Welcome Home Winter Texan : Vol 2 Issue 1 : October 19, 2016 by Kristi Collier

FORE! GOLFING IN THE RGV!

This week features Palm View Golf Course in McAllen!

UPCOMING EVENTS!

Check out this week’s listings of what’s happening in the RGV!

SOME LIKE IT HOT!

Junior League of McAllen, Inc. shares a spicy Mexican flare for pork chops!

Welcome Home See details on page 10.

See calendar on page 18.

VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 1 • October 19, 2016

Try their recipe on page 14.

WINTER TEXAN

• • • your official connection to the rio grande valley • • •

The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band announced as lead parade band

Memorial Stadium, where reserved seating is available, and heads south on Bicentennial Boulevard to Business U.S. 83, where free seating is available along the route on a first come, first served basis. City of McAllen Parks & Recreation Department staff have already begun designing and building some of the floats that will be featured in the parade. The floats are colorful, completely illuminated and, this year, will feature an interactive element that will appeal to every audience member. According to City of McAllen City

Manager Roel “Roy” Rodriguez, P.E., the selection of the Aggie Band was two-fold. Aside from the exciting musicianship and performance the band consistently delivers, the City of McAllen hopes to attract other university bands to the parade to expose McAllen and Rio Grande Valley youth to all of the options offered by participating universities. “Our goal is to entertain both residents and visitors alike, but especially to encourage the youth to find out more about what universities and colleges can offer,” Rodriguez added. Last year, over 240,000 people lined the streets of McAllen to view the parade. It was televised live on all local media outlets and Northern Mexico and later rebroadcast across the United States in Hispanic-heavy cities on Christmas Day on Telemundo to a network audience of over four million. For more information about sponsorship opportunities for the parade, contact the McAllen Convention Center at 956-6813800. For more information about the parade, please visit www. mcallenholidayparade.com or call the City of McAllen at 956-681-1200. •

October 28 at 413 E. Clark in Pharr, also known as the Police Athletic League facility. The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. All are welcome to this festivity. Kids will get the opportunity to strut in their Halloween costumes and enjoy a multitude of rides and activities. There will be a pumpkin decorating contest, a variety of food booths, music, and plenty of goodies and giveaways. To honor the men and women who have served and who are currently serving in the United States Military, the City of Pharr hosts a Veterans

Day Parade. The parade will be held Saturday, November 12, at 4:30 p.m. in Downtown Pharr. Fireworks will light the night sky at Liberty Middle School (1212 S Fir St, Pharr) at 7 p.m. The event will conclude with a country concert featuring band Southern Ashes. Both of these events are free and all are welcome to come out and join us! The City of Pharr looks forward to celebrating the fall season with you. For more information on future events in the City of Pharr, visit Pharr.Life on the internet! •

Special to Welcome Home RGV

It’s that time of year again! I can’t tell you how happy we are to enter our ninth season! It’s been a long, hot summer, and we look forward to welcoming our Winter Texans back to the Rio Grande Valley and hope you are bringing a touch of cooler weather with you. I just returned from a weekend in Austin visiting my daughter, who is now a freshman at the University of Texas. I can’t tell you how great it was to see so many RVers heading south! In talking with resort managers, it looks like we will have a number of new faces this year, so the pressure is on all of us to make sure we make those first timers feel right at home. We have so many exciting things in store for you this winter, and we look forward to keeping you all informed about all of the activities and fun things to do across the Rio Grande Valley! Let the dancing, golf, volunteering, shopping, margarita-drinking, barbecuing FUN begin!!! • We’re just connecting the dots,

Kristi

The City of McAllen has unveiled

this year’s theme for the McAllen Holiday Parade: Entertainment on Parade. The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band of Texas A&M University will be the step-off band in the parade. The Third Annual McAllen Holiday Parade, the largest illuminated holiday and helium balloon parade in Texas, will be held Saturday, December 3, starting at 6:00 p.m. “The McAllen Holiday Parade is designed to keep the entire family entertained and excited,” said City of McAllen Mayor Jim Darling. “This year’s theme, Entertainment on Parade, will engage the audience of all ages. Further, what better band to step off the parade than one of the most highly respected performing university bands, the Texas A&M University Aggie Band, that awes and delights fans and rivals alike.” The parade will feature more than 50 vibrant lighted floats, over 30 larger-than-life inflatable character balloons, bands, and a celebrity-filled line-up. The 1.5-mile-long parade route begins at McAllen Veterans

Pharr Fall Festivities Special to Welcome Home RGV Fall in Pharr means warm weather and warm welcomes, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and some of the city’s most anticipated events. During the months of October and November, the City of Pharr has events and festivals that’ll have you “delighting” in the fall season. Don’t miss out on the fun and festivities at two of the best events in the City of Pharr. The annual Fall Phestival will be held

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR 2016-2017 SEASON SPONSORS

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October at the Weslaco Museum Special to Welcome Home RGV

It is hard to believe that fall is here,

as well as some presentations over especially with temperatures still in the military conflicts that occurred in the high 90s. However, even with the region. high temperatures, the return of fall October 22 at 2 p.m., the Museum also means the return of one of our will host local author and Doctor of most popular programs, the Saturday Education David Bowles. Dr. Bowles Afternoon Lecture Series. This series will discuss “Ghosts of the Rio Grande will run through the month of April. Valley.” Come to hear some of the We have expanded our range of stories of hauntings and other strange topics this year. There will be several occurrences that happened right in presentations of the role of women in our local area. Dr. Bowles will have the Rio Grande Valley during the 19th for sale books he has authored. This and 20th centuries, the histories of presentation will be fun for people ranching and the ranching culture, of all ages. The museum invites you quilting techniques, the Rio Grande to wear your favorite costume to this Valley during the Mexican Revolution, presentation. A tentative schedule of our upcoming events are as follows: Nov. 5, 2016 Joe Vidales: “South Texas During the Civil War” Nov. 19, 2016 Irving Levinson: “Mexico’s Involvement in the American Civil War” Dec. 3, 2016 Gabe Ozuna: “RGV during the Mexican Revolution” Dec. 17, 2016 Dr. Joe Chance and Don Drefke: “Frontier Women of the Valley” Jan. 7, 2017 Jenny Saxton: “English Paper Piecing and Quilting Techniques” Jan. 21, 2017 Robert Ramirez: “Ranch Life in Hidalgo County” Feb. 4, 2017 Joe Vidales: “Weslaco’s Style Show” Mar. 4, 2017 Diana Dominguez: “South Texas Cattle Queens” Mar. 18, 2017 Wade Marcum and Ruben Cordova: “Evolution of the Western Ranching Saddle”

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These programs will all be held at the Weslaco Museum, located at 500 S. Texas Blvd. Each program will begin at 2:00 p.m. The museum is also hosting an “In-House” Historical Photo and Art Exhibit during the month of October. There will be many pieces on display from Weslaco’s history, as well as artwork that has been donated to the museum over the years. This

Senior Saturdays at IMAS! FIRST SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH OCTOBER - APRIL Special to Welcome Home RGV

Kristi Collier

Have

you visited McAllen but haven’t had a chance to visit the International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS)? Are you looking for fun, new ways to fill a Saturday? Make plans now to attend Senior Saturday from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. on the first Saturday of every month starting in October. Ages 55+ and your grandchildren are invited to join our Senior Saturdays, where you can explore IMAS during a guided tour in a related art gallery and try your hands at various art projects during a workshop taught by a local artist. Light pastries, coffee, and tea will be provided.

kristi@welcomehomergv.com

Sales & Marketing Cheryl Palacios

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Administration Amie Gray

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Colette Brookins

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Accounting Matt Davis

matt@welcomehomergv.com

Events Coordinator Anne Marie Martin

events@welcomehomergv.com

Activity Coordinator Fran Adams

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1st Responder Coordinator Rita Huether

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Editor

Chris Ardis

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Graphic Design

Jenny R Carpenter silentBYTES design

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Welcome Home

rio grande valley

219 W. Nolana • McAllen, Texas 78504

956-687-5115 www.welcomehomergv.com

© Copyright 2016 Welcome Home, Rio Grande Valley, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic means without written permission from Welcome Home, Rio Grande Valley, LLC.

