Del Rio Grande 0419

APRIL 2019

CELEBRATE EARTH DAY

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FROM THE EDITOR Celebrate Earth Day! PUBLISHER Sandra Castillo EDITOR Karen Gleason WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS Brian Argabright Xochitl Arteaga Karen Gleason Lucas Hernandez Alicia Jimenez Atzimba Morales ADVERTISING Xochitl Arteaga Alicia Jimenez Ashley Lopez PRODUCTION Jorge Alarcon

Roland Cardenas Antonio Morales EDITORIAL karen.gleason@delrionewsherald.com 830-775-1551, Ext. 247 ADVERTISING ashley.lopez@delrionewsherald.com 830-775-1551, Ext. 250 STORY IDEAS karen.gleason@delrionewsherald.com

2205 North Bedell Avenue • Del Rio, TX 78840 delrionewsherald.com 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.

Denying climate change – saying you “don’t believe” in climate change – is like denying the existence of earthquakes or volcanoes.

Like those natural forces, climate change exists, and the problems that it is creating and will continue to create throughout our lifetimes are real. To refuse to discuss the problems or deny them is to bury our heads in the sand.

There are excellent resources on the internet to learn more about climate change and what is being done and what can be done to mitigate its effects. One great resource is NASA’s web site on global climate change at climate.nasa.gov, but there are others. I urge all of you to take some time to inform yourself about this issue in between watching cooking videos on YouTube and streaming Amazon Prime.

In April, we celebrate Earth Day, and quite possibly the most important thing we can do to “save the planet” is to educate our children about the small steps they can take to make a difference.

In this issue of the magazine, our newest writer and photographer, Atzimba Morales, talked with City Planner Janice Pokrant, who is organizing the city’s annual Earth Day celebration, which will take place on April 13 in Lt. Thomas Romanelli Park along our San Felipe Creek.

The city’s Earth Day celebration is a fun way to teach kids about the importance of recycling and respecting Mother Earth. There will be lots of activities, food and music, and we hope we’ll see all of you there!

Atzimba also talked with Isela Loyola, the city’s recycling center coordinator and visited the recycling center for a tour of the facility.

Finally, she spoke with members of the metal band Oculus of Profanations, who will be performing this year at Yukfest, the Casa De La Cultura’s annual hard rock and metal festival, where the entry fee is recyclables.

This month we also celebrate the anniversary of the birth of the Housing Authority of Del Rio, a vision of the late Arturo Gonzalez, a Del Rio attorney whose aim was to provide affordable housing for low- and middle-income individuals and families. Writer Brian Argabright takes us for a walk down memory lane in his piece on the housing authority’s birth and milestones through the decades.

April is the perfect month to get out and look around Del Rio. If you’ve never visited the incredibly beautiful San Felipe Creek, maybe this is the month to do so.

And remember, wherever you go, try to leave things a little better than you found them.

Karen Gleason Del Rio Grande Editor

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CONTENTS 8

CALENDAR Keep busy this month at these local events.

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CELEBRATE EARTH DAY Family-friendly fest features activities, music and food.

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RECYCLE DEL RIO

City’s recycling center is going strong.

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GET READY FOR YUKFEST Annual metal festival promotes recycling.

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SPRING SELECTIONS Brighten up home and office with these picks.

GEORGE PAUL BULLRIDING Annual event draws thousands to Del Rio.

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CLOSET CONFIDENTIAL

Housing Authority of Del Rio celebrates 75 years of service.

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POWER OF A VISION

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STRAWBERRY LEMONADE

Jessica Shawver-Savino keeps it classic at home and on the job.

ART FOR EVERYONE Downtown murals celebrate city’s cultural heritage.

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GROWING NATIVE

A sweet and sour treat to sip on spring days.

A look at some of the area’s most iconic plants.

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MOSTACHON

Spring fashions stand out.

Scrumptious strawberry meringue cake is easy to make.

DIAMONDS IN THE RUST

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LAST LOOK Writer/photographer Brian Argabright wraps up the issue.

ON THE COVER: Jessica Shawver-Savino welcomes spring with an armload of cultivated daisies, provided for the occasions by Del Rio’s newest flower shop, Floral Xpressions. Jessica, who is the subject of April’s Closet Confidential feature, was photographed in a profusion of wild Texas daisies blooming in a vacant lot on the city’s north side. Photo by Karen Gleason

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APRIL CALENDAR Keep busy this month at these fun local events

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APRIL 4 FAMILIES BACK TO NATURE 6:00PM - 7:30PM The Texas Parks and Wildlife Devils River State Natural Area and the Casa de la Cultura have been working together to bring awareness about respecting and preserving our backyard/nature. Sign up, because space is limited for this free program. Call (830) 768-2287.

APRIL 5 PARTNERS FOR SHARING STUDENT ART SHOW DEL RIO COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS FIREHOUSE GALLERY - 7 P.M. - 9 P.M. The gallery opening for the pARTners for Sharing Art Show, the Del RIo Council for the Arts’ annual student show, open to artists 5 to 18 years of age. Come view artworks in a range of media by some of the area’s most talented young people. Show hangs until April 27.

APRIL 13 FITNESS AT THE DEVILS 6:00PM - 7:30PM The Texas Parks and Wildlife Devils River State Natural Area and the

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APRIL 13 RABIES CLINIC 9 A.M. TO 4 P.M. Bring your dog or cat to one of four locations – Buena Vista Park, Star Park, Greenwood Park and G.I. Forum Park. A special price of $10 per animal, includes vaccine and license. Other shots are available for additional fee. Event is sponsored by the Amistad Kennel Club and the 4-H Dog Project.

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APRIL 18 MISS VAL VERDE PAGEANT 6 P.M. - 8 P.M. Paul Poag Theatre for the Performing Arts The Texas Parks and Wildlife Devils River State Natural Area and the Casa de la Cultura have been working together being awareness about respecting and preserving our backyard/nature. Sign up, because space is limited for this free program. Call (830) 768-2287.

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Celebrate Earth Day Food, fun and family-friendly events will mark this year’s celebration

Story by ATZIMBA MORALES; Photos by KAREN GLEASON and contributed photos by CITY OF DEL RIO

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pril showers are sure to cloud bright days, but the month of April will also have plenty of opportunities to celebrate the unique environment of the border, a meeting place of east and west, north and south.

The community can celebrate little accomplishments and be further informed about protecting the environment at the city of Del Rio’s annual Earth Day celebration on April 13.

