Del Rio Grande 1016

OCTOBER 2016

AMERICAN MUSCLE the weakness of many Say Hello to Autumm with a ROMANTIC STYLE

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Drinks to make a FRIGHTENING HALLOWEEN Do you know the TALE OF TWO CITIES?

More than a Tradition The crowning of Miss Del Rio and Miss Del Rio Teen

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CONTENTS 8

More than tradition

OCTOBER 2016 24

What does it take to become Miss Del Rio and Miss Del Rio Teen?

12 Closet Confessions

Muscle cars are a weakness for many car collectors.

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Margo Baker reveals what’s hiding in her closet.

16 Autumm Love Say Hello to Autumm with a romantic style.

22 Shine Bright You shouldn’t be afraid to sparkle a little brighter, darling!

American Muscle

Tale of two cities The upcoming feasts of Amistad promises to unite Del Rio and Acuña.

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Sweet Season What holiday isn’t filled with sugar and sweets and homemade treats?

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Day tripping Fort Clark Springs overflows with activities for all.

42 Ghost Tour Do the spirits of the dead walk among us? And if they do, can the living have contact with them?

44 Ghostly spirits Drinks to make your Halloween frightening.

46 Mary Mota 20 things you didn’t know abouth her.

48 DIY fall fun 49 Say What?

What’s your biggest fear?

50 Save the Date October events and happenings

ON THE COVER: Miss Karla Howard, former 2015 Miss Teen Del Rio. Photo taken at Lake Amistad by Peter Castillo.

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BIG LIFE IN A TEXAS BORDER TOWN

PUBLISHER David W. Compton

EDITOR Jamie L. Bridges

WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS Karen Gleason Chris Adams Brian Argabright Bonita Santillan Joseph Treviño

ADVERTISING Sandra Castillo Johnrobert Salazar Ashley Lopez

EDITORIAL jamie.bridges@delrionewsherald.com 830-225-1551, Ext. 300

ADVERTISING sandra.castillo@delrionewsherald.com 830-775-1551, Ext. 250

STORY IDEAS jamie.bridges@delrionewsherald.com

Del Rio Grande is published by the Del Rio News-Herald.

No portion may be reproduced in while 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.

Entrusted by the Queen City of the Rio Grande since 1884

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

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Here comes Oct the fall

W

ell, it’s that time again — the temperatures aren’t as high, and we’re on our way to fall’s cooler weather.

Child Care e! bl Availa

Zumba, Tabata Instructors

I have a funny feeling that fall in Del

Rio is going to be something I’ve never experienced, considering other areas in the country that I have lived where fall temperatures don’t get above 60 degrees.

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The cool air and falling of the leaves prepares us for the upcoming holiday season, which is knocking at our door.

This October edition is full of treats on every page. You’ll find recurring features, including a nice piece on a classic car enthusiast, a foodie’s dream of becoming the queen of cupcakes and even a glutenfree recipe from our very own reporter Bonita Santillan.

Brian Argabright gives up his take on Halloween spirits — the

Body Building Instructors

alcoholic kind, while Karen Gleason takes you through the haunted sights in Del Rio. Halloween and the fall is a fun time for our kiddos, and Bonita has prepared a do it yourself project just in time for the season.

But our main emphasis this month is to spotlight and celebrate the friendship between Del Rio and Ciudad Acuña, Mexico, or Fiesta De Amistad, the Day of Friendship. The commemoration of this day

Aqua Zumba Instructors

started as the Good Neighbor Day in 1956 and later grew into a weeklong celebration between the two cities.

We’ll take a look at the Miss Del Rio pageant which opens the festival and has had a new winner every year since 1934. A similar pageant occurs in Ciudad Acuña and both queens strut their stuff during the annual parade. Joseph Treviño tells us what the two cities do to celebrate the occasion.

For all the history buffs, Chris Adams takes a look at the Amistad dam and its history. It’s a beautiful site that every Del Rioan should take time out of our busy and hectic schedules to go visit.

With this magazine, we celebrate our old customs and new ones.

I hope you enjoy reading!

Jamie L. Bridges

Call 830-422-2989 for membership information or visit us at 2210 Dodson Ave. • Del Rio, TX 78840 www.jointheedge.net

Grande Editor

GRANDE / OCTOBER 2016

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Miss Karla Howard, former 2015 Miss Teen Del Rio. Photo by Peter Castillo.

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MORE THAN A TRADITION Being in a pageant is not just about beauty. I’ts more about service to the commnity and being a role model and making a difference. It’s being proud of your city.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY BRIAN ARGABRIGHT

F

iesta de Amistad is an international event for Del Rio and its sister city of Ciudad Acuña, Coah., Mexico, and it all starts with the crowning of Miss Del Rio and Miss Del Rio Teen.

The annual crowning of the official ambassador for the city of Del Rio has been a tradition in the Queen City for more than half a century. Last year a new title, Miss Del Rio Teen, was added to bring a new set of girls into the fold.

Practice for this year’s pageant began Aug. 29. Three girls, two competing in the teen division, are committed to competing already. Pageant director Elsa Reyes, who has been involved in the event since 1999 and has served as pageant director for 16 years, said she expects more girls to join in the days to come before the Oct. 8 pageant.

“There’s a lot of scholarship money up for grabs. I don’t know anyone who couldn’t use money for college,” she said.

Ready to Shine Every girl has her own reason to be a part of the Miss Del Rio Pageant.

In a city that features nearly a dozen queens for a variety of organizations, it’s the title of Miss Del Rio that has stood the test of time. Reyes said she feels the pageant is something that changes everyone who takes part —not just the girls who eventually walk away the crown.

“The experience they gain here is something they carry with them through life. Being up on that stage you can see they are automatically instilled with confidence,” she said.

Alejandra Torres, 14, is no stranger to the pageant scene. She participated in numerous pageants when she was younger beginning at the age of four. She said she attended the Miss Del Rio Pageant and knew that was what she wanted to do when she reached the proper age.

“This is something I’ve wanted to do for quite a while,” she said. “I want to show people that being in a pageant isn’t just about being pretty. There’s so much more,” Torres said.

Despite being the youngest participant in the pageant, Torres has had plenty of experience on stage. She’s a part of the Del Rio High School’s musical theater group and has performed with the annual Missoula Children’s Theater.

