February 2015 78258 for web by Russell Groomer

A Monthly Publication Directly Mailed to the residents of Stone Oak, Canyon Springs, Vineyards, and Rogers Ranch and immediate areas POSTAL CUSTOMER

February 2015 Issue

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February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

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February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

www.welcomehomesa.com

February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

Note From The Publisher

Small Acts Of Kindness

ebruary is always a great time of year. Valentine’s Day is a special time to spend with your loved ones and show them what they mean to you. San Antonio is a beautiful city to celebrate this very special occasion in. There are so many romantic restaurants and places to go, as well as our beautiful Riverwalk and scenic Hill Country. As always, my passion is Living Through Giving, and I hope you will turn to page 11 to read more about this wonderful organization and become inspired to participate. I am so excited to welcome Heather Jemente to our team. She brings wonderful inspiration to our cause and motivation to take our organization to the next level. New this year, we will have a Royal Court. We are looking for individuals from elementary to high school who are interested in making a difference in children’s lives to run for our Court. They will be making appearances to give toys, backpacks, school supplies, clothes and other items to these children. In other news, the Stone Oak Business Association is truly honored to have Charles Vethan and his associates lead us in a round table to help us learn more about how to protect our businesses. To learn more about this turn to page 31. If you want to learn from the best you don’t want to miss this. My good friend Tanji Patton is having a Girls Night Out at The Club At Sonterra. These events are always well attended and exciting. Turn to page 27 to ﬁnd out more and make sure to put this event on your social calendar. This month we celebrate President’s Day. With our beautiful San Antonio weather, get outside and enjoy the city. This is the

freedom our Military Men and Women have fought for us to have. Live life to the fullest! This month, Welcome Home asked children from the community to submit art and on pages 20 and 21 are a few of the submissions. I absolutely love when Welcome Home has the opportunity to recognize children. This is why Welcome Home was started. The response we received was overwhelming. We have so many talented and wonderful children in our communities and it always blesses me to be able to show a small token of appreciation for the work they do. On page 10 Rusty Belden writes of his business expanding to another location. I always get excited when I hear of a family succeeding in business. Turn to page 10 to read his article and see his ad. Don’t forget when you visit him to let him know Welcome Home sent you. Finally, I am so excited with all the submissions this month. We have so many wonderful children in our areas to be recognized each and every month. If you have a business in our areas that is so blessed it does not need to advertise, consider sponsoring a school page for the many different groups to be recognized. As a member of our community, remember to visit the businesses in this newspaper and let them know you saw them in your Welcome Home.

20450 Huebner Road San Antonio, Texas 78258

Welcome Home newspaper assumes no liability in advertising other than correction and reinsertion of like-size ad at no additional cost to our advertiser. The opinions stated by the writers or the information printed from other sources do not necessarily depict those of the publisher or advertisers. No liability is assumed. Welcome Home newspaper will not knowingly publish any advertisement which is illegal or misleading to its readers. All copy and type arrangements are subject to approval by the publisher. All stories and photos submitted become property of Welcome Home Editorial and Advertising content of Welcome Home newspaper is protected by the U.S. copyright law. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Publisher Russell Groomer

Distribution Israel Vazquez

Director Of Production Kristin Oliver

Sales Representatives Patrice Long Katrina Cunningham Heather Jemente Staff Writers Debby Seguin Contributing Photographer Karen Little Contributing Writers Tom Behrens Michele Bibb

February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

(210) 209-8956 www.independencehill.com Lic #100102

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Directly Mailed To Over 60,000 Households & Businesses in 78232, 78248, 78255, 78256, 78257, 78258, 78259, 78260, & 78261 Zip Codes. Plus, 20,000 in Rack Distribution.

Production/Graphic Design Marie Ferrante

Full Service Apartments, Assisted Living and Neighborhood of Homes

Call us to schedule a lunch and personal tour to see why everyone loves living at Independence Hill!

RHEUMATOLOGY ASSOCIATES of SOUTH TEXAS

(210) 348-8233 • Fax: (210) 497-7342 Article Submissions: articles@welcomehomesa.com Ad Inquiries Email: ads@welcomehomesa.com www.welcomehomesa.com

Administrative Assistant Sierra Hernandez Brittany Oliver

We are known for our integrity and reputation that only comes with years of experience and knowledge from serving our residents. We do this with unexpected little extras and surprises to make every day exciting and new.

Sincerely,

20770 Hwy. 281 N. Suite 108-149 San Antonio, Texas 78258

Writer/Copy Editors Stefanie Young

The next “move” is yours... Make it a good one!

AnaLisa Chadwell Sara Patterson Karen Condit Deborah Deel Kristine Garza Steve Johnson Stacie McClure Christine Patmon Sara Patterson Lauren Pohl Frank Perales Lisa Ray Patrice Stark Michelle Thelander Carey Thomas Pam Velasco Shirley Wills

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On The Cover By Stefanie Young very month that Welcome Home releases another edition of the paper, and every time our staff reflects on how to better the paper and ourselves for the community. We would like to thank you for reading our articles and thank those that continue to submit stories. It is because of our readers and writers that we have gotten this far. Taking into consideration how much the community has helped Welcome Home grow, Russell Groomer, publisher and owner of Welcome Home decided to give back to the community by establishing a non-profit 501c3 entitled Living Through Giving [LTG]. Through LTG, Russell has opened a forum for businesses and locals to help focus on children and youth who may have experienced abuse, neglect, or some other type of family disruption. A small act of charity can have an unbelievable impact on a child who may have never experienced simple gestures of kindness, support or the love they deserve. LTG has collected backpacks, school supplies, and toys for the kids within our community who need a little help and a

Photo Credit: Karen Little

Russell Groomer (founder of Living Through Giving) and Heather Jemente (Fundraising Coordinator) are excited to see what 2015 brings.

reminder that there is good in the world. Thank you again for helping to make this possible. From the staff of Welcome Home, we hope you’re staying warm during this chilled season and also hope to see you at our future events for Living Through Giving and Welcome Home.

Family Life

Help! We’ve Fallen (In Love) And We Don’t Know What To Do Next!

www.luvncarecenters.com 21130 Gathering Oaks 210-497-5550 13211 Huebner Road 210-696-5677 16081 Henderson Pass 210-496-0789 6509 Grissom Road 210-681-4228 6

By Debby Seguin

hristmas is but a sweet memory, the New Year baby is into big-boy pants, and the Super Bowl frenzy has died down to a docile decibel (say THAT 3 times real fast!), and just when you thought it was safe to log onto eBay again, or park close enough to Walmart that a midway energy bar, Gatorade snack break is no longer necessary (“come on kids, everyone take a bite and sip a little of this, it’s just over that next mountain ridge”), yet another holiday approacheth. Yes, it’s the holiday that strikes fear in the hearts of all men, the Big V, Valentine’s Day! High on the list of “reasons why men have a shorter life span”, this holiday tops them all as the single most credible validation that men are, indeed, NOT actually from Mars but from a totally remote place in the time-space continuum. You see, they (the males) have just come off of Christmas, where they (the males) are still confused about the reason why they (the females) were not more excited about the new electronic tire gauge they (the males) gave them (the females). After all, this will allow them (the females) to conveniently and accurately assure that the tire pressure is within the optimal range of PSI, thereby saving gas and wear and tear on the tires. “What more must I do to show her I love her?” And now comes Valentine’s Day where every “he” is expected to answer his own question! Listen, if you need a little pick-me-up, or just some male attention, go to the hallmark store on February 13, say around 10:00 pm, or anytime before 6:00 pm on February 14, and this I guarantee, all 73 of them will look at you, immediately notice your femaleness

www.welcomehomesa.com

and,(and this is where it gets good, ladies) will ask your opinion! “What do you think of this one? Will she like this? Does THIS one say I love you? Funny or Serious? Please! We’re begging here---help us!”And you’ll take pity on them, and you’ll help them. Do you know why? Because even though we try to tell what we need, it comes across as something akin to a Swahili dialect and yet every holiday or birthday or anniversary, they keep coming back in hopes of picking up a phrase or two. And isn’t that really what love is all about? Debby (who still has a 3rd grade Valentine from little Roger Thompson) can be reached at Deborah.seguin@comalisd. org

February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

SOBA Scholarship Applications The Benefit Of Art In Your Due March 31, 2015 Child’s Life Submitted By Stone Oak Business Association he Stone Oak Business Association will once again award $1,000 scholarships to Reagan and Johnson high school students graduating in May 2015. Selection is based on grade point average, letters of recommendation, and school and/or community activities during high school. Scholarships will be paid (in the student’s name) to the college or university attended. Please note the following criteria: • Student must be a graduate of Ronald Reagan High School or Claudia Taylor “Lady Bird” Johnson High School • Full-time enrollment (12 hours or more) at an accredited college or university • Copy of application for admissions to school of choice • Incoming college freshman who maintained a “B” average throughout high school veriﬁed by high school transcript (may be unofﬁcial) • Completed SOBA scholarship application (www.stoneoakbusiness.com) • Two letters of recommendation from individuals with direct knowledge of your abilities and potential Applicants must also write two onepage (300-word minimum) essays on the following topics: • As a student in the Fine Arts Department, describe one particular event or experience that has made an impact on you. The event must be related to your time in the Fine Arts

Department. It could pertain to your future in Fine Arts (college, career etc.) or how it has impacted you as a student. (300 word minimum) • What one event or person has influenced you the most during your four years of high school. How will this influence the decisions you make as you leave high school and head off to college? (300 word minimum) On a separate sheet. List your high school involvement in the following areas (during grades 9-12): Community Activities, Clubs, Athletics, Student Government, and Other Organizations. Be specific about the length of time you were involved and what role you played. Please give the complete name of the organization rather than acronyms. In addition, list any honors or awards you received during high school. Send your completed application with attachments (letters of recommendation, school involvement, etc.) to: Stone Oak Business Association, 20770 Hwy 281 N., Ste 108149, San Antonio, TX 78258. The application can be downloaded in PDF form at www.stoneoakbusiness. com. It is located on the home page on the right hand side. Applications and materials must be postmarked by March 31, 2015 to be considered for the 2014-2015 school year. Incomplete applications will not be considered. For more information, please call 210-348-8233.

Submitted By Steve Johnson t College Nannies and Tutors, they understand, first hand, the value of arts and crafts in a child’s life. Kids have a natural tendency to love arts and crafts. It is a great excuse to be messy and creative, and have fun! Kids are always on the go. Opportunities to slow down and put some energy into a project give them an advantage in the long run. There are also several added benefits of arts, crafts, music, dance and theater! Communication and Self-Expression Young children are learning about selfexpression. Arts, crafts, music and dance give them ways to communicate their emotions and ideas in a whole new way. They draw pictures of experiences they have had or desire, and sing songs that make them happy or remind them of family members or other positive experiences. Letting them explain their finished product and why they chose to create it helps them develop their communication skills. Appreciating the Process The process of putting together a craft or finger painting a portrait shows children that their actions result in a final product, something for them to be proud of! Their work may start off messy or unidentifiable, but will get better in time as they grow and gain skills and experiences. Showing them praise for their finished projects will encourage them to continue.

Seeing their finished drawing displayed on the fridge, or other prominent spot, is rewarding and creates a positive and inspiring outlook for your child. It helps them learn the importance of maintaining their self-esteem Another lesson is that art is forgiving, and art projects take on a trial-and-error process. They will subconsciously teach themselves what they like, don’t like, and how to fix a project when a portion doesn’t turn out as planned. These are all valuable skills that will develop with time, and are applicable to many aspects of life for your child. Encourage your child to be artsy as often as possible. Maintain a supply of materials for arts and crafts to use with your children or to be available for your care giver. Arts and Crafts are a great way to balance TV, outdoor play, and social activities to inspire their creativity. They will love the opportunity to be messy, creative, and add a finished product to the fridge! If you would like more information about how to spur creativity in your child’s activities, or if you need time off and would like a caregiver to provide a fulfilling experience, call the staff at College Nannies and Tutors in San Antonio, they would love to help! 210202-0303 or www.collegenannies.com

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Should You Start Hormone Therapy?

estradiol derived from horse urine (yescan you believe they still make this type?), memory did not improve. Another study of more than 6,600 women in Sweden revealed that patients receiving hormone replacement had a reduced risk for cognitive impairment. It was the copy of human estradiol, 17 beta estradiol, that helped.(www.medscape.com/ viewarticle/749913) Scientists know how to make exact copies of hormones-for example, the exact copy of human insulin is called humulin while pork-derived insulin is no longer in use. At my clinic I prescribe only the exact copy of human estradiol—why would anyone prescribe anything else? But what about the risk? What about cancer? Some studies have shown that 1 in 9 women may eventually be diagnosed with breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer was deﬁnitely increased in the Women’s Health

Vision Screenings Cannot Replace A Complete Exam

“pass” the screening, but who actually have a vision problem, thereby delaying further examination and treatment. Undetected and untreated vision problems can interfere with a child’s ability to learn in school and participation in sports or with an adult’s ability to do their job or to drive safely. The earlier a vision problem is diagnosed and treated, the less it will impact an individual’s quality of life.

By Donna Becker, D.O. Enhancement of Life (210) 545-5224 ome women in the 15 minute free consultation I give to all women prior to their ﬁrst appointment tell me, “well, I just want to be natural, I don’t like to take medications”. I tell them, the most natural thing to do at menopause is to die, because for thousands of years, that is what happened at about age 50. In the days of the Roman Empire, a woman had her ﬁrst child in early teens, was a grandmom in her 30s, and considered old at 50. However, modern women may live

By Monica Allison, O.D. Stone Oak Vision Source (210) 495-9020

ision screening programs are intended to help identify children or adults who may have undetected vision problems and refer them for further evaluation. However, they can’t be relied on to provide the same results as a comprehensive eye and vision examination. Often schools provide periodic vision

to be over 100 years of age. The number of centenarians has tripled in the past 30 years and women outnumber men. Without hormones, you may dwindle—bone loss, collagen decreases, the vaginal tissues wither, and even the brain shows signs of deterioration. Hot flashes and night sweats are not benign symptoms. Rather, research has shown that hot flashes are accompanied by reduction in blood flow to the memory center of the brain, hypothalamus. Another study showed that natural estradiol, or the type found in humans, 17beta estradiol, showed a significant improvement in verbal memory. But when women were given the type of

screenings for their students. A pediatrician or other primary care physician may do a vision screening as part of a school physical. When applying for a driver’s license, chances are your vision will be screened. Current vision screening methods cannot be relied upon to effectively identify individuals in need of vision care. In some cases, vision screening may actually serve as an unnecessary barrier to an early diagnosis of vision problems. They can create a false sense of security for those individuals who

How is a comprehensive eye and vision examination different from a vision screening? Specialized equipment and procedures, which are not available as part of a vision screening program, are needed to adequately evaluate your eyes and vision.

Initiative Study in the group of women given the synthetic estradiol plus synthetic progestin. Other issues with estradiol prescription may include blood clots causing heart attacks and strokes, problems with liver, and other cancers. Research is continuing. I tell patients that hormone replacement therapy is a quality of life issue. Hormone replacement therapy is not for everybody. I have patients who, although no longer having periods and in their late 50s, suffer no vaginal dryness, no bone loss, no memory decline. Blood levels and symptoms guide therapy. Donna Becker, D.O., Board Certified in Emergency Medicine. Enhancement of Life is located at 14603 Huebner Rd., Suite 2601, San Antonio, TX 78231. For more information, call (210) 545-5224 or visit www.antiagingsa.com.

A comprehensive eye and vision examination can only be conducted by an optometrist or ophthalmologist, who has

See VISION, Page 13

H a p p y Va l e n t i n e s ! The Best First Choice.®

A Bigger, Better Way to Serve Patients! Steve Stratton has joined the TexPTS family! He will continue to provide the care and treatment you have come to expect at our new Stone Oak clinic.

We recently moved to a new, state-of-theart clinic on Sonterra Boulevard in Stone Oak.

From Team Dippo!

