www.welcomehomergv.com
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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • January 6, 2021
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We’re just connecting the dots.
VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 12 • January 6, 2021 • • • your official connection to the rio grande valley • • •
hello FROM KRISTI
C
heers! I don’t know about you, but I’ve been waiting for 2021 for a long, long time. I hope, this year, we are able to see some sense of normalcy. I also hope it is sooner rather than later! If 2020 taught me one thing, it’s patience, so I promised myself to keep it! I know it will be a while-maybe a long while--before we are able to mix and mingle like we have in the past; the one thing we can’t do is think the start of a new year means this pandemic is already behind us. But I am hopeful and excited to see what this year brings. I walk... run, rather...into 2021 with a different attitude...one of patience and gratitude and a whole new scale measuring what’s important. The government may not call Welcome Home RGV an essential business, but I know better. I know how important connecting all of you to each other is--especially during a pandemic-and it is my promise to you in 2021 to never stop forging ahead and creating new opportunities for us to be together, even if it has to be virtually for a bit longer! I’m blessed to have you all in my life and look forward to seeing you all soon! • We’re just connecting the dots,
Kristi
THANK YOU TO OUR
2020-2021
SEASON SPONSORS
Vendors display eye-catching lawn and garden decorations.
The palm-tree-lined back entrance to Don-Wes offers parking and easy access to the market.
The Don-Wes Flea Market Treasures within a Valley treasure Story and photos by Eryn Reddell Wingert
The open-air market has a variety of vendors offering an array of items for sale.
The Kettle Corn booth serves nine varieties of the snack.
D
ebbie Fitzgerald, who owns Jim met, married, and raised their the Don-Wes Flea Market with her two children in Donna. husband, Jim, chuckles as she clears Debbie worked at a local bank and up some confusion about the name Jim was a contractor when she says of the popular market, “Everybody they decided to buy the Don-Wes, thinks I’m Don and Jim is Wes. But despite not knowing anything about it’s ‘Don’ for Donna, and ‘Wes’ for operating a flea market. “But, what do you do?” Weslaco.” To further “The Don-Wes is really a hidden gem she asks. “You either clarify, she in the heart of the Valley.” drown or continues, • Debbie Fitzgerald • swim. I while the market is located within the city chose to swim.” Debbie says she limits of Donna, Weslaco is just one and Jim have managed to make it work. street away. The Fitzgeralds have owned the What sets the Don-Wes apart from Don-Wes, as it’s commonly known, other South Texas flea markets, for 23 of its 50 years in operation. Debbie says, is their variety of Jim is a Valley native, and Debbie vendors. The Don-Wes not only has moved to South Texas from Boston antiques and collectibles, freshat the age of seven when her family DON-WES FLEA MARKET TREASURES tired of the cold winters. She and CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 >>
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January 6, 2021 • • • Welcome
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com
WINTER
TEXAN • • • OF THE • • • WEEK
Welcome Home
We Winter Texans!
®
WINTER TEXAN
your official connection to the rio grande valley
Publisher
Kristi Collier kristi@welcomehomergv.com
Administration
Amie Gray agray@welcomehomergv.com Colette Brookins colie@welcomehomergv.com
Calendar Submissions! For more information on submitting your events and activities, please email:
Event Manager
Susan Hudson by Rocio Villalobos
S
Trophy Gardens Quilter Finds Joy in Acts of Service
usan Hudson’s favorite activities and a dog came out and he fell off his are quilting and bringing joy to others. bike and broke five ribs,” she said. “We The Winter South Texan from North found out he had kidney cancer, so after Texas heads one of Trophy Gardens my treatment, we were sent to Dallas Resort’s quilting group, Busy Bees, to have his kidney removed. There’s which gives back to the community always something worse. You may think you’re going through a bad time but it through their creations. can be worse, so just keep A few years ago, the a smile on your face and park received a long-arm You may think you’re keep going.” quilting machine, which They have both since they have been using for going through a bad time but it can be worse, overcome their diagnoses a new project. and never take a day of “We decided to start so keep a smile their lives for granted, honoring our veterans, on your face and leading them to spread so we make what we call keep going.” as much cheer around as ‘quillows,’” Hudson said. possible. Whenever the “In February every year, • Susan Hudson • park has a party and it we have a dinner where hits that lull, they step in. we honor our vets, and the goal is for every veteran in the park “We turn on the hokey pokey and to have a quillow. We’ve given out 140 are getting everyone to get up to do the hokey pokey or chicken dance or or more so far.” Other endeavors by the group include something,” Hudson said. “That’s our making blankets for hospitals’ neonatal job, to get everyone going and people units and helping neighbors with laughing, and we have such a good time.” garment repairs. “We’re trying to raise money to build They are also known to plan surprises, a new quilting facility room, so we put especially the seasonal kind. on events, such as dinners, raffles, and “In the past, I had made elf costumes, 50-50s,” she said. “We’re busy every and we would go caroling at home and take pictures of the kids, so I brought day.” One upside to the pandemic, Hudson the costumes down here,” she said. said, is it has taken people back to “We show up at the park meetings and do stuff. We’ve since added two basics. “More people are buying bicycles and reindeer, a snowman, Christmas tree, riding; bridge players are out playing and Santa.” on someone’s deck,” she said. “There Another recent surprise targeted the are all kinds of things going on. Some park’s singles. of the girls are sewing in their houses.” “For Valentine’s Day, my husband In any situation, Hudson can find the and a neighbor dressed up as Cupid positive. A year ago, both she and her and went around to the single ladies in husband were diagnosed with cancer, the park and gave them a rose,” she her husband’s discovered shortly after said. “The little ladies really enjoyed that. You never know what we’re going her surgery. “A week later, we were out bike riding to do next.” •
If you have someone you’d like to nominate for Winter Texan of the Week, please visit our website, welcomehomergv.com/wintertexanoftheweek, and complete the application. We’ll be in touch with you if your nominee is selected.