But her experience doesn’t mean she’s a polished pro when it comes to being in front of an audience.

The pageant judges will rate the girls based on a variety of categories including swimsuit, evening gown, pre-pageant interview and on-stage question. That last one has Torres a little worried.

“I feel that I will know the answer but completely blank out in front of everybody. I may recover, but that little moment might be too much,” she said.

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The Rookie If Torres is old hat at the pageant game, then Elizabeth Pendergrass is the newcomer out to make a name for herself.

Pendergrass, 16, said she wanted to be in the Miss Del Rio Pageant ever since she was little but waited until she was a junior in high school to compete.

“I went to a couple of the pageants before and watching those girls I knew that I wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to have their confidence,” Pendergrass said. “I know it’s a little scary, but I’ll get to meet new people and I know it will help to build my confidence.”

Being in the pageant is not cheap. The entry fee is $350 and participants must buy their own swimsuit and evening gown. Add in hair and makeup and Reyes said the average cost for a contestant is around $950.

Pendergrass said her family is helping with the cost and she even worked during the summer to earn money to help pay the bill as well.

Danielle Hanson dazzles in her red evening gown during the 2009 Miss Del Rio Pageant. The evening gown can be the most expensive part of the pageant, but pageant director Elsa Reyes said she is aware of some girls who competed, and won, wearing dresses that cost less than $100. Hanson would be crowned Miss Del Rio in 2009. Photo by Brian Argabright.

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The Veteran Karla Sanchez has been a queen once before.

The 19-year-old was the former Miss Texas Lonestar Latina Teen Division winner.

Now she’s after a bigger prize.

“I felt like it was a good opportunity … not just for me, but school-wise. The scholarships definitely help,” she said.

Sanchez graduated from high school in 2015. She currently works two jobs and is now competing in an event that will hold practices or some other related event every week until the day of the pageant Oct. 8.

She said that her free time may be compromised, but the lessons learned from pageants far outweigh the sacrifice.

“Pageants can make you a better person. They build you up. Plus, I feel that it will open doors for me in the future” Sanchez said. “Being in a pageant isn’t always about winning. Just competing in one makes you already a winner. It takes a lot of confidence to get up on that stage.”

Because she’s been in a pageant before, Sanchez is well aware of the stigma that comes with girls who compete in pageants. She said she’s heard people say that pageant girls aren’t very smart or that it’s all about who you know when it comes to winning.

Sanchez said those people who want to be negative about pageants should walk in their heels first.

“You have to live the experience to be able to say something about it,” Sanchez said. “It takes a lot of intelligence, a lot of preparation and a lot of confidence to participate. Every girl who wants to be in a pageant should try it for their own good if for nothing else.” . She also is the daughter of a dancer: Her mother, Celeste Marino, was a folkloric dance instructor in Mexico for many years.

Valdez’s love of folkloric dance is shared by her fellow dancers in Corazon de Mexico.

The dancers took some time at the end of a recent

practice session to talk about their art.

Roxy Pagan wore a white, off-the-shoulder blouse with purple, yellow and green ribbons and skirt with red roses on a blue background. She explained her outfit represented the Mexico state of Sinaloa.

Pagan, a native of Juarez, Coah., Mexico, who has lived in Del Rio for 15 years, has been participating in the dance group for three years.

“I get homesick sometimes, because I was born and raised in Juarez, so I did all my schooling there, and this feels like home,” Pagan said. “This is who I am. This is my heart. I am 100 percent Mexican. I am a U.S. citizen, but I also consider myself 100 percent Mexican.”

Pagan said it is important to her that cultural traditions, such as folkloric dance, stay alive.

“I have children, and I think they need to know where they came from,” Pagan said. “They come from a Mexican family, and they are the first generation of U.S. citizens born in my family, so it’s important for them to remember.”

Although her participation in the group is in part driven by her desire to maintain contact with her culture, Pagan said, “I really love to dance, too, so I could be dancing to this today and to ’60s music tomorrow.”

Irma Calderon, of Del Rio, has been a member of Corazon de Mexico for two years.

“I love to dance,” Calderon said, whose blue dress was decorated in wide, colorful ribbons and lace, representing the Mexico state of Jalisco. “I’ve been dancing this type of dance since I was a girl, here and in Mexico. We love this; we love what we’re doing.”

Karla Howard, this month’s Del Rio Grande cover model, was crowned the second-ever Miss Del Rio Teen in 2014. Here she is receiving her crown from outgoing Miss Del Rio Teen Brianna Morales. Photo by Karen Gleason

Katie Lewis shows off her physique during the 2007 Miss Del Rio Pageant. Lewis won Best Swimsuit on her way to being crowned Miss Del Rio in 2007. The swimsuit portion of the pageant is one of the more nerve-wracking parts of the event for some girls.

Photo by Brian Argabright.

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Tere Portillo’s dress, the same as Calderon’s, though in a goldenrod yellow fabric instead of blue, also represents Jalisco.

“I’m doing this to maintain the traditions of Mexico,” Portillo said.

“It’s important for the community, to show children how beautiful it is.”

Del Rioan Nanca Rodriguez joined the troupe earlier this year and said she originally sought out the group because she wanted to involve her.

From left, Elizabeth Pendergrass, Karla Sanchez and Alejandra Torres are the first three contestants to confirm they will compete in this year’s Miss Del Rio pageants.

Pendergrass and Torres will compete in the Miss Del Rio Teen division while Sanchez will compete for Miss Del Rio. Photo by Brian Argabright.

Morgan Stidham keeps the mood light as she tackles the on-stage question during the 2012 Miss Del Rio Pageant. Stidham, who would win the crown in 2012, was part of a family steeped in Miss Del Rio Pageant winners including her cousin Kalli Kusenberger, who win in 2010, and her grandmother, Debbie Foster Stidham, who won in 1966. Photo by Brian Argabright.

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CLOSET CONFESSIONS

MARGO BAKER STORY AND PHOTOS BY BONITA SANTILLAN

“

Shop ’til you drop.” Margo Baker is living proof of the cliché.

From Burberry jackets to cloche hats, Baker’s walk-in closet has a little bit of everything.

