The Life Magazine

STARR COUNTY • MAY 2013

ROLANDO CASTANEDA A TRIBUTE TO MY FATHER Page 12

HE SAID, SHE SAID Adam & Sierra Page 14

DURO OLOWU

Vibrant colored pieces inspired by bold African prints Page 08

Dear Life Lovers

Dear Life Lovers, WOW… it is May already! Graduations are taking place, summer is around the corner, and the heat is about to sky rocket. In all of this it makes for a fun and exciting time that the team at THE LIFE Magazine is looking forward to document. Our mission and passion has never changed; creating a platform to showcase

what makes Starr County amazing and unique.

The people that create history to learn from and the new and upcoming leaders who invest in helping make Starr County a better place.

In the spirit of what makes our community incredible we WELCOME Matt Ruszcak to Rio Grande City as its new City Manager and soon to be new resident. We look forward to documenting all the growth his experience is sure to bring to our community.

In the last month we have had several wonderful events that you can see in our community pages. RGC’s Greater Chamber of Commerce had their last Art Walk for the season and it was an incredible turnout! Plus they also had their 2nd annual Celebrity Bartender. Our cover model Sierra Bailey and the Bling Ring Club took home the title. It was a super fun event with so many community members donating their time and effort to help make it a huge success. Over 400 people gathered at La Borde House to create a fun and rewarding event.

As some of you may know I am partial owner alongside Dina Garcia-Pena and Cecilia Olivarez at Cowboy Couture Art Boutique at Lopez-Tijerina Courtyard in Historical downtown Rio Grande City. In creating this adorable

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boutique we were fortunate enough to meet Sierra Bailey in Austin and start carrying her designs – Manic Trout. The Bling Ring has been a staple in hundreds of women throughout Starr County’s daily wear and we were so excited to invite her and husband, Adam, to Rio Grande City. Spending time with Sierra and Adam was such a joy. Now, not only can you find her designs at Cowboy Couture but you can find her monthly column written along with Adam in THE LIFE Magazine. Flip over to “He Said, She Said” and find out just how adorable these two are. Also in the centerfold you will learn about Sierra and her inspiration for Manic Trout.

Spring is in the air and so are golf balls which are flying around for a cause! The RGCISD put together their annual Superintendent’s Golf Tournament which raises money for scholarships. Big congratulations to our schools for having such passion for its students. In the spirit of scholarships Dr. Daria Babineaux is just as passionate about this cause. She awards an annual scholarship to a very hard working individual and this year she couldn’t choose just one. Flip through our pages to see RGCISD golfing for a cause and the recipients’of Dr. B’s scholarship.

Let’s get ready for SUMMER!

Giselle Villarreal

President / Editor in Chief

Mayor Ruben O. Villarreal Vice President

Roy Bazan

Creative Director / Designer

THE LIFE

TEAM

Roel Reyes “The Gallery�

Cover Photographers

Aracely Vasquez

Events Photographer

Renea Perez

Health & Fitness Editor

Adam & Sierra

Contributing Editors

Yirla Nolan

Fashion Editor

Modesto Ramirez Historian

Ruby Perez

Account Executive

Buster Brown

Account Executive

Jacqueline Mercado Account Executive

601 Main Street Rio Grande City, TX 78582 socialifestarr@gmail.com 956.393.1692 5,000 issues monthly and 500+ distribution points Starr County, Zapata County and growing.

THE LIFE Magazine is published in Rio Grande City, TX. THE LIFE Magazine and its employees do not assume liability for products or services offered herein. Permission to use or reproduce material herein must be with express written consent of the publisher. 2012 THE LIFE Magazine is Printed in the U.S.

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HEALTH & FITNESS

Health

CLEAN EATING… WHAT IS THAT?

BY: RENEA PEREZ

A popular question I receive often is, “What is clean eating?”

Clean eating simply is eating food at its most natural state.

Clean eating is not a new concept. Those involved in any way with health, fitness or nutrition have known about eating clean for years. However, clean eating is gaining popularity (thanks to Tosca Reno) as a way to gain better health, easily maintain weight and as a way to lose weight and keep it off for life. But what exactly is clean eating?

At its most basic, clean eating is making the healthiest food choices possible, opting for fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean cuts of meat instead of processed and refined foods. To eat clean, there are a few easy principles to follow.

Clean Eating Principles

• Eating a mini-meal every two to three hours (5 to 6 small meals

per day total) to keep blood sugar level and prevent hunger.

• Combining lean proteins and complex carbohydrates at every meal.