November 5, 2016 The Art of Embroidery: Into the World of Textile Art December 3, 2016 Collections and Recollections: Exploring Objects, Memories, and Preservation January 7, 2017 Paper Works: The Art of Origami February 4, 2017 Cultural Heritage and Folk Lore: A Look at Mexican Mask March 4, 2017 Into the Artist’s Studio: Beginners Watercolor Painting April 1, 2017 Beautiful Botanicals: The Art of Botanical Sketches Explore IMAS, learn something new, and create art with family members or friends each month at IMAS. Senior Saturdays is included in general admission. Please have a driver’s license available upon arrival. Be sure to check out upcoming dates and themes! For more information, visit our website at theimasonline.org or call us at 956-682-0123. IMAS is located at 1900 W. Nolana Avenue in McAllen. •

should be a very interesting display of some rarely seen items from our collection. Make sure to stop by and catch a glimpse of local history. For more information on these programs, stop by the museum and pick up one of our brochures detailing the upcoming events or visit us on the web at weslacomuseum. org. You can also give us a call at 956-968-9142. •

Weekly e-Blasts Kristi’s e-Blasts are sent weekly October - March to our subscribers. Find out what’s happening across the Valley. These e-Blasts include helpful links and fliers for “Featured Events.” Sign up today at: info@welcomehomergv.com

Welcome

Home RGV has three ways to join the conversation on Facebook. Our WHRGV page is dedicated to community events and information that will appeal to people of all ages. Our Winter Texan page is more specific to our Winter Texan target market. Finally, our latest addition is our Winter Texans RGV group. Member parks and business partners can send event fliers to us at news@welcomehomergv.com, and we will be happy to post them on our social media sites any time! Perks for Partners! •

www.facebook.com/whrgv www.facebook.com/wintertexan www.facebook.com/groups/wintertexansrgv

www.welcomehomergv.com • • • October 19, 2016

National Butterfly Center Receives FCRV Wildlife Grant Special to Welcome Home RGV

One

of the programs of Family Campers & RVers is the Wildlife Fund, which gives several annual grants to deserving wildlife projects. One such grant was $1,200 awarded to the National Butterfly Center in Mission for their work in preserving butterfly habitat for over 500 species and their educational outreach programs and Girl Scout camping program. Executive Director, Marianna TrevinoWright expressed appreciation and said the grant would be put to good use. For more information about the center visit www.national butterflycenter.org.

Perspectives

The grant application was submitted by DeWayne and June Johnston, members of the Winter Texans Chapter of FCRV. The social chapter is made up of some 130 couples and singles who belong to FCRV in various parts of the U.S. and Canada and who winter in the Rio Grande Valley. For more information about FCRV, go to www.fcrv.org. •

with

Chaplain Bob Ruesch

Thump! Thump! Thump! BAM!

Tthump, thump, thump, BAM! A

blowout and the opportunity to trust our Lord begins in earnest! When you are gliding along, looking at the fall colors and seeing God’s artwork in His trees, the last thing you want, expect, or need is a tire exploding on your rig. When the moment comes, one needs to be prepared and act quickly to get the RV under control, stop, and keep all passengers safe. That happened; God protected us. Looking under the RV, there was damage, but not as much as there could have been. The propane line was intact, but the steel belts did their destructive job, beating on the undercarriage; but it was all repairable. A few phone calls later, and the emergency road repair person appeared and changed the tire, and we were on our way. Here is the bonus, as they say. Stuart, the tire repair guy, was a Christian. He showed me his Bible he always carries in his truck so he can share the word of God to those he rescues along life’s highway. Isn’t that what all of us could and should be doing-

-sharing the gospel to those who are broken down? This incident got my attention and left me thinking about how our Lord continues to protect us in all circumstances. The tire is manufactured by man; the laws of physics are created by God. Many times, they work in partnership with each other. The RV can be repaired, the trip continues, and the opportunity to praise God for safe journeys is answered. Bottom line--God is our protector as we travel through life; we need to be thankful for His provision for safety. You see, in our case, the propane line was in that area and could have been broken by the rotating steel belts, ruptured, and when we stopped… well you get the picture. Heavenly Father, thank you for your watchful care over your travelers; you have taught us to ask for all our needs to be met, and you do this in ways we see and so many ways we don’t see. Teach us to continue to look for ways to proclaim Your love, just like Stuart did, carrying your word to those who need to be rescued. •

Senior Chaplain Bob Ruesch is the new chairman of the board for Caring Resources Ministries Int’l and the division manager for the RV Division, Christian Resort Ministries. In this capacity, he has been instrumental in placing qualified chaplains in RV parks and resorts in the Rio Grande Valley for over 10 years, as well as in Arizona and Florida. If you are interested in knowing more, please visit our website at www.crmintl.org.

Monarch Day Celebration at South Padre Island Special to Welcome Home RGV Birding and Nature Center

fall rain showers incite important coastal nectar plants like Seaside Goldenrod and Betony Mistflower to bloom and valuable host plant species of milkweed to grow, a kaleidoscope of Monarch butterflies will take full advantage as they are funneled down the Texas coast on their migration south to wintering grounds in Central Mexico. Join us at the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center Saturday, October 22, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

for Monarch Day, a day to celebrate this iconic species and its yearly fall migration through our area. Learn all about these beautiful butterflies and what you can do to help them on their difficult journey through life history and butterfly gardening presentations, games, crafts, a native plant sale, butterfly walks, and a screening of the movie The Incredible Journey of the Butterflies to end the day! Visit our website at spibirding.com for more information. •

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Harlingen Medical Center Recognized as “High Performer” Special to Welcome Home RGV

Harlingen

In Knee Replacement Surgery in U.S. News & World Report

Medical Center has been recognized as a high- “And, thank goodness, that’s performing hospital in knee exactly what happened after replacement surgery in U.S. News surgery,” the patient said. “I’m & World Report’s magazine’s 2016- now enjoying life, with no pain, and I get to run around with my little 2017 “Best Hospitals” listings. The annual national rankings grandbabies.” recognized Harlingen Medical Dr. Jose Cobos, an orthopedic surgeon, said patients Center, an awardwho have severe knee winning and nationallypain due to damage recognized hospital, (or arthritis) to the as the only highknee joint and whose performing hospital in activities and function Harlingen in the area are limited because of knee replacement. of that pain may be The rankings, available candidates for knee online at www.usnews. replacement surgery. com/besthospitals, “These individuals have been published may experience annually by U.S. excruciating pain while News for the past attempting some form 27 years. The latest of movement,” Dr. rankings analyzed data Cobos added. “Joint from 4,667 hospitals Dr. Jose Cobos serves as an surgery nationwide. orthopedic surgeon at the Orthopedic replacement In the rankings, Center at Harlingen Medical Center. can relieve pain the individual may be only 20 percent of the hospitals in the nation were rated experiencing. The surgery allows as “high performing,” meaning us to remove the damaged portion they scored significantly better of the joint and to replace it with than the national average in knee plastic and metal parts. This can replacement surgery, according to help restore normal physical activity to the patient.” U.S. News & World Report. “This rating for knee replacement The U.S. News & World Report reflects our commitment to maintain rankings also noted that Harlingen the highest level of care and to Medical Center scored “best” in create a superior overall experience survival rates for patients who have for our patients and their families,” knee replacement surgery, as well as said Brenda Ivory, president and “best” in preventing re-admissions chief executive officer at Harlingen to the hospital after patients are discharged. In addition, Harlingen Medical Center. Amy Flores, chief nursing officer Medical Center scored “better than at Harlingen Medical Center, said average” in patients’ overall quality the ranking is “a testament to the of stay, as well as in reducing the risk commitment to excellence of every of infections and other complications clinical staff member we have for patients hospitalized after knee working in The Orthopedic Center replacement surgery. at Harlingen Medical Center, our The high rankings were the latest orthopedic surgeons, and their honor for the Orthopedic Center at Harlingen Medical Center, which advanced surgical treatments.” “We are committed to meeting holds a specialty accreditation in and exceeding national standards knee and hip replacement surgery of care for joint replacement and from the national accrediting to improving the quality of life for agency for healthcare facilities, the our patients, by relieving pain and Joint Commission. This “Gold Seal of Approval” for joint replacement restoring activity,” Flores added. Knee replacement surgery can, recognizes Harlingen Medical Center in many cases, help patients with for its dedication and expertise in arthritis and other conditions walk offering the life-restoring surgeries. again without pain. One patient at In addition, Harlingen Medical Harlingen Medical Center said that Center has been named one of when she came in for her surgery, “America’s 100 Best Hospitals” all she wanted was for the pain in for orthopedic surgery for three her knee to go away so she could get years in a row (2014-2016) by Healthgrades, a national healthcare back to a ‘normal’ life.

ratings organization. And, most recently, Harlingen Medical Center was recognized as “Best Hospital” and “Best Emergency Room” in the Harlingen area by readers of the Valley Morning Star.

