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Bentsen Palm RV Park shows appreciation

20200318 bentsen palm apprBentsen Palm RV Park recently showed their appreciation of its residents by holding special events all week. Events included boat races, special get togethers, and an Amazing Race.

The Amazing Race was a challenge race where participants were given locations of items – or hints on where to find items – in the park. The participants then raced off on their golf carts to find the items, take a picture and then head back to the clubhouse. After three tasks were completed and approved by the judges, the participants then had to complete challenges that were set up in the clubhouse – challenges included a ring toss, basketball, and other games. All challenges and items had to be completed to declare a winner.

The week was capped off with a fully catered dinner, in which Marcie Swenson, activity director at the park, said it was so no one had to do anything. It was fully catered with others doing the work – letting park residents and volunteers relax and enjoy themselves without having to worry about who was going to clean up.

LaFloresta hosts final golf tournaments

20200318 la florestaAs Winter Texans begin to think about their return trip to the north, the residents of LaFloresta Park in Mercedes geared up for the final two golf tournaments of the season: The Handicapped Tournament and the Championship Tournament. Everyone in the park is invited to participate in golf activities, from beginner to advanced golfer. Winter Texans enjoy the challenging par-three golf course. And there is always the secret wish for a hole-in-one. The park had nine this year!

Read more: LaFloresta hosts final golf tournaments

Rock and Roll growing in the WT community

20200318 rock bassBy Tony Ozark

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was submitted by a Winter Texan. We welcome your ideas and submissions. Many of our best stories and leads come from ideas and stories provided by you.

Each year from November to April, thousands of senior citizens, known as Winter Texans, travel to the Rio Grande Valley from all parts of Canada and the United States to enjoy the weather and activities at the multitude of senior resort and RV parks. Many of these resorts and parks feature weekly music jams providing the opportunity for musicians to display their talents providing entertainment to the residents and visitors.

Read more: Rock and Roll growing in the WT community

Annual Open Invitational Pool Tournament Winners

20200311 annnual poolThe Open Invitational Pool Tournament for the Rio Grande Valley was recently held. It was hosted by Bentsen Grove Resort and was organized by Claude Lemay. This is the second year for the tournament. Pictured, from left to right, Ken VanSickle, representing Bentsen Grove Resort; third place finisher Len Bangma of Magic Valley in Donna; Winner Stew McCrae of Siesta Village in Weslaco; second place finisher Al Prescott of Eldorado Acres in Palmview; and Claude Lemay organizer.

Bentsen Palm builds dog houses

20200311 bentson builds 01Bentsen Palm RV Park recently took on a project to help a pet shelter with something they really needed. The park got involved with Cinderella Pet Rescue about four years ago when they learned about the no-kill pet shelter. They learned about the shelter when trying to find somewhere to take stray dogs to – they had a number of stray dogs at the park that needed homes.

Marcie Swenson, activity director at the park, said residents were hooked in helping the shelter and fulfilling the needs of the shelter whenever they could.

Read more: Bentsen Palm builds dog houses

Llano Grande Art Show Set for March 8

20200304 llano artThe annual Llano Grande Art Show has been set for Sunday, March 8, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Art Studio, according to the chairperson this year, Mira Smith. The public, as well as all residents of Llano Grande, are welcome to attend the display, visit with the artists, and enjoy wine and cheese as well.

“This event is so special each spring,” added Mira. “It gives our members a chance to showcase their efforts and honor their instructors who have taught oil, watercolor, and acrylic classes in recent months.”

Read more: Llano Grande Art Show Set for March 8

An evening with Del

20200304 delFuture generations will only have libraries, the Internet, or television to connect with music history, but Saxophonist Del Puschert lived it and will be featured in a special interview open to the public on March 7 at 7 p.m. at Paradise Park, 100 E. Hackberry Ave. in McAllen. There is no admission for the event.

Del has played with musicians like Chuck Berry, Charlie Daniels, Lynn Anderson, Elvis Presley and many others. Del first met Elvis in the mid-50's when Elvis was just getting started and will be sharing stories about many "behind the scenes" moments.

Read more: An evening with Del

Red Hatters Valley-wide gather at Festival of Tables

20200304 red hattersBy Kathy Olivarez

The annual Festival of Tables held at Trophy Gardens in Alamo was a huge success as members of Red Hat Society groups from Winter Texan parks and local groups joined together to see the table décor and visit with old friends or meet new friends. This is the one event held annually that brings Red Hatters Valley-wide together.

