Thanksgiving is right around the corner!
Welcome home Winter Ranch residents!
We grew from 326 to 372 residents
in the park this week.
in the park this week.
Welcome to our First-time Winter-Ranchers
Charles and Jane Palmer
Special Guests Today
Gail Fields, JD and Lynn Murray, Cathy Chapin and
Alan and Pam Nash, Area Managers
Alan Nash
Important Information
Community Prayer Breakfast – The Alamo Prayer Breakfast will again be held at Winter Ranch at 7AM on November 20th. Everyone is invited. Last year we had 100 people attend from the city, other parks and our park.
Small Hall Air Conditioner Replacement – As soon as Magic Valley and our contractor can get together, we will close the Small Hall and replace the air conditioner. This will be happening soon, we hope, and we ask for your patience. Some activities such as billiards may be affected. If you have seen all the paint markings behind the hall showing utilities, you know that the road will have to be excavated which means the road may be closed. They have to do hand digging because there is no much stuff underground including a gas line. We are sorry for the inconvenience and we would have had this done during the summer if we had known we had the problem.
Pick Up After Your Pets – You may think no one will notice when you don’t pick up after your pets but they do when they step in it. We have received some complaints recently so some one is noticing!
Minnesota Pot Luck – The Chairpersons for this event have some health issues and won’t be back in time to take care of it. We need someone from Minnesota to let Lynn know that they will chair the event so it can take place.
BILLIARDS
– Scotch Doubles are on the 1st and 3rd Mondays and they need
women to sign up.
Free
Prostrate and Testicular Cancer Screening on November 29th at Archer Park in McAllen fro 10
to 2 PM. Check it
out on the Health Care Board in Friendship Hall in the bathroom hallway.Check Your Welcome Packet – There is a wallet sized card with all the websites for Winter Ranch on it. There is a yellow booklet with all the activities in it and a schedule for the dances and entertainment. It also has important Winter Ranch phone numbers.
Veterans’ Wall – If you are a veteran and your picture is not on the board, please get a picture to the Activity Office or Donna Ritchie. Donna will see that it gets on the board. When a veteran leaves or park or passes away, his/her picture is transferred to Our Veterans’ Album so they are always honored here at the park.
New Massage Therapist – Jay’s Traveling Massage will come to your home. He charges $30 for 55 minutes and $20 if he does more than one person in your home. He also has a woman on staff if you are uncomfortable with a man doing the massage. He is Board Certified. You can sign up for these treatments on the sheet on the bulletin board across from the Mail Room.
Theater Group – Darlene Peters has purchased a home outside of Winter Ranch, however, the Theater Group will continue as Carol Earley has taken over for Darlene. Thanks, Carol!
Ladies Luncheons – Unless someone steps up to be a Chairperson and Vice-Chair for this event, all luncheons for the season will be cancelled. All other positions have been filled so the new Chairperson would already have a full committee. See Marsha Bender if you want information on what is required of the Chair and Vice Chair. This luncheons have been very well attended so it would be a shame to have to cancel them!
General News:
Keep
Christ In Christmas magnetic stickers
– The office will be getting another supply of this soon.HEB is no longer sending the park coupon books. They will have them in their store. They have Winter Texan Appreciation Days on Wednesday and Friday with breakfast, bingo and wine tastings. Check it out at the local HEB.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Stand - The Weslaco Farmers Market will have fresh vegetables and fruit for sale on carts set up on Doggie Row between Winter Ranch and Trophy Gardens each Thursday from 9:00 to 10:30 AM. This is scheduled to start this week.
1st Responders Bulletin Board – There is a much larger bulletin board dedicated to Health in the Large Hall by the bathrooms. It gives information about different areas of health concerns as well as available health and wellness seminars and workshops that are available in the Valley.
Computer
Help Session – Sessions will be
held on Wednesdays after the morning meeting in Activity Room #3 except for the
1st Wednesday of the month.
Bus TripsNov. 24th Grace Heritage Ranch – visit a 100 acre homestead and old time ranch. You can even learn how to milk a goat or a cow.
Nov. 29th - Killer Bees Hockey Game The bus will leave at 6:30 PM. Tickets are $10. Stop in the Activity Office to sign up.
