We grew from 554 to 785 residents in the
park this week.
Welcome home Winter Ranch residents!
INTRODUCING:We have some new people at Winter Ranch:
 | |
Dan and Sharron Adelmund
Lot 320
 |
Mary Algott of Mary and Larry Algott
Lot 205
Bob and Kathy Banister
Lot 741
Bob and Linda Campbell
Lot 383
 |
Lot 383
 |
| Josie Fehring Lot 478  Lot 693 |
Lot 662
Lot 133
Fred and Diane Kosanke
Lot 260
Lot 695
Lot 479
Lot 340
Sandee and Don Moore
Lot 496
Lot 334
+
Alice Rudebusch and Lil Jacobson
Lot 157
Mike and Martie Senkler
Lot 417
Ralph and Julie Spratt
Lot 220
Lot 417
Lot 220
Lot 322
Diane and Willie Wiedmaier
Lot 583
Lot 492
Lot 643
 | ||
Nancy Younie, Karen Johnson and Diane Onken
Lot 536
Important Information:
Rio Propane –
Rio comes on Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays.
Entertainment
– You can start signing up for any of the shows that will be put on at Winter
Ranch now in the Activities Office.
Library – If the Library doors are closed, don’t go in. We have meetings, bible study, Majong and
massages being given in that room. You
really don’t want to walk in on someone getting a massage and the other
meetings really don’t want to be disturbed!
DIRECTORY PICTURES
ARE BEING SCHEDULED: Shirley Snell and/or Sue Ende will be available to register people for their
pictures for next year’s Pictorial Directory. You
will receive a free Picture Directory if you have your picture taken. You may purchase pictures if you like but you
are under no obligation to do so. It
would be great to see all of the Winter Ranch residents in next year’s
directory!! Make your appointment with
Shirley at one of these times:
- Wednesday, January 8th and 15th after the morning meeting.
- Thursday, January 2, 9 and 16th from 10-11 AM in the Small Hall
- Friday, January 3, 16 and 17 from 10-11:30 AM in the Video Room
Thank Yous:
Thank You to the 1st Responders. Cathy
reiterated what established Winter Ranchers know. We have the model for all the 1st
Responders in the Valley here at Winter Ranch.
They have saved numerous lives and we are so lucky to have them here in
the park. For new people in the park,
please fill out the paperwork for these people and put it in on or near your
refrigerator. You never know when you
might have an emergency and it is so much better to be prepared! For
more information about the 1st Responders, see the page about them
on the right hand side of this blog entitled 1st Responders.
Thank you to Dale Loerch for all that he does in coordinating charitable
gifts to the poor in this area and also for all the scrounging he does for our
door prizes. Dale recently delivered 9 beds, a sleeper couch, a love seat, two recliners,
a dryer, some dishes and a new bed donated by Ashley Furniture for a 9 year old
that didn’t have a bed. He also has a
contact/friend who recently delivered 265 shoe boxes and 900 bibles to people
in Mexico. This is an
ongoing thing. If you have any
furniture, bedding, dishes or other household goods that could be used by
someone, see Dale. He will find a home
for it.
Thank you too to all the volunteers we have at this park. You are a great group and we couldn’t
possibly have all the activities we have without our volunteers. For you new people, volunteering is another
way to meet people in the park and get yourself involved. We have tons of opportunities for our
volunteers!
Congratulations:
To Mary Stanek for getting a Hole in One on the 7th Hole on December 4th.
Recent Events:
The
Woodshop Dinner
January 7th at 4:30 PM
Menu
Baked Potato with all the toppings
dessert and a drink.
 | |
| The Wood Shop Guys |
Our Hosts For Dinner
 |
| Getting Ready To Serve Dinner |
Some Pictures Of The Crowd
General News:
Special one month long (January) 50/50 to raise money for the Activity Fund: $2 a ticket or 6 tickets for $10. You need to purchase tickets in the Activity Office for this one. Stop in the office any time to purchase your tickets. Come once or come often as this is a money-raising event. The first drawing will be held on January 29th
at the Wednesday morning meeting.