Anne Marie Martin events@welcomehomergv.com
calendar@welcomehomergv.com
The deadline for submission is Mondays at 5:00pm. •
Business Development
Stacy Madden sales@welcomehomergv.com Curt James Riester curt@welcomehomergv.com
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:
Travel Division
Kristy Meyer travel@welcomehomergv.com Stella Riester stella@welcomehomergv.com
info@welcomehomergv.com
Accounting
Follow Us
Anna Talbert accounting@welcomehomergv.com
on Social Media!
Editor
Chris Ardis news@welcomehomergv.com
Graphic Design
Welcome Home RGV has several ways to join the action on social media. Our WHRGV Facebook 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:
Jenny R Carpenter artwork@welcomehomergv.com
Social Media / Photographer Eryn Reddell-Wingert eryn@welcomehomergv.com
Promotional Division
Elizabeth Seal elizabeth@welcomehomergv.com Sarah Scott sarah@welcomehomergv.com Sabina Adames sabina@welcomehomergv.com
news@welcomehomergv.com
Perks for Partners! •
www.facebook.com @whrgv @wintertexan www.facebook.com/groups/wintertexansrgv
Activity Coordinator
Fran Adams fran@welcomehomergv.com
www.youtube.com Find on YouTube Channel “Welcome Home Rio Grande Valley”
1st Responder Coordinator Rita Huether rita@welcomehomergv.com
www.instagram.com @welcomehomergv @wintertexans
Logistics
www.twitter.com @welcomehomergv
Tom Stocker tgstocker@gmail.com
Welcome Home
®
rio grande valley
219 W. Nolana • McAllen, TX 78504
956-687-5115
Check out our website! www.welcomehomergv.com •••
© Copyright 2020 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.
www.welcomehomergv.com
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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • January 6, 2021
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Heart Beats Hunger and Adversity Special to Welcome Home RGV
2
020 was a time of unprecedented challenge and crisis for our neighbors in the Rio Grande Valley. Food Bank RGV, however, through the help of our generous partners and donors, continued to show that heart beats
hunger and adversity. As we begin our 35th year as the largest charity in South Texas, we look at 2021 with renewed hope, optimism, and vision. •
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January 6, 2021 • • • Welcome
>> DON-WES FLEA MARKET TREASURES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
fruit and vegetable stands, but also a golf shop, the Osage River Knives shop, and Nuts on Wheels, serving up dried fruit, fresh pecans, and chocolate treats. The centerpiece of the openair market is a large barn used decades ago to house dairy cows. It now houses a multitude of vendors, including the Wisconsin Cheese Shop. The shop serves up to 74 different cheeses, including Wisconsin’s signature snack--cheese curds. “To the best of my knowledge, we are the only ones in the Valley to furnish fresh cheese curds,” says shopowner Rollis Johnson. In addition to the cheese and Amish food shops, Johnson also owns the Kettle Corn booth located outside the barn. (You can smell the nine flavors of kettle corn before you even set eyes on the freshly popped treat.) “The Don-Wes,” says Debbie, “is really a hidden gem in the heart of the Valley.” And the heart of the Don-Wes is the Donna City Limits Bar & Grill serving cold beer, mouthwatering burgers, and plump onions from its menu. The diner-style restaurant is adorned with antiques and collectibles purchased from market vendors or donated by loyal patrons. Live music is provided in the restaurant, as well as in the outdoor pavilion, where you can also sit at a picnic table and enjoy sizzling sausage and barbecue cooked on a pit during its hours of operation. In the decades they have owned and operated the Don-Wes Flea Market, Debbie says she and Jim have truly appreciated their local and visitor customers. “If we traveled the United States, we wouldn’t have to stay in a hotel because we’ve met so many people that have been so inviting, so friendly, and kind.” She adds, “It’s been wonderful; it’s been good.” •
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com
The Don-Wes Flea Market’s winter hours are Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is located at 3210 E. Business 83 in Donna. Visit donwesfleamarket.net for more information.
Fresh citrus and vegetables are displayed at one of the outdoor booths.
Meat and peppers share the grill next to the outdoor pavilion.
Barbecue is available during the days the market is open.
Nuts on Wheels serves up new-crop pecans, an annual Texas staple.
Flags and pinwheels adorn outdoor vendor booths.
There’s an endless variety of items for sale via vendors inside the Don-Wes Flea Market barn.
Plump, juicy onion rings take centerstage as a side dish from the Donna City Limits Bar & Grill.
The Donna City Limits Bar & Grill is located inside the flea market’s large barn.
