UTRGV Planetarium

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything; mainly because I haven’t come across much worth putting up. We’ve been busy and all that. I’m anticipating many new postings will come from things in the UTRGV / Edinburg area since I started working there. 

As I was walking across campus I came across their planetarium with a we’re open sign. I was surprised they were open all day long. So, I decided to stop by and get some details.  Here’s what I found. 

It’s free and open to the public. 

They have 20+ shows to choose from. It’s not all about astronomy. 

They load a movie for one person up to 40.

It’s open Monday through Friday when the campus is open. 8-5.

Every Tuesday night weather permitting. They set up a large telescope in the football field for people to see through. 

For more information you can contact them at 956-665-7088 or planetarium@utrgv.edu.

Valley Vista Mall in Harlingen

The opposite of what the Valley Vista Mall look like.

If your are considering taking a trip to the Valley Vista Mall in Harlingen, because you have never been and you think it might be cool, DON'T. I honestly can't think of any reason to travel to the Valley Vista Mall from any other town. Either go to Sunrise Mall in Brownsville or La Plaza Mall in McAllen. There is nothing VVM has that the other's don't. You can't even people watch properly. Another words it's usually just an empty. 

I'm still shocked Valley Vista Mall is still open. The place is usually a ghost mall during the week. The only people I usually see in there are teenagers visiting their friends that work at the little kiosk in the middle. Stores are always in and out of business at that location. I've heard it's because the rent is really high. Nothing like paying for prime location and not being one. I guess if Sun Valley Mall can stay open any place can.

It's actually quite funny how the stores around the mall are doing very well for themselves. The strip centers next to the mall seem to bring a bunch of traffic to them. However, people avoid the mall. It seems like Valley Vista Mall has the shopping plague or something. 

I suppose stores in VVM make their money like t-shirt stores on the island do. They lose money all year long until the right season comes along to make their whole year; Spring Break for the Island and Christmas for the mall. There are still hordes of people who come from Mexico to visit the mall in Harlingen during holidays. I'm not sure if they just live closer to Harlingen or they are trying to escape the stampede at the better malls. La Plaza Mall during Christmas can be a madhouse. 

So, just to recap. Valley Vista Mall = Nothing Special + A Waste of Time.

Anonymous Warns The Rio Grande Valley

I visited Facebook this morning. There was an article from Valley Central declaring, "Federal agents arrest Starr County narcotics investigator." This follows on the backs of numerous corruption allegations across the Rio Grande Valley. It seems every month someone is being arrested for corruption. Upon a quick search on Google about corruption in the Rio Grande Valley, I came across, "Anonymous Message to Rio Grande Valley 2014" on YouTube. I'm surprised I had missed it. 

Anonymous has received a reputation for defending the everyday man's interest though online means. However, I feel the legend has outgrown the fact. I, for one, would love to see a group of people who brought down the evil people of this world via the Internet and make this a better place to live. I can think of better places to focus on than The Valley: North Korea and Iran to start. However, I don't think everything you see from Anonymous is what it appears. Let me explain.

Anonymous is an ideology not a specific group of people. If you feel you want to help "them," then you jump on the your computer and read through their chat groups and find out what you can do to help. So basically, anyone can say they are part of Anonymous. 

Back to this video I saw from last year. The video makes many great points to the corruption in the Rio Grande Valley. Do I believe the video is going to make any impact? No. Do I believe the people in the midst of corruption are going to run for cover or beg Anonymous to leave them alone? No. For all we know, someone was bored one day and put this video together. Honestly, to me, it looks like someone took a previous Anonymous video and voice recorded over it. 

I would recommend taking the time to watch the video if you are not familiar with the corruption in our area. Whether it is from the real heavy hitters in Anonymous or not, it brings up some good information. You might learn something.

Free Jiu-Jitsu Training

I heard through the grapevine about free Jiu-Jitsu training her in the Rio Grande Valley. Free Jiu-Jitsu training sounded too good to be true. So, I reached out to one of the instructors to get more details. Mr. Eric Martinez is a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and one of the trainers

What experience does the instructors have?

Our classes are primarily taught by myself and Dr. Robert Schweller, our faculty advisor. I have been involved in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for the past 8 years and am a purple belt. I love teaching and helping others. I have been running this club successfully for the past 2 years. In the past, I have also had experience teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as the instructor for the kid's program at Paragon RGV Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Dr. Robert Schweller, is a fantastic grappler. He has been involved in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for over 10 years. On top of being an excellent professor at the University, he is great at breaking down and teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. We also encourage other high-ranked members to help and teach lessons.'

