BIG LIFE IN A TEXAS BORDER TOWN
AUGUST 2016
1957 Buick Special is one SWEET RIDE Meet the BIG KAHUNA of shave ice trucks TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL fashion picks
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High school cornerback a very HAPPY CAMPER
Rodeo royalty Teen’s crowning achievement steeped in family tradition
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CONTENTS 8
Rodeo Royalty Teen’s crowning achievement comes from decades of family tradition
14 Closet Confessions Cheryl Casbeer reveals what’s hiding in her closet
20 Too Cool for School Put on your best for the first day back
24 Cool Looks
AUGUST 2016 28 Sweet Ride Customized 1957 Buick Special a true labor of love
32 Paws for Concern Organization making wishes come true for homeless pets
34 Island Flavor Guajardo family is the big kahuna of shave ice in Del Rio
36 Top Chef Culinary expert helps rescue district’s cafeterias from frozen wasteland
Super cool styles for summer heat
ON THE COVER: Mariela Lopez, 17, was selected as the Rodeo Queen by the Rotary Club. Lopez comes from a family of equestrian athletes devoted to charro traditions, the ranch life that sprung from Mexico’s rural upper classes after the Spanish conquest. Photo by Karen Gleason.
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38 Happy Camper Cornerback preparing to take his game to the next level
42 Building for the Future District prepares to open doors to new facilities
46 20 Things You Didn’t Know Get to know Carlos Rios
48 Save the Date August events and happenings
50 Say What? Students share their plans for the upcoming school year
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BIG LIFE IN A TEXAS BORDER TOWN
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
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What makes Del Rio unique
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t’s August in Del Rio, and while the heat of summer is ever present, kids of all ages and their parents are getting ready for school to start again. While last month’s edition focused on summer in the Queen City, this month, we’ve decided to focus on what makes Del Rio unique by offering several new features. It’s been said you can tell a lot about a person from the kind of vehicle he or she drives. Around Del Rio, it isn’t unusual to see some rolling pieces of art along the city’s streets. From classic cars to modern muscle cars to unique interpretations of hot rods, this city is home to a variety of beautiful and unique rides. This new monthly feature will spotlight one of Del Rio’s collectors and their favorite ride – old or new – and what it means to them. This month the spotlight turns to Armando Sanchez Jr. and his 1957 Buick Special “Just Like Kandy.” Another unique feature for Del Rioans is the wild variety of food trucks along our main drag strip. In Del Rio, you can literally find what you’re craving by just taking a drive down Veterans Boulevard on any given weekend. This new monthly feature will highlight who runs these food trucks and the cuisine they’re offering. This month we try to hit the summer spot with a little bit of Hawaii and its shave ice, or snow cones. Another new feature is “20 things you didn’t know” about a fellow Del Rioan. This month, San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District Superintendent Carlos Rios offers readers 20 tidbits that you probably didn’t know about him. Each month, we’ll offer you a new person to reveal their secrets. Although we have many new features appearing this month, we’ll continue with some regulars, including Closet Confessions and our top fashion picks. We hope you enjoy.
Jamie L. Bridges Grande Editor
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RODEO ROYALTY Teen’s crowning achievement comes from decades of family tradition STORY BY JOSEPH TREVIÑO | PHOTOS BY KAREN GLEASON
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s the large, red, white and blue flag gets in her face, she gently brushes it aside, along with her long, raven hair underneath her chocolate brown Stetson hat. Mariela López, 17, rides proud atop Hercules, her tall, blonde mount bristling with muscles that resembles a medieval war horse. She awaits the beginning of the second night of the 2016 Independence Rodeo of the Val Verde County Fairgrounds. She was selected as the Rotary Club of Del Rio’s Rodeo Queen, and this is the moment she has been waiting for years. Tonight, as she rides carrying the American flag into the fairgrounds in front of hundreds of Del Rioans and visitors from the surrounding areas and other states, she will not celebrate alone. It is also a feat for her family — her father, Raúl López, a bank manager and former rodeo cowboy; her brother, Raúl López Jr., a young businessman, and her mother, María. López’s family has been involved in equestrian sports for decades. The family has been devoted to the charro traditions, the ranch life that sprung from Mexico’s rural upper classes after the Spanish conquest. The finesse over muscle approach to competition, the proud stance of the charros and the ornate, tight-fitting uniforms even made converts of the likes of Maximilian, the archduke of Austria who accepted Napoleon III’s offer to rule Mexico as its monarch after France’s invasion. During his short rule in Mexico, he would often dress in a specially made charro outfit. López’s grandfather was a charro. Her father is a charro as well as her brother and other local relatives. She started riding at 8 years old, and for years she belonged to Escaramuza Primavera, the women riders of the charro tradition who are Del Rio’s local team. And now she is a rodeo queen. “It’s really exciting,” López said.
(Left) Mariela López sits atop her horse, Hercules. López, who started riding at 8 years old, was crowned Rodeo Queen by the Rotary Club of Del Rio.
