Christmas shoe drive to help needy children

Pumphouse becomes Christmas Wonderland

The Old Hidalgo Pumphouse has been transformed into a Christmas Wonderland with over 200 houses and buildings from the Snow Village collection placed in a variety of displays throughout the museum.

The majority of the display belongs to Hidalgo Assistant City Manager Kay Wolf and her husband, Vernon.

The Christmas displays are blended into the regular displays that explain how the Pumphouse worked during its glory days. They add Christmas cheer that brightens the building.

Museum Manager Viola Arismendez said the museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for senior citizens. This includes access to all displays in the pumphouse and the viewing of the historical film about irrigation of the Valley. It also includes the exhibit set up by Rio Grande Valley Railroaders in the basement of the museum.

This year, the pumphouse will also be open on Friday through Sunday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. so that those who come to see the Festival of Lights can also stop and see the Christmas Village at the pumphouse. Admission during this time will be $2 per person.

Valley has Pulitzer level photographer

By Kathy Olivarez

Jerry Tomaselli of Chicago, who spends his winters at Sunshine RV Resort in Harlingen is not just good with a camera, he’s great. At least that is what the Pulitzer Prize committee thought in 1979 when Tomaselli’s picture, “Tears for a Buddy,” was named first runner up to the Pulitzer Prize in photography for the year.

Tomaselli’s love of photography began when he was 12. His father would bring the Chicago Daily News home. The back of the front section would be covered with pictures. Tomaselli would study the pictures that were scenes of what was happening all over the world and look at the names of the people who took those pictures. He began carrying his camera around and taking pictures of the scenes around him.

They had names like John White, Bob Langer, Val Mazzenga and Frank Hanes; all were respected photojournalists who worked all over the world. It took 15 years, but Tomaselli’s name began to appear with the names of the photographers that he revered in his younger years. Tomaselli had no formal training for photography. Instead, he developed “a nose for news.” Photographers who were well known often mentored him, teaching him what to look for in a great picture and how to take one. It was enough to get him a career than many graduates of photography schools can only dream about.

He worked at two papers during his 40-year career as a photojournalist. He began his career with the Chicago Sun Times in 1969 and stayed eight years until 1977. He spent the next 32 years with the Chicago Tributes, first as an assistant photojournalist and then as the chief photojournalist. He also did some freelancing for magazines after he retired.

His Pulitzer runner-up picture came about in 1979 when the roof on the Horizons Arena (now the All State Arena) in Chicago collapsed. Tomaselli was close by when it happened, so he headed over to the arena to see what was going on. He saw a man who “rode a beam down” from 75 to 80 feet in the air. The impact when it hit the ground killed him. As his body lay there, another man jumped in front of Tomaselli, who was trying to get a picture of the man’s body and kneeled down crying over his buddy. Thus, “Tears for a Buddy,” was born. The photo was in black and white and the cloudy, gray day added to the artistic elements of the picture.

The picture had such a great impact that it took Tomaselli into that elite group of photographers that most photojournalists only dream about: the Pulitzer Prize competition.

Through his career Tomaselli had many adventures. Prior to starting with newspapers, he took many photos while working as a military policeman in the army in Vietnam. Later, he was in Germany as a photojournalist when the POW’s were released after the Vietnam War.

Tomaselli was the guy that did well at covering action in hot spots. He covered local fires and other action events. Often, he was sent to troubled areas to provide photo coverage. He traveled to El Salvador and covered the activities of the Sandinistas while they were in power. He was sent out to cover the Los Angeles and Chicago riots. He was assigned to photograph mass murderer John Wayne Gacy who killed 32 people. He covered train wrecks where many people were killed. And he covered Pope John Paul’s visit to Chicago.

Over a period of 30 years, Tomaselli covered all Democratic and Republican National Conventions that took place. His political photos brought him in such close proximity to Mayor Richard Daly of Chicago that they became friends.

He was an avid sports fan and covered many sports events including the World Series, the Super Bowl, professional golf and hockey events. He once took a photo of Walter Peyton of the Chicago Bears leaping 14 feet into the air. That photo hangs in the National Football Hall of Fame today.

Tomaselli did a little unconventional freelancing too. He tells the story of getting a call in 1972 from a Secret Service agent he knew asking him to come to a certain address and take a picture. He had to take his camera unloaded and then load the film after the camera had been checked.

When he entered the residence, President Nixon was attending a function there. The group wanted good pictures of his visit. Tomaselli saw a piano nearby and knowing that Nixon played the piano, set him up playing songs with friends around. After he took the pictures, he gave the film to the Secret Service agent and left. He received a $50 payment for his trouble.

