At 92-years-young, Ella Mae Marrs, who has been wintering in the Valley for over 30 years, had an exciting tale to share this season with her Winter Texan friends. A painting she did in 1992 came back in her possession this past summer.
For decades, the Rio Grande Valley of Texas has been a favorite destination for retirees from the Midwest and Canada looking to head south for the winter to escape the snow, ice and cold, harsh weather. In addition to the warm, semi-tropical climate here in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), Winter Texans frequently tell us they enjoy the friendly people here, the many activities available to enjoy in the mobile home and RV parks and resorts, and the camaraderie with other Winter Texans who spend three to six months in South Texas each winter.
As a younger generation move to the Valley, it seems they are more frugal when it comes to where they go. They want to have a great time, but they don't want to spend the money they've saved and earned to go just toward living expenses. They want to live it up – from dances and shows to trips to South Padre Island and Nuevo Progreso, Mexico and, of course all the free events that take place on a daily occurrence at the RV resorts.
A friendly game of softball doesn’t mean there’s no pride or competitive spirits milling about.
That was the case last week as Canada defeated the U.S. 9-3 in the annual Winter Texan Softball Can-Am game at Westside Park in McAllen. The annual event, which usually has two games, a B Division and an A Division, was cut short following the B Division game due to a non-stop light rain that officials said made the field too wet and dangerous to play on.
Read more: Canada steps up to the plate in annual USA vs Canada game
The Rio Grande Valley Livestock Showgrounds are going to be full of animals and people beginning tomorrow as the event celebrates its 83rd year. The event will feature its senior discount day on Wednesday, March 16.
More than 300 people came to mark Clayton Homes of Donna 30th anniversary on a breezy Saturday.
Most of them were Winter Texans wanting to check out the latest in mobile home styling, like Harold Barstow and friend Shirley Michael from Bentsen Grove Resort in Palmview. The couple, both of whom come from Wisconsin communities, were surprised when they won a prize in a drawing right after they arrived.
By Herb Moering
The annual Texas Independence Day parade held in Alamo was a great success thanks once again to Trophy Gardens RV Resort residents. They made up the bulk of the parade on a breezy Saturday morning with nearly 30 individual entries, mainly decorated golf carts with the parade theme “Howdy Alamo—A Salute to Texas.”
Larry and Susan DeBuse, formerly of Green Gate Grove in Palm View, were honored at the Larry DeBuse Invitational Golf Tournament, held at Shary Golf Course on March 2.
Kathy Roberts and her team organized the event to raise funds for the Parkinson’s Foundation, Inc. and continues Larry’s annual golf outing, The Annual Not Ready for the PGA Golf Fun Day Invitational, which he ran for the last 6 seasons.
Looking to begin birdwatching? Join Avrel Seale for “Beginner’s Luck: My First Year of Birding” at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 17, at the Nature Speaker Series at Quinta Mazatlán World Birding Center in McAllen.
March 12th is National Plant a Flower Day and now is the best time to start planting, growing and enjoying flowers at your home. Join us at our Mazatlan Morning on Saturday, March 12th from 9 a.m. to noon for the Native Plant Sale, Talk, Walk and Seed Bombing.
John Brush, McAllen Urban Ecologist, will present a program at 10 a.m. titled “Quinta in Bloom” highlighting the beautiful native flowers around the sanctuary.