May Your Day Be Special With Those You Love

Join us February 12 TH at 5 PM for our Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting! Prizes will be given away and refreshments will be served. Come try out our AlterG® Anti-Gravity Treadmill® and learn how to take your physical therapy rehabilitation or athletic training further. Can’t make our Grand Opening? Stop by any time for a free 10-minute trial!

Orthopaedics • Spine Care • Sports Medicine • Manual Physical Therapy • Women’s Health

Betsy Dippo, Agent

TexPTS is the Best First Choice® in musculoskeletal care and is home to more board-certified specialists than any other practice in Texas. Our therapists provide treatment tailored to your individual needs, using the newest research to get you the best results in fewer visits.

19190 Stone Oak Pkwy • San Antonio, TX 78258

210.496-FARM (3276) • www.betsydippo.com

• Auto • Homeowners • Renters • Business • Health • Life

www.welcomehomesa.com

www.TexPTS.com phone 210.494.4500 | fax 210.494.4501

February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

Housing Self Reﬂection Through Design

“

We understand that not everyone has money to spend on an overnight makeover. We also know that our clients have jobs and families to attend to. There is no reason to put your life on hold when we’re here to make this happen for you.” – Mary Jenkins, Owner, The Jenkins Interior Group By Stefanie Young

“W

hat is important to you and your family?” This is the first and most important question the Jenkins Interior Design Group will ask you. As family operated business they understand the stress of running a home. These women, with over 50 years of experience collectively, bring you a fierce passion for design and fashion along with a warm family environment that invites you into the world of interior design. Their team of designers and decorators give you the confidence that the end result will be your dream home. For many people, their home is a reflection of who they are. People find inspiration in magazines, TV shows, and movies of homes that exude beauty, relaxation, and modernism, and think they could never piece together such looks or afford them. Many times, home decorating projects are started with no end in sight and satisfaction is hard to come by, especially for those working with a budget, and are trying to piece together a look over long periods of time. The Jenkins Interior Design Group is here to make those aspirations a reality. Able to work with any budget or timetable, they understand, like any other type of art, that home decorating is a form of self-expression. The ladies within the Jenkins Group have an intimate knowledge of color, shape, texture, perspective, and planning within a certain budget, space, and stylistic guideline. Mary Jenkins, Registered Interior Designer, founded the Jenkins Interior Design Group over 30 years ago upon her passion for interior design. After working with a national design firm for 14 years and managing over 365 designers nationwide, Mary decided to build her own business in order to be closer to her children while still serving her clients. Her eldest daughter, Jessica Jenkins Trevino, Interior Designer and Professional Organizer, and her youngest daughter, Jennifer Jenkins, Interior Designer, work within the family business and work with clientele as well. “My daughters have made me extremely proud,” explained Mary. “They treat every client as I would, like family. They are always sincere in their ideas and solutions with me and our clients and willing to help where ever they can. Who could ask for better coworkers?” The Jenkins Design Group welcomes any client no matter the budget or space. Before getting to work creating a new design, the design group will set up an in-house consultation where they will evaluate the floorplan, current style, and any current designs and items that you would like to carry over into your new look. With over 7,000 product lines available to choose from, Mary, Jessica, and Jennifer can also help clients select new pieces to put a finishing touch on any project, in any style. Whether you are looking for art, furniture, lighting, accessories, textiles,

February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

wall coverings, color palates, upholstery, or wanting to preplan a new home, built or under construction, these ladies can do it all. “We are capable of doing a project from start to finish. We have our contractors that we have come to rely on and trust and the resources to finalize the goal and look our clients have in mind,” stated Jessica. “We are always able to accommodate the needs of any client and will work with their contractors too.” “It’s all about the end product and how we can get there with the confidence of our clients, without overwhelming them or ourselves,” Jessica said with a smile. “This is meant to be a fun experience and a chance to develop a living space into a home with purpose and character.” No space is too challenging for this team. In the recent months they have converted a garage into an apartment, helped design and furnish a couple of houses from the foundation up, turn an awkward apartment into an efficient living space with flair, and helped design a salon. The idea of transforming a space can seem overwhelming when thinking about the cost and time period, maybe even impossible, but the Jenkins Group is aware of the misconceptions and how to overcome the obstacles. “We understand that not everyone has money to spend on an overnight makeover. We also know that our clients have jobs and families to attend to,” Mary spoke with experience. “There is no reason to put your life on hold when we’re here to make this happen for you. We can work on the project over time, adding accessories here and there, or buying furniture a little at a time. Nothing needs to be rushed, let it come as it will and as your budget allows.” Carol Triesch, one of the Jenkins Group’s clients, interviewed several designers before meeting Jessica. Carol being in her mid-50s was looking to refresh her home’s interior while changing the layout and floorplan. “It was intimidating meeting designer after designer in their stilettos and high fashion coats. They seemed hard to approach,” Carol explained. “I chose Jessica because of how easy going she was. On top of that she was open to my ideas. I’m in my 50s and she’s in her 20’s, yet she was able to work with my tastes, antiques and collectables and turn them into a modern look.” Carol went on to explain how unbelievably talented the ladies were and how they worked so well together to get the look she wanted. Carol had brought in her own contractors for the job and the Jenkins Group worked so well with them, friendships were built during the project. “People my age think they want someone their age to decorate their home,” Carol stated. “But I had to take into consideration a fresh new look and Jessica delivered. I would recommend her and her family to anyone.”

www.welcomehomesa.com

Janette Lux, another client of the Jenkins Design Group, was looking to downsize and settle down for retirement. Mary worked with Janette and her husband after moving into a smaller home and keeping their larger property as a vacation rental. “These Ladies are characters!” Janette said with a laugh. “They’re so much fun to work with and incredibly efﬁcient. We walked into a store at one point and I was so overwhelmed by the options but Mary was able to pull 10 things off the shelves, throw together some colors and I could see the possibilities.” Mary personalized the smaller space for the Lux couple, something Janette was worried couldn’t happen. “Mary understands the big picture because of her years of experience. It truly shows, and her daughters are learning from her ﬁrst-hand.” Lux said. “From the beginning she asked me what was important to me and she never strayed from my ideas. She was a problem-solver when it came to small spaces. She even helped us pick colors and fabrics for our RV!” From beginning to end, no matter how large or small the project, these gifted women will see you through it. The Jenkins Interior Design Group has something that no one else in town has: a unique team dynamic that makes dream homes a reality.

The Jenkins Interior Design Group Mary Jenkins Registered Interior Designer 210-325-3720 Mjkg1@aol.com www.thejenkinsinteriordesigngroup.com Jessica Jenkins Trevino Interior Decorator 210-464-1519 jessicacjenkins@gmail.com Jennifer Jenkins Interior Decorator 210-325-3772 Jennjenkins720@aol.com 9

2015 Brings Expansion To Belden’s

Belden’s Automotive & Tires Since 1972 Jason Belden Vice President

Rusty Belden President

B YOUR DEALER ALTERNATIVE 13811 San Pedro

22000 Bulverde Rd.

(210) 494-0017

(210) 481-3330

San Antonio, TX 78232

San Antonio, TX 78259

8825 Fredericksburg

29137 IH 10 West Boerne, TX 78006

(830) 981-9700

Family Owned & Operated

2035 Lockhill-Selma San Antonio, TX 78213

(210) 366-1122

San Antonio, TX 78240

10% OFF Any Repair

Max. Value $75 OFF. Valid at all 5 locations. Present this coupon at time of purchase. Not valid with any other offers or tires, special orders or dealer parts. Exp 3/15/15

(210) 690-1100

NEW LOCATION

6519 Prue Rd

San Antonio, TX 78240

(210) 877-2929

w w w.BeldensAutomotive.com

Deck & Patio Care

elden’s Automotive & Tires is proud to announce that our sixth location is NOW OPEN! Our new location is located at 6519 Prue Rd, at the corner of Babcock and Prue Rd. Our newest location, like our other shops, is a full automotive repair facility offering our great service to all foreign and domestic vehicles. Similar to our other locations, Belden’s Automotive & Tires is a AAA facility and a member of the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating. If you are looking for diesel or exhaust services, look no further! All Belden’s Automotive & Tires six locations have factory trained technicians, ready to service your diesel car or truck. With a full-line of high quality performance parts and products for all Ford, Chrysler, and GM diesel vehicles, we have the power and performance you are looking for! Whether you are interested in Dual or Custom Exhaust work, we do it all! From the installation of customized dual exhaust systems to replacing catalytic converters, our exhaust centers and specially trained technicians can help you ﬁnd that sound or look you’ve been wanting. If you are wondering how to get your vehicle repaired while you’re at work, Belden’s provides a shuttle service for our customers for drop off or pickup. Ask us about it today! Belden’s Automotive & Tires is a family owned and operated

59 OFF

Before

ANY SERVICE

B After

Our proprietary Oil-Based Penetrating Sealers are designed to STOP Rotting, Warping & Splitting!

• We’ll show you how to get 30 to 40 years life out of your deck! • We clean & seal FLAGSTONE to stop chipping and flaking • We clean & seal PEBBLESTONE to golden wet look • We CUSTOM BUILD: DECKS • ARBORS • PATIO COVERS • OUTSIDE KITCHENS • FIRE PLACES

by Barry Hagendorf

SEALING WOOD, FLAGSTONE Call (210) 822-9147 deckandpatiocare.com & PEBBLESTONE 10

business that has been serving the local area since 1972. We are excited to be able to continue our great service and fair prices to this area of San Antonio. Belden’s backs that all up with a 24 Month, 24,000 mile Nationwide Warranty. Thank you to each and every one of our customers for your loyalty to the Belden’s family as we continue to grow. For over 42 years we have been blessed to have served the San Antonio and Boerne area. We deeply appreciate the support and trust you have shown our family. Our family at Belden’s Automotive & Tires wants to be your one stop shop for all your automotive needs. Look for our new Prue Rd. location as your dealership alternative! Thank you for your continued business and remember to visit beldensautomotive.com for money saving coupons! Buckle up, Drive Safe, and Remember at Belden’s Automotive & Tires, “We Keep You Rolling!” Belden’s Automotive & Tires has Five Locations: San Pedro: 210-494-0017; Medical Center: 210-690-1100; Alamo Garage: 210-366-1122; Boerne: 830981-9700; Bulverde Rd.: 210-481-3330. For more information, call one of the locations or visit www.beldensautomotive. com.

Making Your Deck Last

Cleaning & Sealing Decks for 28 years in San Antonio

By Rusty Belden, President Belden’s Automotive & Tires (210) 494-0017

By Barry Hagendorf Deck & Patio Care (210) 822-9147

arry Hagendorf, the leading authority on deck and patio care in South Texas, has been cleaning and sealing decks for more than 20 years. Q: Why does my wooden deck look so bad? A: According to Architectural Digest, unprotected wood only lasts for 9-14 years. I recommend that you clean the wood on your deck and seal it with an oil-based penetrating sealer. Q: What sealer would you recommend? A: My preference, after years of trial and error research, is Barry Premium Blend oilbased penetrating sealer that is designed to look for dry cell structure in the wood. It will penetrate first to the bottom of the cracks, nail holes and knots. Barry’s Premium Blend will protect from the surface down, stabilizing the cell structure of the wood. Q: What care should I give to my Pebblestone? A: On new and older pebblestone, first acid wash the film of concrete off the rocks. Then, oxidize the surface to kill mold and mildew. Last, seal the stone to its natural wet look.

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Q: Why are the rocks from my pebblestone pool surround sticking to my feet? A: Moisture penetrates around the stones and changing temperatures expand the moisture and wedge the rocks out. To repair, acid wash the surface. Then, oxidize it to kill mold and mildew. Finally, lock the stones in with a clear acrylic sealer. You will also lock in the beautiful natural wet look. Q: Why is my Flagstone ﬂaking & chipping? A: The answer is in the chemistry. When the temperature of Flagstone & rock move toward 32 degrees or freezing it contracts or becomes smaller. When water temperature moves toward 30 degrees it expands or gets bigger. Daily as temperature changes and Flagstone gets wet, the water and stone move against each other causing ﬂaking. The Solution is to seal the stone with Solexene sealer which will keep the stone dry. If you have a salt water pool this problem is greatly multiplied. As a Welcome Home reader, please take advantage of the $59 discount located on our ad in this paper.

February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

Living Through Giving Into 2015

By Rachele Reinhard elcome Home Community Newspaper was created, built and has evolved to serve the community in which it was founded 13 years ago. Its pages are filled with stories of hope, love, inspiration, and a celebration of the talent of our youth and the promise of their accomplishments. Events founded and organized by Welcome Home’s owner and staff have helped provide for the less fortunate for over a decade; specifically Winter Celebration, an annual holiday event responsible for contributing thousands of toys each year to the U.S. Marine’s Toys for Tots Drive. In 2013, Russell Groomer, publisher and owner of Welcome Home decided to extend his community outreach by establishing a non-profit 501c3 entitled Living Through Giving. “There is so much need in San Antonio,” he explained. “And not just during the holidays; it’s year-round. I have always donated the toys we collected at Winter Celebration Toys For Tots and I have a tremendous amount of respect for this organization. I decided to start Living Through Giving so I would be able to have the opportunity to go directly to the most needy children right here in San Antonio. I wanted Living Through Giving to be about more than just collecting toys. I wanted to explore this great opportunity to go directly to the most needy children and families right here in our community.” Russell decided to focus Living Through Giving (LTG) on children and youth who may have experienced abuse, neglect, or some other type of family disruption. A small act of charity can have an unbelievable impact on a child who may have never experienced simple gestures of kindness, support or the love they deserve. LTG kicked off it’s inaugural year by organizing it’s first official event – a backpack drive entitled “Got Your Back” to help provide for and prepare children of Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and the Boys and Girls Club of San Antonio for the school year. LTG collected over 500 backpacks in just one short month and 800 total thanks to the participation of local restaurants, businesses, banks, and participating schools in NISD, NEISD and Comal ISD. In December 2014, the annual Winter Celebration was once again responsible for the collection of thousands of toys – 7,000 to be exact – which were in turn donated to different organizations including Children Advocates San Antonio (CASA), Roy Maas’ Youth Alternatives, Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), and the Summit Christian Center. The generosity of the community even allowed for LTG to meet a need in Crystal City, TX where Mayor Ricardo Lopez was requesting toys for the city’s Make a Wish Christmas Tree. “We were able to take over 500 toys to Crystal City to help with their holiday project,” Russell explained. “I was then told that thanks to our contribution, they were able to answer children’s letters to Santa from two years ago. I couldn’t believe it; I went numb.” Expanding LTG’s mission and generosity outside the city limits – much like Russell’s efforts in Crystal City – is a long-term goal for the organization. “There is so much work to do and so much we can provide,” added Russell. “This is a long and hard process, but doors are opening for us and I am so excited to see my

February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

dream come to fruition.” Earning 501c3 status is a big step in the right direction. In order to grow, sponsorships are needed. As an official 501c3, Living Through Giving, Winter Celebration and other LTG events can now receive the full support of the San Antonio community including businesses, volunteers, and other charities. “As we continue to grow and make a difference, we value and appreciate all the support we have received,” stated Russell. In 2015, LTG will again collect backpacks for the “Got Your Back” drive beginning in April and discussion of a potential suitcase drive is also in the works. Of course, Winter Celebration co-hosted by North Central Baptist Hospital will be back for it’s 14th year– the largest and longest running event of it’s kind in San Antonio with a few new special additions. “We are always looking for new corporate sponsors to join us as we make this event even more special for everyone involved,” explained Russell. “This year, we will also have a Royal Court with special positions of honor for younger children in addition to a King, Queen, Prince, Princess, Duke and Duchess. I want to honor the children in our community that understand and demonstrate what a big difference any gesture of kindness or charity can make.” LTG chooses to focus their charity primarily on children in crisis due to their believe that when children become a part of “the system,” they become our collective responsibility – our children – and deserve the same opportunities that children with a healthy family circumstance are able to experience. In 2015, their mission will not change; instead, it will expand to make a profound difference in the lives of abused, neglected and orphaned children in our county, city and beyond. “I would love for every school in NEISD and NISD to become involved with our organization to help make a difference in as many lives as possible,” said Russell. “My long-term goal would be to not only help children in San Antonio, but also the surrounding small towns in this area as well; wherever the need is the greatest.” Given what LTG has accomplished as a start-up nonprofit in just over a year-and-a-half may be surprising to some, but Russell and the team at Welcome Home have a long-established reputation for giving back to a community that they feel has given so much to them. Living Through Giving is just another step in the right direction to broaden their outreach, one child at a time. To find out how to get involved, please visit www. livingthroughgivingsa.com or call 210-348-8233. LTG is always looking for new sponsors, volunteers and donations.

