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Annual Retired Nurses Luncheon is February 11

All retired RNs/LVNs and LPNs in the Rio Grande Valley are invited to a buffet luncheon on Tuesday, February 11 at Peter Piper Pizza, 3101 E. Expressway 83, in Weslaco. No reservations required. Check-in is at 12:30 p.m. with lunch at 1 p.m., followed by social, announcements and door prizes. Call or text Jan Bergman at (956) 532-1223 for any questions. Jan Bergman, Coordinator, introduces RGV Nurse Honor Guard members who presented their mission and services for deceased nurses at a previous annual Nurse’s Luncheon. (Courtesy photo)

Emergency Medical First Responders are vital to RV park residents

20250129 2025 Group photo USE PRINTBy Carina A. Brunson

We know first responders are a vital part of our community. They are the ones that come running in during emergencies. Helping people feel safe, staying calm, providing aid when needed, and usually first contact in a stressful situation.

For over 20 years there have been some helpers in Winter Texan parks in the Valley. These last few days I have been able to learn about two great groups – The Llano Grande Emergency Medical First Responders and the First Responders at Victoria Palms.

These First Responders are trained and certified. They attend first aid, CPR and Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) training. They also receive hands-on training from someone from the local fire department.

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Quilt Guild Military Sew Days sews for Veterans

20250122 TG FB IMG 1737072078126 webFew things say someone cares more than a handcrafted quilt made with love and given freely from the heart. The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Quilt Guild has had a program for many years where quilts have been made and given to veterans who reside in the RGV full time. The military service quilts are red, white, and blue and measure 60" x 72" when finished. What has become known as a “Military Sew Day” is when quilters, as well as other volunteers, meet to construct these cloth masterpieces. On these days, those who attend work together for the single day to complete as much as possible.

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Pleasant Valley Ranch volunteers at Food Bank

20250122 Pleasant Valley IMG 2751 webOn January 13 residents from Pleasant Valley Resort (PVR) in Mission spent the afternoon volunteering at the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley. The Food Bank, located in Pharr, partners with more than 275 non-profit agencies to assist families in Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy counties. For every hour that someone volunteers the Food Bank is able to provide an additional 105 meals for the community. The residents of PVR helped provide 3,938 meals and were very excited to give back to the people of the Rio Grande Valley who welcome us so warmly every winter. For more information on volunteering, visit: www.foodbankrgv.com. (Submitted by Kim Smith, PVR resident and group organizer)

Trophy Gardens celebrates 40 years in Alamo

Crowd webOn Friday, January 3, Trophy Gardens RV Resort in Alamo celebrated its 40th Anniversary in the RGV.

Trophy Gardens was never supposed to be an RV Resort. Initially, it was to be a housing development. When that fell through, Charles and Darrel Yoder of the Cadillac dealership in McAllen and John Phillips of the Alamo Bank decided to develop the property as an RV Park.

There was nothing on the property. At that time, route 495 was a two-lane road. Across the street was a grapefruit grove, and farmland was all around.

In the hot summer of 1984, plumbing and electricity were installed, and a few buildings were built, mainly to support construction. On November 1, the property was complete enough to begin registering guests. A ribbon cutting ceremony took place on January 4, 1985, officially opening Trophy Gardens RV Resort.

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Mabel’s Clinic is providing services again

Mabels 01 webThe work done by Mabel Clare lives on through the reopening of Mabel’s Clinic in Nuevo Progreso, Mexico. They will be having a fundraiser later this month to raise funds to support the clinic’s operations.

Back in 1967, Mabel Clare began trying to help the people of Mexico after the disastrous Hurricane Beulah. Mabel was in the Valley with her sister for rehabilitation for an injury. After that hurricane, many residents were left homeless, and many children were orphaned. Mabel worked to find homes for those children.

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Alamo Rose Quilt-A-Bees host quilt show

IMG 2405 webThe Alamo Rose Quilt-A-Bees will host their annual Quilt Show on Wednesday, January 22 from noon to 3 p.m. at Alamo Rose RV Park, 938 S. Alamo Road. Admission is $3. There will be door prizes and quilts for sale. There will also be a fabric vendor at the event.

During the year, the Alamo Rose Quilt-A-Bees get together and make items for the show. There will also be an opportunity quilt that raffle tickets will be sold for your chance to win. The drawing will be held at 3 p.m. on the day of the show.

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View colorful quilts at Llano Grande Quilting Bee

Llano Grande Opportunity Quilt Mint Julep Garden webLlano Grande Quilt Bees are hosting its 15th Annual Quilt Show on Tuesday, January 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Llano Grande Resort Event Center at 2215 East West Blvd., in Mercedes. Join the Llano Grande Quilt Bees for their Mint Julep Garden Quilt Show.

