LifeStyles 2019 FEBRUARY EDITION
OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY
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l 2019 February Edition
LifeStyles Of The RGV
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Amid long-standing rumors that the records of Hidalgo Country were stolen and taken to Edinburg in the middle of the night, the Progress Times decided to do some research into those allegations. According to records located in the Edinburg Museum of South Texas History, records were moved were indeed moved from Hidalgo to Edinburg the day the day after the election to determine the Hidalgo County seat in 1908. The move, approved by a majority of voters, was done quickly because there were rumors a delegation was asking a district judge in Corpus Christi to overturn the election. The record of this move was written by Anne Lipscomb McGee in 1960, who witnessed the events as a 7-year-old girl and later researched to determine just what happened. On October 10, 1908 Chapin (now Edinburg) was established as the county seat of Hidalgo County. Hidalgo, (formerly Edinburgh with an “h” on the end). had been the county seat since 1852 when Hidalgo County was established. John Young, a pioneer developer, named it Edinburgh after his hometown in Scotland. It was later changed to Hidalgo in honor of Father Miguel Hidalgo, who in 1810 called for Mexico to rise up and rid itself of Spanish rule. The county was also named in his honor. Hidalgo had been the county seat for 56 years when the election was called. By law, if a county seat had been established for more than 40 years, a petition signed by voters in the county was required to call an election to approve the move. County Judge was D.B. Chapin signed the election order on September 5, 1908 for the purpose of determining whether the County of Hidalgo county seat should be moved to Chapin in an election to be held Oct. 10, 1908. There were several factors con-
sidered as to whether the county seat should be moved. The number one issue was the encroaching waters of the Rio Grande River, which sometimes flooded the area. Transportation was another issue. The railroad had arrived in 1904 and had been completed to Mission but there were no plans for a line to be extended to Hidalgo. By law the county seat was supposed to be located within five miles of the geographic center of the county. Influential people such as John Closner, William Sprague, and D.B. Chapin, who acted as lawyers for the group, determined that Chapin was the geographical center of the county. Once the election order was approved the judges to preside over the election were named. They were Precinct One Judge Melchor Mora, Precinct Two Judge R. J. Swearingen, Precinct Three Judge J. L. Dougherty, Precinct Four Judge J.J. Gallardo, Precinct Five Judge George J. Schunior, Precinct Six Judge A.L. Longoria, Precinct Seven Judge Jesus M. Hinojosa and Precinct Eight Judge J.A. Brooks. According to the election order the commissioners were to meet October 17 to canvass the results of the election. However, the votes were canvassed on October 12 by newly elected County Judge S. P. Silver, who replaced Judge Chapin after he resigned on October 8. Of the 513 votes that were cast in this election across all precinct with a population of 175,000, 346 voted in favor the move. There are no records of the County Commissioners participating in this canvassing as they should have. There were rumors that an injunction to call off the election was being filed to be served on Judge Silver, who spent the day before the election in Reynosa and could not be reached. Anne Magee, who was seven at the time, recalled seeing a brick kiln
See ORIGINAL COUNTY Pg. 4
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ORIGINAL COUNTY
being made to be used to build a temporary vault for the records to be moved. At dusk on election day four wagons with double teams of mules headed down Military Road toward Hidalgo. Drivers and workmen then began loading the records, moving them to the Closner Plantation later that morning. The wagons were accompanied by special deputies on horseback including A.Y. Baker, (then Hidalgo Country Treasurer), T.S. Mayfield and D.B. Chapin. Magee’s father and several other drivers were also deputized to carry guns in case of trouble. The caravan set out for Chapin at 1 p.m. moving down Military Road and traveling north on Ebenezer Road, near where Cesar Chavez Road is located today. County officials traveled in cars owned by Clos-
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ner and Sprague taking Depot Road to Chapin in order to get there before the caravan arrived later than night according to records. On October 12 wagons filled with lumber arrived from McAllen the courthouse. A tent was stretched across the area where county records were stored until a vault, built from bricks could be erected to hold the records. A short time later a two-story building was erected as a temporary courthouse. Later that night, men broke into the temporary courthouse, taking the records with them to Chapin. By Monday evening, October 12, the skies were lit with the glow of brush fires clearing right-of way for roads and new development in the new townsite. No doubt the planners of the courthouse move were filled with a deep sense of gratification at the sight.
