The Life Magazine

MARCH 2013

PANCHO VILLA

THE MAN, THE MYTH AND THE LEGEND Page 14

PEPLUM PERFECT

POPULAR STYLE STILL GOING STRONG

Page 8

GOALS TO A BETTER YOU ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS Page 6

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Dear Life Lovers Handsome, charismatic, talented, and Starr proud… these are a few of the qualities of a group known to all of Starr County as Solido. I had the great honor to hang out with them the day we did the photo shoot for this issue and it was such a pleasure to be in their company.

In 1749, Spain settled the area we now call the Rio Grande Valley, thus was born the Tejano (a Texan of Mexican heritage).

Leal, Martin. “The Evolution of Tejano Music.”

Tejano History Web. http://www.ondanet. com/tejano/tejhistory.html Tejano music has evolved since 1749 but the origin has always been South Texas and a strong concentration of talent has been and still is from Starr County. The day THE LIFE Magazine team set out to shoot Solido, Ben, the owner and lead singer, was excited to share the great news of their recent album’s success; number 6 in the Billboard Top Latin Album charts in the company of Jenny Rivera, Andrea Bocelli and Mana. WOW! My husband, Mayor Ruben Villarreal, had the opportunity (plus he is a much better writer than I am) to sit down with Ben De Leon to bring you some personal insight to their

story about coming of age in our South Texas region. To get to the meat and potatoes of this story scroll over to page 12 and enjoy.

February in Starr County should be called Starr County Fair month. The entire community is working hard to volunteer, participate, shop for, or enjoy the festivities of this grand affair. To capture and share what this event entails would take the entire magazine so we condensed it to two pages of beautiful pictures provided by Tissa Peterson on page 22. Congratulations to all the winners of the events that took place for the Starr County Fair.

March is upon us and spring is in the air with spring break, hot weather (SUPER hot weather), baseball in full swing, track and field, plus all the graduates seeing the end of their senior in the horizon. We love great stories and beautiful pictures that capture important moments so send them over… you never know, we may place it in the magazine, make a feature or make it our COVER. If you think it has those possibilities send it to socialifestarr@gmail.com.

Giselle Villarreal

TEAM facebook.com

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/thelife956

/thelifemagazine

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

Yirla Nolan

Renea Perez

Kassandra Ramos

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Health

Goals to a better you By: Renea Perez Setting Attainable Goals to a Better YOU! What are your health and fitness dream goals? Is it to improve your appearance, better physical skill, to build endurance, flexibility or strength, or to lose weight?

Fitness goal setting is important because you undermine yourself with goals that are too longterm or impossible to attain. For example; “I want to lose all my extra weight before summer” is too unrealistic. Too often fitness goal setting is an end result of whatever program we choose, and not a part of it. Make shortterm attainable goals that give you a sense of accomplishment

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which will motivate you to achieve the next fitness goal.

For example, setting a goal to lose 10 pounds is too broad and not specific on how you will attain this goal. Setting a goal to join an aerobics class and attend it three

times a week for two months is a clear attainable goal. Cutting out all bread from your diet for two months is also an attainable goal that can be clearly achieved with a plan.

Write your goals down so you have something to look forward to as well as back on to see your progress. Map out no more than eight weeks of activities towards your first fitness goal, while working within your lifestyle to create a fitness program. It’s not necessary to work out every day when starting

completed your workout.

Not everyone is looking at fitness and health to lose weight.

Perhaps you are just looking to better your health. In most cases we begin this type of program when our health is already failing or less than stellar.

Try to follow through on sound health principles such as enough sleep, a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. With the pressures of the fast pace world in which we live, stress can set in and can take its toll so setting simple goals of

a new fitness program. Exercising every other day at the beginning is a safe and realistic goal. Keep track of how much time you want to spend doing an activity and log in actual time after you have

sleep, healthy food choices, and exercise are important.

The old saying, “At least I have my health” is finally starting to mean something to a great deal of people.

Ask yourself the following questions to begin a healthier lifestyle:

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1.

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What is my current exercise goal this month?

What gets in my way when starting or continuing a balanced health maintenance program?

What is my target weight and what is my plan plus timeframe to get there?

How can I get more sleep?

What is my ideal overall appearance?

Would a personal trainer help me develop and reach my fitness goal setting more effectively and can I afford one?

How can I eat healthier and what can I change in order to eat healthier without getting bored?

What books and classes can I take to improve upon my health?

Is it time for me to go in for a complete physical?

How can I reduce or completely eliminate alcohol, chemical dependencies and/or smoking in my body?

You have to be honest with yourself at all times when it comes to fitness goal setting. You should also consult a doctor before making any changes to your diet or exercise regimen to ensure that you will not harm yourself. Now, get started!

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Fashion

Peplum Perfect

By: Yirla Rubi Gonzalez Nolan

Perfect for any occasion!

Take it from the office to the party.

“Paris Beige” Peplum Top, $22.70, Shelikes.com

Peplums hit this spring with full force. You have probably seen this style around for a couple of seasons but it is not ready to die down. Peplums ooze a retro feel while it keeps a feminine touch that appreciates the female silhouette. This trend was modeled everywhere on the runways, but it’s now your turn to model!