“No one ever wants to go shopping with me because I take forever — hours!” Baker said. Style and makeup have always sparked an interest in her, but sticking to particular brands has never been a requirement for her; it limits the variety and excitement of trying new styles.

She gains her style inspiration from fashion magazines and shops for the trendiest looks of the season.

Baker was born in Ciudad Acuña, but raised in Del Rio. After graduating from Del Rio High School Class of 1992, she pursued a college education in Monterrey, Mexico majoring in Business Management and then pursuing a Master’s degree in Education. Baker now has 21 years of teaching experience.

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Now, having recently moved back to Del Rio in June 2016, Baker has had to juggle the hustle and bustle of moving into a new house while balancing her family life and daily errands.

“Since I’ve moved back to Del Rio, I’ve been focusing on being a mom and a wife,” Baker said. “As soon as things start settling down, I plan on continuing my teaching career.”

But along with re-familiarizing herself with her hometown and helping her son and daughter enroll and adapt to the new school system, this full-time mom and wife continues to keep up with the latest trends. From getting the kids ready for school to keeping the house in order, Baker has an outfit for every occasion.

Other than shopping, Baker’s hobbies include traveling, cooking and exercising. She incorporates her style into whatever hobbies or duties she pursues during the day. And depending on the time of year or occasion, she looks forward to adjusting her outfits to fit whatever the event.

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Autumm Love Say Hello to Autumm with a romantic style.

PHOTOS BY PETER CASTILLO

Taupe maxi with slit $45 Model: Emma Gagno.

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Floral lace dress dress $42 Model: Karla Howard

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High-low printed dress $39.99 Model: Emma Gagnon

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Off shoulder striped tunic/dress $36 White distressed skinny jeans $42 Model: Emma Gagnon Elegant white lace top $35 Distressed skinny jeans $59.99 Model: Karla Howard

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Off shoulder striped tunic/dress $36 White distressed skinny jeans $42 Model: Emma Gagnon Elegant white lace top $35 Distressed skinny jeans $59.99 Model: Karla Howard

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SHINE BRIGHT

You musn’t be afraid to sparkle a little brighter darling!

Merchandise featured is from Santa Fe Dreams located inside Plaza Del Sol Mall.

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BEHIND THE WHEEL

AMERICAN MUSCLE Hot rods are a weakness for many car collectors STORY BY BRIAN ARGABRIGHT PHOTOS BY ROLANDO CARDENAS

W

hether it’s the memory of fun times in their youth, the thrill of reliving the past or the joy of finally getting to own one of those beasts, a good muscle car can turn heads and reignite passions long since forgotten.

For Steven Dow, it’s the memories of his youth that led him to own one of the most recognizable muscle cars on the road today — a 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396.

Dow’s beauty is white and black with plenty of a green and a smooth green interior. Even when it’s in park the car begs to be taken out on the road and allowed to run wild, intimidating other cars it passes.

Dow said his love of the Chevelle began during his years growing up in Vermont.

“I have always had a desire to own a Chevelle since I was in high school. I remember my high school days in northern Vermont watching some of my friends race their muscle cars on Sunday afternoons and a maroon colored Chevelle being one of the fastest cars in the areas,” Dow said. “I knew almost nothing about working on cars and that was one reason I have waited so long to have one. With the help of some good friends here in Del Rio I have been learning slowly.”

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Dow is a car guy who knows style. In addition to the Chevelle, he also owns a 2016 Ram Laramie 1500 and a 2014 Mercedes Benz CLS-550. Both are sharp vehicles, but it’s the Chevelle that has a place in Dow’s heart.

By 1969, the Chevelle was already one of the popular vehicles on the road. That year, the front end received some minor changes, especially to the front grille, but the look of the car remained generally unchanged.

But along came the SS 396 package for two-door models and the Chevelle went from just a popular mid-size car to a roaring beast of muscle and metal. The SS, which stands for Super Sport, option included a 325-horsepower, 396 cubic-inch V8 engine, a blacked out grille and black rear panel.

The SS package meant that the Chevelle was no longer a Sunday cruiser. It was now a Saturday night special.

While Dow’s car looks much like the classic Chevelle Super Sports, he said it’s undergone a few minor alterations to bring the beast out.

“The car has an original 396 bored out to a 402, adding approximately 410 horsepower. It also has a Muncie M21 transmission and a 12-bolt rear end; all matching numbers,” Dow said. “The car originally came with a green vinyl top which I had replaced with a black top and I added the rally and side stripes.”

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“I have always had a desire to own a Chevelle since I was in high school.

I remember my high school days in northern Vermont watching some of my friends race their muscle cars on Sunday afternoons and a maroon colored Chevelle being one of the fastest cars in the areas�.

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TALE OF TWO CITIES The upcoming feasts of Amistad promises to unite Del Rio and Acuña

T

STORY BY JOSEPH TREVIÑO

his November, the border, Mexico and a giant wall that could separate both countries is expected to be one of the key issues during the upcoming presidential elections.

But in Del Rio during the feasts of Fiesta de la Amistad, it will be the point. As it has been occurring for over 50 years, a parade will march from the downtown area, past the international bridge and straight into Mexican territory in Ciudad Acuña.

Though the practice of having a parade and floats march from one country to another has been the norm since 1960, this year can prove to be unique, local leaders said. Dora G. Alcala, a former mayor of Del Rio a member of the International Good Neighbor Council and a member of the International Bridge Board, said that this is just one of the many factors that makes of Fiesta de la Amistad so unique.

“We used to boast that we are the only international parade that begins in one country and ends in another one,” Alcala said. “I think this is going to be more significant than at any other time because of that and because of the controversy that’s going on.”

This year, the feast of La Amistad, which takes place for three weeks, alternating between Del Rio and Ciudad Acuña, will include the selection of Miss Del Rio and Señorita Amistad in Acuña, with beauty pageants of both sides of the border.

The pageant of Miss Del Rio will kick-off the feasts, Alcala said. The event will take place at the Paul Poag Theatre on Saturday, October 8.

From there, there will be the parade from Del Rio, where floats of all types will march down main street all the way to Acuña, Alcala said. The festivities will include foot and bike races, as well as music, food and drinks.

PARTY, ACUÑA STYLE Acuña, like Del Rio, will go all out this year, said Nicolás Prado, the city’s tourism director. The city has 30

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been undergoing a renaissance and Las Fiestas internacionales de la Amistad will be just the chance to prove it.