Visit the
Welcome Home Rio Grande Valley
YouTube channel for our interview with Don-Wes Flea Market owner Debbie Fitzgerald
www.welcomehomergv.com
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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • January 6, 2021
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January 6, 2021 • • • Welcome
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com
Historic Downtown Roma
! o G s ’ t Le
Special to Welcome Home RGV
T
here are historic downtowns… and then there’s Roma…in a class all by itself. With its unique architecture, geographical location, and birding, this slice of the Rio Grande Valley is one that shouldn’t be missed. Chances are you’ve unknowingly caught glimpses of the historic downtown on the Silver Screen. It provides the perfect backdrop throughout the 1952 blockbuster, Viva Zapata, with Marlon Brando and Anthony Quinn. The town’s streets are lined with many of those sandstone relics still screaming out to Zapata. But before you take in all the history of the streets, turn to the majesty of the skies. Roma is known as one of the world’s renowned birding locations, with a door leading you to an enchanted birding portal. Once you cross
the threshold, you’re welcomed by a unique, scenic view into the backyards and parks of our Mexican neighbors to the South, along with the flowing water of the Rio Grande. The scenic patio is perfect for sitting and taking in the several species of rare birds, including brown jays, orioles, screeching hawks, and other feathered delights. Once you’re ready to hit the streets, just step back through the door, and it’s like you enter another portal, this time to the 18th century, just after the Mexican War for Independence. The town’s wharf area is no longer bustling with excitement as keelboats carry goods up and down the river, but the architecture alone will take you back to that exciting time. The entire downtown district is filled with corners and buildings that HISTORIC DOWNTOWN ROMA CONTINUED ON PAGE 17 >>
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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • January 6, 2021
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Wreaths Across America: Remember, Honor, Teach Special to Welcome Home RGV
W
reaths Across America is a nonprofit organization that expands on the annual wreath-laying tradition at Arlington National Cemetery. Cities across the country participate each year by receiving handmade wreaths designated for local veteran burial sites. The organization’s mission: Remember the fallen. Honor those who serve. Teach our children the value of freedom. Wreaths Across America culminated Saturday, December 19, in Harlingen, with a special ceremony at the Veterans Memorial
at Pendelton Park, followed by the laying of wreaths at local cemeteries. Members of the J.R.O.T.C. from Harlingen High School presented colors and participated in the laying of the handmade wreaths in honor of each branch of service and those missing in action. The Harlingen event was coordinated by the Veterans’ Memorial Project Committee, with the City of Harlingen and the Harlingen and San Benito Veterans Advisory boards. •
F No Cutting F No Scarring F No Pain F No Downtime It has been said that innovation is the mother of modern medicine. Every day new and exciting treatments and technologies keep the U.S. leading the world in health care. In dermatology, we have seen the same progress as new and better treatments become available in the treatment of skin cancer. SRT is a doctor and patient friendly treatment that requires no anesthetic, cutting, or stitching. It leaves minimal scarring and no disfigurement. With a cure rate of over 95%, it compares favorably to Moh’s surgery. Call Dr. Sotelo’s office for more information. WE ACCEPT MEDICARE, UNITED HEALTHCARE, SUPPLEMENT INSURANCE, BCBS, AETNA, IMS, WELLMED, HUMANA, PFFS AND TEXAS HEALTH SPRING
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January 6, 2021 • • • Welcome
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com
www.welcomehomergv.com
THROUGH
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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • January 6, 2021
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ERYN’S LENS Exclusive to Welcome Home RGV Photos: Eryn Reddell-Wingert
Longoria Cemetery
N
Bluetown, TX
estled in a blink-and-you-will-miss-it cluster of trees on Military Highway in Bluetown (South of La Feria and East of Santa Maria) is Texas Historical marker 11681: Longoria Cemetery. The plaque states the Longoria family was among the original Spanish settlers, arriving in the mid-1700’s. It also acknowledges the impact the Longoria family had on ranching, farming, and irrigation in the Rio Grande Valley. The little cemetery surrounded by farmland is located at 12404 Military Highway, Bluetown in Cameron County. •
Helping Animals Find Their Furever Home Special to Welcome Home RGV
A
34-mile-long tropical island located on the Gulf Coast of Texas, South Padre Island’s stunning white sandy beaches, world-class water activities, nature-tourism attractions, unique local restaurants, and rockin’ entertainment district keep the Island consistently ranked as a top beach destination by travelers from across the globe. South Padre Island is also petfriendly, so don’t worry about leaving your furry friends behind. Pack your best walking shoes and explore the Island’s pet-friendly attractions and activities.
Despite the Island being an openair playground for pets, many are lost and, unfortunately, abandoned. Friends of Animal Rescue (FOAR), a local nonprofit organization, is the “voice of the animals” and believes there is a home for each and every homeless animal. FOAR was formed in 2010 to assist the City of Port Isabel when the City took control of the Isabel Y. Garcia Animal Shelter. After placing the shelter’s 400 animals, the organization refocused its HELPING ANIMALS FIND FUREVER HOME CONTINUED ON PAGE 19 >>
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January 6, 2021 • • • Welcome
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com
www.welcomehomergv.com
Good to Meet You!