Dec 1 – 5:30 PM Hidalgo Christmas Lights
Dec 2 – 11AM-3 PM Mercedes Mall
Dec 3 – 5:30 Hidalgo Christmas Lights
Dec 6 – 4 PM Lighted Boat Parade and Dinner at Louies Backyard
Dec 8 - Channel 5 News with lunch afterward – this will be a 45 minute tour but no time has been set yet. (25 people only)
Dec 11 – 8:30 AM – Mystery Trip $4
Dec 12 – 5:30 PM – Hidalgo Christmas Lights
Dec 13 – 6:30 PM – Killer Bees Hockey Game
Dec 14 – 6:30 PM – Celebration Choir - $15
Dec 18 – 5:15 PM – Weslaco Christmas Parade
Dec 20 – 5:50 PM – Hidalgo Christmas Lights and Meal $12
Tours and Cruises:
Gail Field (Trophy Gardens) is our Coordinator for Tours and Cruises. Get in touch with Gail for more information or to sign up for one of the trips. Phone numbers are never posted on the blog but hers is on the Travel Board in Friendship Hall.
Gail is now taking reservations for the New Orleans Trip on February 22nd. The whole itinerary is on her Board by the stairs in the Large Hall. Gail is from the New Orleans area and knows the area. Several people from Winter Ranch have taken the tour previously and have enjoyed it. Gail did remind us though that this is Bourbon Street, not Sesame Street.
Other Information and Heads Up (not given at the meeting):
Emergency Medical Forms – Please return these to the office as soon as possible.
Thanksgiving Dinner starts at 1 PM in Friendship Hall on Thanksgiving, November 27th. Signup sheets are up in Friendship Hall. For newcomers, the lead couple (No. 1 and 2) will get the group together to decide on table decorations and who is bringing what. Just pick a table and you’ll be filled in about everything closer to Thanksgiving. Turkey money is now available in the Activities Office after 11:00 AM today. Each Table gets $1 per person at their table.
Rio Propane – Rio comes on Tuesdays, Thursdays and will also come on Saturdays later in the season. They have the following new prices:
20 lb tank - $13.75
30 lb tank - $19.25
40 lb tank - $27.50
100 lb tank - $68.75
Motor Homes is $2.75 per gallon
Please attach a check to your tank when you leave it in your driveway. Check should be made out to Rio Delta Propane.
Noise at Tower Road – If you are bothered by the decibel level of the music coming from Tower Road, please see Cathy in the office. She has the phone numbers for the correct phone numbers to call. This area is in the County so the Alamo City Police cannot help with that situation. Cathy suggests that the more calls the County receives about the noise, the more likely they are to do something about it. On the other hand, if the Event Center on the other side of us is too loud, you can contact the Alamo City Police. They have a machine that measures sound decibels and will go out and measure it. If it is too loud, they will have it turned down almost immediately.
New Staff – The Office has a new person, Emma Martinez. Emma worked on the gate last season. Jennifer Gonzalez has replaced her on the gate. Carlos Martinez has joined the Maintenance Team and Beto Avalle is new at the Golf Course. If you see any of them, introduce yourselves and say hello.
Blood Drive – We will have another Blood Drive on November 17th from 8:30 – 12:30. We have a goal of 35 units of blood which takes 50 people to sign up. We would love to meet our goal for this very important contribution to the community.
Wellness Screening – There is a signup sheet for the next Wellness Screening on the Bulletin Board across from the Mail Room.
Valentine’s Day Dance – The Valentine’s Dance is on February 14th (Saturday) this year. There will be no dance on Friday so those activities that generally use the hall on Saturday need to see JD if they want to change them to Friday night for that week.
“Hello Dolly” - Nikki Rowe High School will be putting on the musical “Hello Dolly” this season. We will be selling tickets for $12 and taking the bus to this performance which will be on the weekend. Dates are not confirmed at this time. There are no senior discounts on the weekend.
Bring a Friend Campaign is going on now. If you bring a friend that stays at Winter Ranch at least one month, you can earn $50. The rules are in your Winter Ranch Welcome Packet. This is for people that are brand new to Winter Ranch or who haven’t been here for at least three years.
Building or Site Enhancements - If you are planning on doing any enhancements to your site including: cement work, installing rock, planting trees or bushes, you need to check with Larry first. Don't put yourself in the position where you need to remove what you just put in because you did not check!
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.
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 wa
ter.
