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June 2016 Issue
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June 2016 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
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June 2016 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
Note From The Publisher
In SUMMER
Breakfast and
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UMMER! As many parents can relate, I love summer. School activities come to an end, which means we spend a whole lot less time in the car battling San Antonio traffic. The Monday after the last day of school you can almost hear the sigh of relief as parents head off to work without the stress of practices and programs looming over them. Of course, this relief is short lived as the summer progresses and those well rested kiddos decide they are in need of some entertainment. As you flip through the paper this month check out several of our advertisers who are offering summer programs. These are great ways to fill up the summer with fun wholesome activities. June also means Father’ Day. While Mom is always there to make sure you have healthy food and clean clothes, dad is in the wings with ice cream and goodies. I could always count on my dad to push me further than I thought I was capable of and to pick me up and dust me off when I failed. His encouragement and unshakable faith in me has molded me into an ambitious adult who has a hunger to succeed, without the fear of failure. So to my father, and all fathers, “thank you.” Thank you for your faith and encouragement, and of course the sugar rushes. This month, on page 15, you can read the story of a father and daughter who both overcame the odds while forging
an unbreakable bond. The story shows the strength and perseverance of one father as he raised his only daughter alone, the best way he knew how. Vacation time is here! While kids are out for summer, many of you are making plans to get out of the city and explore, visit family or just stay home and relax for a while. We want to know where your travels are taking you. Are you visiting a land far away, making the most of that backyard oasis? Submit your stories and photos to welcomehamesa.com/submit-a-story, then look for your submission in the July and August issues of Welcome Home! Enjoy the Summer, stop and smell the fresh cut grass (as long as you’re not allergic to it) catch those rays and relax. We can all use a little time to refresh and rejuvenate.
20770 Hwy. 281 N. Suite 108-149 San Antonio, Texas 78258
(210) 348-8233 • Fax: (210) 497-7342 Article Submissions: articles@welcomehomesa.com Ad Inquiries Email: ads@welcomehomesa.com www.welcomehomesa.com
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June 2016 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
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On The Cover By Rachele Lind ports enthusiasts unite! San Antonio is a city dedicated to sports, from supporting our local Spurs to cheering on the Dallas Cowboys, the love of sports is in our very blood! Stone Oak is now the proud home of an authentic sports memorabilia store, the perfect spot to find quality pieces signed by your favorite sports stars. Gallery of Champions offers one-of-a-kind memorabilia, professional framing of your collectibles, and assistance in live and silent auction fundraising efforts. Owner Don Bonnin has been a collector for years, conducting or assisting over 80 charities in their fundraising efforts. By opening a storefront, he can reach a broader audience of sports fans, provide top of the line framing services, and display his extensive collection available for purchase or fundraising needs. At Gallery of Champions, you can browse the impressive inventory of memorabilia available, experiencing firsthand the authenticity of each item. When purchasing something on eBay or on another Internet site, this level of intimacy is lost. You instead have to rely on a photograph of an item, which can be misleading. So why leave it to chance? Let the professionals
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Photo Credit: Oscar McAnally
acquire what you need, and just come on in and glance at what Gallery of Champions has to offer. Read more about this unique store on page 9.
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By Debby Seguin
ant to do something special this summer that will last a lifetime? Teach your kids to read food labels. Just picture it: you have all of your little ones lined up in a row, anxiously awaiting your nutritional wisdom. What to do first? Let’s begin with our morning chant, “Down with sugar, up with whole grains! We choose foods that help our brains. Down with fat and up with lettuce, the grocery store is out to get us!” Harsh, you say? Perhaps the raised fists in the air are a bit much, but let’s start with the cereal aisle. All the cereals that have anything nutritional to offer are way up out of a kid’s reach, have four ingredients and boring earth-tone pictures of wheat on them. The kid’s eye level offerings have brightly colored superheroes on them and free glowin-the-dark decoder rings that can hook up to the NASA website and give free simulation rides in the space shuttle. The box says “naturally sweetened” as if you just walk out into some field and pick space-shuttle shaped cereal pieces with sugar coating right off the stalk. How about some truth in advertising here? The box should say, “Sugar is our #1 ingredient! Guaranteed to make your kids smile!” A ride at Disneyland should make my kid smile. What he eats should make him healthy. How about the little old ladies who give us free samples? They look like sweet, unassuming grandmas but you’d think they get paid by the sample. “Try our Bucket-O-Sardines, enough for the whole family!” (As if anyone but our cats would be interested). “Try a nibble of
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our cheese, bacon, sausage and beef tallow stuffed pita bread”, she croons. “What’s the fat content?” I ask. “Just try!” she says. “Fat grams?” I insist. “It’s delicious!” “Fat, please.” “It’s on sale!” “FAT, LADY!” “Oh, fine” she snaps. “Eight grams. Are you satisfied now?” “Only eight grams of fat? In one serving?” I ask, clearly interested. “Uh, no…in one nibble.” Teach your kids to read labels. It is a lifelong, or should I say long life, gift. Debby Seguin (who speaks fluent “labelese”) can be reached at writewell62@ yahoo.com.
June 2016 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
Comal Education Foundation Golf Tournament
The Canyon High School Steel Drum Band, under the direction of Brad Arnold, helped put those who attended the Comal Education Foundation Golf Tournament in a festive mood on April 18.
Special To Welcome Home he Comal Education Foundation turned rain into sunshine at its annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser at River Crossing Club in Spring Branch. Despite the fact Monday morning’s rains canceled any chance of golf that day, the sun peaked through the clouds and by early afternoon helped turn the event into a success, raising more than $45,000. First, because the tournament’s scheduled dinner was moved up to 1:30 p.m., more than 150 lunchboxes that were prepared the previous evening were donated to great causes. Chartwells, Comal ISD’s Food Service Provider, and the Comal Education Foundation decided to donate the lunches to the Crisis Center of Comal County and the Comal County Senior Citizens Foundation. The Canyon High School Steel Drum
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Sharing a few stories and laughs before lunch was served at the Comal Education Foundation Golf Tournament are (l-r) Rusty Medlin, Kent Niemann and Brad Pfluger.
Band, under the direction of Brad Arnold, provided great music to set the upbeat tone. Wearing Hawaiian shirts to go along with a Caribbean theme, the band played classic songs such as “Brown Eyed Girl,” “Under the Sea,” and “Margaritaville.” “The band was incredible,” said Colinda Grochett, Foundation Board President. “They really set the mood and I think they were a big reason everybody still had fun despite the fact we couldn’t play golf.” In fact, more than 100 people attended the event, including tournament sponsors, community members, Foundation Board members, and Comal ISD Board members. They were treated to a lunch prepared by River Crossing Club that featured carved pork loin with apricot glaze, grilled chicken and a build-your-own shortcake table. The day concluded with a raffle, as patrons
Comal Education Foundation President Colinda Grochett and Board Member Daniel Kershner, who was the tournament committee chair, take a quick break from their busy day at River Crossing Club.
bought tickets for prizes such as Ping drivers and Yeti Coolers. Comal ISD superintendent Andrew Kim called out the numbers for the winning raffle tickets. All golfers who showed up at the event and were scheduled to play received a voucher to play a round at the course at a future date. Anyone who purchased a team received a voucher for four people to play at a future time. Comal ISD’s Title Sponsor for the event was U.S. Employee Benefits Services Group. GVTC and the Law Firm of McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen, and the Foundation’s Gold Sponsors, Herff Jones, H-E-B, and SAMCo were also key sponsors of the event. “Everyone told me they had so much fun and they were so pleased we were able to turn the event into a great social gathering
for an awesome cause despite the weather,” said Margaret Tenorio, Comal Education Foundation Executive Director. Tenorio also wanted to give kudos to Foundation Board member and tournament committee chair Daniel Kershner. The golf tournament is the Comal Education Foundation’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Earlier this school year, the Foundation gave back $47,000 in the form of classroom grants around the district. The Foundation has awarded almost $1 million to Comal ISD classrooms through teacher grants and district-wide initiatives since its inception in 2001. For information on how to get involved with the Comal Education Foundation, please email foundation@comalisd.org or call Tenorio at 830-214-5010.
