by media | Mar 27, 2019 | Information, Media Releases
City of Pharr to Host Annual Pharr HUB Phestival on Saturday, 3/30 @ 2 pm
Pharr, Texas – The City of Pharr will host its annual Pharr HUB Phestival on Saturday, March 30, 2019, from 2 pm to 11:30 pm in downtown Pharr (118 S. Cage Blvd). There will be plenty of family-friendly fun with carnival rides, food vendors, live entertainment, a car show, a bbq cook-off, and much, much more.
“We invite our entire Pharr and Rio Grande Valley community to join us as we celebrate our Pharr roots,” said Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. “Each year this event gets bigger and better and we expect a great turnout this year with more attractions for our families, a great atmosphere, and an exciting line-up of performers, including our headliner, country music star Tracy Lawrence,” he continued.
Featured events at the Pharr Hub Phestival include the Pharr-Out Kids Nature Day with attractions including Contacto Animal Petting Zoo, Raptor Project, World Birding Center, Austin Bat Exhibition, Dock Dogs, an Exhibit from the Texas State Aquarium, and the West Texas Rattlesnake Roundup. Also, get your motors ready for the Pharr Hub Phestival Car & Motorcycle show! Car and motorcycle collectors will be displaying their show-stopping rides.
Live entertainment will feature performances by Lauren Corzine, Ruby Arroyo & the Band, Ruben Ramos, Serjio & Ropin’ the Wind, and close with headliner Tracy Lawrence. Entry into the Pharr HUB Phestival is FREE before 5 pm and $5 after 5 pm for ages 12 and over.
All media and the public are invited to attend.
DETAILS
WHAT: Pharr HUB Phestival
WHEN: Saturday, March 30, 2019, from 2 pm to 11:30 pm
WHERE: Downtown Pharr (118 S. Cage Blvd, Pharr, TX 78552)
by media | Mar 22, 2019 | Media Releases
The Board of Commissioners of the City of Pharr met for a regular meeting on Monday, March 18, 2019, and considered an agenda that included the following highlights:
April 22-26 Proclaimed as National Community Development Week in Pharr
Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. and the Pharr City Commission proclaimed the week of April 22-26, 2019, as National Community Development Week in Pharr. Santiago Salinas, CDBG Manager for the city, was present to receive the proclamation. The City of Pharr is a participant in the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program which funds a myriad of social and public services, community projects and housing programs. Celebrating its 45th year, the Community Development Block Grant Program has developed a strong working network of relationships between the City of Pharr and a number of nonprofit agencies. “We are extremely grateful to be partners and recipients of the CDBG Program and we are thankful for the great work they have helped us accomplish for our citizens and community,” stated Mayor Hernandez.
Pharr Proclaims April as Fair Housing Month
The Pharr City Commission proclaimed April as Fair Housing Month, joining the rest of the nation in observing the month with special activities and events in recognition of the Federal Fair Housing Act and the important role it plays in our community. Noel De Leon, Pharr Housing Authority Executive Director and Rene Cantu, Chairman of the Community Development Council accepted the proclamation. The Fair Housing Act recognizes, supports, and encourages the right of every person, regardless of race, color, creed, gender, national origin, family status, or disability to live in the housing of the individual’s choice. Over the last few years, the Pharr City Commission has worked on numerous projects to provide affordable and fair housing to its citizens.
Featured Event: Pharr HUB Phestival – Saturday, March 20, 2019, from 2 pm to 11:30 pm
The Pharr Hub Phestival is fun for the whole family! Carnival rides, entertaining performances, and live music from various local and international groups. Great music, great food, and great family fun for all in Pharr, Texas!
Pharr Hub Phestival will have its Pharr-Out Kids Nature Day with attractions including Contacto Animal Petting Zoo, Raptor Project, World Birding Center, Austin Bat Exhibition, Dock Dogs, and the West Texas Rattlesnake Roundup!
Also, get your motors ready for the Pharr Hub Phestival Car & Motorcycle show! Car and motorcycle collectors will be displaying their show-stopping rides.
Time: 2:00 PM-11:30 PM
Cost: $5 after 5 PM (ages 12 and over)- Free before 5 PM
Location: Downtown Pharr (118 S. Cage Blvd Pharr, Texas)
by media | Mar 13, 2019 | Media Releases
Pharr, Texas – The City of Pharr was recently ranked among the safest places to live in Texas! A new study by Safehome.org released its rankings of all the safest cities in the United States with populations above 50,000 based on crime types and trends. Pharr earned a top spot as the 25th safest city in the state and is among the highest ranked in the Rio Grande Valley.