The city of Del Rio is hosting the event, with help from the National Park Service, the Del Rio Parks Foundation, as well as local businesses, civic groups and volunteers, and the event promises to provide entertainment, food, music and plenty of activities for children and adults.

This year’s Earth Day activities are scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 13 at Lt. Thomas Romanelli Memorial Park along the San Felipe Creek.

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City Planner Janice Pokrant is organizing this year’s Earth Day event and said she is looking forward to making the event successful for another year.

Many of the Earth Day events will be geared to children and their families.

“There will be different booths, and kids will be given a booklet to get stamped,” Pokrant said.

Youngsters can go to each booth to get their booklet stamped and receive a little education on different Earth Day-related programs and create an earth-friendly craft.

During the 2018 event, youngsters hammered together their own planters at The Home Depot station and made unique shoulder bags from recycled t-shirts at another station .

The city of Del Rio this year will be working in conjunction with the city of Ciudad Acuña, Coah., Mexico, at the event.

“Last year, the city of Acuña participated and brought

Youngsters and their parents create do-it-yourself projects at The Home Depot station at the 2018 Earth Day celebration in Lt. Thomas Romanelli Memorial Park.

Billy Diaz, a staff member of the Whitehead Memorial Museum, shows a participant of the 2018 Earth Day event a recycling activity using bandannas.

Vanessa Martinez, right, sponsor of the art club at Garfield Elementary School, shows youngsters how to create their own shoulder bags using recycled t-shirts.

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Amistad National Recreation Area volunteer Aaron Escoto, left, a junior at Del Rio High School, shows Hope Skuya the correct method for paddling a canoe during the 2018 Earth Day event in Romanelli Park along the San Felipe Creek.

Dolores Sanchez, left, and Felipe Guerra, right, help Yorley Guerra build a small planter at The Home Depot station at the 2018 Earth Day event in Romanelli Park.

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Members of Ciudad Acuña, Coah., Mexico’s Departamento de Ecología (Ecology Department), from left, Pedro Linares, Gilberto Vielma and Nereida Barrios, joined Del Rio’s Earth Day festivities in 2018.

Jack Johnson, a member of the National Park Service staff at the Amistad National Recreation Area, shows the proper technique for solo handling of a canoe during the city’s 2018 Earth Day event. The ANRA had several stations for visitors to the 2018 Earth Day event in Romanelli Park.

over their recycling information department as well,” Pokrant said.

Del Rio’s two chambers of commerce and the school district will be working with the city to promote the event.

The school district will also be participating in the events.

They are not the only ones participating. Laughlin Air Force Base will also be at the event providing activities while the local business community will be supporting the event.

The Del Rio Fire Department will be on site with their smoke house.

“The Earth Day celebration is not just for children, it’s for anybody of any age,” Pokrant said.

Previously, there have been vendors from out of town as well as a petting zoo a couple of years in a row.

“Participation wise, I think we have had people come in from surrounding communities,” Pokrant said.

She estimated 400 people attended the event last year.

Earth Day is an international holiday bringing attention to broaden, educate and activate the environmental movement across the globe. The Earth Day Network works year long to solve climate change, end plastic pollution and protect endangered species, according to their website.

The city has species of birds and plants that are unique to area. Del Rio could be on the verge of “being discovered” by a wider birding community, something that could bring more visitors and profit to the city. Yet, this could be impeded by the amount of trash found along public areas.

There is the rare occasion of a citizen taking the initiative of cleaning the creek or picking up trash without being involved in an event.

The involvement of the community can help better the environment. In the long run, the younger generation has to deal with the impact caused by the prior generations.

People are encouraged to take the time to better informed about benefiting their community. •

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RECYCLE,

Del Rio! Story by ATZIMBA MORALES; Photos by ATZIMBA MORALES and KAREN GLEASON

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L

ittle things can make a big difference.

That’s the message of the city of Del Rio Recycling Center, 1409 E. Gibbs St. According to the city of Del Rio’s web site, “Recycling is the easiest and most efficient way to keep Del Rio clean. The city of Del Rio wants to include every member of the community in its recycling efforts and introduced an award winning educational environmental program to the San Felipe Consolidated Independent School District, using ‘Toby Globy, the earth loving mascot, to teach simple environmental awareness to students.”

Currently, the city offers residents “single stream” recycling by providing a small recycling bin that residents can fill with crushed aluminum cans, plastic bottles, cardboard and paper. The bin can be placed alongside a resident’s trash cart

on certain days of the month and will be picked up curb-side.

The city’s recycling center also provides a large recycling trailer that is placed in prominent locations around the city.

For more information on single stream recycling and the recycling trailer locations, visit the city’s web site, https:// www.cityofdelrio.com/442/Recycling “One plastic bottle can take hundreds of years to decompose. In the United States, the average person uses approximately 167 plastic water bottles per year,” said Isela Loyola, the city’s interim recycle coordinator.

“The city has been able to save more than 2,080 square feet in landfill space within the past three years,” Loyola added.

She noted the amount of items being recycled by city residents is slowly increasing.

Walking into the recycling center, you

Interim Recycle Coordinator Isela Loyola categorizing plastic containers.

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Employee Cesar Castillo putting cardboard into the baler machine.

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see blue recycling bins along three walls.

Loyola and her staff help citizens place their recyclables in the correct containers.

But that’s not all the center does.

Through a window inside the recycling center, visitors can see huge bags piled up against a wall in the next room and outside the center are stacked bales of paper, plastic and cardboard, awaiting transfer to a recycling hub in San Antonio.

Individual bales are as tall as a small child and as wide as a Mini Cooper.

Inside the recycling center are several tall bookcases filled with hard covers and paperbacks that are part of the center’s book exchange program. People can take a book that has piqued their interest and replace the book they’ve taken with one from their personal collection.

On one wall, Loyola has hung a notice board made of wine corks. She confirmed

the corks, which are artfully arranged on the board, were repurposed.

She also pointed out an art piece of stylized flowers on another wall. The art piece was created from repurposed wood from old pallets and metal.

Recycling is just one thing Del Rioans can do daily to make the community a better, more attractive place to live. In the past month, there have been several events to improve the city, including cleaning up the creek, painting murals and planting a garden for birds and butterflies.

These actions and events help make the community look better and set an example for others to join in or help out in some way.

For more information about the city’s recycling program, call 830-774-8565 or visit the recycling center at 1409 E. Gibbs St. •

2019 Recycling Schedule*

* For recycling map, check the City of Del Rio’s website at www.cityofdelrio.com

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Yukfest Rocks On Story by ATZIMBA MORALES; Photo by KAREN GLEASON

T

his spring’s festivities don’t end with the city’s Earth Day event: Local metal heads better get ready to rock out for the 11th Annual Yukfest.

