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Published: Friday, 13 March 2020 00:00
The Open Invitational Pool Tournament for the Rio Grande Valley was recently held. It was hosted by Bentsen Grove Resort and was organized by Claude Lemay. This is the second year for the tournament. Pictured, from left to right, Ken VanSickle, representing Bentsen Grove Resort; third place finisher Len Bangma of Magic Valley in Donna; Winner Stew McCrae of Siesta Village in Weslaco; second place finisher Al Prescott of Eldorado Acres in Palmview; and Claude Lemay organizer.
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Published: Thursday, 12 March 2020 00:00
By Herb Moering
About 90 local Winter Texans were treated to an evening of food, information and entertainment, with many winning prizes in a series of drawings at the Monaco Event Center in Alamo on Thursday, March 27.
The occasion was the Alamo Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center’s Winter Texan Appreciation Night, which is a popular event for Jim and Jean Zion to attend. This was about the fifth or sixth time the Zions had come to the event. This is their fifth year at Alamo Rec-Veh Park, but they have been coming to the Valley for 15 years from their home in Missouri.
Read more: Alamo shows appreciation to local Winter Texans
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Published: Thursday, 12 March 2020 00:00
Bentsen Palm RV Park recently took on a project to help a pet shelter with something they really needed. The park got involved with Cinderella Pet Rescue about four years ago when they learned about the no-kill pet shelter. They learned about the shelter when trying to find somewhere to take stray dogs to – they had a number of stray dogs at the park that needed homes.
Marcie Swenson, activity director at the park, said residents were hooked in helping the shelter and fulfilling the needs of the shelter whenever they could.
Read more: Bentsen Palm builds dog houses
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Published: Wednesday, 11 March 2020 13:30
A big draw to Deep South Texas is the nature sites and its many birds and butterflies. South Texas is home to numerous species of birds and butterflies that aren’t found anywhere else. South Texas also exists on a huge migratory corridor that attracts visitors from all over the world. Because of this, there are nature parks throughout the Rio Grande Valley and there are different types of festivals held throughout the year to celebrate the nature, birds and butterflies that call the RGV home, even if temporarily.
Read more: Nature, birds and butterflies
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Published: Wednesday, 11 March 2020 10:09
I remember my dad and my neighbor, Jim Brewer, used to go out back with some wooden stakes, drive one into the ground and then spend the next 15 minutes arguing over how far to place the other stake.
My dad was 6-foot-4 and Mr. Brewer, as I would call him, was probably 5-foot-9. They would mark off the stakes 13 strides apart. My dad, being tall and strong, would make sure his 13 strides were stretched out and Mr. Brewer, well, he didn't particularly care for that strategic move.
Read more: A leaner is worth two points – just not in Texas
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Published: Wednesday, 11 March 2020 09:58
It's been a pleasure for me to have visited with so many of you this Winter Texan Season. Your sense of humor, your kindness, your contributions to our communities has made me appreciate so much more all that you do for us.
And so, now the time has come when you are thinking of returning to your summer home up north. You will be with your family, your children and your grandchildren and oh, what a busy summer it will be. We will miss you. We hope you have a blessed summer and that you come back to be with us next year.
Read more: Summer, tours and change
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Published: Wednesday, 11 March 2020 08:52
By Herb Moering
An easy way to view attractions at Estero Llano Grande State Park is to climb aboard a tram and enjoy a two-hour trip narrated by a park interpreter.
For the March 4 tram trip, eight Winter Texans from Siesta Retirement Village, just down the road from the state park, learned a lot from volunteer guides Tom and Connie Unsicker. They noted that the 280-acre Estero Llano Grande on Weslaco’s south side, is among the youngest and smallest by state park standards. But the park features some of the most diverse habitat in the Valley with its different vegetation areas, animal and bird life.
Read more: Guided tram tour explores urban oasis
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Published: Wednesday, 11 March 2020 00:00
Hollywood has nothing on red carpet events compared to what Winter Texans receive as they return to the Valley with open arms awaiting them.
Special dances, potlucks and Winter Texan welcome back parties are just some of the things that await the part-time residents, who mean so much to the Valley, it's economy and everything from tourism to volunteering. While they are here for just a portion of the year, they have built relationships inside and outside of their parks and all throughout the Rio Grande Valley.
Read more: Winter Texans receive red carpet treatment in the RGV
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Published: Thursday, 05 March 2020 07:00
Cajun food lovers can feast on all-you-can-eat crawfish and craft beers at the 2020 Ales and Tails Fest on Saturday, March 7 from 3 to 8 p.m. at Victor Park in Harlingen. In addition to the spicy tails and ice-old ales, guests can move to the live sounds of local bands Hot Rodz, Rock Star and Southern Ashes.
The Harlingen Chamber of Commerce began the crawfish boil in 2017 as a way to bring the taste of the Louisiana bayou to the Rio Grande Valley. According to Executive Director Chris Gonzales, the festival grows more popular each year.
"Most Valley restaurants don't serve crawfish or Cajun food, so the food is definitely a big reason people come out," Gonzales said, "but there is also so much great music and dancing. It's a great time for everyone."
Tickets for the 2020 Ales and Tails Fest cost $30 in advance and $40 at the park. A reserved table for eight people costs $500. To purchase tickets, call the Harlingen Chamber at (956) 423-5440 or stop by at 311 E. Tyler Ave. A portion of the proceeds raised will benefit Harlingen Bark Park.
Read more: Ragin’ for Cajun in Harlingen
The Senior Texan Softball League is hosting the 21st annual Canada versus USA senior softball games on the fields at McAllen Westside Park next week on Thursday, March 12. The park is located at 1000 Ware Road (on the West side of Ware Road, ¼ mile North of Expressway 83). 
