By Herb Moering
Once again residents of River Ranch RV Resort recognized military personnel during a special Veterans Day ceremony at the River Ranch RV Resort in Rio Hondo.
This was the second extended Veterans Day event, this time thanking more than two dozen park residents for their service, who participated in a flag ceremony and then were honored during a homemade lasagna dinner that followed.
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 29th Christmas for the Children project. We are providing Christmas for more than 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.
Mission West Resort RV Park honored their veterans with an appreciation ceremony at the park flagpole on Veterans Day. Following the opening prayer, a brief history of the day was shared. Then all in attendance joined together in the singing of our National Anthem and God Bless America. Pastor Mark McDonald of Mission West Church presented each Veteran who attended with a special star taken directly from a decommissioned American Flag courtesy of the Warrior 180 Foundation.
Submitted by E. Louise Baker, Tropic Star Quilter
Tropic Star Park hosted a very special event on Sunday, March 6. Fifty-six veterans were honored with the presentation of a patriotic quilt made by the quilting ladies of Tropic Star.
This special event began three years ago. Someone shared the idea of honoring the veterans in our park with a patriotic quilt. Identifying the veterans in our park was completed by a dedicated committee. Their results were shocking. How could our quilting group produce all the quilts needed?
Submitted by Ruth Filz
Martha Little and her husband Irv first came to Palm Gardens RV Park in Harlingen in 2008 and enjoyed the area, finally buying a place in 2010.
Martha came from a long line of quilters. Her grandmother made quilts out of sugar sacks while her mother used old clothing. Martha’s youngest daughter is also learning to quilt.
When she first came to Palm Gardens, Martha brought her sewing machine and material. During the first year she had other quilters from the park to her house for lessons. Once she had a few other people, they started quilting at the hall.
John Haga, tour coordinator at Four Seasons RV Park in Brownsville, recently went with 45 other residents on a tour to Space X. The group loaded into a 50-passenger old painted school bus with an ‘excellent guide,’ Anthony Gomez, from Rocket Ranch.
At the annual teddy bear give away that was held on March 3, Bonham’s Bears gave away 400 bears to five local organizations. Bonham’s Bears is based at Green Bay South in La Feria.
The organizations donated to were Family Crisis Center, Children’s Bereavement Center Rio Grande Valley, Rainbow RGV Community Partners, Loaves and Fishes of the RGV, and City of Harlingen Fire Department Station Two.
The Rio Grande Valley Gid-R-Done Bluegrass Band wants to send a huge thank you to the Valley parks and venues for hosting them this year, and previous years. With the help of attendees to their events, the band was able to raise over $45,000 this season. The funds will be donated to St. Jude’s Research Hospital.
The Edinburg Chamber of Commerce has named Orange Grove RV Park as its March 2022 Member of the Month. Orange Grove RV Park, is located on 5005 TX-107, Edinburg.
Orange Grove RV Park has been servicing the Winter Texan Community for over 45 years.
Observing its 49th anniversary, Alamo Rec-Veh Park treated its residents to four fun-filled days, just as it has each year since its 45th celebration.
This year’s anniversary activities included crowning its king and queen, along with their court, two dances, a parade, several meals, a fishing derby, a Super Bowl party, a bake sale, and an auction.
Read more: Alamo Rec-Veh Park celebrates with 49th Anniversary Extravaganza
By Herb Moering
While the number of entries might have been on the “wee” side in the St. Patrick’s Day parade at Royal Palms Mobile Home Park in Alamo last week, the creativity was considered outstanding by the judges.
Read more: Park celebrates with horse races and a festive parade
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.