On April 13, hard rock and heavy metal bands will perform at the Casa De La Cultura, 302 Cantu St., and music fans can get into the event free by bringing recyclable items.

This year’s Yukfest lineup includes the Code 88s, who describe themselves as a “border punk” band. Other acts include Perseverance, Panteon and Oculus of Profanations. More bands are listed on the event Facebook page.

Food vendor Broken Match is scheduled to be on site to feed hungry Yukfest-goers.

This is the first time Oculus of Profanations will be performing at Yukfest, and although Oculus is relatively new to Del Rio’s music scene, its members have years of musical experience under their spike-studded belts.

The band consists of Fred Vela on vocals and guitar, Manny Flores on drums and David “Gorilla” Rodriguez on bass. The band’s Facebook page states Oculus is “a three-piece entity that delivers ruthless hymns of the dark arts.”

Followers are encouraged to “summon” Oculus for “a live ritual.”

But the band’s dark image is misleading: Its members are polite and soft-spoken, dedicated musicians.

“The music has its own image. The people behind the music are just people. Just because we like to perform in this genre doesn’t make us bad people,” said Vela.

The heavy metal scene in Del Rio has seen a slow, but steady growth, and while San Antonio’s rock scene is solid and well-known, Oculus members said they don’t consider that a reason why Del Rio is experiencing a more vibrant rock scene.

Rather, they say they believe the increase coincided with Del Rio’s pre-existing punk scene, and heavy metal just followed in its footsteps.

Oculus of Profanations didn’t start performing officially until last year, but band members began rehearsing together in the winter of 2017.

Original Oculus members Vela and Flores were also in other bands before they decided to set out on their own as Oculus of

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Profanations.

“We were performing with other bands, and we kept thinking about performing together one day. It was always in the back of our minds. We would talk about it, but we never had the time,” Flores said.

“It just so happened both our bands took a hiatus at the same time. They wanted to take a break, but we (Flores and I) wanted to keep on performing,” Vela said.

It didn’t take long for the band to start attracting attention.

As Oculus, the members have had the opportunity to perform at various venues.

They said their most memorable concert to date was in Corpus Christi. Flores and Vela looked at each other with glee and recounted the experience.

“Most people don’t expect much out of a two-person ensemble. Flores and I are just jamming out as the opening band for the headliner. Well, at the end of the night, we had tons of people asking us how we were able to pull off such a performance,” Vela said.

With all the previous experience the band members have accumulated, it’s no reason why people would be surprised.

Rodriguez previously performed with Vela, and joined Oculus this year and has contributed with his metal music background.

All it took was one phone call, and Rodriguez was ready to perform alongside Vela and Flores.

The three members of Oculus said their music is influenced by death metal, black metal and thrash metal music. A number of heavy metal subgenres can be attributed to the style of music Oculus performs.

Musicians consider themselves family as well as friends.

“There have been times a concert was saved by a last-minute call from a performing

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band,” Vela said.

As a whole, and members agree that musicians look out for one another. They help each other get gigs and give a headsup when something is happening.

Sometimes, for safety reasons, Oculus has had to cancel a performance. Due to the caravan situation in February, the band was unable to perform at an event in Ciudad Acuña.

“We were aware of the situation, but we didn’t know how bad it was. I called a buddy who works at the bridge and asked if it was safe for us to go. He said, ‘You can, but it’s better if you don’t,’” Vela said.

Due to his friend’s warning, Vela called the venue and told them the band would not be able to perform, but that was not the end of their ventures into Mexico, as they were able to reschedule the performance in the following months.

In March, Oculus performed in Eagle Pass for the first time.

“We never thought Eagle Pass had a heavy metal scene. As shocking as it is, we’re looking forward to gaining fans from another city,” Vela said.

Members also say they are looking forward to their first Yukfest performance.

Oculus members said one of their top goals is helping keep young people out of trouble.

“When I was a kid, music kept me from doing drugs and vandalism, Honestly, I hope we can set an example like that for today’s kids,” Vela said.

Flores and Rodriguez nodded in agreement and noted that music has had its own profound impact on their lives as well.

Del Rioans can check out Oculus’ live performances and their first music video on YouTube or listen to them on Bandcamp and Reverbnation. Fans can keep up with Oculus and scheduled performances through the group’s Facebook page. •

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Photos by LUCAS HERNANDEZ lucashernandezphotography.com Styled by ASHLEY LOPEZ Wardrobe by PLAZA DEL SOL MALL Models: KAYLEE NICOLE YI & CAMILA TREVIÑO

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Spring

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Happy B-Day, Housing Authority Story by BRIAN ARGABRIGHT; Photos by KAREN GLEASON, SANDRA CASTILLO and THE HOUSING AUTHORITY

W

hat began as a simple idea has blossomed into a life-changing entity that has affected much of Del Rio in a positive manner for nearly 80

years.

On Jan. 30, 1940, a resolution, which was introduced by local attorney Arturo C. Gonzalez, was approved that called for the creation of what was then known as the Del Rio Authority. Its purpose was to oversee the creation of a housing project in Del Rio that would be funded using federal dollars and would aid those citizens of the city who truly needed it.

“Original surveys, while made without exact information, showed there is need in Del Rio for a large number of housing units such as are made possible by a federal project.

It is quite possible that an allotment of about one million dollars may be made here,” a story on the project’s plans, that was printed in the March 21, 1940 edition of the Del Rio News-Herald, read. “This particular phase of the progress made by the local group links in with the program calling for a local social survey and the selection of a tentative site for the project. The latter work is now being undertaken by the Del Rio Authority. It will include presentation of details and general information concerning the requirements to be met in order to fix the amount of money needed to cover the local project. Aerial pictures, maps and applications of suggested sites must accompany the recommendations of the local Authority.”

Eventually the US government would allocate $450,000 for the low cost housing project, which would be located

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A shaded walkway passes through a row of residences in the San Jose Development of the Housing Authority of Del Rio. The San Jose residences were the first to be built by the housing authority.

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Members of the Housing Authority of Del Rio’s current board of commissioners meet with staff.

From left, director of operations Jesus Avila; board member Brenda Luna, executive director Isidro Valdez Fernandez, board president Richard Gutierrez, board member Ana Markowski Smith, board member Belinda Horton and board member George Salinas.