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(Above) Three generations of the López family, from left, Raúl López III, Mariela López, Raúl López and Raúl López Castro, pose for a portrait in Lienzo Quatro Palmas, the Four Palms Arena, where charreadas have been held in the Del Rio area for the past 40 years. Raúl López was one of the founding members of the Del Rio Charro Association, and his son, Raúl López Castro, has carried on the tradition, passing it on in turn to his son, Raúl López III and to his daughter, Mariela López. (Right) One of the finishing touches on any charro’s outfit are spurs crafted of Mexican silver.
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A ROYAL AFFAIR Several local young women tried out for the privilege of being the Rotary Rodeo Queen, said Gloria Wilson, the past president who oversaw the competition. Judges looked at the girls’ horsemanship skills as well as each prospect’s short speech on why she would like to serve as the club’s rodeo queen. “When you see the rodeo queen come riding out carrying the U.S. flag, and they ride around the arena, that just says ‘America’ to me,” Wilson said. Charles A. Coulombe, an author who has written extensively about monarchies and royalty, said that kings — and queens — are an integral part of human society. The archetype of a queen remains in society’s psyche, he said. “And in a society where we don’t have actual monarchs, we find things to take their place, like film stars and rodeo queens,” Coulombe said. The López family came from Coahuila, Raúl López said at his home on the outskirts of town. On the side of the home are some stables, where Hercules rests. Though there are many similarities between charros and cowboys, there are some differences, Raúl López said. Besides the styles of competition, rodeo is mostly an individual sport, while el lienzo charro is a team effort. FAMILY VALUES “The charros is more of a family event,” Raúl López said. “We travel together, you go out there and meet a lot of people. It’s a good feeling. If you get over with the charro side, you pull more with the family and you get to meet other families. With rodeo, you are on your own because you don’t need no one else.” The Lópezes often travel all over Texas and Mexico to compete in charro events. Recently, they were in Saltillo, Coahuila. They also contended in places like Los Altos de Jalisco, where historians believe charrería was born. An escaramuza through and through, Mariela López also considers herself a legitimate American cowgirl, sometimes competing in barrel-racing events. Growing up on this side of the border, attending local schools, speaking English, listening to Selena Gómez and Taylor Swift, fed Mariela López’s desire to become a rodeo queen. So she prepared. She started brushing up on her riding style a month in advance, she said. Every day, she rehearsed her speech until it became second nature. “She managed to come through, we are very proud of that,” said Raúl López, his chest swelling.
Third-generation charro Raul López III rides his horse Centavo in Del Rio’s Lienzo Quatro Palmas, an arena where traditional Mexican charreadas have been held for decades. López is dressed in the traditional charro suit and sombrero.
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“When you see the rodeo queen come riding out carrying the U.S. flag, and they ride around the arena, that just says ‘America’ to me.” – Gloria Wilson
“You have to practice — you have to get ready on any aspect in life. Because if not, luck can only help you so much.” BEYOND THE RODEO A week before the Independence Day Rodeo, Mariela’s brother, Raúl III, a local small-business man and charro, does some fancy rope work on the lawn of the ranch house. As she prepares for a photo shoot, Mariela jumps bareback on her horse Hercules. “Love the horses, riding them,” she said. “They are all different.” During her year as rodeo queen, Mariela López, who won a scholarship upon her selection, will attend Rotary functions and will help crown next year’s queen. She was attracted by Rotary’s many charitable functions, the club’s willingness to help those in need and its members’ relentless drive to give of their time and money to the poor. López is scheduled to start her senior year at San Felipe High. She wants to be a pediatrician — she loves kids — or a gynecologist. Still, she finds time to read. López likes to read about historical themes such as the Holocaust. One of her favorite books is by the late Elie Wiesel, author of the book “Night,” and one of her favorite authors is James Patterson. López knows that she has to be a local role model and relishes the chance to inspire girls to become Del Rio’s Rodeo Queen. But for now, she will enjoy her time as the reigning monarch, she said. “Really excited,” she said. “Can’t wait for the day of the rodeo to come.
(Right) Mariela López shares a moment with her horse, Hercules. López’s family has been involved in equestrian sports for decades.
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CLOSET CONFESSIONS
CHERYL CASBEER STORY BY BONITA SANTILLÁN PHOTOS BY BIANKA SANTILLÁN
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uthentic, traditional, yet in a world of her own, Cheryl Casbeer carries herself with confidence in her western boots. Her vast collection of boots and Navajo jewelry speaks volumes about her quirky personality. Casbeer, whose family, six dogs and job come first in her life, has always been intrigued with the southwest. Growing up in the Western era, Casbeer associated confidence with the western boot. “The tough guys, the ones who were always very confident, took control of things; they always had the boots on.” She grew up with three brothers and describes herself as always having “that tomboy” in her. “With boots on, you feel like you can face the world, do anything,” she said. As an English teacher at Del Rio High School, literature is a means of self-expression and discovering yourself. “In a book, you can escape; you can travel places, you can meet new people, you can be someone different,” Casbeer said. Shelves filled with books are not all that surrounds her. At one corner of her living room sits a glass-cased shelf holding her collection of
(Above) One of Cheryl Casbeer’s favorite pair of boots is her studded Old Gringos. (Below) The southwest has always been a statement style for Cheryl Casbeer. The tribal eagle on the front of these Junk Gypsy riding boots is what attracted her to this pair. (Right) Organized in a bookcase in her bedroom are western boots of different styles and colors.
