Del Rio Grande 0916

BIG LIFE IN A TEXAS BORDER TOWN

SEPTEMBER 2016

KEEP ON TRUCKIN with a 1958 Chevrolet Apache Railroad town site has TIES TO HISTORY

See how to celebrate INDEPENDENCE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER SEPTEMBER 2016 $3.99

Local food truck serves up TINY PACKAGE WITH BIG FLAVOR

A moving tradition Del Rio’s Ballet Folklorico Corazon de Mexico keeps heritage alive through dance

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CONTENTS 8

A moving tradition Del Rio’s Ballet Folklorico Corazon de Mexico keeps heritage alive through dance

12 Closet Confessions

SEPTEMBER 2016 24

1958 Chevrolet Apache 32 Stepside helped start love of classics

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Carolos Obrador reveals what’s hiding in his closet

18 Festive summer looks

Add some color to your summer wardrobe with these amazing looks

Independence on the border Del Rio and Ciudad Acuña are preparing to celebrate Mexico’s independence festivities

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Get out and celebrate while looking muy caliente

22 Awesome Apparel

Keep on truckin

Shots of Mexico Different flavors can bring about a taste of Mexico, but none moreso than tequila

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Tiny package, big flavor

Ajillos El Sabor de Mexico serves up authentic flavor made with love

ON THE COVER: Irma Calderon’s colorful skirt, representing the Mexico state of Jalisco, swirls around her like an opening flower as she practice a dance move as part of Del Rio’s Corazon de Mexico dance troupe.

37 Ties to history Historic site of the railroad camp of Vinegarroon holds the foundation of Del Rio

41 Five things to do in Acuña The city is back and it has some attractions worth your while

43 Family, faith and football McCrea brothers remain close despite differing paths in life

50 Save the Date September events and happenings

51 Say What?

Del Rioan students detail their sports plans for the near future

GRANDE / SEPTEMBER 2016

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rande PUBLISHER David W. Compton

EDITOR Jamie L. Bridges

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

ADVERTISING Sandra Castillo Brittany Jones 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.

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

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

September brings tradition

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s we enter September with hopes of cooler days and hot, sizzling Friday Night Lights football, Del Rio Grande takes a look at the Mexican struggle for Independence, or Diez y Seis. This day marks the beginning of Mexico’s fight for independence from Spain.

On the church steps in Dolores Hidalgo in 1810, a priest read the “Grito de Hidalgo,” or the “Call of Hidalgo.”

Father Miguel Hidalgo y Castilla launched the war of independence against Spain with his followers spreading the word to nearby towns using the Virgin of Guadalupe to symbolize the liberation movement.

As part of the celebration, we bring you a story on Del Rio’s Ballet Folklorica and its traditions of Mexican dance while being ambassadors of our neighbor country’s culture and traditions.

We also give you a story of how Ciudad Acuña celebrates this independence day and the history of our counterpart across the border.

We also offer you things you can do while in Acuña on a day trip. A day trip story is a new feature for our magazine, and each month it will bring you a new take on a place nearby that could bring you an adventure for a day.

The celebration continues by featuring the Mexican Consul’s closet in this month’s Closet Confidential.

Another new feature this month is a taking a new look at history in Val Verde County. This month, staff writer Karen Gleason looks at the town of Vinegarroon and its present and past. Each month, we will take you to a different time and place to remind you of our roots in South Texas.

With Friday Night Lights football beginning, we offer you 20 things you didn’t know about Del Rio High School football coach Frenchey McCray Jr. and continuing with a story about family sports featuring two brothers’ path to teaching others their skills on the field.

We also bring back some drink ideas and recipes that can be found at many of Del Rio’s bars and nightclubs. This will be a monthly feature by our staff writer Brian Argabright.

This month we also bring you our top fashion ideas from the streets of Acuña and our top picks for the month.

We will continue some old and new features in this month’s edition with hopes that you will enjoy every page.

Thanks for reading.

Jamie L. Bridges

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A MOVING TRADITION Del Rio’s Ballet Folklorico Corazon de Mexico keeps heritage alive through dance STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN GLEASON

(Above) Abel Ojeda, left, and Irma Calderon, right, practice one of the many dances they will perform for a variety of audiences this year. Ojeda is the only male member of the dance troupe, and both say they have always loved dancing.

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right as a garden of flowers, Irma Calderon twirls, her full, beribboned blue skirt flaring and floating around her as she dips and twirls again, a living canvas representing the exuberant, colorful history of Mexico.

Calderon is one of about dozen dancers who make up Del Rio’s Ballet Folklorico Corazon de Mexico (Heart of Mexico), a troupe formed in 2012 by Del Rioan Andrea C. Valdez, who still serves as its director.

Valdez formed Corazon de Mexico with the assistance of Lupita De La Paz, executive director of Del Rio’s Casa De La Cultura, an arts and cultural center. The Casa is in the city’s old San Felipe neighborhood, adjacent to historic Brown Plaza, where the dance group often performs.

Valdez holds practice for her group’s dancers at the Casa twice a week, and performances by the group are fixtures at local events like the Cinco de Mayo festivities, the Diez y Seis de Septiembre celebration of Mexican Independence Day and October’s Fiesta de Amistad gala.

“I love teaching others the history of Mexican folkloric dance,” Valdez said. “Corazon de Mexico has dance performances throughout the year, here in Del Rio, as well as in other surrounding communities. I invite everyone to experience a Mexican folklore journey as they learn unique and beautiful culture and traditional movements and music.”

Valdez has been dancing since she was a child and received her first certification in folkloric dance in Mexico when she was only 11 years old.

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.”

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

Del Rioan Andrea Valdez is the founder and director of Corazon de Mexico, a folkloric dance group that practices at the Casa De La Cultura, an arts and cultural center in the historic south Del Rio neighborhood of San Felipe. Valdez, who has been dancing ballet folklorico since she was a child, founded the dance group in 2005.

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Irma Calderon practices a series of intricate steps during a practice session of the Corazon de Mexico dance troupe. The group practices for several hours at least twice a week in preparation for numerous performances at festivals throughout the region.

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daughter.

“I’ve danced my whole life, between ballet and the (Queen City) Belles, so this was kind of a new form of dancing for me to try,” Rodriguez said.

She said folkloric dance is a challenge for her.

“When I put this costume on, all the time we sweat in practice is worthwhile, and it makes me feel proud and sexy at the same time, as a Hispanic woman,” Rodriguez said. “It empowers me.”

Rodriguez said that although she was born and raised on the U.S. side of the border, ballet folklorico’s traditionally Mexican underpinnings also are important to her.

“I was born and raised in Del Rio, a Hispanic, but I don’t know all that much about my heritage other than what everyone kind of knows, you know, tacos, tequila, that kind of stuff,” Rodriguez said. “Doing this type of dancing, I’ve learned more about the states in Mexico and what each state represents, why we wear these costumes. We don’t wear them just because they’re pretty costumes. The more I learn, the prouder I get, and I want to pass that on to my children.”

