FEBRUARY 2017
DATE NIGHT DINNER Wow your love with an Italian feast
Lasting Love
FEBRUARY 2017 $3.99
Six Del Rio couples share their secrets to happy marriages
CADILLAC COWBOY Riding in style with Wesley Wilson
SUNRISE TRAIL Walk on the wild side at Amistad National Recreation Area GRANDE / FEBRUARY 2017
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CONTENTS 6 ROMELIA & JOSE RODRIGUEZ Love endures 58 years
8 CHAYO & JESSE RODRIGUEZ Couple inseparable for 59 years
10 MARIA LUISA & CASTULO SANCHEZ 69 years of love and laughter
12 SARA & TOMAS GARCIA Couple’s commitment lasts 69 years
14 NINFA & JUAN SANCHEZ Couple espouses hard work, respect
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Edgy and artistic Dea Bernal expresses herself with old glam style
Skip Baker
CLOSET CONFIDENTIAL
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CADILLAC COWBOY Riding in rock n’ roll style with Wesley Wilson
22 LOVE THOSE LOOKS Wardrobe choices sure to turn heads
28 TOP PICKS Balloons and flowers are love tokens sure to please
20 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT
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LOVE DOCTOR Museum exhibit showcases John Brinkley memorabilia
42 OUT THERE Take a hike on the ANRA’s Sunrise Trail
48 CHERRY TRUFFLE CUPCAKES Indulge in the food of love, chocolate!
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DATE DINNER
SAY WHAT
Fragola’s Catering serves up an Italian feast
Readers share what they love about Del Rio
ON THE COVER: Rachel Talamantez, is wearing a burgundy crop top and high waisted pencil skirt. Perfect for your Valentine’s date night. XOXO balloon can be purchased at Balloon Boutique.
GRANDE / FEBRUARY 2017
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Del Rio Grande is published by the Del Rio News-Herald. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without written permission of the publisher. Editorial content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher of this magazine. Editorial and advertising does not constitute advice but is considered informative.
FROM THE EDITOR
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FINDING LOVE THAT LASTS
he Bible says love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” In the February issue of Del Rio Grande, we wanted to bring you stories about lasting love, so we decided to turn to our readers for some help. On our Del Rio News-Herald Faceook page, we asked readers to submit the names of local couples they knew who had been married a minimum of 40 years. Within hours, the submissions began pouring in, and in two or three days, we had accumulated the names of more than 40 couples and realized, with no little wonder, that our 40year threshold had been significantly too low. We began contacting the persons who had nominated the couples and came up with a list of 12 of those who had been together the longest. All of the 12 couples we selected had been married at least 55 years, and most of them have been married more than 60 years. A number of the couples declined our requests for an interview, but I think you’ll really enjoy the stories the rest of them so graciously shared. Some of the couples will be featured in this issue of Grande, and others will be profiled in February editions of the Del Rio News-Herald. It should come as no surprise that most of the couples have endured hardship and sadness, but all of them have be able to hang onto love and each other through a combination of hard work and humor, kindness, forgiveness and respect. But love comes in many forms, so this month we’re also sharing a recipe containing “the food of love,” chocolate, and watching over Chef Tirzah Starnes’ shoulder as she prepares a dinner fit for lovers. We also love the outdoors here in Del Rio, and this month we take a hike along the Amistad National Recreation Area’s Sunrise Trail, which is a perfect place to get to know the wild and wonderful landscape around us. Finally, we’ll take a peek inside the Whitehead Memorial Museum’s exhibit featuring items from the home and practice of the original Love Doctor, Del Rio’s own Dr. John Brinkley. • Hope you love it!
Karen Gleason Grande Interim Editor
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LASTING LOVE
ROMELIA AND JOSE RODRIGUEZ Story and photos by KAREN GLEASON Courtesy photos by ROMELIA RODRIGUEZ
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ike many couples whose relationship can be measured in decades, Romelia and Jose Rodriguez have tasted their share of heartbreak, but their love for each other has endured. Romelia, 74, and her husband Jose, 79, have been married for 58 years. They first met through one of Jose’s nieces, who was a friend of Romelia’s. “And one day she said, ‘My uncle wants to meet you, to date you, to go out with you,’ and my first thought was why would I want to go out with an old man? And she said, ‘Oh, no, no, no. He’s young.’ He was about five years older than she was, so we met through her,” Romelia said. On their first date, Jose and his niece picked Romelia up in a car and the trio went riding in an area that is now north Del Rio. Jose said it was the teenaged Romelia’s beauty that first caught his eye. Romelia said she knew Jose was “the one” when he kissed her. “We were at this party in San Felipe, on Rodriguez Street, and at one point we went outside, and he kissed me. I had never been kissed; I mean, I was only a kid, and he gave me this wild, crazy kiss, and that was it,” Romelia recalled. Jose said he pestered Romelia relentlessly until she and her family agreed to the union, though at first, Romelia said, her father didn’t approve of her dating the handsome “older man.” Romelia was 16 and Jose was 19 when the couple married on Nov. 10, 1958. The Rodriguezes had four children, Dorothy Ann Rodriguez Tovar, Norma Leticia Nanez, Joe Rodriguez Jr. and Esther Cora Soto. Like all couples who have been married for a long time, the Rodriguezes have faced their share of dark
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times, valleys of despair that tested the mettle of their union. During the depths of one of those challenges, Romelia’s anguish and doubt led her to a lifechanging spiritual experience, a conversion to bornagain Christianity. “I don’t know how you want to put it, but the spirit of God just filled me,” Romelia said. She said she understood her conversion was difficult for her husband to deal with at first, but her faith helped see her and Jose through one of the darkest hours of their marriage, the death of their oldest daughter, Dorothy, in 1999. When asked what advice she has for younger couples just starting out, Romelia said, “I believe friendship is very important. I believe you should be friends first before you walk into a relationship like this.” She also praised Jose as always being a good provider for her and a good father for their children. She noted that she and the children always had whatever they needed and that Jose made it a point to take them all on vacation once every year. “Young people should think hard about what they are getting into before they get married. It’s not easy. You’ve got to spend time together and get to know each other,” said Jose. Today, after nearly 60 years together, Romelia said she believes Jose loves her and has loved her unconditionally, and Jose said he still loves that Romelia has stood with him all these years and continues to stand with him in some of his current medical difficulties. “What do I still love about her? Everything,” he said. •
“What do I still love about her? Everything.”