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dragons from around the world — from the Dragon of Wales to small intricate figurines. “The fantasy world, it all jives; it all goes together,” she said, unraveling the story behind her limitless imagination. Casbeer believes that what you wear is what you feel, and it matches your personality. On display, in a bookshelf of course, are her western boots. They are the centerpiece of her room. From short summer boots to tall riding boots, there’s a style for every outfit. “There are boots for all occasions, it all depends on how much you want to dress up or dress down,” she said, relating her experience wearing her silver boots to the recent high school graduation. Western boots are her comfortable go-to shoes. She admits taking care of her boots, one of her most prized possessions, can be taxing — polishing, buffing and shining to preserve them. But because of her extensive boot options, wearing out the heel is rare, admitting there are pairs of boots still needing to be broken into. In the upcoming school year, Casbeer will be teaching all senior English and AP Literature alongside UIL. Every school year is different, unpredictable. Even after years of teaching, Casbeer faces each year as a new challenge.
“When I die, I don’t care about anything else, I better have one pair of boots. “Bury me and my boots.” – Cheryl Casbeer
(Above) Cheryl Casbeer owns six dogs, including Maggie, her oldest, who she rescued from a shelter. (Left) Casbeer values her boots as much as her books. From fantasy fiction to Egyptology, she is a strong believer in losing yourself in a book.
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“Every year is a new beginning,” she said. “You never know what might come your way. You do the best you can and hope (the students) learned something from you.” The new school year is just around the corner with back-to-school shopping as the main motivating factor for most students. “You know how people buy new school clothes?” Casbeer said, “I buy new boots every year.” Boots carry Casbeer’s personality as she struts down the hallways of Del Rio High School. “When I die, I don’t care about anything else, I better have one pair of boots … and hopefully I still have both legs,” Casbeer said. “Bury me and my boots.”
(Above) Cheryl Casbeer wears Navajo jewelry by Sandra McNutt from New Mexico. The turquoise and silver statement pieces are another way she embraces the Native American spirit. (Left) Casbeer has collected and received dragons from around the world, including England and France.
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TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL Put on your best for that first day back
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PHOTOS BY JESSY COLOSSUS/HAUS OF LONDYN, 432-934-2299
Miss Val Verde 2016 Macady McBlain is wearing a crochet fringe cardigan vest, $15; Black Cami, $5; Distressed Denim Shorts, $18; Long Necklace, $16; and Chapa de Oro bracelets, $10. Merchandise from Miles Away From No Where, 225 S. Main St.
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(Clockwise from top left) Jerry Hernandez is wearing an Arizona Easy Care Oxford Blue Jewel Button Up Shirt, $30; Arizona Slim Straight White Jeans, $44, Brown Levis Belt, $15; Dockers Rust Color Shoes, $75; and Navy Blue Nike Backpack, $65. Merchandise from JCPenney at Plaza Del Sol Mall. Nadia Rodriguez is wearing a Neon Coral Stripped Jersey Dress, $8; Light Wash Denim Vest, $11; Bead Bracelet, $6; Arrowhead Necklace, $13; and Cross Necklace, $15. Merchandise from Miles Away From No Where, 225 S. Main St. Ryan Peña is wearing an Arizona Indigo/ Intense Coral Shirt, $30; Arizona White V-neck T-shirt, $12; Arizona Classic Fit Khaki Shorts, $34; Brown Levis Belt, $15; St. John’s Bay Navy Blue Shoes, $50; and Adidas Black Backpack, $75. Merchandise from JCPenney at Plaza Del Sol Mall. PHOTOS BY JESSY COLOSSUS/HAUS OF LONDYN, 432-934-2299
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COOL LOOKS Styles that are super cool in the summer heat Pink Armadillos tee $22.99
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Fashion and accessories from Cassidy Annes located inside Russell’s True Value Hardware, 506 E. Gibbs St., 830-775-3502.
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Brighton neema necklace $108
Brighton crystal voyage turtle glasses $100
Urban Mangoz print top $39
Lindsay Phillips black Megan sandals $62
Mud Pie black leggings $29.99
Nena Fashion Jewelry chunky necklace turquoise & coral $25.99
Brighton Maharani black sunglasses $150
Lindsay Phillips gold Meredith sandals $49
Amanda Blu tunic $25.50
Simply Noelle white capris $32.99
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BEHIND THE WHEEL
SWEET RIDE Customized 1957 Buick Special a true labor of love STORY BY BRIAN ARGABRIGHT PHOTOS BY ROLAND CARDENAS
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rmando Sanchez Jr. owns a pair of classic cars — a 1957 Buick Special and a 1969 Camaro Z28. But it’s the Buick, named Just Like Kandy, that has his heart. “I have been working on this vehicle since I bought it back in 1995,” Sanchez said. “It has been by far the most detailed and interesting build I have ever done. It’s been 21 years in the making, and I’m still not done with it.” Sanchez became involved in classic cars after a visit to The Texas Heatwave, a custom car show in Austin in 1991. He was there to check out the audio competitions, but once he saw the vehicles, his attention turned solely to the beauties on display, he said. “That same year, I went to a Lowrider Magazine car show in San Antonio and that was it,” Sanchez said. “I became obsessed with low riders and auto customization. Since then, almost every car I have owned gets a touch of my customization imagination. I have customized all sorts of vehicles from mini trucks to lifted trucks, luxury cars and hot rods.” But the classics have a special place in his heart, Sanchez said. “They are timeless,” he said. “They never go out of style and they appeal to young and old alike. I am a member of Boulevard Aces Car Club out of Dallas, which motivates me to stay on top of my game so I can successfully compete in car shows all around Texas. I am also affiliated with Del Rio Classics, which is a new local car club that is doing good things for the community and putting the spotlight on some local classic cars.” Kandy is definitely a classic automobile that 28
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Armando Sanchez Jr. customized his 1957 Buick Special, named Just Like Kandy, to make it his own.
