Texas Master Naturalist graduate new members
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- Published: Tuesday, 19 April 2022 14:47
PHARR, TEXAS–The South Texas Border Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists honored 55 graduates at their first in-person ceremony since 2020. The new chapter members included 24 members who completed the program in 2020, 13 from the 2021 class and this year’s 18 new members.
Texas Master Naturalists are volunteers; they are ordinary citizens from all walks of life. Locally, many are young adults who have jobs and careers, college students, retired members of the community and Winter Texans. Their desires are to learn about the local habitat and to help preserve the native vegetation of the Rio Grande Valley and the wildlife that depends on it.
This season is ending, and I hate to see it go. We always enjoy your time with us, and our time with you, and we sure are going to miss it while you are gone.
By William Renner, Reference Librarian
The Museum of South Texas History (MOSTH) will host the Sunday Speaker Series presentation, “Preserving Culture with Native Plants,” featuring Manuel Sabino, grounds and landscaping manager, at 2 p.m. on April 3.
Dive deeper into the fish ecology of South Texas. Fish play an important role in recycling nutrients back into their environment and are essential for the survival and overall health of aquatic ecosystems. Join us March 24th at 6 p.m. for a special presentation focusing on “A century of change to the fish assemblages and flow regime in the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo with Dr. Chris Taylor.
March has been declared as “National Pet Vaccination Month” to help encourage pet parents to keep their pets up to date on vaccinations to improve the health of our pets in our community and ensure they can find their way home should they become lost.
McAllen Public Library invites all to experience its newest exhibition, “Botanical Fridas,” celebrating Frida Kahlo, one of Mexico’s most beloved artists. “Botanical Fridas” features 15 eight-foot sculptures and 15 three-foot sculptures that celebrate artist Frida Kahlo’s influences.
Editor’s Note: If you are asking yourself what is a Winter Texan? – this edition is for you. As we were going through our back issues, we found this lovely piece from our first season of the Winter Texan Times. We thought what better way to tell what a Winter Texan is than to let 11-year-old Theresa tell you from her point of view. Before I turn it over to Theresa, if I am not the first, let me be the next to invite you to the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) to discover this hidden gem for yourself.
Time and again, Winter Texans list friendliness as big a reason to live here. Not only does that include their neighbors in the park or other parks, but also the people in the community who are happy to have Winter Texans because they appreciate the economic and other benefits they bring to the Valley.
Bird watchers have many opportunities to follow their hobby, including the World Birding Center (WBC) network of nine different sites set along a 120-mile historic trail in the Rio Grande Valley. It is a $20 million development based on a partnership between the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Rio Grande Valley communities.
Time and again, Winter Texans list friendliness as big a reason to live here. Not only does that include their neighbors in the park or other parks, but also the people in the community who are happy to have Winter Texans because they appreciate the economic and other benefits they bring to the Valley.
For decades, the Rio Grande Valley of Texas has been a favorite destination for retirees from the Midwest and Canada looking to head south for the winter to escape the snow, ice and cold, harsh weather. In addition to the warm, semi-tropical climate here in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), Winter Texans frequently tell us they enjoy the friendly people here, the many activities available to enjoy in the mobile home and RV parks and resorts, and the camaraderie with other Winter Texans who spend three to six months in South Texas each winter.
As a younger generation move to the Valley, it seems they are more frugal when it comes to where they go. They want to have a great time, but they don't want to spend the money they've saved and earned to go just toward living expenses. They want to live it up – from dances and shows to trips to South Padre Island and Nuevo Progreso, Mexico and, of course all the free events that take place on a daily occurrence at the RV resorts.
A friendly game of softball doesn’t mean there’s no pride or competitive spirits milling about.
