Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition

Montgomery County Edition

June 2015

Do You Know?

James Janca

Community Builders Ghostriders

Texas Treasures Schlitterbahn

Business Focus Kwik Kar Lube and Tune

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June 2015 | Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition 3

June 2015 | Volume 4, Issue 6

Do You Know?

10

James Janca

Community Builders

18

Ghostriders

18

Texas Treasures

24

Business Focus

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Letters from Our Readers From the Publisher Dear Gabby Out of the Mouths of Babes Things My Granddaddy Said Star Students Community Postcards Along the Road

Magazine™ Published Monthly by Altom Consulting & Marketing, Inc. Publisher: Karen Altom Editor: Wes Altom

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Recipes Tickle My Funny Bone The Latest Pet Pals Garden Post “Seens” From Our World Glorious Grandkids Puzzles Calendar of Events Mustard Seed Moments

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Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition | June 2015

Features

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June 2015 | Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition 5

Letters from Our Readers

your rings aren’t just rings

My dear, lifelong friend May Etie recently sent me the January issue, and I just finished reading your column with tears welling up. I, too, wonder where the years have gone as I look upon my grandchildren. Yes, it never stops; the same feelings surface as you gaze upon your grandchildren.

As I’ve aged and lost dear friends, family, and recently my husband, I am holding dear to these memories and cherishing each moment with them. And, it’s true; it’s those simple memories that are so dear--even the ones like closing your eyes as you walk past their messy bedroom!

I look forward to reading the rest of your publication.

Dolores Breuer via E-Mail

It is a beautiful magazine, you do a great job with Postcards.

Joy Brasington via E-Mail JEWELERS SINCE 1893

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~ Gregg M. Hallbauer, DO, MCG Family Medicine Associates of Conroe

Publisher Column

Community…

...and Winning!

Community….it’s what we do is the slogan we adopted at Postcards Magazine several years ago. We are passionate about it, because we are passionate about communities. Communities bound together impact the lives of our children and each other.

Some of the ways we love to enjoy and share with our community are ticket giveaways. If you are a Facebook user, be sure to visit our page, LIKE us, and follow us. There are announcements posted here about our contest winners, along with updates and community activity information that may have come in after our print deadline.

When summer rolls around in Texas, many of us head to the water to cool off. Check out our story in this issue about a true “Texas Treasure” – Schlitterbahn! We will be giving away tickets to Schlitterbahn this summer. If you’d like a chance to win, go to our Facebook page – Postcards Magazine – Montgomery County Edition – and like and comment! Share our page with your friends, too. You get another chance to win every time you like, share, comment, and submit on our page!

We met a young lady recently at one of our community events. She was thrilled to receive tickets to Schlitterbahn, and she couldn’t wait for Visit Our

her mom and dad to schedule the time to take their family to Galveston for a fun-filled day. We had a blast ast getting to know her. We looked up a short time later, and here she came prepared to do a video “interview “interview” with me to help people get to know US better!

How cool is that? It’s one of the reasons we do what we do—because in a great community…we’re all winners!

Until next time ~ Karen P.S. In case you missed the memo, our advertisers are first rate! How about looking through ads in this issue with the intention of finding a Father’s Day gift for dear old Dad? It’s another win/win for community!!!

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June 2015 | Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition 7

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Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition | June 2015

Dear Gabby Welcome back to the Dear Gabby advice column.

The only whistles I get anymore are from my tea kettle, but I have found my perfect radio station!

I used to listen to “Oldies�, but now I listen to remakes called “Real Oldies.� Like “You’re So Varicose Vein� by Carly Simon, “How Can You Mend A Broken Hip?� by the Bee Gees, and “I Get By with a Little Help from Depends� by the Beatles. My advice might be a little salty, but this old “seasoned citizen� has been around the block a few times and knows what’s good for you. Send a letter to Dear Gabby at PostcardsLive.com/share, and I’ll tell you.

DEAR GABBY I don’t date much, but have met a new guy that I like a lot. He rarely takes me out, but likes to spend every moment with me when I’m not working. He doesn’t like for me to socialize with my friends, just spend time with him, so I think he really likes me, too. Something happened the other day that makes me wonder about him, and I’d like your opinion. I saw a little key on his key ring; I had never seen one like it before. When I asked about it, he said it fit the lock on a box where he keeps his important papers. A police officer came to my workplace the next day and laid his keys on the counter to pay. He had one of those keys on his ring, and he told me it was a handcuff key. Why would my boyfriend have one, and why would he lie about it?

NOT THE KEY TO MY HEART

Working Together. Helping You Heal.

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DEAR NOT Well, I can explain it to you, but I can’t understand it for you. In addition to several other red flags that your letter raises about your beau’s behavior, I can think of only a few reasons why a man would need a handcuff key. I got the distinct impression that this fellow is not in law enforcement. If it’s for any other reason, I’m not going there, and I recommend you don’t, either. He is trouble, young lady, and is likely in trouble as well. I can only advise you to run, don’t walk, away from this man.

Send in your Dear Gabby question today!

PostcardsLive.com/share

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Do You Know?

We are now open at our new location

James Janca

Family Medicine Associates of Conroe

The East Texas “Cross Guy�

Office of Dr. Gregg M. Hallbauer is pleased to announce its New Location 2236 N. Loop 336

By Winston Spencer, Jr. Photos by Kelly Sue Photography Meet James D. Janca (pronounced John-Cha), a uniquely spiritual man. He exhibits this through his craftsmanship and his creed. Born in Luling, Texas and now living in Conroe, Janca displays a powerful passion for working with wood. Blessed with truly gifted hands and a keen eye, his works of art have inspired multitudes. From humble beginnings, he has developed quite a reputation.

From his decorative, yet usable bowls to the character of each and every handmade cross, Janca has become affectionately known as the East Texas “Cross Guy.�

What do you look for when selecting the right tree for your work?

How did you learn how to do this?

About three years ago, a friend of mine told me to go look on Craig’s List. I got on it and found a guy selling a wood lathe for $200 bucks.

I told my wife that I wanted to buy this wood lathe just to see if I could turn wood.

Why is that?

A long time ago, I used to make custom furniture. Well, I say a long time ago because I’m old. I’m 59. But I just turned 59 on May the 4th.

What did you make?

I made cabinets and just about anything.

But I got out of the wood business. Later, I told my wife that I wanted a wood lathe. My two sons and my wife found someone who had one and surprised me on my birthday. I went to work and burned it up in six months. I got another one, and I’m looking for another one now—because you always have to be looking for something bigger and better.