One of the main attractions on the Acuña side, Prado said, is—you guessed it—food. Many of the restaurateurs and chefs will put their best grub on display so that foodies from Acuña, Del Rio and all over the world can sample and confirm that the city has some of the best Mexican cuisine along the border.

Another attraction for foodies will be the “Muestra Gastronómica” or “gastronomic samples”, where local cooks and chefs from all the states of Mexico will be offering cuisine from their regions, Prado said.

TO EMBRACE THE ABRAZO Yes, it will be three weeks of party, party and more party Alcala said. But at the core of it all will be what started it all: The Abrazo (the embrace).

In October 24 1960, presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and Adolfo López Mateos met in Acuña and embraced as part of the building of Amistad Dam. The dam was built to save locals from many catastrophes.

Since then, to commemorate the event, the mayors of Del Rio and Ciudad Acuña, which later officially became sister cities, have embraced during the latter part of October to evoke the meeting of the two presidents.

The exact date, location and time of the abrazo for 2016 is still in the planning stages, Alcala said. But what is certain is that it is the most important event of the feasts.

“Even though we are two very different countries, the culture and the tradition have to be first and foremost that we embrace our culture and our traditions in both countries—through culture and tradition we build that friendship; la Amistad,” Alcala said.

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SWEET SEASON What holiday isn’t filled with sugar and sweets and homemade treats?

STORY AND PHOTOS BY BONITA SANTILLAN

S Lindy Caudle decorates cupcakes according to the event and occasion. Caudle is prepped for Halloween and the fall season.

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easonal flavors are on the market and pumpkin spice and everything nice screams fall with Halloween just around the corner.

A pumpkin s’mores cupcake? Trick or treat? Linda Caudle, owner of Lou’s Guiltless Goodies, has more than enough experience when it comes to crazy flavored cupcakes, and her Pumpkin S’mores cupcakes are her number one sellers during the fall season.

Caudle and her assistant starred in the Breeder’s Cup episode Food Network’s Cupcake Wars Season 9 where horse foods were the prime ingredients in the first round of the baking battles. Cream corn may not be at the top of a baker’s ingredients list, but Caudle made it work, creating a cream corn cinnamon cupcakes topped with molasses buttercream garnished with molasses caramel and toasted oats. But her cupcakes aren’t baked with just any ingredients.

Lindy Caudle starred in the Breeder’s Cup episode Food Network’s Cupcake Wars Season 9 featuring her business, Lou’s Guiltless Goodies.

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Bonita’s Gluten Free Fudgy Brownies PHOTO BY BIANKA SANTILLÁN

At Lou’s Guiltless Goodies, you can satisfy your sweet tooth without overdoing it. “I loved sweets so much I had to find a way to make them low-calorie,” Caudle said. Not only does Caudle bake delicious cupcakes, but she makes them oil- and butter-free, too!

Beginning in El Paso, Texas, the stay-at-home mom of two kids took it upon herself to create indulgent cupcake recipes that wouldn’t weigh down the scale. It was all trial and error.

But from the comfort of her own home, she tweaked and experimented with different recipes to fit her preferences until she met her expectations. “Pinterest is your friend. Have fun with it, and don’t be afraid to try something new” Caudle said.

Growing up on a farm in Arizona, Caudle learned to cook at a young age alongside her sister and participated in cake decorating at 4-H at a young age, but these were mere basics compared to the task and flourishing business that lay ahead of her. Now, marking five years of business in August 2016, Lou’s Guiltless Goodies has grown from taking cupcake orders of a couple dozen a month to baking an average of 500 servings per week! “Cupcake Wars has opened so many opportunities for me that I would’ve never even dreamed of,” Caudle said.

After two and a half years of business in Del Rio, Caudle has catered for large events such as the Women’s Seminar and has judged for the Lion’s Club Cupcake Contest. Caudle continues to work from home, which allows her to set her own hours while keeping family first.

INGREDIENTS ¾ cup coconut flour ¼ cup almond flour ¾ cup Hershey’s unsweetened cocoa powder ¼ tsp salt ¾ cup + 2 TBS dairy–free margarine 1 ½ cups coconut sugar 1 TBS vanilla extract 3 large eggs ¾ - 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips DIRECTIONS • • •

• • •

36

Preheat the oven to 350 F. In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the flours, cocoa powder and salt. Set the dry mixture aside.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the sugar, vanilla extract and melted margarine. Once combined, add the eggs one at a time and stir until combined.

Add the dry mixture to the egg mixture until flour is completely mixed in. Add in chocolate chips.

Spray an 8” x 8” pan with cooking spray and pour the batter into the prepared pan.

Bake for 20-22 minutes or until the brownies have formed a thin crust along the edges and appear set in the center. Remember: brownies will continue to bake as they sit in the pan and will firm as they cool. Cut brownies into desired portion size and serve. (Optional: Sprinkle with powdered sugar)

GRANDE / OCTOBER 2016

Caudle adds fresh strawberries to the strawberry cupcake mixture.

Caudle uses an ice cream scoop to equally distribute the cupcake mixture into each cupcake liner.

Caudle begins making her signature frosting recipe by adding milk to the powdered sugar.

After adding all the frosting ingredients, she mixes the frosting on high-speed.

After adding green and orange dye to the frosting for a festive Halloween accent, she uses her piping tools to swirl the frosting onto each cupcake.

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(830)775-5800 • Fax (830)775-8811 1301 Avenue G • Del Rio, TX 78840 Caudle adds fun Halloween decorations to each cupcake.

Connect with us at AshleyHomestore.com DEL RIO, TX VETERAN’S BLVD AT TENTH ST 830.775.1508 Also known for her “rose” decorated cakes, Caudle sets up a Halloween display featuring her cupcakes and signature cake.

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Monday-Friday: 9am-7pm • Saturday: 10am-6pm • Sunday: CLOSED GRANDE / OCTOBER 2016

37

DAY TRIPPING Fort Clark Springs overflows with activities for all

T

STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN GLEASON

here is a sign inside the entrance to Fort Clark Springs just before you cross Las Moras Creek: An old Indian legend says the creek can wash away the sins of those who cross its crystalline, spring born waters.

