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We’re just connecting the dots.
VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 20 • March 3, 2021 • • • your official connection to the rio grande valley • • •
hello FROM KRISTI
How
did March sneak in here? I can’t believe the season is starting to wind down. Well, OK, maybe it never got to the level we’re all used to, but it still seems like November was just yesterday. But then again, it also seems like it was a lifetime ago. So much has changed, and this season has certainly looked different, but it makes me really happy to see how resourceful we’ve been. It’s also been great to see new activities popping up. And you know me; I’m always looking to shake things up to avoid them becoming stale. Nothing like a pandemic to make you think outside the box! We’re all hungry for something to do, so I encourage you to take this opportunity to do some of the things you might not have the time for in a regular season. You might just find a new favorite place or pick up a new hobby! • We’re just connecting the dots,
Kristi
THANK YOU TO OUR
2020-2021
SEASON SPONSORS
Newly-renovated Exhibit Offers Fresh Glimpse into 1910 Jail MOSTHistory aims to inspire deeper thought • Story by Rocio Villalobos • • Photos Courtesy of Museum of South Texas History •
I
f searching for a place to learn more about the Rio Grande Valley, look no further than the Museum of South Texas History (MOSTHistory). Erected more than 100 years ago as the Hidalgo County Jail (serving this purpose from 1910 to 1922 until replaced by a larger facility), the building has remained intact and now provides an educational experience and a glimpse into early 20thcentury life. While the Museum offers exhibits delving into other aspects of the RGV’s history, as well, the 1910 jail remains one of the most popular attractions. And with
MUSEUM OF SOUTH TEXAS HISTORY CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 >>
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March 3, 2021 • • • Welcome
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WINTER
TEXAN • • • OF THE • • • WEEK Danny and Cheryl Jones by Rocio Villalobos
Brownsville Couple Builds Family Ties Over Decades Spent at Resort In
their 20 years spent visiting things happening around the Park,” the RGV, Michigan couple Danny Danny explained. “And once we and Cheryl Jones have made a started handing out gifts, that would home away from home. They’ve determine whether I gave coal or a been married for just over twice as nice gift. long--45 years--and consider their “If they got coal, I had to exaggerate neighbors at Brownsville’s Four a little bit on what they did to deserve Seasons RV Resort to be family. it. Everyone was laughing; that’s Like parks across the RGV, the what it was all about.” pandemic has put a They say despite damper on what would this year being the be a normal, bustling “Everyone looks out slowest season in their season and left many for everybody.” history of visiting, of their Canadian they’ll keep this • Cheryl Jones • friends stuck across memory with them the Northern border. forever. And while “Everyone is distancing and doing they predicted they’d be mostly their own thing,” Danny said. homebound, they chose to return to And while they say it has been check in on their second family. harder to connect this season, “Everyone looks out for everybody,” there is one tradition they were not Cheryl said. “This Park is very familywilling to skip out on this year--the oriented. That’s what we liked about Christmas parade. So, with their this park when we first came, how help, it was modified. friendly everybody is.” “Our manager had ideas for giving “This is our third place here,” little gifts away at Christmas and added Danny, referring to their park wanted someone to play Santa,” unit. “That’s how well we like it.” Cheryl said. “He had done that last These close ties were evident year for the lady’s luncheon, and it during the recent power outage was quite a hit. But in the meantime, when the Park lost all electricity for his friend (a male) who plays Ms. 10 hours. The Joneses and others Clause is no longer here; he’s in visited the elderly residents, making Nova Scotia. That’s how it started.” sure everyone was fine. Cheryl bought a Mrs. Claus suit, and “They’re not equipped; they’re not they dressed up and drove around in ready for that stuff,” Danny said. a decorated truck spreading cheer, to “We got one of the ladies in the truck most, and a bit of nagging to others. and went for a ride to check on other “What I would do was I would people. It’s not like it used to be, but keep my eyes and ears open to it will be. It’ll be back.” •
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.
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
calendar@welcomehomergv.com
Anne Marie Martin events@welcomehomergv.com
The deadline for submission is Mondays at 5:00pm. •
Business Development
Weekly e-Blasts
Stacy Madden sales@welcomehomergv.com Curt James Riester curt@welcomehomergv.com
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
Follow Us
Accounting
on Social Media!
Anna Talbert accounting@welcomehomergv.com
Editor
Chris Ardis news@welcomehomergv.com
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:
Graphic Design
Jenny R Carpenter artwork@welcomehomergv.com
Social Media / Photographer Eryn Reddell-Wingert eryn@welcomehomergv.com
news@welcomehomergv.com
Perks for Partners! •
Promotional Division
www.facebook.com @whrgv @wintertexan
Elizabeth Seal elizabeth@welcomehomergv.com Sarah Scott sarah@welcomehomergv.com Sabina Adames sabina@welcomehomergv.com
www.facebook.com/groups/wintertexansrgv
www.youtube.com Find on YouTube Channel “Welcome Home Rio Grande Valley”
Activity Coordinator
Fran Adams fran@welcomehomergv.com
www.instagram.com @welcomehomergv @wintertexans
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www.twitter.com @welcomehomergv
Rita Huether rita@welcomehomergv.com
Welcome Home
®
rio grande valley
219 W. Nolana • McAllen, TX 78504
956-687-5115
Check out our website! www.welcomehomergv.com •••
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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • March 3, 2021
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Take a walk on the wild side!