Do you focus on Gi or No Gi? 

Almost all of the moves we teach are applicable to Gi and No-Gi. We encourage members to bring their Gi, if they own one. I believe in the value of the Gi as a training tool. We leave it up to the members to decide whether they want to spar Gi or No-Gi.

Where can I buy one and how much should I expect to spend?

You can buy a great low-cost gi from dogoapparel.com. The owner is a local gentleman who is a great martial artist. There is a very good gi on his website for $74.99. You can also buy one from mmawarehouse.com. They have great deals on Gi's. They will start at around $99 for a single weave. Locally, you can also check out Quad Force Fitness Couture in Mcallen.

Can any age participate?

Only 18+ may participate in practice sessions. There is no upper limit to age. We have had a gentleman come in who is 69 years old (and a purple belt!) come in and it was an absolute delight

How much is it? And who can attend?

Practices are free! Anyone 18+ can attend. You do not have to be a student. I cannot stress this enough. If you are 18+, you may join us. This club is open to the general public. You do not need any experience in martial arts. We will teach you from the ground up.

What is your view point on tournaments?

For the purposes of our club: competing in tournaments is not required but encouraged. We have people who are here to learn self-defense, or to just have fun, and some to compete. We want to accommodate everyone. Practice and competition are completely different things. The preparation involved in competing brings out the best in people. However, competition can be very taxing on the body. A lot of people just want to have fun and we will fully support that. Competitors, however, are what move the needle. They bring prestige. They bring accolades. Competition is what will serve as the primary reason that this club will be funded by the University over the next school year. Competition is the benchmark that outsiders use when evaluating sports groups. We will commit to providing partial funding for entry fees, travel, and transportation to UTRGV students who wish to compete in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments. Although participation in practices is open to the public, the funding opportunity is only open to UTRGV students.

Does attending the class help towards any type of college credit?

No. This is a sports club and not sponsored by any of the educational departments in the University.

What happens to the club wants the lead people graduate out?

Only time will tell. We are fully committed to providing the highest level of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training that we can. On top of that, we are fully committed to providing the highest levels of leadership training that we can. We currently have a group of 30 people interested in competing over the next year. I'm confident we should be able to transition the leadership over the next year to the best from this group

For more info you can contact Eric Martinez at on Facebook

Kid Fit in Harlingen

Had a chance to attend Kid Fit today. After last weeks Autism Day turn out, I expected it to be dead. Waking up to rainy weather only increased my expectation to be disappointed. Happily, I was wrong. There was a great turn out and the weather changed for the better. 

The vendors were very friendly and many had a chance to do demos of their services in front of the main stage. A company called Life of the Party came with many characters. It really helped to build a fun atmosphere to the entire event. At first, I thought the characters were hired by the city and I was thinking it was a great idea by the city.  I found out later it was Life of the Party because there were right by our favorite martial arts school's kiosk, Honorable Warrior Martial Arts. 

I took my son with autism to the event. I was hoping to get him in a bounce castle because it's a good thing for him to play on and I don't have to worry about him running off when he's in one. Unfortunately, I had to register for a paper bracelet for him. I tried to explain that he wasn't going to wear it. It fell on deaf ears. It came off multiple times rather quickly. Then I had to carry him to multiple vendors that he had no interest in. He had to get 8 punch holes in the paper bracelet, so that, he could get a blue bracelet to get in the bouncing castle. So, as my son was highly agitated about the whole thing. I had to wait for these poor vendor's to give their pitch just to get whole punches. I'm not sure who it was worse for; them, me, or my son. 

I would highly recommend people to show up next year if you haven't been. It's a great cause and a lot of fun for almost everyone. 

Autism Awareness Day in Harlingen

Last year my wife and three boy went to the Autism Awareness Day in Harlingen and had a great time. They were there for 2 hours and all 4 of them had a great time. It's hard to have all 4 of them have a great time at anything. So, this year I looked forward to going with them since I didn't have to work on Saturday. 

Sadly, I was disappointed. There was only about 12 vendors there and some of them didn't seem to have anything to do with autism, such as, taxes and banking. I have nothing against the taxes and banking companies. I just wish more autism-centric vendors would have been there. 

As I look back at the advertisement, I'm left wondering what happened. The flier stated:

Fun for the Whole Family

My 9 year old had some fun line dancing in the street with about 12 other people. There really wasn't much else for the rest of us. 