Those claims can’t be verified, of course, but crossing Las Moras Creek into Fort Clark Springs does open doors to other times, times when stealthy Comanche warriors stopped in the shade of live oaks and pecans to water themselves and their horses, when plumes of dust rose into the still, hot Texas air from stagecoaches rattling on the dirt road between El Paso and San Antonio, when stirring bugle calls accompanied the thunder of blue-coated cavalrymen on sleek horses.

Del Rioans can easily immerse themselves in Fort Clark’s rich and complex military history and in its modern-day natural treasures.

There is much more to see and learn here than a single day trip allows, but it at least provides enough time to develop an idea of the Fort’s flavors.

The Fort’s main gate is about 25 miles east of Del Rio on U.S. Highway 90. Enter Fort Clark’s 2,700 acres by turning south off the highway – a left turn as you’re driving from Del Rio – then stay in the left lane as you approach the main gate guard station to receive your temporary vehicle pass.

The personnel manning the main gate will also provide a map of the Fort and directions to any specific destination you seek.

No trip to Fort Clark Springs is complete without a stop at its raison d’être, the spring pool at the northwest end of the installation, which is visible from U.S. 90 as you drive in from the west.

Las Moras Spring is the source of the clear, cool water in the spring pool. The pool and Las Moras Creek, which flows southeast from the pool, have offered the perfect rest spot to thirsty, weary humans and animals for millennia.

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GRANDE / OCTOBER 2016

Fall 2016 Schedule Guitar (7 yrs. & up) with Jorge Martinez ...................

Monday and Wednesday 6-7:30pm @ Casa Annex Guitar (Adults) with Claudio Valdovinos ...................

Tuesday and Thursday 5:30-7pm Begginers Baile Folklorico (Adult) w/ Andrea ..........

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The cool, clear waters of Las Moras Spring on the grounds of Fort Clark Springs have enticed thirsty travelers for millennia. Insects, birds, fish, mammals and early hunter-gatherers depended on this reliable water source. The first Europeans to see the springs were Spanish explorers who traversed the area in the late 16th Century. The U.S. Army built the containment pond around the springs in 1900. Today, visitors to the Fort can picnic under the shade of the ancient oaks near the pond or take a dip in the Fort’s springwater-fed swimming pool.

LatinoAerobics with Mary Meza at ............................ $5/Month Boys and Girls Club on De La Rosa St. Mon, Tues & Thurs. 9-10a.m.

Zumba with Andrea Valdez ........................................ $4/Month Call for additional morning and power fit classes Mon thru Thur. 7:30pm-8:30pm Ask about our upcoming events and special monthly workshops!

For more information call Casa De La Cultura (830) 768-2287 Or come stop by Plaza Brown

GRANDE / OCTOBER 2016

39

Old Glory waves outside the Old Guardhouse Museum at Fort Clark Springs.

Operated by the Fort Clark Historical Society, the museum is open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and contains an enormous assortment of displays from the Fort’s 92 years as a military installation.

The “Empty Saddle” statue near the entrance to Fort Clark Springs depicts a riderless cavalry mount. The statue is flanked by the red-and-white guidons of the cavalry regiments that served at Fort Clark Springs since the mid 1850s and by the red, white and blue 1870s-era cavalry flag. According to the book, “Fort Clark and Brackettville: Land of Heroes,” the statue was a project of a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, Ralph E. Beard Jr. The statue was dedicated in 1982 and remains a moving and powerful symbol of the Fort’s long military history.

Detail of a brass U.S. Army rosette decorating the bridle and McClellan cavalry saddle on display at the Old Guardhouse Museum at Fort Clark Springs.

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In his book, “Fort Clark and Brackettville: Land of Heroes,” Fort Clark historian William F. Haenn wrote, “Comanches habitually camped here on their annual trek into Mexico. In the late summer of 1590 the party of Spanish explorer Gaspar Castano de Sosa may have been the first European to see the spring.”

And if the Texas summers in 1590 were anything like they are today, De Sosa and his men were undoubtedly delighted to see it.

The U.S. Army built a containment wall around the spring pool in 1900 after the Fort Clark was established as a military reservation in 1852, and the spring pool now feeds a large swimming pool that is open to the public.

Bird- and nature-lovers of every stripe will find themselves right at home on the Fort.

There are miles of walking trails along Las Moras Creek as it meanders south through the Fort. The trails can be accessed in several locations, including the east end of McClernand Road, where a footbridge crosses the creek, and from creek crossings at Travis Road and Scales Road.

About 250 species of birds have been recorded on the Fort property.

Like humans, birds are drawn to the clear waters of Las Moras Creek and on summer mornings, birders can listen to Eastern Wood Pewees and Vermilion Flycatchers singing in the trees along the creek while Red-shouldered Hawks soar above the live oaks that line its banks.

All three species of North American kingfishers – Ringed, Green and Belted – have been seen here, and Olive Sparrows, a south Texas specialty, are common in the creek side thickets.

But no visit to the Fort would be complete without a stop in the Old Guardhouse Museum on McClernand Road. The museum is only open to the public on weekends, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and on Sunday and gives the first-time visitor a real sense of the Fort’s military history.

There are displays of firearms, sidearms and rifles, as well as edged weapons, used while Fort Clark was a military installation, from 1852 until August 1944, just before the end of World War II. The museum also displays an astounding variety of clothing, photographs and artifacts from the Fort’s 92 years of military service.

In his book, Haenn explains Fort Clark was originally established to protect travelers on “the Lower Road” from San Antonio to El Paso from Comanche war bands, which at the time still raided widely in Texas and Mexico.

The role of the fabled and courageous Seminole Negro Scouts stems from this period in the Fort’s history.

The Fort was formally turned over to the Confederacy when Texas seceded from the Union in 1861 and at various times in its history was the home base of a number of notable American military men, including Jonathan M. Wainwright and George S. Patton Jr., who was stationed there in 1938. Patton, still recovering from the effects of a broken leg, was promoted to colonel and placed in command of a regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Clark.

In his book, “Patton: The Man Behind the Legend 1885-1945,” author Martin Blumenson wrote of Patton’s posting to the Fort, “The assignment and the locality delighted him.”

War technology evolved, replacing horses with tanks and trucks, and the Fort was eventually closed as military installation.