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

Myfashgasm.com yirlarubi@gmail.com

Accessorize it with gold, and the color combo will be a hit this spring!

“Mint Scuba” Peplum Dress, $38, DorothyPerkins.com

Great for “Mad Men” style office wear.

“Red” Peplum Skirt, $57, MissSelfridge.com

It screams “I’m ready to rule the world!”

“Wine Studded Cap Sleeve” Peplum Top, $29.99, ditailsboutique.com

Ideal outfit for your weddings and galas to attend.

“Dream Outloud” Peplum Dress, $12.99, Selena Gomez Collection, Sears

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The timeless cool of a leather jacket By: Roy Chubasco The loud thunder captured my attention... Ok, maybe it wasn’t thunder, but it was louder than my cousin Ernest asking for more ketchup at Whataburger. The two wheel steed casually rolled down the road demonstrating its bravado with every passing white line. With the suddenness of a falling bowling ball, the shiny chrome cycle stopped and with the power of tip toeing steel toed boots eased backed into a parking space. The rider was rotund with a beard three days short of being scruffy. As he dismounted the motorcycle, I couldn’t help but notice the array of accessories that accompanied this aficionado of the open road. He wore the proper gloves, the right skull and cross bone bandana, moderately rigid chaps, and of course he had an asphalt gulping Harley Davidson motorcycle. However, of all these add on options the one article that drew my eye was a stylish semi faded leather jacket. It didn’t matter that the fade on the coat was created by a commercial buffing machine.

What did matter was the lore and mystique that came fastened to the leather jacket like a special button of achievement. Yes, in the traffic jam of tantalizing visuals my attention fell to a garment that almost single handedly created cool, suave, and an edgy personification available to anyone who dares don the classic and timeless leather jacket. At this point, it looks like Ol’Roy will sharpen his No.2 pencil and shed

some light on the history of the legendary black and or brown leather jacket.

To get to the roots of the black leather coat we must get through

in their harsh winter conditions. By World War II these jackets of the wild blue yonder became known as Bomber Jackets. They were a crucial part of keeping the fly

a Hershey chocolate bar colored rainbow of other coats. It is worth mentioning that the materials used for these coats include buckskin, antelope, cowhide, lambskin, and banana skin. The last one is a joke because that is what I call Ernest’s plastic leather jacket that he considers cool. In the early 1900’s brown leather flight jackets were worn by aviators and military men.

Around the same time Bolsheviks from the Russian civil war had as a part of their daily apparel leather coats which were much needed

boys warm as they flew at high altitudes. I suppose being “cool” to them was about as important as finding funny shapes in the clouds.

It didn’t take long for Hollywood to catch on to the uniqueness of this grit-infused brown bomber jacket.

Good examples of famous wearers of the bombs-away-coat are Gary Cooper, Maverick from Top Gun, and one of my favorites Indiana Jones. Heck, Ol’ Indy almost makes me toss out my cowboy hat in favor of a fedora.

Now excuse me as I slip into

something more shadowy, dark and “cool”. The black leather jacket like its brown cousin the bomber jacket has a mystique that is singular and entrenched in a legacy of rebellion, toughness, and sophistication. One of the first icons to wear these dark coats was Marlon Brando who wore a Schott black leather Perfecto motorcycle jacket in the 50’s movie “The Wild One”.

What made this jacket different was its design. The Perfecto was cropped at the waist, had zipper pockets and sleeves, and it was fashioned from durable, stout leather. Importantly, the Schott jacket was designed to withstand the rigors of the open road, and it was undoubtedly drenched in all sorts of “cool”. Some notable black leather jacket icons who have attained larger than life status are; The Fonz (“Heyyy!”), Danny Zuko of Grease, Neo of the Matrix,, The Terminator (“I’ll be back”), and James Dean. The list goes on to include other facets of Society like Judas Priest, The Ramones, and The Black Panthers of the 1960’s.

It is truly incredible just how much presence a simple leather jacket can create. It is a difference between being timeless and just wasting time. It is a difference between trying to remember and being unforgettable. It is true that a simple leather jacket can’t do it all, but it can certainly do an awful lot when you are trying to create “cool” in one beautiful swift motion.

That’s the way I see it under these Starry skies, Roy Chubasco

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History

Pancho Villa By: Modesto Ramirez He is the man, the myth, and the legend; He is Pancho Villa. A man who is now seen as a hero to the Mexican culture wasn’t always seen that way. My job as a historian is to expose the truth, as painful as that may be or as evil a man may be. As I have always told you, my friends, history cannot be viewed in a cavalier sense it must be viewed as it was done.

He was born in the small ranchito of El Coyotada in 1875 to the impoverished Villa family.

From all accounts his life was fairly uneventful until around the time he was 16. Legend has it that his sister was raped by the son of the local hacienda owner by the name of Agustin Negrete (this is where some historians have said Pancho Villas hatred for the hacenderos stems from) which Pancho Villa is rumored to have shot. Again, this is pure folklore and I do not know if this actually happened, but for the sake of this article let’s put that aside.