Once the hostesses had decorated their tables, the rest of the ladies were allowed to make a line and move through the 30 different table settings on display. The tables had different themes and styles. The ladies expressed their excitement as they found settings that were particularly pleasing to them.

Read more: Red Hatters Valley-wide gather at Festival of Tables

The Misadventure of the Psychic Detective

20200304 psychic detectiveBy Herb Moering

A Sherlock Holmes mystery was this season’s radio show produced in the Victoria Palms ballroom on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 22 by the Palm Players, a cast of all park residents.

“The Misadventure of the Psychic Detective” was a two-act play that was set in England at Greystone Manor, a house filled with dark secrets, drawing a group of psychics, hypochondriacs and other oddball characters - in which it seems an insane killer is at work.

Read more: The Misadventure of the Psychic Detective

Activity Directors treated to a show and lunch

20200304 activity dir 09Activity directors were treated to a show and lunch on Monday to show how much they are appreciated for all the work they do for the Rio Grande Valley RV and MH parks. Here at the Winter Texan Times we know that without them, we wouldn’t have much of a paper. We are all so very thankful for what you do for the community.

Mission Bell hosted the event where they served lunch and activity directors were entertained by Leslie Blasing, Helen Russell and Company, Rick McEwen and Brenda Coin and Sheila and Denny. There were several vendors on hand as well, including Winter Texan Times, Go With Jo, Sky Med, Beach Park, Ron Hoover and Pickpocket Gene.

Read more: Activity Directors treated to a show and lunch

Alamo Rose to host quilt show

img 1057Alamo Rose Quilt-A-Bees will host their quilt show on March 4 from noon to 3 p.m. at 938 South Alamo Road in Alamo. An Opportunity Quilt will be given away at the end of the show.

A raffle will be held for the quilt drawing. Raffle tickets are $1 or 6 for $5. Admission to the quilt show is $2. There will be other door prizes and an attendance appreciation gift.

Read more: Alamo Rose to host quilt show

Ferguson's accept Proclamation from City of Mission

20200226 Ferguson img 2918Robert and Billie Ferguson accepted a Proclamation from the City of Mission this week in recognition of the Rio Grande Valley Activity Directors Association. The proclamation says, “We the City Council of the City of Mission proclaim March 1, 2020 as Activity Directors Appreciation Day.” The proclamation also lists why the city is thankful for the activity directors, saying they enhance and promote unity among the directors of the retirement parks of the Rio Grande valley by promoting networking, information, resources and support; the demands of the job; that residents and management realize the importance of the activity director to the atmosphere of the park; and what the activity director’s responsibilities are – organizing activities, encouraging residents to socialize, etc. Robert shared his thankfulness with the city council pointing out there are 119 active parks represented in the association and that 35 of those are in the City of Mission.

Activity Director Appreciation Day is coming

It’s time to show your activity director some love. March 1 each year has been designated as Activity Appreciation Day, but this year we will celebrate on Monday, March 2.

The Rio Grande Valley Activity Directors Association (RGVADA) will host an Appreciation Party for area activity directors at Mission Bell ballroom beginning at 11 a.m. on March 2. Lunch will be provided along with door prizes and entertainment.

Read more: Activity Director Appreciation Day is coming

Annual pet show raises money for HSH

20200219 DogShow DSC 0673By Herb Moering

It was a dog lovers paradise with obedience demonstrations, races, potential adoptions and fundraising all wrapped up in the 2nd Annual Pet Fun Match Dog Show held Feb. 11 at the Sunshine RV Resort in Harlingen.

The two-hour free event, organized by resort resident Sharon Battocletti, is aimed at benefitting the Humane Society of Harlingen (HSH). The society operates a non-profit shelter and adoption center, which annually provides care to 6,000 homeless animals turned over by municipal control officers or given up by local residents.

The show was as big a hit this time as last year, again drawing about 200 spectators and dog owners from the resort and a few nearby RV parks.

Read more: Annual pet show raises money for HSH

Tip O Texas Fundraiser Feb. 21

Tip O Texas sewing group will have their Wedding Gowns of the Decades Style Show and Luncheon next week on Friday, February 21 from 12 to 3 p.m. The event is $8 per person and must be purchased in advance. Monies raised go to their Sewing Room Charities group.

Tip O Texas has a large endeavor with their sewing room charities organization.

On Thursday’s the group has a charity sew where they make blankets for children in different places. On the second Thursday of every month, they make comforters for Ronald McDonald patients at Edinburg Children’s Hospital. Marcia Albers from Iowa and Jackie Hood from MI are in charge of that group.

Read more: Tip O Texas Fundraiser Feb. 21

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