An announcement from Virginia Gause
Valley Symphony Orchestra Auditions Scheduled for Sunday, August 17th!

The Valley Symphony Orchestra will hold string auditions at 4:00p on Sunday August 17, 2008. The auditions will be held at the UTPA Fine Arts Complex.

Those interested in auditioning should contact the symphony office at 956-661-1615.

Audition requirements:

A 3 minute solo, of your own [...]

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From Virginia Gause - Well, hello Dolly … and goodbye Dolly!
Hurricane Dolly seems way behind us now, but I want to thank two special people for keeping me well informed several times a day this past week with news about the hurricane.  I am talking about Melinda Barrera and Steve Taylor,  who publish Rio Grande [...]

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An announcement from Virginia Gause
Join us for the 2nd Annual benefit concert supporting children and adults with disabilities in the Rio Grande Valley. Featuring Nashville recording artists “Rio Grand”

Cine El Rey, Friday, Aug 1, 7:00 pm
For ticket information Call (956) 631-9171 or go to www.ez-tixx.com
Roschel Servantes
Director of Program Services
Easter Seals RGV
1217 Houston St
McAllen, TX [...]

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A personal comment from Stan
Our thanks to the City of Brownsville, The Brownsville Public Utilities Board, Cameron County Drainage District Number One, and to all who worked (and are still working, in some cases) to minimize and repair the damages caused by Hurricane Dolly over the last few days.
Our neighborhood has a fair amount of [...]

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From Virginia Gause

Hurricane Dolly has come and gone, but we are still picking up her debris and accessing damages.  Glass artist Duane Beard notified me that the Beachcomers Fine Art Show has been cancelled for this weekend because of damage to the South Padre Island Convention Center.  This is the first time [...]

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A lyric from Stan

Update 8/11/08: You can hear a recording of this song at “Hurricane again.”
There’s a hurricane coming:
Everything’s up in the air.
Alice says she’s got to be going;
Sonda says she doesn’t care.
The lights are going down:
We’re whispering in the dark.
There’s no need for running,
You know we’d only get caught.
You said it doesn’t really matter
I [...]

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A comment from Stan
We note a powerful letter from our friend José Pérez in this morning’s Brownsville Herald on the irregularity of building permits in recent (recent meaning the last five years or so) construction and the consequent problems. We heartily recommend Mr. Pérez’s letter to your attention.
Mr. Pérez provides us with as concise [...]

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An announcement
Every Tuesdays Nights Amateur Talent Night
Open To Performing Artists including: Musicians, Poets, Singers, Dancers, Stand Up Comedians, Actors, Or Anybody Who Thinks They Have A Talent.  Etc…
Fan Favorite will win a prepaid Credit Card.
Free Admission       8pm-12am
Come Early & Sign Up
Limited Seating Available
THURSDAY NIGHT OPEN MIC

Art Expressions has the pleasure to present in there Open [...]

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An announcement from Virginia Gause

Regional Tourism Workshop - Thursday, August 14, 2008, Kingsville, Texas

Saddle Up!
Rein in the Power of Tourism for Your Community

Presented by Texas Department of Agriculture’s GO TEXAN program

Join us in Kingsville for a day-long workshop featuring industry experts offering stimulating and information-packed presentations [...]

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An announcement from Virginia Gause

Missionite Maurine Duncan, an associate producer of the film, is pictured holding a hat she made and wore in the movie.  Also pictured is Sol Marroquin, former congressional aide and aspiring actor from Mission, holding the Mexican soldier’s cap he wore in the movie.  He played the role of Pancho [...]

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A note from Stan
Daniel García Ordáz, aka The Poet Mariachi, appeared on Channel 23 News to promote his reading series this weekend in McAllen. Take a look.

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“TV Dinner, “A video from Simonscat

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KÚZA-NÁMA

LIX
Listen again. One Evening at the Close
Of Ramazán, ere the better Moon arose,
In that old Potter’s Shop I stood alone
With the clay Population round in Rows.
LX
And, strange to tell, among that Earthen Lot
Some could articulate, while others not:
And suddenly one more impatient cried-
‘Who is the Potter, pray, and who is the Pot?’
LXI
Then said another-‘Surely not [...]

