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Serving Winter Texans From Mission To South Padre Island Since 1987 Vol. 29, No. 18 © 2015-2016 Celebrate 40th annual BorderFest in Hidalgo
Celebrate the Spirit of Brazil as the 40th annual BorderFest takes place in Hidalgo Mar. 3-6. Mayor Martin Cepeda addressed a press conference at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo on Wednesday, Feb. 17. BorderFest announced reduced admission prices this year, with tickets for adults now prices at $10 at the gate. Visitors can buy a two-day pass for just $10 if purchased in advance before March 3. A three-day pass costs $15 a person. Veterans, active duty military & NationSee BORDERFEST pg. 24
World’s youngest female bullfighter to perform
Karla Santoyo, the Aztec Princess from Aguascalientes, Mexico, at age 20 is the youngest of the three active women bullfighters in the world. And she will be performing in the Santa Maria Bullring Sunday, Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. during the Winter Texan season’s Grand Finale. Santoyo is of the classical school of bullfighting and was the top performer in the world-class bloodless bullfights held in the Santa Maria Bullring in 2015, See BULLFIGHTER pg. 24
www.wttrgv.com
Thursday, February 25, 2016
RGV Quilt Guild Show draws over 1,000 entries
By Brittany Asbury The Rio Grande Valley Guild Quilt Show put on a display that filled the South Padre Island Convention Centre to capacity for two days. Over 1,000 quilts of all sizes as well as quilted pieces such as table runners, placemats, shirts, purses, and wall hangings zig-zagged in long rows through the main room, hung on the walls far above the vendors’ booths, and were variously displayed in side rooms. Fabrics, quilting supplies, quilt designs, Singer sewing machines, and Martelli tables and non-slip cutting shapes filled various booths along with even more quilts and quilt samples to view. The Best of Show winner was “A Primitive Garden” by Nathalie Anderson and Bernie Gee. This Wall Hanging quilt also took first place for the Wall Hanging category, and was created both by hand sewing and applique and the use of a track-mounted long arm machine. Second place in the xxxxxxxxxxx Wall Hanging category went to Terry DaFirst Place - Twin, The Fish Quilt, by Jean Cline and Jane Hair vis’ “A View thru the Window,” while Lila Helm’s “Visions” took third place. Terry Davis with second place. Illusions,” while Judy Brown took second The Crib category winners were “BaThe Lap quilt category winners had place with “Heavenly Days.” by’s 1st Year” by Judy Bergman with first Terry Davis taking first and third places See QUILT pg. 4 place, and “Diamonds Are Forever” by with “Two Fabric Bargello” and “Convex
Leslie Blasing named Entertainer of the Year
Gordy and Debbie Wensel won Duet Musical Group of the Year for the fifth consecutive year at the Valley Star Awards.
By Kathy Olivarez The Valley Star Awards, created and produced by Robert and Billie Ferguson with the assistance of the Winter Texan Times, was once again a terrific show with lots of great entertainment preceding the announcements of entertainers voted by Winter Texans to be their favorites during the winter season. The 2016 show was held Saturday, Feb. 20, at Mission Bell Resort. Leslie Blasing was named Female Vocalist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year, Unfortunately for Leslie, there was an accident on the bridge coming from South Padre Island that shut down traffic for several hours and she was unable to come. Gordy and Debbie Wensel accepted the awards for her. Bill Chrastil was named Male Vocalist of the Year, Goldwing Express was awarded Family Musical Group of the Year, and the award for non-related Musical Group of the Year went to Razz Ma Tazz, a musical performing group from Nikki Rowe
High School. For the fifth time in a row Gordy & Debbie won Duet Musical Group of the Year. Renaissance Rockers once again captured the award for Rock & Roll Band, while Louis Gomez & Texas Country won Country Western Band of the Year. The award for Novelty or Comedy Act went to Bernie & Red, Gospel Group of the Year to 4 His Glory, and the award for Small Variety Show of the Year went to Walter Plant. The first entertainer to perform was Johnny Ray Gomez, an accordion player from Omaha Nebraska. He put in a lively show with lively polkas and did a segment with a silver glove like Michael Jackson’s and a boxing glove like Rocky’s. He sang songs like “Yakety Yak,” “Let’s Twist Again,” Pretty Woman,” and an entertaining tongue twister called, “Sarah, Sarah.” The next entertainment group was See STAR AWARDS pg. 30