Courtesy photo - Alfredo Delgado, then the executive director of the Housing Authority of the City of Del Rio, Texas, presents a resolution of appreciation to the housing authority’s founder Arturo C. Gonzalez during a gathering in 2008. Pictured, from left, are Blanca Larson, Gonzalez’s daughter; Luis Guerra, then-finance director; Rosalinda Casillas, then-office manager; Gonzalez, Cynthia de Luna, who would serve as executive director from 2011 to 2018; Delgado, who served as executive director from 1979 to 2011; Michaelanna Hunter, a member of the board of commissioners in 2008; and Isidro Valdez Fernandez, who currently serves as executive director.

Isidro Valdez Fernandez, right, executive director of the Housing Authority of Del Rio, crowns Leonardo M. Orosco as the 2019 Valentine’s Day King at a Valentine’s Day luncheon at the San Jose Development.

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near the now-defunct West End Elementary School. That site was chosen “because of the unusually congested conditions in that section.”

That initial project became known as the San Jose Projects, and the group overseeing it all became what is known today as the Housing Authority of the City of Del Rio, Texas.

According to Isidro Valdez Fernandez, executive director of the housing authority, the organization currently oversees units across the city from the Gateway Apartments near Laughlin Air Force Base to the historic Roswell Apartments in downtown Del Rio. The organization also provides vouchers to citizens who rent properties, and the organization manages the Rotary Village, which is overseen

by Rotary International.

“Our mission statement is simple – to provide the best service through housing assistance and to fulfill the need for safe, decent and sanitary housing in Del Rio,” Fernandez explained.

Since the construction of the San Jose Projects, the housing authority has overseen the construction of a variety of new housing areas including Casas Del Rio, which was constructed in the 1960s alongside what is now Dr. Fermin Calderon Boulevard; Villa Hermosa, which is located near the Del Rio Freshman School and was constructed in the 1980s; and Villas De Val Verde, which was constructed in 2008 off Hamilton Lane and is designed to provide housing for farm laborer families.

Fernandez explained that the housing authority exists to help people who truly need it.

There are guidelines a person or a family must meet before they can receive assistance, but he said the situations people find themselves in that requiring the housing authority’s assistance varies.

“It could be that they lost their job and they need to get back on their feet and need help with that. We have a lot of working families that for them owning a home is not possible. We have people going through difficult times, single parents, units for the elderly and people on a fixed income,” Fernandez said.

Over the years, the housing authority has been able to upgrade many of its facilities. There has been increased security through the installation of iron fences, updated infrastructure such as new water and sewer lines and the installation of energy efficient utilities or items such as new windows and weather stripping.

At Casas Del Rio and Villa Hermosa, major upgrades, from roof to floor, were undertaken to improve the quality of life for the residents

Photo by Sandra Castillo - The Housing Authority of Del Rio recently completed a $14 million renovation of more than 100 units in the Casas Del Rio and San Jose developments. This is renovated and staged living room in one of the Casas Del Rio residences.

in those areas. Casas Del Rio even received a new clubhouse complete with a computer lab and industrial kitchen so the residents have a place to meet, away from the elements.

Making sure residents have a roof over their heads isn’t the only service the housing authority provides. They also provide financial counseling and health guidance to residents.

“We provide these services so that eventually the residents can be self-sufficient … so they can get back on their feet and maybe move on from our assistance so we can assist other families,” Fernandez said.

Part of that education comes in the form of the Family Self Sufficiency Program. That program is designed to allow participants to increase their earned income and reduce the need for assistance.

“Families in this program develop a plan to meet different goals. We then help them with training, planning and meeting those goals. After five years, they will receive accumulated escrow funds and accumulated interest that can be put towards buying a house or a new vehicle that will assist them with their jobs,” Fernandez explained. “We’ve had several successful stories come out of this program. They can earn between $5,000 to $10,000, depending on how much they work and how well they follow the program.”

Fernandez is the latest executive director to carry on the legacy created by Gonzalez, who served as the first executive director of the housing authority from 1940 to 1941. Only six people have served as executive director including Gonzalez, VD Curry (19411950), Alan Pearson (1950-1979), Alfredo Delgado (1979-2011),

Cynthia de Luna (2011-2018) and Fernandez, who was appointed to the position in 2018.

“I believe I have a challenge ahead of me. All of the previous leaders had a vision to serve the community to the best of their ability,” Fernandez said. “I’m honored to be in this position. We have a great team here, and that allows us to focus on the future and make an impact on the community. I know there will always be challenges, but while I admire the work that everyone else has done, I am able to learn from their experiences and continue the great work that they started and that this organization has done.”

Those executive directors work hand-in-hand with a board of commissioners to oversee the entire agency and to develop and update policies and procedures in regards to housing. The board is comprised of five volunteers, all selected and appointed by the mayor of the city of Del Rio, and one of those members must be a tenant of the housing program.

In the end, Fernandez explained, the housing authority exists to help those people who need a helping hand and who shouldn’t have to worry about where they’re going to live.

“Everyone deserves an opportunity to better themselves. We’re here to help provide a better environment and provide people with that opportunity to help create a greater sense of pride in themselves. We want to help so they can just focus on everything else they need to improve their quality of life,” Fernandez said.

—— For more information on the Housing Authority of the City of Del Rio, Texas, go online and visit delrioha.com or stop by their offices at 207 N. Bedell Ave. •

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Strawberry

Limeade Recipe and photo by XOCHITL ARTEAGA

T

his strawberry cucumber limeade is a refreshing spring drink you need to make by the pitcher for any gathering. Use juicy strawberry puree, lime juice and cucumber slices for a unique alternative to your regular lemonade. Sweet, refreshing and perfect for this time of the year. Of course, you can add some sweet white wine or sparkling wine to make this a cocktail, a refreshing weekend afternoon treat for adults.

Ingredients • 2 cups of fresh strawberries • ½ cup of water • ½ cup of granulated sugar • 1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice • 1 medium cucumber, sliced • Ice • ½ cup liquid sweetener (I prefer agave syrup) or more to taste • Sparkling water or club soda • Garnish: Lime wedges, fresh mint sprigs and strawberries

Method • In a blender, process the fresh strawberries until smooth. Pass the puree through a fine sieve and collect strawberry liquid into a medium bowl.

• In a large pitcher, whisk together the water, sugar and lime juice until sugar dissolves.

• Add the strawberry mixture, cucumbers, ice and liquid sweetener. Top with about a liter of sparkling water or club soda. Mix well and add sweetener to taste.

• Decorate with garnishes and enjoy immediately.

