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September 2012 Vol. 6 Issue 8

Since 2007

Six “Young Six “Young Guns” poised Guns” poised for E-E school for E-E school board dutyboard duty

Hollywood: Hollywood: Discovers Las Discovers Las Palmas CantinaPalmas Cantina

Whiskey D.’s Annual Whiskey D.’s Annual 9/11 Tribute show set9/11 Tribute show set

Mercedes soldier makes Mercedes soldier makes Second Lieutenant rankSecond Lieutenant rank

New pizzeria selling New pizzeria selling pizza by the slicepizza by the slice

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ASSISTANT EDITORS:Myra ElizondoJuan Montoya

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copyright © 2012 by Valleywood Publications. Valleywood staff reserve the right for approval of any advertisement utilized in this magazine. No part of this publica-tion can be reproduced without written permission from the editor. All rights reserved. All opinions are not necessarily those of the advertisers or Valleywood staff. Printed in the United States of America.

VALLEYWOOD MAGAZINE

September 2012 www.valleywoodmag.com Valleywood 2

Move over Little Ceasars, Sabarros and Pizza Hut because Mercedes now has a taste of pizza all the way from the Jersey shore in, Formacio Pizzeria.

The new authentic Italian pizza restaurant offers dine-in or carry out orders and its list of spe-cialty pizza slices is long and tasty.

“Its awe-some and it’s nice to have a place to walk to downtown. Every time I’ve been here it’s been fresh and it’s great,” said Michelle Leftwitch, Mercedes Assistant City Manager.

She said she came on the fi rst day and that it’s fun to watch the pizza being made and hand tossed in the air.

Formacio’s specialty pizza is new to

the Rio Grande Valley. Only a handful of pizza restaurants in the area serve by the slice and have specialty pizza recipes. This kind of menu is usually found on the city streets of big cities and in the northern parts of Texas and the United States.

Formacio’s is serving pizza with different kinds toppings like: Mexican, BBQ Chicken, Spin-ach and Mush-room, Califor-nia Pizza and Hawaiian.

Mercedes resident, Rosie Morado said, “I like it and this is my second time here and I have recom-

mended to friends and family and they have come and they like it.

“They have the Tiger size all the way to the medium all for under 10 bucks.”

Formacio’s is located on 316 W. Third Street in Mercedes downtown and is open everyday Monday - Sunday. from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

New pizzeria selling pizza by the sliceBy Raul Garcia Jr.www.valleywoodmag.com

www.956sports.comFeaturing live interviews with local coaches and players as well as game recaps. Although the show will focus on high school sports, there will be a segment each week dedicated to professional sports in the Rio Grande Valley.

Every Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Every Sundays at 9:30 a.m.

Formacio Pizzeria’s Isreal Formacio and Maria Trejo with their pizza pie.

September 2012www.valleywoodmag.com3 Valleywood

Tucked away between the sugarcane and cotton fi elds of Highway 107 is a small school with an equally small 1A football program. La Villa, which is often overshadowed by its neighbor to the west Edcouch-Elsa, is looking to return to district championship form despite the size of the student body.

So, what does an undersized school with undersized players do to get back on track? They hire a mountain of a man to lead them.

Danny Perez, who played for “La Machina Amarilla” in the 80s as a middle linebacker, had been the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator for fi ve years be-fore being tapped for the head coaching position. Now, both the tiny campus and larger-than-life coach have a chance to make a name for themselves.

“This is my fi rst year as a head coach,” Perez said. “Of course we haven’t won the district in three years, but we’re looking to go at it week by week. We have to win our fi rst game

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fi rst.”Preparing for their season opener

against La Grulla might be Perez’s goal for Week 0, but it is clear to him which team is in the way of the Cardinals’ goals in 2012.

“We want to win district, but the past three years [Ben Bolt] has won it,” he said. “They have some good things going on over there with coach Lefevre and some good kids too. They are the team to beat for us.”

Perez was in his fi rst two years at La Villa when the Cardinals rolled over the Badgers – in 2007 (46-16) and 2008 (56-6) – on their way to a title. Of course there were more teams in the district and more room for error then. Now, with four district games on the schedule, one loss can be the difference between raising the trophy and going into the playoffs without the hardware.

Perez knows that hanging a ‘W’ on Ben Bolt in October could very well be what makes or breaks their title run this season.

According to Perez, the proposition of a new coach coming in and making a

run against Ben Bolt and the other dis-trict teams would be diffi cult at best. But this summer he noticed something differ-ent in his team that made him confi dant in his goal.

His scowl, a product of his 18 years coaching under the South Texas heat, smoothed out with a smile as he talked about the new demeanor and hunger of his squad.