Billiards Fund Raiser: The Billiards Group is having a pool cue raffle. 1 ticket for $3 and 5 tickets for $5. You could win a custom made pool cue with case. It is a 19 oz custom made pool cue made of Honduran Rosewood, Birds Eye Maple and Bocote Rings of Ebond and Mother of Pearl with 4 Ironwood Inlays. It has a four piece laminated Birds Eye Maple pro tapered shaft, uni-loc joint, Juma Ferrule with 11 Moori Tip. The drawing for the Pool Cue will be at the Margarita Party on Tuesday, February 11th.
Learn to play a card game: Donna Ironside explained that card playing classes will be available to anyone who wants to learn a game. There will be a signup sheet for all the games on the Bulletin Board across from the Mail Room. Watch for it. They need to know what games to teach so they can get volunteers to teach them. Beginning Bridge is already set up as an instructional class. It meets on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 3 PM.
Tap Dancing Classes – Penny Vollrath is offering new Beginners Classes for Tap Dancing. The class will meet from 10AM-11AM on Mondays in Activity Room No. 3 starting January 6th. Penny is an experienced teacher and has taught tap for many years. She would love to have some new students so just talk to her if you are interested or show up or class.
Social Dance Classes for couples are being offered beginning on Friday afternoons from 1 to 3 PM in Friendship Hall. The classes are taught by Steve and Gail Larner. They have been competition dancers. The charge is $5 per person per lesson which is REALLY reasonable. If you would like to join us, just come on over on Friday afternoon. We will be starting the Merengue in the first hour and reviewing and polishing the Country Two Step and the Rumba in the second hour starting this Friday. It is a good time to join in with the start of a new dance!
Massages – We are now offering massages at Winter Ranch. We have signed on a licened massage therapist, Jae Jang, LMT. He specializes in deep tissue, sports massage, Swedish massage, Therapeutic, Myofascial Release and Chair Massage. There is a signup sheet on the Bulletin Board. He will be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 to 4 PM. His normal fee is $70 for a one hour body massage but he will be doing it for $35 at Winter Ranch. A Chair Massage will be $10 for 10 minutes, $20 for 15 minutes and $30 for 30 minutes.
Chamber Golf Tournament: February 22nd. $18 per person for a three person team. You can pick up your applications at the Visitor Center which is near the El Dorado Restaurant at 803 Main Street in Alamo.
Winter Texan Appreciation Dinner is February 26th. It is a free meal, however, you need to pick up your tickets at the Chamber – address above.
Texas Independence Day Parade is on March 1st.
at 11:00
AM and starts at HEB and
ends at Central Park (in front of El Dorado Restaurant). The
theme this year is Circus.
Senior
Olympics – Marcia Fabricius is the Coordinator. The brochures are in
the Activities Office. This year’s theme is “Disco Fever.” Everyone is invited to participate. There are events for cooking, cards, games,
sports, puzzles, and you name it. If you participate in an event and take
pictures, please put some on a Flash Drive and bring them to Mary or Lee
Benfield, Lot 501, so we can include some in the Blog.
The
21st Annual Winter Texan Expo and Health Fair will be held on
January 21 and 22 from 9 Am to 3 PM at the McAllen Convention Center (NE corner
of Ware Road and Expressway 83). There
are free health screenings, free entertainment and lots of door prizes.
Event News:
Ladies
Luncheon - Monday, January 13 at 12:00. Final ticket sales will be Wed thru Fri, 9:30 - 11:30 at the Friendship Hall. Tickets are $8.00.
Bring some cash with you as we will be passing the hat for the
Entertainment. If anyone has questions or donations contact Marsha Bender
at Lot 592. Also,
if you have a friend that purchased a ticket but is home ill, we now have
take-home containers so that they can have their dinner. Please see Marsha Bender or Kathy Loerch
about this. The caterers will be busy
doing their jobs that day. Craft Show – The next Craft Show is January 14th from 8 AM to Noon in Friendship Hall.
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 24th from 8 AM until Noon.
Swimwear Sale – January 23rd from 9 AM to Noon in the Library. Ladies sizes 4 through 32 are available. They also have post-mastectomy swimwear, sarongs and other fun stuff. They also carry some men’s swimwear. See the best collections of several well known swimsuit makers without leaving the park. You can try them on and take them home.
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. They will be on sale starting next week after the Wednesday morning meeting.
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. The Chuck Wagon will be open for pop/soda and ice only! BYOB in your favorite cooler and a tacky appetizer 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!