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Mostachon Recipe by XOCHITL ARTEAGA; Photo by KAREN GLEASON

T

his dessert has an exquisite nutty flavor, covered with cream cheese frosting and garnished with seasonal fruits. The first time I tried it, I was so impressed I had to learn how to bake it. I really liked its combination of pecans and strawberries. It is the simplest thing to do. I have done mini versions that you can bake in cupcake molds or just do the traditional cake mold. Either way, this is a sweet treat that is sure to disappear in record time, at least in my house. That is how my children grade the success of my desserts!

Ingredients Cake: • 4 egg whites • ½ tsp baking powder • 1 cup granulated sugar • 1 pinch salt • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 1 cooking spray nonstick • 1 cup pecans • 1 15.8 ounce pack of Maria crackers (finely chopped)

Frosting: • 8 oz cream cheese • ½ cup sour cream • ½ cup of powder sugar • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 1½ pounds sliced fresh strawberries, for garnishing

Method • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch nonstick springform pan with nonstick cooking spray.

• On high speed in an electric mixer bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form.

• Add the sugar, then the vanilla, baking powder and salt while still beating about 2-3 more minutes.

• Turn the power off and fold in the pecans and Maria crackers. Transfer to the pan and bake for 30-40 minutes.

• For the frosting: In an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, sour cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract until soft peaks form and the mixture is smooth.

• To assemble, remove the cake from the over, let it cool for 15 minutes.

• Using a spatula, spread the frosting all over the cake.

• Garnish with the strawberries, serve and enjoy.

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Bull fighters move in as a rider looks to dismount his bull following a ride at the 2018 George Paul Memorial Bull Riding event. Bull fighters work to get between the cowboys and the bulls, often putting their own health on the line to save the riders.

George Paul Memorial Bullriding Story and photos by BRIAN ARGABRIGHT

H

istory was made at last year’s George Paul Memorial Bull Riding, but that’s almost become par for the course for the world’s longest, continuous stand-alone bull riding.

This year marks the 42nd incarnation of the George Paul, which is being titled “the 42nd Annual George Paul Memorial Xtreme Bull Riding,” in

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honor of the recent partnership between producers of the local event and Rodeo Xtreme Bull Riding.

The annual event, which will take place this year Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27 at the Val Verde County Fairgrounds, brings some of the best bull riders from around the world to Del Rio for a two-day competition to see who will join the pantheon of hall of famers who have won the

2017 GEORGE PAUL CHAMPION 2017 George Paul Memorial Bull Riding champion Trey Benton shows off the champion’s buckle following his victory. It was the third time Benton won the buckle, which is designed by Juan Jose Muñoz Andrade of Mexico.

“ Del Rio’s Colby Hill looks for a successful ride at the 2018 George Paul Memorial Bull Riding event.

Hill, who earned his Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association card recently, has competed at the George Paul multiple times and looks to become the first Del Rioan to win the event.

Making the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding buckle is actually a dream come true for me. I always wanted to just attend the Super Bull since I was a little kid. All of my heroes won that buckle, so making it … it’s beyond words for me.

“

famed championship buckle in the past.

Last year, J.W. Harris, from Goldthwaite, Texas, won his second George Paul title, and his first in seven years, when he scored 179.5 points on two bulls on the first night of competition. The format from last year’s show harkened back to the days when riders could ride either on day one or day two and whomever posted the top scores from both days would be declared the champion.

Harris wasn’t present on the second night of competition and did not get to personally collect the champion’s buckle from longtime George Paul producer Bobby Paul. Harris did, however, join a select group of riders, becoming just the eighth cowboy to win the prestigious George Paul buckle more than once.

The buckle is as much a part of the George Paul as the riders and the bulls. It’s handcrafted by Juan Jose Muñoz Andrade from Mexico and features gold, silver and occasionally precious stones.

It’s as much a work of art as it is a symbol of the skill a rider needs to win it.

“Making the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding buckle is actually a dream come true for me. I always wanted to just attend the Super Bull since I was a little kid. All of my heroes won that buckle, so making it … it’s beyond words for me,” Muñoz Andrade said.

Bull riding has been a part of the Paul family for more than 50 years. The event’s namesake, the late George Paul, was the 1968 Rodeo Cowboys Association world champion bull rider. When it comes to the idea of “cowboy tough,” it’s hard to look past Paul.

Blessed with movie star looks and a physique that resembled something carved out of granite, the Del Rio native wasn’t just the best in the world at bull riding, he was a legend.

In 1968, Paul successfully rode 79 bulls in a row. That’s not a typo.

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A billboard bearing the image of former world bull riding champion George Paul sits below the announcer’s stand at the Val Verde County Fairgrounds.

More rides at the George Paul end with the rider failing to reach the eight-second buzzer, signifying a successful ride. Here, a rider holds onto his bull rope as his feet have become dislodged from around the bull’s midsection.

The buckle for the 2018 George Paul champion went to J.W. Harris. The buckle, designed and handcrafted by Juan Jose Muñoz Andrade of Mexico, features gold, silver and precious stones.

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He rode more bulls in one season than some riders will in their entire career. It’s a record that will stand the test of time as bulls become bigger, stronger, faster and even more agile than their predecessors.

The streak came to an end at the National Finals Rodeo when the first bull Paul was to ride, a Howard Harris bull named “Cowtown,” actually knocked him unconscious and sent him crashing to the dirt well short of the eight-second buzzer. Paul recovered from that bovine blow and went on to ride every other bull he set upon at the event, cementing his place as the best rider in the world. He’d won the world title and the NFR title and was on top of the bull riding world.

Paul elected to take 1969 off to tend to the family ranch in Mexico, but he returned to the bull riding circuit in 1970, zipping across the country in his private plane. On Aug. 1, 1970, the wreckage of Paul’s plane was found near Kemmerer, Wyo. He was just 23 years old.

In 1978 it was decided that an event should be held to honor Paul’s memory. Dubbed “Super Bull” by organizers, the event drew some of the biggest names in the sport to Del Rio including world

Fans cheer as a rider looks for a successful ride at the 2018 George Paul Memorial Bull Riding. The George Paul event is the longest, continuous stand-along bull riding in the world and has been the stepping stone for world champions and hall of famers.

champion Don Gay. Denny Flynn won the first event, and two years later he would become the first man to win the event more than once.

Since that time, the George Paul has grown into “must see” action every year. Today’s winner could become tomorrow’s hall of famer, like former George Paul champions Tuff Hedeman, Jim Sharp, Charles Sampson, Jerome Davis and Lane Frost.