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Announcements from Virginia Gause

The Poet Mariachi Daniel Garcia Ordaz performs his original poems July 17 at 7 – 9 pm at South Texas College - Pecan Campus Library (2nd Floor Rainbow Room)
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Blues musician Seth Walker performs at Cine El Rey July 19 at 9 pm as part of [...]

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City of Tampico and Mexican Consulate in McAllen sponsor solo-exhibit of abstract paintings by Benilde González Fernández at IMAS

McAllen- Benilde Gonzalez Fernandez’ exhibition at the International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS), titled Everything Intertwines, includes 14 paintings that echo impressions of the sea, the night, motion, noise, and silence, through an array of symbols [...]

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A poem by Thomas Thornburg from Munseetown

Father, that winter when your death descended
Upon the conversation of your friends,
We prayed you grace to see you easy ended
Since grace denied that we should mark you mended;
Beyond our pale you pilgrimed undefended
In your hard death forsaken, unattended.

Father, what hast Thou wrought that unattended
On this feast-day the dark of [...]

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A comment from a friend
“Americans have got to understand that we are paying present-day retirees with the taxes paid by young workers in America today. And that’s a disgrace …”
This is quoting John McCain on Social Security, which the plutocrats have been trying since its inception to drown in the nearest available bathtub (cf. the [...]

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A poem by Thomas Thornburg from Munseetown

At the seventh hour when the children rise
(The river has risen) they go about bagging
Tons for the feast; as they blitzen and donder
She turns from the window and curses in thunder.
Her rage is their wonder.
At four o’clock daylight, December’s fagging
Middle begins as the buses are hooting;
Teachers go mad sending [...]

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A thought from Stan Raines
I was standing in line at HEB yesterday and the man in front of me, someplace in his fifties, mustachioed and trim asked me how I was and I gave him my usual non-commital “Doin’ fine” and returned a “How you doin’?”

“Ah, you know,” he said, “another beautiful day in Brownsville.” [...]

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Announcements from Virginia Gause

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If I were Dr. Seuss and wrote children’s books, I would get Carl Vestweber to illustrate them.  So when I heard Carl was having his first solo show “New Stuff by Carl Vestweber” at Manichaus on Friday, July 11, I cancelled all my other social plans to be there.
[...]

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An announcement from Virginia Gause
Carl Vestweber will be presenting his solo show New Stuff by Carl Vestweber at Manichaus (pronounced: manic house), a new artist-run modern art space in McAllen, from July 11 to August 1, 2008. A reception will be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on July 11, 2008. The artist will [...]

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An announcement via Virginia Gause

SOUTH TEXAS PROTEST AGAINST THE BORDER WALL
What: A protest opposing the border wall at the University of Texas Pan American followed by a march on the Hidalgo County Commissioner’s Court
When: Saturday, July 12, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Where: Beginning at the University of Texas Pan American Student Union
Who: United Methodist [...]

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An announcement from Virginia Gause
Summer sizzles with hot new exhibit at STC Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery

“Venus on a Halfshell” by Victoria Suescum        “Wind/Spring” by Jimena Marin
Oil on Canvas with Oil Cloth & Ripcloth Nylon Frame       Acrylic on Canvas
5ft. x 6ft.                                                                      20’’ x 16’

There is a sizzling summer of activity taking place at [...]

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From Gene’s Notebook

…a bargain, the gallon of water in convenience stores, $1.29, beats the sodas and sports drinks …. I love tipping the plastic jug to my mouth ….
…and the turtles, all over the roads, maybe the rain, and most do not make it across, and are crushed; I picked one up on 281 [...]

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An announcement

36-HR. FILMMAKING CONTEST IS FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE U.S.
Harlingen, Texas (Rio Grande Valley) - The CINESOL 36 HR. FILM RACE, a 36-hour filmmaking competition, has announced its dates and early call for entries for the 3rd Annual Event for the South Texas Region.  CINESOL 36 is the first competition of its [...]

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