Del Rio Grande 0117 by Del Rio News Herald

JANUARY 2017

LULU’S LIFE CHANGE Woman shows 50 can be fit and fabulous

FAMILY TRADITION Love of classic cars survives tragedy

SEMINOLE CANYON A New Year’s walk into prehistory

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CLARISSA’S ANTHEM Del Rio songstress battles deadly disease

GRANDE / JANUARY 2017

CONTENTS

JANUARY 2017

CLARISSA’S ANTHEM

WHAT TESTS DO I NEED?

Del Rio songstress battles Type I diabetes

Health professional gives tips for the right tests at the right age

CLOSET CONFIDENTIAL A peek into the clean and simple style of Del Rioan Ann Hodge

FIT ’N’ FABULOUS Ring in a new year with workouts at The Edge gym

TOP PICKS

FAMILY TRADITION

The latest gear and supplements to support the fit life

Father and son’s love of classic American muscle cars lives on through family tragedy

32 RECIPES

Snack healthy with these great grainless treats

LULU’S LIFE CHANGE

Lulu Bejarano’s new lifestyle includes eating right and getting fit

THE SOLUTION Two drinks to keep you motivated on your fitness journey

HEALTH AND FITNESS GOAL BOARD Keep track of your health and fitness goals all through 2017

DAY TRIP Walk into Texas prehistory at Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site

20 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT Robert Garza

46 OUT THERE Water birds spend the winter along San Felipe Creek

SAY WHAT Readers share their New Year’s resolutions

ON THE COVER: Clarissa Martinez, the 20-year-old daughter of Carmen and David Martinez, is best known to Del Rioans as the singer of the National Anthem at a variety of local events. Though Clarissa’s life may seemed charmed to those looking in, she fights a daily battle to manage her Type I diabetes, with which she was diagnosed nine years ago.

GRANDE / JANUARY 2017

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Selene Rodriguez EDITORIAL karen.gleason@delrionewsherald.com 830-775-1551, Ext. 300 ADVERTISING sandra.castillo@delrionewsherald.com 830-775-1551, Ext. 250 STORY IDEAS karen.gleason@delrionewsherald.com

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Del Rio Grande is published by the Del Rio News-Herald. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without written permission of the publisher. Editorial content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher of this magazine. Editorial and advertising does not constitute advice but is considered informative.

FROM THE EDITOR

LET’S GET A FRESH START, DEL RIO! I’ve got a confession to make: I’m terrified of needles. The thought of getting a shot or of having my blood drawn for a medical test nearly makes me nauseous. I have dealt with this fear by avoiding it, and so I haven’t had a complete physical in years. While this was less of a problem in my 30s and 40s, it is something I must face now that I’ve turned 55. Don’t misunderstand me: I am in good health, and I am able to do everything that I want to do. But I am becoming increasingly aware that if I want to continue living an involved and active life, I’m going to have to take better care of myself. As our Grande team began planning this January issue, we moved to address some of these issues: Chris Adams sought out a local medical professional to talk about the tests that are needed at different ages, Brian Argabright spoke with Lulu Bejarano, whose fitness journey should serve as an inspiration to anyone who knows she needs to take control of her body, and Bonita Santillan found two ladies who make healthy snacking not only easy but delicious. I used the positive energy from these stories to begin my own journey toward a healthier me, and I hope you will, too. Our cover story, featuring the lovely, talented and courageous Clarissa Martinez should serve as inspiration to all of us that we should let nothing stand in the way of our dreams, whatever those dreams may be. Here’s looking forward to all our fresh starts!

Karen Gleason Grande Interim Editor

Del Rio’s foremost tamale maker, Lydia Montemayor, was incorrectly identified as “Lydia Talamantez” in the December issue of Del Rio Grande magazine. The Grande staff apologizes to Ms. Montemayor and regrets any inconvenience or embarrassment our error caused.

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Clarissa Martinez performs during the City of Del Rio’s Fourth of July celebration at Lt. Thomas Romanelli Memorial Park. Contributed photo by Mia Stahl

‘SINGER, FIGHTER, DREAMER’ Del Rioan Clarissa Martinez’s voice will take her far Story By KAREN GLEASON

larissa Martinez is a girl poised on the edge of tomorrow. At first glance, the 20-year-old Del Rioan seems much like many other young women her age: A recent high school graduate careful with her clothes and makeup, someone still close to her family, with a quick smile for a friendly stranger. But every day, Martinez lives with a condition that complicates her life and which, if she ignores, could easily end it. Martinez has Type I diabetes – sometimes called “juvenile diabetes” because it is typically diagnosed in young people. 6

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According to the American Diabetes Association, “only 5 percent of people with diabetes have this form of the disease.” Martinez has dealt with Type I diabetes since she was 11 years old, and her parents, Carmen and David Martinez, remember all too well the terrifying days in the summer of 2007 when they learned about their eldest daughter’s condition. “I remember that she was extra-thirsty all the time, but I didn’t think too much about it: It was hot, it was summer in Del Rio. But she just couldn’t get enough to drink, couldn’t quench her thirst, and she was also

eating a lot, but seemed to be steadily losing weight,” recalled her father, who works as the first assistant Val Verde County attorney. “I’d had a rough fifth-grade year, so I was really happy that was in the past, and the summer was there, but I noticed a lot of difference in the way I felt. I was always tired. I had no energy, and I was losing so much weight. I could tell there was something wrong,” Clarissa remembered. Martinez said the family had traveled to San Antonio to celebrate Carmen’s mother’s birthday and were in church on a Sunday morning. When the rest of the congregation

rose at one point in the service, he remembered that Clarissa remained seated. “When I asked her why she wasn’t standing, she just looked at me and said, ‘Dad, I can’t’,” Martinez said. David and Carmen rushed Clarissa to Children’s Methodist Hospital. She seemed to be deteriorating rapidly, growing pale, vomiting. “She was also suffering from a pain in the stomach and told us she felt like someone had kicked her. She was so dehydrated that it was difficult for the medical staff to draw her blood,” David said. Clarissa’s blood sugar was so high it took the medical staff several tests before they were able to measure it, Carmen recalled. “Normal blood sugar is 80 to 110. The first test they ran on Clarissa went to 400, and her blood sugar was higher than. The second test they used went to 700, and they were finally able to determine her blood sugar with that test,” David said. By rushing Clarissa to the hospital, the Martinezes had averted a nightmare. “The doctor told us, ‘If you’d waited just a few more days, she would have been dead’,” Carmen recalled. Clarissa said she remembers being terrified in the hospital. “I hate the hospital. I hate needles, and I hate blood, and so, of course, I have a disease where I have to deal with that on a daily basis,” she now says with a laugh. She said there came a point in the hospital when she feared that she had come to end of her life. “My body was so tired. I was so tired. I didn’t have any idea how I was going to come back from something like that,” she said. Both David and Carmen said they tried to stay strong for their daughter’s sake. “I remembered the day Clarissa was born, when I asked myself, ‘Am I really ready to be a father?’ Being with her in the hospital was like that fear, but magnified about 1,000 times,” David said. “She was very scared,” Carmen recalled. “The procedures were hurting her, and I told her how sorry I was. But you know what? I never once heard her complain, never heard her ask, ‘Why me?’ I told her that God gives everyone challenges, and I told her not to let it limit her.” Clarissa’s doctor reassured her as well, the Martinezes said, telling Clarissa she would live to be an old grandmother and insisting that she could do and be anything she wanted, with the exceptions being a commercial pilot or a member of the military. • In the years that followed, the Martinezes worked relentlessly to inform themselves about their daughter’s disease, and Clarissa learned to accustom herself to her new circumstances.