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Area Qualifiers: back (L-R) Justin Napier, Pablo Espinosa, Caleb Watson, Kyle Popovec, Abhi Rao, Evan Arnold, Bryant Anderson, Will Pyle and Thomas Oh. Front row (L-R): Ethan Swallows, Paulino Parades, Kurt Lautenshlager, Phillip Leclair, Kayla Shapiro, Students pictured (L-R): Christian Clark, Paige Whittington, Kristyn Kraus, Krystina Paige Whittington, Eric Bassett, Jonathan Fritzlen and Robin Brown. Not Pictured: Hird, Thomas Oh, Kayla Shapiro, Will Pyle, Justin Napier and Austin Milford-Rosales. Alec Wyatt, Justin Anderson, Jett Turner and Steven Rios.

Submitted By Stacie McClure n addition to working hard on the marching ﬁeld, all students are encouraged and supported in their academic efforts. That is evident more than ever this year, with several Reagan Band students earning the following recognitions:

National Merit Semi-Finalists, Commended National Merit Scholars and National Hispanic Recognized Program recipients. On December 4th, 41 Reagan Band students auditioned for the TMEA Region Bands. 22 of these amazing musicians advanced to the Area level - the highest

total in North East ISD! All 41 students will have the opportunity to perform with other accomplished musicians from across the Region on Saturday, January 24th at Judson High School. Go Reagan!

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Carey Thomas, Reagan Spirit Board Historian he Northeast Independent School District recently held its annual • Day Camp production, One Singular Sensation, • Overnight Boarding on January 24 and 25, highlighting dance • Grooming team, drill team and pep squad dancers as • Training • Cattery well as cheerleaders from throughout the • Beach Club Reagan Dancers and Cheerleaders area. • Pet Bakery stole the show with their challenging dance

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One Singular Sensation.

routines and high impact stunts and cheers! The show began with the cheerleading squads performing their Nationals competition routines, stunt routines and spirit dances. Reagan Cheer looked fantastic! The second portion of the show featured jazz, kick, lyrical, novelty and pom routines performed by dance teams, drill teams and pep squads from each of the NEISD high schools. Reagan dance teams performed

with precision and grace. The show ended with the ﬁnale from A Chorus Line, entitled One. The entire cast of 1,200 young women danced in this production. Thank you to all the family members, friends, and fellow Rattlers who attended the performance supporting our sensational spirit dancers and cheerleaders.

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• Day Camp • Training head out to K9 Country Club’s K9 Health Gym •And Overnight Boarding • Cattery Antonio’s only K9 Gym! Your One-Stop-Shop to train your puppy, conditionBy Michelle Thelander •San Grooming • Beach Club Submitted your canine athlete, or rehab your injured pet. Have an overweight pet or one acrosse season is upon us! Reagan • PetoutBakery that is overly active? We can help! Check our website for dates & details ... Lacrosse Spring 2015 registration for 1st -4th grade team, Middle (830)Your 980-8476 • www.k9countryclub.net Grab Workout Buddy SchoolYouth 5th/6th grade team, Middle School And Head Out to K9 Country Club’s K9 Health 7th/8th grade team, and the High School team are now open. Please visit www. San Antonio’s only K9 Gym! Your One-Stop-Shop reaganlax.com to register your child today to train Your puppy, condition your K-9 athlete or to learn the exciting game of lacrosse. rehab your injured pet. Have an overweight pet or Practices and games begin in February one that isoverly active? We can help! Check our for the Youth and Middles School levels. website for dates and details The High School level begins practices in January with Division II district games to 31305 Oak View • Bulverde, TX begin in February. Reagan Lacrosse has been 830-980-8476 involved in the San Antonio community

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since 2005 to teach children the sport of lacrosse, the values of good sportsmanship through Honor the Game and giving back to the community through volunteerism. Visit www.reaganlax.com to learn more about the Reagan Lacrosse family and how your family can become a part of it. Go Reagan Lacrosse!

The Lacrosse team teaches the values of good sportsmanship through Honor the Game and giving back to the community through volunteerism.

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February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

Moving To A Retirement Community Makes Good Financial “CENTS!”

the sale of your home. Selling frees up the equity you have, which can be invested to provide you an income as well as an emergency fund. Perhaps you might even take a great vacation, now that you have the freedom to do so. It can be wonderful to see your monthly expenses stay consistent, eliminating the guess work out of your budget! To learn more about how to stabilize your living expenses and to see all the special amenities a retirement community offers, call (210) 209-8956 and speak to one of the Lifestyle Specialists at Independence Hill Retirement Resort Community. Independence Hill Retirement Resort Community is located in Stone Oak at 20450 Huebner Rd., San Antonio, TX 78258. For more information, call (210) 209-8956 or visit www.independencehill. com

Should I Medicate My ADHD Child?

piece of an effective treatment plan, but medication should never be the ﬁrst or only intervention. And while medication can control many of the symptoms, it will not correct a learning problem. And it will certainly not teach your child to read. If you choose to medicate your child, consider coupling it with a 1 on 1 cognitive training program that ﬁts the child’s needs. Leslie Jernigan has a Masters Degree in School Psychology and is Director of Assessment at Learning Foundations. If you have a child that is struggling in school, contact (210) 495-2626 or visit www. learningfoundations.com/adhd for more information on how to get help for your child.

By Michelle Houriet, Executive Director Independence Hill Retirement Resort Community (210) 209-8956 hen considering retirement, the you to better plan and budget your monthly number one worry is usually expenses. You do not have to worry about a ﬁnancial one. How can you the increase in gas prices, food costs or stabilize your expenses and keep them in unexpected emergency home repairs. At a line with your income? Making the move full-service retirement community, meals are to a retirement community can make good prepared daily, housekeeping is provided, ﬁnancial “cents” because it requires only transportation services are available, there one monthly service fee which covers the is no home maintenance or upkeep worries majority of your living expenses. and your utilities are included. And perhaps Some communities may offer a rate best of all, a full social calendar of fun and lock in or a set income amount allowing exciting events is constantly updated to keep

“7

By Leslie Jernigan, M.A. Learning Foundations Diagnostic and Learning Center 210-495-2626

% of kids in Texas take medication for ADHD” If your child is struggling in school and has difficulty paying attention in class, you have probably heard teachers recommend or at least hint at the possibility of medication for Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). For many teachers, medication seems the ideal solution for a classroom management problem. But is it the best solution for your child? Let’s look at the facts. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 7% of school aged kids in Texas are taking ADHD medication; twice as much as in 2007. ADHD is typically treated with stimulant drugs such as Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta and Vyvanse. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has these stimulants as Schedule II drugs, meaning there is a high potential for abuse. Make no mistake, these are powerful drugs. Peruse a magazine ad for any of these medications and you will find an alarming laundry list of possible side-effects. Bipolar illness, slowing of growth in children, anxiety, decreased appetite, nausea, trouble sleeping, stomach pain and vomiting are the most common ones. For a child to be diagnosed with ADHD, he typically visits a pediatrician or psychologist and parents and teachers are

asked to complete a series of behavioral checklists. A classroom observation by a school psychologist or other trained professional may or may not be included. Once this information is analyzed and scored, the doctor or psychologist will decide if the child fits the ADHD profile and can give a diagnosis based on this information. Medication is often the first (and sometimes only) intervention recommended. It’s funny how the brain is the only organ in the body that is so frequently treated without more formal testing to determine the potential causes for problematic symptoms. Can you imagine taking a doctor prescribing heart medication based solely on a symptoms checklist? At the very least you’d want appropriate checks for blood pressure, heart rate, arterial blockage, etc. But many children are prescribed powerful medications on the basis of minimal diagnostic measures. If your child struggles with attention, does that mean she has ADHD? Not necessarily. It is important for parents and teachers to look carefully consider whether the attention challenges are causing the learning problem or are learning problems showing up as difficulty paying attention and staying on-task. For many students, attention problems are more of a symptom of an underlying learning problem, rather than the cause itself.

VISION, from Page 8

they don’t have an eye health or vision problem. Professional examinations are the only effective way to conﬁrm or rule out the presence of any eye disease or vision problem. Drs. Monica Allison and Lindsey Denison practice at Stone Oak Vision Source located at 19202 Stone Oak Pkwy, Ste. 106. All of the doctors are members of Vision Source, the nation’s number one network of private practice optometrists. If you or a loved one needs to find a family eye doctor, please call (210) 495-9020 or visit www.visionsource-stoneoak.com.

the specialized training needed to make a deﬁnitive diagnosis and prescribe treatment. In addition, A comprehensive adult eye and vision examination includes: patient and family health history, visual acuity measurement, Preliminary tests of visual function and eye health, assessment of refractive status to determine the presence of nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, evaluation of eye focusing, eye teaming and eye movement abilities and eye health examination. Even if a child or adult passes a vision screening, they shouldn’t assume that

February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

you active and entertained. In some your monthly fee is “all inclusive,” so you do not have to worry about anything other than enjoying yourself. Now that’s a lifestyle that everyone dreams of for their retirement! At many retirement communities, you will be able to save money by cutting out certain expenses. For example, car payment and insurance are no longer a must, since most of your transportation needs are met within the community. The trip to the grocery store will contain a much shorter list at a lesser cost since meals are included. And best of all, no more property taxes! Another ﬁnancial advantage comes with

Children with weak processing skills or retained reﬂexes may feel over-stimulated by light, sound, or even the fabric of their clothes. This sensory overload can cause them to be excessively wiggly or focused too much on trying to manage the rush of stimuli that they are experiencing in a noisy classroom. Students who struggle with reading skills have to focus so much on sounding out the words, that they lose comprehension. When asked about what they read, it may seem like they were not paying attention. ADHD does exist and for some children appropriate medication is an important

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Reflections Art Program At Vineyard Ranch

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Submitted By Sara Patterson, Vineyard Ranch PTA he Reflections arts program was started in 1969 by the National PTA. The program provides opportunities for students in pre-K through 12th grade to explore and be involved in the arts. Millions of students have been encouraged to express their creativity through diverse formats, and have received positive recognition for their artistic efforts. Vineyard Ranch Elementary is in its third year of participating in Reflections. We have had some talented little artists working hard at the Ranch! In late October, Bronco students submitted creations in six different categories: dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography, and visual arts. The theme this year was “The World Would Be a Better Place If…” All entries were displayed in the library for all to see. Out of 165 entries, 45 of them moved on to the North East Council of PTAs level of

judging for all of NEISD. Out of those 45 entries, 30 of them received Council awards (that’s TWO THIRDS of the entries!) At the Council level, there are 18 top awards available for elementary schools. These are the entries that advance to the state Reﬂections contest, sponsored by Texas PTA. Vineyard Ranch PTA Arts in Education chairperson, Heidi Koentopp, is pleased to announce that SIX of the 18 top awards were won by Vineyard Ranch students. We are proud of our artists and winners and look forward to celebrating with them at Bradley Middle School in March at the Council recognition ceremony. The following students were awarded the Overall Award of Excellence by NE Council of PTAs and will move on to the Texas PTA state level competition: Ramses Sotelo Arce (Film), Hunter Gratereaux (Film), Jackson Crider (Literature), Aiden Masten (Photography), Daniel Lopez (Photography), Kai Kazami (Visual Arts).

Submitted By AnaLisa Chadwell ineyard Ranch Elementary celebrated the culmination of the 2nd Nine weeks with a leadership rally which took place on Friday, January 9, 2015. What a great week to end the ﬁrst week back to school after holiday break! Honored student leaders were chosen as their class’s 2nd nine weeks leaders and were presented with their leadership award. Inspirational singer, Faith Marie put on a

performance of well-known songs such as “That’s What Makes You Beautiful”, “22”, and “Roar”. She also discussed the importance of working hard, doing your best always and treating others respectfully. Vineyard Ranch Broncos love and enjoy leadership rallies! What a great way to honor school leaders, hear a great, inspirational message and celebrate the 7 habits!

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Brighten Up Your Green Thumb Submitted By Karen Condit mprove your gardening skills with a Home and Garden class from NEISD Community Ed. You’ll ﬁnd more classes than you can shake a rake at in our spring line up of classes. Whether you’re looking for ways to landscape with native plants, plug into drip irrigation or try your hand at composting, you’ll get some expert help with these classes. Donald Ewers and Loryn Windwehen share their expertise at the Natural Area at Harris Middle School. They will instruct and inform you about your green space and spring garden with one of their classes. Then join Dr. Tom Harris at the Community Learning Center and get the low down on rain water harvesting, plant diseases, growing almost anything in a container and much more. There’s a long list of gardening

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classes for your consideration. Just go to communityed.neisd.net and see what you ﬁnd. You can sign up online or call (210) 407-0140, option 3 and we’ll help you get the classes you need to brighten up that green thumb of yours.

February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

Educator Of The Month Announced

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By Steve Johnson, Owner of College Nannies + Tutors t is an honor to once again recognize a local teacher as Educator of the Month for February. This award, made with input from the school administration, recognizes educators in our area high schools that personify the three core values of College Nannies and Tutors: Can Do Seema A. Dar, MD, FACG •Board Certified Gastroenterologist www.sagidoc.com Attitudes, Growth and Results Driven and Leave It Better. 3338 Oakwell Court, Ste 205 19284 Stone Oak Pkwy This month’s award recipient from Ronald Reagan High School displays these values daily as she interacts with the high school students. Kristen Sucich, like the This month’s award recipient from Ronald Reagan High awardees before her, has made a signiﬁcant, School is Kristen Sucich. positive Role Model impact on the lives of a direct reﬂection of their daily efforts our community students. During the course of the fall semester as role models for our students. For more she partnered with one of her colleagues to information on this award, or to submit a assure quality instruction was occurring. In nomination, please contact College Nannies at 210-202-0303 or stoneoaktx@ the spirit of “Can Do Attitude” and a drive to + Tutors + Full Service Childcare Solutions Many health issues can be detected collegenannies.com. “Leave It Better”, she took the opportunity Full-time | Part-time | Summer | After School | Babysitting | Back Up Care with a comprehensive eye exam to help a colleague without being asked and it was greatly appreciated and impactful. + Customized Tutoring for College Bound Students Homework Help – All Subjects | ACT/SAT Prep | AP Support | Study Skills Renee T. Dunlap, OD The owners of College Nannies + Tutors | Stone Oak established this recognition Kara Farmer, OD with the support of Welcome Home 21019 US Hwy 281 NorthSan Antonio, TX 78258 Community Newspaper to recognize and (In Stone Ridge Market • PetSmart) 210-490-EYES (3937) honor the educators in our schools for their www.stoneoaktso.com efforts with our local students. The quality of education in our community is primarily

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Board games donated by Vineyard Ranch Elementary Students at Oak Grove enjoying their gifts! are wrapped and ready to give out for the holidays.

Submitted By Sara Patterson, Vineyard Ranch PTA ineyard Ranch PTA along with the school’s 4th grade service club, Fourth for Others (led by teacher, Mrs. Sunny Brown), coordinated a board game drive during the recent holidays. Students were asked to donate a board game to be given to our Partners in PTA campus (formerly known as Sister School), Oak Grove Elementary. The goal was to collect enough games for each student at Oak Grove to receive one as a holiday gift, or 435 games. Monetary donations and store gift cards were also accepted, which were used to then purchase board games. The collection drive was conducted for six weeks in November and December. We are proud to report that our goal was met and even exceeded at the last minute! Vineyard Ranch PTA chairperson for Partners in PTA, Sylvia Gutierrez, was able

to deliver 445 games to our Partner campus. Teachers and volunteers at Oak Grove wrapped all the gifts. The Board Game Drive was an opportunity for Vineyard Ranch students to learn about the value of giving. Other beneﬁts to Bronco students include fostering civic responsibility, enhancing community engagement, promoting volunteerism, and teaching the joy of helping others. Both schools gain from a community partnership that teaches everyone ﬁrsthand about gratitude and giving back. The Fourth for Others students helped publicize the event. They also kept track of the progress of the drive, charting the results on an extra large candy cane graph in the school’s atrium. We would like to give a big Bronco thank you to all the students and parents who helped make this Board Game Drive a success! Thanks for your generosity to the students of Oak Grove Elementary.