It was Frost’s story in the film “8 Seconds,” that once again vaulted Del Rio and the George Paul into the national consciousness. The tale of the world champion bull rider who was tragically killed in 1989 at Cheyenne Frontier Days when he was gored by a bull, Frost won a pair of George Paul titles including one he shared with longtime friend Hedeman.

The film was shot in 1993, and some of its scenes were shot at that year’s George Paul as modern bull riders were tasked with replicating the efforts of riders from the 1980s. The film starred Stephen Baldwin as Hedeman and former 90s teen heartthrob Luke Perry as Frost. Perry’s passing this year renewed local interest in the film and the memories of citizens who appeared as extras in the film. •

Sometimes the best way to view the bulls and riders of the George Paul is through a long camera lens. Emile “Doc” Abbott has shot several George Paul events as well as the annual Rotary Club’s Independence Day Rodeo, which takes place each summer.

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CLOSET CONFIDENTIAL

Jessica

Shawver-Savino Story and photos by KAREN GLEASON

Editor’s note: Jessica Shawver-Savino is a newcomer to Del Rio: She moved here in the summer of 2018 from her home in El Campo, Texas. Jessica is at that exhilarating and sometimes daunting time of life when you first strike out on your own, to follow your own dreams and to steer your own course.

So far, she seems to be doing an excellent job, and she’s doing it with the aplomb of someone with much more experience. Jessica is currently employed by District Attorney Michael J. Bagley as an assistant district attorney in the border prosecution unit of the office. She has been a member of the district attorney’s staff since August 2018.

What informs your style?

“I draw influence from things I see every day. It’s not just one single person. I try not to emulate one single person.

I have people who inspire me, including designers, and places that inspire me. . . Some of my favorites are Chanel – of course – as well as Dolce and Gabbana, Versace. I just love the fun and free elements they bring to the table, but Chanel is always timeless and classic.

“As far as casual, day-to-day, everyday style, I wear a lot of J. Crew. I feel like that is very classic American. I try to look for pieces that transcend time. That’s what I spend my money on.”

Where do you shop?

“I could wear this dress to work, to court, a cocktail affair. I think a little black dress, a strand of pearls and a decent pair of black heels can carry a girl through just about anything.”

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“Everywhere. Some of my favorite places are Ebay, just because I’m so busy, and it’s so convenient, you just can’t beat it. I love going to thrift shops, really just

“This pair of Christian Louboutin black suede pumps is one of my Ebay finds. I had always wanted a pair. I’m still looking for an occasion to actually wear them, so right now they just sit in my closet.”

“The Chanel jacket is part of a suit that was one of my ‘big girl purchases.’ I buy clothes that I can envision wearing somewhere. I try to plan for the future. I had always wanted a Chanel suit. It’s the epitome of classic style, so I searched and I searched on Ebay and finally I got into a bidding war over this suit. It’s one of my best Ebay deals, and now it’s hanging in my closet for a very special occasion.”

“

“

“I would wear this to the rodeo or on a night out.”

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“The cowboy boots are alligator, and I had those made as well from hides that I had harvested.”

“This Chanel purse was one of my few splurges.

I always wanted a classic Chanel chain bag, and I saved up for it and got it.”

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“

“I could wear this dress anywhere. It could go to the office under a suit jacket or to a party on a warm spring or summer afternoon. It’s a sun dress, so it’s very versatile.”

“One of my lifelong friends from back home is actually from France and her husband was a former Green Beret, but he also worked at the U.S. Embassy in France. He brought her back from France when they married, and this is Louis Vuitton portfolio is something she gave me when Clint and I were getting married.”

wherever I find myself. I hardly ever buy anything full-price. I’m a huge bargain hunter. I love to shop the sales. If it isn’t on clearance, I’m usually not buying it, but as far as stores, J. Crew is a go-to.

“Also, Banana Republic, because I live most of my life in business attire. With my job the way it is, I have to find pieces that I can wear during the day professionally, and then they can shift to evening. I try to find things that are versatile.”

“This dress could easily transition from home to office and back again.”

Where do you shop in Del Rio? “I shop at Buffalo Girls, and I’ve been known to peruse through the racks at Sammy’s House (Antiques), but as far as other shops, sometimes Marshall’s, but I really do most of my clothes shopping online, because I know my sizes in the brands that I was talking about, so it’s easy.”

What do you think of Del Rio so far?

“I think Del Rio is so full of life and culture.

It’s actually very different than what I’m used to, because I’m from El Campo, which is close to Houston and it’s very flat.

Here, geographically, it’s very beautiful.

You can see Mexico from your back door.

You have mountains when you go a little farther west. You have the Pecos River and the Rio Grande, rivers out of legends. It’s completely stunning, and I’ve never been exposed to anything like it before.” •

“My mother gave me this pearl necklace when I graduated from law school. Three years of law school, three strands of pearls. I often wear this necklace when I have to be in court. It’s sort of a staple of my wardrobe.”

“This alligator tooth necklace I actually made myself. I’ve taken one tooth from every alligator that I’ve harvested since I was very young and saved them.”

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Art in the open

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Murals celebrate city’s culture

T

Story and photos by KAREN GLEASON

ucked away on side streets, under bridges and down seldom-used alleys are more than dozen colorful, symbolic murals that pay homage to Del Rio’s rich history and culture.

Late on a recent afternoon, about 50 bicyclists, young and old, gathered outside the Casa De La Cultura for the start of a tour of those murals.

Casa De La Cultura Executive Director Lupita De La Paz began the tour in the Casa garden, with the Flood of 1998 mural that covers the entire south wall of the Casa’s main building.

De La Paz welcomed the cyclists attending the tour and explained that the creation of murals was one of the first projects of the Casa, and its parent organization, El Comite Cultural Del Pueblo, when it was organized in 1980.

The Flood of 1998 mural, designed and painted by Cris Escobar and Alejandro Barajas, was inspired by the Flood of 1998.

De La Paz said Escobar, a prominent local artist and art teacher at Del Rio High School, has painted “about 80 percent” of the city’s murals.

“He’s a person who likes to do a lot of research, and he uses a lot of symbolism from Aztec mythology in his murals,” De La Paz said.

She pointed out that Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent god of the Aztecs, winds his way along the length of the mural.

“Quetzalcoatl was the god of wind, the god of change, and there’s a story that he would sometimes walk among us,” De La Paz said.

She briefly recounted how the 1998 flood devastated south Del Rio in general and the Brown Plaza area in particular.

“This mural was painted in 2005, in memory of the flood,” she said.

The mural contains another piece of Aztec symbolism, an image of Coyolxauhqui, the Aztec goddess of the moon.