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Did you know South Padre Island is a nesting ground to the world’s most endangered sea turtle, the Kemp’s Ridley? Sea Turtle, Inc. provides the Kemp’s Ridley and other sea turtles with medical and rehabilitation care to ultimately return them to their natural habitat. The facility also offers visitors upclose-and-personal views of local marine life, as well as educational programs, presentations, and guided tours.
Dolphin Tours
Ride alongside pods of bottlenose dolphins and watch them play in the Laguna Madre Bay on one of our dolphin tours! There are several dolphin pods residing in the waters just off the shore of the Island, so the tours boast a success rate of nearly 100 percent! What’s more is the Island was recently ranked #3 for “10 Best Dolphin Sighting Destinations in North America” by the Travel Channel. Set sail for adventure!
Black Dragon Cruise
Board the Black Dragon Pirate Ship, a modern-day replica of a 17thcentury galleon, and join Captain Black-Hearted Andy, Scourge of the Laguna Madre, and his jolly crew for an interactive cruise filled with stories, treasure hunts, and more. Learn to fight like a pirate, speak like a pirate, hunt for treasure, and share the booty!
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South Padre Island Birding, Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary
The South Padre Island Birding, Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary, situated along the wetlands of the Laguna Madre Bay, features exhibits of the Island’s birds and other natural features, along with a fivestory viewing tower, viewing blinds, and boardwalk nature trails.
Horseback Riding
Maybe you’ve been horseback riding before, but have you ever been horseback riding on the beach? Island Adventure Park offers horseback riding tours that allow you to experience the thrill of exploring the dunes of South Padre Island and splash through the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. TOP SPI EXPERIENCES CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 >>
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>> MUSEUM OF SOUTH TEXAS HISTORY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
$3 million in recent renovation and restoration work, the exhibit is sure to provide its visitors with a new experience, whether they have gone in previous years or have yet to visit the Museum. “The jail gives you a window into the past that heretofore we had not given the public,” MOSTHistory CEO Dr. Francisco Guajardo said. “The museum made the decision to modernize within the code and guidelines of preservation of a historic building and set it up for a brand new, stateof-the-art exhibit, with technology and sound and beautiful images and interactive elements--all of those things. We had to be very intentional about this.” Guajardo adds the location in a low-lying area and near a water table made the work a little tricky, but they got it done in a little over a year and a half and reopened in December. In maintaining the architectural integrity per the guidelines, the original walls remain, as well as the stairway prisoners walked up to their cell blocks or to the holding cells. The exhibit also transports you back to this period through its display of items, including a 1920 CensusBureau log, photos, advertisements, firearms, and ledgers. “This is a really appropriate place, where people can be situated historically,” Guajardo said. “They will get a really good idea of the energy, demography, kind of activity, space, and feel of the time.” On top of serving as a place to document and teach about the past, he said a goal of the exhibit is to spark a desire in people to go further
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and start their own research. “Part of the story here is there are a lot of points of mystery and intrigue,” Guajardo said. “As you walk through the jail, if you pay attention, you will find you’ll be asking a lot of questions. ‘I wonder about this; I wonder about that.’ That’s part of the curiosity and intrigue we’re trying to engender with visitors who come.” One notable event that happened in the jail was the hanging of Abram Ortiz in 1913, the only hanging on record. Visitors can read his story and explore the other featured sections focusing on women, leadership, how law enforcement functioned back then, and capital punishment. “We have a section that asks, ‘Are you for or against the death penalty?’” Dr. Guajardo said. “You get a chip and drop it in ‘yes, for’ or ‘no, against.’ So, there’s a level of interactivity with that. There are those kinds of moments across the permanent exhibit that really are part of our civics lesson as you experience the jail.” He adds that the museum leads people to place a mirror in front of themselves and push their thinking. “We all can grow by learning new things, and I think the museum is a beautiful laboratory and classroom from which you can learn so much more about the area you’re visiting and hopefully about yourself, as well,” Guajardo said. MOSTHistory is open Thursday through Sunday. As part of COVID-19 safety protocols, a time slot must be reserved ahead of the visit, with tickets available for purchase through mosthistory.org. •
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
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March 3, 2021 • • • Welcome
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The Lost World of the Coahuiltecan Peoples Presentation by Lisa Adam Thursday at Quinta Mazatlán
Quinta Mazatlán is hosting author
Lisa Kay Adam Thursday, March 4, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on The Back Porch at Quinta Mazatlán. Adam has taken the whispered and fragmented words of the ancient Coahuiltecan peoples and expanded the meanings into poems and stories. Her book, xuai, will be for sale and for signing as a unique gift. xuai: mission-house-village-town, opens up a window of imagination into the experience of indigenous peoples who lived in the Spanish colonial missions of South Texas and northeastern Mexico. The poems incorporate phrases and words from their long-silent language, as well as elements from the history, natural history, and archeology of the region. The book features color illustrations from a rare colonial map of the area. Bob Holman, co-director of the Endangered Language Alliance shared, “This is a book of audacious imagination. There is no higher purpose for poetry than to be the vehicle for language itself to survive. That is the purpose of xuai.” Adam grew up in South Texas, spending many childhood hours under the shade of a honey mesquite tree. She earned
Author Lisa Kay Adam presents her beautiful book, xuai, on the ancient Coahuiltecan peoples, Thursday, March 4, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Quinta Mazatlán in McAllen. Advance reservations are required. Adam will have books for sale and will sign them for that special gift for yourself or someone else.
