The Life Magazine

EMILIANO ZAPATA LAND AND LIBERTY Page 8

GREEN EMERALD

COLOR OF THE YEAR Page18

OVERWEIGHT CHILDREN WAYS TO GET KIDS EXERCISING Page 6

Dear Life Lovers

February is the month of LOVE. Doesn’t that thought just make you smile (or in some cases make you want to throw something across the room?) The color red, flowers, gifts, dinners, wine, hugs, kisses and chocolate. That is what comes to mind in an instant when thinking of February and Valentine’s. It is also a good time to show a little gratitude to the people who make

your life better, easier, and in some cases makes your world brighter.

Mitch D’Arte is one of those people that make my life better, brighter, happier, and full of color and light! She also does that for the individuals who lay eyes on her fine art, mixed media, and “green” creations through being a selfproclaimed “picker”. UnobyMitch leather cuffs are one of many lines

of “green” art that Mitch does by bringing life back into items that have been used and forgotten.

I wanted to share a snip it of this creative soul through the pages of THE LIFE. Flip over and enjoy getting to know her a little better and look for all her art at Cowboy Couture in the Lopez-Tijerina courtyard in historical downtown RGC (Cowboy Couture ad on the back cover).

Art Walk is in full swing! This month’s Art Walk is February 7th at La Borde House and each one this year is going to be special.

Professional photographer Hector Astorga is being featured

by RGC Library in the parlor and his works are so amazing (www. hectorastorga.com)! The RGC Greater Chamber of Commerce is doing something super COOL this month at Art Walk too. Kapten Sino (you can find him on Facebook) is a professional graffiti artist and he has graciously donated his talent

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and time to do a LIVE piece of art on four door panels that will be auctioned off. All of the money will be donated to La Borde House as a donation from the RGC Chamber to help with keeping this RGC gem sparkly. La Borde House is a very important part of Starr County’s history and upkeep is expensive.

We hope to encourage others to donate, fundraise, and make La Borde House a priority. Find more information on La Borde House at www.labordehouse.com This month we also begin a long term commitment to bring you updates on the Boys and Girls Club of Rio Grande City.

Just completing an extremely successful year we want to share with the community the extraordinary stories on the kids, families, volunteers, and staff that make our BGCRGC so special!

Enjoy!

Giselle Villarreal

TEAM facebook.com

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www.thelifemagazine.weebly.com President / Editor in Chief

Vice President

Creative Director

Cover Photographer

Account Executive

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. Giselle Villarreal

Mayor Ruben O. Villarreal

Roy Bazan

Roel Reyes

Ruby Perez

Events Photographer

Health & Fitness Editor

Fashion Editor

Sales Associate

Historian

Aracely Vasquez

Renea Perez

Yirla Nolan

Kassandra Ramos

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By: Renea Perez I’ve watched some of the new episodes of The “Biggest Loser” kids edition and I’m so inspired to help other kids get active! My own son is a natural runner who has over three 5ks and has incredible time! He gets excited about new races coming up and even prefers getting “running clothes and shoes” over toys these days. I love that my kids and some of my clients children get to see us training on a daily basis. I’m hoping that when they grow up they will make being fit a lifestyle!

Is your child a couch potato?

Physical activity is essential to lose weight or maintain a normal weight. If your child is a TV junkie, obsessed with video games, or a full-time internet surfer chances are he or she is not getting enough physical activity. With all the advice you hear about weight loss, diets, and fitness there is one fundamental reason why kids get fat: they eat more calories than they burn.

So how can you get your kids off the couch and burning calories? Here are some simple ways to add activity to their daily

Health

Healthier Kids “Most kids spend 20 hours or more a week watching TV, playing video games, or surfing the web and not much time running, playing, or getting physical”

schedule and maybe lose a few pounds yourself!

Take a family walk. I hear there is a gorgeous Basilio Villarreal park full of play areas, jungle gyms and a walking trail! There is your starting point! Even if it’s 20 or 30 minutes after dinner it can make a difference in your child’s level of fitness and in turn

If every time you ask your child to go outside and play he or she whines to let them finish one more video game or chat for five more minutes with a friend, you need to set the rules in advance. Most kids spend 20 hours or more a week watching TV, playing video games, or surfing the web and

become “family time”.

If your children earn an allowance try to add chores that have a physical component, such as mowing the lawn, raking leaves, or sweeping.

not much time running, playing, or getting physical. Make a deal with them: for every 3 hours they surf the web or watch TV, they have to do 1 hour of something physical. Physical doesn’t have to

be exercise. Your child can add physical activity throughout the day in a number of ways.

