News

Valley Star Awards: Another great show

DSCF3807 web From the naming of the winners of the eight categories of awards, to the selection of great Wintertainers™ who performed in the show, the Valley Star Awards held Wednesday, February 15, was a great success. Chris Marshall, a local musician who performs by himself and with well-known group The Bottomline Band, acted as emcee for the event held at Mission Bell-Tradewinds RV Resort.

Entertainers who had not been here for several years are making their way back to the Valley. And Winter Texans are returning to the entertainment venues in big numbers. The result was a group of happy Winter Texans enjoying some great Wintertainers™ this season.

Uncovering the real story

20181215 Riverside Dreamer Tour JMB 0076 web It's a small, small world! Just last week I received an e-mail directing me to an article presented by the British Broadcasting Company. The Rio Grande Valley and the story of Rio Rico made the news all the way across the world. At first, I just could not believe it.

The article was all about Rio Rico, a Valley town that was once in the United States but is now in Mexico. How would you like to go to sleep one night living in the United States and wake up to find that you are now in Mexico? Well, that is exactly what happened to the citizens of Rio Rico for you see it is said that the winding and curving Rio Grande River cut a new and straighter channel leaving Rio Rico in Mexico.

This occurred back in July 2006 and all these years when guiding I have used this as an example of how strong the force of water can be. That episode was easy for me to accept for in Mexico, the Rio Grande is named the Rio Bravo del Norte or the Brave River of the North. And certainly, water can be a powerful force destroying bridges, sweeping cars off of highways that are flooding, and carrying entire houses away in their swirling currents.

Extraordinary musical talent and congeniality at Casa Del Sol jams

20230222 Jammin Darwin Beckman DJ at Casa Del Sol web A great experience is in store for you each Friday (January-March) orchestrated by Mary and Rick Guignon, activity directors for Casa Del Sol senior community in Donna. These weekly jams attract 30-40 talented musicians who take turns providing entertainment to the large audience of listeners. In addition, these jammers appreciate the stage band who uses their expansive musical talents to support each jammer.

Each jammer is introduced by the talented MC Darwin Beckman who starts each jam with the Pledge of Allegiance and ends the jam with God Bless America. The sound system for this large ballroom is fine-tuned by the sound engineers Jack Dufour and Ligue Wisdom.

At the January 13th jam, the jammers that played that night were Al Cully, Bob Chafton, Bunnie, Bettie, Cindy Dixon, Rodney Crouse, Ed Black, Jerry Davis, Sharon Eikleberry, Richard Daniels, Bill Davis, Sandy Grady, Charles Hrnicek, Jane Heinen, Wes Jansson, Mike Lane, Judy O’Hair, Conra Marsh, Bob Powell, Sheri Pieﬀer, Gary Rene, Ronnie, Larry Sisk, Jim Stiles, Renie T, Betty Thomas, Wayne Teeple, Pam Willie, and Tom Zeker. Also appearing were guest stars Naomi Bristow and Dave Perryman.

A Stranger on the Dance Floor

20230222 On the Lighter Side Take Your partner by the right web The music started, the Square Dance had begun at an RV park hall in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Ron, the dance caller, directed the steps of the dancers; "Bow to your partner and your corner too; circle left.” My corner lady, a stranger to me, crashed into me.

Ron called out, "No, Suzanna, your other left."

The Road Works. It was raining, we were forced off the highway because I was in the wrong lane due to road works. Learning to drive in England has its problems in North America. I then took a Texas “U” turn, not the planned left turn, ending up back on the highway going the wrong way.

“One more try,” I said to Linda as I turned off the highway and headed south. We arrived at the dance hall only ten minutes late.

Square Dances are Social Events, a time to meet friends and strangers. But they weren’t all strangers?

The young lady, Susanna, who had crashed into me, was vaguely familiar. I knew her, but from where? Who was she? Why did I know her? Was Linda watching? My memory is getting worse.

Palm Gardens raises money by auctioning pies

Submitted by: Ruth Filz

Who would have thought that selling a rhubarb pie for $55 dollars in 2015, would lead to selling an apple pie for $250 and raising $2,580 for charities in 2023!

In 2015, Phyllis Tillotson asked Vonnie Jones if she would bake a rhubarb pie to sell at Palm Gardens RV Park’s annual park auction. It was the first time a pie was sold at the auction. There was a bidding war for the pie between Phyllis and Roger Jacobs. Roger ultimately got the pie with a $55 bid. As events were planned for the following year, it was decided to add a Pie Auction to our calendar and donate the money to local charities.

Foraging for Native Edibles Tour at Quinta Mazatlan

20230222 QM Tour Guide Jessica Santana web

Do you enjoy putting together meals with fresh and savory plants to make up a colorful dish full of robust flavor and energy? Quinta Mazatlan invites you to join them on their one-hour guided tour, Foraging Forests, to get you started foraging native edibles and herbs safely and ethically in your garden.

Mission Chamber present Winter Texas Fiesta

2022 Winter Texan Fiesta Rick and Curt CAB PREFERRED PAge One web

Hundreds of Winter Texans look forward to city fiestas that are held in February and March just before they pack up their bags and go back north. They look forward to the great entertainment, vendors, and food. One of the favorites coming up is Mission Chamber’s Winter Texan Fiesta. It’s Mission Chamber’s way of saying “Thank you” to the Winter Texans that make the Valley their home during the winter season.

Canyon Lake residents build homes with a mission

By Carina A. Brunson

The residents of Canyon Lake have a secret, or not so secret, mission of building homes for needy families in Progreso, Mexico. This mission, Mabel’s Building Mission, was started in 1992 by a resident named Mabel Clare.

Mabel was in the Valley with her sister for rehabilitation for an injury. It was then when a hurricane struck the area and wreaked devastation on the small town of Progreso. After seeing such devastation, Mabel and her sister first started a clinic, built a school, and provided clothing and food for those in the area. Next, was to provide housing for the poor – and Mabel’s Building Mission was established.