“What I see with these kids is that

they are more energetic,” Perez said.He claimed that something clicked for

the young squad and coaxing his kids to come to practice and strength and condi-tions sessions stopped being an issue.

“We used to have to call them, but we don’t have to do that this year,” he said. “They’re here on time everyday and ready to go. We haven’t had that in the past. They want to get to work and I think good things are going to happen.”

District or bust: La Villa changes outlook and coach

La Villa will face off with Gulla for its season opener. Week one takes them to Santa Rosa for the annual Battle of 107 on Sept. 9. Their fi rst home game is scheduled for Sept. 14 against St. Joeseph Academy.

September 2012www.valleywoodmag.com4 Valleywood

On Tuesday afternoon, the stunt coordinators for Robert Duvall’s movie “A Night in Old Mexico” were going over the moves for a fi ght scene in the Brownsville barfl y hangout.

The Palm Lounge was to become Las Palmas Cantina for the movie and the stunt coordinators were acting out the scene measuring the distance between the bar and the mirrored wall from where a drunk was to jump out at the hero, played by Duvall.

Then, yesterday afternoon, patrons were ushered out of the bar as the cameras and the movie personnel moved in and covered the entrance with thick black plastic and the local extras sauntered in and managers set up the bar scenes.

The stunt men (and women) acted out the moves as the extras sat waiting behind the curtain in the back of the bar. Waitresses moved among the stunt people placing the last touches on the tables. Along the walls, instead of Bud Light and Lite been signs, Pacifi ca Beer banners hung over the bar’s photos.

The large round tables were removed and smaller tables were placed in their stead to give the impres-

sion of a small-town cantina on the border.

A look-alike of Duvall (albeit much younger) worked with the stunt coordinators acting out the way he was going to grab the drunk and heave him over his shoulder and into the bar counter. Sev-eral stunt men practiced throwing punches toward the center of the fl oor.

As usual, these things take time and as the actors and stuntmen worked out their moves just as they did when they fi lmed at Charlie’s Bar on 14th Street, and Domino’s Bar on Market Square. If the places they fi lmed are any indication of the plot of the money it’ll be a bar-hopping fi sticuffs affair. At the Palm lounge a couple of ugly garishly-made up bar fi cheras sat awaiting their turn to shine while a young bar girl named Maria who we have seen around town also waited nervously for her turn under the lights.

Heaven knows what the plot of “A Night in Old Mexico” will be, but we can almost guarantee that some of the places featured in the fi lm will be all but unrecognizable even to old-time Browns-ville residents. But for the last two days, the familiar Palm Lounge was trans-formed into a Hollywood set awaiting its place in movie lore.

By Juan Montoya

Hollywood: Discovers Las Palmas Cantina

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September 2012www.valleywoodmag.com5 Valleywood

McALLEN – McAllen Rowe coach Paul Reyes is happy about a few good things the Warriors have been able to establish during his two seasons at the helm. But, he isn’t satisfi ed.

Big difference.The Warriors hope

2012 can fi nally be the year they can break out of mediocrity confi ne-ment and are able fl ip the switch.

“We’ve established a positive attitude and good work ethic,” Reyes said.

“We’re getting there, but by no means am I satis-fi ed. This is our time now to make a statement.”

They’ll have to make one in a new-look District 31-5A, which includes seven playoff teams and three district champions from a season ago. It won’t

be easy, but Rowe is up for the challenge.

In fact, the Warriors are using the new realignment as a motivational tool.

“Knowing that this is one of the toughest districts we’ve played in the past years, that pushes us more,” senior safety Tony Garcia said. “People will probably respect us more if we win, know-ing that we have to fi ght every game and show that every game is going to be a battle.”

In those battles, Reyes will closely monitor how his team is able to fi nish the close games, a hindrance that’s played a large part in the Warriors’ back-to-back 5-5 regular seasons. In six of Rowe’s 10 losses the past two years, the Warriors were beaten by eight points or less.

Reyes says much of his program’s success this season will depend on

how Rowe performs in tight situations.

“There’s a couple of things we need to look for, but we need to be able to win those close games,” Reyes said. “In three of our fi ve losses last year, we were tied or in the lead at halftime, and we just didn’t hold on to that lead. Those are the little things we got to change.”

If they do, the War-riors feel they can be successful.

And they should have every reason to feel that way.

It’s been only one year since the Warriors last advanced to the postsea-son during Reyes’ fi rst season and just missed the cut last year after losing on a tiebreaker. Perhaps even more encouraging, Rowe has won nine dis-trict games in the past two years, the same number of league victories combined

in fi ve seasons prior to Reyes’ arrival.

