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Published: Wednesday, 26 February 2025 13:08
We have been going through our news items to see things we have published in the past. It’s amazing the stories we have done, and the people we have met. It has been an enjoyable experience.
I was prepping for something else I am doing and was looking at the many ways you help our communities. It’s a sight to see the things you do for the Valley and the communities you live in.
You don’t just come here for a few months – you become a part of the community and find out ways you can help and really immerse yourselves in the Valley.
I found stories about food drives, benefit concerts, quilts for colonias being made, schools benefiting from donated socks, and so much more.
I also found one story about how a food pantry acknowledged the tapering off of their donations when Winter Texans begin to leave the Valley.
You are recognized and the Valley communities appreciate everything you do for them.
We recognize you and appreciate everything you do for us and our communities. Without you we wouldn’t have much to tell. We love filling our pages with all the things you do. Whether it be donating your time or items to a local charity or just getting out there and playing a round of golf or getting together with friends for dessert – we love seeing these moments and sharing them with our readers.
With that being said, we want your news. Share your news and photos with us. We want to know what you are doing and share it with others.
You can send items to news@wintertexantimes.com.
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Published: Wednesday, 19 February 2025 13:07
We had an exciting week last week. We hosted our Valley Star Awards where we were able to listen to some great entertainment and give your favorites some awards. It’s always a great event.
It’s always fun to be able to hang out with our readers and with our Wintertainers™. We enjoy the time we spend with you and the joy you have in seeing your favorites win. We love that each year is different – we never know who is going to win until we count up the ballots just a few days before the event. We love it when it’s a new face or seeing someone that has been performing for years finally get to win something.
We have a few favorites of our own, but we love ALL of our Wintertainers™. We love having the chance to recognize them each year.
We’re already planning next year’s show. So, make sure to look for the dates and who will be entertaining for that show.
Also, make sure you let the Wintertainers™ know how much you love them. They come from Branson, Nashville, and other areas to spend some time with you, to entertain you, and to make friends. Some of these entertainers have quite the following, too.
Let them know you appreciate their time and talent by attending their shows and/or letting your activity directors know who you like so they can book them at your park. Activity directors need feedback – especially if they haven’t seen them perform. They need to know who they should be bringing to their parks.
We have most of the Wintertainers™ listed on our website. We update this every year as we get their information. If you don’t see someone listed, please let us know so we can contact them to get their information. With so many new faces starting to visit the Valley, I am sure we are missing a few.
As always, if you have something of interest going on at your park, or some photos of an event you would like to share, send those over to us at news@wintertexantimes.com.
~ Rina
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Published: Thursday, 06 February 2025 11:13
Hello everyone! I hope you have had a great week. Apart from some crazy fog last week, the weather has been great. I hope you have had some time to get outside and enjoy it. This has been more like the weather that brings you to the Valley each year.
It’s a great time to get out there and enjoy some pickleball, swimming, the island, or visit one of the many birding centers, hiking trails, and parks you can find throughout the Valley.
Things should start greening up soon and the birds should be flocking into the Valley. It’s a great time to go birding and enjoy the sights and colors of the landscape and the birds that call this place their home or just pass through it going from north to south, and back up north.
Also, we enjoy seeing the work you are doing in the Valley. We are enjoying seeing the fun you are having as well.
Y’all are getting out to the parks and enjoying the dances and the many options of entertainment. We also see that many are participating in fundraisers, knitting and quilting projects, volunteering and more for the communities you live in. We have been able to share some of those highlights over the past few weeks and we have more coming up.
We love seeing what the parks are doing. And we like to see you brag about it a bit, too. Let us know what is so special about your park, your community, or a group you are working with.
Share some photos and the information with us by sending it to news@wintertexantimes.com.
~ Rina
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Published: Thursday, 30 January 2025 16:48
Well, here I am getting a little closer to y’all. I turned another year older yesterday – the big 5 0. So almost there where I can stay in a park and be having as much fun as y’all are – on a daily basis. Believe me, I do think I would take advantage of the activities your parks have, or neighboring parks have.
There is so much going on at the parks this time of year.
There are dances, entertainment, happy hours, dinners, dances, pool, pickleball, sewing groups, reading clubs, and so much more.
We love seeing photos on Facebook of all the activities y’all are participating in. It makes me want to be out there more often.
This week, I had the chance to go to the Gospel Extravaganza at Winter Ranch. I went last year and enjoyed it, but had to go again because one, it was on my birthday, and two, to not only catch up with Bob and Alta, but also see Scott, who I haven’t seen since he performed at a Valley Star Awards years ago with Absolutely Country, Definitely Gospel.