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June 2016 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
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Testosterone Enhances Women
By Donna Becker, D.O. Enhancement of Life (210) 545-5224 ixteen years ago, the highly regarded New England Journal of Medicine published an article about the beneficial effects of testosterone to women after a hysterectomy. Not only does it boost libido, it also has the ability to enhance a person’s mood! They called it “improved psychological well-being.” I call it: you feel like your happy self again. In 2003, The North American Menopause
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Society published a paper which compared the testosterone levels of 40 year old women to women in their 20s. The results were startling. The older women had less than half of that of their counterparts. These low libido women were given psychological tests before and after testosterone therapy. Not surprisingly, both mood and libido were significantly enhanced with the introduction of testosterone. (Menopause 2003 Sept-
Discoveries Thru Vision By Dr. John M. Nevelow Nevelow Eye Associates (210) 349-2437 • www.drsnevelow.com eing on the medical staff at the PGA most all eye injuries and diseases as well as Valero Texas Open I get to see some recognize general health problems. We treat of the best golfers in the world. The emergency trauma to the eye and remove only similarity to their golf game and mine foreign bodies that may get into the eye is a club and a ball. We are here to treat all from all types of activities. We work with kinds of illnesses and injuries that occur. It dry eye problems using both prescription came to my surprise that most people don’t medication and over the counter treatments. know what an optometrist can do. Optometrists treat all red eye problems, no The doctors at Nevelow Eye Associates matter what the cause. In fact, before going have the ability and experience to handle to the emergency room or the med clinic,
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Oct; 10(5):390-8). In other studies, testosterone improved bone density. Women who received estradiol and testosterone replacement had better improvement in bone density compared to women who only received estradiol. Testosterone should never be taken by mouth, because blood levels cannot be maintained and serum lipid (cholesterol) levels may be raised. Testosterone must be applied directly to the labia minora as a compounded cream or gel. It also may be taken as a tiny compressed pellet, the size of a rice grain, and inserted under the skin. Over the course of 3 months, the pellet dissolves, once this occurs another must be inserted. “I won’t grow a beard, will I?” This statement is followed by a little nervous
laugh. Of course there are side effects; however, masculinizing side effects, like a deeper voice and dense facial hair, are seen only after months of very high testosterone blood levels. I draw blood levels after 3 weeks of initial therapy, and start everyone on low to medium dose of testosterone cream. Even so, some women do develop acne, which can be reversed by lowering the dose of testosterone, or in some cases, stopping it. Blood levels guide therapy and any form of treatment. 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.antiaging.com
you should always call your optometrist first when you have an eye problem. We do the preliminary work ups for refractive surgeries, cataract surgeries, and do all of the post operative treatments required by the ocular surgeons. We work with the patients general physicians in managing diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol problems, and any other health issues that are identified through an ocular health exam or have related ocular effects from health issues. We have the ability to prescribe ocular medications to treat eye problems as well as systemic medications for general health issues that can affect the eye. The modern day Optometrist has the ability to diagnose and treat most all eye related problems and co-manage with the patients physicians for
systemic problems. The days of just fitting glasses and contact lenses has been extended to treating eye problems and medically managing their patients. Should you have any questions or want further information on this topic or other eye related subjects contact Dr. John or Dr. Erin Nevelow at Nevelow Eye Associates at 210.349.2437or on our website www. drsnevelow.com. Nevelow Eye Associates is a proud sponsor of the San Antonio Rampage and the San Antonio Stars. John M. Nevelow, O.D., is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Nevelow Eye Associates is located at 19190 Stone Oak Pkwy., Suite 120. For more information, call (210) 349-243, visit www.drnvelow.com or find us on Facebook.
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Nevelow Eye Associates • 19190 Stone Oak Pkwy, Ste. 120 • 210.349.2437
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June 2016 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
GALLERY OF CHAMPIONS San Antonio’s Home for Sports Memorabilia
By Rachele Lind
M
emorabilia collectors unite! Stone Oak is now the proud home of a sports and entertainment authentic memorabilia store, the perfect spot to find quality pieces signed by your favorite sports and entertainment stars. Gallery of Champions offers oneof-a-kind memorabilia, professional framing of your collectibles, and assistance in live and silent auction fundraising efforts. Owner Don Bonnin has been a collector for years, conducting or assisting over 80 charities with their fundraising efforts. By opening a storefront, he can reach a broader audience, provide top-of-the-line framing services, and display his extensive autograph collection available for purchase or fundraising needs. “I have more items than I will ever be able to display at home, so opening Gallery of Champions just made sense,” stated Bonnin. “I’m not sure if there are other stores in San Antonio with my business model. Sure, you could have your item framed in a generic, big box store – but the difference is, we are collectors first. We want your item framed to add the best possible value and can make suggestions on different ways to frame. Of course, we also have autographed items for sale already framed you won’t find anywhere else in San Antonio!” Every San Antonio sports fan loves their Spurs. At Gallery of Champions, you will find authentic, signed memorabilia from virtually every noteworthy San Antonio Spur, current or retired. For golf fans, also available are autographed items from almost every famous pro golfer including Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer. Autographed memorabilia signed by soccer stars such as Pele, Cowboys legends like Roger Staubach, Texans defensive force J.J. Watt, Baltimore Orioles idol Cal Ripken Jr., football star Earl Campbell and hundreds more are also available for purchase. Bonnin’s collection doesn’t stop with sports. Autographed items from celebrities in the music, entertainment and political fields also fill the store: Al Pacino, William Shatner and George Strait are just a few of the famous names. At Gallery of Champions, you can browse the impressive inventory of memorabilia available, experiencing firsthand the authenticity of each item. When purchasing something on eBay or on another Internet site, this level of intimacy is lost. You instead have to rely on a photograph of an item, which can be misleading. “We obtain each item ourselves, so you can trust that it’s authentic,” explained Bonnin. “In fact, I can tell you the story of exactly how each piece ended up in our store.” Bonnin’s long tenure in the sports and entertainment memorabilia industry stems from a passion to help others.
