The number of Winter Texans in the RGV INCREASED 10.4%* · 17-09-2018 · Alma Linda Chavez •...

NEWS FLASH! The number of Winter Texans in the RGV

INCREASED 10.4%* for the 2017-2018 Season

*As reported in the 2018 UTRGV Winter Texan Survey and Park Occupancy Study.

Advertising in the Winter Texan Times will help you reach many thousands of Winter Texans this fall andthroughout the season. Let us help you increase your profit.

DID YOUR BUSINESS GROW? Schedule your

advertising today.

This year’s first edition is

October 17

For Advertising Information Call: 956-580-7800

or email [email protected]

The Winter Texan Times is the Valley’s leading newspaper reaching the Winter Texan market. Pub-lished for over 31 years, the Winter Texan Times is a well-established niche publication that reaches approximately 50,000 Winter Texans during peak of season.

Our news articles, devoted entirely to the things that interest Winter Texans most, keeps them wait-ing with anticipation for each issue to arrive at their park or resort. Winter Texans often refer to the Winter Texan Times as their “Bible” because they use it religiously each day to keep up on what’s going on in the Winter Texan community throughout the Rio Grande Valley.

With Winter Texans spending an estimated $528 million each winter in the Valley, this is a huge market that has a powerful impact on local businesses. (Source: UTRGV Winter Texan Survey 2017-2018) This is definitely the market to focus on from October through March.

The Winter Texan Times is delivered free of charge Valleywide – from Mission to South Padre Island – to over 200 RV and mobile home parks and Winter Texan subdivisions, as well as Chamber of Commerce offices. Our newspaper carriers constantly report that they are flocked by Winter Texans as soon as the paper arrives. They want to see what’s new in the Winter Texan Times.

The RV park managers tell us they see their residents reading the Winter Texan Times, clipping ads and coupons. And our advertisers tell us that Winter Texans constantly walk into their business car-rying a copy of the Winter Texan Times.

For advertising that really works, give us a call. The Winter Texan Times can definitely get your mes-sage out to this valuable market – and get real results.

Don’t waste another day, get started by calling us today. Or, email us at [email protected].

Kind regards, Rocio Chicas Alma Linda Chavez Assistant Sales Representative Account Executive956-617-2900 [email protected] [email protected]

1217 N. Conway • P.O. Box 399 • Mission, Texas 78573 • (956) 580-7800 • Fax: (956) 580-7898www.wintertexantimes.com email: [email protected]

1217 N. Conway • P.O. Box 399 • Mission, Texas 78573 • (956) 580-7800 • Fax: (956) 580-7898www.wintertexantimes.com email: [email protected]

is delivered VALLEYWIDE!

Increase your Winter Texan business this season.Call Us! (956) 580-7800

With regular advertising in the Winter Texan Times your ad reaches the Winter Texan market Valleywide, from Mission to South Padre Island.Our circulation covers the Winter Texan market in the following areas:

• Mission• McAllen• Pharr• San Juan• Alamo

• Edinburg• Donna• Weslaco• Mercedes• La Feria

• Harlingen• San Benito• Los Fresnos• South Padre Island• Brownsville

We deliver to RV & Mobile Home Parks from Mission to South Padre Island.

LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY

MissionMcAllen Edinburg

Pharr SanJuan Alamo

Donna Mercedes

Weslaco La Feria

Harlingen

Brownsville

PortIsabel

SouthPadreIsland

San Benito

Los Fresnos

Hwy.83

Hwy.281

Hwy.83

Hwy.83

Hwy.77

Hwy.77

100

48

Hwy.83

Rio Grande River

Your Advertising JustBecame More Powerful!