I don’t cut live trees, but I look for trees that have mushrooms growing on them because of spalting. I learned that spalting really puts the character in the wood. So, the black streaks and all the other character you see in it is caused by this natural process. That’s always the first thing I look for—the character of the wood. I’ll go and find a tree and cut it into slabs. Then I’ll take it into my shop and lay out how I want a You don’t use a wood lathe for your famous crosses do you? cross to look. After that, I cut it all out.

Where do you find these trees?

All over, everywhere. I have people call me all the time. Sometimes people call me and tell me they have a dead oak tree, and I’ll go get it.

When they call, it’s all different types of wood.

No, the first thing I started making was candle stands. I’d make them and put candles on them. I’d go to little shows on the weekend, and that’s really how this all started.

Someone else suggested I should make bowls.

So I started turning bowls. They all start off as a block of wood. Then I put it in my wood

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June 2015 | Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition 11

“Building the American Dream�

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You will love your new home. I guarantee it�

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Janca adds turquoise to fill large cracks or wormholes in the wood

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Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition | June 2015

What about the crosses you make?

Well, this one here is made from hickory wood and, as you can feel, all my crosses are made of solid wood—you can feel how heavy they are. All are solid; nothing is processed or manufactured. My process goes something like this. One day, I’ll come home and cut all the slabs.

The next day, I’ll lay out all the crosses and I’ll cut them. I like to call that my rough cut. The next day, I’ll come in and have to sand them down. After that, I go to the turquoise stage. Once I turquoise them, I let them dry, and I come back and sand them down again. After I finish sanding them, I take them and seal them.

I like to use sand and sealer on them. Just about every cross gets probably about five coats on them.

From a simple slab of wood are you able to see the cross within it?

Usually, yes. When I cut a log or when I think I know where I want to cut it. If it doesn’t look right, then I’ll turn it around, or I may have to cut it in a different direction.

Why is that?

I try to cut it so as to get most of the true character out of the wood. As you can see, this is true spalting, and this cut really brings out the true character of this wood. This particular type of wood for this cross is hackberry. It’s from the family of the elm tree; it’s real blond, or what I like to call light-colored wood. But when it spalts, it puts all the character

you would normally expect to see in wood, like the dark streaks. They me how long each piece of wood would need to be and at what angle all take a while to make, and they are all hand-carved.

I need to cut them in order to make the ring.

What are some of the other things you make now?

What do you do next?

One day I was just tinkering around on the Internet. On this day, what you might call a segmented bowl came up. A segmented bowl is nothing more than a bunch of little blocks of wood that have been glued together into a ring, then you turn it. They can take quite a bit of time to make, but when you look at them, you can see this is one continuous ring.

I then put them together with a rubber band as I’m doing it. But I’ll put them on my jig table and put rubber bands around these screws.

I do that because, once you try and start gluing and putting them together, everything wants to try and move on you. Then I’ll take to my press and press it. Then I let it set for one hour.

What happens then?

How do you know how to place the blocks of wood?

I put it on my lathe and just surface the face of it until it’s good and I’m self-taught on Excel. I came up with my own formula that they flat. Then I put another ring on it. I can usually do about three rings call arguments. It tells me that, for instance, if I want a ring about ten in a day. Then I let it set overnight. inches and I want to put 20 pieces of wood in it—this program will tell

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June 2015 | Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition 13

So what was your sequence when it comes to things What is it about a cross? you learned to make?

I have just been blessed with the ability to I started off with candle stands, then went to bowls have a vision of making something. It started in and later segmented bowls, then crosses. Two years Fredericksburg. My wife and I were on a weekend ago, I started looking at my culls and thought to trip. We went into this one store, and they had all myself that it looked like something. So I hand-cut these hanging crosses everywhere. I told her that my first cross. It took me two weeks. I didn’t know I could make those. So she encouraged me. That’s about sanding or anything. My youngest son told how I think it really started. I lost my mother when me that these will sell. I said, “Do you think so?� and I was only nine. We went back to Luling to attend he said yes. That’s been two years and 3,500 crosses my aunt’s funeral service and stopped by to visit ago. I still get orders for bowls, but I just don’t have my mother’s grave. I had forgotten all about it, but the time to turn them anymore. on my mother’s grave is a four and a half foot cross, and I thought to myself, “How ironic is that? Here is Who sells the crosses for you? a cross on my mother’s tombstone, and now I make Robert Ernst at Ernst Jewelers in Huntsville; I’m in them.� I’m still amazed at how they turn out.

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Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition | June 2015

Things my Granddaddy said...

Out of the Mouths of Babes...

Wise and witty ways to talk like our grandparents This feature is dedicated to sharing all those hysterical things that come out of the mouths of little ones. They’re probably the stories that you’ve told over and over for years... we look forward to hearing yours!

Submitted by Wes Grossie

My mom used to say this about people who didn’t tell the truth: “A bird can’t fly very far before his tail (tale) catches up with him!”

He’s got more money than Carters has oats (or liver pills).

People would ask my dad, “How’s it going?” and he would reply, “Just going round and round like a brace and bit.”

(These were used to drill holes in days before electric drills.)

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My son and his family went to dinner at a steakhouse to celebrate his birthday. The waitress asked my 5 year-old grandson Luke what he would like to eat, and Luke said, “Steak, please.” She then asked him how he would like it cooked, and he said, “The microwave is fine.”

Betty Stevens

My 5 year-old was sliding headfirst down the stairs (on purpose), and I told her to stop (for fear she would start somersaulting). She got up, turned to look at me with her hands on her hips, and said, “Why, mom--am I totally freaking you out or what?”

Kathryn

As my 3 year-old nephew was heading outside, Nana asked him where he was going. He replied, “Going crazy, Nana.” Funny kid!

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June 2015 | Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition 15

Star Students

Ă•

Brandon Vance

Ă• Ă• Rhegan Maynard Willis High School

Willis High School

Ă•

Favorite Movie: The Fault in Our Stars Favorite Music/Artist: Taylor Swift

Favorite Movie: Lion King, Frozen

Favorite Food: Pasta

Favorite Music/Artist: Avenged Sevenfold

Favorite Quote: “She put on her lipstick and conquered the world.�

Favorite Food: A simple PB&J with a tall glass of milk Favorite Quote: “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.� ~ Mahatma Gandhi

B

randon is a senior at Willis High School and is the son of Lela Vance. His activities include National English Honor Society and volunteering at the Montgomery County Animal Shelter. Following graduation, Brandon plans to attend Iowa State University to study chemical engineering, then pursue a graduate degree at Texas A&M. He hopes to find or create renewable energy sources. His philosophy is, “It is my duty in life to further the prosperity of humanity.�

~ Kate Spade

R

hegan is a senior at Willis High School and is the daughter of Larry and Cindy Owens. Her activities include National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, and she is co-editor of the school newspaper. Following graduation, Rhegan plans to attend Texas A&M University, then one day own her own successful business.