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“I just liked her. I didn’t pay attention to any other girls after I met her”
LASTING LOVE
CHAYO AND JESSE RODRIGUEZ Story and photo by BRIAN ARGABRIGHT
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or near 60 years, Chayo and Jesse Rodriguez have endured the ups and downs of holy matrimony. The couple, which will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in July, met in their teens when Jesse and his friend Elias Faz attended an event that was intended to raise money for Chayo’s younger sister, who was running for queen at the time. “He came from San Felipe to Chihuahua. He didn’t have much money, but he had a quarter, and he asked if he could dance with me. My mom told me, ‘El quiere bailar con tigo’ (He wants to dance with you) but I told her I didn’t want to dance with him. My mom got after me and said we have to fill the jar that was holding my sister’s money so I was going to dance with him. I was 13, and he was 15,” Chayo said. The son of migrant workers, Jesse was raised by his grandparents in San Felipe. He claims he had several girlfriends growing up, but when he met Chayo he forgot about all of them. “I just liked her. I didn’t pay attention to any other girls after I met her,” he said. The two dated for two years before deciding to elope. They walked along the railroad tracks leading out of town and hitched a ride with three different vehicles before eventually reaching San Antonio and meeting up with Jesse’s parents. While touring downtown San Antonio, the couple was recognized by a relative of Chayo’s and were brought back to Del Rio. On July 3, 1957, they made it official and tied the knot. The couple has been nearly inseparable in their nearly six decades of marriage. There was a time that an episode of infidelity by Jesse brought Chayo and their children back to Del Rio and nearly forced her to start all over again. At her lowest point she said she opened her heart to the Lord and found forgiveness in herself for the man she loved. “I was very hateful because of what I was going through. Someone else was taking my place,” Chayo said. “I eventually surrendered myself to God and
declared that I still loved my husband. I was told that because I had been forgiven by God that I must learn to forgive my husband, and he would come back. I called him and told him I still wanted him in our lives. He came back. He didn’t hesitate.” Together the couple raised five children and have been blessed with 18 grandchildren and 31 greatgrandchildren. They currently live with their oldest grandchild and his family at his insistence, saying it was his way to repay them for all they’d done for their family. Today, Chayo, 75, and Jesse, 77, enjoy each day they have. Jesse began undergoing dialysis in April 2016 and admits that some days he wonders if it will be his last. But Chayo said their faith has carried them this far and will continue to guide them until their last day as a couple. “We said our vows, and we believe them. I’m gonna love this man … there are times I see him deteriorating, day by day, and I say, ‘Lord please forgive me if I hurt him in any way possible because when he’s gone I don’t want to look back and say I should have told him I love him’,” Chayo said. “God gave him to me to love him and look after him until the day we die. He’s mine until Jesus says that’s it.” Jesse said that though he’s not as strong as he once was, his love for Chayo remains unchanged. “After all these years … I still love her the same since I first met her. Maybe because of my sickness I don’t show it too much ... I worry every day, every two days when I go there … but God knows I still love her the same and I know she still fights for me,” Jesse said. “It’s never been easy. It takes both people in a marriage to make it work. You have to compromise and communicate. We’ve had our ups and downs, we have our arguments, but then you forget and you forgive and you keep going.” •
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LASTING LOVE
MARIA LUISA AND CASTULO SANCHEZ Story by CHRIS ADAMS
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hese days love seems to be a battlefield that ultimately divides couples, usually resulting in a twisted trail of emotional and financial collateral damage. But to some, love still conquers all. Amen. Case in point: Castulo and Maria Luisa Sanchez. They’ve been together for 68 years and still enjoy being around one another. They wed in 1948 and never looked back. “We got married and went back to celebrate in Langtry,” said Maria Luisa, who grew up in Judge Roy Bean’s town. “They were serving breakfast already by the time we got there.” The couple went back to Del Rio the next day. “We didn’t know nobody here in ’48, and we came over here,” said Castulo, a World War II veteran who served under Gen. Douglas MacArthur in the Pacific. They met at a store in Langtry and lived a Cupid’s arrow shot from one another. “I knew who he was, but mother warned me about not getting close to anybody…I was 17,” Maria Luisa explained. Castulo said after the war he worked at a cannery in California for one year, then came back to Texas and spent a year employed in the railroad industry. He saved his money and purchased a house shortly after marrying Maria Luisa. “My dad was so proud…he said that is a man,” she related with warm sentiment. After the house, came the kids. Nine of them: three boys and six girls.
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“We began to have kids. So I told my wife I think I’ll have a loan and make this house twice as big…and we did,” Castulo said. They raised their family in the Chihuahua section of Del Rio with a merry-go-round on the property that the neighborhood kids enjoyed riding. “We’ve got real good kids,” Maria Luisa exclaimed. “They all went to college and we’re educated at St. Joseph Church.” Castulo worked two jobs and Maria Luisa eventually became employed full-time in order to provide for their prodigious offspring. “He has been like a brick house for all of us. And there beside him, Maria Luisa,” said daughter Delia Byles. Despite the heavy workload and the rearing of nine children, love sustained the couple. They said that two of the keys to a successful marriage are conversation and laughter. “I’m here for a week…and I’m in the room across the hall and they’re laughing! I go knock on the door, ‘Hey, go to bed!” Byles said. The Sanchezes’ have 26 grandchildren - one of them a former Del Rio High School valedictorian who attends Harvard - and still find joy in each day even after battling prostate cancer, open heart surgery, arthritis and diabetes. “We’ve been having a wonderful life,” Maria Luisa said. •
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“We’ve been having a wonderful life.”
Photo by Chris Adams Today, Castulo and Maria Luisa Sanchez are 93 and 86 respectively. 2018 will mark their 70th anniversary.