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LifeStyles Of The RGV
2019 February Edition
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Hidalgo Pumphouse Museum is a tribute to 20th century agricultural empire created in RGV By Kathy Olivarez Clank, clank, hiss! Clank, clank, hiss! The sounds made by the Hidalgo Pumphouse, while moving water from the Rio Grande River into earthen canals to be transported to fields for their agricultural crops, could be heard for miles around. Spanish conquistadors and American entrepreneurs alike realized the land on the north bank of the Rio Grande River was very fertile and would easily grow crops if there were a water source. But while the mighty Rio Grande River had the water, the technology needed to move it was not available until the early 20th century. The south side of the river was lower than the north bank, and gravity could be used to move the water, therefore the southern side was developed in the 1700’s into farmland and Mexican communities. Conquistador Jose de Escandon, who settled the area for Spain in the 1750’s, declared the north side of the river would be used for ranches. Due to the lack of inland water, the land along the north bank was divided into porciones, long narrow strips of ground about five-eighths of a mile wide and 16 to 18 miles long to give all settlers access to the water. The early years of the 19th century were turbulent with the Mexican War for Independence from Spain, the Texas Revolution and the Civil War. But toward the end of the 19th century things were beginning to settle down and the United States wanted to reinforce its claim to the area. Thoughts once again turned to how to develop agriculture on the north bank of the Rio Grande Valley. In order to farm crops on the north bank of the river, water would have to be lifted up and then moved through canals to get to the farmlands. In 1876, George Brulay introduced steam pumps to the Valley. The pumps did allow small tracts near the river to be developed, but whole lot more power was needed to water the entire region.
The answer became the steam plant. In the early 1900’s steam plants were being developed along the river like the one in Hidalgo. Fuel was needed to power the steam engines, and there was wood being cleared from the north side of the river that was perfect for the job. At the same time, the St. Louis-Rio Grande Valley, Mexico Railroad made its way to the Valley to provide transportation north for the crops to be grown on the newly cleared land. Once the trains were running in 1904, land developers like John H. Shary brought excursioners from the Midwest to the Valley, and showed them the cheap fertile agricultural lands that were ready for farming. Tracts of land with 20 to 40 acres in them were marked off and sold to Midwesterners willing to come to the Valley for farmland. In 1904 John Closner introduced steam pumps to his sugar plantation in San Juan. By 1908 Henry Pharr, John C. Kelly and John Conway started a canal system with first and second lift pumps on the canals. The water was moved over the rim of the north bank of the river and pushed to a point where the natural flow of the land toward the Gulf of Mexico moved the water. The steam plant built in Hidalgo in 1909 had the capacity of providing water to 40,000 acres of land that could be cleared and used for orchards or vegetable gardening. In 1910 the Louisiana Rio Grande Canal Company was formed to oversee delivery of the water from the river. Over the next two years more equipment was added and the steam plant hissed and clanged 24 hours a day, moving water to the newly cleared farmland. On July 10, 1920 the Hidalgo County Water Improvement District #2 purchased the assets and made additional improvements that allowed 72,000 acres of land to be irrigated by the water pumped through the plant. Because of the mild weather and the fertile soils that produced higher than average yields, the Rio Grande Valley became known as the Magic
LifeStyles Of The RGV Valley, and people poured in to get a piece of the action. Labor was plentiful due to unrest in Mexico. People in fear of their lives crossed the river for their protection and provided the labor needed to clear the land. In 1911 a new 48-inch Allis-Chalmers stem engine was added, requiring an enlargement of the plant. In 1912 two Hamilton Corliss steam engines, each driving a 60-inch Worthington centrifugal pump expanded the plant even more. Three new boilers were added. The pumphouse had two smokestacks. The next major change came in 1933, when the 1933 Cuba-Brownsville hurricane flooded the steam plant changed the course of the river, leaving them without a source of water. A channel was dredged to the river to move water back. In 1948 gas engines were brought in, and by 1954 the first two steam engines were dismantled and removed along with the original smokestack, allowing natural gas to power the plant instead of wood. For the next 30 years the plant continued without much change. In 1980 four electric pumps were added.