If they promised when you bought that cute puppy that they would walk the dog, make them stick to the promise. Buy a Frisbee and they will get even more exercise playing catch with the dog.

If you have a workout routine, why not include your children?

If they learn young that this is a normal part of daily life, they are more likely to incorporate exercise into their lives permanently.

If it is safe for your child to walk home from school or from the school bus stop, let them walk instead of picking them up. If you and a number of other parents live within a mile of the school and don’t like your kids to walk home alone, why not start a “walk pool” instead of a car pool! Each week a different parent joins a group of kids to walk home from school.

Always remember that children learn most everything through example. So if you serve as a good example of a person who cares about fitness, they will value fitness in their lives. GET FIT! STAY HEALTHY!

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History

Tierra y Libertad By: Modesto Ramirez My father once told me “great men can and often come from humble beginnings” The Historical figure Emiliano Zapata embodies this very notion. He was for all accounts an uneducated campesino, who rose above abject poverty to lead the army of the south to many glorious victories, and in the opinion of this humble historian is the true hero of the revolution.

As I mentioned in last month’s column, the majority of the countryside peasants or “Paisanos” lived in an almost enslaved state of living. The rich and powerful Hacienda owners controlled the lives of these people. Making life impossible for them to progress or make a name for themselves.

By the time that Emiliano Zapata was 30 he was no longer seen as illiterate, so much so that he had garnered the respect of his village and elected to the office of “Alcalde” (Mayor).

During this time he fought for agrarian reform, beckoning the call of the redistribution of land to the peasants. He was heavily influenced by Ricardo Flores Magon, who is credited for bringing the idea of Anarchism into Mexico.

His influence is clearly seen in the Plan De Anaya, where Zapata wrote in favor Tierra y Libertad, “Land and Liberty” With his political ideology in check he was soon on his way to war. Recruiting soldiers for the most part was not difficult; many were drawn by the big crowds and the charisma of the dark skinned leader. On May 11, 1911 General Zapata with around 4,000 men took part in the battle of Cuautla. What was then called the 6 darkest and bloodiest days of the revolution is now hailed as a turning point in the Mexican Revolution.

General Zapata laid siege to the town of Cuautla in the state of Morelos with a force of 4,000 against a mere 400 federales.

However, these 4,000 Zapatistas were undisciplined and unequipped to face a veteran force of 5th Federal Cavalry. By the 12th the Zapatista force had the town fully surrounded and was poised on laying the town to ruin.

General Zapata called for an unconditional surrender on behalf of the federales, to which the commander said “as long as I have breath and a cartridge”.

The federales may have been outnumbered but they had the advantage of being on the high

-Emiliano Zapata ground, on the first day of the siege they were able to kill 300 Zapatistas. However, on the 14th, the tide soon changed in favor of the Zapatistas, using rather unconventional and some would say barbaric means of conducting war. The Zapatistas began to burn the surrounding buildings in hope of driving the federales out, and in the process, dozens of civilians and

the city. Two days after the battle the treaty of Ciudad Juarez was signed thus concluding the initial fighting of the Mexican Revolution.

Join me in next month’s column where I dig into the history of the famous or some say infamous Pancho Villa.

soldiers were burned alive. By the 19th of May, the Zapatistas held

modestoramirez14@yahoo.com

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That Winged-Chubby, Bow and Arrow carrying Fella By: Roy Chubasco I am not sure whether to blame Hallmark, Godiva, Russell Stover, the FTD florist, or the mythical, overzealous chubby character called Cupid. After a short respite from Christmas, it is time for guys to venture into the murky unknowns of places like 2nd Street Fashions, Casa Victorianna, Cowboy Couture, or other boutiques in search of the perfect girly gift. I learned long ago that appliances, gift cards, or work out videos just don’t do the trick. Hence, dudes are forced to put on their happy face as they weigh the options for a gift that is sweet, adorned by hearts, and smothered in red. I know most ladies make easy work of walking into a store and walking out with a perfect something that says “I love you” in the right way.

This skill unfortunately is not shared by many men. A guy will walk into a store and walk out with something that says “let’s go hunting”, “golf is life” or “gone fishing”. This obviously means he walked into the wrong store by mistake… and if you believe that Elvis is playing at the Super Bowl half time show.

