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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • October 21, 2020
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We’re just connecting the dots.
VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 2 • October 21, 2020 • • • your official connection to the rio grande valley • • •
hello FROM KRISTI
T
here is so much to see and do here in South Texas! While we know this season will be different, it will be different wherever we go, so we might as well enjoy winter in the sunshine! Each week, we will highlight a different place of interest in the Rio Grande Valley, and you can only see those places for yourself if you are here! Last week, we featured the National Butterfly Center. If you know me, you know I am a butterfly fanatic! But what you may have missed is that we also took that story one step further with a special segment on our YouTube channel. Each week, we’ll publish a story and have a special video component to go along with it! This week, we’ll take you to the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville. Escape for an afternoon and watch the animals--whether they’re playing or lounging. Every time I visit the Zoo, I see something different! While in Brownsville, don’t just make a beeline to the Zoo. There is so much to see and do in Brownsville that will keep you busy for days, if not weeks! We encourage you to get out and explore this season, safely and from a distance, of course! •
This new gorilla mom, Penney, cradles her surprise infant born August 2020 at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville.
Lots of Surprises at the Gladys Porter Zoo
THANK YOU TO OUR
2020-2021
SEASON SPONSORS
W
alk right into the Gladys Porter Zoo and you will meet a family of gorillas, one silverback and three females, each caring for a baby. The arrival of the latest baby was a complete surprise to Zoo staff. One Thursday morning in August, zookeepers discovered the newborn nestled with its mother, Penney, who had delivered her last baby approximately 10 years ago. A visitor could lose track of time at this first stop, and while that certainly would not be time wasted, there is much more to see at the Zoo. Nestled in the center of Brownsville,
We’re just connecting the dots,
Kristi
Story and Photos by Eryn Reddell Wingert
This Galapagos tortoise at the Gladys Porter Zoo is estimated to be between 80 and 100 years old.
SURPRISES AT GLADYS PORTER ZOO CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 >>
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October 21, 2020 • • • 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
Wanda Bousch by Rocio Villalobos
Alamo Park Resident Excited for More A
fter 35 years at Alamo Rose RV places no one has ever seen. It’s just Resort, Wanda Bousch is practically an adventure.” a Rio Grande Valley native. The When she’s not driving around, Converted Texan from Illinois has Bousch enjoys spending time at been at the park since it first opened home with her two cats, working on in 1985 and celebrated her 80th puzzles and talking on the phone and 90th--and plans to celebrate with people she’s befriended over her 100th--birthday with her resort the years. many of whom she has met through her philanthropic family. “I just make a lot of friends efforts. “I’m a wherever I go,” big supporter Bousch, 98, said. “As long as of nonprofits,” One of her Bousch said. “I like favorite activities it has a center line to give where I can is attending down the middle, see it’s going to do Valley Symphony we take it. some good for local Orchestra concerts. people.” Of course, she We have so much fun Last year, befriended its she was even members and seeing places no one crowned Alamo’s even sponsors the has ever seen.” Citizen of the Year. group’s maestro. “It didn’t “I have him over • Wanda Bousch • even get me a free every once in a parking place,” she while for sauerkraut because he’s from Poland,” Bousch joked, adding she was proud and thankful for the title. said. of Bousch’s favorite While COVID-19 has paused the Some are her birthday orchestra’s season, Bousch still memories finds ways to enjoy herself. She’s extravaganzas. explored many continents from Asia “It’s always a fun time; everyone to Europe and is now focused on remembers my birthday,” she said. “I’ll be 98-and-a-half next month, exploring the RGV. “On Sundays, a friend of mine but I don’t feel that old.” from down the street take turns She said though she enjoyed going out and driving around,” she planning her most recent milestone said. “We put in maybe 100 miles parties and making gifts for her going up and down the streets, going guests, she will let a friend plan her on little roads. As long as it has a 100th birthday bash, for which she center line down the middle, we already has friends from across the take it. We have so much fun seeing country confirmed to attend. •
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
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www.twitter.com @welcomehomergv
Tom Stocker tgstocker@gmail.com
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Pharr South Park Assists Area K-9 Officers with Training Exercise
Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • October 21, 2020
Methodology used measured value of living in the community and the desirability to live there
W