Her philosophy is, “Always find happiness in the worst of times, because God has a perfect plan for you.�

Mark Peters, D.D.S. $ENTISTRY 7ITH %XCELLENCE

Proudly sponsoring the Star Students of our area!

Nominate your Star

Student...

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The “dumbing down� and elimination of the father as the spiritual leader of the family is tragic. Many families are broken, splintered, and injured, strewn along the roadside of convenient and easy divorce. We are seeing the tremendously high price paid by all of us within this catastrophic debacle! In fact, some would say that even the “Christian� family is in “MELTDOWN!� mode...There is only one hope for the state of affairs in our modern, broken families, and that hope is through Jesus Christ!

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Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition | June 2015

Brooke Stout

Õ

Caney Creek High School

Õ

Õ

Star Students

Micah Hurst Willis High School

Favorite Movie: The Fault in Our Stars

Favorite Music/Artist: Devour The Day Favorite Food: Tacos

Favorite Quote: “Do not judge me by my successes; judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” ~ Nelson Mandela

B

rooke is a senior at Caney Creek High School and is the daughter of Marc and Karen Stout. Her activities include soccer, volleyball, track, BETA Club, Leo Club, and Interact. Brooke plans to attend the University of Texas-San Antonio to major in biology.

She hopes to become a pediatrician. She believes the choices you make now impact your life in the future.

Favorite Movie: Interstellar Favorite Music/Artist: Taylor Swift Favorite Food: Chicken strips

Õ

Favorite Quote: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” ~ Steve Jobs

M

icah is a senior at Willis High School and is the son of Timothy and Cathy Hurst. He is in the National Honor Society, where he serves as activities director.

He also is active in church and works at Best Buy. Following graduation, Micah plans to attend Texas A&M University, then law school, followed by a career as a criminal defense attorney.

His philosophy is, “Respect others, and treat them how you would want to be treated.”

June 2015 | Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition 17

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Community Builders

Ghostriders 1-158th Aviation Regiment

By Ruth Fields Photos by Jeff Wyatt The whiteboard in Lt. Col. Drew Cecil’s office is covered with reminders, and he uses a handy eraser when he has completed each task. Like many career men and women, Cecil is highly organized. He spends a lot of his time solving problems, planning ahead to meet goals, and working with people he manages. Other aspects of Cecil’s job, however, are quite different from those of his civilian counterparts. A helicopter pilot, combat veteran, and career Army officer, Cecil is the commander of the 1-158th Aviation Regiment, the “Ghostriders,” an Army Reserve unit based in Conroe.

Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Cecil began his military career when he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point.

He was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation in 1996.

In 2001, his career took on a new dimension when he attended flight

school and became qualified to fly the AH-64D Apache Longbow, an attack helicopter. As a captain, Cecil commanded B Company, 8-229th Aviation Regiment and spent nearly a year and a half in Iraq during 2004 and 2005.

Cecil is a full-time member of the Army Reserve. Most reservists train one weekend a month (at what the Army calls “battle assemblies”) and for two weeks of annual training during the summer, juggling civilian jobs and part-time military jobs. Cecil is part of the skeletal team that keeps the unit on task throughout the year.

“Our duty is to prepare for the weekends,” Cecil says. “For every two days of execution, it takes 20 to 22 days of planning. We are never planning for the next month. We are always planning four months out.” As a battalion commander, Cecil decides when the unit will

»

June 2015 | Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition 19

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train, which parts of the Army’s Mission Essential Task List (METL) the soldiers will address, and plans for future battle assemblies accordingly.

Because the Ghostriders are an aviation unit, much of the training involves aviation operations.

It’s difficult to equate his job to one in the civilian sector, but Cecil compares his military assignment to a management position in a large company. He is responsible for a lot of costly equipment, and he strives to get the best from those who work for him. He spends a lot of his time mentoring the soldiers under his command, especially the six captains who serve as company commanders in the unit.

H

“As a battalion commander, I provide guidance and direction to the organization. I pour a lot of time into my company commanders,” Cecil says. “This past battle assembly, I spent greater than eight hours over two days with them one-on-one, hearing their ideas, interacting with them, and giving them feedback on their ideas. I provide the focus and direction.” Because he has been in the Army nearly 20 years, he says, he knows from experience what will work—and what won’t—in many situations.

In addition, because Cecil is a pilot, he flies at least once a week. “It’s sort of my stress relief,” he says. “Flying is a lot of fun.”

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On June 11, Cecil will relinquish command. He, his wife Tracy, and their three children (Mark [11], Gwen [9], and Adam [5]) will move to beautiful Vicenza, Italy, the headquarters of United States Army Africa (USARAF) and the 173rd Airborne Brigade.

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The Patriots of the 1-158th Aviation Regiment Loosely translated, the mission of the Ghostriders is to conduct reconnaissance and security operations to obtain information, provide reaction time, and (if needed) to attack enemy forces in combat. Because it is an Army Reserve unit, the Ghostriders are a national force.

“The United States Army Reserve is a federal force under the direction of the commander in chief,” Cecil explains. (The National Guard— sometimes confused with the Army Reserve—is a state force under the authority of the governor, but can also be called into national service.)

The stated goal of the Ghostriders is to remain the premier unit among the eight aviation battalions in the Army Reserve.

There are currently 450 people assigned to the Ghostriders and its Aviation Support Facility (ASF). (The ASF’s primary task is to maintain the unit’s aircraft so that they can be used for training.) Cecil compares the Ghostriders and the ASF to different halves of the best team.

“It’s sort of like a team with offense and defense,” he says. “The two don’t exist without the other. They are symbiotic.” Even with 450 people, the Ghostriders have room for more. While pilots generally come to mind, there are many other jobs that must be filled, including aircraft crew chiefs, vehicle mechanics, fuel specialists, cooks, and medics. “We are actively recruiting people,” he says.

While active duty soldiers concentrate all their energy on their fulltime jobs in the U. S. Army and are deployed frequently, reservists face other challenges. “These people who volunteered to be in the Army Reserve also have a full time job and a family,” Cecil notes. “They are trying to juggle three major things—a job that pays the bills, the Army, and a family—and you don’t want any of those balls to drop. That’s a lot to keep in the air at one time.”