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Sanchez has modified to make it his own. Though it still boasts its original 364 engine, rebuilt by Guillermo Echeverria Sr., Sanchez said his Buick Special has undergone some significant changes to get it to look like the purple powerhouse it is today.
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Some of the car’s modifications include custom three-stage House of Kolor Kandy Paint with Pearl Patterns by Memo Echeverria Jr., custom 24-karat gold leafing and pin striping by the late Joe Carrizales, custom engraved two-pump hydraulic setup by Kike Garcia and
Augie Rivas from Fort Worth, and one-of-akind engraved Zenith Wire Wheels. The Buick Special was one of the best selling automobile lines in the United States in the mid-1950s. Though it had been around since the 1930s, the 1950s saw the
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“My wife refers to my car as ‘The Other Woman.’ It has such unique curves and so much chrome that you can’t help but take a second look.” – Armando Sanchez Jr.
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line receive significant upgrades, including new bodywork and a more powerful engine. In fact, the 1957 Special originally boasted a 0-60 mph time of 11.6 seconds. That bodywork is one of the things that drew Sanchez to his metal maiden.
“The body style and curves is what attracted me to her … oops I mean ‘it,’” Sanchez said. “My wife refers to my car as ‘The Other Woman.’ It has such unique curves and so much chrome that you can’t help but take a second look.”
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PAWS FOR CONCERN
Pet profiles Among the delightful dogs and captivating cats looking for a forever home are the following:
Organization making wishes come true for homeless pets
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STORY BY KAREN GLEASON forlorn puppy howls in terror in a cage at the city’s animal control department pound. His fate is sealed. Within a few days, he will be euthanized. An injured, abandoned kitten tries to hide behind the Dumpster of a local business. Her fate is sealed. Within a few days, hunger, thirst and the secondary infection from the injury will take her life. Scenes like those are repeated thousands of times across the country and across the state. There are simply too many animals and not enough homes, not enough shelter facilities, not enough money. Del Rio is no different, and while nearly everyone else turned a blind eye to the suffering of local animals, Del Rioan Katrina Dennis did not. Instead, she founded A Pet’s Wish, an organization dedicated to rescuing and rehoming dogs and cats from the city pound and from the city streets. “Basically, I saw the huge need for an active rescue, and someone needed to step up for the animals,” Dennis said. “I left Del Rio in 2007, thinking a shelter was being set up, and when I moved back in 2009, I was told that no animals were being rescued from euthanasia, and it broke my heart to see so many animals who are wanted and the many purebreds that people are on waiting lists to adopt are dying in our city animal control facility. I couldn’t live in a community knowing that, so I had no choice but to be their voice.” Dennis joined forces with a network of dedicated volunteers who help out at the building where A Pet’s Wish is now housed and who foster rescued dogs and cats in their own homes. She also is working with the city to find a more permanent facility to use as a no-kill, adoption-oriented shelter. But Dennis’ organization has major needs in the here and now. “We are in constant need of help to care for the animals,” reads a portion of the group’s website, apetswish.rescuegroups. org. “We need foster homes, supplies, monetary donations and people to work with and spend time with the animals. If you have any available time you can contribute, we are always so humbled and appreciative of it.” Those who’d like to assist A Pet’s Wish in its work are encouraged to review the list of needs on the website or to contact the group at 830-313-8799 or apwrescue@gmail.com. 32
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RODEO, a 2-year-old male Chihuahua/terrier mix, a pup with tons of personality who loves attention.
FERGIE, a 1-year-old female gray tabby who is a sweet girl who needs a loving home.
CHLOE, a 3-year-old spayed female Chihuahua/Dachshund mix who wants a lot of love and attention.
BLOSSOM and SPARTAN, 2½-year-old male and female, brother and sister, Italian greyhound mixes, who are very attached to each other, but get along with other dogs and cats. These two are shy, but love running and playing outside. Both take a while to warn up to people.
SHELBY, a 3½-yearold spayed female shepherd/collie mix who is a great family dog and good with young children.
PENNY, a 2-year-old spayed female who warms up quickly and would make a great house cat.
JESSE JAMES, a 1½-year-old neutered male heeler/pit bull mix, a loving guy who wants all of your attention and who is great with female dogs and possibly older neutered males. He would be a great running partner.
GUERRA, a 2-month-old female seal point Siamese.
LEONARD, a 2½-year-old neutered male snowshoe mix who is a little skittish at first, but who quickly warms up in a loving environment.
