BY NORMAN ROZEFF

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the last part in Norman Rozeff’s series on San Benito’s Sam Robertson. Read the other parts at www.valleystar.com.

The Robertson brothers family reunion had presaged Sam’s failing health and imminent death. Sam was suffering from myocarditis, poly nephritis, and a 20 year standing diabetic condition according to his physician, Dr. James L. Rentfro. Col. Robertson died on August 22, 1938, in Mercy Hospital, Brownsville.

Funeral services were held in the American Legion Hall in San Benito.

Burial was in Mission Burial Park South Cemetery, San Antonio alongside his first wife Adele, her mother Meta Wedegartner, and Maria’s mother Adi Siedler.

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Resolutions of regard and respect were adopted by organizations of both Mexican and American admirers.

“Following Col. Sam’s death Maria requested that her sister Adi, daughter Mitzi, and husband Paul Walter Meyer come to live at Del Mar Beach Resort to help her manage the daily activities. They relocated from Los Angeles, California. Maria announced on Thanksgiving Day (1942) the closing of the Del Mar Beach Resort, as requested by the United States Coast Guard.

“The U.S. Coast Guard needed the beach area to maintain an Observation Post, and provided her with a lease of the property. At the time of the closing Maria was the President and Treasurer, and Col. Sam’s brother Frank was the Vice President and Secretary. Paul, her brother-in-law was the Manager.

“(On) December 20, 1943 Maria Robertson sold the lease and property, 800 acre, 1 ½ mile beach front resort Del Mar Beach (Brazos Island ) through the real estate agents Al and Lloyd Parker to wealthy Dallas Texas business investors.”

That Robertson was loved and respected by the Hispanic community of the Valley was affirmed when, on February 18, 1939, the League of Latin American Citizens sent Maria Robertson a Memorial Resolution presented by the Brownsville Council #3.

This was a special voted on Resolution at the National Convention of the United League of Latin American Citizens at Albuquerque New Mexico, and was signed by the Sec. General of the United League of Latin American Citizens, Jose B. Velasquez, and was in honoring Col. Sam for his devoted work in aiding the Latin American citizens of the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Although Robertson left no offspring, his legacy lives on in the vibrant minds of the many beloved children of the city that he helped to create — San Benito.

Sam’s brother, Robert Emmit Robertson reflected the following about Sam: “The Father fresh from the ordeals of the Civil War and undergoing the hardships which followed, anxious to breed courage and fortitude in the son given him in the immediately following years, and no one, knowing the son throughout his life, could doubt the Father’s success in instilling a courage which never knew fear nor ever countenanced defeat.” A memorial poem appearing in the Brownsville Herald of August 24, 1938 very appropriately voices what an unique man Sam Robertson was. It reads:

One by one our dearest old timers

Are passing to the other shore

There is no one to fill their places,

Or bear the cross they so nobly bore

His passing will not affect the bankers,

It is the poor and lowly who lost a friend,

Their dear old “Colonel” has left themselves,

And for him their prayers to God ascend.

Sam was in a class to himself,

No one with him will ever compare,

Rugged, honest, kind and loving,

Ever willing to do and dare.

I have a friend who is determined to lose weight and be healthy. She works in the healthcare industry and knows what she needs to do — reduce calories and increase her physical activity.

She had lost 20 pounds since January and was on track with walking every evening, and making healthy choices during the day like eating smaller portions and more fruits and vegetables. She was just shy of her goal of losing 30 pounds total — the amount her doctor had recommended. Then summer came around and she stopped losing weight.

In fact her weight started slowly creeping up just about the time the temperature was rising in June.

“The problem is ice-cream. And all frozen, sweet things. I just crave them in the summer and I really can’t stop myself. I have to have it every day.”

How bad could a little ice-cream be anyhow? I mean you know it’s good for your soul, but how about your body? Why was my friend being so hard on herself for eating ice-cream every day?

After all, it’s summer!

So I did a little research about ice-cream. It turns out it depends on what kind you are eating, but the range, on average, is 150 to 260 calories per serving. Well that doesn’t sound too bad, right? So what’s a serving of ice-cream anyhow?

