March 26, 2025 - Rina's Ramblings

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Published: Thursday, 27 March 2025 13:14

This season has, once again, been a blast. We have a lot of fun when we are out and about with you, sharing your news, and hearing your stories.

I had the opportunity to hear many stories this year. What you see in the paper is sometimes just a bit of what is shared.

I keep learning how eager you are to help others, to be there for your friends, and to teach others how to do the same. It’s amazing to see the strength you have and watch you use your experiences to help the community you live in through service, teaching, and more.

We always enjoy sharing the stories of community service you do for your park, and for organizations, schools, and churches in your community. We get to see how thankful and how full of gratitude everyone is for your service – whether it be through volunteer work, making something, donating food, or any of the other multitude of ways you find to fulfill the need. We, and so many others, are so grateful to you.

We thank the activity directors and park managers for making sure you have something to do while you are here. They work endlessly to make sure there is entertainment, activities, and food – so much food – for you to have.

Our paper has been sharing these events year after year since 1987, and we love seeing the different types of activities, the new activities – like when pickleball came around – and all the fun you have. Your parks and community love having you here and making sure to keep you happy while you are visiting.

We want to thank you, our readers, park owners and managers, activity directors, and Wintertainers™ for the great community you have built here in the Rio Grande Valley. Without this community – without you – we would not have this opportunity to work and play in your community and bring your community newspaper to you every week from October through March.

Again, we had so much fun this year and look forward to an exciting season next year.

Thank you for this great season. We love our Winter Texans, and we pray for your health and safety as you travel back north – and on your return next season.

Stay safe and healthy, and hurry back next fall. We can’t wait to do this again!

March 19, 2025 - Rina's Ramblings

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Published: Wednesday, 19 March 2025 13:12

I can’t believe the season is almost over. The last few months seem to have gone way too fast. I have enjoyed seeing all the activities you have been participating in around town and in your parks. I am going to miss seeing those smiling faces and the fun photos.

We still have a few exciting things happening just before the majority of you start packing up and heading back north. You will see some of those events in this week’s paper.

One that seems to be enjoyed by many is the Texas Onion Festival held in Weslaco, where the 1015 onion was developed. They celebrate the success of the onion with a huge celebration.

The other big event is Tourist Day that will be held on March 21. This event is also held yearly to thank the many tourists that cross the border. Progreso and Rio Bravo throw out the red carpet for their winter visitors each year with entertainment and tons of fun.

Like I said, we enjoy seeing the things you do while in the Valley. You will see a couple of things featured in this issue too. You still have one more issue to share what you have done while visiting the Valley. We would love to share your photos with our readers. It lets them see all the fun they can have in the Valley.

You can send photos and information to news@wintertexantimes.com.

We love having you here and hope that you have had a great time and plan to visit again. Let us know what brings you here, what you enjoy the most about the Valley, your park, or anything else. We would love to hear from you.

~ Rina

March 12, 2025 - Rina's Ramblings

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Published: Wednesday, 12 March 2025 13:11

It’s been one heck of a week. We have been busy getting everything ready for our end of season issues. We just had the Winter Texan Fiesta last week and it was a blast – it got warm, but it was fun. We were out there wishing that the breeze had stayed a little longer as the clouds parted, and the sun came out.

I can’t believe we only have two more issues after this one. This one is one of our special editions. It is our Take Home Edition. In it we feature why so many Winter Texans choose the Rio Grande Valley as their home away from home. You can find stories about the many reasons why the Valley is a favorite and why you keep coming back year after year.

Also in this issue, you will find a submission that Mission Bell/Tradewinds featured at their park. They recently asked their residents to submit what they thought a Winter Texan was. We were given permission to use the winner that was published in their newsletter.

As a reminder – today is the deadline to get in votes for your favorite golf course. The past three weeks we featured stories about each course in the Valley which you can find online. You can also find the ballot to vote for your favorite online.

I hope you enjoy this issue and continue to share your stories and photos of what you love about the Rio Grande Valley. We love hearing from you and seeing all the fun you have. We also enjoy spending some of those fun times with you.

We always enjoy seeing the photos of your activities and even going through our archives and seeing your happy faces and all the fun you have. We will miss you as most of you start making your trek back north and look forward to seeing you again next year.

If you have something to share, please send it soon so we can share it before the season is over. Send submissions to news@wintertexantimes.com.

