Issue 9.35 Aug 30

VOL. 9 • NUM 35

www.LaPrensaTexas.com

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La Prensa Texas SAN ANTONIO

Let’s Talk About It:

Founded 1913 - Fundada en 1913

Phonies!

Publisher / Editora: Yvette Tello y.tello@laprensatexas.com Community Liaison / Enlace Comunitario: Ramon Chapa Jr. r.chapa@laprensatexas.com Advertising & Production Coordinator / Coordinadora de Publicidad y Producción: Jessica Medrano Contributors / Colaboradores: Dr. Ricardo Romo Priscilla Sanchez - Hurt info@laprensatexas.com Editor Español: José I. Franco Sales Representative / Representante de Ventas: Maria Cisneros La Prensa Texas is a grassroots, bilingual publication that serves as a vital voice for the community especially for those who are too often left out of mainstream media conversations. Since its founding, La Prensa Texas has been dedicated to providing relevant, accessible, and culturally rooted news that reflects the lives, struggles, and triumphs of the people of San Antonio and surrounding counties.

Our mission is simple yet powerful: to inform, inspire, and empower our readers through storytelling that uplifts the diverse voices of our community. This publication continues to be the lifeline of local news, bridging the gap between the people and the stories that matter most.

Send Press Releases and Advertising Inquiries to: Info@LaPrensaTexas.com 210-628-9611

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By Yvette Tello

I received a call from a friend I had warned about someone he became friends with that I knew was not credible . This person has a knack for attaching themselves to credible, wellknown people, even celebrities. In today’s social media landscape, it’s easy to create an illusion of fame or success, but often, it’s just a façade or a front.

Despite my concerns, he chose to continue his friendship with this individual, who is notorious for over-promising and under-delivering. Unfortunately, he recently found out the hard way during a big event, and it left him feeling hurt and betrayed. To make matters worse, he confided in a few people about her experience, only to have that information spread around.

Now, he is feeling isolated and confused. What’s particularly troubling is how people in San Antonio seem to know about this person’s

reputation yet remain silent. There are credible organizations that have received multiple complaints against them, but the information doesn’t circulate because people are hesitant to have the script flip and become the target. It was quite disheartening for him to hear people say, “Oh, I knew about that,” after the fact, especially when they didn’t warn him. For those who are new to San Antonio, this kind of culture is shocking. Has anything like this ever happened to you?

Do you know of any organizations or individuals who are complete phonies, taking advantage of others or scamming them out of their money? Did you tell anyone? Why or why not? Why is it the person that speaks up is the one deemed wrong or the bad guy? Let’s talk about it…

Anthony Pestello: “sounds like law enforcement” Michael Momo Chazz Martinez: “Sounds like some independent filmmakers in San Antonio Sandra Luna Perez: “School districts do that a lot. I’ve always told people who used who because I hate seeing people get used.”

Christopher Cavazos: “There was a guy who I

went to school with. Everyday this guy would ask me to borrow money for lunch,like say a quarter or a dime or a dollar but eventually it started to add up.

Later on he would cling on to those people who had a car and would take him out to lunch. It was pathetic to say the least. Apparently he now claims to not remember some of us guys from school. Such a loser that guy” Blue Rose Alvarez: “He was disheartened to hear that people knew and didn’t warn him? Didn’t you warn him and he “chose to continue” the friendship? Also, your friend should only confide in people he trusts.

There are so many self-proclaimed influencers out there to enjoy watching or hanging out with for fun.

The majority of influencers are out to promote themselves or their products.

So, the relationship begins with, how is this going to help them. However, I do believe there are some out there promoting good in our community. You just have to do your due diligence and— read the reviews, posts, comments— listen to your friends! I don’t order or purchase anything without reading the reviews. I am the worst judge of a person’s character and have been hurt emotionally and also had my credibility smeared by someone I once

considered a friend. I chose not to listen to the warnings then, but certainly learned a tremendous lesson. — To listen to the words of a friend and proceed with caution. Ultimately, we all have the“free will” to make choices and take action. I hope your friend learned a good lesson from this experience. Know who you can trust.”

Claudia Sanchez: “Yes, they are lazy and don’t want to work so they scam people or organizations. They need to look credible so they hang around people with clout so they can seem important or knowledgeable to make it easier to take advantage of others. I can usually read people well to know when they are pretending to be someone they are not.

Jeff Hull: “Too many times to tell and when I did. It was flipped and they made me out to be the bad guy because I was honest about the situation or situations” Herb Rockman: “Let me guess, tejano?”

Anastacia Lopez: “It’s sad to know that there are these kinds of people who would go to these lengths to scam organizations or people who just want to help and do for the community. Bunch of scammers and opportunists”

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About the Artist

Freddy Casillas Provided by the artist.