Here’s where I almost lost it! A half a cup! What? Not in my house it isn’t! ½ a cup is like one tiny little scoop from the tiniest scooper. You know the little balls of ice-cream?

In our house we deal in piles of scoops, as in making a pyramid of scoops in a large bowl. If I handed my crew one little ball of ice-cream they would laugh in my face! It’s really hard to just eat ½ cup of ice-cream. And remember, my friend mentioned that she likes anything sweet and frozen, which means milk shakes, frappes, etc. When I looked at the calories for those delish combinations of my favorite things (coffee and ice-cream) I was aghast! Between 400 and 460 calories, at McDonalds, Starbucks or wherever I looked. 450 calories is almost a third of what I should be consuming for an entire day of meals! I have nothing against any of these products other than the fact that they can be expensive both in price and calories.

So if my friend (or any of us for that matter) is eating bowls of ice-cream, or other frozen sweet treats every day, that does add up to tip her energy balance scale. So what are some other ways we can all get our fix of sweet and frozen, in a healthier low-calorie way to supplement cutting down on ice-cream portions? The solution: Frozen smoothies made with plain yogurt, ice and fruit to sweeten, and frozen fruit treats. Not popsicles or paletas with added sugar, but simple, homemade treats that you stick on a wooden skewer or popsicle stick and place on wax paper or plastic in the freezer at home or work.

These are popular with kids as well and they can help you make them. Grapes, strawberries, bananas, or any fruit you like work great. Another special treat is to make little piles of blueberries or raspberries (my favorite) on wax paper, on a cookie tray. Then glob just a teaspoon of plain yogurt over the blueberries to make little frozen clumps of yummy tart and sweet.

This way you get your servings of fruit for the day, and beat the summer heat, all while satisfying that afternoon and evening craving for something cold and sweet. Save the bowl of ice-cream, and the double chocolate chip Frappuccino for special occasions, and make the healthier, less filling decision to eat frozen fruit because Tu Salud ¡Si Cuenta! (Your Health Matters!)

“Every word, facial expression, gesture or action on the part of a parent gives the child some message about self worth. It is sad that so many parents don’t realize what messages they are sending.”

Virginia Satir, 1916-1988,

Renowned American psychotherapist

When our children are born, they do not come with an instruction manual. Parents must learn to develop the skills necessary to raise them.

These necessary skills are learned from our parents and other kinship – from books, from training sessions and often through our association with our peers and friends.

The parenting “training” is a lifelong endeavor. For we never stop being parents. We never stop collecting tools for our toolbox.

Parents and families today are struggling with many problems that face our children – in our communities, state and nation.

The continuing illicit drug epidemic, the War on Terror, cybercrimes, economic woes, children with developmental disabilities, the child with a mental illness, the child with a drug abuse problem … the list does on and on.

Never before in the history of our great nation have we faced so many problems and with the ongoing technological advances and destruction of our moral values, the problems increase.

As Virginia Satir often pointed out, our children learn through the actions of adults, not only from their spoken words.

When our children are born, they do not come with an instructional manual. Parents must learn to develop the skills necessary to raise them.

These necessary skills are learned from our own parents and other kinship, from books, from training sessions and often through our association with peers and friends.

So, what does it take to be a great parent?

Years ago, when counseling with patients and clients and presenting parenting seminars in the community, I always began with “Every parent has the ability to be a great parent … it takes a lot of work to be a great parent … if one finds it easy to do, then it probably is not being done right. As a parent and grandparent myself, I know the difficulties one may face.

Are you willing to become a great parent?

Then, I would proceed with presenting and discussing the skills one must have to be just that. These are skills that one may learn in books and seminars, but must be accepted and practiced to become effective.

I have always begun by asking the person to take a look at their own life … how they were parented and what they know about being a great parent. After all, they are going to be the role model for their children.

1. Ensure your children’s basic needs for safety and nourishment are met. Always know where your child is, what activity they are involved in and ensure they have ample sleep and rest and that they are physically active. These are the basic needs of all children and are paramount.

