Submitted by Main Street Uvalde

05-17-25

by Michael Robinson |Uvalde Hesperian

05-15-25

   The Uvalde Hesperian spoke with the City of Uvalde’s Director of Planning Susan Anderson about the City’s plans on managing the town’s tourism efforts with Hotel Motel Tax Monies collected by local lodging businesses. \

  According to Anderson, at Tuesday’s Uvalde City Council meeting, the City Council voted to approve a plan where several City officials and managers including Opera House Manager Caitlin Visel, Main Street Uvalde Manager Gloria Resma, and several other City staff members will form a committee to manage the marketing and public relations of the town utilizing HOT Tax monies. As part of the new plan, the City will hire an additional tourism marketing person to join the team. 

   Anderson said in the past, the City has managed and directed tourism in-house and then over time contracted the City’s marketing and tourism to non-profit organizations like the Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Uvalde Chamber of Commerce.

   She said shortly after Uvalde Chamber of Commerce President John Yeackle gave notice to City Council his intent to not renew the Chamber’s agreement with the City to manage the municipal tourism with the use of HOT Tax monies, City officials began discussing plans to bring the task in-house.  She mentioned Yeackle left a marketing plan for the City, and indicated it is being followed.

  Anderson said the Opera House Manager Caitlin Visel has already been promoting the Opera House events and Main Street Uvalde Manager Gloria Resma has been involved with its promotions. Anderson also mentioned the Briscoe Garner Museum as a possible partnering organization she hopes to partner with in promoting the City.

  Susan mentioned there are 3 tourism related conferences the City is already planning on attending and the team is also preparing for the Hunter’s Round-Up this fall and the Texas Travel Alliance event in October.

Main Street Uvalde /Civic Center Offices and Chamber of Commerce to swap office locations

   With a 120-day transition period coming to an end soon, Main Street Uvalde Manager Gloria Resma indicted their planned office move is still on schedule: 

  “We move on Tuesday, May 27. My office will be closed on May 23 and May 26-28, but I will still be able to take phone calls and emails. It just will be the physical office that is closed,” Resma said.

   See related article published in the Uvalde Hesperian:

Uvalde Chamber of Commerce already planning move back to its North Getty Street property – Uvalde Hesperian

By Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Top Photo: Uvalde Chamber Office Manager Adam Ocasio and Uvalde Chamber CEO John Yeackle accompanied by two men were seen on the edge of the Chamber of Commerce’s property located on 340 North Getty Street this morning.

04-01-25

  Today marks the first day of the 120-day countdown to the breakup with the City of Uvalde on its management of the City’s tourism and use of the City’s Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT Tax). Uvalde Chamber CEO John Yeackle, Executive Director M.J. Miller and Office Manager Adam Ocasio were outside the Chamber’s storage building just behind the small office at 340 North Getty Street which is currently being occupied by the Uvalde Main Street Office.

  According to Yeackle, the Chamber is planning on moving its offices back to its 340 North Getty Street location while the Uvalde Main Street office will move to the City-0wned offices located on 300 East Main Street by the Ssgt. Wille de Leon Civic Center.

   Yeackle announced at last week’s Tuesday, March 25th City Council meeting he was not planning on renewing the Chamber’s tourism contract with the City. The announcement was unexpected as many thought that Yeackle would give a report to the Council on tourism and ask the council for a contract renewal. 

 Currently, the City does not yet have a management organization or tourism manager lined up to manage the City’s tourism once the 120-days exit period is up. 

By Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

February 6th, 2024

In a news story published by the Uvalde Hesperian on February 5th: Yeackle proposes new management plan for the Uvalde Main Street Program

In the article, it stated:

“Uvalde Main Street Manager Gloria Resma was not in attendance at the meeting. The Uvalde Hesperian sent an email on Thursday, January 30th to City of Uvalde Mayor Hector R. Luevano and City Manager Vince DiPiazza with the following question:

‘Wanted to ask what if the city of Uvalde has a policy of not allowing department heads or employees to address the City Council at City Council meetings especially when the subject is on their job or position?’

