15 WINTER TEXAN TIMES www.wintertexantimes.com MARCH 25, 2026 27146 McLelland Dr., Harlingen, TX 78552 (956) 423-1446, www.gowithjo.com for complete itineraries Go...With Jo! Tours & Travel We Take Care of You! Padre Island & Brownsville (1 Day) April 2, 2026 �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$95 San Benito – Rio Hondo (1 Day) April 6, 2026 �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������$105 Harlingen – La Feria (1 Day) April 3, 2026 �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������$105 (Prices are per person / Lunch Included) ONE DAY TOURS delivered to your inbox Never Miss an issue with the Winter Texan times 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 subscribe to receive the weekly edition in your inbox at www.WinterTexanTimes.com/Newsletter STHS to hold annual diabetes symposium With diabetes cases surging nationwide, awareness can’t wait. Currently, 40 million Americans, about 12% of the population, are living with diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while 115 million more have prediabetes, an elevated blood sugar condition that often progresses to type 2 diabetes without timely intervention. In South Texas, the Rio Grande Valley is facing an escalating diabetes crisis, with diagnosis rates far exceeding both state and national averages. Recent estimates indicate that 25% to more than 43% of adults across the four county region have type 2 diabetes, an alarming reality driven by widespread risk factors such as obesity, hypertension and high cholesterol. “Diabetes isn’t just a health statistic in the Valley, it’s a daily struggle affecting families in every neighborhood,” says Tom Castañeda, System Director of Marketing and Public Relations, South Texas Health System (STHS). “It affects the physical and mental health and overall well being of families and the future of our region. Addressing this crisis requires urgency, collaboration and a firm commitment to early detection and prevention.” While diabetes can often be prevented through healthy eating and regular physical activity, it’s essential to understand the risk factors, recognize the warning signs and learn the best practices for effectively managing the condition. To help educate and empower Valley residents to take steps to prevent, delay or manage diabetes, STHS is partnering with Prominence Health to host its annual Prevent, Treat & Beat Diabetes Symposium, a family friendly conference and expo offering educational seminars, interactive exercise and cooking demonstrations, and level of care health assessments and screenings to help the community stay on top of their health. “Raising diabetes awareness begins with making sure every individual living with or at risk for this life threatening condition has the support and resources they deserve,” says Castañeda. “This annual symposium underscores the urgent, proactive work STHS and Prominence Health are doing to empower our communities with life saving education, highlight the serious dangers of diabetes and reinforce how early detection can dramatically reduce the risk of severe health complications.” Taking place on Saturday, March 28, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the South Texas College Health Science Professions Campus (Building B), located at 1901 S. McColl Rd. in McAllen, the symposium will feature more than a dozen educational seminars led by local healthcare professionals in English and Spanish, along with interactive cooking and exercise demonstrations, which are all designed to equip attendees with the tools they need to prevent, treat and beat diabetes through healthy lifestyle choices, effective risk factor management and more. The free conference is open to the public and will include a special expo offering no cost health checks and screenings, along with information on locally available resources to help Valley residents fight diabetes. For more information on the Prevent, Treat & Beat Diabetes Symposium, including the full schedule of presentations, visit sthseducation. com.
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