FEBRUARY 26, 2025 www.wintertexantimes.com 24 WINTER TEXAN TIMES 5% Financing Available Planned Activities • Best Facilities Free Wired Internet & Cable Ranchero Village 1900 S. Bridge Ave., Weslaco (956) 968-6223 Homes by Ranchero Sales, License #MHDRET00001830 Website: www.RancheroVillageTX.com New 16’x66’ 2025 Fleetwood* $89,900 Top Community *New 2025 Fleetwood Now Available As Pictured cess, debug software issues, virus removal, screen repair, hard drive replacements and basically any technical needs, said Larry Riesselman, a volunteer at the Tech Center. An offshoot of providing these needs to our park residents, said Riesselman, has been their ability to provide equipment to some of the areas in need here in the Rio Grande Valley. Residents, on occasion drop off their old equipment asking them to clear the personal information off and ask how they should dispose of the equipment. The equipment is cleared of personal information, then reviewed to see if it can be refurbished. If usable, repairs are done, and the software is brought up to date as possible so it can be donated. If unusable, it is taken to the McAllen Recycling Center for disposal. Some of the places they have donated to are the Family Crisis Center, Valley Haven, and the RGV Kids Camp. Volunteers at the tech center recently donated four desktop PC’s, one laptop, one Samsung tablet, and an Amazon Kindle to the Padeux Social Club. Joyce Crose with the Padeux Social Club said their organization works with several shelters in the Rio Grande Valley and was extremely excited to be able to receive this equipment for their use. Crose added that the Padeux Social Club was formed initially to raise funds to send children to summer camp. As their events got larger and more frequent during the season, they were able to branch out to the shelters. (Padeux is a Louisiana term “affectionately” used to describe people who live in mobile homes.) “There is no formal club, no rules or dues,” said Crose. “We are a bunch of friends who like to have TECH From pg. 1 fun eating, dancing and being entertained while donating money to the children of the RGV.” When asked what others think of the help they provide, Riesselman said they receive a tremendous number of notes in appreciation about the services they provide, no one keeps copies of them. Just to give an idea of what they do at the Tech Center, Riesselman shared stats from last season. They had an over 55 percent increase in visits from the previous year – 664 vs 428. They had 41 volunteer requests for site visits and 43 labels/friendship cards were made. Their seminars and classes have had great turnouts as well. Their classes run anywhere between six to 16 hours. They have a cybersecurity seminar, iPad/iPhone for beginners, Facebook for beginners, Avery Labels class, and three different class sessions for iPhone/ iPad for experienced users. Riesselman said he finds it very rewarding to volunteer in the Tech Center, being able to help residents by providing access to personal computers, scanners and a printer, or being able to solve or repair an iPad/iPhone, Android phone issues – it gives one a sense of accomplishment. For example, in just one day, they had 22 residents stop by. Their needs ranged from printing copies of insurance forms, Facebook password help, icons that disappeared off of a laptop, built a flyer for a breakfast event, reinstalled windows on a laptop due to a corrupt update, just to name a few. “It was a nonstop day for the three people that volunteered,” said Riesselman. ers, Mariachi Nuevo Cascabel, and Quentin Flagg. Bruce Boudreau is a multi-instrumentalist Canadian country music singer and songwriter. He was 14 years old when he got his first guitar. Six months later he started a band in high school where he then started to write songs. The drive to learn guitar and entertain people was strongly influenced by his east coast family, playing at kitchen parties. He now uses his smooth silk voice to sing classic and contemporary country music. He makes sure that each performance is heartfelt and tries to make a genuine connection with his audience. He says his whole purpose is to entertain and provide joy to his audience. The Night Howlers are not new to entertaining. Valley natives, the group has been entertaining Valley residents for many years. Rene Deanda, drummer, and main vocalist has been performing since he was 15. The Night Howlers have been performing for Winter Texans now for eight years. Rene says they live to entertain the Winter Texan community of friends. And he refers to them as friends. You can certainly tell how much he enjoys this gig when you see his pictures on Facebook posing with fans and taking large group photos. They play classic rock, country, and oldies. The high-energy, 50’s and 60’s and more rock n’ roller Quentin Flagg is ready to shake up the stage. Singing and dancing his way through a show will make you tap your toes, snap your fingers, and leave you wanting more. He has entertained in Las Vegas, Chicago, Pigeon Forge, England, Ireland, Candada, and on cruises. He has been a performer now for 26 years and won many awards bringing back that raw feel of rock ‘n’ roll. As Quentin works hard to do what he loves, you might hear songs of greats such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Dean Martin, and many more. Leo Pena Placita Park is located at the corner of Business 83 and Conway in Mission, across from HEB. FIESTA From pg. 1 r l o o o a
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