Contempo February
2009
The Lifestyle Variety Magazine for the Upper Valley
UTPA Spotlight Marianella Franklin
Contempo Pioneer Brittany Rodriguez Valentine’s Day, Where it all Started
Recovering Deleted Photos
Mexico City’s Chapultepec Castle
Fashion The New Latina
Will Texas Democrats make a Comeback?
Nidia Quintanilla & Christian Pop Diversity in a Turbulent Market
Tequisqiapan Revisited Contempo Woman of the Year, Alida Hernandez the Valley’s No. 1 On-Line Magazine
Keeping Our Senior Drivers Safe page 1 ContempoMag.com
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R
Quisqueya Bakery & Restaurant
Authentic Dominican Cakes amd Cuisine El Punto Del Sabor Criollo
Enticing traditional dishes, layered with ingredients of the land & inspired by native Antillean and hearty Creole recipes, Quisqueya brings the Caribbean to the Valley with mild, tropical spices and culinary specialties using seafood, various meats and vegetables. Discover true ethnic dishes like Mangu, Sancocho, Locrio and La Bandera or a pastelito from our fresh bakery.
3503 N. Ware Rd. / McAllen / one block south of Nolana page 4 Contempo magazine
956-627-3325
Contempo The Lifestyle Variety Magazine for the Upper Valley
ContempoMag.com The Valley’s #1 On-Line Magazine
In This Issue Contempo Pioneer-Brittany Rodriguez
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Valentine’s Day, Where it all Started
14
Mexico City’s Chapultepec Castle
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Will Democrats make a Texas Comeback? 26 Contempo is a publication of Contempo Magazine Inc. All opinions represented are of the authors & not necessarily the views of the publisher. The publisher makes no representations regarding advertising content. Contempo Magazine is a trademark of Contempo Magazine Inc. All rights reserved. All content published and constructed by Contempo Magazine is the property of Contempo Magazine Inc. Permission for reprint shall be granted only upon written request and authorized release from Contempo Magazine Inc.
President/Ralph Magaña Editor/Raul Cabrera Computer Technology Coorespondent/Michael Bilyeu Staff Writer Business & Latin American Affairs/Tony Magaña Medical Issues/Diane Carbo RN Architectural Correspondent/Teresa Morales Fashion & Culture Writer/Crystal Felici Personal Finance/Melissa Magaña Ad Sales/Ralph Magaña Distribution Manager/Rosa Lopez Assc. Editor/Webpage Editor-Tony Magaña Photography/Ralph Magaña 956-467-7880 e-mail: wmagana@rgv.rr.com web site: www.contempomag.com Suite B, PMB#170, 2403 N. 10th. St. McAllen, Tx 78501
Printed in Mexico
Tequisqiapan, Treasure of Central Mexico 28 Contempo Woman of the Year
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Diversity in a Turbulent Market
43
Keeping Our Senior Drivers Safe
44
UTPA Spotlight-Marianella Franklin
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UTPA Pathways to Success
46
Recovering Deleted Photos
49
Fashion-The New Latina
50
Nidia Quintanilla & Christian Pop
53
Contempo Event Calendar-February
55
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Contempo Pioneer
Brittany Rodriguez Charming and graceful.
Brittany Rodriguez, the newly crowned Miss Rio Grande Valley Jr. Teen from Weslaco, Texas, has got what it takes to be a top model at 5’ 10” (without heals). She embodies the classic Latin appearance that has shaped the careers of famous celebrities with Spanish eyes from Rita Hayworth to Raquel Welch to Selma Hayek. She completed her modeling training at Missy’s Modeling Studio in McAllen and has since then landed several shoots and shows wearing winter fashion wear, casual attire and bridal wear. As Miss Rio Grande Valley Jr. Teen, she will compete and represent the Valley at the Miss Texas Jr. Teen Pageant. During her reign she plans on dedicating time for community
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involve ment with upcomming events such as Feast of Sharing and Relay for Life. She also wants to spend time addressing the needs of area children’s hospitals. Brittany enjoys modeling a lot and fits in modeling shoots when she gets a chance in her busy first year at Weslaco High School as a freshman. She just finished the 08-09 volleyball season and is now conditioning for track this spring. Brittany has excelled in academics as well, taking advanced classes while getting perfect scores on TAKS for the last seven years. Although she finds modeling a lot of fun, she is seriously pondering a career in pediatric medicine and plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin after high school. She knows it’s a long road ahead but says “that’s why I’m getting ready now” as a freshman. Brittany is a girl with strong ambitions and exciting dreams and has achieved a lot in a short time. When asked how she stays on track she says “I am so lucky to have supportive parents. They dedicate their time and effort to support my goals and I know these simple things are missing for many families today.” page 10 Contempo magazine
Although just a freshman, Brittany has excelled in academics aswell–taking advanced classess while getting perfect scores on TAKS for the last seven years.
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“My mom is my spirit booster and my dad is the coach,” she tells Contempo as she speaks of her proud parents, Bernard and Debbie Rodriguez of Weslaco. Her mom is the personnel administrator for the Donna Independent School District, and her dad is the Director of Urban Development for the City of Weslaco. Brittany also has a two year-old little sister, Kayla Nicole, that she is just crazy about. Our hats are off for Brittany’s mom, Debbie Rodriguez, a hands on mother with a condecorated career as a teacher, principal and school district adminstrator with a high standard for public service. by Ralph Magaña page 12 Contempo magazine
Š 2006 Cartier
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Valentine’s Day Origins & Reflections
The Royal Mail has revealed images of what is thought to be the world’s oldest Valentine’s Day card–and possibly the most valuable–housed at the British Postal Museum that unfolds to read a poetic valentine message “My Dear, the Heart which you behold, will break when you the same unfold, even so my Heart with lovesick pain sure wounded is and breaks in twain.”
Every February, across the nation, flowers, gifts and can-
For whom it all began, St. Valentine, a priest in Rome during the third century who defied Emperor Claudius II in his effort to outlaw marriages to boost military recruitment for the Empire. He was put to death for performing marriage ceremonies and later became a heroic and romantic figure in western culture.
had been kind by visiting him while he was incarcerated. At the end of this farewell letter, it was signed, “From Your Valentine.” By the Middle Ages, Valentine became a heroic and romantic figure amongst the masses in England and France. Later, when Christianity spread through Rome, the priests moved “Lupercalia” from February 15th to February 14th. Around 498 AD, Pope Gelasius declared February 14th as St. Valentine’s Day to honor the martyr and to end the pagan celebration. Since then St. Valentine has become the patron saint of lovers around the world. February 14th marked the day that lovers everywhere exchanged “valentines” to show their affection for their loved ones. Nowadays, Valentine’s Day has come to be regarded as a celebration of love and not just romantic love. Valentine’s cards are gifted to family members, good friends, and sweethearts. Popularity of Valentine’s Day has spread in countries across the seven continents and is still increasing by the year.
