HOWDY 
Well as October winds down I can’t help but remember the way it was years ago on Halloween the 31st day of October. Back in those days you didn’t have to worry about come crazy putting poison or razor blades in the candy. People would sit outside with bowls of candy or apples and sometimes even a small toy. People would make the kids feel good and always act like they were scared of their costume. Even a lot of the store owners would give out some kind of treat and it was a time where you could send your children out to go trick or treating without worrying about something happening to them. 
My how things have changed. The last few years it got to the point where the parents have to go with their children and then inspect all of the candy they receive. I was told that there will be no trick or treating allowed this year due to the virus that has almost got the whole country walking on egg shells at all times. 
So, people please pay attention to what our elected officials tell us to do so that we can get through this with the help of God. 
Also coming up in November we have an election that will change the way we live. I believe the election on Nov 3rd will be an election that will be remembered for many years to come. I am voting for Hugo Sanchez for school board place six hope you will too. But you make your own choice just get out and vote. 
Be a part of the solution and not part of the problem. Del Rio has always had a problem with people not getting out to vote. Please this time make your choice and let your voice be heard by voting. 
Looking back my mom said that years ago as election day would come up there would be meetings or parties to discuss the people that were running for office. I also recall the time when I was a teenager in the San Jose project that I would take my guitar and sing a few songs to be a part of what was going on. 
I was glad to see they opened up the park so that the young people can get in the water but they may have waited too late. The days or getting colder and it won’t be long before it will be too cold to get in the water. 
When I was younger, I used to sell grit newspapers once a week to make money and during the summer I’d cut grass for people using a push mower. I remember my mom would cry because she was not able to give six kids an allowance. My step father made 75 dollars a week driving a truck. They never had any extra money but we were never hungry. This year I turned 78 years old but my youth was a time that I always refer to in these articles both the bad and the good. My parents have passed away and my grandparents also and I lost a son when he was only 32 years old. It has been a struggle to deal with ever since his passing. So, if you still have your parents or grandparents spend time with them. It will make them feel good and you will enjoy it to. 
In closing just let me say you live in a beautiful city Del Rio Texas my home town so get out and enjoy it as much as you can. 
Stay safe god bless each and every one of you and remember get out and vote. Thanks to Victor Cirilo and the Val Verde County Library.

So your trying to eat right. Less Carbs and that is hard to do but did you know that even if your on a KETO Lifestyle you can still have things like Chile Relleno?
I am a huge Chile Relleno fan so when I came up on this recipe for Chile Relleno Casserole I was in KETO Heaven.
Not to mention some days are getting a bit cooler now and what a better tummy warming meal than a Chile Relleno Keto Casserole.
Here is what you’ll need to get started.


Ingredients:
• 12 eggs 1 1/2
• 2 cups of cheese
  (your preference)
• Salt, pepper
• 1/2c heavy whipping cream
• 2 Poblano Peppers


First you’re going to char the peppers to remove the skin. People have different ways of doing this but if you are lost as to how, simply go to Youtube and ask how to remove the skin from a Poblano Pepper and you’ll have several answers.
I find it best in the air fryer.
In a bowl whisk together your eggs, heavy cream and salt/pepper.
Skin and de-seed your Pobalano peppers and chop them up.
Spray your baking dish. Add cheese to your eggs and place egg mix into dish.
Put in your peppers and top with cheese. Place in your 350* oven until its done. Mine took 30 min to cook.
Let cool for just a second or two and you’re ready to enjoy your Chile Relleno Keto Casserole.
Happy, Healthy Eating!