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MOBILE MEALS
ISLAND FLAVOR Guajardo family is the big kahuna of shave ice in Del Rio STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN GLEASON
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n the whole, Ricardo Guajardo would rather be in Hawaii. Specifically, the Del Rio native would rather be on Oahu’s famed North Shore, whose aquamarine ocean swells entice surfers from all over the world and where the laid-back surfing lifestyle rules. Guajardo fell in love with Oahu when he was stationed in Hawaii as a soldier in the U.S. Army. After he’d completed his Army service and returned to Del Rio and married his wife, Rocio, Guajardo took her back to the Aloha State, and she fell in love with the place as well. When the Guajardos’ two daughters, Bryanna and Dulce Amor, came along, the trips to Hawaii became a family affair. “Now we go every summer,” Guajardo said. About 10 years ago, about the same time Guajardo went to work for the local public school district as a business information management teacher, he and his wife bought a small panel truck and opened Ohana Hawaiian Shave Ice. “We’d been going to Hawaii, and my wife and I were talking back and forth, like, ‘Man, there’s no shave ice place, and there used to be one (in Del Rio),’” Guajardo said. “My brother-in-law, who lives
in San Antonio, came over and we were barbecuing and he told me, ‘There’s a guy who started selling shave ice, and he has a lot of trucks, and he’s making money.’ And a light kind went on. The next morning, I found a truck, and went and picked it up in San Antonio.” The Guajardo fleet now includes three medium-sized delivery trucks. Guajardo said his business plan also was inspired by Matsumoto’s Shave Ice, an iconic shave ice parlor in the North Shore village of Haleiwa, Hawaii. A Matsumoto’s Shave Ice decal decorates a small section of one of the Guajardos’ trucks. “Every time we go to Hawaii, it’s Matsumoto’s, Matsumoto’s, Matsumoto’s,” Guajardo said. Only the Guajardos’ original truck offers the shave and flavored ice, the most popular being a red, yellow and blue treat that features flavors of strawberry, mango and coconut. The trucks in the Guajardo fleet offer other frozen treats: gelatos, ice cream bars and Popsicles. “Once we got the trucks, we just started to go,” Guajardo said. “In the summer, we just go to the parks, and during the week, we go to some other places.” On Mondays, the trucks roam an area near Las Brisas Apartments off U.S. Highway 277 South on the city’s far south side. On Tuesdays, they concentrate their efforts on the city’s east side, around the Val
Verde Regional Medical Center. On Wednesdays, Guajardo said, he usually takes the day off. On Thursdays, a Guajardo truck can be found driving the streets around Del Rio High School on the city’s west side. “And on Fridays in the summer, the original truck usually heads for the Noches Musicales event at Brown Plaza,” Guajardo said. The Noches Musicales, a series of free music concerts, draws Del Rioans to the historic Brown Plaza area every Friday night of the summer. Guajardo said on Saturdays and Sundays, the trucks usually stay near city parks. The Guajardo family members man the original truck, and Guajardo said he hires drivers for the other two. Guajardo said his daughters have grown up in the business over the past eight or nine years, and the business has been good to him and his family. What’s been the best part of the shave ice business for him and his family? “I tell people, we have no lives, because we work and work, but every summer, we go on vacation for 20 days to Hawaii. That’s what we work for,” Guajardo said. His daughters agree. “It’s all about the vacation,” Bryanna said.
Members of the Guajardo family, from left, Ricardo, wife Rocio and daughters Bryanna and Dulce Amor, help keep the residents of Del Rio cool by serving up shave ice from their mobile business, Ohana Hawaiian Shave Ice.
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TOP CHEF Culinary expert helps rescue district’s cafeterias from frozen wasteland
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STORY AND PHOTOS BY CHRIS ADAMS
efore last school year, San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District decided to make some changes in its food service department in order to better serve the students in the district. The school district contracted with Southwest Foodservice Excellence to undertake the challenging task of offering students well-balanced and healthy fare. Jennifer Gomez, who was chosen to fill a key chef role for the district, said the conceptual aspects of the menus were a considerable change from the previous years. “It’s been a really great experience,” the district chef said. “When I came in and I was introduced to the concepts that they were feeding the children, I thought it was great because they were healthy and they were different from their normal frozen food that they were getting that really wasn’t scratch cooking anymore.” Scratch cooking is preparing fresh meals on site as opposed to providing ready-made frozen meals. Gomez said the students had been used to more processed type of entrees. “The participation was low and now that we’re here it seems … it’s more appealing to them,” she said. “When you look at the food, it looks fresh, it looks like regular food. They really loved all of the things we put out.” The salad bar strongly resonated with the kids, said Javier Romero, the 2015-16 food service director at San Felipe Del Rio CISD in partnership with SFE.
Chef Jennifer Gomez preps for the daily lunch at Del Rio Middle School.
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Cordon Bleu-trained Chef Jennifer Gomez revels in the creation of diverse and nutritious entrees.