2019 February Edition
In 1983 a new plant powered by 10 electric pumps was opened, and the old steam plant discontinued use. The clanking and hissing sounds that marked Hidalgo’s vital role in the development of the Magic Valley were gone! This article is based on information found in Getting Up Steam, “The Story of the Hidalgo Pumphouse” produced by the City of Hidalgo.
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www.lindleycreek.com Lindley Creek Band Schedule
The Historic Hidalgo Pumphouse
Feb. 1– 7 PM– Rio Valley Estates– Weslaco Feb. 2– 7 PM– Green Gate Grove– Palmview Feb. 8– 7 PM– Circle T—Mission Feb. 9—7 PM—Canyon Lake—Mission Feb. 14—7 PM—Casa Del Sol—Donna Feb. 18—7 PM—Hidden Valley Ranch—Mission Feb. 20— 6:30 PM—Bit-O-Heaven—Donna Feb. 21—7 PM—Twin Palms—Rio Hondo Feb. 23—7 PM—Mission West—Palmview Feb. 24—7 PM—Paradise South—Mercedes Feb. 26—7 PM—Alamo Rech-Veh—Alamo Feb. 27—7 PM—VIP– LaFeria Feb. 28 - 4 PM - Port Isabel Park Center (residents only) March 5—7 PM—Tropic Star—Pharr
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HARLINGEN 418 E. Tyler, Ste. 1A
(956) 423-4400
MCALLEN/PHARR 3906 N. Jackson Rd.
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(956) 632-0908 (956) 647-5061
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Take a trolley ride through historic Hidalgo Visitors interested in learning more about Hidalgo’s rich history may want to take the historic trolley ride offered every third Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. for $5 The trolley ride starts at the Pumphouse Museum located at 902 E. 2nd Street. Through this tour, riders can learn about the importance the pumphouse had to the agricultural industry in the Rio Grande Valley in the 20th century when it once watered over 72,000 acres of orchards and vegetable crops in the Rio Grande Valley. Hidalgo got its start in the 1700’s as a mission called San Joaquin del Monte, to colonize the indigenous people living in the area. The mission was created by Conquistador Jose de Escandon who settled both sides of the river in 1759 for Spain when the area was still part of a Spanish colony.
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More interesting Hidalgo history that attendees can learn about through the trolley ride is the history of Father Hidalgo, a priest who started the Mexican Revolution against Spanish rule and whose namesake the county shares. Hear how men reportedly came in wagons in the middle of the night and broke into the courthouse, taking the records north to Chapin, now called Edinburg (see related story). The tour shows these sights and others of interest. Take time to visit the museum and learn about the history of the pumphouse and tour the area. The land around the pumphouse has been incorporated into a World Birding Center with native habitat for the birds that migrate through or live in the Valley year-round. The tour is $5 a person and reservations can be made by calling The Old Pumphouse Museum at (956) 843-8686.
BENTSEN GROVE RESORT 1645 S. Bentsen Palm Drive Palmview – 956-585-0703
Every Sunday – 8:30 Nondenominational Church Service Followed by Prayer Meeting Every Monday Dinner 4:30pm – 6:30pm Call for menu changes every week Every Thursday Lunch – Burgers & More 11 – 12:30pm Rock & Roll Jam 12:30 – 3pm Every Friday 11-12:30pm Alternating Pizza/Soup or Salad Bar 2nd Saturday Each Month Craft Sale – 8 – 12noon Breakfast & Lunch available Breakfast 7-8:30am Feb. 2, 9 & 16 – Breakfast Pizza – Biscuits & Gravy Feb. 13 & 27 – Croissants – Biscuits & Gravy Homemade Donuts 7-8:30am Feb. 6 & 20