“We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that our Pharr families are safe and secure,” said Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. “Pharr has an outstanding public safety department and partnerships with our local agencies which help us not only create a safe environment for our citizens but also foster a positive relationship within our community,” he added. “The entire Pharr City Commission is proud of this recognition and we thank all our city, local, state, and federal law enforcement partners for helping contribute to this recognition.”
According to the study, Pharr ranked as the 25th safest city in Texas out of the top 60 ranked, with six cities from the Rio Grande Valley also making the list. The study indicates that Texas is home to many of the safest cities in the United States.
“Our department is dedicated to the public safety of every citizen, business, and organization in our city,” stated Pharr Chief of Police Jose A. Luengo. “Throughout the day our patrols monitor our city parks, schools, and areas heavily trafficked by the public,” he said. “Most importantly, we take pride in taking the time to stop and interact with our community to know exactly what problems or issues they might be facing,” he continued.
Pharr remains focused on providing every citizen with the best quality of life and continues to make public safety its top priority. As part of that commitment, the city has entered into a partnership with South Texas College (STC) to open the Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence. The Public Safety Complex provides continuing education for current law enforcement officers, public safety personnel, and serve as a teaching site for STC students earning a Criminal Justice degree.
by media | Mar 11, 2019 | Media Releases
Pharr, Texas – Representatives from the City of Pharr, Texas, USA, and the municipality of Apaseo El Grande, Guanajato, Mexico, met for a ceremony to sign a memorandum of understanding to establish the “Global Cities Economic Partnership Pharr-Apaseo El Grande.” In attendance at the ceremony were Pharr International Bridge Director Luis Bazan and Apaseo El Grande Mayor Moises Guerrero Lara, among other representatives from both communities.
The partnership’s objective is to formalize a bilateral relationship to promote growth and expand economic opportunities in both cities through joint initiatives in trade, investment, innovation, and knowledge transfer. The parties will conduct these initiatives to increase business opportunities and strengthen the cultural, historic, and economic ties between the cities.
“We are proud to continue strengthening partnerships with our neighbors to the south, to work together on mutually beneficial projects that will promote trade and economic activity for both our communities,” said Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D.
“The Pharr International Bridge continues to lay the ground-work for sustained economic opportunities in partnership with industrial hubs in major cities across Mexico,” said Bridge Director Luis Bazan. “Our new friends, strategic partners and trade allies in Apaseo el Grande, Guanajuato understand the importance Pharr plays in their logistical plans and are now forming a committee consisting of members from their industrial association to start fomenting the use of the Pharr Bridge,” he continued.
The memorandum of understanding was approved at the February 7, 2019, meeting of the Pharr City Commission.
by media | Mar 7, 2019 | Media Releases
The Board of Commissioners of the City of Pharr met for a regular meeting on Monday, March 4, 2019, and Monday, February 18, 2019, and considered an agenda that included the following highlights:
Highlights from the Commission’s Meeting on March 4, 2019
Pharr Approves Proclamation Recognizing March 12 as IHOP’s Free Pancake Day and Shriners Hospitals for Children Day
The Pharr City Commission approved a proclamation proclaiming March 12, 2019, as “IHOP’s Free Pancake Day and Shriner’s Hospital for Children Day” in Pharr. On March 12, 2019, Shriners Hospitals for Children and IHOP, will join together to encourage people to donate to Shriners Hospitals for Children activities in our Pharr. Gilbert Medina from Shriners of South Texas was present to accept the proclamation. “I want to thank you Mayor and City Commissioners for the proclamation and invite all of you to enjoy pancakes on March 12 at IHOP to help support the Shriners,” he announced while accepting the proclamation. Shriners Hospitals for Children gives children the opportunity to receive treatment for orthopedic problems, severe burns, and spinal cord injuries and provides them with a head start in developing a normal life, regardless of the patient’s ability to pay, that is essential to becoming successful and contributing adults.
Isabel Ozuna Recognized as Recipient of the Texas NENA “Silent Hero Award”
Isabel Ozuna, a Telecommunicator with the Pharr Fire Department Communications Office (FireComm), has been selected as a recipient of the 2019 “Silent Hero Award” and will be presented with the prestigious award in April during theTexas National Emergency Number Association (NENA) Conference. According to the nominating committee, the Silent Hero Award is presented each year to an individual for exceptional professionalism in the field of emergency communications. This award is given to an individual who goes “above and beyond the call of duty.” It is given to a telecommunicator who is recognized as dedicated to emergency communications each and every day. “We are extremely proud to have Ms. Ozuna recognized at the state level for the outstanding work she is doing,” stated Kennith Ennis, Pharr Communications Supervisor. Congratulations to Ms. Ozuna for being selected for this award! This is the second year in a row that a member of the Pharr Communications Office wins the award.
