Del Rio Grande 1217

DECEMBER 2017

POSADA Del Rioans reenact the story of Christmas

CHRISTMAS CASA A local homeowner decks her halls with seasonal spirit

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LOCAL GIFT GUIDE Unique holiday gifts made here in Del Rio

Happy Holidays!

GRANDE / DECEMBER 2017

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Simply Brilliant May your holiday shine brightly with joy and good fortune that continues throughout the season.

We wish you and yours all the best at this special time. Thank you for your generous support in 2017.

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GRANDE / DECEMBER 2017

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FROM THE EDITOR

Season’s Greetings!

PUBLISHER Sandra Castillo EDITOR Karen Gleason CREATIVE DIRECTOR Megan Tackett WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS Brian Argabright Rubén Cantú Adriana Ibarra Karen Gleason Megan Tackett ADVERTISING Ashley Lopez Kim Dupill Albert Treviño PRODUCTION Adriana Ibarra Jorge Alarcon Roland Cardenas 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.

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GRANDE / DECEMBER 2017

The end-of-the-year holiday season seems to start earlier and earlier. I was a little dismayed when I walked into Starbucks a few days after Halloween and heard the sounds of Christmas music and was handed my Americano in a cup encircled by holiday-themed decorations.

“What the heck?” I thought. It’s not even Veterans Day yet!

But the more I thought about it, and the more we worked on our December issue, which has to go to press in mid-November, the more I began to understand, perhaps even appreciate, this early visitation of the Christmas spirit.

Though I no longer belong to any particular church or practice any religion, I grew up in a household of devout Lutherans, and our Christmas season began with the First Advent and the lighting of the candles on the Advent wreath.

Christmas Eve found us all in church, and after we returned home, Papa would read the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke and we would sing more carols and finally open our presents.

When our son Tim was young, Mike and I created more holiday traditions, an amalgam of the ways both our families celebrated when we were children.

I know that the earlier and earlier holiday season is in part a nostalgia for those days when we were kids, and things were simpler and easier.

Christmas is like that, a reminder of the great good that lives in all of us. Perhaps at this time of the year, it is just easier to see, closer to the surface.

We hope you will enjoy our December holiday issue this year.

Megan Tackett visited with Santa Claus himself, our old friend Jack Bloom. Rubén Cantú teaches us about the posada, a celebration with deep roots in Mexico, and I talked with Rabbi Manuel Rodriguez about Hanukkah, the Festival of Light.

Jeanne Roe of Roberts Jewelers opened her store to us to shoot this month’s fashions, all about the sparkle of the season, and we’ve suggested a variety of tempting and tasty gifts, all made right here in Del Rio. So, please enjoy the holiday issue we’ve created for you and perhaps, like the reformed Ebeneezer Scrooge, we can resolve “to honor Christmas in our heart and keep it all the year.”

Karen Gleason Grande Editor

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CONTENTS 8

CALENDAR Get in the seasonal spirit at these holiday-inspired events.

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EN EL NOMBRE DEL CIELO Learn the history of posada, a Mexican and Catholic holiday tradition.

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Skip the Black Friday chaos and opt for these local selections.

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RANCH CANDIES Kurt Lemp shares his secret process to creating Val Verde’s favorite seasonal snack.

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Santa Claus is coming to town and he’s bringing all of his Christmas fashions.

Christine Dutcher decks her entire home with boughs of holly and other Christmas trimmings.

CLOSET CONFIDENTIAL: SANTA CLAUS

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RECIPE: GINGERBREAD PANCAKES Shake up your favorite holiday breakfast with seasonal spices sans gluten.

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SEASONAL SIP: PONCHE NAVIDEÑO Bring Del Rio’s Hispanic culture to the table with this traditional drink.

On the cover:

CHRISTMAS CASA

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DIY: CHRISTMAS CORK TREE

40 SEASON OF SPARKLE Our December models flaunt stunning pieces from Roberts Jewelers.

44 HOLIDAY LOOK Add some shimmer to your holiday look with this easy makeup tutorial.

47 HAPPY HOLIDAYS, DEL RIO City Christmas Parade kicks off the season.

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Create a cute tabletop decoration with your disposed holiday wine corks.

CHRISTMAS AT THE MUSEUM

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Celebrate the season with Santa, music and traditional Mexican treats.

Del Rio’s Jewish community commemorates an historic miracle.

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FESTIVAL OF LIGHT

LAST LOOK Our creative director gift wraps this issue.

Jack Bloom has dressed as Santa Claus for Del Rio and Acuña children for the past 15 years. Before becoming Santa, Bloom served in the Air Force for 20 years and, after retiring, became a civil maintenance analyst at Laughlin Air Force Base. Believers can find him at Walmart and Brown Automotive spreading cheer before Christmas Day. Photo by Megan Tackett•

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DECEMBER CALENDAR

Get in the seasonal spirit at these local holiday events

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WILD GAME DINNER

7 p.m. Del Rio Civic Center The annual dinner and 125 gun raffle is a must-do for carnivores and gun enthusiasts alike. $25 per dinner ticket; $1 per raffle ticket.

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CHRISTMAS AT THE MUSEUM 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Whitehead Memorial Museum Join the museum staff for this annual event and food and toy drive. Bring non-perishable food items or new, unwrapped toys for entry. All items are donated to Val Verde Loaves and Fishes and Avance Head Start Program. Enjoy the Cadena Nativity Exhibit, hot chocolate and buĂąuelos.

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POSADA 3 p.m. Casa de la Cultura Enjoy the traditions, food, music and community with the Casa family. Matlachines, Rondalla de la Casa, Ballet Folklorico Corazon de Mexico, Tamalada, La Quimica Raffle and Santa Claus visit to follow.

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PASTA MAKING 101

5 p.m. Philip Mahl Memorial Kitchen The Del Rio Parks Foundation hosts this pasta tutorial to help you cook up homemade holiday pasta dinners.

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THE NUTCRACKER 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. Paul Poag Theatre

Whether you’re seeing this classic ballet for the first or twentyfirst time, no production welcomes the holidays more than The Nutcracker.

