Current News: (Updated - February 3, 2012)

Bingo Ends Early: It has recently been announced that the final Bingo game for the current season will be on Monday, Febrary 6. Due to policy decisions by the park, Joe Fortungo will not be continuing as Bingo director for this year and the board has no plans to continue operations with a new Director. Anyone interested in hearing more about the situation, or in voicing their views, should attend the Park Meeting on February 8. We understand that the topic will be discussed during that meeting. I believe I join many others in thanking Joe for the great job he has done as Bingo Director for the past several years. He has helped make many Winter Texan's stay at Isla Blanca Park a more enjoyable one.

February Calendar: The February activities calendar is on line. You can check it out here February Calendar. As always we encourage you to check the bulletin boards in the park for more information. If you are aware of anything you think should be posted on the web site, please send me an e-mail. Just click to send me an e-mail.

Chapel By the Sea Choir: Many people in the park attend services at the Chapel By The Sea. Some also enjoy singing in the Choir. This picture was taken of the choir on January 28. Do you recognize any of your neighbors? Or maybe you are in the picture yourself!!



Park Investigation: A recent edition of the Valley Morning Star reported that there is an ongoing investigation into missing money in the Cameron County Parks Department. You can check this out by clicking here: Valley Morning Star Article.

New Event Pictures: We have posted more event pictures in the 2011-12 Yearbook. Check them out, you may be there! You can get to these through the Special Pictures and Yearbook 11-12 in the links above, or you can just use these links:

• Biscuit and Gravy Breakfast
• Mac and Cheese Dinner
• "Bingo Joe" Fortugno Birthday Surprise
• January Pancake Breakfast

If you are using an i-Pad or Tablet Computer you may find it easier to use the i-pad links above.

• Jan 28: Lindley Creek Family
• Feb 4:   Heart to Heart
• Feb 11: Susan Carman
• Feb 18: Starfire Family
• Feb 25: Jay & Tammy Go to the YouTube link then click on "Videos" then on one of the thumbnails to hear sample music.
  
  

Euchre Class: Euchre is an easy to learn card game which we play two nights a week in the park. If you want to learn to play, just refresh your skills, or even just to play with no pressure to win, join us on Thursday afternoons at 1:30 pm in the Activities Hall during February.

Restaurant Page: In our "Local Links", we have a page that will give a little information about some restaurants in the Rio Grande Valley. In most cases, we will give you some pictures and a short write up about it. Needless to say, these are not done by professional restaurant critics, but we wanted to share people's favorite restaurants with others. We welcome you take a look by clicking here: Restaurants. Also, we want your notes on restaurants, even if you do not have pictures. There is a link on the page for you to send in your comments.

RVer Links:  We have links to some web sites and blogs which some of the Winter Texans here in the park maintain. We invite you to check these out, and if you have a website, blog or some other page which you want other winter Texans to share, please let me know. To check out these links, just click here.

A SAFETY NOTE FOR WALKING IN THE PARK:  Please use sidewalks or walk on the side of the road racing traffic if no walkway is available. Also, please wear something white or reflective if you walk at night. Don't forget, most of us driving in the park this time of year are not teenagers with sharp vision and quick reflexes!! Be safe and keep your pets safe from us.

Check the Blog for new activity ideas. We need your input. Activities Blog

Your Participation Wanted!

Activities Blog: You can participate by posting information on the blog. This blog is a place where you can ask questions, make suggestions, and read other people's comments. You can get to the Blog by clicking here: Click here for the blog. You can also get to it by clicking the link at the top of this page where it says "Activities Blog". Once you get to the blog, click on the "leave a comment" link under the posting.

Once you click on this you will be able to read other's comments and will be given the opportunity to add your own comments.

E-Mail Submissions: Please contact us via e-mail. You can send your questions, comments, and requests as well as your stories and pictures to us using this link:  Contact the Webmaster  

Recurring Games

Bingo

Mondays and Thursdays at 7pm in the Bingo Hall. Cost is $2.50 per package of 10 games.
Lots of Winners! Refreshments available and the price is right!
Come join us for a night of fun!! This is available to Park Residents ONLY !!

Euchre

Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 pm in the Rec Hall.
This is an easy-to-learn card game. If you want to learn it, refresh your skills, or just play without any pressure to win we will have lessons starting at 1:30 pm every Thursday in February, in the activities building. These lessons should get you ready to play at our regular evening games.

Bridge

Every Wednesday at 1:00 in the Rec Hall. The "Director" is George Miller on site C216 -- Judging by his skill & ability, if you can recognize a card or hold it, you'll fit right in. We play a Chicago style game: 4 hands at a table, then a new partner will torment you. Despite all this, we intend to have fun. Come on out and try it !

Game Night

Every Wednesday and Friday night the Rec Hall is open to all who want to play cards, dominoes, board games, etc. Bring your friends and play some games! Please note that although these nights are set aside for this, occasionally a dinner or special event gets scheduled on that night so please check the calendar or reservation schedule (at the Rec Hall).

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Regular Activities

Jam Session

1:30 pm on Friday afternoons in the Rec Hall. All are welcome to participate. Bring your instrument (or just your voice) if you care to join in. Musically challenged? Well, come and listen!! No cost, unless you buy refreshments.