It’s something the Warriors can surely hang their hat on as they work toward getting back into the postseason.

“For us to be success-ful or to be considered successful, we’re going to need to get into those playoffs,” Reyes said. “There’s nothing short of that. We need to make a playoff run.”

And they’ll need their offense to lead the way with six starters returning.

Although depth could be an issue, Rowe brings back key skill positions players, including an experienced quarterback tandem in senior Javi Obregon and junior Justin Owens. Both saw sig-nifi cant action last season, but it was Obregon who starred, leading the district in passing with almost 2,500 yards.

Warriors aiming for return to postseason this yearBy Ramiro Paezwww.956sports.com

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September 2012 www.valleywoodmag.com Valleywood 6

The Whiskey D. Out-law Band will be show-casing their rock music and talent at their second annual 9/11 Tribute Show slated for Sept. 8 at the Paradise Roadhouse Bar and Grill in Weslaco, TX.

Whiskey D. will be bringing special guests: comedian Raymond Orta & from Houston, Texas black comedian “X”, Donkey Punch and Alley Cat Project.

Whiskey D. consists of

fi ve amazing musicians. Ray Peynado and J.R. Martinez on guitars Rene Peynado on Drums Rock-N-Roll James on vocals, all from Mercedes and Lee Garza on Bass from Brownsville.

Their fi rst single off the album that they will be performing is “Osama Bin Ladin You can Kiss our A*#.”

Rock-N-Roll James said the band felt com-pelled to writing the tune

Whiskey D.’s annual 9/11 tribute show set

after U.S. Forces killed Osama Bin Laden in Abbot-tabad, Pakistan last year.

The band has been together for over a year and have been performing around Texas and the Rio Grande Valley, headed by Rock-N-Roll James from Q 94.5 the Rock.

The fi ve man band is arguably the best cover band in the area and they are excited about the event where they will feature popular rock music.

Whiskey D.’s annual 9/11 Tribute Show on Sat. Sept. 8 at 8 p.m is free for everyone located East of 1015 on Expressway 83 at Paradise Roadhouse.

September 2012www.valleywoodmag.com7 Valleywood

A Commissioning Ceremony at the Albert Jeffers Theatre at UTPA for Amado Herrera II from Mercedes was organized for the Army soldier. Pictured L-R is David Garza representing Mercedes Veterans War Memorial, Mr. Amado Herrera II and his proud parents Mr. and Mrs. Antonio Herrera,. The ceremony was to convey to the commission as offi cer in the Army of the United States with the rank of Second Lieutenant. 2LT Herrera enlisted October 12, 2000.

Military assignments include Operation Noble Eagle Nov. 2001 ---Nov. 2002, Support of Operation Enduring Freedom Mar. 2005--May 2006, and Operation Jumpstart Jan. 2008---June 2008. Mr. Herrera is a 2001 graduate of Mercedes High School, not only did he make his parents proud but another Veteran that has made Mercedes proud of his accomplishments.

Congratulations and Thank You for your service 2Lt. Amado Herrera II.

Mercedes soldier makes Second Lieutenant rank

Six “Young Guns” poised for E-E school board duty

Army soldier from Mercedes given ceremony for military achievment.

By Raul Garcia Jr.www.valleywoodmag.com

Everyone knows La Maquina Ama-rilla for its dominating force in football.

Some are just fi nding out E-E ISD has been weathering a Stage 5 acidemic stand-ing for its poor educational performance.

But six young school board candi-dates armed with college degrees have come together to ralley for E-E ISD: Jose Saldivar, Eussebio Nava, Hugo De La Cruz, Genisis Montalvo, Jarrett Castillo and Mark Lozano and they are asking the community to make a change to the district’s board of trustees at the voting polls in the General Election on Nov. 6 to put E-E students fi rst.

These Young Guns are committing themselves to bringing the Edcouch-Elsa school system back to A+ standing. They say schools have no air conditioning in

some rooms, ceilings are leaking and some rooms have mold but having a new stadium is more important to the current board of trustees in Edcouch-Elsa.

Four slates are campaigning in E-E to fi ll the four open seats and two vacated seats in the upcoming election. Two of the seats are for two year terms to replace Benny Layton’s seat and Joseph Cam-pos’s seat. Layton died in a motorcycle accident last year and Campos vacated his seat to run for State Representitive.

The group is heading its campaign with forget politics and they are knock-ing on doors and have a towering sign on the edge of the two towns on Hwy 107 in full color asking for voters to support them and vote for change in the Novem-ber Election.

E-E’ s new stadium may not be com-pleted before their opening home game.