June 2016 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
His charity work gives him a great sense of satisfaction. “When I’m working with a charity or fundraiser, I never charge a penny for the work I do,” explained Bonnin. “That includes delivery of the items, auction set up, bid sheets and certficates of authenticy. When the event is over, we take away all auction displays,” stated Bonnin. “I do not have ‘reserves’ on any of the items I supply, meaning I don’t try to make more money off the items, cutting into what the charity receives.” Through opening Gallery of Champions, Bonnin hopes that not only will his charity work and fundraising involvement continue, but also increase.“ Event planners now have a place where they can come to see the available items in person,” explained Bonnin. “Our goal is that our items on display will change constantly. So, if you come visit us once every two months, you can expect to walk into a completely different store. Depending on the sports season, what stars are trending, and what we feel like the public is wanting – that’s what you’ll see.” Getting an autograph is not an easy feat. Sometimes, the wait for a celebrity can be hours long, and there’s still no guarantee that he/she will sign. Bonnin has worked hard to compile an impressive inventory of memorabilia, and he’s honored to now share it with the community. Framing collectibles is also a large part of his business, whether they are purchased at Gallery of Champions or part of your own collection. Photographs, balls, jerseys, CDs, albums, posters and more can all be professionally framed to preserve your collectible for a lifetime. “If you need authentic, signed memorabilia, Gallery of Champions is where you need to be,” stated Bonnin. “And if you need an item framed, we will frame it as if it was our own, at a cost that’s easier on your pocketbook than most of the large chains in town.” Sports collectibles make an incredibly unique gift for just about every fan, regardless of age or gender. Have a special occasion coming up and looking for a spectacular gift for the sports fan in your life? Autographed memorabilia -professionally framed and beautifully displayed for the NFL lover, baseball fanatic, basketball loyal, or golf aficionado -- are sure to be a hit. Gallery of Champions is happy to add to your collection, frame your unique piece or even assist in your next charity or fundraising event.
Gallery Of Champions 19141 Stone Oak Pkwy, Ste 510 (210) 474-6767 www.welcomehomesa.com
9
Summer Grilling, Had Me A Blast
By Blake Groomer Groomer’s Seafood (210) 377-0951 t’s time to fire up that grill! Summer is here and nothing is better to cook out in the backyard than seafood! I know, being in Texas your first thoughts for grilling may be in the beef or chicken realm, but really, you haven’t really grilled until you’ve had some grilled shrimp, salmon, or oysters! I know, the biggest detractor from trying good seafood is the fear of overcooking, and with the high temperatures of the grill, it can be easy to do. But we have a few tips to help rid yourself of any worry, and by following these you’ll soon be a seafood grilling pro!
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Can’t make it to the coast this summer? Bring the coast to you and to your grill! Enliven your backyard recipe repertoire by swapping the standbys -- burgers, steaks, and chicken -- for something from the sea. Whether you go for fish, shrimp skewers, lobster or more, there’s something here at Groomer’s Seafood for every taste! I love cooking seafood on the grill because it’s so fast and, because most seafood is relatively mild, it readily absorbs smoky flavors. Also, as many of you know, seafood is incredibly healthy! Seafood is an excellent source of lean protein and some types of fish, such as salmon, are phenomenal sources of omega-3 fats, which are good for
Size Matters By Cotton Clark Jeff’s Backyard (210) 342-4760 owdy, Neighbor! June is the official Grilling Month and of course the month of Father’s Day, so this article is apt when it comes to grilling: Size Does Matter! There is nothing like big, honkin’ 1/4” steel casing crafted into an offset smoker to produce a platter full of noble grub. When it comes to smoking a brisket, ribs, Boston butt, or whatever, size matters.
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But where did this beautiful behemoth come from? Short answer: the oil patch. No one knows the exact starting date, but Texas’ history – along with its history of brisket, the king of barbeque – is inescapably tied to the oil ‘bidness. Think about it: cows were on top of the land and oil was underneath, so somebody was bound to make the connection. And thank goodness they did. The business of drilling for and transporting oil requires BIG metal. Nothing fancy, just big and strong. And a lot of it, too. Inevitably, after oilfield projects were completed there would be scrap pieces of metal of all shapes and sizes. What’s
“Size Matters” Offset Smokers
your heart and your mental health. Seafood can be intimidating though if you’ve never grilled it before and the possibility of ruining a meal can be daunting when making your summertime menus. With a few tips and tricks of the trade though, you’ll find that you too, can be a seafood grilling master! First step when grilling anything, especially fish, is to preheat your grill on high. This does a number of things. Bringing the grill up to temperature will help in caramelizing the fish and provide the defined grill marks that supply the immense flavor all grillers love. Having the grill preheated will also lessen the amount of time your fish is on the grill, resulting in less opportunity for your fish to dry out. The second trick; use plenty of oil! Be sure after you scrape your grill grates clean with a grill brush, to oil the grill rack to reduce the chance of sticking. Third, the most common question; how long do I cook it? Use the Canadian cooking
method! Do 5 minutes per side per inch of thickness. So if you have a 1 inch thick steak of swordfish, cook for 5 minutes on one side, flip, 5 minutes on the other and you’re done (adjust this if you’re doing something like Ahi tuna for just a quick sear instead of cooking all the way through)! It’s really that simple and so delicious. If you’re dealing with more delicate fillets or smaller seafood items like shrimp I recommend grilling on foil. If you’re cooking larger fillets or whole fish use a grill basket to make flipping the fish over easier and the fish will be less likely to break and fall apart on you. My last, and most important tip, is to use good seasonings. Don’t drown your seafood in salt, MSG, and other seasonings used to mask the natural flavor of these ocean treasures! Our seasonings Giby’s Fish Camp and Rick’s Treaux Gourmet Spices let the sea taste like the sea with just a little boost of flavor, and they are all natural!
more, it typically would be in the middle of nowhere. So, you have big pieces of scrap metal, hungry guys with welding torches, and they’re both miles from anything close to resembling civilization or a restaurant. Stir in some blistering Texas sunshine and prairie full of mesquite, and you now have a recipe for some creative culinary genius. Viola... the offset smoker is born. At first, these cookers were a hodgepodge mix. Herb Detmer, owner of Jeff’s Backyard, is a retired oilfield welder, and he recalls from the 1960s fellow welders piecing together anything they could find. He himself has built more smoker pits than he can recall using square pieces, round pieces, or whatever was available. Necessity was the mother of invention, yet it
was artistry on a tonnage scale. Eventually, a progression of precision and consistent cooking results evolved into what we see today: typically, a new 20” diameter, 1/4” thick carbon steel pipe (“casing”) that is sliced into two sections in about a 2:1 to 3:1 ratio. The smaller piece is then dropped about halfway down the larger piece and then welded back together with a solid steel plate fitted to cover the open gap on top; the bottom gap is intentionally left open as it serves as the airway between the two pieces of the cooker. This smaller section is called the “fire box” while the larger piece is the “cook box.” It is called an “offset” cooker because the actual heat source in the fire
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The Future Of US Hwy 281 Is In Our Hands By Jane Toh
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hortly after the end World War II, San Antonio, for the purpose of easing potential necessary military mobilization and in coalition with other U.S. cities, started to further formulate, plan, and develop its freeway system. Since then the web of highways has radiated out past the original limits of the city itself. With a population of more than 1.8 million people, 1.4 million of which are in the metropolitan area alone, San Antonio is now the 6th largest city in the country. In the coming years it is expected to expand more; in fact, an estimated 1.1 million people are projected to migrate to Bexar County in the coming 25 years. In order to combat the obvious difficulties that come with a mass population influx, such as the distribution of monetary funds to transportation, water and electrical utilities, and housing, officials and their associates have worked together, sometimes to the chagrin of the local citizens, to implement plans that are aimed to alleviate the aforementioned situations. One of the most recent areas of contention and a still debated topic is, of course, the yet-to-be decided future of 281 North, or more specifically the 8 mile length starting past Loop 1604 and ending at Borgfeld Drive. Many of us have noticed the congestion these days, on that particular stretch, has been for lack of a better word, daunting. Immeasurably intolerable. According to a study conducted by Texas A&M University, “US 281 experiences the worst congestion and slowdowns in the northbound direction, specifically during the evening rush hour period. Southbound traffic consistently experiences weekday congestion-related slowdowns each morning . . . Traffic volume has significantly increased because of rapid residential development in the surrounding area in recent years. The growth in homes has dramatically outpaced expansion of the roads, causing significant congestion.” What can be done to rectify this problem? What will be done to cut down traffic, alleviate congestion, and decrease the omission of exhaust fumes? What can we all agree or compromise on? Many had these questions in mind during an open house hosted by the Texas Department of
Transportation (TxDOT) at Summit Christian Center on Thursday night, May 12, 2016. The purpose of the gathering was to collect information pertaining to public input on the proposed improvements to US 281 N. The mentioned improvements included bicycle and pedestrian facilities, non-tolled access roads, direct connections to the new VIA Metropolitan Transit US 281 Park & Ride at Stone Oak Parkway (planned construction will start in late 2016), two general purpose lanes and one HOV lane in each direction, necessary transition and auxiliary lanes, and four interchange direct connectors at Loop 1604. Construction will occur in two segments. The first consists of Loop 1604 to north of Stone Oak Parkway; and, the second encompasses the length of road between Stone Oak Parkway and Borgfeld Drive. If all goes according to detailed and specific plans, construction on segment 1 will begin in 2017 and opens to the public in 2020; development of section 2 will start later in 2019 and be available to traffic in 2022. After many bureaucratic loops and changes, which has included the reallocation of monetary funds and the decision
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TxDot held an open house to collect public opinion of the projected 281 solution.