Gloria Hurley has been a folkloric dancer for the past three years.

“I saw them dancing at an event once, and I thought it was beautiful and coming from a Mexican background, I wanted to know more about my culture,” Hurley said. “Both of my parents are Mexican, but I’m not from Del Rio. I’m from Andrews, in west Texas. It’s not a border culture.”

Purple ribbons, lace and a wide purple sash highlight Hurley’s elegant, snow-white dress.

Representing the Mexico state of Aguascalientes, she also carried a leather riding quirt and wore a widebrimmed white sombrero.

Tere Portillo, left, and Irma Calderon, right, strike a pose outside the Casa De La Cultura arts and cultural center in south Del Rio adjacent to historic Brown Plaza, where their ballet folklorico dance group, Corazon de Mexico, will perform during celebration of Diez y Seis, Mexican Independence Day, on Sept. 16.

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“I think the camaraderie we have is also very important,” Hurley said. “We’re family, and we all learn from each other.”

Analisa Cienega is the group’s assistant director, and she has been involved in the group for five years.

“I’ve been dancing folklorico since I was seven years old,” Cienega said. “Once this adult group was formed, it was perfect for me. Dancing has always been part of my life. The music is something I feel, down to my bones.”

“This type of dance is also part of my roots, part of who I am,” she said. “My dad was born in Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico, and it helps me get in touch with that. This dance lets me share the Mexican culture with other people. And if I can share just a little piece of it, it puts me that much more in touch with my ancestors.”

Abel Ojeda is the troupe’s only male member and a native Del Rioan. He said his membership in the group came about through a chance encounter with the group’s director.

“I work at San Antonio Shoes, and every year, the supervisors do a dance for the employees, so they hired Andrea to teach us, and I ended up being one of the dancers. Afterward, she asked me if I would ever consider dancing ballet folklorico, and I told her I’d never thought about it,” Ojeda said.

“I believe it also helps us keep our heritage alive, and I wish there were more men who would do it,” he said. 

(Left) Del Rioan Gloria Hurley, replete in sombrero and quirt, represents the Mexico state of Aguas Caliente. “We’re a family, and we all learn from each other,” Hurley said of her fellow Corazon de Mexico dance troupe members.

(Below) Nanca Rodriguez of Del Rio joined the Corazon de Mexico dance troupe earlier this year and said she would like her daughter to one day learn the traditional dances of her Mexican ancestors. Rodriguez’s dance costume represents the Mexico state of Sinaloa. Photo by Karen Gleason

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Carlos Obrador wears a pin representing the coat of arms on the Mexican flag, known as the escudo nacional.

CLOSET CONFESSIONS

CARLOS OBRADOR STORY AND PHOTOS BY BONITA SANTILLAN

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rom Mexico City to Canada and to the Eastern Seaboard of the United States in Boston, Mass., Mexican Consul Carlos Obrador has found the diversity of his profession has allowed him to recognize the importance of representing Mexico in Del Rio. “This diverse job has allowed me to know and learn the migration issues from the southern border as well as getting to know the Mexican diaspora,” Obrador said.

Obrador’s love for Mexico reflects in his demeanor and conduct.

“The love of your country and being able to represent your country abroad, that is the greatest honor,” Obrador said.

Whether traveling outside of the city or attending public meetings, Obrador keeps his attire professional at all times.

The classic suit and tie paired with dress shoes and a Mexican Coat of Arms pin is his go-to attire no matter the day or occasion. “(My coworkers) are trying to convince me to dress more casual on Fridays, but this is just how I dress … I might try to lose the tie on Fridays though,” Obrador said.

Due to his several trips out of town and unexpected visitors, Obrador plays it safe by dressing professionally at all times.

Whether it’s signing birth certificates or speaking to public figures in the region, his goal is to emphasize the importance of border relations. A first impression goes a long way, and he expresses it through his wardrobe.

Carlos Obrador makes speeches as part of motivating others to keep close relations with Mexico along the border. As a public figure he keeps his attire looking professional in order make a good first impression to his listeners.

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(Above) The Mexican Consulate staff work as a team alongside Consul Carlos Obrador proudly representing the Mexican-U.S. relations. Pictured from left: Jose Luis Garcia, Javier Marquez, Rocio Treviño, Jose Luis Diaz Ramon, Patricia Garza, Jose Briseño, Carlos Obrador, Jose Mendez, Zoerla Perez, Carlos Gonzalez, Tefe Villar, Edgar Flores, Nirce Gomez and Rafael Guerrero.

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“It’s an honor having been appointed as Mexican Consul in Del Rio, the ability to represent and to show the world what Mexico is all about, everything that Mexico has to offer in terms of culture, how vibrant the country is, the economy, the people, the food … everything that we have to show the world as a nation,” Obrador said.

“Our goal is to empower the Mexican population and to provide tools for the community.”

Obrador stays focused on the positive aspects of the consulate. True, every job has its challenges, but Obrador highlights the improvements and the “what could be” in the future if him and his team stay on the right track.

“We take things one day at a time,” Obrador said.

Having worked for the Mexican government in the past, Obrador has noticed problems with economic development, the promotion of tourism and improvements in public transportation along the border.

With a pressed suit and polished dress shoes, Obrador is ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead.

“We are better together, and we prosper together when we work together; that is the key,” Obrador said. 

Obrador is scheduled for various meetings and interviews as part of his duty in representing Mexico. Wearing his Mexican coat of arms pin at all times, he reminds his listeners that his ultimate goal is to emphasize the importance of the Mexican contribution in the U.S.

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BEHIND THE WHEEL

KEEP ON TRUCKIN 1958 Chevrolet Apache 32 Stepside helped start love of classics

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Richard Bates calls his red and black 1958 Chevrolet Apache 32 Stepside a work in progress and hopes it will help his two children learn to appreciate and love classic vehicles as much as he does.

STORY BY BRIAN ARGABRIGHT PHOTOS BY ROLANDO CARDENAS

t’s one thing to inherit a classic car. It’s something else entirely to take a classic and make it your own through hard work.

For Richard Bates, his 1958 Chevrolet Apache 32 Stepside not only helped launch his love of classic vehicles but also led to the founding of the Del Rio Classics Car Club where others can share in the same kind of passion.

Bates has been collecting and restoring classics for 13 years. He said he’s owned five classics in his lifetime, but it all began with a not-so little Christmas gift in 2003.

“My step-dad bought me my first car — a 1956 Chevrolet Stepside with a 350 engine,” Bates said. “The front suspension had already been upgraded with power steering, disc brakes and a Camaro rear end. The only thing it needed was new paint and bodywork … and an engine rebuild. I was already enrolled in my high school’s auto shop class, so I took advantage of that and began working on restoring the truck in class and on weekends.”

The 1958 Apache marked a big change for Chevrolet. It was the first year their trucks featured a fleetside bed and a newly redesigned front end. It was also the first year that the trucks came with factory-equipped air conditioning.