About three years later, he got another mysterious call asking him to come and take a picture the same way and to leave the film. He again ventured out, not knowing whom he was going to find this time. When he arrived at the specified address, the picture he was asked to take was of the entire Chicago Mob seated and having dinner. He refers to the picture as “The Last Supper.” Again, he took the picture and left the film. This time he was paid $100.

“The moral of that story,” laughs Tomaselli, “is that crime pays. I made twice as much money taking a picture of the mob as I made taking a picture of the president.”

Besides being first runner up for the Pulitzer Prize in 1979, Tomaselli won many awards for his photography including two National Firefighter Photo Awards and two Peter Lizagore Awards for exemplary photojournalists. He was named a Sigma Delta Chi Exemplary Journalist. He won many local and state awards for his photography and awards from the Associated Press and United Press International.

He served two terms as president of the Chicago Press Photographers Association and one term on the National Press Photographers Association.

After his retirement he did freelance work for Sports Illustrated for a period of time. When the magazine stopped using freelancers, he and his wife of 40 years, Judy, decided it was time to travel. For the last five years the couple has been coming to the Rio Grande Valley for seven months of the year. During the summer he and his wife travel back home to see their three daughter and eight grandchildren. (Two more grandchildren are expected before they make the trip back next summer.)

For the past three years they have resided at Sunshine RV Resort in Harlingen where Tomaselli became activities director in 2008.

On the day of this interview, Dec. 7, Tomaselli and several other veterans had arranged a flag burning ceremony. Tomaselli explained there were traditions that required old flags that are torn and tattered are to be burned. Residents of the park who had worn flags were invited to come up and burn their flags and dedicate them to someone’s memory. Tomaselli chose Dec. 7 because it is the anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that occurred 68 years ago in 1941.

For future events he has lined up a Christmas parade and crafts show for Dec. 20 and states that his park’s Feb. 16 Mardi Gras Parade will be the largest in the Rio Grande Valley. On Dec. 19 he has arranged for Vance Greek and the Deep River Boys to entertain at the park.

If Tomaselli has taken over as activities director with the passion he put into his photography as a photojournalist, residents of Sunshine RV Resort will have much to look forward to in the future.

Bentsen Grove smashes donation record

By Kathy Olivarez

It was a pie in the face for Channel Five Chief Meteorologist Tim Smith. Smith, who organizes an annual Tim’s Coats Drive for the needy in the Rio Grande Valley, promised residents of Bentsen Grove Trailer Park in Mission that if they topped the record number of 1,232 coats collected in 2008 this year, he would take a pie in the face.

Residents rose to the challenge and collected 1,365 coats in 2009. Smith kept his word Wednesday, Dec. 2, at Bentsen Grove when Activities Director Bonnie Newbole put a pie in his face during a park meeting.

Calling the collection for the year, “absolutely amazing,” Smith thanked residents for their assistance, saying residents of Bentsen Grove were the people who “drove the project and made it happen.” Tim’s Coats has been held for 25 years. In the past five years, residents of Bentsen Grove have collected 7,886 coats for the drive. Over 100,000 coats have been collected and given away in the 25-year history of the program.

Also present were Roger and Doris Stansberry who are the Bentsen Grove Tim’s Coat’s chairpersons and Bill and Paul Stocker, owners of Palace Cleaners in McAllen. Palace Cleaners works with Tim’s Coats to see that the coats are cleaned and repaired and that any missing buttons are replaced before the coats are given away.

With a bit of prodding from Newbole, Bill Stocker and Roger Stansberry agreed to be co-recipients of pies in the face next year if the number of coats is higher than it was this year.

After the event was over, the Winter Texan Times asked Smith how it felt to get a pie in his face.

“I loved it,” Smith replied. “It’s such a small price to pay to see that people in the Rio Grande Valley have coats for the winter. And besides that, it tasted good!”

Christmas photo contest planned

Many Winter Texans get in the spirit and decorate their homes or parks for the Christmas season. To help share photos of some of the Valley’s colorfully-decorated RV and mobile home parks, the Winter Texan Times will hold a Christmas decoration photo contest.

The Winter Texan Christmas Decoration Photo Contest is open to all Winter Texans living in the Rio Grande Valley. The photo subject must be Christmas decorations of an RV park, mobile home park or a residence in one of these parks located in the Rio Grande Valley.