Serving Winter Texans From Mission To South Padre Island Since 1987

TIMESWinterTexan

1217 N. Conway • P.O. Box 399 • Mission, Texas 78573 • (956) 580-7800 • Fax: (956) 585-2304

The Newspaper Winter Texans Love to Read










Pharr SanJuan Alamo

Donna Mercedes

Weslaco La Feria

Harlingen

Brownsville

PortIsabel

SouthPadreIsland

San Benito

Los Fresnos

Hwy.83

Hwy.281

Hwy.83

Hwy.83

Hwy.77

Hwy.77

100

48

Hwy.83

Rio Grande River



TIMESWinterTexan












Pharr SanJuan Alamo

Donna Mercedes

Weslaco La Feria

Harlingen

Brownsville

PortIsabel

SouthPadreIsland

San Benito

Los Fresnos

Hwy.83

Hwy.281

Hwy.83

Hwy.83

Hwy.77

Hwy.77

100

48

Hwy.83

Rio Grande River



TIMESWinterTexan












Pharr SanJuan Alamo

Donna Mercedes

Weslaco La Feria

Harlingen

Brownsville

PortIsabel

SouthPadreIsland

San Benito

Los Fresnos

Hwy.83

Hwy.281

Hwy.83

Hwy.83

Hwy.77

Hwy.77

100

48

Hwy.83

Rio Grande River



TIMESWinterTexan



WinterTexanTIMES

Vol. 31, No. 20 © 2018www.wttrgv.com

Thursday, March 8, 2018Serving Winter Texans From Mission To South Padre Island Since 1987

See SAN BENITO pg. 28

See GRAND FINALE pg. 28

See RC RACING pg. 2

See BORDERFEST pg. 4

Santa MariaGrand Finale

Bullfight

Texas Independence

Celebration is March 10

in San Benito

BECOME AWINTER TEXAN

AMBASSADORMARCH 15, 2018SPECIAL TAKE HOME

ISSUE!

La Gloria, Texas—Santa Maria Bull

Ring will present the Grand Finale blood-

less bullfight on Sunday, March 11 fea-

turing two famous matadors returning

from their European tours.Manolo Martinez, known as the Mex-

icano De Oro, one of the elite matadors

in the Republic of Mexico, will challenge

his top competitor Michelito Lagravere,

son of the famous French matador Mi-

guel Lagravere. Both performed March 4

Learn about the early days of Texas

through historical reenactments at the

Texas Independence Celebration that

takes place in San Benito March 10 at the

San Benito Fair Grounds on FM 510 and

Cesar Gonzalez Parkway, from 11 a.m. to

6 p.m.The celebration kicks off on March

10-11 with an IBCA Sanctioned Cook-

Off, where brisket, pork spare ribs, chick-

en and desserts will be prepared. Judging

will take place Saturday afternoon.

Michelito Lagravere

The fans sat in the stands on a beau-

tiful sunny afternoon. The anticipation

was growing as the race cars rubbed and

raced, sliding along the track at the turns.

Suddenly four cars wiped out along

one of the wide, sweeping turns. The “big

one happened” and the collective gasp

could be heard from the race watchers.

No, it wasn’t Daytona or Talladega

superspeedways, NASCAR tracks that

are as infamous for their racing as they

are for their crashes. The “big one” is a

moniker used for the two NASCAR su-

perspeedways, where cars have what’s

called a restrictor-plate installed for those

races for safety as speeds began exceed-

ing 200 miles per hour. What those plates

have done, however, is create equality

and it’s not rare to see those cars racing

at 200 miles per hour five wide down a

frontstretch. Because all the cars are rac-

ing tightly, one little miscue can wipe out

10, 15 or more cars, thus the “Big One.”

But this was Alamo Palms Mobile Park

and the cars were remote control race

cars – a hobby that is picking up speed as

quick as the feisty autos are on the track.

Opened last November, the “facility”

is more than a track. The mainstay is an

Fast and Furious,RC racing speeding forward

by Herb Moering

There was something for everyone

to flavor at Hidalgo BorderFest 2018.