On display will be a variety of colorful quilts. In addition to viewing fabulous quilts attendees will also enjoy a variety of special exhibits, skill demonstrations, door prizes, bed turning and more.

Read more: View colorful quilts at Llano Grande Quilting Bee

Lonestar Jubilee coming back to the Valley

The Texans 2 webLonestar Jubilee is coming back to the Rio Grande Valley this month, performing shows filled with inspiration, fun and laughter. They perform for a huge purpose – their ministry projects. They have a ministry to support that keeps them doing what they love – entertaining, inspiring and giving.

Sam Ray, who first started performing at Dallas Christian College with the Master’s Four in 1971 moved to Branson in 1983. The group then changed their name to The Texans. They are now a full-time trio comprised of Sam, wife Brenda, and son Curtis. They began their travel ministry in 1999, performing more than 300 concerts a year. They have shared the stage with the likes of TD Jakes, Charles Stanley, Jerry Falwell, Tim Lahaye, and many more.

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Author presents First Ladies of the United States

Louise Butler webLouise Butler, author of I Shall Wear Ivory and Jet, will be making a presentation about the First Ladies of the United States at John Knox Village on January 27 at 3 p.m. Since I Shall Wear Ivory and Jet dropped last spring, Butler has presented lectures on both the book and our First Ladies to groups and conventions across the country. She will be traveling to Perry, Georgia in March as the featured author for a national book club.

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Seven Oaks RV Resort adopts elementary

20250108 SEven Oaks 01 webThis Christmas season, Seven Oaks RV Resort in Mission adopted Leal Elementary School. Residents of the park worked with the school counselor, Diana Gaona.

The park was given a list of needs and wants for five families, a total of 16 children. Through the generosity of the park guests, after they made sure every single want and need had been purchased and wrapped, they still had funds to purchase five-$100 gift cards for five additional families. They were also able to host a pizza party for the entire school where they played “Name that Tune.” About 60 $10 Walmart and McDonald’s gift cards were given away to students during the game. Two students from every class that could name that tune were able to choose the gift card they wanted.

Angel Baker, a member of the activities committee at the park, said it was a memorable every for everyone and “one that warmed our hearts.”

“Our residents were invited to visit the school and watch their fourth and fifth graders perform ‘Elfish and the Sleigh Riders’,” said Baker, “We were delighted to attend and so enjoyed them.”

The Shindig Show returns to the RGV

20250108 Elaine Nelson webBack by popular demand, after more than a decade, the Shindig Show will be returning to the Rio Grande Valley. It will be returning with a “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes,” concert series this season.

From 2006 to 2012, the Shindig Show was a staple Sunday afternoon show in the RGV. First at Bentsen Palm RV Resort, then at Casa Del Sol RV Resort.

Elaine Nelson, a well-known entertainer and Hall of Fame member, will be bringing the show back.

Read more: The Shindig Show returns to the RGV

Quilting group sews warmth for children at CASA

JoBeth Dausch Sharalyn Keppy CASA representative Cassie and Dee Pemberton webA small, but happy, group of quilters at Aladdin Villas, Mission, have found their place by providing warm quilts to children. Over the years they have donated to a colonia in Penitas and to Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). CASA has a Christmas event every year, and this year, 82 children were able to go home with a quilt of their own.

The quilts were made by a small group at the park that gets together twice a week all year round. The materials used are mostly donated from people within their community. Some residents donate their unused fabric when they go back up north.

Read more: Quilting group sews warmth for children at CASA

Llano Grande holds annual quilt show

Llano Grande quilt article webJoin Llano Grande for their 15th Annual Quilt Show. The show will be held Tuesday, January 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Llano Grande Event Center, 2215 East West Blvd. (off Mile 2 West) in Mercedes. Wander through the variety of quilts, wall hangings, and table runners on display.

The theme of this year’s Opportunity Quilt is Mint Julep Garden. Imagine everything related to a Mint Julep wrapped up in a beautiful, one-of-a-kind quilt, that measures 77 x 77. The soft colors of creams, mint green, peaches, and blues will entice you to visit our garden. Tickets for the quilt can be purchased from any Bee member or at the Show. The drawing will be held at the end of the show, and you do not need to be present to win.

Read more: Llano Grande holds annual quilt show

New Year’s Resolutions

By Carina A. Brunson

Last week I asked readers about their New Year’s Resolutions. I wanted to know if any of our readers still make New Year’s resolutions – and if they do, if they wouldn’t mind sharing some of what they hope for the new year coming.

Here is one of the responses I received:

“To answer your question on the front page of the December 26 newspaper, ''Do you make a NewYear's resolution?'' This question made me realize that when I was young it was a very present custom.

Now that I'm 81, I realize that this custom seems to have died out.

Read more: New Year’s Resolutions

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