to forego tollways, the 281 Project, at its completion, will cost local, state, and federal agencies a total of $532 million. According to TxDot representative Laura Lopez, “the expansion is necessary and is going to happen.” Lopez is not the only one to see the benefits of the proposed 281 North plan. Anyone who has attempted to drive on 281 during peak traffic hours can attest that something must happen. Expansion of the current 281 “superstreet” is necessary, not just for the ease of congestion (and most likely our sanity), but also for the growth and prosperity of Stone Oak. “I think you are going to see significant development,” said Duane Wilson, President and CEO of North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. “It’s only 1.5 to 2 years away.” Texans for Toll-free Highways, formerly San Antonio Toll Party, couldn’t agree more; 281 is essential. Their argument is simple: the proposed HOV lanes are useless. Local Stone Oak citizen, Terri Hall, has made no secret of her disdain, first of the mentioned 281 tollway, and now of the proposed HOV lanes. “There are only 2 access points. One at Marshall Rd, the other at Encino Rio, and an exit at Georgeville,” said Hall. “That’s 3 miles. No one is going to ride the bus for 3 miles. It’s a bus lane to nowhere.” Hall is correct. There are very few bus stops north of 1604 and locals do prefer to drive their own car rather than rely on public transportation; however, VIA hopes to increase the amount of bus stops after the 281 park and ride is finished. According to them, the 281 park and ride would be the catalyst needed to attract more people to ride the bus; one thing cannot happen without the other. For more than a decade the San Antonio community has struggled to find a solution to the 281 question. Previous and current attempts have been met with varying amounts of controversy. It’s up to the citizens to voice their desires for the future of 281, and their desires for the city in which they live. A lot of changes are happening to San Antonio; it’s inevitable. Once a little town, our city has outgrown all of its prior boundaries. Now it’s up to us to decide which growing pains are necessary and which are going to be the most beneficial.
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The Jenkins Interior Design Group
Call for your Summer makeover. Mary Jenkins-Asquith 210.325.3720 mjkg1@aol.com
Jessica C. Jenkins
210.464.1519 jessicacjenkins@gmail.com
Vision Source is the nation’s premier network of independent doctors of optometry with more than 4,000 doctors in over 2,000 practices across the United States and Canada. Each Vision Source practice is dedicated to maintaining the special relationship between a patient and his or her family eye doctor. Decisions regarding your eye health and vision correction are made by your Vision Source doctor based upon what’s best for your continued good vision. We are proud of our team and we emphasize the importance of customer service with every encounter.
Eyes on the Road, San Antonio
Submitted By Melinda Cox n average, fourteen young drivers die each day between Memorial Day and Labor Day in vehicle related accidents. Across the nation’s highways, nine of the ten deadliest days for teens fall during the summer months. The AAA auto club says the 100 days from Memorial Day to Labor Day are the deadliest for teenage drivers and their teen passengers. This is due in part to the fact that teen drivers have more flexibility in their schedules, more friends are riding as passengers and curfews may be less strict. There are an average of 261 teen traffic-crash deaths nationwide during each summer month compared with 207 at other times — an increase of 26 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Place one inexperienced teenager behind the wheel, add a few young passengers and you have a recipe for potential disaster, said John Pecchio, an AAA traffic-safety manager. “One bad mistake can ruin their lives for the rest of their lives. Hands on the wheel, eyes on the road, and most importantly, mind on the task of driving.” Eyes on the road is the message and mission of the Johnson High School PTSA Smart Driving Club. This student based club has been working for three years to push the message of safe driving out to the Jaguar campus and the San Antonio community. The club has worked with SAPD, TXDOT, and state representatives at the State Capitol all with the mission to educate and remind drivers, young and old, to make safe choices behind the wheel. The students of this club rely on the campus and community to help support their message and students work as empower advocates to remind drivers to keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. April was National Distracted Driving
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Morningstar Storage, in coalition with Johnson HS PTSA, encourages safe driving.
Month and in support of this recognition and message, our local Morningstar Storage on Evans Road took part in the mission and message of the Smart Driving Club by displaying our club motto for several weeks. The JHS PTSA Smart Driving Club applauds and appreciates the effort of Morningstar Storage. We all need to take an active role in reminding and educating drivers and passengers the dangers of driving distracted. Morningstar Storage stepped up and took an active role to support JHS and the message of the Smart Driving Club. The JHS PTSA Smart Driving Club thanks the Jaguar campus and Morningstar for their support and commitment to community safety on the roads.
SVHS Ballroom Dance Club Takes To The Stage Submitted By Smithson Valley Ballroom Club ights, camera, action! Taking center stage on May 7, 2016 was the talented members of the Smithson Valley High School Ballroom Dance Club. The troop performed live in front of an adoring local audience. They danced to their heart’s content in a grand performance at the annual Silver Spurs Spring Show. The students were able to display all that they have learned and have fun while doing it. The performance was choreographed by Courtney Johnson of C and C Ballroom, which sponsored Members of the SVHS Ballroom Dance Club take a break from dancing and the club with free weekly pose for the cameras. dance lessons throughout the entire year. “Being able to present skills and founder junior Sierra Savage said. “I we learned throughout the year in front of loved dancing with these 13 people, and I an audience was amazing,” club president give all my thanks to Courtney.”