Courtesy photo The Sanchez’ were wed in Langtry in 1948, only three years after the end of World War II. Castulo was 24 and Maria Luisa 17. GRANDE / FEBRUARY 2017
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YEARS “We made a promise to God in our marriage vows”
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LASTING LOVE
SARA AND TOMAS GARCIA Story and photos by BONITA SANTILLAN
“What God has yoked together, let no man put apart.” — Matthew 19:6
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he words “I do” are a solemn promise, a life-long commitment. Sara and Tomás Garcia have lived up to this vow after their 69-year journey of marriage. As migrant workers who traveled across the nation, Sara and Tomás met along the way in 1944 when both of their families were working in Michigan. And what started out as a friendship developed into a lifelong relationship on Nov. 11, 1947 — Sara was 14 years old and Tomás was 19. 20 children later and a marriage based on a love for God and each other has grown only stronger as new challenges and blessings come with each passing year. “The kids are like a blessing from the Lord,” Tomás said. “A big family is beautiful.” The family would dine together on a long table that would fit every member of the family, and a large pile of tortillas towered over. 50 pounds of flour would last them three or four days and 25 pounds of sugar would last them about a week. The couple reminisces on those days, days filled with more blessings than struggles. “My boys
and girls never complained about living in a small house, that’s one thing I appreciated about my kids,” Sara said. Throughout their marriage, Sara and Tomás continued the migrant work, traveling from state to state along with their kids — 17 family members would fit in one car. Still, their children remained eager and willing to make these sacrifices. Having unity of mind concerning spiritual matters kept their marriage strong. “A marriage looks for God and serves Him, that’s what’s helped,” Tomás said. “A marriage that doesn’t look for God can be lost easily.” Sara and Tomás are now 84 and 80 years old respectively. With their children now grown up and enjoying their own family lives, the couple has gained grandchildren, great grandchildren and more. With family living close-by and continual visits from their children and grandchildren, their Christian family remains strong. “We made a promise to God in our marriage vows,” Tomás said. “A marriage is always.” •
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LASTING LOVE
NINFA AND JUAN SANCHEZ Story and photos by KAREN GLEASON Courtesy photos by LAURA PRIMES
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ard work and mutual respect are the keys to a lasting marriage, say Ninfa and Juan Sanchez, who have been married 65 years. The Sanchezes’ lifelong bond began in the small Mexico town of Jimenez, Coah. “He would walk in front of her house, and that’s where he saw her outside one day,” said the Sanchezes’ granddaughter, Laura Primes, who nominated the couple and who served as translator during our interview. “He was very handsome, that’s why she noticed him. He was slender and handsome,” Primes said. Ninfa explained that she had gone to the town well to draw water. “He went to get some water there as well, and that’s how they started talking to each other,” Primes said. Six or seven months later, Ninfa and Juan were dating, and they were married on May 24, 1951. “It wasn’t long,” Primes said. “He asked her. He told her that he wanted her to go live with him first, and then they would get married, but she said no.” Juan eventually moved to the United States, finding employment as a man-of-all-work on ranches outside Brackettville. Juan said he came to the United States “for a better life” for himself, his wife and their children. “He worked for a while over here, and they tried to save money so they could get their papers in order. It was her and their children,” Primes said. Little by little, as money allowed, the children joined their parents in the U.S. For a time, the Sanchez family
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also worked as migrant laborers, traveling north to work on farms, then returning south after the season ended. Ninfa said she has never really thought about how long her marriage to Juan would last. “He was always working, and she would be with the children, being a housewife,” Ninfa said. With 10 children, she stayed busy. Ninfa and Juan have nine biological children, but also raised Primes, the daughter of one of their sons, as their daughter. Juan said looking back, he realizes that the time he spent working was hard for his wife, since she was largely left alone to raise the children. “It was hard, but they managed,” Primes said. Asked what he still loves about Ninfa, Juan said, “When we were young, she was really thin and beautiful.” Today, Primes said, “He admires that she had so many children and she always took really good care of them. She was a very good mother and a very good wife, faithful.” Ninfa said she loves that she and Juan have never separated and admired how hard he has worked for the family. “They argued, but he’s always been very respectful,” Primes said. What advice do the Sanchezes have for couples just starting out? “Good communications, treat each other with respect and spend time together. Never talk to each other with bad words,” Primes said. •
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“Good communication, treat each other with respect and spend time together.”
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DEA BERNAL
“These shoes (above), which I wore at my wedding, are from modcloth.com, which is my favorite shopping site. They have all things vintage and modern. I stomped through the cemetery in Terlingua, Texas, with them on our wedding day, Dia De Los Muertos. I scuffed them, but it’s now part of their history. I also collect antique brooches (below).”
“I got this black velvet purse (above) downtown at Cheve’s about five years ago. It was one of my first vintage purchases. The brand is Garay, and it was a company established in the 1940s that used a wood interior for all its purses. I wear it any and every time I go out on the town, but it’s on its last legs, and that makes me sad. I also collect vintage hats, like this Jackie O-inspired pillbox with a veil I bought on Etsy (below) and a skull brooch I also bought on Etsy, that I wore at my wedding.”
CLOSET CONFIDENTIAL
Dea – Deyanira Martinez Guerra de Bernal – poses with her partner, Pepper Bernal, left, and her children, Ezekiel Martinez Gonzales, 7, and Marley Martinez Gonzalez, 3, outside the couple’s north Del Rio apartment, which is full of items that reflect Dea’s quirky artistic sensibilities.
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“Collecting Doc Martens shoes has happened kind of recently. I was given the Oxfords and the Mary Janes by a dear friend who used to do all of my piercings. I’m obsessed with the heavy-duty sole and classic shoe styles, and who doesn’t love a good quality leather shoe? I’ve found the majority at Ross for a steal, and yellow is my favorite color, by the way.”