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GRANDE / DECEMBER 2017

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En el nombre del cielo (In the name of heaven) Story by RUBÉN CANTÚ

The tradition of the posada dates back to the arrival of the Spanish to Mexico, combining religious components with deeply rooted Aztec customs

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n ancient tradition that combines customs of early tribes in central Mexico with Christian beliefs has found its way into our modern world, and is still widely celebrated with no regards to borders or time.

The posada, a celebration with deeply religious and spiritual roots, receives its name from the Spanish term “posada” or inn, and depicts the journey of pregnant Mary and Joseph looking for lodging as they traveled back to Bethlehem.

Everyone had been required by Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar to go to their hometown to register for a census.

The couple, according to the biblical narrative, traveled from the town of Nazareth to Bethlehem because Joseph belonged to the line of David, in Bethlehem.

Christianity and Catholicism were brought to the New World by the Spanish conquerors and their accompanying Franciscan friars in the early 1500s.

Before the cultural and religious Spanish conquest, Aztecs used to celebrate the arrival of Huitzilopochtli, their god of war, during a time of the year coinciding with the December holidays.

Norma Elena Rodríguez Hernández, researcher with the Intervention National Museum in Mexico City, quotes historian Fray Diego Duran who describes the Aztec celebration honoring their gods in late December.

The Aztec celebration was adapted and modified by the Spanish, and it turned into a nine-day pre-Christmas feast known as novena, which according to the tradition is held from Dec. 16-24.

“The traditional posadas are a nine-

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day celebration, starting on Dec. 16 until Dec. 24,” said Nirce Gomez, head of cultural affairs of the Consulate of Mexico in Del Rio. “What people do in Mexico, especially in the central and south regions such as Mexico City, Puebla and Oaxaca, is that entire neighborhoods get together, and different families or households are tasked with different responsibilities, and they re-enact the journey of the travelers,” Gomez said.

Nowadays the celebration has expanded and has been adopted by different groups, as well as by families, communities, even offices and corporations following similar guidelines with or without the religious component and around Christmas time.

“In central Mexico they make big baby Jesus figurines, some are ceramic and some are made of wood, and people carry that baby Jesus while a man dresses up as Joseph and a woman represents Mary,” Gomez said.

The traveling family receives the name of “peregrinos” or pilgrims, and they make several stops during their journey trying to sing their way in asking for lodging in different homes.

“En el nombre del cielo Os pido posada Pues no puede andar Mi esposa amada” (In the name of heaven, I beg you for lodging, for she cannot walk, my beloved wife) One of the most traditional posada celebrations in Del Rio is held by St. Joseph Catholic Church. They celebrate

the full novena around the city with four different central locations including the church on Wernett Street, each of the church’s facilities at Chaparral and Cienegas, as well as the Lions Club Hut in Buena Vista.

Those partaking in the posada go to a home while reciting the rosary, try to sing their way in and continue to their next destination after being turned down. The journey finalizes in one of the four aforementioned locations, where the congregation celebrates the holy mass.

“The Franciscans that came from Spain had a long standing tradition in church and is precisely to make us remember and to put ourselves in the setting Joseph and Mary were for the census, and that’s when they had Baby Jesus,” said Father Henry Clay Hunt III, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Hunt said that at St. Joseph’s parish there is a long standing tradition of celebrating the posadas for nine days, which is a holy number in the life of church.

“The first novena was when Jesus told the apostles to pray for nine days, and on the tenth day he would send the Holy Spirit, that was in Pentecost, that was after his passion, death and resurrection,” said Hunt.

In the life of church, he said, the concept of the novena is observed in many ways. A novena of the rosary is recited when somebody dies, Catholics may recite a novena to St. Jude Thaddeus or some other saint asking for intercession, but it all goes back to that first novena.

“In this novena leading up to Christmas, that’s when we find Joseph

Contributed photo by Debbie Maldonado Guerra Leading the St. Joseph Catholic Church posada in December 2015 are Enrique Navejar as Joseph and Kayla Guerra as Mary. Behind Mary and Joseph, Father Cesar Betancourt, vicar priest for St. Joseph Catholic Church, leads parishioners.

and Mary with Jesus in the womb trying to find a place for the baby to be born,” Hunt said.

Sister Esther Cardenas, head of the posadas committee at St. Joseph Catholic Church, explained the parish celebrates a dramatization, dressing up children as Joseph and Mary.

The journey, according to the tradition, depicts a Virgin Mary facing an imminent delivery of her baby. Although the Bible does not go into specifics, popular belief states that the couple finally found shelter in a stable, where an ox and a donkey warm the newborn baby with their breath.

Entren, Santos Peregrinos, Reciban este rincón, que aunque es pobre la morada,

os la doy de corazón.

(Enter, holy pilgrims, receive this corner, for though this dwelling is poor, I offer it with all my heart.)

The religious component centers on the rosary, which is recited collectively by all in attendance and the celebration of the mass. Once the praying is finalized, the crowd enjoys tamales, champurrado, atole, fruit punch and other traditional treats, along with a traditional sevenpoint piñata filled with treats and trinkets.

The piñata, which represents evil in the world, is beautifully adorned with bright colors, symbolizing how easily people can fall for temptation. Each one of the points represents a capital sin. Children

line up to take turns blindfolded beating the piñata. The blindfold represents blind faith, and when the piñata is finally destroyed, the big reward falls from above, in the form of candy, fruit and other sweets for everyone to enjoy.

“Traditionally piñatas were constructed with tissue paper around a clay-pot core, which was filled with seasonal fruit such as guavas, oranges, lemons, tangerines. Nowadays it is more common to fill them up with candy and the clay pot is no longer used,” Gomez said. “But the tradition has remained more or less the same, and has grown into settings other than churches, with people who celebrates the arrival of the Christmas season.” •

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After retiring from the Air Force as a master sergeant in 1988, Bloom moved to Del Rio and worked for Laughlin Air Force Base as a civilian maintenance analyst for 20 years.