This Pandemic has us all in one of the worst mental states that we have ever been in.
It’s a state that has everyone on edge and at a boiling point with each other over the smallest of things.
Look around and no matter where you go we can see friends arguing with friends even over the smallest, insignificant things. People challenging each other in the streets over the least bit thing and even worse people hurting and even killing each other over things that would normally not even matter to us.
The fact that we’ve lost our ability to be as social and free as we had learned to be has us starting to mentally implode and sadly it may just be the start of something catastrophic.
Early on in my life I learned that if I became educated enough and savvy enough I could articulate most any situation my way. I could speak out in such a manner that eventually I could convince almost anyone to see things my way.
As most of the world or maybe just the majority of people around me learned the same thing in time we had each other trying to articulate things are way more and more but was it, is it, the right thing to do?
So you see, too many folks try to articulate things in their benefit but even if it sounds great, in the end it still doesn’t make it right.
Bing articulate is an awesome thing but way to many people, by default, have come to abuse that gift.
So many and so much so that many of them believe that if you can articulate something it becomes true.
I can convince myself that I can stick my hand in the fire for a certain period of time without being hurt. Mind over matter. I may be able to keep it there for quite some time and convince myself that I’m ok but at some point my skin and flesh will tell me different from the damage being cause them.
In many cases, mind over matter is the “now you see me now you don’t” scenario that only works so long before reality rears it’s sobering head.
So you see, you can try to articulate something in one way or another as long as you can but eventually it’s true reality will rise to the surface again and again. Something that is also somewhat spiritual as I’m certain you’ve probably heard that saying “The TRUTH Shall Set You Free”.


Just Another Point of View.

Dios nuestro Padre desde el momento de la Creación nos enseña que Él realizó todo cuanto existe en el universo en seis días y descansó uno y nos pide que seamos co-creadores, que trabajemos para dejar el mundo mejor de lo que lo hemos encontrado, que nos sirvamos de la creación y la cuidemos, pero también descansemos, que guardemos el sábado y le demos gloria a nuestro Padre y Creador. 
Con el misterio pascual de Jesucristo nuestro Señor, sabiendo que Él murió y resucitó para darnos nueva vida, podemos comprender que el domingo es el día de la nueva creación porque Cristo recrea y hace nuevas todas las criaturas. (Domingo viene de la declinación latina dominus-domini = Señor) por ello ahora descansamos el domingo, en cuanto que es el día del Señor, el día de la nueva Creación. 
La sociedad de consumo nos ha querido quitar el día del Señor, el día de descanso, el día de estar en familia, el día de renovar nuestras fuerzas corporales y nuestro espíritu. ¡Necesitamos rescatar el sentido del domingo! Las maquinas también necesitan descanso y mantenimiento. 
En el Evangelio según San Lucas encontramos: “Un sábado, en que Jesús atravesaba unos sembrados, sus discípulos arrancaban espigas y, frotándolas entre las manos, las comían. Algunos fariseos les dijeron: “¿Por qué ustedes hacen lo que no está permitido en sábado?”
Jesús les respondió: “¿Ni siquiera han leído lo que hizo David cuando él y sus compañeros tuvieron hambre, cómo entró en la Casa de Dios y, tomando los panes de la ofrenda, que sólo pueden comer los sacerdotes, comió él y dio de comer a sus compañeros?” Después les dijo: “El Hijo del hombre es dueño del sábado”” (Lc 6, 1-5). 
Con este pasaje evangélico el Señor nos enseña que debemos vivir las tradiciones, aun las religiosas, no desde la ley y la letra por la letra, en cuanto que esto mata. Debemos vivir las tradiciones desde el Espíritu, porque el Espíritu nos da vida.  Debemos asumir las tradiciones con el verdadero sentido; por ejemplo, el sentido del domingo, día del Señor, día de descanso es para glorificar a Dios, para restaurar las fuerzas y el ánimo del cuerpo y del espíritu, no para aniquilar al ser humano, no para ir en contra de la salud, de la vida y de la dignidad de la persona.  
Hoy se piensa, o nos han hecho pensar, que si no trabajamos el domingo no vamos a tener lo necesario para el sustento. Eso es mentira. Con absoluta seguridad que si le damos el lugar que le corresponde a Dios, si sacamos tiempo para cultivar nuestra vida espiritual, para la familia, para el descanso, no nos va a faltar lo necesario para el sustento, con seguridad vamos a poder vivir mejor, vamos a tener más vitalidad, más dinamismo, más energía y la gracia de Dios nos hará más capaces de asumir la vida y los retos que se nos presenten con mayor lucidez y dinamismo. Dios nunca se deja ganar en generosidad; con Dios siempre salimos ganando.
No nos hemos preguntado, ¿Por qué ahora tanto correteo para un lado y otro, estrés, familias rotas y disfuncionales, mucha más gente que no le encuentra sentido a su existencia y hasta se suicida, tanta descomposición moral y social?  ¿No será que por la ambición de conseguir más dinero, cosas y confort estamos dejando de lado lo fundamental y nuestra vida se vuelve caótica? ¿No será que necesitamos sentarnos a replantearnos la vida? ¿No necesitaremos hacer una auténtica jerarquización de los valores donde le demos el primer lugar a Dios y a su plan de salvación, el segundo lugar a la familia, el tercer lugar al descanso, el cuarto lugar a nuestros amigos y el quinto lugar a nuestro trabajo asumiéndolo con generosidad y responsabilidad en los horarios establecidos? 
El Señor nos enseña que lo glorificamos con todo lo que hacemos a favor de las personas y de la creación.   Por tanto, saquemos tiempo para la conexión con Dios, con la familia y con la comunidad, en procura de una vida más estable, armónica y saludable a nivel personal, familiar, eclesial y social. Él nos enseña que cada vez que estamos a favor de la vida lo estamos glorificando, porque la gloria de Dios es el hombre viviente ya que Él nos creó a su imagen y semejanza y nos creó para que seamos felices.  Dios los bendiga, Sady Pbro. 
​