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Step Into Decorating
We Mastered The Art Of Listening
By Mary Jenkins- Asquith The Jenkins Interior Design Group, Inc. (210) 490-0161 uilting, sewing, card making, scrapbooking, quilling, stampin . . . and so many more crafts. Since I can remember, I have been crafting. So many of my special memories center around my grandmother teaching me to crotchet and other home crafts. I hope one day I can teach my grandchildren the fun of crafting. Always learning something new, even after the kids are grown, crafting is in my blood. This month is Craft Month here at Jenkins Interior Design Group! We are here to assist you in organizing and making Jenkins Interior Design Group understands what it takes that special craft room or craft area more to make the perfect craft’s room. productive for you! Whether you are single, • Invite your friends . . . and enjoy a few attached, young, or older, there is always hours of socializing while you create. something that you can do in the craft world Call us for a private view of a special for enjoyment or “therapy.” designed craft room. We are more than Donating some of your crafts is always happy to help others plan a room where a good thing, and your friends and family their creativity can flow. will undoubtedly appreciate the one-of-aHappy Crafting! kind gifts. Making and creating something For more information, contact Mary call be enjoyed by all. Let Jenkins Interior Lozano-Jenkins, Registered Interior Design Group help; we have the tools for Designer at mjkg1@aol.com or 210creating the special area in your home. 490-0161 or Jessica C. Jenkins, Interior A few tips on craft rooms: Decorator at jessicacjenkins@gmail.com • Always make an inventory what you or 210-464-1519 or Jennifer Jenkins, have. Interior Decorator at jennjenkins720@ • Keep all similar items together. aol.com or 210-325-3772. Visit Jenkins • Color organization makes things easier Interior Design Group online at www. • Have a special storage for gift items. thejenkinsinteriordesigngroup.com. (i.e. bags, bows, wrappings).
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By Michelle Houriet, Executive Director Independence Hill Retirement Resort Community (210) 209-8956 ne of the most important things chorus, who perform several times per year. we can do in life is to listen, really Many of our residents never thought they listen, to the wants and needs of would sing again, “What a great surprise others around us. It’s not always the easiest it was to me to be able to join the chorus thing to do for some but at Independence right where I live,” comments a long time Hill Retirement Community we pride member of the Hill Toppers. ourselves in our ability to truly listen to The gardening request came from our residents. We strive to do this in every residents who once grew their own fruits aspect of serving our residents, especially and vegetables. Out of the desire to once when choosing what events, activities, and again cultivate produce bloomed the outings we plan; we ask! From the moment Garden Club. They have produced a variety a resident moves in we are working to find of peppers, tomatoes, kale, cauliflower, out what their interests are, what hobbies turnip greens, and strawberries. Once they they like to do, and what they’ve always harvest; our Chef takes their harvest and wanted to do. Then we go to work matching cooks them a special dinner. them up with neighbors that have similar What you do in your retirement should interests and directing them to activities be something you enjoy! Choose a place right up their alley. to live where life and social activity are Many of the activities and events we abundant. Come see all that Independence have on our calendar today have been Hill has to offer; a full social calendar, great inspired by resident suggestions or interests food, and a team ready to serve. Call (210) they have told us about. For example, 209-8956 to speak to one of our Lifestyle dancing is enjoyed by many so we added Specialists and set up a complimentary bi-monthly dances in our pub, ballroom, lunch and tour today. and line dancing lessons in addition to Independence Hill Retirement Resort our twice a year Big Band Dances. While Community is located at 20450 Huebner dancing is not a surprising request we Rd., San Antonio, TX 78258. For more have had singing, gardening, and wine information, call (210) 209-8956 or visit tasting interests. From this has developed www.independencehill.com. our wonderful 35 member “Hill Toppers”
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Smithson Valley HS Scores Mulitiple Scholarships
Pictured with Tristan McNeal are his parents Sharon Olivia Pappas is pictured here with her parents Randy McBee and George McNeal, and SVHS coaches (l-r) Lucy and Nancy Pappas, and her SVHS coaches (l-r) Lucy Kapt, Brittney Lanehart, Nathan Nunley and Jonathan Capt., Craig Wersterfer, and Brittney Lanehart. Jarrett.
Submitted By Jason Gordon mithson Valley High senior Tristen McNeal signed a national letter of intent to run track and field at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. McNeal has qualified for regionals in the 400-meters and the 1,600-meter relay during his SVHS career. He won the district 25-6A title in the 800-meters on April 14. Congratulations to Smithson Valley High senior Olivia Pappas, who signed a national letter of intent recently to run cross-country and track and field at Colorado State University. Pappas qualified for the UIL State Track and Field Meet in the 300-meter hurdles in 2015 and in the 1,600-meter relay as a freshman. She was also on SVHS’ 2013 UIL State Cross Country team. Pappas has also won the district title in the 100-and 300-meter hurdles the past three seasons. Smithson Valley High seniors, catcher
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Chris Adams (left) and pitcher Tyler Crouch, signed letters of intent this week to play at Texas A&M-Kingsville. Both players helped lead SVHS to the District 26-5A title last season. “Both Tyler and Chris have displayed leadership abilities for us that will serve them well at the next level,” SVHS head coach Chad Koehl said. “It’s also great that they will continue to be teammates at A&M-Kingsville.” Smithson Valley High swimmer Clayton Taylor (left) and SVHS diver Dawson Martinez both signed national letters of intent to continue their athletic careers at The University of the Incarnate Word. Taylor holds five school records in different event at SVHS, and qualified for the UIL State Swimming and Diving Meet in 2016. Martinez also qualified for the UIL State Swimming and Diving Meet this year and finished fifth in the one-meter springboard.
Clayton Taylor and Dawson Martinez pictured (l-r) with Pictured with Elijah Thompson are Jarrett (left) and coaches Justin Fierro, Carol Rettele, John McClure, and assistant coach Nathan Nunley, and family members. Osborne.
“Both Clayton and Dawson are just starting to reach their potential in the sport,” said Kari Osborne, SVHS Swimming and Diving Coach. “I feel they will continue to thrive at the next level.” Smithson Valley High senior Elijah Thompson signed a national letter of intent to continue his soccer career at St. Mary’s University. Thompson was a four-year starter for the Rangers and was named District 256A’s Defender of Year this year. Thompson helped lead the Rangers to the playoffs in each of his four seasons with the team, with the Rangers winning the bi-district playoff title the past three seasons. “Elijah’s speed and quickness is incredible,” said SVHS head coach Jonathan Jarrett. “He’s also a very smart player who always seems to be in the right spot. He will definitely be missed but I’m very happy he’s getting a welldeserved chance to play at the next level.”
Chris Adams and Tyler Couch pictured with SVHS head coach Chad Koehl (left) and assistant coach Ben Woodchick.
SIZE MATTERS, from Page 10 box is set away from the cooking area, so you are actually cooking with convections of hot air/smoke and not direct flame as you normally see in outdoor cooking. This cooking method allows you to use a process that is called “low and slow,” which is typically no more than 225°F to 250°F. Once heated to the appropriate temperature, the thick, industrial quality steel casing helps insulate this carefully crafted cooking environment, and the all-welded construction helps retain the heat and smoke whether you’re cooking in January or July. At these low temperatures, it takes longer to cook a brisket – sometimes 12-14 hours or more for a single cook – but it’s the tried and true process that produces the succulent results we all love so much. You can find cheap, mass produced replicas of offset smokers in big box stores, but they will mostly have a thin metal skins that will not properly insulate the cooking
chamber for the duration of the cook. You can gamble on that, but just remember: you get what you pay for. If you truly want to make a good quality brisket, Size Does Matter! Jeff’s Backyard is family owned and operated and is your expert in backyard cooking equipment. Call us at 210-3424760 – or email us at jeffsbackyard@att. net – with any questions about your outdoor grilling needs. See our ad/coupon in this newspaper to get a free shaker of BUBBA RUBBA seasoning! Jeff’s Backyard is proud to offer a great line of outdoor backyard equipment to you. We plan to continue bringing you the latest innovative models and equipment in the backyard market. So come on in and see us for all your outdoor grilling needs. You can visit them at 435 W. Nakoma, #104 or contact them at (21) 342-4760 and jeffsbackyard@att.net.