CLOSET CONFIDENTIAL Story and photos by MEGAN TACKETT

Santa Claus Editor’s note: Dressing as Santa is somewhat of a family tradition for Jack Bloom. Taking after his father, who once parachuted as Santa to surprise a group of children, Bloom has filled the role of Kris Kringle in Del Rio for more than 15 years. Believers can find him this year at Walmart and Brown Automotive.

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I found this hat while I was wandering around Walmart one year. I wear it maybe once or twice a season.

Santa swagger I don’t recall where I got my Santa suit, but it’s the only one I’ve ever had. I buy a Santa shirt every now and then when I see one I like. I get some goofy ones. Every year somebody gets me something thinking, “Maybe Santa could use this.” I get socks a lot, and they’re all very soft. I wear all of them every year.

Family origins I remember my dad being Santa Claus for me. One night at the house just before Christmas, I was maybe four, my mom said, “Do you want to write a letter to Santa?” and I said, “Yeah!” I put down three things and put it on the marble slab outside our house. Pretty soon here comes Santa Claus walking down the sidewalk, and he picked up my letter and kept walking.

I buy a Santa shirt every now and then when I see one I like. I get some goofy ones.

Sky Diving Santa I have a picture of my dad holding me after he parachuted as Santa Claus. He landed in this field, and there was a big bag of toys waiting, and he handed them out to kids.

In September I did my very first skydive with my daughter. Not as Santa - I wouldn’t know what to do with my hat.

I have a few Christmas ties.

Some of them make sounds!

Becoming Santa I got to where I was starting to get a bit of a beard and I thought, “Well if I let this grow out a little bit more I could maybe do that too.” So I got me a Santa costume and started trying it out.

Most Memorable Moment After visiting a children’s home in Acuña, instead of toys, we handed out $50 gift certificates and took the children out shopping. It was so neat seeing them being able to buy their own clothes or toys or

I get socks a lot. I buy some, people give me some. I love them. There are so many different designs.

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whatever they wanted. We went back and said our goodbyes, and one little girl hugged me and she looked up and said, “You are my present from Jesus.”

I cry just about every time I recount the story.

Reason for the Season The reason I do it is because of the kids. That’s what makes Christmas so happy for me. I get to see the kids. I see their faces light up. Sometimes they look at me in awe like I am really Santa Claus. You can’t wrap that up and put it under a tree. I can’t put a real strong word on it, but if it wasn’t for the kids I wouldn’t do this.

I got this in Grand Junction, Colo., seven or eight years ago. I put it out on the couch or love seat every Christmas.

Here’s a Santa that can grab hold of things.

Not everything is pure Santa. I wish I had a big mustache like that.

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“The reason I do it is because of the kids. That’s what makes Christmas so happy for me. “

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Gingerbread Pancakes Story and photo by BONITA SANTILLAN

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h the weather outside is frightful … but the pancakes are so delightful!

Actually, Del Rio weather may not be very “frightful,” but a chilly Texas morning isn’t complete without a stack of warm pancakes.

Even if you’re gluten intolerant, these fluffy pancakes are the perfect seasonal treat that will have you reminiscing your gingerbread house-making days.

With IHOP’s seasonal pancakes in such close proximity, and my brain’s insistence for holding onto the good ol’ memories of when I could head there for a quick pancake fix, I was determined to make these pancakes a success.

Those familiar with gluten-free baking may know that it’s a challenge to achieve a fluffy and moist texture in most baked goods. But I remembered oat flour has never failed me in pancake recipes. And once again, it didn’t disappoint!

But I must say that the key to achieving the desired fluffy pancake is the egg whites. The fluffy texture is crucial to the end result, so don’t skip this step.

These pancakes are bursting with the seasonal cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg and the sweetness of molasses found in the classic gingerbread man cookie.

You’ll be surprised they’re gluten-free after the first bite!

Bon appétit!

Ingredients: 6 egg whites 1/3 cup molasses 1 cup evaporated milk (vegan evaporated milk if making dairy free) 1 cup water 3 cups gluten free oat flour (or blended oats) 1 tbsp baking powder 3/4 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 2 tsp ground ginger 2 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp nutmeg 1/2 tsp allspice

Directions: 1. In a medium bowl, stir molasses, milk and water together.

2. In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients and mix well.

3. In a small bowl, beat egg whites until they become fluffy.

4. Gradually add in dry mixture followed by the molasses mixture until just combined. Do not over mix.

5. On a hot griddle, add desired amount of batter to form your pancakes. Cook until bubbles begin to appear and edges are set.

Flip pancakes and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

For a gluten-free gingerbread man cookie recipe and other gluten-free recipes, visit bonitappetit.com.

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A Silent Night, a Star Above, a Blessed Gift of Hope & love A Blessed Christmas to you

GRANDE / DECEMBER 2017

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Ponche NavideĂąo Story and photo by ADRIANA IBARRA

Bring the Hispanic culture of Del Rio to your next get together or cozy night in with this traditional holiday drink. Featuring accents of brown sugar, cinnamon and tangy fruit, this recipe is sure to become a staple in your home this season.

Ingredients

Method

3 small pears, chopped

1. Combine hibiscus and shelled tamarind in 6 cups of water and bring to a boil, then let simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let rest for 15 minutes.

3 small oranges, quartered/sliced.

2. While the tamarind and hibiscus mixture is resting, chop pears and apples.

Set aside.

3 Gala apples, chopped

3. Cut oranges into quarters and push cloves into the skin and flesh.

16oz. Piloncillo, coarsely chopped.

4. Strain hibiscus and tamarind mixture into a large pot. Be sure to remove all solids!

8-10 Cinnamon Sticks

5. Add remaining water to large pot along with the piloncillo, quartered and clove-studded orange slices, cinnamon sticks and bring to a boil.

18 cups of water, divided.

1 cup dried hibiscus/ jamaica 20 whole cloves 1 cup of raisins

7. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let simmer for 40 minutes for flavors to blend.