ednesday, October 8, officers from several Valley police departments converged on Pharr South with their drug-sniffing K-9 ‘officers’ for a training exercise. Officer Martinez, from Pharr, who heads up training for the K-9 teams, asked to use Pharr South because it would provide new and challenging locations and lots of different scents for the dogs. Small stashes of marijuana, heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy were hidden in locations about the park’s hall, card rooms, pool hall, and library and in several outdoor locations. Eight K-9 teams from Pharr, Donna, and Alamo participated in the exercise. Each team was required to locate all of the planted drugs. Watching them, it is obvious how excited they are to be working. Each dog exhibited a different personality, and they certainly have creative names, like Logan, Jemma, Roni, and Fonzi. Officer Martinez explained that the dogs train twice a month, and the activity frequently involves
Special to Welcome Home RGV
several Valley police departments. He explained that the dogs get used to all the usual hiding places at their home facility, so having the training at a new location was a valuable
experience. A big thank you to all who participated for the valuable service you provide to our communities! •
M
cAllen has been rated tops again by U.S. News & World Report, this time ranking #3 for Best Places to Live for Quality of Life in the U.S. in 2020-2021, which measures how satisfied residents are with their daily lives. U.S. News analyzed 150 metro areas in the United States to find the best places to live based on quality of life and the job market in each area, as well as the value of living there and people’s desire to live there. “This ranking is no surprise to anyone who lives in our great city of McAllen,” said McAllen Mayor Jim Darling. “Our City of McAllen administration and staff are some of the most creative, innovative, and dedicated employees who daily work to provide the best programs, projects, events, infrastructure. and services to ensure that all who live in McAllen are safe and healthy and enjoy all that our city has to offer. By working closely with the private sector, educational institutes, and medical services, McAllen becomes an attractive place to work, learn, and get healthy. Throw in all the fun things to do here, and I would say we
have the best place to live for quality of life anywhere!” According to the final report, McAllen was described as “…a vibrant metro area and a major center for retail, international trade, tourism, and manufacturing. A high quality of life, an abundance of medical facilities, and a young, bicultural community are additional draws.” Another highlight for the city was its warm environment--describing both the residents and the city’s mild temperatures, which is a huge draw for Winter Texans, who also help boost the local economy with millions of dollars. Also noted was McAllen’s proximity to Mexico and the close relationship it enjoys with Mexican Nationals who come to McAllen to shop and to enjoy other activities. The strong Hispanic culture celebrated in McAllen was yet another feature emphasized in the report. All of these elements were a McALLEN RANKS #3 BEST PLACES TO LIVE CONTINUED ON PAGE 15 >>
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>> SURPRISES AT GLADYS PORTER ZOO CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
the Gladys Porter Zoo is known for its animal preservation through education. As a member of the GPZ Education Department, Damian Hairston explains how teaching visitors about an animal’s purpose promotes conservation outside of the zoo. “There’s no way to be able to save or help anything without learning about it first.” Hairston has worked at the Zoo for 15 years, but he really grew up here. His mom, Collette Hariston Adams, has been with the Zoo almost since its inception. The Gladys Porter Zoo opened September 3, 1971. Today, the Zoo contributes to the conservation of various species, including the ocelot and southern white rhinoceros. Its research and preservation efforts are performed in partnership with various organizations around the world--and even closer to home with Sea Turtle, Inc. of South Padre Island and the Kemp’s ridley, the most endangered sea turtle in the world. At each stop on a recent tour, Hairston shares fascinating facts, including how the gaur, the world’s largest wild cattle species, secretes an oil that repels insects, how the hands of the pileated gibbon are perpetually hooked, allowing them to effortlessly suspend from branches and vines, and that Gladys Porter is the only zoo to house the harnessed bushbuck antelope. Hairston also takes the opportunity with visitors to dispel myths perpetuated by television. For example, tortoise shells are attached to the animal’s skeletal structure; they can’t separate from their shells, like some cartoons have suggested over the years. Parts of the tour follow along natural and manmade waterways, adding to the lush botanical landscape. When its namesake, Gladys Porter, designed the Zoo, Hairston says, she wanted to incorporate cage-free exhibits and figured out ways to house animals using the waterways as barriers instead of fencing. Hairston likes to inject humor along with facts and trivia during his tours. While stopped at the dromedarycamel exhibit, he shares that this one-humped camel originated from a desert environment, as opposed to the two-humped Bactrian camel (not on exhibit) from a tropical climate. Then he adds, “There’s also a three-humped camel, but it’s just pregnant.” When asked how to identify a certain animal, Hairston says he simply points to the plaque at the specific exhibits. A mid-point of the tour is a serene, multiple-flow waterfall, a popular spot for selfies and group photos, says Hairston. The falls mark
A female gorilla holds her infant in the gorilla exhibit at the Gladys Porter Zoo.