dy are exchanged between loved ones all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint, and why do we celebrate this holiday? There are many stories surrounding the origins of our modern day Valentine’s Day. Most historians trace the origin of Valentine’s Day to the times of the Ancient Roman Empire. It is said that in Ancient Roman times, people celebrated the 14th of February to honor Juno, the queen of Roman gods and goddesses of marriage. The following day, February 15th, was dedicated to the god Lupercus, and this began the pagan celebration called the “Feast of Lupercalia”. At this feast, an interesting custom was practiced to bring together young boys and girls who otherwise were strictly separated. On the eve of the festival, names of young Roman girls were written on a slip of paper and placed into jars. Each young bachelor drew out a girl’s name from the jar and was paired with the girl for the duration of “Lupercalia”. Most times pairing lasted until the following year, but quite often the couple would fall in love and later marry. This Roman “lottery” custom lasted for 800 years. By: Crystal Felici The custom definitely set the mood for our modern Valentine’s Day, but it wasn’t until the efforts and daring attitude of a priest, St. ValenCrystal Felici is a freelance writer based in Los tine, that our holiday gained greater meaning. During the 3rd century Angeles, California. She has traveled the world and recognized a love for different cultures and in Rome, while Claudius II reigned as Emperor, Claudius found it diflanguages just as much as fashion and style. ficult to find soldiers to go to war. He believed that married men or While studying Business at the University of engaged men preferred to not leave their wives and families and, therefore, decided that single men made better soldiers. Soon after, Claudius Dallas, Crystal returned to Europe living in Italy for two different years studying Italian, II outlawed marriage and engagement for young men. and working for a prominent Italian designer. A romantic at heart, Roman priest St. Valentine defied Claudius’s or- After extensive training and experience as a der. Along with St. Marius, St. Valentine secretly married couples, but fashion forecaster and stylist in Florence, when his defiance was discovered, he was brutally beaten, imprisoned Crystal now enjoys writing her own fashion, and later put to death on February 14th. Allegedly, before St. Valentine travel and lifestyle articles. was put to death, it is said that he wrote a love letter to a young girl who page 14 Contempo magazine
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Mexico City’s Chapultepec Castle & National Historic Museum By Ralph Magaña
“Today, and after continuous improvements, Paseo de la Reforma is acclaimed as one of the most gorgeous and busiest roads in the entire world.” View from the Chapultepec Castle Terrace
photos by Ralph Magaña page 16 Contempo magazine
Long portico encasing several wings of the castle-far right shows the glass surround and observatory above the castle residence.
The Chapultepec Park and Lake buffer the castle from the largest city in the western hemisphere.
Located on Mexico City’s west, Chapultepec and its surrounding area make up one of the richest and most dynamic hubs in the city. Chapultepec offers a unique environment where culture, history, and entertainment merge into a paradise of attractions for the enjoyment of both locals and tourists alike. Known as “Mexico City’s Lung” for its dense foliage, Chapultepec is a highly frequented area and home to some of the most important museums in the country, including Anthropology and History, Contemporary Art, Natural History, and Technology. The word Chapultepec—chapul (grasshopper) and tepe (hill)— comes from the Nahuatl idiom spoken by the Mexica civilization which first inhabited Tenochtitlan. Legend says the hill received this name because, at a distance, it resembles the shape of a grasshopper. But the name Chapultepec is also associated with places where natural water springs out like insects from the ground. And, indeed, as early as the mid-1400s, Mexica Emperor Moctezuma I ordered the construction of an aqueduct that would carry fresh spring water from Chapultepec to the people of Mexico-Tenochtitlan. The Spanish conquest of Mexico-Tenochtitlan brought changes to Chapultepec. Viceroy Bernardo de Gálvez began the construction of a mansion in 1785 with the intention of making Chapultepec a rest-and-leisure area for the friends of the crown. To his misfortune, de Gálvez died the following year, and the project was suspended. The structure was then used for the General Archives of New Spain after it failed to find a buyer. It was not until 1806 when the municipality of Mexico City purchased the land and building, which remained abandoned all through the Mexican Independence period (1810-1821) and until it became home to the Mexican Military College in 1844. It was then that the façade of the mansion underwent some of the changes that gave it its current look. Among the most notorious the Valley’s No. 1 On-Line Magazine
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The museum is rich with well preserved antiques from the 12 century. Most exhibits, although centuries old, looked in remarkable condition. guns, jewels, elegant clothing, furniture and great works of art are all around.
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Built on “grasshopper hill”, the Castle is approached by a spiraling brick paved road.
An elevator carried guests to an underground passage at the foot of the hill. the Valley’s No. 1 On-Line Magazine
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Begining with the Emperor, Maximillian, the influence of Parisian Decor floods all interior surfaces with highly detailed dressings indicating great wealth and sophistication. Large pains of stained glass and other finishes were imported from Paris.
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the royal chariage of Emperor Maximilian additions, a tower was built on the highest part of the building. The new appearance and new use also gave rise to a new name: Chapultepec Castle. It is worth noting that, though it is popularly called Chapultepec Castle, historians prefer to refer to it as Castle when they make reference to the building as part of a historical event and Alcazar (from the Arabic word al qasr, meaning palace) when they talk about the residential nature of the structure. Chapultepec Castle symbolizes the Janus face of Mexico’s history, reminiscent of both the saddest and most glorious periods of the nation’s past. It was at this building where the final battle of the Mexican-American War of the 1840s took place. On September 13th, 1847, the castle that was at the time home to the Mexican Military College fell to the hands of US troops. A year later, Mexico’s territory would be cut by nearly half its size and become part of the United States of America, thus changing the geography of an “Absolut World.” Today, three monuments surround the castle to honor the “niños heroes,” a group of young brave cadets who died at the castle defending the Mexican flag during the battle. A couple of decades later, the weakened nation gave way to French influence in the country. French Emperor Maximilian of Hapsburg governed the land, and he and his wife Carlota resided in the castle. Emperor Maximilian added glamour to the tower area by adorning it with gardens and columns. The interiors were filled with fine European furniture, artifacts, paintings, and rugs. He also commanded the construction of an “imperial road” that would directly connect the castle with the heart of Mexico City. Today, and after continuous improvements, Paseo de la Reforma is acclaimed as one of the most gorgeous and busiest roads in the entire world. The end of the French rule in 1867 left the structure abandoned for some ten years before it became an observatory for a brief period of time. Then, from 1882 through 1939, Chapultepec Alcazar became once again the presidential residence. Nine presidents lived in the alcazar, but no one resided longer than dictator Porfírio Díaz who inhabited it during his 26 years in power.
early 19th Century silk dress of french design
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Upper LevelFlower Gardens surround the old watchtower above the Alcazar (east wing) of the Castle.
