An expo born out of frustration
Born of new Winter Texan’s frustration, Alamo Rec-Veh Park in Alamo, Texas, will again host a unique Winter Texan Business & Health Expo on Saturday, February 4 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“Because we’re here for so few winter months, most Winter Texans face the same dilemma Dennis and I did several years ago,” Expo organizer Barb Zanetti said.
“Our problem? How do we replace the quality support system we’ve developed over the years in Michigan? … The doctors, contractors, repairmen, restaurants, dentists, surgeons, income tax providers, butchers, and dog groomers, as well as places that offer travel, entertainment, flowers, and gift ideas?”
Read more: FINDING SOLUTIONS FOR WINTER TEXANS
Submitted by Sharon Bargel
For the third year, Paradise Park RV Resort in Harlingen has been overwhelmingly generous in giving to the Harlingen CISD’s Clothing Closet, operated as part of the Family and Community Engagement (FACE) program to assist school district families in need.
In winter 2020 the Clothing Closet was selected to be the beneficiary of the park’s spirit of giving holiday project when resident Sharon Bargel heard about the Clothing Closet and their need for warm coats and cold weather clothing on a local news station. That year, despite COVID restraints and fewer Winter Texans, they delivered 578 items of new clothing and new shoes to the Closet.
Read more: Paradise Park in Harlingen has spirit of giving
Submitted by Larry Schmitt
On January 25, one-hundred-eighty-four (184) Kansans from all over the Rio Grande Valley met to commemorate the anniversary of the state’s January 29, 1861, admission to the Union. Considering we met at a new venue and had a few other challenges, the organizers are very happy with this total attendance. What was super special is that thirty-eight (38) Kansans joined us for their first time. YAY!!
Read more: Kansans enjoy Kansas Day Celebration
Fun N Sun will host GospelFest on Tuesday, February 7 at 6 p.m. The event will be held in their dance hall (1400 Zillock Rd., San Benito). Ralph Kuster, Lindley Creek, The Faithful Singers, and Ambassadors of Grace will be supplying entertainment for this fundraiser the park has held since 2006.
Read more: Fun N Sun hosts GospelFest
Most Winter Texans are familiar with Men of A-Chord and Sweet Adeline’s. They were groups that performed in the Winter Texan parks from January through March. In recent years, the groups have changed, numbers have gone up and down as well, and so has the makeup of the groups.
Read more: Men and Women of A-Chord performing near you
Save the date for the Llano Grande Quilting Bee’s Annual Quilt Show, Mercedes Mineral Matrix, to be held Tuesday, January 31st from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Llano Event Center, 2215 East West Blvd (off Mile 2 West) in Mercedes.
The Bee is selling raffle tickets for their Opportunity Quilt that is a 102” x 102” Matrix of creams, browns, and blues with wool batting. Proceeds from the quilt show help to fund community service projects such as military service quilts to local veterans, baby quilts for Child Protective Services, and lap quilts that are distributed to local hospitals and medical facilities. Tickets will be available for purchase at the quilt show and you do not need to be present to win.
Read more: Quilt Show fundraises for local organizations
By Herb Moering
After the December 11 holiday event that drew a full house of Winter Texans, the Rio Grande Valley Concert Band has put away its sounds of Christmas and is preparing for the 2023 winter schedule. Since February 15, 1998, the RGV Concert Band has been playing the old time “concert in the park” music from January through March at the 55+ Parks throughout the Valley.
Read more: RGV Concert Band celebrates 25 years of music
The Rio Grande Valley Jammin’ Sound Miracle
Throughout the year, there are three senior park communities that continuously offer music jams open to the public musicians and listeners: Green Gate Grove in Palmview, Heritage Square in Mission and Quiet Village II in Donna. Each November, this changes as the Winter Texans leave their Northern habitat and arrive in the RGV. Currently, there are music jams at 53 senior parks that are open to the public.
Read more: January 4, 2023 - Jammin' in the RGV
Submitted by Arleen Bier
“There are two types of motion in the down swing: lateral and rotational,” said Casey Tippet, retired golf pro and resident of La Floresta RV Park in Mercedes. “They are the key to solid ball contact.”
Read more: Retired golf pro shares pointers at La Floresta
Christmas lights and decorations were hung throughout Bentsen Grove RV Park for the Christmas holidays. Residents took to decorating their winter homes for a chance to win a prize. Winter Texan Times had the honor to help vote for the top three.
Although a lot of park residents had lights up, only 14 residents actually entered the contest. It was very hard to pick a top three. I had several favorites but had to narrow it down quite a bit. I was thankful that I didn’t have a larger group to choose from.
Read more: Christmas lights were all aglow at Bentsen Grove
Submitted by Margaret Bergen
The community of Eastgate RV & MH Park, 2801 Harrison Ave. in Harlingen, collected 55 bags of food for Child Protective Services and the Food Pantry in 24 days using a Reverse Advent Calendar.
Tears of happiness and joy were shed as CPS Program Director Joanna Garcia, Adela Gonzalez (Case worker), Edgar Quintanilla, Yesenia Guerrero and staff, came to pick up their bags. Pastor Hector Perez, the pastor of The Fathers House on Morgan Blvd. in Harlingen, also arrived to give a beautiful blessing for the food as we all gathered around. His parish also donated mittens, gloves, and hats. A resident, Steve Fawley, made and gave a number of blankets. Another resident, Terry Romanchuk, made little ornaments from paracord.
Read more: Eastgate RV donates to local organizations
Submitted by Ruth Filz
Seven Oaks RV Resort Veterans and other residents joined scouts and other community members on Saturday, December 15, in the laying of wreaths at the Rio Grande Valley Veterans Cemetery in Mission. Through the help of the community and Wreaths Across America, all Veterans graves were able to receive a wreath in remembrance of their sacrifice.
By Henry Miller
The holiday season is that time of year when we all like to go above and beyond to help our neighbors in need. When Pastor Mark McDonald and his wife Stacy of Christian Resort Ministries and Mission West Church, which is located inside of beautiful Mission West Resort RV Park in Palmview, spearheaded and kicked off the 2022 Holiday Food Drive to benefit the Food Bank RGV they quickly found out just how true that is.
