The Rio Grande Valley's Winter Texan scene isn't the quiet, gem in the rough secret that it once was.
For the winter visitors, that's a good thing – especially when it comes to entertainment. Winter Texans are known for having fun. The Valley provides tons of it too.
Champion Lakes Golf Course (formerly Palm View) is booked almost daily with Winter Texans, later into the afternoon than in past years.
Pickleball courts are being built at Starbucks-like pace across the Valley – both indoors and outdoors to keep up with demand.
Written by Barb Zanetti
In the Rio Grande Valley, Winter Texan racers can drive to over 30 RC tracks within an hour, prompting them to label southwest Texas: “The RC Capital of the U.S.”
“There’s no place that I know of in the country that has a bigger concentration of RC tracks,” ARVP race director Mike Fleming said. “If you really want to race, you can easily race at least four or five times a week during the season. It’s good, friendly competition with fellow Winter Texans.”
Read more: Growth of RC racing in RGV parks has been FAST AND FURIOUS
At 92-years-young, Ella Mae Marrs, who has been wintering in the Valley for over 30 years, had an exciting tale to share this season with her Winter Texan friends. A painting she did in 1992 came back in her possession this past summer.
It was a beautiful day last week when several Veteran residents at Alamo Rose were honored with patriotic themed quilts made by the park’s quilters.
Two years ago, the summer quilters wanted to do something special for the park’s own resident Veterans. Last year they recognized a number of World War II Veterans. This year they recognized 28 Veterans in the park.
Submitted by Arleen Bier
It was a beautiful day for the 26th Annual American Cancer Society Golf Tournament held at La Floresta RV Park in Mercedes. There was a total of 57 golfers, from beginners to those with advanced skills, who participated in the tournament.
Read more: Cancer Society Golf Tournament Held at La Floresta
The Rio Grande Valley Gid-R-Done Bluegrass Band will be having their last performance of the season at Roadrunner RV Park next week. Their show will be held on Wednesday, March 9, from 4 to 6 p.m.
The 10th Annual Shuffleboard Tournament was held at La Floresta RV Park in Mercedes. While dark clouds threatened rain, the weather cooperated, and the tournament was able to be played without delay. There were 68 participants in the double-elimination event.
By Herb Moering
“Happy Days” were here again as more than 100 residents enjoyed the Pharr South Park fashion show and luncheon on Friday, Feb. 18.
Those attending were reminded of the TV show, “Happy Days,” with the theme decorated hall, poodle skirts, saddle shoes, background music, and photos of Richie Cunningham and family, Potsie, Chachi, Ralphie, Joanie and of course the Fonz. That show, according to Dee Hammond, who offered the welcome and suggested they pretend they were at Arnold’s Diner, spanned 11 seasons from 1974 to 1984 with a total of 255 episodes.
The Leisure World Quilters sixth biannual quilt show will be held February 24, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Main Hall, 400 East 18th St. in Weslaco. The quilter's raffle quilt is king size measuring 106"x106" in green, rust, and gold colors. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5 and are available from any of the Leisure World quilters or at the show. The drawing will be held at the end of the show, and you don't need to be present to win.
At their weekly Koffee Klatch on February 3, Palm Gardens Activities Club President, Wray Pedro, invited Victor Rivera from Loaves and Fishes and Gracie Bradwell from Valley Haven Emergency Shelter to accept a check for $645 each. “It was truly a pleasure and honor to receive it. Truly a blessing,” said Rivera of the donation. The residents recently had a pie/cake auction which brought in $1,290 for charity. They decided to split these dollars between these two organizations as both programs are valuable contributors in helping our community.
Claudette Merriman used the phrase “mind-boggling” to describe the event unfolding in front of her.
The public relations chairman at the Bibleville Conference Grounds in Alamo watched, like the 100 or more of those in attendance, in reverence and honor as veterans took turns carrying a U.S. flag to its retirement. They went, one by one, placed the flag onto the fire created earlier and stoked with each additional flag, saluted it and returned to retire another.
Submitted by Larry Schmitt and Jan Bergman
On January 26, two hundred ten Kansans from various Parks/Resorts throughout the Rio Grande Valley met to commemorate the anniversary of the state’s 161st year admission to the Union, January 29, 1861. It was so great for we Kansans to be together again, and the old-timers enjoyed meeting the thirty-three Kansans attending for the first time…. yay!!! As before, Trophy Gardens RV Resort is a great venue for this size of crowd.
The La Floresta Park in Mercedes is filled with artists who bring with them many different talents and skills. One such artist is Harry Seurkamp, a woodcarver from Whitney, TX. Woodcarving is one of the oldest types of art.
Harry has always been into woodworking. After attending a carving show, his wife gave him a knife, a book, and a piece of wood, and signed him up for woodcarving classes. He was making box clocks at that time and thought carving would enhance them. Harry has been carving now for 30 years.
The Senior Ambassadors Men’s Chorus is comprised of senior men from the Rio Grande Valley and many other locations around the USA and Canada. The members bring a broad range of musical experience and background to the group. The Senior Ambassadors motto is “Loving Life, Making Music.” Mr. Virgel Kroeker is in his 13th season as director of the chorus.
The Senior Ambassadors begin rehearsals in November and perform their musical selections in many RV parks and resorts throughout the Rio Grande Valley during the months of January, February, and March. The size of the chorus fluctuates from year to year.