The Hesperian is still waiting on a response.”

Earlier today, February 6th, 2025,  Uvalde City Manager Vince DiPiazza sent the following statement to the Uvalde Hesperian:

“Ms. Resma was not forbidden to speak on her own behalf at the 28 January city council meeting. She, Susan Anderson, and I met prior to that meeting to discuss the staff’s approach to the chamber of commerce proposal. The consensus was that we wanted the council to hear first from Main Street board members on the value, or perhaps lack thereof, of the Main Street program. The program is not about this or that city employee; it’s about boosting the businesses in the central business district, those businesses being, collectively, a significant economic engine in our community.

Ms. Resma does not have to fight for her job. We continue to need her to manage the civic center, which is now doing more business than it did when we contracted the management to another entity. If the council sees fit to contract the management of the Main Street program to the chamber of commerce, then the staff will support that decision. I already have in mind other tasks within city operations for which I would like to use Ms. Resma’s talents, if, as we continue to grow business at the civic center, she still has time to devote her efforts to those other tasks.”

Press Release by Main Street Uvalde

On Saturday, December 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Main Street Uvalde will be set up at the plaza to hand out cookies to those who bought boxes for the Cookie Crawl. Also, everyone will be able to write letters to Santa and enjoy hot cocoa. Drawing for the gift basket from the purchase of the cookie boxes will be held at 1:30 p.m.

 Link to Cookie Crawl Facebook Event Page

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Uvalde County Constable Emmanuel Zamora was at the Uvalde Walmart two hours before the doors opened at the Uvalde Walmart at 6 AM. Constable Zamora said he saw about 50 people outside the doors waiting for the doors to open. 

Zamora also stated some of the Walmart staff were handing out special coupons for TV to customers. 

At the Walmart.com website one advertised a deal on  kids bikes selling for as  low as $38 dollars.

  The Uvalde Hesperian visited the Uvalde Walmart location about 8:30AM and saw a few shoppers leaving the store with flat screen TV’s and toys inside mostly full shopping carts.

Main Street Uvalde is promoting Shop Small Saturday and UvaldeRadio.net  will be hosting a special Black Friday Party on the Plaza tonight from 6 PM to 9PM.

UvaldeRadio.net & Uvalde Radio ROCKS in partnership with the City Of Uvalde are your NEW hosts for the monthly Party On The Plaza event held every final Friday of the month in Uvalde’s downtown plaza! Support local entrepreneurs and growing small businesses by shopping unique boutique clothing, arts & crafts, custom creations, food trucks & more while UvaldeRadio.net plays the best mix of music.

Image from Walmart.com 

by Michael Robinson| Uvalde Hesperian

Top Picture: Cashlyn Varnon at Southern Lace Marketplace during the Friday, November 10th Uvalde’s Four Square Friday event.- Picture by Robinson

  Uvalde’s Downtown area businesses have already decorated their storefronts for the upcoming Christmas Season and November’s Four-Square Friday event had a festive feel to it with Christmas lights visible at Julien’s, Mi-Vida and other store windows. Outside of Mi Vida, a small crowd could be seen on the sidewalk viewing a giant pizza being baked on a large oven situated in a nearby parking space about 7:30 PM. 

 The Doll Haus Boutique featured elegant dresses in its store windows and Cashlyn Varnon was spotted at the Southern Lace Marketplace store counter. Members of the Rotary Club of Uvalde including Club President Debbie McDonald accompanied by Margaret Stypko, Veronica Conoley, and Tom Garcia selling raffle tickets for chances to win one of three weekend getaways as a fundraiser to build a splash pad for Uvalde. 

 Other organizations hold fundraising events including a group of SWTJC students and Texas Cavalry Baseball, and one other organization. 

Small Town Elegance

The Blinged Buck

Amy’s Attic