Strolling the grounds at the State Farm

Arena there was the Spanish cultural at-

traction, plenty of entertainment and food

delicacies to match the taste of festgoers,

whether they were Winter Texans, year-

round Valley residents or young people,

including kids.For those into the music scene there

were a pair of indoor concerts plus five

outdoor stages. The stages also included

comedy, magic and hypnotism acts. Other

options involved a dog and monkey show,

a bloodless bullfight, a pair of white Sibe-

rian tigers on display, a car show, a Juras-

sic Kingdom show, plus three parades. A

food court fed the hungry and for the kids,

and adults too, there were carnival rides.

For Paul and Denise Legault, first time

visitors to the “Valley”, it was mainly

learning about the culture, with Border-

Fest offering an Hispanic flavor as Spain

Winter Texans enjoyed BorderFest

Paul and Denise Legault, first time Valley visitors from Quebec, Canada, watched a

performance in the replica La Puerta de Alcala of Madrid, Spain at BorderFest on

Saturday afternoon.

(956) 580-7800 • www.wintertexantimes.com

Published Weekly late October through MarchServing Winter Texans Valleywide for 31 Years

Distributed Free of Charge to Mobile Home and RV Parks Valleywidefrom Mission to Brownsville including:

• Mission • McAllen • Pharr • San Juan • Alamo • Edinburg • Donna • Weslaco• Mercedes • La Feria • Harlingen • San Benito • Los Fresnos • Port Isabel

• South Padre Island • Brownsville.Circulation at peak of season is over 25,000 copies.

Editorial Content• Exclusive news of interestto Winter Texans

• Parks Calendar...Listing a widevariety of Winter Texan activitiesincluding dances, bingos, jam sessions,pancake breakfasts and more!

• Entertainment News for Winter Texansincluding information on concerts, shows,plays and special events.

• Coverage of special events of interest toWinter Texans, such as the Texas CitrusFiesta, Charro Days, All Valley RV Show,RGV Livestock Show, and much more!

• News about mobile home and RV park activities and events.

The Best Winter Texan Newspaper In The Valley!

1217 N. Conway • P.O. Box 399 • Mission, Texas 78573 • (956) 580-7800 • Fax: (956) 580-7898www.wintertexantimes.com email:[email protected]

Published by Times Media Group, Inc.

For More Information Contact:Dan Brunson • (956) 800-7801 cell

Alma Linda Chavez • (956) 533-7500 cellRocio Chicas • (956) 617-2900 cell

We have been advertising with the Winter Texan Times for over 20 years and we have found that this newspaper consistently de-

livers a great target market of the winter visitors here in the Valley. The Winter Texan Times does a great job of distributing the paper and reaching Winter Texans Valleywide who really do read this paper. We have adver-tised with a lot of different media, and the Winter Texan Times is one of the most effective means of advertising we have found. I would highly recom-mend advertising in the Winter Texan Times – They get results!

Dr. Eric MartinMartin Chiropractic ClinicMcAllen, TX

Winter Texan TimesAdvertising

Really Works!

2018-19 Publication SchedulePublication Date Ad Copy DeadlineOctober 17 ............................................................October 10October 24 ............................................................October 17October 31 ............................................................October 24November 7 ..........................................................October 31November 14 ...................................................... November 7November 21 .................................................... November 14November 28 ** .............................................. November 20December 5 ...................................................... November 28December 12 ...................................................... December 5December 19 .................................................... December 12December 27 * ................................................ December 18January 2 ** .................................................... December 18January 9 ................................................................January 2January 16 ..............................................................January 9January 23 ............................................................January 16January 30 ............................................................January 23February 6 ............................................................January 30February 13 .......................................................... February 6February 20 ........................................................ February 13February 27 ........................................................ February 20March 6............................................................... February 27March 13 “TAKE HOME EDITION” ............................March 6March 20..................................................................March 13March 27..................................................................March 20 * This issue will be delivered on Thursday ** Early Ad Deadline Revised 9-6-18

SPECIAL ISSUESWelcome Back! ................................................October 17Golf Issue ....................................................November 14Christmas Greetings ....................................December 19New Years Greetings .........................................January 2Texas Citrus Fiesta Edition ..............................January 23Golf Issue ...................................................... February 13Take Home Edition ............................................ March 13Thank You! Edition............................................. March 27

WinterTexanTIMES

Winter

Texan TIMES

Vol. 3

1, No.

