For several years we have gotten Winter Texans’ input on the Valley top golf course and favorite holes at the golf courses in the Rio Grande Valley. This year we are starting a little early with our series that introduces some hidden gems at the more popular Valley golf courses.
The mission of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is to keep the planes from WWII flying. What started with one plane has grown not only into a mission to save the planes from the era, but to also keep them in their natural habitat – in the air.
More than 11,000 volunteers work to keep the airplanes flying so generations can “see, hear, feel, and experience the power and majesty of these aircraft in operation.” The CAF goal is to keep these airplanes alive to “tell the story of the greatest generation.”
It's Texas brag time! Once we could brag that we were the largest state in the Union, but not anymore. Even so, we can still brag, for surely that is what Texans do best. The "brag" this time is that south Texas has the largest ranch in Texas ... the famous King Ranch.
TxDOT aims to reduce the number of crashes involving pedestrians
AUSTIN—The Texas Department of Transportation is launching a safety campaign to remind drivers and pedestrians to slow down, be alert and obey traffic laws.
Last year, there were 5,694 traffic crashes involving pedestrians in Texas, resulting in 632 deaths and 1,205 serious injuries. In the Rio Grande Valley in 2018, there were 219 traffic crashes involving pedestrians, resulting in 23 fatalities and 46 serious injuries.
The top factors contributing to these crashes were pedestrians failing to yield the right of way to vehicles, drivers failing to yield the right of way to pedestrians, driver inattention and failure to control speed.
TxDOT offers the following tips to help keep pedestrians safe.
If you’re driving reduce your speed when approaching crosswalks and stop for pedestrians; yield the right of way to pedestrians when turning; be careful when passing buses or stopped vehicles. Stay alert and put your phone away—pedestrians may enter your path suddenly; and obey the speed limit and drive to conditions.
If you’re walking use sidewalks whenever they’re available. If there’s no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the road facing traffic; always cross at intersections or marked crosswalks - look left, then right, then left again before proceeding; make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street. Never assume a driver sees you; be visible. Wear something light or reflective after dark; don’t be distracted by devices that take your eyes and ears off the road; and as a passenger, get in or out of a vehicle on the curb side of the street.
Whether you’re driving or walking, alcohol can impair your judgment, coordination and reaction times.
An exhibition of photographs by members of the Upper Valley Art League will open with a free public reception from 7 to 9 pm on Saturday, November 9, at the Kika de la Garza Fine Arts Center Gallery.
Titled Through the Lens, this year’s exhibition will showcase various styles of photography ranging from traditional, digital and mobile created by UVAL members and the UVAL Photography Group. Exhibition coordinator Cyndee Galindo quotes Alfred Stieglitz, “In photography there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality.”
The exhibit will be on display from November 9 to December 7, 2019 at the Kika de la Garza Fine Arts Center Gallery which is located at 921 E. 12th Street in Mission, Texas.
The event is free, and the public is welcomed to attend this exhibition. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Upper Valley Art League is one of the oldest non-profit organizations in the Rio Grande Valley. Since its beginning in 1935, the Upper Valley Art League has been dedicated to serving the artistic needs of the Rio Grande Valley by providing art instruction, art exhibitions and a forum for artists to gather.
The Upper Valley Art League endeavors to create a space that will serve as a resource center, cultivating the artistic growth of the community by hosting exhibits of local and guest artists and offering classes and workshops in a variety of media. The organization serves ages young and old, from both sides of the border.
For additional information about UVAL, its classes, membership, events and exhibitions, visit the website at uppervalleyartleague.org or call (956) 583-2787.
Community being asked to curb illegal dumping
The City of Mission is taking a proactive stance and enlisting help from the community to curb illegal dumping. Illegal dumping is dumping of any waste, whether it is oil, furniture, appliances, trash, or landscaping cuttings, upon any public right-of-way, city property or private property, without consent of the owner.
“With the residential growth and tourism in Mission, we are particularly focused on keeping our city looking nice for both our residents and guests. We want to tackle the issue of illegal dumping,” Councilman Ruben Plata said. “We want our city to be an inviting environment and everyone should do their part. By teaming up with our community, we can make it happen.”
The Code Enforcement Department with the assistance of the Mission Police Department is patrolling neighborhoods daily to deter illegal dumping and investigate citizen complaints. Community help is also essential to catching and preventing illegal dumping.