Clarissa Martinez practices a song for the Upstagers production of the musical “Into The Woods” in the summer of 2015. The performance was staged at the historic Paul Poag Theatre for the Performing Arts. Contributed photo by The Upstagers

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Clarissa Martinez, center, poses with her grandmothers, Clara P. Herrera, left, her mother’s mother, and Viola C. Martinez, right, her father’s mother, following an Upstagers production of “She Love Me.” Contributed photo by David Martinez

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Clarissa Martinez, center, at microphone, leads the Del Rio High School Class of 2014, her graduating class, in singing the National Anthem at the start of the DRHS graduation ceremony in Walter D. Levermann Stadium. In May 2014, Martinez was named the Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) Solo and Ensemble Outstanding Soloist. - Contributed photo by the San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District

“At first, I was a little upset. As a fifth grader, I went through a really terrible year. I was bullied, mostly because I was that quiet, awkward kid. I guess I was just an easy target,” she said. “I thought the worst was over, and I kept thinking, ‘I’m not strong enough to handle something like this for the rest of my life. Why would God do something like this to me?’” “As the months went on, and I met with doctors and people were giving me advice, I just kind of realized that this was something that I could easily overcome, I just had to take a different attitude and perspective on life now,” Clarissa said. Among the life changes she has had to make, Clarissa said, are a constant monitoring of her blood sugar and insulin levels. She wears an insulin pump, a device that supplies insulin to her body as it is needed to stabilize her blood sugar levels. She wears the pump for three days, then changes it. She also wears a continuous glucose monitor that checks her blood sugar level every five minutes.

At first, she said, her father gave her the insulin shots, “but one day, I told him I wanted to try doing it myself, and now, I’m not so scared of shots anymore.” As she learned to live with her diabetes,

“It was like I’d found my place. . . No matter what else was going on in my life, the second I walked into the choir room, I was welcomed with open arms,” she said, recalling those days. Clarissa found a refuge and a strength in her life-long love of music. “It’s become her sanctuary,” Carmen said. Clarissa said she has “always loved music,

always been an entertainer.” When she returned to school after that terrible summer of 2007, she joined the choir at the 6th grade, something she characterizes as “the greatest decision I ever made.” “It was like I’d found my place. . . No matter what else was going on in my life, the second I walked into the choir room, I was welcomed with open arms,” she said, recalling those days. She also remembered that her choir director at the middle school, Ray Ritchie, saw beyond the shy, thin girl that had come in his door. “I owe a lot of my confidence and my desire to pursue singing to him. He would tell me, ‘You have this amazing gift,’ and he never looked at me as someone who was sick,” Clarissa said. By the time she graduated from Del Rio High School in 2014, Clarissa’s dream of becoming a professional singer had ignited in her heart. Many Del Rioans have heard Clarissa’s voice as she has performed the National Anthem at a number of functions around GRANDE / JANUARY 2017

Clarissa Martinez, in costume as Doralee Rhodes, in the 2016 Upstagers production of the musical “9 To 5,” is joined on stage by fellow cast member Robert Wade, as Franklin M. Hart Jr. Contributed photo by The Upstagers

the area. Clarissa’s talents have also been showcased in several recent performances by The Upstagers community theater group. Others subscribe to her YouTube channel, “ClarissaSingsItAll,” where she covers a number of popular songs from then and now. The depth and power of her voice shine in those videos, despite the fact they were recorded by Clarissa in her own home, without the benefit of professional recording artistry. Clarissa began attending the University of Texas in San Antonio, but despite loving the teachers, she said, “My heart wasn’t there,” and she dropped out. Though she said she may return one day, Clarissa had her eyes on a larger platform. 10

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Clarissa Martinez performs a musical number in her role as the fairy tale character Rapunzel in the Upstagers production of the musical “Into The Woods” during the summer of 2015. Contributed photo by The Upstagers

In the summer of 2015, she got her chance. She traveled to Nashville, Tenn., and recorded a series of songs with Johnny Garcia, the lead guitarist for Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, who also does recording work. Clarissa’s songs were recorded at the legendary Sound Emporium in Nashville. “On the drive over there, I was so emotional because I had gone through so much, and I appreciated how rare an opportunity this was for somebody like me, from a small town, where you don’t get a lot of recognition, no matter how talented you are. The fact I was able to go there and meet these amazing musicians and meet this amazing man who had confidence in me and my talent. . . It was something I didn’t expect,” Clarissa said. Now, she plays a waiting game, while Garcia tends to his many other projects, and when he does focus his attention on it again, there are additional steps – a manager, visits with record labels, prospective contracts – than Clarissa will have to face. “I know something like this doesn’t happen overnight. Once people hear it, I think it will be worth the wait. No one’s going to be more excited than me when it comes out,” she said. Clarissa said she is ready for whatever comes, and she has an excellent philosophy by which to steer her course: “Do the things that make you happy, and do those things no matter what.” •

Clarissa Martinez outside the Sound Emporium in Nashville, Tenn., in the summer of 2015, when she recorded six songs there. The studio, founded as Jack Clement Recording Studios in 1969, has been the site of work by such musical luminaries as Kenny Rogers, Ray Stevens, John Denver, R.E.M., Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Contributed photo by David Martinez

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ANN HODGE

“Byron gave me these pearls (above) when we married, in 1980. Some other pieces that are special to me are my grandmother’s gold locket (below center) and this antique amethyst pin. My mother bought me this pin that once belonged to Mrs. Brinkley (below right).”

“I’m crazy about scarves. I have a collection of scarves from Hermés, and one of my favorites was designed by a man named Kermit Oliver, who is the only American to have designed scarves for Hermés. Oliver is from Waco, Texas, and a highly-regarded African-American artist. I didn’t really know anything about him until my daddy gave me this scarf, and I read an article that Texas Monthly published about him.”

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GRANDE / JANUARY 2017

“This Chanel clutch has been my workhorse for two years now, and I have three of them. They all look alike, but they are different colors. The style is called ‘caviar,’ and it has a lot of room on the inside. All these things become like old friends over time.”

