We grew from 397 to 467 residents in the
park this week.
Welcome home Winter Ranch residents!
Introducing:
Kent and Carrie Halberg
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Rick McColl and Charlotte Shute from Ontario, Canada |
Note: There is a new page under the Current Info Section to the right that has pictures of all our new residents for this season. We are going to try to get pictures as our new people are introduced at the morning meeting but if they don't attend, we'll have to get them later. We'll post them as soon as we can get their picture and information!
Important Information:Water Restrictions – Cathy thanked the people that have been following the water restriction policies that are in place. She has noticed that a lot less water has been going down the street. She hopes everyone will follow suit. The information on water restrictions in the valley are in your Welcome Packet. The main things to remember is that we can use water on Mondays and Thursdays for your sprinkling systems or to wash your house, rig or vehicle. Washing your car, shed, rig or house is limited to once a month. If you want it done more often, there are services available that will come in and bring their own water. There is a list of these places available in the Business Office. Hand watering of plants or grass can be done any day or time. Just don't let the water overflow into the street and waste it.
Driving in the Park – Remember that the speed limit for ALL moving vehicles on the park roads is 10 MPH. This includes cars, trucks, golf carts, scooters and bicycles. We have a lot of people in the park now and we don’t want anyone hurt.
Breakfasts will no longer be offered on Wednesday mornings. We will continue to serve donuts and/or rolls in the morning. Unfortunately, it was a money losing situation.
Veterans – If your picture is not on the Veterans’ Board on the stage end of Friendship Hall, please get your picture to Donna Ritchie at Lot 689. Donna Ritchie will see that it is placed on the board.
Rio Propane – Rio comes on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. This information was incorrect in some of the information handed out.
Coffee Area – We are not doing a very good job of cleaning up after ourselves at the coffee area. We don’t have any maids here so you need to clean up after yourselves. Our housekeepers clean the large hall, the small hall, the Activity Room and the flower gardens. They do not get back to the hall often enough to clean up the coffee area.
Communications – We have had people tell us that they miss out on stuff because they don’t know it is happening. We do our best to keep you informed. We have the Wednesday morning meeting. There are many displays around the hall and on the Bulletin Boards announcing what is happening. We also have the Winter Ranch Activities Blog which is very thorough and up-to-date. These are the methods for obtaining information so please make use of those opportunities. There is a lot going on in this park!
Swimming Pool – Please rinse off before entering the pool or the hot tub. This takes off lotions and body oils that affect the pool filters and the quality of the water.
Caring for Others Project - Cathy has Knights of Columbus car magnets on sale for $5 in the Business Office. The $3 in profit for these magnets goes to food for the needy. The food will be dispersed within a five mile radius of Alamo. The car magnets are white with black trim depicting a Nativity Scene and they say “Keep Christ in Christmas”.
Wilder Parks has a real estate agent that is authorized to work with you whether you are buying, selling or renting. Her name is Donna Schroeder. They will show your park model or mobile home for you, put the information on the internet and it will be advertised in the Monitor. If you want to get in touch with her, her information is available in the Business Office.
Entertainment – You can start signing up for any of the shows that will be put on at Winter Ranch now in the Activities Office.
Sign up for your Christmas Pot Luck Table starting tomorrow, December 5th, on the Bulletin Boards in Friendship Hall. Please be careful setting hot pots or slow cookers on our tables. We have one table that was badly damaged at Thanksgiving.
Ron Doerschug asked that anyone who has turned in their sheets for information for the directory already please send him your e-mail address if it changed from last year. He missed that when he made the form. People coming in from now on will have the right form.
Thank Yous:
Cathy gave big thank yous to the people that decked the halls for Christmas. The hall looks beautiful! Friendship Hall was decorated by Nora Minor, Decorating Coordinator, and her team. There is a post on this blog showing pictures of the team in action dated December 2nd. The Small Hall was decorated by Elinor Kroll, Diana Mollerus, Wally and Mary Snead and Dale and Kathy Loerch, Wally Sneed lighted the entrance to the park. With all the Christmas lights going up in the park, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Cathy also thanked Dale Loerch for power washing the front of office building.