“The story was that the night (of the flood) the moon was nice and bright, and that’s the only way that people were able to see. Cris said he interviewed some people who had been in the flood, and they told him, ‘All I could remember was that the moon was showing me how to get where I needed to go,’” De La Paz said.

The mural includes other symbolism as well: On one side of the mural, the Virgin of Guadalupe stretches out her hand to support a large white dove with outstretched wings, which De La Paz said references the souls who were lost as a result of the flood.

De La Paz also discussed two additional murals on the Casa grounds, one in the building’s courtyard and one on its north wall.

The mural in the courtyard was created by San Antonio artist Adriana Garcia and a group of local

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volunteer artists in 2007 and is titled “Celebration.”

“We wanted to celebrate this woman in the middle of the painting, who is crossing the frontera (the border), bringing with her the brushes of creativity and her corn of knowledge, and we wanted to celebrate la familia, the family, with the abuelita (grandmother), who is holding the heart of the family,” De La Paz said.

The mural also includes historical Del Rio figures, including Fortino Guzman, whose business, Guzman Cleaners, was once located on the plaza and who is credited with helping save the Casa building after the 1998 flood. Another, Javier Nuncio, was one of the Casa’s founding youth members, and is still active in the organization today.

“It’s important for us to remember that history so we can stay grounded and true to our mission,” De La Paz said.

The third mural, on one of the Casa’s exterior walls, is titled “Hummingbird Flight” and was also painted

by Escobar. It was created in 2011 in honor of the organization’s anniversary.

“We were turning 30, and we wanted to celebrate with a mural,” De La Paz said.

The mural also contains symbols from Aztec mythology, but its focus is a brilliant hummingbird whose wings protect two young people.

“In Aztec mythology, the hummingbird is a symbol of beauty, intelligence and harmony, and that’s why he wanted to show it protecting the youths. There’s also a jaguar, which recalls Mayan mythology. The jaguar is a spirit companion who protects us from evil spirits,” De La Paz said.

The bicyclists then got on their bikes and rode to Del Rio’s downtown area a few blocks away.

They stopped at the corner of South Main and Canal streets where a mural honors Hernan Cadena, a blacksmith whose shop still stands a stone’s throw from the mural, which was painted by Escobar.

The mural is a departure for Escobar, who normally uses bright, bold colors: It is executed in neutral brown and sepia tones and depicts Cadena mostly in silhouette.

De La Paz and the bicyclists stopped at a mural on East Greenwood Street. The work is titled “Amor Y Paz,” and is executed is dramatic, graffiti-inspired lettering on a black background.

Down an alley off East Greenwood Street, a mural by artist Rebecca Morgan decorates the back wall of a local business.

De La Paz said Morgan incorporated many Del Rio symbols into the mural.

“You have the horns of a ram, the crown of the Queens, a rattlesnake, catfish and bass, a folklorico skirt, cowboy boots, details that remind you of this community. The artist and her volunteers had a planning session before they actually went and sketched it on the wall,” De La Paz said.

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More symbols were incorporated into another mural in the same area, this one done by Del Rio artist Marta Gonzalez-Stitts.

“You see two hands, and in those hands, you see the eagle with the serpent in his beak and the eagle, Lady Justice.

These symbols also look like milagros, little charms people keep,” De La Paz said.

The mural tour also visited several murals along the San Felipe Creek.

One, still in progress, is being executed by Del Rio artist Gabriela Rosales on concrete walls along the creek just downstream of the U.S. Highway 90 Bridge.

The other, another Escobar work titled “Agua Es Vida,” is located under the Gillis Street Bridge over the San Felipe Creek.

“This one, we actually have redone it several times.

Unfortunately, it’s located in a very dark area, and the mural has been attacked by vandals,” De La Paz said.

The mural was created in partnership with the city, which purchased the paint.

“This mural covers four ‘walls.’ It was once an abstract piece, but when it was redone, more spiritual symbolism was added, such as the Virgin of Guadalupe in the center of the mural, and Quezalcoatl, the Aztec serpent god, on the left side,” De La Paz said.

Aother panel of the mural, painted on the actual bridge supports, depicts two children jumping into the creek.

She said Del Rio artists Krystal Acevedo and Rosales assisted Esocbar in his work on the creekside mural.

After leaving the creek, the bicyclists returned to the Brown Plaza area.

The Amor, Vida, Muerte mural is located just off Brown Plaza on Guillen Street, and was also painted by Rosales.

De La Paz said Rosales used papel picado, thin, colored paper decorated with intricate cutouts traditionally hung during celebrations, as her inspiration for the mural.

“She wanted to incorporate ‘life, love and death,’ and she used symbolisms for each of those in her depictions,” De La Paz said.

Birds and flowers decorate the “life’ section of the mural. A depiction of a human heart illustrates the ‘love’ panel, and a skull stylized as a luchador mask embellishes the ‘death’ portion of the mural.

The tour ended at Brown Plaza, with the first mural sponsored by the Casa/El Comite Cultural del Pueblo.

“It was done in 1980, and the most awesome thing about this mural is that is has survived so much, though it is now deteriorating quite badly, but we have been able to get a grant and we got the original artist, Raul Valdez of Austin, to restore it,” De La Paz said.

The mural itself was not painted in situ, De La Paz said.

In the early 1980s, muralismo was an art mostly unfamiliar to Del Rioans, and Valdez painted the panel for the mural in the backyard of another local artist, Javier Nuncio.

“We’re hoping that by the anniversary celebration of the San Felipe Exes in June, we’ll be able to honor this mural as well, since Raul will be doing the same exact mural,” she added. • 52

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Growing NATIVE

Cenizo – sometimes inaccurately called purple sage – blooms along an old fencerow in the Amistad National Recreation Area following a rain event in 2018. This plant is able to tolerate extremely dry conditions.

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Amistad National Recreation Area hosts plant identification tour Story and photos by KAREN GLEASON

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nly a handful of Del Rioans showed up for a hike in the Amistad National Recreation Area for a recent hike to learn about several native plants, but those who made the trek left with a wealth of knowledge about some of the area’s most common and interesting native plants.

Undeterred by the cool temperatures and the light drizzle, Tim Schenk, an interpreter at the ANRA and an Oregon transplant, said at the outset of the hike that his background in studying nature was the study of trees.

He said one of the things that surprised him about the ANRA and environs was its astonishing biodiversity.