“The only fragrance I wear, and it’s actually been discontinued, is Elizabeth Arden Beauty, so anytime I see it, like in a discount store, I buy it. To me, ‘Beauty’ reminds of a beautiful woman. On the other hand, I also love a cheap body spray from Victoria’s Secret called ‘Vanilla Lace.’ It was also discontinued, but they brought it back, and I’ve been hoarding it.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: Dea Bernal, a nail technician at Polished Elegance Nail Salon, draws inspiration for her quirky, artistic style from a variety of sources: burlesque acts, vampy pinups, Mexican folk art, music. But at the end of the day, the thing I love about Bernal is that she is absolutely, completely and unapologetically herself. She lives life on her own terms, dresses in ways that make her comfortable and express her unique personality. Style icons: “I would say Dita Von Teese, number one. She is a burlesque icon, very old Hollywood in modern time, very Jackie O on the downtime. I love all of that, the Betty Page pinup look. I love anything old glam, as you can see. I’d have to say that my style has been influenced a lot by music, from metal to rockabilly to punk and, in recent years, I’ve gotten more into the softer side, like reggae, and I love more mellow things, like Devil Doll Lana Del Rey. Another style icon I have to mention is Prince, for gender bending, shiny, shiny glamour. So awesome. I guess you could say, in a nutshell, my style is all over the place.” • Favorite designers: “I don’t really have any favorite designers. I love anything that is colorful and anything goth. I combine the two. If I can make something colorful into punk, I will. Day-to-day, I mostly wear black because of my profession, which is nail technician, cosmetologist. For instance, for my wedding, I wore a Jackie O-inspired cream pillbox hat with a short veil and a Day of the Dead skull pin. I buy things I like.” • Celebrity wardrobes you’d like to raid: “Again, Dita Von Teese. I can’t think of anyone else. I’m in love with burlesque dancing in general, a celebration of women’s figures, and I would love to be a burlesque dancer one day. That’s one of my all-time dreams. The first time I ever heard of Dita was when she married Marilyn Manson. I’ve loved her ever since then, and I keep up with her, follow her on Instagram. I’m originally from Chicago, like she is, and I would love to go there and see a show with her in it.”
“I love anything old glam, as you can see.”
Best Place to Snap Up a Fashion Bargain: “Any local mom-and-pop thrift shop. You know, when Cheve’s was here, I would raid it every other week. I go out to Gracie’s Finds also. The last time I really went shopping for vintage clothing was at a thrift shop in Quemado about a year ago.” Fashion Crime: “Ugg boots. . . They’re hideous. I think they make you look like a less-attractive Sasquatch.” •
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BEHIND THE WHEEL
CADILLAC COWBOY Story by KAREN GLEASON Photos by KAREN GLEASON and LARRY POPE
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hey say there’s a certain something about a Cadillac, and Wesley Wilson has felt the pull of that something since he was a young man. Wilson, a 17-year veteran of the Del Rio Police Department, where he has attained the rank of sergeant, owns two of the big flashy cars: a 1967 Cadillac De Ville convertible, which he has owned since 2010, and a 1955 Cadillac Coupe he bought late last year. “My love for these cars came from a time when I was a lot younger. I grew up watching Dwight Yoakum on TV – “Guitars and Cadillacs” – and he had the Cadillac, and his style, the way he dressed and the cars he drove, his music, everything, that’s one of the main things that got me into a ’67 Cadillac,” Wilson said. In its brochure on the car, Cadillac described the 1967 De Ville as “a forward sweeping beauty with crisp, tailored lines.” “All who have driven the newest Cadillac are impressed with its noticeably more spirited V-8 performance, its variable ratio power steering and its superb cornering ability,” the brochure reads.
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Two in blue: Wesley Wilson’s sky blue 1967 Cadillac De Ville convertible, left, and his powder blue 1955 Cadillac Coupe are nods to two of the Del Rio Police Department sergeant’s onstage idols, Dwight Yoakum and Elvis Presley. Wilson has owned the striking convertible with its longhorn hood ornament, since 2010, and he bought the 1955 in late 2016.
The car was hailed as “the most popular Cadillac of all time” and “an elegant opportunity for individual expression.” Wilson said he fell in love with the car the first time he saw it on the silver screen. “I’d seen the movie, “Red Rock West,” with Nicholas Cage, and that car stuck out in my mind because he drove that car in the movie. The car in the movie was a hard top, but I fell in love with it, and I’ve always liked Cadillacs, but that one, there was something about it that I really liked and wanted to get,” Wilson said. In addition to protecting and serving the Del Rio community, Wilson is also a gifted musician and singer, who has performed at several local venues. Wilson credited his parents with the start of his enduring love affair with “classic rock n’ roll music from the ’50s” and said his two major musical role models are Dwight Yoakum and Elvis Presley. “I grew up loving Elvis Presley and seeing the cars he drove. That’s why I got the ’55, because that was a car that he had and gave his mother, one of the first cars he bought,” Wilson said.
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“The cars back then, they just don’t make them like that anymore. The cars were pieces of art, I think, the lines, the details, the angles, there’s just so much craftsmanship in them. The cars look like they were going fast when they were standing still.”
Del Rioan Wesley Wilson said one of the things he likes most about his 1967 Cadillac De Ville is that “it looks like it’s going fast even when it’s standing still.” Cadillac designed the ’67 DeVille with long, sweeping lines and a forward-thrusting front end that emphasize this feeling.
The phrase “Honkytonk Man” is scripted on the back of Wesley Wilson’s 1967 Cadillac De Ville. The words evoke one of Wilson’s favorite singers, country legend Dwight Yoakum, who covered the song, originally co-written and recorded by Johnny Horton, on his 1986 album “Guitars, Cadillacs.”
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“And that was the epitome of the 1950s, was the ’55 Cadillac,” he added. Wilson said the 1967 Cadillac has a 429 cubic-inch engine, and the 1955 has a 331. They are both V-8s, and the 1955 has an Ultra-matic transmission. Wilson said he hopes to work on the newly-acquired ’55 with his son, Dillon, 15, a sophomore at Del Rio High School, and pass on his appreciation of the cars and, one day, the cars themselves, to Dillon. Wilson also said he wouldn’t be able to follow his passions for cars and music if it weren’t for the support and understanding of his wife, Ana Wilson, who is also a city of Del Rio employee, working in the city finance department. He insists he can’t pick which of the two big Caddys he prefers. “They’re both amazing machines,” Wilson said. “The cars back then, they just don’t make them like that anymore. The cars were pieces of art, I think, the lines, the details, the angles, there’s just so much craftsmanship in them. The cars look like they were going fast when they were standing still,” Wilson said. Wilson said the fact that both cars are blue is just a coincidence and has nothing to do with his chosen profession. “I just love blue,” he said with a grin. •
Powder-blue paint, whitewall tires and the iconic Cadillac logo bespeak another era in Wesley Wilson’s 1955 Cadillac Series 62 coupe. Wilson said one of his favorite performers, Elvis Presley, bought a similar car.
