MARCH 6, 2024 www.wintertexantimes.com 2 WINTER TEXAN TIMES 1217 N. Conway, Mission, Texas 78572 (956) 580-7800 www.wintertexantimes.com © Copyright 2023-2024 by Nexus Publishing LLC, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without express written permission of the publisher. The Winter Texan Times is not responsible for errors or omissions in advertising. In the event of an error in an ad or omission of an ad, the newspaper’s financial liability is limited to the cost of the ad in questions. The newspaper is not responsible for any other damages, tangible or intangible. Typically a make-good ad or re-rescheduled ad is considered to sufficiently meet the newspaper’s responsibility. Dan Brunson Publisher dan@wintertexantimes.com Carina Brunson Editor carina@wintertexantimes.com Anastasia Brunson Office Manager anastasia@wintertexantimes.com Published by Nexus Publishing LLC Parks Calendar: Items must be open to the public activities in the parks only and must be submitted by park owners, managers, or activity directors. We do not accept listings for reviews, workshops, lessons, or dance classes. Please include all pertinent information, a contact person, and contact phone number. Submission deadline is Thursday 5 p.m., the week prior to the publication date. Send to Winter Texan Times, 1217 N. Conway Ave., Mission, Texas 78572 or email to parkscal@wintertexantimes.com. News: We are always looking for news about events, organizations, exhibits, fundraising, and more, from parks, chambers, cities, museums, and other venues. You are welcome submit your news items, photos of recent park activities, or news story ideas about your park or park residents. Please include all pertinent information, a contact person, and contact phone number. Submission deadline is Thursday 5 p.m., the week prior to the publication date. Send to Winter Texan Times, 1217 N. Conway Ave., Mission, Texas 78572 or email to news@wintertexantimes.com. Events Calendar: Items must be open to the public. Please include all pertinent information, a contact person, and contact phone number. Submission deadline is Thursday 5 p.m., the week prior to the publication date. Send to Winter Texan Times, 1217 N. Conway Ave., Mission, Texas 78572 or email to news@wintertexantimes.com. Reunions: We feature reunions and meetings that are happening throughout the Valley. We hope that if you are having such a meeting, you will send the information to us so we can help you spread the word. Please include all pertinent information, a contact person, and contact phone number. Submission deadline is Thursday 5 p.m., the week prior to the publication date. Send to Winter Texan Times, 1217 N. Conway Ave., Mission, Texas 78572 or email to reunions@wintertexantimes.com. www.wintertexantimes.com By Maple Frye Bonham’s Bears is an all-volunteer group based at Green Bay South. We make teddy bears and donate them to first responders and children support organizations. On February 15, we gave away 375 teddy bears to eight organizations. Mama Bear is Rachel Carter. We asked the organizations about their work and how our teddy bears helped. Here are their comments. Harlingen Fire Department. At accidents and fires, children are distraught. Every fire truck has teddy bears. We give them to children to comfort them and distract them while we assess the children’s injuries. Harlingen Police Department. Much of what the Harlingen Fire Department said applies to our work as well. We deal with children in school settings as well as in patrol settings. La Feria Fire and Police Department. The departments were unable to attend the official giveaway, but they did receive an allotment of teddy bears. 484th District Juvenile Court, Honorable Judge Adela Kowalski-Garza. Texas can prosecute children as young as 10 years old and the system is harsh. Children are arrested as “domestic terrorists” when they make threats to avoid going to school. Children are arrested for self-medicating with drugs because they are neglected and ill. Children are undressed and photographed to prove bruises were incurred before and not during detention. Children may appear before me in chains and shackles, said the judge. But Texas’ philosophy is that we want the children to know we can help them. I have a comfort dog named “Peanut,” whose wagging tail and presence brings smiles. We have a psychologist who offers guitar lessons and music therapy. Released detainees and their families are shown into a room that my court bailiff, Juan Ramirez, and I put together. We give them gifts of children and adult books in English and Spanish and we give them teddy bears. Loaves and Fishes, Ruben Garza, head of the Raymondville branch. I’d like to thank all of the agencies, police departments, and the Honorable Judge Adela Kowalshi-Garza for her dedication and commitment to the children. We’ve worked with all of these agencies over the years, and we appreciate their dedication to the children and families during these trying times. Through our Family Emergency Assistance program, we have helped many families get through difficult times. We appreciate the Bonham Bears’ effort and dedication to this mission. We see how excited and happy your teddy bears make the children feel See BEARS pg. 20 Bonham’s Bears Annual Teddy Bear Giveaway Rachel Carter and Ronald McDonald House Charities South Texas Miriam Gelman. Courtesy photo
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