>> TOP SPI EXPERIENCES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
Beach Park at Isla Blanca
Beach Park at Isla Blanca, the outdoor waterpark and all-out water extravaganza, is a summertime tradition for Texans and tourists alike. There are 24 rides, the Surf Rider Surfing Wave, and it’s all connected by a lazy river. Even better, the river also doubles as the line for many of the rides, so you never even have to step foot out of the water. Unleash your creative side!
Sandcastle Lesson
her undergraduate degree in anthropology and English from UT Austin and her PhD in historical geography and anthropology from Louisiana State University. She has published poetry and essays in The Nature Conservancy magazine, The Christian Science Monitor, and many other journals. Adam has enjoyed a long career in history and art museums and now volunteers with the Texas Master Naturalists.
Join us on The Back Porch at Quinta Mazatlán Thursday, March 4, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Admission price is $5 per person. As outdoor class size is limited due to health protocols, please book in advance at www.quintamazatlan.ticketleap. com. Please follow current Covid-19 Safety Guidelines while in the Park. For more information, call 956-6813370 and follow Quinta Mazatlán on social media. •
Did you know that South Padre Island is the Sandcastle Capital of the World and home to the Largest Outdoor Sandcastle in the USA? Book a sandcastle lesson with one of the Island’s many talented master sand sculptors to learn building basics to advanced sculpting skills. Whether you want to build a traditional sandcastle, an animal, a cartoon character, or even your very own sand throne, our local sand sculptors will show you how it’s done. You don’t need any artistic ability; you just need to be able to have fun! For more information about activities on South Padre Island, please visit sopadre.com •
www.welcomehomergv.com
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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • March 3, 2021
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Upwardly mobile elements in nectar garden
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V
ines add vibrancy and variety to a garden while attracting birds, butterflies, and other pollinators. Snapdragon vine - Maurandya antirrhiniflora - is a dainty vine with small, crisp, heart-shaped leaves and purple and yellow flowers that bloom most months of the year. It readily self-propagates, survives with limited water and little care, and adds color in the winter as it intertwines with other plants. Snapdragon vine is host to the common buckeye butterfly and a nectar source for hummingbirds and butterflies. For their delicate and exotic look, passion flowers, such as Passiflora foetida, are quite hearty, surviving without care along scrub land, road edges, and cultivated fields. Small up-shoots in early spring are recognizable by wispy, pale green, trefoil-shaped leaves. As the vine grows, long tendrils help to support it as it travels. Passion flowers are not particularly valuable as a nectar source but are exceedingly important in pollinator and butterfly gardens. The intricate flowers open before dawn and are abuzz with early morning bees gathering pollen. The flowers begin closing by midmorning. Passion vines are hosts to fritillary and heliconian butterflies. The native P. foetida readily re-seeds itself and is easy to control in unwanted areas. Birds help spread the seeds. There are nearly 550 varieties of passion vines that grow in tropical and subtropical climates. (The Rio Grande Valley is considered the subtropics.) Seed packets of passion vines are available commercially and may need summer heat conditions for germination or require seed scarification for successful propagation.
Another interesting vine is common balloon vine - Cardiospermum halicacabum. It’s especially fun when the seedpods turn cinnamoncolored and look like fall-festive lanterns, dangling in the garden. The dried pods are tissue-paper thin, each containing two or three round, black, white-tipped seeds. Bob-white quail eat the seeds. Tiny, white, orchid-like flowers tipped with pink bloom during most of the year, providing nectar for butterflies and bees. The vine is a host plant for silver-banded and other hairstreak butterflies, silvered prominent moths, and the red-shouldered bugs. These vines like full sun; they can be left to meander in small mounds on the ground. They will wend their way over adjacent plants and up small tree trunks. Snapdragon and passion vines have a light, airy growth; they will not smother, strangle, nor harm a supporting plant. They can be trained on small trellises. Common balloon vine grows longer and forms a denser mass more suited for a fence, large trellis, or support of its own; in the wild, it can cover other vegetation. VINES ADDS TO NECTAR GARDENS CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 >>
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March 3, 2021 • • • Welcome
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com
7-night Western Caribbean Cruise February 6-13, 2022 Sail Dates Ports of Call • Cozumel, Mexico • Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico • Roatan, Honduras
Leave RGV on February 5, 2022 Pre-Cruise hotel with Breakfast • Round trip transfers from Rio Grande Valley Non-Transferable • Cruise Care Insurance and Gratuities are additional
Call 956-687-5115 today
for more information and/or to make your reservation
www.welcomehomergv.com
THROUGH
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ERYN’S LENS Exclusive to Welcome Home RGV Photos: Eryn Reddell-Wingert
Acts of Service McAllen
Dinner