The pace on battle assembly weekends is fast and focused, Cecil says, as soldiers strive to accomplish as much as possible. They know their next opportunity to get their jobs done will be about a month in the future. It’s hard work, and it is sandwiched between two full work

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They joined because they want to serve the nation. These are people who live and work locally and also are members of the USAR. They are locals who have stepped up. weeks, but the soldiers don’t seem to mind. “A lot of them get energized by the opportunity to do something different on the weekends,�

Cecil says. For soldiers in some key positions, the weekend just isn’t long enough, and they spend some of their own time throughout the month to make sure their military jobs are completed.

Another hardship is reservists sometimes live far from major military posts. When Army Reserve units deploy—such as the Ghostriders’ deployment with its sister battalion, the 8-229th Aviation Regiment, to Iraq in 2011—military families sometimes face fear and loneliness. While many spouses live near family and friends, it can be comforting to have the support of a military post and a large network of friends who understand the unique worries of military spouses, says Tracy Cecil. When her husband was deployed for 17 months, she says she struggled with loneliness and a “woe is me� attitude.

The Ghostriders, however, are grateful so many local organizations, including the

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Cecil says. “We appreciate the support of the community. I have never seen anything like it.�

Despite the challenges, Cecil says, many soldiers in the Army Reserve like being able to live and work in the area, yet still be able to serve their country. “The people in this unit want to deploy,� he says. “They joined because they want to serve the nation. A very small percentage of the nation has served, and it’s probably getting smaller by the day. These are people who live and work locally and also are members of the USAR. They are locals who have stepped up.�

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Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition | June 2015

Community Postcards

WISD Superintendent Tim Harkrider congratulates the May MVP Sharon Hill. Co-workers Carol Rodgers and Betsy Hodum helped Five WHS stars took home the top honor in their sport at the 10th Annual Mike Ogg All Montgomery County Scholar Athlete Awards surprise Hill with the award at a recent board of trustees meeting.

Ceremony at the Lone Star Convention Center. Grogan Matthews was Submitted by Erin Kleinecke honored for baseball and football. WHS Salutatorian Allison Brown took home the top spot in tennis. State Qualifier John Lewis was named the top male athlete in track and field. Chalance Bishop took Lone Star College-Montgomery the honors in female wrestling, while Sarah Elmore was honored in nursing student Darla Miller swimming and diving. Overall, WHS student athletes were awarded was recently recognized during more than $6,800 in scholarship money. nurse’s week for her hard work Submitted by Erin Kleinecke and dedication in the May 2015 Salute to Nurses edition of the Houston Chronicle, at a recognition luncheon, and with a student Submit your photo & description: scholarship.

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Schlitterbahn New Braunfels www.schlitterbahn.com

By Winston Spencer, Jr. Submitted Photos For 17 years running, Schlitterbahn, originating in New Braunfels, has remained the number one waterpark on the planet. This themed waterpark and year-round resort has risen to become one of the most popular summertime destinations for families in the United States. Centrally located between Austin and San Antonio, it has 40 water attractions on more than 70 acres. Situated along the banks of the spring-fed Comal River, it’s also arguably one of the most kid-friendly settings in the country.

In keeping with the region’s original German roots, the name “Schlitterbahn� was actually derived from a combination of two German words. Schlitter meaning slippery and bahn meaning road. It all started out as the dream of Billy and Bob Henry. “What many people don’t realize is that it started as a resort,� said spokeswoman Winter Prosapio. “They purchased what was known at that time as the Landa Resort. Later, they wanted a place for their children to have fun.� They looked out over a lengthy area of trees spring-watered in the Texas Hill Country.

Having had three children, the Henrys envisioned and later placed a tube chute for their children to play in a wholesome environment.

“By the late 1970s, conventional theme parks began to look at ways to incorporate water along with their already existing attractions,� continued Prosapio. “As a result, the Henrys discovered they had already invented one.�

With only four water slides, Schlitterbahn officially opened in 1979. The now iconic German fashioned tower, on which the water slides begin, was styled after the Solms Castle in Germany. Often imitated, the Henry family continues to create new and more innovative ways of waterborne fun. Schlitterbahn revolutionized the industry.

Today, Schlitterbahn New Braunfels boasts as many as four times the number of rides of all other water parks within more than a 200 mile radius. Along with its natural landscape of hundred year-old cedar and cypress trees, it has as many as twice the attractions of any other water theme park within a 500 mile radius.

This year, the new Tubenbach area offers a number of beaches and other attractions. It’s now possible to enjoy the new rides in this area without standing in line. In addition to offering the longest water tubing

excitement in the world, this area also features something else special.

The trademark “Transportainment River� lets guests remain in the water while effortlessly floating throughout the Eastern Schlitterbahn area.

Patrons may also take pleasure in the award-winning, immensely popular Master Blaster. This feature begins six stories up in the famed “Blast Tower� in the Blastenhoff area. The limitless “Torrent Wave River� is sure to provide wave after wave of relief from boredom.

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The first of its kind surfing wave, the “Boogie Bahn� can be found in the Surfenburg area. Another first is the uphill water coaster “Dragon’s Revenge.� Who says water only flows downhill? Don’t forget to circle the giant “Squirt’n Sliden� play area in the “Kristal River.�

Round out your family’s excitement at the home of the “Signature Schlitterbahn Castle.�

This original park section features eight water tube chutes, a wave pool, seven play areas for kids, and the trendy “swim up bar.� The “Soda Straw,� “Down Hill Racer,� “The Congo,� and “Raging River� may all be enjoyed under beautiful trees and rolling landscape. “We take great pride in our unwavering commitment to developing new and innovative parks, rides, and technologies while keeping the focus on our family friendly amenities and values,� explained Gary Henry, Schlitterbahn’s

president and CEO. “Not only have we created industry firsts such as the “Boogie Bahn� surf rides, our “Master Blaster� uphill water slides, tidal wave rivers, Transportainment-based and convertible water parks, but we have also continued to offer our world-class guest amenities including free parking, free use of tubes, and the option to bring in picnic meals for free into all of our parks.�

This season, Schlitterbahn New Braunfels is also doing something different with its menu items. “This year, we’re doing some really fun things with food—like our new B&B Barbeque,�

Prosapio said. “Our buns will be baked fresh daily by Naegelin’s Bakery. It’s an institution in this state.�

Naegelin’s is known for its baked goods, fresh cookies, pies, and pastries. Also a family run business, it is the longest continuously

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Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition | June 2015

Schlitterbahn

Fun Facts • You’d think moving 36,000 gallons of water per minute would take the most modern of technology.