Freddy is a Texas-born artist whose bold, colorful works capture the energy and personality of iconic figures from pop culture, music, and history. Originally from Dallas, Freddy now calls San Antonio home—a city whose vibrant culture and a creative spirit inspire his evolving artis-

tic journey. Freddy’s art is instantly recognizable for its fearless use of color, texture, and mixed media.

Blurring the line between painting and sculpture, he often incorporates physical objects and products directly into his pieces, creating tactile experiences that invite viewers to look closer and think differently about the familiar. Each work celebrates indi-

viduality, fame, and the visual noise of modern life—all seen through Freddy’s unapologetically expressive lens. Driven by curiosity and an instinct for reinvention, Freddy continues to push boundaries, transforming everyday materials into statements of identity, nostalgia, and cultural connection. His art isn’t just meant to be seen—it’s meant to be felt.

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Reapertura Del Gunn Family - “Coyote Dog Park” Por Franco

Tras los sorpresivos y devastadores tornados del 15 de julio que tocaron tierra en un distrito comercial y urbanism ubicado al norte del Condado de Bexar con sede en la ciudad de El Álamo. La empresa Spurs Sports and Entertainment (SS&E), propietaria del pentacampeón equipo Los Spurs de San Antonio en asociación con el condado y la compañía Gunn Auto Group, se dieron a la tarea apoyando las obras de reconstrucción en el parque de recreación canina denominado Gunn Family Coyote Park ubicado en el progresivo sector The Rock at La

Cantera. El cual estuvo cerrado al público para dar paso a los trabajos de reconstrucción. Las obras de reforestación continúan en el plano de remozar dicho espacio público gratuito, que

diariamente es concurrido por dueños de mascotas de todos los tamaños.

En boletín oficial de prensa SS&E, informó lo siguiente: Grant Moody, Bexar County Commissioner, Precinct 3, y

John Cronen, (Assoc.

Director of The Rock), durante la ceremonia de reapertura, dieron la bienvenida a un grupo local dueños y sus respectivas mascotas.

Qué felices regresaron

al selecto parque, recibiendo mercancía gratis de Spurs, así como delicioso café y pup cups, cortesía del Gunn Auto Group.

Fotos de cortesía SS&E

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AVISO DE AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA SOBRE EL AUMENTO DE IMPUESTOS Una tasa impositiva de $0.56288 se ha propuesto por cada valoración de $100 por el órgano gobernante de la Ciudad de San Antonio.

TASA IMPOSITIVA PROPUESTA $0.56288 por cada $100 TASA IMPOSITIVA SIN NUEVOS INGRESOS $0.54773 por cada $100

TASA DEL IMPUESTO POR APROBACIÓN DE VOTANTES $0.58865 por cada $100 La tasa de impuesto sin nuevos ingresos es la tasa impositiva para el año tributario 2026 que recaudará la misma cantidad de ingresos por impuestos prediales para la Ciudad de San Antonio de las mismas propiedades tanto en el año tributario 2025 como en el año tributario 2026. La tasa de aprobación del votante es la tasa impositiva más alta que la Ciudad de San Antonio puede adoptar sinrealizar una elección para buscar la aprobación de los votantes.

La tasa impositiva propuesta es mayor que la tasa de impuesto sin nuevos ingresos. Esto significa que la Ciudad de San Antonio propone aumentar los impuestos prediales para el año fiscal 2026.

LAS AUDIENCIAS PÚBLICAS PARA VOTAR LA TASA IMPOSITIVA PROPUESTA SE LLEVARÁN A CABO EL MIÉRCOLES 2 de septiembre de 2026 a partir de las 5 p.m. y el jueves 10 de septiembre de 2026 a partir de las 9 a.m. Cada audiencia pública se llevará a cabo en la Sala del Consejo en 105 Main Plaza. La Sala del Consejo es accesible para sillas de ruedas. La entrada accesible se encuentra en el Edificio de la Plaza Municipal/entrada de la Plaza Principal. La interpretación para ASL, español y otros idiomas está disponible bajo solicitud. Proporcionar al menos 72 horas de anticipación ayudará a asegurar la disponibilidad. Para solicitar asistencia con el idioma, llama al (210) 207-7241 o a Texas Relay Services for the Deaf 711.

Los miembros del público pueden ofrecer testimonio en cada una de estas Audiencias Públicas. Para enviar comentarios o inscribirse para hablar, por favor vaya a SASpeakUp.com y haga clic en el enlace asociado con la agenda de la Audiencia Pública para recibir instrucciones.

Cada audiencia pública estará disponible para el público en: canal 99 de AT&T; canal Grande 20; canal 21 de Spectrum; antena digital 16; y SanAntonio.gov/ TVSA. Cada audiencia pública también estará disponible llamando al (210) 207-5555 (disponibles en inglés y español).