“Fragrance: Kelly Caleche by Hermes, which is light and feminine, containing what’s described as a ‘joyful expression of leather.’ I’m also fond of Un Jardin Sur Le Nil, which is another Hermes perfume, and which the company describes as ‘a stroll through the island gardens of the Nile at Aswan,’ and Caleche Soie De Parfum, a modernized version of the original Caleche, which Hermes launched in 1961 as its original women’s fragrance.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Ann Hodge, the wife of Del Rio attorney and rancher Byron Hodge, and I have crossed paths many times over the years, and I have always thought of her as the most elegant woman in Del Rio. Hodge – tall, slim, with a cap of platinum hair and radiant smile – is impossible to overlook in any venue. I appreciate her allowing me into her home and sharing her style sensibilities with me and with Grande readers. Style icons: “I have to start with my mother, Molly Wright, who doesn’t actually qualify as a designer. She had a great eye for color and lines, and did most of her sewing from patterns. She really molded my design aesthetic. She wouldn’t let me wear blue jeans, and I was not destined for a ruffle. She always put me in tailored clothing.”

A “ ll these things become like old friends over time.”

Favorite designers: “We’d probably have to go directly to Ralph Lauren. His lines are classic, but there is a casualness to his every-day clothing, and I like his backstory, in that he was a tie-maker to start with. He wanted to be Joe DiMaggio, then he wanted to be an actor, so he went to work for a fellow who made ties, and that’s where he was launched. I love his fabrics, and he is so authentic. I’ve stuck with him almost totally. “I became aware of Chanel through an ad for their Chanel No. 5 featuring Catherine Deneuve. The more I learned, the more I appreciated the quality and the way their clothes are made. It takes lots of time. They have a commitment to quality. I also like Carolina Herrera.” Celebrity wardrobes you’d like to raid: “Katherine Hepburn’s in a New York minute. Of course, I would love to have known her. I’ve read several of her books, and I think she is just too amazing. I love that she was known for her fierce independence and spirited personality. Also CoCo Chanel and Catherine Graham, the former publisher of the Washington Post, and George Clooney’s wife, Aman. She seems like she has some character.” Best Place to Snap Up a Fashion Bargain: “There are so many interesting new little shops on Main Street, like Clasyk, owned by Yoly Flores. Fashion Crime: “Low rise jeans. They don’t look good on anybody.”

GRANDE / JANUARY 2017

BEHIND THE WHEEL

FAMILY TRADITION Perez family’s true American classic 1969 Chevrolet Camaro

Story by BRIAN ARGABRIGHT - Photos by ROLAND CARDENAS

very car can bring back a memory for its owner. For Tomas Perez Sr., those memories are of his son and the joy they shared in classic cars. The passion began with the elder Perez, 56, and a true American classic — a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro. “I’ve been working on classic cars for as long as I can remember. It started with 14

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my first big project – a 1969 Camaro,” said Perez, who said he’s been collecting and working on cars for about 40 years. “I’ve just always loved cars. I’ve owned the Camaro since 1976.” The Camaro was first introduced in 1966 and initially resembled the Chevy Nova and not the classic frame most enthusiasts are familiar with today. It was the ’69 model that was the first to appear with the

classic and sportier look though some took the look to be more aggressive. The new look lasted only one year, but with three different options, including the rally sport, super sport and Z28, more than 93,000 of those bad boys rolled off the assembly line and tore across the American landscape. Perez’s Z28 model is painted Sunset Orange and comes with a 327 V8 engine and a Houndstooth Orange interior.

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When Perez’s son was old enough, “Tommy”, as he was known, joined in his father’s love of classic cars. They worked on several different classic cars and trucks including the ’69 Camaro, Tommy’s ’68 Camaro, Tommy’s 1959 GMC truck and a 1980 Firebird Trans Am. “Each project was so unique and meaningful to both of us,” Perez said. The truck was especially meaningful to the father and son team because it was Tommy’s dream project. The Fleetside was a popular classic truck for many enthusiasts because of its body style, unique four headlight setup and the wrap-around windshield that was a new to the truck industry. The ’59 also featured a larger and more ornate hood emblem, leaving no doubt as to who was behind the beautiful but practical pickup. Soon enough, the younger Perez passed on the family’s passion to his son, Tomas Izandro, or “Izzy.” But in 2011 Tommy was diagnosed with brain cancer. He fought the disease every step of the way, using his love of the classics and the family projects as a welcome distraction. When he turned 33, Tommy received a special gift — an honorary membership to the Del Rio Classics Car Club. “This was a great honor for our family,” Perez said. “Unfortunately, a month and a half later Tommy passed away, ending his five-year fight. But his love of classic cars lives on with his son, Izzy.” Now a new generation of Perez men will carry on the passion that has become more than a hobby. It’s a family tradition. • 16

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Tommy received a special gift — honorary membership to the Del Rio Classics Car Club.

Tommy Perez and son Tomas Izandro “Izzy” Perez

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Courtesy photo Lulu Bejarano has a look of determination as she goes through her workout at CrossFit Del Rio. Bejarano credits CrossFit with helping her lose nearly 50 pounds since joining the program in April 2015.

LULU’S LIFE CHANGE Call it a case of being 50 and ready to fight. Story and photos By BRIAN ARGABRIGHT

t her worse, Del Rioan Lulu Bejarano, 51, weighed 175 pounds. She didn’t like the way she looked, was insecure, sluggish and tired. “I hated looking in the mirror. I hated taking photos. I was miserable,” the mother of four said. “I just didn’t feel good.” When Bejarano turned 50 she decided it was time to make a change. “Turning 50 did it for me. I didn’t want to sit at home and get older and feel worse. I felt it was time to do something,” Bejarano said. She began eating right, cut out the sweets 18

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and sodas and learned the right way to prepare her food and eat. “Dieting was the easiest thing to do for me. I mean, I have a sweet tooth, so it was a little hard to cut out the sweets, but everything else was easy,” she said with a laugh. “I haven’t even had a fast food hamburger in, like, two years.” With the diet under control Bejarano decided it was time to get in shape. Raising four kids, who vary in ages from 34 to 21, who were active in a variety of things kept Bejarano on the go. Her son was in baseball and football. Her daughters were

in cheerleading, dance, and the Queen City Belles. Now she has grandchildren who are in volleyball and baseball. Being active wasn’t going to be anything new for her, but her workout of choice was. At the urging of her daughter Tyly Shab, Bejarano entered the world of CrossFit. “I hated running. I was a sprinter in high school, but when I started having kids, I dropped what I was doing and began doing everything for them. It was awesome, and I loved it. Finally, they all grew up and left,” Bejarano said. “To be honest, (CrossFit) always scared me, but Tyly convinced me I

Lulu Bejarano is all smiles as she shows off her collection of running and workout shoes. Once she made the decision to get healthy, she purchased the shoes on the far left. Her daughter Tyly purchased the CrossFit shoes in the middle, and sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still breaking in her newest pair on the far right. Photo by Brian Argabright

