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Published: Wednesday, 16 October 2019 00:00
The 32nd SandCastle Days was held October 2 through 6 where attendees had the chance to view sandcastles built by 12 master sandcastle builders. This year’s builders came from as far as the Netherlands and Canada.
According to Lucinda Wierenga, one of the organizers of the event, this year’s event appeared to set new records.
“The weather and tide cooperated, and the police had to direct traffic all of Saturday and well into Sunday afternoon,” she said. “But now it is quiet, and the gallery is lovely, especially right at dusk.”
Wierenga added that any who want to see what there is shouldn’t wait too long. With the sandcastles, mother nature will decide when to take them out.
The event features a group sandcastle built by all 12 participants and then a contest between them.
The top three sandcastle builders were first place, Abe Waterman (Canada) for his “Three’s the Charm;” second place was Wilfred Stijger (Netherlands) for “Catch of the Day;” and third place went to Greg Grady (New Hampshire) for his sandcastle “Cosmic Drop.”
Each year the event boasts live music, art booths, great food, and exciting evenings. SandCastle Days also includes activities for all ages and activities for families. Attendees also have the opportunity to participate in SandCamps where they can learn from experienced sandcastle builders. The event is free.
If you missed this year, do not despair, said Wierenga. Just mark the first weekend of October off on your calendar to be on South Padre Island.
If you can’t wait that long, visit SPI in December to see the Holiday Sandcastle Village, which is already in production by the very same artists who competed at SandCastle Days. The sculptures are being constructed across from Louie’s Backyard in the heart of the entertainment district and will feature a dozen holiday-themed sculptures as well as a musical light show.
For more information on SandCastle Days and their other events, you can visit them online at www.sandcastledays.com, or on Facebook.
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Published: Wednesday, 16 October 2019 00:00
The Valley Symphony Orchestra and Peter Dabrowski, music director/conductor, announced the launch of the 2019-20 concert season in August at a special event. The season opened with a back to school concert in September.
The season will also include a performance of music from the James Bond films and a guest appearance from UTRGV’s Ballet Folklorico. Maestro Dabrowski announced that special guests Mariachi Aztlan will perform as part of the season finale concert.
“Mariachi Aztlan is one of the best ensembles in the United States, and we are thrilled that they will be performing with our orchestra,” said Dabrowski.
VSO Executive Director Katy Coy said the Symphony will be offering a three-concert subscription offering this year.
“Our patrons have been asking for a more flexible option, and we are pleased to offer a package this year that includes the music of the James Bond and Indiana Jones films, plus our beloved ‘A Touch of Frost’,” said Coy.
The James Bond Meets Brahms, two men of mystery – one incredible concert, will be held October 25. The concert will feature The Best of Bond (Barry/Tyzik), symphony No. 3 (Brahms), and Hungarian Dance No. 6 (Brahms/Schmeling).
The VSO’s annual holiday performance, A Touch of Frost, will take place December 13. The concert will feature the VSO Chorale, UTRGV’s Ballet Folklorico and selections from favorites such as Handel’s Messiah and The Nutcracker.
A musical adventure to the corners of the Earth and across the American west will feature Indiana Jones and the Wild West themed music on February 28. Music includes Scherzo Capriccioso by Dvorak, Trumpet Conerto by Artunian and featuring trumpetist Jared Broussard, The Big County Suite by Moross and Raiders of the Lost Ark: Raiders March by Williams.
The VSO Season Finale Event, designed by Dabrowski, will be held March 27. Music will include the Hungarian March by Berlioz, Violin Concerto No. 2, La Camanella by Paganini featuring violinist Geoffrey Wong, Crystal Horizon by Writer. Specials guests Mariachi Aztlan will perform Bolero by Ravel with the orchestra.
The three-concert, $125 package is currently available for purchase. Seats in all sections are still available. Subscriber benefits include guaranteed annual seat reservation period ahead of the general public, first notice on all upgrades, exclusive guest artist information and content, no hassle ticket replacements for lost or misplaced tickets and much more.
Concerts will be held at the McAllen Performing Arts Center, at 801 Convention Center Blvd. in McAllen, from 8 to 10 p.m. For a complete list of concerts, music repertoire and guest artist information, visit VSO online at www.valleyorchestra.org or call the office at 956-661-1615.
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Published: Wednesday, 16 October 2019 00:00
It’s been a warm one here in South Texas, but it looks like Winter Texans are bringing some of that cool weather with them as they arrive in the Valley.
This past weekend we saw our first cold front of the season and had some nice, cool days to enjoy outdoor activities. Of course, in south Texas, we enjoy our outdoors year-round, even in the heat of summer.
As usual, the Valley is a different place without you. We are happy to see you coming back home.
