SEGUIN
sizzle spring, well done
A date to remember + sports all grown up | hitting the water | interior design
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spring, well done ~ Sizzle
1
sizzle SEGUIN
WARMING UP
spring, well done
Spring has sprung and so has a new Sizzle!
S
pring is in the air. It’s a time for change, new life, new beginnings. The same is true of this spring issue of Sizzle. We’re still bringing you the Sizzlin 5 and Well Done but Val’s Vault is being closed this issue — replaced by a special spring fashion feature we call “A Date to Remember. “ You’ll probably notice some other subtle changes as well as we take some of your ideas and suggestions and put them in play. Keeping with the spring theme, Ron Maloney takes a look at spring renovations and ways to make your home more energy efficient. Felicia Frazar gets into how to freshen up your living space with the latest trends in interior design, including the hot new idea of repurposing. Turning to the outdoors, Tucker Stephenson talks about getting your feet (and seat) wet with the increasingly popular sport of kayaking, and Sam Kuykendall gets your blood pumping with adult recreational sports. It’s hard to believe our baby is going to be a year old, but we’re already working on stories for our second summer edition. As always, we welcome your comments, suggestions, feedback, and criticism. Give us a call or email us at sizzle@seguingazette.com — Jeff Fowler, Sizzle Publisher
THE HOTTEST SPOT
Sizzle magazine is a quarterly seasonal publication of the Seguin Gazette.
contact
Contact us at 830-379-5402 or email sizzle@ seguingazette.com
advertise Contact advertising director Annmarie Penrod at 830-379-5441 ext 207 or annmarie.penrod@ seguingazette.com
staff
publisher Jeff Fowler designers Chris Lykins Melissa Crume
Kayaking experience has something for everyone from smooth waters to raging rapids. PAGE 18
contributors Jeff Fowler Chris Lykins Jessica Limmer Felicia Frazar Ron Maloney Sam Kuykendall Tucker Stephenson Laurie Cheatham graphics Melissa Crume Desiree Gerland Cassie Cantu
Sports options abound to keep adults in shape. PAGE 14 Spring is a great time to refresh or redecorate. PAGE 24 Do you need that cup of joe to get up and running in the morning? PAGE 8 2 Sizzle ~ spring, well done
Energy savings to be found in your home. PAGE 28
boring legal stuff
Vol 1, No. 4 All material herein c. 2015 Southern Newspapers Inc., dba The Seguin Gazette, 1012 Schriewer Road, Seguin, TX, 78155 All rights reserved
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TAKING ROOT
It’s springtime and our thoughts fly to flowers and butterflies in the garden. Consider planting Whirling Butterfly Gaura, a Texas native perennial with a leafy base and tall, thin stems topped with delicate blooms that look like butterflies. The pink and white flowers swirl in every breeze, growing to 3-4’ high in sun. When butterflies gather round, Gaura puts on quite a show. As a hardy native, it’s a great ornamental plant for any flower bed, wildflower garden or pocket prairie. Loca caal chap ch pte ters r of the Native Plan nt Soc ocie iety of Texas exas a (NP PSO SOT) workk with neigh hbo borh rhoo ood nursseriees th t at sto t ck Texxas heritag ge pl plan ants ts like Gaurra (G Gau aura ra lin indh d ei dh eim meri). Lo Look ok for o them at Mald ld don nad a o Garden Center in Seg egui uin, Schulz Nu urssery in Marion, Mal aldon nado Nurseryy in New Brau rau unfels, Canyon Laake Acee Har ardw dwarre, South Texass Growers in Bul Texa ulve verde, e, Thy hyme me N’TTreasure Nurs Nu rser eryy in St. t. Hedwi wig g and d Greeen n Ga Gatee in Seguin. Thes esee nurser eries co er oop opeerat ate wi with thee Gua uadalupe an nd Lind ndheeimer NPS P OTT cha PS hapter erss in NIC CE: E Natives Instead of Common n Exxot otics. Homeowneer and civic grroups are re inv nvited to co ontact the NPSOT chap pters forr a free presen ntaation on the manyy nat ativ ive pl iv plan antts for this re an regi gion. Fo For more info ormation, call al Naanccy Masterson in Guadalupe Coun nty at 83 830 0-3055-91 591 104 or Mary Moses at 2100 2799 57 748 in n Co omal.
Whirling Butterfly Gaura Photo by Joseph A. Marcus, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
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4 Sizzle ~ spring, well done
SIZZLIN
The five things you don’t want to miss this season
Cancer never sleeps. And on April 25 neither do Guadalupe County residents as they stay up all night to raise funds for Relay For Life. The all-night event is the largest fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Check out www.relayforlife.org/seguintx
The Seguin Silver Center offers up samples of local restaurant flare with the annual Taste of Seguin on June 23. The event is the center’s largest fundraiser.
May 15 marks National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week that surrounds it is National Law Enforcement Officer Week. To close out the week, the Seguin Police Department hosts its annual Cops and Kids Picnic in which area law enforcement officers take a day to play games with the kids and hand out free bikes. It’s May 16. spring, well done ~ Sizzle
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Area businesses, organizations and individuals gather in Central Park to show off how they are making Seguin a little greener during the Earth Day celebration. The event is paired up with the city’s Trade Days and offers up children’s activities, entertainment, music and more. This year’s event will be held on April 25. For more information go to www.visitseguin. net.
Where else can you find an all-day event that has music and Chihuahua races? Downtown Seguin. On June 20, the Seguin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce hosts their annual Fiestas Juan Seguin. Each year the organization brings back the ever-popular Chihuahua races and names a Chihuahua king and queen.
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7
Well Done Jessica Limmer
Jessica Limmer is the former news editor for the Seguin Gazette and now her column moves to the pages of the quarterly magazine Seguin Sizzle in the form of Well Done.
