By Herb Moering
There is no getting around it, but it is the pleasant weather that brings visitors to the Rio Grande Valley (RGV).
A typical example was the many Winter Texans attending the two-day 16th annual open house at Ron Hoover’s RV & Marine Center in Donna, January 19 and 20. Of course, it’s nice too when Dustin Hoover emphasizes freebees like admission, parking, T-shirts, food, drinks and fun.
The Valley Symphony Orchestra (VSO) has three more concerts this spring and you won’t want to miss a moment. What’s more, when you purchase tickets for all three concerts, you secure the same seats and save up to 20% on tickets.
The International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS) is pleased to announce the exhibition Floating Beauty: Women in the Art of Ukiyo-e will be opening February 4, and on display through May 7.
Floating Beauty: Women in the Art of Ukiyo-e examines the historical perspectives on the depiction of women in art during the Edo Period in Japan (1615 – 1858). This exhibition highlights female characters painted on woodblock prints, all created in the ukiyo-e style. The prints show women in literature, kabuki theatre, poetry, and courtesans as well as geishas of the Yoshiwara district. Wives and mothers from different social classes performing the duties of their station are also portrayed in the woodblocks in order to give us insight into the lives of women in pre-modern Japan. In the tradition of ukiyo-e, women are most often represented in the bijinga (“pictures of beautiful women”) genre. This was the passive, attentive, and demure idea of feminine beauties.
By Kathy Olivarez
“What Kind of music do you like?” asked Leslie Blasing as she started her show at Hidden Valley Ranch on Monday, January 23. “I sing all sort of music from 10 decades of songs in genres such as country, pop, swing, rock and roll, and patriotic.
“But I don’t do rap!” she told her audience. “My favorite music is from the big swing band music in the World War II era.”
Read more: Leslie Blasing is always a hit with Winter Texans
Wow! Has it been busy! We have had an amazing week. We went to some entertainment, and we were at the Ron Hoover Open House last week. The Ron Hoover event was packed. We were overwhelmed and so blessed with all of the feedback and visitors to our table.
With the amount of people that came through, we ran out of almost all of the handouts and freebies we had on hand. We loved being able to chat with our Winter Texans that came through. It was tons of fun!
We even met someone that has been reading our paper since the very first issue. He remembered reading the first issue that was published in 1987. He said he had missed some here and there when he wasn’t able to travel but has enjoyed the paper since its beginning.
We also gave out several sets of tickets to the Valley Star Awards coming up next month. The winners were Karol Jensen, Mario Lefebvre, Sharon Hansen, Roger Hoverson, and Pam Steffens. We hope they enjoy the great entertainment we have lined up for February 15th.
I hope that I did not miss seeing you at the Winter Texan Expo. Those of you who stopped by the Go...With Jo! and needed a French speaker were pleasantly surprised to be able to speak French to my volunteer helper. Thank goodness he has even volunteered to be a coordinator on some of the tours. If you know a fellow Canadian or a French speaker who wants to learn more about the Rio Grande Valley, just call the office to learn which trips might be given in French. Just remember no office employee speaks French. I wish we did.
English? Spanish? We can help you in those languages. And what a blessing it is to be able to communicate in just two languages. It would be wonderful to speak more languages. You don't have to speak and understand the language of the country you are visiting but it helps. In the Rio Grande Valley, you will hear both languages being spoken and sometimes the speaker will jump from one to the other even in the midst of the same sentence. That means your mind has to shift gears in the middle of the conversation. That is quite a challenge.
Thanks to the Winter Texan musicians from Canada and the US, the RGV experiences rock and roll music that excites seniors living in park communities each December through March.
This season, there are three classic rock and roll jams each week and two every other week featuring the Esquire Band and their jammers.
They play each week on Monday, 1-3 p.m. at Enchanted Valley, Mission; Thursday, 12:30-2:30 p.m. at Bentsen Grove Resort , Palmview; and Friday, 12:30-2:30 p.m., Green Gate Grove, Palmview.
On the first and third week of each month they play on Wednesday, 7-9 p.m., Mission Bell, Mission; and Saturday, 1-3 p.m., Wagon City North, Mission.
Read more: Bentsen Grove Resort experiences weekly tremors and shaking
It was Tuesday when I walked into the Lapidary workshop at an RV Resort in the Rio Grande Valley; I was early for my interview with the Rockhound club president.
The workshop walls were lined with machines. Machines for cutting and polishing rocks and gemstones. It is here that the magic art of turning rocks and gemstones into small decorative pieces of artwork takes place.
A man covered in dust, looking like an apparition from the Flintstones, peered at me out of dust-covered glasses; his face did not have wrinkles; it had fault lines. The name Jake was carved on his name badge.
“Can I help you?” mumbled Jake.
"Yes," I replied, “My name is Malcolm; I am from the Winter Texan Times; I have an appointment with the President of the RGV Lapidary Club. Can you tell me where I can find her?”
“Malcolm,” he repeated to himself as if memorizing a slice of marble, as he turned and walked away.
The card game “Hearts” has been around since the 1800s and took center stage last week at the City of McAllen Golden Age Olympics.
The Golden Age Olympics runs through Feb. 25 and there are dozens of active, and passive, events to compete in. From table tennis, golf and volleyball to card games, cheer, and walking, there are plenty of options for senior citizens to compete in.
“I’m surprised there aren’t more locals participating,” Darrell Paul said. “We definitely want to take advantage of so many fun things the City of McAllen provides.”
Twenty participants broke up into five tables of four to see who this year’s champion would be, using trickery, reading each other’s moves and hoping to shoot the moon.
Darrell Paul and his wife Barbara are hearts veterans who also plan to compete in other GAO events including euchre, pinochle and 500. Barbara is a three-time champ at 500.
“I’ve only got a bronze so far,” said Darrell. “My wife has played a lot more than I have but I’m hoping to get one this year.”
The Paul’s have been coming to the Valley for 15 years, skipping out on the four nastiest months back in Davenport, Iowa. When they’re here, they keep extremely busy.
The 6th Annual Children's Haven Benefit Concert will be held on Friday, February 3 from 2 to 4 p.m. The event will be held at the Rio Grande Bible Ministries Friesen Building, 4300 S. US Hwy. 281, in Edinburg. Winter Texan favorites Dale and Gayle and Ambassadors of Grace will be performing.
A love offering will be received during the concert, with 100 percent of the proceeds given to Children’s Haven.
Read more: 6th Annual Children’s Haven Benefit Concert to be held