Highlights from the Commission’s Meeting on February 18, 2019
City Announces December Sales Tax Report
City Manager Alex Meade announced that the sales tax activity for the city of Pharr as of the month of February 2019 continues to show a positive upward trend, demonstrating a steady increase in sales activity. The report is the first month of the City’s fiscal year and represents sales activity for the month of December 2018. The sales tax allocation report for February 2019 showed that Pharr received $2.46 million for the month of December 2018. This amount reflects a substantial increase – 43.68% – from the same reporting period in December 2017. This sales tax growth was one of the largest in Hidalgo County for this reporting period. The sales tax growth report showed an overall positive trend in the amount of $1,482,507, an increase of 19.79% for this time period. This is the 3rd month of actual sales for the fiscal year 2018-2019. To date, the City of Pharr sales tax activity is up 23.10%, which equates to $528,787 from this point of the fiscal year compared to last year.
Pharr Approves Resolution creating a Census 2020 Complete Count Committee
Mayor Ambrosio Hernadez, M.D. and the Pharr Cty Commission approved a resolution creating a 2020 Census Committee. The purpose of the Complete Count Committee is to plan and conduct local educational initiatives, publicity, and promotional activities to increase community awareness and participation in Census 2020. Accurate census information is critical to planning for future growth, development, and the social needs of the City of Pharr through the disbursement of federal dollars, which are distributed based on population. Additionally, data collected by the census determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and in the state legislature. Pharr has experienced phenomenal growth over the last ten years and encourages all citizens to fully participate in the 2020 Census. The Complete Count Committee is comprised of city staff, local businesses, faith-based organizations, and community organizations.
Featured Event: St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run/Walk – Saturday, March 16, 2019, beginning at 8 am
Join us for the annual city of Pharr St. Patrick’s Day 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, March 16th, beginning at 8:00 AM at the PSJA Stadium (703 E. Sam Houston St. Pharr, Texas).
To register visit endurancesplits.webconnex.com/13thannualst.patricksday5K or visit our Parks & Recreation office at 413 E. Clark Ave. Pharr, Texas
Prices:
Children: $5
Adults: $15
For more information call 956-402-4550.
by media | Feb 21, 2019 | Media Releases
THOUSANDS OF TEXANS JOIN THE 2019 IT’S TIME TEXAS COMMUNITY CHALLENGE
Registration is open now for the statewide competition designed to encourage individual Texans to step up to the challenge of living a healthier life and to provide a platform for friendly competition among communities to see who can be the healthiest.
WHAT:
The IT’S TIME TEXAS Community Challenge presented by H-E-B, is hosted by the nonprofit IT’S TIME TEXAS working tomake healthier lifestyles accessible to all Texans. The annual statewide healthy competition encourages individuals to eat healthier, exercise more, reduce stress, and take steps towards improving the health of Texans.
Individuals, mayors, schools and school districts, employers, and businesses can earn points on behalf of their communities for making healthy choices, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator or doing a group workout.
Participation in the IT’S TIME TEXAS Community Challenge is free and open to everyone.
The competition is tracked and measured via #healthyselfies and submissions to the Community Challenge website.
The website’s leader board will be regularly updated with new submissions and points earned, firing up a competitivespiritin communities across Texas. At the end of the eight weeks, the winning community and winning district in each size category will receive funds to put towards future health related projects. Individuals will also be eligible for prize giveaways through- out the Challenge.
WHEN:
Community Challenge Dates: January 7 -March 3, 2019 Registration is now open at www.ittcommunitychallenge.com.
WHY:
Unhealthy has become the new normal in Texas and the country. Preventable chronic diseases have become epidemics, threatening to bankrupt our state and erode our quality of life in Texas. The declining health of Texans is the result of a highlycomplex, wide-sweeping societal crisis that requires urgent, bold, and innovative action. The nonprofit IT’S TIME TEXASexists to bring about a culture of health in Texas by making health and wellness a way of life in Texas and the Community Challenge will do just that.
By working together at the individual and community levels, we aim to mobilize people to make significant changes at all levels of our society to influence the extent to which people have access to and opportunities to live healthier lives.
Together, we are working to reduce obesity rates and related chronic disease for all Texans and your involvement in the Community Challenge will make this possible in communities across the state.
» 9,350,975 is the projected number of Texans with diabetes, heart disease, and obesity related cancer in the year 2030. That’s a million more than the population of New York City.
» Texas has the 14th highest adult obesity rate in the nation, with a 33% adult obesity rate in Texas.
» Texas has the seventh highest obesity rate for youth ages 10 to 17.
» Children born in the U.S. in or after the year 2020 are projected to live shorter lives than their parents! » $32.5 billion is the projected cost of obesity to Texas employers in the year 2030.
» 25.2% of Texan adults reported doing no physical activity or exercise in the past 30 days.