Wesley Wilson, left, and his son, Dillon, pose with Wilson’s two Cadillacs: a 1967 De Ville, left, and his newest acquisition, a 1955 Series 62 coupe.
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Love Those Looks
Rachel Talamantez is all smiles wearing a beautiful white v-neck wrap blouse which can be worn casual or dressed up. Blouse $54.90 Burgundy and gold choker $12.00 Balloons from Balloon Bouquet
217 S. Main St Del Rio, Tx 78840 830-765-7857
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830-469-7429 GRANDE / FEBRUARY 2017
Madison Fernandez radiates in a Burgundy off the shoulder romper with angel sleeves. Black choker with diamond like stones $18.00
217 S. Main St Del Rio, Tx 78840 830-765-7857
830-469-7429
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Madison Fernandez is wearing a denim button up blouse with a tie wrap in the front $44.90 Accessorized with a brown wrap around choker $5.00 Heart balloon with tassels from Balloon Bouquet
217 S. M ain St Del Rio , Tx 788 40 830-765 -7857
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830-469-7429
Rachel Talamantez is wearing a burgundy crop top and high waisted pencil skirt. Perfect for your Valentine’s date night. 2 piece burgundy skirt set $28.90 Black Chandelier Necklace $25.00
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Love tokens and gift ideas for that special someone
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Balloon Boutique The Balloon Boutique is an innovative shop with a calling to make everything beautiful. 2008 Veterans Blvd., Ste. D Del Rio, Texas 78840 830-469-2414 contact@balloonboutique.org
C&C Flower Designers Flowers For All Occasions 1913 Veterans Boulevard • Del Rio, Texas 78840 830-774-7271 or 830-734-0037
Shining Heart Bouquet
Love’s Passion Bouquet
Swirling Heart Bouquet
True Lovelies Bouquet
FLORAL BOUQUETS MAY BE PURCHASED ONLINE AT C&CFLOWERS.COM
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Be Our Valentine!
Two eat for $12.99
Cervantes
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Mobile Service
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FRAGOLA’S CATERING DATE DINNER Story and photos by CHRIS ADAMS
A
February Valentine’s dinner date doesn’t really have to be on Feb. 14 only. AND IT SHOULDN’T BE. Don’t most spouses see right through that? A significant other isn’t that significant if you tap into the arsenal of romance only on the fourteenth day of the second month. Valentine’s Day should be on any day that a heart feels inspired. If you’re one of those that is truly in love then Fragola’s Catering can make that special Valentines’ Day happen on
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May 9, October 17 or the twelfth of never. Tirzah Starnes, the chef behind Fragola’s (Italian for strawberry), rolled out an exquisite Italian-themed dinner, bubbling with courtship and a touch of exotic flair, on a recent warm winter afternoon. On the menu were Grilled Veggie Flatbread, MozzarellaStuffed Meatballs with Angel Hair Pasta and Shrimp Zoodle. I could already see Mt. Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples.
Wholesome vegan dishes - shrimp and ground beef notwithstanding - in harmony with the organism. And a cool glass of crisp Chardonnay to top it off. The motivation for these dishes was one of exclusivity explained Starnes. And in this area Italian lacks company. “I try to be different from what anybody else in Del Rio is doing. And so I was thinking date night…” She prefers Italian cuisine because it’s generally lighter, healthier and unique and can serve as an effective conduit that elevates a delicious meal into a rich social occasion. “To me this is more than just filling a stomach,” she said. “There’s something about eating a good meal that just does something to you. It warms your heart… creating a memorable experience through food.” Italian food is definitely Starnes’ specialty. After sampling and subsequently consuming about onethird of the food that is visible in the photos, I truly feel qualified to offer a concise critical analysis of Fragola’s date dinner: Fragola’s amore. Molto bene! Fuhgheddaboudit! •
Grilled Veggie Flatbread Pizza dough (can be store bought) Olive oil Roasted garlic Ricotta Grilled bell peppers, Kalamata olives, red onion, zucchini and sun-dried tomatoes
Mozzarella-stuffed meatballs with pasta Meatballs: Parmesan cheese, parsley, herbs and spices and a very lean ground beef. Angel hair pasta Tomato basil marinara sauce
Shrimp Zoodle Spiraled Zucchini Grilled shrimp White wine Lemon Fresh parsley Fresh basil Garlic Crushed red pepper
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20 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT...
SKIP BAKER
The hills were alive as a part of the “Sound of Music” tour in the Austrian Alps outside Salzburg.
As told to Brian Argabright. Photos courtesy of Skip Baker
S
kip Baker has been a part of Del Rio for more than three decades, purchasing Gatti’s Pizza in 1984. In March 2013, Gatti’s opened in its new location, 103 Garner Drive, and serves about 18,000 customers a month. A veteran of the food service industry since he was a teenager, Baker spends much of his free time traveling not just across the U.S., but around the world. To date he’s visited more than 30 countries and 49 states.
Skip Baker poses in front of a Hobbit home in Hobbiton on the North Island, Matamata, New Zealand.
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Skip Baker is joined by two safari guides for a quick selfie at Manyara National Park, Tanzania. In the background, a herd of hippos.
The Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed, commonly known as Saint Basil’s Cathedral, serves as a backdrop for Skip Baker’s photo during his 2011 trip to Russia.
Skip Baker stops in Heroes’ Square in Budapest, Hungary. The monument is home to statues of great characters in Hungarian history.
1) I’ve visited 33 countries including all of Western Europe, most of Eastern Europe, Russia, New Zealand, Australia, East Africa and much of South America. 2) I don’t rely on tour guides when I travel. I read voraciously, maybe 100 to 200 pages a day, on the places I’m going to visit. I always have about 10 things I have to do when I travel. Everything else is just secondary. 3) I consider myself an adventure traveler. When I was in New Zealand I visited Hobbiton, where they filmed the movie, “The Hobbit,” and I bungie jumped just to see if I would jump. It was 430 feet high and was a six-second drop. 4) I got married last year to Margot Flores. We were married on New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas, so we’ve been married for a year and a month now. We were married in a little white chapel and, yes, Elvis was an option for the wedding. 5) My wife and I met through Facebook. It was about four years ago. We had about 60-70 mutual friends. She actually sent me a friend request, I accepted, and we would talk on and off. One day she said she was going to be here on vacation, and we met, and it blossomed from there. 6) I have visited every state in the union except Alaska. 7) I don’t collect anything, but whenever I travel I have rules regarding souvenirs. It can’t cost more than $10, it cannot be breakable, and it has to fit in my suitcase. Oh, and when I travel I only take one suitcase. 8) I am an advanced open water diver, certified through PADI: Professional Association of Diving Instructors. I also spent five days scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef. 9) I am one of six kids. I have two brothers and three sisters, but I’m the middle child. I also have two boys and three grandkids. 10) I grew up in Oklahoma City, Okla. Born and reared there. 11) I started working for Pizza Hut Inc. when I was 15 years old … when there were less than 100 Pizza Huts in the world. Before I left Pizza Hut Inc., I was present for the opening of the 1,000th, 2,000th and 3,000th Pizza Hut restaurants.