Are zebras white with black stripes or black with white stripes? The answer is black with white stripes, according to Damian Hairston with the Gladys Porter Zoo Education Department.
Chilean flamingos are lighter in color than the more vibrant Caribbean flamingos. Both types are on exhibit at the Gladys Porter Zoo.
The Gladys Porter Zoo is a lush, botanical oasis near downtown Brownsville and is owned by the City of Brownsville.
the inlet of a natural resaca that connects to the Zoo’s waterways. Another special feature during the tour is the colobus-monkey crossway, an enclosed, elevated pathway that stretches from the mammals’ old exhibit to its relatively new one, and the newly created Otterbahn exhibit, which opened in August 2020 and houses North American River Otters. New to the Zoo are a pair of warthogs. A true highlight of the tour is handfeeding the giraffes, an unforgettable hands-on experience. To plan your trip to the Gladys Porter Zoo, visit gpz.org. •
The statuesque Stanley crane is the national bird of South Africa.
To take a virtual tour of the Gladys Porter Zoo, visit the Welcome Home Rio Grande Valley YouTube channel.
www.welcomehomergv.com
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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • October 21, 2020
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October 21, 2020 • • • Welcome
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com
www.welcomehomergv.com
by Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist
September’s
rains provided a tremendous boost to our fall kaleidoscope of butterflies. What’s rain got to do with it? September rains create a burst of blooms in our native plant communities, just in time for our annual October butterfly surge. More blooms, more butterflies. The opposite is true in drought years. No rain, no blooms, no butterflies; they go elsewhere to seek nectar for survival. Just three or four plants are enough to attract a variety of butterflies. Visit a local nursery or native plant grower and buy native plants that are blooming now. Water them well when planting. If it is unseasonably hot, water the new plants every day for a week or so to help them establish. Oranges, yellows, reds, and purples are colors blooming now but plants aren’t created equally in the nectar department. A useful spreadsheet to download for Rio Grande Valley butterfly native nectar plants is at the following National American Butterfly Association link: https://naba.org/chapters/nabast/ plants_info.pdf. Nectar categories are excellent, good, fair, and poor. Two popular red-blooming plants are scarlet sage (Salvia coccinea), listed as good nectar, and Turk’s cap (Malvaviscus drummondii), with an excellent nectar rating. These plants love full sun to partial shade, will bloom through winter, and are
Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist
ardent self-propagators. They attract hummingbirds as well as butterflies. Plant them where you can quietly observe the winged visitors. Great kiskadees have been known to hop up and pluck a round white fruit from a Turk’s cap bush. Another small native shrub in the excellent nectar category is purple-blooming fall mistflower (Chromolaena odorata), also called crucita. This is a must-have plant to bring in multiple species of butterflies. As a matter of fact, if you have room for only one plant, make it a fallblooming mistflower; it comes into its blooming glory in October, attracting heliconian butterflies, patches, hairstreaks, skippers, queens,
Artist Rene Lopez welcomes you to the Sticks & Bones Trail at Quinta Mazatlan with his She’s Smiling calavera sculpture. Molded and built in McAllen, this unique piece sits front and center as you make your way up to the Sticks & Bones Trail. The educational trail is open through November 14.
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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • October 21, 2020
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emperors, fritillaries, swallowtails, and more. Plant in full or partial sun. The shrub can get ungainly after the blooms are spent, but it is easily cut back or removed. It self-propagates if kept long enough for the seeds to mature. Consider one or more of the prolificblooming lantanas for excellent nectar. Multi-colored in orange, yellow, and red, Texas lantana (Lantana urticoides) adds vibrant color to the landscape. Pink- and yellow-blooming West Indian lantana (Lantana camara) offers a more pastel palette. Velvet lantana (Lantans velutina) has white blooms. It is a more compact and shapely shrub than Texas or West Indian lantana, and it will bloom well into the winter. Another white-blooming, small shrub, heliotrope (heliotropium angiospermum) is an all-time butterfly favorite. drawing a rabble of small butterflies. It has an excellent nectar rating. On a sunny day, heliotrope, also called scorpion’s tail, will be busy with white peacock butterflies, common mestras, little yellow sulphurs, duskywings, metalmarks, checkerspots, and blues. Heliotrope blooms in all seasons and readily reseeds itself. Once established, native plants require little care and can survive with minimal water. For a list of local native plant growers visit https:// rgvctmn.org/rgv-plants/ . •
Artist Cele Castillo created Butterfly Lady for the Sticks & Bones Trail at Quinta Mazatlán. Once again, Monarchs are on their long journey to Central Mexico. The trail is open through mid-November. Scavenger Hunt sheets and goodie bags are waiting for the kids, thanks to McAllen Public Utility. Have fun exploring and learning about bones.