The Apaches were considered light-duty trucks and were the little brothers to the Vikings, which were medium-duty trucks, and the Spartans, which were heavy-duty trucks.

Bates said that learning how to work on that ’56 helped give him an appreciation for the time and effort it took to restore a vehicle and fostered his love for classic cars. It also fueled his desire to start a classic car club in Del Rio. “I've been in Del Rio going on five years now and I have seen so many different classics out there over the years and that drove me to make a way for us to all gather and hang out,” Bates said. “I bought my truck about GRANDE / SEPTEMBER 2016

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(Top) One of the unique features of the 1958 Chevrolet Apache was the addition of four headlights. The headlights were part of a redesigned front end that Chevrolet debuted that year.

(Above, left) The pinstriping on the grill and hood latch is one of Richard Bate’s favorite customizations on done by Pablo Vidaurri Mendoza of Degree 576 Pinstriping.

(Above, right) Plenty of chrome on the rebuilt small block 350 of the 1958 Chevrolet Apache 32 (Left) The interior of Richard Bates truck was completely redone. He replaced the gauges, added a new wooden back panel and replaced the column shifter with a new Lokar Nostalgic floor shifter.

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A side view of a 1958 Chevrolet Apache 32, considered during during its production time a light-duty truck and the first for the brand to be equipped with air conditioning.

three years ago and saw a small group of classics hanging out at Sonic every Sunday night so one night I joined them. Since then we’ve moved over to Pizza Hut where so many more cars come every week.

In 2015 I started a Facebook page where we could share pictures and plan future meetings. Eventually more and more people heard about what we were doing and it formed into what we have today — the Del Rio Classics Car Club. Making friends and sharing stories and ideas about what we love is what it’s all about.”

So what makes Bates’ Apache so unique, aside from its strong red and black paint scheme? Start at the front.

“My favorite feature that I’ve added since owning the truck would have to be the pinstriping on the grill and hood latch. It’s such a unique touch that gives the truck a different feel. Shout out to Pablo Vidaurri Mendoza with Degree576 Pinstriping for the awesome work,” Bates said.

In addition to the artistic touch, Bates said he rebuilt a small block 350 that he recovered from a motor home and teamed it with a Turbo 400 transmission. In addition, the traditional wood planks that make up the truck bed received a red mahogany stain to add some pop to

the rear of the truck. The truck was also slightly lowered to give it a cleaner look But Bates didn’t just focus on the outside of the Apache. The inside got plenty of love as well.

“I replaced the original, worn out gauges with a new set of Dolphin vintage guages with a wooden back panel to match the bed wood.

The original ‘three on the tree’ column shifter was replaced with a new Lokar Nostalgic floor shifter to match up with the TH400,” Bates said.

While the Apache already turns heads, Bates said there’s still more work to be done. However, he won’t be the only member of his family to have a hand in the Apache’s future.

“I’ll never forget my first truck and how it influenced me to love classics the way I do today, but with my current truck I have had the opportunity to do so much more work on it myself,” Bates said. “Not only that but there is still so much to be done that I will be able to get my two children involved soon and ingrain in them the same love for classics that I have.”  GRANDE / SEPTEMBER 2016

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Photo by Dave Galindo of Delriobuzz.com

Del Rio’s unique culture was at the forefront when Folklorico dancers moved to the sounds of vernacular Mexican music at the Ramada Inn Ballroom on September 14, 2015 during the celebration of Mexican Independence Day. Members of Del Rio’s Mexican Consulate participated in the event.

“Each year, on the 15th of September at 11 at night, on all of the plazas of Mexico we celebrate the Feast of El Grito; and an inflamed multitude shouts for an hour, maybe to remain silent for the rest of the year.”

— Octavio Paz, one of Mexico’s greatest writers of the 20th Century, from his seminal work, “The Labyrinth of Solitude”

INDEPENDENCE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER Del Rio and Ciudad Acuña are preparing to celebrate Mexico’s Independence festivities STORY BY JOSEPH TREVIÑO

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his 15th of September, the current mayor of Ciudad Acuña is expected to shout “El Grito,” the traditional Mexican Independence day event that culminates a series of feasts.

But this year, the leaders of Acuña have more than the cheerful joie de vivre feelings for Mexico’s Independence Day, also known locally as “Diez y seis de Septiembre” (16th of September) or Fiestas Patrias (patriotic holidays). They are pinning their hopes that the two week festivities will bring back for good tourism and goodwill to their city- both which were lost since the latter part of the last decade.

Buoyed by some recent success in local events and by more and more incoming traffic to Acuña during the last months, officials believe that one of Mexico’s biggest celebrations — in a country with many, many celebrations — is the perfect vehicle to bring back tourists and visitors, especially from Del Rio and Val Verde County.

At one time, Acuña’s downtown was the place for many tourists who bought at local curios shops, dance in nightclubs, dined Mexican cuisine and partied like there was no tomorrow.

Nicolás Prado, director of Acuña’s Tourism Office, said that the festivities will take place at Benjamin Canales Plaza, just four blocks away from the border. He wished to let everyone know that this Mexican Independence Day, his city will return.

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s

“Times have come back like they were before. Acuña is safe,” Prado said.

In addition, Mexican Independence Day happens to be one of Del Rio’s biggest celebrations. The Brown Plaza Association, like it has been doing for decades, is currently hard at work planning a threeday event that will bring in live music, food and festivities at Brown Plaza, including the expected participation of the current Consul of Mexico in Del Rio. Acuña leaders expect officials from Del Rio to also take part in the Mexican independence festivities in Acuña, Prado said. Every year, representatives from Acuña take part in Del Rio’s celebrations at Brown Plaza.

SOME HISTORY Mexican Independence Day celebrates the country’s liberty from Spain. According to historians, Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla called for Mexico to become free from Spanish rule during the early morning hours of Sep. 16, 1810 on the small town of Dolores, near Guanajuato, Mexico.

Unlike popular belief, Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Battle of Puebla, when Mexican forces defeated a French army during France’s invasion of Mexico. Cinco de Mayo is not as widely celebrated in Mexico as in the U.S. and it is not Mexican Independence Day. Mexico’s president and mayors across the country reenact “El Grito de Dolores (The Cry of Dolores) during the night Sept. 15 in a solemn yet festive ceremony. Historians believe that the celebration takes place on that night because president and strongman Porfirio Diaz wished the festivities to coincide with his own birthday.

Octavio Paz, acknowledged as one of Mexico’s best writers of the 20th Century, wrote in his classic book on Mexican identity, “The Labyrinth of Solitude,” that the country’s calendar is filled with feasts where the people pray, shout and get drunk.

“Each year, on the 15th of September at 11 at night, on all of the plazas of Mexico we celebrate the Feast of El Grito; and an inflamed multitude shouts for an hour, maybe to remain silent for the rest of the year.”