Special to Welcome Home RGV
F
or those new to the area, let us introduce ourselves. We are an ALL-volunteer, nonprofit prayershawl ministry that opened a yarn shop to help fund some of the many things we do. One of those things is sending handmade items with missionaries all over the world. We collect all the wonderful items gifted to our Donation Chest, and they are sorted to send to different areas. Last year we sent over 4,000 items! This year will be no different, as there is always a need, and we are working hard to reach those needs. We also have our BaaBaa Boutique, full of lovely gifts for those to whom you want to give a handmade gift. We like to call that a “purchase with a purpose!” YOU get a beautiful gift to give, AND you are helping support this ministry. We currently offer one-on-one classes for loom knitting and
crochet. Just give us a call, and we will get your class scheduled. Please refer to our website for our COVID-19 protocols. Masks are required in the shop, although, for this article, we couldn’t resist sharing a few smiling faces with pictures from the past. So…see? There are lots of ways to jump in around here. Y’all are always welcome to join in the blessing of serving others with us. We do hope you’ll come join in with us and become a PEG! Pray – Encourage – Give. Remember--The Lamb’s Loom is not just a yarn shop; it’s a ministry and a mindset. The Lamb’s Loom is located at 1102 Tamarack in McAllen. We are open Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Additional parking is available in the rear via Upas Avenue. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, and our website: thelambsloom.com •
#loveineverystitch #LambsLoomFun
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January 6, 2021 • • • Welcome
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com
www.welcomehomergv.com
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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • January 6, 2021 13
Permanent Winged Residents Part of Valley’s Entertainment Story and photos by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist
G
rab your most comfortable traveling chair and pair of binoculars and park yourself inconspicuously near an old mesquite tree. There’s nothing like the antics of a black-crested titmouse to elicit a full-belly laugh. They’re tiny, quick, and wily, often jetting through a tree canopy, clinging to a branch upside down, or quick-stepping around it while snapping up unseen insects from the bark. Diet: Insects, caterpillars, wasps, bees, beetles, insect eggs and pupae, spiders, snails, seeds, nuts, berries, and small fruits Sound: A cheerful Peter, Peter, Peter The lyrical melody from an Altamira oriole is as soothing as a glimpse of its bright orange head and underparts is exciting. Its northernmost range is the southern tip of Texas. It builds the longest nest of any bird in North America, which resembles a narrow bag nearly two feet long, woven from vines, palm fibers, long grasses, and other plants. Diet: Insects, grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars, ants, spiders, berries, and small fruits like hackberries and figs Sound: Repeating clear, flutelike whistles Bright yellow, green, and azure-blue flashes are the attention-grabbers of the green jay, a bird that will use sticks as tools to extract bugs from tree bark; its northernmost home is South Texas. Diet: Insects, spiders, small vertebrates, eggs, the young of other birds, fruits and berries, seeds of grass, weeds, and trees Sound: Raucous scolding of incessant chit, chit, chit, when agitated A clatter of chatter announces the early morning arrival of a team of great kiskadees, engaging in aeronautical fun, especially near a
swimming pool, hawking for insects while displaying sharply contrasting deep yellow bellies and bright cinnamon wing feathers. Diet: Large insects like beetles, wasps, grasshoppers, bees, moths, lizards, mice, baby birds, many berries, small fruits, and some seeds. Near water, will perch low and dive in to catch small fish, frogs, and tadpoles Sound: Startlingly shrill shriek of kiss-ka-dee Look on the ground for the curvebilled thrasher. A solitary terrestrial feeder, it digs vigorously into the ground with its bill and turns aside leaf litter and other items, searching for food. Diet: Insects and their larva, beetles, ants, grasshoppers, wasps, spiders, centipedes, snails, berries, fruits, and seeds of cactus, like prickly-pear Sound: A sharp whit-wheet, sometimes melodic The whimsical, brazen northern mockingbird rounds out this tale of Valley birds to watch. In the same family as the curve-billed thrasher, mockingbirds also forage on the ground, displaying a wing-flicking dance to disrupt insects. Diet: Half from insects and other arthropods, including beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, ants, wasps, spiders, snails, sowbugs, and earthworms; other half from berries and fruits Sound: An unattached male will sing you a pretty love song during breeding season--at top decibel and well into the night. Mockingbirds have melodic songs of their own and can mimic hundreds of sounds, like machinery, frogs, barking dogs, doorbells, and other birds. Other native trees for viewing our colorful birds are Texas ebony and sugar-and-spiny hackberries as they, too, are full of insects. •
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January 6, 2021 • • • Welcome
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com Se Habla Español
with Chaplain Edna Ziegler
We
• Deck Expansion •
just spent several days enlarging our deck. We added 18 inches to a 3x4-foot deck. Ha! Not your typical backyard-barbeque, lemonade-sippin’ summertime deck. More like a sweet little landing with stairs for our fifth-wheel trailer. The way it was situated, we could not easily get out of our door (or others get in) without going sideways and sucking in the belly. Very awkward when visitors came calling. So we decided to do an expansion project, and this is what we learned: • Like our little deck, built many years ago on a secure cement foundation, we believers also have a firm foundation in Christ. We have repented of our old ways and sought His forgiveness and have been made new In Christ. • The deck is not finished yet (Who knows? We might add another 18 inches next year.) and neither are we. There are more screws to add, sanding, painting, etc. still to be done on our deck. We, too, still need A LOT of work. Though the Holy Spirit dwells within us, we do not look completely like Jesus quite yet (God’s goal, according to Romans 8:29). Allowing the Master Builder to do His work in us on a daily basis builds our character to resemble Christ. • The handrails still need to be secured on the deck to be not only fully utilized but also fully enjoyed. God has given us boundaries— handrails, if you will--in His Word to keep us in a place of safety near Him. His commandments and other biblical-wise instruction allow us to enjoy our lives fully with Him. Without handrails, danger awaits.