• Avoiding all over-processed and refined foods (especially sugar, white rice, and white flour) • Avoiding saturated and Trans fat, instead consuming healthy fats • Avoiding soda and other sugary juices and drinks.

• Avoiding high-calorie, zero nutrient foods (i.e., junk food) • Eating proper portion sizes • Drinking at least 8 cups of water every day.

Clean Eatingis Not:

When describing clean eating, it’s important to point out what eating clean is not. Clean eating is not a diet. Although it is a great way to reduce body fat, lose weight, and keep the weight off, clean eating is a lifestyle that requires time, commitment, and pre-planning. It is not just a way of eating that can accomplish weight loss or overall health just by doing it on the weekends. Clean eating is not about deprivation, avoiding food groups, counting calories or starvation, but about making healthy food choices and providing the body with the best foods possible.

There are many health benefits to eating clean, including: • Fat loss • Weight loss • Increased energy • Clearer skin • Shinier hair • Better sleep • Increased mental well-being Clean eating isn’t expensive.

In fact I’ve saved money living this lifestyle. I highly encourage you to start living the clean eating lifestyle! Pick up Tosca Renos books and learn all about it!

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Your POW Sister and Fashionista, Editor & Stylist

Fashion I can’t describe the excitement I felt when I heard Duro Olowu would be collaborating with JC Penny on an affordable yet fashionable line. You should quickly head out to your local JC Penny and grab

For tough fashion questions contact me at

Myfashgasm.com

yirlarubi@gmail.com

Duro Olowu some of his vibrant colored pieces inspired by bold African prints and unexpected color combinations.

His designs are favorites around celebrities and even Michelle Obama! The great thing about

this line is that it includes clothes, accessories, and even home goods. Now it is your turn to enjoy these awesome pieces.

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A Pair of cowhide Cattle Tamers By: Roy Chubasco

I remember my first pair was black with red stitching. They matched nicely with my then favorite red and black western shirt whose styling was similar to something worn by a young George Jones or not so young Buffalo Bill Cody. The ensemble also included some elastic waistband blue jean shorts that kept me cool because sunny hot days were also a part of the outfit at the age of five. I don’t recall feeling any more or less cowboy but wearing them did make me feel like wandering

the wide open spaces of my backyard. What was a unique feature of this pair of cowhide cattle tamers was that they had no laces, no Velcro closures and no excuses for not knowing how to put them on. Instead this footwear had straps that made pulling on them almost as much fun as pulling on a rope with a bell. It was clear that lots of people wore them.

These included the likes of the Lone Ranger, Marshal Dillon and my Uncle Fred who wore them side by side with his trusty 30-30 Winchester Rifle. My connection of ideas has as it reference a pair of good old fashioned cowboy boots. Every cowpoke to be called a cowpoke has to have a pair or two under a bed or in a closet.

From John Wayne to Rango, from Clint Eastwood to Woody, from Hopalong Cassidy to Bud (from the “Urban Cowboy) these icons of cowboy folklore all come equipped with a pair of boots to define a style and way of life.

Rather than wonder about the origins of cowboy footwear, Ol’ Roy will carve path of discovery as the history of the cowboy boot takes center stage and does everything except ride off into the sunset.

The Civil War of the 1860’s was over and society was changing quicker than Miley Cyrus’ hair color. Scores of men came from the battlefields accustomed to long marches and activities that meant being on your feet the whole day. Shoes of the time were just that, shoes with laces. A few folks had cavalry boots but these

were designed high to the knee with square low heels. This was soon to change with the needs of an emerging business enterprise. The cattle industry was taking hold and with it came an evolution in gear for the rough and tumble cowboy.

On cue, the boot maker showed up to help these wranglers find function in their footwear. There are two boot crafters who are mentioned in the development of the cowboy boot. The first ol’ boy was Charles Hyer of Hyer Brothers Boots of Kansas and the second hombre was H.J. “Big Daddy Joe” Justin of Justin Boots of Spanish Fort and later of Nocona, Texas. In this saga of boot history I’m going to be partial to the Texas boy because we all know that everything is bigger, better and more authentic in this great State of ours. In any case, a story with a dude named “Big Daddy Joe” sounds a heck of a lot more exciting than a story with a guy named Charles. Mr. Justin’s move to a location near “Big D” made more of a difference than you might think. Being close to the big city meant distribution routes were close at hand and Big Daddy took full advantage of this network. Hence, Joe Justin’s cowboy boots found their way to driver’s seat and his legacy is carved into cowboy boot history.