It was finally on 1939 when President Lázaro Cárdenas decided to give the castle to the Mexican people and the rest of the world by making the building home of Mexico’s National Museum of History. Today, hundreds of locals and tourists visit the castle each day to learn about the most interesting episodes in Mexico’s history. A visit to Chapultepec Castle also allows for the imagination to wonder as one walks through the still elegantly furnished rooms that were once inhabited by emperors— not to mention the fantastic view of the chains of mountains that once enclosed the lake over which Tenochtitlan and the Aztec Empire rose and where today the world’s second largest city stands. by Raul Cabrera page 22 Contempo magazine
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The battle of Puebla, May 5th, 1862 by Jose Cusachs (1903) the Valley’s No. 1 On-Line Magazine
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Will Democrats Make a Comeback in Texas? by Tony Magaña While many young people today cannot remember a time when the Republican Party of Texas was not the strongest state party in the United States, those of us that are baby boomers can remember a time when there was virtually no Republican party presence in Texas. Although John McCain, the Republican Presidential Candidate, easily carried Texas over PresidentElect Barack Obama there may be early signs that a change is coming. A major premise of the Obama campaign was that he was running as a different type of Democrat than the traditional liberal flag bearer. Throughout the campaign people on the street often characterized him as not only being a moderate but perhaps even a conservative thinker even though his voting record in the U.S. Senate was the second most “liberal”. A persistent and clear shift to centrist positions has occurred as he passed from primary to general election candidate and now to his cabinet selections. Left wing bloggers and political activists are already criticizing the President of not being a true progressive. The major coattail of this election that Obama offers is that the American people are beginning to see the Democrats as centrists rather than progressives. Not incoincidentally, there has been a movement within the Democratic party to regain strength in the Southern states by forming coalitions of like-minded Democrats who are fiscal conservatives, protectionist of gun rights, and pro-national security. They have widely different views among themselves on social conservative issues, often tending to avoid confrontations with other Democrats on these issues. Southerners and Texans in particular have always been political pragmatists. Texans have known the power of having powerful Senators, Speakers of the House, and even Presidents who could help the state maintain its political identity and economy. Now without any favorite sons in the Senate of the party in power there is likely, among the traditional power brokers in the state, a sense of uneasiness. The apparent decision of Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison to leave her Senate seat and challenge fellow Republican Governor Rick Perry for the gubernatorial election is sending shock waves throughout the state. This would open her Senate seat to a special election in a short election cycle without an obvious Republican heir. In the 2008 Senate election, the Democratic challenge to incumbent Republican John Cornyn was a lukewarm attempt. Houston State Representative, Rick Noriega, a Mexican American, won in a run-off of the Democratic primary but was not well known outside of his native Houston. His campaign was poorly organized and supported until the last few months of the campaign. However, at one point in the campaign he was polling competitively with Cornyn which surprised many Texans. page 26 Contempo magazine
Now the Texas Democratic Party having smelled blood in the water seems determined to get a win. Two very well known Democrats have jumped into the race. Mayor Bill White of Houston has begun to visit political power brokers throughout Texas. Most recently he has received national attention and acclaim for the preparation of Houston for the hit of Hurricane Katrina. His political pedigree includes being the successful son of San Antonio school teachers, a Harvard undergraduate degree, and successful careers in private law and corporate leadership after graduation from the University of Texas Law School. Under the Clinton administration he was the Secretary of Energy. The former Chairman of the Texas Democratic Party is seen as very pro-business but also pro-gun control. This gun control issue may be his Achilles’s heel. John Sharp, the Comptroller for the State of Texas has similarly begun his moves in the race. Many see him as being more consistent with the Blue Dog Democratic movement than Bill White. His political resume shows a graduation from Texas A&M and a highly acclaimed career as a Texas legislator in the state house, state senate, Railroad Commissioner, and as Comptroller. He is credited with founding of the Texas Lottery which is most successful in the United States. Some question his ability to win a big statewide election after he lost an attempt to win the Lieutenant Governor race. He has in past been pro-life but a Democrat in Texas could probably win a general election but will it hurt in the primaries? It is quite likely that these two Democrats will raise large campaign funds and be able to form statewide political support networks to challenge the Republicans. Whereas in the past the Democratic Party did not receive much funding from traditionally Republican sources such as business interests with the change at the national level there will likely be a significant flow of money to these heavy hitters. Many moderate Republicans wanting to keep a Texas influence in Washington may vote for one of these two candidates unless a very strong Republican emerges. On the other hand, it is already being rumored, that the Texas Democratic Party will not likely support a progressive candidate because it wants a win rather than to push a liberal agenda. Both Mr. White and Mr. Sharp have been in contact with minority leaders across the state seeking to get those early endorsements from South Texas Hispanic and the urban African American voters. The prominent African American Mayor of Dallas, Ron Kirk, has conveniently been removed from contention because he will be the new U.S. Trade Representative under the Obama administration. Tony Magaña grew up in McAllen Texas, attended Texas A&M University, served as an officer in Army Reserve, and holds a doctorate from Harvard University. The co-founder of Contempo Magazine has participated in Valley business for over 20 years.He is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
McAllen area 7-Day locations: La Plaza Mall-East 2200 S. 10th St. / 688-3760 2200 S. 10th St. Monday-Saturday 8 am-8pm 688-3760 Sunday 11 am-68 pm Monday-Saturday am-8 pm Sunday 11am - 6 pm
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Tequisquiapan, the Jewel of Central Mexico
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Just west of where the Cerro Gordo Mountains begin their long journey north, there is an enchanting cluster of communities centered around Tequisquiapan, Querétaro. “Tequis” is a tranquil village just 35 minutes east of Querétaro where travelers can experience a taste for the waters of the fountain of youth. The area has long received fresh, clear hot spring water produced from steam vents deep below the surface that have been exploited for centuries by local villagers and travelers.
Because Tequis has a safe and calm atmosphere perfect for family outings, it became a popular weekend retreat for guests from Mexico City only a few hours drive south. Many found that the area offered plenty of excursion potential and a place where families could relax and escape the asphalt of Mexico’s fast pace capital. Indeed, you can find many residents whom after one weekend picnic to Tequis from elsewhere, purchased a home or started a small business in town. Now you can find a number of subdivisions that are tailored as small second homes for visitors from all The entire region benefits from close, warm subterranean springs that over Mexico and abroad. These communities are walled and gated, have feed crops, wine vineyards, water parks, public and private bathing pools splendid common areas for pool parties and several have around-theand a local golf club. You can find hot spring water in all the swimming clock security like at the Club de Golf Tequisquiapan and Villas Premier pools of local hotels and in private residences equipped with well pumps with excellent mountainous scenery. There are now all kinds of developfor therapeutic bathing. On any cool, crisp fall morning you can see the ments including one designed with lots large enough to maintain horses steam vapor rising from one of these naturally heated pools indicating it called Las Granjas, just beyond Tortuga, a smaller village 8 minutes from has just been filled. It is this feature about Tequis that first attracted the downtown Tequisquiapan. attention of Mexican and, later, international travelers from all around the globe. Now visitors with travel trailers can camp at a beautiful paradise style park called El Oasis that has hook-ups near a popular hot spring fed the Valley’s No. 1 On-Line Magazine
page 29 ContempoMag.com
make your second home Villas Premier, Tequisquiapan, Querétaro.
Tequisquiapan, the center of Mexico’s hot natural springs, fine vineyards, historic ruins, rich geology and deep cultural heritage is only minutes from Querétaro International Airport. page 30 Contempo magazine
A second home with a view. Enjoy nature’s hot springs in your own private pool with views of the mountains above and plaza below at Villas Premier a private community just minutes from downtown Tequisquiapan. A lifestyle that is hard to leave is yours.
