Thousands of Winter Texans look forward to the great entertainment that performs at the annual Mission Winter Texan Fiesta each year. The event is held by the Mission Chamber to say “Thank You” to the Winter Texans that make the Valley their home during the winter season. The event features a great lineup of entertainment and a free meal (for the first 1,000 attendees).
Read more: Mission’s Winter Texan Fiesta has outstanding lineup
This year, Seven Oaks Resort in Mission honored six couples who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary some time between April 1st of the previous year and the end of March this year. They hold this event annually for their residents.
The program opened with an introduction by the chairperson of the event, Carlene Hemminger, followed by the welcoming of each couple as they walked to the head table. Music was provided by Tommy and Sara Bouland with an opening song of “My Best Friend.”
If you love coming down to the Rio Grande Valley each winter, you’re invited to become a Winter Texan Ambassador. The job is simple: share with your friends all the good times you have in the Valley each winter – away from the snow and ice. In a place where you can play golf almost any winter day. In a place where your MH & RV resort is a community of its own with lots of friends to share in a whole array of fun activities.
In February, the ladies enjoyed Mexican cuisine at Arturo’s Bar and Grill in Weslaco, followed by the movie 80 for Brady. The comedy, inspired by a true story, was very entertaining. Submitted by Arleen Bier
Submitted by Arleen Bier
The wind whips across the golf course as residents of La Floresta tee off. For Valentine’s Day we played a special game of Mixed Scramble—Best Ball. With such strong winds, the ball either flies over the green or stops short, depending on the direction of the wind and the hole you are on. No Hole-In-One today but we got a few birdies.
Read more: Golf highlights La Floresta Valentine's Day activities
The Food Bank RGV is proud to announce the opening of its new Mission Resource Center, a partnership with the City of Mission, which will serve as a comprehensive hub for social services, nutrition education, and food assistance for the community. The Center is located at the former Mission Food Pantry and will be open to the public for the first time on Thursday, March 2.
Read more: Food Bank RGV unveils new Mission Resource Center
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.
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.
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.
Read more: Extraordinary musical talent and congeniality at Casa Del Sol jams
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.