was on the Clark Family, owners of Clark Chevrolet, for 100 families the afternoon of Thursday, February 25. Clark Chevrolet partnered with House Wine and Bistro, a popular McAllen restaurant, to provide meals and support the community post winter storm. Cars began lining up outside the dining establishment about three hours before service began. Members of the Clark family worked side-by-side with restaurant staff, distributing all 100 meals within 13 minutes. The consistent acts of kindness and service to our community by Clark Chevrolet, the Clark family, and the Delgado Collective (owners of House Wine and Bistro) contribute to what makes the Valley a very special place. •
Valley Symphony Presents Final Online Concert Featuring Piano and Strings Special to Welcome Home RGV
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he Valley Symphony Orchestra announces the final digital concert of its online season premiering March 19. Springtime Schumann will premiere live on YouTube at 7:00 p.m., and there will be an encore broadcast on KRGV-Channel 5 March 21 at 11:00 a.m. Springtime Schumann is the last in a series of digital concerts that began in Fall 2020, the first season of its kind for the Symphony that arose as a response to Covid-19 publichealth restrictions. Springtime Schumann will feature the VSO Piano Quintet performing Robert Schumann’s Piano Quintet in E-flat major. The piece, featuring two violins, viola, cello, and piano is performed in four movements, or sections, and is a musician favorite because of its wide range of moods and sound colors. The performing ensemble consists of VSO Concertmaster Geoffrey Wong (first violin), Maria Fernanda Gonzalez (second violin, principal), Young Sin Choi (viola, asst. principal), Patrick Hopkins (cello, asst. principal), and Konrad Binienda (piano, guest performer). The concert was recorded at the McAllen Performing Arts Center
The VSO Piano Quintet warming up on stage at the McAllen Performing Maria Fernanda Gonzalez rehearses with the VSO Piano Quintet. Arts Center.
with strict adherence to public-health guidelines. Guest pianist Konrad Binienda joined the Symphony for this recording, traveling from Akron, Ohio, to perform. Since his debut with The Cleveland Orchestra in 2007, Binienda has performed in recital and with orchestras throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, winning acclaim for his dynamic and expert musical performances. He has also performed with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra and the Akron Symphony Orchestra and is
the winner of the 25th International Chopin Competition sponsored by the Fryderyk Chopin Society of Texas. “These musicians give a truly masterful performance,” said Maestro Peter Dabrowski, music director of the Valley Symphony Orchestra. “Not only is this piano quintet a challenging piece; it explores a wide range of emotions from grief, to adventure, to love and longing. When these musicians perform it, you hear all of these emotions and more.” “In these times, every opportunity we have to deliver music is a privilege,”
said Katy Coy, VSO executive director. “The Rio Grande Valley has been through such a difficult year, and we are all craving connection and an outlet. We hope this final concert can provide that for folks, and we thank our sponsors and donors for making this special event possible.” More information about the concert is available at valleyorchestra.org, and visitors can also sign up there for the Symphony’s e-newsletter. Sponsorship opportunities for this concert are still VSO PRESENTS FINAL ONLINE CONCERT CONTINUED ON PAGE 15 >>
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March 3, 2021 • • • Welcome
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com
Prominence Health Plan Honors
>> VINES ADDS TO NECTAR GARDENS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
2021 Medicare Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
Special to Welcome Home RGV
F
ormer McAllen Medical Center employee Bob Deuschle has been recognized as the 2021 Prominence Health Plan Medicare Lifetime Achievement Award winner for his strong commitment to volunteering with local community organizations. Deuschle has been a Prominence Health Plan Medicare member since 2014 and serves on its Health Plan Ambassador Advisory Committee. “Receiving this award is an honor I treasure,” said Deuschle. “I am blessed to be able to continue to help others.” Deuschle, 81, has lived in Rio Grande Valley since 1989 and previously worked at McAllen Medical Center where he oversaw patient accounting computer conversion at McAllen Medical Center and Edinburg Regional Hospital and served as business office consultant to Universal Health Services acutecare and behavioral-health facilities. He enjoys spending time gardening, has been a volunteer at Amigos del Valle for three years, and previously served as president of the board for Valley Association for Independent Living (VAIL) in McAllen. “Our goal is to acknowledge those
Bob Deuschle
individuals 65 and older who take an active role in their community,” said Veronica Galligan, community relations for Prominence Health Plan. “These are the individuals who motivate others by taking a stand for health and wellness and are passionate about serving their communities. In 2020, Prominence Health Plan named David Chavana Lifetime Achievement Award recipient for his efforts in establishing the 38th Annual All-America City David Chavana 10K Run/Walk for the community of Edinburg. To request for more information on community activities, call Prominence Health Plan at 956-821-9569. •
While native plants are recommended, some introduced species are popular in butterfly gardens such as Mexican flame vine, Pseudogynoxys chenopodioides. This vine should be trained and maintained on its own support; otherwise, it can become a massive ground cover with runners in all directions. In its favor, it is a splendid bloomer during the cold season. It attracts monarch, queen, and other butterflies and pollinators when other plants may not be blooming.
For a list of local native plant growers, visit https://rgvctmn.org/ rgv-plants/. •
www.welcomehomergv.com
ALL DINNERS TAKE OUT DAILY 4:30 - 5:30PM
WEEKLY SEASON SCHEDULE • EVERY MONDAY • Burgers
Hamburger Meal • $5.00 Cheeseburger Meal • $6.00 Come by & try our delicious grilled burgers!