~ Rina

February 12 - Rina's Ramblings

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Published: Wednesday, 12 March 2025 13:06

Hello everyone! It’s been a little busy here at the office. We were gearing up for the big event that is today, and the season is really in full swing now – getting ready to taper off in a few weeks though.

We have the Valley Star Awards today, Winter Texan Fiesta is in March, and there are many other things in between and throughout the month of March too. It’s almost the time of year when you start making your travel plans back to your summer home and cities around the Valley hold functions thanking you for spending some time with us.

We truly are thankful for you here at the Winter Texan Times. You not only give us something to do, but you entertain us, you share your wisdom, and you share your vibrance for life. You also let us be a part of your lives for half the year, and we enjoy every minute of it…. Well, the business part of it isn’t all it’s cracked up to be sometimes, we’re more in it for the fun.

And it’s fun that you have been having around the Valley. I see Facebook posts of you at dances, jams, and other events throughout the Valley.

We have been able to share some of your fun stuff. This issue highlights a big line dance bash that was held in January. Now, that’s something I could get into. I would need a refresher on a few and I have seen there are so many more dances to learn that weren’t around when I was hanging out at the local honky tonk.

It’s fun seeing all the fun you are having. We love seeing photos and sharing your stories.

If you have anything you would like to share, send it to us at news@wintertexantimes.com.

March 5, 2025 - Rina's Ramblings

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Published: Wednesday, 05 March 2025 13:10

The Valley weather has surely been testing us. This week it’s gonna be a warm one. And then, it’s gonna cool down a little this weekend. Good news is, it will still be golf weather, or nice enough to get outside and enjoy a trail or two or have a great time out at the Winter Texan Fiesta on Friday – that’s where we will be!

Lots of end of season events are taking place this month – events that we know you all enjoy – not only in your parks, but also throughout the Valley, and Progreso. You will see that the livestock show is taking place. Make sure you take advantage of their Senior Citizen Day for a discounted price and music by Chris Marshall, and others. There is also BorderFest coming up that’s always fun to see the culture and diversity there. Don’t forget Progreso puts on a big thank you party for you too.

Also, don’t forget to show us what you have been doing this season. We love hearing about your adventures, seeing photos of your fun – share them with us.

We have our Take Home edition next week that would be great to share some of your photos and stories in. It’s the issue we brag about your adventures and what you enjoy about the Valley. It’s the chance to get your photo in the paper and then take back home to show your friends what it’s all about.

You can send your items to me at news@wintertexantimes.com.

I look forward to hearing from you!

~ Rina

February 26 - Rina's Ramblings

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Published: Wednesday, 26 February 2025 13:08

We have been going through our news items to see things we have published in the past. It’s amazing the stories we have done, and the people we have met. It has been an enjoyable experience.

I was prepping for something else I am doing and was looking at the many ways you help our communities. It’s a sight to see the things you do for the Valley and the communities you live in.

You don’t just come here for a few months – you become a part of the community and find out ways you can help and really immerse yourselves in the Valley.

I found stories about food drives, benefit concerts, quilts for colonias being made, schools benefiting from donated socks, and so much more.
I also found one story about how a food pantry acknowledged the tapering off of their donations when Winter Texans begin to leave the Valley.

You are recognized and the Valley communities appreciate everything you do for them.

We recognize you and appreciate everything you do for us and our communities. Without you we wouldn’t have much to tell. We love filling our pages with all the things you do. Whether it be donating your time or items to a local charity or just getting out there and playing a round of golf or getting together with friends for dessert – we love seeing these moments and sharing them with our readers.

With that being said, we want your news. Share your news and photos with us. We want to know what you are doing and share it with others.
You can send items to news@wintertexantimes.com.

February 19 - Rina's Ramblings

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Published: Wednesday, 19 February 2025 13:07

We had an exciting week last week. We hosted our Valley Star Awards where we were able to listen to some great entertainment and give your favorites some awards. It’s always a great event.

It’s always fun to be able to hang out with our readers and with our Wintertainers™. We enjoy the time we spend with you and the joy you have in seeing your favorites win. We love that each year is different – we never know who is going to win until we count up the ballots just a few days before the event. We love it when it’s a new face or seeing someone that has been performing for years finally get to win something.
We have a few favorites of our own, but we love ALL of our Wintertainers™. We love having the chance to recognize them each year.

We’re already planning next year’s show. So, make sure to look for the dates and who will be entertaining for that show.