February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

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Connection Between The Heart And Love

Special To Welcome Home earts and Valentine’s Day are forever intertwined. One of the most recognizable symbols of love is the modest heart, and hearts adorn candy boxes and cookies while paper hearts are pinned to doors or windows as a symbol of Valentine’s Day. Young valentines may share candy hearts printed with silly sentiments. A symbolic heart bears no resemblance to an anatomical heart, and yet it is used to represent the deepest feelings of affection a person can share. Some may wonder just how the emotions of love became tied up in the shape of a heart, even though it’s widely known that the brain, and not the heart, governs affections. In ancient times, people believed that the heart was the center of all human emotions.

Since the heart is prominently located in the center of the chest and the middle of the body, it became the cornerstone of human feelings. Love is considered to be one of the most profound and strongest human emotions, therefore it was reasoned that the feeling must emanate from the heart. Surprisingly, the heart has not always been the only organ associated with love. During the Middle Ages, the heart was deemed a useless organ. Followers of the Greek physician Galen theorized that the liver actually was the seat of the soul and love. The first depictions of a symbolic heart date back to the 11th century, when the heart was drawn to resemble a pinecone held upside down with the point facing upward. The scalloped heart that is more familiar today first arose in the early 14th century.

Around the same time, the heart was depicted with the point facing downward and the indentation at the base. Naturally, as time passed and more was learned about human anatomy, it became obvious that the brain was the seat of all emotion and thought processes. However, as the brain was something intangible in a living body in ancient times, and the beating heart could be much more readily monitored, with a pulse rate speeding up when a person is excited or aroused, it’s easy to see how the link between the heart and love has endured. Although the human heart is not bright red like symbolic hearts, that was the color chosen. Red has long been associated with passion, so it made sense to depict the heart in a bright red hue. Many other theories have been offered regarding the symbolic heart and its

representation of love. While there’s no definitive correlation between love and hearts, the heart has become an accepted symbol of the emotion and the season of romance.

Romantic Films To Watch This Valentine’s Day Special To Welcome Home ouples celebrate Valentine’s Day in many different ways. For some the idea of dinner out followed by a stroll arm-in-arm seems the epitome of romance, while others may want to go out dancing or engage in a favorite hobby. Valentine’s Day also can be a romantic endeavor if a couple chooses to spend time at one with each other watching a romantic movie. The following are a handful of love-inspired movies that can add a special something to Valentine’s Day festivities. The Notebook: Author Nicholas Sparks has a way of taking the everyday experiences in a person’s life and making them relatable and heartbreaking in a pluck-at-your-heartstrings sort of way. His novel The Notebook won the hearts of many and seemed a natural to be adapted to film. Starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, the movie illustrates how love can last through the years and even survive an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. The Proposal: In order to remain in the country, a demanding New York-based book editor (Sandra Bullock) asks her browbeaten assistant (Ryan Reynolds) to marry her. Their tumultuous relationship involves a trip to Alaska to meet his family. An Affair to Remember: Romantic

melodramatic master Cary Grant falls in love with Deborah Kerr aboard a cruise ship while they are traveling with other people. They agree to meet at the top of the Empire State Building in six months if they have ended their relationships and are ready to commit to each other. Grant makes it to the rendezvous spot, but an injured Kerr never shows as Grant assumes she has rejected the proposal. Say Anything: In pursuit of a woman he believes is out of his social league, Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) creates hope for the underdog in us all. The movie inspired teens to raise their boom box radios over their heads and blast romantic tunes to illustrate their love. The Wedding Singer: This quirky movie about a wedding singer who falls for a banquet waitress highlights the importance of loving each other for what makes you unique. Once: Attraction between the main characters comes by way of creative musical collaboration. Music proves to be an aphrodisiac, making the film and the song “Falling Slowly” from its score so popular. This romantic tale helped take the film from the big screen to the Broadway stage. West Side Story: West Side Story is yet another homage to Romeo and Juliet. But

the film made Shakespeare’s tragic love story relatable to audiences of the 1960s. My Best Friend’s Wedding: Julianne (Julia Roberts) is called on to be the best man for her friend’s (Dermot Mulroney) wedding. Only when the wedding planning is underway does Julianne realize she is in love with her friend and needs to get him to fall for her instead. Never Been Kissed: A reporter goes undercover at a high school to discover something controversial. She ends up being the subject of her story when she falls in love with her English teacher. Harold and Maude: A man in his twenties and a much older woman begin a romantic relationship and challenge social norms along the way. Annie Hall: Winner of four Academy Awards, Annie Hall follows a comedian who is trying to maintain his relationship with a woman. Bridget Jones’ Diary: A modern adaptation of ÒPride and Prejudice,Ó the movie tells the tale of a self-conscious woman who finds love in a man that seems to be her polar opposite. Ten Things I Hate About You: Filmmakers reinvented ÒThe Taming of the ShrewÓ in this teen comedy starring Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger.

Cuddle up with someone you love, cue the streaming video service and enjoy a romantic film for Valentine’s Day.

Casablanca: No romantic movie list would be complete without this wartime drama. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman are in top form in this movie of chance meetings. The Princess Bride: Girl meets boy, girl detests boy, girl truly loves boy, and then girl loses boy. This fairy tale shares the purity of true love and happily ever after.

Free Heart Screening For Teens In See What’s Cookin’ 2015

Submitted By Pam Velasco ugustHeart has big goals for 2015! This spring we will screen more than 5,000 high school athletes all over San Antonio but we are adding SCREEN YOUR TEEN IN 2015 citywide events. These events will be FREE large-scale heart screenings open to ALL teenagers regardless of whether they are involved in sport. The first screening date is set for February 7 at TriPoint Event Center and will kick off February’s Heart Month. DATE: Saturday, February 7, 201 TIME: 9am-12pm PLACE: TriPoint Event Center 3233 N. St. Mary’s Stree San Antonio, Texas 78212

Submitted By Karen Condit EISD is cooking up some fun in Community Ed classes this spring. Let your taste buds travel through French, Mexican, Italian, or Eastern European cuisine. Liven things up by learning about cooking with friends or creating a romantic dinner for two or maybe even crafting some fabulous holiday treats. Whether you want to learn the basics or jump into more sophisticated fare, there’s a class that is sure to fit your style and palate. Many of our instructors got their training in Mexico, at the Culinary Institute of America or they work professionally at places like Young Chefs Academy and Cakes Cookies and Beyond. They’re excited about what they do and love sharing their expertise. Enjoy the culinary arts with NEISD Community Ed while you learn something new from the experts and taste some

www.welcomehomesa.com

Enjoy the culinary arts with NEISD Community Ed while you learn something new from the experts and taste some amazing creations.

amazing creations. Find us online at communityed.neisd.net or give us a call at (210) 407-0140, option 3. We’ll get you set up with some tasty classes so that you can start cookin’.

February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

& DIRECTORY

STONE OAK

Medical

Professional Ophthalmologist

Pediatric Dentistry

Allergy, Asthma, Immunology & Rheumatology Kristin Bussey-Smith M.D. Board Certified in Allergy & Immunology 19260 Stone Oak Pkwy., Suite 101 495-4335 • aairmd.com

Family Medicine

Reshmey Medical Clinic David K. Tharakan, M.D. 57 Family Practice • see map pg. 19 1202 E. Sonterra Blvd., Suite 301 828-2311 • www.reshmeymedclinic.com

Lynnell C. Lowry, M.D. Alamo Eye Institute Board Certified Ophthalmologist 18720 Stone Oak Pkwy., Suite 119 697-3821 • see map pg. 19

Little Teeth of Texas Shawna Gerling, D.D.S. 21714 Hardy Oak Blvd., Suite 102 497-8787 • see map pg. 19 www.littleteethoftexas.com

Stone Oak Allergy & Asthma Amanda Trott-Gregorio, MD Board Certified in Allergy/Immunology 155 Sonterra Blvd., Suite 101 494-0690 • stoneoakallergy.com

Stone Oak Family Doctors, P.A. John N. Phillips, M.D. and Medical Staff 700 E. Sonterra Blvd., Suite 202 33 496-7999 • see map pg. 19 www.sofdpa.com

San Antonio Eye Center Abrams, Erdmancyzk, Hahn, Harris, Nicolau, Ming-Zhao, Stephenson, Roberts 14807 San Pedro 226-6169 • www.saeye.com

Allergy and Immunology

Fertility

Anti-Aging Enhancement of Life Dr. Donna Becker, D.O. 14603 Huebner Rd., Suite 2601 545-5224 • www.antiagingsa.com Expert Hormone Replacement for Women & Men Wellness & Aesthetics Medical Center Vernon F. Williams, M.D., 495-8558 19016 Stone Oak Pkwy., Suite 240 www.twaamc.com, www.measureage.com www.edinstituteoftx.com • see map pg. 19

Gastroenterology

Chiropractor

Dr. Golab’s Chiropractic Wellness, P.A. Michael R. Golab, D.C. 1205 N. FM 1604 W., Suite 211 4 764-8888 • see map pg. 19

Dermatology

San Antonio Dermatology Board Certified in Dermatology 19222 Stone Hue, Suite 103 497-1475 • see map pg. 19 www.lindacoffeymd.com

Texas Fertility Center Summer L. James, M.D. 502 Madison Oak Dr., Suite 230 370-3800 www.fertilitysanantonio.com San Antonio Gastroenterology Associates J. Johnson, MD, Eddie Flores, MD. M Lindner, M.D., J. Bullock, MD 150 East Sonterra Blvd., Suite 100 36 545-2555 • see map pg. 19 www.sagastro.com Texas Institute of Gastroenterology S. Dar, MD, J. Theard, MD, M. Naeem, MD, D. Sharma 19226 Stone Hue 268-0100 • www.thedaoaks.com

Internal Medicine 15

Ear, Nose & Throat Adult/Ped. Advanced Sinus Clinic Anthony P. Sertich, II, M.D., F.A.C.S. 502 Madison Oak, Suite 346 37 614-8625 • see map pg. 19 www.sertichmd.com Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic of SA Talley•Spears•Desai•Gleinser•Henderson, M.Ds 150 E Sonterra Blvd., Suite 200 36 499-4589 • see map pg. 19 www.entclinicsofsa.com

Ear Specialist Ear Institute of Texas Lance E. Jackson, MD, FACS 525 Oak Centre, Suite 100 696-HEAR (4327) www.EarInstituteofTexas.com

Family Dentistry Seguin, David R DDS 2235 Thousand Oak Dr., Ste. 120 At corner of Thousand Oaks Dr and Henderson Pass 496-2533 • see map pg. 19 64 www.drseguin-dentist.com

Marcos Mecidal Care Yolanda Marcos MD Amita Kumar MD, Audrey Rodriguez PA-C 510 Med Court, Suite 210 494-4290 • www.marcosmedical.com

Hospital North Central Baptist Hospital Baptist Regional Children’s Center 520 Madison Oak Dr. 297-4000 • see map pg. 19 Baptisthealthsystem.com

Medical Billing

COR Medical Billing Services We concentrate on you, While you concetrate on your patients Phone: 210-477-1956, Fax: 210-468-2355 www.cormedicalbilling.com

Neurosurgery Neurosurgical Associates of S. A., P.A. Donald L. Hilton MD., Arnold B. Vardiman MD. Donald P. Atkins MD. 18626 Hardy Oak Blvd., Suite 240 477-1956 • www.neurosurgerysa.com

Obstetrics Gynecology

Serrano OB/GYN Christopher Serrano, M.D., F.A.C.O.G. 20726 Stone Oak Pkwy., Suite 101 545-7700 www.serrano-obgyn.com

Pediatrics Pulmonary & Sleep

12 Dr. Monica Allison, O.D. 19202 Stone Oak Pkwy., Suite. 106, see map pg. 19 495-9020 • www.visionsource-stoneoak.com Stone Oak Vision Source

Kelly J. Smith, MD 19260 Stone Oak Pkwy., Suite 101 615-3700 www.pedipulm.com

Dr. John M. Nevelow, O.D., F.A.A.O. Erin M. Nevelow, O.D. 19190 Stone Oak Pkwy., Suite 120 349-2437 “Discoveries Thru Vision” Texas State Optical Renee Dunlap, O.D. 21019 U.S. Hwy. 281 N., Ste. 832 490-EYES (3937) • see map pg. 19 www.stoneoaktso.com

Healthlink Outpatient Rehab Center 525 Oak Centre, Suite 450 297-4525 • see map pg. 19 www.healthlinksa.com

Podiatry

Hill Country Pain C. William (Bill) Murphy, M.D., Justin J. Vigil, M.D. J. Kaleb Shaw, M.D., Nancy Burgher, PA-C. 14800 San Pedro, Suite 202 582-6600 www.hillcountrypain.com

Radiology

Tricity Pain Associates P.A. U. Dar, MD, S. Vasireddy MD, K. Monis MD. 110 Stone Oak Loop 268-0129 www.sapaindoc.com, www.tricitypaindoc.com

Urgent Care

Pediatrics

Huebner Pediatrics Dr. Michelle Storandt • Dr. Adelnery Gonzalez 15714 Huebner Rd., Bldg. 3 447-3000 www.huebnerpediatrics.com Tejas Pediatrics Dr Bauer, Dr Beatty, Dr. Henigan 20642 Stone Oak Pkwy. 479-3000 www.tejaspediatricssa.com

Physical Rehabilitation Institute Dr. Bussey • D. Harrington G. Molina • S. Bussey 19260 Stone Oak Pkwy., Suite 107 545-9355 (well) • see map pg. 19 www.myPRI.net

Schatz Orthodontics Eric Schatz, DDS 22610 U.S. Highway 281, Suite 201 272-7129 • www.alohasmiles.net

www.welcomehomesa.com

Physical Therapy

Orthodontics For Adults/Children Britton and Ferris Orthodontics Bloyce H. Britton III., DDS, • MS Tyler W. Ferris, DDS, • MS 1130 E. Sonterra Blvd., Suite 100 497-6688 • see map pg. 19

Pharmacy

Stone Oak Pharmacy Specialty Compounding & Delivery Retail Pharmacy Services & DME 18866 Stone Oak Pkwy., Suite 101 494-4272 • see map pg. 19

To add your listing to the Stone Oak Medical & Professional Directory, call 210-348-8233 February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

Optometrist

Pain Management 26

Stone Oak Pediatric Dentistry “Susie” S. Hayden, DDS, P.A. 20322 Huebner Rd., Suite 103 491-4141 • see map pg. 19 www.drsusie.net

Alamo Family Foot & Ankle Care D.M. Chaney • W. Strash • R. Perez, DPM’s 57 1314 E. Sonterra Blvd., Bldg. 3, Suite 302 829-8770 (by Clock Tower) • see map pg. 19 www.podlink.com South Texas Radiology Imaging Centers North Central Imaging Center 155 E. Sonterra Blvd., Suite 100 31 617-9000 • see map pg. 19 www.stric.com Fossil Creek Urgent Care Clinic 22250 Bulverde Rd. (Corner of Evans Rd.) 401-8185 • www.fossilcreekurgentcare.com Open Late and Weekends Family and Pediatric Medicine Stone Oak Urgent Care & Family Practice 115 Gallery Circle, Suite 102 481-6060 • www.soucfp.com Family Practice, Open 7 Days

Weight Loss

San Antonio Weight Loss Center Jorge L. Rincon, MD FACS 1162 E Sonterra Blvd., Suite 210 587-7744 www.saweightlosscenter.com

Anti-bullying Message At Hardy Oak

New to the Area? If you are new to the area, we’d like to extend a special welcome with a free gift filled with maps, magazines, local business coupons and info to help you get settled in your community.