It’s a yearly event where proceeds are donated to local charities. Different performers join Bob and Alta each year. If you didn’t catch it this year, be sure to watch next season for next year’s dates.
I look forward to these yearly events and catching new Wintertainers™ and seeing familiar faces as well.
Do you have any special events you look forward to each year?
Any reunions, special dances, a certain Wintertainer™?
Share what you look forward to each year. You can send what you love about the RGV to news@wintertexantimes.com.
~ Rina
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Published: Tuesday, 14 January 2025 22:38
I hope everyone has had a good start to the near year so far. Besides the normal busy-ness of business, we have been pretty laid back around here. This week we are going to be out at the Ron Hoover Open House and we’re going to stop by Claton Homes anniversary celebration as well.
This is when things start getting busy for us, and you. More of you are in the Valley now that the holidays have passed. And because of that, there are more events, more reunions, and more fun for you to have.
We have gotten to see photos and more of the things you are doing, the celebrations you are having, and what you are doing for the communities you so love.
I recently came across an article on the importance of relationships and service and how they help improve your mental well-being. I can say from experience, those of you that are helping our communities, are participating in activities, and making friends, are certainly happier. Y’all are fun to be around and definitely brighten my day and often keep me smiling for days after you share what you have done.
Your parks have many things for you to participate in – dances, pickleball, quilting, billiards, R/C racing, and more. Some have yearly fundraisers for a chosen organization. Many have special things they do for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Veterans Day.
Read more: January 15, 2025 - Rina's Ramblings
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Published: Wednesday, 01 January 2025 13:33
While we are going to press before Christmas, and you will receive this after Christmas – I will tell you that I hope you had a very Merry Christmas! We are spending time with three of our kids this Christmas, but very low key.
We had a Christmas decorations contest in our neighborhood and some people put on quite the display. Did your park have a Christmas Lighting contest, or Christmas Tree display? Share the photos and winners with us.
Next week is New Year’s Eve. Here I hope you have a very safe and fun New Year’s Eve. I know many of you will be enjoying some type of entertainment at your park, or another park, for the evening. Please share your festive photos with us. We love seeing the fun you have at the events in your park.
Now back to New Year’s…. Do you make a New Year’s resolution? I haven’t in years, I just try to do better than I did last year. Something I try to do everyday though. I will look for more opportunities to do good, and maybe be a little more active this coming year.
Do you have anything special, or different, that you are going to try and do this coming year? Do you make a list of New Year’s resolutions?
Do you have a New Year’s Eve meal that you do? We have tried to do some in the past – like collards, black-eyed peas and grapes. Last year we had a sausage and cabbage meal with cornbread that was really good.
What is your New Year’s Eve tradition?
You can share some of your thoughts, ideas, and photos with us by emailing news@wintertexantimes.com.
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Published: Wednesday, 18 December 2024 14:55
I can’t believe Christmas is next week. We just did and finished our Christmas shopping. I hope you are caught up with everything you need to do before Christmas Day. We have hopefully bought all the groceries we need for next week as well. We might have to go back for some veggies this weekend, or maybe some extra sweets (shhh… don’t tell Dan).
We’ve been cutting down on the sugar intake around here, so I haven’t done any of my usual baking. So, it feels a little odd, but I am not stressed to get plates of cookies or anything out to friends and family.
Do you do any special treats for your friends for Christmas? What are your favorite treats during the holidays?
What also feels odd is not having tamales. It’s a Christmas tradition – that and hot cocoa. But like I said, we’ve been cutting out the sugars, and that includes carbs. It’s okay though. We’re doing good and still enjoying the holiday season. I made a decent low carb, sugar free lemon custard pie for Thanksgiving that was enjoyed by more than just my husband.
I do miss the days of old, of big gatherings and lots to choose from. We have settled down to just small gatherings, or the main immediate family. We do get more time to catch up with each other though, enjoy the company a bit more, and I feel like we bond better in small gatherings.
We do hope you take the time to celebrate the season, celebrate the reason for the season, enjoy time with friends and family, and have a very Merry Christmas!
Share your photos with us by emailing them to news@wintertexantimes.com.
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Published: Tuesday, 10 December 2024 21:17
Wow, the weather is surely changing. It’s gotten cooler and we have had some rain here and there as well. Even though we’ll have a bit of a warmer day now and then, I am thankful for the cooler temps. I could live without the dreariness though.