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Edna Ziegler works with her husband, Chaplain Marty Ziegler, at Southern Comfort and Country Sunshine RV Resorts in Weslaco. When they are not in the Rio Grande Valley, they also serve as missionaries with InFaith Ministries. Come by and get acquainted with the Zieglers. They are an awesome couple.
There are so many more analogies we can make, but you get the drift. We will let you “expand” on some of those thoughts yourself. In the meantime, we pray your life is set on the solid foundation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that you are allowing Him to make changes in your life and your heart so you can fully enjoy not only your backyard-barbeque, lemonade-sippin’ summertime deck but, most especially, the life in Him you’ve been given. For those who have yet to allow Christ access to your life, may we suggest laying your construction tools down at His feet and letting Christ, the Master Builder, do a great and mighty work in you and through you? This Carpenter’s Son comes highly recommended. •
418 E. Tyler, Ste A (956)
423-4400
McAllen / Pharr
3906 N. Jackson Rd (South of Nolana)
(956)
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Check our website: beltonesouthtexas.com
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(956)
647-5061
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Rick W Bassett, M.D.
To all our patients and people who need care for their knee and hip pain. We are still here to service you! Using special precautions and ultra clean rooms, we have seen more than five hundred patients at our clinic in the past four months. With laminar air operating rooms and minimally invasive surgery, ninety percent of our patients have gone home in 12 hours, walking after a knee replacement or hip replacement. Same day surgery (outpatient). Those patients who need to stay in the hospital have a private room. Not one person has had an infection. Thank you, Rick W. Bassett, M.D.
(956) 421-2663
1601 Treasure Hills Blvd. | Harlingen, Texas 78550
www.welcomehomergv.com
••• sp tted RGV in the
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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • January 6, 2021 15 Bit-O-Heaven RV and Mobile Home Resort
1051 W. Bus Hwy 83 Donna, TX 78537
Exclusive to Welcome Home RGV Photo by Eryn Reddell Wingert
www.bit-o-heaven.net
WE ARE OPEN!
Butterfly Art Installation Mission
Wednesday ............... 11am - 8pm Thursday .................. 11am - 8pm Friday ...................... 11am - 8pm Saturday................... 11am - 8pm Sunday..................... 11am - 8pm SOCIAL DISTANCE SEATING
Relax outside by the Rio Grande River. Plenty of outside seating on our covered deck & patio. Plenty of inside dining area as well. Face Mask required.
*Event Center Available for Park Gatherings*
The city of Mission is known for its butterfly sightings. Some of them are larger than life, like this particular installation piece located on the grounds of the Mission Historical Museum. It is one of many located throughout the city. The stunning butterfly sculptures were created by the Upper Valley Art League. •
LIVE MUSIC
Sundays • 1:30PM - 5:30PM Steven May & Leon Mann Limited Seating. Face Mask Required. • Only 15 couples on the dance floor at a time. • You are only allowed to dance with who you came with or someone sitting at your table. • No mingling allowed
TRY OUR TEXAS SIZE PORK TENDERLOIN
Riverside Dreamer RIVER TOURS
CALL TODAY 956-581-4477 *** RESERVATIONS SUGGESTED *** 1 HOUR RIVER TOUR
Wednesday ............1:00pm Thursday ...............1:00pm Friday ...................1:00pm Saturday................1:00pm
SENIORS $12
FACE MASK REQUIRED
• Covered Cushion Seating • Enclosed Windows & Heating
$ CASH ONLY $
PRICE INCLUDES TAX
No Outside Beverages / Food Allowed Passenger Minimum for Departures: 15 for 1 Hour
PRIVATE TOURS AVAILABLE
956-581-1033 • www.ontheriver.net 214 E. Chimney Rd. • Mission Riverside in-MissionTx
EVERY TUESDAY : HAPPY HOUR NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC
EVERY WEDNESDAY ENTERTAINMENT • 7:00PM Ice cream bars for sale/BYOB MASKS REQUIRED • THANK YOU
Jan. 20 • "Festus Lives On" • $8.00 by Mark Staggs
EVERY THURSDAY : SOUP SUPPER 4:00PM • DRIVE THRU ONLY $5 FOR PRE-FILLED 32 oz Container You get 1st and 2nd in one tub! Dessert pies for sale $1
EVERY FRIDAY : DANCE
7:00pm - 10:00pm • BYOB & Snacks • Popcorn/Soda for sale MASKS REQUIRED • THANK YOU
*** TEMPORARILY CANCELLED ***
EVERY THIRD FRIDAY • 11:00AM R/C TRACK RACING
$10 Entry fee first car; $5 each additional car Fee includes lunch; lunch available for $4 for spectators Bring a chair and watch the races; free admission Sponsored by COBA Internet Systems, New Sun Racing & RGV Raceway Cash prizes and trophies
EVERY SATURDAY : JAM SESSION BYOB & Snacks MASKS REQUIRED • THANK YOU
*** TEMPORARILY CANCELLED *** Come and sing or play or just listen
CRAFT FAIR
Second Friday Every Month (Nov - Mar) 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Breakfast for sale/Bake sale Items MASKS REQUIRED • THANK YOU
PATIO SALES
Second Saturday Every Month (Nov - Mar) 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM • Pick up map at Front gate MASKS REQUIRED • THANK YOU
Susan Thomas, A C T I V I T Y
DIRECTOR
603-396-2786 / fulltimers@earthlink.net
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January 6, 2021 • • • Welcome
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com
saving you more!