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October 21, 2020 • • • Welcome
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com
Special to Welcome Home RGV
S
outh Padre Island is home to a collection of castles called the Sandcastle Trail. Around two dozen sand sculptures are located throughout the Island, sculpted by professional sand artist--some local and some from as far away as Singapore! Many of these sculptures are traditional castles, while others are themed for the businesses and organizations where they are located. The City of South Padre Island set forth initiatives to rebuild, sustain, and grow key sandcastle exhibits on the Island, which includes the Sandcastle Trail. Lucinda “Sandyfeet” Wierenga and her team work yearround on touching up the existing sand sculptures. The Sandcastle Trail gives Island visitors the opportunity to see South Padre Island’s brand of local art. The sand sculptures can be found in front of various businesses, and a map is available to show the exact locations of the art. A map can be found on sopadre.com or at the
South Padre Island Visitors Center (321 Padre Boulevard). Want more of a hands-on experience? Take a sandcastle lesson with a master sand sculptor who will help you build the sandcastle of your dreams. 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 on the Sandcastle Trail or to join in on the fun, visit sopadre.com. •
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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • October 21, 2020
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Victoria Palms Rolling Happy Hour Special to Welcome Home RGV
O
nce again, Victoria Palms RV Resort in Donna brought the music to its residents with Rolling Happy Hour, Monday, October 12. Leslie Blasing provided the entertainment for the evening, singing hits from a flatbed
trailer pulled by a decorated golf cart. The Rolling Happy Hour drew followers and brought people out onto porches, driveways, and the curb to listen and dance. •
Special to Welcome Home RGV
T
he resident dolphins in the Laguna Madre here in South Texas are bottlenose dolphins. ‘Fin’ fact of the day: Though they typically stay near the surface of the water, dolphins can dive up to 1000 feet deep! Thanks to American Diving for sharing these “fin”tastic photos with Welcome Home RGV! •
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
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October 21, 2020 • • • Welcome
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com
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THROUGH
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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • October 21, 2020 11
ERYN’S LENS
Exclusive to Welcome Home RGV Photos: Eryn Reddell-Wingert
Historic Brownsville October 2020
There is almost too much to see in historic downtown Brownsville! All the more reason to visit the area many times. Be sure to check out the Old City Cemetery, which includes historical markers indicating persons of note, the Historic Brownsville Museum, housed in a Spanish Colonial Revival building, and the Brownsville Historical Association, home to a fascinating example of German automobile engineering.
News from Pickpocket Gene Pickpocket Gene is a certified identity-theft risk-management specialist. He helps people reduce their risk of becoming a victim.
More on Phone Scams to Avoid Special to Welcome Home RGV
We all hate the daily scam phone
calls and robocalls. The bad guys are out to trick us into giving them our precious information and money. They either lull us into a false sense of trusting them, or they try to badger us and threaten us into giving them what they want. Remember telephone “spoofing” from last week’s article? The caller ID might show the call is coming from “Social Security Office,” “Medicare,” or “Lottery Office,” but crooks can purchase a program to make the Caller ID look like whoever they want you to believe is calling. Social Security Scams For all these calls, the caller pretends to be from the Social
Security Administration office. They claim that they need to verify some information to make sure you are the rightful owner (like your date of birth, social-security number, mother’s maiden name, and sometimes your bank account number). Since many seniors have their social-security checks direct deposited, they say they need this information. Never give out personal information over the phone if you aren’t the one initiating the call. Update Information Scam: You receive a call from a person saying he/she needs to update your records to continue receiving your social security checks. Suspended Account Scam: The caller will tell you that, due to
suspicious activity on your account, it was suspended. They can help you get it restored. Here is a sample of what is said: “Hello! This call is from the Social Security Administration. We called today to let you know we have your social-security number suspended due to suspicious activity on your account the past few weeks. If you wish to challenge your case, press “1.” Many people press “1” and are connected to the scammer, who asks for the private information mentioned above. In Canada, the same type of fraud happens. It is called the Social Insurance Number Scam. Social Security Stimulus Check Scam: The caller tells you he/she needs to verify your information to get your
stimulus check to you. Increase the Amount You Receive from Social Security Scam: The caller claims he/she can get you an increase in the amount of your monthly check. The caller either asks for information to use for identity theft or a small fee for the service of increasing your benefits. Since the cost is inexpensive, many seniors send in the money. Report the scam online at oig.ssa. gov or contact the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213. Bottom line--don’t give out your personal information, especially over the phone, when you cannot be sure who the caller is. Be aware! Be safe! And don’t become a victim! •
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October 21, 2020 • • • Welcome
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saving you more!