For more information on knee replacement surgery and other healthcare services in the Rio Grande Valley, please visit www. HarlingenMedicalCenter.com. •

www.welcomehomergv.com • • • October 19, 2016

Radical Elements: Special to Welcome Home RGV

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materials meet hard science in Radical Elements, an exhibition in Clark Gallery at International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS) from September 27, 2016, to January 8, 2017. Featuring 40 contemporary art quilts, each work is inspired by a different element from the periodic table, from arsenic to hydrogen to platinum. Quilt artists explore the elements in many ways, ranging from their industrial uses to personal memories associated with them. The artists in Radical Elements were chosen from an international pool of members of the nonprofit organization Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA). The quilters were challenged to represent their favorite element on a quilt. Each of the selected artists had to adhere to the definition of new art quilts, using alternative materials as the quilt’s layers. These layers also had to be fastened together by some innovative method. Indeed, very few of the quilts on display use much of the traditional supplies of fabric, thread, and batting. Materials range from duct tape and aluminum foil to keyboard keys and dining utensils. Their inspirations came from anything relating to the element, whether it is a play on the name, its color, or the products made from it. The wild array of representational and abstract quilts

Quilt exhibition stitches together

chemistry and quilting to challenge tradition

in Radical Elements explores the intersection of art and science in brilliant form. Radical Elements is organized by Studio Art Quilt Associates, Inc. Join us for all our new programs and activities! General admission is FREE for IMAS members; $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and for students with ID, and $4 for children (ages 4-12). Ask us about our Museums for All program. For more information, please call 956-682-0123 or visit www.theimasonline.org. •

Voncille Zama’s Art at Port Isabel Library Special to Welcome Home RGV

Laguna Madre Art League

has selected Voncille Zama to display her artwork at the Port Isabel Library throughout October. A member of the Art League for a number of years, she is also on the board of directors of the Laguna Madre Art Gallery, where she shows and sells her work. Fascinated by art since she was a child, Zama painted for her own recreation until she decided to study art at a local university. Since then, she has won numerous awards in juried art shows and at the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art. Zama translates our local scenery

into beautiful watercolors. Beaches and dunes, sea life, coastal birds, flowers, and cacti are among her favorite subjects. She has also become well known for her watercolors of our local sea turtles. Zama’s watercolors will be on display until the end of the month at the Port Isabel Library, located at 213 Yturria St. For library hours, please call 956-943-2265. The display is free and is open to the public. •

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VSO Concert II - Exquisite Chopin to Feature Russian Pianist Asiya Korepanova October 20 Special to Welcome Home RGV

The

Valley Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Peter Dabrowski, proudly presents another dazzling symphonic concert Exquisite Chopin Concert II featuring Asiya Korepanova at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex in Edinburg Thursday, October 20 at 8:00 p.m. Patrons will enjoy classical favorites such as Mozart’s “Marriage of Figaro Overture, K. 492,” Grieg’s “Peer Gynt Suites,” and Chopin’s “Piano Concerto No. 1, E minor, op. 11” with critically acclaimed guest pianist Asiya Korepanova. Korepanova is a native of Russia who moved to the states in 2012. Her extensive piano repertoire includes 55 concerts, with multiple solo and chamber performances. She performs regularly in recitals for the Sarasota Artist Series and the Steinway Series in Florida and has performed with multiple orchestras, such as the Northwest

Florida Symphony Orchestra, the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, and the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra. She is directly affiliated with the Endless Mountain Music Festival in Pennsylvania, participating in solo performances and with chamber groups, and the Festival Orchestra. Korepanova recently performed in the Mendelssohn Piano Trio chamber concert in early September. This concert will certainly be one to attend and to remember. Doors to the venue will open as early as 7:00 p.m. A cash bar will be available and fully stocked with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages before the concert and during intermission. Tickets range in price from orchestra ($55), to front house ($45), and to back house ($35). Senior discount prices are available. Inquire with the Box Office at 956-661-1615 or visit us at valleyorchestra.org. •

7 Alamo Lions Club Support the PSJA ISD Wolverines 2016 www.welcomehomergv.com • • • October 19, 2016

Special to Welcome Home RGV

The Alamo Lions Club members attended and participated in the Alamo

Wolverine Parade. The Alamo Lions Club proudly supports the Wolverines and their parents. The parade, held August 20, traveled from Alamo’s HEB parking lot and headed to the high school stadium. The Alamo Lions Club wishes the PSJA Memorial High School Wolverines a great season and sends a huge “Thank You!” to the community for their support of the students. •

PSJA Memorial Wolverines 2016 Varsity Football Schedule

Free Nature Walks at Harlingen’s Hugh Ramsey Nature Park

(Remaining Games)

Friday, Oct. 21 PSJA High Friday, Oct. 28. Edinburg North Friday, Nov. 4 PSJA Southwest (HC)

Home Away Home

7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m.

by Anita Westervelt

Berlandier’s

Fiddlewood shrubs are full of berries feeding untold species of birds in Harlingen’s Hugh Ramsey Nature Park. Butterflies are attracted to the berries and flit about the leaves looking for a landing spot for a quick rest on their way to other nectar sources. Find out more about the Fiddlewood and other sources of Rio Grande Valley native habitats along the park’s Ebony Loop, where Rio Grande Valley Chapter, Texas Master Naturalists tend specialty gardens. The free nature walks have begun on first Fridays and last Saturdays

of the month from 9 to 11 a.m. The guided tours are an easy quarter-mile walk on a caliche trail. Sturdy shoes are recommended. Bring water and bug spray for yourself. Please call 956-748-3190 for reservations or e-mail rgvctmntreasurer@gmail.com. Large groups are welcome. Reservations are encouraged to ensure the appropriate number of guides for your optimal tour experience. Tours for this fall are scheduled October 22, November 4 and 19, and December 2 and 17. •

Standing from left to right: Lion Juan Rodriguez, Lion Commissioner Pete Morales, Lion Paul E. Crerar, Lion Commissioner Robert de la Garza Sitting from left to right: Lion Janie Morales, Lion Nellie Medina, Lion Roxanne De la Garza Garcia, Lion Jose Rafael Castilleja, and Lion Albert Rodriguez. Not pictured: Lion Trino Medina, Lion Arturo Espinosa, Lion Father Rene Angel, Lion Charis Hart, Lion Charlie Garcia and Lion Lana De Leon.

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Seasonal Volunteer Opportunities at Salvation Army in McAllen Special to Welcome Home RGV

Thanksgiving Day

(November 24): Our kitchen opens at 3 a.m. to get ready to serve Thanksgiving lunch. Those over 18 years of age can help prep between 4 and 10:00 a.m. All ages can help serve from 10:30 a.m. -2:30 p.m. and/or clean from 2:30-7 p.m. Three-hour shifts available. All help is appreciated!

Ring the Bell!

(November 26–December 24): We hold an annual Red Kettle Campaign to benefit our programs and services, including our Angel Tree Program. Every year, The Salvation Army strives to make Christmas more magical for children from families in need. We register children in October and create paper angels with their information for community members to adopt. Those who adopt angels purchase gifts for that child, and then we distribute the gifts to the needy families. Angels who have

not been adopted become forgotten angels, and The Salvation Army purchases toys for those children. The money for those toys comes from the Red Kettles at various stores where you see a person ringing the bell and greeting shoppers. We need volunteers to help us Ring the Bell this season (all ages welcome to volunteer; those under 16 years must be accompanied by an adult). We have over 60 locations for you to choose from. We ask for individual/ family volunteers to sign up for a four-hour shift, starting at 10 a.m. or ending at 8 p.m. Groups can sign up for the whole day (10 a.m. -8 p.m.) and divide the day into shifts for their group members. Sign up now to get priority over a location.

Angels & Santa’s Workshop

(Oct. 18-21, November 1, November 22-23, December 6-9, and December 12-15): We have community members who adopt angels through our Angel Tree Program and return the gifts to us to distribute to the families. We need help creating paper angels Oct. 1821, tying ribbon on the angels Nov. 1, setting up Santa’s Workshop Nov. 22-23, and sorting the gifts per

family Dec. 6-9 and Dec. 12-15. Help is needed 9:00a.m.-6:00p.m. We can accommodate up to 10 volunteers at one time. Larger groups can create shifts with no more than 10 volunteers scheduled during one shift. (Volunteers must be at least 13 years old; minors must be accompanied by an adult.)

Walmart Fill-the-Truck

(Saturday, December 3): For the past couple of years, Walmart has allowed us to hold a Fill-the-Truck Event (toy drive) at the entrance of their store. This event allows us to pass out flyers to Walmart shoppers as they enter the store. The flyer encourages shoppers to purchase and donate a toy to a child in need. Shoppers can then drop off their purchased toy at the truck bin on the way out. This year, we will be holding our Fill-the-Truck Event Dec.3 from 9 a.m. -5 p.m. We need help passing out flyers at the entrance and manning the toy bins at the entrance (all ages welcome to volunteer; those under 16 years must be accompanied by an adult). All toys received will be distributed to families in need who have registered for our Angel Tree Program.