When David Martinez was visiting home from San Antonio during his sophomore year of college, he had no indication his father would pass away a week later. But before this tragedy struck the Martinez family, his father, with keen insight, imparted inspiring words and a sensibility that anchored itself into a singular purpose. 
“I hope that one day you come back home, and you give back to your community,” his father told him. “In essence, one of his last messages to me was a challenge to come home and serve this community,” Martinez said.
And now that time has come. Martinez is running for the office of Val Verde County Attorney.
And like the rest of the country, Del Rioans find themselves deep in teh 2020 election cycle, deciding who will best address their needs and represent their current ideology. Perhaps, they will elect Martinez.
Of course, Martinez is the challenger. And he feels some changes are needed in the county attorney’s office.
“I think one of the things that I see as deficient in the office is presence,” he said. “For whatever reason, the current county attorney doesn’t come into the office on a very regular basis. This predates the pandemic.”
Martinez is very familiar with the office, spending 12 years there. He said the responsibilities are great, and if elected, he will be visible. “I think that the community deserves it…I think it’s important for people to see an elected official in the office.”
He also said the office has a difficult time retaining assistant county attorneys for a myriad of reasons, but a consistent presence might help morale and, subsequently, the retention rate. 
A more efficient and expeditious case-intake process is needed as well, he added, explaining that without one, defendants may be waiting for several months or a year before they know if a case will be filed.
“You run the risk of either police officers or sheriff’s deputies moving on and then not being available to testify if it’s a year, year and a half or two years later,” he said. “If you have witnesses, witnesses’ memories fade; witnesses move. It just becomes more challenging, to successfully prosecute those cases because of that initial delay.”
Martinez, a Democrat, grew up in a large Del Rio family where he is the seventh of 10 children. His parents were heavily involved in the community, consistently placing a great deal of emphasis on service in and outside the home. His father was a founding member of the United Civic Organization (UCO) that brought much-needed services and infrastructure to the Chihuahua and Comalia areas of town.
His passion for law emerged when he was a kid and grew into a
legal career that began in immigration law in the Rio Grande Valley and then continued in commercial and personal injury law in San Antonio. In 2005, he returned to Del Rio with his family and began his long run in the county attorney’s office.
A love for the law and extensive legal experience coupled with a parent-instilled duty to serve the public has now brought him to this significant juncture in his life. He hopes it results in his service to the residents of Val Verde County.   
“The office of county attorney is a very unique opportunity for me to be a public servant utilizing my professional training and education.”

