Lamplighter Mobile Home Park located at 2240 S. Bentsen Palm Dr. in Palmview is a senior community that hosts three jams each week featuring either bluegrass, country, or gospel music. I recently attended their Country Jam that is held on Monday evenings from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., December through March.
Prior to the jam, park volunteers prepare and serve delicious dinners for a nominal price starting at 4 p.m. Then, at about 6:30 p.m., these same volunteers provide free cookies, cakes, and other treats to all those attending the jam.
During my visit to this jam, there were 27 performers who sang classic country hits from the 40’s or earlier through the 60’s.
Why do they sing these older songs versus today’s country? Simply stated, “So that they will not be forgotten. Once we are gone from this earth, these songs may not be remembered. We want to keep them alive for everyone.”
Read more: Lamplighter Jams ignite passion for classic music
Maurice Parent’s father died while he was in school and his mother worked to provide for the family.
While his friends were being paid allowances, Maurice wasn’t. Well, that’s not totally true. More often than not, Maurice won some of his friends’ allowances, beating them on one of 15 or 16 pool tables, actually snooker tables, set in the basement of a game hall.
“I let them win sometimes,” Maurice joked prior to the McAllen Parks and Recreation 43rd annual Golden Age Olympics men’s 8-ball competition at Fast Eddies in McAllen. “I didn’t get an allowance so I would take theirs.”
Maurice started coming to the Valley in 2006 and resides at Citrus Valley RV Park in McAllen. When he was in high school “earning” his allowance, they played snooker, a game similar to billiards but played with 22 balls, including a cue ball, 15 red balls and six other balls, called the "colours."
Read more: Winter Texans enjoy some competitive 8-ball
Winter Texans participate in Texas Citrus Fiesta
Although participation isn’t as abundant as it was years ago, Winter Texans still have fun at the Texas Citrus Fiesta. This year’s Texas Citrus Fiesta Parade will be held on Saturday, January 28 at 12 p.m. in Mission. There will also be a fun fair on Saturday, January 28, and Sunday, January 29 beginning at 10 a.m. on both days. The parade usually runs on Conway Ave. in Mission, from 495 to downtown Mission.
Read more: Winter Texan Times: Looking back 35 years
Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit at the International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS) on Sunday, January 29, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The 11th annual Lunar New Year Festival will feature traditional Chinese, Korean, and Taiwanese crafts, games, and more.
Special performances and activities are scheduled throughout the event for visitors to soak in the cultural celebration that welcomes the arrival of Spring. The community can tap their feet to K-pop dancing by Illusion Dance Team, and “K-Stars” featuring Echo Effect and Levanter Dance Team. Enjoy the sounds of the Lord’s Church McAllen Choir and musical pieces by local violist Young Sin Choi. UTRGV Korean Language students will perform a traditional samulnori,(percussion), poetry reading, and singing. Lastly, Torres Taekwondo Academy will showcase martial arts with a lively demonstration.
Read more: Lunar New Year Festival at IMAS
Veterans Memorial High School Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) students are offering local families the preparation of their 2023 income tax return. This is a free service available for families that have a household income of $60,000 or less annually.
Read more: VMHS VITA program opens doors to the community
By Kathy Olivarez
For the first time since covid hit the Valley, the very popular group, Goldwing Express has returned to perform. The group consists of Irishman, Bobby Baldridge, who was referred to in the show as Pop, or, “white man,” and two of his three Indian sons, Steven and Paul, who towered over him. Shawn, a former favorite with crowds, was unable to come.
Read more: Goldwing Express returns to Valley
My how the world has changed
How many of you remember using a computer for the first time?
In our looking back to our previous issues, and our first season of the Winter Texan Times, we see when our writer Virginia Sunderman first used a computer to write an article for submission. It was printed in the January 15, 1988, issue of the Winter Texan Times.
She writes, “This is my first attempt at using a computer to write an article. I am using a computer at the Speer Memorial Library in Mission. The use of the computer is just one of the many advantages the library has to offer the public.”
Read more: Winter Texan Times: Looking back 35 years
Winter Texans clash in local alleys
Stan Hawkins has bowled for 18 years. Wearing his “Flintstones” bright orange team uniform, designed by teammate Rich Michelena, the “Bowling Stones” and “Pin Pals” were two of several teams who hit the lane at Flamingo Bowl in McAllen for league play.
The lanes were dotted on this day with several neon-colored jerseys from different Winter Texan Parks. Hawkins is a Bentsen Grove resident.
Read more: January 11, 2022 - From the Cheap Seats
By Kathy Olivarez