Submitted By Lisa Ray ardy Oak Elementary was treated with a motivational, anti-bullying presentation given by local singer and performer, Faith Marie. Faith Marie travels to local schools sending a message of hope, encouragement, and doing the right thing. She motivates students by singing popular songs like Katy Perry’s “Roar”, Selena Gomez’s “Who Says” and One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful” while teaching the students to stand up against bullying and to believe in yourself. She uses the motto, “You don’t want to be a bystander, be an “upstander” and stand up against bullying.” She tells the students how important it is to stand up for someone they see getting bullied. The students had a blast singing along with Faith Marie and receiving high ﬁves

Please call (210) 414-6200 or e-mail kathy@bconnectedusa.com.

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Newspapers Make For An Ideal Educational Tool Special To Welcome Home any of today’s classrooms are filled with all types of emerging technologies, which educators use to enhance their students’ educational experiences. However, the humble newspaper has long been a staple in the classroom and at home and remains one of the best tools for learning. Newspapers can be used to further children’s academic abilities in a variety of ways. Improve reading fluency: Fluency, comprehension and inference of text are lessons that begin as soon as a child begins learning how to read. Children need access to a variety of reading materials so they can expand their knowledge and vocabulary base, and it’s never too early to introduce youngsters to the newspaper as not only a source of local and national information, but also as a reading tool. Parents can go through the newspaper with their children and select articles that may be of interest. A section devoted to local events or a particular theme, such as sports or fitness, may be good starting points. Children can have fun matching headlines with photos and following the sequence of the stories that continue on another page. They’re also bound to be exposed to a number of new words and phrases as they read newspaper articles, which helps improve their vocabulary. Strengthen writing skills: Newspaper articles are written differently than books.

Exposing children to a journalistic style of writing can help them with their own writing assignments. Teachers often stress that narratives and other writing assignments should follow a certain format so students learn to express themselves clearly. Students are urged to validate statements with proof and to have a logical ﬂow to their work. By reading articles in newspapers, students can gain an understanding of how to introduce a subject, expand on facts and summarize a point. Students who tend to be more pragmatic writers may connect with the journalistic style of writing more so than students who excel at creative prose. Children can practice reporting on different events in and around their communities, emulating the style of writing presented in newspapers. They also can learn the differences between editorial and opinion pieces. Make current events accessible: Newspapers are an inexpensive connection to culture and information from around the world. Through newspaper articles, students can better understand political, ﬁnancial and entertainment issues spanning the globe. Staying abreast of the latest news from around the world can help students become more well-rounded and learned. Students who may have read about events in a history book can compare those accounts to current information on what is happening in the world today. Develop an Eye for Photography:

Faith Marie travels to local schools sending a message of hope, encouragement, and doing the right thing. From left to right it is, Diego Barona, Anna Housley, Faith Marie, and Mitchell Rivillas.

and wristbands as she moved through the crowd. It was a fun and exciting way to send such an important message.

Hardy Oak Honors Two Extraordinary Teachers Submitted By Lisa Ray wo amazing teachers at Hardy Oak Elementary, Stephanie Barajas and Frances Rowan, have been recognized for the hard work and dedication they show every day while teaching their students. They were both selected by their fellow teachers to receive awards. Stephanie was named Teacher of the Year, and Frances was awarded the Trinity Prize for Excellence in Teaching. Both teachers have an absolute love for teaching and their students. Stephanie and Francis are well known on the campus for going above and beyond teaching their students. They are teachers who are always willing to help other teachers with planning, technology, and any other areas they may need assistance in. They always go the extra mile to share new ideas. Hardy Oak Elementary is extremely fortunate and proud to have these two wonderful teachers.

Stephanie Barajas and Frances Rowan have been recognized for the hard work and dedication they show every day while teaching.

Stunning, award-winning photographs are published in newspapers nearly every day. A picture is worth a thousand words, and newspaper photography helps readers interpret stories and bring the words to life through imagery. Access to newspaper photography can open up an entirely new world for children. It also may inspire their own creative works. Students may be inundated with technological resources both at school and home. But perhaps no classroom resource can match the array of beneﬁts provided by newspapers. One valuable educational resource may be delivered to your doorstep each and every day.

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February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

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Physical Rehabilitation Institute 19260 Stone Oak Pkwy, Ste. 107 210-545-9355 Internal Medicine of Stone Oak 19272 Stone Oak Pkwy, Ste. 105 210-490-3800 Allergy, Asthma, Immunology & Rheumatology Inst. 19260 Stone Oak Pkwy, Ste. 101 210-495-4335 GREEN FIELDS MARKET 19239 Stone Oak Pkwy. 210-495-4644 21714 HARDY OAK Little Teeth of Texas (Shawna Gerling, DDS) 21714 Hardy Oak Blvd., Ste. 102 210-497-8787 PREMIER PAIN CONSULTANTS 18626 Hardy Oak Blvd., Ste. 215 210-298-4900 21702 HARDY OAK HOPE CHURCH HAS MOVED 17903 Corp. Woods Drive 210-545-4673 (10:15 a.m. Sundays) NORTH CENTRAL URGENT CARE 19223 Stone Hue 210-490-5911 FAMILY ALLERGY & ASTHMA 20650 Stone Oak Pkwy., Ste. 106 210-342-6200 STONE OAK MEDICAL OFFICE BLDG. Center For Cosmetic Surgery 540 Madison Oak, Ste. 400 210-545-4848 Urology Of Stone Oak 540 Madison Oak, Ste. 400 210-490-3040 NORTH CENTRAL BAPTIST HOSPITAL 210-297-4000 Healthlink 525 Oak Centre, Ste. 450 210-297-4525 THE ATRIUM BUILDING Dr. Sertich 502 Madison Oak, Ste. 346 210-614-8625 Everyone’s ENT & Sinus Center 502 Madison Oak, Ste. 140 210-647-3838 STONE OAK PHYSICIANS PLAZA II STONE OAK PHYSICIANS PLAZA I Lan Anh Ngo, M.D., P.A. 19016 Stone Oak Pkwy., Suite 140 210-494-9109 The Wellness & Aesthetics 19016 Stone Oak Pkwy, Ste. 240 210-495-8558 METHODIST AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTER

February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

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Area Map

Methodist Stone Oak Hospital

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STONE OAK PLAZA Alamo Eye Institute, PA (Lynnell C. Lowry, MD) 18720 Stone Oak Pkwy, Ste. 119 210-697-3821 K Charles and Co. Full Service Salon 18720 Stone Oak Pkwy. Ste. 123 210-403-0955 Stone Oak Orthodontics (Tito Norris, DDS, P.A.) 18720 Stone Oak Pkwy, Ste. 207 210-402-3322 CORNERSTONE CHURCH THE BLANCO MARKET CENTER Great Clips For Hair 18630 Blanco Rd, Ste. 114 210-404-0994 THE VINEYARD SHOPPING CENTER Dr. Golab’s Chiropractic and Wellness PC 1205 N. Loop 1604 W., Ste. 211 210-764-8888 BISMARCK ART STUDIO 930 Proton, Ste. 202 210-379-8743 STONE OAK VILLAGE Slater White Cleaners 19190 Stone Oak Pkwy. Ste. 101 210-494-4126 State Farm Insurance, Betsy Dippo 19190 Stone Oak Pkwy. Ste. 112 210-496-3276 Stone Oak Florist 19190 Stone Oak Pkwy, Ste. 104 210-495-7442 STONE OAK SQUARE Vision Source 19202 Stone Oak Pkwy., Ste. 106 210-495-9020 STONE HUE CENTER Pizza Hut 20323 Huebner Rd, Ste. 103 210-497-1123 ERA COLONIAL REAL ESTATE 19230 Stone Oak Pkwy, Ste. 260 210-477-9400 STONE HUE PROFESSIONAL PLAZA North Hills Family Medicine 19222 Stone Hue, Ste. 104 210-481-6800 San Antonio Dermatology 19222 Stone Hue, Ste. 103 210-497-1475 THE MEDICAL PARK AT STONE OAK Romes Pizza 19298 Stone Oak Pkwy. 210-490-0700 Good Night Pediatrics 19272 Stone Oak Pkwy, 210-545-7581

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31 SONTERRA MEDICAL PARK South Texas Radiology Imaging Centers 155 Sonterra Blvd., Ste. 100 210-617-9000 32 SONTERRA MEDICAL PARK South Texas Chiropractic 225 E. Sonterra, Ste. 113 210-493-9119 33 325 E. SONTERRA BLVD. Stone Oak Family Doctors, P.A. 700 E. Sonterra Blvd., Ste. 202 210-496-7999 34 325 E. SONTERRA BLVD. Dr. Kevin J. Whritenour Au.D. 18838 Stone Oak Pkwy., Suite 101 210-316-7856 35 SPINE HOSPITAL OF SOUTH TEXAS 36 STONETERRA MEDICAL PLAZA S.A.G.A. 150 E. Sonterra Blvd, Suite 100 210-545-2555 CVS Pharmacy 120 E. Sonterra Blvd. 210-404-9006 stoneterra retail Center Prescott’s Orthotics & Prosthetics 158 E. Sonterra Blvd., Ste. 106 210-496-0800 Stone Oak Pharmacy 18866 Stone Oak Pkwy., Ste. 101 210-494-4272 37 THE CREEK AT STONE OAK Diabetes America 20330 Huebner Rd., Ste. 104 866-693-4223 Stone Oak Pediatric Dentistry (Susie Hayden, DDS) 20322 Huebner Rd., Ste. 103 210-491-4141 40 GASTROENTEROLOGY CONSULTANTS OF S.A. 855 Proton Road 210-614-1234 42 DERMATOLOGY ASSOCIATES 18540 Sigma Road 210-490-4661 43 THE CLUB AT SONTERRA 901 Sonterra Boulevard 210-496-1560 45 LA ARCATA CENTER Dr. Phillips Chiropractic Nutrition & Wellness 115 N. Loop 1604, Suite. 1207 210-545-1144 46 19310 STONE OAK PARKWAY 47 MCDONALDS 20750 US. Hwy. 281 N. 210-403-9066 48 BEST WESTERN HOTEL 18555 US. Hwy. 281 N. 210-490-9191

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49 INTERNATIONAL BANK OF COMMERCE 18750 Stone Oak Parkway, Ste. 100 210-496-6111 50 STONE RIDGE MARKET International Bank of Commerce HEB at Hwy. 281 and Evans Rd. 210-369-2914 210-283-6500 Texas State Optical 21019 U.S. Hwy. 281 N., Ste. 832 210-490-3937 (EYES) 52 SONTERRA OFFICE PARK 53 SA DENTAL SPECIALISTS Britton and Ferris Orthodontics 1130 E. Sonterra Blvd., Ste. 100 210-497-6688 54 115 GALLERY CIRCLE Dr. Webb’s Chiropractic & Wellness 115 Gallery Circle, Ste. 209 210-798-9322 55 STONE OAK CROSSING CENTER 56 LANE K. WALSH, DDS 1162 E. Sonterra Blvd., Ste. 200 210-499-1110 57 CLOCK TOWER Alamo Family Foot & Ankle Care 1314 E. Sonterra Blvd., Ste. 302 210-828-8770 A Thru Z Pediatrics 1314 E. Sonterra Blvd, Suite 102 210-490-8888 Reshmey Medical Clinic 1202 E. Sonterra Blvd., Ste. 301 210-828-2311 58 METHODIST STONE OAK HOSPITAL Alamo Maxillofacial Surgical Assoc., PA 1139 E. Sonterra Blvd., Ste. 505 210-402-3550 59 SAN ANTONIO FEDERAL CREDIT UNION 1717 N. Loop 1604 E 210-258-1604 60 WELLS FARGO BANK 18488 Blanco Rd. 210-856-1141 61 WELLS FARGO BANK 20826 Hwy. 281 N. 210-856-8408 62 HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC CHURCH/BANQUET HALL 20523 Huebner Road 210-497-4200 / 0700 63 THE FELLOWSHIP OF SAN ANTONIO 23755 Canyon Golf Road 210-402-3672 64 SEGUIN, DAVID R, DDS 2235 Thousand Oaks Dr., Ste. 120 210-496-2533

Art

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February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

Art

February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

You

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NEISD Artists Win Scholastic Art Awards

Special To Welcome Home orth East ISD students took home half of the awards given at the Regional Scholastic Art Competition. Of the 626 total awards given out of over 1,300 total entries, NEISD earned 51% of the awards, including half of the Gold Key Awards. The Gold Key winning artwork advances to the national level competition in New York City. The Scholastic Art Awards recognizes the exceptional vision of the nation’s youth by providing opportunities for middle and high school students grades 7-12 to be honored for their creative talents. Each year, teens submit their artwork and become a part of a community of young artists who support and encourage the creative arts. SAY Si is the regional afﬁliate for the San Antonio Scholastic Art Awards. They work with students, teachers, schools, and nonproﬁt arts organizations in Bexar County to promote, organize, adjudicate, and exhibit

the regional Scholastic Art Awards. The work is judged by top area professional artists including collegiate art instructors. The achievements by the NEISD art students are outstanding as it is very difﬁcult to earn awards at this very prestigious competition. NEISD winners were from Harris, Eisenhower, Tejeda, Jackson, Krueger, and Lopez middle schools; Churchill, DATA, ETA, ISA, Madison, Johnson, Lee, MacArthur, NESA, Reagan, and Roosevelt high schools. NEISD art students received two of the ﬁve American Vision Nominations, given for works named “Best of Show” for each region. The Awards ceremony will be held at Say Sí Central on Friday, Jan. 30, from 6-9 p.m. and the award-winning artwork will remain on display at the same location from Jan. 30 through Feb. 4. The showroom hours are Monday through Friday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

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Lopez Drama Champions

The Lopez Drama team won the first place team sweepstakes award!

Submitted By Christi Eanes ongratulations to Lopez Drama for winning the ﬁrst place team sweepstakes award at the NEISD Fall Speech & Theatre contest held at Lopez MS on Saturday, December 13. The 75 member team was comprised of 6th, 7th and 8th grade theatre students who competed in various individual and partner events. Lopez competed in the large school division and had an overall team score of 341 points! Individual awards were as follows: 46 Outstanding Performer plaques, 18 Blue ribbons, 21 Red ribbons and 15 White ribbons. This is the fourth consecutive year Lopez has been fall contest champions! Way to go Lopez Panthers, second to none!

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Spanish Immersion Learning Center

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Nursery, Preschool, & PreK High Academic Standards Mother’s Day Out: 8:30 am – 2 pm Full Time Care Supervised Homework Lab “Una Escuela Bilingüe, Para un Niño Moderno”

HOLLYWOOD PARK STONE OAK 92–96 Trailcrest Street 21785 Hardy Oak Blvd (210) 701-8461 (210) 481-9172 www. BilingualChildAcademy .com

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February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

Fincke Cup Annual Soccer Match Submitted By Stephanie Fincke an’s Foundation was formed in memory of Ian Fincke who passed away tragically at the age of 16 as the result of a traumatic brain injury sustained during a skateboarding accident. The foundation was formed to advance the safety and welfare of San Antonio youth through education and scholarship awards. Ian’s love for the game of soccer inspired the creation of the Fincke Cup, an annual soccer match played between Johnson High School and Reagan High School Varsity Boys and Girls Soccer Teams. The school with the highest aggregate score for the night receives the coveted Fincke Cup Trophy and bragging rights for the year. A scholarship is awarded to a boy and girl from each team for a total of four scholarships annually. To date over $24,000 in scholarships has been awarded to deserving San Antonio students. The soccer clinic for the youth of San Antonio is the main fundraiser that supports the scholarship awards and allows the local high school soccer players an opportunity to teach soccer skills to the youth of San Antonio. There will be local soccer club coaches in attendance as well as a presence from the SA Scorpions professional soccer team. Interested in purchasing a 2015 Fincke Cup T-Shirt? Visit www.FinckeCup.com to pre-order a shirt and support Ian’s Foundation.