She also thanked Lynn and all the volunteers who helped put up the new curtains on the stage. New curtains were also installed on the high windows on the pool end of the hall so we would be able to see the large screen on the stage better.
We are ever so grateful for all our opportunities for sharing in this glorious season. More information on each of these projects is listed under the Volunteers and/or Donations Needed section.
·
The Angel
Tree
·
The Christmas
Stocking Project
·
The Good
Samaritan Project
·
The Ronald
McDonald House
Ron Doerschug thanked everyone for keeping him informed for prayers and concerns on the Prayer Request Site. He said if we have good news, he'd love to share that too!
The Men’s Luncheon that was sponsored by the The Video Group and coordinated by Rosie Ewald was a great success. We have heard nothing but raves about the wonderful meal!
Symphonic Band tickets are now on sale in the Business Office. The Christmas Symphony “Tis The Season” will be on December 17th. Tickets are $5 each. You can purchase tickets in the Business Office. The bus is full and there is a waiting list for people that cancel on the bus, however, you can drive over. It will held at The Trinity Worship Center and they have a lot of parking available.
Trophy Gardens is going to be offering a REAL beginners Line Dancing Class. It will be Mondays at 10 AM and the cost is $2 per session.
Social Dance Classes will be offered beginning December 6th from 1 to 3 in Friendship Hall. The classes will be taught by Steve and Gail Larner. They have been competition dancers. The charge is $5 per person per lesson which is REALLY reasonable. There is a signup sheet in Friendship Hall across from the Mail Room. We will start out with the Country Two Step and the Rumba as we feel these two dances will offer you the most opportunity with the bands we have this season. As the class progresses, the class can help the instructors decide what to try next. This is a great time to start. Everyone will be starting out and it will be new to all of you. If you ever have wanted to take dance classes this is your time!
Alamo Parade of Lights – The theme for this year’s parade is “Dreaming of a White Christmas”. Our park has been invited to participate. We will nee a Coordinator for this event. They are looking for floats, marching bands, clowns, walking groups, and antique cars. The parade will be December 14th at 6 PM.
Event News:
Blood Drive –We will have a blood drive on December 12th from 9 AM to 1:30. Our goal is 35 units of blood which takes 50 people to sign up. If we get more than 50, we'll extend the hours. Right now we only have three people signed up so please take the opportunity to help people in the valley. This blood donation stays in this area.
New Year’s Dance - Tickets and reserved tables for the New Year’s Dance are available in the Activities Office. The reserved tables are going fast! 208 people have already reserved their seats.
Christmas Lighting Contest - Remember to plan on a Christmas Lighting Contest again this season. There is information on the wall in Friendship Hall as well as a page here on the blog. Anyone interested in participating needs to sign up in the Activity Office by noon on December 12 and select the category that they want to be in. RV’s have a category all their own but people who have an RV are not limited to that category. Prizes will be awarded in several categories:
- Silent Night, Holy Night (most religious display)
- Martha Steward Would Be Proud (most elegant display)
- Charlie Browniest (most whimsical display)
- Clark Griswold (most lights display)
- Making Spirits Bright (most festive RV – motor home, trailer or fifth wheel only)
Life After Loss Workshop – People who have lost loved ones are invited to attend a Life After Loss Workshop on December 19th from 10-12 in the Loft. There are people that went two years ago and really enjoyed it. They can attend again if they desire. There will be a follow-up session in January. See Rita Huether, Lot 258 for more information.
Park Garage Sale – We will be having one garage sale that is open to the public this year. It will be held in Friendship Hall and is scheduled for January 23rd from 8 AM until Noon.
Margarita Party (50's and 60's Costumes and Theme - Tuesday, February 11th at 3 PM. Nachos, Chips and 2 Special Margaritas. This is a Pool Group Fundraiser. Advance Tickets are $7 each.
