The nativity scene is near completion. The Elon Musk-like “fantasy rocketship,” with detailed Russian scrawling is done.
There are many more exquisitely detailed sculptures sprawled under the large tent at Sandcastle Village and Trail, located on West Ling Street in the entertainment district on South Padre Island. Better yet, as curator Lucinda Wierenga said, “it's under the ferris wheel across from Louie's Backyard.”
Dawn Hardy is a self-described fierce competitor.
Watching her play confirms that unless you're watching the non-stop smile on her face when she's playing.
A former college athlete who has played volleyball, softball, and numerous other sports, it only took her a couple pickleball games back home in Topeka, Kansas to fire up those competitive engines.
“I love it,” said Hardy during the weekly pickleball mixer at Casa Del Valle in Alamo. “I especially love the friendships.”
On December 4, 2021, Mission Bell -Tradewinds RV Resort held their very first Golf Cart Rodeo. Several people from the park volunteered to be a team driving their golf carts through a pre-determined course on the parking lot. The part that made it so much fun was that the driver would be blindfolded, and the passenger would give the instructions on how to get through the course. Completion of the course was timed and those with the best times won prizes. Pylons were run over; judges were chased by the blind folded and a great time was had by all. They all agreed they'd like to do it again next year.
Collecting can tabs for the Ronald McDonald House has been ongoing at La Floresta Park in Mercedes for many years. This year, Rodger and Jean Vanderville from Manistique, Michigan, arrived at La Floresta Park with over 50 pounds of tabs collected from family and friends in their hometown. These were combined with some collected at La Floresta Park, and a total of about 68,740 individual tabs were taken to the Ronald McDonald House in Corpus Christi. The money from can tabs adds up and becomes a valuable donation to the Ronald McDonald House.
The Ronald McDonald Houses are located near children’s hospitals. Their mission is to provide a place for families to stay, who are far from home, so they can focus on the health of their child. They also assist families with travel and other expenses.
Now is a time to care and to share our time and our talents. Last month my interest was really aroused when I was lucky enough to participate in a trade show where a representative from our Rio Grande Valley Food Bank had a booth directly across from mine. I had often wondered exactly how our RGV Food Bank operates and here was my chance to learn more. Have my eyes been opened? I learned a lot. Now it is time to share some of that information. There is not room to share all that I learned so I will just hit the high points.
There are some Winter Texans at Casa del Sol that need your help. They are collecting donations to help the people affected by the tornadoes in KY. They are seeking monetary donations, although items are welcome as well. They have a semi-trailer that is loading stuff in NE to take to KY with the donated items.
There were communities that were completely destroyed - they need everything - said Lynn Clasen who is spearheading the effort. A big concern is that temperatures are dropping and these people need warm clothes and blankets - amongst other regular items.
Submitted by Monarchs Across Georgia Committee
We asked and, thankfully, you answered.
Now we need your help again.
Last winter, volunteers from across the Southeast and Gulf states provided more than 5,800 observations of monarch butterflies. This winter, the partnership of universities, agencies and other organizations called Monarchs Overwintering in Southeastern States is requesting the public’s continued involvement in reporting sightings.