COUPON
CONNECTION
Our weekly coupon section will help you SAVE while you are
here. Visit our website www.welcomehomergv.com for more printable coupons. •
S
RE TOURS PER DOLPHIN WATCH & ECO TOURS SUNSET CRUISES PORT OF BROWNSVILLE NATURE TOURS DEEP SEA FISHING - RED SNAPPER BAY FISHING
3 $ 00 3 $
00
ANY ACTIVITY (Not valid with any other offers.) Expires 3/31/2021
956.761.2764 956.761.4752 www.islatours.com Find us on Facebook
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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • January 6, 2021 17
>> HISTORIC DOWNTOWN ROMA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6
whisper to you of yesterday’s colorful past. Sitting on the steps of the old Guerra General Store, one might still hear the Mission Oblates of Mary Immaculate thundering down the streets on horseback, with Bibles in hand. Look down the road, and you can imagine Lino Ramirez brushing the steps of his store as he waved to Mr. Guerra walking by on his way to his own business. Little would Lino know, years later Brando would make those steps forever famous in Zapata. Future generations have kept tabs, though. They speak with pride and admiration about their ancestors’ legacies. Rosie Rodriguez of McAllen recalled fondly the hours she would spend in her grandfather’s, HP Guerra, general store. “You could find most anything you needed or simply wanted in the store. Great times!” There are countless buildings with a wealth of history waiting to be discovered--far too much for one column--but the National Parks Service has done a great job of breaking it down and offers a handy map to help assist in planning your special visit at www.nps.gov. Last Pro Tips: You’ll want to go on a day that’s comfortable,
as the weather and gnats can be overwhelming. And take your best camera. You’ll thank me later. •
Eye Physician & Surgeon Board Certified Ophthalmologist
Services Provided by Buena Vista Optical team
• Glaucoma Evaluations & Treatment • Cataract Evaluations & Cataract Surgery • Routine Eye Exams for glasses & contacts • Eyelid Surgery
• Diabetic Retinopathy Evaluations & Treatment • Dry Eye Treatment • Huge Optical including Designer frames, budget frames, contact lenses with an on site optical lab
Serving the valley since 1994 WORLD BIRDING CENTER
ROMA BLUFFS
610 N. Portscheller Street
956-849-4930 Nature trails open seven days a week. Free to the public.
Welcome Home Winter Texans!
MARKHAM’S WHEEL ALIGNING Wheel Aligning & Spring Shop
Proudly serving the Rio Grande Valley for over 70 years
Cars • Trucks • RVs • Trailers • Motor Homes
For All of your Automotive Needs!
513 W Business 83 • McAllen, TX • (956) 686-7661
www.markhamsautomotive.com
Your Safety is our business. God Bless America.
• Suspension Specialist • Complete Spring Shop - U Bolts • Brakes • Oil Changes • Radiator - Engine - Transmission • Flushes • Tuneups • Balancing • Alignments on Cars, Trucks, RVs, Trailers, Motor Homes
Thank you for making us 2019 Readers’ Choice “Best Ophthalmologist”
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January 6, 2021 • • • Welcome
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com
Tropic Star Teddy Bear Drive
Special to Welcome Home RGV
T
raditionally the Tropic Star Teddy Bear Drive culminates in a celebratory happy hour in the large, decorated hall. Residents bring appetizers to share as officers from the Pharr Police Department mingle among the attendees before collecting the donated stuffed toys to be shared with local children. This year’s event looked different but was just as celebratory. Residents gathered in the resort’s large parking lot in golf carts--many festively decorated--and in lawn chairs as representatives from the Pharr Chamber of Commerce and the City of Pharr distributed goody bags and gift cards as part of a raffle. A representative from Lone Star National Bank, which donated
the door-prize gift cards, was also in attendance. Officer Steven Guerrero took the microphone to call out winning numbers and offer thanks on behalf of the police department for the Park’s support with their charitable efforts. This year’s teddy bear drive organizer, Vicki Bautch, collected the toys in a box on her front porch. She reports 115 toys were donated over the course of the drive, which began December 1 and ended December 17, and presented to Pharr P.D. Pharr mayor Ambrosio Hernandez also made an appearance and visited with residents as they received a catered tamale plate provided by the mayor and the city. •
www.welcomehomergv.com
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>> HELPING ANIMALS FIND FUREVER HOMES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
efforts, becoming a state-licensed quarantine facility and no-kill animal shelter for the City of South Padre Island. FOAR does everything it can to reunite lost pets with residents and visitors. If a pet is unclaimed, FOAR adopts them out to a loving family. Every adoptable animal is spayed/ neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and heartworm tested (and treated, if necessary). They care for an average of 600 animals a year. In an effort to reduce the feral-cat population and the spread of disease, the organization has implemented a trap-and-release program. These “community cats” are spayed/ neutered and vaccinated, and one of their ears is tipped to let the public know they have already been vetted. FOAR also assists in the care of wildlife, such as possums, raccoons, birds, and turtles. If need be, they transport them to a facility where they will be cared for, organizations such as Sea Life and Sea Turtle, Inc. When you first walk in to FOAR, it may surprise you to find yourself in the middle of a resale shop. Don’t worry; you’re in the right place! The store is called Rescue ME Resale, and the proceeds of all items sold go to the care of the lost and homeless animals at the nonprofit. Shop for great deals on clothing,
JOIN THE FUN!