As pandemic woes and shortfalls still linger for many communities and businesses across the nation, some resourceful people have found ways to remain viable through convenience and accessibility.
In Del Rio, the businesses of Rick and Spanky Martinez aptly personify this model.
The couple saw opportunity amid the health-order restrictions and chaos and took direct action in the form of Five Points Market.  
“During quarantine, everything got shut down,” said Spanky. “A lot of the farmers’ markets got shut down. A lot of the art shows got shut down. This actually came because of that.”
The idea for the market germinated while the couple attended weekend events and wondered why the vendors there weren’t offering products in a brick and mortar setting. 
Consequently, the confluence of the virus and their idea turned Five Points Market into a reality and a successful endeavor as business has been booming.
Rick and Spanky prefer to deal with smaller producers who exude excitement about their creations rather than out-of-state distributors that are a cog in the corporate supply chain.
Five Points Market’s goods are also insulated from pandemic challenges Spanky said. Focusing only on Texas products that aren’t delivered via second or third parties, the Martinez’ can consistently provide customers with their products. 
“If anything does happen and we do have another shutdown or anything like that, we are able to go drive…anywhere around Texas we can actually drive and pick up your products,” she said. “We’re not limited to what products you can have and what products you can’t have.”
The Martinez entrepreneurial journey in Del Rio began three years ago at Del Rio Vapor formerly located on Highway 90 heading east out of town. In 2017, the owners sold the business to them. Rick had already been working there. And the second edition of Del Rio Vapor was born. Within six months, they overhauled the advertising, created relationships with numerous distributors and moved locations. Business picked up.
Their singularity of purpose with Del Rio Vapor is to wean people off of nicotine and vaping. That was the intent of the former owners too.
“We still stick to the original program,” Rick said. “And the original goal is to get people off of anything that they’re inhaling, completely.” 
He said continuing to sell nicotine products to people who don’t need it is akin to being a drug dealer. “It’s like selling medication to someone that doesn’t need it.”
The couple says they have helped nearly 9,000 people quit smoking and vaping.
The couple now owns three establishments in the Buena Vista section of town all located in the strip mall on Margaret Lane by The Spot.
The third business is a CBD shop which opened its doors in 2019. Healthy commerce has kissed that business too. “We got the highest legal-grade products in Texas,” Rick said. 
Rick is a native Del Rioan and Spanky is from Rocksprings. They met in Kerrville and were married there relocating to the desert confines of Del Rio a decade ago.
Most of the merchandise at Five Points Market is exclusive and can only be purchased there or at arts and crafts festivals or farmers’ markets statewide. Several of the items don’t have an online presence.   
Almost all of the products are Texas-made and naturally produced. Their items have a wide geographical range as well; unique honey from Quemado, gourmet pasta from Round Rock—the sauce in the flour, epic herbal teas created in Seguin and pottery made completely out of Rio Grande clay by an artisan in Eagle Pass.
Those are just a few examples from the array of specialty products that are smartly displayed throughout the well-lit and exceptionally clean store.
Additionally, Five Points has fresh organic or hydroponic produce — longer shelf life than organic — every Friday.
But their soda pop is the prime seller. Made at the famous Dublin Bottling Works in Dublin, Texas, the first plant to bottle the iconic Dr. Pepper soft drink, Five Points began with 12 cases in its first week of operation then soon increased that to 24 cases and now are up to 60 cases per week. The natural beverage is made with pure cane sugar and holds its carbonation extremely well. 
“I left one open about halfway and the next morning I figured it’s going to be a flat soda so I just dumped it out in the sink. When I dumped it out it was fizzing everywhere…so the next day I did it again but I left it out and I drank it and I was like, ‘Whoa, this is still like you just opened the bottle.’”
The pleasant and satisfying revelation of Spanky’s experience simply invites and begs everyone to visit Five Points Market and own their experience with one of the many distinctive and useful products that line the shelves and inhabit the display cases.

En estos tiempos de decidir a quién vamos a apoyar para ser nuestros líderes y gastar nuestros impuestos es bueno reflexionar y preguntar porque apoyo a un partido o a otro. Yo busco un partido que valora lo mismo que valoro yo  y que le da prioridad a invertir con los recursos de nuestro gobierno. Muchos de estos temas los veo como parte de nuestra familia y nuestro futuro. 
Cuanto nuestro gobierno aporta recursos a nuestras familias no es un gasto que se tira, es una inversión en nuestro futuro. Apoyos de comida, vivienda, educación todos fortalecen a familias y ayudan a esta y a la siguiente generación a ser más productivos y aportar a nuestro país y economía.  Nuestro país tiene un problema grave de concentración de riqueza en el 1%-5% de la población e ignorando las necesidades del resto de nuestro país. Que vivimos en uno de los paises mas ricos del mundo pero buscar tratamiento médico puede financieramente arruinar a una familia. Hay muchos países que ya solucionaron este problema y nosotros también lo podemos hacer para dar cuidado médico a toda nuestra población. 
Nuestra economía debe de enfocarse en la mayoría de la obligación que está trabajando día a día para apoyar a sus familias. No hay razón que el salario mínimo siga igual por décadas y los costos de salud y educación suben y suben. No es justo que un CEO o director de una corporación gane 1000X lo que uno de sus empleados. Las reglas deben de ser parejas para todos, no solo hechas por los ricos para beneficiar a los ricos. Las corporaciones deben de servir a los ciudadanos no el gobierno servir a las corporaciones.
Aparte de invertir en nuestras familias y tener una economía justa, necesitamos representantes que piensen en el futuro de nuestro país por las generaciones que vienen. Invertir en la educación universitaria a un precio accesible y en programas de capacitación laboral son inversiones claves en el futuro de nuestra economía. El apoyo de nuestras instituciones científicas y la toma de decisiones con base a datos e investigación son críticos para el futuro de nuestro planeta y medioambiente. 
Por todas estas razones soy Demócrata.