Gift Wrapping

at Barnes & Noble (Nolana & 10th St.) (December—Date to be Determined): Help us help B&N giftwrap their customers’ gifts. All tips go to The Salvation Army to use toward Angel Tree and other programs/services. The Salvation Army of McAllen is located at 1600 N. 23rd St. For further information, please contact Eloise Montemayor at 956-682-1468 or via email at Eloise.Montemayor@ uss.salvationarmy.org. •

www.welcomehomergv.com • • • October 19, 2016

D From the Inside, Out D Laughing for the Health of It!

by Marge Flados

There

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is a known connection between wellness and laughter, and it is why we should surround ourselves with people who are cheerful. It is Biblical. It says in Proverbs 15:15 “A cheerful heart has a continual feast.” Proverbs 17:22 takes it a step further and says, “A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries the bones”. One can’t fault the reference! In recent years, laughter has become a recognized therapy and also, to some extent, a business. There are now laughter seminars and laughter conferences where people pay to learn how to use laughter as a healing therapy. We were meant to be joyful, for the word joy is mentioned over 200 times in the Bible. Studies show that children laugh about 150 times a day, and on average, adults laugh about five times a day. So the aging process costs you about 145 laughs a day. I think great effort should be made on everyone’s part to reduce that number! Norman Cousins, former editor of the Saturday Review of Literature and a scholar in his own right, began the interest in laugh therapy back in the late 1970s. He was hospitalized with ankylosing spondylosis, a progressive deterioration of the spine. He was told there was no cure, and the intention was to send him home with medication to control his pain, but he rejected the recommended option, took matters into his own hands, left the hospital, and devised a treatment of his own. He began a self-treatment of laughter therapy. He watched the Marx Brothers’ movies and any program or sitcom that had made him laugh in the past. To his surprise, he discovered that 15 minutes of laughter resulted in two hours of pain-free rest or sleep. He continued on this regimen and eventually became well enough to return to work and write a bestselling book, The Anatomy of an Illness, As Seen from the Perspective of the Patient. Thus began a nationwide interest in the connection between laughter and wellness. There are physiological reasons to justify laugh therapy. Laughter causes the brain to release endorphins into the bloodstream, which are nature’s “painkillers”. Endorphins do

Marge Flados

many helpful things for the body in addition to relieving pain. They lower blood pressure, enhance our immune system, and give us a feeling of wellbeing, among other benefits. During the past 25 years, I have done a great deal of public speaking, and the connection between wellness and laughter was my preferred topic. I shared it with support groups, social and civic clubs, and any group that requested my services as a motivational speaker. Giving talks served my latent desire to perform before an audience, and because I loved making people laugh, I received a real high when I succeeded in doing so. The endorphins kicked in! I was talking about what I believed in my heart, so it was easy. In nursing, I saw the benefits of a positive, cheerful attitude and also the results of its absence during stressful times. I am sharing this because I want my readers to understand the value of laughter. Something else I found in Proverbs was, “It is better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.” Now that made me laugh, and it is probably quite true! I ran into a quote on Facebook with no attribution as to author, but I want to share it. “There comes a time in your life when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. Forget the bad, focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don’t. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living!” Whoever authored that bit of wisdom, I thank you! Adios, until next month. MF • M. Flados is a resident of Harlingen and can be reached at nflados@rgv.rr.com

October 19, 2016 • • • Welcome

Home WINTER TEXAN • • • your official connection to the rio grande valley

Golf Courses in the RGV • • • Palm View Golf Course: Home to 17 Winter Texan Leagues Special to Welcome Home RGV

Plant Native Climbing Milkweed for Monarch Butterflies by Anita Westervelt, Rio Grande Valley Chapter, Texas Master Naturalist

Earlier

Palm View Golf Course in McAllen

is open to the public and is one of the premier golf courses in Texas. The course was rebuilt in 1999 by SAJO Construction under the guidance of world-renowned architect Charles Howard. Since reopening in 2000, it serves as the home course for approximately 22 annual tournaments. It is also the home course for 17 Winter Texan leagues. The par 72 championship layout has wide, generous, and rolling fairways of 419 Bermuda grass and is lined by Common Bermuda roughs and mounds that create a links-style atmosphere. There are 14 manmade lakes, a few sand traps, and a number of trees that enhance the character of the layout. The greens are Tiff Dwarf Bermuda, which makes for excellent putting conditions. There are three sets of tees rated for men with the longest of 6783 yards rated at 72.2/125, the middle tees of 6384 yards rated at 71.2/119, and the shorter tees of 5814 yards rated at 67.6/111. The shortest tees of 4816 yards are rated for women at 67.7/106. The course features a practice area that is second to none. The driving range is lighted for night time operation and covers 350 yards in length, has 11 target greens, a short-game practice area, and a 10,000-square-foot practice putting green. Depending on personal preference and changing wind conditions, golfers can choose from teeing grounds available at both

ends of the practice fairway. To further enhance your enjoyment of the course, it has a fully remodeled clubhouse that overlooks the entire golf course. The Pro Shop is fully stocked with the latest in golf equipment and apparel, and the restaurant facility provides a varied short-order menu and all kinds of cool beverages. The clubhouse is open 364 days a year, only closing on Christmas Day. Carlos Espinosa, director of golf, and Rex Flores, golf pro, invite you to come and enjoy Palm View Golf Course at 2701 South Ware Road in McAllen. You may call 956-6813444 for tee time. Make time for “tee time” in the City of Palms. •

If you LOVE golf, you have found one more reason to LOVE the Rio Grande Valley! Across the RGV, there are great golf courses for all levels of golfers. Our region boasts 20+ 18-hole courses and nearly as many nine-hole courses. Some courses are public and some are private. Each week, we will highlight one of the Valley’s courses. Perhaps you can spend this season trying them all! FORE!

this year, the National Wildlife Federation issued an open letter to mayors asking them to help create native habitats in cities in an effort to save the iconic monarch butterfly. You can jump on the bandwagon in your park, too. A small space is all you need for a Valley native milkweed. Milkweeds are host plants to monarch butterflies, where they lay their eggs and the caterpillars eat the leaves. Climbing milkweed, Funastrum cynanchoides, leaves are arrow-head shaped. The plant forms a burst of tiny white flowers with tinges of green and pink. Soon green teardropshaped pods about two-and-a half inches long will form. When the seeds are ripe, the pod will begin to split open. This is your chance to collect the seeds and store them in a paper sack or cardboard box. If you miss this seed collection opportunity, fluffy white silks like weightless helicopters will float out of the pod, seeds attached, and be gone with the wind. This natural style of propagation is fine if seeds float to unmown pastures where they will be left undisturbed to continue the species. If the seeds are

collected, you have a better chance of establishing the native vine where you desire and the opportunity to share seeds with others. Planted near the base of a tree, milkweed vines will wend their way toward the sun without harming the tree. Planted along a fence, they’ll travel along it and provide easy access for you, come seed-collecting time. Get creative with a small or tall trellis or let the vines creep around garden art or over rocks, if your plot is grass free. Another milkweed popular in the Valley was introduced from the American tropics. Its colorful orange and yellow blooms are attractive. Also known as tropical milkweed or Veintiunilla, Asclepias curassavica, there is much controversy about it in North America. It is susceptible to a parasite that is passed to the caterpillars that eat the leaves, causing attrition in this noble butterfly species. Find native plant growers at rgvctmn.org/rgv-plants. To read the letter to mayors, type “National Wildlife Federation mayors’ pledge” in your search engine. •

MMA Announces 2016-2017 Parade Schedule Special to Welcome Home RGV

This

year is the first time the Marine Military Academy will hold a parade in honor of Pearl Harbor. MMA is also the only organization in the country to hold an Iwo Jima parade on the actual anniversary date. At least 11 survivors from the Battle of Iwo Jima attend the parade each year. At least 25 other World War II veterans also attend the parade. Marine Military Academy is a college-preparatory boarding school

for young men in grades 8-12 with an optional post-graduate year. Since 1965, MMA is the only private school in the world based on the traditions and values of the U.S. Marine Corps. Located in Harlingen, MMA has been home to thousands of sons from across the world and is quarters to the historic Iwo Jima Monument. •

2016-2017 MMA Parade Schedule

51st Anniversary Parade Veterans Day Parade 75th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Parade Introductory Training Parade & Graduation Iwo Jima Parade Alumni Reunion Parade Class of 2017 Graduation Parade Summer Camp Graduation Parade 2017

October 28 November 11 December 7 February 4 February 18 April 21 May 20 July 29

4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 10 a.m. 10 a.m. 4 p.m. 9 a.m. 9 a.m.

www.welcomehomergv.com • • • October 19, 2016

Raul A. Marquez, M.D. Orthopedic Surgery

2016-2017 Educational Seminars EVENT

DATE TIME

Live Surgery Event......................................11/16/2016 Wednesday......8am -9am Breakfast Seminar Partial Knee Replacement.........11/22/2016 Tuesday.............12pm -1pm Lunch Seminar Partial Knee Replacement.........12/06/2016 Tuesday.............12pm -1pm Lunch Seminar Partial Knee Replacement.........12/22/2016 Thursday............9am-10am Breakfast Live Surgery Event......................................01/24/2016 Tuesday.............10am -1 pm Lunch

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www.MarquezRoboticOrthopedicInstitute.com or schedule an appointment with us today!