Coffee – a constant companion
I love my husband, despite two potential deal killers: he’s not a coffee person and he doesn’t like Tolkein. Slowly, after six years of marriage, I’m luring him to the dark side. Oh sure, Jimmy will sit with me through three hours of Hobbit-watching. And I can be sure he’ll complain about every minute. I’m talking about coffee. Since switching duties at work, he’s found it necessary to begin drinking that brew I found so alluring nearly 20 years ago. He’s becoming a coffee guy. If you’re doing the math now, Þ Õ «À L>L Þ w}ÕÀi` ÕÌ } Ì hooked on java pretty young. When my parents would have friends over for dinner, my dad 8 Sizzle ~ spring, well done
would always bust out the coffee pot for a cup with dessert (my mom is a tea person, so coffee was for Dad and guests). Just as I begged to stay up and join political discussions, I also begged for a cup of coffee. Or, at least I called it coffee. I took a «iÀviVÌ Þ À > VÕ« > ` w i` it with sugar and creamer until it was hardly recognizable. Shortly thereafter I was introduced to International House coffees, which were about a step above cocoa, but completely delicious. The arrival of Barnes and Noble with a Starbucks (only minutes from my house in San Antonio) created a whole new way to spend an evening: curled
up in an overstuffed chair with a cup of mocha and a pile of books I didn’t intend to buy. The smell of brewing coffee itself gets my heart racing. It’s the scent of late-night college cram sessions, the harbinger of visiting friends, a hint of the fuel to power me through bookbrowsing (oh how I miss that Barnes and Noble). While I’m not a black-coffeedrinker yet, I have pulled myself from the sugar-drenched brews of my youth. These days, I keep myself awake on my drive down to Floresville with medium roast and a splash of creamer. I love to grind my own beans, but these days I don’t have the time.
Coffee has been loved for centuries by those of us seeking some spring in our step. According to legend (and the National Coffee Association) the magical beans were discovered by a goatherd in the highlands of Ethiopia. His goats, it seemed, were eating berries from a plant and wouldn’t go to sleep at night. Today, we’d put those wired goats on You Tube. Back then, they made those berries (or beans) into coffee. The brew quickly spread through the Arabian Peninsula and into the Middle East. Traders from Europe brought the buzz back home, which eventually meant that settlers and adventurers brought it to the New World. Coffee is now a major international crop, with plantations in Africa and Brazil, as well as a few other niches like Hawaii (known for Kona coffee). It’s made by harvesting coffee cherries (the berries those goats were eating), processing, drying and milling. Love of coffee takes many forms. You could be like the guys in the ad department >Ì Ì i wÀÃÌ iÜë>«iÀ worked at, who would make a concoction so strong it could walk away on its own. You could be like my friend’s grandpa, who favored fast-food coffee during conversations with his bud` ið Ƃ ` w > Þ] Ì iÀi½Ã Ì i coffee snob – the person who will make you feel bad about whatever it is you like. I’m not here to be a snob,
but if you’re interested in branching out, here’s some things you might want to know about: Roast: The darker the roast, the darker – and more bitter – the coffee tastes. I like my coffee stronger than a light roast, but less acidic than a darker French roast. I’m squarely in medium camp right now, although things can always change. Variety: The coffee you drink comes in two types from two actual species of coffee plant. Arabica is sweeter and lower in caffeine. It’s also harder to grow and more expensive. Robusta is cheaper, higher in caffeine but with a less rew i` y>Û À° , LÕÃÌ> Ìi `Ã to dominate instant coffees and coffee blends. Chances are good you’re drinking a combination of the two. Things to try: Instead of creamer, try a scoop of coconut oil or butter in your morning brew. Butter coffee, as it’s called, is all the rage among the paleo crowd. Add a pinch of espresso powder (look for it near the instant coffee, I’ve found it at H-E-B) to brownies or chocolate cake for an extra kick of richness. Make your own iced coffee: Brew double strength coffee, refrigerate overnight and dilute with milk. Add ice and sweetener, if desired. It’s that easy. Need more inspiration? Try some of these next Ì i Þ Õ wÀi Õ« Ì i ` percolator.
Cinnamon Brown Sugar Syrup Howsweettreats.com offers up this take on coffee house syrups, without the price tag. Try it in hot or cold coffee. ½ c. brown sugar ½ tsp. cinnamon 1/3 c. water Mix the sugar, cinnamon and water in a small pan over medium heat. Whisk constantly until sugar dissolves and the whole thing is bubbling. Reduce the heat to low and continue to cook for one or two minutes. Let the syrup cool completely and store in a jar. It keeps in the refrigerator for a week or so.
Old-School Coffee Cake My mom’s classic to serve for breakfast or brunch (particularly on holidays like Christmas or for visiting relatives). This comes from her handy-dandy (and vintage) Betty Crocker Cookbook. ½ c. vegetable oil 2 eggs 1 c. milk Î V° y ÕÀ 1 ½ c. sugar 4 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. salt Topping: ¾ c. brown sugar 1-2 tsp. sugar 3 tbsp. melted butter 1 c. melted butter Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9 x 13 – inch cake pan. Mix oil, eggs and milk in a medium bowl. Mix the dry ingredients separately in another bowl with a whisk. Mix oil, eggs and milk into the dry ingredients and stir until well-combined. Spread batter into prepared pan. Combine topping ingredients and sprinkle over top. Bake 35 minutes and let cool before eating. spring, well done ~ Sizzle
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adate toremember...
weddingdate
10 Sizzle ~ spring, well done
Planning a wedding, quincea単era or choosing the perfect prom dress, does not have to take you far from home. Seguin and the surrounding area has an excellent selection of specialty shops and professionals waiting to serve you. From custom jewelry design, designer fashion jewelry, to the most fashionable hair styles, makeup, beautiful flowers and dresses, it is all right here.