Dances Feb. 1 – Renaissance Rockers $10 Feb. 8 – The Cruisers - $10 Feb. 15 – Valentines Dinner & Dance w/ Castaways - $20 Feb. 22 – Rewind $10 Line Dancing – 6:30-9:30PM Sat. – Feb. 2 - $2.00 Entertainment/Shows: Feb. 5 – Sweet Dreams of Patsy Cline /Norma Gonzales - $7.00 Feb. 6 – One More Time Comedy - $8.00 Feb. 12 – Rusty Rierson - $8.00 Feb. 16 – Jason Coleman Piano (Floyd Cramer’s Grandson)- $8.00 Advance - $10.00 at door Feb. 17 – Sherwin & Pam Linton - $7.00 Special Saturday Events: Feb. 2 – Rock Club Show – 8-12pm Feb. 16 – Show, Tell & Sell Show - 8-12pm Feb. 23 – Quilter’s Sew & Tell – 9-12pm Auction – Tuesday Feb. 19 Mon. – Feb. 18 – Consignment for Auction 9-12pm Feb. 19 - Biscuits & Gravy 7 – 8:30am Feb. 19 - Auction - Lunch - Burgers & More from 11:00-12:30pm
All Events Open to Public Peggy Creach – Co Director / Kathy Tyler – Co Director
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LifeStyles Of The RGV
EVENTS
CALENDAR
February 2 Juarez Lincoln HS Mariachi Sol o n de Oro and Grupo Folklorico Sol e Azteca will perform at the Ale-
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jandro “Alex” H. Saenz Performing Arts Center, 604 N. Coyote Drive in La Joya. Show time begins at 1pm. For more information call 956-323-2898. February 2 Those interested in spotting birds across the Rio Grande Valley can do so while raising money to help protect birds and their habitat from sunrise to sunset. Birders of all levels are welcome to participate. For further information, or to join a team, call Chris at 956-968-3275 or email fronteraaudubon@yahoo.com. February 5 The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra will be at the Border Theatre located at 905 N. Conway in Mission at 6pm. Call 956585-4122 for more information about this event. February 6-8 The All Valley Boat Show will be held from 10am- 9pm at the Mcallen Convention Center. For admission prices and more information visit www.allvalleyboatshow.com February 7-9 Come enjoy the “Last Prophet of the Funky Texas Blues”, once a resident of The Valley, Willie J Laws (aka Willie Jaye) makes a special trip back to McAllen to play at The Centennial Club. Make your reservations at 956627-6257. February 8 Join us for a wintertime beach cleanup on the Texas coast! Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The cleanup begins at 9 a.m. Checkin will be at Edwin Atwood Park, Access Road 5, off of SH 100. For more information call the Cameron County Parks Department at (956) 761-5494 or the Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach program at 1 (877) 892-6278.
February 9 Palmview HS Mariachi Los Lobos and Grupo Folklorico Ozomatli will perform at the Alejandro “Alex” H. Saenz Performing Arts Center, 604 N. Coyote Drive in La Joya. Show will begin at 1pm. For more information call 956323-2898. February 9 Puppy Love Gala is an evening of exciting live and online auctions, impressive raffle, specialty drinks and fabulous dinner to raise funds to help Palm Valley Animal Center care for the tens of thousands of homeless companion animals surrendered to our care each year and help enhance the relationship between animals and people through adoption, education and community outreach. For more information about reservations, tables, and/ or sponsorship opportunities, please feel free to call or Rebeca I. Villanueva at 956-720-4563 or email rebeca@pvactx.org. February 9 The Third Annual Resaca City Bike Tour has been set at Heavin Trail Park, 705 N. Bowie in San Benito. It begins at 8 p.m. There will be 20-mile, 40.4-mile and 62.2 Mile rides. Register online at chamberofsanbenito.com or call 956-361-9111 or 956-2006701 for further information. February 11 Brett Marshall, a regional musician of the Rio Grande Valley, is back once again to perform in concert at the Port Isabel Event & Cultural Center. Guest vocalist will be singer Ashley Flores and Tomas Verastegui, an excellent cellist, both from the Rio Grande Valley. Seating will be limited so get tickets early. For more information call Event Center at (956) 943-0719 or call 956-266-2205. Doors open at 6:00 PM and event begins at 7pm. Cash Bar available.