It’s a great time to have gatherings with others, indoors and outdoors. This is the time of year we see many stories about what the parks are doing with their residents for the holidays. We love seeing photos with everyone enjoying their time while in the Valley.
There have been many city parades and Christmas tree lightings. I am sure the parks have been having their own type of fun as well with golf cart parades, and their own tree lightings.
We would love to include some photos in our upcoming issues of how you have decorated the park and started your December holidays.
What we would also like to see and share is how you are giving to your community this season. We know there are quilters, gift givers, food gatherers, and more that get stuff prepped to give to their communities during December, and throughout the season, but especially right now when a smile on a child’s face is so welcoming and delightful.
I do love what this season brings and what you bring to our communities. We are here to tell your stories of what you are doing while you make the Rio Grande Valley your home. Share your stories with us, let us know what your park is doing that you enjoy so much. Send your items, and photos, to news@wintertexantimes.com.
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Published: Thursday, 07 November 2024 18:35
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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Published: Wednesday, 30 October 2024 18:01
Lots is going on in the Valley right now. With Halloween tomorrow, Dia de Los Muertos events, and more, there are plenty of events to choose from to attend this week through the weekend.
Along with the wide range of events that are available for you to attend, this week and throughout the season, there are lots of options for food. You can find just about any cuisine in the Valley, but one that rings true anywhere is Mexican food. And the Valley is known for some good, authentic Mexican food and great tacos. I have a few favorites of my own, which unfortunately were not on the list, but a couple of Valley restaurant were recently featured in Texas Monthly.
I personally have not been to this place, but I am sure some of you have. So, I would like to hear your thoughts about it, and what some of your other favorites might be.
Nana’s Taqueria (located in Weslaco) Lonche taco made the top five tacos in Texas, according to Texas Monthly. According to the write up, it’s not your typical taco, it’s in a fried bolillo. It’s a savory Mexican bread also called Pan Frances – meaning French bread. And it does look like a small hoagie.
Nana’s adds seasoned ground beef similar to picadillo, some crumbly cheese and avocado, then tops it with Nana’s homemade salsa verde. They might also add cilantro, tomato, and cabbage.
It all sounds good to me. I might just have to go and try it sometime. If you do, please let me know how it is. The pictures on the Texas Monthly website make it look quite savory.
They also talked about top taco places in Houston, El Paso, Austin and San Antonio. And I have been to the place in San Antonio – Henry’s Puffy Taco. Everything there is quite flavorful.
If you go to the Texas Monthly story, it features the five restaurants by giving a brief history of the owners, the restaurant, and their food.
So, if you want to see the story, visit https://vst.texasmonthly.com/taco-talks.
In another story by Texas Monthly, author Jose R. Ralat traveled about 14,000 miles and visited over 400 taquerias in six months. He was looking for tacos that met a certain level of ‘craft, quality, creativity, and flavor,’ said the news release. He noticed something, the article says, that Mexican dishes are changing and becoming what he is calling the New Tejano movement – ‘dishes that marry nostalgic Mexican food with native Texan ingredients.’ He made a list of the top 50 places to go for New Tejano in Texas, and guess what? A Mission location took the top spot.
The number one spot went to Ana Liz Taqueria’s for its Chile Relleno. The restaurant is run by James Beard Award-winning chef Ana Liz Pulido, said the article. Sylvia’s Restaurant in Brownsville made the honorable mentions list. You can read more of the story, and find links to the lists, at www.newswire.com/news/texas-monthly-releases-its-list-of-the-50-best-tacos-in-texas-22445932
So, that gives you more spots to check out while in the Valley.
What are your favorites – Mexican food or otherwise – in the Valley. We would love to hear what you look forward to eating while you are here. You can email me at news@wintertexantimes.com
This past week was a fun one – a little cooler than usual, but a fun one. There was a great turn out at the Mission Winter Texan Fiesta. The day started with a light misty rain and a cool breeze, and although we were expecting the sun at some point, I don’t think it showed itself until the event was practically over. So, quite a few Winter Texans decided not to venture out until a little later in the afternoon instead of showing up at the beginning, which was fine, we still had the chance to talk to a lot of you.
While we have been gearing up for the Valley Star Awards, we have also been busy trying to get out to some events. Last week I was able to attend a couple of events and had a great time visiting with you and enjoying your entertainment.
I also had the opportunity to eat out at Victoria Palms. I had their hamburger steak with mushrooms and gravy, some mashed potatoes, and sauteed veggies. It was nicely done and was the perfect thing for the beautiful day it was outside.