Meet First Responders 

There were a few nice police officers there. Harlingen PD does a good job mixing with local activities. I feel comfortable with them there and not like I'm going to be the next story about police brutality on the national news. 

There was a fire truck as expected but I didn't see anyone around it. It was away from the rest of the activities and didn't see like it was open to the public. I was hoping my son could get on it. He really loves being in the front seat of cars. I think he would have had a blast in the fire truck. 

I never saw the ambulance.

Learn About Services in the Community

There was a few doctors offices and a dentist office there who were supposed to be autism friendly. They also had the ID station from the police department, which apparently you have to go get printed on your own somewhere else. If the event was to show what the city offered for autistic children, then it's basically zero. At least I know some of the Harlingen PD knows about autism, unlike some police officers in other cities who have a reputation for shooting people with autism because they aren't following orders.

I'm not sure why this year was so different than the last but I would like to thank everyone who did show up and those who tried to make it work. 

Free Paper Shredding by the City of McAllen

Free Paper Shredding by the City of McAllen

The city of McAllen offers free paper shredding at

4101 N. Bentsen Rd,
McAllen, TX. 78504
956-681-4050

Office hours are
Mon-Fri: 8:00 to 4:30
Sat: 8:00 to 12:00

From what I've been told, the paper shredding is open to everyone and not just McAllen residents.

They stated from a phone call we placed that the drop off and shredding procedures are secure. If you have doubts, which I probably would,  you can watch. I'm doubting the people handling the shredding have any government security clearance or a thorough background check. I'm hoping I'm wrong.

I would have to say this free paper shredding offered by McAllen is awesome. If you're like me, you are overwhelmed with the avalanche of mail that comes in everyday. Also, due to the constant threat of ID theft, I don't want to throw away anything that has my name or personal information on it. Even if it's a marketing letter with my name and address on the envelope, I would feel better having it shredded.

I tried using some of those home shredders from Office Depot. They always got jammed and usually wont take more than two papers at a time. Due to my impatience or the poor quality of the shredders, they usually broke fairly quickly and became useless.

I for one am going to utilize McAllen's service.

Rio Grande Valley Outlets.

I wanted to entitle this article Rio Grande Valley Outlets Scam but I don't like it when headlines mislead. Let me explain. The outlets are a nice outdoor mall. However, we have been programmed over time to think outlets = deeply discounted prices for major brands. This is just not the case any more. When outlets first started out, you could go and find some really good deals. People didn't mind driving hours because it was worth it. After more and more people started to travel to outlet sites, the prices continued to go up and up. With outlet stores popping up all over the country and being hugely successful, the outlet store owners have discovered they could lure people on reputation alone and not provide the deep discounts price people were originally searching for. So, I feel the word outlet is misused just as the word free is misused in today's marketplace. 

After saying all that, I actually like the Rio Grande Valley Outlet stores. It's not like we have an over abundance of good malls in The Valley. Personally, I don't see why anyone from the McAllen-Mission-Edinburg area would shop at the outlets. It would seem La Plaza Mall would have a good selection for a mall. Maybe because at one time it was the nations leading place to get your car stolen. If you live in Harlingen, I could see going to the outlets because Valley Vista Mall is pathetic and of course people comeing over the border to shop from Progresso would find the outlets convienet. 

With 140 stores there is plenty to shop for at the outlets. It's a nice place to walk outdoors between stores. It has a nice play area for kids to run around; something sorely lacking in most Rio Grande Vally shopping areas. The point is I wouldn't recommend anyone travel out of their way to go to the Rio Grande Valley Outlets in an attempt to save money. However, I would send them there if they were just looking for something different to do and they hadn't been yet. 

Visit the Rio Grande Valley Outlets' website.

Little D's Party and Play

My wife and I are always looking for a place to take our autistic son. There are unique challenges for us where most people take their kids. For example, Chunky Cheese would be difficult because he would want to take the pepperoni off stranger's pizzas without asking them. He would also bang on the games and likely distract the people playing them. At the McDonald's he wants to take other people's fries and he tries to leave often.

Little D's Party and Play was suggested by his occupational therapist, Yvonne Foreman. We finally found a time we were off and they were open. It was a refreshing 90 minutes of time for both my son and us. We didn't have to worry about him running into a street, eating other people's food, breaking something, ants, and many other challenges we find at parks and public play areas. Our son really did enjoy himself.