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could do it. So on April 15, 2015, I walked into CrossFit Del Rio and did it.” CrossFit, which has been around since 2000, incorporates a variety of elements from weightlifting to powerlifting to gymnastics to plyometrics to traditional calisthenics. It’s grown in popularity and is practiced by millions of people every day. “That first day was pretty intimidating. I was pretty much the oldest one there at the 7 p.m. class. I was worried if I would be able to keep up with all the youngsters. I couldn’t even move after the first week,” Bejarano said. “But the reception I got there was very warm, like a family. Enrique Noriega is very supportive. He’s, like, the motivator there. He always calls me Super Lulu.” Bejarano had a goal when she began her transformation — lose 40 pounds. To date, “Super” Lulu has lost 35 pounds. “I have begun to gain muscle, so they tell me it’ll be a little tougher to lose those last couple of pounds, but I’m game. I was 175 at my heaviest, now I’m 140. It took me about a month to notice any change. I could see muscle definition in my arms and legs. By the third month, others started to notice the change,” Bejarano said. “My kids — Tyly, Jenny, Jacob and Stephanie — and my husband Jimmy have been my biggest supporters in all this. They’re my rocks. I thank them for loving me,” Bejarano added. As she progressed through her workouts, Bejarano decided to take on other challenges. She participated in a CrossFit competition, Barbells for Boobs, and then began to run in long distance races. “My goal was to run in a 5K, and the first one I did was the BFCU glow in the dark run. That was July 31, 2015,” Bejarano said. Since then, she’s run in 11 more races and earned medals in 10 of them including a second place finish in her age division at an Andale Del Rio race. Now she will tackle her first half-marathon when she travels to San Antonio for the annual Rock and Roll event. The distance of 13.1 miles isn’t what she’s used to, but she’s been training for the run and is ready to give it her all. “I Googled a training plan and got to it. I’ve been at it for about

Courtesy photo - Lulu Bejarano said her husband Jimmy was so proud of her first race medal he stepped away from his job for a quick photo.

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Courtesy photo When she turned 50, Lulu Bejarano decided it was time to change her lifestyle and get back into shape. CrossFit has been a big part of her routine and people there have taken to calling the grandmother “Super Lulu.”

Lulu Bejarano’s daughter made her this display piece as a place to attach her racing bibs and any medals she earned. Bejarano said her goal was to fill each of the hooks with a medal. So far she’s earned 10 medals in 12 races she’s run.

Courtesy photo - It took about a month of dedicated training before she began to see results, but Lulu Bejarano said it was the appearance of muscle definition in her arms and legs that showed her she was on the right track with her workout regimen.

four weeks. I run three days a week, do CrossFit for two days and then do my long runs on the weekend. I ran 13 miles last Monday, so I’m getting there,” she said. While she would like finish the race in about three-and-a-half hours, predicted cold weather and rain could hamper her and the other participants. But for her, the race isn’t about times or medals. “The advice I’ve heard the most is focus on myself only. Run my race at my pace. I don’t feel like I have to keep up with anyone. This is just about finishing the run,” Bejarano said. “All of this, the exercise, the training, it’s stuff I want to keep going, keep doing, until I can’t do it anymore.” •

Courtesy photo - Lulu Bejarano’s credits her kids, from left, Jacob, Stephanie, Jenny and Tyly, for being her biggest supporters through her battle to get in shape.

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WHAT TESTS DO I NEED? Get serious about getting healthy. Story and photo By CHRIS ADAMS

Val Verde Regional Medical Center employee Coleman Manning sits for a blood pressure test. Tackling health concerns begins with discarding fear and then visiting the clinic or doctor’s office for an exam, screening or shot.

re you ready to face your health in 2017? If yes, then it all starts with getting checked out. With a vast amount of medical information flowing online and being dispensed by countless sources, misinformation about exams, screenings, etc. can become an issue. When should I have a physical? Do I need to have a colorectal exam? What about flu 22

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shots? Del Rio Grande magazine enlisted the help of Conice Boenicke, a family practice physician assistant at Val Verde Health Clinic, to clarify some of the confusion. “For persons in their 20s, I don’t think a yearly (physical) is necessary, unless there are chronic medical issues,” he said. “How often? Depends on how well you take care

of yourself.” For females, Boenicke said the present recommendation for Pap tests is for them to be performed after 21 and not necessarily every year, unless there are specific risk factors or abnormalities that require it. He suggested labs/blood work every five years during your first decade of adulthood. In your 30s, “start thinking about more

yearly, maybe every couple of years, if you’re taking good care of yourself,” he said. Again, labs/blood work should be done every five years, unless risk factors are present. Boenicke indicated that in your 40s physicals should be scheduled more frequently. “I would probably start saying for most of us we need to start checking up yearly. Again, if you’re taking very good care of yourself, you could probably postpone that.” Labs/blood work should be done every two to five years. Additionally, he said that a PSA (proteinspecific antigen) prostate test should be done for men in their 40s if they’re symptomatic. And yearly, once they turn 50. Seemingly, each medical association has differing guidelines, and there isn’t one codified set for all medical professionals to follow, causing the problem of incertitude. “Lots of things have changed. We’re not real clear anymore,” Boenicke said. “There are too many guidelines out there for all of us to follow…it’s a hodgepodge.” More important than the issue of being

over-informed however, is the fear of testing or receiving an exam. Many people would rather not know if they have a disease or condition and try to convince themselves they are fine by finding excuses to ignore it. “Not knowing you have a cancer doesn’t make it go away,” Boenicke stated. The 50s are when visits to a health practitioner generally ramp up. Diabetes, colon and cholesterol checks should be done. A colorectal screening is highly recommended at 40 if there is a family history of colon cancer. For mammograms, he said the current recommendation is not to be screened every year. The American Cancer Society reports that women should begin considering annual exams at 40, but Boenicke usually has patients screened yearly until they’re 65. He said that women with a family history of breast cancer before 35 should start receiving exams earlier. And everyone should receive a flu shot. “Flu shots should be anyone. It doesn’t really matter what age you are anymore.” He further advised a shingles vaccine at 60 and booster shots every 10 years. •

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FIT ‘N’ FABULOUS Ring in the New Year with a new workout routine Photos By PETER CASTILLO

Paloma Felan: Nike Leggings and Reebok Top from Marshalls

Rick Garcia: All Under Armour from Hibbett Sports

GRANDE / JANUARY 2017

Rick Garcia: All Under Armour from Hibbett Sports

GRANDE / JANUARY 2017

Paloma Felan: Nike Leggings and Reebok Top from Marshalls

GRANDE / JANUARY 2017

Rick Garcia: All Under Armour from Hibbett Sports

Stephanie Velasco: Reebok Leggings Hibbett Sports; Umbro Sports Bra Marshalls; Avia Tank Marshalls; Under Armour headband, Hibbett Sports

Paloma Felan, Rick Garcia and Stephanie Velasco

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SNACK HEALTHY Grainless goodies to satisfy your sweet tooth. Story and photos By BONITA SANTILLAN

Martinez’s chocolate chip cookies are gluten-free friendly, grainless and contain no cane sugar. This healthy, melt-in-your-mouth cookie tastes just like the “real” thing without the added preservatives and with ingredients your body will thank you for.