2. Know where your child is at all times and know your children’s friends and the types of activities they are involved in with friends. Friends have a profound effect on the child’s development and it is the parent’s responsibility to allow or disallow association with friends.

3. Insist on respect. This entails respect for one’s self, respect for others and respect for others property. This involves teaching our children good communication and coping skills, positive values and other skills necessary in development of their self-esteem and in their relationships with others. Children will be children and it is up to the parent to watch over them and guide them on the proper ways to respect others and others property, which in turn earns them respect from others. This is most noticeable by others when children are allowed to play with items belonging to another, such as playing with toys and other items in a department store that are not to be purchased; which leads credence to the statement, “look but don’t touch.”

4. Always be consistent. Being a “wishy washy” parent is very confusing to a child. Ensure your child knows that if you promise consequences for either good or bad behavior that if you promise consequences for either good or bad behavior that you will follow through with the promise every time. Follow through with actions, not words, and expect the same from your children.

5. Limit television watching, time on computers, video game playing, talking on the phone or texting. Your children need to be active to be overall healthy. Give your children other activities to be engaged in that will help them learn and grow. This is a major problem in our contemporary society. We need to ensure and be most consistent that electronic devices be turned off and make them go outside and play to engage in other healthy activities. Remember that children learn from parents as role models. If you text while you drive, spend an enormous amount of time on the phone or computer yourself, the children will pick up on this inappropriate behavior.

6. Prepare your child for adulthood, at their level of understanding. Discuss topics of importance with your child, their thoughts and feelings about using drugs, drinking, money, current events and their personal safety. It is important that we learn to listen, not just hear our children and that they listen to you in turn.

7. Know your child. Learn what your child’s hopes, dreams and ambitions are. Encourage them to pursue their true passion in life.

8. Teach your children about values and set examples for them to follow. Your children’s “spiritual selves” need feeding. Provide that for them through religious activities and other activities involving belief and tenants associated with a higher power … help them build faith. Teach them how important the family is and reasons that they should value their family members. Research and our own personal experience consistently tells us that children who are active in spiritual and religious activities, however are least likely to become involved in inappropriate and/or illegal behaviors.

9. Last, but not least, give your child unconditional love. You may not be pleased with their behaviors, and you should tell them so. Yet, you are always going to love them.

Perhaps this article has sparked your interest in knowing more about being a great parent.

If you, a relative or a friend wants additional information on developing parenting skills or related topics, I suggest you read up on the subject and/or contact a licensed professional counselor for assistance when necessary.

Being a great parent is the hardest job in the world and you owe it to yourself and your children to strive to be the best you can be at the job.

What’s in your toolbox?

Stay healthy my friends.

BY LORI MURRAY

People born in May have ties with the lily and its connections to friendship and devotion. These flowers also suggest a certain level of elegance.

POINSETTIAS

Cut the stems back to about four inches and repot in a larger container, watering well. Once new growth appears, begin fertilizing every two weeks with a complete fertilizer.

PLAN

To clean and repair (or replace) garden tools

PRUNE

Shrubs, climbing roses, etc.

When chrysanthemums have six leaves, pinch out the top to induce branching. Pinch back branches as each of these develops six leaves.

Consider replacing flagging impatiens with caladium for the upcoming hot months.

To promote flowering, remove all old flowers on petunias, verbena and other plants which are beginning to look seedy. In very leggy cases, cut them back to encourage new growth.

Prune established shrubs, prune climbing roses after they have finished blooming.

PLANT

Replace tired-looking impatients with caladium for summer.

Any summer blooming annuals by bedding plants or seeds. ( i.e. coleus, pentas, periwinkles, cosmos, phlox, snapdragon, zinnia. Etc. Etc. Etc. Let your imagination go!)

FERTILIZE

Follow your fertilizing schedule, especially for roses, amaryllis, and plants that continue blooming. Keep beds lightly cultivated or mulched. Feed amaryllis and hibiscus

Continue feeding hummers and migrating wildlife.

WEATHER

PROTECTION

Be sure you have mulched well to protect roots from the sun. Water deeply.

Stake fast-growing plants to protect long spires from high winds.