“It’s the thing that’s really awesome about the Amistad NRA and sort of overwhelming to me personally. In Oregon, it was, you have this many trees, this kind of sagebrush, that sort of thing. But here, because we’re more southerly, we get more biodiversity because we have three different ecosystems: the Trans-Pecos, the Chihuahuan Desert and the thorn scrublands and South Texas Plains coming together here,” Schenk said.

A survey several years ago found almost 600 different species of plants in the Amistad National Recreation Area.

“We’re only going to look at 12 of those today, but it’s a start,” Schenk joked.

Schenk first introduced hikers to the ocotillo, which he described as “a tall, woody shrub, with many stems radiating from a central bulb in the ground.”

Ocotillos may appear dead until rain falls, when they produce tiny, teardropshaped leaves and clusters of small, tubular crimson flowers.

Clockwise from top: • Amistad National Recreation Area Interpreter Tim Schenk, left, shows several native plant species to Noah Garza, 7, center, and Jacob Garza, 5, during a recent hike to identify about a dozen common native plant species. Noah and Jacob went on the plant hike with their mother, Del Rioan Ana Garza.

• A prickly pear cactus, sporting showy yellow flowers, blooms on a limestone bluff overlooking Lake Amistad. Some 30 species of prickly pear cactus can be found in the Amistad National Recreation Area and the surrounding region, but more than 90 species of this type of cactus can be found in the United States.

• A lantana opens its red and orange flowers to the morning mist in the Amistad National Recreation Area.

• Texas’s state flower, a bluebonnet, blooms along the Diablo East Trail in the Amistad National Recreation Area.

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Cenizo flowers are small and can range in color from deep white to pink and purple.

The claret cup cactus can be easily identified in the spring, when it produces a wealth of bright red flowers. This cactus usually grows in large clumps close to the ground.

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“The way the ocotillo’s flowers have evolved, they’re actually made to be pollinated by hummingbirds,” Schenk said.

Schenk said the ocotillo is known by many other names, including the devil’s walking stick or coachwhip.

He pointed out two blooming shrubs, the guajillo and the blackbrush acacia.

Schenk said the guajillo has fern-like leaves and “pale yellow poof-ball flowers,” while the acacia has individual small green leaves and yellow, brush-like flowers.

Several cactus species are also in bloom or preparing to bloom in the ANRA. One of the most common is the prickly pear cactus, easily identified by its broad, paddle-shaped pads.

“There are dozens and dozens and dozens of species of prickly pear, and about 30 species of prickly pear cactus that are found in this area, so for right now we are going to just call them all prickly pear. They come in many different sizes and pad orientations, different spines,” he said.

Schenk pointed out another cactus species common in the park, the claret cup cactus, a tubeshaped cactus that grows close to the ground and in the spring puts forth showy red flowers.

Schenk called hikers’ attention to several cenizo bushes growing close to the trail.

Cenizo – sometimes inaccurately called purple sage – is a common shrub in this area and is typically covered with small gray-green leaves.

Schenk said after major rain events, cenizo plants burst forth with a riot of small flowers that can range in color from white to pink to fuchsia and pale purple.

Schenk introduced hikers to a small, innocuous plant called leatherstem, which at first glance looks like a group of dead sticks stuck randomly into the soil.

As its name implies, the leatherstem’s bark has a smooth, leathery texture. When broken, the stem weeps a deep red sap, leading to another of its common names, “dragon’s blood,” Schenk said.

The group of hikers also passed by several flowering Torrey yuccas, sometimes called Spanish daggers. These plants have a central stem that can vary in height from two to eight feet and which is ringed by pointed, light green leaves one to two feet in length. In the spring, the central stem of this yucca is crowned with a flower head that can be up to two feet tall and covered with small, bell-shaped, ivory flowers. •

A tall central stalk covered with waxy, bell-shaped, white blossoms make the Torrey yucca a conspicuous plant in any landscape.

Its long, pointed leaves give the plant its alternate name: Spanish dagger.

The toothed, spiky leaves of lechugilla keep most foraging animals at bay. Lechugilla, a member of the agave family, is an indicator species of the Chihuahuan Desert, meaning in grows in that desert and nowhere else.

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Last Look

Greetings and salutations –

Where is this year going? Here we are in April already, and I feel like we just got done with 2018.

Of course April in Del Rio means spring has finally arrived, or as I like to call it “pre-summer.” It’s going to get warm, the bugs are going to come back, and we are going to wish it was cool again. It’s just practice for the blistering summer months to come.

However, spring is truly a new beginning. All around Del Rio, and the county, flowers are blooming and the wonderful colors of nature begin to fill the world around us. Karen Gleason showed us some nature’s beauty in giving us a tour of local flora, and the National Park Service is always ready to lend us a hand when it comes to conservation ideas and advice.

Speaking of conservation, the annual Earth Day celebrations are always a crowd pleaser, and here’s hoping you all get the chance to get out there and experience it this year. I’ve been lucky enough to serve as an emcee for the event before, so I’ve seen firsthand the creativity and passion that goes into educating Del Rioans on the importance of helping our planet and keeping our community a little cleaner and neater each day.

My dad was a huge fan of recycling. He would get after us if we just tossed plastics in the garbage. He’d clean them and follow the rules for their proper recycling. Newspapers, old magazines and more got loaded up in the truck and hauled to the recycling center more times than I can remember.

He got me involved when I was younger by teaching me you could make money recycling cans. So I’d spend a few hours on a Saturday gathering cans, taking them out back and crushing them so we could fit more in a bag. Eventually we’d drive them to the local distributor to have them weighed, and I’d watch them get loaded up and hauled away while collecting my 20 cents a pound. Big money for a kid who collected baseball cards and needed money to feed my habit.

This month we also took a look at the Del Rio Housing Authority and the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding. Both are important parts of Del Rio history. The housing authority has helped thousands of people find a better life and get a second chance while the George Paul has become a world-famous event that helped put Del Rio on the map.

Sometimes it’s hard to fathom how we got so lucky to have so many great things in our community.

Thanks for reading, Brian Argabright Grande Writer/Photographer 58

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From top – - Grande Editor Karen Gleason takes a photo of Jessica Shawver-Savino for this month’s Closet Confidential feature.

- Grande writer Atzimba Morales hangs with members of Oculus of Profanations, from left, Fred Vela, David Rodriguez and Danny Flores.

- Photographer Lucas Hernandez sets up shots for this month’s fashion shoot with models, from left, Camila Treviño, Kaylee Yi and Advertising Director Ashley Lopez.

- Grande account executive Xochitl Arteaga, left, and writer Atzimba Morales set up the strawberry lemonade shoot.

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