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Mon-Fri: 12pm to dusk • Sat & Sun: All Day
Scramble: Mon, Wed, Fri • 9:30am Ladies: Thurs • 9:30am
511 E Loop 374 H Palmview, TX 78572
(956) 585-5551 H www.missionwestrv.com
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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • March 3, 2021 11
Join The Lamb’s Loom Fine Fibered Friends Make-Along and Have Some Feathered Fun Special to Welcome Home RGV
H
ello to all of our Winter Texan friends near and far. As crazy as this last year has been, it has been a real blessing to be able to keep in touch with you all, here in the shop and via our weekly Zoom time! We want to keep that going throughout the coming year. Many of our Winter Texan friends continue to fill our Donation Chest with your handmade items (Love in every stitch, we know!), and we are so grateful for your generous hearts. What a blessing y’all are to so many. This year, we are doing a fun thing everyone can join in on. It’s our Fine Fibered Friends Make-Along. What’s a Make-Along, you ask? It is a fun time of creation and giving all wrapped into one. Every month, we will provide inspiration based on our theme for the year. You then create an item for the Donation Chest at The Lamb’s Loom. This year, we are going birdy over our theme. There are tens of thousands of people who come to South Texas to see all of the wonderful birds that live here year-round and those that migrate through the area. These birds are as beautiful and creatively
made as y’all are. So…on our website every month, we will introduce you to a bird in the area, provide yarn suggestions, and off you go. Make your favorite project--like a hat, scarf, blanket, or shawl--for the Donation Chest every month. You are welcome to purchase your yarn here (which supports our mission, too), or dive into your own stash and find something fun that works with the theme. At the end of the year, we will celebrate those who participate with prizes and, of course, HUGE thanks for perching on this project and giving of your time to support and help so many. 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 at thelambsloom.com. • #stitch1share1 #LambsLoomFun
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March 3, 2021 • • • Welcome
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com
SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2021 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
VEHICLE REGISTRATION • 8:30 - 10:00 AM
AWARDS • 2:00 PM \\ LIVE MUSIC BY //
CURT JAMES & RICK MCEWEN MUSIC • FOOD • VENDORS
CATEGORIES
• BEST OF SHOW - TROPHY & CASH PRIZE • TROPHY FOR BEST CAR, BEST TRUCK, BEST CLASSIC COMPETITION ENTRY FEE: $20 SHOW ONLY FEE: $10 VENDOR FEE: $10 FOR MORE
INFO
(956) 585-4833
1711 E. BUS HWY 83 • MISSION, TX
www.welcomehomergv.com
•••
Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • March 3, 2021 13
Car Dealer Exhibits Art at South Texas College Story by Eryn Reddell Wingert
K
irk Clark of McAllen is a true renaissance man. Not only is he the owner of Clark Chevrolet and Clark Knapp Honda dealerships, but he is also a renowned artist. Clark’s art has been exhibited all over the world, including Mexico City, Mexico, Rome, Italy, Taos, New Mexico, and right here in the Rio Grande Valley. Currently, Clark’s work is on exhibit at the South Texas College Library Gallery at the Pecan Street campus in McAllen in a show titled Common Journey of Mathematics + Art. Clark is one of four artists included in the exhibit. Also participating are Richard Smith, head of the UTRGV Physics Department, Mario Morin, STC chair of math, and STC art instructor Nathan England. God, science, art, math--it all comes together in Clark’s art. “Fundamentally, my art is about the creation of the universe through God’s command. Scientists have discovered sound in outer space from the Big Bang. Space is a vacuum. There is not sound in space. That has to be a miracle,” he says. When sharing his process, Clark says he doesn’t start with an image in mind. He picks a multitude of colors in acrylic paint, and using a silicone frosting spatula “splashes and shoves” the paint onto a reflective mylar canvas. Then, using the buttend of a paintbrush, he adds dots of paint in a seemingly random pattern, creating vivid, ethereal designs. “If I had to do it intentionally, I couldn’t
do it,” he says. Clark spends wee hours of the night painting. The creations seem to flow through him. “I’ve also begun to realize, the way I put the dots and the spacial relationship with the lines are intuitive. Each dot represents a molecule of sound that’s being transformed into a photon of light--a reflection of the Big Bang,” he shares. Twenty of Clark’s pieces are on display at STC, 16 of which he says he created before being invited to show. “They were from a new series called Who Do You Say I Am?” Clark adds the meaning behind the theme: “During this period of isolation, I think about friends, and if they were asked that question about me, what would they say and how would I take their response? What would I learn and how would I react?” Clark is known to be incredibly generous with his artwork. He often donates paintings and sales proceeds to benefit nonprofit organizations. His art is available for purchase, but he requests contributions be made to support Trinity Episcopal Church in Pharr where he has been a loyal member for decades. The Common Journey of Mathematics + Art exhibit at the South Texas College Library on Pecan runs through April 23. For more information, visit library. southtexascollege.edu/libraryart. Visit kirkclarkart.com to learn more about the artist, Kirk Clark. •
Bentsen Grove Hosts Cake-Decorating Contest Special to Welcome Home RGV
B
entsen Grove Resort activity director Paula McSpadden hosted a cake-decorating contest for residents, with special-contestant guest Curt James. Twelve people participated, including a motherdaughter team. McSpadden surprised the participants with Styrofoam circles to use as their