rianne Martinez, owner of Del Rio’s Two Chicks Baking Grainless home business begins making her paleo chocolate chip cookies by first mixing in the dry ingredients. This allows the ingredients to blend evenly. Next, Martinez adds in the wet ingredients such as the pure vanilla, which is a common ingredient in many chocolate chip cookie recipes. After whisking the ingredients thoroughly, she adds in the dark chocolate

GRANDE / JANUARY 2017

stevia-sweetened chocolate chips. Martinez uses ingredients with no preservatives or artificial flavors. Pictured are the simple ingredients used to make her grain-free chocolate chip cookies. Martinez uses a scoop to arrange the cookie dough evenly on parchment paper. Before placing them into the oven, she flattens the dough to form an even and rounded shape. •

SWEET POTATO SPICE MUG CAKE Recipe by BRIANNE MARTINEZ and photo By BONITA SANTILLAN

Ingredients: • • • • • • • •

2 tbsp Coconut Flour ½ tsp Baking Powder ½ tsp Pumpkin Pie spice 1 egg 2 tbsp Cooked Sweet Potato mashed or puréed (you can also use canned pumpkin) 2 tbsp Melted Coconut Oil 1tbsp Pure Maple Syrup (make sure it’s pure!) or other liquid sweetener of choice ¼ tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions: • In a small bowl, mix together all dry ingredients (coconut flour, baking powder and pumpkin spice), and whisk thoroughly. • Add all wet ingredients (egg, sweet potato, coconut oil, maple syrup and vanilla extract) to dry ingredients, and mix well until smooth. • Pour into a standard sized or large mug (you can also use a separate small bowl), and microwave for 2 ½ minutes. • Remove from microwave, and let sit for 2 minutes, then enjoy warm.

*You can add dairy free vanilla ice cream, dairy free whipped cream, walnuts, raisins, etc. on top to make it a super treat.

GRANDE / JANUARY 2017

THE SOLUTION NUTRITION Shake Up Your Fitness Routine Story and photo By CHRIS ADAMS

The Amazing is a delicious smoothie that aids in detoxifying the body.

Are you ready for some nutrition? Need somewhere to start? There is a solution. The Del Rio juice, smoothie and wholesome snack purveyor, The Solution, offers the wise and novice health and fitness seekers a rich variety of choice nutrition. Visit The Solution at 600 E. Third St. 34

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HERCULES PROTEIN SHAKE Hercules Protein Shake – An almost ideal post-workout meal alternative that replenishes carbohydrates and potassium and stimulates muscle protein synthesis. Ingredients: • 1 Banana • 1 tablespoon peanut butter • 1 cup almond milk • 1 tablespoon oatmeal • 1 scoop protein powder

THE AMAZING The Amazing – Developed for people with diabetes, this smoothie doubles as a blood-sugar regulator and detox. JJ and Silvia Garza, owners of The Solution, suggest one per day for 15 consecutive days. The couple said it is one of their most popular requests. Ingredients: • ½ cup pineapple • ½ cup cucumber • 1 rib (stick) celery

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HEALTH & FITNESS GOAL BOARD 2017 Story and photos By BONITA SANTILLAN

ith the New Year comes new opportunities and a reflection on life. Many set small goals for themselves or drastic accomplishments for the coming year. The phrase “I’m going to start eating healthier and go to the gym more” is not unusual to hear when sharing your New Year’s resolutions with friends and family. “New Year, New Me!” is almost cliché; why not become a better you — a healthier you? Most of us can agree it’s easier said than done. It’s difficult to keep the enthusiasm going months after you’ve dedicated yourself to a health-related New Year’s resolution. Whether it’s losing weight, 36

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What you’ll need: • • • • • • • • •

Cork board (I used a 36”x48” board) Thumbtacks Markers (I used different colors but black will work just fine) Scissors Gift wrapping paper or decorative paper (optional) 2”x2” sticky notes Standard index cards A few sheets of white paper Colorful construction paper (optional)

eating healthier or squeezing more exercising time into your daily regime, everybody has their own way of reaching the ultimate goal. The key to making your new lifestyle easier and successful is to stay organized. As organization becomes part of your daily routine, it keeps you motivated and determined to reach the goal you’ve worked so hard for. This health and fitness board can be customized to your preferred health and fitness goals for the year. For starters, I chose to cover the corkboard with wrapping paper to make it more colorful and bright. I pinned the paper down with thumbtacks and added a strip of glittery ribbon to separate the quarter sections more clearly. I chose to include sections for goal weight, motivation, exercise schedule and meal planning, but you can customize your own. Goal Weight: This portion of the board is optional. Some are not concerned about losing weight or not when trying to live a more active and healthy lifestyle. But for many, the ultimate goal is to lose weight, which is why I decided to include this section on the board. Depending on the size of your board, write the words CURRENT and GOAL big enough so that they are clearly seen and noticeable every time you update your board. I chose to paste the sheets of paper onto yellow construction paper to add more color. I pinned each word to the top of the quartered off section. Next, I cut out 22 small rectangular pieces of paper large enough to be noticed under the CURRENT and GOAL words. These will represent your current weight and your goal weight. Under CURRENT, write a number one on one of the rectangular papers you cut out, and pin it under the word. The next number under CURRENT will be a stack of numbers 1-9. Pick the number that coincides to your weight, and place it on the top of the stack. Pin all nine next to the number one already on the board. Do the same for the third number. On the last three rectangular papers, write down your goal weight and pin them under GOAL. Motivation: For this section of the board, you can place whatever motivates you the most, whether it’s quotes, before and after

Having your goal in mind at all times is vital to staying on track with your new fitness and health routine. A reminder of where you are and how much progress you’ve made keeps you determined and motivated to reach your goal.

Staying on track with new goals to stay fit and healthy takes some motivation. Motivational quotes and reminders help you stay positive. Keep coupons handy and organized for grocery shopping when planning your weekly meals.

GRANDE / JANUARY 2017

photos or coupons to make shopping for healthy foods easier on the wallet. I chose to write motivational quotes on index cards using different colored markers and pinned them to the board. Keeping your coupons organized in one spot instead of having to dig through your purse or drawers for them makes it easier to fit into your new lifestyle. Just don’t forget them when you go grocery shopping! Exercise schedule: On narrow strips of paper, I wrote out each day of the week and glued them to the board. On thin strips of index cards, I wrote out the different exercises I would engage in such as running/ jogging and bike riding. I wrote these out a couple times in case I decide to do one particular exercise more than once a week. I pinned the strips off to the side of the section along with seven pins for easy access when planning my week.

Planning out your weekly workout routine motivates you to stay on schedule with your exercise goals. You can choose exercise options of your preference and pin them on the days of your choosing. Don’t forget to leave at least one day a week for rest!

Meal plans: Planning meals can be tedious at first, but once you get into the habit of taking only half an hour a week to plan your healthy meals, it gets easier. Meal planning saves you hours of time each week and makes it simple to make healthy meals.