After making your way through the Old Guardhouse Museum, walk around the corner to Sutler’s Store and pick up a copy of Haenn’s book, which contains rare photographs of the Fort’s long history as a military outpost and a wealth of other interesting information about the area.

After the Fort was closed, it was reborn, first as a guest ranch, then as the community of private homes it remains today.

Another excellent resource when visiting the Fort is the Fort Clark Springs Association web site at www.fortclark.com Visitors to the museum, which is open 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, can immerse themselves in the Fort’s deep military history, which spans nearly 100 years from 1852 until just before the end of World War II.

A Great Kiskadee darts from its perch on the wall of the Las Moras Spring containment pond. Great Kiskadees are large, bold flycatchers common from south Texas to South America and are one of about 250 species of birds that have been recorded on the grounds of Fort Clark Springs. The Fort has several walking trails through a variety of habitats along Las Moras Creek, where visitors may also encounter Ringed and Green Kingfishers, Green Jays, Vermilion Flycatchers and Painted Buntings.

A field cannon on display near the Fort Clark Springs Old Guardhouse Museum was donated by the Fort Clark Springs Historical Society in memory of “Colonel R.S. Mackenzie and the soldiers and scouts of the Fourth Cavalry who served at Fort Clark from 1870 to 1874.” In the background is the Fort’s old commissary building.

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41

GHOST TOUR What happens after we die? Do the spirits of the dead walk among us? And if they do, can the living have contact with them?

STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN GLEASON

T

he perennial popularity of television programs, such as “Ghost Hunters” and “Ghost Adventures,” highlight the fascination of many for all things supernatural.

The questions underlying this fascination were probably some of the first ever asked by humankind: What happens after we die? Do the spirits of the dead walk among us? And if they do, can the living have contact with them?

The Silent Society of the Paranormal of Del Rio is trying to answer some of those questions through a series of investigations in a variety of buildings in Del Rio, some of them well-known local landmarks and some of them private homes.

Del Rioan Paul Mancha founded the Silent Society in 2009, and the group flew under the radar for a number of years, quietly conducting latenight investigations in the dark and echoing corridors and rooms of long-abandoned buildings.

The group established itself as Del Rio’s first and foremost paranormal investigative team when it led public ghost hunts of the old Paul Poag Theatre for the Performing Arts, the privately-owned Kress Building on South Main Street and at the Whitehead Memorial Museum as part of the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Del Rio UFO Festivals.

The three ghost hunts proved extremely popular with festivalgoers, and Mancha is now offering a series of “ghost lectures” at the Whitehead Memorial Museum about the group’s paranormal investigations.

Asked how he became interested in the paranormal, Mancha

said, “Mostly, in the beginning, I started because of the religion point of view, trying to find out about the truth beyond. You want to see what is out there.”

Mancha said his questions took him to investigate different religions: pagan, Wiccan and Egyptian mystic traditions.

Mancha, who now works at the Whitehead Memorial Museum, said he also began combining his love of photography, videography and history with his searching into the paranormal and supernatural.

Mancha said the more he learned about the histories of the buildings he visited and the people who once lived – and died – in them, the more he wanted to investigate.

Barbara Holguin, another of Silent Society’s founding members, said she grew interested in the paranormal after the death of her father when she was a child.

“I think as a child, you really try to understand the concept of death and what happens afterwards. Where did he go? Did he disappear? Is he gone forever? And the concept and the idea of what happens next is what led to my interest in it, made me want to explore,” Holguin recalled.

Holguin, too, said she became a believer the more she learned and the more she investigated.

“There have been so many incidents, where things have happened. It might not be ghosts, and it might not be anything like that, it might be bigger than what we think. There is definitely something, because the Universe is huge, and I like to be open to the possibilities,” Holguin said.

Mancha said he believes that every Silent Society member, as well as everyone who participates in the group’s public ghost hunts, has experienced something that caused him or her to ask the age-old questions.

“Those moments are beckonings, I think,” he said.

“It’s been something I’ve been interested in in I don’t know how long,” said Belen Rios, another one of Silent Society’s founding members. “I guess it’s been since I saw scary movies and ghost-hunting TV shows like ‘Ghost Hunters’ and ‘Ghost Adventures’.”

Rios said although she can’t point to one particular experiPaul Mancha, founder of the Silent Society of the Paranormal, speaks to a group of ghost hunters before the start of an investigation on the grounds of the Whitehead Memorial Museum during the 2016 UFO Festival in January. The 2016 hunt was the third such public event the group has hosted in conjunction with the annual UFO Festival.

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GRANDE / OCTOBER 2016

T.J. Moore LuMber Yard Since 1892

Silent Society of the Paranormal members, from left, Belen Rios, Paul Mancha, Barbara Holguin and Vanessa Ramirez, pose for a photo outside Del Rio’s Paul Poag Theatre for the Performing Arts before the group made a presentation about its paranormal investigations in the area to a crowd attending the city’s first UFO festival in 2014. Photo by Haven Isis Mancha

ence that led her to pursue paranormal investigating, “It’s just always grabbed my attention. I think, okay, there’s heaven and there’s hell, but what’s in between? What if there are spirits of people who can’t go to either one?”

Rios said she became more convinced during her first investigation on the second floor of the old Perry store, a stone structure that served as Del Rio’s first mercantile and which now houses the Whitehead Museum’s gift shop and public entry point.

“We heard walking on the first floor, and we were all on the second floor. There was nobody on the second floor. We actually heard footsteps, just as if there was somebody downstairs walking around. Whenever I heard that; well, I just want to see what else there is,” Rios said.

A cashier at a local grocery store in her workaday life, Rios admits to the occasional frisson of fear when she investigates.

“But that’s part of the thrill,” she said.

For more information on Silent Society’s paranormal adventures, search for their videos on YouTube. For information on upcoming events and Mancha’s series of ghost lectures, check out the group’s Facebook page.

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Del Rioan Paul Mancha, founder and principal investigator and videographer for the Silent Society of the Paranormal, shows an old-time movie ticket he found while conducting a ghost hunt at the Paul Poag Theatre for the Performing Arts. Mancha’s brand of ghost hunting includes careful research into the histories of the buildings where he and his group investigate paranormal phenomena.