canvas instead of actual cake. Participants were instructed to include the theme Good-bye Covid-19 in their design. Audience members voted on their favorites, with Lanette Pomplun from Eureka, Wisconsin, taking first place and Curt James coming in second. •
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March 3, 2021 • • • Welcome
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com
with Chaplain Melanie Wilson
W
• Who is on Your Team? •
hat if you were tasked with assembling a team to save the world. Who would you choose? Perhaps graduates from the school of Yale or Harvard? Maybe top athletes who are Olympic material? Or would you go the route of picking elite military candidates? Would you consider sending an 80-year-old man to tell the leader of North Korea to release all his prisoners being held captive? What are your thoughts on picking a teenager to lead our military into battle? How about sending a 12-yearold boy to Rome to educate the Pope about his teachings on Christianity? Or what about taking someone as part of your team whose main goal was to kill you? Would you feel comfortable with the not-so-obvious picks I selected for you, or would you rather go with what you may consider the safe and mostsensible route? Let’s take a look and see what the Bible says about it: 27) But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28) And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are; 29) That no flesh should glory in his presence. (1 Corinthians 1: 27-29 KJV) Verse 29 clearly indicates why God chose the people He did; there would be no other individual capable, on their own, to accomplish any of the tasks set before them. Point made: God got all the glory. And as amazing as Him choosing them was, equally amazing was the faith they had in Him to take on all those seemingly impossible tasks with the knowledge in their heart and mind that they
Melanie and Chaplain Scotty Wilson are serving as park chaplains at Breezelake Campground and Sunset Palms RV Park, both in Brownsville. In their “spare” time, they also serve as park management.
would succeed without a shadow of a doubt. Is that what our faith is like today? Speaking for myself, mine’s lacking, but I intend to strengthen it day by day without stopping until I get to where I would be totally OK no matter who was sent as long, as they are HolySpirit led. I pray we all stop looking for the elites, educated, strong, and so on to make things happen for us but rather that we seek the face of the Lord, go to Him in prayer, and let Him build our team. If memory serves me right, the last team member He put together now allows us to have eternity in Heaven if we just believe in Him, ask Him into our heart, and confess our sins. May we all be on Christ’s team and may we look for those considered lessor, and maybe--just maybe--they will end up being much, much more. Through Jesus Christ to God the Father be all the glory always. Amen •
www.welcomehomergv.com >> VSO PRESENTS FINAL ONLINE CONCERT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
available. Major season sponsors include Wanda Boush, Drs. Tawhid and Mihaela Shuaib, \ Trudie Elmore Abbott, Kenneth and Carolyn Landrum, Clark Chevrolet, Clark-
Knapp Honda, and Frost Bank. To learn more, join the VSO’s mailing list at valleyorchestra.org or call the VSO at 956-661-1615. •
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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • March 3, 2021 15
• • • sp tted RGV
Exclusive to Welcome Home RGV
in the
Photo by Eryn Reddell Wingert
St. Peter’s Novitiate Mission
The ruins of a Catholic seminary sit atop a hill on the Rio Grande just east of La Lomita Chapel and the Riverside Club in Mission. St. Joseph and St. Peter Seminary, also known as St. Peter’s Novitiate, is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville. The seminary was destroyed by fire in 2009. •
Konrad Binienda tries out the piano at the McAllen Performing Arts Center for the first time.
The Valley Symphony Orchestra Spring 2021 Season 2021 Digital Education Concert Digital Presentation of Selected Works Available beginning January 2021 Educational commentary and guides included Springtime Schumann Featuring the VSO Piano Quintet Premieres on YouTube March 19 at 7 p.m. Broadcast on KRGV – Channel 5 March 21 at 11 a.m. Bravo! VSO Gala Featuring Pasion Primavera performing Latin music Gala Event May 7 at McAllen Performing Arts Center In-person and virtual attendance options
T EXA S O N CO LO G Y.CO M
EXPERT CANCER CARE RIGHT WHERE YOU LIVE. When facing a cancer diagnosis, you deserve comprehensive treatment — including your own team of specialists, advanced treatment options, and clinical trials. You also deserve to sleep in your own bed. To have dinner with your family. And to be there when your boy makes the gamewinning play. That’s why Texas Oncology delivers expert cancer care with four locations in the Rio Grande Valley. Because when you’re in the fight of your life, you deserve to have what it takes to win. B R O W NSVILLE • H ARLIN G E N • M CAL L E N • WE SL ACO
1.888.864.4226
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March 3, 2021 • • • Welcome
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com
saving you more!
COUPON
S
RE TOURS PER
3 $ 00 3
CONNECTIO $ N00
Our weekly coupon section will help you SAVE while you are
here. Visit our website www.welcomehomergv.com for more printable coupons. •
DOLPHIN WATCH & ECO TOURS SUNSET CRUISES PORT OF BROWNSVILLE NATURE TOURS DEEP SEA FISHING - RED SNAPPER BAY FISHING
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
Attn Brand New RVer’s:
Rent 4 Months & Get up to $300 off!! • Fun and Friendly • Gated “55+” Retirement Community • 200 Sites • Resident Owned & Operated ~ Very well-maintained! • Affordable mobile homes for sale & rent • Park Models welcome! • RV sites available on daily, weekly &/or monthly basis • Pet Free
6,000 for Brand NEW Shareholders
$
Move-in Bonus
who bring an approved mobile or park model!