Las preguntas relacionadas con estas reglas pueden dirigirse a la Oficina del Secretario de la Ciudad al (210) 207-7253. La tasa impositiva propuesta no es mayor que la tasa del impuesto por aprobación del voto. Como resultado, la Ciudad de San Antonio no está obligada a realizar una elección en la que los votantes puedan aceptar o rechazar la tasa impositiva propuesta. Sin embargo, puedes expresar tu apoyo u oposición a la tasa impositiva propuesta contactando a los miembros del Ayuntamiento de la Ciudad de San Antonio en sus oficinas o asistiendo a las audiencias públicas mencionadas anteriormente.

TUS IMPUESTOS ADEUDADOS BAJO CUALQUIERA DE LAS TASAS MENCIONADAS ANTERIORMENTE PUEDEN CALCULARSE DE LA SIGUIENTE MANERA: Monto del impuesto predial = (tasa impositiva) x (valor gravable de tu propiedad) / 100 Los miembros del órgano de gobierno votaron sobre la propuesta para considerar el aumento de impuestos de la siguiente manera: A FAVOR de la propuesta: Gina Ortiz Jones, Dr. Sukh Kaur, Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, Phyllis Viagran, Edward Mungia, Teri Castillo, Ric Galvan, Ivalis Meza Gonzalez EN CONTRA de la propuesta: Marina Alderete Gavito, Misty Spears, Marc Whyte PRESENTE y no votando: Ninguno AUSENTE: Ninguna Visita Texas.gov/PropertyTaxes para encontrar un enlace a tu base de datos local de impuestos prediales donde puedes acceder fácilmente a información sobre tus impuestos prediales, incluyendo información sobre tasas impositivas propuestas y audiencias públicas programadas de cada entidad que grava tu propiedad.

La 86ª Legislatura de Texas modificó la manera en que se calcula la tasa del impuesto por aprobación de votantes para limitar la tasa de crecimiento de los impuestos prediales en el estado.

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La siguiente tabla compara los impuestos impuestos a la residencia promedio por la Ciudad de San Antonio el año pasado con los impuestos que la Ciudad de San Antonio propone imponer este año a la residencia promedio de viviendas residenciales.

Para ayuda con cálculos de impuestos, por favor contacte al tasador de impuestos de la Ciudad de San Antonio al (210) 207- 0558 o finance@sanantonio.gov, o visita www.sanantonio.gov/finance para más información.

PUBLIC NOTICE BG license Arbolito Grocery & Market LLC dba La Moreliana Meat Market 1510 Callaghan Rd San Antonio, Tx 78228 Single Member: Jackeline Salinas

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The Family Degree, Unapologetic Ambition, and the Standard of Somos Poder Dr. Priscilla Aguilar

By Celinda De La Fuente

On the office wall of Dr. Priscilla Aguilar hangs a photograph that anchors everything she does: an image of her grandmother on her hands and knees, laboring in the agricultural fields. To this day, her grandmother cannot speak of those days without tears. For Aguilar, that picture is not just family history—it is an altar of sacrifice, a compass of purpose, and an unshakeable standard of ganas. “When I go through moments where it all becomes overwhelming and you kind of want to give up, I think to myself: it’s hard, but it will never be as hard as that,” Aguilar shared. “I’m here with these blessed opportunities. I didn’t come this far, to come this far.” Today, Aguilar serves as the Director of Administrative Operations in the Office of

the President at Palo Alto College (PAC) within the Alamo Colleges District. As she completes her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Texas Lutheran University, she joins the rare 1% of Latinas nationwide who hold a doctoral degree.

But when Aguilar speaks of her trajectory, she does not speak through a lens of individual exceptionalism. She speaks of collective uplift, the weight of immigrant sacrifice, and the urgent necessity to rewrite the societal script for young brown women across San Antonio’s South Side. Aguilar’s path through higher education began not with grand academic ambition, but with the quiet courage of her mother. Raised on San Antonio’s South Side and a graduate of South San ISD., Aguilar initially felt college was an afterthought. “I don’t think college was really in my foresight,” she admitted. “By no means did I graduate top of my class.” Around that time, her mother decided to return to school after a 15-year hiatus to earn her degree at Palo Alto College. Inspired by her mother’s courage, a 19-year-old Aguilar enrolled alongside her. They walked into classrooms together, sat in student government meetings together, and navigated the unknown terrain of college as a family unit.