promdate U Serenity Boutique and Precious Angels offer an assortment of the latest fashions and accessories for your wedding, prom or quinceañera. (Both are located on Court St. in Seguin) U Gift & Gourmet carries the latest Kendra Scott and Brighton jewelry. Kendra Scott’s Spring 2015 collection “Avant Garden” includes shimmering drusy stones in delicate pastel colors – perfect for a spring wedding. Brighton features beautiful metals and Swarovski crystals 2 S. Austin St., Seguin) that add the perfect amount of sparkle to any outfit. (212 U Seguin Beauty School is up to date on all of the hairstyles you need to be ready for your big day. Fancy braids and pretty curls are in for prom, and traditional quinceañera hairstyles show off the beautiful crowns and dresses. The stylists can coordinate your hairstyle to accentuate your sense of style, whether it be a classic or something modern and trendy. (102 E. Court, Seguin) U The Orange Poppy in Marion can design a stylish corsage and boutonniere for prom, a classicc red rose bridal bouquet or anything in-between.. e U Gracie’s Gold can design your jewelry exactly the n way you envision it using the latest 3D computer design etechnology. Choose a custom design like this stunning onewn of-a-kind 14K white gold, 2 carat engagement ring shown n) at left, appraised at $11,000. (656 S.H. 123 Bypass, Seguin) ry U Mary Starnes, an independent beauty consultant with Mary Kay Cosmetics, has age-appropriate makeup and styles for est proms, quinceañeras, and bridal parties. She has the newest nd trendy colors and techniques as well as the classic colors and 79) products to polish your look for your special day. (830-556-6479) U Thunderpaws Canine Solutions can outfit your posh pet for edo any special occasion. Our doggie groom is sporting a tuxedo hite collar and pink bow tie, and his lovely bride is wearing a white veil with tiny white rose trim. (206 S. Austin St., Seguin) spring, well done ~ Sizzle
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specialdate quinceañera
Models: Wedding: Anna Zuniga (bride) Noble Berryhill (groom) Cassandra Cantu (bridesmaid) Jared Kindles (best man) Layla Clark (flower girl) Gus Cheatham (dog groom) Leah Kuykendall (dog bride) Prom: Hunter Schmidt (blue tuxedo) Courtney Cheatham (blue dress) Alyssa Daniel (pink dress) Jared Kindles (black tuxedo) Quinceañera: Courtney Cheatham (blue dress) Mikaela Marmolejo (turquoise dress) Merissa De La Garza Balderas (both pink dresses)
Special thanks to the following: Photos by Mary Heidelbach Photography. Dresses provided by Serenity Boutique and Precious Angels. Tuxedos provided by Jim’s Formal Wear. Kendra Scott & Brighton jewelry provided by Gift & Gourmet. Engagement ring provided by Gracie’s Gold. Flowers provided by the Orange Poppy in Marion. Hairstyles provided by Seguin Beauty School. Makeup provided by Mary Starnes. Location photos taken at Powerplant Texas Grill.
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spring, well done ~ Sizzle
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GROWING UP Love of the game doesn’t dwindle with age Mallary Moehrig passes a serve as teammates Valarie Moehrig (back) and Laura Robles watch. 14 Sizzle ~ spring, well done
Lizzie Ruiz (left) makes a pass as Brien Hewell and Molly Oehlke wait to see what will happen next.
By Sam Kuykendall
S
taying active can be hard to do as an adult. Juggling kids and work and everyday life can take up more hours than you have in a single day. Sports are a great way to exercise while having fun and bonding with family and friends. Seguin offers some adult recreational leagues that can involve the whole family. Hillary Moehrig, owner of Hill’s Gym has been a part of Seguin’s volleyball league for more than 20 years. “I started off playing in the B league in 1988,” Moehrig said. Moehrig played volleyball for Texas Lutheran College and graduated in 1991. “College ball was the best volleyball I’d ever played but I always look forward to summer league in Seguin,” she said. Moehrig had to learn that not everyone was as competitive as she was, which was good for her, she said. “The volleyball league is all kinds of people and all types of attitudes,” she said. The leagues go from C being the beginner level to AA being very competitive.
“In AA you play against high school players, college players, and people who just got out of college,” Moehrig said. “It’s very competitive and a lot of fun.” Another venue Seguin offers is an adult futsal league, which is an indoor version of soccer. “It is normally played on a basketball type court, uses smaller goals and a 5 vs. 5 format,” John Ruiz, Seguin futsal league’s founder said. The game focuses a lot more on control of the ball and passing. There is constant movement, but not sprinting like in traditional soccer, Ruiz said. This is an adult coed league and they ask that players be over 16 years old. “I would like to get to a point where we can have a competitive and a recreational division,” Ruiz said. Ruiz started this league out of the desire to play and stay local. “Being the president of Seguin Youth Soccer Club, I was able to meet several others who had an interest in playing,” he said. “For our busy lifestyles having something like futsal, that keeps us active and spring, well done ~ Sizzle
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Valarie Moehrig sets the ball as Laura Robles (back) and Valarie Kronk (front) prepare to hit the ball. 16 Sizzle ~ spring, well done
is convenient, is essential for our physical well being.” To sign up, teams need to get a registration form from Ruiz or pick one up at Paperback Ranch Bookstore in downtown Seguin. You can also request one from seguinfutsal@gmail.com. Another way to stay physically active as an adult is Seguin’s adult softball league. Teams play an 8-week regular season and week 9 will be a single elimination postseason tournament. There are four divisions offered: Monday, church; Tuesday, coed; Wednesday, men’s league; and Thursday, women’s league. This, like the other sports is a family affair. “This league brings families together to play — dads playing with their sons or brothers or cousins or friends,” Crystal Miranda, Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation said. Playing in recreational leagues can help keep you healthy as you get older. “It’s important for adults to model a lifestyle for their children to follow,” Miranda said. Seguin softball league is for anyone 17 years of age or older. The league has already started for this year but for more information call the City of Seguin Parks & Recreation office at 830-401-2480. There is still time to get a team together for the volleyball league this year. Volleyball leagues begin Spring, Summer and Fall and for more information contact 830-379-1513. Moehrig says without the Seguin Volleyball league she wouldn’t have her gym. Hill’s Gym in La Vernia is a club volleyball gym, and girls from all over including Seguin play there.