1 © 20

17-20

18

www.wttr

gv.com

Thursd

ay, Octo

ber 19

, 201

7

Serving Winter Texans From Mission To South Padre Isla

nd Since 1987

See W

ELCOME BACK pg. 1

9

See BUTTERFLY

FESTIVAL pg. 1

6

See O

N THE RISE pg

. 18

See B

IRDIN

G FESTIVAL pg

. 17

Welcome

Back

Winter

Texans!

Welcome back,

Winter Texans

Welcome

back,

folks. It s

eems li

ke it’s

been forev

er sin

ce

you were here

with

us enjoying

the

great weat

her and

abundance of fun

activitie

s in

the

Rio Gran

de Valle

y.

While it’s

been a

busy summer,

we are a

lways eager f

or a

new Winter

Texan season to begin.

Welcome to

Texas! We’re

glad you’re

here! This p

ast week

end as I

was driving

back to the V

alley fro

m a Texas

Press

Associa

tion conference

for newspaper

publishers

it struck me:

Winter Texans

are sm

art! T

his thought ca

me as I

was

Butterfly watc

hing is a huge h

obby for

people around the w

orld.

Butterfly enthusias

ts fro

m 23 states

and four co

untries fl

ocked to last year

’s

Texas Butter

fly Festival a

t the N

ational

Butterfly Center

in Missi

on. This y

ear’s

event, the 2

2nd annual,

will be h

eld fro

m

Saturday,

Nov. 4 to Tuesd

ay, Nov. 7

.

The event is

a grea

t opportunity fo

r

long-time butter

fliers to mark

that ex-

tremely

rare sp

ecimen off t

heir check

list.

For the n

ew butter

flier, or th

ose maybe

looking to start, t

his is li

ke learn

ing a lan-

guage by im

mersion – you are

surro

und-

ed by butterflies

and will no doubt get a

great st

art to your ch

ecklist

.

Don Wilso

n remem

bers when he a

nd

his wife

Jeni w

ere making their

first stin

t

as park

managers a f

ew year

s ago at

Bent-

sen Palm

Village R

V Resort i

n Missi

on.

They oversaw

the park, which

has ap-

proximately 245 RV space

s.

“The park would be full and there

would be a waiti

ng list of as

many as 30

people wanting to

get in,” W

ilson sa

id.

“That’s a g

ood problem to have.”

The Wilso

ns, who m

oved to th

e Val-

ley fro

m Las Vegas,

then took a few

years

off to tra

vel in 2011 an

d came b

ack in

June 2015. T

hey noticed so

mething had

happened. A str

ange quiet,

compara

tive-

ly speak

ing, had engulfed

the resort.

The

park had few

er Winter

Texan visitors t

han

before.

“Don’t know what

happened during

that two- or three

-year perio

d,” Wilso

n

said. “People

were say

ing all sorts

of

things...people

just weren’t here

. But it

wasn’t j

ust here

, it was

all over.

Every-

thing was dormant. I ask

ed the owner

what he th

ought – we just d

idn’t know.”

Then things pick

ed up last se

ason Val-

leywide a

nd, according to park

managers

who were

recen

tly interv

iewed, th

ere is

even more

of an upswing th

is year

than

the Valle

y has seen

in a quite

some time.

Park managers

are cle

arly ex

cited.

“I think we a

re going to be a

bove the

market a

verage w

hen it comes t

o residen-

cy this y

ear,” s

aid Rocky Ram

irez, park

manager at

Alamo Palm

s Mobile Park

in Alamo. “I

think the incre

ase in part

is

due to keep

ing our product up to date

and

fresh. W

e’re alw

ays adding things an

d lis-

tening to

what our re

sidents e

njoy. The

market

has been

relatively

flat the past

two years an

d I think we’re

having a good

swing upwards to

the mark

et.”