Yes, it may seem simple but the only part that is in fact simple is the action of wadding up the receipt after your purchase and stuffing it in your pocket for not-so-safe keeping. Right about now I am going back to my original question of who to blame and tell y’all that I am pretty sure that this hoopla has something to do with Valentine’s Day and some dude named Saint Valentine. O’l Roy is going to do

a little prospecting for information on the origins of the St. Valentine’s day heart filled frenzy. Who knows, if I can track down St. Valentine himself maybe I can hand him the bill for the special something I am surely buying my gal.

The history of St. Valentine is very mysterious and involves up to possibly three men called St. Valentine. I suppose these folks were the Mr. Smith of their time. One thing is for sure, they

performed many secret weddings between the warrior and their honeys. I guess a soldier needs more than a shield and sword to fight with purpose. Of course this led to one upset Roman emperor who imprisoned St. Valentine and made arrangements for his execution. That is not it! Things are about to get mushier. The captive priest grew very fond of the jailer’s daughter who visited him regularly. One of his last acts

were all martyrs. That is a fancy way of saying that they died for a passionate and memorable cause. Perhaps a favorite story and one worthy of a Lifetime TV special tells the tale of a priest who defied Roman law by continuing to marry Roman soldiers in spite of the emperor’s decree to cease this practice. The holy man apparently felt that soldiers deserved love and

before death was sending the young lady a message that read… are you ready for this… “From your Valentine” (sound familiar?). With violins playing and birds chirping in the trees, the greeting card business was born just like that.

I’ll bet Hallmark and American Greeting have this dude in their hall of fame for romantic head over heels in love fools. Another

lovey-dovey guy that also goes in this hall of fame is 14th century poet Geoffery Chaucer. It was he through his literary work which brought romance and love into harmony with St. Valentine’s Day. Its sort of like having the movie “Jerry Maguire” connected to the same “Show me the money!”

By the 15th century St. Valentine’s Day became an occasion for lovers to express love by gifting cards, flowers, candies, and the occasional Dian Malouf ring. (I threw the last one in cuz my gal loves her stuff.) It didn’t take long, around the 14th century, for hand written notes to give way to mass produced “From your Valentine” greeting cards. The other familiar gifts soon followed.

After reading all this, I am pretty sure I am not going to find St. Valentine which means I can’t expect help from him to pay for my Valentine expenses. Worst yet, that winged-chubby, bow and arrow carrying fella called Cupid is no help either. Last time I checked he was wrapped in a loin cloth that didn’t have pockets. This can only mean that there is no bill fold, no credit cards, no money and no luck on having him foot the bill for my red hear-shaped presents. No worries though… I am still carrying around the love drenched arrow he used on me when I fell in love.

As far as I am concerned the darn thing is priceless. Happy Valentine’s Day y’all!!

That is the way I see it under these Starry skies… The One and ONLY Roy Chubasco.

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The Vibrant

Brush Strokes of

By: Mayor Ruben O. Villarreal The evening was a bit balmy and everyone was dressed in white. Scores of people shuffled about happy and excited. We were attending an outdoor wedding and found ourselves scanning the crowd for a bunch of friends invited to the same event. An enthusiastic wave and big smile called us over. As my wife and I greeted the group, we noticed a new face. Uniquely this unfamiliar person did not at all emit the vibe of a stranger. Instead the pretty girl had a beckoning quality about her. Her hand shake was warm

as was her patient demeanor.

With a reluctant and shy grin she said, “Hi my name is Mitch”. This in brief detail paints the picture of how we came to first meet Mitch D’Arte. Please refer back on this text to the word, “Paint” because Mitch D’Arte is an artist and a very special one at that.

The artist called Mitch is really named Maricela who hails from Hidalgo, Tx. Her nickname came by way of a brother with a speaking impediment. Mitch was his way of saying Maricela and as is the case with things like this, the name

Mitch stuck. As a child she knew that she had some sort of ability but nothing overly pronounced.

It was not until her middle school years that her hidden ways were nurtured by a teacher and friend.

This encouragement was the catalyst Mitch D’Arte needed to go from raw talent to motivated artistry. With her teacher and pal as a mentor, job opportunities began to materialize well into her adulthood. This was a big deal for a poor girl from a Hidalgo, TX barrio. As things would have it, after graduating from college

Mitch became the art teacher to replace her mentor at the same middle school where her talent began. Surprisingly her passion for art has taken long respites of inactivity. Early on, her drive to create stayed dormant for almost two decades. Needless to say, she bounced back in resounding fashion.