However, Schlitterbahn uses one of the oldest architectural tools, an Archimedes screw to get the job done. The device was invented in the Third Century B.C. and uses the screw’s twisting action to move the water uphill like a conveyor belt.

• Schlitterbahn took Loblolly Pines from the Bastrop wildfire and repurposed them into furniture, paneling, and cabanas at every park. This reclaimed wood saved the community considerable expense and allowed this Texas forest to have a second life everywhere from South Padre to Kansas City. The pines had been destined to be turned into mulch.

• Schlitterbahn has a threestory Christmas Shoppe open year-round.

• Schlitterbahn reclaims 96-98% of the water it uses and utilizes sophisticated filtration systems to ensure water quality.

• Schlitterbahn uses parts from the decommissioned USS General John Pope, a navy troop transport used in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The ship had been launched in 1943 and ended up in Brownsville, Texas for dismantling. You can see lifeboats and cots used as shade structures throughout the park.

• If all the tubes at every Schlitterbahn were placed side by side, you’d be jumping from tube to tube for eight miles.

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operated bakery in the state of Texas. “All our guests can get great gingerbread and pecan pie,� continued Prosapio. “We are also raising the bar with our quality, more organic grass-fed beef and other quality meats.� Don’t worry, those fabulous (almost sinful) funnel cakes aren’t going anywhere. “They’ll be loaded,� continued Prosapio. “We’ll offer new flavors like red velvet and cookies and cream, with plenty of your favorite powdered sugar to boot.�

Had enough fun for the day? Relax with Schlitterbahn’s “Stay and Play.� This package offers unlimited use of the water park during the season, as well as extended access to other attractions. Amenities include hot tubs, free Wi-Fi, and shuttle transportation to the parks.

Check out the other year-round timeless conveniences of the resort as well. Families can take in the beauty of the Texas Hill Country in addition to the water park. Enjoy a quiet getaway with great accommodations, fit for almost any vacation need.

The new Treehaus Luxury Suites offers upscale lodging with a treetop view. These suites can accommodate as many as twelve; they are three bedrooms equipped with two baths. With a view of the Comal River, the Riverbend Cabins are also new. These suites render one or two bedrooms, complete with full kitchens and large common areas.

Across the river from the Surfenburg area are the Schlitter Stein Lofts. These two bedroom,

two bath lofts feature a more urban feel. With a private patio viewing the Comal River, each loft comes with a queen bed for each bedroom and a leather sofa that converts into two twin beds.

On the original Landa Resort site, take your pick from bungalows, condos, suites, cottages, or hotel rooms. Far from the usual run-of-themill, garden variety entertainment options, Schlitterbahn offers a truly one-of-a-kind experience that is a Texas original.

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Along the Road

Colonel Robert Simonton Gould Robert Simonton Gould was a Confederate Army officer, lawyer, judge, and law professor. He was born in North Carolina, then moved with his widowed mother to Alabama and graduated from

the University of Alabama in 1844. He taught mathematics and studied law. He opened a law office in Mississippi before moving to Centerville, Texas in 1850. He was elected district attorney, then judge, but resigned to raise a battalion for the Confederate Army. Following the war, Gould served on the Texas Supreme Court, including a period as Chief Justice.

He was one of the first two professors of law at the University of Texas, teaching for over 20 years before resigning due to illness and dying soon thereafter.

He was remembered as a hard-working, gentle man and as a sympathetic and respected professor. The marker is 2 miles south of Buffalo on US79.

Colonel Robert Simonton Gould - (1826-1904) Born in North Carolina. Educated at University of Alabama. Came to Texas in 1850. Practiced law in Centerville.

Served as the first district attorney, then as judge in the Old 13th Judicial District. Represented Leon County as member of Secession Convention, 1861.

Afterward, as this county voted 534 to 82 in favor of secession, raised locally troops which as Co.

B, became nucleus for 6th Texas Cavalry (or Gould’s) Battalion, in the Confederate Army. First as major, then as colonel, Gould led battalion for 4 years in Louisiana and Texas. Saw duty in Red River campaign to prevent invasions of Texas, fighting in the 1864 repulses of Federals at Mansfield and Pleasant Hill. At Jenkins Ferry, Ark., Col. Gould had his horse killed under him. After the war he was reelected judge of the

Old 13th District, but was removed in 1867 by military authorities in charge of reconstruction in Texas. Appointed assistant justice of Texas Supreme Court in 1874, he was afterwards elected, and served until Dec. 31, 1882 (being chief justice in 1880-1882). Was named, along with Governor O. M. Roberts, as one of two first professors of law at the University of Texas, holding tenure 18831899. Died in Austin.

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Recipes

Easy Crock Pot Potato Soup Ingredients: 1 30 oz bag frozen diced hashbrowns

chicken soup, and half of the bacon bits. Add a pinch of salt and pepper.

1 32 oz box chicken broth 1 can cream of chicken soup (10 oz) 1 pkg cream cheese (8 oz, not fat free) 3 oz bacon bits 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese salt and pepper to taste Directions: 1. Put the potatoes in the crockpot. Add in the chicken broth, cream of

2. Cook on low for 8 hours or until potatoes are tender.

3. An hour before serving, cut the cream cheese into small cubes. Place the cubes in the crock pot.

4. Mix a few times throughout the hour before serving.

Hasselback Garlic Cheesy Bread

5. Once the cream cheese is completely mixed in, it’s ready to serve.

Ingredients: 1 cup warm water

6. Top with cheddar cheese and some additional bacon bits.

1 Tbs honey 1 envelope active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp) 1 teaspoon salt 3 cups bread flour

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Directions: 1. In a large bowl, stir water, honey, and yeast together.

Let yeast proof 5 minutes.

Once you know yeast is active, stir in salt and the flour in 1/4 cup increments.

If you are using a stand mixer, be sure to not increase your speed higher than a 2 or ‘stir’. Once dough starts pulling away from the sides and the bowl seems to be pretty clean, set a timer for 5 minutes and walk away.

Let the machine knead the dough. After 5 minutes, dough should be smooth and tacky, but when touched shouldn’t leave any dough on your fingers.

2. Grease the bowl and the dough. Cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel

and let rise 1 hour or until doubled in size.

3. Punch down dough and cut into two equal portions.

Form into two long baguettes the length of the cookie sheet. I like to twist mine because it looks cool, but it also keeps its length and doesn’t shrink. Cover with plastic wrap and rise 30 minutes.

4. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

5. Once oven is preheated, remove plastic wrap from the dough, reduce oven to 350, put the bread into the oven, and bake 20 minutes.