PEST CONTROL

Watch for spider mites on ornamentals, especially marigolds. Powdery mildew and other diseases may merge. Spray citrus for scale and mites.

BY LORI MURRAY

If you have done much driving around town in the last few months, you may have noticed some small to medium sized trees covered with white flowers around your neighborhood and in commercial landscapes. These beauties are commonly known as wild olive trees, a native to the Rio Grande Valley also known as the Mexican Olive, Texas Wild Olive, and the Anacahuita.

The wild olive will typically flower at heights of 6 – 10 feet although it can occasionally reach heights of 25 feet, and, while you are probably aware that horticulturists are preaching the use of native plants in your landscape, your problem with following that advice is that you want flowers. The wild olive will keep all of us happy because it has the benefits of native plants but also produces beautiful flowers over much of the year. A single wild olive in a small condo backyard can provide beauty and interest almost immediately. The tree is heat tolerant and will withstand exposure to full sun even during our Valley summers. It is considered an evergreen although it will briefly lose its leaves after severe cold weather. Fortunately, when the weather warms, the tree will put out new leaves. It has low water requirements although an occasional deep watering into well-drained soil will do wonders. It will tolerate most of the soils in the Valley area. The wild olive in our front yard is in our typical “gumbo” soil and I have seen thriving trees along the highway in the Starr County “sands.”

You should always have a plan in mind when you are in the process of planting a tree. Your plan should take into consideration the expected growth of the tree you are planting as well as the expected growth of other trees and shrubs near it. In cruising the neighborhood seeking photo opportunities to accompany this article, I found a number of beautiful olive trees that were too closely mixed in with other trees and shrubs in the yard. This beautifully shaped tree is best seen as a stand-alone part of your landscape. Its natural shape, with minor pruning, is almost bonsai-like. My favorite location for the tree is standing alone in the vicinity of the street where those driving by can see and be jealous of my green thumb! Many experts suggest that this tree is not best located in beds where any droppings might germinate. It is definitely not appropriate near the pool, and you may want to avoid patios and sidewalks as the olives have an oily consistency and will stain where they drop. Wild olive trees can be purchased in most local and native plant nurseries, but not big box stores. If you are a little more adventurous and want to try to grow them from scratch, check the websites below for more detailed instructions and some very good pruning tips as well.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/natives/cordiaboissieri.htm

http://www.billbritt.info/gardening/trees/wild_olive_tree.html

What began as another sensational season for the San Benito softball team, ended in utter disappointment Saturday as the Lady Greyhounds were ousted from the postseason by a very determined PSJA Memorial squad.

On Saturday afternoon, the Lady Wolverines held off the Lady ’Hounds 3-2 to win the best-of-3 Class 6A bi-district series 2-1.

Despite dropping Game 1 of the series at home on Thursday 11-2, PSJA Memorial rebounded with an 8-6 Game 2 victory at San Benito on Friday to even the series and force Saturday’s must-win contest.

The Lady ’Hounds entered the playoffs after an impressive 27-1 regular season. Their only loss came against Brownsville Veterans and they were ranked No. 16 in the nation by USA Today.

And after Thursday’s easy win, it appeared the Lady ’Hounds – who were state semifinalists in 2015 – were on their way to another deep playoff run.

But their youth finally caught up with them, as was evident after Friday’s loss in which freshman pitcher Sarah Garcia gave up five runs in the second inning. Friday’s loss was the Lady Greyhounds’ first home loss in two seasons.

Regardless, San Benito first-year head coach Kristy Leal remained positive.

“We had a great season,” she said Saturday. “I have phenomenal kids. To be able to win 28 games is a big accomplishment.

“The kids worked hard and gave it all they had. We have nothing to hang our heads about. I have such a young team that this is only the beginning.”

HARLINGEN SOUTH: The Lady Hawks were eliminated from the playoffs after dropping games 2 and 3 of their Class 6A bi-district playoff series against Edinburg High on Saturday.

The Lady Hawks, who won Game 1 on Friday 10-6, simply couldn’t hold serve against the Lady Bobcats.

In Game 2 the Lady Cats rolled to a 6-3 victory and then in Game 3 rallied late to win 10-7 and advance to the area round where they’ll face McAllen Memorial.

