Text Size

Winter Texans’ focus on children offers surprising benefits

aLand Diane carrying 2 balls USE PRINTBy Barb Zanetti
Photos by Dennis Zanetti

For a second year Winter Texans from Alamo Palms RV Resort and Alamo Rec-Veh Park helped Roy Landa, owner of The Landmark on Tower, decorate his half-a- football-sized courtyard, as well as distribute toys to hundreds of children Thursday, December 21.

What emerged was a community event that did much more than add a brightly lit and festive holiday atmosphere meant to put smiles on children’s faces.

According to The Landmark owner, it wasn’t the children who benefited most from the hours invested by Winter Texans. He felt he was the one who enjoyed it most of all, and perhaps the Winter Texans themselves did, too.

“A lot of you all were strangers to each other, but you all have that sense of community,” he said. “It’s the way I grew up, too. I see that in the Winter Texans … where you work in such a close-knit community that when you see projects – especially for holiday events – it’s a sense of family, of community, even if you don’t know each other.”

Read more: Winter Texans’ focus on children offers surprising benefits

Leslie Blasing sings at fundraiser in Alice

Leslie Blasing DSCF1250 webLeslie Blasing, a Valley favorite, will be performing at a Habitat for Humanity fundraiser in Alice on Monday, January 13. The event will be from 6 to 9 p.m. with Leslie performing at 7 p.m.

Leslie Blasing’s songs span seven decades of country, classic rock, 50’s and 60’s. South Padre Island has been her home for 25 years where she has won multiple awards throughout the Rio Grande Valley and was honored as the first “Lifetime Achievement Award” winner in 2018 by the Valley Star Awards.

Read more: Leslie Blasing sings at fundraiser in Alice

How a South Texas educator transformed the Chicano Movement

MOTSH ThomasRayGarcia Headshot PRINTThe Museum of South Texas History will host Aurelio Manuel Montemayor and Thomas Ray García during the Sunday Speaker Series presentation, “How a South Texas educator transformed the Chicano movement,” at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 14.

Montemayor and García will present on their historical memoir, “El Curso de la Raza: The Education of Aurelio Manuel Montemayor.” The authors will share the historical context behind the South Texas Chicano Movement, including first-hand accounts from Montemayor. Key events include the founding of El Curso de la Raza, the founding and the fall of the Colegio Jacinto Treviño, and the role of the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA). The authors will also share insights into the writing process for the book and what they hope 21st century readers will take away from Montemayor’s story as an educator-turned-activist.

Read more: How a South Texas educator transformed the Chicano Movement

Retired Nurses Luncheon will be held January 30

20230118 Nurses luncheon webThe Annual Retired Nurses’ Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, January 30. All retired RNs and LPNs in the Rio Grande Valley are invited. The event will be held at Peter Piper Pizza, 3101 E. Expressway 83, in Weslaco (exit International Blvd./FM 1015, north side of the expressway). Check-in is at 12:30 p.m. with lunch following at 1 p.m. There will be a buffet lunch that includes pizza, breadsticks, salad bar, dessert, and a beverage. A social, announcements and doors prizes will follow. No reservations are required. For more information, call or text Jan Bergman at (956) 532-1223.

MHM holds lecture series presentation

The Mission Historical Museum Lecture Series presents: Sifting through South Texas Ancient History Stone Tools and Archaeology by F. Nick Morales. Presented on Saturday, January 13 at 11 a.m., admission is free to the public. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.

The presentation centers on how geology influenced the manufacturing of lithic tools in South Texas and Northern Mexico and how they are identified and used. Critical to this task will include archaeological methods employed in the collection and documentation of artifacts. Additional information will be presented regarding the Ancients that lived in this area.

Read more: MHM holds lecture series presentation

Festival of Tables deadline approaching

If you are a red hatter and want to join in on the fun at their annual Festival of Tables, your deadline to get tickets is January 15. Tickets are $25 each. The actual event will be held on Tuesday, February 6.

The event will be held at Victoria Palms Resort, 3309 E. Interstate 2, in Donna. Lunch will be held at noon. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. For hostesses, doors will open at 6 a.m. for setup.

Tickets can be purchased by making a check payable to Sharon Newcomer and mailing it with a stamped self-addressed envelope to 1402 S. Border Ave., Unit #780, Weslaco, TX 78596-7465. She can also be contacted by phone at (414) 915-3874. You can also contact Sandra Funk at (608) 432-1440.

Kansas Day coming up soon

Kansas Day will be here before you know it and this year’s celebration requires reservations to be made by January 19. The event will be held at Balli’s Social Event Cetner on Wednesday, January 24. Balli’s is located at 1624 E. Griffin Parkway, in Mission.

The event starts with registration at 10:30 a.m. followed by a catered lunch, entertainment by Kansas’ own Rusty Rierson (2019 RGV Male Vocalist of the Year), and door prizes.

To register for the event, contact Larry Schmitt by email at larrys13@icloud.com. Please include name(s), number of people in your party, phone number, and hometown in Kansas. If you can’t email, call Larry at (913) 369-5669. Tickets are $20 per person and must be paid in cash at the door on the day of event.

Reservations must be cancelled by January 21.

VA holds free drive-thru food pantries

McAllen20Food20Distribution PRINTLocal Veterans Affair offices will be holding drive-thru food panties. On Thursday, January 18, there will be a drive-thru pantry at the McAllen VA Clinic from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. or while supplies last. The Clinic is located at 901 E. Hackberry Ave.

On Thursday, February 22, from 9 to 11 a.m., or while supplies last, there will be a drive-thru pantry at the Harlingen Health Care Clinic located at 2601 Veterans Drive.

Veterans must be enrolled in health care at the VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System and present a valid VA identification card to confirm their Veteran status.

Read more: VA holds free drive-thru food pantries

Edinburg calls for nominations

Do you know someone who has made a lasting impact in Edinburg? The City of Edinburg is asking its residents to nominate an individual of “extraordinary public service or exemplary contribution” ahead of the ‘Hometown of Heroes’ Half-Marathon, set for March 3, 2024

Read more: Edinburg calls for nominations

Jammin’at Greengate Grove

20240110 Green Gate Grove Jam 1 PRINTAt Greengate Grove, the country/gospel jam takes place in the recreational hall each Saturday from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. It is managed by George Bowers, who with his wife, live full time at Greengate Grove. George also performs with his vocals and guitar at the jams. Prior to the start of each jam, a delicious meal is served at a modest price. Halfway through the jam, the residents provide home baked cookies and cakes. The jam is a success thanks to George and residents like Katie Gallaway who greet each jammer and visitor personally while also helping to prepare and serve the food, treats, or handling the 50/50 sales.

This jam took place in November and featured country songs such as Amarillo by Morning, Blackboard of my Heart, Ashes of Love, Big River, Dreams of a Dreamer, Help Me Make It Through the Night, Don’t Worry About Me, Hey Good Lookin’, I Started Loving Her Today, and so many more great country tunes. Some gospel songs included I’ll Fly Away, Where Could I Go, and I Saw the Light.

The stage band, which supports each jammer, features Lewis Long (rhythm guitar/vocalist), Ron Ford (rhythm and bass guitar and vocalist), George Epley (lead guitar and vocalist), Don McGhghy (bass guitar and stage band manager), and Frank Deramus (rhythm guitar/vocalist).

Read more: Jammin’at Greengate Grove

  • Default
  • Title
  • Date
  • Random
load more hold SHIFT key to load all load all

Login