6. In the meantime, slice the cheese into thin slices and melt the butter.

7. Pull loaves of bread out of the oven after 20 minutes and brush with the melted garlic butter.

8. Bake another 5-7 minutes or until bread begins to turn a golden brown.

9. Remove from oven and cool 15 minutes.

10. Cut 1-inch slices 3/4 of the way through the loaves.

11. Brush garlic butter in between each slice and fill with a slice of cheese.

12. Bake another 3-5 minutes or until cheese is completely melted.

13. Serve immediately.

Salted Caramel Sweet Squares Crust Ingredients 1/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Shop Downtown Huntsville

2/3 cup pretzels, crushed

1/4 cup butter, softened Fudge Ingredients 1 1/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup evaporated milk

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons butter

cooking spray

2 cups marshmallows

Caramel Ingredients 2 14-oz bags caramel pieces

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup milk

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1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Crust Directions 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray an 8Ă—8 pan with cooking spray.

2. Beat the brown sugar, butter, vanilla, and salt with a mixer at medium speed until well blended.

3. Add the flour to the sugar mixture and mix until well-blended.

4. Firmly press mixture into bottom of the pan.

5. Bake for 10-15 minutes.

Caramel Directions 6. While crust is baking, combine milk and caramels in a medium saucepan.

7. Place over low heat and cook until the candies are completely melted, stirring occasionally.

8. Stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla and remove from heat.

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9. In a separate bowl, mix the pecan and crushed pretzels together.

10. Remove the crust from the oven.

11. Pour the caramel mixture (but reserve some for the topping) evenly over the hot crust.

12. Sprinkle with the pretzel/pecan mixture.

13. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Let cool completely.

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Fudge Directions 14. Start making the fudge only after the crust and caramel have completely cooled.

15. Combine the sugar, evaporated milk and butter in a saucepan.

16. Bring to a boil over medium heat and stir constantly.

17. Let it boil for about 5 minutes.

18. Remove from heat; stir in the marshmallows and chocolate chips until melted and combined.

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22. Add a pinch of salt to the caramel and drizzle over the fudge layer.

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23. Take a knife and gently run it through the salted caramel to make a marbled design.

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24. Chill, set, and cut into squares.

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19. Add vanilla and stir.

20. Pour fudge mixture on top of cooled crust mixture.

21. Warm the reserved caramel in the microwave.

Coffee Served 9-5

Share your favorite recipes with us!

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June 2015 | Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition 31

Tickle My Funny Bone Husband: Do you know what a pirate’s favorite letter is?

PostcardsLive.com/share

Wife: That’s obvious...the letter “R�

Husband: Nope! It’s the “C�

A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the freeway. Glancing at the car, he was astounded to see the blonde behind the wheel was knitting!

Realizing she was oblivious to his flashing lights and siren, the trooper cranked down his window, turned on his bullhorn and yelled, “PULL OVER!� “NO!� the blonde yelled back, “IT’S A SCARF!�

A girl was visiting her Aggie friend, who had acquired two new dogs, and asked what their names were. The Aggie responded by saying one was named Rolex and one was named Timex. The friend said, “Whoever heard of someone naming dogs like that?� “Well...they’re watchdogs!�

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Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition | June 2015

KimsHomeandGardenCenter.com

Update on

§ latest

Jack Murray Update Written By Ruth Fields Photos provided by Jack Murray Racing

Carefully balancing automobile racing with his collegiate studies, Montgomery High School graduate Jack Murray continues to find success at the racetrack. Racing a Spec Iron Mustang GT, he entered 25 races in 2014, won 3, and made it to the podium at 18. He was in the top 5 at 20 races, and placed second overall in the National Auto Sport Association series. In the future, he hopes to race at the Trans-Am Series or the Pirelli World Challenge.

Jack, a 20-year-old sophomore computer science major at the University of Texas at Dallas, is also a dedicated student. “The classes are starting to become a little bit more difficult and require a little more work, but I still make time to go to the important races,� he says. During downtime at the racetrack, he does homework.

DON’T

TOUCH THAT DIAL!

Pick up the phone instead, and call us to get tuned up for the

Appeared ďŹ rst in April-May 2014

Summer!

Read story online postcardslive.com “I like to think I am pretty good at getting my homework done,� he says. “It’s almost a constant thing. Whenever I am not actively talking to people who come by the pits, I am usually sitting off to the side, seriously working on homework.�

Jack began racing go-karts when he was 5 years old and switched to stock car racing when he was 11. His dream is to race professionally; however, he is committed to his pursuit of a degree in computer science. “If I can get a stable enough job in a field I enjoy, I can do racing on the side and maybe transition to that in the years to come,� he says. “Racing is the dream, but it’s always good to have a back-up plan.�

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June 2015 | Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition 33

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The

Garden Post

free topsoil in our area if available in hardwood varieties such as red cedar, you’re growing vegetables). cypress, black mulch and red mulch. Pine wood mulch is a softer wood that should be used in Topsoil in East Texas is landscapes with azaleas, camellias, fern, roses, a very light, sandy loam, and other acid loving plants. A heavy application grayish in color with a high of hardwood mulch on acid loving plants, over a amount of river bottom sand. We use topsoil to

by Kim Bius long period of time, will change the ph of the soil, fill in low areas of the lawn, filler in the bottom of resulting in “limey� green foliage and eventually large containers, backfill for retaining walls, to build death. Mulch should be applied 2-3 times a year berms, for raising soil levels, and as a base filler for and freshened by “turning the mulch over� every oil additives are “additions� we add to our large gardens. Do not be fooled; many topsoils here existing soils to give them the nutrients three months with a leaf rake for maximum benefit. have strong nutrients and the soil components needed to successfully grow plants, and the throughout our area vary greatly.