Aguilar secured a part-time stu-

dent work-study position in the office of then-Vice President of Student Success (now PAC President) Dr. Robert Garza, while also supporting Dr. Mike Flores (now Alamo Colleges Chancellor). Recognizing her potential, her mentors pushed her out of administrative comfort and into the Welcome Center to gain direct student-facing experience. That intentional guidance changed her life trajectory. Aguilar completed her Associate of Arts in Communications at Palo Alto College in 2012, earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Texas A&M University–San Antonio in 2014, and completed her Master of Education in Higher Education Leadership, Policy, and Administration at UTSA in 2017. She climbed the institutional ladder step by step: student worker, part-time staff, STEM and high school academic advisor, coordinator, and ultimately, the right hand to the college president.

When Aguilar began her doctoral research, she focused her dissertation on a reality she knew intimately: “Somos Poder: Unlocking Postsecondary Success and Shattering Barriers for Latino Students.” While initiatives like the Alamo Promise program removed tuition barriers, Aguilar observed that enrollment numbers did not magically skyrocket overnight.

Through qualitative research

and in-depth student interviews, her study revealed that for Latino communities, systemic barriers run far deeper than financial balance sheets. “When I think of my degrees, I hold the weight of all the sacrifices that my grandparents made as immigrants and migrant workers, and the sacrifices of my parents,” Aguilar explained.

“For our students, a degree is viewed as a family degree.

There is extreme pressure because failure is not an option.

It is for all of them.” Her research illuminated the unseen emotional and cultural labor carried by first-generation Latino students, from contributing to household expenses and navigating transportation hurdles to bearing the collective hopes of an entire lineage. True educational equity, Aguilar argues, requires institutions to support the whole family system rather than treating students as isolated individuals. If anyone embodies the endurance required to carry that collective weight, it is Aguilar herself. During the final stretches of her doctoral program—while managing full-time executive operations at the college, co-owning a small business with her husband, and raising children—Aguilar experienced a high-risk pregnancy. Her daughter was born prematurely, leading to an agonizing season in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

30 de Agosto de 2026 Between hospital visits, postpartum recovery, and caring for a newborn, Aguilar refused to drop her coursework. She recorded academic video presentations from hospital hallways and pushed through dissertation deadlines. “You find that little Southside Mexican girl who never even thought she’d be at this point, and you just refuse to let anything take you off the path you are supposed to be on,” Aguilar said. “It is your own internal fire that gets you through.” Aguilar’s lived experience has made her an outspoken advocate for cultural and professional solidarity among women. Serving on the steering committee for the Latina Leadership Institute (San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce) and on the City of San Antonio’s Ready to Work Advisory Board, she is committed to dismantling scarcity mindsets. Early in her career, Aguilar encountered instances of the “Queen Bee syndrome”—an outdated mentality where established leaders gatekeep opportunities because they had to struggle to attain them. Aguilar turned those painful experiences into a blueprint of how never to lead. “We already have enough obstacles and barriers set up against us. We cannot do that to each other,” Aguilar emphasized.

“Any time we get through that door, we have an obligation to leave it wide open for the next person. We need to be at every table and in every room, but we must make sure we are bringing our fellow Latina with

La Prensa Texas SAN ANTONIO us.” Aguilar also challenges the myth of perfection imposed on mothers. “I remember thinking, ‘I don’t want to choose one thing or another. I want it all,’” she said. “I want motherhood, I want a career, I want both.

We don’t have to apologize for what we want. We can have all the versions of ourselves that we desire.” Aguilar fiercely rejects the common trope that successful individuals from underserved zip codes make it “in spite of” where they grew up. “I don’t want to be a ‘despite of.’ I want to be the standard of what this community can produce,” Aguilar stated.

“My husband and I bought our home here. We are raising our children here. We are investing back into the South Side because this area is worth it.” This conviction is why La Prensa Texas is proud to celebrate Dr. Priscilla Aguilar as part of our We the Women movement. She reminds us that our roots are not deficits to overcome, but the very soil that grants us our strength. By shouting her wins, opening institutional doors, and honoring the ancestral hands that cleared the fields before her, Dr. Priscilla Aguilar proves that when a Latina steps into her calling, she does not rise alone—she carries an entire community forward with her.

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The Magnetically Striking Work of Chicano Artist César A. Martínez: An El Paso Solo Exhibition By: Ricardo Romo, PH.D

A new exhibition, “El Otro Camino: An Intimate Portrait of César A. Martínez,” opened in El Paso, Texas, on Saturday, August 22, 2026. It is the first large-scale comprehensive exhibition by the acclaimed San Antonio Chicano artist in the El Paso Southwest region. Guest-curated by Diana Molina and organized by the El Paso Mexican American Cultural Center, the exhibit selections are predominantly drawn from the artist’s personal collection created between 1975 and 2026.