Did You Know . . .
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ather’s Day was officially introduced as a holiday in the United States in the early 20th to complement Mother’s Day. The first observance was held on July 5, 1908 by Grace Clayton in Fairmont, West Virginia, as a result of Clayton’s mourning of her own father’s death. The results of the first observance were slight. It wasn’t until 1915, under the direction of Harry C. Meek, member of Lions Clubs International, that Father’s Day, which fell on Meek’s birthday, was widely promoted and formally recognized as an official holiday.
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I love my daddy, because he plays with me and my brother, Alex. – Rocky Torres
June 2016 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
Days long past: my father and I celebrating my first birthday.
These days, my father thoroughly enjoys gardening and being in the sun.
M y Fa t h e r’s L i f e W i t h M e I n T h e U n i te d S t a te s
By Jane Toh
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he first man I ever loved was my father. The first man I ever trusted was my father. The first man I knew would be unconditionally by my side was, and has always been, my father. To say the least, I am my father’s daughter. I love him more than words, or anything for that matter, could ever express. I have always loved my father. Of course there have been times, years at a time, when the line between hate and love has been blurred for the two of us; however, at the age of 24, and as I struggle with my own ideas of adulthood and all the responsibilities it encompasses, I begin to truly understand my father, his hardships, his trials and tribulations, and his successes. I wrote this piece because I believe my father, and by extension all fathers, deserve recognition for all that they do. My father, an ethnic Malaysian-Chinese from the Cantonese diaspora, was born in the Pahang district of Malaysia in July 1958. As the second to last child in a family of 17 siblings, he was considered one of the spare children. My paternal grandparents were busy maintaining the family farms, and had no time for their children. Life was hard. There was barely enough food, education was a luxury only reserved for those able to afford it, and modern daily necessities such as electricity were a demonstration of extravagance. Post World War II Malaysia was not marked by a strong economy, nor a cohesive government. The result was a country wrought by a variety of problems, particularly ethnic strife coupled with palpable tension. This, amongst various other reasons, compelled my father to look for a better life outside of the country of his birth. He sought the advice of a particularly well known fortune teller, who then informed him that he would immigrate into a country were English was the vernacular language spoken. Australia was the closest English speaking country; however, my father decided that the United States of America was the country for him. With all that he had left, he set up an interview with the American embassy
June 2016 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
and, much to his astonishment and his friends’ and family’s amazement, was granted a visitor visa. My father entered the U.S. in late 1985. After touring the country, he did not want to leave. So he didn’t. He stayed. Yes, he became one of those immigrants who violated the terms of his visa in hopes of having a better life. My father found work in a Chinese restaurant that sponsored his permanent residency. Not long after, he met my mother, a recent South Korean immigrant. Together, they built a home with differing ideologies regarding what was and was not acceptable, and it was into this delightful mix that was I born. Being raised primarily in the West afforded me benefits and a set of privileges that both my parents, particularly my father, could only ever dream of. This was what he had wanted for himself. He thought he could have the “American Dream.” My father wanted to be integrated into American society; however, because of barriers, including language and a desire to maintain traditional cultural habits, he never fully immersed himself. He raised me with the same reservations. While simultaneously trying to raise me with the privileges and benefits of American society, my father tried to instill values he grew up with, values that were taught and passed down to him
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by generations of ancestors and his life before the idea of leaving his country even crossed his mind. Obviously, this led to plenty of disagreements growing up. I frequently thought he had his own agenda, and to an extent he did. My father believed he could live vicariously through me. Whatever he did not accomplish was strategically placed on my shoulders. I was supposed to be the best, and I do mean the best at everything. I was placed in accelerated learning classes. After school comprised of math drills and piano lessons. While other children had weekends to play, I was compelled to attend Chinese school and learn to read, write, and speak Mandarin. I was to be his success, the beacon at which he could look back and feel his life had a specific purpose…it served as a foundation for me. He may have not accomplished all the dreams and aspirations he had once set for himself; however, at least his child, his next generation, could and would do better. Over the years, it has become clearer to me that all parents want better for their children. My father is not unique in that regard. During my childhood, I always felt my father never understood, and I, in turn, never understood him. This is still true. I do not understand him; however, I respect him now more than ever. I believe the same can be said of my father. I do not think I would be where I am today if it were not for him. Looking back on his parenting tactics, I can honestly say I am incredibly grateful. He stood by me at my worst, and applauded me at my best. Most importantly, my father never gave up on me, he loved me through it all. This Father’s Day I want my father to know I do recognize and acknowledge all the sacrifices he has made for me, all the hours he worked endlessly and tirelessly. It was all because of me. To all the fathers out there, you are appreciated, it may not seem like it all the time, but you are. Notice has been taken. Thanks may take years to come; however, on behalf of all children, Happy Father’s Day!
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K9 Corner By Catherine Laria K9 Country Club (830) 980-8476
New & Exciting Things Coming To K9 Country Club
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hat an incredible honor it was representing Team USAat the IFCS World Agility Championships in Laag-Soeren, Netherlands. I cannot thank everyone enough for their support. I could feel my friends, family, and clients cheering us on, 5200 miles away. Bliz and I had an incredible experience watching dogs and handlers from all over the world compete.
We had a number of successful runs and a few runs to learn from. Bliz and I ended up 11th overall in the Agility Biathlon event, which we are very proud of. The USA handlers took home 5 medals combined, 1 Gold, 3 Silver, and 1 Bronze. Bliz and I landed in the states and hit the ground running, wanting to share what we had learned with all our students. I put together a lovely recap video of the trip and highlights of team USA. If you would like to watch it at
www.k9countryclub.net/ifcs-2016. Running, with this dog at such a high level, has proven to me how incredibly special a relationship can be with a canine partner. Agility is such a fun sport no matter what level you want to train to. It was incredible for me to witness the diversity between Professors, Computer Techs, Veterinarians, and business owners all coming together to do their best . . . with their best friend. The 2017 IFCS World Agility Championship will take place in Spain and you better believe I plan to do everything I can to be on that plane, doing my best once again for team USA! Participation in these large events has open many doors for K9 Country Club as well. We plan to host multiple seminars with handlers from all over the globe not only in agility but other dog sports and activities.
In fact, to help us become your number one “One-Stop-Shop” for all your pet’s training needs we are very excited to announce our new Training Director, Nicholas Wallace. Nick will be joining us from Washington in July. His background and accomplishments through his work as a Master-at-Arms (Military Police) Petty-Officer Second Class Military Working Dog Handler/Trainer for the US Navy will introduce a whole new set of classes, training, and expertise available to our clients at K9 Country Club. Stay tuned in with our website, our Facebook fan page https://www.facebook. com/k9countryclubtexas/, and in upcoming articles for more details on Nick and the services he will be offering. K9 Country Club is located at 31305 Oak View, Bulverde TX 78163. For more information, call (830) 980-8476 or visit www. K9countryclub.net.