Mushroom compost is the planting medium used desired plant determines the desired recipe for the at the mushroom factory in Madisonville and an soil. For example, roses require a growing medium Mulch is available in a multitude of wood varieties excellent growing additive for veggie and herb of 1/3 sand, 1/3 humus, and 1/3 peat moss (almost that claim a multitude of “cures.â€? Mulch is available gardening. Fresh mushroom compost can be “hotâ€?, the same as an azaleas, without the sand). Our fine ground, shredded, and in large wood chunks still releasing nitrogen at such a high rate that it natively sandy topsoil does not provide the best with bits of fine ground in it. Shredded bark stays “steamsâ€?‌.in this case, the compost must be allowed growing medium for beautiful roses, so we add “soil in place, does not float, does not attract fire ants to age a few months before use. The best way to use (large chunks do), and has enough consistency to additivesâ€? in proportion to our recipe. mushroom compost is to allow to age for 6 months last six months before replacement. Yes, bark mulch Knowing what type soil you have is a great way with a heavy black plastic tarp placed over it. Bagged has to be replaced. It is an organic product that to start a garden. A simple soil test will help mushroom compost is sterilized and ready for use. decomposes with time, adding nutrients to your you determine the nitrogen, phosphorous, and soil as it decomposes‌.so potassium content of your garden area. These tests you get the benefit on are available at many garden centers and at the Kim Stewart Bius is the president of Kim’s Home and both ends. DO NOT extension service office. After you get your results, Garden Center and Stewart’s Garden Center, Inc. with APPLY PLASTIC take them to a garden center you know has certified over 30 years of experience in the garden and landscape MULCH TO YOUR nurserymen and enough experience to know the industry. Questions or comments should be directed to BEDS FOR ANY many various amendments available to get your soil kim@kimshomeandgardencenter.com REASON. Mulch is to the correct ratio. Remember, nitrogen is for root and top growth (stems, leaves etc), phosphorous is for flower and fruit production, and potassium is for overall hardiness and cold heat tolerance. Ever wonder why your tomato plant was 5’ tall with little to no tomatoes? Generally, because it was fertilized with a high nitrogen fertilizer or fresh manure/ mushroom compost amendment. All growth from the nitrogen went to the plant growth and not to the fruit production (thus why a balanced fertilizer is important).

Soil Additives

S

Planting/Landscape Mix is a ready-made, semisoil less amendment to be added to existing beds to give them the addition of the following ingredients: growers sand, black humus, composted mulch (heavily decomposed), composted peat moss, cow manure, and a low dose of a slow release fertilizer such as 3-3-2 or something similar. Many forms do not contain fertilizer or peat moss, and their price is lower than mixes that do.

Black Humus, one of my personal favorite ingredients for vegetable gardens. Black humus is the equivalent of having your own compost pile that has aged for years and made a rich, black, heavier soil, full of nutrients (a needed ingredient for sandy, nutrient

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June 2015 | Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition 35

We want to see what you’ve seen! When you see the unusual, funny or absurd, break out your camera, take a picture, and submit it to us with a description!

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Huntsville Healthcare is proud to announce our new Medical Director of our Vent/Trach unit, Dr. Tao Ho. Please stop by and welcome him and see all the new changes happening at Huntsville Health Care!

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June 2015 | Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition 37

Focus Kwik Kar Lube & Tune Business

Being family-ownedd gives Kwikk Karr a personall touch when itt comes to interacting with customers thatt a corporate-ownedd business justt wouldn’tt have.

Owners Steve and Sharon, with son Jarrett and daughter Brandi, make this a true family-owned business.

From refreshments to a children’s play area, Kwik Kar makes your experience comfortable

Co-owner Sharon Burrow (right) with son Jarrett Barrow (left)

By Leah Lamp

(936) 890-4707 www.willis-kwikkar.com

Photos by Kelly Sue Photography Kwik Kar Lube and Tune has been a fixture in the community of Willis for the last 12 years. Established in 2003, it is conveniently located at 808 West Montgomery Street (FM 1097) less than a block from Interstate 45 and is the perfect place for all your vehicle’s routine maintenance needs. Kwik Kar provides service to all makes and models of vehicles, and recently extended services to include diesel engines. With a focus on customer satisfaction, Kwik Kar Lube and Tune provides full service oil changes, state inspections, tire rotations, and engine tuning. Each full-service oil change comes with a courtesy service of having your car vacuumed and the windows washed.

Owners Steve and Sharon Burrow are longtime residents of Willis, having lived in the city for the last 17 years. When Steve retired from being an oilfield firefighter, he wanted to open a business so he could work closer to home without the constant travel. He and wife Sharon purchased the Kwik Kar Lube and Tune in 2008. Sharon said of purchasing the business, “It was well-established, with a lot of customers—good customers—which is one of the things that attracted us to the business.” Their son Jarrett Burrow and daughter Brandi Green also work in the store, making it a true family-owned and locally-operated business. “Being family-owned gives Kwik Kar

a personal touch when it comes to interacting with customers that a corporate-owned business just wouldn’t have.” says Sharon.

Since most of their services are done while you wait, Steve and Sharon have put a lot of focus and energy into making their business a comfortable place to be. There is a nice, clean waiting room stocked with plenty of refreshments and reading material, as well as a children’s play area. There is also a full-time cashier assigned to the waiting area to ensure customer comfort and satisfaction. Sharon says, “A lot of our customers are women, so we wanted to make it a relaxed and easy place to do business. Our lube techs offer a

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June 2015 | Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition 39

KATE’S GILDED LILY Celebrating 5 Years

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one-on-one review of services and explanation of manufacturer recommendations, which are also noted on the customer’s copy of invoice for reminder. The software program we use allows us to maintain vehicle history records within the shop and can be accessed to satisfy warranty needs, etc.”

Kwik Kar Lube and Tune of Willis maintains roughly 60-65 cars a day, with a record of 120.

It is operated under the business model set up

by Kwik Industries and has (on average) ten employees that consist of a cashier, courtesy technicians, lube technicians, state inspectors, and certified mechanics that are qualified to provide comprehensive oil change service and engine maintenance. Technicians are also required to complete ongoing training in order to keep up to date on engine repair. Kwik Kar now has an ASE certified mechanic technician that is specially trained in the maintenance of diesel engines.

According to Sharon, summer is the hardest time of year on a vehicle. “I don’t know if it’s the heat and having the air conditioning running all the time, or if people just take more road trips in the summer.” Sharon encourages people to keep up with their routine vehicle maintenance. “It is easier and cheaper in the long run to take care of your car than it is to have a breakdown.” She encourages customers to just walk-in to have their oil change and routine maintenance done. If you need an engine tune-up or in depth mechanical repairs, however, you are better served by scheduling an appointment.

Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition | June 2015

Another amenity provided by Kwik Kar of Willis is the recent addition of U-HAUL rentals.

If you are moving, Kwik Kar can help provide the exact sized moving truck or enclosed cargo trailer just right for you, along with utility and furniture dollies. There are also moving supplies such as boxes and packing material available for purchase to meet all your moving needs.

In their years of doing business in Willis, Steve and Sharon have seen the city grow and expand. “Our business is growing with Willis.

We offer local and national fleet for businesses, and we enjoy having a lot of repeat customers.”

Steve and Sharon feel their business offers competitive pricing with more services than their competitors. Being privately-owned by local residents, Kwik Kar provides friendly service with a personal touch. Customer satisfaction is their number one priority, so the

Vehicle Inspection and Registration Confused about the recent changes in the state vehicle inspection and registration program?

