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Published: Wednesday, 27 December 2023 17:10
By Barb Zanetti
Photos by Dennis Zanetti
Winter Texan Tripp Wright loved Christmas celebrations for children, especially for those who were disadvantaged. Three years ago, he begged leaders of his McAllen’s Elk Lodge 1402 to host a party for them.
The parameters of his Christmas wish were simple: Offer disadvantaged children a wonderful party. And, by the way, make it a yearly affair. Oh … and you’ll need to make it bigger and better every year.
Read more: Tripp’s legacy lives on through Winter Texans and Elks
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Published: Wednesday, 27 December 2023 17:02
By Ruth Filz
Palm Gardens RV Park
“It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving” Mother Teresa.
These words seem the way residents of Palm Gardens RV Park in Harlingen live their lives, but even more so during the holidays. Residents find fun ways to give to others. When our Bingo Bros were looking for ways to make our Tuesday night Bingo games more fun, they also hit on an idea to help others. If you brought a non-perishable item to one of our recent Bingo games, you received an extra card and Loaves and Fishes received items to add to their food pantry. Loaves and Fishes has been around since 1991 when they recognized the need for assisting families in Harlingen and Upper Cameron County and started the local food pantry. They are part of the Feeding America Nationwide Network which distributes 4.3 billion meals each year.
Read more: Sharing our love during the holiday season
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Published: Wednesday, 27 December 2023 16:58
Submitted by Judy Haken, Activity Director
Everyone at Casa Del Valley knows Christmas is in the air when the Giving Tree goes up in the front office. Decorated with tags inscribed with names, gender and gift information, residents can choose a tag (or two) from the tree. They then purchase a gift and return the wrapped gift to be placed under the Giving Tree for distribution just before Christmas.
Read more: Casa Del Valle celebrates the gift of giving
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Published: Wednesday, 27 December 2023 16:54
Residents enjoyed Christmas Caroling at Victoria Palms RV and Mobile Home Park recently. The musicians had a decked out extended golf cart, while carolers rode on their bikes or golf carts around the park, stopping at residents’ home to bring them Christmas cheer through music.
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Published: Friday, 22 December 2023 13:57
By Herb Moering
The idea of a “Reverse Advent Calendar” food project became a spectacular success and more than Rick Anderson expected, when he presented it to residents of Mission Bell RV Resort last month.
Anderson, who with his wife, Karen, have been wintering at Mission Bell since 2005-06, said a park resident, Daleen Markel, mentioned the Reverse Advent Calendar, which Anderson decided to offer to park residents. The idea is to purchase a food item each day of the Advent season starting December 1.
Read more: Reverse Advent Calendar exceeds expectations
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Published: Wednesday, 20 December 2023 13:29
Kansas Day will again be celebrated here in the RGV. Join your Kansas friends at Ballis Social Event Center, 1624 E. Griffin Parkway, in Mission, Wednesday January 24. Reservations are required by January 19, 2024.
Festivities will begin with registration starting at 10:30 a.m., followed by a catered lunch, entertainment, a social, and door prizes. Entertainment will be provided by RGV 2019 Male Vocalist of the Year Rusty Rierson.
Read more: Make reservations for Kansas Day celebration
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Published: Wednesday, 22 November 2023 12:50
Submitted by Donna Wright
Winter in South Texas is anticipated this time of year. As Winter Texan residents are returning to the Valley for the winter, here at Lakewood RV Resort that means time to prepare for our 30th Christmas for the Children project. We are providing Christmas for fifteen less fortunate families from a local elementary, where many of our Lakewood RV Resort Winter Texans spend time mentoring the students over the years. This all started with our Worship Committee several years ago.
Read more: Lakewood RV holding fundraiser
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Published: Wednesday, 22 November 2023 11:11
As a US Army Veteran, Joiel Quick said, it was my honor and privilege to Emcee the Sunshine RV Veterans Day Program. On hand was our Guest Speaker Master Gunnery Sergeant Ricardo Gonzales Jr., and the US Marine Military Academy Color Guard for Presentation and Posting of the Colors. Also pictured here are my husband, US Army 1SG Robert Quick (Ret) and Program Chair Vickie Heggen.