“Back when I started school food service, we used to deep-fry the fries,” he said. “It was the norm. Now there is no deep-frying. We don’t encourage it. We really focus a lot on the fruits and vegetables and our salad bar. So all of our campuses have salad bars.” Gomez echoed Romero’s comments. “I thought that concept was awesome, because when we were growing up we didn’t have that,” she said. “And so now it just seems more modernized for the children. This is a really cool way to introduce more vegetables into their diet.” Gomez grew up in her grandparents’ restaurant kitchen acquiring a wealth of knowledge. “Growing up, my grandparents owned a restaurant, and so I grew up in that kitchen learning to cook, learning to bake,” she said. “My grandmother is a master baker and I’m
a pastry chef as well. I love cooking. This is my passion.” Gomez is trained in the Cordon Bleu culinary techniques and had never worked in an elementary/secondary food service setting prior to coming to the district. “I’ve never worked in K-12 before, this is my first experience with it,” she said. “But the reason it caught my attention was because the menus were very creative and different and because of the fact that we get to create menu items ourselves. We create recipes for these menus.” Gomez said it’s a four-month process from item inception to plate. “We have to develop the concept, scale out the recipe, how much of this will it take to feed this amount of children; the calorie intake, the sodium,” she said. “Everything is very precise.”
Additionally, the food service staff conducts tasting surveys around the campuses to better gauge what students prefer. “We have a lot of different concepts and what I get excited about is just seeing the kids wanting to taste things and asking us on the line, ‘What is that, what’s in this,’” Gomez said. Some items received a lukewarm reception last year, but most of the selections were a hit. “And then when I come out here after service is over ... and the kids are eating the food and they’re enjoying the food and coming back sometimes and asking if they can have seconds … it makes me happy to see that the kids are eating good food ... and it’s not a lot of processed stuff that they were getting before,” Gomez said.
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HAPPY CAMPER Cornerback preparing to take his game to the next level
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PHOTOS AND STORY BY BRIAN ARGABRIGHT
aking the jump from high school to college in any sport isn’t an easy one. According to the NCAA, less than 10 percent of high school student-athletes will compete at some level of college athletics in one of the three major sports of baseball, basketball or football. That’s why the earlier a student-athlete can work to get an edge and get his or her name out there, the better shot they’ll have at making it at the next level. Del Rio High School senior Orlando Venegas Jr. has been getting his name out there since he was a freshman. Venegas, who plays cornerback, has played football in Del Rio since he was a part of the Del Rio Youth Football and Cheer League, playing for the Lobos. Once he moved to Del Rio Middle School, he became a Ram. Standing 6 feet tall, weighing 165 pounds and with a 40-yard dash time of 4.73 seconds, Venegas already is on the radar of several colleges, including Kentucky Christian University and Texas Weslyan. He said wherever he goes, he wants to study criminal justice and pursue a career in law enforcement.
(Above) Orlando Venegas Jr. (15) leads the Rams onto the field. (Left) Venegas, a senior cornerback, is working on taking his game to the next level.
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Since his freshman year, Orlando Venegas Jr. has participated in several summer football camps to better his skills and draw the attention of college recruits.
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The summer of his freshman year, Venegas and his father, Orlando Venegas Sr., came to a decision regarding the younger Venegas’ future. “He liked playing baseball and football, but his freshman year I told him he needed to focus on one of the two sports and work on taking his skills to the next level,” Venegas Sr. said. “He chose football. We didn’t know about these camps. We were talking to coach Tyrell McCrea, and he’s the one who told us that those camps are the best way to get better.” Armed with the motivation to get better, Venegas Sr. enrolled his son in a handful of Football University camps in San Antonio, Austin and even Dublin, Ohio. The younger Venegas learned under the guidance of former NFL players such as Kwamie Lassiter and found that the competition was just what he needed. “I was surprised by the size of some of the guys there,” Venegas Jr. said. “Most of them were upperclassmen. But being there and being a part of that camp got me better as a player. It improved my technique and just started making me a better player.” Venegas Sr. said he began to see the change in his son and in the way he played and knew the travel and cost was worth it. “He’s been doing well, and the more camps he goes to he’s been getting further and further ahead in his game,” Venegas Sr. said. “This is what he likes and that’s why we support him.” The freshman camps were just the tip of the camp iceberg. Since then, he’s upped the number of camps he’s attended each summer. This summer, he’s been to Dallas and San Antonio several times, as well as returned to Dublin. But that work has paid off as he was recognized as the Best Defensive Skills Player of a Super Combine at AT&T Stadium and has earned an invite to the U.S. Army National Combine at the Alamodome later this year. He’s also hoping for an invite to the prestigious National Underclassmen Combine in Atlanta, Ga., in December. “You see a lot of the same kids at these camps,” Venegas Jr. said. “We talk to each other, ask how we’ve been, get to know each other. A lot of them are from the San Antonio area.” The elephant in the room regarding these camps isn’t the miles of travel, which has been several thousand already this year for the Venegas family. The real hurdle is the cost. “Last year, the camps and travel cost $10,000,” Venegas Sr. said. “His freshman year it was only $1,200. This year, by the end of it all, I’d say we will have spent between $12,000 and $15,000.” Much of the cost comes out of the family’s pocket, but Venegas Sr. said they’ve also held fundraisers and sought help from different sponsors, including businesses and members of the community, to help Venegas Jr. attend these camps. “Some of the businesses are in 100 percent every time,” Venegas Sr. said. “Some of them don’t know him, but they help out when they can. We always make it a point to introduce him to these businesses and show them who they are helping. To be honest, I feel that these businesses really believe in him and really want to help him out.” While Venegas Jr.’s high school career ends in 2017, there’s another football player in the family on the horizon. His younger brother Fabian will be a sixth-grader this year. “Sixth grade is the earliest kids can start participating in camps,” Venegas Sr. said. “We’re ready to do it all again.”
