13 WINTER TEXAN TIMES www.wintertexantimes.com NOVEMBER 26, 2025 Thanks for coming to Texas! Winter Texan TIMES Serving Winter Texans From Mission To South Padre Island Since 1987 Vol. 38, No. 24 © 2025 www.wintertexantimes.com Wednesday, March 26, 2025 INDEX Events Calendar p 4 Reunions p 6 Parks Calendar p 8 WintertainersTM p 8 On The Road p 12 Taste of the Valley p 17 Coupon Index p 20 Classifieds p 21 Business Guide p 21 Rina’s Ramblings See RAMBLINGS pg. 17 This season is ending, and I hate to see it go. We always enjoy your time with us, and our time with you, and we sure are going to miss it while you are gone. We know you are coming to the Valley for the community, the weather, lower prices, and more. We also know you are coming because of the culture and the warm welcomes you receive. But it is also your warmness that makes us love seeing you each year. Speaking of that warmness, you do so much for the communities you live in – whether it is for See THANK YOU pg. 18 Thank you for coming, safe travels, see you next season 2025 Winter Texan Fiesta. Photo by William Brunson By Herb Moering Hundreds of Winter Texans turned out Friday under picture perfect weather for the 49th annual Tourist Day in Nuevo Progreso. The event to say “thanks” to all those who come to shop, eat, purchase medicines and have dental work done in Progreso began with a brief welcome in the Bridge Authority Building from Samuel Robert Sparks Jr., the private bridge co-owner, to various area government officials and spouses and special friends. See PROGRESO pg. 20 Tourists enjoy refreshments and entertainment in Progreso Members of both delegations and honored guests took a moment out to exchange greetings and have some photos taken to commemorate the 49th Annual Tourist Day 2025. Photo by Herb Moering This season has, once again, been a blast. We have a lot of fun when we are out and about with you, sharing your news, and hearing your stories. I had the opportunity to hear many stories this year. What you see in the paper is sometimes just a bit of what is shared. I keep learning how eager you are to help others, to be there for your friends, and to teach others how to do the same. It’s amazing to see the strength you have and watch you use your experiences to help the community you live in through service, teaching, and more. We always enjoy sharing the stories of community service you do for your park, and for organizations, schools, and churches in your community. We get to see how thankful and how full of gratitude everyone is for your service – whether it be through volunteer work, making something, donating food, or any of the other multitude of ways you find to fulfill the need. We, and so many IN PRINT, ONLINE ON ANY DEVICE YOU WILL WANT TO TAKE IT WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO BRING US ALONG, & THERE’S ALWAYS MORE TO SEE, MORE TO DO Call or Email ads@wintertexantimes.com 956.580.7800 1217 N CONWAY, MISSION Follow us on Facebook.com/ wintertexantimes www.WinterTexanTimes.com FOR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES 27146 McLelland Road., Harlingen, TX 78552 (956) 423-1446 Lower Valley / 956-664-1446 Upper Valley Visit us at www.gowithjo.com for complete itineraries Eagle Pass Gambling (2 Days) Dec. 16, 2025 �������������������������������������������������������������������$TBA (Includes: Round Trip, Hotel) San Antonio Lights Up (3 Days) Nov. 28, 2025 ����������������������������������������������������������������$TBA (Includes: River Boat Tour, Breakfast, Light Supper) (Prices are per person, double occupancy) Christmas in Mexico and San Miguel (7 Days) Dec. 20, 2025 �������������������������$TBA (Fly in and Bus out) Monterrey for New Years (3 Days) Dec. 30, 2025 ���������������������������������������������������������$TBA (Prices are per person, double occupancy) U.S. TOURS MEXICO TOURS Go...With Jo! Tours & Travel We Take Care of You! Hidalgo Festival of Lights (1 Day) Dec. TBA, 2025 incl. Dinner & Trolley Ride ���������$79 Port Isabel Boat Parade (1 Day) Dec. 6, 2025 �������������������������������������������������������������������$TBA Brownsville Zoo and Holiday Village (1 Day) Dec. 6, 2025 incl. Dinner ����������$TBA (Prices are per person) ONE DAY BUS TOURS Support Main Street this holiday season By Jeff Burdett Before the trick-or-treaters even make it back home, big-box stores flood mailboxes and inboxes with Black Friday ads. But the big box stores aren’t the only place to find a good bargain. Small Business Saturday, the day after Black Friday, offers shoppers an opportunity to find great quality items at a competitive price and invest in their community. Small Business Saturday has become a great way to kick off the holiday season. What began 15 years ago as a way to promote small businesses recovering from the Great Recession, has blossomed into one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Last year, shoppers spent roughly $22 billion at their local businesses. The holiday season is a time to celebrate and express gratitude. On Small Business Saturday and every day of the year, shopping small plays a big role in supporting our communities. In Texas, small businesses are the beating heart of our economy, accounting for more than 99 percent of businesses in the state and employing 5.1 million working Texans, according to the Small Business Administration. When you stop in at your favorite coffee shop, locally owned boutique, or family-run hardware store, your dollars go further. Nearly 68 cents of every dollar spent at a small business stays within the community where it’s spent and creates another 50 cents in local business activity. This holiday season don’t forget to shop small. Our local businesses keep our communities strong and our economy growing. When Main Street prospers, we all prosper. Jeff Burdett is the State Director of the National Federation of Independent Business in Texas. r - h e e a t n e e s e l e - r t o - n cember 13, at 9 a.m., there will be Birding 101. Holiday Cheer and White-tailed Deer will be held Sunday, December 14 at 10 a.m. Wild Wellness will be held on Friday, December 15 at 8:30 a.m. There will be special Winter Wind-down Hikes on Thursday, December 11 and 18, and Monday, December 22 and 29, at 9 a.m. Our Daytime Skies will be held on Saturday, December 20, at 2 p.m. A Nature Scavenger Hunt will be held Sunday, December 21, at 11 a.m. Learn Archery Basics, taught by a NASP certified ranger, on Sunday, December 28 at 10 a.m. The Winter Speaker Series will talk about our Winter Skies and will be held on Wednesday, December 17, at 6 p.m. Scheduled programs are free with park admission. All programs will meet at the tram turnaround at park headquarters unless otherwise specified. Call ahead to confirm program schedule and details at (956) 5849146. Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park is located at 2800 S. Bentsen Palm Drive in Mission. You can also visit their website at tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/bentsenrio-grande-valley. The park is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Park store is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except Christmas Day. Tram transportation service is available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and leaves from headquarters on the hour. BENTSEN From pg. 2
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