*Restrictions Apply. Call office today for more information.
Come See what South Texas Living is all about! www.palmresacapark.org
100 Tangerine Blvd • Brownsville, Texas manager@palmresacapark.org • 956-546-7423
www.welcomehomergv.com
•••
Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • March 3, 2021 17
Bar & Grill and Special Event Center
WE ARE OPEN!
TRY OUR TEXAS SIZE PORK TENDERLOIN
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*
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
Riverside Dreamer RIVER TOURS CALL TODAY 956-581-4477 *** RESERVATIONS SUGGESTED *** Additional boat rides added as needed 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
JOIN THE FUN!
DANCE Helen Russell & Company Sat., March 6
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Ticket $8.00 Snack Bar Available
* Open to the public * No outside food *Social Distancing and Masks Required* *Temperatures taken at door*
4770 N. Mayberry Road Mission, TX 78573
956-580-4545
Terry Miller • Activity Director
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March 3, 2021 • • • Welcome
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com
www.welcomehomergv.com
•••
Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • March 3, 2021 19 Bit-O-Heaven RV and Mobile Home Resort
1051 W. Bus Hwy 83 Donna, TX 78537
www.bit-o-heaven.net EVERY TUESDAY HAPPY HOUR NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC
EVERY WEDNESDAY ENTERTAINMENT
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM • OPEN TO THE PUBLIC BYOB, Snacks MASKS REQUIRED • THANK YOU
Mar. 3 • Dave Perryman Band • $8.00 Bring your own chairs If weather is cold; event will be moved inside
STREET DANCE FRIDAY OUTSIDE/DAYTIME
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM • OPEN TO THE PUBLIC BYOB, Snacks; Popcorn and soda for sale BRING YOUR OWN CHAIRS • THANK YOU
Mar. 5 • DJ dance • For Park Residents Only Mar. 10 • Sweetwater Band • $8.00 Mar. 19 • Steven May Band • $8.00
EVERY SATURDAY JAM SESSION : OUTSIDE BYOB & Snacks MASKS REQUIRED • THANK YOU
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Come and sing or play or just listen
CRAFT FAIR : INSIDE
7-night Western Caribbean Cruise February 6-13, 2022 Sail Dates Ports of Call • Cozumel, Mexico • Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico • Roatan, Honduras
Leave RGV on February 5, 2022 Pre-Cruise hotel with Breakfast • Round trip transfers from Rio Grande Valley
Second Friday Every Month (Nov - Mar) 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM 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
Non-Transferable • Cruise Care Insurance and Gratuities are additional
Call 956-687-5115 today
for more information and/or to make your reservation
Susan Thomas, A C T I V I T Y
DIRECTOR
603-396-2786 / fulltimers@earthlink.net
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March 3, 2021 • • • Welcome
DELICIOUS RECIPES
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com
ZESTY BITES
RECIPE CONNECTION
INSTANT MEALS
APPETIZING DELIGHTS
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 • • •
It seems sausage, in its various forms, lends itself well to hors d’oeuvres and appetizers. This one is no exception. •
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The Border Cook
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Crispy Pork Carnitas
Submitted by Randy Hoelscher, The Border Cook
Sausage Squares • 1 pound good-quality pork sausage • 1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles • 1 package (8oz.) cream cheese, softened • 2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls NOTE: Use either the spicy tomato-with-chile product or the mild one, depending on your love of pepper heat. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cook the sausage, crumbling it as it cooks, until it is done. Drain away the excess grease. Beat the cream cheese until it is soft and fluffy. Stir in the tomatoes with chiles and the cooked sausage. Place one can of the crescentroll dough on a parchment-lined cookie sheet, pinching the seams together. Evenly spread the sausage and cheese mixture on top. Then place the second can of crescent roll dough on top. Again, pinch the seams together. Bake until the dough is completely cooked (top and bottom) and the top is brown. Let cool slightly. Cut into squares to serve either hot or at room temperature. • 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.
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Some Like It Hot
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Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas Submitted by The Junior League of McAllen, Inc.
Serves 5 • 4 chicken breast halves, skinned and boned • 1 (7¼ oz.) can sliced black olives, drained • 4 tablespoons margarine • 8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded • 1½ cups sour cream • 1 medium onion, grated • 1 (10¾ oz.) can cream of mushroom soup • 10 flour tortillas • ½ can (10 oz.) diced tomatoes and green chilies with juice Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 13x9 baking pan. Simmer chicken breasts in lightly salted water until tender (20 minutes) and shred. Set aside. In a large skillet, melt margarine. Stir in sour cream, mushroom soup, and tomatoes and green chilies. Set aside ½ cup of the cheese and 1 cup of the sour-cream mixture. Dip each tortilla in the sour-cream mixture; fill with 1/10 of the chicken, cheese, onions, and olives. Roll and place in pan. Repeat with the remaining 9 tortillas. Top with cheese and sour-cream mixture. Bake, covered, for 45 minutes. Uncover and brown slightly, until bubbly. Serve with a green salad with avocado dressing. This dish may be frozen for up to one month. If refrigerated or frozen, allow extra baking time. • 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.
