It’s Fiesta Season! THROUGH ERYN’S LENS!
• • • March 20, 2019 UPCOMING VALLEY EVENTS! www.welcomehomergv.com BON APPETIT! Check out this week’s listings of what’s happening in the RGV!
Capturing the wild, colorful display of beauty in South Texas!
See calendar starting on page 18.
See photos on page 11.
1
Executive Chef Bettina Tolin shares a great comfort side so easy to make! Try this recipe on page 31.
VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 22 • March 20, 2019 • • • your official connection to the rio grande valley • • •
hello FROM KRISTI
And
just like that, we’re at the end of another wonderful season. How the time has flown! We have had a fantastic time sharing it with all of you and look forward to your safe return in the fall. We invite you to stay connected with us throughout the off season by signing up for our e-newsletter, checking our website (welcomehomergv.com) and following us on Facebook at facebook.com/wintertexan. We have plenty of newspapers and marketing materials and would love for you to take some home to your friends! This summer, we hope you invite as many people as possible to join you in South Texas next winter. The more, the merrier! We have some exciting news! I will be spending two weeks in September at WinterTexan reunions throughout the Midwest!! Stay tuned for dates on these very special events! I can’t wait to visit you in The Heartland of the U.S.! The entire Welcome Home RGV team wishes you safe travels. As always, we’ll be right here waiting for you to come home! • We’re just connecting the dots,
Kristi
THANK YOU TO OUR
2018-2019
SEASON SPONSORS
They’re off to the donkey races at Tropic Star RV Resort V
Story and photos by Eryn Reddell Wingert
V
S
ix wood-carved donkeys were the stars of the afternoon Monday, March 11, at Tropic Star RV Resort in Pharr. The donkeys, carried by six honored park residents, were paraded out to great applause and ceremoniously placed on a race track made of two canvas-covered tables angled toward the crowd. Excitement had been building as the room filled with approximately 370 race goers gathered not only to enjoy the races but the meal, complete with hamburgers, potato salad, beans, and cookies whipped up by the Tropic Star kitchen crew.
Before each of the six donkey races, attendees lined up to place 25-cent bets for the win--with a max allowed of 50 cents--on one or split between two donkeys. The tongue-in-cheek high stakes resulted in a maximum payout for a winning ticket holder at just over $2.00. Names were drawn before each race to choose two jockeys who were charged with moving the donkeys across the race track according to the roll of a die assigned to each donkey. During one race, a water feature TROPIC STAR DONKEY RACES CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 >>