The essence of the western style cowboy boot found its inspiration and design in a well documented part of our nation’s history. The cattle drives of the 1870’s transformed our economy.

It also developed a new breed of hardworking, durable worker

called the cowboy.

These cowpunchers needed special equipment to go with their rawhide leather lifestyle. An innovation that couldn’t come fast enough was proper footwear for this evolving business. Being that a common shoe just didn’t work well the cowboy had to do something. This part gets a little hazy because no one knows what wrangler did it, but some forward thinking cowboy with the smarts of a Steve Jobs or Walt Disney got creative as he walked into a shoe makers shop.

He asked for customized footwear that had a round pointed toe for stirrup access, a medium tall shaft for leg protection, an under slung heel for anchoring to the ground when working livestock and no laces for convenience. Somehow all these factors came together to create footwear that was functional, rugged and worked in harmony with a cowboy, his horse and his long days and nights on the cattle drives of the American west.

Cattle drives and the true cowboy are gone, but the cowboy boot endures. Early on boot design was all about practicality, but it did not take long for fashion to become all important. Nonetheless, the cowboy boot has become a symbol of a nation that was partly built by men on horses who wore a hat on one end for protection from the Sun and a pair of cowboy boots on the other to announce to the world, Be Cowboy, Be Bold and Live Large!

That’s the way I see it under these Starry Skies….Roy Chubasco

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History

A tribute to my father...

HISTORY

Today I would like to take the time to honor a man unlike any other I have known. I find it the most difficult of tasks to describe the adventurous life of this man in such a small space. To those of you who know me personally, you may know that my name isn’t really Modesto Ramirez Jr. it

of Liver Cancer on April 17th, 2013.

In so many ways our history is influenced by great men and women, my father was one of those men. From the streets of Harlingen where he grew up to the Tet Offensive of 1972, he left his mark on the people around him.

He witnessed mankind at its very worst and he felt it at its best.

Though many of you may have not known him personally I can say this about him. He influenced my writing in every way, most of the information I passed on to you first went through his scrupulous judgment and critique. So many

purpose. If there is something you can take out of this is that I want you to take time and reflect the important people who molded your history and remember where we are is a reflection of where we’ve been.

I leave you with this quote from the movie The Shawshank Redemption that hit home for me: “Sometimes it makes me sad, though... Andy being gone. I have to remind myself that some birds aren’t meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock

is Reynaldo Castaneda. I stole the name “Modesto Ramirez” from my father’s Pen Name. My father was Rolando Castaneda. It is with pain and grief that I write this and inform you that my father lost the battle

times he would tell me “son the people won’t like that” or “that doesn’t make a lick of sense”, always thinking about the readers I never met. He always told me to write something with meaning and

them up DOES rejoice. But still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they’re gone.

I guess I just miss my friend.”

BY: MODESTO RAMIREZ

Yours truly, Modesto Ramirez

Follow me on Facebook and email any questions or story ideas to

modestoramirez14@yahoo.com

14THELIFE By: Adam & Sierra “She” is Sierra Bailey, owner and designer of Manic Trout Jewelry (found at Cowboy Couture in Rio Grande City), an admitted workaholic, a tad on the neurotic side but who is incredibly smitten with “He”.

“He” is Adam Fujawa, an ex professional Snow Boarder who travels excessively, has what some think is too much energy but who absolutely adores “She”.

He Said,She Said

she noted that some cars you get in to take you from here to there, but this car…this car you get in to drive. So mission accomplished!

When I get behind the wheel, I love driving my car, but I still avoid it whenever I can. And don’t listen to Adam, there have been plenty times that I have driven places. On long car trips I drive just as much as he does, although it’s usually highway driving and he tends to sleep thru it…otherwise I don’t think he could stand to let me. The only problem is that when Adam is driving my car, I tend to freak

Vroom vroom …

Hey everyone Adam here…I want to talk about the difference between Men and Women with driving. I don’t want to say that all men are better drivers but I myself am an excellent driver. I do scare my passengers once in a while. I drive fast and hard but I always have control. I know my limits and the limitations of the vehicle I’m in. Both my fathers have taught me how to operate any kind of motorized projectile very well. When I am in the car I like total concentration, I don’t need anyone yelling or panicking. Let a man behind the wheel do his thing, in my case I see my surroundings and tend to telegraph other drivers moves. I know I sound like a natural, because I am, I should have gone into Nascar. I do have

a GPS, and as shocking as this may seem coming from a man, I don’t always know where I’m going. I like to run the car almost completely out of gas before filling up; I don’t always use my blinkers. No road rage here, and sure sometimes you gotta race. Whenever Sierra and I go somewhere together I drive, you know now that I think about it, when I go anywhere with anyone I drive. Driving a car for me is always fun, and I’m pretty sure every time I’m out there I actually think I’m in the Indy 500 and when it comes time to stop or park the car, I’m ready to kiss the bricks and drink my milk!