Today what Mitch calls art is a combination of works on canvas, pulga finds, dumpster treasures, and “going green” accessories.

Painting with bold, vibrant, and culturally infused colors is her

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Mitch

passion. Her Mexican-American heritage makes her strong and trail blazing but this characteristic also inspires her strong cultural themes which pour from her fingertips.

Mitch can truly say that she has never met a pulga or dumpster she didn’t love. Items purchased and discovered in flea markets or large trash receptacles get a dust removal treatment that includes a firm yet tender application of rejuvenation. Perhaps the pinnacle of scaling the “go green” mountain of accessory creation is the Uno

by Mitch leather cuffs. Years ago

Mitch attended a festival and ran across leather cuffs produced by an artist valued at around $300. She said out loud, “I can do that!” The corner stone of her signature cuffs is originality, affordability, and the repurposing of old leather belts.

She takes pride in the stories each of these belts contains and takes pleasure in bringing them back to life. To Mitch, this is going “green” in a one of a kind stylish way. Like she says with a smile, “I was green when green meant poor”.

Another corner stone to her art in all its forms is the religious

D’Arte

themes that dance vividly in her mind and echo of a memorable childhood. Upon visiting Rio Grande City for one of the first times, she immediately knew that this community fit her style, her sensibilities, and her rich and prideful love of culture. All though her works are found in McAllen and Houston, she, I believe, has discovered that many in Rio Grande City embrace her work with the grasp of an appreciative hand or the beat of a passionate heart.

To find her art you don’t have to go further than Rio Grande City’s

historical downtown and it’s LopezTijerina Courtyard. The flavor and spirit of this old world center is the perfect backdrop to highlight the essence of her work. Cowboy Couture is the “Art Boutique” that proudly showcases Mitch’s fine art, mixed media, and her unique “green” perspective that include prayer nichos, Uno by Mitch leather cuffs, and her wondrous dumpster dive discoveries!

www.unobymitch.com

Rattler Basketball

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MORE PICTURES ON OUR PAGE

AUSTIN, Texas -- State Representative Ryan Guillen (D-District 31) began the new legislative session in service to the people of South Texas following his swearing in at the opening of the 83rd Legislative Session.

“I am truly honored to have earned the trust of South Texas families once again,” Representative Guillen noted. Inspired by his late mother’s conviction that people and community must come first, Rep. Guillen has devoted his life to public service in an effort to make South Texas even better.

Guillen added that he intends to prioritize the issues most important to south Texas families. “I want to reassure South Texas families that I will continue to listen and work hard.”

Among the issues Rep. Guillen identified as key

during the 2013 Legislative Session, were education, transportation and water. He also added that caring for and protecting our Seniors and the disabled, honoring our Veterans, protecting property rights, keeping our communities safe, and sustaining Texas’ competitive business climate continue to top his legislative agenda. “I want the people of South Texas to know that they have a tireless advocate with an insistent voice when it comes to these and other important issues,” Rep. Guillen stated.

Rep. Guillen serves on the Public Education Committee and Chairs the Culture, Recreation & Tourism Committee. He has filed over 30 bills as of the first week of session and expects to file more before the filing deadline in March.

Texas State Representative Ryan Guillen is serving

in his sixth term in the Texas House representing House District 31, which includes the South Texas counties of Atascosa, Brooks, Duval, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, La Salle, Live Oak, McMullen, Starr, and Willacy.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact: Rebecca Erickson, Communications Director 512-463-0416, 512-897-9934 Rebecca.Erickson@House.State.Tx.Us

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Fashion

Emerald Green-The COLOR of the YEAR

By: Yirla Rubi Gonzalez Nolan

Get ready to see emerald green everywhere! This color was just recently named as the color for fashion trends in 2013. Green usually portrays nature and purity but this year’s lush vibrant hue will promote more balance and harmony. Here are a few ways to rock your emerald.

Bluefly.com has a great sale on their emerald green James Jean. Usually retailing at 176.00 you can snag them for only 50.00! These have a skinny leg and stretch fabric element to contour perfectly with your body. It will be a perfect pair to wear with some cool combat boots.

One of my favorite ways to wear this color is by using it in accessories.

Asos.com has the Whistles Cecile Belt with a pony hair effect fabric on sale for 30.00 but the quality and look of this belt screams lots of money. Try it with a whole black ensemble and placing it at the smallest part of your waist to give yourself a smaller yet curvier effect. Best part of it is the availability to dress up or down an outfit.