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CALL TODAY! 956.668.0060

Save the Date for Keep McAllen Beautiful’s Arbor Day Celebration - It’s All about the Trees Special to Welcome Home RGV

The Keep McAllen Beautiful Arbor

Day Celebration committee is proud to announce that Saturday, March 4, 2017, has been set as the date for the 6th Annual Arbor Day Celebration. The Arbor Day Celebration is a fun-filled day where anyone can participate in a timed 5K or 10K run or a Family Fun Walk, plant trees along our Hike & Bike Trail, or join a 25-mile bike tour! All events commence at 7:00 a.m. at the McAllen Municipal Park and will

continue until noon. The McAllen Municipal Park is located at 1921 N. Bicentennial Blvd. We invite everyone to come out and participate. KMB’s Arbor Day Celebration will feature participant shirts, medals, free trees, and live music! For more information, please visit keepmcallenbeautiful.org or call 956-681-4562 for more details and for sponsorship opportunities. •

October 19, 2016 • • • Welcome

Home WINTER TEXAN • • • your official connection to the rio grande valley

STC Theatre 2016-17 Season Filled with Westerns, Jungles, Comedy, and Tragedy Special to Welcome Home RGV

South

Texas College Theatre returns for the seventh year with a full lineup of productions for the 2016-17 season filled with westerns, jungles, comedy, and tragedy. STC invites the community to become Season Pass subscribers for another year of fun and quality entertainment. All productions will be held at STC’s Cooper Center for Communication Arts located at 3201 W. Pecan Blvd. in McAllen. STC Theatre opens the season by heading West October 20 with Jethro Compton’s adaptation of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. The opening production runs through October 23 and is followed by Greg Bank’s adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s classic The Jungle Book November 17-20. In the spring, the STC Theatre will let comedy take center stage with Marc Camoletti’s Boeing Boeing February 23-26. The 2016-17 season wraps up with the Sophocle’s tragic play Oedipus Rex, which runs

April 27–30. All Sunday matinee productions are ASL-interpreted by student interns from STC’s Interpreter Training Program. Individual ticket prices for Main Stage productions are $5 for students/faculty/senior citizens/ military and $10 general admission. Studio productions cost $5 general admission. A Season Pass is also available, which allows patrons to attend all the productions for the season and choose between general or reserved seating. Subscribers also receive special deals for any additional guest performances that may arise throughout the year. General Season Passes are $15 for students/faculty/senior citizens/military and $25 for the community. Reserved seating season subscriptions are $25 for students/ faculty/senior citizens/military and $35 for the community. F or more information about STC Theatre, call 956-872-2301. •

www.welcomehomergv.com • • • October 19, 2016

Want to Know a Secret? Special to Welcome Home RGV

The Lamb’s Loom has been one of

the Valley’s best kept secrets, but not any longer. Word is out about this uber-cozy and super friendly local yarn shop in Midtown McAllen. The Lamb’s Loom is a Christian-based prayer shawl ministry run by “The KnitWits.” The shop has a variety of your favorite yarns and some unique original hand-dyed yarns from local artisans. There is a good selection of tools and gadgets to complete your projects. If you are a fiber-artist wannabe, The Lamb’s Loom offers classes in needle knitting, loom knitting, crochet, and Tunisian crochet on beginner, immediate, and experienced levels. They have a “Sit and Knit” room that is so comfy and inviting you may settle in and never want to leave. The Lamb’s Loom is a great place to meet

Thirteen o’Clock: Time for Professional Theatre friends who share your love of (and addiction to) anything yarn. The Lamb’s Loom is located at 1209 Pecan Blvd. in McAllen. Their number is 956-607-6855. The shop is open Wednesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Come join the flock! •

Special to Welcome Home RGV

Thirteen

o’Clock Theatre is striving to become McAllen’s first professional theatre company. After opening a studio, receiving 501(c) (3) nonprofit status, and delivering an exciting ninth summer season, the group is now providing exciting new opportunities for you throughout this fall. In November, adults of all ages will have the opportunity to learn and perform improvisation. There will be a section for senior citizens dubbed “Winter Texan Improv.” This is the theatre’s first class tailored to fit the exciting and fast-paced lifestyle of a senior citizen. Winter Texan Improv students will gain experience with short-form improvisational comedy and performance skills, all while being able to laugh with, and poke fun at, their Winter Texan neighbors. Students who complete the class will be invited to participate in a live performance for the public. Improv courses are led by Caroline Walker. Walker is an RGV comedian with training from the renowned improvisational and sketch comedy troupe The Groundlings from Los Angeles, California. Classes will begin November 1 and last for four weeks, every Tuesday and Thursday from 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Students can choose to make a one-time payment of $150 or three $50 installments. November will also bring the premiere of Thirteen o’Clock Theatre’s production of the awardwinning play Fat Pig by Neil LaBute. In this story, Tom struggles to explain his new relationship with Helen, a

Jason Barrera

bright, funny, sexy, and plus-sized woman, to his shallow friends. Neil LaBute’s sharply drawn play not only critiques our slavish adherence to Hollywood ideals of beauty but boldly questions our own ability to change what we dislike about ourselves. Performances will be held every Friday and Saturday in the month of November at 8:00 p.m. The show will be performed at the company’s new storefront studio theatre, located at 2413 Buddy Owens Blvd. in McAllen. Limited seating will be available, and tickets are only $10. To reserve your seats ahead of time, you can go to the Thirteen o’Clock Theatre website at thirteenoclocktheatre.org or call 956-462-2413. Thirteen o’Clock Theatre’s mission is to produce regional premieres of critically acclaimed theatre, develop original stories from South Texas, and provide accessible arts education for all. Thirteen o’Clock Theatre is under the leadership of Jason Barrera. The highly trained director is a theatre teacher at McAllen High School and is currently working with members of the theatre community to build on the successful history of Thirteen o’Clock by providing the Rio Grande Valley with much-needed professional theatre opportunities. If you would like to learn more about the company and how you can help them, please visit their website, visit them on social media, or email them at info@ thirteenoclocktheatre.org. •

October 19, 2016 • • • Welcome

Home WINTER TEXAN • • • your official connection to the rio grande valley

Some Like It Hot with Junior League of McAllen, Inc. Special to Welcome Home RGV

Mexican Pork Chops • 6 thick pork chops • 1 ¾ cups water • Salt and pepper to taste • 2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix • ¾ cup long grain rice • 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese • 1 (13 ½ oz.) can tomato sauce Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

13 x 9 baking pan

In large skillet, brown pork chops; season with salt and pepper. Place in single layer in pan. Pour rice over the chops. Mix tomato sauce, water, and taco seasoning. Carefully pour over chops and rice. Cover with foil; bake for 1 hour. Uncover; cover with cheese. Bake 15 minutes longer. The Junior League of McAllen, Inc. envisions significantly improving the quality of life of the children and youth of our community by preserving the innocence of childhood, encouraging responsibility, and promoting a safe environment. Cookbooks can be purchased through the Junior League website at www.juniorleaguemcallen.org, as well as at Barn White and Quips & Quotes in McAllen.

Picnic Possibilities: Great Food to Share

Pasta salad is well received at potlucks

and is quicker and easier to make than potato salad (at least in my mind; I hate to cut up all those hot potatoes!). This one has a real South Texas flavor. •

by Sandy Olson True Comfort! Quality at a Great Price!

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Mexican Bow Tie Pasta Salad

• 1 pound package of bow tie pasta • 2 cups diced Roma tomatoes • 2 cups diced green bell pepper • 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese (not the “green can” style) • 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced • 1 can (4 oz.) chopped green chiles, drained, OR 4 fresh jalapenos, sliced • ¾ cup olive oil • 4 teaspoons kosher salt • 1 teaspoon black pepper Cook the pasta as directed on the package. Then combine with the remaining ingredients. If you use fresh jalapenos, remove the seeds if you want a milder salad. Always use plastic gloves when working with fresh hot peppers. Chill the salad before serving. Sandy Olson--lifelong foodie, restaurant reviewer, cooking teacher, Summer Iowan, and Winter Texan, she spends the season at Palm Shadows RV Park in Donna. You can contact Sandy at midwestfoodie@gmail.com.

Simplicity! Serenity!

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www.welcomehomergv.com • • • October 19, 2016

Rio Star Beef Broccolini

Recipe compliments of Lone Star

Compliments of Lone Star Citrus Growers

Citrus Growers--surprizingly sweet with a hint of zing. Be sure to visit and like their Winter Sweetz Facebook page, where you’ll find more great recipes and lots more! •

Project Insight’s Third Thursday Potluck October 20, at El Rocio Retreat in Mission Hidden Meanings in Bible Codes by James Dunn Special to Welcome Home RGV

James Dunn will be the presenter

Rio Star Beef Broccolini

Cook Time: 30 minutes Makes: 4-6 servings

• 1 lb. lean beef sirloin, cut into thin strips • ¼ cup low-salt teriyaki sauce • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 2 cup broccolini or broccoli flowerettes, separated • 1 cup Rio Star grapefruit sections • 1 cup green onions, sliced • 6 cups cooked brown rice • ½ teaspoon ginger In large, non-stick skillet or wok, cook and continue stirring beef in oil over high heat, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-high. Add Rio Star grapefruit sections, green onions, and ginger and stir together 2 minutes. Add teriyaki sauce and broccolini and continue to stir-fry over medium-high heat until broccolini is tender. Serve over cooked brown rice. Winter Sweetz™ Grapefruit is “surprizingly sweet with a hint of zing.”

Thursday, October 20, at Project Insight’s Third Thursday Potluck at 6:30 p.m. Dunn has been a Bible scholar all of his life and is a graduate of Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas. He will share his fascination with Michael Drosnin’s book, The Bible Code, which he finds truly inspiring and revealing about some of the issues we are facing today in our world. Drosnin is an American journalist and author best known for his writings on the Bible code, which is a purported set of secret messages encoded within the Hebrew text of the Torah. The Bible Code shows many examples of related words found via computer analysis of Bible text. Third Thursday Potluck is a monthly, free, public workshop held at El Rocio Retreat, 2519 S. Inspiration Rd. in Mission. Guests are invited to furnish a food item to share for the potluck. For directions to El Rocio Retreat, please check the website, elrocioretreat.com, call Marsha

Nelson, PhD at 956-802-9993, or email her at marshanelson@rgv. rr.com. This meeting is sponsored by Project Insight, a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization project-insight.net Their mission is to empower individuals by promoting their physical, mental, and emotional well-being through the offering of creative and educational tools. No reservations are needed. •

MHDBRK00003552

Lance Conn (956) 245-9969

MHSLSP00042265 lconn1968@yahoo.com

Bernie Ohlhauser (303) 204-6028 MHSLSP00043116 amobmo1@gmail.com

We are the #1 Broker of new and pre-owned manufactured homes, with 201 homes and over $4,000,000 in sales for 2015. Serving the Rio Grande Valley from South Padre Island to La Joya. Contact any agent to find out how we can market your home for sale or assist you in finding your new Winter Dream Home!