“After I quit teaching I opened a gym in San Antonio but the commute was too hard on the kids and I so my husband and I decided to build the gym,� she said. “We held moonlight tournaments in Seguin and everyone came and played and bought food and was very supportive,� she said. “Our gym is here because of those people in Seguin, along with our friends and family in La Vernia,� she said. Moehrig continues to play every year in Seguin and is now able to play with her daughters Mallary and Valarie. “I plan on playing until they kick me off the court, or until I die,� she said.
Futsal: In order to sign up, teams need to get a registration form from John Ruiz or pick one up at Paperback Ranch Bookstore in downtown Seguin. They can also request one from seguinfutsal@gmail. com. Softball: Please call the City of Seguin Parks & Recreation Office, Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 830401-2480. Located at Max Starcke Park, 600 River Drive West. Volleyball: Leagues begin Spring, Summer and Fall and for more information contact 830-379-1513.
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UP CREEK WITH A PADDLE By Tuc By u ke kerr St Step phens hens he nson on n hen n mo ost peo eopl ple e th thin ink k of a kay a ak ak, t ey th e mig ight htt reg egar ard d it as si s mp m ly a rellative ve of th the e ca cano noe e — so ome meth th hin i g ak a in to an ecccen e tr tric ic unccle le.. N t Bi No Billlll Ben ende er. When he look okss att kayyak aks,, he se sees es vesse selss tha hatt coul u d be est be de desc s ribe bed d as the he Swi wiss ss Arm rmyy kn kniv ives es off loc o al wat ater erwa ways ys.. “T The here re’s ’s all dif iffe fere rent nt typ ypes es,” , sai ,” a d Be end der er, an avid av id kay ayak aker er and loc ocal al rea e l es e ta tate te age gent nt. “T “ he here re’s ’s recr re crea eati tion onall, th ther e e’ er e’ss to our urin ing, g the g, here r ’s fis re ishi h ng hi g kayyak ks, whit wh itew ewat ater er kay yak akss. s. Som me of the hem m yo you u si sit on sit o top op,, some so me of th t em you ou sitt on th t e si side de,, and de an nd so some me e of th hem m can n eve ven be pad ddl dled ed e d sta and din ng up. up. up “M Mos ostt of o the kay yak ks, s you o can n go ou o t an and d an ncch hor th hem em and n then he en go g swi wim. m” That Th at’s ’s why the he pro r ce c ss off ta akiing ng a kayak ayyak out u on o n the h wat a er e isn s ’tt just an activityy fo sn forr on one e spec sp pec ecif ificc group p of peo eopl p e. e The h exper e ie er ienc nce e is is as cu ustom mizzab ble ass th the padd dle er wa want n s it nt it to be b , whetthe h r it’ss taki ta k ng ki n it ea asyy on a ssm moo oth h, gl glas a ss-lililke water e sur u fa ace e or testi sting ng one’s ne e ski killllss in a more ch hallleng ng gin i g se sett ttiin tt ng such su c as wh hiittew ewat ater e rap er apid ids. s s. Be end der enj njoy oy ys da dabb bbling g in just abo b ut every typ pe of kayyak akin ing g ac acti tivi vity. Na N tura ally, it all be began n as a way to escap ape e th the e sccorch hin ng Te Texas he eat. “I jus ustt lo love ve being outdo door o s, I lov ve th he rive v rs r and nd this th is see eeme med lilike k a good wa wayy to go co ool off in th the e summ su mmer erti time me,” Ben enderr sa s id.. “I “I’’ve ki k nd d of en nde ed up doi oing ng a little bit of eve v ry ryth thin ng. I like th t e fl flat at wate wa ter, r I like to go padd ddle l boa ard rdin ing in g and d yo ou ca an ev ven e do so some m pad addl d e bo boar ard d yoga g . I do d whitewate t r w th wi h a gro roup u cal up a le led d Ve Vete tera te rans ra ns Adv dven en ntu t re r out u of Sa S n M rrccos Ma cos and we wo work rk k wit i h Wo Woun und ded Wa arr rrio iorss. We W gett th ge them em m in kaya kaya ka y ks and it’ t’ss an ama m zi z ng n way to o gett stro st rong ng g and hea ealt lthy hy and con onfi f de d nt.” ntt.” ” Forr th Fo thos ose e in inte tere rest ste ed in gi g vi ving ng kay ayak akin ing g a sh shot ot, ther th ere e ar are e pl plen enty ty of pl plac aces es in th the he Se Segu guin in n are ea to to “lau “l aunc n h,,” wh nc w ic i h is is how w kayak ay yaker errs de e desc scri ribe b gettti be t ng in n the h wat ater err to be e b gi gin n ea each c adv ch dven en nttu ure e. 18 Sizzle ~ spring, well done
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In fact, there’s an amazing resource right here in Seguin — a paddling trail located next to Max Starcke Park. The trail gives kayakers an opportunity to choose the duration of their excursion, with the distance of the trip ranging from 2.6 miles up to 8.1 miles. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) touts it as a perfect place for beginners, as no shuttle is needed. Bender lists it as one of his three favorite places to launch, as well as Cypress Bend Park in New Braunfels, which he says is “a really nice little place to go.” Cypress Park kayakers can go a short distance down the Guadalupe River until it hits the Comal River at a confluence. The third place on his list is along the San Marcos River, which Bender says is constructed to test a different set of skills. 20 Sizzle ~ spring, well done
I just love being outdoors, I love the rivers and this seemed like a good way to go cool off in the summertime. “Another one of my favorites is Rio Vista Park in San Marcos,” he said. “There’s some really fun rapids there. There’s a series of three consecutive waterfalls and they’re designed specifically for practicing whitewater maneuvers — it’s actually engineered and put in place by the City of San Marcos.” Bender also said that the San Marcos River has an added advantage in that it enables true kayak
lovers to keep up with their passion 12 months a year. “What I figured out after I began paddling was that there are places in Texas where it’s very comfortable to paddle all year-round, and most notably, the San Marcos River,” Bender said. “It’s a constant temperature and I’ve already been in there about 10 to 15 times already this year. It’s nice to be able to paddle year-round.” Of course, most people likely won’t go out and buy a kayak just to give it a try. That’s not a problem, though, as nearby stores such as Austin Canoe & Kayak and TG Canoe and Kayak — both located in San Marcos — rent out kayaks and also offer shuttle service if needed. In fact, Austin Canoe & Kayak employee Rob Garza says that most people rent simply due to the
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amount of space kayaks can take up. “Mostly it’s just about storing it,” Garza said. “They don’t have a place to store it, so (renting) is just for the extra room. The older customers that we see are mostly retired fishermen and everybody else is mostly recreational, just going down the river.” And for parties who are looking to purchase a kayak, Bender says that TG Canoe and Kayak is a great option. “If you pick out one that you’re interested in, they will take you and they’ll load it up and take you down to the river and you can demo it right there,” Bender said. “You can test out the kayak before you buy it.” For those that have yet to dip their toes in the water, though, there are some very important things to remember. The TPWD says that state and federal law requires that each paddler has a life jacket, an