Line Dancing

Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Rec Hall. Price: Donations for any class given. Check calendar for details. Dance for fun and exercise.

Tom and Bonnie Lawrence will be teaching - Beginners, Advanced and Partners

Wood Carving

The carvers are meeting in the Bingo Hall on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm. Whether you are a novice or an expert, come join in - or stop by and admire the handiwork of your fellow campers. No class fees other than the cost of materials. There is interest in setting up another class - possibly on Fridays. It will be posted when the schedule is finalized.

Crafts

Craft activities will be at 1 pm Mondays in the Activities Hall. A weekly notice will be posted in the Activities Hall window each week. The weekly notice will include information about the craft for that week, the supplies needed and the cost, if any.

Photography Class

"Take your best shot" for all levels. Bring your cameras and your questions at 1:30 on Tuesdays. Instructor: Alfred Lanctot

Yoga

Instructor: Vicki Jones. The focus is on proper nutrition and stretching for maintaining good flexibility.

Aerobics/Zumba

Get fit at the park. This will be a low impact aerobics/zumba class taught by Lorena Jones, daughter-in-law of Vicki Jones, the Yoga teacher. She will make the class fit the needs of the students.

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Activities Information

The Dolphin Dove Activities Center includes two buildings - Bingo Hall and Rec Hall. Activities are scheduled in both of these buildings. The Bingo hall is only unlocked during scheduled activities. If you wish to schedule a private event, you will need to obtain permission from Joe Fortugno.  The Rec Hall is open from 8 am to about 9 pm daily.  All are welcome to make use of the facility.  Please check for scheduled activities to avoid conflicts.

The activities at Isla Blanca Park are generally conducted by volunteers.  Specific classes are taught by qualified individuals who may collect a fee for their services and/or material. The majority of activities are open to the public (beyond those camping at Isla Blanca or Andy Bowie) as long as there is sufficient room without excluding park members who wish to participate.  The main exception to this is Bingo.  Bingo is a licensed event in Texas and state law dictates that only park members are allowed to participate. 

There is an Activity Director and a Bingo Director who are paid by the park for their services.  There is a Bingo Club and an Activity Club organized to oversee finances and other matters.  Each of these clubs has a Board of Directors elected from campers in the park.  The board meetings of these organizations are open to all campers in the park.  We appreciate participation in these meetings so that you can voice your concerns and make suggestions.  We would especially like to hear about any changes/additions you would like to see.

The Activities Club Board meets the second Monday of each month, around 10 a.m.. This is the Monday preceding the Park Meeting which takes place on Wednesday. The Bingo Board meets every other Thursday of each month in the Bingo Hall.

Elections are held in February to fill board positions on both these boards for the following season.  We are hoping that many more of you will be willing to participate in this process.  Want to know more?  Show up for a meeting!

WI-FI: Wi-fi is available in the park through Orbit Broadband in Harlingen, TX. While the signal strength seems good throughout the park, some people have had problems getting connected or staying connected. If you are experiencing problems, please let Orbit know so they can assist you. If you have questions or need technical support from Orbit you can contact them either by phone or e-mail. Their phone number is (956) 797-9222, their general e-mail address is info@orbitbroadband.com and their technical support e-mail is at support@orbitbroadband.com. You can sign up and pay through a secure system when you first get on line.

Emergency 9-1-1 Information:  At the Park Meeting on Feb 10, 2010, there was a lot of information provided about 9-1-1 emergency services in Isla Blanca Park. Here are a few things to remember throughout the year if you are in the park:

• If you call 9-1-1 for an ambulance to go to your RV, you need to send someone to the gate to show them the way to your RV space.
• If you are calling from a cell phone, your call may go to one of several different dispatchers, so please stay calm and answer all their questions. The initial call will go to a law enforcement dispatcher, and for a medical emergency they will transfer you to the EMS services dispatcher for our area.
• According to the EMS who was at a meeting in 2009, Texas has a "good samaritan" law. Under that law, if you are a bystander in an emergency situation, you will not be liable for damages for efforts to help someone so long as your efforts are in good faith.

ALUMINUM CANS for recycling can be placed in the barrels provided either in the Bingo Hall or the Rec Hall.  The cans are recycled by the Activities Club to defray some of the activity costs.  Please DO NOT  put plastic bags in the can barrels.  If the cans are contaminated with other material, they will not take them.  THANK YOU.

Meals - There will be special postings for special meals. Regular meals will begin when leaders arrive.

Breakfasts

These are in the Rec Hall on the first and third Saturday. We plan to serve from 7:30 to 9:00 am. We alternate between Pancakes and Sausage and Biscuits and Gravy.

Special Dinners

There is a planned pot luck dinner for both Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Regular Potlucks

Wednesday nights in the Bingo Hall. Bring your own table service and a dish to pass. The eating begins at 5:30 pm sharp! Come early to set up your food and grab a seat.

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Special Numbers

Police Emergency - 911

Contacts list

To contact us about this web site, e-mail to: webmaster@islablancaparkactivities.org - this is not the park office e-mail

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