Rafael Adame (956) 570-3423

MHSLSP00043952 radame@wthsinc.com

Linda Giesen (956) 929-1961 MHSLSP00042363 lgiesen@wthsinc.com

Tim Hoffman (956) 873-9550

MHSLSP00043078 thoffman@wthsinc.com

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Lela Mary Weber (956) 367-2231 MHSLSP00042920 lweber@wthsinc.com

Craig Gilley (956) 500-4333 MHSLSP00043489 cgilley@wthsinc.com

www.wthsinc.com

October 19, 2016 • • • Welcome

Home WINTER TEXAN • • • your official connection to the rio grande valley

www.welcomehomergv.com • • • October 19, 2016

Dr. John Marzluff Welcomes You to Subirdia October 20 at Quinta Mazatlan Special to Welcome Home RGV

Welcome

Valley Artists Inspired by Local Florain -

2nd Annual Arte Nativo

Special to Welcome Home RGV

Quinta

Mazatlan is pleased to present the group art exhibition, Arte Nativo, in conjunction with Planta Nativa, an annual festival celebrating and promoting the use of native plants in the Rio Grande Valley. Arte Nativo will open Saturday evening, October 22, at Quinta Mazatlan. The Planta Nativa evening will feature a sampling of beers and wine, accompanied by a Sampling of the Harvest by the Texas Chefs Association, RGV Chapter and the Growing Growers Farmers Market. Nine Valley artists will be featured in the show, including Kristi Davis, Richard Hyslin, Jerry Lyles, Guido Mattei, Jessica Monroe, Thomas Murray, Scott Nicol, Sue Sill, and Curtis Whatley. Using jewelry, glass, sculpture, and painting, artists interpret the central theme of South Texas natives from a variety of perspectives. The Arte Nativo exhibit will be on display in the Quinta Mazatlan gallery and will run from October 22 – November 27. As part of Planta Nativa, this exhibition represents a meaningful approach to an important subject, the appreciation and respect for a local habitat that is quickly disappearing. Movement and growth are driving forces, especially in the works of painters Lyles and Monroe and sculptors H y s l i n , Mattei and Nicol. Still others invite the viewer to learn and think differently, such as in the paintings of botanist

Sill depicting the ecosystems of rare plants and Murray, who asks us to redefine our relationship with the Rio Grande River and the life it supports. Jeweler Davis and sculptor and glass artist Whatley create delicate artifacts inspired by the materials and forms of the local environment. The public is invited to meet the artists at the Planta Nativa Garden Party October 22, from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. In addition to the art show, the evening will feature beer sampling by the Border Brewers, food prepared by the Texas Chefs Association RGV Chapter featuring local growers, music by Marcel Adjibi and Friends, and guest speaker Pam Penick, award-winning author from Austin of Lawn Gone! and The WaterSaving Garden. Tickets for the event are $20 and must be purchased in advance. For more information and to purchase tickets, please call Quinta Mazatlan at 956-681-3370. •

to the ‘burbs! Some birds appreciate the warm welcome people offer by providing food and shelter in their backyards. Other birds are not as fond of manicured lawns and tall buildings. A few choose to make the best of whatever comes their way. At Quinta Mazatlan Thursday, October 20, Dr. John Marzluff will present his research regarding the impact of urbanization on songbirds and what we can do to help the native wildlife that calls our cities home. Dr. Marzluff’s most recent book, Welcome to Subirdia, will be available for sale during the event. John Marzluff is a professor of wildlife science at the University of Washington. His graduate (Northern Arizona University) and initial postdoctoral (University of Vermont) research focused on the social behavior and ecology of jays and ravens. He continues this theme, investigating the intriguing behavior of crows, ravens, and jays. He teaches Ornithology, Governance and Conservation of Rare Species, Field Research in Yellowstone, and Natural and Cultural History of Costa Rica. Dr. Marzluff has mentored over 30 graduate students and authored

over 135 scientific papers on various aspects of bird behavior and wildlife management. He is currently leader of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Recovery Team for the critically endangered Mariana Crow, a former member of the Washington Biodiversity Council, and a Fellow of the American Ornithologist’s Union. The Nature Speaker Series takes place Thursday evenings at 6 p.m. through May 2017 and is proudly sponsored by Thurmond Eye Associates. The program fee is $3 per person, and no advance reservation is required. Quinta Mazatlan is located at 600 Sunset in McAllen, one block south of La Plaza Mall on 10th Street. For more information, contact Quinta Mazatlan at 956-681-3370 or visit www.quintamazatlan.com. •

Chefs Prepare a “Sample of the Harvest” to Celebrate Planta Nativa October 22 Special to Welcome Home RGV

The Texas Chef Association, RGV

Chapter, and the Growing Growers Farmers Market have partnered to bring a “Sampling of the Harvest” at Planta Nativa, hosted by Quinta Mazatlan October 22 from 6:30 9:30 p.m. A sampling of beers by the Border Brewers will be available, along with music in the courtyard by the Marcel Adjibi Group. Pam Penick, awardwinning Austin author of Lawn Gone! and The Water Saving Garden, will provide a presentation on how easy it is to add native plants to the landscape. Local Valley artists will hold an art exhibit featuring South Texas native plants and wildlife. Tickets for this special event are

$20.00 and must be purchased in advance at Quinta Mazatlan, 600 Sunset Dr., in McAllen. Call 956681-3370 or visit quintamazatlan. com for more information. Tickets are also available at the Growing Growers Farmers Market Saturday mornings from 9:00 to noon at McAllen’s Firemen’s Park (First Street and Business 83). •

October 19, 2016 • • • Welcome

Home WINTER TEXAN • • • your official connection to the rio grande valley

DANCE ENTERTAINMENT & SHOWS

CALENDAR OF EVENTS WEEK OF

October 19 - 25, 2016 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016

Volunteer Programs, 08:30 AM, Quinta Mazatlan, 600 Sunset Dr, McAllen. FREE admission, Volunteer programs are a perfect opportunity to give back to nature, and a fun way to get involved with your community. Enjoy a morning of hands-on gardening, learn about Valley nature, and earn volunteer service hours! We are also a certified site for Texas Master Naturalist Hours. AGES: All ages welcome (14 and under with the supervision of a parent or guardian only). Note: Large groups, please call in advance so staff can prepare. For information call 956-681-3370. X-treme BUGS Invades IMAS!, 09:00 AM, International Museum of Art & Science, 1900 W Nolana Ave, McAllen. $13.00 pp. It features over 100 giant bugs, including 22 massive animatronic bugs naturalistic habitats. For information call 956-682-0123.

DANCE

Hynes Event Center BYOB

(Bar and Concession Available)

Halloween Dance with The Cruisers

Monday, October 31 7:00 PM- 10:00 PM $10.00 pp • Free Ice & Snacks (Costumes Optional) TICKETS ON SALE STARTING OCTOBER 24TH

Saturday Night Dance with Route 66 RGV

Saturday, November 5 7:00 PM- 10:00 PM $6.00 pp • Free Ice & Popcorn

JAM SESSIONS

MEALS

SALES

Looking for something to do here in the Rio Grande Valley? Our calendar of events has been the go-to source for our retirees to check out the lighter side of the Valley by listing entertainment events, dances, meals, jam sessions, meetings, and even garage sales. For more information on submitting your events and activities, please email calendar@welcomehomergv.com. The deadline for submission is Mondays at 5:00pm. •

Exhibit Display: Julie Speed - Undertoad, 09:00 AM, International Museum of Art & Science, 1900 W Nolana Ave, McAllen. $7.00 pp. For information call 956-682-0123. Garden Walk & Talk, 10:00 AM, Quinta Mazatlan, 600 Sunset Dr, McAllen. $3.00 pp. As every house has a story, so too does every garden. Join a native garden expert for a tour of a different themed garden each month. With each change of the month and season, the topic will change. For information call 956-681-3370. Maxan Street Farmers’ Market, 04:00 PM, The Garden, Port Isabel. The Garden on Maxan Street in Port Isabel’s Lighthouse Square. Additional parking at Pirate’s Landing. For information and vendor opportunities, call 956-433-9675. Dance w/Bottomline Band, 07:00 PM, Tip O’Texas RV Resort, 101 E Sioux Rd, Pharr. $5.00 pp, BYOB. For

HAPPY HOUR

Hynes Event Center BYOB • Pass the Hat

(Bar and Concession Available)