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A festival of lights illuminates the Tequisquiapan plaza square throughout the holidays.
El Oasis water and motor home park is not of the standard lot with acres of green areas for weekend picnics.
Many quaint cobblestone streets point to the center plaza.
water park. The park has huge green areas separating large themed swimming pools. It is less than 5 minutes from downtown Tequis on the highway to Bernal. With or without the travel trailer, El Oasis is a perfect day or two, relaxing in the sun while the kids play at the warm spring water park.
fessional background singers and musicians collaborate to perform for the crowd. The event is timed to coincide with the annual fair including plenty of games, musical performances, food and a palenque. Hotels fill to capacity quickly for this occasion so its critical to make reservations early.
Just down the road a bit further from El Oasis leading from Tequis to Bernal, there are several vineyard wineries that produce red, white and sparkling wines. You can tour their modern facilities up until 4 o’clock in the afternoon. The drive back to Tequis from the wineries is a mere 12 minutes or you can push on to Bernal, home to one of the world’s only granite monoliths, La Peña de Bernal. This single slab of granite juts directly upwards over 400 feet from the surface. It can been seen from the small tourist village of Bernal, which sits at its base. Bernal is noted for its artists, great restaurants with views of the monolith and historical festivals celebrating La Peña.
Golfers will want to know that the 18 hole Club de Golf in Tequisquiapan is a lush full service club that has a great buffet breakfast on weekends in the club restaurant overlooking the 18th green. With permission, one can play on this course for a reasonable fee. Although few carts are available there are always expert caddies on hand. The course is laid out among the club residences and sports fine putting grass and fairways walled with giant eucalyptus trees. The first hole is a challenging par 5 that snakes right and then left around a hazard lake that protects half the green. The entire right rough is flanked by dense eucalyptus. For long term residents, the club has very reasonable membership fees and large discounts for new residents.
Each year in May, Tequisquiapan holds a wine and cheese festival called “El Vino y Queso” that attracts wine aficionados and vineyards from all around the world. It’s not just booths of bottles, they have wine classes on how grapes are grown and about fermentation and seminars on other wine topics. There is a local talent contest where locals along with pro-
From Tequis it is a quick trip to any location in central Mexico. Morelia is only about an hour and a half away by car and it takes less than two hours to reach San Miguel. Mexico City is only two hours south of Tequisquiapan. But the closest major metropolitan city to see is Querétaro.
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Travel Trailer and Motor Home Park Tequisquiapan Querétaro Mexico Relax and enjoy over 24 acres of lush green space and water park at one of Mexico’s finest trailer parks situated only 5 minutes from downtown Tequisquiapan and only 20 minutes from the new Querétaro International Airport. “El Oasis” is the marvelous starting point along the biosphere reserve route that will enchant your senses, spirit and soul with thermal hot springs and breathtaking views of the Ciervo Mountains.
call toll free 011.800.561.1161 or 011.52.414.273.0412 for more information see us on-line @ www.eloasis.com
page 32 Contempo magazine
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www.villaflorencia.com.mx 01152-414-273-3029 It is a 35 minute drive from the center of Tequis and you can take a scenic country road route if you want to avoid Highway 57. Querétaro has a pedestrian walking district at its center that comprises narrow cobblestone walking streets that lead to several prominent plazas. There you will find loads of shopping for fashion wear, precious and semi-precious stones, art and decorative dry goods while international restaurants and museums make up the plaza perimeters that surround shaded park plazas. The shops in Tequis are noted for their unique collections of objects, art and leather goods, embroidery and statues. Local varieties of cheese are marketed in the square and there are all kinds of fabric and carved wood vendors along the streets leading to the plaza. An excellent Argentinian restaurant called Las Brasas has great steaks and fine wine at reasonable prices, as does the Valentina Restaurant on the square at the Plaza Hotel. La Maria Bonita, also on the square, has good breakfast and lunch plates where you can choose a table on the patio facing the plaza. The Hotel Florencia has a new executive chef from Mexico City if you are looking for a sophisticated evening of fine dining and want to tour a classic reproduction of a stylish European hotel. It is 3 blocks from the plaza and has beautiful gardens, birds and ponds clustered around the room patios. There are several ways to get to Tequisquiapan from McAllen. Aeromexico and Mexicana Click from Reynosa can get you to Mexico City. From there you can fly to Querétaro International Airport, or you can fly Continental from McAllen, arriving in Mexico City via Houston. By car it is about a 10 hour drive from McAllen. There are also many first class bus routes from Reynosa and lots of travel tours available from local travel agencies that can provide bus transportation and travel agendas. Overall, Tequisquiapan is a safe place to stay because of it’s relatively small size.
Weddings are a common affair at the plaza church on Saturdays as eager novias await their turn at the altar.
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View of "La Peďƒąa de Bernal" from Bernal church garden.
Artisan markets crowd the streets around the main plaza.
Hotel Villa Florencia pool & conf. center.
Club de Golf Tequisquiapan clubhouse & putting green. The weather there is perfect all year long with a cool dry climate that only gets a bit chilly on winter nights, requiring a light jacket or sweater. It is always sunny with no more than a light breeze except in the late fall when storms lasting only a few minutes occur. Dress is light to sharp casual and it’s a good idea to bring sunscreen.
Take a guided trolley for historic site seeing around town. page 34 Contempo magazine
There are a quite a few new attractions in Tequisquiapan established since our last visit one would think it is to be the next San Miguel. It has a new movie theater that shows surprisingly current features and there is a new internet cafe just a block and a half off the square, up from La Plaza Hotel. At an amazing art store on the square called Taboo, you can find well crafted statures and paintings. They have an extensive carved wood collec-
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Jacuzzi Suites Heated Pool Cable TV Sophisticated International Cuisine at La Valentina Restaurant La Cantina Video Bar www.tequisquiapan.com.mx/la_palza or call area code 414.237.0005
tion of vases and figurines. The glass figures are exotic, colorful and hard to find pieces that Gianni, the owner gets from around the world. There are several new boutiques open in the square with trendy fashion wear and a handful of new clubs with different venues that close to the plaza. For the north of the border traveler there are lots of fascinating, undiscovered destinations in Mexico like Tequisquiapan to consider. We hope to bring you closer to these wonderful places in the next few months. by Ralph Magaùa the Valley’s No. 1 On-Line Magazine
page 35 ContempoMag.com
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Contempo Woman of the Year Alida Hernandez
It takes wisdom, vision and courage to take an idea from a thought to a vibrant reality. But most of all it takes a special kind of human spirit, the kind Alida Hernandez has always possessed. Her “can do, must do� approach has spearheaded the efforts of the Heart of the City Development Corporation, heralded with upgrading the various entertainment, arts and retail districts of downtown McAllen. page 38 Contempo magazine
Born on the family ranch near Sullivan City, just west of Mission, Alida Hernandez grew up in a large family, small town atmosphere but she was always a dreamer. She moved to McAllen from Sullivan City and started working in the staffing business. There she discovered her unique ability to identify traits and job opportunities in the expanding valley workplace. She later cofounded and operated her own employment agency,
AAA of McAllen that serviced area businesses for over 20 years. She serves on several other boards, is mother to four children, a grandmother, is the president of one of the fastest growing women’s organizations, the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas, McAllen branch. She is also known as an avid political advocate, a tough negotiator, and as a persistent and determined leader as well as a good dancer. No question about it Alida is a handful and it’s all good. Now retired from the employment industry, Alida has taken on a new passion as McAllen’s Heart of the City Board president, devoting her extensive contact knowledge and experience to the successful development of the three districts near the center of town that encompass the art district on Main Street,
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we have plans for much more.” Impressed by the terrific outcome of the new year celebration, new establishments coming to the entertainment district must have high hopes since the format of venue growth is an attraction in itself.