Little D's Party and Play has an indoor bouncy castle, a basketball free throw game, a makeshift pirate shift, a small house and a bunch of toys. So far, it's the best place in Harlingen we have found for our son to be himself.

We highly recommend visiting their business if you have kids. It's well worth the small entrance fee. It was $6 for an all day pass for me, my wife and my son.

Little D's Party and Play's main business is hosting parties. So, if you are looking for a place to host a birthday party, they might be the place your looking for.


They are located at 109 E. Jackson St. Harlingen, TX. 78550.
Their contact number is (956) 867-2528

Hours for open play are Wednesday - Friday 9:30 - 3:00 and the 1st Saturday of the month 10-2.
Contact Number is (956) 867-2528

Texas Veterans Commission in Harlingen Texas

The Texas Veterans Commission is located in the smaller Harlingen VA outpatient clinic at

2106 Treasure Hills Blvd
Harlingen, TX 78550.

Many of the younger veterans I have met know about the outpatient clinic, especially if they have a service connected disability. However, veterans who have never applied for disability may be daunted by the process of applying. I recommend they go to visit the Texas Veterans Commission.

The Texas Veterans Commission have two full time employees staffed at this location. Their sole purpose is to help disabled vets get the compensation they deserve. They will help you go through your medical history, fill out the proper paperwork, submit the paperwork and advise you on the steps needed to take.

When I personally went, I was surprised how helpful they were. The reps are very nice and more than willing to go the extra mile to be sure nothing if forgotten.

When you go you'll need to plan to stay many hours. There is only two of them and they take their time with each veteran. You may not like the wait but you will appreciate the fact that you did.

Their office hours are as follows:

Mon, Wed - Fri 8:30 to 3:00
Tuesday 10:00 to 3:00
Their lunch is between 11 and 2 and moves around depending on appointments.

Welcome to the Rio Grande Valley

South Padre Island

The Rio Grande Valley, also known as the RGV is located at the Southern most tip of Texas. While driving through “The Valley” you notice a long standing culture with some modern day influences. Sometimes when you are in one of the less populated towns you get the impression you might be back in the 60s or 70s. On the other hand, when you drive down a main street in the thriving metropolitan area of McAllen, Edinburg, and Mission you may feel you are in a suburb outside of a large city. This part of the country is a crossroads between American and Mexican cultures. Don’t be fooled the Valley culture is not like any other. The Culture is unique and independent.

The Valley is an ideal place for winter vacationers. Very rarely do temperatures ever drop below freezing in the dead of winter. Natives start putting their jackets on when the temperature drops below 70. Every year a large group of “Winter Texans” come to get away from the cold weather. It’s a great place to get the tropical feel without having to leave the United States. You can get the whole packaged deal; warm weather, beaches, palm trees, and low cost of living.

For the younger crowd, Spring Break on South Padre Island is always a big hit. Thousands of college students flock to the island every spring and party it up before heading back to school. South Padre Island has been featured on everything from The Travel Channel to Girls Gone Wild.

You can find the following topics on our site:

Rio Grande Valley break down

Rio Grande Valley Jobs - Find a job or post a job opening.

Directory - In this section of our site, we list many of the local business in the Rio Grande Valley. Most of these listing are locally owned.

Attractions - A listing of 50 things to do in the valley. (Yes, I can count). Everything from horseback riding on the beach to free concerts.

Moving to the Brownsville Area? There a many outstanding properties available of various styles. Stunning Latin influenced houses can be found at a  reasonable price. Try here for homes for sale in Brownsville TX and the surrounding areas.

South Padre Island Tops

Top 7 Bars at South Padre Island

What's big about South Padre Island? Spring Break, Bikers Week, Sand Castle days, Concerts, and perfect weather. Needless to say, this can involve a lot of parting and drinking. Here is a list of the top 7 bars. This is not an all inclusive list but it's a good place to start.

Coconuts Bar & Grill!  ...Voted #1 Bar on SPI by the Travel Channel.

Amberjacks - Bar and Grill. Waterfront Dining on bay. Join us for Lunch, Dinner. It's right on the water. In addition, it's close to Louie's backyard. So, you can get a twofer.

Wanna Wanna Beach Bar and Grill. TX Wanna Wanna Inn is located right on the beach. A perfect location for anyone. Summer brings live entertainment every weekend.