Hippie Party: We will again have a Theme Party this year. Last year we were Trailer Trash. For 2015 we will relive our youth and return to the 60’s and the Hippie Era. The date is January 20th. It’s time to start thinking about what you wore back then!! When you are checking out an outfit for the party here is some info on what hippies wore:
"Hippie dress, which they believed was part of the statement of who you were, included brightly colored, ragged clothes, tie-dyed t-shirts, beads, sandals (or barefoot), and jewelry, all of which served to differentiate them from the “straight” or “square” mainstream segments of society. Their aversion to commercialism also influenced their style of dress. Much of their clothing was often purchased at flea markets or second hand shops. Hippie men wore their hair long and typically wore beards and mustaches while the women wore little or no makeup and often went braless. The peace symbol became the hippie official logo and the VW bus their official means of group transportation. Hippies often drove VW buses painted with colorful graphics so they could quickly pack up and travel to where the action was at any given time. Their gypsy like travel habits also meant many hitchhiked to get to and from major hippie events."
Communications – 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!
Water Restrictions – We still have water restrictions in the valley and your Welcome Packet had information about them. 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.
Please No Golf Cart Parking on the grass in the dog walk areas. Please park on the street.
50/50 Drawings After the Morning Meeting – Make sure you remember the date for your group’s 50/50 Drawings. They are posted in the Small Hall.
Christmas Stockings Project –Barb DeGarmo 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. We are doing the stockings for children from Age 0 to 8 years of age. They need school supplies, small match box cars, small dolls, and Christmas Stockings from the Dollar Store. We donated 300 stuffed stockings last year and we would like to make at least that many this year. 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.
Yard Sale Facebook Group – Marsha Bender came up with a really good idea which was to set up a Yard Sale Facebook Group as a way to sell items that we have to other Winter Ranchers who might want them. It is a way to sell things to other park people without sitting up a table in your yard. This is a Closed Group on Facebook which means you need to be invited to attend because only Winter Ranchers can use it. Marsha and Mary Benfield have invited everyone on their Friends Lists and I’m sure there are many we have missed. So, if you are a member now, please invite any people that are on your friend’s list that have not been invited. Click on the Members button to see who has been invited. If you have Winter Ranch friends that have not yet been invited, please invite them. This is not intended to be an exclusive thing but it is exclusive ONLY TO PEOPLE STAYING AT WINTER RANCH. To invite people, add their name in the box on the right (or at least the letter their last name starts with) in the ABOUT section. When they come up, you can click on them and invite them to be a part of the group. They have the ability to join or not to join.
For those of you that do not use Facebook, you can still post things on the boards that you have for sale.
SEASON START-UP ACTIVITY LIST
The Season has started and the following activities have reported that they have started or when they will start. Please let the Activities Office know when your activity is going to start so it can be added to the calendar.
Bingo on Wednesday has started with Larry Chapin calling
Bowling has started. Judy Good is the contact.
Bunco has started. Ethel Schanu is the contact
Choir has started.
Computer Group Trouble Sessions have started.
Dominos has started on Mondays and Thursdays at 6:30 PM. Dennis Foley is the Contact.
Golf has started with regular winter schedule.
Ice Cream Sunday and Sunday Sundaes have started
Jazzercize has started. Judy Teply is the contact.
Karaoke has started. Contacts are Carol and Mike Earley.
Peter Piper Pizza Luncheons begin on November 19th (new chairperson – Connie Webb)
Pickleball has started. If you are interested in playing, contact Donna Hulsey.
Shuffleboard has started. Ray Uselman is the contact.
Video Rentals have started.
Water Exercise has started.
Volunteers and/or Donations Needed:
Volunteers are needed for the Ice Cream Social this week. Please check the Volunteer Signup Sheets on the Bulletin Boards across from the Mail Room. This park runs on Volunteer Power. Without volunteers, we would not be able to do all the activities that we do. If we don’t have the positions filled for the Ice Cream Social, then it will be cancelled.
Volunteers are also needed for the Dance on November 21st. Diego will be playing.
Computer Group is looking for instructors in are area of expertise including Smart Phones, Tablets, and Laptops. Contact Ron Doerschug.
The Dance Team is looking for two couples to join their crew as Dance Leads. All couples only have to work two to three dances per season. Contact Lee or Mary Benfield if you are interested.
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.
Old Decks of Cards are needed by the Activity Office. They plan on doing some Golf Cart Bingo prior to the Roundups on Tuesdays at 2:30 PM. It will be a Poker Run. Golf Cart Contests will put 25 cents in the pot and will be given a list of places to pick up cards. The cards will be signed when they are picked up so no cards can be exchanged to get better hands. Then the cart with the best poker hand wins the collected pot. The Activities Office will announce this prior to the date this starts.
* *
* * * * *
The 50/50 Drawing this morning raised $76 for the Computer Group. Sandy DeVenny won the pot!
