GOLF ANYONE?
Tee Time in the RGV features Adobe Wells Golf Course!
WINTER TEXAN EXPO 2016!
Check out our entertainment lineup and their biographies!
RECIPE CONNECTION!
Executive Chef Bettina Tolin shares a comforting winter dish recipe!
Welcome Home See review on page 34.
See feature on page 30.
VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 11 • January 6, 2016
Try her recipe on page 39.
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WINTER TEXAN
• • • your official connection to the rio grande valley • • •
Amigos de Los Ninos de Mexico
Delivering Gifts and Love Each Christmas Happy New Year!
Special to Welcome Home RGV
I hope this finds you rested and ready for all that comes with a new year. January is, by far, the busiest month for all of us at Welcome Home RGV. That’s why we close the office the week between Christmas and New Year’s -- to allow us a last-minute chance to recharge our batteries before we dive in, head first, to the month of January. If you are anything like me, by the end of December, you are ready for the new year. I find myself anxious for a fresh start and motivated to make it happen. I also take the opportunity to reflect on the changes I made the year before. Last year, in January 2015, I vowed to keep plowing ahead and position Welcome Home RGV as the leader in the Winter Texan world. We made the decision to go from a monthly magazine to this weekly newspaper. I hear from you often that I made a very wise decision! The WHRGV team also made the decision to purchase the Winter Texan Expo. so when you attend this year, know it is now under our direction. It is so fun to see our hard work in action. I look forward to putting things into play for you for the fall of 2016. Until then, mum’s the word. You’ll just have to come back in November to see what we have up our sleeves. In the meantime, keep your submissions coming, and we’ll see you at the Winter Texan Expo January 19 20 at the McAllen Convention Center! • We’re just connecting the dots,
Kristi
In 1990, Tina Pulido, a merchant
in Nuevo Progresso, Mexico, and a group of Winter Texans held the first Christmas Party for the children of Nuevo Progresso. The party was held on Christmas Day at the Escuela Primaria Ford 45 schoolyard, and 200 children attended. Although Tina has passed away, the party continues each year on Christmas Day. The largest party had 3,100 children attending. The party this year had approximately 2,000 children. The organization has a board of directors made up of Winter Texans from across the Valley that basically works year-round making arrangements for Christmas Day. They have an election in January each year at their final meeting to select the new board. The new board then starts making the plans for next season’s Christmas party. In November, they have a meeting to select a chairman and to finalize their plans. The volunteers meet December 23 to bring in all of the supplies that are needed for the party on Christmas morning. Candy and nuts are bagged at the school while a caravan comes from the parking lot in the United States bringing all of the other treats. It requires a number of vehicles to bring all of the cupcakes, apples, oranges, and other gifts to the school grounds for storage , just waiting for Christmas. The party starts with a parade, complete with Santa Claus, down
Main Street to the Escuela Primaria Ford 45 elementary schoolyard. Tables are set up Christmas morning to hold the variety of treats for the children. Among the items are apples, oranges, peanuts, candy, juice, cupcakes, Hershey candies, crayons, coloring books, pencils and stuffed toys. The children are given a bag at the start of the line, and it is full by the time they get to Santa Claus at the end of the line. Once the children have gone through the line, they can take their turn at the Piñatas that are hung for
them. The party lasts approximately two hours, and the children have a marvelous time. Needless to say, the Winter Texans have a great time, also. The Progresso merchants also get involved with donations for the party and help the Winter Texans see that everything goes well Christmas Day. The children look forward to Christmas Day because, for some, this IS their Christmas. If you are a Winter Texan, and you are interested in being involved in this project in 2016, you may contact janephillips29@gmail.com. •
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR 2015-2016 SEASON SPONSORS