8. Add final ingredients and let simmer an additional 20 minutes or until all fruit is tender.

9. Serve warm with ladle and enjoy with your friends and family this holiday season!

Turn things up a notch by adding some cinnamon flavored alcohol such as Fireball or Bailey’s Vanilla Cinnamon.

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Holiday Gift Guide We made our list and checked it twice for the best local finds made here in Del Rio. No door busting or Black Friday shopping required.

Greet the brisk winter weather with a perfectly brewed cup of coffee. The Granatelli family roasts each batch in their Del Rio home and offers eight different beans. Starting at $12 a pound. Branellicoffee.com

Pick up these soft, adorable crocheted animals handmade by Del Rio artist Nancy O’Brien. The Blue Elephant, Bramble Bear and Red Lion are all $45 and crafted of 100 percent wool yarn with a polyester fiberfill. Order online at tiffinshandmade.com or call O’Brien at 830-703-9255.

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Speaking of warm beverages, these hand-crocheted mug koozies, made by Bonita Santillan, are the perfect gift for the avid coffee or tea drinker in your life. $6 each in various colors. bonita.santillan@yahoo.com

Wine and the holidays have gone hand in hand in Del Rio since Val Verde Winery set up shop on Qualia Drive in 1883. No dinner table is complete without a bottle.

Starting at $15 per bottle

Magnolia Street Soaps are handmade by Del Rioan Elisa Fernandez with plant-based oils that include olive, coconut, palm and castor seed.

A holiday gift box, $25, which includes three soaps and a soap dish, will be available Dec. 8 on the company’s Facebook page, https:// www.facebook.com/MagnoliaStreetSoaps/

A Del Rio holiday tradition. Kurt “The Candy Man” and Elaine Lemp roast their pecans and peanuts from their Highway 90 ranch. Learn more about the Lemps and their sweet treats on page 26. Starting at $10 a bag.

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Kurt Lemp gives a close up look at some of the products made by Ranch Candies. All of Ranch Candies 11 different items are made by hand by Lemp and his team,

Left: Ranch Candies owner and operator Kurt Lemp started his small candy company with peanut brittle. Now he offers caramels, peanut and pecan brittle, candied peanuts and pecans and spicy versions of his more popular treats.

Right: Two of Ranch Candies’ biggest sellers include the pecan brittle and cinnamon pecans.

Aside from the official Ranch Candies website, these sweets can be purchased at several local outlets including Del Rio Feed, the Val Verde Winery, MedPro, Rudy’s BBQ, and Neal Exxon locations as well as the J and P Bar and Grill in

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Holiday Treats Story and photos by BRIAN ARGABRIGHT

Ranch Candies is a taste that’s truly Texan, and it can only be found in Del Rio. Founded and created by Kurt Lemp, the local business has grown from just a couple of bags of peanut brittle handed out to friends and family to a business that has delivered its merchandise to folks all across the country and to different parts of the world.

Candy has been a part of Lemp’s life since he was young. His mother made brittle and fudge, and he said he always enjoyed not only the taste, but the process. In 1995 he decided to try his hand at making brittle, and using a recipe he got from his wife, Elaine, Lemp set out to make his first batch.

“The first batch was edible, but something wasn’t right. I wound up making a few more batches and hit on something. The texture was perfect … it crunched easy, and it didn’t stick to your teeth,” Lemp said.

Lemp began handing out his confections to coworkers and friends.

Soon after he made his first attempt at candied peanuts. After that, the caramel with pecans was brought to life and soon Lemp’s sugary empire was gaining shape.

In 2012, Ranch Candies made its official debut at the inaugural Christmas Bazaar at Doc Holliday’s.

They were a smash hit.

“We brought about 50 pounds of

candy and within two-and-a-half hours we were sold out,” Lemp said.

“We had to be there for another couple of hours, so we handed out samples and just took orders.”

The next year, Lemp got his first big order, while battling appendicitis, and the small business had grown from the confines of his kitchen to needing its own building, dubbed the Candy Shack, on Lemp’s property in the county.

“My son, Zack, moved back to help out. We went through all the steps needed to become a legal food manufacturer and moved all the facilities I need to make the candy into another structure on the property,” Lemp said. “Now I had more room to pour out the brittle, which can be about eight feet long and weigh about 30 pounds, or the peanuts, which I make in 18 to 20 pound batches.”

The candy production is a family and friends affair. Aside from Kurt, his fellow candy creators include his wife Elaine, son Zack, Zack’s girlfriend Harvest King, and close friends Cheryl Johnson and Eli Banks. Lemp said he’s also received help from fellow Del Rioan Tod Townsend.

Ranch Candies has grown big enough that it has its own website now, ranchcandies.com, offering 12 different products, including the award-winning hot versions, and

four types of gift boxes, ranging in price from the popular $25 box to the holiday-themed Christmas Rancho Grande box, available for $150.

The candy company also got a big boost when it was recently featured on the popular television show, Texas Country Reporter. Lemp said he met the hosts of the show when they were guests at the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet.

“I handed them a box of our candies as they were leaving and thanked them for coming to Del Rio. Four months later I got a phone call from Bob Phillips (one of the hosts of the show), and he said they ate enough of the candy that by the time they got to Brackettville he said they hoped there was a story behind these candies,” Lemp said. “After the show aired, our website and our phones just went crazy.”

Despite the business’ growth, Lemp and Ranch Candies can still be found at small local markets, handing out samples and selling the delectables by the bag full.

“I love meeting and talking to people. I love to see their faces when they try the candy for the first time ,and I love the people that come up to us and know just what they’re going to buy. For me, the best thing I can do is hand people a piece of candy and watch them smile,” Lemp said.

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Christine Dutcher stands next to her “Santa Tree” during the Pan American Round Table of Del Rio’s Holiday Home Tour in December 2016. During December, Dutcher and her husband transform their home into a Christmas wonderland, filled with decorated trees, Santas, nativity

Christmas Casa Story and photos by KAREN GLEASON

Walk into the gracious White Feather Trail home of Christine and Bill Dutcher anytime in December, and you’ll find yourself transported into the midst of a childhood Christmas fantasy.

