside of his “factory.”
Clifford authors book set from his around-the-world experience

As an Air Force officer, Don Clifford served in numerous places throughout the world.He was in The Congo, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel, Australia, and New Zealand, among others.Throughout this time, he took down notes...... Full story

Music to his ears: Dennis Mitchell

Dennis Mitchell was at the helm of the South Texas Chorale board for 20 years. Mitchell learned to play several instruments as a child, but discovered a passion for choral music as an adult.
Mitchell heads largest South Texas adult chorale 20 years

Growing up, Dennis Mitchell played numerous instruments from harmonica to guitar.However, it wasn’t until he was an adult that he used his voice as an instrument or showed the slightest bit of interest in choirs or choral music. He eventually...... Full story

Bringing up Bunnies: Ashley Wallace

Ashley Wallace, a Harlingen High School South student, uses her time raising rabbits as a growing experience as the 16-year-old prepares for life after high school. Wallace has bred rabbits for more than four years now, periodically entering local livestock shows with her furry contenders.
Harlingen South senior raises rabbits for stock shows

Ashley Wallace says breeding and raising rabbits might seem like a no-brainer, but she said the hobby has taught her discipline, determination and given her confidence as she prepares to head out into the college world.Ashley, 16, a Harlingen High...... Full story

Whittle Work: Dorothy Richter

Dorothy Richter and her husband Marvin have turned the woodworking shop at Park Place Estates into an attraction that helps bring Winter Texans back to the RV park every year.

For about 20 years, Dorothy Richter has helped run one of the busiest woodworking shops in the Rio Grande Valley.At Park Place Estates, she and her husband Marvin turned the shop into an attraction that helps bring Winter Texans back to the RV park...... Full story

Of Course: Joe Powell

Joe Powell is the resident golf pro at The Palms at Mid Valley golf course in Mercedes.
Palms at Mid Valley golf pro made career out of love for game

Many would say Joe Powell has one of the best jobs around.And Powell’s not one to disagree.The El Paso native has served as the golf professional at The Palms at Mid Valley golf course in Mercedes since it opened in 1995.He’s overseen...... Full story

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