FORE! GOLFING IN THE RGV!
This week features the beautiful Village Executive Golf Course.
www.welcomehomergv.com • • February 21, 2018 1 RECIPE• CONNECTION! Check out this week’s listings of Executive Chef Bettina Tolin shares her what’s happening in the RGV! restaurant’s popular soup recipe!
UPCOMING EVENTS!
Welcome Home See details on page 10.
See calendar starting on page 29.
VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 18 • February 21, 2018
Try this recipe on page 45.
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WINTER TEXAN
• • • your official connection to the rio grande valley • • •
We
have news. Big news! I’m thrilled to announce that we have opened our very own travel agency-Travel by Welcome Home. This is a big step for us, and we couldn’t be more excited. The newest member of our team, Kristy Meyer, has been in the travel business for over 20 years. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience, and she holds the same values we do when it comes to customer service. At Welcome Home RGV, we pride ourselves on the way we treat our customers and our readers. We simply treat you the way we want to be treated. It’s not rocket science, but so many companies forget that the customers, and their satisfaction, are the heartbeat of the business. As we celebrate our tenth anniversary, it’s fun to look back at our (extremely) humble beginnings, but it’s even more exciting to look toward the future to see what lies ahead for us! We hope you’ll consider us in your travel plans. Whether you want to cruise with us on our 3rd Annual Cruise with Kristi, form a group of your own, or simply sail away by yourself, we’re open for business and would love to help you connect the dots on all your travel needs. • We’re just connecting the dots,
Kristi
Quilts and Flags Will Be Awarded February 24 to Honor Veterans Special to Welcome Home RGV
Military veterans will be honored
still want a racket sport to be active, pickleball is a very good choice. The pickleball paddle resembles a ping-pong paddle, although a little larger. Volleying at the net can resemble ping pong. The game resembles badminton in that both team members get a chance to serve, and the scoring and the serving team must win the point while serving in order to gain a point. Games are the first team to 11, as long as they win by two points.
at a ceremony to be held Saturday, February 24, at W&I Resort, 206 South Stewart Road in Mission. Each veteran will be given a handmade quilt, lovingly made by the ladies of the Park. The event begins at 1:00 p.m. with a flag retirement ceremony, where nearly 100 flags will be respectfully burned. Many of these flags have flown over the Park until they have become torn or shabby. “The goal is awareness,” said Gary Davidson, who organizes the annual event. “Honoring the flag is a way to honor those who have died for it and those who have served.” Davidson started the flag-retirement event three years ago. “Some people don’t know what to do with old flags. This ceremony provides a place for people to take their flags for proper disposal instead of burning or burying them,” he said. VFWs and American Legions usually provide a similar resource. After the flag-burning ceremony, the participants will proceed to the clubhouse for the quilt presentation. This year, 33 veterans of the Vietnam
PICKLEBALL GOES WILD CONTINUED ON PAGE 11 >>
QUILTS AND FLAGS CONTINUED ON PAGE 21 >>
Llano Grande boasts largest Pickleball Club in the RGV Special to Welcome Home RGV
What is the buzz about the game
with a funny name? Pickleball was invented in 1965 near Seattle, Washington. Three dads, Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum, whose kids were bored with their usual summertime activities, are credited with creating the game. According to Barney McCallum, the game was officially named after the Pritchard’s dog, Pickles, who would chase the ball and run off with it. It is said to be a mix of tennis, pingpong, and badminton. The tennis resemblance comes from the looks of the court, although the pickleball court is about one-third the size of a tennis court. This lessens the amount of running on the court. It also means less running and less wear and tear on knees, hips, and ankles--our joints. For people who have problems with these joints but
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