2019 February Edition February 12 The Senior Supper Series is a monthly outreach program for seniors 55 and older. Enjoy a meal and learn about important health topics during an informative presentation, which is hosted in the Edinburg Regional Medical Center dining room. Series begin at 4:30pm and pre-registration is required by calling 956-3886000. February 12 The Town band Association presents “Love Stinks” an AntiValentine’s Day concert. Showtime begins at 7:30pm. At the Mcallen Performing Arts Center. For more information visit www. mcallentownband.org. February 15 The 2019 Winter Texan golf tournament, “Fiesta On the Greens”, starts at 8am and will be held at the Shary Municipal Golf Course in Mission. Contact the Pro Shop for information at 956-580-8770. February 15 Big Daddy Weave- Alive Tour will be performing at Abundant Grace Community Church in Edinburg. Doors open at 6pm. For ticket information and more details visit www.transparentproductions.com/choir. February 15-16 Rio Grande Valley Quilt Show presents This Land is Your Land at the South Padre Island Convention Center. Contact Debi Warner, 2019 Quilt Show Chairperson, at quiltshowchair@ rgvqg.com for details. February 16 La Joya HS Mariachi Los Coyotes and Grupo Folklorico Tabasco will perform at the Alejandro “Alex” H. Saenz Performing Arts Center, 604 N. Coyote Drive in La Joya. Show will begin at 1pm. For more information call 956323-2898. February 16 Join the Harlingen Rotary Clubs for the ALL NEW Shrimp Fest, which will showcase several RGV restaurants presenting their signature shrimp dishes in a small-bite tasting format. This event will be from 6– 10pm in Downtown Harlingen on Jackson St. More details can be found on their Facebook page, Rotary Club of Harlingen.
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February 16 The Pioneer & Ranching Crafts Day at the Museum of South Texas History (MOSTHistory) will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year’s theme features the tortilla and the all-important question, “Flour or corn tortilla?” MOSTHistory is located at 200 N. Closner Blvd in Edinburg. Call 956-383-6911 for information. February 21-22 El Paseo Arts is proud to present a powerful, musical comedy/ drama that tells the story of Canada’s World War I flying ace, Billy Bishop. Show begins at 7:30pm at South Padre Island Convention Centre. February 23 Our annual 5k run Run 4An Angel registration will begin at 7:30 am. The Memorial Walk will be a one-mile walk and is in memory of those individuals who have lived at the Comfort House. The run will be at Doc Neuhaus Park in McAllen and for more information you can contact the Comfort House at 956-687-7367. February 23 The 9TH Annual Divine Mercy Conference will be held at the Weslaco Performing Arts Center beginning at 8am. Performers and speakers include John Michael Talbot; one of the Catholic music’s most popular artist. Author Father Jeff Kirby, and Bishop Daniel E. Flores of the Diocese of Brownsville. Deadline is Monday February 18th by 5:30pm. Call 956-351-5978 for more details. February 26 The Senior Supper Series is a monthly outreach program for seniors 55 and older. Enjoy a meal and learn about important health topics during an informative presentation, which is hosted in the McAllen Medical Center dining room. Series begin at 4:30pm and pre-registration is required by calling 956-388-6000. February 28 The Wild Texas Film Tour is a short film tour showcasing wildlife, adventure, and conservation stories. Meet the characters in the films, the folks behind the camera, and conservationists from across the state of Texas. Doors open at 6:30pm and screening and speaker programs begin at 7pm at Cine El Rey, 311 S. 17th St. in McAllen.
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Shooting for gold
Jim Davis, Alamo Rec Vehicle Park’s handyman and sharpshooter By Bryan Ramos When he’s not helping out friends in need around Alamo Recreational Vehicle Park, you can probably find Jim Davis hitting the bullseye. Davis, who has spent five months in the Valley each year for the past eight, picked up a hobby that resulted in winning gold. Originally from Scottville, Michigan, Davis stays busy by building and designing his own rifles and cartridges to use in long range competition, which has won him a number of trophies and medals. “I enjoy building the guns, I even developed my own caliber too,” Davis said. “I enjoy that almost as much as shooting, of course I like winning, but it’s just fun to shoot. It’s very, very competitive and very intense if you want to do it right. I enjoy all of it.”
Davis made his way to the Valley to help out a friend battling health issues, which landed him in Mission.
Jim Davis of Alamo Recreational Vehicle Park stands next to his trophies from the Valley Gun Club in Donna holding his air rifle, which he uses in a number of competitions in the RGV and his home state of Michigan.
