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Alamo Palms holds quilt showcase

20200122 Alamo Palms Quilt IMG 0940We can’t believe it has been three years since our last “Creative Quilting Showcase” at Alamo Palms RV and MH Park, in Alamo. This year’s event will be held on Wednesday, January 29, from 12 – 3 p.m.

Not only will you be able to view the beautiful quilts and quilted items made by the talented Alamo Palms quilters, but you can also enjoy the refreshments in the Tea Room. (Men, you will enjoy the treats, too.)

Do your scissors or knives need sharpening? Ray’s Scissor Sharpening can help you. Bring them along and have them sharpened for $3 a pair or just $1 per knife and of course, shop at the many vendors. Vendors include: “Angelics” from right here in the Valley, “Quilters This & Thant” from Mercedes, “Uniquely Yours Quilt Shop” from Orangeville, IL, Seabrook Farm Fabric from Edinburg and R&A Creations.

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Leisure Valley Ranch hosts fundraiser

Leisure Valley Ranch will host a fundraiser on Thursday, January 30, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event will be an evening of music and entertainment provided by Barry & Linda Burton (High Country Band), Bob and Lea Price (Big River Band), Son’s of Calvary, and Regan James (from Hired Hands).

The event being held is to raise funds for a food drive meal packing event that will be held in late February benefiting Kids Against Hunger. Sign up sheets to help with the packing events will be at the event. The meal packages to be packed will benefit numerous food pantries and churches from Penitas to McAllen areas.

The event itself is free – But they are taking any type of financial donations to help purchase the food. Any checks should be made out to Kid’s Against Hunger, St. Mark’s Lutheran.

A separate event will be held on February 6 at John Knox Village Dining Room, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. This event is a freewill offering and will include entertainment by Juan de Leon, dancing, hors d’oeuvres, and refreshments. John Knox Village residents can sign up at the front desk. Nonresidents attending, call (956) 968-4575 to reserve a seat.

The packing event will be held on February 29 at John Knox Village Rec Hall, starting at 9 a.m. They will need 75 to 100 volunteers to help package the meals. Volunteers can volunteer for one-hour blocks or more.

King Ranch tours teach history and farming

WEB On The Road HeaderWhat is it like to be retired? There is a difference in being retired and in slowing down. Most of the people who come to the Rio Grande Valley for the winter are not really retired, they have just slowed down. They are sometimes even more active here than they are back home. They keep busy helping their neighbor, giving back to the community, doing volunteer work at their church or pitching in as they help to prepare meals at the RV parks where they stay. And they do this until it warms up back home. Their minds are just as eager to learn as they always were.

Since it is said that our Rio Grande Valley is a world unto itself, most of the Winter Texans want to learn more about “our world”. But as soon as it warms up, the itchy foot wants to put the petal to the metal and head for home. Some even leave too early and are caught in a snowstorm in route. Just because the farmers are planting in the Rio Grande Valley doesn’t mean it is planting time back home. Stay a little longer, folks, we enjoy having you here!

Read more: King Ranch tours teach history and farming

Bam … Kapow … Whack

20200122 Pickleball IMG 0765As I peered through my camera lens, I saw the angle that the attack came from. A pickleball player at the net wanted to go cross court with a smash. She went cross court and she smashed it.

Unfortunately for her and her teammate, I was standing out of play as the ball crashed into me, serious injury just a moment's notice away...ok, so I'm being a bit dramatic.

They lost the point.

“Yes, I was aiming for you,” said my plotting attacker. “You were targeted.”

Everyone laughed as the eight players taking up residence on the two air-conditioned pickleball courts at Bentsen Grove RV Park continued on with their games. Another 10 or so people waited their turns at what Larry Vermeersch said is the only indoor air-conditioned pickleball court in the Valley.

Read more: Bam … Kapow … Whack

TCF Parade this weekend

20200122 Parade of Oranges PICThe Texas Citrus Fiesta Parade of Oranges has grown to become one of the largest parades in South Texas, an annual tradition that attracts about 100,000 people. In addition to its signature floats made of citrus fruit, the parade features spirited marching bands, exciting dance performances, stunning citrus-themed pageant gowns, and a royal court.

The spectacular event is scheduled for Saturday Jan. 25, 2020 at 3 p.m. The Texas A&M Parsons Cavalry, a horse combat unit consisting of cavalry, artillery and quartermaster elements will highlight this year’s parade. Texas State Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D-McAllen) will serve as parade marshal.