“We want to engage our residents to help us find the people who are violating our city ordinance,” Planning and Zoning Director, Jaime Acevedo said. “They are our eyes and ears and it helps tremendously when we receive community support to catch people that are illegally dumping debris.”
While trash piles can be a real eyesore throughout the city, Mission’s code enforcement officers say there are bigger issues at hand.
“We have trash and tires that are dumped, and if we get rain, those tires fill up with water, and then you get mosquitoes. It’s a domino effect,” Acevedo said. “Working together with our citizens, we can keep our city clean and this helps us to reduce the cost of additional manpower for prevention and cleanup.”
Illegal dumpers face fines of up to $2,000 for avoiding proper disposal. If anyone sees illegal dumping, they are urged to call the City of Mission Code Enforcement Department.
If you observe someone in the act of dumping illegally, please take down the following information if it is safe to do so:
• Date, time and location of incident
• Description of vehicle and license plate number – (Photos optional)
• What items/materials were being dumped – (Photos optional)
• Description of person(s) dumping
• Any other information that may be useful in identifying the violators.
With adequate information, the City will investigate and pursue criminal charges against identified violators. Callers may choose to remain anonymous.
To report illegal dumping please call 956.580.8697.
The South Texas Historical Association (STHA) will hold a two-day symposium this week. The symposium will feature exhibits, history related presentations and talks, and more.
Part of the international flavor at the upcoming South Texas Historical Association (STHA) Nov. 1-2 Symposium in Alamo is Octavio Herrera Perez from the University of Tamaulipas, Mexico. He will be speaking on “The Low Rio Bravo or Grande del Norte in the Historical Memory of an International Region” at 10:15 a.m. on the symposium’s opening day.
Perez will be followed by George Diaz from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley discussing “Border Contraband.” In the afternoon that Friday, Alberto Rodriguez from Texas A&M Kingsville, has a talk titled “Performing Blackness in Mexico and the Borderlands: 1920-2000s”
Other topics related to South Texas’s heritage include the 1933 Rio Grande hurricane, Civil War General Philip Sheridan’s time on the border, descendants of founding families in the RGV, several other family histories and the background of the settling of the Alamo area. These speakers and others come from Texas A&M College Station, Texas State Historical Association, American Society of Sugarcane Technologies, RGV Hispanic Genealogical Society/Cameron County Historical Commission, Alamo Museum, independent scholars, regional historians and a retired CIA official.
The symposium will be preceded by a 6:30 p.m. reception Thursday, Oct. 31 at the Alamo Museum, 130 South Eighth St., a time to meet and greet speakers. Presentation of a patriotic quilt to a U.S. service veteran is also planned in coordination with a veteran’s exhibit.
The symposium, which is free, except for the $10 lunch each day, begins with a welcome at 9 a.m. Nov. 1 at Bowie Parental Engagement School on Bowie Avenue in Alamo. Emilio Zamora, president of STHA will be part of the welcoming portion along with Alamo Mayor Diana Martinez, Carroll Brinchfield, of STHA, Idolina Vela, president of the Friends of Alamo Museum, and Alejandro Oyoque, museum curator and director.
In addition to the 30-minute history presentations each day, there will be exhibits in one of the classrooms that include model railroading, a Native American arrowhead collection, and Valley baseball. Posters from a middle school contest on South Texas history will be on display, with the winner to be featured on the cover of the STHA’s biannual academic journal. Vendors also will have displays and a STHA silent auction will be conducted.
The symposium is one of two held annually as part of the STHA’s 65-year effort to collect, preserve and disseminate historical records and data related to South Texas along with added emphasis on the Tamaulipan background and the colony of Nuevo Santander. This is the first two-day event in STHA history.
For more information, call 956-961-4398 or stop in at the museum on Eighth Street.
While Halloween is thought to be just for kids, there are often activities for adults too. Most of the events in the Rio Grande Valley are geared toward families and children, but there are some that everyone can take part in. Some of the Winter Texan parks have their own events as well. Here are a few outside of the parks that we adults can enjoy.
The City of Pharr is having a Nightmare on Fir Street tonight from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at the Pharr Aquatic Center, 1000 S. Fir St. Your choice of dressing up for the event, it features Halloween themed activities, a haunted house, and of course candy. They will also be holding a canned food drive, so bringing a non-perishable canned item is encouraged.