Hi, Sierra here…Have you ever been in a car with someone like

Adam? It’s terrifying as most of the time he thinks he’s in a race car and when he is not in race car driver mode, he is in extreme A.D.D. mode and tends to miss turns and green lights. But I think that tends to be a problem with most men. I’ll admit openly that I am not a great driver. I get bored; I don’t want to be driving unless it’s either really fast on a highway or in a city with craziness. Driving around town is just annoying. I decided a few years ago that in order to bribe myself to get into the car and drive that I would work hard to make sure I could afford to drive cars worth driving. When I bought my current car, my sister Thea was with me. On the test drive

out. Why? Because not putting gas in the tank until you almost run out is not my idea of fun. Racing other cars on highways and being the guy (because it’s always a guy) who waits until the last second to merge is also not my kind of fun. I will admit to screaming on a few occasions for Adam to watch out, which I know will not go over well, but my car is so pretty and so very expensive to fix, that to sit idly by as it goes careening in the direction of another car without any blinkers to notify said car just sometimes seems impossible. But when he asks if I would rather drive, the answer is always the same…I sigh, say no and hold on tight.

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Tree Planting Criminal Ceremony Justice Honoring Late Association Mayor Basilio Villarreal Sr

Criminal

Market Days Justice

Next Market Days

Association May 18, 2013

Where is she going?

VISIONS Peru combines adobe and cinder block construction. You learn the adobe process from the beginning: making blocks by stomping mud together with straw, forming clay bricks and placing them to dry. Our primary work usually involves constructing classroom additions to one of the many schools in the valley. Another project will take you to individual homes to install cleanburning stoves, a health and environmental initiative directed by a local nonprofi t. VISIONS youth volunteers also play a pivotal role in a huge irrigation system in neighboring rural communities. The project was initiated in 2001 and its success in water conservation and aid to farmers has led us to expand the system every year.

Samantha Mayne “We are not the Fords or the Rockefellers… we’re the Alvarados, the Montoyas, the Martinezes.” These inspirational words were spoken by the managing director of the Latino Community Foundation of Colorado, who just happens to be my Tía Yolie. Tía Yolie is my mother’s youngest sister who grew up in Ysleta, (a barrio of El Paso), studied hard, got a scholarship to Stanford, and now manages the LCF. She is a prime example of the power of determination and bravery. When I first heard the words above, I knew one day I wanted to do something similar - to use what I have learned from my family and those who surround me to make a difference in others’ lives. I greatly desire to inspire and to serve. The VISIONS World Service Corps offers me an opportunity to do just that.

I am a dreamer, a wisher, and a visionary. I dream that one day I will bring positive change to the world; I wish that by using my skills in music and my bilingual ability I can create a lasting imprint of service that will continue even after I’m long gone.

Music runs in my veins, as do adventure and service. I’m a classically trained violinist who also enjoys playing everything from mariachi sones to West Virginia fiddle tunes, along with singing in the church choir and writing my own songs. In El Sauz, the small, tightly knit ranch community where I grew up, people are used to supporting each other.

Everybody’s only a phone call away whether it’s a flat tire or an escaped cow. This way of thinking gradually ingrained itself into my soul and it wasn’t long before I, too, felt the need to be of service.

For the past two years, I have been volunteering as a violin, guitar, and voice teacher in an after-school program at Ynes B. Escobar Elementary. I also assist teaching violin with the mariachi group at Ramiro Barrera Middle School in Roma. In addition to this, I help lead the children’s choir at the church in Escobares. While music is my primary area of interest and service, I also enjoy working as an editor and stand-in anchor with our school district’s television network. Doing so gives me the opportunity

to get to know our community better and use my bilingual skills. I’m also the youngest of the Rio Grande Valley’s Benedictine Oblates, a lay organization that supports the Monastery of the Good Shepherd.

My dream is to study Music Education in college and use that training to establish a performing arts school for underserviced youth. I plan to have everything from mariachi to jazz, modern dance and videography. I want to give young people the chance maybe no one will ever give them.

I have seen how the arts can transform the soul in my volunteer work teaching music.

