Monday, November 18, 2019

December Event at Casa Navarro



 "Night under the Stars" at Casa Navarro will be on December 3rd. 

 This year we are having a repeat of last years event presented by the San Antonio Symphonic Band.  Ah! but what will they preform for us this year?  If you were lucky enough to attend last years' event, you are sure to be pleasantly surprised.  

 My event page shows you how to reserve a seat for this year.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Annual Meeting a success



We had a great turn out for the meeting.  We passed the By-laws
that our committee had been working on for 6 months.  The new date for the dues being due was my contribution.  I've been attend
JAN's Birthday celebrations for some 20 plus years.  I really wanted for people to know that supporting our cause was a good one as they could see by the celebration and all the things our organization does to promote the remembrance of our great ancestor.  His Birthday was the logical date for dues to be due.

Our President, Belinda Gavallos told us about the many wonderful things that are happening around Casa, like UTSA building, the San Pedro Creek Culture Park that will give access to visitors to us 
from the Creek, and the possibility of a building being built on the land behind the Casa where we can hold meetings. We also had     from the State Historical division in Austin talk to us about an award the Friends group is getting for promoting Jose Antonio Navarro.  Tickets are available for this
event which will be held in Austin, TX.  Anyone wanting to know
more about this can contact me or reach out to the Org. through
our website, friendsofcasanavarro.org  Below is a phone taken after the meeting of the three performers from the group Voces Comicas
whom had just finished entertaining us after we adjourned the meeting. 

Monday, October 14, 2019

Anual Meerting coming this Saturday the 19th


Hope you will be able to attend our annual meeting of "Friends" of Casa Navarro.  Time 11 am to 1 pm  After the meeting we will be entertained by Voces Cosmicas, an organization of poets,
musicians, artist, and story tellers. Hope you will enjoy this glimpse into their future performance in May of 2020 with us here at Casa
Navarro.  I'll keep you posted on when they will perform.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

New Bylaws for the Friends Organization


By now you should have received the current communication from the Friends of Casa Navarro about the upcoming annual meeting.  At the bottom of it is the New Bylaws for you to see.  The committee which I was a part of worked long and hard to get it finalized.  Now we need the memberships approval.  I hope that many of you will be in attendance and will even consider bringing others to join our fine organization.  See you then.  

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Annual Friends of Casa Navarro Meeting less than a month away.


Hello everyone.  Just a reminder that our annual meeting is approaching.  This will be important because you will learn
what 2020 will be to Casa Navarro.  With it's new neighbors about to start construction for the New Federal Court house and the
future of UTSA downtown expansion all around us.  How exciting
you will hear all about it at this meeting.  

Check out my photos page.  If you don't see something you'd like
to see here please send it to me in a jpg, gif or a png and I will post it.  I have a documents file also.  You might find that interesting so
check out my site.  Their are at least 2 years of posting I've done.  

1999 Navarro Reunion
in Brackenridge Park
San Antonio, Texas

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

October 12th 2019 . Be There.





October 19th is our Annual Meeting for "Friends"



The Friends of Casa  Navarro will meet this 19th of October
at the Casa Navarro starting at 11 am to 1 pm.  Please plan on
attending.  Lots of news to share with you about all the changes
that are about to happen around us.  Also, we need you to
vote to accept the new By-Laws for the 2020-2021 year.
In the By-laws which I worked on we were able to get the
dues date changed from September 01 to Jose Antonio Navarro's
Birthday, which is February 27th for those who are not already
familiar with that.  We always have a Birthday party for him.
One of the highlights of the year for us.  We have speakers,
scholarship recipients, food, drink, Birthday cake, and usually
some form of entertainment.   You should be receiving a copy of our By-laws soon for you to review. You will be voting on accepting them.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Progress of San Pedro Creek nearing Casa Navarro


COMMUNITY OUTREACH
     PROGRESS REPORT

          May 7, 2018


Community outreach was limited to participation in TriCentennial and Fiesta events that began in January 2018.

-Everywhere we go we promote Casa Navarro and the Friends of Casa Navarro.

-For this period, that has primarily been at San Pedro Creek reviews, Bexar CountyCommissioners’ Court meetings, Canary Island Descendants Association events, etc.

-The City of San Antonio has not released the expected Request For Proposals for development of the parking lot in front of Casa Navarro and the land on the east side of the San Pedro Creek (the old City Annex property).

-The City of San Antonio intends to place temporary buildings on the old City Annex property to hold City offices while the City Hall building is renovated.

-The City of San Antonio has started a view shed program.  They intend to select and develop about five view sheds a year.   Five have been advanced by the Office of Historic Preservation for 2018.  The Casa was not really in the running this year.  We will have to purue a view shed, parking slots and a Motor Coach load/off-load slot some other way in order to be timely.

-Bexar County has not released the expected Request For Proposals for development of the 200 block of S. Laredo St (the land surrounding the Casa Navarro site).