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Published: Thursday, 16 November 2023 16:06
By Ruth Filz
Veterans Day/Remembrance Day is an annual observance to honor and remember the sacrifices of military personnel who have served in times of war and peacekeeping missions. Originally known as Armistice Day, it commemorates the end of World War I and celebrates the service of both living and deceased veterans. Major hostilities of World War I were formerly ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. While events and traditions may slightly vary, the central theme of the observance remains the same: to express gratitude to brave men and women for their dedication and valor. Two minutes of silence is observed at 11 a.m. on the 11th of November marking the end of World War I in remembrance of the fallen. This tradition serves as a poignant reminder of the courage, strength, and selflessness displayed by those who have served and those who continue to serve.
Read more: Palm Gardens RV Park recognizes its Veterans
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Published: Thursday, 16 November 2023 15:45
On Veterans Day, over 60 Veterans from the Pharr South senior community were treated to lunch, entertainment, and great company by City of Pharr leaders and special guests.
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Published: Monday, 27 March 2023 22:08
Winter Texan earns unique honors
By Barb Zanetti
Photos by Dennis Zanetti
Alamo Palms’ 98-year-old Louise Unkrich didn’t have white hair when she did the work that would bring her national recognition. Actually, she was a dark-haired teenager.
Typical of other young women whose lives changed course in the early 1940’s, Louise left her Swedesburg, Iowa hometown at 19 to find meaningful work about 250 miles away. Her job would be to assemble parts for B-26’s and B-29’s at the Glenn L. Martin bomber plant south of Omaha, near Bellevue, Nebraska.
“The war was on,” she said. “My boyfriend was in the Navy, and I wanted to help.”
Read more: A Lifetime Becoming a Rosie
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Published: Monday, 27 March 2023 21:34
By Herb Moering
St. Patrick’s Day could be called a breeze this year at Royal Palms Mobile Home Park in Alamo. The gusts on Friday were not enough to stop the annual Irish-themed park parade of decorated golf carts, pets, and a walker.
Reigning over the afternoon event were grand marshals Norm and Mary Hall, married for 75 years and park residents since 2001. The couple, who were given gifts for their participation, came to the Valley in 1990 after Mary retired from a long-time stint as a teacher’s aide that was part of Norm’s 38 years with the U.S. Air Force, a combination of seven years in the service and 31 years as a civilian employee. The period of 1949-52 they were in Germany as part of the Berlin Airlift. He also was at a Waco, TX training base for pilots during the Korean War. He ended his career in 1990 after 30 years at Lowery Air Force Base in Denver.
Read more: Valley parks celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
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Published: Tuesday, 14 March 2023 14:53
Alamo Palms’ Scholarship Committee donates $22,000
By Barb Zanetti
Photos by Dennis Zanetti
While modeling his beige Union Suit and wide-brimmed, felt, brown hat, Rip Van Winkle (Brad Mallow) seemed to awaken. He paused. Turned. And then scooted back down the runway to steal an unexpected kiss from Miss Havisham (Beverly Bailey), who was gripping her wilted bouquet.
Surprised laughter erupted from the audience at this year’s Alamo Palms’ Ropa Style Show held recently.
Rip Van Winkle and Miss Havisham joined 28 other runway models featured in the “What a NOVEL idea” theme. The show was one of the park’s fundraising events held to benefit Alamo High School seniors.
This year 22 PSJA Memorial Early College High School [ECHS] seniors were each awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Alamo Palms Scholarship Fund.
Read more: IT’S WINTER TEXANS … ‘JUST WANTING TO HAVE FUN’
When you look at social media posts for the parks, and residents of the parks, on Facebook you can see there was a wide range of fun had by Winter Texans throughout the Rio Grande Valley. We saw pictures of someone dressed as a bowl of Fruit Loops, vampires, skeletons, superheroes, dragons, and so many more.
Submitted by Arleen Bier