Trailer Trash Party - The Dance Team and the Karaoke folks invite you to a Trailer Trash Party! The Roundup on January 14th will be from 2PM to 5:30 PM to accommodate a costumed Trailer Trash Party with games, dancing, and entertainment. Find the trashy, redneck or poor taste that resides somewhere in all of us. This is a costume party and is free to anyone who dresses like Trailer Trash. Those that don't choose to dress down can pay $5 to join the fun. The money will go to the Activity Fund. BYOB in your favorite cooler and a tacky appetizers to share. Be creative – think pork rinds and fried opossum. If you bring something home-made and good to eat, it needs to be disguised as tacky!! Otherwise, only food that isn’t home-made is acceptable like Cheetos, Weenies or Twinkies -- anything that isn’t home-made real food. It will be a hoot!
Bob Ross Art Class - Larry Wiers, a certified Bob Ross instructor, will be here on January 21st to do two classes of 10 students each. The morning class will be from 9 to noon and the afternoon class will be 1 to 4 PM. Larry supplies everything you need to complete a painting except paper towels and some wet wipes. You will need to bring those to clean up. Classes are for beginners and are $45 per person and should be paid ahead of the class in the Activities Office. A signup sheet will appear on the Bulletin Board Across from Mail Room on Monday.
Calendar Updates:
Choir Practice begins on January 23rd.
Zumba Senior Gold will begin January 6, 2014 in Friendship Hall from Noon until 12:45 PM. The cost is $2 each session. We will meet every Monday in January and February. Marisol Ybarra, Certified Senior Gold Zumba Instructor will be our instructor.
Gentle Senior Yoga will begin January 6, 2014 in Loft - 8 AM until 8:45 AM. The cost is $3 each session. Gentle Yoga will meet every Monday the months of January and February. Irma Burr (M.Ed., RYT) Certified Yoga Therapist will lead the class.
Christmas Stocking Project – Come help stuff the stockings on Monday, December 16th, at 10:00 AM. All are welcome to help.
On Monday, December 9th, the Potluck and Bunco have been cancelled.
The first Craft Show will be December 10th at 8 AM. A volunteer signup sheet is posted on the easels in Friendship Hall.
Wellness Screening on Monday, December 9th, at 7: AM. Sign up on the board across from the Mail Room.
Video Rentals started today at 10 AM.
The Jam start this Saturday. Lunch at 11 AM, Jam at 12 and that is followed by Karaoke.
The Life After Loss Group will have a Christmas Eve Gathering in Activity Room #3 on December 24th. Please see Dianna Mollerus at Lot 508 or Bobby Louge at Lot 526.
Ice Cream Social will be served this Sunday evening at 5 PM in Friendship Hall. Bring your own bowl and spoon. It is $1 per scoop.
AARP Drivers Safety Class – will be held on January 23rd from 8 AM – 10 AM in Friendship Hall. The cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members. Another session will be scheduled later. See information on the boards in Friendship Hall.
Craft Class will also be held on December 11th from 10-12 AM in the Arts and Crafts Room. Rita Huether is the Coordinator and we will be making a Christmas Ornament Wreath. Signup sheet is on the Bulletin Board across from the Mail Room. A supply list can be obtained in the Activity Office..
Dance to Sweet Water on December 6th at 7 PM. Tickets can be purchased at the door. There is a signup sheet for volunteers on the bulletin board across from the mail room. We still need kitchen help for this dance!
Entertainment: January 9th – Goldwing and January 16th Red Head Express. Tickets are on sale in the Activities Office.
The Roundup on December 10th will be using our Entertainment Center Music. Tamales will be available at the Chuck Wagon.
On December 17, the Roundup will be a Taste of the Valley. You can come on over and sample foods from various places in the Valley. We'll have the Chuck Wagon open also.
Bus Trips:
December 6th, Killer Bees Hockey Tickets $10 each. The bus will leave at 6 PM and return after the game. There are still some seats left.,
December 9th - Hidalgo Lights and Dinner, Cost $12 per person. Bus will leave at 4:30 PM and return around 8:30 or 9 PM. Information on the trip is on the wall outside the Activity Office. Sign up and pay in the Activity Office. Bus Trip is Full.
Wednesday, December 4th – Hidalgo Lights (no meal). The bus will leave at 5:30 and return at 8:30 PM.
Saturday, December 7th – South Padre Lighted Boat Parade. The bus will leave at 4 PM and return after the parade is over. We will be watching the parade and having dinner (on your own) at Louie’s Back Yard. THE BOAT PARADE HAS BEEN CANCELLED!