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DANCES – 7 – 10pm Feb. 2 $6 – Diego Feb. 9 $8 – Agency Feb. 14 $6 – Sweetwater Feb. 16 $8 – Pelican West Feb. 23 $7 – Classics Mar. 2 – Diego $6 Mar. 9 – Agency $8 Mar. 16 – Rewind $8 Mar. 23 – Steven May $6 Mar. 30 – Sweetwater $6 Doors open to the Public at 5:30 pm Concessions and Set Ups Available BYOB
“When I first came down to Mission, I came down in December and by the first of January, I was ready to go home, there was nothing to do,” he said. “We got over here and with everything we got going on, I’ve been here 12 weeks already and it doesn’t seem like it, and in another eight weeks I’ll be going home.” Alamo Rec Veh Park has a range where Davis, who owned construction and glass businesses in Michigan, is his most comfortable. He even designed the benches at the range, which sees weekly competitions and Fun Shoots every Thursday at 1 p.m. “We have a Fun Shoot every Thursday and then we shoot competition,” Davis explained. “The competition is pretty relaxed. We have a lady that scores the targets, she makes the targets with your name on the back of it so you don’t
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February 23rd. - 8am to 12 noon.
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800 SH 495, Alamo, TX 78516 • 956-787-7717
2019 February Edition l pg. 11
LifeStyles Of The RGV
shoot other targets, and you have all week to shoot it.” Davis runs the competitions, which sees about 16 competitors for competition and 10-12 for the weekly Fun Shoot, but his favorite person to compete against is his wife, Janice Davis. “My wife loves the air rifle, and I’ve got to really be on my toes o to beat her. I usually come in first, d she comes in second,” Davis said , through a smile. d Up in Michigan, Davis has picked up three medals at the Regional Tournament in long range shoote ing, winning silver in 2016, bronze in 2017, and capturing the elusive gold medal in 2018. After winning the Regional Tournament in Lake City, e Michigan, Davis earned a trip to Raton, New Mexico to compete in the National Tournament, where he received compliments on the guns he designed. “When I went out to Raton at Nationals, the guns can’t weigh more than 10 kilograms, so we have to weigh them. The guy that weighs them told me, ‘compliments to your t
gunsmith’,” Davis laughed. He also competes once a month at the Valley Gun Club in Donna, where he has received numerous trophies while shooting from 600-yards out. Davis runs the monthly shooting competitions at Alamo Vehicle Rec Park with two coming up in February and March before he heads back to Michigan. He also competes in Remote Control Car and Boat races at the park for fun when he’s not shooting or lending a helping hand. And when somebody around the park needs help, Davis is the guy to go to. “If they need anything done around here, they call me,” he said. “It’s mostly just seeing somebody in need, like the people that live next door here, he had trouble walking, he had fallen down his steps twice last summer before I got here, so when I got here I told them they needed a wheelchair ramp. They didn’t know how to get started, so I did it. I don’t want to see anybody hurt and I enjoy helping others.”
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A Peek at Some of Our Park Activities • Country Music Jams • Pellet Gun Indoor Range • Fishing • RC Sailboat and Power Boat Races • RV Oval Horseshoe Track Car and Truck Races • RC Off-road Track Races • RC Quadcopter Indoor Course • Non-denominational Weekly Church • Pool League • Bike Club • Quilting, Sewing and Craft Groups • Shuffleboard • Bocce Ball Court • Indoor Swimming Pool plus Spa • Water Aerobics • Square Dancing • Exercise Class & Walking Exercise • Special Holiday Dances MUCH, MUCH MORE!!
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pg. 12
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2019 February Edition
LifeStyles Of The RGV
Inaugural South Texas Festivals, off to a foot-stomping start
By Bryan Ramos
The Port Isabel Event & Cultural Center was jam packed with a foot-stomping, good time as the South Texas Bluegrass Festival and South Texas Winter Fest made their debut in the Rio Grande Valley on Jan. 9 and 23. “Well there’s a lot of energy here, there’s a lot of people smiling, I don’t know if it’s us or the weather,” joked Shawn Boy of Goldwing Express, the bluegrass, country and gospel band made up of three brothers and their father, who headlined both festivals. “Just about every time we have a show we have a packed house and people make us feel welcome. I’m excited about this one, I’m glad to be part of the first one down here and maybe we can get it to growing and bring some
more acts.” The South Texas Winter Fest kicked things off with five musical acts as Leslie Blasing and Danica Rae Bird blew people away with their attitude, spunk and good vocals, with Greg Jones, Goldwing Express and The Kody Norris Show providing a combination of music, comedy and an all-around good time for the two packed crowds. The Kody Norris Show visited the Valley for the first time this Winter Texan Season and was pleasantly surprised by how receptive the crowds have been to the type of entertainment he brings to the stage. “Our goal at the end of the day with what I consider pure entertainment is I try to make everybody laugh, cry and stomp their feet all in one good solid performance, so that’s our goal at the end of the
See FESTIVALS Pg. 14
“Preserving Our History for the Generations of Tomorrow.”