Many resorts

and RV parks a

re say

-

ing the s

ame th

ing. Dora A

lvarado, o

ne

of three

park m

anagers fo

r Bit-O

-Heav-

en RV and M

obile Home P

ark sa

id that

there is

a definite

increase

in reserv

ations

already.

Wilson at

Bentsen Palm

Village s

aid

the park

is 100-perc

ent booked for Ja

nu-

ary an

d February while

also bein

g about

75 percent booked in Dece

mber. Last

year, he sa

id, the p

ark was b

ooked overall

When the Amazo

n Kingfisher bird was

spotted alo

ng Highway 107 in Cam

eron

County, it c

aused a

stir. T

hat “stir

” was

so big that Cam

eron County Sherif

f Ed-

die Lucio

had to send deputies

to oversee

traffic.The A

mazon Kingfisher i

s a rare

bird.

In the American Birding Asso

ciation

(ABA) lingo, it’

s a Code 5

. (See

the ABA

Code list o

n pg. 19.)

Ironica

lly the bird made it

s appear

ance

during the 20th anniversary

of the Rio

Grande V

alley Birding Festi

val. A Code 5

bird, according to the A

BA is consid

ered

a speci

es that h

as been

recorded five o

r

fewer

times

in the A

BA Checklist

Area,

or fewer

than three rec

ords in the past

30 years. A

ccording to Birds of North

America, “

the Amazo

n Kingfisher (Chlo-

roceryle a

mazona) i

s a res

ident breeding

kingfisher in the lo

wlands o

f the A

meri-

can tro

pics fro

m southern

Mexico

south

through Central Americ

a to northern

Ar-

gentina.”

RGV Winter T

exan visitors

on the ris

e

Local r

esorts

repor

t incre

ased r

eserva

tions a

gain t

his ye

ar

RGV Birding Festi

val

brings e

xcitement

Jim Brunson

Texas Butte

rfly

Festival ta

kes flight

Nov. 4-7 in

Miss

ion

Alamo Palm

s Mobile

Park Mana

ger Rocky

Ramirez

and r

esiden

t Ila Wisd

om, a Fort

Worth na

tive, st

and on h

er fro

nt porch

next t

o a bottle

tree. W

isdom is

planni

ng an

early r

eturnin

g Winter Te

xan get t

ogether

on Frida

y in he

r yard

at the

park. R

amirez

,

like m

any m

anagers

across

the Rio Gran

de Val

ley, is

expec

ting an

increa

se in r

es-

ervatio

ns for th

e 2017-18 se

ason.

The Lea

st Greb

e is one

of the s

pecies

that p

articip

ants in

this y

ear’s R

GV Bird-

ing Fe

stival

may exp

ect to

see.

Photo

taken

by Bill S

upulsk

i at E

stero Ll

ano

Grande.

WinterTexanTIMES

Vol. 31, No. 1 © 2017-2018

www.wttrgv.com

Thursday, October 19, 2017


See WELCOME BACK pg. 19

See BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL pg. 16

See ON THE RISE pg. 18

See BIRDING FESTIVAL pg. 17

WelcomeBack

WinterTexans!

Welcome back,

Winter Texans

Welcome back,

folks. It seems like it’s

been forever since

you were here with

us enjoying

the

great weather and

abundance of fun

activities in

the

Rio Grande Valley.

While it’s been a

busy summer, we are always eager for a

new Winter Texan season to begin.

Welcome to Texas! We’re glad you’re

here! This past weekend as I was driving

back to the Valley from a Texas Press

Association conference for newspaper

publishers it struck me: Winter Texans

are smart! This thought came as I was

Butterfly watching is a huge hobby for

people around the world.

Butterfly enthusiasts from 23 states

and four countries flocked to last year’s

Texas Butterfly Festival at the National

Butterfly Center in Mission. This year’s

event, the 22nd annual, will be held from

Saturday, Nov. 4 to Tuesday, Nov. 7.