Thus, the exhibit offers an intimate glimpse into Martínez’s work as a painter, printmaker, sculptor, photographer, and collage artist. César Martínez is a major Latino artist and one of the founders of the Chicano Art Movement. He is one of the few Latino-American artists whose work has been collected by prominent American museums including the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.; the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, New York; The Cheech Center, Riverside, California; the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; the McNay Art Museum, San Antonio; the San Antonio Museum of Art; and the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, Chicago. Martinez, a native of the borderlands, is the first American-born child of his immediate family. In the 1930s, Martínez told Jesus Trevino of Latinopia,“ my grandmother, Cruz Garza, took that big step and emigrated to Laredo, Texas, to escape an existence of hardship at the family ranch, Los Garzas, in the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon, only about 60 miles from the border.”

During the first half of the 20th century, the Rio Grande did not present a barrier to the residents of the twin cities of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, and Laredo, Texas. In his youth, Martinez crossed the international U.S. Mexico border bridge nearly every weekend to visit family ranches and to shop at the Mercado Malclovio Herrera, an open-air

market dating back to the 19th century. As often as possible, he also attended bullfights at the Plaza de Toros. Martinez enrolled at Texas A&M University at Kingsville in the mid-1960s and graduated with an art degree in 1968. At the Kingsville campus, he formed friendships with several Latino artists who, like himself, expressed South Texas experiences in their paintings and drawings. In his Artist Statement, Marinez wrote: “I am not a natural-born technically gifted artist and was never a child prodigy who did wondrous artwork.” He expanded on his approach to art, noting, “The strength in my art has always been the ideas behind it; everything else is hard work, and to this day I struggle.” In the late 1960s a cohort of South Texas artists constituted the early creative forces of the Texas Chicano art movement. In 1968, as Martinez prepared for his first solo show, the U.S. Army drafted him.

Following an Honorable Discharge in 1971, he moved to San Antonio, Texas. San Antonio artists played an important role in the initial years of the Texas Chicano Art Movement. San Antonio College art professor and artist Mel Casas recruited young artists like Martinez to join the famed Con Safo art group. Martinez joined Con Safo in 1974. In recalling his early introduction to the Chicano Movement, Martinez told the UT Rio Grande Valley Center for Latino Arts interviewer, “It was all about defining ourselves for ourselves, self-determination in every sense, culturally, politically and whatever else.” At Latino artists’ meetings in San Antonio, Martinez met Santos Martinez, Jr., who later included Cesar Martinez in the Dale Gas exhibit in Houston, Texas, in 1977. The Dale Gas exhibit is considered one of the first Chicano art shows in the United States.

The following year [1978], César Martinez began his bato-and-pachuco series. Santos G. Martinez, Jr. noted that Martinez’s paintings“ represent a cultural portrait of a working-class community often marginalized, and one which generally goes

unnoticed.” In his paintings of batos, Martínez captures the essence of iconic figures from his barrio in Laredo at a time when “Pachuquismo,” a distinct type of dress and hairstyle represented in Chicano urban street culture, was in vogue in many of the borderland barrios. The pachucos and pachucas represented a 1940-1950 equivalent of “ cool” or “hip ” dudes and ladies. Art critic Benito Huerta commented that Martínez is “ widely recognized for his figurative works, including his Bato/Pachuco/Ruca series, a group of imaginary portraits grounded in real life.” His“ cropped, solitary sitters,” added Huerta,“ set against vibrant color fields, gaze at us from each of these portraits.” Although the Bato series represents Martínez’s signature paintings, his artistic versatility is evident in the many creative works he produced over his career, such as his serape and Mestizo series. In the serape pieces, Martinez returns to the Mexican mercados of the borderlands where vendors in Nuevo Laredo offered colorful long rectangular wool blankets or shawls for men to wrap around their shoulders. The serape, one of Mexico’s most famous traditional symbols, was introduced to the art world by Diego Rivera’s

César Martínez. Courtesy of the El Paso Mexican American Cultural Center. Special thanks to Ramon T. Cardenas, MACC Exhibits Coordinator.

30 de Agosto de 2026 “Zapatista Landscape” painting of 1915, a Cubist abstract that captured symbols of the Mexican Revolution and Mexican Nationalism. Over the years, Martínez returned to his interest in Indi genous identity [mestizos] and culture [toros or bulls]. In earlier works, he painted a jaguar from pre-Columbian Indigenous culture confronting a bull representing Spanish newcomers to Mexico.

In a self-portrait, Martínez’s facial features are divided: one-half features a jaguar and the opposite half is that of a bull. Diana Molina, who has followed César Martínez’s career for nearly three decades, has excellent images of his work in her beautiful 2020 book, Icons & Symbols of the Borderlands.Early in his career, Martínez participated in numerous national exhibitions after winning the top award in the 1984 Chicano Art exhibit Mira!