Happy Hour w/Leslie Blasing Monday, October 24 3:00 PM- 5:00 PM Happy Hour w/Ruthi Thursday, November 3 3:00 PM- 5:00 PM

KARAOKE

Hynes Event Center Every Wednesday • BYOB (Bar and Concession Available)

Karaoke w/Harry & Judy October 26 • 5:00 PM November 2 • 5:00 PM

information call 956-787-6461. Brooks Ausborn playing at The Patio on Guerra, 07:00 PM, The Patio on Guerra, 116 S 17th St, McAllen. Brooks Ausborn is an instrumental guitarist playing all your favorites. Multi genres! For information call 956-661-9100.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016

Exhibit Display: Julie Speed - Undertoad, 09:00 AM, International Museum of Art & Science, 1900 W Nolana Ave, McAllen. $7.00 pp. For information call 956-682-0123. X-treme BUGS invades IMAS!, 09:00 AM, International Museum of Art & Science, 1900 W Nolana Ave, McAllen. $13.00 pp, It features over 100 giant bugs, including 22 massive animatronic bugs naturalistic habitats. For information call 956-682-0123. Buckets of Fun: Who-Whoo’s in the Hollow, 10:00 AM, Quinta Mazatlan, 600 Sunset Dr, McAllen. Preschool children & their parents will have BUCKETS OF FUN with handson, nature-inspired lessons. For information call 956-681-3370. Forest Sculpture Trail, 10:00 AM, Quinta Mazatlan, 600 Sunset Dr, McAllen. $3.00 pp. Visit our oneof-a-kind outdoor sculpture trail, and develop an appreciation for the vast variety of creatures that call our region home. Each sculpture provides insight into the natural history of the Rio Grande Valley. See the majestic, endangered ocelot, a dragonfly perched above the water’s surface, or a screech owl that might just be real. At each turn of a trail, there’s a new creature to discover. For information call 956-681-3370. Art After Dark: Bug Eyed, 06:00 PM, International Museum of Art & Science, 1900 W Nolana Ave, McAllen. $25.00 pp, creepy crawly, experience with live bugs, local artist lecture & contour drawing workshop! For information call 956-682-0123. Nature Speaker Series: Welcome to Subirdia, 06:00 PM, Quinta Mazatlan, 600 Sunset Dr, McAllen. $3.00 pp. Dr. John Mazluff, University of Washington, join our weekly nature speaker series, and explore nature through the insight of expert speakers. For information call 956-681-3370.

Grief Support Group Workshops, 06:30 PM, McAllen Medical Center, McAllen. The UT Health Science Center Allograft Resources Bereavement Support Department invites the community to attend monthly grief support workshops, which focus on helping families that need support after losing a loved one or friend. The workshops are free and open to anyone in the community. Register in advance by calling 956-365-8650. Brooks Ausborn playing at The Patio on Guerra, 07:00 PM, The Patio on Guerra, 116 S 17th St, McAllen. Brooks Ausborn is an instrumental guitarist playing all your favorites. Multi genres! For information call 956-661-9100. La Joya Middle School Fall Choir Concert, 07:00 PM, Alejandro “Alex” H. Saenz Performing Arts Center, 604 Coyote Drive, La Joya. For information call 956-323-2897. Live Entertainment w/Trio Tres en Punto, 08:00 PM, San Miguelito Restaurant, 6101 N 23rd St, McAllen. Live Latin music, romantic music hits from the 40’s to the 60’s. For information call 956-862-6763.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016

www.welcomehomergv.com • • • October 19, 2016

DANCE ENTERTAINMENT & SHOWS your pink! RSVP - Adela 956-429-8061. Country Jam Session, 12:30 PM, Casa Del Sol, 400 N Val Verde Rd, Donna. For information call 956-464-2272. La Joya High School Fall Choir Concert, 06:30 PM, Alejandro “Alex” H. Saenz Performing Arts Center, 604 Coyote Drive, La Joya. For information call 956-323-2897. Karaoke, 06:30 PM, Tip O’Texas RV Resort, 101 E Sioux Rd, Pharr. For more information call 920-740-1307 Juarez-Lincoln High SchoolTheatre “Lion King, Jr”, 07:00 PM, Alejandro “Alex” H. Saenz Performing Arts Center, 604 Coyote Drive, La Joya. For information call 956-323-2897. Dance w/Smoking Gun, 07:00 PM, Texas Trails RV Resort, 501 W Owassa Rd, Pharr. $5.00 pp. For information call 956-787-6538. Live Entertainment w/Trio Tres en Punto, 08:00 PM, Las Margaritas, 3505 TX107, Edinburg. Free admission. For information call 956-862-6763.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016

Songbird Stroll, 08:00 AM, Quinta Mazatlan, 600 Sunset Dr, McAllen. $3.00 pp. Calling all bird enthusiasts! Come explore the new Ebony Grove pond with an expert birder, and help us boost our park bird list. All skill levels are welcome, and loaner binoculars will be available. For information call 956-681-3370. Volunteer Programs, 08:30 AM, Quinta Mazatlan, 600 Sunset Dr, McAllen. FREE admission, Volunteer programs are a perfect opportunity to give back to nature, and a fun way to get involved with your community. Enjoy a morning of hands-on gardening, learn about Valley nature, and earn volunteer service hours! We are also a certified site for Texas Master Naturalist Hours. AGES: All ages welcome (14 and under with the supervision of a parent or guardian only). Note: Large groups, please call in advance so staff can prepare. For information call 956-681-3370. Bird Walks @ Resaca de la Palma, 08:30 AM, Resaca de la Palma, 1000 New Carmen Blvd, Brownsville. Travel by foot or on our new and amazingly quiet electric trams to reach our destinations. We have many different trails to venture onto that are relatively flat and ADA accessible. With 1,200 acres of lush, riparian woodlands we will also be birding by ear. For information call 956-350-2920. Brownsville’s Farmers Market, 09:00 AM, Ringgold St & E 6th St, Brownsville. Brownsville has its own farmer’s market each week, across

the street from Gladys Porter Zoo. For information call 956-882-5896. Growing Growers Farmers Market, 09:00 AM, Firemen’s Park, 1st St & Business 83, McAllen. Open year round. Wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, along with 100% Certified Grass fed Beef, Gulf caught shrimp, lamb, raw honey, jellies, baked goods, eggs, and natural skin care products. Credit cards and SNAP. Contact Barbara Storz, 956-330-6410. Exhibit Display: Julie Speed - Undertoad, 09:00 AM, International Museum of Art & Science, 1900 W Nolana Ave, McAllen. $7.00 pp. For information call 956-682-0123. The Market @ McAllen, 10:00 AM, McAllen Public Library, 4001 N 23rd St, McAllen. Local farmers, ranchers, chefs, and artisans each contributing to the healthy life-style changes our community desperately needs. X-treme BUGS Invades IMAS!, 10:00 AM, International Museum of Art & Science, 1900 W Nolana Ave, McAllen. $13.00 pp, It features over 100 giant bugs, including 22 massive animatronic bugs naturalistic habitats. For information call 956-682-0123. Butterflies and Caterpillars, 10:00 AM, Quinta Mazatlan, 600 Sunset Dr, McAllen. $3.00 pp. The Monarchs are moving through South Texas - come to Quinta Mazatlan during a Saturday in October to learn about the magnificent monarch and other butterfly species. Learn about butterfly gardens and how to attract your favorite butterfly to your home. See different live butterflies and make a butterfly craft. For information call 956-681-3370. Country Jam Lunch!, 11:00 AM, Green Gate Grove, 700 N Bentsen Palm Dr, Mission. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. For more information call 956-584-1561. Entertainment w/Jim Staton, 12:00 PM, Don-Wes Flea Market, 208 N Victoria Rd, Donna. Eat & drink while listening to the music at the restaurant & lounge. Country Jam, 12:30 PM, Green Gate Grove, 700 N Bentsen Palm Dr, Mission. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, Lunch served at 11:00 am. For more information call 956-584-1561. Butterflies and Caterpillars, 02:00 PM, Quinta Mazatlan, 600 Sunset Dr, McAllen. $3.00 pp. The Monarchs are moving through South Texas - come to Quinta Mazatlan during a Saturday in October to learn about the magnificent monarch and other butterfly species. Learn about

JAM SESSIONS

MEALS

butterfly gardens and how to attract your favorite butterfly to your home. See different live butterflies and make a butterfly craft. For information call 956-681-3370. Juarez-Lincoln High SchoolTheatre “Lion King, Jr”, 02:00 PM, Alejandro “Alex” H. Saenz Performing Arts Center, 604 Coyote Drive, La Joya. For information call 956-323-2897. Harlingen Farmers Market, 03:00 PM, Downtown Harlingen, ‘A’ Street. The Market is on Jackson and Monroe, behind Grimsells and in front of New York Deli. Producers supply residents the freshest locally grown food, come take advantage of the best Harlingen has to offer! Dia de los Muertos Festival, 06:00 PM, Mission Historical Museum, 900 Doherty Ave, Mission. FREE Admission. For information call 956-580-8646. Planta Nativa Festival, 06:30 PM, Quinta Mazatlan, 600 Sunset Dr, McAllen. $20.00 pp, Celebrating Texas Native Plant Week with live music, food, wine, plant sale! For information call 956-681-3370.