Louie's Backyard. View all our specials at Louies's Backyard for our dining and sports bar ...  Live Webcams, Beach & Surf Report, Weather & Local ... Free Wifi. The webcams are a disappointment. However, the Facebook pictures during spring break are not.

Coral Reef Lounge CAPITAL KARAOKE BAR ON THE ISLAND. There is karaoke entertainment 7 nights a ... yourself why it is the most popular hang out on one of the most popular places known to locals.

Tequila Frogs ... With a name like this, you know the owners want you to have a good time. If you are taking a spring break trip her, come and visit them right on the water – This is an awesome location for a spring break club & bar venue. ...

Padre Island Brewing Company The islands own Brewing Company. Handcrafting Beer and Feeding Faces since 1995. 3400 Padre Boulevard.  (956) 761-9585 ...

Top 5 Real Estate Agents on South Padre Island

SPI is prime location for a second home. If you are a Winter Texan and you want paradise in the winter time at a reasonable price without leaving the United States, this is the place for you. Maybe you're a celebrity and your tired of the same old places all the other celebrities hang out at. You should check us out. Are you looking for a condo to rent for Spring break? Get some professional help. Here are a list of the top 5 agents (agencies) for South Padre Island.

Norma Lee Valle - Ms. Valle became a Real Estate agent to help meet the needs of friends and family looking for a better home. She knows that the best way to continue to help her community is to help people find their American dream. Ms. Valle helps her clients find the home they have always been looking for and for a price they can afford.

Troy Giles Realty on , we take pride in our professional staff of agentsand support professionals. Interested buyers and  ...

Furcron Realtors - South Padre Island Real Estate Sales & Rentals - Furcron Realtors Buyers, Sellers, Renters, Owners, Agents. South Padre Island's Full Service Real Estate Company Real Estate Sales, Rentals & Property Management ...

Alta Monroe - Our South Padre Island real estate agents strive to separate themselves from the competition by setting a higher standard for professionalism and quality ...

Wagoner Real Estate - condos, ... All of us at Wagoner Real Estate are members of the South Padre Island Board of ...

Martial Arts Directory

Brownsville

Ed's World Class TDK (verified 8/30/14)
3271 Old Port Isabel Road
Brownsville, TX 78521
Ph: 956-544-4003

Galvan's Martial Arts (verified 8/30/14)
2310 n. expressway ste a1,
Brownsville, TX-78521
956-266-1943

Ramirez Karate World
311 Kings Hwy, Suite #7
Brownsville, TX 78521
956-299-1887
Taekwondo, karate, jiujitsu, kickboxing, and self-defense


Harlingen

Bei Shaolin Eagle Claw Kung Fu
3613 W. Business 83
Harlingen, TX 78552

Borowitz Black Belt Academy
1025 W. Jackson St.
Harlingen, TX 78550

Harlingen Jiu-Jitsu Club
211 W. Jefferson St. Suite 4
Harlingen, TX 78550
(956) 357-4726

Harlingen Sports Center
516 W. Van Buren,
Harlingen, TX-78550

Honorable Warrior Martial Arts
401 North T. St.
Harlingen, TX

Johnny's Korean Karate School
302 W. Madison Ave.
Harlingen, TX -78550

Kim's TaeKwonDo Karate Academy
1801 S 77 Sunshine Strip
Harlingen, TX 78550
(956) 412-7377

Meng's Martial Arts
2730 S. Expressway 77
Harlingen, TX 78550
(713) 855-8099

Rio Grande Valley Shotokan
1025 W. Jackson St.
Harlingen, TX. 78550

Ultrafit Mixed Martial Arts
719 N. 77 Sunshine Strip
Harlingen, TX - 78550

Zanshin Dojo
712 N. 77 Sunshine Strip #34
Harlingen, TX. 78550
956-638-1649
Shito Ryu Karate, Tai chi & Kobudo

McAllen

Paragon RGV Brazilion Jiu-Jitsu
4301 N. 23rd St
McAllen, TX 78504
(956) 537-8145

Ponce Martial Arts Institute
4200 N 22nd St,
McAllen, TX 78504
Phone:(956) 569-2930

Team Tiger Martial Arts
Buddy Owens Blvd,
Mcallen, TX-78504
956-682-8079
Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Jiu-Jitsu (Jujutsu/Jujitsu),

Karate, Kick Boxing & Kobudo

Mission

Castro's Fight Pit (verified 8/30/14)
416 W. 9th St
Mission, TX 78572
United States
Phone: 956-222-9746
MMA

Premier Martial Arts-Mission (verified 8/30/14)
2518 E Griffin Pkwy
Mission, TX 78572
(956) 314-0116

Weslaco

Progressive Scientific Fighting Arts
400 W. 6th St.
Weslaco, TX-78596
956-551-0691
Jeet Kune Do, Kali

You know you are in The Rio Grande Valley when...