Every room of the house and nearly every surface inside those rooms are covered

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with Christmas-themed items – Santas, nativities, angels, ornaments, candles, gingerbread houses and Christmas trees both large and small.

There are Christmas grace notes at every turn: a Santa duvet covers the Dutchers’ king-sized bed and the living room’s “Santa

Tree” is a top-to-bottom celebration of Old Saint Nick and showcases Santa figures created from every conceivable medium.

The Dutchers opened their home to visitors during the 2016 Pan American Round Table of Del Rio Holiday Home Tour and plan to be part of the tour again

this year.

2016 was the first year the Dutchers’ home was part of the tour.

“One of the ladies I was with on the school board for the St. James School, she was in charge of finding people willing to be on the home tour, and she had been here for the church brunches a couple of times, when the ladies of the church come here for a brunch, and she thought my house would be good for the tour,” Dutcher said.

The decorations in the Dutcher home are the result of a decades-long obsession with Christmas.

Dutcher said the Christmas decorating bug bit her shortly after she and her husband moved to Del Rio in 1970.

“We got married in 1970, and we moved to Del Rio . . . He went to pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base, and where the railroad station is now, there used to be a garden and gift shop in there. Well, that’s where I got some of my first ornaments for my Christmas tree, and I still have those. After that, I decided that from every place we traveled, I would pick up some Christmas things. That’s how the collection got started. And it just grew and grew from there,” Dutcher recalled.

Friends and family members began adding to her collection.

“My mother-in-law would buy me Santas, and she bought unique ones and so that collection just really started growing,” Dutcher said.

Dutcher said she and her husband have lived in New Hampshire, Wichita Falls, Texas; Florida and Bogota, Colombia, where they spent two years.

“From each of these places, I collected Santas, nativities and angels,” Dutcher said.

She said her over-the-top Christmas decorating also became a family affair.

“My husband loves it too, and he helps, and if I ever say, ‘Oh, I don’t really feel like doing it,’ he tells me, ‘C’mon, we got to do it.’ He enjoys it, and my grandchildren, they expect it. If I don’t have everything up, I hear about it,” Dutcher said.

The decorating extravaganza begins the day after Thanksgiving.

Why does she do it?

“I love the Lord, and I love celebrating His birthday. I try very hard not to lose the meaning of Christmas. I just think He would want us to celebrate, and I enjoy the traditions with my kids that my parents handed down to me,” she said.

Some of those traditions included making Italian rosettes, a fried and sugared pastry treat similar to the Mexican buñuelos.

Christine Dutcher calls this her “Santa Tree,” decorated with a variety of Santa and Santa-themed ornaments. “It’s fun, and everybody loves it.

It’s Christmas, all in one tree,”

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Christine Dutcher said a friend made the figures in this elegant white nativity crèche. Dutcher said she received the set while she and her husband lived in Wichita Falls, Texas.

“My grandmother always made those, and now my husband and my granddaughter make them every year. I’ve always believed that you carry your memories in your heart and not in material things and it always means something different to every person,” she said.

Dutcher’s grandchildren are Autumn, 22, who currently lives in San Antonio, and Savannah, 16, who lives in Del Rio with the Dutchers.

Nearly every room in the Dutchers’ home plays host to its own Christmas tree, but there are several that are extra-special.

“I call the tree in my bedroom my memory tree, and I sit in bed and look at the different ornaments and think of happy times when we were all together, and it’s comforting. It’s solace, and I want to give that to my grandchildren,” Dutcher said.

Christine Dutcher said her “secret sister,” Angela Yount, gave her this elegant angel playing a harp. “She knows how much I love angels, and she bought me this as a Christmas gift many years

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Dutcher said it’s hard for her to pick out just a few of the decorations as her favorites, but was able to name a handful.

“I have one ornament that is just a gold ball. It has a recorder in it, and when the girls were just little, little, I had them say the year and say ‘Merry Christmas to Nana and Poppa.’ And I taped over it so no one could do anything, and hearing those little voices almost makes me cry. It’s very precious to me,” she said.

She has some other favorites as well.

“The ornaments that were my mother’s and my dad’s, I have some of their older ones they had when they were first married, those are very special to me,” Dutcher said.

“I also have ornaments that have pictures of people, that I made and then put their picture on it, and I

A friendly donkey carries the Holy Family – Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus – in this figurine Christine Dutcher bought in Colombia. In the background are a set of bread dough Christmas figures crafted in Ecuador.

“These are my Christmas dishes, and they get put out the day after Thanksgiving, and we use them every day until New Year’s Eve,” Christine Dutcher said. The set was purchased at Del Rio’s K-Mart more than 20 years ago.

Jolly Old St. Nick carries his sack full of Christmas gifts across a bright duvet in one of the Dutcher home’s bedrooms. “I just bought that in 2016. It’s hard to find one for a king-size bed,” Christine Dutcher said.

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think those, of my mother and my father, because they’ve been gone for so long, those are very special to me also,” she said.

Santa Claus, that jolly old elf, figures prominently in her decorating schemes.

“I love my Santa collection, because I have a Santa from every place we’ve lived,” Dutcher said.

She said she has never counted how many Santas are in the collection.

“I have 35 bins of Christmas in storage and every year I say, ‘No more, no more. We’re not going to buy anymore,’ and then I see one that’s unique,” Dutcher said.

She has ornaments from her travels in Italy and said since her family is Italian, those ornaments have a special place in her heart as well.

Dutcher also collects nativities.

“I would say I probably have six, because I want them to be special and meaningful,” she said. •

“Making gingerbread houses for Christmas was a tradition that we started with our grandchildren. I thought it was so much fun the first time we did it, and the girls loved it,” said Christine Dutcher.

Santas crafted of various materials welcome Christmas visitors to Christine and Bill Dutcher’s residence. One of the Santas is carved from a gourd, one is a ceramic piece, one is papier-mâché and a tall wooden Santa in the back is actually a candleholder Dutcher’s husband bought for her at Del Rio’s Ross Drug Store.

