Alamo Winter Texans enjoy St. Patrick’s Day

By Herb Moering

St. Paddy’s Day last week was pretty much of a bust around the nation with the coronavirus putting a damper on all the big city observances. That is except in South Texas where some St. Patrick’s Day park parades were held.

The City of Alamo had at least two, one at La Hacienda Estates and another at Royal Palms Mobile Home Park. The one at Royal Palms was smaller than last year’s, in part due to Canadian residents ordered to return home last week.

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Bentsen Palm RV Park shows appreciation

Bentsen Palm RV Park recently showed their appreciation of its residents by holding special events all week. Events included boat races, special get togethers, and an Amazing Race.

The Amazing Race was a challenge race where participants were given locations of items – or hints on where to find items – in the park. The participants then raced off on their golf carts to find the items, take a picture and then head back to the clubhouse. After three tasks were completed and approved by the judges, the participants then had to complete challenges that were set up in the clubhouse – challenges included a ring toss, basketball, and other games. All challenges and items had to be completed to declare a winner.

The week was capped off with a fully catered dinner, in which Marcie Swenson, activity director at the park, said it was so no one had to do anything. It was fully catered with others doing the work – letting park residents and volunteers relax and enjoy themselves without having to worry about who was going to clean up.

Honoring 700 years of growth

Palm Resaca Mobile Home Park in Brownsville recently unveiled a plaque recognizing the oldest known anacahuita (Mexican Olive Tree) in the United States. Seven hundred years. The plaque reads that the tree was a seedling before the turn of the 15th century and, therefore, mature and reproductive before the arrival of Spanish explorers.

“It’s incredible as we mere mortals gaze on a majestic Mexican olive tree, to fathom life that has flourished for 700 years,” said Dianne Miller, park resident.

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Ed Martens recognized at annual softball game

Ed Martens stood behind home plate and waited for the ceremonial first pitch that would announce the beginning of the annual U.S. versus Canada softball games at West Side Park in McAllen.

The pitch was delivered high but Martens, who may have been born with a glove on his hand, reached up and snagged the pitch, something he probably could’ve done with his eyes closed.

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Resaca City Car Club Donates

On March 10 Ron and Terri Vargas (team leaders) of the Resaca City Car Club, San Benito, presented a check to the San Benito food pantry in the amount of $2,000. A check for $500 was also presented to Mr. Gerald Gathright of the Harlingen Boys and Girls Club. A car show was held at the Fun N Sun RV Resort in San Benito on February 29th, there were about 70 entries, with 15 categories, all the members of the Resaca Car Club helped to make this event possible.

Best butterfly garden how to

Celebrate monarch migration season by learning how to create a flourishing butterfly garden. Allen Williams, Landscape Habitat Specialist, will be sharing his expertise in creating butterfly friendly landscapes at Quinta Mazatlán’s Nights at the Mansion speaker series. Thursday, March 19, at 6 p.m. Williams presents, “Best Butterfly Garden Kit.”

Williams earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography from Southwest Texas State University; his land stewardship career spans 20 years. In 2002, after the arrival of a blue mockingbird, he opened his backyard oasis to tourists. Soon after, the first U.S. documented black-headed nightingale-thrush sought refuge in his backyard habitat. He then launched Williams Wildscapes, Inc., a native landscape company specializing in creating diverse native habitats for birds, butterflies and people.

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