efficient sound signaling device — an approved whistle, for example — and a white light source that is visible from 360 degrees if paddling in reduced visibility from sunset to sunrise. Safety tips also include not paddling alone, creating a “float plan” and always having a cell phone or GPS device handy, as well as keeping plenty of fresh drinking water and protective footgear available. Bender adds that choosing the right type of kayak for each float is key, so make sure to get to know the challenges each waterway presents. “You want to figure out how long you’re going to paddle and what conditions you’re going to paddle in and how you’re going to transport your kayak,” Bender said. Kayak instructors are also available in the area. Former Olympic slalom canoer Ben Kvanli operates the Power Olympic Outdoor Center in San Marcos and can be reached
at 512-203-0093 or online at www. kayakinstruction.com. Holly Orr is another licensed instructor and can be contacted at 512-749-2350 or online at www. paddlewithstyle.com. The more experienced kayaker might seek to join a group of likeminded people to share the experience with. Bender recommends The New Braunfels Paddling Club, The Saturday Paddlers and The Rio Vista Paddlers — all of which have their own Facebook pages. Bender also has his own Facebook page, “Zen & The Art of Texas Paddling,” which includes photos, videos, links and other helpful bits of information. No matter what the experience level, it’s all about finding a new hobby that gets someone out of the house and enjoying the waterways and natural scenery that Texas has to offer. So get ready to launch — no NASA clearance required.
Bill Bender’s top three places to launch from 1. Max Starcke Park in Seguin Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Seguin Paddling Trail (Lake Nolte/Meadow Lake) With two different access points, this paddling trail on the Guadalupe River offers paddlers a variety of opportunities to create their own trip from 2.6 miles up to 8.4 miles in length. This trail is perfect for beginners since no shuttle is needed. https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/boat/ paddlingtrails/inland/seguin_lake_nolte/ index.phtml 2. Cypress Bend Park in New Braunfels Launch your kayak here on the Guadalupe River and a short paddle takes you to the confluence of the Guadalupe River and the Comal River. http://nbtexas. org/index.aspx?NID=1672 3. Rio Vista Park in San Marcos There are some fun rapids here on the San Marcos River. Three consecutive water falls designed specifically for practicing whitewater maneuvers. http:// www.toursanmarcos.com/attractions/ outdoors/rio-vista-park.html 22 Sizzle ~ spring, well done
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g n INTO i r p S
A NEW LOOK
24 Sizzle ~ spring, well done
A display at Keepers Interiors mixes classic patterns and fun colors.
S
By Felicia Frazar
pring is a time of rejuvenation. Trees start to bloom and the flowers blossom. It can also be a time for some to spruce things up in their homes and a pair of our local interior designers have some tips on how to do that. Jeff Koehler of Design Associates and Amber Ehrlich of Keepers Interiors have made their careers by helping people create a space of their own in either their home, their office or their business. Having a fresh set of eyes on a design project could bring in a whole new prospective, said Sami Kuhn, Koehler’s design assistant. “Sometimes having an objective person coming in, they can see the potential in what you say is ‘all my old junk,’” she said. “Moving it around can change any perspective. We can maybe go into a home and see a lot of cool pieces that maybe weren’t placed as they should have been or could have been.” Sometimes it is about getting out of that rut, Koehler said. “We all become oblivious to our surroundings,” he said. “We sometimes need that fresh perspective of someone to come in and just go abracadabra and their house is rearranged and then suddenly there is a new appreciation for what you already have. A re-purpose, a re-identification of what you already have and then maybe that is enhanced with something that really sets it off and gives it a punch of color or distinction in some way.” A complete change isn’t always necessary and rarely happens, Koehler said. “You can always do little things like rearranging furniture a couple of times a year but major make overs? Not very often at all,” he said. “Years go by without a major makeover. That’s why I think of it as a face lift. A makeover would be entirely repainting and re-upholstering everything or getting rid of everything and getting all new.” There are a number of ways to help make changes in a home to liven the living space up, Koehler said. And while home improvement shows are great, Koehler warned that the tips are not always as easy as they seem. “There are all kinds of little things you can do to make that happen,” he said. “They say every day on HGTV that painting is a quick and inexpensive way to make something look new and fresh. It is true, if you can paint yourself. If you can’t paint yourself, then it is not so easy. HGTV makes everything look easy, it makes everything look like it doesn’t cost anything and that it can be done in no time flat and that is just not the reality.” Some people go for following trends — or even setting them. Koehler noted there is no one focus when it comes to some of the trends. “Eclecticism is certainly a reality of the way most people live, so they are blending those styles,” he said. “It is still a collaboration of styles and trends and people are finding what they are comfortable with in adding just one piece – it doesn’t create a trend in their house. That piece just creates something they love and it happens to have that kind of natural look.” Where the home, office or space is located makes a difference in how the decorators see possible designs, Ehrlich said. “Depending on where your home is sometimes dictates what kind of look you are going for,” she said. “Like a spring, well done ~ Sizzle
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lot of the homes on the lake are going for that airy, open look. Some of the houses that are being built on ranches are more Hill Country Chic. Some of them are going toward the more naturalist, muted tones, greens, khakis. It is really fun because Seguin is so diverse that you get to do and see all kinds of different things.” Each year Pantone sets the color of the year, which can change the style that people seek. “The color of the year is marsala and it is a beautiful shade of a merlot wine,” Koehler said. “It has some brown in, it doesn’t have as much red. I would pair bright colors with the marsala. I would do something that would give it a lift rather than bring it down. I think people are wanting the brighter colors, they are wanting the contrast.” While marsala may be the color of the year, it is not the dominant color in the scheme of design and more people have a new go-to for neutral, Ehrlich said. “People are doing a lot of color for accents and keeping more neutral on the furniture. Lots of people are wanting to go with grey as the new neutral,” she said. “Pastels are starting to come back which is fun.” Metal accents and accessories are still in a decorators pallet, but some take a more modern twist, Ehrlich said. “Gold is coming back, not brass,” she said. “You see a lot of mixing of the metals, which is really fun right now. You can put your silvers, your coppers and your golds and mix them, depending on the generation of people you are 26 Sizzle ~ spring, well done
Jeff Koehler shows off a decorated space in his showroom.