As the new editor of the Winter Texan Times, I myself, miss you and all that you bring to the Valley. In all of the years I have spent in this office I have made some great friendships and hold dear many memories of the Winter Texans that come through our office doors. I look forward to a great year getting to know even more Winter Texan friends.
During a recent trip to San Antonio, I saw no less than 30 Winter Texans heading south. I only counted vehicles that were pulling a home though, so who knows how many more drivers may have been Winter Texans. I encountered two Winter Texan couples at one rest stop. One couple was out with their cameras and binoculars enjoying the butterfly migration and searching for birds in the trees.
Last week, my husband and I enjoyed a nice lunch at Scalisi’s Chicago Style Pizza and More in Pharr. There we encountered two other Winter Texan couples. (By the way – their food is delicious.)
As we have been gearing up for the season, we have been meeting park managers, city leaders, and area chambers and visitor bureaus. We can tell you they have great plans for this year!
Every other year the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley conducts the Winter Texan Survey with the support of the Winter Texan Times. The information gathered in this survey is vital to helping your communities and businesses that serve the needs of Winter Texans understand the Winter Texan resident and how important you are to our communities. Keep an eye out for that later this year and make sure you fill out your survey.
If you have a great story idea, we love new suggestions. Send us your ideas to news@wintertexantimes.com. Some types of stories we may be interested in could be profile pieces, unique activities or events in your community, how is your park involved in local charity work, or any of the myriad of great human interest stories we stumble across all the time in our Winter Texan parks.
As you can see from this issue, there are already a lot of events happening all around for you to enjoy. Take a look at our Parks Calendar and our Events Calendar inside.
We here at the Winter Texan Times hope you found your way safely to your south Texas home and enjoy your stay with us this season.
Love y’all,
Carina A. Brunson
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Published: Wednesday, 16 October 2019 00:00
The Harlingen Arts and Heritage Museum will be hosting their A Night in Old Mexico themed Taste of Harlingen on Thursday, October 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. The event will feature over a dozen participating restaurants with food for attendees to enjoy. The event will also include a silent auction.
Some of the participating restaurants include many of your known chains such as Applebee’s, Cheddar’s, Chili’s, Longhorn Steakhouse, Jason’s Deli, Texas Roadhouse and Russo’s NY Pizzeria. Other restaurants in attendance will be Classic’s Bar and Grill, Gracie’s Goodies, Harlingen Country Club, HIME Sushi Bar and Grill, Keto Mini Donuts, La Playa, Schoolhouse Creamery, Taco Palenque and Tropical Smoothie Café.
Taste of Harlingen is the museum’s primary fundraiser that helps with the restoration of the historical building, preserving Harlingen’s history and enable the museum to bring art exhibits for visitors to enjoy. Last year the event drew nearly 600 attendees.
The event allows patrons to taste Harlingen’s local restaurants cuisine while enjoying live music by Jaime G. and the Adel’s. Patron’s will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite restaurant for a People’s Choice Award. The silent auction will feature items donated by local businesses and individuals.
The evening guarantees great conversation, delicious food and enticing aromas. Attendees are welcome to wear themed costumes and visit All Valley Photo Booth where they can choose from props and pose for some pictures to take home.
Advance tickets are available at Harlingen Chamber of Commerce, the Museum, and from board members and volunteers. Advance tickets are $75 or tickets are $85 at the door. The event will be held at the museum at 2425 Boxwood in Harlingen.
For more information, call (956) 216-4904 or visit www.tasteofharlingen.com.
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Published: Wednesday, 16 October 2019 00:00
The Raymondville Chamber of Commerce is holding the 20th Annual Wild in Willacy Nature and Heritage Festival this weekend. The event starts Thursday, October 17, with a children’s program where visitors can view exhibits, demonstrations, nature photography and artwork.
Tours begin on Friday, October 18 with planned tours to local ranches. Tours require preregistration. Please visit their website for more details or to see if space is still available. Tours will meet at the L.E. Franks Tourist Center.
On Saturday, October 19, activities will include indoor and outdoor vendor booths, food trucks, live entertainment, school performances, cook offs and much more. This day’s events start at 3 p.m. with live music, featuring Jaime DeAnda, Midnight Run and DDD, starting at 6 p.m.
The festival is a means of showcasing and creating awareness of Raymondville’s, and the surrounding areas, natural treasures and promoting eco-tourism in the Willacy County area. Over the years, the festival has brought hundreds of local and out of town guests into the community. From Port Mansfield, to ranches east and west, north and south, Willacy County has an abundance of diverse and natural treasures. Wild in Willacy offers its guests an opportunity to experience the outdoors through tours of otherwise inaccessible ranches while enjoying bird watching, wildlife viewing and listening to history of the toured ranches.