Roundups – The Roundup on January 21st will be a Barn Dance. JoAnn Sullivan is the Coordinator. Time is 3:30 PM to 5 PM. This will be the last Roundup for the season because the room won’t be available again because of other activities.
Quilt Show - The FOURTH annual Quilt Show will be held from 9 am to 1 pm on Tuesday January 28th in Friendship Hall. The Show will feature modern and antique quilt displays quilted art, items for the home and quilted accessories.In addition Door Prizes, Vendors, Craft Boutique, Second Hand Rose and Refreshments can be enjoyed as well as the wonderful quilt displays. The small admission fee of $2 will help raise money for the Quilters for the Needy Project which provide quilts to the Winter Ranch First Responders, veteran’s hospitals, McAllen’s Hospital Neonatal unit, Easter Seals Disabled Children’s Programs, the Birthing Center and the Good Samaritan RGValley Project.
Winter Ranch Variety Show – Will be on Sunday, February 16th at 6 PM in Friendship Hall (Large Hall). The dress rehearsal for the event will be on February 16th from 1 to 3 PM. Lee Clement and JoAnn Sullivan are the coordinators of this event. For those people who want to participate in this event, there will be a Planning Meeting on February 4th from 1:30 to 4 PM at the stage end of Friendship Hall. Please bring a CD with the music you are going to use to this meeting. JoAnn will be putting all the music together for the show.
1st Responders Dinner and Fundraiser will be held on January 20th at 5 PM in Friendship Hall. Cost is $5 for 1/3 sirloin burger and all the sides. Ticket sales will end on January 18th.
Breakfast is served: on January 22nd at 7:30 AM in Friendship Hall. Biscuits and Gravy and Sausage. We can feed the first 140 people!
Mystery Theater Dinner: January 27 at 4:30 PM. Coordinator: Darlene Peters (I don’t have details yet!)
Calendar Updates:
New Comers Meeting: Wednesday, January 15th, at 11:30 AM in Friendship Hall.
Card Making Class: Wednesday, January 15th, at 10:00 AM in the Arts and Crafts Room. Signup sheet on the board across from the Mail Room. Space is limited.
Dance this week is Agency on Friday, January 10th at 7 PM. If you purchased your ticket ahead of time, please sign your name legibly on the back of it before you present it at the door. This will be your ticket for the door prizes that will be given out that night. If you haven’t purchased a ticket and reserved your seats yet, you might want to stop at the Activity Office and do so as we have over 220 tickets sold already. This is the most popular rock and roll band in the Valley. They are a great dance band but some people just come to listen because they are so good!
Conversational Spanish Classes - Classes will be offered starting January 7th for six weeks from 3:45 to 5:15 PM in Activity Room No. 3. Sign up on the Bulletin Board across from the Mail Room. Space is limited. Cost is $45 to be paid at the end of the first class if you intend to take the remaining classes.
Life After Loss Session: January 23rd from 10AM-11:30 AM in the Loft.
Bingo will now be on Wednesday and Saturday evenings at 6:30 PM in Friendship Hall.
Dominos has moved to Sunday nights at 6:30 PM because of the entertainment scheduled during January and February.
Peter Piper Pizza Lunch will only be held the 15th of this month at 11 AM. Then it will be back to normal in February.
Five State Potluck (South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska): Sunday, January 12, 2014 at 11:30 AM in Friendship Hall. Bring you own table service and beverages and a dish to share with 10-12 people. Coordinators: Lloyd and Joella Buchholz and Edgar and Donna Schaefer.
Iowa Potluck: Sunday, January 26, 2014 at Noon. Bring your own table service and a covered dish to serve 10 people. Coordinator: Mary Hazlett (call her if you have questions)
Computer Classes: The Computer Group is offering classes in January. Signup sheets are on the Bulletin Board across from the Mail Room. If the class is full, sign the Wait List area so we will know if we need to add another class.
eBay Class – Instructor: Sharon Blawat on January 16 and January 23rd , 1:30 – 3:30 PM.