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DIY

Wine Cork Tree Story and photo by MEGAN TACKETT

The holidays are a time to eat, drink and be merry. For some families (my family), that means cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and tempranillo consumption. After depleting a bottle, save those corks to create this easyto-make holiday décor.

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What you’ll need • 36 wine corks, about 12 with red wine stains • Craft glue or hot glue gun • Green marker • Ribbon, bell or decoration for tree topper Method • Color ends of about 12 corks with green marker.

• Line up eight corks with varying end colors in random order.

• Glue corks together side by side and allow to dry.

• Glue seven corks atop the eight and allow to dry.

• Repeat this order until the tree is complete.

• Be sure to allow each row to dry between sets.

• Take a bell, tie a ribbon or choose your tree topper and superglue on top cork.

Merry

Christmas!

Emergencies Don’t Wait...And Neither Should You. South Texas Urgent Care Center of Del Rio offers the delivery of ambulatory (outpatient) care outside of a hospital emergency department, usually on an unscheduled walk-in basis. We treat patients who have an injury or illness the requires immediate care but is not serious enough to warrant a visit to a hospital ER.

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Dennis Ong, FNP, Paloma Solis-Cariaga, FNP, Jaime J. Gutierrez, M.D.

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Festival of Light Hanukkah celebration commemorates ancient miracle

Story and photos by KAREN GLEASON

For eight days in the middle of December, members of Del Rio’s Baruch HaShem Assembly light candles in commemoration of a 2,000-year-old miracle, reminding the world that “the darkness is temporary, but the light is eternal.”

“What we celebrate in December is Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication, which is also called the Festival of Light, and for us this is a very important time, because it commemorates the great miracle that happened in Jerusalem when the Maccabeans retook the Temple from Antiochus Epiphanes,” said Rabbi Manuel Rodriguez, who leads the congregation of Del Rio’s Messianic Jews.

“When the Temple in Jerusalem was retaken, there was only enough oil to light the temple menorah for one day, and God miraculously provided enough oil for the menorah to be lit for eight days. That’s why we celebrate the festival of light, as a commemoration of that event. It’s also called the Feast of Dedication because at that time the temple was rededicated,” he said Rodriguez said this year the eight-day-long celebration of Hanukkah begins on Dec. 12. “We begin by lighting the Hanukkah menorah here in the synagogue, and every night we light the Hanukkah menorah in our homes. We have some services, but for the majority of the time the observation and celebration takes place in the home with the family,” he said.

Rodriguez said although the menorah is the center point of the celebration, the Festival of Light also features a wealth of traditional foods and a game of deep historical significance.

“One of the most well-known of the traditional foods is latkes, a type of potato pancake fried in oil. We also make sufganiyot, a

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type of round, jelly-filled doughnut,” Rodriguez said.

“One of the things we also do is play a game called dreidel, which is game involving a spin-top,” he said.

The tradition of the dreidel began, Rodriguez said, when Hellenistic kings ruled Israel, and they outlawed the study of Torah and other Jewish practices and religious observations in an attempt to force the Jews to assimilate.

The Jews continued practicing their faith in secret. Study parchments were turned face-down when Hellene soldiers were in the vicinity, and the Jews would play with the dreidel on top of the parchment. To the soldiers, the Jews were simply playing a child’s game of chance.

“But on the dreidel itself there are some Hebrew letters, and in Israel, those letters combine to form the phrase ‘a great miracle happened here.’ Everywhere else, that is not in Israel, the letters form the phrase, ‘a great miracle happened there’,” Rodriguez said.

“Hanukkah represents for us a light in the darkness. . .For us, Hanukkah points to the Messiah, who we believe is Yeshua, and what’s interesting, in all of Scripture, in what’s called the Old Covenant by Christians, Hanukkah is mentioned in the new covenant, in the book of John, so it is also a celebration of unity, of uniting the people with the light, the light being the Messiah, a wonderful time to come together to know the light of the world, which is the Messiah and what he has done for us and how he can bring us together, in times of tragedy and in times of joy. We reflect on the teaching that the darkness is temporary, but the light is eternal.” •

Gianna Hurtado, 13, lights a nine-branched Hanukkah menorah at Del Rio’s Baruch HaShem Assembly of Messianic Jews. This year, Hanukkah

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Season of Sparkle Photos by ADRIANA IBARRA and KAREN GLEASON; Styling by JEANNE ROE and MEGAN TACKETT

Roberts Jewelers owner, Graduate Gemologist and Independent Jewelers Organization Master Jeweler Jeanne Roe showcases select pieces from her showroom that are sure to stun a special someone this holiday season.

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Left Full: Samantha is wearing a .25 carat diamond wire ring, with an 18 karat gold 2.46 carats diamond bracelet and 10.59 carats AAA oval opal necklace with .82 carats of diamonds on a 14 karat yellow and white gold Leslie’s night and day neck wire chain.

Top Left: Ivonne is wearing a 14 karat white gold 4.25 carat rhodolite garnet floral ring with 0.10 carats of diamonds.

Top Right: Kayla is wearing 14 karat white gold princess cut solitaire earrings with 1.48 carats of diamonds, a 14 karat white gold cascading 4.36 carats of diamonds pendant necklace and a Designs by Ryan marquise and round cut 2.36 carats diamond ring.

Bottom Right: Samantha is wearing a “today, tomorrow, forever” design pendant necklace with 1.05 carats of total weight princess cut sapphires and 0.04 carat diamonds on a 14 karat white gold chain. She also dons an 18 karat gold ring with a 3.50 emerald cut sapphire and 1.09 carats of diamonds, 14 karat gold earrings with 0.56 carat sapphires and 0.10 carats of diamonds and an 18 karat gold 2.46 carats of diamonds bracelet.

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Left Full Page: Ivonne is wearing an estate piece 6.60 carat oval rubellite tourmaline ring surrounded a 2.00 carats diamonds, a AAA garnet necklace with .74 diamonds and a 14 karat white gold diamond bracelet.