COUPON
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3 $ 00 3
with Chaplain Melanie Wilson
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
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What
• Who is on Your Team? •
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 of 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 with his teachings on Christianity? Or what about taking someone as part of your team whose main goal was to actually kill you? Would you feel comfortable with the not-so-obvious pictures I selected for you, or would you rather go with what you may consider the safe and most sensible route? Let’s take a look and see what my 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 his own to accomplish any of the tasks set before him; point made …. God got all of the glory.
Chaplain Melanie Wilson serves with. her husband, Chaplain Scotty Wilson, at Breeze Lake Campground and Sunset RV Park, both in Brownsville. They are an energetic couple who loves serving the Lord. Check out their worship times on our website at https:// crmintl.org.
And as amazing as His choosing them was, the equally amazing faith they had in Him to take on all those seemingly impossible tasks, with the knowledge in their hearts and minds, that they 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 Holy-Spirit led. I pray we all stop looking for elites, educated, strong, etc. to make things happen for us but rather seek the face of the Lord, go to Him in prayer and let Him build our team. If memory serves me right, the last one He put together now allows us to have eternity in Heaven, if we just believe in Him, ask Him into our hearts, 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. •
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•• • sp tted RGV in the
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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • October 21, 2020 13
Exclusive to Welcome Home RGV Photo by Eryn Reddell Wingert
McAllen - April 2020 T
he historic Cine El Rey theater in downtown McAllen often shares timely messages on its marquee. In April 2020, the message read, “Si se puede.” The saying is a rally cry that translates to “Yes, it can be done!” or “Yes, you/ we can!” •
Alamo Palms Food Truck Special to Welcome Home RGV
R
esidents at Alamo Palms in Alamo had the opportunity to dine ‘al fresco’ with South-Texas-style barbecue from Q’in It Up BBQ’s food truck last week! Tables were set up in the parking lot six feet apart,
and residents wore masks. Music by Juan provided great entertainment. Activities and social gatherings might look a little different this year, but they are sure thinking outside the box at Alamo Palms! •
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October 21, 2020 • • • Welcome
SAVORY TREATS
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com
SWEET CRAVINGS
RECIPE CONNECTION
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 • • •
Iowa
produces the best pork in the world—lean, yet tasty, inexpensive, and versatile. This recipe is not for that good Iowa pork but for a variation--little sausages rolled in bacon and glazed.
Iowa Piggies • 1 pound little smokies • 1 pound good lean bacon, thinly sliced • 1 cup brown sugar (maybe more) Cut the bacon slices in half; you’ll need one half for each piggy. Wrap each little smokie in a piece of bacon and secure with a toothpick. Place the brown sugar in a shallow dish and roll the piggies around in it so the bacon is coated with sugar. Place on a parchment-covered baking pan and roast in a 375-degree oven for 25-30 minutes. The bacon is raw, so it needs to cook through and crisp to your liking, but the piggy is already fully cooked. At the half-way mark, roll the piggies over to make sure the bacon on the bottom gets cooked. You can also do these on the grill, but they need pretty close watching as the brown sugar will melt and burn more quickly from the direct heat. If you use the grill, put the piggies on one of those perforated grill pans for better control and to prevent any of them from falling through the grill grate. Serve hot and let your sociallydistanced guests help themselves…and they will! • 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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Salmon Log
Submitted by The Junior League of McAllen, Inc.