Benefits of meal planning: Save money Eat healthy Don’t waste food Less stress Save time For this section, I counted 28 groups of 12 sticky notes each and laid them out on the board in a calendar format. This way you are able to plan your meals ahead of time, and after each month, you can easily dispose of the sticky note and start fresh. You can also label each month by pinning the new month at the top of the calendar. By taking half an hour a week to plan healthy meals, it will make adjusting to your new lifestyle easier.

A meal planner is essential to making sure you’re eating all the right foods instead of caving in to comfort foods or eating too many snacks throughout the day. Keeping meal plans on a sticky note calendar makes it easy to start a new month without the hassle.

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As you grow accustomed to using this board week by week, it will become a part of your daily routine. Hang the board where you will remember to update it on a regular basis, and every day you will be a day closer to reaching your goal! •

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DAY TRIP

SEMINOLE CANYON Walking Into Prehistory Story by KAREN GLEASON and photos by KAREN & MIKE GLEASON

Seminole Canyon cuts a wide gorge into the white limestone bedrock that underlies most of southern Val Verde County. The canyon floor holds pockets of runoff in depressions called “tinajas,” the Spanish word for “jars,” vital to insects, reptiles, birds and mammals that live in and around the canyon. This is a view of the canyon from the visitor center.

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radled in the abundant green of the San Felipe Creek and Rio Grande valleys, it’s easy to forget that North America’s largest desert begins not so very far west of Del Rio. The boundaries of the Chihuahuan Desert fluctuate, expanding in years of drought, contracting during years of regular rainfall. There are plants called indicator species that grow only in the Chihuahuan Desert, shrubs like mesquite and creosotebush, lechugilla and ocotillo, and those plants begin to proliferate just west of Lake Amistad. Surprising as it may seem, human beings have called this area home for a very long time, with evidence of hunting activity in the canyons west of Del Rio dating to more than 10,000 years ago. The people who made the dry canyon lands of present day Val Verde County their home were bands of hunter-gatherers who pursued animals as large as Bison antiquus, a taller, heavier version of the modernday American Bison, and as small as rabbits, lizards and birds and who used a variety of plants for food and as raw materials for baskets, nets and sandals. The most lasting legacy they left in the region is the wealth of rock art, which, according to experts, rivals the finest found anywhere in the world. One of the best places to view stunning examples of this prehistoric art and to learn about the rich prehistory and history of the canyon lands is at Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site, located about 45 miles west of Del Rio, just west of the village of Comstock. Visitors to the park can make a day of it by joining a tour, offered twice a day, to the famed Fate Bell Shelter. Fate Bell lies inside Seminole Canyon, and tours begin at the park visitor center on the canyon rim. From the visitor center, tours descend into the canyon proper via a series of stone steps and a short hike on the canyon floor. Before or after you hike into the canyon with the tour, take some time to explore the visitor center, which has informative exhibits about the park’s prehistoric inhabitants and their ways of life, but which also provides a wealth of information about the Spanish explorers, military men, railroaders and ranchers who came after them. The visitor center has a small gift shop with an array of souvenirs, maps, postcards and books about the area

Artist Bill Worrell’s statue, “The Maker of Peace,” a representation of an anthropomorphic shaman with the head of a white-tailed deer, lifts his arms to greet the sunrise over Seminole Canyon on a morning in late December. The statue, which stands near the Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site Visitor Center, represents the ancient people who once called the canyon home and who created the striking art found on the walls of rock shelters in the park.

The Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site Visitor Center is a sleek, limestone-faced building sited on the canyon rim. Just below the Visitor Center, at the right of the photo, is “The Maker of Peace” statue. The visitor center is open every day of the year, including major holidays, from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Before visiting the park, learn more by checking its web site at http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/seminole-canyon

and offers snacks and drinks. Once you’ve refreshed yourself, set out on another one of the park’s hiking trails. Bird watchers shouldn’t miss the ADAcompliant birding trail that begins at the parking lot outside the restrooms of the park’s Desert Vista Camping Area. The dry scrub along the trail, which is only a tenth of a mile in length, offers birdwatchers the opportunity to see several dry land species including Canyon Towhee, Cactus and Rock Wren, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Blackthroated Sparrow and Pyrrhuloxia. More ambitious walkers and mountain bikers are invited to explore some of the more than 10 miles of hiking/biking trails in the park. The longest is the Canyon Rim Trail at 7.5 miles, which takes visitors to the Panther Cave overlook where Seminole Canyon meets the Rio Grande. Native Del Rioan Randy Rosales has served as the superintendent of the Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site for nearly eight years. Rosales, a 1993 graduate of Del Rio High School, has worked for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for 16 years. Seminole Canyon is the fifth state park where he has been stationed. “This is the park that brought me home. I got a chance to travel throughout the state, but this one brought me back,” he said. What is so special about the park? GRANDE / JANUARY 2017

An indigenous woman grinds mesquite beans on a metate while her baby sleeps beside her on a mat woven from plant fibers in this display on ancient life ways in Seminole Canyon, found inside the site’s visitor center. The display imagines scenes from the life of a family of the prehistoric hunter-gatherers who once lived in the canyon’s rock shelters. Visitors can wander through the multi-room exhibit, learning about how these ancient peoples thrived in the arid canyon lands.

“I first visited this site back when I was in the seventh grade, with a Texas history class, and I loved the vastness of it. I loved being able to stand and look out over what seemed like hundreds of miles. Obviously, back then, I didn’t fully grasp the concept of this park and its importance, but now that I’m older and somewhat wiser, I enjoy it even more for what it actually is. “Back then, it was just the beauty of it, and, to tell the truth, that still attracts me. I can step out of my office on the worst day, and look out over the canyon and say, ‘This is all worth it’,” Rosales said. As in any new locale or environment, visitors should use common sense when they’re in the park. “You always have to be concerned about your own personal safety and health while you’re outdoors. In Seminole Canyon, you’re coming to a desert environment, so temperatures can be extreme, especially if you’re coming during the summer months, so you want to be prepared with the proper clothing, sturdy shoes, a hat, plenty of water. “Even during the cooler months of the year, if you’re going to be doing some extensive hiking on our trails, you want to make sure you’re prepared for that as well. 42

GRANDE / JANUARY 2017

“The other thing to look out for is that the vegetation out here is adapted to the environment, which means that we don’t have a lot of broad-leaf plants. Nearly everything out here has thorns, so you want to be aware of that. Be careful where you step, be careful where you walk and put your hands,” Rosales said. The superintendent urged all first-time visitors to the park to take advantage of the guided tour to Fate Bell Shelter. “This is the site that most people come to see and the one to which we offer regular tours. The tours start at the visitor center and take you down into two cave dwellings in the canyon where you can see some of the oldest rock art in all of North America,” Rosales said. Another famous site, Panther Cave, is also located inside the state park, but that site is accessible only from the water. Visitors to Panther Cave must take a boat ride up the Rio Grande arm of Lake Amistad, then turn into the mouth of Seminole Canyon and dock just below the cave. A third site, Black Cave is in Presa Canyon, one of the canyons cutting east from the main length of Seminole Canyon. “This is also a very popular site, and we

offer extended hikes to that site, but it does involve an all-day hike. You’re looking at about seven-and-a-half miles round-trip. It’s a beautiful hike, because you’re inside the canyon the entire way, and not only do you get to see Black Cave, but you get to see some of the smaller sites that offer different styles of rock art. We offer that hike during the cooler months, October, November, December, and then again in the spring, February, March and April,” Rosales said. Anyone visiting Seminole Canyon should first stop at the visitor center. The visitor center is open 365 days a year, including on major holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Rosales urged every Del Rioan who has not visited Seminole Canyon to so do. “This is their back yard. This is the history that surrounds their area, and I think it’s important for them to realize that there’s so much that happened long before we got here. And the park is interesting for all kinds of people, not just people interested in the ancient pictographs. We have military history, railroad history, ranching history, so it covers a large variety of history and interests,” Rosales said. •

an exciting place to visit for all ages!