SALES

Dance w/Jealous Heart, 07:00 PM, Trophy Gardens RV Resort, 800 State Highway 495, Alamo. $5.00 pp, concessions and set ups available, BYOB. For information call 956-685-5300. Dance w/Texas Wheels, 07:00 PM, Casa del Valle, 1048 N Alamo Rd, Alamo. $5.00 pp. For information call 956-783-5008. Juarez-Lincoln High SchoolTheatre “Lion King, Jr”, 07:00 PM, Alejandro “Alex” H. Saenz Performing Arts Center, 604 Coyote Drive, La Joya. For information call 956-323-2897.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2016

Exhibit Display: Julie Speed - Undertoad, 09:00 AM, International Museum of Art & Science, 1900 W Nolana Ave, McAllen. $7.00 pp. For information call 956-682-0123. Church Service, 10:00 AM, Paradise Resort Estates, 301 E Hall Acres Rd, Pharr. For information call 956-787-1521. Rio Valley Church of Nazarene, 10:45 AM, Rio Valley Church of Nazarene, 1400 W Nolana Ave, McAllen.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 21 >>

October 19, 2016 • • • Welcome

Home WINTER TEXAN • • • your official connection to the rio grande valley

www.welcomehomergv.com • • • October 19, 2016

DANCE ENTERTAINMENT & SHOWS

JAM SESSIONS

MEALS

SALES

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 Please visit our website rvcnaz.org for more information. We are a mixed congregation including Spanish Speaking, as well as Winter Texans. Pastor Kevin Sheese. Farmer’s Market @ The Shores, 11:00 AM, 8500 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island. Fresh produce, fresh eggs, fresh seafood! Healthy shopping for healthy foods. Located at ‘The Shores’ north of SPI Convention Centre. Live Entertainment w/Trio Tres en Punto, 12:30 PM, El Ahuehuete Restaurant, 2708 N Texas Blvd, Weslaco. Free admission, live Latin music. For information call 956-862-6763. X-treme BUGS Invade IMAS!, 01:00 PM, International Museum of Art & Science, 1900 W Nolana Ave, McAllen. $13.00 pp. It features over 100 giant bugs, including 22 massive animatronic bugs naturalistic habitats. For information call 956-682-0123. Juarez-Lincoln High SchoolTheatre “Lion King, Jr”, 02:00 PM, Alejandro “Alex” H. Saenz Performing Arts Center, 604 Coyote Drive, La Joya. For information call 956-323-2897. RC Racing, 02:00 PM, Fun-N-Sun RV

Resort, Zillock Rd, San Benito.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016

Happy Hour w/Leslie Blasing, 03:00 PM, Llano Grande Lake Park Resort, Hynes Event Center, 2215 E West Blvd, Mercedes Pass the hat, BYOB, bar & concession available. For information call 956-565-1506. Magic Valley Chorus Of Sweet Adelines International, 07:00 PM, St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, McAllen. For information call Shirley 956661-9926 or Janet 956-682-8245. Jonathan Guist, Clarinet, 07:30 PM, TSC Arts Center, 80 Fort Brown St, Brownsville. $10.00 General admission, $5.00 Senior, Students (with ID) and children. For information call 956-882-7025.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2016

7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise

Sailing out of Galveston

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

Chuck & Enid Olsen

will be joining Kristi, from Welcome Home RGV as co-hosts on this exciting cruise!

ALL cruises to be booked through

CHUCK OLSON TOURS & CRUISES 3827 N. 10th St, Suite 203 McAllen, TX 78501 956-664-2916 800-568-9890

• Pre-Cruise Hotel Stay (Evening Meal & Breakfast Included) • Round Trip Transporation from the Valley • Stateroom and all Cruise port fees & taxes • $100 On-Board Ship Credit per Stateroom • Group get-together with Kristi

PACKAGE PRICING per person

Cat N : Inside Stateroom Cat FP : Promenade Stateroom Cat F : Oceanview Stateroom Cat E1 : Balcony Stateroom

$1165/pp $979/pp $1475/pp $1760/pp

*Prices are subject to change based on availability and are based on double occupancy. ***All itineraries are subject to change without notice.

information call 956-681-3370. Exhibit Display: Julie Speed - Undertoad, 09:00 AM, International Museum of Art & Science, 1900 W Nolana Ave, McAllen. $7.00 pp. For information call 956-682-0123. X-treme BUGS Invades IMAS!, 09:00 AM, International Museum of Art & Science, 1900 W Nolana Ave, McAllen. $13.00 pp. It features over 100 giant bugs, including 22 massive animatronic bugs naturalistic habitats. For information call 956-682-0123. Radical Elements, 09:00 AM, International Museum of Art & Science, 1900 W Nolana Ave, McAllen. $7.00 pp, Soft materials meet hard science in this exhibition in Clark Gallery. For information call 956-682-0123. Diabetes Management Class, 01:00 PM, 3rd Floor, McAllen Medical Center. East Classroom, classes are provided in English and Spanish every other week. For information call Mary Escaname at 956-971-5850. Overeaters Anonymous, 06:00 PM, Unity Church of the Valley, 301 E Polk Ave, Pharr. Are you having problems with

food? Come join us for an informative support group on how to help control your cravings. For information call Carmen 956-475-3791. Harvest to Table, 06:00 PM, Rio Hondo City Hall, 121 N Arroyo Blvd. Rio Hondo. FREE Admission, Flavors of the Valley Dinner Tonight Healthy Cooking School. For information call 956-361-8236. Brooks Ausborn playing at The Patio on Guerra, 07:00 PM, The Patio on Guerra, 116 S 17th St, McAllen. Brooks Ausborn is an instrumental guitarist playing all your favorites. Multi genres! For information call 956-661-9100. La Joya Middle Schools Fall Choir Concert, 07:00 PM, Alejandro “Alex” H. Saenz Performing Arts Center, 604 Coyote Drive, La Joya. For information call 956-323-2897. Master Chorale, 07:30 PM, TSC Arts Center, 80 Fort Brown St, Brownsville. $5.00 General Admission. For information call 956-882-7025. •

October 19, 2016 • • • Welcome

Home WINTER TEXAN • • • your official connection to the rio grande valley

Enjoy Savings. Maximize Life.

COUPON

CONNECTION

Looking

for ways to SAVE right here in the Rio Grande Valley? Our weekly coupon section will help you SAVE while you’re here, enjoying life in the Valley. •

SPECTACULAR

A/C FILTER PROMOTION

SAVINGS

A $100 VALUE FOR ONLY

$ 956.803.0066

.95

CUSTOM ALUMINUM FRAME & 12 FREE FILTERS CODE: 2142

1 Pancake 2 Eggs 1 Coffee for

Monday thru Friday 7:00 am to 11:00 am

Expires 11-30-2016

www.welcomehomergv.com • • • October 19, 2016

• • • RECIPECONNECTION with Executive Chef Bettina Tolin • • • • • • • • Chicken & Sausage Florentine Pasta 4-5 mild or hot Italian sausage links 1 lb. penne pasta Kosher Salt 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into small pieces Ground pepper 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons pure olive oil 4 cloves garlic, minced 3/4 cup low or no sodium chicken stock, plus more if needed 3/4 cup good quality dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio 1 bag baby spinach 2 cups grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise 4 ounces Parmesan, shaved with a vegetable peeler, plus more for serving Heat oven to 400 degrees. Place sausage links on sheet pan and prick with a fork a few times. Place in oven and cook until brown, approximately 20 minutes. Set aside to cool enough to handle and slice on the bias. Cook the pasta according to package directions in salted water. Drain and set aside. Bettina Tolin is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Austin, Texas. She has cooked in the kitchens of the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island, Florida. She is currently the Executive Chef and General Manager at Marcello’s Italian Restaurant & Bar on the Piazza in Port Isabel, Texas.

I tend to be a bit of a purist when it comes to some dishes.

This one is a perfect example. A “Florentine” style typically features fresh spinach and tomato and this recipe is no exception. It offers the bright flavors of fresh baby spinach and grape tomatoes, together with hearty chicken and sausage – and finished with a light tasty sauce. WAIT! Vegetarians don’t stop reading! This dish can easily be adapted for you by removing the chicken and sausage and adding in some artichoke hearts. Either way, it’s delicious when paired with the same Pinot Grigio you used when preparing the dish! • Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat the butter and oil over high heat in a large sauté pan. Add the chicken pieces and allow the chicken to brown without moving on the first side, turn and brown on the other side. Cook well until done, remove and set aside. In the same pan, lower heat to medium and add the garlic and quickly add the broth and wine, stirring to deglaze the pan. Allow the liquid to bubble up, and then continue cooking until it’s reduced

by at least half (most of the surface of the liquid should be bubbling at this point). Add the spinach, tomatoes, chicken, sausage, cooked pasta and Parmesan shavings to the skillet. Toss to combine; the spinach will wilt almost immediately. Add more Parmesan and serve immediately! Enjoy!

Bon Appetit!

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• This Week’s Recipe is Brought to You By:

October 19, 2016 • • • Welcome

Home WINTER TEXAN • • • your official connection to the rio grande valley