D E L L E C N A C HOPE
Hope came to FOAR after being hit by a car. One leg was broken and one had to be amputated. FOAR rehabilitated Hope and she found her new furever family shortly after. She was the inspiration for their fundraising campaign, “Fund Hope for an Animal.” jewelry, housewares, furniture, and fun knickknacks, and support the animals at the same time! Don’t forget to walk to the back of the building to see the adoptable dogs and cats; they love visitors. If you fill out a volunteer application, you can take a dog on a walk. They’ll even let you take them to the beach! More of a cat lover? Purrfect! Help socialize and make them the best furry companion for their new
furever home. Who knows? You may even fall in love and adopt one of them! FOAR is located at 4908 Padre Boulevard and is open daily from10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you lose a pet or find one on the Island, call the 24/7 hotline at 956-772-1171. For more information, visit the FOAR website (spifriendsofanimalrescue.com) or check out the FOAR Facebook page: SPI Friends of Animal Rescue. •
HAPPY Hour Kai
Thursday, D LE NCEL7th CA January 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM Pass the Hat
BYOB * Snack Bar Available * No Outside Food *Masks Required • Temperature taken at door*
4770 N. Mayberry Road Mission, TX 78573
956-580-4545
Terry Miller • Activity Director
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January 6, 2021 • • • Welcome
DELICIOUS RECIPES
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com
ZESTY BITES
RECIPE CONNECTION
INSTANT MEALS
Looking for that amazing treat that will satisfy your craving! Each week we will offer you a variety of recipes that you can try from those who truly enjoy food and want to share! •
Entertaining at a Distance • • • with Sandy Olson • • •
APPETIZING DELIGHTS
I had never heard of--much less tasted--ham balls until I moved from
upstate New York to Iowa. These are a classic dinner when made into large meatballs but also as an appetizer to serve on the buffet. Provide some toothpicks so people can fill their own plates while keeping their distance from other guests. •
•••
The Border Cook
•••
Easy Blender Tomato Salsa Submitted by Randy Hoelscher, The Border Cook
Sticky Ham Balls • 2 pounds ground ham • 1½ cups milk (not skim) • 1 pound ground pork • 1 can (10.75 oz.) tomato soup • 1 pound lean ground beef • 1½ cups brown sugar • 2 cups fine graham cracker crumbs • ½ cup cider vinegar • 2 eggs slightly beaten • 1 teaspoon dry mustard Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Combine the ground meats, crumbs, eggs, and milk, mixing thoroughly but gently with clean hands. Shape into 1-inch meatballs and place in two 9x13-inch baking pans. Blend the remaining ingredients to make a smooth sauce. Pour over the meatballs and cover with foil. Bake for 30 minutes; then uncover the pans and bake for an additional 60 minutes. Baste with the sauce 3 times during this last hour of baking. Serve in a chafing dish or slow cooker to keep them warm. • Lifelong foodie, restaurant reviewer, cooking teacher, and summer Iowan, Sandy Olson spends the Winter-Texan season at Palm Shadows RV Park in Donna. This season, Sandy will be sharing recipes for appetizers you can serve your guests while entertaining and social distancing. You can contact Sandy at
midwestfoodie@gmail.com.
Some Like It Hot • • • Chicken Fajitas and Salsa •••
Submitted by The Junior League of McAllen, Inc.
Serves 12 • 2 pounds chicken breasts, boned and skinned • 2 medium onions, thinly sliced • ½ cup lime juice • 4 teaspoons finely chopped garlic • ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper • 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed • 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips • 1 green bell pepper, cut into thin strips • Salsa (recipe below) • Fresh cilantro • 1 dozen tortillas
Cut chicken breasts into strips. Place chicken and onions in 13x9 baking pan. Set aside. Mix together lime juice, garlic, peppers, cumin, and oregano. Pour over chicken and onions; cover; marinate 2-4 hours in refrigerator, stirring occasionally. (Do not exceed 4 hours or the texture of the chicken will be altered.) Heat skillet; add chicken and onions, red and green peppers, and 1-2 tablespoons marinade (to keep mixture from sticking to the pan). Stir fry just until chicken becomes opaque and is no longer pink. Do not overcook. Place about ½ cup of mixture in the center of a warm tortilla. Top with salsa and cilantro. Accompany with Spanish rice.