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary Benfield
Blog Administrator
Calendar of Events:
(Unless otherwise noted the event will be
held in Friendship Hall aka The Large Hall)
All
additions/changes/cancellations will be in red
Nov 20
|
7 AM
|
Alamo Prayer Breakfast
|
Free
|
Nov 21
|
7 PM
|
Dance to
Diego
|
$5
|
Nov 24
|
11:00 AM
|
Bus – Grace Heritage Farms
|
|
Nov 25
|
3:30 – 5
|
Roundup
|
Pass the Hat
|
Nov 27
|
1 PM
|
Thanksgiving Dinner (Potluck)
|
|
Nov 28
|
7 PM
|
Dance to Route 66
|
|
Nov 29
|
6:30 PM
|
Bus Trip to Killer Bees Hockey Game
|
$10.00
|
Dec 1
|
5:30 PM
|
Bus - Hidalgo Lights
|
$3 for tram
|
Dec 1
|
11AM-3PM
|
Bus – Mercedes Mall
|
Free
|
Dec 2
|
3:30 –
5 PM
|
NO ROUNDUP
|
|
Dec 2
|
7 PM
|
Entertainment - Razz Ma Tazz
|
$5
|
Dec 5
|
7 PM
|
Dance to Hot Rodz
|
$5
|
Dec 6
|
4 PM
|
Bus – Lighted Boat Parade and dinner at
Louie’s Back Yard
|
Free except for dinner
|
Dec 8
|
9:15 AM
|
Bus – Tour of Channel 5 (25 people
only)
|
Free
|
Dec 8
|
Pinochle Cancelled
|
||
Dec 9
|
8 – Noon
|
Craft Show/NO ROUNDUP
|
|
Dec 9
|
8:30 AM
|
Bus – Mystery Trip
|
$4
|
Dec
12
|
DEADLINE FOR SIGNING UP FOR CHRISTMAS
LIGHTING CONTEST – SIGNUP SHEETS IN FRIENDSHIP HALL
|
||
Dec 12
|
8-Noon
|
United Blood
Drive
|
|
Dec 12
|
5:30 PM
|
Bus – Hidalgo Lights
|
$3 for tram
|
Dec 12
|
7 PM
|
Dance to Sweetwater
|
$5
|
Dec 13
|
6:30 PM
|
Bus – Killer Bees Hockey Game
|
$10
|
Dec 14-20
|
JUDGING FOR CHRISTMAS LIGHT CONTEST
|
||
Dec 14
|
TBD
|
Bus – Celebration Choir
|
$15
|
Dec 15
|
7 AM
|
Wellness Screening
|
|
Dec 16
|
11 AM
|
Advisory Board Meeting
|
|
Dec 16
|
3:30 –
5 PM
|
Roundup – Diego
|
Pass the Hat
|
Dec 18
|
5:15 PM
|
Bus – Weslaco Christmas
Parade
|
Free
|
Dec 18
|
4:30 PM
|
Christmas Caroling on Golf Carts
|
|
Dec 19
|
7 PM
|
Dance to Route 66
|
$5
|
Dec 20
|
5:50 PM
|
Bus – Hidalgo Lights and
Meal
|
$12 Meal & Tram
|
Dec 23
|
3:30-5
PM
|
Roundup with Carlos Canas (singer)
|
Pass the Hat
|
Dec 24
|
4:30 PM
|
Christmas Party Potluck/Appetizers
|
|
Dec 24
|
7 PM
|
Christmas Candlelight Service
|
|
Dec 25
|
1 PM
|
Christmas Dinner (Potluck)
|
|
Dec 26
|
7 PM
|
Dance to Diego
|
|
Dec 30
|
3:30-5
PM
|
NO ROUNDUP
|
|
Dec 31
|
8:15 PM
|
New Year’s Eve Party with Jealous Heart
|
|
Jan 2
|
NO DANCE
|
||
Jan 6
|
4:30 PM
|
Woodshop Dinner – NO ROUNDUP
|
|
Jan 9
|
7 PM
|
Dance to Agency
|
|
Jan 11
|
Noon-2 PM
|
5 State Potluck
|
|
Jan 11
|
2-4 PM
|
Gold Wing Express - Entertainment
|
|
Jan 13
|
8 AM
|
Craft Show – NO ROUNDUP
|
|
Jan 14
|
Noon-2 PM
|
Kansas/Oklahoma Pot Luck
|
|
Jan 15
|
7 PM
|
American Waves Band - Entertainment