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BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE District prepares to open doors to new facilities STORY AND PHOTOS BY CHRIS ADAMS
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Superintendent Carlos Rios stands in front of the San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District’s new Student Activity Center and Administrative Offices. The building will house district administrators and administrative staff as well as a performing arts theater.
ith school starting this month, the San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District is making preparations to open several major undertakings that have been in the works for more than a year. “All of the construction projects go hand in hand, and they all play a part in the overall vision for the district,” Superintendent Carlos Rios said. “When I became superintendent, there were two things that I wanted to accomplish through construction. One of them was obviously to enhance the overall aspect of the community, and the second part was providing offerings to our students where they would have a connectivity to the school. And both of these go hand in hand because you get both benefits by investing the same dollar.” Rios said there was talk in the community about the addition of a second high school due to perceived student population issues, but he envisioned a way to address student population concerns without having to construct another secondary school. “So we look at the students first,” he said. “There was always talk about when will Del Rio have a second high school. And my position was that Del Rio should never have a second high school, unless we double the population of the students, which hasn’t happened in the last 15 years and probably will not happen in the next 40 years.” The projects basically arose out of the need to adopt a diverse range of school choices. “However, having a large high school, a large comprehensive high school, is not in keeping with the trends of high school reform that have taken over the state in so many other areas,” Rios said. “I was fortunate enough to do extensive research while I was in the Austin Independent School District about high school design; high school reform. I did my dissertation on high school design.” Rios cited three particular projects that seek to offer varied educational opportunities for students. “And it’s very simple,” he said. “One, having a CTE (career and technical education) community. So we built the Joe Maldonado CTE Center, Early College High School, a non-traditional high school to service students who may not necessarily be part of bigger comprehensive high school. And the Blended Academy will be our non-traditional high school, and as it evolves, people will see the many opportunities that can go there whether it be flexible scheduling or accelerated course completion or graduation or simply just a small place to belong to.” GRANDE / AUGUST 2016
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The new Maldonado CTE Center is being constructed to enhance the burgeoning trade programs at Del Rio High School.
With the trending allure of charter schools, Rios wanted to give students and parents an alternative. “Clearly, our goal there is to be competitive with charter schools,” he said. “Although I believe in having options, I also believe it’s our responsibility to provide something for the taxpayers within our bigger system.” In addition, obtaining a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) designation has been another priority. “And then the next part of the smaller communities that’s part of this high school redesign is getting the STEM designation for the students that remain at the high school but want to have that rigorous course of study.” Though population management is an important matter in many districts, population
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control in this circumstance will primarily be a byproduct of the implementation of the three programs. “By placing students at Blended, at Early College High School and at CTE, you also remove a lot of students from the main high school,” Rios said. “And there is no need to create another high school. We can now take the wing at the CTE building and decide as a community what we want to do with it.” Students attending these other schools will still be able to participate in extracurricular activities and not be deprived of a full and rich educational experience, Rios said. “Yet, at the same time, you get to be part of that Ram pride,” the superintendent said. “You can go to the CTE academy and play football. You can go to Blended Academy and be part of cross country. You can be at
early college high school and be in band. You can be in any of these organizations and still be a part of the bigger Ram pride.” Once this phase is complete, Rios believes the district will be able to address and accommodate all secondary student educational situations and needs. “So when we’re done with our total high school redesign, we will have a blended academy, a CTE academy, an early college high school and the STEM designation at the high school,” he said. “This provides something for everybody and therefore no one is lost in the crowd.” Another important project in progress is the district’s Student Activity Center and Administrative Offices. The building, which will be completed by this month, will house district administrators and administrative
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staff as well as a performing arts theater. “The construction downtown, what that allows us to do, is one, it allows us the opportunity to restore a precious historical building in our community and make appropriate use of it,” Rios said. “Two, it creates an auditorium for the district. Without boasting, I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt, that building will be the most beautiful building in all of our community. The third thing it does is allows us to dedicate this space (the current district central office) ... to the Early College High School.” The projects were underwritten via existing funds and didn’t place a choke hold on the budget. “We were able to do all this through existing money,” Rios said. “The board and the administration came to an agreement that if we could provide a balanced budget, rather than a deficit budget, we could use the excess money for providing for the needs of our students.” The second phase of the district’s plan consists of planning for future elementary sites, remodeling work at Del Rio High School and the renovation of certain existing campuses.
“We are not overcrowded at the elementary right now, but we’re not overcrowded because we went through a very arduous task of rezoning our elementary schools,” Rios said. The superintendent also said the district has to prepare for possible community growth or expansion especially on the north side of Del Rio. “Newer homes are going up in the north side of town,” Rios said. “So we have to do a couple things. We have to think about where another elementary school is going to go.” A facilities planning committee is being coordinated to consider any development tasks that already have been or could be proposed. “We asked the board to name a facilities planning committee made up of citizens — this will be the third one,” Rios said. “Each board member will name two people, and we’re going to talk about purchasing land, which we have three spots right now that we’re considering, and asked the board to dedicate money for that. We’re going to ask the committee to review all the future needs of the district.”