Canine Classmates Propel Readers Submitted By Madison Lozano en-year-old Ally, a fifth-grader at Startzville Elementary, didn’t always love reading. But since joining the Canine Classmates program, her skills have improved and she even passed the STAAR reading exam. “I didn’t like reading before, but now I’m starting to,” she said with a smile. “Crockett is chill. Once you pet him, he calms you down and relaxes you.” Crockett is one of four Newfoundland dogs in Canine Classmates, a non-profit founded eight years ago by Donna Dishman, executive director. “We started at Goodwin Frazier and there has been such a growth and demand,” Dishman said. She and two other handlers spend their time traveling across Comal County, providing one-on-one 30-minute sessions weekly for Comal ISD elementary students. The sessions start with students bringing books from their classrooms. The youngsters read to the dogs, helping the dogs “understand” the story. Dishman or another handler is always nearby to aid in pronunciation or comprehension of the text. “Literacy is a huge issue,” Dishman said.
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“We need something to propel kids towards reading. With the dogs, the kids work harder, they’re more relaxed and it increases their self-esteem.” Teachers hand-select students to participate based on their individual needs. “The dog is the mechanism,” Dishman said. “They provide nonjudgmental reading partners for the child.” Canine Classmates currently sees 200 kids annually, while aiming to increase that number next year. Not only do the children’s reading skills improve, but they learn good dog behavior and watch the pups grow as they build relationships with them throughout the year. Comal ISD students were even given the privilege of choosing the names for Dante, Crockett, Theodore and Einstein, said fourth-grader Tyler. “Sometimes I read to the dogs at my grandma’s house. I’m getting better at reading and spelling,” he said. Elizabeth, a second-grader, reads to Dante every Thursday. “First we read, then we play,” she said. “My favorite part is when we get to give him treats. Dante likes me to read to him.” Elizabeth has gotten so excited about books that she now reads
Fifth-grader Ally, right, along with a partner, reads to Crockett looks on as Tyler, a fourth-grader, reads to him Crockett in the Startzville Elementary School library. in the Startzville Elementary School library.
to her three-year-old cousin at home. “I’m excited to come to school and do this instead of staying in a cooped up classroom,” she said. In addition to its in-school program, Canine Classmates participates in programs at the McKenna Children’s Museum and the Pilot Club of Canyon Lake. “It’s a partnership with the teachers and schools. We just love what we do and are so appreciative of the support of CISD” Dishman said. She has
found that participants’ attendance even improves, as students don’t want to miss a session with their favorite pup pal. “The kids look forward to it,” Dishman said. “We want to instill a love of reading. They can take it home and extend it into their summer break too.” For more information on Canine Classmates, visit www.canineclassmates. org.
Comal ISD Names Teachers Of The Year Submitted By Jason Gordon omal ISD announced four major awards on April 15 – Secondary and Elementary District Teachers of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, and Rookie Teacher of the Year. Garden Ridge Elementary School thirdgrade teacher Ashley Jackson was named Elementary Teacher of the Year. “Ashley Jackson is one of the most gifted teachers I have ever seen,” said Garden Ridge Principal Julie Cronkhite. “She is so dedicated and selfless. She’s always willing to volunteer no matter what the task and she inspires her peers every day. We are so honored to have Ashley on our staff and blessed that she has touched so many lives.” Canyon High Math Department Chair and Pre-Calculus Teacher Michelle Koehl was named Secondary Teacher of the Year. “Not only is she a great teacher, Mrs. Koehl encourages us to be independent,” said CHS student Haley Brodfute. “She
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also talks about us making the right life choices when we are in high school and in the future.” Smithson Valley Middle School’s Colby Evans was named the Assistant Principal of the Year. “As our campus testing coordinator, Colby’s strong organizational skills enable him to efficiently manage all scheduling and testing duties in a way that makes it a smooth process for everyone involved,” said Principal Michael Keranan. “Colby also inspires students on our campus in unique ways, creating YouTube videos to highlight our student organizations, clubs, and their successes.” Johnson Ranch Elementary P.E. Coach James Fry was named Rookie Teacher of the Year. “No matter what is asked of him, James handles it with a positive attitude, and puts 100-percent of his heart into the assignment,” said Johnson Ranch Principal
P.E. Coach James Fry, Principal Suzie Seabolt and a group of Johnson Ranch kindergarten students can’t hide their excitement shortly after Fry was named Comal ISD’s Rookie Teacher of the Year.
Suzie Seabolt. “First-year teachers have a lot on their plates but that doesn’t stop Coach Fry from being a leader at JRES. Students want to do well for him in the gym as well
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Principal Michael Keranen, Counselor Monica Ulbricht, Assistant Principal Sy Douglass, and a group of students proudly surround Smithson Valley Middle School Assistant Principal Colby Evans (center). Evans was named Comal ISD’s Assistant Principal of the Year.
as the classroom. I’ve had so many parents tell me how pleased they are with the impact James has had on their child. I think he’s a well deserving recipient of this honor.”
June 2016 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
Dolphins, and Sea Turtles, and Squid, Oh My Special To Welcome Home everal Kinder Ranch Elementary families headed out to Corpus Christi for a little rest and relaxation recently. No, the main goal of this trip wasn’t to catch some sunrays and get a tan, but instead learn about aquatic science aboard the Texas Floating Classroom. The Texas Floating Classroom is a nonprofit corporation established in 2014 specializing in introducing students to aquatic science in a fun and memorable way, both aboard their boat and in the classroom. The boat is docked at the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi. “They encourage students to think scientifically about the world around them while guiding them on adventures of discovery,” said Kinder Ranch teacher Karen Williams, who organized the trip. “Captain Whitney Curry has a full complement of scientific equipment and a knowledgeable crew to make their programs appropriate for budding scientists of any age.” More than 130 Kinder Ranch students, family members, and Kinder Ranch faculty members took part in this educational adventure. “We had a great time,” Williams said. “Our group went out on several boat trips. We saw dolphins, sea turtles, jellyfish, shrimp, squid, crabs, and the kids had a blast. Captain Curry was very welcoming and knowledgeable about many things, including water conservation and the ecosystems. Our students learned so much from them and still talk about their experience every day in the classroom. To be out there on the water enjoying nature at it’s best, while also being in a learning environment, was an incredible experience.”
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Kale Warren flipped up his sunshades to fully observe the giant seashell in his hands.
The Texas Floating Classroom strives to align onboard lessons with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for each grade level and to customize individual trips to reinforce teachers’ classroom curriculum. If you would like to schedule a trip with The Texas Floating Classroom, please email texasfloatingclassroom@yahoo.com or captwhitney@yahoo.com. You can discuss your lesson strategy with Curry prior to your trip. “Everyone involved with the Texas Floating Classroom are happy to provide classroom materials to introduce students to the concepts that will be discussed onboard,” Williams said. “Their goal is to guide students to effectively – and scientifically – explore and appreciate the marine environment and its many habitats. I would recommend it to anyone. I can’t wait to go back again.”