On a breezy sunny day you gather with friends at the park for some delightful fun. Make sure to clad in the Print loose fit dress from Mango.com. It has the cutest floral print that scream girlie in a grown up way. You can have this dress for only 30.00 and have change for some cute sandals to pair it with.

Urban Decay makes some of the best eye shadows in the business. So I was so glad when I saw their new eye shadow named Bender. The metallic eye shadow with speckles of gold comes in a richer and smoother formula recently revamped by the company. The color will make sure to make your eyes pop while you have a night out in town.

Stop by Cowboy Couture in Rio Grande City at the Lopez-Tijerna shops for gorgeous Manic Trout emerald bling!

Wear it subtly with “lil bits” on your ears for only $10 which is a great way to show off the color of the year with just a little POP! Everyone gets away with wearing this universally flattering color. Your options are endless. Whatever way you decide to wear this color, it is important to have fun with it!

Your POW Sister and Fashionista, Editor & Stylist For tough fashion questions contact me at

Myfashgasm.com • yirlarubi@gmail.com

Criminal Southern Justice Evolution Association

Daenna Criminal Guerra’s Justice “Cowboy” Association Baby Shower

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Boys & Girls Club: The New Generation The Boys and Girls Club of Rio Grande City is before anything else, a safe haven for all young people.

It is also a place where youth can explore other talents and discover the potential they have in them.

These are our protégés. Lastly and the most important is that they find mentors. The idea of a mentor isn’t a new concept. All of us have that one mentor that we remember.

At the Boys and Girls Club of Rio Grande City our youth will find great role models. That is why we exist. We teach them to strive for excellence and goodness.

In this month’s article we would like to highlight a family that has both served the Boys and Girls Club and been served by our movement. Mariela Resendez and Mia Resendez have been with the Boys and Girls Club since the beginning. Both girls are bright, smart and respectful children. In one year we have seen their talents and wisdom grow beyond their years. They never give up. Mariela is a cheerleader with Venom and is very successful. At the club she was shown to conquer her fears when she performed in our production

Much of this is possible because of our parents. Home life is where it begins. Parents are usually the first role model of a child. The Boys and Girls Club movement is about filling in any gaps and being the extra mentor working with families to produce caring, responsible and productive adults. We want our youth to chase big dreams and to never look back. We want them to never quit on their road to success.

That is what we teach, that is what we preach, and that is what we believe in. We are introducing a new column in which you will first hand see the evolution of the youth of Rio Grande City right before your eyes. Behold the Future.

of “Beauty and the Beast“and recently as a leader through our Money Matters program. When asked about her club experience she shared the following, “We are more mature, and we are more responsible. I liked the play because we were actually doing something fun. I like going to the boys and girls club because the staff is nice, friendly, and I have a lot of fun, especially when you let me take care of some of the classes.” Her younger sister, Mia is caring and likes to have fun. She deeply looks up to her sister. She is not one to admit it to everyone but our members do know they can open up with our staff. She loves to

py Hap y da Birth Vero Signature Criminal Coffee House Justice White & Black Association Acoustic Night

run, have fun, and just be happy.

“You all taught me how to forgive.

Like when we get into little fights and you all are there to help us. I like everything about it.”

Their success is no accident.

It was led by their parents, their teachers and now us. The club is certainly thankful for Mr. Gilbert Resendez and Mrs. Christina Resendez. These are the first parents that showed support to our club. They had helped with many of our projects but most of all they have worked with our staff in a joint effort to assure the success of their girls. Without their overwhelming support we would not see the amount of success that the Boys and Girl Club of Rio

Grande City has seen. This is a first class example of a unified family.

The club has witnessed the strength of this family every day. Consider yourself lucky to have children in our future that have had this kind of guidance. The future is in good hands.

The kids are the link that holds the past, the present and the future together. Behold the new generation.

For information please call BGCRGC Director Dina Garcia at 956-451-2681 Boys and Girls Club is located at the Basilio Villarreal Municipal Park

Criminal Miss Justice Starr Association

County

RGCISD Criminal School Board Justice Appreciation Association Ceremony

Miss Starr County is Tanya Rodriguez, Miss RGC is Karina Barrera (both of RGC High School), the Jr. Miss Starr Co is Hunter Pena (Veterans Middle School), Little Miss Starr Co is Jayda Garcia (Dr. Mario Ramirez Elem.) and Tiny Miss is Mia Dali Cantu (YB Escobar Elem. in Roma)