Alma Ortega Johnson, President of Wells Fargo, McAllen, presents a $2,500 sponsor contribution to Alida Hernandez for the successful Heart of the City New Year’s Bash.
“The Heart of the City’s recent New Year’s Eve Bash that attracted over 20,000 visitors was planned and executed in a matter of four weeks. This year we have months to plan ahead and we intend to add a number of family venues. It was wonderful to have such a large but civil and family oriented crowd at the bash. Based on the huge success we are working on other themed festivities like Octoberfest.” Alida adds, “On that new year’s evening, McAllen area residents made a profound statement: that they can and prefer to come together for citywide festivities in line with current trends
the entertainment district along 17th Street and the retail district between South 10th Street and 15th Street, downtown. The focus of the Heart of the City project is to transform the historic downtown district into a viable commercial enterprise that incorporates the heritage of downtown atmosphere. For Alida it all began as an idea–to take decaying urban sectors of the city and give them new life, to re-draw the crowds that once frequented the downtown area like other prosperous metro areas have done. San Antonio, Miami Beach and many other cities have reclaimed the fame of their central plazas with renewal projects. So far the results have been very promising in McAllen. “Within just a few years we have grown to incorporate 20 new businesses so far here in this now beautiful area of downtown and page 40 Contempo magazine
Alida at España showing the girls her new dance moves during the Vino Divino charity event.
Celebrating her birthday with friends for dinner at the Patio on Guerra Restaurant in the entertainment district.
and that downtown is an ideal place for such events. We have an excellent board of directors, all with the same passion to preserve and enhance the downtown area.” One of Alida’s most obvious traits is that she is a big time people person. How can she not be after so many years of connecting employers with prospective employees in the upper valley. She tells of her most cherished daily objective in life. “Everyday before I go to bed I ask myself, did I help at least one person, somebody today?” She admits that some days she is unsuccessful but it’s that she always tries that seems to matter the most. When she is helpful, it is the accomplishment that she finds most satisfying and rewarding. She puts her networking skills to use promptly when the calling comes in regarding Heart of the City circumstances. One thing is clear, because of the efforts of people like Alida Hernandez and visionary McAllen civic leaders, our downtown area is being restored in an innovative way that appeals to area residents. Considering the wonderful impact of her timeless skills and dedication to the heart of downtown McAllen–an effort that has clearly enhanced in various formats the economic, cultural and restorative objectives of our great city in a profound way–Alida Hernandez was chosen as the first Contempo Magazine Woman of the Year for 2008. Sooner or later everyone loves Alida, a cool person to be around and great ambassador of the pioneering spirit of Valley women. by Ralph Magaña
Alida speaking before the member ship of the HWNT during a charitable event at España.
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Contempo The Lifestyle Variety Magazine for the Upper Valley
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Diversity in a Turbulent Market Provided By: Melissa Magana, Financial Advisor Wachovia Securities, LLC, Member NYSE/SIPC 4900 North 10th Street, North Towne Center Building D1, McAllen, TX 78504 (956) 345-3530
It’s no surprise that a turbulent stock market is making some investors in employer-sponsored 401(k) retirement plans wary of putting any more money into these plans. But a volatile stock market doesn’t mean you should stop or cut back on contributions to your 401(k). In fact, you should do just the opposite. If you’ve reached the maximum annual contribution this year to your 401(k) and still have money left over to invest, then you may want to consider a Roth or traditional IRA. If you need liquidity, you might want to fund investments outside of your retirement accounts. Most 401(k) investors should plow as much money as they can into these plans in order to benefit from their employer’s matching contribution and tax deferred growth, and also to take advantage of a simple strategy called dollar-cost averaging. By continuing to invest a fixed dollar amount each month into your 401(k)’s stock portfolio, you’re able to buy more shares when prices are low and fewer shares when prices rise. Add that to your employer’s matching contribution and tax-deferred compounding, and you’re poised to see the value of your plan go up when the market rebounds. Keep in mind that dollar-cost averaging does not guarantee profit or protect against loss and you should consider your financial ability to continue purchases at low levels. If you’re worried about your declining 401(k) balance, you may want to look at some of these options: Diversify into bonds. If you’re 100% invested in stocks and are uncomfortable with the volatility, shift more of your 401(k) assets into fixed-income investments such as bonds, which may offer your portfolio more stability and income to fund your golden years. However, avoid wholesale switches back and forth and it’s a good rule of thumb to consider having at least 25 percent of your portfolio in stocks throughout your retirement to keep ahead of inflation and keep your retirement income growing. Retire later. Delaying your retirement one or two years can have a dramatic effect on the value of your retirement portfolio. For example, if you’re 40 years old and plan to retire at age 55 with a portfolio currently valued at $300,000 earning 8 percent annually, you would run out of money at age 73 if you withdrew $100,000 in income each year beginning at age 55. However, assuming
the same numbers, by postponing your retirement only two more years to age 57, that same portfolio could last until age 85, about 12 years longer. Work part time. More retirees are finding that the good life doesn’t always mean relaxing poolside. Many become bored and start second careers or work part time for some extra cash. By working part time you can decrease the amount of income you draw from your investment assets such as your 401(k). This can greatly extend the life of your 401(k) assets and provide a potentially higher income in your later years. Reduce debt. Paying off high-interest credit-card debt and other loans can put more money into your pocket each month that can reduce the amount of income you need to tap from your 401(k) or buy more time for your portfolio to grow. Because many mortgage balances are higher on average than they were a decade ago, that means refinancing your mortgage may save you a significant amount each month even if mortgage interest rates drop only one to 1.5 percent. Please note that the examples above are for illustrative purposes only and do not reflect the performance of any particular investment. Your financial advisor can help you create a plan to suit your individual needs and can help discuss other alternatives to help you better plan for retirement. Wachovia Securities is the trade name used by two separate, registered broker-dealers and non-bank affiliates of Wachovia Corporation providing certain retail securities brokerage services: Wachovia Securities, LLC Member, NYSE/SIPC, and Wachovia Securities Financial Network, LLC (WSFN), Member FINRA/SIPC. The accuracy and completeness of this article are not guaranteed. The opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily those of Wachovia Securities or its affiliates. The material is distributed solely for information purposes and is not a solicitation or an offer to buy any security or instrument or to participate in any trading strategy. Provided by courtesy of MELISSA MAGANA, a Financial Advisor with Wachovia Securities in McAllen, Texas. For more information, please call MELISSA MAGANA at (956)3453530. Wachovia Securities, LLC, member FINRA and SIPC, is a separate non-bank affiliate of Wachovia Corporation. ©2008 Wachovia Securities, LLC. Investments in securities and insurance products: NOT FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANK-GUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE 71875
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In An Aging Society Are Senior Citizens Driving Safely? A question for the Valley with its large number of senior drivers. By Diane Carbo RN
