The Donna Lions Club will host their 2nd Annual Gala Saturday, November 8, with dinner at 6 p.m. and a dance from 7 to 11 p.m. Music will be provided by Rewind.
It will be held at the Alamo Events Center, 811 Main St. There is a $50 donation for entry, BYOB.
For more information contact Frank Alvarez at (602) 710-6069 or Polly Morales at (956) 739-0362.
It’s a fact of life: Aging causes “wear and tear” on the body’s musculoskeletal system, including natural deterioration of the cartilage and ligaments, resulting in chronic joint pain, stiffness and reduced flexibility among the elderly population.
About 70% of adults over 50 report joint pain at least occasionally, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevent, with osteoarthritis the most frequent cause of joint pain in older adults, caused by weakening of joint cartilage.
“A specialized connective tissue that plays crucial roles in the musculoskeletal system, cartilage provides support and protection by cushioning and absorbing shocks in the joints while protecting them from wear and tear,” says Saadan Niazi, MD, a family medicine resident with the South Texas Health System (STHS) GME Consortium. “As you age, it’s common to experience the natural deterioration of cartilage, which can cause pain, stiffness and a grating sensation as bones rub together. Lifestyle factors like high-impact activities, genetics and maintaining a healthy weight can influence how quickly this wear occurs.”
Read more: STHS and Prominence Health host special seminar for senior adults
It’s senior slow pitch softball time again in the RGV. The RGV (previously Ed Marten’s) Senior Texan Softball League is back for its 31st year. The league is open to all local Texans as well as Winter Texan senior men and women aged 55 years and older. The youngest player last year was 57 and the most experienced player was 85. Last year over 110 seniors played in the league and this year they hope to top that.
Maybe you can’t run as fast as you could 20 or 30 years ago. Maybe you can’t throw and catch like you once did, but it really doesn’t matter. A few of the past new players have never even played softball before, but it didn’t matter. The league has two different divisions for the senior men and women players that are based on individual skill levels, and not on age. Maybe you don’t have a glove or bat anymore? No problem, the league has equipment they will loan you.
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Historical Commission (THC) announces that veterans of the Armed Forces will be granted free entry to all state-operated historic sites on Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11.
Waiving entry fees for veterans provides the THC an opportunity to extend its appreciation for their service and sacrifice. The THC preserves and operates 42 state historic sites across Texas. To find out where they are located, go to https://thc.texas.gov/historic-sites.
Veterans receive reduced admission to the agency’s state historic sites year-round, and active-duty military members receive free admission year-round.
It’s that time again. As the Thanksgiving season approaches, many families and children are giving thanks for all their blessings and sharing those blessings with children in need by packing shoeboxes with Operation Christmas Child.
For more than three decades, these gift-filled showboxes have been delivered to millions of children around the world. Shoebox gifts prepared by generous donors and filled with fun toys, personal care items, and school supplies bring joy and hope to boys and girls who may have never received a gift of their own. These shoeboxes can be dropped off soon during National Collection Week, from November 17 through 24. More than 4,500 drop-off sites will soon be open.
Each year, nearly two billion birds migrate through the Lone Star State. Many of the migratory species use the night sky as a tool to navigate through the state and back to their homes and breeding grounds.
However, nighttime light pollution has become a growing challenge for many birds, leading to high rates of building strikes and migratory bird deaths. Lights Out, Texas! is an initiative focused on reducing bird losses by enlisting the help of Texans.
Texas Master Naturalist program training registration for the 2026 new class session is open through December 15. Weekly classes are scheduled January 8 through March 26, 2026. Registration is open to Winter Texans and residents of Cameron, Hidalgo and Starr counties over the age of 18 to join the South Texas Border Chapter that meets in Pharr.
Texas Master Naturalist is a unique educational volunteer program sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Sea Grant Program.
Read more: Registration open for Texas Master Naturalist training
Lots of good programs are in store for November at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. With the time change, the park is bringing back “Our Night Sky,” and evening gazing program. Weather permitting, it is looking like it should be a good night for it. Going into their peak season, the park will also be bringing back regular bird walks, which are always a great time for everybody. There will also be programs such as Wild Wellness, Archery, and more. Lastly, the park is starting a monthly speaker series to go through their peak months as well.
The Upper Valley Art League (UVAL) proudly announces its 90th anniversary, marking nine decades of fostering artistic excellence and community engagement in the Rio Grande Valley. Established in 1935, the group has been a cornerstone of the regional arts scene, celebrating the creative achievements of its members and inspiring generations of artists.
To commemorate this significant milestone, UVAL will host a special exhibition showcasing the members premier works of art, rich in imagery, composition, color, and style. The exhibition will feature works in photography, watercolor, ceramics, acrylic, mixed media, oil, mosaics, and fiber arts.
Read more: UVAL celebrates 90 years of enriching the community through art
Hello and welcome back to South Texas and the great Rio Grande Valley! We are excited that you have come back to visit us. And if it is your first time here – we want to wish you a great big welcome, too. You are going to love your time here.
If you aren’t in the Valley yet, we hope you find your way safely to your South Texas home and enjoy your stay with us this season.
We say it every year, and we hear it every year from our Winter Texan friends – the Valley is a great place to be. You can always find great people, great friends, great weather, good food, and a variety of things to do.
By Warren Davis
In the heart of Hidalgo County, the Palmview Municipal Library is showing what’s possible when vision meets dedication even with a small team and limited space. Opened just a year ago, on March 23, 2024, the library has already become a hub for learning, connection, and growth in this rapidly evolving Texas town.
Read more: Palmview Municipal Library celebrates one year of big community impact
Every fall, pumpkins steal the spotlight with multiple purposes: as decorations, for soups and in pies. But here’s a fun fact backed by science: this seasonal favorite is actually a fruit.
Joe Masabni, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service vegetable specialist and professor in the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences, said pumpkins are scientifically classified as fruits because of how they grow. Anything that starts from a flower is classified botanically as a fruit.
McAllen Public Library invites the community to Celebrate Our Roots & Stories at the 12th Annual South Texas Book Festival, happening Saturday, October 25 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Main Library (4001 N 23rd St., McAllen). Presented by H-E-B Helping Here, this free festival brings together authors, families, and readers of all ages for a full day of book talks, story times, book sales, meet and greets, music, food, games, and activities.
Read more: McAllen Public Library presents Annual South Texas Book Festival
Submitted by Haley Hull, Marketing Director, National Museum of the Pacific War
Fredericksburg, TX – The National Museum of the Pacific War is pleased to announce the relaunch of the Society of Sons and Daughters of WWII Veterans, a revitalized version of a long-standing program dedicated to honoring and preserving the legacy of those who served during World War II.
First established years ago to recognize descendants and families of WWII veterans, the Society has been restructured to provide a more streamlined and accessible experience. The revamped program now features a secure online portal where members can create and manage individual profiles for their veterans, upload photographs, share personal stories, and organize service records. These improvements address previous limitations in the application process and archival management, enhancing the Society’s ability to preserve these histories for future generations.
The McAllen Veteran's War Memorial committee will host a Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 26 at 10 a.m. The memorial is located next to the McAllen Perofrming Arts Center at 801 Convention Center Blvd.
“On Memorial Day, we remember those brave heroes who died in service to our great nation,” said Mayor Villalobos. “We are proud that our Texas Veterans War Memorial has their names of those soldiers from McAllen, the Rio Grande Valley and throughout South Texas inscribed here forever, for us to honor and thank them.”