The Kody Norris Show. Photo courtey by Lynn Clasen.
DANCES – 7 – 10pm
Feb. 8 - Sock Hop with DJ Dan $5 Feb. 15 - The Cruisers $10 Feb. 22 - Renaissance Rockers $10 Mar. 1 – Texas Hoe Down with DJ Dan $5 Mar. 8 – Agency $10 Mar. 22 – The Cruisers $10 Reserved seating tickets sold in the Activity Office Concessions available
SHOWS - 7pm
Feb. 5 – Williamson Branch Show Feb. 12 – Ralph Kuster Feb. 26 – Spittin Image Mar. 5 – Lindley Creek Concession available Doors open at 6:15pm
ROCK & ROLL JAMS By RK Welander Every Tuesday During February and March Lunch available 11:30 – 1pm Jam - Noon - 2pm Ice Cream, Popcorn & Soda JOIN THE FUN!!!
CRAFT SHOWS
First Friday in 2019 Feb. 1, Mar. 1 • 7:30 – noon Breakfast and Lunch available COME VISIT THE FOOD COURT!!!
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ROUND DANCING WITH RON & GEORGINE For more information call 360-789-8657
900 DOHERTY AVENUE . MISSION, TX 956-580-8646 WWW.MISSIONMUSEUM.ORG Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10am - 5pm • Sat. 10am - 2pm • Sunday Closed
Tropic Star
1401 S. Cage Blvd. Pharr – 956-787-5773
LifeStyles Of The RGV
2019 February Edition l pg. 13
La Joya ISD
Spring 2019
Folklorico & Mariachi Concerts Lincoln HS Mariachi Sol de Oro and Grupo Folklórico Sol Azteca Feb. 2nd & 3rd, 2019 Saturday Shows at 1 & 5pm, Sunday Shows at 2pm
Palmview HS Mariachi Los Lobos and Grupo Folklórico Ozomatli Feb. 9th & 10th, 2019 Saturday Shows at 1 & 5pm, Sunday Shows at 2pm
La Joya HS Mariachi Los Coyotes and Grupo Folklórico Tabasco Feb. 16th & 17th, 2019 Saturday Shows at 1 & 5pm, Sunday Shows at 2pm
To purchase tickets online go to
www.lajoyaisdtr.eventbrite.com Alejandro “Alex” H. Sáenz Performing Arts Center FOR MORE INFORMATION
(956) 323-2898
604 N. Coyote Drive La Joya, Texas 78560
pg. 14
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2019 February Edition
LifeStyles Of The RGV
FESTIVALS
from pg. 12
day,” said Kody Norris of the Kody Norris Show. “I really enjoy seeing people enjoy themselves. Everybody’s been receptive to what we do, very welcoming and I’ve been somewhat surprised at some of the crowds we’ve been having with our first time down here.” At the South Texas Bluegrass Festival, the first of its kind down
in the Rio Grande Valley, The Kody Norris Show, Goldwing Express graced the stage on Jan. 23 to a crowd of bluegrass fans. A surprise guest appearance by Leslie Blasing who was dressed as Dolly Parton topped things off for the crowd as she joined in on the music and fun. Carlos Flores, the Event Center Director of the Port Isabel Event &
Leslie Blasing
Cultural Center, is already looking ahead towards next year’s South Texas Winter Fest and South Texas Bluegrass Festival. “We’re the first ones in the RGV to bring it, I think it’s perfect for the Valley,” Flores said. “The music is good, I like it, and I’m pretty sure we’ll be doing it again next year.” Pops, the head honcho of Goldwing Express said it was an honor to headline the festivals and put a few
smiles on some faces in the RGV. “We feel very honored to be with everybody down here,” Pops said. “It’s another place to make a few dollars, win a few hearts and enjoy the time with each other. If we can bring a smile to people’s faces in the troubled world that we’re in, it’s good for us.”
Goldwing Express performing at the Bluegass Festival. Photo courtey by Lynn Clasen.