Remember when you couldn’t wait until you were old enough to drive? Getting a driver’s license gave us an opportunity to experience a new freedom we did not have before. For those of us with two parents working, driving meant taking ourselves and our siblings to after school activities and work. Driving took us to a level of independence that we had not experienced before. In an aging society of drivers, those very same feelings exist in many today. Driving gives us a sense of independence and freedom, the ability to go out and socialize, go to work or to church. Safety issues are a concern as many move into the golden years. The life expectancy of seniors is increasing. There are more active senior citizens out on the road today than ever before. Since we all age differently, many aging adults, can drive into their seventies and eighties. As we age, the risks for having a serious car accident that requires hospitalization rises. Statistics show that fatal car accidents rise after the age of seventy. If you know an aging adult driver who is experiencing difficulty with driving, it is important to carefully monitor the situation. This article can help you determine whether you should take steps to encourage the senior to stop driving. There are several key risk factors that impact our aging society. Vision declines affecting depth perception and ability to judge speed of oncoming traffic. Night vision becomes a problem as our eyes lose the ability to process light. By age 60, you need three times the amount of light that you did at age 20 in order to drive safely after nightfall. We also become more sensitive to bright light and glare. Signs and road markings can be difficult to see. With age, flexibility may decrease as response time increases. A full range of motion is crucial on the road. Turning your head both ways to see oncoming traffic, moving both hands and feet can be difficult for those with chronic conditions such a rheumatoid arthritis, or Parkinson’s disease, heart disease and diabetes. Older adults in an aging society will often need to begin to take medications. Certain medications, as well as a combination of medications and alcohol, can increase driving risk. Be aware and careful about medication side-effects and interactions between medications. It is important to talk to your pharmacist to be aware of interactions that could affect your driving safely. Some medications cause drowsiness. Aging affects our quality of sleep, resulting in daytime sleepiness. Falling asleep at the wheel is a major concern for those that dose off during the day. The beginning of dementia or mental impairment can make driving more dangerous. A decreased mental capacity or decrease tolerance to stressful driving situations such as complex page 44 Contempo magazine
and confusing intersections may cause delayed reactions to sudden or confusing situations on the road. An aging brain and body does not have the same response time as we did when we were younger. There are multiple warning signs that an aging adult is becoming or is an unsafe driver. Some of them are small, but if there are multiple concerns it may be time to talk about your concerns with the aging driver. Warning signs of an unsafe driver include: * Abrupt lane changes, braking, or acceleration. * Increase in the dents and scrapes on the car or on fences, mailboxes, curbs, etc. * Trouble reading signs or navigating directions to get somewhere * Range-of-motion issues (looking over the shoulder, moving the hands or feet, etc.) * Becoming anxious or fearful while driving or feeling exhausted after driving * Getting lost more often * Trouble paying attention to signals, road signs, pavement markings, or pedestrians * Slow reaction to changes in the driving environment * Increased traffic tickets or “warnings” by traffic or law enforcement officers * Forgetting to put on a safety belt If you are concerned about an aging adult driver, closely monitor their driving before deciding whether they need a refresher course on their driving skills or approaching them to give up their driver’s license altogether. Ongoing and open communication is important to addressing the issue of driving. Studies conducted by Harvard and MIT show that while most drivers preferred to discuss the issue with their spouse, doctor or adult children (in that order), this is not the case for everyone. The right person may not necessarily be the most forceful or outspoken one, but rather someone whose judgment and empathy are especially trusted by the driver. Talk with other family members, your doctor, and close friends to determine the best person for “the conversation.” Remember driving signifies independence, freedom and being self sufficient to active senior citizens. Realize you may meet with resistance and the aging driver may become defensive. Emotion may get in the way of a rational conversation. Express your concerns and give specific reasons for those concerns. The goal is to get the aging driver be part of the decision making process. You may begin by asking your loved one to make some concessions because of your concerns, for instance: * Taking a driver refresher course * Not driving at night
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* Suggest they not drive on busy thoroughfares or during rush hour * Taking shorter trips * Not driving under adverse weather conditions * Encourage a visit to their primary care physician or pharmacist to go over medications that may affect driving skills. Your physician may be able to recommend a Driver Rehabilitation Specialist. This individual can assess driving safety by an office exam and driving test and make recommendations regarding special equipment or techniques that can improve the driver’s safety. * Consider ways to decrease the need to drive. Check out alternatives to shopping by car, including: Arrange for home deliveries of groceries and other goods, and try to arrange for home visits by clergy, medical and personal care providers, and government service providers. * Use financial services that don’t require bank visits, like automatic bill paying, direct deposit, and bank-by-phone or on-line banking services. Fear of isolation and decrease in socializing is a real concern for the aging driver. It is important to keep spirits high as the aging driver makes the adjustments to becoming a non-driver. Be in tune to their need for fun, volunteering, work and religious activities. Create a transportation plan that can make it easier for the aging driver to give up driving. You can create a list of friends and family that are willing to drive, contact the church and the local Area Agency on Aging in regards to transportation programs in the area. Some seniors may adjust better if they can keep their own car, but have others drive them. Their own car may feel more comfortable and familiar, and the sense of loss from not driving may be lessened. Remember, baby boomers have grown up walking out the door and being able to go where they want to go. We need to keep the aging adult driver and those on the road with them safe.
Diane Carbo RN- As a geriatric care manager, that has cared for her father and mother in law in their homes, she learned first hand how overwhelming, stressful, and time consuming caring for a loved one can be. Staying in their homes was very important to them. As a result, Diane started http://www.aginghomehealthcare.com to assist others age in familiar surroundings and avoid the emotional and frustrating task of maneuvering the medical delivery system
JUDGE
JESSE CONTRERAS 449th District Court
We at the 449th District Court hope for a peaceful and prosperous year for all county residents. Spend time with your family outdoors and enjoy our great winter weather.
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Marvin Boland Dir. Facilities Planning
Marianella Franklin Special Project Coord
James Langabeer V.P. Business Affairs
Blandina Cárdenas UTPA President
Dr. Marla Guerra STISD Superintendent
Pathways to Success
UTPA’s Marianella Franklin becomes LEED
links STISD High School Students to UTPA
(Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) accredited professional
New Partnership Establishes Programs at Four High Schools to Promote the Successful Transition of Students to Post Secondary Education
Marianella Q. Franklin, construction special project coordinator in the Department of Facilities Planning and Construction at The University of Texas-Pan American, has recently become one of five LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) accredited professionals in the Rio Grande Valley.