You go to a Chinese restaurant and hear Hip Hop music.

You see a tracker in the fast lane.

You only see 4 white people in the mall and they are all over 55.

Your local high school looks like a maternity ward.

You need ID to travel to another part of the state by car.

Your niece or nephew is older than you.

You are the only one at the grocery store without food stamps.

No one seems to be able to speak English or Spanish properly.

You go to apply for a job and you see people who brought their young kids.

Wal-mart looks like a border crossing.

The majority of wheels cost more than the cars.

You consider Freddy Fender a celebrity.

People start to wear jackets when the temperature drops below 70.

Valley Baptist Hospital Scares the Hell Out of Me.

As a Veteran, VBH is our Veteran’s hospital in Harlingen. So, the events I have experienced first hand make me nervous, because one day I will be the patient here.

I am currently writing this article in Room E424 on the fourth floor in Pediatrics. My 3 month old son has the flu. It’s freezing cold in here. Since the moment we walked in at 11:30 a.m. we asked them to turn down the AC. It’s currently 9:58 p.m. and they still haven’t changed the room temperature. They told us due to his age and him having the flu he needs to be in the isolation room. Then why the hell is it so damn cold? This doesn’t make any sense. The room should be warm if you have the flu. We would put some blankets on him if they had any. We did get two sheets about 15 minutes ago. That helps I guess.

When we first arrived the doctor stated, “he needs to have an x-ray done of his chest, given Tamiflu and broad spectrum antibiotics. Time frame looks something like this.

11:19 a.m. - walked in to the room.
3:15 p.m. - IV solution started with saline and blood test done.
6:00 p.m. - X-rays were given and then had to be retaken.
8:30 p.m. - for Tamiflu administration
8:45 p.m. - for antibiotics. We don’t understand why these things took so long.
and of course

10:05 - still waiting for room temperature change. We have ended up propping the door open with the baby seat to heat the room. Kind of defeats the purpose of isolation, but we are at a lose on what to do.

Update: The “engineering guy”, David, just showed up and says he just heard about the problem. This is despite the fact the nurses have been claiming they have been calling all day. David had some fancy tool which showed the air was blowing at 57 degrees. Saying all that, David turned out to be very nice.

Now, I'm making a lot of fuss about the temperature. However, I want it to be clear. The thing which concerns me the most is the amount of time it took my son to get treatment.

I would like to state, it appeared our second nurse, Cindy Ruhe, was able to get things done for us. I don’t want to think about how bad the night would have been without her help.

Just to back up my point. Let me state what happened last time we came with my 4 year old son. We brought my son in with a temperature of 104 degrees on a Sunday night. We checked in to the emergency room. They told us to wait. They wanted to run test and x-rays. However, after 3 hours, we noticed about 6 families, which had come after us, had been treated and then left. During this time my son’s temperature dropped to under 103 degrees. So, we took our son home and took him to the doctor’s office the next day. They are still trying to charge us for services never rendered. Every few months we get a bill from them. We call them to tell them what happened. They always say they will take care of it and never do.

So, why does all this scare me? At this level of incompetence, if i need a surgery, will they operate on the right body part?


Readers Comments:

And it HAS NOT gotten any better 
by: Anonymous 

Word is (from a very reliable source who works there) Valley Baptist Hospital is on probation this very minute 12/17/11, from Joint Commission Accreditation of Hospitals. These are the big guys in the medical field who have the ability to close a facility down. I mean literally, they can lock the doors and have the patients moved to alternate facilities. Maybe something is finally getting done about the ineptness of so many of their physicians and staff and the results will be in the form of better patient care and mortality. It's a sad situation indeed when medical care has gotten to this low level of caring.


I was there for Surgery 
by: Anonymous 

I had Robotic surgery and was glad to leave two days after surgery!The staff was almost entirely assisted by Nursing students. I was stabbed and prodded just for "Training"! I had problems communicating since I don't speak Spanish.Even my weight was taken in Kg's,lol! Not funny but I laugh out of frustration.I was given check out papers to sign in Spanish.I used to work at a hospital as a food service Mgr so I understand nutrition. I am diabetic and when I finally got to eat after 58 hours ( I started fasting the day before)the gave me mashed potatos, apple juice,kool-aid, hot tea with surgar packets....long story short they gaveme a ton of Carbs and SUGAR!!!!All the wrong things!This is just the tip of the Iceburg but you get the point....RUN!