Lunch Specials 11am to 4pm
Entertainment & Daily Specials
Enchiladas Monday $5.99
Your choice of: Suizas, Mexican Enchiladas, American Enchiladas. Enchiladas all served with rice & beans.
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Fajita Taco 50¢ ea.
Wednesdays Flautas $5.99
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Fridays
Sopes or Gorditas $5.99
Saturdays Mar y Tierra $9.99
Mondays – All day $3 Beers Domestics /Import $3.50 Jose Cuervo Tuesdays $5 Patron $3 1800 Tequila DJ .50 Tacos Wednesdays – Ladies Night $2 Pina Coladas $3.50 Jagermeister Live Band ½ off select appetizers (Excluding Wings, Appetizer Sampler & Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Discount not applied to proteins or add-ons) Thursdays $2 Tecates/$3 DosXX $5 Don Julio $3.50 Titos Mon.-Fri. 12noon-9pm Karaoke/ DJ Jumbo Quesadilla $4 Friday $2 Frozen Sangria MARGARITAS $3.50 Fireballs $ Variety Music 3 Domestic .50 Boneless Wings Beers Saturdays $ 50 3 Well $6 Black Label/Don Julio Drinks Variety Music $3 Choriqueso
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2013 W. Nolana McAllen, Texas 78504
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Excluding in any food specials.
Excluding in any food specials.
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SATURDAY after 4 PM
2019 February Edition l pg. 15
LifeStyles Of The RGV
Pioneer & Ranching Crafts Day returns Feb. 16
Families can enjoy a day of historical demonstrations, live performances EDINBURG, Texas — The Museum of South Texas History (“MOSTHistory”), a museum chronicling the heritage of South Texas and northeastern Mexico, invites the community to celebrate Pioneer & Ranching Crafts Day on Saturday, Feb. 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. MOSTHistory will feature the tortilla and the question: flour or corn tortilla? This family-friendly event will include live music by local artists, folklórico dancers, delicious home style-infused foods, local heritage organizations, historical demonstrations and wall-to-wall activities. And, returning to MOSTHistory is Matt & The Herdsmen, a local band, ready to rock as the headline performance. This five-man band has a tug and pull filled with country twang, soft ballads and a punch in the face with the Texas/Red Dirt sound. The band has shared the stage with top-tier talent such as Toby Keith, Jack Ingram, Randy Rogers Band, Casey Donahew Band, Kyle Park, William Clark Green, Pat Green, and Mike and the Moonpies. From hal-
lowed dance halls to MOSTHistory, the band has performed at many of Texas’ most popular venues. For the latest updates on this community event, please visit mosthistory.org/events or call the museum at 956-383-6911. The special event admission fees are $8 for adults (ages 18+); $6 for seniors with ID (ages 62+), active military and students with ID (ages 13+); $5 for children (ages 4 to 12) and free for children ages 3 and younger. FRIENDS of the MOSTHistory are admitted free as a benefit of FRIENDship and must present a valid FRIENDship card at the Admissions. About Museum of South Texas History The Museum of South Texas History is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It is located in downtown Edinburg at 200 N. Closner Blvd. on the Hidalgo County Courthouse square. Hours of operation are from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday. Founded in 1967 as the Hidal-
go County Historical Museum in the 1910 Hidalgo County Jail, the museum has grown over the decades through a series of expansions to occupy a full city block. In 2003, following the completion of a 22,500 square foot expansion, the museum was renamed the Museum of South Texas History to better reflect its regional scope. Today, the museum preserves and presents the border-
land heritage of South Texas and Northeastern Mexico through its permanent collection and the Margaret H. McAllen Memorial Archives and exhibits spanning prehistory through the 20th century. For more information about MOSTHistory, including becoming a FRIEND, visit MOSTHistory.org, like us on Facebook, follow on Twitter, find on Google+ or call +1-956-383-6911.
LifeStyles
OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY
Bringing Communities & Winter Texans
together!
Published by the Progress Times 1217 N. Conway • Mission, Texas 78572 • (956) 585-4893 news@progresstimes.net • www.ptrgv.com
Publisher: Dee Rendon Articles: Bryan Ramos, Kathy Olivarez Advertising: Dee Rendon Graphic Design: Carlos Reyna
© 2019 Savy Publishing, LLC dba Progress Times. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the express consent of the publisher. All rights reserved.
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2019 February Edition
LifeStyles Of The RGV
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