Top Right: Samantha is wearing 14 karat white gold micro-pave inside out earrings with 1.50 carats of diamonds, a 14 karat diamond bracelet with a circle of life decorative 1.60 carats total weight diamond clasp and a 1 carat diamond lacy floral 14 karat white gold ring.

Bottom Left: Kayla is wearing a AAA 14 karat yellow gold ring with a 22.0 carat emerald cut citrine surrounded by .56 carat diamonds. She is also sporting a Citizen quartz watch with a mother of pearl dial, 14 karat yellow gold dangle earrings with 2.10 carats citrine and .04 carat diamonds and a 22.0 carats AAA citrine emerald cut pendant surrounded with .57 carat diamonds on a designer 14 karat yellow gold link chain.

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Easy holiday eyeshadow Put a twinkle in your eyes this Holiday Season with tips and tricks from a pro Story and photos by ADRIANA IBARRA

Merle Norman Makeup Artist Savannah Lowe offers advice for easy application

W

Makeup artist Savannah Lowe of Merle Norman applies liquid

For a smooth application, prime full

Blend Night Divine, Glacier and Cobalt eyeshadows into the upper crease to add depth.

hen it comes to eyeshadow, doing an intricate look can seem daunting at first, but with some simple tips and tricks even the most intricate of looks will be a breeze. The first bit of advice Merle Norman makeup artist Savannah Lowe offers is to be aware of the shape of your eyes.“There are different techniques to be used for everyone’s unique eye shape.” she says. Eyeshadows and their different types also have a great effect on the overall look, she said. Find out which type of eyeshadow works best for your makeup needs. Cream based eyeshadows work best as a base color for powder eye shadow or for solid, single-color coverage. Loose eyeshadows can be messy but they usually hold the most pigment. Pressed eyeshadows are the most common type of shadow, these eyeshadows blend easily and have a medium amount of pigment. If you are worried about fallout from your eyeshadow, Lowe says to do your liquid makeup last so that it can cover any imperfections.

“The worst thing you can do is overthink your makeup application. The beauty in makeup is that any mistakes can be covered with simple re-application.”

Another trick Lowe advises, is to place tissue underneath your lower lash line so that it can catch any fallout. Lastly she says to always remember that no look is ever complete without confidence and a smile.

Apply Soft Black on the outer crease and blend in small motions to

Top off the lid with Ice, Magical and Pearl Glow ultra Shimmer eyeshadows to make your eyes pop and sparkle.

Define your brows with the Merle Norman Brow Sculpting Pencil and top off the look with lipstick and bronzer.

Tip: use tape to make sure your eyeshadow corners are even.

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Jassleen Paz dazzles in her finished look with jewelery

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TOP: Val Verde County Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez, left, and former Del Rio Police Department Chief Waylon Bullard share a ride in the 2016 Christmas Light Parade.

CENTER: The Del Rio Middle School Dance Team’s float, based on the Disney “Frozen” movie, won top honors in the 2016 parade.

BOTTOM: Members of the Del Rio Middle School Band wrapped their instruments in colorful lights to celebrate the holiday season.

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Happy Holidays Del Rio

Story by KAREN GLEASON; Photos by KAREN GLEASON and TIM GLEASON

I

t’s dark, and there’s a chill in the air.

Del Rioans lining both sides of South Main Street shiver, stamp their feet and wrap their scarves a little more snugly around their necks; some sip steaming cups of coffee or hot chocolate.

Suddenly, the street comes alive with light and sound. The cold and the dark are forgotten as Christmas music rings out through the clear air.

Del Rio’s holiday season swings into high gear with the annual city Christmas Light parade and the lighting of the city Christmas trees.

The theme for this year’s city Christmas Light parade is “Storybook Christmas,” said Interim Community Services Director Lori Venegas.

The Christmas parade begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1.

The parade will start at South Main and Ogden streets and wind its way south on South Main to Nicholson Street.

Venegas said entries will be eligible to win awards presented by judges who will review the parade from the grandstand at South Main Street and Garfield Avenue.

Del Rio Mayor Robert Garza will select one of the entries for a “Mayor’s Choice Award,” and first, second and third place trophies will go to the entries best exemplifying the “Storybook Christmas” theme.

Most Creative, Best Music and Best Band awards will go to winners in the floats category, and walking units will vie for Most Creative, Best Band and Most Spirited. Most Creative and Best Music will also be awarded for categories of entries other than floats and walking units, Venegas said.

But the annual Christmas Light parade will only be half of the evening’s fun.

After the parade, about 7:30 p.m., Del Rioans are invited to gather in historic Greenwood Park, at Garfield Avenue and Griner Street, for the lighting of one of the city’s official Christmas trees, a tall evergreen growing in the northeast corner of the park.

A second tree towers along Veterans Boulevard in front of the Del Rio Civic Center on the city’s north side and will serve as the city’s second official tree.

Spirited singers from various areas schools have performed Christmas carols and other holiday music from the pavilion at the center of Greenwood Park in years past, and the cool air of the park is redolent with the delicious scent of champurrado, a thick, Mexican hot chocolate drink, and the cinnamon sugar sweetness of buñuelos.

“We’d like to invite everyone in Del Rio to join us for this festive celebration,” Venegas said.•

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Mariana Gonzales and Celeste Molina ride in a sleigh, Val Verde Regional Medical Center’s entry in the 2016 Christmas Light Parade.

Miss Val Verde Macady McBlain, who now wears the crown of Miss Southwest Texas, rides in the 2016 Christmas Light Parade.

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A group of cheerleaders from Del Rio’s Toxic Cheer organization form a human pyramid.

Kiandra Hernandez of Danza Guadalupana, a group Junior Miss Del Rio Nevaeh Herrera stays warm in of dancers known as “matachines” or “matlachines,” a thick silver fleece robe as she waves to the crowds dance in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe. lining South Main Street.

Zoe De Leon Briones, Axel Alvarez and Diego Zamarripa ride of the Adult Education and Literacy/Southwest Texas Junior College float during the 2016 Christmas Light Parade. The float featured students and teachers from the program as well as students’ and teachers’ children and grandchildren.