For nearly a century, from the 1880s until Seminole Canyon became a state park in 1973, cattle, then sheep, grazed the rough and arid landscape of the canyon. An exhibit titled “The Gold in Fleece” inside the park’s visitor center recounts how “most of the land for the park was purchased out of the old Wilkins-Bell Ranch” and informs visitors about the history of the livestock industry in this area.

Come visit our historical exhibits and artifacts

A Collared Peccary, also called a Javelina, is one of a number of mammal species that live in and around Seminole Canyon. Javelinas feed on cactus and mesquite beans and often travel in groups of up to several dozen animals. They are not dangerous to humans unless provoked or cornered.

We have hands on activities for kids and are pet friendly

• • • •

The Canyon Wren announces its presence in the dry canyons and mountains of the American West with a distinctive song that consists of a descending series of sweet, clear notes, a waterfall of sound. These wrens nest in the deep crevices of Seminole Canyon, where they stay all year long, and can be found foraging for insects and spiders on rock faces high on the canyon walls.

A male Flame Skimmer dragonfly grips a plant growing at the edge of a small pond created by a spring deep in a small arroyo just off on the Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site’s Windmill Trail. A sign near the pond reads that indigenous huntergatherers, as well as railroad laborers and ranchers, used the spring, a precious pocket of water in this dry and unforgiving landscape.

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20 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT...

ROBERT GARZA R

obert Garza was elected mayor of Del Rio in June 2014, but he and his family have a long history of public service, both in Val Verde County and in Kinney County to the east, where the Garza family originally settled. Garza has served as an elected member of the local public school district’s board of trustees and as a member of the Del Rio City Council. Garza opened his private law practice in Del Rio in 1987 and established a home health business, Val Verde Home Nurses, in 1990. 1) I was born in Del Rio, but I was raised in Brackettville, went to school in Brackettville and graduated from Brackett High School in 1975. 2) I played on the high school football team, as defensive end and right tackle for three years. During those three years, the team won two district championships one bi-district championship and went undefeated for one whole year. 3) I always wanted to be an attorney, because I started watching politics early on. It really grabbed my attention in first grade when the announcement was made that President Kennedy had been shot, and that really stayed in my mind. I also watched his brother and his campaign. I watched Senator Robert Kennedy’s speech live just a few minutes before he was shot. 4) My dad, Joe Garza, started getting more

GRANDE / JANUARY 2017

involved in the community. He began asking questions about what was going on in the community and ran for (Brackettville) city council in 1975, but lost by six votes. He again ran in 1976 and won, he and his godson, beating incumbents that had been there for 15 years. 5) After high school, I attended junior college in Uvalde, taking the Del Rio Lines bus that stopped in Brackett every morning at 6:30 a.m. I did that for four semesters, starting in September of 1975. I finished my coursework in December 1976 and returned to go through the graduation ceremony in May 1976. I was one of four covaledictorians of the class, graduating with a 4.0 average. 6) I transferred to UT Austin in the spring of 1977 and went there four semesters. I stayed in a dorm and joined the National Honor Society. During my last year, I was awarded Distinguished College Scholar for having achieved a cumulative 4.0 average, and I earned my degree in economics and government and obtained a teaching certificate. I did my student teaching at Crockett High School in Austin. I taught high school seniors and really enjoyed it. I graduated from UT with highest honors in May 1978. 7) In the summer of 1978 I worked as a security guard at Fort Clark Springs in Kinney County. One of the most memorable things

that happened to me that summer was a man pointing a .357 Magnum at me after an incident on the Fort. 8) I went to law school at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio on an academic scholarship, and I worked very hard the first year. During my second year, I joined the law journal, wrote a comment and case note, and in my third year, I was selected an associate editor, but decided not to serve any longer. . . I graduated from St. Mary’s in May 1981 with a juris doctor degree with distinction, took the bar at end of July and came to work for Filemon Ortiz in Del Rio. He was anxious for me to start two days after the bar exam because he wanted to go on vacation in August and told me he needed somebody at the office. 9) I later applied for the position of city attorney, and I started in April 1982. Two weeks after I started, a police officer killed a barmaid, and I wondered what I had gotten myself into. The filing of the civil rights lawsuit against the city began the process for the city to require background checks and psychological reviews of police officers. I rode with a lot of police officers during my time as city attorney. 10) My dad was elected county constable in

Kinney Country and then elected to the county commissioners court in 1984. He resigned Dec. 31, 1980, from his elected position on the Brackettville City Council, and the council appointed me to fulfill the remainder of his term. During my final semester at law school, I ran for election to the position myself, and I was elected at 23 years of age while living in San Antonio. 11) I worked for a time in my dad’s grocery store as a stock boy and sales clerk. I’ve also worked as a landscape maintainer, a garbage collector and a truck driver. 12) While I was the city attorney, I handled all of the litigation for the city except that handled by our insurance company. I worked on the condemnation of property for the Bedell overpass and properties around the airport, handled issues relating to the construction of the new international bridge, the recall of a mayor and a lawsuit dealing with the extraterritorial powers of the city. 13) I wanted to go into private practice and local politics, and in 1987, I opened my private law practice here. I ran for the school board in 1987 and lost and ran again in 1988 and won. I was re-elected to the board in 1991, and my

term ended in 1994. 14) I don’t do a lot of outdoor activities because I’ve always had very severe allergies and asthma. During football in high school, I got by on inhalers. So I do a lot of things on the computer. 15) I have five children Nichole, 40; Robert Daniel “Danny”, 27; Raphael, 26; Natalia, 24; and Joseph, 22. I really enjoy spending time with them. I make it a point to have dinner with them, sometimes together, sometimes alone, at least once a week. I also have four grandchildren. 16) I started a tradition of baking a birthday cake for my children on their birthdays. Its always yellow cake with chocolate icing, and I made one for Danny on his first birthday, and now I made it a point of going to Austin or San Antonio on their birthdays. I bake the cake myself, and I decorate it myself. 17) In 2001, I quit smoking. I started smoking in the spring of 1975, my last semester at high school and smoked for 26 years. The reason I quit was Dr. Maeda told me I was going to have to carry an oxygen tank one day, and after I quit I lost weight and was fairly active. I’m glad I did.