We sometimes need that fresh perspective of someone to come and just go abracadabra... working with.” Koehler has seen a similar trend and has seen the different style setting itself apart. “Dull brass as opposed to old fashioned shiny brass, along with chrome, steel and zinc and other metals are trending,” he said. “Brass is making a resurgence in a dull way — not in a shiny way.” And not everything has to match, Ehrlich said. “Matching furniture is out, depending on your generation,” she said. “Your end tables don’t have to match anymore.
A lot of people are going from the hard cocktail table to the soft ottoman, which are multipurpose you put you feet on them, you put your tray on them, you can put your drinks on it, you can move them around for extra seating.” And while wood furniture is always a classic, those can be mixed to match as well, Ehrlich said. “It is OK to mix your woods. You don’t have to have all cherry, all mahogany, all black finishes or painted pieces,” she said. The amount of light a room has and where it is
placed can set the tone for anything — reading a book, watching a movie or entertaining guests, Koehler said. “Lighting is becoming a really big in creating an ambience in a lot of different ways from overhead lighting to lamps, to ambient or atmospheric lighting to accent lighting,” he said. “Lighting is really important in a general sort of way. We not only want natural light, which at night we don’t have a lot of natural light, so we want a lot of light from a lot of different sources, a lot of different kinds of lights to assist us in visual ways.” Changing the view into the outside world is something that Ehrlich is seeing a lot more of. “We are seeing a lot of different things with window treatments,” she said. “Shutters have gone to a 4-and-a-half-inch louvers and when you open them they give you a really good view. You see a lot of that on the lake.” When stocking her store, Ehrlich ties to encompass a number of tastes. “Not everybody’s house is the same. You find maybe two of an item so that not every house in Seguin will look alike,” she said. “A lot of our customers come from New Braunfels so we don’t want a lot of houses looking a like. We want everybody to have a house that looks like them and reflects who they are.” Koehler said he typically starts seeing a shift in people’s decorating attitudes just after Christmas. “After the holidays it is a time that some people start to think about it and ponder and want to do something to spiff things up,” he said. “That bare-
ness after taking down the tree and all of the decorations — there is a feeling of new associated with it. It starts earlier than spring and carries through until summer.” In trying to match the personality with the room, Ehrlich tries to get into her client’s head. “Some people can see what they want, some people have no clue,” she said. “Usually I try to figure out if they are a person who wants 50 choices or three choices. I like people to bring me pictures of things they love and one picture they hate, so I know where to go.” The goal is to help people make their living space feel like their own, Koehler said. “I want whatever is done to be a reflection of them,” he said. “If that means just going inside someone’s house and working the room, then that is what we will do. I know when I walk into people’s houses sometimes I just tell them that we are going to take some in depth looks into different arrangements but that doesn’t mean that people have to buy new stuff, it means using what you have in a new way.” Both Koehler and Ehrlich like to rejuvenate a room or a space by using existing pieces. “We like to re-purpose. We like to go in and help,” Ehrlich said. “We are not going to push new things, we are going to use things that they already have and then offer ideas of what they can add to freshen it up. Sometimes it’s the small stuff that can change up a room. It might be something they have in another room or some thing we have in the store.” Koehler agreed, saying it is more of a move around instead of a complete clean out and start over. “I think there is an interest in wanting facelifts, not makeovers,” he said. “Where they are not necessarily getting a whole lot of new things, they are just wanting what they have to be placed in a new way, moved from room to room, maybe some things recovered, spruced up. A new lamp here or accessory there, but generally just facelifting a room rather than tearing a room apart and making it all new.”
K
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By Ron Maloney
I
t’s springtime! This is the time of year we typically brush down winter’s cobwebs, clean out the house, the garage and the shed on the back lawn while the temperatures and the weather cooperate so we can settle into summer ready for fun or an extended relationship with the central air conditioning unit. Of course, that summer fun is easier to afford if you’ve managed to put aside a little bit of money, and what better way to do that than adding a little thinking about energy efficiency to your spring cleaning? A lot of the work to increase a home’s energy efficiency consists of simple jobs nearly any do-it-yourselfer can tackle. Some of it is more involved and could require the help of a good handyman or small-contractor. And some of it could involve a little shopping to replace, say, that old reliable refrigerator with a newer, more energy efficient model or your television or even the central air unit itself for a modern, more energy efficient model.