Para seguir representando al condado de una forma responsable y profesional la delriense y abogada Ana Markowski Smith estará buscando su reelección en estas elecciones generales de noviembre para continuar en la posición de procuradora de Val Verde.
Ana Markowski Smith nació en Ciudad Acuña Coahuila pero su familia emigró a esta población cuando ella sólo tenía meses de nacida por lo que toda su vida a radicado en esta población, su niñez y juventud y ahora su etapa como madre sigue siendo en Del Río.
Su padre es Estanislado Markowski llego a este país de Polinia como refugiado, se casó con María Luisa de Durango México, y ambos le inculcaron a su hija que el esfuerzo y dedicación  trae recompensa por ello Ana Markowski estudió para lograr sus objetivos.
Graduó de la escuela de Del Rio High School en 1978 continuó sus estudios en la universidad de Houston donde estuvo radicando por varios años para cumplir sus metas, uno de sus sueños puede estudiar leyes al terminar la Universidad y con esfuerzo y dedicación logró cumplirlo ya que que graduó en 1988 de la escuela de leyes.
Para cumplir con sus sueños Ana Markowski Smith estaba estudiando por las noches mientras que en el día trabajaba en un bufete legal como asistente y así es cómo pago por sus estudios, también con el apoyo de su familia.
Al trabajar como asistente en un buffet de abogados le beneficio tanto para terminar la escuela de leyes como también logró obtener experiencia para poder ejercer como abogado y esto la llevó aquí ahora sea una reconocida abogada en esta frontera.
Al graduar de la escuela de leyes regresó a esta frontera para empezar a ejercer inmediatamente empezó a trabajar con el reconocido abogado Víctor Castillo que me actualmente es Juez Federal y de quien logró obtener experiencia para así abrir su propio Buffet de abogados.
Fue en 1992 cuando la delriense y ya reconocido abogado tomó la decisión de participar por primera vez en las elecciones para la posición de Procuradora de Val Verde cargo Qué sería sólo por 4 años.
 Ganó gracias al apoyo de la comunidad y debido a su buen desempeño en el trabajo que hace, las familias locales la han estado reeligiendo por lo que ha ocupado la posición de procuradora de Val Verde durante 28 años consecutivos.
Esta será la quinta ocasión en que la abogada local estará en las elecciones generales de noviembre durante sus 28 años en esta posición ha recibido reconocimientos por parte de autoridades del Condado como de la ciudad por el buen desempeño que ha tenido al representar legalmente a Val Verde.
En 1992 Ana Markowski Smith tomó otra importante decisión en su vida que fue casarse, uniendo su vida con Dennis Smith quien ahora se desempeña como Vocero de la Patrulla Fronteriza del Sector de Del Río.
Procrearon dos hijas Katie de 23 años de edad actualmente, graduó de la Universidad de Texas en Dallas, y Sarah Christina de 15 años de edad está cursando la High School en esta población y ya planea una carrera universitaria.
Ahora la abogada y líder comunitaria busca el apoyo de la comunidad una vez más para ocupar esta misma posición por otros cuatro años que para ella serían los últimos para así retirarse y dedicarse a su vida personal.
Este año la abogada local Ana Markowski Smith tomó la decisión de participar en estas elecciones pero como candidata independiente ya que anteriormente lo hacía como militante del partido demócrata pero busca tener el mismo apoyo de la comunidad para seguir haciendo este trabajo de representar legalmente al condado de Val Verde.
Ana Markowski Smith realizado un excelente trabajo como procuradora de Val Verde por ello ha permanecido durante 28 años en este cargo y busca estar otros 4 años para terminar los proyectos que se tienen empezados para así poder concluir todo el trabajo que ha estado realizando en esta frontera para las familias locales.
 La procuradora de Valverde dijo que el éxito que ha tenido en su vida profesional ha sido gracias al apoyo de su familia esposo e hijas y también por la confianza de la comunidad quienes han votado por ella para que sea reelegida en repetidas ocasiones Para ocupar esta misma posición la cual tiene una gran responsabilidad.
Las elecciones generales se tienen programadas para el martes 3 de noviembre del año en curso y por primera vez Ana markowski Smith estará como candidata independiente durante meses estuvo haciendo los trámites correspondientes para poder hacer que su nombre apareciera en las boletas de estas elecciones ahora espera recibir nuevamente el apoyo de la comunidad para ganar estas elecciones y permanecer otros 4 años como procuradora de Val Verde.