The Prague Astronomical Clock, in Prague, Czech Republic, serves as a backdrop for Skip Baker’s photo during a visit to Eastern Europe. The clock has functioned for 600 years and serves as one of the great treasures of the city.
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Skip Baker poses for a photo in front of the famed Taj Mahal in Agra, India. The landmark is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna River.
Del Rio’s Skip Baker catches a ride on a bus with locals during his visit to India. Baker said India was one of his favorite places to visit in the world.
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Skip Baker takes his turn zip-lining in the jungles of Tikal, Guatemala.
According to Skip Baker, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is a must-visit destination on your next trip to Iceland.
12) I was Pizza Hut Inc.’s youngest store manager when I was given a store in Dallas at the age of 17. By the time I was 20 I was an area manager and oversaw nine restaurants. 13) I came to Del Rio in 1978 to work for Art Torres. At one time he oversaw 85 Pizza Huts, three taco restaurants and owned Applegates Landing. I wound up working for him for five years. 14) I’m not a voracious reader, but I do read about six books a year. Most of the time they’re non-fiction, mostly biographies. My favorite book right now is “The Innocents Abroad,” by Mark Twain. It’s sort of like a travel log and it is laugh out loud hilarious. 15) I enjoy doing yard work. However, for every plant you see I’ve probably killed about two in the process. 16) My real name is James, but my mom gave me the nickname Skip as a child because she said I was the skipper of the crew. My middle name is Odus. It’s a family name, and I’ve never liked it.
17) I own and play a piano, but I play very badly and not that often. I took lessons for about four years when I was in my 50’s. 18) I’m a good cook … an adventurous cook. I can make a variety of things and learned most of it by watching the Food Network. I enjoy savory dishes that take lots of time to prepare and that may feature a lot of sauces. 19) I’ve appeared in more than 20 different television commercials. I tend to take a popular idea and just parody it. It takes about three weeks to complete a commercial. Since we work with a low budget I appear in them. It’s self-deprecating, but it sells pizza. Even if people say they hate the commercials they still remember them. 20) The only continent I have not visited is Antarctica though I did see the Arctic Circle when I was in Iceland. I do hope to one day see the Northern Lights and visit the Great Wall of China. •
Locks adorn the bridge over the Seine River in Paris. Rising in the background is the Notre Dame Cathedral.
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HISTORY
JOHN ROMULUS BRINKLEY Story and photos by KAREN GLEASON
T
ucked inside a small wood frame structure on the grounds of the Whitehead Memorial Museum are a group of items left over from the medical and radio empire of an early 20th Century marketing genius who, for a time, called Del Rio home. The genius’ name was John Romulus Brinkley, and he arrived in Del Rio via Milford, Kan., in the early 1930s. History has branded Brinkley a medical charlatan for his touted procedure of transplanting portions of male goat testicles into desperate human patients, but in Del Rio, Brinkley was a big deal, a very big deal indeed. Brinkley, who began performing
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his operations in Kansas, moved to Del Rio after the Kansas Medical Board withdrew his license to practice medicine in that state, and the Federal Radio Commission did not renew the broadcasting license for his radio station, according to T. Lindsay Baker in his book, “Gangster Tour of Texas.” Baker writes that Brinkley was
built a new, 50,000-watt radio station across the Rio Grande in Ciudad Acuna, Coah., Mexico, then called Villa Acuna, and shortly thereafter transformed downtown Del Rio’s Roswell Hotel into the center of his questionable medical empire. Baker wrote that Brinkley stopped his goat gland transplants when he
“All roads lead to Del Rio, Texas” recruited to the Queen City of the Rio Grande by the city’s chamber of commerce manager, one A.C. Easterling. Headquartered in Del Rio, Brinkley
moved to Del Rio, electing instead to prescribe useless elixirs from his own pharmacies. Brinkley wasn’t shy about flashing the wealth he accrued from his medical
Photo courtesy of the Whitehead Memorial Museum The Hotel Roswell in its heyday, as the headquarters of John Brinkley’s “hospital.”
misadventures, but he spent much of that wealth in Del Rio, paying tens of thousands of dollars in salaries during the Great Depression, building a lumber yard and keeping an account at a downtown Del Rio department store where needy children could present themselves and receive a coat and shoes, Baker wrote. “. . . even to this day, despite the pain and suffering that he caused (his patients), most Del Rioans speak in glowing terms of the good doctor,” Baker observed. Brinkley left Del Rio less than a decade after he’d arrived, after a federal circuit court “concluded that ‘there is no doubt . . . (Brinkley) should be considered a charlatan and a quack’,” Baker wrote. Brinkley died in 1942, but his presence lives on in Del Rio, in the ostentatious mansion he built on Qualia Drive, but also in the small collection of artifacts at the Whitehead Memorial Museum.
Photo courtesy of the Whitehead Memorial Museum “All roads lead to Del Rio, Texas,” trumpets an ad in one of John Brinkley’s “Doctor Book.”
“We have some items that were donated to the museum by Dr. Brinkley’s wife, Minnie. The items were acquired before I became the museum director. I believed they were acquired under the tenure of the former director, Lee Lincoln, and it may even have been before her,” said Whitehead Memorial Museum Director Michael Diaz. “Mrs. Brinkley was selling off a lot of stuff from the house after Dr. Brinkley died, so we got a lot of the items, pictures, records, recordings. Right now, the exhibit has some of his items, but it also has items dealing with his involvement in the ‘border blaster’ radio station he started in Mexico,” Diaz said. The Brinkley exhibit at the museum is small and contains a brass-faced radio from Brinkley’s yacht, with Brinkley’s name set atop the dials. Also on display are items from Brinkley’s home carrying the “JB” initials: crystal goblets and a set of
Photo courtesy of the Whitehead Memorial Museum John Brinkley volunteered to refund patients’ train fare to and from Del Rio.