Beginning IPAD – Instructor: Donna Ritchie on Monday, January 13th, 1 – 3 PM, Activity Room #3
Beginning Skype – Instructors: Donna Ritchie and Herman Baughman on Monday, January 27th, 1 – 3 PM, Activity Room #3
Beginning Photo Editing – Instructors: Lee and Mary Benfield on Sundays, January 12, 19 and 26 (3 sessions) from 6 PM – 8 PM in Activity Room #3
Internet Tips and Tricks – Instructors: Lee and Mary Benfield on Saturdays, January 11 and 18 (2 sessions) from 10:30 – 11:30 AM, in Activity Room #3
Facebook Security – Instructor: Donna Ritchie on Tuesday, January 7 (1 session) 10:45 AM to 12:45, in Activity Room #3
Beginning Microsoft Office – Instructor: Ron Doerschug on Thursdays, January 9 through February 26, 9:00 am -11:00 am. In Activity Room #3 (3 sessions each on Word, Excel and Power Point)
Beginning Android Systems – Instructor: Ron Doerschug on Thursday, January 11 (1 session) 11 AM to 1 PM, in Activity Room #3
Beginning Android Systems – Instructor: Ron Doerschug on Thursday, January 16 (1 session) 11 AM to 1 PM, in Activity Room #3
Beginning Android Systems – Instructor: Ron Doerschug on Thursday, January 23 (1 session) 11 AM to 1 PM, in Activity Room #3.
Beading - will be cancelled for January 24th due to the Garage Sale.
Dairy Queen Bingo – This event has been cancelled for Winter Ranch. We are looking for a new venue for this type of Bingo and will keep you informed.
Ice Cream Social is served on Sunday evenings at 5 PM in Friendship Hall. It is 50 cents per scoop. The first Sunday of the month is Sunday Sundae. The cost is $1 a scoop but all the toppings come with it. Bring your own bowl and spoon.
ZUMBA Senior Gold is moving to Wednesday at noon - 12:45pm - hoping this change from Monday will allow more people to attend and we will not have conflicts with ladies luncheons - cost is $2 / session - tell your friends - open to public. Meets every Wednesday in January and February. Marisol Ybarra, Certified Senior Gold Zumba Instructor will be the instructor.
Gentle Senior Yoga started on 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.
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.
Can/Am Golf Tournament is scheduled for February 19th.
The
Billiards Group is accepting new
players. If you have any questions, contact Don Granger . If you want to play just show up in the Small
Hall for any of the following games:
- Mondays 8:30 AM: 8 Ball Tournament $5 entry fee
- 1st and 3rd Mondays 2 PM: - Scotch Doubles (Men and Women's Eight Ball - ladies get every other shot)
- Tuesdays at 1 PM: Ladies Pool
- Wednesdays at 6:30 PM: 9 Ball Tournament ($1 Entry Fee)
- Thursdays at 9 AM: 8 Ball Tournament
January 9
|
7 PM
|
Goldwing
|
$?
|
January 16
|
7 PM
|
Red Head Express
|
$8
|
January 23
|
7 PM
|
Greg Jones
|
$7
|
January 26th
|
3 PM
|
Bernie and Red
|
$6
|
January 30
|
7 PM
|
Patsy Cline Tribute
|
$7
|
February 6
|
7 PM
|
Punches Family
|
$7
|
February 13
|
7 PM
|
Cross Strung Band
|
$6
|
February 20
|
7 PM
|
Vance Green
|
$7
|
February 27
|
7 PM
|
John Sager
|
$6
|
BUS TRIPS:
Tickets for bus trips will now be sold weekly on Wednesdays starting at 1 PM in the Small Hall.
Note: The list of bus trips is a Preliminary list and isn’t in cement until we can get things worked out with our vendors so there may be date or time changes from time to time or even cancellations!
Thursday, January 9th is a Mystery Bus Trip. The cost is $4 and lunch is on your own. BUS IS FULL
Saturday, January 11th is a trip to Elvis Days in Los Fresnos. It costs $8 to get into the Festival. A tour of Little Graceland would be a separate charge. BUS IS FULL
Monday, January 13th - King’s Ranch. The cost is $25 per person. The bus will leave at 10 AM. You will have a BBQ and a tour of the ranch.
Wednesday, January 15th - the Hidalgo Pump House. The bus will leave at 9 AM and the cost is $5 per person,
Thursday, January 16th - SAS Shoes and the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas. The bus will leave at 9:00 AM. The cost is $8 for the zoo. Lunch is on your own at the Golden Corral. Return trip will be approximately 3:30 PM. Please pay for the zoo tickets in the Activities Office prior to January 15th.