The Canadian Club Hispanic Art Tour. In 1997, Artpace in San Antonio awarded Martinez an International Artists’ Residency, and the Artpace organization included Martinez in several exhibits.

Ellen Bernstein of the Corpus Christi Caller newspaper noted that in the mid-1980s, Martinez began producing works that were a “ visual antithesis of his vividly colored Chicano portraits”.

She wrote, “Employing a more subdued palette and working with a less representational imagery that is more subtle and elusive in both message and mood, the mixed-media works and paintings included in his South Texas and mestizo series are consummately more biographical and personal.”

Over the last 40 years, César Martinez has also painted many portraits of women. Some like “Sra. Rivas ” are conceived from images found in dusty old South Texas high school yearbooks of the 1940s and 50s. He found other ideas for his paintings in the obituary pages of South Texas newspapers. Martinez works with paper, canvas, wood, and metal, and, although he mostly paints with acrylics, he also excels with pastels and watercolors. Several of his wood construction pieces have been included in museum exhibitions in Texas. As early collectors of his art, Harriett and I have witnessed the evolution of César Martinez as an artist. We bought two pastel portraits of women and a painting of a bull confronting a jaguar from Martinez in 1982. We recently acquired one of his serape pieces completed in 1980. I had the good

La Prensa Texas SAN ANTONIO fortune to arrange for the printing of a beautiful lithographic portrait, Bato Azul, at UT Austin which we donated to the Smithsonian Museum of American Art in D.C. several years ago. Twenty-seven years ago, the McNay Art Museum presented a solo exhibition, César A. Martínez: A Retrospective. Fourteen years later, he was featured as one of the artists in the Estampas: Romo Collection McNay exhibit. That exhibition has traveled to ten American cities. El Otro Camino marks milestones in Martínez’s brilliant and prolific career by showcasing iconic selections from his “Batos Rucas, ” “Serape,” “Mestizo,“ and “South Texas ” series of works. The exhibition, which closes on January 24, 2027, highlights the significant role César Martínez has played in the emergence of Chicano art as an e during representation of Latino and Mexican American life and culture.

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César Martínez. Courtesy of the El Paso Mexican American Cultural Center.

César Martínez in his San Antonio home studio.

Photo by Ricardo Romo.

César Martínez. Courtesy of the El Paso Mexican American Cultural Center.

César Martínez. Courtesy of the El Paso Mexican American Cultural Center.

César Martínez. Courtesy of the El Paso Mexican American Cultural Center.

César Martínez. Courtesy of the El Paso Mexican American Cultural Center.

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Sweet Serenity: A Home for the Hurting, A Sanctuary for All

by Celinda De La Fuente

When we step into a typical coffee shop, the transaction is fast: place order, grab order, and rush out the door without looking back. We rarely even pause to consider the human hands on the other side of that counter.

Then there is Sweet Serenity, tucked along Bandera Road, where every cup of coffee, every pastry, every handmade chicken salad croissant sandwich represents more than a morning routine. It is a place where you are not only served with kindness, but seen with heart. It is a living sanctuary of radical transformation, dignity, and restorative healing. Operated under SerenityStar Recovery– the peer-to-peer addiction recovery nonprofit founded by Teri and Rosalina “Rosie” Lopez, the same creative force behind Comfort Cafe– and like its sister space, Sweet Serenity runs on a pay-what-you-can model. And behind the counter, mi gente, real transformation is happening. The bakers, baristas, and kitchen crew are re-

sidents and alumni of the SerenityStar program, and every cup poured, every pastry served, every sandwich enjoyed helps fund treatment and housing for someone else still fighting to get there. This is a business built on an ancient truth: “you keep what you have by giving it away.”

And for shop manager Madeleine Giselle, who has been with SerenityStar for almost three and a half years, the space is personal.

Before she was training others to pull espressos and shape pastry dough, she was experiencing homelessness in the streets of Dallas 15 years into her own battle with addiction.

Finding SerenityStar completely reshaped the trajectory of her life. Madeleine was certain she wouldn’t see the age of 32. She is now 34. “It’s given me the space to become who I’ve always been on the inside, and find purpose and connection with other people, which is really what I was chasing all along, but didn’t know it,” Madeleine shares. Her journey began washing dishes before ad-

vancing to server, baker, barista, and now manager.

Stepping into that responsibility pushed past the isolation that addiction often leaves behind: “Some people are really uncomfortable talking about being an addict, ” reflects Madeleine. Sweet Serenity “helps push them out of that shame” as it extends beyond the kitchen to offer an inclusive table for the greater community. On Monday nights, spearheaded by Madeleine, they host Rainbows for Recovery, an open, compassionate peer group offering LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies a safe space to discuss underlying traumas often missed by traditional 12-step settings.

Every other Thursday, their bi-weekly Spiritual Workshops explore grief, inner peace, and personal truth through a different lens.