Photo courtesy of the Whitehead Memorial Museum The Brinkley Mansion as it appeared in the 1930s. The elegant home still stands on Del Rio’s Qualia Drive.
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Photo courtesy of the Whitehead Memorial Museum John Brinkley’s immigration card, issued by Mexico’s immigration services in May, 1931.
playing cards. Most interesting is Brinkley’s Mexico immigration card, issued by the Mexico immigration service in May of 1931. The card notes Brinkley gave his place of residence as Milford, Kan., and showed he had a ruddy complexion, blue eyes and red hair. The museum’s exhibit also includes two of the “Doctor Books” Brinkley published while he ran his hospital in Del Rio. The pamphlet-sized books are full of chatty advice about “male problems” of the prostrate and reproductive systems, as well as ads urging the afflicted to visit Brinkley and find relief. “All roads lead to Del Rio, Texas,” trumpets one such ad, showing the major highways in the U.S. and a bright red dot on Del Rio. Another ad promises: “We refund your railroad fare!”
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“We will see that your railroad fare to Del Rio, Texas and back home is taken care of if you take the Surgical Technique which carries with it a Guarantee of Future Service. The price of the Surgical Technique . . . is $750.00. This includes your examination fee, room and board at the Brinkley Hospital Inc., for seven days. We will deduct from this $750.00 fee the equivalent of the cost of a round trip railroad ticket from your home to Del Rio, Texas, and return to your legal residence,” the ad reads. “This give our friends anywhere in Canada or the United States an opportunity to come to ‘The Winter Garden of America,’ Del Rio, Texas, where summer spends the winter,” the brochures adds. Even today, Del Rio is full of colorful and curious characters. But none – past or present – may leave a stranger legacy than that of John Brinkley, the Goat Gland Doctor. •
2223 Veterans Blvd., Del Rio, TX 78840
P: 830-775-2431 • F: 830-775-7418
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OUT THERE
AMISTAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA SUNRISE TRAIL Story and photos by KAREN GLEASON
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White-tailed Deer, like this mature buck and the doe he is following, can be seen almost anywhere along the Amistad National Recreation Area’s Sunrise Trail. At dawn and dusk, look for deer closer to the edges of Lake Amistad. At other times of the day, closely examine the deep shadows of mesquite and huisache thickets along the trail for this large, but secretive mammal.
When the waters of Amistad Reservoir rise and cover vegetation, the result is excellent fishing, a fact of which these two bass anglers are probably aware as they fish near in an area near the Amistad National Recreation Area’s San Pedro Campground in this view from a high bluff on the Sunrise Trail off Spur 454. The waters of the lake in this area provide habitat for a multitude of birds as well, and ducks, coots and herons can easily be spotted from the trail in this area.
T
he landscape around Del Rio is intimidating, and no wonder, lying as it does at the eastern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert, the second-largest desert in North America and one of the largest deserts in the world. The ground is rough and rocky, and the plants that flourish here are formidable: Cactuses with thorns like hypodermic needles, yuccas with rigid, dagger-like leaves and huisaches with pointed barbs
along their branches. But it is a beautiful country, with vast vistas stretching away into the blue distance, breathtaking sunrises and sunsets and an astonishing array of natural phenomena that includes the weather and a multitude of species of flora and fauna. One of the best ways to get to know the land around Del Rio is to take a hike on the Amistad National Recreation Area’s Sunrise Trail, which can be accessed from its trailheads at the ANRA Visitor Center
Wood weathered gray by the seasons can be found in several areas of the Sunrise Trail, testament to the rising and falling levels of the Amistad Reservoir. Lake levels can fluctuate substantially, from the highest recorded, 1,135.66 in September 1974, to the historic low of 1,055.93, set in May 2013. The level of the lake is measured in feet above mean sea level.
off U.S. Highway 90 or off Spur 454. The Sunrise is a hike of about 1.5 miles from the Visitor Center to Spur 454, described as “moderately easy” walking in the park’s literature. Amistad National Recreation Area archeologist Jack Johnson helped design the trail in 2006. “Myself and a fellow archeology intern, Shannon Mauro, did most of the field work, trying to pick the right route, trying to manage all the twists and turns and
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Jack Johnson, left, Amistad National Recreation Area (ANRA) archeologist, and Lisa Nielsen, ANRA education specialist, take a winter morning walk on the park’s Sunrise Trail, one end of which can be found near the ANRA Visitor Center off U.S. Highway 90. Johnson helped design the trail about 10 years ago, and Nielsen uses it as a teaching tool for scores of local schoolchildren who visit the park every year.
As a male White-tailed Deer’s antlers mature, they begin to lose a protective coating called “velvet.” Bucks use saplings of various sizes, like this one along the Sunrise Trail, to rub the velvet off their antlers. This behavior becomes more noticeable in the late summer and fall, when the deers’ breeding season begins.
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control the viewshed, because it’s just downslope of a lot of houses just outside the park boundary. We were always very conscious of the viewshed from the trail, trying to make it seem as wild as possible, to keep the houses hidden behind trees and things as best we could,” Johnson said. Water-based recreation had been the focus of the ANRA for many years, Johnson said, adding, “We wanted to give more opportunities for people to do things that weren’t just in the water.” “This park has a lot of different little microhabitats, and one of the things I love about it, as you walk that trail, every couple of hundred yards, the character of it kind of changes, as you go from an upland
area to the bottom of one of the draws, and you get different kinds of vegetation and different densities of vegetation,” Johnson said. Creation of the trail entailed clearing the vegetation from its footprint and marking the edges of that path, as well as placing a number of informational markers about plants and the landscape. For Lisa Nielsen, ANRA education specialist, the Sunrise Trail provides the perfect outdoor classroom for the fifth graders she hosts at the park every year. “This is all fifth-grade classes in Del Rio, Brackettville and Comstock, and their fifth-grade field trip is a combination of hiking and going out on a houseboat, so we do lessons out on the lake and on the Sunrise
AMISTAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA SUNRISE TRAIL
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
Common Checkered-Skipper
Fossils of Ilymatogyra arietina or Exogyra arietina, sometimes called ram’s horn oysters, are common in the Amistad National Recreation Area and other areas of Val Verde County. The fossils are found in a layer of ancient sediment known as Del Rio Clay and are evidence that this entire area of the state once lay under the waters of a warm, shallow sea. The fossilized shells may be 90 to 95 million years old.
