General Interest

MISSION — Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas this week pushed to not raise rates at Shary Municipal Golf Course by approximately nine percent.

“Mission has always been known as a ‘Winter Texan-friendly’ town,” the mayor said. “Let’s not raise our rates so high we lose that designation.”

Course Director Paul Schaeffer presented the recommended rate changes approved by the Shary Golf Course board when Salinas asked if the golf course was making money at Monday’s meeting.

Read more: Keep Shary Golf Course Winter Texan-friendly, says mayor

EDINBURG - The University of Texas-Pan American Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will host the 2011 Women’s Athletics Fundraiser (WAF) Gala on Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Wellness & Recreational Sports Complex on the UTPA campus. Gala organizers are seeking sponsors for the event.

The two-hour event begins at 7 p.m. and will feature live music, a fashion show, and both a live and silent auction. Hors d'oeuvres and drinks will be served. Tickets are $50 per person. Master of ceremonies will be Channel 5 News Anchor Letty Garza. With the theme, “Black Tie & Tennies,” guests are encouraged to wear formal attire and their favorite pair of sneakers.

Read more: Gala to benefit UTPA women’s athletics

The Edinburg World Birding Center is holding the Fall season’s Community Garden Orientation Class on Tuesday, Aug. 30, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.  EWBC is located at 714 S. Raul Longoria Rd. in Edinburg.

Participants will learn the history of the community garden, its purpose, information and guidelines for gardening organically, along with an introduction to the Community Garden facilities, materials, and supplies.  Gardeners will also receive free start-up plants for their beds!

Read more: Community garden orientation announced

The Upper Valley Art League is hosting a color theory class, “Making Color Work for You,” with Linda Jean as the instructor.  The four-week course will be held Saturday afternoons, 1-4 p.m. beginning August 27 at the UVAL facility in the Kika de la Garza Fine Arts Center, 921 E. 12th Street, Mission. Cost will be $120.

Read more: UVAL offers color theory class

The Mission Chamber of Commerce Diplomats, the volunteer arm of the Mission Chamber of Commerce, is seeking sponsors and vendors for their fundraiser, “Dog Days of Summer Are Over.” The day-long event will benefit The Oasis Animal Sanctuary, Palm Valley Animal Center, the City of Mission Animal Shelter, and the Diplomat program. It will be held Saturday, Sept. 17, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Bannworth Park on Shary Road.

Sponsorship levels are Kennel, $1,500; Great Dane, $1,000; Labrador, $500; and Chihuahua, $250. Vendor booths are $125 for Mission Chamber members and $150 for non-members for an 8’x8’ booth.

Read more: ‘Dog Days’ event seeks sponsors, vendors

Record power use expected again Thursday; Conservation needed 3-7 p.m.

AUSTIN, Aug.3, 2011 – For the third consecutive day, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. (ERCOT), system operator for the state’s bulk transmission grid, set a new electricity demand record – 68,294 megawatts (MW) today between 4 and 5 p.m.

Read more: ERCOT breaks peak demand record third time

MISSION – A 20-year-old boxer from Mission has punched his ticket to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials to be held July 31-Aug. 6 in Mobile, AL.

Isaac Torres, who has been boxing since age 9, won the bantamweight division of the Last Chance Qualifier tournament held July 3-8 in Cincinnati, OH. According to usaboxing.org, “Torres claimed the remaining U.S. Olympic Team Trials berth” by defeating Joe Perez (Fountain, CO) by a 28-16 margin to win the bantamweight final round bout.

The Mission boxer won three matches at the Last Chance Qualifier tournament before advancing to the finals match with Perez. He defeated Julian Wyant, (Glenwood, CA), 18-16, in the preliminaries; Patrick Harris (Capitol Heights, MD), 20-17, in the quarterfinals; and Edwin Sandoval (Bakersfield, CA), 22-21, in the semifinals.

Read more: Torres heads for Olympic trials

EDINBURG – The University of Texas-Pan American Art Department is partnering with the Food Bank RGV to make almost 1,000 one-of-a-kind ceramic bowls for the upcoming annual “Empty Bowls” fundraiser. Volunteer artists and ceramicists are encouraged to come make bowls from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Saturday, July 30, at the Ceramics Lab, Fine Arts Complex at UTPA.

“Not only is this a fun event, but it is a great opportunity to share your talent and/or improve your craft,” said Karen Featherston, Food Bank special events manager.

Read more: Food Bank’s annual Throw-a-Thon slated for July 30