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Polka Worship Service celebrates 27 years

20220202 POLKS DSC 0962By Herb Moering

More than 250, mostly Winter Texans, braved drizzly weather Sunday, January 23, to come and worship the Lord that included singing polka melodies of familiar hymns at Our Savior Lutheran Church in McAllen.

The 27th annual Polka Worship Service had melodies like “Beer Barrel Polka” played to the words of the hymn “Come Let Us Worship,” or “The Happy Wanderer” to the hymn “He Lives.” Or how about “The Lichtensteiner Polka” for “Bless the Lord” and “The Blue Skirt Waltz” for the hymn “Faith of Our Fathers.”

Read more: Polka Worship Service celebrates 27 years

Wonderful woodcarvings created at La Floresta

20220202 Harry Seurkamp 01The La Floresta Park in Mercedes is filled with artists who bring with them many different talents and skills. One such artist is Harry Seurkamp, a woodcarver from Whitney, TX. Woodcarving is one of the oldest types of art.

Harry has always been into woodworking. After attending a carving show, his wife gave him a knife, a book, and a piece of wood, and signed him up for woodcarving classes. He was making box clocks at that time and thought carving would enhance them. Harry has been carving now for 30 years.

Read more: Wonderful woodcarvings created at La Floresta

17th Bi-Annual Winter Texan Survey

Every two years the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) and the Winter Texan Times partner to conduct the Winter Texan Survey. The survey serves as a census of the Winter Texan population and gathers data about the attitudes, behaviors and economic impact of Winter Texans in the Rio Grande Valley.

This week, the Winter Texan Times includes the Winter Texan Survey as an insert in the newspaper and we invite our readers to complete the survey, and in so doing, be entered in a drawing for one of three $200 cash prizes.

Read more: 17th Bi-Annual Winter Texan Survey

Entertainers shine at Showcase

20220112 20 Entertainers Showcases CBrunson IMG 6718Mission Bell’s Hall was full of clapping, cheering, singing, and music throughout the day during this year’s Entertainers Showcases. The showcases highlight entertainment that’s available to Valley activity directors throughout the Valley. This is the opportunity for activity directors to book well known entertainment and listen to some new entertainment as well that provide music for shows, dances, happy hours, and line dancing.

This year’s events saw some of the Valley’s favorites and had quite a few new groups and individuals too. All the entertainment received great feedback from the crowd. This is a show you will never see anywhere else.

Read more: Entertainers shine at Showcase

Senior Ambassadors are singing once again

20220126 CCF 000707The Senior Ambassadors Men’s Chorus is comprised of senior men from the Rio Grande Valley and many other locations around the USA and Canada. The members bring a broad range of musical experience and background to the group. The Senior Ambassadors motto is “Loving Life, Making Music.” Mr. Virgel Kroeker is in his 13th season as director of the chorus.

The Senior Ambassadors begin rehearsals in November and perform their musical selections in many RV parks and resorts throughout the Rio Grande Valley during the months of January, February, and March. The size of the chorus fluctuates from year to year.

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RGV Band back after Break

20220126 RGV Band for 2022dnewspaperSince 1998 the RGV Concert Band has been presenting six concerts each year to Valley residents from January through March. In addition, a Christmas Concert is given by “early arrivals” and a combined concert with vocal groups is given semi-annually in March.

This season after a break due to “covid,” the band members joyously began practice in November 2021, and presented a Christmas Concert in December. The band is currently giving concerts in 55+ parks throughout the Valley.

Read more: RGV Band back after Break

MHM Quilt Show exhibit is on

20220126 MHM Quilt Show GU 2683The Mission Historical Museum (MHM) Presents the 16th Annual Mission Quilt Show exhibit. The exhibit opened on Wednesday, January 12, and continues through Saturday, February 12.
Quilts will be exhibited in the Museum’s Post Office building (200 E Tom Landry). The quilts will be judged by a panel of independent judges, with ribbons awarded for first, second and third places in each category. Best-of-show and Viewers’ Choice ribbons will also be awarded.

Read more: MHM Quilt Show exhibit is on

Red Hatters plan Festival of Tables

20220119 Red Hatters Gelman Museum CourtesyThe Valley Red Hatters are currently planning their Festival of Tables to be held on Wednesday, February 23. The event will be held at Trophy Gardens beginning at 10 a.m.
The event is by advance sales only and space is limited. Tickets are $18 per person. RGV Red Hat Queen Council Members tickets should be purchased before February 3rd from Jan Bergman. Non-members must purchase their tickets before February 14th. Red Hat attire is required.

Read more: Red Hatters plan Festival of Tables

January 19, 2022 - Rina's Ramblings

It’s getting busy in the Valley. Things are picking up here and there with activities being held throughout the valley – just for you. I know everyone is still being really careful with things, but I also know that everyone is ready to get out and enjoy this great weather and being with friends when we can.

There is so much to do in the Valley that doesn’t involve being in close proximity to people to, so keep that in mind as well. Look at our issues from last year and see the many things we highlighted in the bigger cities in the Valley. I hope to highlight some of our smaller cities as well in some future publications.

The Valley is full of parks, birding centers, trails, museums, and so much more that we can take advantage of. It's just fun to get out every once in a while, to see the sights, or to visit somewhere you haven’t really noticed before.

Speaking of events though – the activity directors just had their first entertainers showcase event and the next one will be held this week. This is an opportunity for activity directors and park managers to hear some entertainment options and try to book them for their park. They get to listen to an entertainer for a few minutes that showcases their hits, or favorites.

It’s so much fun listening to these groups all in one place – getting a taste of a hopeful show in the future. We have some great entertainment that comes to the Valley to entertain and do shows for you. These entertainers really have some talent and enjoy what they do.

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Also thinking of events… we have been trying to get out a bit more as things are happening, but it’s so hard to get to everything. We would love to attend everything if we could, but it gets a little hectic with in office duties and getting to events.

So, please send us your photos and give us some information on what you are doing at your park. We love seeing what you are doing in your community. We love hearing about your trips, tours, meals, and other events y’all enjoy at your parks and around town.

We share what we can in our paper and online. Send photos, write ups, contact information, and story ideas to news@wintertexantimes.com.

Time Marches On

Starship SN9 High Altitude Flight Test 2Time marches on. If you were exposed to covid and quarantined, you may feel that time dragged on. It doesn’t have to drag on - now is the time to do all those things you have been planning to do but just never had time. Well, now you have time so let's get on with it.

You can take control and believe me - time will fly if you take time to complete all those projects. The very day that my daughter and I learned that we had been exposed, we were out in my car exploring. It had been a year since I had been down past Space X and to Boca Chica Beach. So off we went.

Read more: Time Marches On

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