Photos courtesy of the Brown Plaza Association

(Above) Brown Plaza on September 15, 2015, before crowds came in to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. The celebration of Mexican Independence day has alway been big in Del Rio.(Below) Former Mexican Consul Ruben García gives “El Grito” at Brown Plaza as Javier Martinez watches on, from the 15 of September 1987. The celebration of Mexican Independence day has alway been big in Del Rio.

THE DEL RIO-ACUÑA CONNECTION As in the past, some Del Rio leaders will be honored guests during the Mexican Independence Day Festivities, Prado said. Leaders from both cities have been meeting to plan the events, which will culminate in Acuña, he added.

Dora G. Alcala, a former mayor of Del Rio and member of the International Good Neighbor Council who also belongs to International Bridge Board believes that celebrations like the Diez y Seis de Septiembre is good both for Del Rio and Acuña.

“Those of us who are fortunate to live in a border city know that international relations at the local level are extremely important to the livelihood of the business community and economic development,” Alcala said. “At the national level, Mexico is our third largest trading partner.”

In the meantime, the members of the Brown Plaza Association, the non-profit group organizes the festivities for Diez y Seis de Septiembre, have been meeting and planning the three-day event which will start on the 14th and end on the 17th, said Javier Martínez, who belongs to the Brown Plaza committee.

“It is one of the biggest events of the year,” he said. 

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Now Offering Sports, Cardwell School Physicals And Child Wellness Check-Ups Walk-Ins Welcome from 7:30-8:30 AM

Clinic Hours 7:30 Am-8:30 Am Walk-In Acute Care 9:00 Am-11:30 Am By Appointment 1:30 Pm-5:00 Pm By Appointment L-R: Gina Rodriguez, Maria Padilla, Monique Rodriguez, Laura Aguirre, Valerie Patiño

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Administrator

AMISTAD PHYSICAL THERAPY HALF

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MARY E. PARRISH RN. C., MSN

ELIZABETH MOYNIHAN APRN, FNP-C

Family Nurse Practitioner Family Nurse Practitioner

ANNA ANTU

Family Nurse Practitioner

Marina Galarza, a server/bartender at Manuel’s Steakhouse, squeezes fresh lime juice into a shot glass as part of the banderita. She said the drink is quite popular especially among people who come over from Mexico to dine.

Shots of I Mexico

Different flavors can bring about a taste of Mexico, but none more so than tequila

STORY AND PHOTOS BY BRIAN ARGABRIGHT

f the question is, “What alcoholic drink comes to mind when someone says ‘Mexico’?” the answer most people have is the margarita.

But, in this part of the state, the answers heard nearly as often were the banderita and the Mexican flag.

Both are colorful shots that feature ingredients meant to represent the national flag of Mexico — red, green and white. More often than not, though, the white portion of the flag is left clear due to the key ingredient that makes this a true taste of Mexico — tequila.

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THE BANDERITA

The Banderita lined up and ready for drinking with shots of lime juice, tequila and sangrita.

The banderita, which is Spanish for little flag, is served in three separate shot glasses.

The red of the banderita is sangrita, a salty mix used in a variety of mixed drinks including the vampiro and is used as a chaser for a standard shot of tequila.

The white is tequila. Any clear tequila will do.

The green is lime juice. Freshly squeezed probably tastes best and will provide a refreshing kick to other two ingredients.

Once the three shot glasses are lined up side by side, they form a drinkable version of the flag that represents our neighbors to the south.

Typically the shot is taken in order of red to green, but that is left up to the drinker.

THE MEXICAN FLAG

Ingredients for The Mexican Flag

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The Mexican Flag shot also incorporates three different liquors, but the taste will differ based on the “green” flavor used.

Set in one shot glass, the shot calls for one ounce of grenadine syrup, one ounce of green crème de menthe or Midori and one ounce of tequila. You can change the amount of liquor you use based on the size of the shot glass or highball glass, but the three liquors should all be equal parts.

The ingredients are layered one after another, creating the colors of the Mexican flag inside the glass. In some cases, a fourth ingredient, 151, is added on top to allow the bartender to set the shot aflame before the fire is blown out by the customer and the shot is ingested.

Using a spoon, by pouring the alcohol over the back of the spoon, the grenadine should be poured in first followed by the crème de menthe and then the tequila. A steady hand and some patience are required, as the alcohols need a little time to separate for the effect.

The good news is that if you fail, you can always drink your mistakes. As always, be responsible when drinking and use a designated driver to get home safe. 

Palm-sized corn tortillas hold tasty treats from Ajillos: Tacos al pastor, made with marinated pork, or tacos de bistek, which featured specially-seasoned beef.

MOBILE MEALS

Tiny package, big flavor Ajillos El Sabor de Mexico serves up authentic flavor made with love

STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN GLEASON

T

ucked away after hours behind the empty stalls of one of Del Rio’s oldest car washes is Del Rio’s best taco truck – Ajillos El Sabor de Mexico.

Ajillos has been voted “Best Taco Truck” in the Del Rio News Herald’s annual “Best Of Del Rio” competition for the past four years in a row, a fact owner Pablo E. Lozano points out with pride.

Ajillos’ top tacos can be sampled at Lozano’s brick-and-mortar restaurant, 611 E. De La Rosa St., or from their mobile kitchen, parked most nights in the 500 block of East 12th Street in the parking lot of the Robo-Wash car wash.

Tasting the small tacos Lozano creates – tangy pork tacos al pastor and savory beef tacos bistek – it’s easy to see why the accolades keep rolling in.

Most order the tacos, served in palm-sized corn tortillas, in multiples, then dress them with the cilantro, cucumber and white or purple onion offered on the side.

Lozano recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of opening the first Ajillos mobile kitchen, from which he served up tacos created from recipes he developed himself.

Lozano said he decided to dive into De Rio’s food scene because his brother has owned and operated a successful restaurant in Ciudad Acuña, GRANDE / SEPTEMBER 2016

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(Above) Pablo Lozano, owner and manager of Ajillos El Sabor de Mexico restaurant. (Below) Ajillos cashier Margarita Davila rings up a taco order for another happy customer at Ajillos mobile kitchen on East 12th Street.

Coah., Mexico, since 1985.

“The recipes I’m using are similar to my brother’s, but I’ve added some nuances,” Lozano said. “The flavors are all my own, and they are different.”

Lozano said he loves being in the food business, despite the fact that it’s a lot of work.

Ajillos’ storefront restaurant hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. They are closed Sunday and Monday.

The Ajillos mobile kitchen is open 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and is closed Monday and Tuesday. 

David Harrison, assistant chief of the Del Rio Fire Department, has made a career of putting out fires, but his salsa is sure to add a blaze of flavor to your next Taco Tuesday or backyard barbecue.

Harrison has served with the Del Rio Fire Department since 1992 and has been married to Connie Copple Harrison, a former dental assistant turned full-time homemaker, farmer and everyday chef, since 1982.

