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EVR hosts benefit for Penitas Pantry

20241113 Penitas Food Pantry webEnchanted Valley Ranch will be hosting a daylong music event on Tuesday, November 19, from Noon until 10 p.m. All proceeds from this event will be donated to the Penitas Food Pantry.

Penitas Food Pantry is a local food pantry which currently serves over 400 families per month. The food pantry is a church operated, not-for-profit food pantry which depends 100 percent on your generous donations and volunteers to provide nutrition to people in need. Monies will be used to stock up the pantry to meet the growing needs of the community’s use of the pantry.

Read more: EVR hosts benefit for Penitas Pantry

VFW Post 2410 launches Toys for Tots drive VFW Post 2410 launches Toys for Tots drive

VFW Post 2410 is proud to announce its partnership with Toys for Tots, serving as the central location for this year’s toy collection and distribution. They are currently reaching out to families in need within their community to sign up for the program, ensuring that every child can experience the joy of receiving gifts this holiday season.

As the holiday season approaches, many families face challenges that can make it difficult to provide gifts for their children. VFW Post 2410 is dedicated to helping alleviate some of this burden by providing toys to local children. We encourage families who are struggling to provide gifts this Christmas to reach out and register for this program.

Read more: VFW Post 2410 launches Toys for Tots drive VFW Post 2410 launches Toys for Tots drive

Sunday Speakers Series highlights Alamo Train Crash of 1940

20241113 MOSTH Juan Carmona webThe Museum of South Texas History will host the Sunday Speaker Series presentation “The Alamo Train Crash of 1940: From class podcast project to book” with Juan P. Carmona and Taylor Seaver De La Fuente at 2 p.m. November 17.

What began as a podcast project with Donna High School’s Mexican American Studies class, has now blossomed into a book project. The deadly Alamo train crash of 1940 occurred when a train collided with a truckload of farmworkers on their way to work in the fields. The crash resulted in the deaths of 29 people and the emotional scarring of all those involved. It would also result in transportation safety changes in Texas. The families affected by the crash were confronted with struggles and accomplishments as they dealt with the loss of family members and their breadwinners. Carmona—author of the “Alton Bus Crash”—and co-author Seaver De La Fuente, who narrated the podcast, will share their research and share the history of this seminal event.

Read more: Sunday Speakers Series highlights Alamo Train Crash of 1940

IMAS Announces Dinosaurs Among Us

20241113 IMAS Yutyrannus RM 160311 webThe next time you dodge a pigeon on the sidewalk, watch a sparrow eat from a feeder in a backyard, or order chicken for dinner, know that you just had an encounter with a modern dinosaur. Dinosaurs never really vanished from Earth.

Most did go extinct, but their evolutionary legacy lives on all around us, in birds. The exhibition Dinosaurs Among Us will highlight the unbroken line between the charismatic dinosaurs that dominated the planet for about 170 million years and modern birds. The panels feature large-scale color illustrations of familiar and newly discovered extinct dinosaur species as they would have looked in life.

Read more: IMAS Announces Dinosaurs Among Us

Meet nature’s cleanup crew at ReFest

20241113 QUINTA vulture natures recycler webDid you know that Vultures protect both wildlife and human communities? These birds of prey are known as scavengers who feed on dead animals or carrion, which plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of our ecosystems. Meet Nature’s Clean-up Crew at ReFest with Sky King’s Falconry, Saturday, November 16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Quinta Mazatlán.

ReFest, sponsored by H-E-B, celebrates Texas Recycles Day. Bring your plastic bag or bottle to be recycled at the festival for a free ticket thanks to H-E-B’s commitment to recycling. Guests will enjoy an upcycled marketplace with vendors, sustainable trade show and native plants for sale.

Read more: Meet nature’s cleanup crew at ReFest

The Salvation Army Red Kettle returns providing love beyond Christmas

20241113 Salvation Army PR 4794 webThe Salvation Army is excited to announce the return of its annual Red Kettle campaign in McAllen, spreading joy and the festive spirit of Christmas. As The Salvation Army’s primary fundraising initiative, the Red Kettles play a vital role in providing life-changing programs and services throughout the year. These programs include food assistance, shelter for people experiencing homelessness, emergency financial assistance, youth programs, disaster response and more.