Programs will be held at the L.E. Franks Tourist Center at 501 S. 7th St. in Raymondville. Artwork will be displayed at the Willacy County Art League building.
For more information visit their website at www.wildinwillacy.weebly.com or call (956) 689-1864.
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Published: Wednesday, 02 October 2019 15:34
The City of South Padre Island and Sandcastle Days founders Walter McDonald and Lucinda Wierenga are hosting 32nd annual Sandcastle Days October 2 through October 6. Admission is free and boasts live music, art booths, great food, and exciting evenings.
Lucinda says they are very excited for this year’s event that includes 12 master sculptors. These sculptors come from as far away as Netherlands and Canada.
“There will be music, tasty treats from Island restaurants, a silent auction for some wonderful items, and you can get a closeup look at the sculptures while mingling with the artists who created them,” added Lucinda.
Today’s festivities start with an event where visitors can watch the Masters of Sand carve as a group.
On Wednesday, October 3, the official Master of Sands competition will begin with individuals working their magic on their own sculptures. Friday, October 4, sand sculpting will continue and registration for an amateur competition will open at 9 a.m. Children, family, groups and singles are invited to participate in the competition from 1 to 5 p.m.
Saturday, October 5, SandCamp, a free sandcastle lesson, will begin at 8 a.m. Another amateur competition will open for registration at 8 a.m. with the sandcastle building beginning at 9 a.m. The Unlitter Campaign’s 10th Annual Trashion Show, themed Star Wars, will begin at 4 p.m. Judging of the amateur and master sand builders will take place with awards given at 4:30 p.m.
SandCamp will be held again on Sunday, October 6, at 10 a.m. People’s Choice awards will be awarded at 3 p.m.
The Sandcastle Days Mercado is open each day from 10 a.m. to closing. The event will also feature live music at Clayton’s, waters slides, bull riding, vendors, things for kids to play, and more for all ages.
Master Sand sculptors McDonald (aka Amazin Walter) and Wierenga (aka Sandy Feet) are South Padre Island residents and 32 years ago started Sandcastle Days to demonstrate the magical sculpting qualities of South Padre Island sand and the critical importance of protecting our beautiful coastal shores. Over the years this free family-fun event has grown from a local celebration to a qualifying event for the World Championships of Sand Sculpting where over 30,000 fans come to watch the sand come alive.
The event will be held at Clayton’s Beach Bar and Grill at 6900 Padre Blvd. on South Padre Island. For more information and the full calendar, visit, http://sandcastledays.com/.
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Published: Friday, 23 August 2019 17:32
Editor’s Note: Virginia was a valued member of the Winter Texan Times for 13 years. We express our condolences to Virginia’s family. She will be missed by us and the Winter Texan community.
Virginia Sunderman, 95, of Lake Katrine, died Wednesday, August 21, 2019, at her home. A native of Huntington, Indiana, she was a daughter of the late Forrest and Effie Couch Lamb.
She was employed at Indiana Bell Telephone Company, Huntington, Indiana, for 25 years, retiring in 1976 as service representative. After retirement, she and her late husband, Glenn, spent winters in Texas where she was editor and feature writer for the Winter Texan Times, Mission, Texas, for 13 seasons. She also tutored at Mission Junior High School.
Virginia was president of Oleander Acres Club in Oleander Acres Park during the couple’s stay in Texas, and she served as emcee for many jam sessions in the Mission area. She was a Winter Texan member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Mission.
Virginia is survived by her daughter, Bonnie Langston and her husband Sid Leavitt of Lake Katrine; two grandchildren, Brett Langston and partner Janani Ramprasad of Ravena and Todd Langston and partner Donna Brunig of Clifton Park; two sisters, Patricia Maddox of Wilmore, Kentucky, and Dorothea Lineback of Cypress, California.
Virginia is also survived by a former foreign exchange student who came to live for a year with her and Glenn 50 years ago, Hans Werner Jany, a native of Germany.
In addition to her parents, Virginia was predeceased by her son, Roger Lee Sunderman who died in 1970, as well as brothers-in-law Ed Lineback and Dr. Paul Maddox.
Visitation will be at Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home in Kingston, NY on Sunday, August 25, 2019. Online condolences may be left at www.SimpsonGaus.com.
Christine Ten Eyck will be sharing her passion for human and ecological wellbeing as she presents “Return of the Natives,” as keynote speaker at Quinta Mazatlán’s 2019 Planta Nativa on Thursday, October 17. Planta Nativa is an annual Texas Native Plant Celebration with all-inclusive happenings such as live music, art, food, adult beverages and education. The Majestic Mesquite is this year’s theme.