|
|
Jan 16
|
Noon
|
Men’s Luncheon
|
|
Jan 16
|
7 PM
|
Dance to Jealous Heart
|
|
Jan 18
|
Noon-2 PM
|
Illinois Potluck
|
|
Jan 19
|
4:30 PM
|
1ST Responders’ Dinner
|
|
Jan 20
|
3:30-5
PM
|
Hippie Theme Party – Roundup
|
|
Jan 21
|
1 -3 PM
|
Beginning Card Playing Lessons
|
|
Jan 22
|
1 -3 PM
|
Beginning Card Playing Lessons
|
|
Jan 22
|
7 PM
|
Farnum Family - Entertainment
|
|
Jan 23
|
9 – Noon
|
Bob Ross Art Class – Arts and Crafts Room
|
|
Jan 23
|
1 – 4 PM
|
Bob Ross Art Class – Arts and Crafts Room
|
|
Jan 23
|
7 PM
|
Dance to Hot Rodz
|
|
Jan 25
|
Noon-2 PM
|
Minnesota Pot Luck
|
|
Jan 25
|
3 PM
|
Bernie and Red - Entertainment
|
|
Jan 27
|
8 – 1 PM
|
Quilt Show – NO ROUNDUP
|
|
Jan 29
|
7 PM
|
Greg Jones - Entertainment
|
|
Jan 30
|
7 PM
|
Dance to Fabulous 50’s
|
|
Februrary 1
|
Noon–5 PM
|
Iowa Pot Luck
|
|
Feb 1
|
4 -8:30 PM
|
Super Bowl Party
|
|
Feb 3rd
|
3:30-5
PM
|
Margarita Party – No Roundup
|
|
Feb 5th
|
7 PM
|
Lindley Creek - Entertainment
|
|
Feb 6
|
?
|
Ingra Health Screening
|
|
Feb 6
|
Noon-2PM
|
Missouri Potluck
|
|
Feb 6
|
7 PM
|
Dance to Sweet Water
|
|
Feb 8
|
Noon-2 PM
|
Michigan Potluck
|
|
Feb 10
|
8 – Noon
|
Craft Show
|
|
Feb 10
|
1-3 PM
|
Variety Show Rehearsal
|
|
Feb 10
|
3:30-5
PM
|
Roundup with Carlos Canas (singer)
|
|
Feb 12
|
7 – 9:30 PM
|
Star Family - Entertainment
|
|
Feb 13
|
NO DANCE
|
||
Feb 14
|
10:30-Noon
|
Pet Parade at Doggie Row Pet Walk West
|
|
Feb 14
|
7-10 PM
|
Valentine’s Dance with Jealous Heart/No Bingo,
Karaoke or Cards today
|
|
Feb 15
|
2-4 PM
|
50th Anniversary Celebration
|
|
Feb 17
|
4 PM
|
Quilters’ Dinner/No Roundup
|
|
Feb 19
|
1-4 PM
|
Dress Rehearsal for Variety Show
|
|
Feb 19
|
7 – 9:30 PM
|
The Terry Smith Band – Entertainment
|
|
Feb 20
|
9-Noon
|
Bob Ross Art Class- Arts & Crafts Room
|
|
Feb 20
|
1 -4 PM
|
Bob Ross Art Class- Arts & Crafts Room
|
|
Feb 20
|
7 PM
|
Dance to Swing Tyme
|
|
Feb 22
|
Noon-2PM
|
Canadian Potluck
|
|
Feb 22
|
6-9 PM
|
Variety Show/All other activities in Big Hall
cancelled from 5 PM on
|
|
Feb 24
|
1:30-3
PM
|
Memorial Service/ No Roundup
|
|
Feb 24
|
7 PM
|
Razz Ma Tazz - Entertainment
|
|
Feb 26
|
Noon-2 PM
|
Ladies Golf Luncheon
|
|
Feb 27
|
7 PM
|
Dance to Sweet Water
|
|
Mar 3
|
4:30-6
PM
|
Woodshop Dinner/No activities in Large Hall until
after cleanup from the Woodshop Dinner
|
|
Mar 6
|
7 PM
|
Dance to Jealous Heart
|
|
Mar 9
|
Pinochle Cancelled
|
||
Mar 10
|
8 – Noon
|
Craft Show/No Roundup
|
|
Mar 13
|
7 PM
|
Dance to Diego
|
|
Mar 17
|
Noon-2 PM
|
Lunch – St. Patrick’s Day
|
|
Mar 20
|
7 PM
|
Dance to Sweet Water
|
|