Winter Texans can e-mail their photos to news@wintertexantimes.com, or deliver photos to the Winter Texan Times office located at 1217 N. Conway, Mission, Texas 78572. The deadline to submit photos is Friday, Dec. 18. Limit of three photo submissions per person. Park managers and activity directors are invited to submit photos of their park as well.

Each photo submitted should be in a separate e-mail which includes a description stating the name and phone number of the photographer, the address of the residence or park pictured, and the name of the RV or mobile home park where the photo was taken.

Judges for the contest will select the best photo based on photo composition and quality. Digital photos should be at least 5” x 7” at 300 dpi. Low-resolution images cannot be used. The winner will receive a $100 prize. The winning photo and other contest photos will be published in the Winter Texan Times and on the newspaper’s website at HYPERLINK "http://www.wintertexantimes.com" www.wintertexantimes.com.

All photos submitted for the contest become the property of the Winter Texan Times and will not be returned.

Rio Grande Valley celebrates Christmas

As December gets underway, the Rio Grande Valley abounds with many Christmas celebrations that Winter Texans can enjoy. Following is a list of festivities coming your way soon.

Brownsville

The first annual Green Christmas will be celebrated Dec. 12 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Resaca de la Palma State Park World Birding Center, 1000 New Carmen Blvd. Events include the lighting of a native tree, Christmas carolers, tram rides, a talent show with prizes, and kids’ crafts and activities. Admission is $4 for adults. For information call (956) 350-2920.

Edinburg

The Museum of South Texas History (MOSTH) will sponsor a Fun Day on Sunday, Dec. 13, from 1 to 5 p.m.

The Edinburg Methodist Church Bell Choir will stir the Christmas spirit at 2 p.m. with a concert. Quartetto Zyraib will perform holiday music on the classical guitar.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand in the Will Looney Legacy Park, weather permitting. A wagon and saddles will be set up with native landscaping for South Texas pictures.

The family will enjoy MOSTH’s newest exhibit of “Nativity Scenes from Around the World.” The collection is a private collection belonging to Most Reverend Bishop Reymundo J. Pena, Fifth Bishop of Brownsville. He has collected nativity scenes for 32 years in his travels around the world and now has 200 nativity scenes from 15 different countries.

Traditional South Texas holiday treats such as tamales, hot chocolate, rascas de los tres reyes and other sweets will be available to enjoy at the museum or take home.

The museum’s gift shop will have an array of specialty items for that person who is hard to please on the Christmas list.

Bring a toy for the Toys for Tots Drive. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for seniors. Call (956) 383-6911 for additional information.

Harlingen

The Harlingen Arts & Heritage Museum, 2425 Boxwood, will display its annual “Christmas Tree Extravaganza” through Jan. 13. The exhibit is free to the public.

Hidalgo

The Festival of Lights will continue through Dec. 31. The dinners and special performances in front of Hidalgo City Hall will continue through Dec. 19. (The annual Posada will be held Dec. 16 instead of a program.) Tickets for dinners and programs can be purchased at Dodge Arena only. The Christmas lights and the live reindeer display will continue through Dec. 31. Trolley rides and horse-drawn wagon tours will be available every night except Dec. 16, 24 and 25. Tickets for rides are sold at Hidalgo City Hall, 704 E. Texano Dr., where the rides start.

The Christmas Village display at the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse will continue through Jan. 13.

McAllen

The Rio Grande Valley Ballet will present “The Nutcracker” at the McAllen Civic Center, 1300 S. 10th Street, on Saturday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec.13, at 2 p.m. For tickets call (956) 681-3800. Tickets are $10 to $20.

“The Nutcracker” will be presented by the Dance Conservatory of McAllen at the McAllen Civic Center, 1300 S. 10th Street, on Dec. 19 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. Admission is $4.99. They are available at www.dcofm.com.

The First Baptist Church of McAllen will hold its annual Christmas Pageant on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 to $10 per person.

The Winter Texan Orchestra will have a Christmas concert on Dec. 16 at 1:30 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran School, on the corner of Pecan and Second Street in McAllen. A second concert will be held Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. at the church.

The Rio Grande Valley Band will host its 12th Christmas Concert on Sunday, Dec. 20, at 3 p.m. at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1105 West Fern Avenue, in McAllen.

The Christmas tree display at the International Museum of Art and Science will continue through Dec. 31.

Mission

The Mission Historical Museum will host its annual Christmas Tea/Luncheon, on Dec. 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Museum Annex, 200 E. Tom Landry (the old post office building). Lunch tickets are $12 and may be purchased at the museum or from volunteers.