I have to agree...... 
by: Anonymous 

This place is satan's spawn when it comes to medical care. I feel for you with your concerns for your baby when he was sick with the flu. I do know, from working in the medical field for over 30 years, rooms are kept chillier than normal as to not spread germs further. Germs thrive in a warm environment; however, 57-degrees is a bit extreme. Usually a room with a temperature of 72-degrees would suffice.

My problem with this facility is the ineptness of the staff to speak English. There are so many physicians from overseas (middle east) and several from South Africa, not to mention those who are originally from Mexico and I swear, these people CANNOT and WILL NOT speak clear English. There is NO WAY they can practice medicine proficiently and not be able to speak the language. It would be like you or I going to THEIR country and trying to conduct business in English.

My mother was recently in this hospital and she is an elderly woman with a hearing problem anyway. This Dr. Graciela Leija and Dr. Dina Abdelwahib were assigned to her and I felt like slitting my wrists after TRYING to talk to these ladies. It was absolutely ridiculous. There is no way these people can pass English medical tests when they are not even able to speak the language. We had NO idea what the doctors had told mother to do or what THEY were going to do until it was clarified by one of the nurses.

I really don't know what medical care is coming to in the USA. It's not good, I know that much. This is the saddest example of a hospital I have ever witnessed. I will never go there again NOR take my precious loved ones there...PERIOD!

RUN! 
by: Anonymous 

My mother went in for routine surgery, VA requested, and 6 months later, still fighting an infection she got from there. She had a blood infection and the doctors didn't tell any of us. I agree that place shouldn't be recommended.

valley baptist hosp. 
by: Anonymous 

I used to work at a baptist run hosp. You have a right to be scared.Awful things happen & get covered up all the time.

It IS Scary! 
by: Anonymous 

I won't even pretend to understand what you've just gone through with your baby. I sympathize with you, and pray that he's better in no time at all.

Cinemark Harlingen

Cinemark Harlingen has two locations to choose from.

401 S Expy 83
Harlingen
(956) 428-3224
And
629 N 13th St
Harlingen

The Cinemark Harlingen, 401 S. Expressway 83 location is the newer more modern location. Here they show all the latest releases with stadium seating and a decent sound system.  They have a standard concession stand with a small restaurant available before you get through the ticket collector location. If you are looking to bring food in with you, there are nearby fast-food restaurants within a minute drive. There is also a large H.E.B grocery store one block away. Now, the establishment does not want you to bring in food from the outside. However, according to www.omg-facts.com, popcorn is marked up on an average of 1275%. People tend to take matters into their own hands with price gouging like this. If this was gasoline, there would be a congressional inquiry into the pricing.

At times there are large lines during busy times. I really don’t care for waiting in line. So, I use the ATM, automatic ticket machine, on the inside. It never seems to fail. There may be 50 people in line but only about 2% of the people use the ATM way.

On a side note, I find it funny they always ask for ID when paying with a credit card but if you use the inside machine it doesn’t ask.

Now, about Cinemark Harlingen, 629 N 13th St. Have you ever seen the movie twins, where Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Devito play twins? This is about the same thing with the 13th street location being played by Danny Devito.

Here they show $1 movies. This is awesome. You get to see great movies on the big screen a few months after they hit the main theaters and you only pay $1. If you are from the South, you may not think this is a big deal. However, in many areas up North, there are no $1 theaters at all.

The trick to going here is not to eat at the concession stand. First off, in my opinion, the place is dirty. I don’t like to eat food from dirty places. You just know roaches have been crawling over everything at night.  You can get in to see a move for cheap but if you want a Coke, popcorn, and candy, you are looking at around $14. There just went all the savings.

 So, no matter which theater you go to, it’s good fun for everyone. They both have their plusses

Rio Grande Valley Radio Stations

There is something for every listener with Texas Rio Grande Valley radio stations, from canciones (tunes) from across the border in Mexico to Texas-style country, current rock to oldies, and Christian to Metal. Noteworthy diversity results from a variety of formats as well as a variety of ownership, including Clear Channel Communications, Univision Radio, the Living Water Radio Network, public radio, and Entravision Communications.