Signing a new partnership Jan. 22 between UTPA and the South Texas Independent School District to promote college readiness and success are UTPA President Dr. Blandina Cárdenas (left) and South Texas Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Marla Guerra (right).
Accredited LEED professionals have passed examinations that demonstrate their understanding of “green” environmentally-friendly building practices and concepts and have met the standards established by members of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).
The partnership, titled “Pathways to Success,” will provide new programs at the district’s four high school campuses designed to ease the transition to and support the success of STISD students in postsecondary education.
Franklin earned her bachelor’s degree in architecture in 1988 from the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon in Monterrey, Mexico. She first came to UTPA in 2002 and currently does project management for architectural services and serves as the UTPA representative on major construction projects, such as the new Academic Performing Arts Center, for the University. “The most exciting part of being a LEED accredited professional is that you are not only educated in the issues that involve construction but the global environmental issues. The initiative right now introduced by Dr. Blandina Cárdenas to become sustainable here on our campus is one that is growing more and more every day. I am passionate about this initiative and feel this accreditation will help us to address the increased interest in sustainability from our students, faculty members, and others and to reach our goal of coming up with a sustainability plan for the UTPA campus,” Franklin said. page 46 Contempo magazine
Presiding over her last signing ceremony as UTPA president before her retirement on Jan. 30, Dr. Blandina Cárdenas said the partnership reflects the great commitment that Valley educators, educational institutions, and districts now have to high quality postsecondary education for their students. “Over the course of some years we have raised the bar, raised our vision to the notion that it is not about graduating kids from high school but it is about graduating our young people from college and beyond,” she said. Dr. Marla Guerra, a UTPA alumna and STISD superintendent, said the district is excited about this first “official” partnership with UTPA and for the district’s teachers to have the opportunity to plan and collaborate with University faculty to make sure their students are prepared to perform successfully at the university level and to graduate.
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Recover Deleted Photos
Gelato Expresso Smoothies Desserts
euro gelato
R
a new age of temptation....
with Michael Bilyeu
RECOVER DELETED PHOTOS
OK so you have taken all these great pictures for the holidays and you didn’t like some of them. So you click through the list on your camera and delete a bunch of pictures. Then you realize you deleted some pictures you wanted. All is not lost. There are data recovery programs available for hard drive recovery, like Ontrack Data Recovery software. You can use this program to recover your pictures, PDA files, Cell Phone files, even mp3 songs. You connect the memory card to a digital card reader, remember I recommend the Ativa Card Reader, and it becomes a drive letter in “My Computer”. You then have Ontrack scan that drive letter for deleted files and select the ones you want back. However, it is important to do this before taking more pictures or adding more data, so you don’t overwrite the deleted ones.
4801 N. 10th. St. Suite A McAllen 682-6615 myspace.com/eurogelato
BGM
RECORDING STUDIOS
NEW COMPUTER/DRAB AUDIO?
Did you get a new computer for Christmas? Then you are ready for music, games, news, everything. But, the speakers built in the monitor, or little speakers included with the system just doesn’t cut it. This is usually an overlooked item. If you plan on jamming to your tunes, or attacking Starcraft, you need some really good surround sound speakers. I got the Logitech X-540 speaker system. They are affordable and great sound for games and your favorite music. They even have a headphone jack on the volume control, so you won’t wake the neighbors and don’t have to reach around back of your PC to plug in your headphones…
WEBCAM for TELECAM?
How about that web cam you got? How do you use it? Ok, simple enough. Go to www.oovoo.com. It’s free. Tell your college kid to join you there, your parents, sisters, brothers, husband or wife in the military, whoever. You can have several friends or family join you, and you can all see each other and hear each other! Make sure you have a high speed internet connection to really enjoy this. Ok, that is all for now, have fun and happy computing… Computer Doctor Michael Bilyeu Computer_doctor@myctsonline.com
The Chubby Boys
Show Montecarlo
Juli
Digital & Vinyl Audio Recordings / All Formats including Video 5001 Walnut, Edinburg
956.926.9103
the Valley’s No. 1 On-Line Magazine
page 49 ContempoMag.com
The New Latina By Vanessa Valiente
The 2009 Latina is ready for the spotlight. With the years of big hoops, unnatural hair colors and mid-drift tops safely buried in fashion’s past (and perhaps your own), Hispanic women have become some of media’s biggest style icons. You can’t help but notice Salma Hayek, Eva Longoria, and Eva Mendez gracing the pages of magazines each month dripping with fantastic style. Known for both her vavoom frame and her success with Frida Kahlo, Salma Hayek is one of the most recognized Hispanic actresses in the United States. When selecting attire for her petite but curvaceous figure, Salma is an advocate for sexy simplicity. It is a chilly day in Hades to see Salma in large prints or fashion forward anything. Hayek understands that her curves call for simple lines, classic shapes and form enhancing looks. Her necklines are always uncomplicated so as not to add more volume to her large bust and her hemlines generally go from threequarters to floor length. Although she wears plenty of black she has been caught in some dazzling colors like blood red, turquoise and stark white. For the woman who wants to embody Salma Hayek’s fashion sense think halter frocks with a breezy skirt, a strapless fitted dress and simple pieces in bold colors. If you want to emulate Salma’s casual look wear comfy cotton in dark colors with some boots. Eva Longoria has become a household name for women and sports fanatics everywhere due to Sunday’s must see Desperate Housewives and her marriage to San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker. Unlike Salma, Longoria slavishly embraces each season’s trends. Whether it be an IT bag, skinny jeans, giant sun glasses, wide leg slacks, feathers, a maxi dress, pleather and denim, jersey knits, mixing scarves with knee high boots or page boy hats, Eva refuses to neglect fashion’s high demand of constant change. Her presence on the red carpet is a different story entirely. Glamour, glamour, glamour is Longoria when attending high profile events. At the 2006 Emmy’s her three quarter length white strapless dress with a deep V neckline and voluminous skirt paired with diamonds was the epitome of die-for timeless style. At additional events she has indulged in other unexpected looks like a sheer strapped electric blue dress with a long flowing sash, a peach Grecian number and even a Salma-like red gown that trailed behind her as Longoria sashayed for the photographers. To embody Eva Longoria will take great persistence. If you feel the fashion bug within you will want to follow Longoria’s lead and experiment with everything from suspenders and giant bags to elegant evening wear. As a caution, Longoria has endless resources when it comes to fashion ranging from a lofty paycheck to designers giving her samples. For those of you not wanting to put the money and the effort into your look, simply try just a few of the trends each season and then mix them into your existing wardrobe. page 50 Contempo magazine
Eva Longoria at the 2009 Golden Globe arrivals Eva Mendez is an absolute sensation when it comes to fashion. Mendez manages to consistently look high style without ever looking too done, off kilter or trendy. She is seen in numerous outfits of all colors, styles, details and lengths yet you still feel like she is herself. Her casual wear is very simple to pull off by mixing two interesting pieces. Pairing wide leg dark denim with a nautical cream swing jacket is both comfortable and easy to do while still looking en vogue without the effort. As for her event attire she is daring and beautiful. At one affair she showed up in a long yellow-gold gown with a giant asymmetrical bow on it and then for another she will don a short pink and orange shift dress with a pleated skirt and jewels marching across the neck and waistline. Both getting the same response: that is gorgeous and interesting. To attach yourself to Mendez’s look is more difficult than other actresses. She creates an untraceable feel to her outfits by the pieces she chooses and the accessories she puts with it. Where most women will ruin an outfit by walking around in the wrong shoes and too much jewelry, Mendez will desert accessories and knows how to pick the perfect pair of kicks to make her outfit go from neat to noteworthy. The key is to choose an unexpected color or style. She will often top off her outfit with an unusual color heel like nude, rose gold or mustard that matches no other color in her outfit. This will add that touch of unique. It is a fine line though between an interesting look and a lost appearance. Even though the color will not match anything, be sure the hue compliments the tone of the outfit.