The Christmas Lighting Ceremony at Leo Pena “La Plazita” Park across from H-E-B in downtown Mission will be held Thursday, Dec. 10, at 6 p.m. The Christmas lights will be turned on, Santa will visit and vendors, music and entertainment will be provided.

Port Isabel

The City of Port Isabel has rescheduled its Christmas celebration and annual tree lighting which had been postponed due to inclement weather . The new time is Thursday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. It will take place in front of the historic Champion Building. Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church Chorus will perform traditional Christmas music. The community is invited to participate in Christmas caroling and Christmas karaoke.

On Dec. 11, the Port Isabel Museum and the Treasures of the Gulf Museum will host a Christmas Open House. The museums will be decorated in holiday trimmings and open to the public for viewing with no admission fee from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A “Christmases of the Past Postcard” display will be open through Dec. 19. Antique postcards depict popular images of the Rio Grande Valley community through the years. The Museum’s Gift Shop is open and is offering a variety of unique gifts for the history of collectible buffs on this year’s Christmas list.

San Benito

A Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony and concert will be held at the W.H. Heavin Amphitheatre, 705 Bowie Street on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. Students from local elementary schools will perform new and traditional Christmas carols. Afterwards, Mayor Joe Hernandez will flip the switch to illuminate the tree near the amphitheater, officially kicking off the Christmas season.

The lighting of the tree will be followed by a Tunes of the Trail Christmas show. Performers include several individuals and groups. Carlos Canas, Natalie Hernandez, Jean-Luc Canas, the Garcia Family Singers, the Trevino Family Singers, Ethel Bucanan, Natalie Montez and the Malibu Band, Flor Loera, 512 Madrid and Boomerang will all perform at the event.

A Christmas Festival and Bazaar will be held Dec. 11 and 12 at Plaza at San Benito, 210 E Heywood. Call 956-399-5321 for information.

The City of San Benito and Chamber of Commerce will host a Christmas Open House in the San Benito Municipal Building, located at 401 N. Sam Houston Blvd., Dec. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A Christmas parade will be held in downtown San Benito on Saturday, Dec. 12, at 6 p.m. The parade will proceed on Sam Houston Blvd.

A Christmas candlelight celebration, sponsored by the churches of San Benito, will be held Thursday, Dec. 24, at the W.H. Heavin Amphitheatre. For information call 956-399-2187.

San Juan

The City of San Juan will host “Noche de Paz” on Saturday, Dec. 12, on Nebraska Street between first and Fourth Streets from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. The annual parade will start at 6:30 p.m. beginning on Ridge Road and moving north on Nebraska Street and ending at the festival. There will be entertainment, crafts, food, rides, music and snow for the kiddies beginning at 5 p.m. and lasting until it melts.

South Padre Island

On Friday, Dec. 11, the Island Holiday Parade will be held from Mars Street to Campeche at 6:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, Dec. 31, a New Year’s Eve fireworks display will be held in Laguna Madre bay at midnight to welcome the New Year.

On Friday, Jan. 1, the annual New Year’s Polar Bear Dip will take place at Boomerang Billy’s Beach at noon.

Weslaco

Due to inclement weather, the Mid-Valley Lighted Parade, which was to be held Dec. 5, will now be held Dec. 17. The parade, “A Rock Band Christmas,” will begin at 6 p.m. and proceed along Texas Blvd. between Pike Blvd and 6th Street. The parade will feature marching bands, antique cars equestrians and, of course, Santa Claus.

Christmas shoe drive to help needy children

?A Love Thy Neighbor Shoe Drive began in the Rio Grande Valley on Dec. 7 and will continue through Dec. 18. The project is an outgrowth of Shoes for Orphan Souls, a Buckner Ministry, which has provided 1.8 million pairs of new shoes and socks to children in 68 countries since its beginning in 1999.

According to Monica Skrzypinski of Buckner Ministries, the Valley receives approximately 10,000 pairs of shoes from this ministry each year. The shoes are distributed through Buckner’s Colonia Program in the Valley.

Sponsored by Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley and Buckner Ministries, the project goal is 2,000 donated pairs of shoes Valleywide.

Collection locations across the Valley include all Lone Star Bank, International Bank of Commerce, International Bank, and First National Bank locations. In addition, 68 Catholic parishes across the Valley will collect donations.

Those wishing to make a financial donation can find a donation form online at www.rgvshoes.com. For more information, call 956-289-3045 or 956-583-2041.

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