The Gladys Porter Zoo always holds their Boo at the Zoo. The last two nights of this event are tonight and tomorrow, from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $2.50 per person, free for zoo members. The event boasts a spooky good time including trick or treating, carnival-style games and more.
Hidalgo will have a Dia de los Muertos Halloween Fiesta on October 31 with a parade beginning at 6 p.m., a movie at 8 p.m. and a haunted house will be available the entire evening. The event will be located at Hidalgo Pumphouse Museum and World Birding Center, 902 S. 2nd St.
A Dia de los Muertos Procession will be held in Brownsville on November 1 at 6 p.m. The events will continue through November 2 at 10 p.m. Location for the main events is Carlotta K. Petrina Cultural Center at 1452 E. Madison St. The procession will take place from the historical cemetery and will include the market square, Brownsville Performing Arts Academy and the Cultural Center.
The International Museum of Fine Arts will be holding their A Dia de los Muertos Festival on November 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On exhibit will be community altars honoring humanitarian leaders who inspire the RGV community and beyond. For extra fees, visitors can decorate a sugar skull. There is a schedule of events throughout the day that include a Catrina contest, a performance by the UTRGV Ballet Folklorico, story times, crafts, games, vendor market, food trucks, and a lecture titled Mexico, Bones and Life. For more information visit their website at theimasonline.org.
The Museum of South Texas History will have an event on November 2 from 4 to 10 p.m. The museum will celebrate and commemorate the traditions of religious and spiritual worship. There will be an altar exhibit featuring 11 altars intended to tell stories, share memories and honor the lives of the dearly departed. The exhibit will be on display through November 17.
A Mystery Altar will feature vintage photographs of unidentified people from the photograph location in the Margaret H. McAllen Memorial Archives. The altar will honor the nameless and carry a preservation message about the importance of documenting family photographs. Another altar, located in the Grand Lobby, constructed by CISD Longoria Middle School art students, will honor the legendary Rogelio Botello Rios, radio and television personality who passed away in 2017.
The event is included with museum admission. The museum is located at 200 N. Closner Blvd. in Edinburg.
We are sure this is not a complete list of Halloween events in the area. Look at your city websites and the museums close to you to see if they are holding something closer to you.
by Herb Moering
About 1,000 people were ready for a run on Saturday, Oct. 26, to benefit the Tip of Texas Family Outreach Center.
Under near perfect weather conditions in the late afternoon runners, walkers, skippers and strollers were on hand an hour before the scheduled run for a little warming up on Levee Street in Brownsville. They were getting ready to take part in either the 5K Zombie Run or the Monster Mile. There was a lot of smiles, with many of the kids made up with a Halloween look, for hundreds of pictures to be taken.
In the crowd was Nola Ortega, who was being joined by her daughter along with Karla Espinosa and her daughters Zenia and Athenez. They were all part of a running club at Villa Nueva Elementary School in Brownsville and this was a chance to get out and participate in an organized run.
Elizabeth Saldana came with a large decorated cake for a headpiece. With her were Brandon Almaguer, dressed as a marshmallow and a brother, Jason, as a big mouse. The two boys were definitely there to run.
There was even a dog by the name of Paris in a tutu that had on her outfit the word, “Boo.”
Before the start of the runs, the children, along with parents stood in long lines to receive backpacks, supplies, refreshments and snacks from community sponsors of the event. Then it was time to hit the starting line and receive the go signal. Two Brownsville police cruisers led the way with wave after wave of runners roaring quickly past the many spectators lining the curb in the first block.
At the end of the run there were treats and a haunted house to traverse. Juan Fernando Lopez, who was helping in the spook house for the second year, said, “Families come to have fun. It’s very good for the community.”
Ximena Bouchot and Juliana Mendez, juniors from Brownville Early College High School, were made up as a pair of “clever” sisters for the haunted house. Bouchot said it was their first year of helping and called it “fun putting it together.” They were among nearly 50 from the high school working the spookiness.
This sixth such event before Halloween is a major fundraiser for the Family Outreach Center, according to its director Alma Herrera. She said the agency, which is a partner organization with United Way of Southern Cameron County, works annually with about 300 families residing in the Brownsville area. The aim in working with parents is to try and prevent child abuse and neglect by offering an array of supportive services, such as free counseling, parenting skill classes and helping teen parents.
For several years we have gotten Winter Texans’ input on the Valley top golf course and favorite holes at the golf courses in the Rio Grande Valley. This year we are starting a little early with our series that introduces some hidden gems at the more popular Valley golf courses.