Among the old and downright spooky-looking artifacts that can be found at Del Rio’s Whitehead Memorial Museum is this Mexican folk carving of “La Sirena,” the mermaid. Members of the paranormal group, the Silent Society of the Paranormal, sometimes use “trigger objects” as focal points in their paranormal investigations.

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GHOSTLY SPIRITS Drinks to make your Halloween frightening STORY BY RIAN ARGABRIGHT

W

hen it comes to Halloween spirits, it’s easy to get lost in the name of the drink and miss out on the flavor.

However, there’s nothing to fear so long as your beverage is put together by the proper mad scientist.

Geneva Rosales has been tending bar for nine years. During a recent visit to Gorzugi’s, she offered to whip up some of her favorite concoctions that would be perfect for any Halloween get together.

GLOW IN THE DARK Ah, science.

It’s always fun to apply the things you thought bored you in high school to more adult settings. In this case, it’s alcohol.

Utilizing sweet and sour, grenadine, gin and tonic water, the smooth tasting beverage appears purple when natural light or a flash strikes it, but under a black light, this version of the drink glows a supernatural blue. Very cool!

So why does it glow? The short answer is the combination of the ingredients riboflavin and quinine, both of which can be found in tonic water.

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ZOMBIE The Zombie cocktail has been around since the 1930’s, first gaining worldwide attention at the 1939 New York World’s Fair.

Broken down to its basic elements, the zombie contains brandy, rum and fruit juice. Rosales said when she constructs the drink she opts for top shelf rums including Bacardi 151, pineapple juice, orange juice and grenadine for a bloody effect.

“This is one of our signature drinks. It’s a bit pricey, but that’s because we use only top shelf liquors. It’s well worth the price,” Rosales said, who said the drink typically costs around $10.

RED RUM If you crave a little show with your beverage, there’s the Red Rum. Named after the creepy phrase uttered in “The Shining,” the Red Rum contains watermelon pucker, cherry pucker, grenadine, Dr Pepper, Captain Morgan Black rum and Kraken rum and is then topped with Bacardi 151.

Why 151? To set it aflame, of course.

There are multiple elements to the drink. First, a shot is created and housed inside a glass set upside down inside a larger margarita class. Next, the rums are added to fill the space around the shot glass. Add the Dr Pepper and then a bit of 151.

Once the fire is lit, it’s in the hands of the customer after that. Rosales advises people to blow out the flame then pull the shot glass out of the center of the margarita glass and allow the other liquors to flow into the rum, recreating the hotel hallway scene from “The Shining”, resulting in a dark red final drink.

This one is best shared with a friend … or your evil twin.

ZOMBIE RECIPE ½ part 151-proof rum 1 part golden rum 1 part white rum 1 part apricot brandy 1 part dark rum 1 part lime juice 1 part pineapple juice Grenadine Mix all of the ingredients except the 151 and the grenadine in a shaker with ice. Pour into a glass and top with the 151. Add drops or streak of grenadine for the effect of blood.

You can also garnish it with fruit or a snazzy umbrella.

THE REAPER Despite the ominous name, this is a drink you really shouldn’t fear.

Made popular at Gorzugi’s by a bartender named T.J., the Reaper resembles a Long Island Iced Tea but without the soda.

Rosales combines the usual ingredients of vodka, rum and gin with sweet and sour, Razzmatazz raspberry liquor and Blue Curacao in a tall glass and served over ice. The end result is a purple drink that is sweet and a delicious medley of flavors Always be responsible when imbibing and use a designated driver should you go out with friends.

GRANDE / OCTOBER 2016

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20 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT

MARY MOTA 1. I didn’t get a driver’s license until I was 29. I guess I depended on my husband at the time; he would take me everywhere. In high school, I walked wherever I wanted to go; no students drove to school in a car. We walked to school, church, games, everywhere.

2. I didn’t have a quinceañera. For my 15th birthday, I got $1, and I went to the movies at the Texas Theater to see a Vicente Fernandez movie, and I was the happiest child.

3. A lot of people don’t know I have two sons: Arturo Paniagua III, 45, and Rudy Paniagua, 40, as well as two daughters, Nadia (Mota) Gloria, 27, and Dulce Mota, 25.

4. I played on a girls’ football team while I was attending San Felipe High School.

5. I lived in Queens, New York, for about eight months when we moved there with my husband’s job. Then we moved to Nashville, Tenn. When we realized we would have to move every couple of years, we decided to come back to Del Rio.

6. I was raised on the banks of the San Felipe Creek, but I don’t know how to swim. I get in the water, and I’ve even taken lessons, but I still don’t know how.

7. A lot of people don’t know I played the alto saxophone from the sixth grade through the tenth grade.

8. When I worked for Texas Apparel, I played baseball on the company team. I played third base and shortstop, and I still have memories of sliding into home plate.

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GRANDE / SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2016 2016

9. I love to dance to anything and everything.

10. I love to cook for my family, and

“Let us be the one you turn to.”

everybody’s favorite thing for me to make is menudo or enchiladas. I also make fresh tortillas. I’ve been cooking since I was 10 years old.

13. I worked for Lack’s Furniture for about 10 years, where I was a top salesperson.

14. My daughter Nadia was Miss Del Rio 2005-2006. I had left the IGNC at the time so there was no conflict of interest.

11. Nothing was handed to me, so I always taught my kids to be honest and to wait for

15. I first joined the IGNC about 15 years

the right moment, to wait for what they want.

ago. I got out when Nadia was Miss Del

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Rio, and then I came back.

“Pressing with your health in mind”

12. I worked for the local public school district, from which I retired in May of this year.

16. I was a field worker until I was about

At the time of my retirement I was working

14.

as a family services assistant. I worked for the school district for 17 years.

17. I love to read. I don’t read a particular type of book, and I love to read newspapers. I love to see what’s going on.

18. I loved to run competitively when I was in high school. I would do the 100 meters, 50, 75. and I won a lot. . . The lowest I ever got was second place.

19. I’m a morning person, usually getting

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my day started at 5 a.m., even now that I’m retired.

20. I just returned from a trip to Peru, where I attended my son’s wedding.

GRANDE GRANDE / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016

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an exciting place to visit for all ages!