Phaon Crescent
Female Variegated Meadowhawk
Male Variegated Meadowhawk
Variegated Fritillary
Hematite is a common mineral found along the Sunrise Trail, especially at the trailhead near the Amistad National Recreation Area Visitor Center and is a form of iron oxide. The mineral, which ranges in color from a bright sienna to a dark grayish red, can be found in small pellets or cubes. Park rangers use the abundant hematite along the trail to teach young visitors about magnetism.
Loggerhead Shrike
Curve-billed Thrasher GRANDE / FEBRUARY 2017
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Sunrise Trail
National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior
Amistad National Recreation Area
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Trail,” Nielsen said. “Here on the trail, we teach them some of the basics of hiking and using their senses and allowing their ears to guide them to listen to a bird call, for instance, and then to find that bird. . . I always tell them to let their ears guide their eyes, and that will improve your chances of seeing whatever animal is in the area,” she said. Nielsen said she teaches a multitude of lessons while she is out with the fifth graders, providing
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1 Kilometers 0.5
vignettes of information about the area’s natural and human history. Educational activities include lessons about plant adaptations for the desert environment, about geology to discuss the limestone the underlies much of the park and the hematite nodes that can be found along the trail. Another lesson involves learning about the life cycles of ants and ant colonies, a number of which can be seen along the trail. •
Revision 20170106jj
Miles 1
Map courtesy of the Amistad National Recreation Area
SUSAN JANE TAYLOR, M.D.
Specializing in the treatment of cancer and diseases of the blood.
• In-office chemotherapy • Board certified Oncology & Hematology • Blood disease treatment • Monitoring of blood thinning medications • Oncology Certified Nurse
(830)775-5800 • Fax (830)775-8811 • 1301 Avenue G • Del Rio, TX
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Cherry Truffle Cupcakes
February has long been celebrated as the month of romance. Small tokens of affection or handwritten notes are typically exchanged, and chocolate is consumed in larger quantities. But in a world where exchanges of love are rare and chocolate has been deprived of its own section in the food pyramid, wouldn’t it feel fulfilling to create a chocolate delicacy for you and your loved ones — an irresistible token of love that can be enjoyed year-round? These cherry truffle cupcakes not only provide a day’s dosage of chocolate, but even those with gluten- or lactose-intolerance can enjoy them. They are everything you want in a chocolate cupcake, with an added chocolatecovered cherry surprise in the middle! •
Ingredients for cupcakes • 2 cups sugar • 1 3/4 cups Bob’s Red Mill One-to-One baking flour • 3/4 cup Hershey’s Cocoa • 1 teaspoon salt • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
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• • • • • •
1/4 teaspoon baking soda 2 eggs 1 cup cashew milk 1/2 cup canola oil/olive oil 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup boiling water
Ingredients for cherry truffle filling • 3 cups dark chocolate chips • 1 cup condensed milk*
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract • 15 maraschino cherries
Decoration • Chocolate frosting**
• 15 stemmed cherries
Directions for cupcake 1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place 15 cupcake liners into cupcake trays. 2. Stir together sugar, baking mix, cocoa, salt, baking powder and baking soda in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for two minutes. 3. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour evenly into cupcake liners. 4. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until center is set. Allow cupcakes to cool completely.
Directions for cherry truffle filling 1. Melt chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. 2. Add condensed milk and vanilla extract. Mix until the mixture is thick. 3. Chill the mixture in the fridge for 30-45 minutes. 4. While the mixture is chilling, scoop out the center of each cupcake with an apple corer in order to make an opening for the filling. (Only do this step if you have allowed the cupcakes to cool completely.) 5. Once the mixture is chilled, scoop out small portions of the mixture and roll them into small balls with a cherry in the center. 6. Place truffles on a parchment paper lined tray and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. 7. After the truffles have chilled, place a truffle in each cupcake hole. 8. Frost your cupcakes with chocolate frosting, and top it off with a cherry.
*If going dairy-free, visit my website at bonitappetit.com for a recipe to a coconut-based condensed milk. **If you would like to use a homemade frosting instead of a store-bought one, visit my website at bonitappetit.com for my lactose-free chocolate frosting recipe.
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?
say what
What do you LOVE about DEL RIO? Let your voice be heard: twitter.com/DRNewsHerald
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“I love it because Del Rio is small, and it makes me treasure all that it offers, also most of my family lives here.”
“It never rains. I love Del Rio, great food, no crime, and people love their families more than money.”
— Ulisses Gallegos
— Shirley Bocook
GRANDE / FEBRUARY 2017
“I’m fond of my hometown because as diverse as its people are, it still manages to remain a close-knit community. One that celebrates every accomplishment and milestone achieved by its citizens.” — Melissa Sandoval
What they are talking about...
Now Big! that’s
JANUARY 2017
LULU’S LIFE CHANGE Woman shows 50 can be fit and fabulous
FAMILY TRADITION Love of classic cars bonds father and son
Call Today For SEMINOLE CANYON Advertising Opportunities A New Year’s walk into pre-history
(830) 703-3021 Ask for Sandra Castillo JANUARY 2017
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CLARISSA’S ANTHEM Magazine Del Rio songstress GRANDE / FEBRUARY 2017 battles deadly disease
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1
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An Evening With the Stars Del Rio Chamber of Commerce Dinner & Awards Banquet
Speaker Bob Phillips
TEXAS COUNTRY REPORTER
Thurs, Feb. 23, 2017 Civic Center Red Oak Ballroom Walk the Red Carpet in your favorite Red Heels! Bring out your Hollywood best and mingle amongst the stars as you support your Del Rio Chamber of Commerce Reserve your table today!
Chamber of Commerce Convention & Visitors Bureau 52
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830-775-3557