Makes 3 cups • 1 (1 lb.) can salmon • 1 teaspoon horseradish • 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened • 1 teaspoon liquid smoke • 1 tablespoon lemon juice • ¼ teaspoon salt • 2 teaspoons grated onion • ½ cup chopped pecans
Drain and flake salmon. Add cheese, lemon, onion, horseradish, liquid smoke, and salt. Mix well. Chill overnight. Shape into log. Chill 2-3 hours longer. Sprinkle pecans on waxed paper and roll log in pecans. Chill until served. 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.
www.welcomehomergv.com
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Welcome Home WINTER TEXAN • • • October 21, 2020 15
McAllen International Airport hosting Somos and Día de Muertos Exhibits Special to Welcome Home RGV
M
cAllen International Airport (MFE) announces its partnership with the Consulate of Mexico in McAllen for the photography exhibit Somos by Mexican artist Mauricio Silerio. Somos is a collection of 18 photographs that depict places, traditions, people, historic landmarks, and Mexico’s rich culture. The Somos photography exhibit is on display until November 9 in the McAllen International Airport lobby. “McAllen is an international city, and having these art expressions at the airport reminds us of the blend of culture and values that we share with Mexico and other Latin American countries” said McAllen Mayor James E. Darling. “We recognize the historical ties that our city has with the Hispanic community during National Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrate those ties not only during this designated time but also every day of the year.” Additionally, the Día de Muertos altar exhibit, a featured installation from the Mexican Consulate honoring passed loved ones, will be on display in the McAllen International Airport Lobby (located South of the CNBC Store inside MFE) starting October 29 and running through November 9. The virtual opening ceremony will take place Thursday, October 29, at 9:30 a.m. via Facebook Live @McAllenAirport. For more information or for event reminders, please join the Facebook event at
https://fb.me/e/1bHM4nckv. “Our relationship with Mexico is important to the City of McAllen,” said McAllen City Manager Roel “Roy” Rodriguez, P.E. “Our RioGrande-Valley border has a different dynamism than other border regions. We keep close ties with Mexico, not just economic but we also share traditions, family, and friends. McAllen has always welcomed shoppers, visitors, and investors that contribute to the local economy, and many times, these investors become McAllen residents.” “México, pluriétnico y pluricultural se reconoce y recrea así mismo en cada color de su paisaje, en su música y danza, en la riqueza de su gastronomía, en sus tradiciones, en su historia y en su porvenir” said the Consul of Mexico in McAllen, Froylan Yescas Cedillo. “Y en este proceso de introspección dialoga e interactúa con sus pares y también se reencuentra en los mexicanos que residen allende sus fronteras.” (Translation: Mexico, multiethnic and multicultural, recognizes and recreates itself in each color of its landscape, in its music and dance, in the richness of its gastronomy, in its traditions, in its history and in its future. And in this process of introspection, Mexico dialogues and interacts with its peers and is also reunited with Mexicans who reside beyond its borders). •
>> McALLEN RANKS #3 BEST PLACES TO LIVE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
part of the methodology used for McAllen to earn a Quality of Life score of 7.8. The proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, the many activities available at Town Lake at Fireman’s Park, and bird-watching were some of the nature activities highlighted as things to do in McAllen. Other key attractions mentioned in the report were the McAllen Public Library, “… the largest single-floor public library in the nation, offering everything from a children’s play area to an art gallery to a cafe…” and the metro area’s International Museum of Art & Science. Also gaining recognition were the community’s annual festivals, including the McAllen Holiday Parade and the Fiesta De Palmas, which draw residents together. McAllen’s low-cost of living, which is ranked as the least expensive metro areas in which to live, figured into the rating, as well. According to the report, residents spend less than the national median price on home purchases, as well as less than the national average on everyday
expenses like food, transportation, and heath care. McAllen’s short commute time of about 20 minutes is a draw, but also highlighted was the Metro McAllen public transportation intracity buses, which run seven routes throughout the metro area and offer paratransit services. The metro area’s bikeshare program, B-cycle, stationed in locations around the region, was highlighted as a low-cost publictransit option for citizens. The McAllen International Airport, serviced by major airlines including Aeromar, American Airlines, Allegiant Airlines, and United Airlines, and ground transport to other cities, provided by charter bus companies like Greyhound, were included as highlights of transportation options for residents. McAllen has also earned the following rankings from U.S. News & World Report: #136 for Best Places to Live; #65 for Best Places to Retire; #9 for Best Places to Live in Texas; and #17 for Safest Places to Live. •
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October 21, 2020 • • • Welcome
Home WINTER TEXAN • • • www.welcomehomergv.com