Together, the Harrisons reign over their little piece of heaven just south of the Del Rio city limits, a property that’s home to an expansive vegetable, herb and pepper garden, a flock of chickens, ducks, cats, dogs, two miniature horses and a goat named Clementine, and where they share their love of cooking with family and friends.

DAVID’S FIREHOUSE SALSA Ingredients • • • •

1 15 – 20

1 to 1½ 1 to 1½

15-ounce can diced tomatoes Green Chile Pequin peppers (Adjust amount for desired level of heat) teaspoons salt teaspoons garlic powder

1. Combine ingredients in food processor.

2. Adjust heat level of salsa by using different numbers of peppers – fewer for less heat, more for intense.

3. Blend until smooth, making sure no whole peppers remain.

4. Serve with tortilla chips or meats; refrigerate leftovers (if there are any).

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TIES TO HISTORY

Historic site of the railroad camp of Vinegarroon holds the foundation of Del Rio and surrounding area (Above) The canyon of the Rio Grande carves a gorge hundreds of feet deep near its confluence with the Pecos River in western Val Verde County. Builders of the southern intercontinental railroad route were faced with crossing the Pecos to join the east and west sets of tracks and unite the country in commerce.

(Below, right) This historical marker commemorates the site of Vinegarroon, home to thousands of “hard-fisted men” who blasted rock and laid railroad tracks for the southern transcontinental railroad track in the early 1880s. During its existence, Vinegarroon may have had as many people living in it as the fledgling town of Del Rio, some 50 miles to the east.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN GLEASON

T

he landscape around the old railroad camp of Vinegarroon, about 50 miles west of Del Rio, stretches to the blue horizon in all directions.

It is pitiless terrain dotted with low, hardy plants clinging to the thin, pale, rocky soil, broken only by low rises and arroyos incised into the stony ground by the runoff from brief, violent rainstorms.

Two legendary rivers meet here, close to the middle of nowhere, the Pecos and the Rio Grande, and each river has carved forbidding canyons hundreds of feet deep into the limestone bedrock.

Traversing this near-desert today is easy: Hop into the climate-controlled capsule of a car or truck, and the drive from Del Rio takes less than

an hour. Crossing the Pecos River canyon on the Pecos High Bridge takes less than a minute on the smooth asphalt surface of U.S. Highway 90.

But this wasn’t always the case.

Vinegarroon sprang up like a mushroom after a rain shower on the land above the Pecos and Rio Grande canyons, the largest and longest-lived of a series of railroad camps hastily erected by workers who laid the tracks of the nation’s first southern transcontinental rail line.

The actual site of the Vinegarroon railroad camp is not accessible to the public today, as it lies on privately-owned land, but the state has built a roadside picnic area and overlook along U.S. Highway 90 nearby where visitors can read a series of three historical markers commemorating the area’s railroad history.

Del Rioan Doug Braudway, member of the Val Verde County Historical Commission, professor GRANDE / SEPTEMBER 2016

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U.S. Highway 90 stretches away to the east, a thin asphalt ribbon bisecting the arid and unforgiving landscape of western Val Verde County about 50 miles west of Del Rio. This view is from the highway overlook constructed near the 1880s railroad camp called Vinegarroon.

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Today, trains crossing the Pecos River in western Val Verde County use this railroad bridge, constructed in 1944 while World War II raged in Europe and the Pacific. The bridge’s builders received permission from the country’s War Department to use “critical materials” in its construction, and the bridge can be glimpsed from a railroad history marker placed along U.S. Highway 90.

of government and history for Southwest Texas Junior College and the author of several books on Val Verde County history, researched and wrote the application for the Texas Historical Commission marker for Vinegarroon, which was placed in 2001.

The railroad camps in Val Verde County emerged as work began on the track west of San Antonio.

“They came here because of our water,” Braudaway said. Del Rio has more water than anybody in west Texas, and with those old locomotives, they burned wood, coal or fuel oil, but they burned that fuel to boil water, which drove the engines. Our plentiful water is what prompted them to come here.

“The railroad arrived in Del Rio in the summer of 1882, and Del Rio

Photo by Jan Dauphin

This dangerous-looking beast is the Vinegarroon or Giant Whip Scorpion. Despite its fearsome appearance, it is not dangerous, neither is it a true scorpion. The Vinegarroon is related to spiders, scorpions and ticks. It eats insects, including cockroaches and crickets, and got its name from the acetic acid mist it sprays when annoyed, which smells like vinegar.

GRANDE / SEPTEMBER 2016

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Del Rioan Mike Gleason stands in the roadside overlook built at the site of three Val Verde County historical markers commemorating important aspects of the construction of railroad tracks through vast and rugged Val Verde County. Those markers commemorate the driving of the Silver Spike in January, 1883, uniting the east and west lines of the railroad track, creating the nation’s first southern transcontinental route; the railroad bridges over the Pecos River and the existence of Vinegarroon, the largest and longest-lasting of the railroad camps for workers who built the railroad.

went from being a 200-person farming village to a 2,000-person railroad town,” Braudaway said. “The railroad was the biggest employer, the biggest moneymaker in town for a very long time.

Work on the rail line west of San Antonio progressed quickly until the crews came to western Val Verde County.

The most daunting obstacle was the yawning Pecos River canyon.

“You’ve got that 300-foot canyon, and the land just disappears into it,” Braudaway said. “It’s so deep that a bridge could not be built across it. The technology just did not exist in the 1880s. So they can’t cross the Pecos, but they have to, and what they did was to take both the east and west ends of the rail line, headed them toward the Rio Grande and ran the tracks into the Rio Grande canyon, blasting out ramps going from the top of the canyon to the bottom.”

A camp, mostly a city of tents, sprang up on the more-level ground above the canyon where the railroad workers labored.

“There were little railroad camps all over the place, so the workers lived and worked on site,” Braudaway said. “The railroad workers are a community, and that community moved as the work moved.”

Because the work was so difficult and progress so slow, the workers’ camp here lasted months, perhaps as long as a year, when most railroad work camps existed only a few weeks.

The camp of Vinegarroon existed for most of 1882, and Braudaway said as many as 1,500 workers may have lived at the site, making it a town nearly the same size as Del Rio at the time.

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The camp town was named for an arthropod called the Giant Whip Scorpion, a relative of true scorpions that lacks its cousins’ venomous sting but shares with them a forbidding and dangerous aspect.

“According to Ruel McDaniel’s book, ‘The Saga of Judge Roy Bean,’ Roy Bean named the camp,” Braudaway said. “Roy Bean was a San Antonio guy who realized there was money to be made in the railroad camps. They liked to drink, and so he set up a saloon out there. At the time the camp had no name, and Roy Bean was thinking about it and saw a Vinegarroon — which is described inaccurately in the book, by the way — and named the saloon, and thereby the town, accordingly.”

Eventually, the Pecos River canyon was conquered, the railroad workers moved to the next camp, and the southern transcontinental rail line was completed.