I have seen pork carnitas called “the king of taco meat.” Carnitas, literally, means
“little meats.” It is typically pork, often cooked in lard. If you are like me, you do not have a bucket of lard to use, and my research tells me it adds no flavor to the meat; it only helps cook it better than liquids. The recipe I am providing uses the fat naturally available in the pork to boost flavor and cook the meat. Recipes that add liquid seem to result in dry meat, not juicy, perfectly cooked pork. This slow-cooker recipe results in tender, juicy pork, with the crispy, tasty edges achieved by frying the cooked pork once it is done and pulled apart into small pieces. • About 3 lbs. pork Boston butt – boneless pork shoulder • ¼ cup vegetable oil • 1 orange – quartered • 1 stick cinnamon – broken into 3 or 4 pieces • 1 medium onion – quartered • 2 Tbsp. kosher salt • 2 large cloves garlic – peeled and cut in half • Ground black pepper – liberally sprinkled • 1 Tbsp. ground oregano • 1 tsp. ground cumin (comino) or cumin seed Cut the pork into 2-3-inch cubes; do not trim off fat. Sprinkle the pork cubes with the salt and pepper. Place the cubed meat tightly in the bottom of your slow cooker. Try for a single layer of pork. Drizzle the meat with the vegetable oil. This is just to prevent drying. Cover the pork with the other ingredients, squeezing some juice from the orange. Set your slow cooker to high and cook for at least 3 hours, until the pork is tender and falling apart. Try to maintain a temperature of about 208 degrees. When the pork is tender, remove the orange, cinnamon, garlic, and onion and discard. Remove the meat from the cooker and allow to cool until you can handle it. Reserve the pan liquid. When cool, use your fingers or two forks to shred the meat into small pieces, removing the excess fat. Place the meat in a bowl. Using a spoon, remove the fat from the reserved pan liquid. Discard the non-fat liquid. To achieve a nice, crispy finish to the pork, drizzle the reserved meat fat over the pork and fry the meat in a large frying pan at a high temperature, turning frequently. When the desired crispy edges are achieved, it is ready to serve. Serve in tortillas--corn or flour--topped with your favorite ingredients, such as cilantro, diced onion, diced tomatoes, guacamole, sour cream, shredded cheese, etc. 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.
www.welcomehomergv.com
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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • March 3, 2021 21
bon appetit! with
Executive Chef Bettina
T
Tolin
Classic Bolognese Sauce
his recipe is my adaptation of a very old classic Italian Bolognese recipe, the true origin of which I do not know. But I do know I was told to “not mess with it” too much, or really not at all. The best tip I can offer is to not use low-fat meat, don’t go leaner than chuck which is typically 80/20 and don’t drain or separate the fat – the sauce needs it. It's a meat sauce and thus the meat is the most critical component. If you reduce the fat content, you start to mess with chemistry of this beautifulness. This recipe is all about the reactions between with the fat content, the acidity of the tomatoes, the alcohol in the wine and the sugars in the vegetables along with the enzymes in the milk. Some additional tips, especially if you are cooking for more than two – consider doubling recipe and use 2 pounds of beef/pork & (veal if you can find it) blend, use 2 28 oz cans of diced plum tomatoes, with their juices. Finally, this sauce REALLY needs time, if you can give it 5 full hours, the better. Leave ~ 30 minutes of low and slow simmering time between each layer (milk, wine, tomatoes) it will be worth it. Trust me, it will be stunning after about 4 hours. Bon Appétit! • • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil • 3 tablespoons butter • ½ cup diced yellow onion • ⅔ cup diced celery • ⅔ cup diced carrot • 1 pound ground beef chuck (or ½ pound ground pork and ½ pound ground beef) • Kosher Salt • Black pepper, freshly ground
• 1 cup whole milk • Whole nutmeg • 1 cup quality dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc • 1½ cups San Marzano Italian plum tomatoes, diced, with their juice • 1 to 1 ½ pounds cooked pasta • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• • •
In a Dutch oven or large pot heat the oil and butter over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté, stirring until they become translucent. Then add the celery and carrot and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, stirring to incorporate. To the vegetables, add the ground beef (or pork and beef, if using), a healthy pinch of salt and freshly ground pepper. Break the meat up with a spoon, stirring well until the meat is cooked through. Add the milk and let it simmer gently, stirring frequently, until it has bubbled away completely. Add a few gratings of nutmeg and stir. Add the wine, let it simmer until it has evaporated, then add the tomatoes and stir thoroughly. When the tomatoes begin to bubble, turn the heat down so that the sauce cooks at the lowest of simmers. Cook, uncovered, for 3 hours or more, stirring from time to time. While the sauce is cooking, you will find that it begins to dry out some which is expected. Add 1/2 cup of water whenever necessary. At the end, however, no water should be left, and the sauce will be thick and rich. Taste and correct for salt. Toss the sauce with cooked drained pasta, adding some pasta water if necessary and serve with freshly grated Parmesan on the side. •
• • • • • • •
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: Pirate's Landing Restaurant
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March 3, 2021 • • • Welcome
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com
www.welcomehomergv.com
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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • March 3, 2021 23
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March 3, 2021 • • • Welcome
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com