One of my violin girls used to be very shy; she had always insisted she hated music, but I could see the way she fingered the wood of her bow and how her eyes lit up the first time she performed. Now, she loves the violin and tries noticeably harder. My grandmother volunteers as an art teacher at a local elementary school in Roma, and she always has new stories to tell of children who’ve discovered themselves in art. One day, I hope to have a whole collection of

those stories to share with the world.

Participating in this world community service program would help me make a difference. I am excited at the prospect of learning skills completely new to me, such as building a house or organizing day camps for children. I want to know what others’ lives are like; their struggles, what they rejoice in, and what they expect from life. I was very impressed in reading about what Oscar Hernandez was able to do through VISIONS, such as learning how to clean salmon and chatting with village elders, but what struck me the most when I looked up his story was how happy he looked in the photos on the website. I too, wish to experience that. I know what it is like to have been given the opportunity to nurture one’s talents and would like to be a part of an organization that understands what it is to make a difference in people’s lives and help them feel fulfilled.

Where is she going?

VISIONS Montana is a window to the generosity, humor, and traditions of Plains Indian life.

Our twenty-plus years working on the reservation create opportunities to learn about the culture from the inside. You will meet tribal historians, spiritual leaders, storytellers, ranchers and naturalists. From our home base at Flat Iron Ranch with a spectacular view of the Rocky Mountain front, you will explore Browning, join in sweat ceremonies, go to a rodeo, learn beading with Blackfeet craftspeople, and maybe help build a sacred sun dance lodge.

We’ll attend the summer pow wow, an annual inter-tribal gathering when families set up teepees, renew connections, and celebrate with music, storytelling and meals. You’ll see spectacular regalia (traditional clothing), watch dancing competitions and stick games, hear drumming, and eat “Indian Tacos” made from fry bread.

Estefania Marie Bazan My name is Estefania Bazan. I am selfish, immature, insecure and everything in between. I could lie and say I am perfect.

That I am everything you are looking for.

However, truth be told I am just your average sixteen year old girl trying to accomplish a spec of a difference on this little green planet we call Earth. I am hoping that by winning this scholarship; I will not only help out my community but others as well.

I delight in every opportunity available in the small town of Rio Grande. I am a member of various organizations in my high school including: the Health Occupation Student Association (HOSA), the National Honor Society (NHS), and Future Farmers of America (FFA). As a member of these clubs, I often take part in services that help my community such as visiting the elderly

at the local retirement home, serving food in the feast of sharing and assisting in the Relay for Life. Although not exactly athletic, l also participate in extracurricular activities like softball and cross country. I may not exceed completely in any of these deeds, but I certainly strain my mind and body beyond its natural strength to make sure I am the best I can be. With my stubborn quality, I will not quit till I get it right!

In the future, I plan to dedicate my life to becoming a Pediatrician. Evolving into a Pediatrician would be a dream of mine, for children are the only angelic thing left in this irrational realm. Children are the purest form of life, since they haven’t yet been influenced by the mess surrounding them. Even when at fault, youngsters remain the light of day for their sins aren’t as ruthless

as a grown individual. I would adore being of help to the immaculate less damaged part of our society or kids. Children are the future of our universe so we should concentrate into keeping them in one piece.

After completing my schooling, joining the Red Cross or the Peace Corps would be the next step in my blueprint. Prior to the invention of television, computers, and other luxuries, life for humans was more creative. No one had electronics to entertain themselves; they were far too busy surviving. In the furthermost portions of the planet today, one can catch a glimpse of that slightly extinct past. These untouched paradises exist in the undeveloped parts of the world that not a lot of people care about, leaving them plenty of time to connect with nature. These cultures are far less complex

and materialistic , instead they are amused by the simple curiosities of creation. I would delight in learning about their unfamiliar humble nature by traveling to their sanctuary. American life is wonderful don’t get me wrong but traveling the world, interacting with different cultures, and helping God’s people in the processes is a lifetime better.

Consequently, being a part of your program would be the first step to accomplishing my life plan. It would certainly give me life experience rather than being in the safe bubble I’m in at the moment. While doing all this I would be helping not just myself but others as well. I might not be the perfect person or student but I will sure give it my heart and soul if selected!

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Criminal RGC Justice operation Association clean sweep

Bling Ring Criminal Sisters present Justice Roaring 20’s Association meet & greet for Sierra Bailey

Starr county’s Criminal got talent 3 Justice by The Association psychology club

Criminal

RGC Rabies Justice Clinic & Fido Association Photo-Op

Criminal

Welcome Justice baby Diego

Association