Operating on a community-driven, donation-based model, every dollar spent directly funds resources for individuals who have nowhere else to turn. “Everything that we make helps to pay for treatment, to have a bed for somebody else that

needs help, ” Madeleine notes. “I just want everyone to feel like they’re at home.” And this, mi gente, is your invitation. Come get your coffee. Come explore comfort and safety. Come be yourself no matter who is around. Come be human.

Sweet Serenity is proof that a sanctuary can smell like fresh pastries and still save a life. www.serenitystar.org @sweetserenitycoffeehouse

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On View Now Through January 4, 2027

ON THE RIVER WALK

ANTONIO, TX BRISCOEMUSEUM.ORG S A N

Selena 4 1992, Digital print on panel, Courtesy of the artist, Panel dimensions: 50 x 62 x 1 in. (detail)

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H-E-B and Mars Snacking Partner with Palo Alto College to Invest in Student Success Provided By Palo Alto College

H-E-B and Mars Snacking are

partnering with Palo Alto College to support student success by presenting a $5,000 gift to the college’s S.H.A.R.E. Center during New Palomino Family Day on Saturday, August 22. The partnership will also include a donation of RXBAR and H-E-B products, helping provide students with access to simple, nutritious snacking options as they begin the academic year. The investment, along with a previous $14,500 donation in gift cards, will help provide Grab & Go lunches and food pantry assistance to students experiencing food insecurity and welcome the college’s newest Palominos and their Families. New Palomino Family Day, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on August 22nd, welcomes incoming students and their families to campus before the start of the fall semester, introducing them to the people, programs, and services that will support them throughout their college journey. Students will participate in resource fairs, student panels, and opportunities to connect with faculty and staff, while parents and supporters attend sessions covering academic expectations, cam-

pus safety, financial literacy, FERPA, and student support resources. The check presentation will take place during the event’s opening ceremony, 9:20 a.m. - 10 a.m., where representatives from H-E-B and Mars Snacking will join Palo Alto College leadership in presenting the $5,000 donation to the Student Health Advocacy Resource Engagement Center (S.H.A.R.E. Center). “At H-E-B, supporting students as they work to achieve their educational goals is at the heart of what we do,S.H.A.R.E. Public Affairs Manager-H-E-B, Katie Chain. “As the school year begins, children and families shouldn’t have to worry about where their next meal comes from. That’s why we are deeply committed to helping fight food insecurity across Texas, and we hope this gift of healthy snacks and our gift to the S.H.A.R.E Center will help these students begin their school year on the right track.” This generous gift, along with $14,500 in gift card donations from H-E-B for use throughout the academic year, will directly benefit students overcoming food insecurity and help strengthen other critical support services offered at the center, including mental health counseling, clothing support, transportation assis-

tance, parenting resources for students, housing assistance, and more.“RXBAR is rooted in a belief that what’s inside matters, with products made with simple, recognizable ingredients that help give people the nutrition they need to pursue their goals,” said Regina Cabrera, Senior Brand Manager. “Through this partnership, we’re proud to help provide students with greater access to nutritious food so they can stay focused on pursuing their education and what comes next.” In the 2025-2026 academic year alone, nearly 15,000 Grab & Go lunches were provided at no cost to students, up 37% from the previous year.

The S.H.A.R.E. Center’s food pantry saw an 89.5% increase in visits over the last year, with the average student going home with $120 worth of groceries, hygiene, and cleaning supplies.

This significant rise in the need for accessible nutrition among college students makes partnerships like this one between Mars Snacking’s RXBAR and Palo Alto College an invaluable opportunity to expand access to nutritious options and directly support students’ ability to achieve academic success. “As Palo Alto College continues to experience record enrollment for the second con-

secutive academic year, now serving more than 15,000 students, expanding access to essential support services has never been more important,” said Dr. Robert Garza, president of Palo Alto College. “Student success extends beyond the classroom, and access to basic necessities like food plays a critical role in a student’s ability to learn, persist, and graduate. Thanks to the generosity of H-E-B and Mars Snacking, we are able to expand these vital resources, helping more students and their families navigate barriers, stay focused on their education, and build brighter Futures.” Through community partnerships with organizations like H-E-B and Mars Snacking, Palo Alto College continues to break down generational barriers to higher education and ensure everyone in the PAC community has the resources needed to succeed from their first day on campus and beyond. For more information on New Palomino Family Day, visit alamo.edu/pac.