SANTA ROSA: After capturing the program’s district title, the Santa Rosa Lady Warriors continued to make after with a 2-0 bi-district series win over Banquete this past week.

Until Thursday, Santa Rosa had never won a softball playoff game, but it wasn’t easy.

They needed a nine innings to pick up a 3-2 victory in game one and narrowly escaped the Lady Bulldogs 1-0 in the series clincher, but head coach Erica Molina says it shows how far her team has come.

“We had strong pitching and efficient defense because our bats were disappointing,” Molina said. “The girls have matured a lot since last year. Even earlier this year, they would hang their heads. Now they believe in themselves and each other — they feel they can come back from anything.”

The Lady Warriors look to keep on rolling as they face Odem in the area round.

“In the beginning we agreed that the goal was to win district and attempt to go three-deep in the playoffs,” Molina said. “We won district, a playoff series and now we are hoping to be the last team in 32-6A standing then we will take it series by series.”

RIO HONDO: Despite a sensational 26-4 regular season, the Lady Bobcats couldn’t find that same magic in the playoffs and were eliminated from the postseason on Saturday by Beeville Jones.

The Lady Cats lost their Class 4A bi-district series 2-1 at Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Beeville drew first blood with a 6-3 Game 1 win on Thursday, but Rio Hondo returned the favor early Saturday afternoon with a 6-3 Game 2 win to even the series.

Unfortunately, in Game 3 late Saturday afternoon, the Lady Cats came up short 2-1 to see their season come to an end.

Beeville moves on to the area round and will face the winner between Devine and Pleasanton.

LYFORD: The Lady Bulldogs were ousted from the 2016 state playoffs after an 8-6 Game 2 Class 3A bi-district series loss to Bishop on Saturday afternoon.

Bishop swept the best-of-three series 2-0, winning Game 1 on Thursday 7-0.

The Lady Badgers advance to the area round where they’ll face the winner between George West and Hebbronville.

The story of a 45-year-old mother from Edinburg and her mixed-status family reached the nation’s highest court this past month as eight Supreme Court justices debate a case that directly affects millions of immigrants like her across the country.

The mother of three, identified as Jane Doe No. 1, is one of three women from the Rio Grande Valley who are part of the United States v. Texas lawsuit, which is challenging an executive action by President Obama that could potentially grant temporary legal status for up to four million people in the country illegally.

Jane Doe No. 1 agreed to speak with a reporter only if she was not identified in fear of deportation.

“I am very grateful to the people that are giving us this opportunity, but I don’t feel like this is about me or my family,” the mother said. “This is about the millions of people who are living in the shadows and drive around with fear when they drop off their children at school or go to work or to the store.”

Two of her children were born in the U.S. after she and her husband illegally came into the country with her eldest daughter 16 years ago. In the past few years, her former home of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, has become a haven for criminal organizations involved in everything from drug trafficking to kidnappings and mass murder.

Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA), which was announced in November 2014, is the only option this mother has without having to leave her family and face the violence that has plagued her native land.

“Our home is here. We don’t have anything in Mexico,” the mother said. “This is the only option for us to be able to work and visit our daughter, who lives in Austin, and to be with our children. The other option would be for us to go back to Mexico and stay there for 10 years and fix our papers through her.”

Local immigration attorney Carlos Moctezuma Garcia is the unidentified women’s local counsel and was contacted by the Mexican American Legal Defense last year when it was looking to humanize its case before U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen in Brownsville.

“They are the ones that could give the human aspect to this case,” Garcia said. “It’s significant because MALDEF were the only lawyers that were arguing for people and not institutions.”

Hanen denied their motion to intervene but the women were later allowed to be a part of the case when the Fifth District Court of Appeals overturned the decision earlier this year. MALDEF attorneys argued the Jane Does in this case were not seeking to defend a governmental policy they support on ideological grounds, but rather they are the intended beneficiaries of the program being challenged.

Garcia explained the issues being argued right now in the nation’s highest court affect everyone in the country, despite their political affiliations or stance on immigration, and even more so in the Rio Grande Valley. He held a small information seminar Wednesday at the unidentified mother’s home in Edinburg to inform people in the community about the status of the case in the Supreme Court and about the possible future of DAPA and DACA.