Asked why he believed it is important for 21st Century Americans and modern-day residents of Val Verde County to remember places like Vinegarroon, Braudaway said, “The railroads unified the country east and west, and in terms of remembering Vinegarroon, I can understand why people wouldn’t, but those people that lived and worked there helped build something that built this country.

“So much of what we have now is available to us because the people of that generation, of Vinegarroon, of the 1880s, built a society, built an economy, on which our economy and our society are built.

So even though they are long gone, we are still getting the benefits of their work.” 

Acuñans take the the streets during the festivities of Mexican Independence Day on September 15, 2015. Downtown Acuña is back. Courtesy of the City of Acuña.

Five things to do in

ACUÑA The city is back and it has some attractions worth your while

F

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JOSEPH TREVIÑO

or decades, Ciudad Acuña was a popular tourist town, where Del Rioans and visitors from other places hanged out at its downtown during weekends or visited some of its natural areas.

But the during the last decade Mexico’s drug war violence marred

the area — though never as bad as in other border towns or cities in the country — scaring away tourists. Add to that the American recession and Acuña underwent a perfect storm.

But now, the town has a new administration that has revamped its police force, turning it into perhaps the safest town in the Mexico-U.S. border. In addition, the city is undergoing a renaissance, authorities say, with new shops, restaurants opening up everywhere.

“It’s back,” said Jesús Suday, the Economic Development Director.

Our five places to visit in Acuña are varied. During the last decade, with its happening downtown, its National Park of Los Novillos and a few restaurants and bars it would have been it. But the new Acuña also has fresh places to offer.

With just a few bucks and after paying the toll bridges ($3.50 going there on the American side and $1.50 coming back on the Mexican side) you can grub on delicious, real Mexican food that goes from traditional to new Mexican cuisine, in addition to breaded sushis and Acuñas take on hamburgers and artisanal pizzas with local ingredients.

So forget about all those horror stories, be adventurous, get your passport and make a run for the border.

Acuña is waiting.

GRANDE / SEPTEMBER 2016

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is Happy Land, a great family place where kids can enjoy rides, play games, arcades and bumper cars. Located inside the Plaza Bella Mall, Happy Land regularly receives visitors from characters from the movies.

And because it’s in a mall, there’s lots of food and courtyard spaces to grub while kids do their thing and have the time of their lives. In Acuña, it’s great to be a kid.

4 — THE MOVIES

Drivers head via Hidalgo street into Downtown Acuña.

1 — DOWNTOWN ACUÑA For decades, downtown Acuña defined the city for tourists. But the economic downturn and the violence that rocked Mexico and the recession turned the area into a ghost town.

Still, the area surrounding the main plaza is making a comeback.

Some of the classic places like Crosby’s closed, but new places like “La Estación,” (The train station) and Artesano Pizza & Beer are looking to attract new people.

La Estación is built like an Orient Express-styled train station from its glamorous days, but with an old West twist. Foodies say that the place has some mean, artisanal burgers.

And yes, you can still dance at the Corona Club like in the good old days. Just walking by downtown Acuña and you know you are really on the border.

Downtown still boasts two plazas, its classic Catholic Church, some remaining curios places and for those looking to get some good, inexpensive medical or dental treatment, your ticket is here.

Just walk or drive across the border along Hidalgo street and you are there.

If you thought that the closest haute couture movie theater is in San Antonio, you’d be wrong. It’s just across the border.

San Antonio has nothing like Cinépolis, a Mexico-based, high-class movie theater chain that not only is big south of the border, but in Europe and even in the mecca of moviedom: Southern California, going toe to toe with the most aristocratic of movie palaces. You want some authentic French crepes while you watch the latest movie on some hi-resolution big screens? No problem. How about a movie with audiophile speakers warmly seducing you into Mexico’s avant-garde cinema or Hollywood’s latest blockbuster? You got it.

But wait, that’s just the start. There’s plush, large leather chairs, seductive climate control to battle local heat while squads of personnel make sure the place remains spotless. And let’s not forget the popcorn, where you can have it in traditional form, Mexico’s spicy version which is downright addictive or in many other flavors that turns this into an experience.

Many movies are in English with Spanish subtitles, so look ahead to make sure you view the movie with the audio and subtitles you want.

5 — ACUÑA LIVES From Mexican Independence Day to Day of the Dead to running with the bulls, Pamplona style, City officials along with local business people and artists have come together to put Acuña back on the map. Something is always happening in Acuña from wild nights of wrestling, athletic events, motorcycle shows and much more. Be sure to check out their online page constantly to see what’s going on. 

2 — FOOD Yes, let’s face it, our Mexican food in Del Rio and in the county is good.

But if you want to experiment, Acuña is close by.

Mexico is rightfully known by foodies for having one of the best fares in the world. Centuries of mixing indigenous foods, Spanish dishes, French Cuisine (Mexico was once part of the French Empire under Maximillian) and its many immigrants from China, Germany, Italy, the Middle East and other parts of the world have turned its food into something else.

Mexicans are always experimenting with food. Take for example their plebeian torta. Dozens of them are created every week in the country and it does not stop there.

Acuña is no different. Tierra Bendita, with its new Mexican cuisine that experiments with some delicious shrimp fried with cream cheese (we bet you never saw that one coming) or its many variations on burgers, tacos and chicken, it promises to be a real challenge the most demanding foodie.

Then there’s Los Tacos Grill, a longtime favorite that has traditional Mexican food and offers a mean ribeye steak that may be the best in town. It’s hard to go wrong in Acuña for food which makes it a foodie’s heaven.

3 — KIDS Yes, kids are people too and Acuña is well aware of this. Their answer

The outside of Los Tacos Grill, one of Acuña’s classic restaurants.

Photo by Brian Argabright

Rams head coach Frenchey McCrea Jr. always leads the team onto the field before they warm up with a traditional gathering in the end zone.

FAMILY, FAITH AND FOOTBALL McCrea brothers’ remain close despite differing paths in life

F

STORY BY BRIAN ARGABRIGHT

or the McCrea brothers, their success can be attributed to three things — family, faith and football.

Frenchey McCrea Jr., 34, is the head football coach for the Del Rio Rams. His brother Tyrell McCrea, 31, is the head football coach and athletic director for Brackettville ISD. The similarities between the two brothers are apparent not only in their passion for the game, but in the way they’ve been guided by their strong faith.

Both are graduates of Del Rio High School (Frenchey, class of 2000; Tyrell, class of 2002) and both are graduates of Angelo State University. They both served on the Del Rio Rams football staff for a short time with Tyrell serving as Frenchey’s offensive coordinator in his first year as head coach.

FRENCHEY’S PATH Frenchey was a running back for the Rams and a record-setting sprinter on the track team. He attended Angelo State on a football scholarship but soon found a home on the college’s track team as well. After graduating from college with his bachelor’s degree in 2004, McCrea traveled to Houston to workout for the Arena Football League’s Cleveland Gladiators.