18) I’m a notorious night owl. I start doing something late at night, and I get lost in it. I do all of my legal drafting work and research at that time. I really can’t do this work during the day. I’ve been that way forever, but I got worse in college and law school. 19) My family originally came to the United from Mexico, from Monterrey. My grandfather Rafael Garza came to U.S. in 1918 near the end of Mexican Revolution. He and his brothers were both from Monterrey and involved with Pancho Villa’s forces. That’s how my grandfather selected this area. After the war was over, my grandfather and his brother went back to Monterrey and they were given some land. My grandfather gave his to his brother, and he came to the U.S. My dad was born here in 1920. 20) My mom originally from Mexico, too, from a village called Rosales, Coah. Mexico. It’s a city about 30 or 40 miles south of Zaragoza, and it no longer exists, as it consolidated with two other cities. Now it’s called Villa Union. She moved to Acuna when she was a little girl, and she lived near the plaza. My dad served in World War II and right after all the surrenders, he got a furlough and he came down and went to Acuna. That’s where he met my mom. •

GRANDE / JANUARY 2017

OUT THERE Winter (Water Bird) Wonderland Story and contributed photos by KAREN GLEASON

A Wilson’s Snipe crouches in grass and reeds on the bank of San Felipe Creek near the footbridge at Romanelli Memorial Park in south Del Rio. The snipe relies on its cryptic brown plumage and deliberate movements to hide it from the eyes of predators. This bird uses its long bill to probe the mud and creek side vegetation for insect larvae, worms, snails and small freshwater crustaceans. The word “sniper” has its origins from British sharpshooters of the 1770s who hunted this little bird.

lowing through the heart of Del Rio, the clear, spring-fed waters of the San Felipe Creek are a magnet, attracting people, animals and birds. At no time of the year is this more evident than in the winter, when cooler weather drives the more boisterous crowds of creekusers indoors. Many water bird species call the creek home all year long: On quiet summer mornings, it’s not uncommon to find Great Blue Herons and Yellow-crowned Nightherons stalking the edges of the creek near the U.S. Highway 90 Bridge or to come upon a small raft of Wood Ducks while walking in Del Rio Rotary Park. Two species of cormorants, a type of longnecked diving bird, also call the creek home all year long: the larger and more common

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Double-crested Cormorant and the smaller Neotropic Cormorant. Both of these species feed on the invasive armored catfish that has established itself in the creek. The water habitat of the creek also draws many species of migrant water birds from points north. An excellent place to look for visiting winter birds is the Tardy Dam area of the creek. Bundle up, bring a cup of coffee and spend some time sitting on one of the picnic benches in the small park adjacent to the creek, and there’s no telling what you’ll see here. As mist rises from the surface of the creek on a cool winter morning, it’s not unusual to see a dozen or more Ring-necked Ducks, Buffleheads, Mallards, Gadwalls and perhaps a Pied-billed Grebe or two floating on the

water. Great and Snowy Egrets like to stalk the top of the dam itself, and there are always some Great Kiskadees and one or two kingfisher species about. If you visit Lt. Thomas Romanelli Memorial Park in the winter, check the edges of the water near the footbridge over the creek. Chances are you might catch sight of a Wilson’s Snipe foraging at the water’s edge. Visiting the creek in the winter months is a real treat, not only because of all the birds you’ll see, but because you’re likely to have this lovely area all to yourself. • Got outdoor adventure? I want to hear about it. Email Karen Gleason at karen. gleason@delrionewsherald.com or call her at 830-734-3021.

An iridescent eye “patch” distinguishes the male Green-winged Teal, shown here on San Felipe Creek near the San Felipe Springs Golf Course. Greenwinged Teals visit the Del Rio area in the fall and winter months and can be found on a variety of water habitats, including Lake Amistad, the Rio Grande and the San Felipe Creek.

A female Blue-winged Teal, a portion of her blue wing visible, floats in a quiet eddy of San Felipe Creek near the U.S. Highway 90 Bridge. Blue-winged Teal are one of several species of teal, a small type of duck, that visit the creek during the winter. Others include the Green-winged and Cinnamon Teal.

A male Gadwall wings up off the water of San Felipe Creek upstream of the Tardy Dam. At a distance, male Gadwalls appear to be an unremarkable grayishbrown, but a closer inspection reveals intricately marked plumage with white, black and cinnamon accents on their wings. Gadwalls visit the creek during the winter months and are easy to find from the U.S. Highway 90 Bridge downstream to the Tardy Dam.

A Great Egret flies downstream above the San Felipe Creek adjacent to Del Rio Rotary Park. These tall white birds with their large, pointed yellow bills can often be found on the creek’s edges, where they stalk fish and small amphibians. Great Egrets are found in the Del Rio area all year long.

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Two stunning male Wood Ducks warily watch the banks of San Felipe Creek for predators in an area known as the Rincon Del Diablo, the Devil’s Corner. Male Wood Ducks, with their bold, bright plumage, are unmistakable. These ducks can be found on the creek throughout the year, but they are shy birds and tend to flee when humans approach them.

A pair of Mallards wings side-by-side downstream over the San Felipe Creek from Del Rio Rotary Park. Though both ducks resemble typical female Mallards, these two are probably a Mallard subspecies once called “Mexican Duck.”

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Two species of cormorant, a type of long-necked diving bird, can be found on the San Felipe Creek. Here, representatives of both species perch on the Tardy Dam: left, a juvenile Double-crested Cormorant, and right, an adult Neotropic Cormorant in breeding plumage. Side-by-side, these two species can be distinguished by the Double-crested’s larger size.

One of the most common winter ducks on the San Felipe Creek is the Ring-necked Duck, named for a hard-to-see brown ring on the male’s neck. This male cruises the waters of the creek just upstream of the Tardy Dam. In bright sunlight, the male’s head reflects a purple sheen. Females are more drab, and a group of females and their attendant males can usually be seen in this area throughout the winter months.

Sunlight highlights an iridescent green and purple sheen on the head of a male Bufflehead paddling on San Felipe Creek above the Tardy Dam. With their striking black-and-white patterning, male Buffleheads are distinctive and can be found along the creek throughout the winter.

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SAY WHAT?

TAYLOR Gomez

“My New Year’s resolutions are to be more assertive in my studies, to be more efficient in my family obligations and to be a sturdy foundation for my friends.”

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TAMARA

Ramirez

“I plan to be more active, meet new people, travel to a different city and spend more quality time with family.”

YANELLY

Guerrero

“I want to focus on strengthening my relationship with God and becoming closer in unity with my family.”

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from our family to yours!

THE KHOURY GROUP

The Khoury Group Family of Dealerships 52

Del Rio, Mineral Wells, Eagle Pass, Burnet, Marble Falls, Ft. Stockton

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