     I would like to begin by saying, I appreciate all the support and encouragement that I have received during this election of running for San Felipe Del Rio CISD School Board, Place 6. I truly believe that even during these challenging times that we are facing, we are blessed to live in a city that is truly united. At the end of the day, even when opinions may differ, we always come together to work toward the best solution. I have been privileged to have grown up in Del Rio, and have had the opportunity to interact with many friends and neighbors throughout my life. 
     I grew up in the San Felipe area in a family of 5, with both my parents, and my brother and sister. Like any family, we had our share of good times and bad times. Through it all, I owe everything to my mother, for always being there and continuously encouraging us to always do better. After we graduated from Del Rio High School, we each made our careers and had a family of our own. 
     As parents, we all strive to achieve only the very best for our children. We want our children to be given every opportunity so they can reach their goals. I strongly feel we owe it to our kids to be given the education they need to succeed in life. We need to refocus on what is important to our students and staff. We need to invest in our student’s future. By listening and engaging with them, we can start making a change for the better. Our children are our future. 
     In 1997, this was the year I decided to start helping the community by coaching a Little League team. I quickly learned I had the opportunity to make a difference in the community. As time passed, I volunteered in different sports and programs. It started with baseball then soccer, basketball, UIL sports, School Science Fairs, Career Day at the Elementary schools, parades, and JR ROTC. After over 20 years of being involved, the record shows, I am certainly no stranger to our community. My passion for helping our community has just continued to grow. I feel that being a School Board Member is the perfect opportunity to make a big impact on our students and staff at San Felipe Del Rio CISD. 
I am determined to make a difference. My name is Hugo Sanchez, and I am running for School Board Trustee, Place 6.  
​

William Martin Joel. nicknamed the Piano Man after his first major hit an signature song of the same name, has led a successful music career since the 1970’s. 
Here we go again. Wikipedia says that Joel took part in two - short lived bands. the one time group called the Hassles and the other group known as Atilla, but he also played with another group called the Echoes,who later became the Emeralds and the Lost Souls. Joel also played in sessions for tv Ads, including Chubby Checker and for Bachman Pretzels. He attended Hicksville High School until 1967,but he did not graduate with his class, he had missed a crucial English exam after playing a late night gig at a piano bar the evening before. Not having enough credits to graduate he decided to go into his musical career,still in 1992 he submitted essays to the school board in lieu of missed exams, they were excepted and he was awarded his high school diploma 25 years later. 
In his teens he played on a demo version of “Leader of the Pack”, which became a major hit for the group “The Shangri-las. One thing of interest, while he is known as the piano man, the song “A Matter of Trust”, is the only song where Joel plays guitar while in concert. Another interesting fact about Joel is that after being bullied by some mean kids he decide to take up boxing lessons and went on to win some Golden Gloves amateur fights. He gave up the sport after a broken nose. Though he wasn’t a performer yet, he wanted to be in the crowd for the Jimi Hendrix performance at the 1969 Woodstock Festival, but he decided to leave after a day and a half because of the lack of bathrooms got too much for him to stand.
Find out more about Billy Joel on KWMC’S 1490 AM Classic hit station. And as usual all known facts and stories of interest are by Wendy Johnson and all shows are produced by Javier Martinez Sr.