8 minute read
On the Road” Column
Have a Great Summer
I cannot believe - nor do I want to accept - that this is the last issue of the Winter Texan Times for this 2020/2021 Winter Texan season. Where did this year go? It has just flown by. Sometimes I feel that I just stood still, and the world passed me by. What did keep me in the loop was reading every issue of the Winter Texan Times from front page to back and keeping up with what all the different parks were doing. And it was all positive.
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I have a feeling that all of you have met adversity head on more than once in your lives and that you did the same with this pandemic. You organized street dances, golf cart parades with music no less so that those not in the parades could dance from their front porch and wave "howdy" to those passing by.
In many parks, the kitchen volunteer help organized, cooked, and delivered meals for those who were shut in. Most parks had sewing groups who continued to make throws and shawls for those in nursing homes.
Nothing could stop you from doing the best you could under some very trying circumstances - including a freeze that broke water pipes and left many without electricity. Hats off to all of you - in fact, let us say it is not just hats off - it is also two thumbs up.
The best I heard was just recently when a former schoolteacher decided she would become a bar tender in her park. Sometimes adversity brings out some hidden talents in all of us. Well, I am still looking for my hidden talent and it is not bartending. I would probably be talking when I should be measuring. But then we would have a lot of happy people, wouldn't we?
All in all, this year has still been a good year and you helped to make it so. You hung in there and hopefully you will spend a wonderful summer and return to bring us good will and happiness next year.
I look forward to all being vaccinated with traveling and touring returning to normal. Let us make that happen with vaccinations, masks and social distancing. I hope to see you in the fall ready and eager to explore and get better acquainted with the beautiful world around us.
Have a great summer and stay safe!
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From pg. 1 Wintertainers™ have worked around state and county guidelines to still entertain you. Parks have been able to hold golf cart concerts, outdoor concerts, and more so that the Wintertainers™ visiting the Valley could still perform and liven up the crowd. Despite the circumstances, they came so they could be with people they love to entertain. Y’all are a special crowd and are special to them. Some of our Wintertainers™ know you by name and even have groupies. It is a fun thing to see. I thank them for spending their time in the Valley and finding ways to be in your park. I want to extend a special thank you to all the Winter Texans that perform community service while you are here in the Valley. We are in frequent contact with many organizations such as the Food Bank, local schools, and others, where you donate your time and resources. These organizations struggle a bit when you leave, and your generosity and caring spirit of service are greatly appreciated. You folks are good people. You bring such good things to the Valley and we would not be the same without you.
As this season closes and we look forward to you returning in the fall, we hope you will invite your friends and neighbors back home to come down and see what the Valley is all about. With all the “bad news” about the border and virus numbers, we are happy to know you still love the Valley and will share the news about what the Valley has to offer with others.
We hope you will share the message and what a gem the Valley is with others back home. Tell them what a great time you had here this season, how wonderful the warm weather is and how affordable it is to stay in the Rio Grande Valley. After all, Pharr, Mission, Harlingen, and Brownsville were in the top ten cheapest cities to retire in a report that was published late last year. Whatever you enjoy doing in the Rio Grande Valley – whether it is getting out to play golf, taking daily bike rides, or testing out your new remote control car on the racetrack – tell your friends about it.
Thanks again for coming. We will surely miss you this summer and look forward to your return. Have a wonderful summer with your family and friends.
Until next season…
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From pg. 1 ance Center of Texas (AACT) by pro- fundraising for the event by the VSO moting the importance of voting in the gala committee chaired by VSO board Rio Grande member Dr. Valley. Rutchebeth
“Music Contreras, and its heal- PT, DPT ing power are of High exactly what Point Home the Valley Health. A needs right member of now,” said the VSO De Saro. "In board of dithis time of Valley Symphony Orchestra in performance rectors, Dr. incredible dif- Contreras has ficulty, this event will pay tribute not more than 27 years of experience in only to the VSO but to our incredible health care services and more than 15 frontline workers and medical com- years’ experience in management and munity." De Saro and the gala com- clinical supervision, having owned mittee will honor and dedicate this several companies. The daughter of year’s gala event to the medical com- a concert pianist, she is particularly munity, essential workers, and others passionate about music education. affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. She is a member of the Junior League The event will offer hope, unity, and of McAllen and a graduate of Leaderstrength as the community celebrates ship McAllen, an experience that furand gathers to support the Valley’s ther strengthened her desire to serve own Symphony Orchestra. her community.
De Saro is joined in planning and “This year more than ever we must show our support, to ensure that one of the cornerstones of the Valley’s arts community can continue to serve the community with world-class performances and invaluable music education,” said Dr. Contreras. Helping with the efforts to organize the fundraiser is the gala committee, which consists of organization board members, supporters, and leaders from across the community.
Tables and tickets to the gala can be purchased by calling the VSO office at (956) 661-1615 or emailing katy.coy@valleyorchestra.org. Visit the VSO on the web at www.valleyorchestra.org for updates and more information.
RINA’S RAMBLINGS
From pg. 1
up last year.
We were looking forward to doing some similar things this year, having hope, but not really knowing what the year would be like. We regretfully did not get a chance to get out there as much as we wanted this year. We do have hope for a better year next season as things are opening up and vaccines are more widely available. We also have hope that we will see our Canadians friends next season and our season will be a fun filled one.
It was great to see how parks were able to handle things this year. I am very thankful for those that decided to have some fun however they could, while still maintaining social distancing and following state and county guidelines. It was something we all had to be aware of, and I was happy to see parks working around things so they could still entertain you, our winter visitors.
I am hoping that we can get out more next season and get to mingle more. We have missed all of the things that come with the Winter Texan season and look forward to next season.
We do hope that those traveling to their summer homes stay safe, have a safe trip, and that we will see you again next year.
Until then,
Carina