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Smithson Valley MS Rocketry Teams Takes Off
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Pictured standing alongside members of the Comal ISD School Board, Superintendent Andrew Kim and Assistant Superintendent John Montelongo, are (l-r) teacher and coach Bart Cooper and team members Brandon Salvaggio, Vishali Baker, Manuel Gomez-Garcia, Joshua Montelongo, Jaicob Rodriguez, Adriana Krueger, and Clint Maurer. Not pictured is team member Colin Carroll.
Submitted By Jason Gordon ongratulations to the Smithson Valley Middle School Rocketry Team, which qualified for National Competition for the second straight year. This is the one of the largest STEM competitions in the United States. The team had to design a rocket that would carry two eggs to a distance of 850
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feet in the air and return them intact within 44-46 seconds. SVMS accomplished all of the set guidelines, and became one of only 100 teams in grades 7-12 to qualify for Nationals in Virginia on May 14. All 50 states competed. The team was recognized at the April 21 Comal ISD School Board meeting.
June 2016 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
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Comal ISD Blended Learning Showcases A Success Special To Welcome Home he Comal ISD Blended Learning Showcases capped off three weeks of success at Canyon High School Wednesday night. The showcases highlighted yearlong work from students in grades K-12 in technology, art, health and wellness, and career and technology classes. They took place at Canyon Lake High School on April 6, Smithson Valley High School on April 13 and at CHS April 20. A combined total of more than 3,000 students, family members, and Comal ISD faculty attended the showcases. “Once again, the Blended Learning Showcases were a tremendous hit,” said Marie Paullus, Instructional Technology Coordinator. “I think the fact that there’s something for everyone to enjoy is the reason. Whether you love technology, artwork, music or health, and wellness, there was something for you at our showcases.” Comal ISD’s Blended Learning Showcases featured music from the district’s middle school strings orchestra, FIRST Lego League Robotics and many more examples of how students are expanding their learning horizons in Comal ISD.
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Health and wellness was added to the showcases this year. Sow Healthy Gardens and ways students are learning about fitness and healthy lifestyles in P.E. classes were featured. Creative designs were on display in the art gallery area at each showcase featuring artistic mediums such as pottery, jewelry, oil paintings, pen and ink drawings, watercolor paintings, and 3-D Art. There was also interactive art where visitors were able to take home what they made with students at the showcases. Canyon Middle School students Preston Frazier and Michael McCarty were proud to show off the “EV3 LEGO MINDSTORM” robot they designed. “It’s able to pick up different objects and you can also make it turn on at the sound of your voice,” Frazier said. “I loved the fact we learned how to program the robot. I think that’s something I would like to continue to do in the future.” Parent Brooke Martin was impressed with what she saw. “It’s a great way for students to come together and share the ways they are being creative,” Martin said. “Seeing a variety of projects the students work on in other classrooms is great.” Parent Angie Baker agreed what she
Church Hill Middle student Rory Martin is proud to show her parents acrylic painting of parrots, which was featured at Canyon High School’s Blended Learning Showcase.
saw at the showcase was amazing. “I think it’s fantastic,” Baker said. “It blows my mind so see all of the tremendous ways
our children are getting a jump-start on the future by learning about so much advanced technology at such a young age.”
Where Are They Now? Submitted By Vincent Quidachay onathon Thomas Loud earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering, with a focus in Astronautics, at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida during the May 2016 graduation. While at EmbryRiddle, Loud received the nomination to the engineering honor society Tau Beta Pi, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, earned Dean’s List honors multiple semesters, and was a member of Embry-Riddle Future Space Explorers and Developers. In addition to completing his requirements as an NROTC (Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps) student, which included community service events, fund raising, weekly physical fitness and drill training, tutoring, mentoring, additional course work on top of the engineering curriculum, and leading his peers and
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subordinates. During the summer he attended training in San Diego, California for Cortramid the 1st summer, was attached to the DDG 111, the USS Spruance during the 2nd summer for RIMPAC, and the TACAMO (Take Charge and Move Out) squadron for the 3rd summer. A 2012 graduate of Smithson Valley High School in Spring Branch, Texas, Loud is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Ray Loud, San Antonio, Texas. He is a recipient of the 4 year NROTC Scholarship. He enjoyed the journey from his days as a JR Navy ROTC cadet at Smithson Valley High School to an Ensign in the Navy, Commissioning May 10th 2016. Loud will commission into the United States Navy, where he will begin his Naval Career and training to become a Naval Aviator.
Mountain Valley MS Defends Title Submitted By Jason Gordon ountain Valley Middle School won Comal ISD’s 4th-Annual “Travis Lamb Memorial Name That Book Competition,” successfully defending the title it won last school year. Students from all five Comal ISD middle schools competed in a question and answer contest simultaneously on April 14. There were four rounds consisting of 20 questions each about the Texas Lone Star Books. Teams consisted of a maximum of six students. The Texas Lone Star Books list is a recommended reading lineup of 20 books developed by public and school librarians. The purpose of the list is to encourage students in grades 6-8 to explore a variety of current books. In the Name that Book Bowl, students answered questions based on 40
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books – the 2015 and 2016 Texas Lone Star Books. The competition was close throughout, but MVMS answered all 80 questions correctly to earn the win, just beating out Smithson Valley Middle (77) and Canyon Middle and Spring Branch Middle (76 each). “This year’s team really took the Name That Book Competition very seriously and had a lot of fun with it,” said MVMS librarian Christine Kidd. “They made up very challenging questions for one another and practiced diligently for a month. Together they read 40 novels with about 300 pages in each book. They even made fun food to eat during practices inspired by what they were reading such as bacon maple bars. I am extremely excited to have worked with such outstanding and dedicated students.” Melonie Gonzales emceed the event
Jonathan Loud, a 2012 graduate of Smithson Loud, pictured here with classmates, will commission Valley High, recently graduated from Embry-Riddle into the United States Navy. Aeronautical University.
from the Comal ISD technology studio. It was streamed live through the district website. “We really felt that Hawks pride when we heard that we won again,” said Mekayla Mason, who has been on the MVMS team the last three years. “I always love it when students get to show off what they can do in academic competitions like this one.” Each student on the winning team received a medal and the school received a plaque to display in the library.
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Mountain Valley Middle won Comal ISD’s 4th-Annual Name that Book Competition. Pictured are (back row, l-r) MVMS principal Kristy Castilleja, team members Madison Crowder, Ciera Lindsey, Madeleine Verette, Mekayla Mason and librarian Christine Kidd. Front row: team members Ally Sellers, Katerina Gaidry and Alauna Lester.
June 2016 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
SOBA’s
Pizza & Wine Mixer Date: Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Join SOBA for an evening of delicious gourmet pizza and relaxing wine. Trilogy Pizza will be dazzling us with their pizza buffet.
Time: 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm Place: Trilogy Pizza & Wine Bistro 19141 Stone Oak Pkwy #113 78258
(West Corner of Stone Oak & Huebner, behind Chevron)
Each ticket purchased includes Pizza & Wine. The Stone Oak Business Association is excited to have Mr. Charles Snowden of Mass Mutual and Mr. Carl Werner sponsor our June Mixer.
Cost: Members $20, Non-members $25, Door $30 E-mail: soba@satx.rr.com
Make Sure To RSVP Today!
Stone Oak Business Association
RSVP: 348-8233 or visit www. stoneoakbusiness.com
2016 SOURCE 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 2016 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. 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
June 2016 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
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June 2016 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261