Eva Mendez at the London premier of The Spirit Like any beautiful woman, these Latina celebrities are looking fabulous because they dress for themselves and embrace who they are and where they came from. As we breeze into the new year heels a clacking, take pride in your taste as well as your body and dress the part you want to play in your life. Lack of money, foreclosures and war raging in other parts of the world can get any Latina fashionista down, but a new year brings new hope, new goals and of course new fashions… so let’s not forget to have fun. Publisher’s Note: Vanessa Valiente is a noted costume designer for cinema, television, and stage. Her credits include the series, “Fashion House”. She has been a personal stylist for many Hollywood celebrities and is currently a customer for the CBS series “Ex List”. Her articles appearing in Contempo are exclusives.
Her fashion blog for men and women is www.vstyle.typepad.com. Her website is http://www.vanessavaliente.com/home.html See her movie credits on the internet movie database at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2378827/
Eva at the Valentino Gargvani Show in Rome
the Valley’s No. 1 On-Line Magazine
page 51 ContempoMag.com
I get my fuse lit at Yoko’s.
S SUSHI BAR
7001 N. 10th. Ste C Trenton View Plaza McAllen Take out - call 683-1285 3360 sf. medical office ready $1.10 per sf. low common maintenance
first two months free!! call 467-7880
Expwy. 83 RG Regional Hospital
Ridge Rd. Ridgeview Place
S. Cynthia
Medical area office suites with lots of parking near the hospitals South McAllen 2010 S. Cynthia
typical unit size: 1680-3360 sq.ft. dimensions: 30’ X 112’ 15’ X 112’ location: center of south hospital district, McAllen. 2010 S. Cynthia, McAllen type: Sale Price $235,200 ($70/sf.) Lease $2,856 ($0.85/sf.) shell $4,032 ($1.20) finished contact: (956) 467-7880
Javier Torres Cabinets
Jose Lopez Painting
New Custom Cabinets Cabinet Repair Replace Cabinet Doors Cabinet Remodeling Replace Interior Doors 30 years experience
interior & exterior over 25 years experience
For estimates call 956.457.5688
For estimates call 956.460.0493
page 52 Contempo magazine
Valley Girl Nidia Quintanilla Records First Nashville CD by Ralph Magaña
Nidia Gutierrez Quintanilla is gifted with a great voice that she has cultivated with hard work over a number of years in the music industry. Anyone, after hearing her music, knows that she has latched on to a good thing with tremendous potential, popular Christian music. In this catagory Nidia really makes the grade with her new CD, Cielo Abierto, including Spanish pop-rock Christian selections.
her amazing voice that so perfectly matches the instrumental tone of her music. She ranges easily and can perform seemingly without effort, giving her the freedom to be emotionally driven by the song and demonstrate her inspiration. She says of this, her first album produced in Nashville, “I see my album as a good cup of frappuccino, it is refreshing for the thirsty soul and awakens the slumbering spirit.”
Her musical career started early with singing in the local church choir where she matured into a soloist and was asked to perform at other area churches. It was however, by the grace of God, that she decided to change her college career from dietetics to music and she earned her B. A. in Music at the University of Texas-Pan American in 2000.
Always a busybody, Nidia has been a conference speaker, trainer for worship teams, was professor and academic director for Canzion Institute McAllen, and has participated in short-term missions trips. Nidia currently teaches private lessons at Melhart and is a committed member at Baptist Temple where she serves as choir director and lead singer. She will be leading the music for their Saturday night services beginning in March. Nidia lives in As with any music style, the competition is fierce and a lot of choices are McAllen with her husband and son, Joaquin. She performs publicly for Sunavailablefor listeners but her growing admirers seem to be taken away with day sermons at the Baptist Temple in McAllen, Texas. the Valley’s No. 1 On-Line Magazine
page 53 ContempoMag.com
Fly direct to your destination in the U.S. or Mexico Enjoy the security of choosing your travel companions No layovers, no missed connections Over 25 years of flight experience Airconditioned, pressurized Beachcraft King Air aircraft
Western Flyers page 54 Contempo magazine
Air Service
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Contempo EVENT CALENDAR / FEBRUARY 09 SUN
1
MON
TUES
2ThethFirst 1887 3 Ground
WED
4
THURS
5
Hog Day from Euopean Christian Roots in Pennsylvania.
8
9
10 11 12 McA Chamber Hispanic Womens Lincoln’s
16 17 Presidents Day
22 Washington’s
23
29
1
Birthday
6Music After
Hours at Archer Park starts 7PM
Business Power Network 11-1:30 ca;; 682-2871
15
FRI
Network RGV Birthday guest speaker Alida Hernandez 12pm Mc Chamb. call 678.7766
18
SAT
7ModelSouth& Talent Texas
at Cine El Rey. Talent & Model Catagories. call Debi 454-0510
13 14 Qinta Mazatlan Historic Tour History, Archtecture of the 1930’s call 681.3370 Liz Morphis at Cine El Rey 9pm
Face Beautiful Valentine’s Demo Treat Your Sweet Renaissance’s Spanish Room call 664-8080
19 Vudu Cafe at
20 21 Mission Chamber Steve Jordan “El
McA Hispanic Chamber Awards Luncheon 11:30 call 928-0060
202 W. Tom Landry
Havana, sorta Santana in Style
New Location!!! Grand Opening Ceremony 5:30pm
Parche” performs Cine El Rey 9pm
24 th 1836 25 ON THIS DAY
26 27 28 McA Chamber Killer Bees Vs.
2
4
Alamo Defenders Called for help.
3
Good Day! Luncheon, Prizes McA Conv. Ctr.
the Valley’s No. 1 On-Line Magazine
Anual Mission Laredo Bucks Classic Car Show Join McA Chamb Mission Sports for Family Night Park, Shary Plantation. $5000 prizes! Call 279.5885
5
6
page 55 ContempoMag.com
Pelican Cove
SEAFOOD and ITALIAN CUISINE At Business 83 & N. 6th. Street 520 W. Ash / 630.2478 McAllen, Texas
Pelican’s very own basted ribs delicately spiced with pleasant, unfamiliar herbs
oysters on the half shell with our special sauce
Open 7 days a week for Lunch and Dinner / Party Rooms Available Call 630.2478 page 56 Contempo magazine