-San Pedro Creek Culture Park Phase 1, Segment 1 (from the mount of the tunnel to Houston St) opened on May 5, 2018.  Phase 1, Segment 2 (from Houston St to Nueva St) will have a final design review in June 2018.  The portion behind Casa Navarro will have a basic design completed, but the anticipated amenities and art will not be designed yet.  Complete designs for the portion
 from Dolorosa St to Nueva St will not occur until the intentions for City and County property adjacent on both sides of the creek are known.

-The new Federal Courthouse is expected to break ground in 2019.  We have not seen the amended designs yet.  The footprint is expected to be essentially the same as we have seen.


-The Centro Partnership suffered a shakeup due to the resignation of the CEO and the embezzlement of funds by a financial employee.  Restructuring is in the works, and the employee is expected to be prosecuted.  Centro has a great deal to do with the future of the Zonal Cultural (which Casa is a part of).

-Local run-off elections from the Primaries will occur on May 22, 2018.  This has slowed some actions down.

-Jorge Cortez is phasing out of the leadership of the Cortez Family of Restaurants.  It is due to age and health.  Pete Cortez is taking over the top position, and the rest of the family is adjusting.

-We need to get back to work on the plan to reclaim the Navarro land behind the Casa site.  Things we placed in limbo when Mr Nau came to visit Judge Wolff in the summer of 2017.  We were essentially told to sit and wait until contact from Bexar County.  THC never responded one way or another.  We are going to be overcome by events if we do not move out again on our own.

Rosemary and Jerry are known as the primary faces and advocates of the Casa and the Friends group.  We need more people who are immediately recognized as faces and advocates.  We have to show that there are more than two people involved.  We started to work on that by having more people at the last Proclamation session of the Bexar County Commissioners’ Court.  And we need to have more, and more faces at these various sessions.

Rosemary Geyer

Friends of Casa Navarro Annual Meeting


It's that time of year again.  Mark your calendar.  Your going to love what we are about to do for the 2020 and 2021 year. The date is October 19th the place is Casa Navarro and the Time is 11 am to 
1 pm.  We're going to need all of our friends to commit to helping us.  You can do this by getting involved now.  A call to me our any one of the Board members of Friends is all it takes.  We will welcome you and look forward to working with you and appreciating the talents you can bring to us.  For the event day.  Those of you who have a handi-cap sticker you can park free around the Casa Navarro at meters. The rest of us will have find a parking lot. Luckily there is one right across from Casa Navarro
It is a good choice for those whom walking is a problem.  I look forward to seeing all of you on that day.  Our future looks very bright.  My next post is a report we got from our Board member Jerry  Geyer typed up by his wife Rosemary Geyer. Jerry is on the Board of Friends with me.  We are so proud of all the work he has been doing and continues to be working on until the completion of this project. Hope you enjoy reading about all the coming buildings that will be built near us.  The San Pedro Creek project which Jerry heads is currently behind the Spanish Governor's Palace.  The 1st leg of this project is already open to the public.  If you haven't gotten downtown to see and enjoy it I recommend you do so a.s.a.p. 

Navarro at a younger age.


This is a photo of a photo hanging in Jessie's Navarro Rancho Museum in Jourdanton TX. He told me that he took the picture of an oil painting.  He couldn't tell me who had done it though. It was was hanging in a museum in San Antonio, TX.  The thing I like about it is that this is the first time I have ever seen any photo of my anscestor  at a younger age.


Thursday, August 8, 2019

On Vacation to Minnesota



I've been away for most of the month of June and no excuse for not posting in July.  The Board of the organization the Friends of Casa
Navarro has kept me busy.  I'm on a committee that is writing the by-laws for the group which has been very tedious.  We will be
presenting our work to the Board this October for passage.  

Meeting new people with a group called Voices Cosmcas, which
means Cosmic Voices.  They are a group of intellects, professional
movie stars from our area, poets, and all around people interested in conversations.  I attended one of their meetings I was invited to.
The first person to talk was Gary Perez.  He was a most interesting person.  He has an exhibit currently at the Witte Museum in San Antonio, Texas featuring a subject close to his heart.  He is of
Mexican, Spanish, and American Indian descent.  His exhibit is
about how San Antonio and its streets were laid out by the ancient
inhabitants according to the stars in the sky.  He spoke of Orion and the Orion nebula and the North Star and why North Star Mall was
named that.  He told us how the Navarro Street matches the long
part of the arrow in Sagittarius. I found that most interesting and
later asked Gary if he would come and speak to our group sometime.  He said he would.  How many Navarro, Ruiz family
members or others know of that.
  

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

More Honors for Navarro



 Navarro-Garcia Patriot Award
The highest honor is given from Navarro County, Texas for Patriotism. It is given annually to an American citizen who has demonstrated selfless service and leadership in the promotion and honoring of Veterans from the Lone Star State and beyond.  The award is named for Jose Antonio Navarro, the namesake of Navarro County, who signed the Texas Declaration of Independence and wrote parts of the Texas Constitution. And, for Candelario “Spider” Garcia, 1962 Corsicana High School graduate, who received the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Obama in March of 2014. The honoree's name is affixed to a beautiful permanent plaque that includes a World War II American rifle, that is on display in Corsicana in a prominent place.
This May 17th a Banquet will be held at the Corsicana Country Club to honor Mr. Navarro and Mr. Garcia.  Three of us will travel together to attend this dinner and participate in the next day's festivities which will include a parade for Veteran's Day and a viewing of the two statues, plus a tour of the newly renovated courthouse in Corsicana, Texas  Going with me are two cousins of mine Jessie Alvarado and Herlinda Ramos.