A group of equestriennes are bright in holiday equipage and U.S. flags.

Members of the Del Rio High School Mighty Ram Band play a holiday tune as they march in the 2016 Christmas Light Parade.

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Christmas at the Museum Story and photos by KAREN GLEASON

Mike Parker, president of the Whitehead Memorial Museum’s board of directors, reprises a beloved role as Santa Claus at the museum’s Christmas celebration in 2016.

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A row of colorfully decorated gingerbread houses awaits judging during the Whitehead Memorial Museum’s 2016 holiday celebration.

C

hristmas should be a time of delight and wonder, for the young and young-at-heart, and perhaps nowhere in Del Rio does the spirit of the Yuletide flourish as it does at the Whitehead Memorial Museum.

The culmination of the museum’s annual Christmas celebration is this year going by a new name. Formerly called “Christmas Under The Stars,” Michael Diaz, the museum’s executive director, said the event has been re-christened “Christmas At The Museum.”

Diaz said the “Christmas At The Museum” event this year has been set for Friday, Dec. 8, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“As before, Santa Claus will be there

handing out goodie bags for the kids, and parents can take pictures with Santa and their kids. That goes on throughout the event,” Diaz said.

Another charming aspect of the celebration is a gingerbread house competition.

“Usually the judging for that is around 8 o’clock,” the museum director said.

“There’s really no set program.

Basically, it’s kids taking pictures with Santa, and of course there will be elves and the occasional Christmas tree wandering the grounds of the museum,” he said.

A concession stand will be open and selling hot chocolate, tamales, buñuelos,

Diaz said.

The event is open to the community, and there is no monetary entry fee, but those attending the celebration are asked to bring . . .

“What we’re asking, in lieu of money, is that those attending ‘Christmas At The Museum’ bring a non-perishable food item or a new unwrapped toy. The food will be donated to the food pantry, Val Verde Loaves and Fishes, and the toys we donate to Avance Headstart,” Diaz said.

Anyone seeking more information about the event is encouraged to visit the museum’s web site, www. whiteheadmuseum.org or call (830) 7747568.•

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Whitehead Memorial Museum volunteer Dottie Rowe is decked out as a festive Christmas tree during the museum’s 2016 holiday celebration.

Left, a steaming cup of champurrado and a plate of sweet buñuelos are the perfect finish following the Whitehead Memorial Museum’s Christmas celebration. Right, Santa Claus (Mike Parker) takes gift requests.

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GRANDE / DECEMBER 2017

Wishing you and your loved ones a safe and happy holiday season.

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GRANDE / DECEMBER 2017

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Last Look

I can’t begin to tell you how much I love the holidays. I adore everything this season encompasses: the lights, the songs, the decorations, the movies, the spirit, the gift giving. Everything. This life-long obsession made assembling our December issue a piece of cake.

Just not fruitcake.

Knowing diamonds and precious stones are an everpopular holiday gift, we teamed up with local gemologist and jeweler Jeanne Roe for our monthly fashion spread and the shoot and we couldn’t have enjoyed ourselves more. I must also thank Jeanne for creating a particularly stunning ring, which I will wear for the rest of my life, that I recently accepted from a wonderful, hilarious, loving man.

I also want to extend a huge thank you to Michael Diaz from the Whitehead Museum for allowing us to transform the stable into Santa’s workshop. It was the perfect location for what we wanted to accomplish.

Thanks Michael!

I hope all our readers had a moment to check out our local gift ideas on page 24. Although online shopping and big box retailers are convenient, the economy thrives most when you patronize local businesses. While patronizing these stores, you will find incredibly unique gifts that recipients will remember for seasons to come, and, in doing so, you’ll help your neighbor make a living.

Despite my love for December, I can’t help but acknowledge the trauma many nationwide, and recently in Sutherland Springs, Texas, have endured this year. As an effort to stand up to these acts, I encourage everyone to emerge in the holiday spirit however you feel is the most beneficial to the community, because, after all, this is the season of giving and loving. Happy holidays y’all.

See you in 2018.

Sincerely, Megan Tackett Creative Director

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Thank you Del Rio! Celebrating our 1 Year Anniversary!

Back Row:Dr. Erin Alexander, Rebekah Garcia, Dr. Clay Whitten, Leslee Hurwitz, Gaby Flores, Josh Molano, Cassie Mason, Vanessa Fuentes Front Row: Dana Gallegos, Leah Thompson, Bri Beck, Janet Zuniga Nancy Soria, Amy Sieckenius.

OPEN SATURDAYS! We take Emergencies!

Mon-Fri: 7AM-7PM • Sat: 8AM-4PM 2450 Veterans Blvd. • Del Rio, TX • (830) 422-2129

Happy Holidays from the Ramada!

Join us on Dec. 25th for our Christmas Buffet 11:30 am-9:30pm Or order your Christmas Packages to-go!

Connect with us at AshleyHomestore.com

DEL RIO, TX VETERAN’S BLVD AT TENTH ST 830.775.1508

Monday-Friday: 9am-7pm EAGLE PASS, TX Saturday: 10am-6pm VETERAN’S BLVD AT ZACATECAS DR Sunday: CLOSED 830.757.8800

Regular - $89.95 (10-12 people)

Large - $114.95 (16-18 people)

1 Reg Turkey + 2 Qt. Dressing + 1 Qt. Gravy + 16 Oz. Cranberry + 1 Qt. Mashed Potatoes + 1 Qt. Corn or Green Beans + 1 Reg. Pumpkin Pie

1 Reg Turkey + 4 Qt. Dressing + 2 Qt. Gravy + 32 Oz. Cranberry + 2 Qt. Mashed Potatoes + 2 Qt. Corn or Green Beans or Mix + 1 Large & 1 Reg. Pumpkin Pie

Call to reserve, today!

830-775-1511

2101 Veterans Blvd.

www.ramadainndelrio.com GRANDE / DECEMBER 2017

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living our mission, focused on our vision and empowered by our legacy 56

GRANDE / DECEMBER 2017