"As of 1/18/2013, my favorite D.J. for Rio Grande Valley Radio is Rock n' Roll James. He plays some of my favorites that no one else plays. In addition, you have to have some balls to play blocks of Megadeath or Pantera. Who doesn't respect that?" - Webmaster.

KTEX 100.3 is the station that “Sounds like Texas.” Clear Channel’s entry into the local country market, KTEX plays hit-makers George Strait, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Brooks & Dunn, Martina McBride and other top Country artists from its physical location in Brownsville. DJs include Jo Jo, Frankie D., Chris Michaels and Patches.

If your tastes run more to Rock, then consider The Q 94.5 (KFRQ) in Harlingen. Entravision’s station has a play list that includes Live, Ratt, 30 Seconds To Mars, Buckcherry, Van Halen, Papa Roach, Bush, Iron Maiden, Pearl Jam, Motley Crue, and Led Zeppelin, with an all-request 70-minute “Lunch Hour” with DJ Keith West. Other shows are The Overnite Asylum with Weslaco resident and hard rocker JoeyRocks, Big Al and Charlie’s morning show, the longest running in the Valley, and Mighty Mike Quinn all afternoon. As of 1/18/2013 my favorite D.J. so far is Rock n' Roll James. He plays some of my favorites that no one else plays. In addition, you have to have some balls to play blocks of Megadeath or Pantera. 

Then there is “The Valley’s Party Station,” Wild 104 (KBFM 104.1), another Clear Channel offering in Edinburg. The station has been around since 1974, but switched to Rhythmic Top 40 in 2004, a move which has paid off with increased listenership. If you like Nelly Furtado, Akon, Justin Timberlake, Outkast, Fergie, Ludacris, and Naughty by Nature, this is your station.

If Mexican heritage is where you are at, there is KGBT 98.5, physically located in McAllen, Univision Radio’s Spanish language station playing “Solamente Exitos”, only the latest hits in música norteña, corridas and rancheras. During the day sister station La Tremenda 1530 AM offers a mix of talk radio, sports and music, but in the evenings and on weekends KGBT comes alive as local DJs “El Chicuelo” Beto Castillo, Eliud Treviño and Romiro Olvera keep the music coming, while Mr. Ni Fu Ni Fa (Hugo de la Cruz) wants to hear listener opinions on everything under the sun.

Hot Kiss 106.3 (KHKZ-FM 106.3) is a station for the young or the rockin’ young at heart, with songs by Justin Timberlake, Avril Lavigne, Nickleback, Fray, Maroon 5 , Rickie Martin, and Carrie Underwood. Located in Mercedes, Texas, this station’s DJs include J. Cantu, Amanda, Micky Gamez, and the Hitman, with Hiram and Nicole Garcia covering the weekends.

KQXX 105.5, the “Oldies Fan Club” in Mission, Texas, has been successfully exploring the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, from Elvis, Neil Sedaka and the Beatles to Queen, Eric Clapton, the Doors, and Black Sabbath since its format change in 2002. Owned by Clear Channel Communications, with local DJs such as Billy Santiago and syndicated programs including Dick Clark, The Beatles Brunch, and Charlie Tuna this is the show for anyone who want a taste of the good old days of rock and roll. Family-friendly and commercial-free,

McAllen’s KVMV 96.9 plays the latest Christian hits along with talk programs such as James Dobson’s “Focus on the Family” and Chuck Swindoll’s “Insight for Living.” Part of the Living Water Radio Network, KVMV’s tag line is “The Valley's Christian Radio.” In addition to weekly programming, the station plays the top Christian music countdowns on Saturdays and offers an on-air bible study Sundays.

Then for the classically inclined, public radio is represented in the Valley by KHID 88.1 FM Classical and KMBH 88.9 FM Classical in Harlingen. In addition to such award-winning standards from NPR as Performance Today, local programming includes Classic Oldies with Al Wasielewski, jazz and blues On the Roadside with Chris Maley, Psych Rock 101 with Texas Joe Valles exploring 35 years of psychedelic music, and the latest classical releases on New Edition with Mario Munoz. All of these Rio Grande Valley radio stations also serve the Valley community with local news, community events, public announcements, and the most up-to-date scores in high school sports.

By J.E.D. Seno / TSO 

Rio Grande Valley Radio is constantly changing and getting better. If you are aware of any changes we would love to hear about it in our comments section.