Read more: The Salvation Army Red Kettle returns providing love beyond Christmas

The Flight of the Monarch

20241113 Go With Jo Monarch WEBLife is full of surprises. Since one of my favorite tours is the Monarch Butterfly Tour, I am well aware that this month is the migration month for these delicate creatures as they seek their Winter Home in the pine forests of Mexico. Their 3,000-mile flight from Canada to Mexico will come right through Texas and the Rio Grande Valley.

My surprise was to see a beautiful Monarch on the floor of my carport. Surely, he must have stopped for a rest or maybe he had been trapped in my radiator grill and finally was able to escape. What a thrill to have a really close up view of a Monarch.

Go With Jo will be offering the Monarch Butterfly tour departing on February 13, 2025. This is a seven-day tour spending two nights on the road to arrive at one of the larger butterfly preserves in Mexico. If you have never been on this tour, you certainly should consider taking advantage of this opportunity.
Most of the Go With Jo tours are by bus giving you a true insight into what life is like in Mexico. You will find that in the Mexican Culture older people are held in high esteem and treated with the greatest respect.

Read more: The Flight of the Monarch

City of Mission and others host Veterans Day events

20191109 Mission Veterans Day Parade and Fun HMoering 0079 webSeveral cities and organizations will be having Veterans Day events this coming Veterans Day. There were a few cities like Brownsville and Edinburg that have already hosted their Veterans events, but there are a few more you can check out. Some RV parks will also be holding events, so check with your park to see if they are holding a special event recognizing the Veterans in your community.

Officially observed on November 11, Veterans Day is a time to recognize the service and pay respects to military Veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces. This holiday started as a day to reflect the heroism of those who died in our country’s service and was originally called Armistice Day. It fell on November 11 because that is the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. However, in 1954, the holiday was changed to “Veterans Day” in order to account for all Veterans in all wars.

The City of Mission invites the community to join in a day of festivities on November 9, honoring Veterans with a series of events, including the 6th Annual Veterans Day Parade, a DD214 Freedom 5k Run, a Veterans Appreciation BBQ, and a lively family-friendly festival.

Read more: City of Mission and others host Veterans Day events

MWE Concerts are now free, opens season with salute to Veterans

20191211 McAllen Wind Ensemble PR webThe McAllen Wind Ensemble is excited to announce that its 2024-2025 concert season will be free to the public, thanks to the generous support of the McAllen Performing and Cultural Arts Foundation. The Foundation is committed to advancing and enhancing the performing arts and performing arts education in McAllen and throughout the Rio Grande Valley. After a historic season, celebrating its golden anniversary, the organization is excited for this new partnership to open up their concerts to even more people.

While concerts are free, entrance will require an electronic ticket. They can be obtained by going to the organization’s website www.mcallenwindensemble.org. Assistance will also be provided at the door for those who require it.

Read more: MWE Concerts are now free, opens season with salute to Veterans

November 6, 2024 - Rina's Ramblings

It was a busy week for parks throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Parks were having all of their Halloween festivities the weekend before Halloween through Halloween night. I was able to attend two dances on Halloween night and had a blast catching up with entertainers, residents, and park activity directors.

It’s always fun going to events and being able to sit and enjoy some time with you, our friendly Winter Texans. We have a great time getting out there, seeing the fun side of you and just a couple of the reasons you visit the Valley year after year.
And now that Halloween is past, Thanksgiving is creeping up on us. This is the month of Thanksgiving and parks, cities, and organizations are now holding fundraisers, food drives, and more to help their local communities, schools, and food banks. One park has a pretty big one coming up to support the Penitas Food Pantry – look for that information in the next issue.

We like telling the Valley Winter Texans, and the rest of our readers, about these events. The more the word gets out the better – for you and those you are supporting. So please share the information with us so we can spread the word. We know how much you enjoy helping others, and we love helping you tell others what you are doing for your community.

Next week is Veterans Day. We have a few places that are still having events to honor Veterans in their communities. If your park is holding an event – please send a photo or two so we can show our readers what you did. We like hearing the stories of our Veterans that live in the parks, that visit the Rio Grande Valley and recognizing those that have served.

Again, this paper is about you and for you, so please share with us what you want to read, what you want to know more about, and what kind of fun things you are doing. If your sewing group, reading club, pool group, etc. is holding an event, doing something in your community, holding a tournament, let us know. We would love to hear about it.
You can send photos and story ideas to news@wintertexantimes.com.

We want to hear from you and share your news.

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