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PHOTO BY CHRIS ADAMS
20 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT
CARLOS RIOS 1. When I was a 4-year-old living in San Jose, Calif., my mother thought she had lost me or that I was kidnapped. Instead, I had wandered across the street with my best friend, Cooky, to play with some well-trained dogs. It was only for an hour, but to my mother it seemed like an eternity. Boy, that hurt!
6. The worst job I ever had was working the night shift at the Mini-Mart on Las Vacas Street. Some kids don’t know what others will do to save money for college.
13. All three of my degrees are from Texas A&M University. 14. The 2016 Texas A&M Dean’s Roundtable recognized me as an Outstanding Educator.
7. Even though I was deadly afraid of corpses, I worked at a funeral home when I was a college student at Angelo State.
2. I was a bilingual student. 3. I worked in the nearby cantaloupe fields of Quemado and Brackettville. 4. I was a Little League all-star member.
8. My favorite courses in college were political philosophy courses, and my favorite book has always been “St. Augustine, City of God.” 9. While in the Navy, I visited many places. Somehow, Philadelphia was my most memorable. Maybe it has something to do with being a history and political science double major in college.
15. My family is on the cover of a National Resource for Parents – “Tools for Teaching” by Dr. Fred Jones (Spanish version). 16. Awarded the New Jersey Writing Project A+ Award for Excellence. 17. I had my car stolen in New York City.
10. John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez have always been my heroes.
18. The dumbest thing I ever did was ride my bike across the Coronado Bay Bridge in San Diego, Calif.
5. I was named “Carrier of the Year” when I was a paperboy with the Del Rio News-Herald.
11. Swimming/boating at Lake Amistad is my favorite pastime activity.
19. Mango is my favorite fruit.
12. One hundred percent of my mother’s children served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
20. Praying the Rosary is my favorite meditation. GRANDE / AUGUST 2016
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Save the date
August events and happenings SUMMER CONCERT SERIES Every Friday through August, the Noches Musicales summer concert series will be presented at 302 Cantu St. It’s a free event with food vendors. Bring your own chair. CRUZIN MAIN Held every first Saturday through September, Cruzin Main Show N Shine will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in downtown Del Rio on South Main Street between Garfield and Losoya. Admission is free. For information, call 830-7747568. READING PROGRAM Val Verde County Library will be hosting its 2016 Summer Reading program “Race to the Finish Line.” There will be daily games, crafts and prizes. Pre-K through kindergarten will have story time at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays. First- through third-graders will have their story time at 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Fourth- and fifth-graders will have their story time at 3:30 p.m. Thursdays. Register online at www1.youseemore.com/vvcl/. For information, call 830-7747595 or email rbenavides@valverdecounty.org. CLASS OF 2001 REUNION Del Rio High School’s Class of 2001 will be hosting its 15-year class reunion Aug. 5-7. The Meet and Greet will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 5 at Wings and Rings. A Kids Day event will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 6 at The Spot skating rink with a dinner and dance from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Casa de la Cultura. Breakfast tacos will be served at a location to be announced on Aug. 7. CLASS OF 2006 REUNION Del Rio High School Class of 2006 will host its 10th class reunion Aug. 19-21. It starts with a casual meet and greet from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Gorzugies. The Reunion Party and the Kress Building will be held Aug. 20 from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. with DJ Vicio. RSVP to Crystal Flores at crystal_300@hotmail.com or 830-422-1204. The cost is $12 per person or $20 per couple. Paypal is available at Delrioclassof2006@gmail.com. MOVIES AT THE MUSEUM: ‘GOOSEBUMPS’ Movies at the Museum will present “Goosebumps.” Movie starts at 8 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Whitehead Memorial Museum. 48
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Say what? Students share their plans for the upcoming school year
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What I’m most excited about this upcoming school year is I’m going to be a freshman. I’m scared but very excited about the new things I’ll be able to do.
ELENA HERNANDEZ My plans for the upcoming school year are to keep drawing and never stop so I can pursue my dreams at Pixar Animation Studios.
ARIANA HINOJOSA For the upcoming school year, I plan to make it into Region Band and advance further during concert season. I hope to advance to Area and State for marching season with the band, and I plan to be a great leader for my section. Also, I plan to take medical classes to be able to understand the body even further.
“Let us be the one you turn to.”
ISAMAR RODRIGUEZ This upcoming school year I plan to focus on my grades and my music. Being in high school means there’s more work, so I have to learn not to procrastinate and actually get my stuff done. As for my music, I know I still have a lot to learn on the violin, so I can only get better. Music is a very important part of my life, so I know I have to keep going with music throughout high school.
ELIZABETH RUBIO
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My plans for this upcoming year aren’t particularly exciting education-wise, just your normal classes such as pre-Cal, English 4 and physics. I am, however, excited for this upcoming marching band season. This is a State year so we have to work and train extra hard, including added hours to our daily summer camp. The competition should be tough this year, and I just can’t wait.
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