Winter Texan Times

Softball, camaraderie and hot dogs

20200115 From the Cheap Seats 1 Claude Laplante stood on the pitcher’s mound and looked toward home plate.

Walking up for his at-bat was a tall, lanky lefty. Laplante was familiar with his dangerous foe — he found an opening between first and second in his last bat, ripping a shot that rolled all the way to the outfield fence.

“

20200115 IMG 0641 softball

You’re up again already?” Laplante joked before delivering him the pitch – this time tossing some chin music directly at him.

Of course, this was Winter Texan softball and not the Major Leagues, so the batter caught the ball, fans and players alike laughed and joked about the “brushback” pitch and the game continued.

But on the very next pitch: Boom!

MHM Hosts 14th Annual Mission Quilt Show

20200115 IMG 8410 mhm Join the Mission Historical Museum as they host their 14th Annual Mission Quilt Show, January 17, at 2 p.m. The program kicks off days after the opening of their Quilt Exhibition. The Quilt Exhibition opens January 11 and is a unique display of quilts brought in by the community to be part of the ceremony.

The reception will feature a special Turning of the Quilts program. Quilt Turning is a unique way of telling the history and story behind antique quilts. Quilts have a long history of not only being used for warmth, but are also considered a form of art. They are a tangible history of the lives and experiences as told from the Quilter themselves.

Join the museum as they present awards to participants and journey through the unique stories that are crafted through quilting.

The Mission Historical Museum is located at 900 Doherty Avenue. The museum is open Tuesday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturdays, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

For more information on this program or any upcoming events contact the museum office at (956) 580-8646, visit us at www.missionmuseum.org, or follow them on Facebook.

First Showcase was a thumping good time

20200115 SHOWCASE IMG 3474 Every year the Activity Directors Association and Robert and Billie Ferguson put on two Showcase events. These events introduce the Valley’s activity directors to Wintertainers™ that come to the Valley to entertain you. It gives them a chance to get an idea of what the Wintertainers™ are like, a sampling of what they do, and then an opportunity to book these Wintertainers™ for next season, or even the current season if spots are available.

This year’s Showcase was my first opportunity to attend and was stunning. All of the Wintertainers™ were given nine minutes to showcase their best work with montages and medleys that left the audience tapping their toes, singing along, and doubled over in fits of laughter. I left with a rather long list of my own of the Wintertainers™ I plan to go catch their full show or find at a dance the rest of this season. Be sure to look for my husband and I when you are out some Tuesday or Wednesday evening this season.

Coffee, doughnuts, and a musical

Another magical story is soon to grace the stage at the Harlingen Performing Arts Conservatory, and they are inviting every Winter Texan to an exclusive showing of Beauty and the Beast.

If you have attended an exclusive Winter Texan showing for either the production of Mamma Mia or In the Heights, then it should be good news to hear Beauty and the Beast welcomes you back for another whimsical musical.

Animal shelter over capacity seeks help

Palm Valley Animal Society announces that it is over capacity and will be waiving all pet adoption fees in an effort to free up room at both of their centers in Edinburg.

PVAS currently has over 770 dogs under their care between their Trenton and Andrews Centers, but as the shelter of record for Hidalgo County and 6 municipalities they continue to receive dogs on a daily basis.

Water – a blessing to the RGV

WEB On The Road Header What is the most important natural resource to a farmer? Probably water - a commodity that we just can't do without. Most of our water supply in the Rio Grande Valley comes from the Rio Grande River or as it is called in Mexico - the Rio Bravo del Norte - the brave, wild river of the North.

MOSTH hosts Winter Texan Day

Winter Texan Wednesday is a program that welcomes Winter Texans and retirees to enjoy an afternoon at the Museum of South Texas History. The museum, which is located in Edinburg, features a presentation followed by a highlight tour of part of a museum exhibit. The first program, titled “Sal del Rey,” with guest speaker Joe Vidales Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 3 p.m.