But the lure of coaching made its first call out to McCrea and he returned to Angelo State to coach running backs and wide receivers.

He returned to the classroom as well, earning his masters in 2007.

McCrea was all set to join the coaching staff at Montana State when he decided to return home and join the staff of the program he once played for.

“I sometimes wonder about that … what would have happened, Frenchey said. “But I wound up fulfilling a promise I made to a young man named B.J. Flowers. He urged me to come back and coach.”

After serving six years as an assistant, McCrea was named interim head coach in May 2013. He was named the full-time head coach in December of that year despite amassing a first-year coaching record of 3-7.

The faith to stay with McCrea paid off as he led the Rams back to the playoffs in 2014 and then led them to a share of the district championship in 2015, culminating in an appearance in the regional semifinals for only the third time in school history.

GRANDE / SEPTEMBER 2016

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Courtesy photo

Tyrell McCrea prays before a Brackett Tigers football game.

TYRELL’S TALE Tyrell’s football story mirrored Frenchey’s … at least for a while.

He played football for the Rams, strictly offense, which is something he said he regrets, before heading off to college and playing for Angelo State.

He was moved to linebacker in the Spring and went on to start his final three years.

After graduating he traveled to Corpus Christi to play Arena League Football. He was there two years, earning a chance to work out for the NFL’s Green Bay Packers along the way, before joining the New Orleans Voodoo and playing for them for two years.

Tyrell began his coaching career at Navarro College in Corsicana, helping the Bulldogs win two conference titles and play in the Heart of Texas Bowl.

He joined his brother in 2013 and served as his offensive coordinator for a year before accepting the position in Brackettville.

“I felt a lot of pressure coming back home,” Tyrell said. “Coaching with Frenchey was difficult because I didn’t want to be the scapegoat. It was kind of like one of those things where I didn’t want family to fail, so I was hesitant about coming back.”

Courtesy photo

Rams head coach Frenchey McCrea Jr. is all smiles as his team hoists the championship trophy for winning Area in 2015. It was the first Area round win for McCrea has a head coach.

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Aurelio Laing III, M.D.

STRENGTH THROUGH FAITH

Both McCreas say their faith has served as their rock in the most difficult of times and not as something they use as an excuse or as a weapon.

“My first year (as head coach) I struggled within myself. I began to doubt myself. I had to find out real quick how to live my life and I Angel learned that it’s not about wins or losses but just to be at peace with V. Haverlah, Martinez, everything else,” Frenchey said.

M.D. “I went through a lotM.D. of the same in Brackett. I had to try and figure Family out that it’s not about your plan, it’s about God’s plan,” Tyrell said. “You Family Medicine can blame God or draw closer Medicine to him. One of my favorite scriptures in the Bible is 1 Corinthians 4:20, ‘For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power’. God is not talk, but aboutGerardo action. A lot of people Wendy Y. Pitt, Angelbut actions prove louder than words.” Astudillo, talk, M.D. io Laing III, Martinez, Tony Moreno, Both men are also quick to point out that they don’t push religion Pediatrics M.D. onto M.D. M.D.any of their players.PA-C Board Certified OB/GYN “It’s a choice,” Tyrell said.

“Playing the music we do is a choice. Saying Family Family Medicine Family Women’s Health a prayer after the game is a choice, but it’s not required of everyone. I Medicine Medicine Care edical Director know it’s impacting their lives, whether they know it or not. I’ve had parents come up to me and say they’ve seen a positive in their kids.”

Gerardo Wendy Y. Pitt, change Manuel J. Frausto, “Early on people though my faith overshadowed the need to win,” Astudillo, M.D. M.D. Tony Moreno,said. “Truth is all these motivational Frenchey speakers youGeneral hear get Pediatrics Practice M.D. PA-Cwords from biblical Certified Board Certified their principles. ButBoard when the kids come to you and OB/GYN Family Medicine Women’s request certain songs, songsHealth of faith, you realize it’s not you, it’s them.

Care They all believe.”

e Keenen, D.P.M.

Podiatry

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HEROES AND LEADERS Both McCreas said they were inspired by members of the community they could relate to, who were able to make a positive impact in Del Rio. For Frenchey, he only had to look inside his own family to find the person who inspired him most.

“I always looked up to my grandfather Dr. Lonnie Green and my uncle whom they called Big Big Daddy,” Frenchey said. “My grandfather had multiple doctorate degrees and did a lot for this community. I also looked up to the Blanks family. They paved the way for the rest of us. They and the Bensons ... we were able to accomplish what we did because of them.”

“I feel the same way. I also looked up to Mike Brown. He was one Tiffee, of the first to play past college from here and I wanted to be John the next.

I D.D.S. wanted to be just like him,” Tyrell said.  General Dentist

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Rams head football coach Frenchey McCrea Jr. leads the Rams and other Del Rio High athletic teams in singing the school song following the conclusion of the Fall Sports Community Pep Rally in 2015.

Palani Mani,

Call for your appointment M.D. or for more information at Practice anyGeneral of the three clinic sites in Del Rio to serve you.

Evening and Saturday Clinics available.

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www.CadenaRealty.com GRANDE / SEPTEMBER 2016

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Ger Astu M

OB Women C

20 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT

FRENCHEY MCCREA JR. 1. I had a speech impediment when I was younger and had to go to a speech specialist.

2. When I was around 7, I was riding in the backseat of my grandfather’s car and the door open while on Gibbs. I flew out onto the middle of the street face first.

3. When I was 9, my brother and I knocked a body-sized hole in the wall of our room.

We covered it up by moving our dresser in front of it. My parents didn’t find out until they moved into a new house. We were both in college.

4. My great-uncles owned several tobacco farms, had several hogs, cows and chickens in South Carolina. I wanted to know how the farming process worked. I didn’t even make it to lunch before I decided it wasn’t for me. I was around 13.

5. I have been in multiple car accidents, which should have taken my life, but I walked away every time without a scratch.

6. My brother and I got into our first physical fight ever in college. Because we were both so strong, we almost destroyed the apartment. We were so tired after the fight we vowed never to even argue again. We spent several minutes sprawled out on the floor just trying to breathe.

7. I love shrimp but I can't eat shrimp and play basketball or I blow up like Will Smith in the movie “Hitch.”

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GRANDE / SEPTEMBER 2016

8. When I have time, I travel and play men's softball with old friends from San Angelo.

T.J. Moore LuMber Yard

9. Some might say I’m obsessed with buying new shoes.

10. My favorite past time is watching movies. (If I have time)

11. I am a Will Smith movie fan, except for “Concussion.” Bad Boys I and II are my favorite.

Since 1892

14. I went to Angelo State on a football scholarship, but received a track scholarship once I arrived freshman year. I qualified for nationals in the 100 meter dash and finished 13th in the nation.

15. I still hold the records at Del Rio High School in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4 x 100 relay.