Nest Thermostat Learns From You Submitted By Christine Patmon his year didn’t exactly start out with last winter’s Polar Vortex but we’ve seen some dicey, and slightly icy, days. Unless you gifted everyone in the family with Cuddl Duds for Christmas, you probably kicked the heater into overdrive. But did you remember to turn the thermostat below 65 when you left the house? Are you drying clothes or using the oven during the day to help make the house warm and toasty? Think of the things you’re not supposed to do in the summer and reverse the plan. It’s a great start to control the amount of energy you’re buying this winter, considering that heating makes up about 60 percent of the average energy bill just as cooling does in the summer. Want to keep saving? We encourage you to try: Using a programmable thermostat. Our FREE Smart Thermostat or the rebateeligible Nest Learning Thermostat are excellent options. Installing new or additional insulation. Our home efﬁciency rebates can help bring the cost down. Buying LEDs or CFLs to replace old, less-efﬁcient incandescent bulbs. Go to cpsenergysavers.com and check out our Lighting Savings Calculator (and others) to see how much you can save. Turning off the television, fan and lights when you leave a room. Remind the family

Ian’s Foundation Gives Back to the San Antonio Community.

Ian’s foundation was the inspiration behind bringing wheelchair soccer to San Antonio and continues to support the STRAPS (South Texas Regional Adaptive and Paralympic Sports) at Morgan’s Wonderland. The foundation also supports the local YMCA by providing scholarships to allow San Antonio youth that could not afford to play soccer the opportunity to play the sport that Ian loved so much. Ian’s Foundation continues to do helmet safety talks throughout the community, including local schools and organizations. Visit www. IansFoundation.org to ﬁnd out more.

Nest thermostat learns how you like the temperature in your house and is eligible for a CPS Energy rebate.

to do the same. Changing your air filter. Checking and replacing dirty filters monthly can help your heating system work more efficiently. Turning off or unplugging electronic devices such as computers, game systems, and cell phone chargers when not being used. They silently steal energy and run up your bill. Reducing your use of hot water. Shorter showers and washing clothes in cold water helps your hot water heater cycle less frequently. And, of course, those Cuddl Duds really do make great gifts. The less us coldblooded folks walk around inside dressed like we’re headed outside for summer fun, the warmer we’ll be and the thermostat can be set at 68 or 70 maximum Got questions, or need more info on products, programs and rebates? We’re here to help. Visit cpsenergy.com.

COMING SOON! The Guide With All Your North Side Information The Source is a Business & Medical Directory. It includes: Things To Do, Restaurants, Shopping, Medical, Maps, and more!—right at your fingertips. Pick up a FREE 2014 copy at any of these locations: • • • • • • • •

Falcon Bank – 19230 Stone Oak Pkwy. Frost Bank – Stone Oak at 18762 Stone Oak Pkwy. Frost Bank – Stone Ridge off Evans Rd. by HEB Plus Green Fields Market – 19239 Stone Oak Pkwy. Janie Christine's Gift Boutique – 19141 Stone Oak Pkwy., Ste. 109 Jefferson Bank – Stone Oak at 19002 Stone Oak Parkway Randolph Brooks FCU – 23737 Bulverde Road (Near Johnson HS) State Farm/Betsy Dippo – 19190 Stone Oak Pkwy., Ste. 112

For additional information call 210.348.8233 or visit

www.StoneOakBusiness.com

February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

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New s You C a n U se YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR NEWS AND INFORMATION IN STONE OAK

News From City Council District 9

By Councilman Joe Krier District 9 (210) 207-7325

ear Friends & Residents, I hope your year is off to a good start. There is much to do this year and with your help we can get the job done. We start this year off with the new hands free ordinance. Please ﬁnd details of this new ordinance at the bottom of this

e-newsletter and pass the information on to a friend. At the end of this year City Council will vote on whether to annex some areas around San Antonio Last fall, Council ordered an election for Saturday, May 9, 2015, to amend the City

What’s New In District 122

By Lyle Larson State Representative District 122 (210) 402-5402

e hope you had an enjoyable Christmas and that 2015 is shaping up to be a banner year for you. Here’s a quick update on what Team Larson has been up to since we last communicated. We spent December and the ﬁrst part of January visiting with lots of folks in the community in preparation for the 84th Legislative Session. We had the opportunity to speak to Professor Bob Thompson’s Environmental Law class at UTSA about securing Texas’ water resources and exchanged ideas with several students from across the nation who will soon be leaders in the water ﬁeld.

We toured the new additions to Christus Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital and visited with their hospital administrators and director of hematology/oncology about their bone marrow transplant program and other areas of expansion. We traveled to the Texas A&M San Antonio campus to visit with Dr. Ferrier and her team about the development of their campus and their legislative priorities. We spoke at the San Antonio Chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies luncheon and attended the Colorado River Water Users Association Conference to learn about regional water

Parman Library News Corner

By Amy Miller, MLS Librarian II Parman Library at Stone Oak San Antonio Public Library (210)207-2703 appy New Year from Parman Library! We hope you will make visiting the library a part of your regular routine and enjoy some of the programs we offer as we kick of 2015.

Parman Library offers a variety of programs for children of all ages and stages of development including Baby Time, Toddler Time, Storytime, Tween and Teen Time. Some events require pre-registration so be sure to check out our online events calendar. If you made a commitment to improve your health and wellness in 2015, Parman Library is the place to be. We offer a weekly

New Developments By Stefanie Young

WineShop At Home with Jennifer Jenkins

ineShop At Home is a whole new way to learn about, experience and shop for great wines. The company is a bonded California winery headquartered in the famed Napa Valley and is the only direct seller to offer its own exclusive, artisan wine brands available nowhere else on earth. Jennifer Jenkins is a local consultant

and able to present in-home Wine Tastings, where guests can taste wines and learn about, experience and buy wines directly from the Winery. WineShop At Home epitomizes a whole new generation of direct selling – offering an exceptional consumer experience, as well as an unparalleled and exciting business opportunity. WineShop At Home’s vision is to provide the best wine lifestyle experience in the world. They envision a world where the enjoyment, education and purchasing of wine is a pursuit and pleasure available to everyone. They aspire to be recognized

Charter by requiring an election before any use of the City’s right-of-way for streetcar or light rail. Subsequently, Council created the Charter Review Commission to study possible Council pay, how we fill the office of Mayor when there’s a midterm vacancy and other issues. The Commission will bring its recommendations to the full Council next month. On January 7, 2015, the Charter Review Commission held its first Public Hearing on possible amendments to the City Charter. I encourage you to attend the next Public Hearing. In January I was sworn in as Mayor Procooperation in the western United States. We had a candid discussion with Governor-Elect Greg Abbott at a Legislative Roundtable discussion he hosted in San Antonio, along with legislators from the Bexar County and South Texas area about our legislative priorities. We are encouraged and excited about the change of leadership and look forward to working with Governor Abbott. We rounded out the interim by meeting with the San Antonio Tea Party Board of Directors about the upcoming legislative session, spoke to a great group of folks at the South Texas Farm and Ranch Club meeting, presented the Yellow Rose of Texas Award on behalf of the State to a deserving community servant, Mrs. Linda Woodside, and spoke to the San Pedro Hills Women’s Club about education, water, and transportation issues As you read this, we will be convening the 84th Legislative Session in the House Chamber of the beautiful Texas Capitol. If

February 2015

Tem. I am proud to serve the City of San Antonio. I look forward to working with the current Council, especially Mayor Taylor, who impressed all of us last July when she was appointed to serve as Mayor of San Antonio. We will all continue working hard for you. As always, if there are items you would like to see in future newsletters, please let me know via email at district9@sanantonio. gov. If you have an upcoming event in District 9 that you would like posted in our newsletter email james.doughty@ sanantonio.gov. Working together, we can make District 9 and our City a better place for everyone.

Great dialogue with Governor-Elect Greg Abbott in San Antonio with several other Texas House members from the region.

you happen to be in Austin, or if you’d like to make a trip up here to see where we will spend the next 140 days, please come see us in our new ofﬁce location in the Capitol Extension in room E2.406. Our phone numbers, email addresses, and mailing addresses are still the same. We hope to see you during the Session!

Learn and Burn program which combines education as well as physical activity. Spring Forest Qigong classes are held every third Thursday at 6:30 and a meditation workshop led by Art of Living is scheduled every third Saturday at 1:00. All of these events take place in the Parman meeting room. To ﬁnd out about the events going on in February and March, visit www.mysapl.org.

worldwide as the most innovative, fun and affordable in-home Wine Tasting and buying experience in the marketplace, with a wine career opportunity second to none. In addition, they foster the education, enjoyment and healthy consumption of wine and food. To taste this unique experience, contact Jennifer at jennjenkins720@aol.com or call (210) 325-3772. Jennifer Jenkins is a local consultant and able to present in-home Wine Tastings.

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February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

Art Time At Spring Branch Library

Bush MS Caroling Adventure

The choir visited Links at Canyon Springs for caroling and a pizza party.

Submitted By Frank Perales he Bush Middle School Choir took to the streets on 22 December 2014. The Choir and their Choir Director, Ms. Jarvis, made visit to the Links at Canyon Springs during the evening and walked around the neighborhood and sang Christmas and Holiday Carols. All of the listeners were pleased with their performance.

Group photo of Art Time 2015 Exhibit participants at the opening.

2015 Queen Of The Vine Campaign

Visitors admiring Art Time Exhibit.

Submitted By Lauren Pohl n energizing hue of vibrant colors paints the typically still and serene Bulverde/Spring Branch Public Library on Saturday, January the 10th during the Opening Reception of the Art Time program exhibit. The environment is alive and bustling with excited children pulling Parents, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles around in all different directions towards the artwork displayed along the exhibit walls. Students from schools in the San Antonio area of all different ages proudly wear a ribbon of green and gold upon their chests; Rewards for the hard work and dedication that went into the pieces of art that now

Ms. Michelle Garza, a resident of the Links and Gina Perales hosted a pizza dinner, cookies and soft drinks for the choir. The dinner was conducted at Ms. Garza’s home after the Choir’s performance. The choir members were delighted. The HOA make a contribution to the Bush Middle School and provide for the pizza dinner in appreciation for the Choir’s visit to the Links during their Christmas Break.

Art Time student Gavin Gonzales and Art Time teacher Liliya Colston.

fill the Children’s section of the library for everyone to see. Every piece of artwork that you see displayed along the walls and filling the area of the typically spacious Children’s section is a finished product of what originally was nothing more than an idea that had popped into a child’s head.

Leader in Me Annual Symposium Submitted By Deborah Deel n 2013 Stone Oak Elementary School became the 50th Franklin Covey Leader in Me Lighthouse School. Last month, January 2015, the Leader in Me Annual Symposium was held in San Antonio. Stone Oak Elementary was selected as a site visit for visitors from around the world attending the Symposium. Stone Oak Elementary School’s Student Lighthouse Team spent time preparing for the visit throughout the month. For the first time this year parent volunteers from the PTA also attended the conference. On Thursday, January 29th, Stone Oak Elementary bobcat Andrew Bridges spoke as a Student MC at the Symposium. Additionally, Stone Oak Elementary was selected as a feature presentation. Principal Elisabeth Krimbill, selected teachers, the school counselor, a bobcat parent, and community members provided a presentation on community engagement.

Stone Oak Elementary was selected as a site visit for visitors from around the world attending the Leader in Me Annual Symposium.

On Friday, January 30th, Stone Oak Elementary had their first Leadership Night of the year. Teams of students hosted leadership events during the evening. As it was scheduled two days before the Super Bowl, students and parents were treated to a football themed event appropriately titled Stone Oak Elementary Super Bowl Leadership Night.

February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

Through a 6 month campaigning process, each The Brighton Center provides direct services to children woman works to raise money through cash donations, with disabilities and/or developmental delays through a sponsorships and tickets sales to Queen’s Ball and an holistic and family-centered approach. array of other avenues.

Submitted By Colleen Douglas hat is Queen of the Vine? The Queen of the Vine is an annual fundraising campaign run by a select group of San Antonio women who believe in and support the work of the Brighton Center, a non-profit organization that provides direct services to children with disabilities and/or developmental delays and their families. Through a 6 month campaigning process, each woman works to raise money through cash donations, sponsorships and tickets sales to Queen’s Ball and an array of other avenues. The woman that has raised the most at the end of the campaign will be crowned “Queen of the Vine” and will represent the Brighton Center for one year and act as their Fiesta Royalty at their official Fiesta event, A Taste of the Northside. The campaign will culminate at the Queen’s Ball, a fun and “anti-gala” formal event that will feature live culinary stations with paired wine and beer, live music, dancing and a live and silent auction. The evening will commence with the crowning of the Queen of the Vine and the announcement of her court. About The Brighton Center:

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The Brighton Center provides direct services to children with disabilities and/or developmental delays through a holistic and family-centered approach. The organization helps strengthen and transform the child’s abilities, the home environment, the parental attitude and capabilities to positively impact the family units overall quality of life. Brighton has been serving and supporting children with disabilities and their families in San Antonio for more than 45 years. Brighton provides child enrichment and development through a child learning center, home based therapy services, counseling, case management and family support services to more than 2,700 children annually. Why It Matters: Every year the organization must raise more than $1,200,000 to maintain its services and the Queen of the Vine campaign is a critical piece in making this happen. Every dollar raised through the Queen of the Vine campaign directly benefits the Brighton Center and helps set a foundation for children with disabilities that set them up for a life without limits! To donate, visit www.queenofthevine. kintera.org/colleendouglas.

February Calendar of Events FIRST SUNDAYS FOR FAMILIES Sun, February 1. (200 West Jones Avenue) 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. It’s a Tea Party! Discover the rich cultural history of tea from around the world. Design a blue and white tea set, sculpt a Chinese ewer and Japanese tea cup, and create a recycled project using tea bags. A special Japanese tea ceremony will be held in the Museum auditorium. First Sundays for Families is made possible by a grant from the Dan and Gloria Oppenheimer Fund and Frances Margaret Seaver Fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation. For more information call (210) 978-8100 or visit www.samuseum.org/calendar. CHICAGO THE MUSICAL Sun, February 1. (Majestic Theatre San Antonio, 226 East Houston Street) 7:30p.m. A true New York City institution, CHICAGO has everything that makes Broadway great: a universal tale of fame, fortune and all that jazz; one show-stopping-song after another; and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen. It’s no wonder CHICAGO has been honored with 6 Tony Awards®, 2 Olivier Awards®, a Grammy® and thousands of standing ovations. It’s also no surprise that CHICAGO has wowed audiences all around the world, from Mexico City to Moscow, from Sao Paulo to South Africa. Whether you’re looking for your first Broadway musical, whether you’ve seen the Academy Award®-winning film and want to experience the show live on stage or whether you’ve seen it before and want to recapture the magic, CHICAGO always delivers. RANCHHAND RIBBON CUTTING Tues, February 3. (12257 West Avenue) 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Join us for Ranch Hand & Truck Accessories’ Ribbon Cutting where there will be refreshments, networking, and celebrations as they join the Stone Oak Business Association. If you would like to find out more information about the event, visit www.stoneoakbusiness. com or call (210) 348-8233. We hope to see you there! UTSA ORCHESTRA Tues, February 3. (Music Recital Hall – UTSA,1 UTSA Circle) 7:00 p.m. The UTSA Orchestra is the seventy-member student ensemble working toward the highest standard of performance in the classical tradition and reflecting the multi-cultural heritage and influences of symphonic music around the world. In recent years the UTSA Orchestra’s repertoire included jazz works of David Brubeck, orchestral masterpieces by Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Rimsky-Korsakov, Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky and Debussy, modern works by Stravinsky, Chavez, Heuser, Adler, Gorecki, and Copland, choral works such as Handel’s Messiah and Orff’s Carmina Burana, operas of Mozart, Weill, Menotti, and Barab (world premiere), popular works by Bernstein, Gershwin, and John Williams, and collaborations with Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan. REAGAN VARSITY GIRLS SOCCER: ROOSEVELT Tues, February 3. (12002 Jones Maltsberger Rd) 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Goal!!! We’ll see you at the Blossom Athletic Center for some action pack game. ELVIS LIVES Wed, February 4. (Majestic Theatre San Antonio, 226 East Houston Street) 7:30 p.m. ELVIS LIVES brings an unforgettable multimedia and live musical journey across Elvis’ life. Elvis’ iconic style, embraced by many of today’s artists, continues to intrigue audiences of all generations. ELVIS LIVES! features three winners from Elvis Presley Enterprises’