First, a word about exterior maintenance... Do not defer your home’s maintenance — things like painting and patching — particularly when it comes to the home’s exterior, which is its first defense against heat or cold or any other weather, for that matter. If you’re a DIYer, good for you because much of this work, unless it’s deferred to the point that the home is falling apart, is relatively inexpensive. Look over the outside of the home. Check out the paint, the windows, the roof and gutters — or ask a pro to look at it as a roofing contractor will usually do this for nothing in hope of selling you a job — and any coverings or coatings. But the paint is where we want to focus, along with the caulking and the weatherstripping around the windows, the doors and virtually anyplace on the home where two different materials such as brick and siding or a door frame and siding meet. All such areas should be caulked to seal out drafts and insect pests. Look at the paint for “chalking” — a white dusty substance that appears on the surface of the paint or mold or mildew, which is characterized by black smears or even black dots. Much of this can be removed with either a hose and a brush dipped in water augmented by bleach or, better still, a power washer set low enough so it doesn’t damage the paint. Either way, you’ll want to clean that up at least once a year and it’s a must if you have to repaint. Look for chipped or flaking paint. This must be scraped back to solid paint, any bare wood exposed primed and then re-painted with a color coat. Bring a chip of wood with the color on it to the paint, hardware or home improvement store and employees there will be able to match it with what’s now on the home — and you’ll be able to extend the life of a paint job that cost a few thousand dollars by a few extra years, at least. 28 Sizzle ~ spring, well done
SAVING POWER SAVING MONEY Susie Camareno and the other associates at GVECHome will not only demonstrate their name-brand line of appliances, but can also help the cost-conscious consumer by explaining their energy efficient features.
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And that right there is a great investment of a few evenings or weekend afternoons. As for caulking, examine every inch of it, preferably with a caulking or putty knife. One of those five-way paint and putty knives will have a point on the side of the blade that’s very good for this. What you’re looking for is cracks, places where the caulking has pulled away from the material on either side or rot around the caulking. Use the point or edge of the tool or even a pick or a nail to dig out the old caulk, clean up the material around it and recaulk with a caulking suitable for the application, which your salesperson can recommend. And don’t be bashful about seeking some advice at the paint, hardware or home center store because employees in those places often are hired for their special expertise. Seguin Home Depot Assistant Manager Virginia Ramirez said her company looks for specialized skills when it hires its employees. “It depends on the department,” Ramirez said. “When they come in our main focus is to get someone who’s licensed or has a skill. If they’re a painter, we’d put them in paint. An electrician, we’d put in electrical. Typically, everybody who’s in our different departments has some expertise.” And if a Home Depot employee isn’t fluent in whatever project he or she is being asked about, the employee will find someone who is. “For example, I don’t know anything about electrical work, and the first thing I or any associate will say is, ‘Let me get someone who’s familiar with that.’ We want to get our customers 30 Sizzle ~ spring, well done
20 years old or even older, it should be replaced.
Inside the home...
Maintaining an energy efficient AC/Heating unit is important as it contributes to approximately 50% of your monthly electric bill. GVEC Home’s Comfort Check program can help. Photo courtesy GVEC.
to someone who has expertise in their area,” Ramirez said. Those who would like a little extra backgrounding can buy how-to books in the store or find instructions for their project at homedepot. com under the DIY Projects and Ideas button. In addition, Home Depot offers free how-to clinics on weekends. There are other methods to be employed at the home’s “envelope” such as radiant barrier paints or, in the attic, foil or, at the roof deck level by using a radiant barrier-backed sheathing such as TechShield, which is offered by Louisiana Pacific. But by far, the best bang for your renovation buck at the envelope level would be to replace your drafty old, construction-grade, aluminum-framed windows with their modern low-E counterparts. They cost several hundred dollars apiece plus installation, which is a job only best left to a certified installer, but they’ll dramatically reduce air infiltration or the effect of the sun. One more outside item worth a look is your central air conditioning compressor. To get the full benefit of years of operation on this,
be sure to have it maintained by a professional in both spring and fall. And be ready for some sticker shock when it’s time to replace that, because the entire job for even a small tract home will be several thousand dollars. When you do replace it, pay for the most efficient system — the one with the highest SEER rating — you can afford. Upgrading from a unit with a SEER of 9 to a SEER 13 can save 30 percent of your cooling costs, which can be substantial, since a central air conditioning unit is the biggest user of electricity in your home. Inside, pay attention to the filter and the condensation drain. Most filter manufacturers say they’ll last 90 days. In reality in many older homes, they’re best replaced at one-month intervals. If you see water dripping through your filter or ice on the tubing to the outdoor condenser or on its coils, you waited too long. Turn the unit off and let it thaw, replace the filter, turn it back on and get it checked out by a pro. Remember: this is about the most expensive system in your home and it’s important to take care of it. If it’s
If you don’t intend to paint this year, the inside of the home has all the same issues when it comes to weather-sealing and caulking. Remember to pay special attention to air or water leaks. That drippy faucet can, over the course of a year, rob you of a surprising amount of money when it comes to paying for the water to run down a drain. Check the toilet tanks and if you hear water running it could be time to rehab the flush mechanism — a job that can be handled by most DIYers with a couple of wrenches and a pair of pliers for well under $20. While you’re in a plumbing state of mind, perhaps the biggest place to save money is by upgrading the hot water heater to an Energy Star appliance or at the very least by covering it with a thermal blanket to retard heat loss. The cost of that is between $20-$40, and these blankets, said to be able to reduce the hot water bill by 20-35 percent, are an easy install. At the same time, buy the foam pipe shields and cover every exposed hot water pipe you can reach in your home for even more savings. Check your chargers — be sure to unplug them when not actually being used because they still draw power. Develop a habit of turning off lights, televisions, radios, stereos and computers when you’re not in the room because all will still draw power. Be sure to wash full loads of laundry or dishes and it’s the same for operating the dryer — unless you live somewhere where hanging
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clothing on a line is legal or advisable because the sun is the cheapest clothes dryer of all. Now, it’s time to talk about your home’s lighting. If you still have old-school incandescent light bulbs — the kind that burn a little filament — you shouldn’t have. They’re expensive to operate because they use a lot of energy to produce light, and they’re hot besides. And 90 percent of the energy incandescents require bleeds into the room as waste heat — heat that in the summer must be overcome by your air conditioning. They’re no longer manufactured in the United States. That basically leaves you two choices. Those are compact fluorescent bulbs and LEDs or bulbs built around a light-emitting diode. As in many other home fixtures or appliances, look for the Energy Star label for the best efficiencies. A CFL is simply a coiled version of the straight-tube fluorescent lights seen in commercial buildings, kitchens or garages. They use a lot less energy than a traditional incandescent bulb, and CFLs generally pay for themselves over the cost of incandescents in about nine months — from then on out saving you money. An added benefit is CFLs last a lot longer — about 10 times or years longer — than incandescent lighting does, so you save money that way, too. A CFL uses about one-third the energy of a halogen incandescent. One drawback to this type of bulb is each includes a small amount of mercury and so each must be recycled and not simply thrown away when no longer usable. The newest thing in lighting is the light-emitting diode (LED), which is 32 Sizzle ~ spring, well done
GVEC Home carries an array of energy efficient brand-name appliances with features that save time and money. James Myers, GVEC Home Manager, says customers are thrilled when they learn appliances are in stock ready for pickup or delivery. Photo courtesy GVEC.
