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Gladys Porter Zoo hosts annual Ocelot Run

20131028 Laguna Atascosa Ocelot webThe Gladys Porter Zoo is back with their annual 5K and one-mile fun run to support ocelot conservation. The Ocelot 5K Run will take place on March 8 starting at 7:30 a.m., and the one-mile fun run will start at 8:30 a.m. at the Gladys Porter Zoo. The run will begin in the zoo’s parking lot.

The 5k route will take guests through some of the most popular areas around the Mitte Cultural District before leading them into the scenic Gladys Porter Zoo for the final stretch. The one-mile route will take guests through a fun and colorful run around the Zoo.

Read more: Gladys Porter Zoo hosts annual Ocelot Run

Celebrate Texas Independence Day

20220305 Alamo Texas Independence Day HMoering DSC 1037 webTexas celebrates their Independence Day on March 2. It is the day Texas adopted the Texas Declaration of Independence in 1836. The document was signed by 59 delegates and it officially declared independence from Mexico and created the Republic of Texas.

In San Antonio, you can find events being held from February 23 through Thursday, March 6. These events honor the 13-day siege leading up to the Alamo. They bring the Alamo’s unique story to life, inspire visitors, and honor all those who lived, fought, and died at the Alamo. You can find out more about the events that will be held on their website at www.thealamo.org/remember/commemoration.

Read more: Celebrate Texas Independence Day

Edinburg hosts Hometown of Heroes Half-Marathon

HOH 2025 1 webThe City of Edinburg is proud to announce the highly anticipated 5th Annual Hometown of Heroes Half-Marathon, set to take place on Sunday, March 9, at 7:45 a.m. This year’s event will feature a 10K, a Half-Marathon, and a Two-Person Relay.

Runners have until March 6 to register and be part of this exciting race. Entry fees are $50 per person for the Half-Marathon, $25 per person for the 10K, and $50 per team for the Two-Person Relay. A $10 discount is available for first responders and veterans.

Read more: Edinburg hosts Hometown of Heroes Half-Marathon

Another presentation of The Last Poet in the Woods

Reefka and Steven Schneider Head Shot Artist and Poet webJoin Artists Reefka Schneider and Poet, Steven Schneider for a presentation on their eco-tapestry of art and poetry, Last Poet in the Woods, Thursday February 27, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. For this special presentation Professor Schneider will discuss the literary traditions of ekphrasis and eco-writing as well as the social, pedagogical and ecological goals of Last Poet in the Woods.

Read more: Another presentation of The Last Poet in the Woods

March Muttness 2025 returns

20200325 PVAS Courtesy 0001 webGet ready for the ultimate showdown of compassion and competition – March Muttness 2025 is back and bigger than ever. This nationwide, bracket-style fundraising tournament is uniting over 35 animal shelters from across the country, bringing together animal lovers in a high-stakes race to raise funds for homeless pets in need.

Read more: March Muttness 2025 returns

Get Fit with Valley Regional Medical Center

Sunrise Mall in partnership with Valley Regional Medical Center offers the "Let's Get Fit" program, designed to encourage community participation and promote a culture of health and wellness. The program offers a variety of free weekly exercise classes, health talks with doctors, and community health events.

Join others for an engaging and fun way to stay healthy and active. Their weekly exercise classes include Tai Chi on Mondays, Chair Aerobics on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Line Dancing on Wednesdays. All exercise times are at 9:15 a.m. In addition, Valley Regional Medical Center offers health talks with doctors and various community health events to provide valuable health information and support.

Read more: Get Fit with Valley Regional Medical Center

We are so happy to have you

We are so glad you chose to spend your winter in South Texas – especially in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. We think Texas is the BIGGEST and the BEST – especially in the Rio Grande Valley way down South in the tip of Texas. One of the things that makes us famous is the 825,000-acre, historical King Ranch that is ranked as the most famous ranch in the world and is considered the birthplace of ranching in North America. The King Ranch produced a new breed of cattle, had a horse that won the Triple Crown and today boasts 35,000 head of cattle and over 200 quarter horses.

Those facts sound mighty big in my mind. But we cannot brag that the King Ranch is the biggest in the world. It isn't even the biggest in Texas. It seems that all the large ranches in the world were formed in the mid 1800's. They are ranked in order on the web with the largest in the world being the Anna Creek Station in South Australia with 5,851,000 acres. That is bigger than the acreage of lsrael and is larger than the state of Rhode Island. That makes 825 thousand acres look pretty small. The King Ranch is still the most famous.

If you have a computer and we happen to have a bad weather day, spend a little time looking up the facts and figures about the ten largest ranches in the world and the ten most famous ranches. You can even read about the founding of the King Ranch and a brief history of the life of Richard King who was orphaned and placed as an indentured servant in a jewelry store – a job he hated.

He became a stow away on a ship, eventually a ship captain who moved cotton through Mexico to offshore ships sailing for Europe.

He saw and took advantage of many opportunities to build an empire. Unfortunately, he died at a fairly young age after some difficult years leaving his widow with a heavy debt. Through the help of a son-in-law and finding oil on the ranch, the widow, Henrietta King, was able to hold on to all the land and brought the ranch out of debt. She was greatly admired by the cowboys who worked the ranch. At her death they paid their respects by mounting their horses and hats off and they circled her grave as a farewell salute.

Join us on one of the Go With Jo! Tours of the King Ranch or the King Ranch Farm Tour. You will admire the hard work and determination that built an empire...the historic King Ranch.

February 26 - Rina's Ramblings

We have been going through our news items to see things we have published in the past. It’s amazing the stories we have done, and the people we have met. It has been an enjoyable experience.

I was prepping for something else I am doing and was looking at the many ways you help our communities. It’s a sight to see the things you do for the Valley and the communities you live in.

You don’t just come here for a few months – you become a part of the community and find out ways you can help and really immerse yourselves in the Valley.

I found stories about food drives, benefit concerts, quilts for colonias being made, schools benefiting from donated socks, and so much more.
I also found one story about how a food pantry acknowledged the tapering off of their donations when Winter Texans begin to leave the Valley.

You are recognized and the Valley communities appreciate everything you do for them.

We recognize you and appreciate everything you do for us and our communities. Without you we wouldn’t have much to tell. We love filling our pages with all the things you do. Whether it be donating your time or items to a local charity or just getting out there and playing a round of golf or getting together with friends for dessert – we love seeing these moments and sharing them with our readers.

With that being said, we want your news. Share your news and photos with us. We want to know what you are doing and share it with others.
You can send items to news@wintertexantimes.com.

Transformation makes lower Valley golf courses winners

20140902 SPI Golf Course Hole 5 webFilling a golf course from every tee to green with golfers is almost always the goal on the golf management side.

How the courses meet that goal varies, especially when it comes to attracting Winter Texans and where they choose to play. There are a lot of golf courses in the Valley, many easily accessible right off the highway so the competition is tough.

Last year’s Winter Texan Times Lower Valley favorite courses – South Padre Island in Laguna Vista, River Bend and Valley International Country Club, both in Brownsville, run the gamut when it comes to the question “What makes a winning golf course?”

Read more: Transformation makes lower Valley golf courses winners

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