Salsa:
• 1 pound tomatoes, diced • ¾ cup diced onion • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro • ½ jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped • ½ teaspoon chopped garlic
• ¾ teaspoon ground cumin • ¾ teaspoon dried, crushed oregano • 1/8 teaspoon salt • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
Combine all ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. • 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.
This is a quick and easy recipe for tomato salsa, made in a blender. You can make
up a batch in just minutes. The inspiration for this salsa came from a restaurant in Kanab, Utah. We really liked the salsa, and decided the taste we liked resulted from using fire-roasted tomatoes. We went to work on duplicating the recipe. Our goal was to duplicate the flavor and ensure it was super easy to make by substituting canned ingredients for fresh to reduce the prep time. See the recipe notes for the ‘from-scratch’ version of the recipe. This recipe makes about a pint of salsa. • 1 – 14.5 ounce can of fire-roasted tomatoes with garlic - drained; juice reserved • ¼ cup onion – coarsely chopped • 1 Tbsp. canned, diced jalapeño peppers (not the pickled ones) • ½ cup fresh cilantro – leaves and thin stems roughly chopped • 2 Tbsp. bottled lime juice • ½ tsp. kosher salt – more, if needed, to taste • ½ tsp. oregano – Mexican preferred • ¼ tsp cumin • Optional – add ¼ tsp or more of cayenne pepper or your favorite hot sauce, if you like spicier salsa. Place all ingredients in a blender. Pulse the blender to combine the ingredients. Only pulse the blender 4 to 6 times so you end up with salsa that has some body. Too much, and you will have a paste. If the salsa is thicker than you like, add a little of the reserved tomato liquid. Notes: To make this salsa from scratch, make the following substitutions: Instead of canned jalapeños, use one fresh pepper, seeds and webbing removed, finely diced. Instead of bottled lime juice, use the juice from one fresh lime. Instead of garlic flame-roasted tomatoes, use regular flame-roasted tomatoes and add 1 or 2 finely diced garlic cloves. A tasting note: We felt the salsa, served cold, exhibited a ‘tangy’--or perhaps ‘brighter’-- flavor. When warmed up, it seemed more ‘earthy,’ and the cumin flavor was more noticeable. Try it both ways, and see what you think. Enjoy! Buen apetito! • Randy Hoelscher is a transplanted Texan living in the Rio Grande Valley. He enjoys being “The Border Cook,” spreading the word about Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine on his website, TheBorderCook.com, as well as on Facebook: The Border Cook.
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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • January 6, 2021 21
bon appetit! with
Executive Chef Bettina
Jazz Breakfast Sunday 9:00am to 1:00pm
Daily Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Specials
956-761-PIER (7437) www.Pier19.us 1 Padre Blvd. South Padre Island
From Causeway, turn right on Padre Blvd. You’ll see our sign one block on the right.
Tolin
Garlic-Ginger Chicken with Cilantro and Mint Both the marinade and the cooking method (low and slow) for this dish are
ideal for me. And the result is fantastic - lightly charred, spicy, slightly funky, juicy chicken. It is perfectly wonderful served by itself – or you can roll it up casually in a tortilla, taco-style. Alternatively, you might also serve it alongside a fluffy rice dish. Bon Appétit! • • 8 garlic cloves, minced • 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnish • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves, plus more for garnish • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
• 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon olive oil • 1 tablespoon ground coriander • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric • ½ teaspoon ground cayenne powder • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• • •
Make the marinade: Add the garlic, ginger, mint, cilantro, lemon juice and 3 tablespoons oil to a large re-sealable bag. Seal the bag and massage to combine the ingredients into a paste. Add the coriander, turmeric, red cayenne powder and salt, and seal the bag. Shake or massage to combine. Place the chicken breasts in the marinade and seal the bag tightly. Use your hands to gently massage the marinade onto the chicken breasts until each breast is coated. Refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to overnight. Place a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Once the pan is quite hot, add the oil. Reduce the heat to medium, remove the chicken from the marinade and gently shake to remove any excess marinade. Add chicken to the pan, cook the breasts, undisturbed, until lightly golden underneath, 1 to 2 minutes, then flip them and cook until lightly golden on the second side, 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook the chicken for 10 additional minutes without removing the cover. Remove the pan from the heat and let the chicken sit, covered, for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the breasts. Resist the urge to lift the cover and peek, as you will release the hot steam that finishes cooking the chicken. Check to make sure the breasts are cooked through: There shouldn’t be any pink in the middle. Or If you have a meat thermometer, the chicken should register at least 165 degrees in the thickest portion. Place the chicken on a cutting board, and slice each breast into strips. Garnish with fresh mint and cilantro. This dish is best enjoyed casually in a warm tortilla or over some fluffy rice.
• • • • • • •
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 owner of Marcello’s Ocean Grille & Spirits overlooking the historic lighthouse in Port Isabel, Texas. Marcello’s Ocean Grille & Spirits was recently written up in Texas Monthly magazine as the new trending restaurant for dinner and brunch in the South Padre Island area.
This Week’s Recipe is Brought to You By: Pier 19 Restaurant and Bar
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Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com
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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • January 6, 2021 23
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January 6, 2021 • • • Welcome
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