January 18th – Ol’D’s Soda Shop in Harlingen. The bus will leave at 5:15 PM.
January 21st – Health Fair Expo in McAllen: The bus will leave at 8:45 and return at noon.
Monday, January 22nd Texas Gulf Shrimp Trip. The bus will leave at 12:30 PM. The cost is $12 at the door. There will be a tour of a shrimp boat, a shrimp pulling contest, and, of course, you can buy fresh shrimp. Bring a small cooler if you want. Lunch on your own at Luby's.
Thursday, January 23rd, Mystery Trip. The bus will leave at 9 AM and return around 2 PM. Cost is $3 per person.
January 24th, Killer Bees Game. The bus will leave at 5:30 PM.
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. The tickets for this are sold out.
Friday, January 31st, Los Fresnos Rodeo. The bus will leave at 4:30 PM. Tickets are $13 to get in to see the bulls or $10 for just the rodeo area. The Rodeo starts at 7 PM but there are lots of vendors and things to see prior to the rodeo.
Monday, February 3rd, Aloe King Farm. The bus will leave at 9 AM. The cost is $10 which includes lunch in their restaurant.
Wednesday, February 5th, Killer Bees Hockey Game. The bus will leave at at 5:30 PM.
Thursday, February 6th, South Padre Birding Center and Sea Turtle Rescue. The cost is $6 with lunch on your own at Dirty Al's.
Monday, February 10th, Port of Brownsville Tour. Bus leaves at 10:15 AM. Lunch is included with this trip. Cost is $32 in advance.
Thursday, February 13th, Quinta Mazatlan Birding (info to come)
Saturday, February 15th, Killer Bees Hockey game. The bus will leave at 5:30 PM.
Monday, February 17th, Weslaco Museums (info to come)
Thursday, February 20th, Mystery Trip (info to come)
Friday, February 21st, Riverside Dreamer (info to come)
Sunday, February 23rd, LaJoya (info to come)
Monday, February 24th, Black Dragon Pirate Cruise (info to come)
Friday, February 28th, Nature Tram (info to come)
Sunday, March 2, LaJoya (info to come)
Tuesday, March 4, Killer Bees Hockey Game. The bus will leave at 5:30 PM.
Saturday, March 8th, Border Fest
Volunteers and/or Donations Needed:
Take down the Christmas Hall decorations: Volunteers are needed to help with this Thursday, January 9th, at 9:30 AM. Men are needed too to get decorations off the ceiling fans, etc. and to haul boxes to the loft! Any questions, contact Nora Minor, Decorating Coordinator.
Carry a Flag: The Call of the States will be held in February at a morning meeting. If you would like to carry one of the State flags, stop in the Business Office and sign up. If someone already has your state, you can carry another one as we call all the States and we do not have residents from all of them.
Kitchen Help: We are in need of volunteers who will work as kitchen help especially for the Friday Night Dances. Signup sheets for volunteers are located in the hallway across from the Mail Room.
Large Hall Set Up: Need people to help move tables and chairs for the Craft Fair and then to take them down for the Trailer Trash Party on January 14th. Setup at xx and tear down and put the tables and chairs back at Noon.
Variety Show: If you would like to participate in the Winter Ranch Variety Show, you can talk to Lee Clement or JoAnn Sullivan, the Coordinators of the event and they can answer any of your questions. See information above in the Event Section on times for the first Planning Meeting and Dress Rehearsal.
Dance - Renaissance Rockers on January 17th – need volunteers – signup sheet is on the Bulletin Board across from the Mail Room.
Caramel Corn Makers: We will be making caramel corn at 1 PM today in the kitchen. The caramel corn is sold at Bingo.
Campbell’s Soup Labels and Cereal Box Tops are needed for Children’s Haven. Jeanne Helmer is collecting them. You can take them to the Activity Office.
Card Players: If you are about to throw out a set of playing cards, come into the Activities Office and exchange it for a new(er) one. They are thinking about doing Golf Cart Poker and need some old decks.
***********************************
Curt Huether won the prize.
Respectully submitted
Mary Benfield
Blog Administrator