Also, make sure you let the Wintertainers™ know how much you love them. They come from Branson, Nashville, and other areas to spend some time with you, to entertain you, and to make friends. Some of these entertainers have quite the following, too.

Let them know you appreciate their time and talent by attending their shows and/or letting your activity directors know who you like so they can book them at your park. Activity directors need feedback – especially if they haven’t seen them perform. They need to know who they should be bringing to their parks.

We have most of the Wintertainers™ listed on our website. We update this every year as we get their information. If you don’t see someone listed, please let us know so we can contact them to get their information. With so many new faces starting to visit the Valley, I am sure we are missing a few.

As always, if you have something of interest going on at your park, or some photos of an event you would like to share, send those over to us at news@wintertexantimes.com.

~ Rina

February 5, 2025 - Rina's Ramblings

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Published: Thursday, 06 February 2025 11:13

Hello everyone! I hope you have had a great week. Apart from some crazy fog last week, the weather has been great. I hope you have had some time to get outside and enjoy it. This has been more like the weather that brings you to the Valley each year.

It’s a great time to get out there and enjoy some pickleball, swimming, the island, or visit one of the many birding centers, hiking trails, and parks you can find throughout the Valley.

Things should start greening up soon and the birds should be flocking into the Valley. It’s a great time to go birding and enjoy the sights and colors of the landscape and the birds that call this place their home or just pass through it going from north to south, and back up north.
Also, we enjoy seeing the work you are doing in the Valley. We are enjoying seeing the fun you are having as well.

Y’all are getting out to the parks and enjoying the dances and the many options of entertainment. We also see that many are participating in fundraisers, knitting and quilting projects, volunteering and more for the communities you live in. We have been able to share some of those highlights over the past few weeks and we have more coming up.

We love seeing what the parks are doing. And we like to see you brag about it a bit, too. Let us know what is so special about your park, your community, or a group you are working with.
Share some photos and the information with us by sending it to news@wintertexantimes.com.
~ Rina

January 29, 2025 - Rina's Ramblings

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Published: Thursday, 30 January 2025 16:48

Well, here I am getting a little closer to y’all. I turned another year older yesterday – the big 5 0. So almost there where I can stay in a park and be having as much fun as y’all are – on a daily basis. Believe me, I do think I would take advantage of the activities your parks have, or neighboring parks have.

There is so much going on at the parks this time of year.

There are dances, entertainment, happy hours, dinners, dances, pool, pickleball, sewing groups, reading clubs, and so much more.

We love seeing photos on Facebook of all the activities y’all are participating in. It makes me want to be out there more often.

This week, I had the chance to go to the Gospel Extravaganza at Winter Ranch. I went last year and enjoyed it, but had to go again because one, it was on my birthday, and two, to not only catch up with Bob and Alta, but also see Scott, who I haven’t seen since he performed at a Valley Star Awards years ago with Absolutely Country, Definitely Gospel.

It’s a yearly event where proceeds are donated to local charities. Different performers join Bob and Alta each year. If you didn’t catch it this year, be sure to watch next season for next year’s dates.

I look forward to these yearly events and catching new Wintertainers™ and seeing familiar faces as well.

Do you have any special events you look forward to each year?

Any reunions, special dances, a certain Wintertainer™?

Share what you look forward to each year. You can send what you love about the RGV to news@wintertexantimes.com.
~ Rina

January 15, 2025 - Rina's Ramblings

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Published: Tuesday, 14 January 2025 22:38

I hope everyone has had a good start to the near year so far. Besides the normal busy-ness of business, we have been pretty laid back around here. This week we are going to be out at the Ron Hoover Open House and we’re going to stop by Claton Homes anniversary celebration as well.

This is when things start getting busy for us, and you. More of you are in the Valley now that the holidays have passed. And because of that, there are more events, more reunions, and more fun for you to have.

We have gotten to see photos and more of the things you are doing, the celebrations you are having, and what you are doing for the communities you so love.

I recently came across an article on the importance of relationships and service and how they help improve your mental well-being. I can say from experience, those of you that are helping our communities, are participating in activities, and making friends, are certainly happier. Y’all are fun to be around and definitely brighten my day and often keep me smiling for days after you share what you have done.

Your parks have many things for you to participate in – dances, pickleball, quilting, billiards, R/C racing, and more. Some have yearly fundraisers for a chosen organization. Many have special things they do for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Veterans Day.

Read more: January 15, 2025 - Rina's Ramblings