We will be running a three-part series introducing these hidden gems in three categories – lower, middle and upper Valley. These hidden gems are recommended by the golf pros, or regulars, at the golf courses.
In turn, we would like to hear from you during the series. We will have a survey on our website, www.wintertexantimes.com, for you to vote on your favorite hole. We will be taking votes until November 13.
We will announce winners in an article on November 20.
Hidden gems, diamonds in the rough, unexpected surprises — like finding an extra $20 that was forgotten in the pocket of a pair of pants — can have a profound positive effect on one’s day.
Similarly, golf courses have some hidden gems of their own. Sure, they have their “signature holes,” usually the most difficult, most scenic or most unique (most of the times all three) hole on the course.
But hidden away are those other holes that bring a smile to a golfer’s face (sometimes dread) but, just like a mystery writer who throws twists and turns throughout their novels, golf courses do the same. Three of the courses in the Mid-Valley that often appear on top of Winter Texans’ favorite places to play are no different.
TIERRA SANTA GOLF CLUB, WESLACO
This course is loaded with gems. Everyone knows about what many consider the favorite closing hole in the Valley, the long par-4 that leaves most golfers with a decision on how to approach with water across most of the front.
Go for it? Or be safe and hit left, where a chip to the green awaits.
But everyone remembers No. 18 at Tierra Santa. Still, other holes await.
No. 3 is a gem of a gem. The par-4 starts the golfer off with a split fairway. Go the direct route and you have to fly the left-side lake, which means carrying your drive 190 yards and straight. Go slightly right and you may end up in the right-side lake. There are big rewards hitting a perfect drive, setting up for a short or mid-range pitch and run to the hole on the large green.
For the golfer who goes right, there’s plenty of open fairway. Slice the drive, however, and there’s a long approach over water and, if the pins are on that side of the green, you better “stick it.”
“It can be a pretty tough hole – it’s definitely made for golfers to think about it,” said the pro shop’s Dylan Martinez, who said he would play the course often when he was on the golf team at Harlingen High.
“It has rick and reward based on which way you go.”
VILLAGE EXECUTIVE GOLF COURSE, WESLACO
Walking into Village Executive Golf Course – which is about five miles from Tierra Santa, is like walking into the bar “Cheers,” instead of everybody knowing your name, it’s manager Marvie Torres who welcomes you in and knows you like family.
“Everyone considers this a mom and pop type place,” Torres said. “I know them all by name; I know what they like to drink and a lot about them.”
The mainly par-3 nine-hole course is a favorite among the Winter Texans “because it feels like home, it’s very comfortable. We’ve developed relationships, I have them on Facebook and we keep in touch.”
It’s also home to No. 9, the only par-3 that a hole-in-one hasn’t been recorded on. While it’s a straight shot – but with a crossing win usually, there seems to be a barrier around the finishing hole. Torres said that there’s a registry that goes back to the opening days of the golf course and taqueria (the official name is Village Executive Golf Course and Taqueria Del Golf).
“I don’t know why nobody has gotten a hole-in-one there,” Torres said. “Everybody likes No. 9. But they just haven’t (made a hole-in-one).”
Another gem is the fact that Estero Llano Grande State Park (part of the World Birding Center) is just across the road.
“A lot of golfers bring their cameras here because there’s a lot of nature on the course,” Torres said. “There are all sorts of beautiful birds that come to the course too.”
TONY BUTLER, HARLINGEN
This course is a jewel of golf history. That alone is a gem for golfers of all levels and experience.
The 27-hole municipal course doesn’t, however, just rest on its laurels.
David Arce, interim golf manager, said that No. 23 — a 348-yard par 4 — is a hole that isn’t very difficult, but it can be.
Most golfers are encouraged to lay up about 110 yards from the green where two ponds on each side of the fairway challenges golfers to “go for it.”
“The crazy ones like to think they can get it over,” Arce joked. “I guess potentially some of them can get across.”
For a bigger challenge, Arce said, go all the way back and tee off from the tips, where there’s a large ditch-like hazard that needs to be carried before attacking the rest of the sharp dogleg right.
“You can’t see the green from those tees,” Arce said. “If you hit too far right, you’re in an area with some natural terrain like mesquite and there’s a holding pond and a lot of native vegetation. It’s very brushy. On the other side we have more manicured trees. You can hit under and play through those.”
Click HERE to vote for your favorite golf hole.