Thursday, December 12th – Mystery Bus Trip (free). The bus will leave at 9 AM and return at 2 PM. Lunch is on your own. This bus trip is full.
Saturday, December 14th – Hidalgo Lights (no meal). The bus will leave at 5:30 and return at 8:30 PM. Sign up in the Activities Office.
Thursday, December 19th, bus trip to Al Fresco Weslaco. There will be a parade, crafts, food, etc. This is our first trip to this event. You might want to bring a lawn chair. Sign up in the Activities Office.
Saturday, January 25th, bus trip to Nikki Rowe High School to see “Annie Get Your Gun”. Thanks to Rosie Ewald and Judy Timmer for getting us the tickets. This will be a trip for Winter Ranch only. Sign up in the Activities Office. The tickets are $12 each.
Next week there will be a slug of bus trips to register for as we won’t have the morning meetings due to the holidays.
Tours and Cruises:
Gail Field is our Coordinator for Tours and Cruises. She has posted a booklet on the Travel Board as well as a page of Go with Jo Tours. Get in touch with Gail for more information or to sign up for one of the trips. I don’t post phone numbers on the blog but hers is on the Travel Board in Friendship Hall.
Volunteers and/or Donations Needed:
Alamo Parade of Lights – The theme for this year’s parade is “Dreaming of a White Christmas”. Our park has been invited to participate. We will need a Coordinator for this event. They are also looking for clowns, walking/biking groups, and antique cars. See Cathy in the Activities Office is you are interested.
Men are needed to help set up for the Craft Sale after the Ladies Luncheon at 2 PM on Monday, December 9th.
JD needs a dipper for the Ice Cream Social on Sunday.
Kitchen help is needed for the dance this Friday night and for the Roundup on Tuesday. Please sign up on the Bulletin Board across from the Mail Room.
Angel Tree - The Angel Tree has tags on it for children on South Tower Road that are very needy. Take a tag or two off the three and purchase a gift ranging from $5 to $10 for the child. We will get information out later on when to bring in the gifts.
Good Samaritan Program – You received an envelope for this project with your Welcome Packet. Two families have been selected by the local school for our park. They are chose because of their needs. We will post pictures of these families on the Church Bulletin Board shortly.
Christmas Stockings Project – Barb DeGaramo is the Coordinator for the Christmas Stockings Project. The Christmas Stockings are given to the ARISE organization and sometimes these are the only gifts these children get at Christmas. Barb says she can use school supplies, small match box cars, small dolls, and Christmas Stockings from the Dollar Store. They do also make some of the stockings. They would like to make 300 this year. Last year we donated 200 stockings but they ran short so we will be increasing our efforts this Christmas. There is a donation box for this project by the Activities Office. These children are 8 years and younger.
Ronald McDonald House - If you have any soaps and shampoos from hotels, you can donate those to this project until after the stockings are delivered. After that we can still use the shampoos and soaps. We donate them to the Ronald McDonald House.
A Salvation Army Coordinator for bell ringing at Walgreens is needed as the person who did it last year won't be here in time this season. See Lynn in the Activity Office.
Playing Cards are needed. If you are going to visit a casino, see Lynn in the Activity Office and get her begging letter. Hopefully, we can get more playing cards for the park.
Door Prize Donations for the Ladies Luncheons - If you have something that you would like to donate as a Door Prize for one of the Ladies' Luncheons, please take them over to Marsha Bender at Lot 592 or Kathy Loerch at Lot 438. Please get them there a week ahead so they know if they need to buy any.
Sound System Operators are needed. Dave and Jody Nunn are leaving us after 14 years and we need some volunteers to step up. We can train you!!! We need sound system people to cover for the jams and other events that use the system. See Lynn and JD in the Activities Office.
Exercise Classes - Pam Hoppe and Judy Teply are looking for a couple of people to act as their alternates to lead the Exercise Classes in the morning. Contact one of them if you are interested.
Bikers Escort Needed - Flo Reed is looking for some drivers to excort the bikers. Please contact Flo if you are interested. You will be reimbursed for mileage.
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The 50/50 Drawing this morning raised
$88 for the Pickle Ball Group. 