The parade begins at Griffin Parkway and runs south on Conway Avenue and ends at 1st Street. Mission Police will close all streets along the parade route in phases, beginning at 9 a.m. until the conclusion of the parade. Spectators are advised to exercise caution along Conway Ave., and to stay clear of any marked and coned-off areas.

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SPI CVB names January 23rd Cook Your Catch Day

20200122 Fish 02January 23rd has been named Cook Your Catch Day by the avid anglers and cuisine fans of South Padre Island. The Island is celebrating their first-ever Cook Your Catch Day with a VIP fishing trip and Chef’s table dinner for local and regional influencers, tips from fishing guides on techniques for catching different species, ideas from SPI chefs on how to make the most of every catch, and a call for the best fish stories on social media.

Enjoying freshly caught fish is a tradition on this tropical Texas island. With Island restaurants renowned for their fish recipes and great Redfish and Drum in the bay, SPI is the perfect Gulf-to-Table experience.

Read more: SPI CVB names January 23rd Cook Your Catch Day

Second showcase did not disappoint

20200122 Showcase IMG 3810While there were a lot of familiar names at the first Showcase, I was not familiar with more than half of the Wintertainers™ on the list to perform at the second Showcase. The activity director’s association and Robert and Billie Ferguson put on two showcase events every year to help activity directors book entertainment for next year. The Showcase allows the activity directors to get a sampling of what the Wintertainers™ can offer.

Even though I was not able to stay for this Showcase, I enjoyed every minute I was there. Only recognizing about six of the performers on the list, I was eager to see what the others had to offer.

The room was full of laughter and clapping – as just about every Wintertainers™ had a joke to tell.

Read more: Second showcase did not disappoint

It’s time to vote for your favorite entertainers

2020122 Dave Daphne promo picShows and dances hosted by mobile home and RV parks and resorts are attended in numbers by the Winter Texans that spend their winters here in the Rio Grande Valley. The parks and resorts spend a lot of effort getting popular wintertainers to perform at their venues. Each year, the Valley Star Awards, hosted by Robert Ferguson and the Winter Texan Times, presents awards to the Rio Grande Valley’s top Winter Texan entertainers – are as we call them, “Wintertainers™.”

This year’s Valley Star Awards will be held on Wednesday, February 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Mission Bell Resort. Lunch will be available from 12 to 1 p.m.
So now it’s time to vote for your favorite Wintertainers™ - and the Entertainer of the Year for 2020.

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New track at Ranchero Village officially opens

20200122 RancheroRaceway IMG 0689Welcome to the Rio Grande Valley, home of what seems to be the new NASCAR world of remote-control racing.

Possibly the hottest thing to come to the hottest part of the nation in years, RC racing has done more than taken the Winter Texan world by storm. It has consumed it.

The latest and newest development of the craze was celebrated last week as Ranchero Village in Weslaco as the park cut the ribbon on the Valley's first cement racetrack.

Just as in NASCAR, where there are shot tracks, flat tracks, high-banked tracks and more, with the addition of cement to its repertoire of track choices, RC drivers can do more than just go race.

Now they can learn how to set up their cars to maneuver the varying tracks, banks and surfaces.

Read more: New track at Ranchero Village officially opens

NPBR present the Hottest Eight Seconds of 2020

20200115 npbr brandon parrishIt’s that time of year so get ready bull riding fans as the “Hottest 8 Seconds of 2020” will be returning to Mercedes again. You’ll be sitting on the edge of your seat as the NPBR will bring some of the nations top bull riders for a two-day event to be held at the Payne Auto Group Arena in the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show Complex in Mercedes, on January 25 and 26.

Thirty-five of the top cowboys will compete for an average of $14,000 in money and prizes. This includes a chance to win one of three $550 Champion Monsoon Silver Trophy Buckles to be given away at this event. This is your chance to be up close and personal with the bulls and the bull riders. You will experience the thrills and spills of each one.

The race is tight for the top spot this year and less than one hundred dollars separates the top three in the standings. Leading the pack from Fort Worth, is one of our young guns, Kyle McDaniel. He was a CPRA Rookie of the Year in 2018 and has consistently won money in the NPBR. As one of our young bull riders, Kyle has left his mark across the state and is on his way to making a name for himself not only in the NPBR but also at many other professional bull ridings.

Read more: NPBR present the Hottest Eight Seconds of 2020

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