The event is a great opportunity for

long-time butterfliers to mark that ex-

tremely rare specimen off their checklist.

For the new butterflier, or those maybe

looking to start, this is like learning a lan-

guage by immersion – you are surround-

ed by butterflies and will no doubt get a

great start to your checklist.

Don Wilson remembers when he and

his wife Jeni were making their first stint

as park managers a few years ago at Bent-

sen Palm Village RV Resort in Mission.

They oversaw the park, which has ap-

proximately 245 RV spaces.

“The park would be full and there

would be a waiting list of as many as 30

people wanting to get in,” Wilson said.

“That’s a good problem to have.”

The Wilsons, who moved to the Val-

ley from Las Vegas, then took a few years

off to travel in 2011 and came back in

June 2015. They noticed something had

happened. A strange quiet, comparative-

ly speaking, had engulfed the resort. The

park had fewer Winter Texan visitors than

before. “Don’t know what happened during

that two- or three-year period,” Wilson

said. “People were saying all sorts of

things...people just weren’t here. But it

wasn’t just here, it was all over. Every-

thing was dormant. I asked the owner

what he thought – we just didn’t know.”

Then things picked up last season Val-

leywide and, according to park managers

who were recently interviewed, there is

even more of an upswing this year than

the Valley has seen in a quite some time.

Park managers are clearly excited.

“I think we are going to be above the

market average when it comes to residen-

cy this year,” said Rocky Ramirez, park

manager at Alamo Palms Mobile Park

in Alamo. “I think the increase in part is

due to keeping our product up to date and

fresh. We’re always adding things and lis-

tening to what our residents enjoy. The

market has been relatively flat the past

two years and I think we’re having a good

swing upwards to the market.”

Many resorts and RV parks are say-

ing the same thing. Dora Alvarado, one

of three park managers for Bit-O-Heav-

en RV and Mobile Home Park said that

there is a definite increase in reservations

already. Wilson at Bentsen Palm Village said

the park is 100-percent booked for Janu-

ary and February while also being about

75 percent booked in December. Last

year, he said, the park was booked overall

When the Amazon Kingfisher bird was

spotted along Highway 107 in Cameron

County, it caused a stir. That “stir” was

so big that Cameron County Sheriff Ed-

die Lucio had to send deputies to oversee

traffic.The Amazon Kingfisher is a rare bird.

In the American Birding Association

(ABA) lingo, it’s a Code 5. (See the ABA

Code list on pg. 19.)

Ironically the bird made its appearance

during the 20th anniversary of the Rio

Grande Valley Birding Festival. A Code 5

bird, according to the ABA is considered

a species that has been recorded five or

fewer times in the ABA Checklist Area,

or fewer than three records in the past

30 years. According to Birds of North

America, “the Amazon Kingfisher (Chlo-

roceryle amazona) is a resident breeding

kingfisher in the lowlands of the Ameri-

can tropics from southern Mexico south

through Central America to northern Ar-

gentina.”

RGV Winter Texan visitors on the rise

Local resorts report increased reservations again this year

RGV Birding Festival

brings excitement

Jim Brunson

Texas Butterfly

Festival takes flight

Nov. 4-7 in Mission

Alamo Palms Mobile Park Manager Rocky Ramirez and resident Ila Wisdom, a Fort

Worth native, stand on her front porch next to a bottle tree. Wisdom is planning an

early returning Winter Texan get together on Friday in her yard at the park. Ramirez,

like many managers across the Rio Grande Valley, is expecting an increase in res-

ervations for the 2017-18 season.

The Least Grebe is one of the species

that participants in this year’s RGV Bird-

ing Festival may expect to see. Photo

taken by Bill Supulski at Estero Llano

Grande.

NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

on any device(in addition to our print edition)

Subscribe to our e-Edition at www.wttrgv.com

We’re also on Facebook and

Twitter

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The number of Winter Texans in the RGV INCREASED 10.4%* · 17-09-2018 · Alma Linda Chavez •...

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