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BIBLIOTECH ES LA PRIMERA BIBLIOTECA PÚBLICA COMPLETAMENTE DIGITAL DEDICADA A SERVIR A TODOS LOS RESIDENTES DEL CONDADO DE BEXAR. BIBLIOTECH BRINDA ACCESO A LOS MISMOS RECURSOS DE UNA BIBLIOTECA TRADICIONAL EN FORMA DIGITAL ACCESIBLES DESDE CUALQUIER LUGAR. TU MEMBRESÍA GRATUITA TE DA ACCESO A: • • • •

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Yankees Siete Veces Campeón Consecutivo Por Sendero Deportivo El trabuco equipo de Yankees en categoría Masters 50-+ dirigido por el manager y jugador Luis Velázquez, en el campo 2 de Liga Potranco con segunda victoria consecutiva en serie del playoff final derrotó al duro rival Astros de Pedro Espinoza con pizarra de 10-7. Astros logró remontar un

score de 7-1 empatando el marcador 7-7 en el cierre del sexto episodio tras imparable del receptor José Espinoza, campeón bateador de la temporada con promedio de .569. Yankees en la apertura del séptimo capítulo marcó tres carreras y Astros cedió terreno en el cierre, por lo que así Yankees capturó su séptimo trofeo consecutivo. “Yankees logró su campeonato del

playoff consecutivo, sumando la marca de 107 triunfos por 7 derrotas, en siete temporadas”, dijo el timonel Velázquez. La victoria se la anotó el lanzador izquierdo Alan Mow, la derrota fue para el bicampeón Ubaldo Montelongo, con relevo de Greg Carrera. En la presentación de trofeos individuales, José Sánchez, narrador y compilador oficial, con el

apoyo de su señor padre el presidente Simón Sánchez y del artista Eloy Rocha, dueño del complejo deportivo Potranco, invitaron al padrino de temporada Servando Hernández, para presentar las preseas junto con Rocha, al campeón bateador José Espinoza de Astros quien tuvo promedio de .569, Moisés Cervantes, de Yankees ganó su segundo trofeo

de campeón pitcher con marca de 5-1. Servando directivo del equipo Rieleros que tiene en su vitrina trofeo de campeón, recibió trofeo por su trayectoria.

Astros recibió trofeo de subcampeón, Yankees de campeón de temporada, y final del playoff.

fotos de Franco

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La Cultura Cura: El Corazón de BAILE with John Perez

by Celinda De La Fuente

Cultura is more than a geographic location, mi gente: It is a shared rhythm. It is a living and breathing medicine. It is how our padres fell in love. It is how our abuelas passed down what words sometimes cannot hold. It is an unbreakable root. For John Perez, visionary behind the inaugural BAILE Dance Series, música y baile are the universal languages that turn strangers into family. A recent 2026 UTSA graduate with a degree in Real Estate Finance and Development, Perez served as the Outreach Chair for the university’s Latin Dance Society from 20232026. Dance is woven into his DNA. His parents, Efrain Perez from Puerto Rico and Martha from Ecuador, first met on the dance floor. That lifelong foundation inspired him to merge his real estate background with his cultural roots, envisioning a future permanent downtown Latin dance hall and cultural hub for San Anto. “I want to [uplift] a culture that is already here to bring a sense of unity, connection, togetherness,” Perez states. “I’m just someone that’s the microphone, amplifying it out to everybody.” The inaugural BAILE pop-up event arrives on Saturday, September 12,

from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM at the US Pavilion Courtyard at Hemisfair just in time to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month here in San Anto. Backed by a coalition of local studios including Salsa On2 School, Framboyán Dance Company, Esta Noche Dance Company, Semeneya, and Algo Nuevo, the free, ticketed, community-centered event celebrates Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Cumbia y mas. The gathering features a massive 3,000-square-foot dance floor, artisan markets, and authentic food vendors representing all Latin flavors y sabor. More than 1,200 guests are expected, alongside a free community dance lesson and live music. Designed as an 18-and-up event, admission is entirely free to ensure that finances never stand between la comunidad and cultural expression. “If you charge $50 for something specifically culturally oriented, you’re barring [people] from experiencing that lifestyle,” Perez explained. “I want every single person to be able to come into this event knowing they are able to express themselves freely.” In a world that often tries to reduce the Latino/a/x experience to a single mold, la cultura heals through its expansive diversity. And BAILE is the first step toward something

bigger Perez’s long-term vision for San Anto’s first permanent Latin Dance Hall and Latin Cultural Hub in the downtown corridor, a home for the community like never before. “Your personal connection with [Latin Dance] cannot be changed, it can’t be altered, and it can’t be taken away because that’s who you are,” Perez passionately states. When la música echoes through Hemisfair this September, recuerdan: whatever else changes, whatever gets taken away… cultura no se

puede quitar. No one can take our culture from us, mi gente. And San Anto celebrates that powerful truth.

To learn more, follow: @BaileTx Visit the link to RSVP: https:// posh.vip/e/latin-dance-festival

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