Saturday, April 20, 2019

Some Memorabilia for Navarro



This is some of the things I have accumulated over the years, plus the pamphlet I wrote on The Navarros and Texas.  The copper coin
with the bust of Jose Antonio Navarro was also made in a gold piece.  Some family members have some in their possession.



Saturday, April 13, 2019

King Williams Parade part of San Antonio Fiesta Week.



This years King Williams Parade promises to be just as exciting as last years was.  I was privileged to ride on the Jose Antonio Navarro float with other Navarro friends and family.  The theme is always wearing "White" as Jose was known as the "White Dove."
The Parade last 2 hours as it winds through the streets of the King Williams neighborhood of San Antonio, Texas. While you do have to pay to go into the area where there are festivities, food and drink.  There are two free viewing areas one is on Adams between Perida & Eagleland Dr. and also on E. Guenther St. between S. Alamo and Eagleland. dome enjoy this Fiesta Event and
enjoy a wonderful day.

Each year you are invited to participate and take part in this activity.  You do have to register to be part of the Parade by signing a  waiver you can do that with Friends of Casa Navarro, Mrs. Sandy Salinas at 210-365-5536.  There is still time to do that for this year.  You can wear white or buy a White T-shirt that the organization is selling for $5.00  Just let Sandy know you want to do this and if you want a T-shirt, she will show you how to get one.

Want to know some Martinez genealogy?



I found a book on the 6th floor of the San Antonio, Texas Public Library at the Texana Room.  It is called "A Brief Genealogy and
historical survey of Early Families of Villa del Carmen en Medina"

If this is your family line you will want to go see this book.  It was published by the Bexarenos Genealogical Society of San Antonio,
Texas.  It's call number is 976.435.

An interesting thing that you will also find in this book is several cattle brands of the Lower Medina & San Antonio Rivers. 

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Upcoming event in Corsicana, Texas



Save the date:  May 18th, 2019  Your invited to attend the
cities Veteran's Day parade in Corsicana, Texas.  Parade starts
at 10 a.m.  Special float will be for Jose Antonio Navarro's descendants.  Those who can walk next to the float are welcome
to march in this parade.  Their will be a speech made by our President-Emeritus, Sylvia Tillitson about Jose Antonio Navarro in front of the Courthouse and the statue of Mr. Navarro.  For those of you who have never been to Corsicana, Texas It could be an exciting adventure to see the county that your great ancestor named for his father Angel Navarro, Navarro county. Below is a photo
of the statue of Mr. Navarro you will see there.  You will find information on him at the historical society of Corsicana which
you might find most interesting.  So, plan a small trip and enjoy a parade, be in one if your a descendant and generally have a great day.

Monday, March 4, 2019

Flores Family of Texas


How is this for an old photo of some of our relatives.  This is a Flores family.  You might connect to one of these as I do; being that my ancestor Margarita de la Garza was a Flores on her mother's side.




Did you know that you can search for your loved ones on the
internet a site called findagrave.com, if they have already passed.  
Also available to everyone is access to Ancestry.com at your
local library for free.  Just ask your librarian to help you get 
started.

Anyone wishing to have your discovers posted on my site
can contact me at my e-mail address of carolcce@yahoo.com

Sunday, March 3, 2019

Great Birthday Celebration



March 3rd 2019 More than 150 people attended our ancestor Jose Antonio Navarro's
224th Birthday Celebration.  Three Scholarships were given out, to deserving students. We had a membership table and continuing with a new addition to our programing at our events was a  Genealogy table, which was maned by me, Carol Cieszinski.  I was able to talk to 15 persons inquiring about their connection to Navarro or Ruiz. I hope they liked the information I gave them along and the hand outs. I enjoyed our conversations and hope they will be joining us soon. One of the things I like to tell people who searching for their roots is to always ask questions.  It will help you in your quest and be most enlightening.
The food, the fun and the 16 piece Mariachi Band from U.T.S.A. delighted us all.

Mr. Paul Garcia, a photographer took many photos of the event.  If you'd like to view them please go to https://1drv.ms/f/s!AqSjUoQQPjG9g6ULRmQ_9VpLrp6jjQ   Below is one of those photos.



Thursday, January 17, 2019

Navarro's B-day Party date.





Come Join us.  The date is February 02, 2019.
Festivities start at 10:00 am.  Parking is usually around
$5.00.  Hope to see all of you there.  I met a new cousin
named Gabriel Calderon of Austin Texas.  I hope to meet
him then.  Bring all your family and friends.  It will be a
great time to see the site and visit with all of Navarro's
friends and family.  If you get a notice telling you to R.S.V.P.
just let me know and I will confirm that for you.

Visit to Cemetery SF No. 1



Visited Jose Antonio's grave to put some flowers there.