Winter Texan Times

Nu-Blu joins VSA lineup

2023 Nu Blu tight group shot web Nu-Blu has been visiting the Valley for a few years now, but this year, they are celebrating their 20th year entertaining. During their 20 years, they have released several Top Ten Billboard albums, have destination tours, and have moved into the role of bringing the roots of Americana music to the masses.

North-Carolina based Nu-Blu has quickly established themselves as one of the top acoustic acts in the music industry, delivering a set of songs that range from the melancholy to the exuberant, and at every step they prove they’ve got a knack for finding their way in the deeper parts of you.

Spaghetti dinner tradition continues

20230208 La Floresta RodgerVanderville Morris Haverland Darla Strait Spaghetti Dinner 1 web After 10 years of serving a Spaghetti Dinner to the residents of La Floresta Park in Mercedes, Jean and Rodger Vanderville (Manistique, MI), decided to call it quits. Through the years, they have served from 75-115 dinners each time, with the help of a crew of seven. Good food. Fun. Laughter.

Jean and Rodger also are involved in a variety of events in the park and will focus their time and attention on golf and other activities. Meanwhile, Darla Strait (Sanborn, IA), Debbie Tufnell (Manistique, MI), and Bonnie Kadell (Jerseyville, IL) have offered to take over the Spaghetti Dinner next year.

We have some of the kindest people you will ever meet in our small park in Mercedes.

Tribute dedicated to Birger Olson – RGV Bass Player extraordinaire

20230208 Birger Olson TOzark 5194 1 web Residents at McAllen Mobile Park, a senior community, honored one of its residents, Birger Olson, on February 2nd, by paying tribute to his lifelong passion and dedication of entertaining others with his bass guitar music. The tribute was presented in the form of a book of resident signatures and memories from those who attended a dance featuring the Blue Wolf Band. That evening, Birger played bass alongside Steven Kelley (drums), Shirley Mauch-Spanhanks (guitar/vocals) and Jerry Spanhanks (guitar/pedal steel guitar/fiddle/mandolin/banjo/vocals).

Heritage and History Day returns to MOSTH

20230208 Heritage and History IMG 9560 2 web The Museum of South Texas History presents Heritage and History Day scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, February 11.

The community event highlights the culture of South Texas peoples through regional folkway demonstrations ranging from hands-on activities to live performances.
Museum staff will host several hands-on activities such as embroidery using yarn and plastic needlepoints. Another activity includes a role-playing voting booth that assigns participants with a character card, determining whether they can or cannot vote. Attendees are welcome to watch or participate in butter churning, an essential chore practiced when modern equipment was not available. Other living history demonstrations include knitting, leather crafts, rope making and roping.

STC hosts Life and Death on the Border exhibit

The South Texas College Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery, History Department and the Center for Mexican American Studies proudly present “Life and Death on the Border: 1910-1920,” a panel exhibit that includes photographs, postcards, court documents and rare artifacts that tell the story of daily life and re-examines Texas historical events of the early 1900s in the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas.

STC History Professor and co-founder of the Refusing to Forget project Trinidad Gonzales, Ph.D., worked alongside colleagues throughout the state and nation to help research and put together this exhibit and event series. These histories inspired Tejano literature, art and music and influenced the creation of the Mexican American civil rights movement.

Couples compete in La Floresta Golf Tournament

20230208 La Floresta Jim and Darla Rodger Vanderville web On the morning of Sunday, January 22, residents of La Floresta Park in Mercedes took to the golf course. It was the start of the Annual Couples Handicapped Tournament. The event was open to beginner golfers as well as those with advanced skills. It was a little cool that morning, but it warmed up nicely.

Boleros and romantic Latin concert in the park

20230201 Boleros and Romantic Latin Entertainers Ceci Bri web Quinta Mazatlan is proud to present an early Valentines Concert in the Park on Thursday, February 9th, 6 p.m. in the evening. The concert features Cecy and Bri who are a contemporary classical duo. Throughout the years, they have collaborated as performers, music educators, and now as “Dos Voces,” which integrates their disciplines of voice, piano, and guitar. Open to innovation and fun, these two explore the Bolero as well as Jazz, Soul, and other contemporary genres.