EDINBURG, TX — South Texas in the 20th century was knitted by produce companies that reflected the region’s agricultural and social tapestry. However, the decline in the 1980s and 1990s left many of them closing their doors, leaving behind a legacy of culture and work force.
McAllen, TX – The International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS) has announced its 4th Annual Members’ Juried Art Show (MJAS), an exhibition that offers local artists the chance to display their work in a professional museum setting. Running from October 5, 2024, through January 5, 2025, this exhibition will showcase the diverse talents of the community and celebrate the creative spirit of IMAS members. This year’s exhibition which fosters community development is supported in part by the Rotary Club of Edinburg.
Read more: IMAS invites community to participate in 4th Annual Members’ Juried Art Show
Prepare for an unforgettable evening as McAllen invites the community to experience “Noche De Vino: A Night at the Opera,” a dazzling celebration of wine, food, and music that promises to be the highlight of the season. This highly anticipated event will take place on Saturday, September 21, 2024, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the McAllen Convention Center, 700 Convention Center Blvd. Presented by H-E-B, this enchanting night will blend the sophistication of the opera with the joy of giving back to the community.
Did you know Quinta Mazatlán was built in 1935? Special guest, Victor De Leon, will be at Quinta Mazatlán, September 12th, to further educate us on the history of Quinta Mazatlán. Hear about the tales of the families that built and lived at Quinta Mazatlán for a total of 60 years before the City of McAllen purchased the estate and opened it in 2006 as a mansion with a mission, this Thursday Night Live.
Read more: The Three Families of Quinta Mazatlan history tour with Victor DeLeon
by Ashley Vargo
If you feel like you’re the victim of itchy mosquito bites more often than others, it may not be all in your head.
Sonja Swiger, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologist, professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Entomology and self-proclaimed mosquito magnet from Stephenville, said there is some scientific evidence that mosquitoes have preferences for who to land and feed on.
Read more: Are you a mosquito magnet? Science says you might be
The March Native Plant Project meeting will be held on March 26 at 7:30 p.m. It will be held at the Valley Nature Center in Weslaco. The guest speaker will be Camille Rich. She is the owner and steward of a small piece of endangered Tamaulipan thorn scrub located in the South Texas Sand Sheet in Northwestern Hidalgo County.
One of her passions includes documenting the species that visit a watering hole that she installed in 2008 for the sole purpose of supporting the wildlife on her property. The data she collects from this water feature supports and guides her decisions regarding ranch management practices that include the protection of threatened and endangered native plants and other wildlife.
Since December, Rock & Roll music jams have been standard this season each Friday from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Since February 2024, Country/Gospel jams are new to this park each Tuesday from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Each jam is managed by the park’s activity director, Jim Stiles. The ‘balanced sound system’ is a feature designed by sound engineer Craig Clampitt allowing each musician to be easily heard over the supporting music generated by the two outstanding stage bands. Each jammer is announced by the jam’s MC David Harston for the country jam and Cathy Squier for the rock & roll jam.
The rock & roll jams feature the Esquiers Band with Cliff Squier on drums, Claude Babin on keyboard, Allen Cully on rhythm guitar and vocals, Gilles LaFlamme on lead guitar and vocals and RK Welander on bass guitar and vocals. The music played is primarily classic rock & roll from the 1950’s to 1970’s.
During this season, there were 26 individual musician jammers who performed with the five-piece band. On average, there are seven to 10 musicians who routinely perform each week.
The new six-piece band includes Andy Anderson on lead guitar, Howard Bedient on keyboard/piano, Allen Cully on bass guitar, Dale Eichor on rhythm guitar, Troy Reese on drums and Rich Rohrback on pedal steel guitar. The music played is primarily traditional country-gospel classics.
Read more: Country/Gospel and Rock & Roll Jammin’ at Paradise Resort Estates
What beautiful weather we are having. It’s time to go outdoors and enjoy our beautiful South Texas weather. Maybe it is for a game of golf or just a walk around the block, or better yet, maybe a stroll on the beach. Whatever – enjoy our beautiful Spring.
As I sit at my desk, I often longingly look out the window at my back yard just to admire the lacey, emerald green leaves on the graceful mesquite trees. The view brings back memories of my growing up in central Texas. I knew for sure when the mesquite leafed out that Spring was just around the corner.
Now, unfortunately, for those of us who live here year-round, it means that very soon our Winter Texan friends will be packing up and heading home. We will miss you terribly as you bring such a refreshing, enriching culture to us.
As you drive home, enjoy the scenic beauty of Texas when the wildflowers are beginning to poke their little heads above ground. Just a few weeks ago, I drove to Falfurrias, just a bit more than an hour north. Of course, the fields were ablaze with the earliest bloomers – the miniature yellow daisies that spring up in pastures. Hugging the roadsides were blankets of wild purple verbena.
The 35th Annual Texas Onion Fest is scheduled for Saturday, March 23, in downtown Weslaco, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. There will be live music, onion eating contests, shows, and more.
The Texas Onion Fest celebrates the development of the world-famous Texas 1015 Onion which was developed in Weslaco at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and is also the state vegetable of Texas. The name of the 1015 onion came from the suggested planting date, October 15.
By Barb Zanetti
Photos by Dennis Zanetti
Dr. Seuss would have loved looking over children’s shoulders as they worked to create “The Cat in the Hat” masks from paper plates, color crayons and glue. Or watching their One Fish, Two Fish red-bucket game where children fished for prizes at The Landmark on Tower, a unique Alamo restaurant that features a large courtyard bordered by several food trucks.
Read more: Winter Texans help The Landmark celebrate Dr. Seuss, reading