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12. Any McCrea that plays football wears the #5 in honor of my dad’s youngest brother. In Pee Wee the coach ordered my brother "05" so we could play together.

13. I have had to repair my meniscus in both knees.

16. I am the Praise Leader at Bible Way Church. It was founded by my grandfather, Dr. Lonnie Green, and now pastored by my father Frenchey McCrea Sr.

17. I play the bass guitar and the drums.

My son, Tres, plays the drums for our church, and my brother plays the keyboard and the drums.

18. I am a licensed Elder in my organization. I also hold several offices on the state and regional levels in my church affiliation.

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19. I was the founder of the S.O.L.I.D. (Students Organized Living in Dominion) Christian organization at Angelo State.

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1001 South Main St • Del Rio, Tx

20. My wife and I celebrated our 10th anniversary in July. When I first met her in college, we were always together but it was never without other friends. Before we got married we had one official date (just the two of us). I truly married my best friend.

GRANDE / SEPTEMBER 2016

47

What they are talking about...

Now hat’s t

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GRANDE / SEPTEMBER 2016

INKNOW You could be

1

“I read the Del Rio News-Herald to see what’s going on in our city that I may not be aware of. On Wednesdays, I read the crime page, and I also look at sports, especially high school track and football.”

Del Rio

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Out of Every Del Rio Adults

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reads the News-Herald.

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Entrusted by the Queen City of the Rio Grande since 1884

830•775•1551 Call for Subscription Specials *18+ population of 23,117 - delrio.areaconnect.com *readership based at 2.1 readers per edition per National Newspapers of America average

Fall 2016 Schedule

“Let us be the one you turn to.”

Planning to build a new home, expand your current home or renovate?

$35/Month $25/Month $25/Month $25/Month

Multimedia with Jessica Carrillo ........................................ FREE Tuesday & Thursday 6-8pm @ Casa Annex Adult Art Therapy (Coloring) with Aldo Guadiana ............ FREE Tuesday 6-7pm Clay on the Wheel with Lily Ramon ........................... $45/Month Tuesdays 5:30-7pm @ Casa Annex Working with Clay with Lily Ramon ........................... $20/Month Tuesday 5-6:30pm @ Casa Annex Embroidery & Crochet with Doña Eli ......................... $15/Month Thursday 5:30-7pm $10/Class Mexican Kitchen with Rosa Ramon Thurday 5:30 .... $30/Month Children’s Art Hour (Ages 5-11) with Casa Staff ............... FREE Wednesday 5-6pm Ciudadania/Citizenship with Celia Hooper Lunes/ .......... FREE Monday 6:00-8:00pm Ingles por la Mañana con Jorge Martinez Lunes y .......... FREE Miercoles 9:00-10:30am @ Casa Annex Ingles por la Noche con Jorge Martinez Lunes, ............... FREE Miercoles 7:30-9pm @ Casa Annex y Jueves 7:30-9pm Basic Spanish with Jorge Martinez ........................... $20/Month Monday and Wednesday 5:00-6:00pm

Contact us today for a free consultation and get inspired by the possibilities!

REG#48616 Cell:830-765-2224 Del Rio, Tx 78840

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 ..........

Valdez Monday 5:30- 6:30pm Spring of 2017 Begginers Baile Folklorico (Children) Ages 6-12 .....

Tuesday & Thursday 5-6pm Spring of 2017

Judy Cox G.W. Cox Memorial Funeral Home 114 Fletcher Drive • Del Rio, Texas 78840 830-775-2000

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 / SEPTEMBER 2016

49

Family Steakhouse 2 NEW

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Save the date September events and happenings DRIVERS NEEDED TO HELP LOCAL VETERANS The Val Verde County Veterans Service Office is in need of volunteer drivers for the Van Run to Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital in San Antonio and Kerrville VA Medical for veterans’ medical appointments. All new volunteer drivers are required to take a physical in San Antonio and pass a background check. Transports for Veterans is cost free, every Tuesday of the month the van leaves at 6 am to San Antonio and to Kerrville every Thursday of the month at 5 a.m.

The Veteran must be at the Val Verde County parking lot, behind La Hacienda Restaurant on Pecan Street 15 minutes prior to departure.

For more information, call 830-774-7548 or 830-774-7549 or come by 1927 Bedell Ave., inside the workforce building.

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(830) 774-0411

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Celebration September 15, 16 & 17 at the Brown Plaza

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GRANDE / SEPTEMBER 2016

Brought to you by the Brown Plaza Association

Do you have some time on your hands? Do you have four hours a week to spare? Enjoy working with people in a pleasant environment?

Join the Val Verde Regional Medical Center Auxiliary Gift Shop as a volunteer. For more information, call Alice Williams at 830-778-3590 or Angela Prather at 830-775-3651.

STROKE SUPPORT GROUP Val Verde Regional Medical Center gives you the opportunity to meet and share experiences with family members, caregivers and others dealing with stroke every first and third Wednesday of each month from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Val Verde Regional Medical Center Education Room. For more information, call 830-7031729.

MULTIMEDIA CLASS Multimedia Class at the Casa de la Cultura meets up every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the annex building at 716 W. Garza St. The class is free class for teens.

OKTOBER FEST The Whitehead Memorial Museum at 1308 S. Main St. will be hosting its 2016 Oktober Fest from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sept.24 with beer, food and music. Food will be served from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. only. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Drinks are not included with the ticket. For more information, contact the museum at 830-774-7568.

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Del Rioan students detail their sports plans for the near future

RACHEL TALAMANTEZ What I plan on doing is going to every game and supporting them wherever they play at. As years pass the Rams football teams change but there hard work never does so to support them in ever way I can possible is what I would do.

ALEXIA CARILLO This football season I plan on supporting the Rams as much as I can, such as going to every game, pep rally, and event that the Rams hold. As a belle, my team and I plan on bringing more tradition back into the team, and plan on being involved in this football season as much as possible. We plan on giving a memorable halftime performance each game, while support the Rams, win or lose.

ROGER MONTEJANO This football season I plan to do my best as a safety for the Rams. I will be practicing and training with the team to make this the best season yet.

Residential • Commercial Property Management • Relocation Amistad Lake Properties DANIEL TARANGO I plan on running cross country during the football season but also planning on going to the football games with my friends and supporting the team.

Del Rio

Each officE is indEpEndEntly ownEd and opEratEd.

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Kitty Lewis . . . . . . . 719-2799 Antonieta Sanchez 765-3018 Sandra Cantu . . . . . 765-8566 Wayne Lewis Ranch Spec . . . . . . 719-1425

Marie Ortiz . . . . . . . .

Lucas Gilliam . . . . .

Dawn Clayton . . . . .

Liz Mayes Property Manager .

765-0612 488-1880 719-5479

KAYLAH PEREZ During the football season I plan on playing with the queens volleyball team, hopefully going farther into the playoffs. Even if the queens can’t attend some of the football games, we are rooting for them always.

313-2805

GRANDE / SEPTEMBER 2016

51

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