worldwide Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, each representing Elvis during different stages in his career. The Elvis tribute artists will be joined by a live band, back-up singers and dancers, along with an Ann-Margret tribute artist, as well as iconic imagery made available from the Graceland archives; which includes an exhibit of life-size images of Elvis’ stage-wear that will be on display in the lobby of each theater hosting a performance. Audiences “Can’t Help Falling In Love”® with this phenomenal theatrical concert experience. REAGAN THEATRE: LES MISERABLES Wed, February 4-7. 7:00 p.m. to11:00 p.m. The story begins in 1815 in Digne, as the peasant Jean Valjean, just released from 19 years’ imprisonment for stealing bread for his starving sister and her family. If that isn’t enough, come down to Reagan Auditorium to see the rest. JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL Thu, February 5. (23203 Bulverde Road) 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. On New Year’s Eve, juniors Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez meet at a party while both teens are at a ski lodge during winter break. At the party, the two are called upon to sing karaoke together. Want to learn more? If so we’ll see you at the Johnson High School Auditorium. BLUEBONNET CLASSIC DEBATE TOURNAMENT Fri – Sat, February 6-7. (23203 Bulverde Road) 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. We would like to take this opportunity to invite you and your teams to attend the seventh annual “Bluebonnet Classic” at Claudia Taylor “Lady Bird” Johnson High School. Come join us for this stop on the Barbara McCain Farewell Tour! We will be offering the following TFA events: CX Debate, LD Debate, PF Debate, US Extemp, International Extemp, Original Oratory, Duet Acting, Duo Interpretation, Humorous Interp, and Dramatic Interp, and Congressional Debate. In addition, we will offer the following non-qualifying events if enough people are interested: Poetry, Prose, Novice Extemp, and Novice LD. RED DRESS 5K FUN RUN & WALK Sat, February 7. (Methodist Stone Oak Hospital, 1139 E. Sonterra Blvd.) 7:00 p.m. Wear red or your favorite red dress and participate in a 5K run or walk around the campus of Methodist Stone Oak Hospital in honor of those affected by heart disease. Entry fee is $20 per person with all proceeds going to the American Heart Association. The event will be a timed race this year to better recognize the success of participants. Medals will be awarded to participants in various age categories. Refreshments and various tables with educational material will be available on site. Pet Friendly. Early registration is strongly recommended, but race entries will be accepted on the day of the event. To register, visit www.SAHealth.com/HeartandSoul. For more information, call the Methodist Healthcare HealthLine at 210-575-0355 or visit us on Facebook at MethodistHealthcareSanAntonio. 18TH ANNUAL MAYS SYMPOSIUM Sat, February 7. (200 W JonesAve, SanAntonio) 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The World of Textiles: A Tapestry of Travel, Trade and Creativity. $40 members, $60 non-members, and $20 students Lunch included | register: 210-978-8133 at this day-long symposium, learn about the many facets of textiles in art and society from the Renaissance to the 21st century. Distinguished speakers: including curators from The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Cleveland Museum of Art.

ART FIT + EXERCISE Tues, February 10. (200 W Jones Ave, San Antonio) 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Meet in the Great Hall. Free Runners of all levels are welcome. Enjoy a short gallery talk on fitness and the visual arts in the museum’s collection, followed by kettlebell exercises and a run down the river led by coaches from Run Wild Sports Art Fit: Art + Exercise is endorsed by the Mayor’s Fitness Council and Let’s Move! Museums and Gardens. THE HEART AND SOLE OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE: HOW YOUR CIRCULATION CAN IMPACT YOUR WELL BEING Wed, February 11. (1139 E. Sonterra Blvd.) 12:00 p.m. Methodist Stone Oak Hospital Classroom 1. Most of us have heard the term, “poor circulation,” but have you ever thought of what it means? Join Dr. John Canales as he discusses how circulation can impact your wellbeing. The event is open to the public free of charge, and registration is required. Call the Methodist Healthcare HealthLine at 210-5750355 to RSVP. For more information visit www. SAHealth.com/HeartandSoul or on Facebook at MethodistHealthcareSanAntonio. TEXAS PHYSICAL THERAPY’S RIBBON CUTTING Thu, February 12. (300 East Sonterra Boulevard, Ste. 208) 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Join us for Texas Physical Therapy’s Ribbon Cutting where there will be refreshments, networking, and celebrations as they join the Stone Oak Business Association. If you would like to find out more information about the event, visit www. stoneoakbusiness.com or call 210-348-8233. We hope to see you there! ROMEO & JULIET Thu, February 12. (Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Cir.) 8:00 p.m. Choreographed by the legendary Ben Stevenson, this Shakespearean tale of forbidden love is set to the famed Prokofiev score and performed live by the San Antonio Symphony. This production’s star-crossed lovers promise to leave you spellbound. MERCHANT OF VENICE OPENS Fri, February 13. (The Classic Theatre, 1924 Fredericksburg Rd) 8:00 p.m. In Venice, when a merchant must default on a large loan from an abused Jewish moneylender for a friend with a romantic ambitions, the bitterly vengeful creditor demands a gruesome payment instead. REAGAN VARSITY BOYS’ GOLF: TEXAS SHOOT-OUT Fri - Sat, February 13 – 14. (23808 Resort Parkway). CUPID’S CHASE 5K RUN Sat, February 14. (McAllister Park Pavilion #2, 13102 Jones Maltsberger Rd.) 8:00 a.m. “Run with your heart this Valentine’s Day! Sat,February 14, 2015. All proceeds will go towards supporting people with disabilities in San Antonio. We invite walkers, runners, joggers, and rollers (baby strollers and wheelchairs) of all ages to come out and participate. Even if you can’t join in the race, come support a great cause and have a good time doing so! Valentine’s Day 2015 McAllister Park Registration 8am Race 10am.$30 per person $50 per person day of the run. For more information call 210-212-4969. REAGAN DANCE: REGIONALS Sat, February 14. (1404 Interstate 35) Do you enjoy music and dance at the same time? If so come on down to Canyon High School for to

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support our Reagan’s dance team. See you soon. MY JAZZY VALENTINE Sun, February 15. (Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Cir.) 3:00 p.m.The Choral Society will make their Pops debut at the Tobin Center with My Jazzy Valentine. The program will include an eclectic blend of jazz and swing favorites. Singers will be accompanied by the city’s finest jazz musicians. One hour prior to each performance, patrons are invited to a wine and chocolate reception at the Radius (106 Auditorium Circle) to benefit our high school mentorship program. The preconcert reception is included in the price of the ticket and non-alcoholic drink options will be available for those under age 21. REAGAN VARSITY GIRLS’ SOCCER VS MACARTHUR Tues, February 17. (12002 Jones Maltsberger Rd) 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. GOAL!!! Support our local players see you there. CHOPSTIX CAFÉ’S RIBBON CUTTING Tues, February 19. (19903 Stone Oak Pkwy Ste. 108) 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Join us for Chopstix Café ‘s Ribbon Cutting where there will be refreshments, networking, and celebrations as they join the Stone Oak Business Association. If you would like to find out more information about the event, visit www.stoneoakbusiness. com or call 210-348-8233. We hope to see you there! KEEPING YOUR HEART HAPPY Thu, February 19. (Northeast Methodist Hospital, a campus of Methodist Hospital, 12412 Judson Rd.) 12:00 p.m. Smile! It’s good for your heart. There are a lot of easy steps you can take to improve your heart health besides just smiling, though. Join John Canales, M.D., to learn 10 things you can do to keep your heart smiling! The event is a program of CardiacConnections®, a service of Methodist Healthcare. It is open to the public free of charge, and registration is required. Call the Methodist Healthcare HealthLine at 210-575-0355 to RSVP. For more information visit www.SAHealth.com/HeartandSoul or on Facebook at MethodistHealthcareSanAntonio. PULMONARY HYPERTENSION Thu, February 19. (1139 E. Sonterra Blvd.) 6:00 p.m. Classroom 2, pulmonary hypertension is a type of high blood pressure that affects arteries in your lungs and can lead to heart failure. Join Dr. John Gresham as he discusses pulmonary hypertension. The event is open to the public free of charge, and registration is required. Call the Methodist Healthcare HealthLine at 210-575-0355 to RSVP. For more information visit www.SAHealth.com/HeartandSoul or on Facebook at MethodistHealthcareSanAntonio. REAGAN AQUATICS: UIL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP Sat, February 20 – 21. (1900 Robert Dedman Drive) Support our local players and teammates for some breath taking intense moments under the water for our Reagan Aquatics heads for UIL State Championship. See you at the University of Texas. NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: HIP TO BE SQUARE Sat, February 21. (200 W Jones Ave, San Antonio) 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Late-night dance party, Music by Professor D., Food trucks + Drinks + Gallery tours. Ages 21 and up! A Young Friends event. For details visit samuseum.org/ hiptobesquare. RSVP required.

February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

San Antonio Youth Fencers Earn Medals

Submitted By Tom Behrens eptember through December was very busy months for the athletes at the Olympian Fencing Club of San Antonio. Different fencers in all age classes competed in U.S. cities including Secaucus, NJ, Denver, CO, and Louisville, KY; some traveled as far as Copenhagen, Denmark and Grenoble, France, and then back to Olympian Fencing Club for the year ending Holiday Party, Dec. 27. A combination of 67 Gold, Silver and Bronze medals were awarded. Several of the fencers received medals at each of the different tournaments. Fencing is a fast growing sport among the youth. Children as young as six years old are picking up the epee and learning the sport from the professionals such as Velizar Iliev, Head Coach at the Olympian Fencing Club. At Olympian the fencers learn how to use the Epee (one of the three weapons in fencing), a round blade sword with a special tip that electronically records “touches” to a scoreboard. The whole body, including the mask, is the target. Luke Kolbinskie is 11 years old and

Robin Cheong, 16 years old. Kolbinskie got interested in fencing when he was 6 years old. Cheong picked up the epee for the first time when he was 10. “It’s fun,” said Kolbinskie who attends Blatiman Elementary. “I saw Olympic fencing on TV and it looked pretty cool, and so I wanted to try it out.” He describes the Super Youth Circuit tournament in Chandler, AZ as one of his toughest tournaments. He came back to San Antonio with a Bronze Medal in the Y-12 fencing classification. The different fencing classifications are based on age and skill. “There was lots of competition, some very good fencers, very tough to beat.” Since September, Kolbinskie has earned two Gold Medals, four Silver Medals, and one Bronze Medal. “He picked up a lot of points at the Chandler tournament,” said Ken Kolbinskie, Luke’s father. “He moved up from 14th in the country to 5th in the country in Y-12 men’s epee.” Luke finished third in the country last year and received the bronze medal in the Summer National Championships. “Starting from about freshman year,

Girls Night Out

Submitted By Kristine Garza irls Night Out with Tanji Patton is getting started for 2015 and we are in the Mardi Gras spirit! Join her for a Mardi Gras themed Girls Night Out on Thursday February 5th at The Club at Sonterra from 5:30pm-8:30pm in San Antonio, TX. Guests can Sip, Talk, and Shop at our fabulous Girls Night Out and even have their fortune told with a palm reading! Don’t forget that a portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit Brighton Center, host of the fabulous Fiesta® event, A Taste of the Northside.

basically the entire fall semester, I will be in an out of school,” said Cheong. “As long as I keep up my grades, keep up with the work, turn things in when I get back, the teachers (and administration) are fine with me being out of class so much.” Cheong has a 4.31 GPA, “mostly all A plus grades,” he adds. Robin Cheong is a junior at St. Mary’s Hall. He says fencing for him is kind of like solving math problems; his favorite subject is math “In a sense they are both very logical. You have to understand exactly what is going on; the problem-solution process is pretty similar. “Fencing is very competitive and I really love competition; it’s part of my character,” continued Cheong. “It’s pretty interesting. There are so many elements, like in the footwork, distance, blade work and the way you can combine them.” Cheong received the coveted “A” rating which translates that he is one of the best in his fencing classification. Since September he has earned two Gold Medals and two Silver Medals. His travels this past fall have put in Denmark, Austria, and Luxembourg. Olympian Fencing Club, 3200 McCullough Ave., San Antonio 78212 has private and group fencing classes for all ages, including adult. Open fencing times are available. Click on http:// www.OlympianFencingClub.com for a complete list of all the fencers and their accomplishments this past fall. More information about fencing at Olympian Fencing Club can be obtained by calling 210-872-2004.

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Red Dress 5K Fun Run & Walk Submitted By Shirley Wills Fund raiser for the American Heart Association and a program of CardiacConnections®, a service of Methodist Healthcare, will take place Saturday, February 7. Registration will begin at 7:00 a.m and the run will begin at 8:00 a.m. at Methodist Stone Oak Hospital. (1139 E. Sonterra Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78258). Wear red or your favorite red dress and participate in a 5K run in honor of those affected by heart disease. The event will be a timed race this year to better recognize the success of participants. Medals will be awarded for overall male and female masters (age 40+). Refreshments and various tables with educational material will be available on site. Pet Friendly.

Registration is required. Call the Methodist Healthcare HealthLine at 210-5750355 or visit SAHealth.com/HeartandSoul. Information is also available on Facebook at MethodistHealthcareSanAntonio. $20 entry fee with all proceeds going to the American Heart Association.

Submitted By Michele Bibb ou’re invited to join us at the North San Antonio Retired Teachers Association on Wednesday, February 18. Our meetings are held at the San Pedro Presbyterian Church located at 14900 San Pedro just south of Brookhollow Shopping Center. Our “meet and greet” begins at 9:45a.m. with the general meeting called to order at 10:15 a.m. The guest speaker this month is Mr. Cesar Alvarado from the area Better Business Bureau. He will address issues of concerns

to seniors, newcomers to the marketplace, and those on fixed incomes to promote the use of good buying practices. We look forward to meeting you at our February meeting. Bring a friend with you and remember, you DO NOT have to be a retiree from a San Antonio School District. If you have moved into the San Antonio area and have retired from another city’s school district, we’d love for you to join our group. If you have any questions, please call me at 210-494-8197.

North San Antonio Retired Teachers Association

February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

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Get Started Now On Spring Cleaning Special To Welcome Home armer temperatures and longer hours of sunlight can recharge energy levels. Upon the arrival of spring, homeowners dust off their to-do lists and charge ahead with renewed vigor. But before homeowners can get started on renovation projects, many must tame the existing mess that may have built up over the winter. Spring is a great time to dive into spring cleaning projects and ready a home for a season of renovation and remodeling. Getting started on spring cleaning can be a tad overwhelming. In 2012, OnePoll asked 1,000 adults living in the United Kingdom how they felt about spring cleaning, and 41 percent of those surveyed found spring cleaning a daunting process while 68 percent had negative feelings about spring cleaning. But in spite of that initial lack of enthusiasm, respondents said they felt happy and more

organized once they finished their spring cleaning. Establishing a plan and setting reachable goals can make spring cleaning a lot less daunting. Set aside several days for spring cleaning. A long weekend is a great time to do some spring cleaning, as having consecutive days to clean will reduce the chances you grow distracted. Make a list and purchase all of the supplies you will need. Again, this will help you stay on course, rather than going out to the store to pick up cleaners or organizational systems. Try to set reasonable goals. Even if you hope to clean the entire house, stick to the one or two rooms that are most desperate for your attention. Divide each task into a series of steps so when you complete each step you will feel proud that you’re making progress.