The young Pancho Villa is known to have fled into the mountains of the Sierra Madre to live an outlaw life. In 1902 he is arrested and sentenced to hang for his role in a local horse theft ring. Rather than being killed he

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-Pancho Villa decided to join the Federales or the federal army. Not soon after he deserted and headed out to the state of Chihuahua. It was during this time that he was told

by Abraham Gonzalez (a local representative for Francisco Madero) that his banditry was actually hurting the Hacenderos his lifelong sworn enemy.

This is where the story of Pancho Villa gets complicated.

He was leading a decent size of Cavalrymen until his rival Orozco

by firing squad. Straight out of a dramatic movie when he is lined up at the wall the executioners receive a telegram from Madero telling them to halt the execution and rather than killing him sentence him to imprisonment. The cunning Pancho Villa unsurprisingly escapes and returns to his men.

Through hard work he is able to recruit men into his ranks until he is finally the leader of the army of the north.

Even though Pancho Villa

accused him of stealing horses.

He was then sentenced to death

was not an educated man he is; however, considered a brilliant

military tactician. He led several battles into Saltilo, Rellano Torreon and his most famous battle, the raid on Columbus, New Mexico.

As a result of this battle, the United States led General John “Black Jack” Pershing into Mexico to try and flush him out. For months on end the Americans tried in vain to capture Villa but they failed. Villa knew the land and the people. He hid out in the Sierra Madres until things died down.

A note on this story: You may have noticed this article seems a little rushed. My apologies; the truth is there is so much about this man we call Pancho Villa. I am only given a limited amount of space to work with. If you are interested in learning more about the man called Villa pick up a book because there is so much that the internet leaves out. Email me if you have any questions because I always enjoy discussing history with friends over a cup of coffee.

Join me in next month’s column where I will write a 2 month series on the famous Ranches of Texas.

Yours truly Modesto Ramirez Jr Follow me on Facebook and email any questions or story ideas to

modestoramirez14@yahoo.com

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Young Passionate Volunteers Boys and Girls Clubs are traditionally known for the development of youth but we are slowly making a shift with the introduction of our teen services. Teen services, like most everything else, stems from a need of activities in the community for this age group. Over the course of the time we have seen an increase of teenagers volunteering. What started as a place for them to help out became their first job training which created the opportunity to grow our Junior Staff program.

The Boys and Girls Club of Rio Grande City is proud to highlight four Junior Staff members who take initiative and pride in being a part of our “staff”; Miranda Salinas, Jazary Gonzalez, David Longoria and Noah Gutierrez.

The reasons they ended up at the club are all different but the reasons they have become a huge part of the daily routine is because of the positive change they have seen in their lives. “I feel like volunteering here changed my attitude towards things and really got me focused on what I’m going to do with my career and my future,” David Longoria expresses.

Each one has an individual story with unique challenges. They come from different backgrounds,

(Miranda Salinas not shown) family structures and ideals. The commonality that they share is a place to belong plus the extended family they instantly have within our walls. The greatest gift they have given us is creating a program that the members of BGCRGC can’t wait to be a part of! They are leading by example during

their life outside our walls.

“The power we have as community leaders, teachers, parents and direct influences on each of our children is extremely sensitive. How we treat the children we come in contact with is a direct reflection of how they will behave. Boys and Girls Club of Rio

our after school program and our hope is this extends into the rest of

Grande City treats the Junior Staff with love and respect which has

proven to create in them positive character growth.”-Dina Garcia Pena Director of BGCRGC

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

Parade

IBC Starr County Fair Dinner

Cook Off

Criminal Justice Association

Criminal Justice Association

Starr County Fair Pageant Winners

Wild Game Dinner

Parade of Champs

Criminal Justice Association

Starr County Fair Queen and Court Crowned --- The 2013 Starr County Fair Queen and court were crowned at the annual Youth Fair Pageant held Sunday evening in the Rio Grande City CISD Auditorium.

Alejandra Vargas is the 2013 Queen. A sophomore at Rio Grande City High School, Alejandra is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Vargas.

Teen Princess is Celeste Emie Cantu, daughter of Emilio and Sally Cantu, an eighth grader at Veterans Middle School. Sydney Lyann Garcia, daughter of

Mr. and Mrs. Rogelio and Joelda Garcia, is the Pre-Teen Princess. She is in fifth grade at General Ricardo Sanchez

Elementary. Petite Princess is Alma Ruby Pe単a, daughter of Rene and Estrella Pe単a.

She is in kindergarten at

Roque Guerra Jr. Elementary.

Lluvia Li Aldape, daughter of Juan and Mayela Aldape, is the Precious Princess. She is in pre-K at John and Olive Hinojosa Elementary. Starr County Cowboy is Jaime Mendoza III, a third grader at San Isidro Elementary.

Jaime is the son of Patricia Cruz and Jaime Mendoza, Jr. The pageant was sponsored

by Starr County 4-H Council, and 4-Hers volunteered throughout the event. 4-H Club Sweethearts and Beaus were also presented.