Come visit our historical exhibits and artifacts, as well as:

DIY FALL FUN STORY AND PHOTOS BY BONITA SANTILLÁN

F

all has arrived, and spicing up the house with fall decorations can be tedious and expensive. But with a quick stop to the dollar store and a few supplies you have laying around the house, you can create a simple table centerpiece. The following DIY turns ordinary goblets into sea glass inspired candle holders.

Supplies needed: n 3 goblets/wine glasses (different sizes) n Elmer’s glue n food dye n gold thumbtacks n 3 single candles of choice n small fall decorations (optional)

In a small bowl, squeeze a dollop of Elmer’s glue into a small bowl. I chose to create an orange color for the goblets. I squeezed four drops of green dye and two drops of pink dye into the bowl and mix with the Elmer’s glue.

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Add more drops of food dye until you create your desired color.

Using a paint brush or foam brush, brush the Elmer’s glue mixture evenly onto each goblet making sure to stroke in the same direction all around.

After all three goblets are complete, set to dry for 1-2 hours.

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We have hands on activities for kids and are pet friendly

While the goblets are drying you can begin the candle decorations. Press gold thumbtacks into the candles, creating your desired pattern. I created a chevron/zigzag pattern.

After you finish decorating each candle and the goblets are dry, flip each goblet upside down and place each candle on the bottom side of each goblet.

Decorate the surrounding area with small fall decorations (optional).

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1308 S Main St 830-774-7568

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GRANDE / SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2016 2016

finD Us on faceBooK!

And you’re done with the sea glass inspired fall centerpiece! Simple and easy on the wallet. Now you can brighten up the dinner table, coffee table or any flat surface for the fall season.

Say what?

What’s your biggest fear?

ELIZABETH ARCHILA “I’m most afraid of Trump becoming president … or Hillary … or any crazy person becoming president. On another note, I’m also afraid of not being a good mom.”

VIVIANA GARCIA “I’m terrified of clowns because of the “It” movie.”

MATY BYRNE “My biggest fear is dying, death. I feel like I have a lot to do and so little time to do it in such a short amount of time.”

CHANG YI “Natural disasters like tsunamis are my biggest fear.

There have been a lot of changes in the weather, and lately we’ve been getting a lot of rain which isn’t normal for us in Del Rio.”

ANDREA RODRIGUEZ “I’m scared of getting kidnapped. When I was little, I would watch a lot of shows about people getting kidnapped, so I’ve been terrified of that ever since.”

GRANDE / OCTOBER 2016

49

NEW!! IN HOUSE SANDBLASTING & POWDER COATING!

Save the date October events and happenings ONGOING PAGEANT Would you like to be the “Official Ambassador” to the City of Del Rio? The International Good Neighbor Council Del Rio Chapter is accepting applica-

FINANCING UP TO 12 MONTHS SAME AS CASH THROUGH

• Custom Welding & Fabrication • Trailer Parts & Repairs • Top Hat Trailers - Made In Tx • Gooseneck Hitches • Line-X Protective Coatings Platinum Certified Franchise • Tires & Wheels • Lift Kits • Performance Accessories ARW_TRUCK

tions for the 2016-2017 Miss Del Rio & Miss Del Rio Teen Pageant. Young ladies must be 18-under 28 by Dec. 31, 2017 to compete in the Miss Del Rio Pageant & must be 14-under 19 by Dec. 31, 2017 to compete in the Miss Del Rio Teen. If interested, contact the pageant director at 830-7030094 or go to www.igncdelrio.com for complete information and registration packet. Last day to register is Sept. 8. The pageant will be held on Oct. 8, 2016.

OCT. 1 EYEGLASS RECYCLING The Del Rio Host Lions Club will be one of the sponsors of the Andale Del Rio event. The Lions of Texas have a recycling center for eyeglasses at Midland, and we will have our eyeglass trailer coming to this event.

If you have any unused eyeglasses and you wish to donate them, please drop them off at the Lions informational booth during the event.

OCT. 15 RAFFLE The Del Rio Chamber of Commerce will host its 1st ‘Big Raffle’ at 8 p.m. at the Whitehead Memorial Museum. Dinner will be served between 6 and 8 p.m. Donation of $100 is required. Only 350 tickets are available. First prize is $10,000; one second prize of $1,000; two third prizes of $500 and eight fourth prizes of $250 will be given out.

NOV. 4 SILENT SOCIETY OF THE PARANORMAL-GHOST TOURS Prepare yourself for an evening of spooktacular sights, scary sounds, and haunted tales. Join us as we explore Whitehead Memorial Museum Ghost Tour presented by Silent Society of the Paranormal. Discover the secrets hidden in the shadows of history, hiding among folklore and legend, tales of ghosts and haunted houses. Passed down from generation to generation, whispered so as not to wake the dead, these true ghost stories endure the passage of time, refusing to go quietly into the night.

The event will be held at from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Whitehead Memorial Museum. 1308 S. Main St. Tickets are $5 and are available starting on Aug. 13 at the museum. For more information, call 830-774-7568 or email silentsocietyoftheparanormal@gmail.com

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GRANDE / OCTOBER 2016

The search for Del Rio’s first Cowboy of the Year might not end up with someone in spurs & boots, but we will find a well respected gentleman or lady that exhibits all the qualities that make the term “Cowboy” or "Cowgirl" honorable.

REQUIRED ATTRIBUTES:

DAD SON MOTHER DAUGHTER FRIEND FAMILY COLLEAGUE

* * * * *

HONORABLE LOYAL INDEPENDENT TENACIOUS SMART

* * * * *

BRAVE GOOD MANNERED TRUSTWORTHY HARD WORKING PROUD Deadline: November 4th

NOMINATIONS: Send short letter (Under 500 words) indicating why you believe you’ve found someone worthy of being our inarguable Cowboy of the Year.

Include your name, contact info (Phone# & Email)

3 WAYS TO SUBMIT DROP OFF AT: Chamber of Commerce News Herald Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

MAIL TO: Cowboy of the Year 2205 Bedell Avenue Del Rio, Tx 78840

E-MAIL TO: promotion@delrionewsherald.com

Nominate someone you know that is worthy!

5 finalists will be selected by a panel representing Del Rio & invited to attend an upcoming community event

GRANDE / OCTOBER 2016

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GRANDE / OCTOBER 2016

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