“Nobody knows these issues better than our community because we deal with this on a daily basis,” Garcia said.

Transcripts from the April 18 hearing show the eight Supreme Court justices focused on the issue of driver’s licenses being issued by the state of Texas to those that would qualify for DAPA.

“I’ve read in the briefs quite a lot that the reason that they don’t want to give driver’s licenses to these 500,000 extra people is it’s expensive,” said Justice Stephen Breyer. “Is there any other reason that’s in this record, such as — we could imagine other reasons. Is there any serious effort to rest their claim? We don’t want to give them licenses on anything other than money?

“Yes your honor,” answered MALDEF lead attorney in this case Thomas Saenz. “I believe, your honor, that, in fact, this is a political dispute. They do not agree with the policy adopted by the administration, though they have conceded in this case that it is within the executive’s discretionary authority.”

The issue of injury was the main focus because it would determine if Texas, in fact, has standing to uphold the lawsuit.

Texas Sen. John Cornyn delivered a statement from the Senate floor following the Supreme Court hearing accusing President Obama of “running around,” the U.S. Constitution and calling Obama’s executive action unlawful.

“This is really more than just about immigration,” Cornyn said. “It is about the Constitution itself.”

“I am confident that the court will find that the states have suffered real harm from the standpoint of the Constitutional notion of standing,” he added.

Heide Castañeda, associate professor and graduate director in the department of anthropology at the University of South Florida, said no one is talking about what these driver’s licenses mean to an undocumented immigrant.

“For those parents who are afraid to drive their kids to the doctor, now they have more access, more ability to be mobile,” Castañeda said. “This takes away that fear, and it also gives them an ID card, which is a valuable way of validating that they are residents in the U.S.”

Castañeda has been following 40 families in the Rio Grande Valley since 2012 as part of her qualitative research on immigration and mixed-status families. She said the Rio Grande Valley is unique because of the checkpoints and the fact that almost everyone in the community is directly affected by immigration laws.

“In other parts of the nation, people are similarly affected, often unable to get driver’s licenses and work permits and so forth, but the Valley is unique in the checkpoint issue in that it actually impacts education more than it does in other parts,” Castañeda said.

The mother from Edinburg remembered Friday when her daughter was 12 years old and her class was planning a trip to north of the checkpoint to San Antonio.

“She came home and told us she couldn’t go on this trip because she didn’t have papers,” the mother said. “And I told her, ‘You were born here; you can go.’”

She said it was funny for her at the time because her daughter was actually upset she was not undocumented like her parents, but it made the mother realize how affected her daughter, who was a U.S. citizen, was by her own immigration status.

She said her eldest daughter also decided to stay in the Valley after high school instead of going to college because she knew that if she studied somewhere north of the checkpoint, her parents would not be able to visit her or see her walk during graduation.

“It’s sad when you see your kids grow up thinking that they are also undocumented because their parents can’t go out,” the mother said. “I can see that there is a lot of frustration building, not just in my family, but in our community, which is mostly made up of immigrants.”

“Everyone knows there are 11 million of us here, but every single one of us has children, family and loved ones that are directly affected by the current immigration policy.”

RIO HONDO — A 17-year-old girl was killed when the van she was riding in was hit by another van near Rio Hondo.

The accident happened about 11:48 p.m. Friday when two passenger vans collided at the intersection of FM 106 and Centerline Road.

Investigators said a 2010 Chrysler Town and Country was traveling northbound on Centerline Road and a 2007 Ford Windstar was eastbound on FM 106.

The driver of the Chrysler failed to yield the right of way at the intersection and as a result, the Ford struck the Chrysler on its left back side, according to a preliminary investigation, the Texas Department of Transportation said.

The Chrysler struck a utility pole and a boat trailer. Talisa Cruz, 17, a passenger in the Chrysler, was ejected, the DPS said.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

All other occupants of the Chrysler and Ford were taken to Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen and were in stable condition.

No other information was immediately available, but DPS troopers were continuing to investigate the crash.