a type of solid-state lighting — semiconductors that convert electricity into light. Although once used mainly for indicator and traffic lights, LEDs in white light, general illumination applications are one of today’s most energy-efficient and rapidlydeveloping technologies. ENERGY STAR-qualified LEDs use less than a quarter of the energy and last up to 25 times longer than the traditional incandescent bulbs they replace. LEDs use 25–30 percent of the energy and last 8 to 25 times longer than halogen incandescents. LED bulbs are currently available in many configurations as replacements for 40W, 60W, and 75W traditional incandescents, reflector bulbs often used in recessed fixtures, and small track lights. While LEDs are more expensive at this early stage, they still save money
because they last a long time and have very low energy use. As with other electronics, prices are expected to come down as more products enter the market and they already have in many applications. An LED light bulb that replaces a 100-watt incandescent cost $60 or more five years ago. Now, they’re getting down to the teens and are expected to fall further in price as manufacturing continues to increase. A three-bulb, “40 watt” LED set that screws into a ceiling fan fixture can be purchased at Costco for less than $10.
A critical look at your appliances... Who isn’t tired of that 15-year-old refrigerator or the automatic dishwash-
er that sounds like a rock crusher whenever it’s running? Your appliances, depending upon their age and whether you bought efficient models, offer ample opportunity to save money on electric bills. Most appliances have become more energy efficient over the years, and with appliances running up about 15 percent of your home’s annual electric bill, they can be well worth looking at. Two, the automatic dishwasher and the clothes washing machine, can be examined from the standpoint of conserving both water and electricity. The first thing, just like your home’s other systems, is to be up on maintenance. Be sure to keep screens and filters in your dishwasher and washing machine cleaned, and look at those hoses or plumbing connections every once in a while. Run full loads only. An Energy Star dishwasher uses just under six gallons of water per cycle, while an older one uses 10 or more. When it comes to the washing machine, if yours is a top-loader, just replace it with a front-loader and save yourself $150 a year. If you already have a front-loader, it’s probably not worthwhile to replace it. The government doesn’t offer an Energy Star rating for clothes dryers because their basic construction hasn’t changed in 20 years. A well-cleaned and maintained clothes dryer does its job faster than one that isn’t — and is much safer to operate. Always clean the lint trap and screens between loads and keep the inside of that vent tube clean by either changing it out or disconnecting and vacuuming it out at least
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twice a year. Filled with lint, that hose is a significant fire hazard. Refrigerators have made huge efficiency advances over the past 15 years, and a standard unit today takes 40 to 60 percent less energy to operate than one manufactured in the 1990s, so if you have an old one, it’s worth replacing because you can save up to $200 a year in electricity. If your current unit is less than 10 years old, especially if it’s an Energy Star model, it probably isn’t worth replacing because your savings would be worth $5-$20 a year. If you need help picking the best appliances for saving energy, a local electric cooperative has answers for you — and you don’t have to be a member to take advantage of the opportunity. Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative doesn’t just sell power — it also works with its members to help them save electricity. GVEC operates GVECHome appliance stores at locations in Seguin, Cuero, Gonzales and La Vernia and offers the appliances on its website at gvechome. com, but it’s much, much more than
an appliance store, GVEC Corporate Communications & Public Relations Manager Tammy Thompson says. “We have full-blown showrooms with an array of appliances — dishwashers, ovens, freezers, refrigerators, washers, dryers, water heaters and we also have air conditioning and heating sales, maintenance and repair,” Thompson said. “We sell them and have our own service people and installers.” GVEC Home Associates are highly trained and very knowledgeable about the brands GVEC Home carries and the features, benefits and efficiency ratings of those brands, Thompson said. “And that’s the sales floor associates,” Thompson said. “Our technicians can come out and inspect your units, make recommendations and make repairs. Each one carries more than 200 spare parts right on their trucks — the 200 highest-wear parts in appliances, heating and air conditioning.” Emergency service is available at all hours and every day, and there are other services as well, such as
“Comfort Check,” where technicians come out twice a year to make sure the climate control system is in good operating condition winter or summertime. GVEC Service Advisors will also conduct home energy audits for its members, showing them ways they could save money on electricity in their homes. “We don’t have these showrooms just to sell appliances,” Thompson said. “We offer these appliances and these services because they’ll save you money on your electric bill, and that’s why GVEC is in this business. There’s a philosophy of efficiency behind what we do in these homes.”
Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative offers home energy audits to its members. Call 1-800-2234832 and ask to speak to a service advisor.
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