Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
 City of Laredo Mayor Raul G. Salinas wrapped up his participation at the 80th Winter Meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors with a visit to the U.S. State Department to promote Laredo’s efforts to expand the permitted uses of the World Trade Bridge. 
 Mayor Salinas explained:  “While I enjoy being in our nation’s capitol to participate in continuing education efforts, with and from my fellow mayors on how best to serve our citizens, I am also pleased anytime I can do the work of the City of Laredo …

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
Yesterday evening, Mayor Pro Tempore Cindy Liendo Espinoza and the Laredo City Council welcomed some very special kids in our community, to honor them for their accomplishments representing the city of Laredo.  Additionally, some adults who are working to promote and improve our city also presented at council.
Amparo Guiterrez Elementary students Alyssa Rodriguez, 5th grader and Nicolas Limon, 3rd grader, were recognized for placing 1st Place in the Dribble, Dish & Swish Regional Competition held January 7, 2012 in Houston, Texas.  Alyssa also placed 3rd overall in the state …

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
(Laredo, TX ) Laredo is hosting more than 100 destination marketing professionals during the Texas Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus (TACVB) Mid-Winter Education Conference, January 17-19 at the La Posada Hotel.   TACVB will convene for three days of educational meetings focusing on Administration, Group Sales, Group Servicing, Tourism Sales, Communications/ Technology, Marketing and Visitor Services. 
 Now the largest statewide organization of Convention & Visitors Bureau professionals in the world, TACVB was organized in July 1972 for the purpose of providing cooperative action to enhance and encourage the growth of …

Courtesy Kathy Hill,
Inaugural Eagle Ford Shale Consortium Conference Brings Leaders Together to Tackle Issues
 CARRIZO SPRINGS, Texas   — Recognizing the extraordinary pinnacles and pitfalls the Eagle Ford Shale represents for the twenty-four counties it lies under, a consortium of community leaders and stakeholders is planning its inaugural conference to develop sustainable models of long-term development.  Organized by the Eagle Ford Consortium, “Creating a Sustainable Pathway” will be held in San Antonio Feb. 29 – March 2, 2012 at the Omni Hotels Colonnade.
“Our communities realized that we’d been in a reactive mode …

THE STORY OF MUSIC, STORIES FROM HOME
 a program of music & spoken word  featuring Gary Holthaus & Lauren Pelon
 Tuesday, January 17, 6:00 P.M.
Laredo Public Library
Multi-Purpose Room
1120 East Calton Road
 Free and Open to the Public
Sponsored by
Laredo Public Library &  Humanities Texas

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
 All City of Laredo administrative offices will be closed on Monday, January 16, 2012 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. national holiday. Protective and emergency services will be operational.
 The City of Laredo Landfill will be open that day.     The Laredo Public Library will be closed on Monday, January 16, 2012. The Bruni Plaza branch will be closed Monday and Tuesday, January 17, 2012.
 The City of Laredo Municipal Court will also be closed on Monday, January 16, 2012.  Individuals scheduled to appear in court that day have an additional …

Courtesy Anissa Treviño,
 LAREDO, Texas – This year’s Taste of Laredo has added international beer and wine tasting to be sampled among the array of delicious food options on February 7, 2012 at the Laredo Energy Arena (LEA). Doors open at 6:45 p.m. for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, with the festivities following immediately after at 7 p.m.
 This is a first for the Taste of Laredo, which is a major celebration within the Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association festivities.
 For a small additional fee, patrons can elect to taste an international variety of beer and …

(Laredo, Tx)-  City of Laredo Mayor Raul G. Salinas will travel to Washington, D.C. the week of January 16th to attend the 80th Winter Meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM).  The focus of the meeting is on jobs and ensuring that local government issues are not lost in this presidential election year.  While in Washington, Mayor Salinas will meet with President Obama as part of a delegation of mayors.  He will also chair the Conference of Mayors’ Immigration Task Force. A full copy of the agenda of …

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
 Beginning next week, AEP TEXAS will be doing maintenance work on their network that will cause partial and full lane closures on the various roads.
Monday, January 16:
Hidalgo from San Bernardo to Salinas, all day from 7:30a.m. to 4:30 p.m.;    
Tuesday, January 17:
Flores from Houston to Hidalgo, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; and
San Agustin from Hidalgo to Houston, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.;    
Wednesday, January 18:
Salinas from Matamoros to Hidalgo, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; and
Convent from Hidalgo to Matamoros, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. …

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
 (Laredo, TX )  Award winning poet and essayist Gary Holthaus and internationally acclaimed musician Lauren Pelon team up to offer a unique new program called “Story of Music, Stories from Home.”  Pelon plays a variety of instruments ranging from lute, lyre, and concertina, to recorders, gemshorn, and electric wind instrument.  Holthaus reads from his work and that of others.  Both the music and the readings offer unique perceptions of the natural world, and celebrate our sense of place, community, and home.
 “The Story of Music, Stories from Home” will …