Create your musical playlist. A playlist full of your favorite songs can provide some inspiration and energy to push you through the spring cleaning when your enthusiasm starts to wane. The music also may take your mind off of the work ahead and help to pass the time. Start from the top and work downward. Follow a logical cleaning order. Begin by dusting away cobwebs and lighting fixtures. Clean light switches and walls. Empty closets and then restock them in a more organized fashion. Leave the furniture and flooring for last, as dirt and dust may accumulate on furniture and flooring as you clean other areas of the home. Be prepared to bid adieu to some of your stuff. Have a few trash bags at the ready. Reorganize items you won’t be keeping into separate piles, with one pile for items you plan to donate and another for those items

Following a few guidelines can make the process of spring cleaning go quickly and smoothly.

you will discard. Donate what you can and promptly put the remainder of the items at the curb for pickup. Stay fed and hydrated. Cleaning can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Take breaks to fuel up on food and always have a refreshing beverage close by.

Las Lomas Lions Experience Technology Career Day Special To Welcome Home nnovative ideas have taken Career Day, held on January 8-9, to a new level at Las Lomas Elementary School. With iPads and their book buddies, students could walk throughout the school and have the ability to view and learn about more than 30 different professions. Imagine sitting in the cockpit of a plane while a pilot explains the skills required for flying a jet airliner or standing in an operating room where a surgeon describes what a doctor needs to complete an operation. Students were able to choose from more than 30 different videos to discover careers ranging from Marine Biologist to Journalist to Video Game Designer. How was this possible? Through the use of QR codes. School Counselor Mavy Renn, with the help of ITS Erin Marshall, collected videos from parents and other sources to create this technology based Career Day. One of the many highlights was a Google Hangout

session between Las Lomas students and Dr. Brian Gottardy, superintendent of schools. The students had a conversation with him on the different aspects of being the superintendent of a large school district. Another highlight of Career Day was a teacher created video titled “Do You Want to be a Teacher?” It demonstrated to the students some wonderful moments that are part of the teaching profession. Also, the Fifth Grade GT class created Google Slide Presentations of Texas Colleges that students could view in addition to the career videos. Once again, all presentations were available through the use of QR Codes. College Readiness is a large part of Career Day as students, especially fifth graders, begin to look into their future and what choices lie ahead. Las Lomas Career Day is one step closer in helping NEISD Transform the Future.

Take Charge Of Your Financial Life

Submitted By Karen Condit s 2015 gets started, many of you want to get a grip on your finances and make your money do what you want it to do. There’s help at NEISD Community Ed. You will find numerous classes that will help you whip your financial life into shape. Looking for a way to retire comfortably? There’s a class for that…in fact there are several. Jay Howard and Ron Anderson both offer wisdom in seminars and workshops that will get you where you need to be. All you have to do is select the time and day to attend one of their classes. Planning on financing a college education? Ron Anderson can help with his class, “College: Getting There from Here.” Maybe you want to try to work from home. Steve Veltkamp from Bizshop offers guidance in his classes, “Sell Your Stuff on Amazon, Etsy, Facebook, Craigslist & other non-Ebay Sites” or “25 Hot Homebased Businesses.” Your chance to take charge of your financial life is just a Community Ed class

Chocolate Historically More Than Just food

Las Lomas third grader shares a video of his father, an Las Lomas student leaders participate in a Google airline pilot, with a classmate during Career Day. Hangout with NEISD Superintendent, Dr. Gottardy.

Your chance to take charge of your financial life is just a Community Ed class away.

away. Check us out at communityed.neisd. net or give us a call at 407-0140, option 3 and we’ll help you get enrolled.

Special To Welcome Home Many cannot resist chocolate, that beloved creamy, sweet confection derived from cocoa beans, milk and sugar. Chocolate was first popularized among the Olmecs of Mexico, who used the cocoa beans more than 3,500 years ago. However, it wasn’t until the last 200 years that chocolate turned into the sweet treat that is known and loved today. Aztecs believed cocoa had aphrodisiac properties, and chocolate contains a chemical called phenylethylamine, which is released naturally in the body when a person falls in love. Money: The Mayans once used cocoa beans as a form of currency, as did the Aztecs. In this instance, money actually did grow on trees. Fuel: Chocolate has been used to feed bacteria that produce hydrogen, which can be used as a clean power source. Fashion: Designers and chocolatiers worldwide collaborate to make sweet outfits at Le Salon du Chocolate’s fashion shows.

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Special effects: Before the days of computer-simulated special effects, moviemakers had to employ other methods to produce realistic results. Legend has it that Bosco brand chocolate syrup was used as blood in the famed shower scene in the classic horror movie ‘Psycho’. Skin care: Cocoa butter, a component of chocolate, has long been used to moisturize and soothe dry skin. Many spas now incorporate organic chocolate into their healing and beauty therapies. Postage: In 2013, Belgium’s post office sold limited-edition stamps that were varnished with 40 percent of a cocoa product. The stamps smelled and tasted like chocolate.

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Lenten Season For Groomer Seafood By Rick Groomer s Ash Wednesday approaches here at Groomer’s Seafood we are ready for one of our busiest times of year! With the Lenten Season for many means sacrifice; it is a period of spiritual reflection and self-restraint, and also with Earth Day shortly after Easter, for many is a time to consider the environment. As you choose to make some of those sacrifices this Lenten Season, we would like to talk with you about a few amazing reasons to choose your fish with careful consideration on Sustainability; something we here at Groomer’s Seafood are deeply committed to year round! Sustainability is based on one simple principle, meeting today’s needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. As a family

business Groomer’s Seafood views the sea and it’s bounty as more than just a resource, this is a legacy that we are looking to pass down for generations to come. Because of this, Groomer’s Seafood and Our Texas Gulf Commercial Fisherman are deeply committed to these principles and consider the long term health of the environments and the livelihoods of the people that depend on the environment. When considering sustainability and the fish that you are consuming it is great to feel comfortable first and foremost with asking questions. Here at Groomer’s our highly trained, seafood experts and fishmongers love answering your questions and engaging with you about where your fish was caught, how it was caught, and how sustainability played an incredibly important role.

NEISD Closely Watching The 84th Legislature

Special To Welcome Home orth East ISD staff will carefully monitor the activities of the 84th Texas Legislature, which began on Tuesday, January 13, 2015. More than 200 pieces of legislation related to public education were pre-filed before the beginning of the session, and the number will grow as the session proceeds. Gov.elect Greg Abbott, Lt. Governor-elect Dan Patrick, and current Texas House Speaker Joe Straus have all cited education as an important issue for the upcoming session. “There are many new faces in the Texas legislature, and it’s difficult to predict which public education priorities will take hold during the session,” said Dr. Brian G. Gottardy, NEISD Superintendent of Schools.“We do know that change is coming, and we will watch the process closely to analyze how proposed bills will impact our district.”

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus have all cited education as an important issue for the upcoming session.

In August, the NEISD Board of Trustees adopted its 2015 Legislative Agenda, which provides priorities for the 84th Legislature. These priorities, along with position papers and contact information for legislators, can be located at: http://www. neisd.net/fina/Government_Relations.htm.

What To Expect In Technology This Year

Special To Welcome Home s technology continues to evolve, devices are being used in ways that might have seemed impossible as recently as a couple of years ago. Several industries have begun to institute changes that reflect the population’s growing reliance on technology. Many airlines now offer Wi-Fi service for passengers, and retailers have worked with vendors to provide mobile applications that facilitate buying via smartphones and tablets. Many feel the future of technology will revolve around merging the real and virtual worlds. Over the next 12 months, the following technologies figure to gain more steam. On-demand computing: Reliance on desktop and laptop computers continues to dwindle as tablets and smartphones grow in popularity. The Pew Research Center reports that 58 percent of Americans have a smartphone, while 42 percent own a tablet. These gadgets allow for immediate

connectivity for gaming and streaming television and video. Mobile consumerism: Retailers are continually revising their offerings to consumers in an effort to cater to mobile users. Many businesses now boast websites that are optimized for tablet use, while others have developed apps that work in conjunction with traditional websites or as stand-alone services. 3D printing: Consumer analysts say 3D printing will reach a tipping point in the next several years. As the demand for 3D printing increases, the cost of 3D printing devices will fall and make them even more accessible to the masses. For those unfamiliar with 3D printing, the technology allows a user to make a 3D manipulated object from a digital file. The printer lays down successive levels of material, usually a polymer plastic, to form the end product. Reproducing a digital file via 3D printing can take anywhere from minutes to days. Energy management information

February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

Our Local Texas fishermen harvest several sustainable species of fish available here at Groomer’s Seafood during the Lenten Season such as Texas Gulf Black Drum, Texas Gulf Red Snapper, and Texas Gulf Grouper. Each of these fish are considered a “Good Alternative”, meaning that these fish are in abundance and are sustainably harvested without harming the environment. Methods used to harvest sustainably ensure that the surrounding environment and other wildlife such as sea turtles are not affected in the process. For more informotion call us at (210) 377-0951, visit us at www. groomerseafood.com or come by and see us at 9801 McCullough.

NEISD Celebrates Its School Board Members

Wood Middle School Mariachis played in the board NEISD Superintendent of Schools Brian G. Gottardy room for the board members. (standing, center) and Board of Trustee Members (L to R, standing) Jim Wheat, Brigitte Perkins, Sandi Special To Welcome Home Wolff, Edd White, (L to R, seated) Shannon Grona orth East ISD has a seven-member (Vice President), Letti Bresnahan (President) and Sandy Board of Trustees dedicated to Hughey (Secretary), makeup the ‘Team of Eight’ for the mission of preparing students NEISD Leadership.

for college and the workforce. Students, school staff, and district leaders showed their appreciation for this amazing group of people at the regular board meeting Monday, January 12 as part of School Board Recognition Month. “Tonight we honor these citizens who serve our children while crafting policies, listening to parents, and keeping an eye systems: Analysts expect companies to place a greater emphasis on energy management in coming years as a means of reducing energy consumption. Cloud computing: Cloud computing involves large groups of remote servers networked together to allow centralized data storage. Instead of data saved to a hard disk or drive in a home or business, it is stored to a drive that runs through the Internet. People may be surprised at just how much data actually is stored in the cloud. It’s what enables a user to access a file from work at home or finish playing a game that began on a computer or a mobile phone. Businesses are increasingly bypassing internal servers and software in favor of cloud-based options. The cloud is prolific, but it still is expected to grow more. The Internet of things (IOT): This concept involves using the Internet in ways that allows objects to send and receive data. Examples of embedded computing devices can include biochip transponders

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on the goal of student achievement,” said Dr. Brian G. Gottardy, Superintendent of Schools. The Wood Middle School Mariachis kicked off the meeting with a festive song in the board room. Student artwork from several schools was hung on the walls. A video created by several schools was compiled and shown at the meeting.

Technology continues to evolve and affect the way the world operates. Each year brings new information and services that can have profound impacts on how people live and do business.

on farm animals, sensors built into vehicles, heart-monitoring implants, and thermostat or lighting systems that enable remote monitoring. According to Gartner, Inc., an American information technology research and advisory firm, there will be around 26 billion devices on IOT by 2020.

How Schools Can Maintain Eco-Friendly Environments Special To Welcome Home arents and educators alike want to create healthy learning environments for kids in schools. A healthy school environment promotes healthy students, and such students are in a good position to do well in school. Recognizing the importance of environmental health programs at schools, the United States Environmental Protection Agency developed a comprehensive strategy to develop healthy school environments for children. That strategy encourages faculty, staff, parents, and students to work together to maintain their school environments, which the EPA feels can lower rates of absenteeism, improve student health and academic performance, improve teacher retention and job satisfaction, and save schools money through energy and water conservation and efficiency. The following are just a few of the many suggestions the EPA has made to encourage healthy school environments. More information is available at www.epa.gov. Practice effective cleaning and maintenance. Cleaning products are essential to a healthy school environment, but only if schools choose the right products. Certain products contain chemicals that can cause health issues affecting the eyes, nose and throat and trigger headaches or asthma attacks. When choosing cleaning products, schools should rely on products with little or no volatile organic compound, or VOC, emissions as well as products that are biodegradable boast neutral pH levels and contain no known carcinogens.

When cleaning school buildings, do so when they are unoccupied. Try to remove dust from hard, impermeable surfaces with a water-dampened cloth. Paint chips should be wiped up with a wet sponge or rag, and parents can encourage schools to use only vacuums with high-efficiency particulate air filters. Prevent mold and moisture. Moisture stimulates mold growth and provides a nurturing environment for mites, roaches and rodents. Mold and moisture in a school can contribute to respiratory ailments, so school officials should make sure schools are routinely inspected for moisture problems, such as leaky plumbing or leaks in the roof. Moisture-generating appliances, such as dryers, should be vented to the outside of the building, where gutters, downspouts, scuppers, and storm drains should be maintained. Downspouts should drain away from the building to prevent moisture issues and the possible formation of mold inside the school. Reduce environmental contaminant hazards. Chemical and environmental contaminant hazards pose a threat to anyone, but especially so to children, whose bodies are still developing. School officials can take steps to reduce exposure to harmful gases like radon, a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that occurs naturally in soil. Radon can enter schools through cracks or other openings in buildings’ foundations, which should be inspected routinely. Another potential hazard schools should be on the lookout for is aging plumbing systems and leaky pipes. Many students

Saturday, February 28, 2015 Events begin at 8:00 a.m. Tuscany Heights Elementary School 25001 Wilderness Oak San Antonio TX 78260

Recognizing the importance of environmental health programs at schools, the United States Environmental Protection Agency developed a comprehensive strategy to develop healthy school environments for children.

and school staff drink a substantial amount of water at school, where water supplies can be contaminated by poor plumbing systems. Even if a school’s water supply is not contaminated, a leaky plumbing system can contribute to mold growth spurred on by water loss from leaky pipes. Ensure adequate ventilation. Poor ventilation in a school can lead to poor indoor air quality, which has been linked to a host of health problems, including coughing, eye irritation, headaches, and allergic reactions. Inadequate ventilation and filtration systems also contribute to airborne mold, infectious diseases and carbon monoxide poisoning. Schools should have their ventilation

systems routinely inspected to ensure they are functioning at full capacity and should implement a regular schedule for inspecting and changing filters. In addition, ensure that ducts and the interior of air-handling units or unit ventilators are clean, and make sure books, papers and other items do not block ventilators. Keeping a school environment healthy requires a team effort that includes administrators, teachers, staff, parents, and students. But working together to promote positive school environments can make a dramatic difference in student and teacher health and performance.

An Extraordinary School Principal Special To Welcome Home atrice Stark works in a very small private school on the South side of town near the Missions. This school has been going strong for close to 100 years and should receive special notice just for this fact alone. In addition to this historic significance, this little private school turns NO special needs children away! All of the students enrolled are welcome and taken into the fold. Bringing the school and the children, enrolled in grades pre-K through 8th grade, into high paced fast technology, is its principal. Patrice wrote to Welcome Home about

Carol Johnson who has been the ongoing principal of this school for 18 years. She has met the demands of the environment and of financial crunches. She has newly introduced the students to a Dual Language Program instituted by Boston College, and their unique Lynch School of Education, which will assist the children to become the future leaders of the international business world. Ms. Johnson has undertaken arduous tasks in keeping this school open and on top. Patrice and the staff of St. Leo The Great Catholic School would like to give her the recognition she so much deserves and remind people about our great educators!

Heather Jemente

changenow.myitworks.com

847.414.5044

All proceeds benefit the Tuscany Heights PTA

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February 2015 • Welcome Home • 78258

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B USINESS ROUND TABLE The Letter Of The Law An Exercise In How to Protect Your Business

oin us on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 and learn from industry leaders in the San Antonio area strategies for protecting your business. As experts in their fields Charles M.R. Vethan, Attorney and Founder of Vethan Law Firm, P.C.; Dr. David Webb and Amanda Webb of Atlas Retirement Strategies; and Juan Carlos Almanza, CPA and CTS, of The Almanza Business Group, and Joe Bieniek, Market Leader III, AVP of BB&T will provide you with strategies and advice in protecting what is important.

Date: Time:

Wednesday, Feb 11, 2015 8 am Check-In, Coffee & Network 9 am Presentation Begins Noon Working Lunch Boxed Lunch Provided by The Vethan Law Firm 1 pm Break Out Sessions Each Presenter will offer a more in depth look at their strategies as well as the opportunity to ask questions that specifically pertain to your business. The sessions will last about 45 minutes. You are welcome to attend one or all of them.

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