Kwik Kar Lube and Tune of Willis can put your mind at ease and help ensure your vehicle meets all state requirements.

Two Steps One Sticker As of March 1, 2015, your vehicle will no longer be issued an inspection sticker, and your registration sticker will serve as combined proof of inspection and registration.

Step One

Step Two

Pass a vehicle inspection and retain Renew your annual registration by mail, the vehicle inspection report issued online or in person, and your inspection by the station. status will be verified electronically.

A passing inspection is required for registration.

next time your vehicle needs to be serviced, take it to 808 West Montgomery Street in Willis or call to schedule as appointment at (936) 890-4707.

If your vehicle passed inspection, but the system is unable to electronically verify it, simply present your valid, passing inspection report (VIR) at the time of your registration.

For more information please visit www.TwoStepsOneSticker.com

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Puzzles 1. Two fathers and two sons went duck hunting. Each shot a duck, but they shot only three ducks in all. How come?

2. If it’s information you seek, come and see me. If it’s pairs of letters you need, I have consecutively three. Who am I? 3. You saw me where I never was and where I could not be. And yet within that very place, my face you often see. What am I? 4. I have an eye but cannot see. I am stronger and faster than any man alive but have no limbs. Who am I? udoku is a logic-based placement puzzle. The aim of the puzzle is to enter a numerical digit from 1-9 in each cell of a grid, starting with various digits given in some cells (the "givens"). Each row, column, and region must contain only one instance of each numeral. The goal is to fill in the empty cells, one numeral in each, so that each column, row, and region contains the numerals 1–9 exactly once. Each numeral in the solution therefore occurs only once in each of three "directions."

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ANSWERS 6. Fear.

5. I dig out tiny caves and store gold and silver in them. I also build bridges of silver and make crowns of gold. They are the smallest you could imagine. Sooner or later everybody needs my help, yet many people are afraid to let me help them. Who am I?

x=44 (dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s age)

5. A dentist.

2x -x = 44 44 + x = 2x

3. A reflection.

22 + x/2 =x

2. A bookkeeper.

7. 22 + (1/2)x =x (sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s age + half of dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s age = dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s age)

1. They were grandfather, father, son.

7. A father and son are chatting when the son poses this question: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dad, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m 22 now, but just how old are you?â&#x20AC;? The father replies, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m as old as your age, plus half of my age.â&#x20AC;? How old is the father?

4. A hurricane.

6. I make you weak at the worst of times, but in the end, I keep you safe. You will sweat in my presence, even as you grow cold. I dwell with the weak and easily the brave, but without me who could tell the difference? Who am I?

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Mark your Calendars ARANSAS PASS th

57 Annual Shrimporee June 12 - 14 aransaspass.org

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ATHENS Southern Raised Band and Grounded Quartet in Concert June 27 texas-gospelmusichall.com

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First Thursdays Free Concert Series June 4 cityofconroe.org Ray Wylie Hubbard and Uncle Lucius in Concert June 6 BJ Thomas in Concert June 20 crightontheatre.org

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It’s worth the short trip!

“Million Dollar Quartet” June 19-20 thegrand.com 150th Anniversary Juneteenth Celebration June 13-21 galveston.com/juneteenth

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” May 26-June 7 “First Date” June 11-22 tuts.com

Houston Summer Boat Show June 3 - 7 Vans Warped Tour 2015 June 26 nrgpark.com/events

For more Huntsville information:

800.289.0389 For overnight accommodations, events and activities visit huntsvilletexas.com

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Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition | June 2015

The Isley Brothers June 19 arenahouston.com Whitesnake June 20 houseofblues.com/houston/ events Garth Brooks with Trisha Yearwood June 26, 27, July 3, 4 houstontoyotacenter.com/ garth Live Theatre and Musical Performances A.D. Players adplayers.org Alley Theatre alleytheatre.org Arena Theatre arenahouston.com Hobby Center for the Performing Arts broadwayacrossamerica.com

HOUSTON

The Illusionists: Witness the Impossible June 2-5 spahouston.org

Huntsville is the home of Sam Houston

“Fancy Nancy: the Musical” June 13, 20, 27 mainstreettheater.com

“The Taming of the Shrew” June 11-21 houstonballet.org Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game June 13 bbvacompassstadium.com

Theatre Under the Stars tuts.com

HUNTSVILLE Kate’s Gilded Lilly June 5-7 – Trade Days June 20 – Garage Sale (936) 291-1155 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Walker County Genealogical Society June 20 wcgen.com Gator Bait Adventure Race June 20 Gator Bait Trail Run June 21 terrafirmaracing.com

JACKSONVILLE Tomato Fest June 13 jacksonvilletexas.com

Mark your Calendars JEFFERSON

NACOGDOCHES

SAN MARCOS

Big Cypress Corvette Classic Car Show June 5-6 jefferson-texas.com

Nacogdoches Disc Golf Open June 6-7 naccrushers.com

Salsa Fest June 13 eyeofthedog.com/event

KILGORE Texas Shakespeare Festival June 25-26 texasshakespeare.com

LIBERTY Liberty Opry June 6, 13, 20, 27 libertyopry.com

Texas Blueberry Festival June 13 texasblueberryfestival.com

NEW CANEY Texas Sawmill Festival 2015 June 6 facebook.com/ texassawmillfestival

NEWTON Texas Purple Hull Pea Festival June 27 shankleville.org

LIVINGSTON Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder “An Evening of Bluegrass” June 28 (936) 933-5852

T-Bone Walker Blues Festival June 5-6 longviewchamber.com

Father’s Day Barbecue Train June 21 texasstaterr.com Dogwood Jamboree June 20 dogwoodjamboree.org

LUFKIN Neches River Rendezvous June 6 lufkintexas.org/chamber/ events

RIVERSIDE Trade Days June 6 facebook.com/ riversidetradedays

LULING Watermelon Thump June 25 - 28 watermelonthump.com

Disney in Concert: “Tale as Old as Time” June 12 Boom 92 Kings of the Mic - LL Cool J and More June 13 Move June 17

The Woodlands Family Fun Fest June 13 houstonareashow.com

WACO Heart Of Texas Airshow June 6-7 heartoftexasairshow.com

ORANGE “Mamma Mia!” June 17 lutcher.org

PALESTINE LONGVIEW

THE WOODLANDS Waterway Nights Summer Music Series June 6, 13, 20, 27 visitthewoodlands.com

Texas Orchestra Music Festival 2015 June 19 The New 93Q - A Day in the Country with Darius Rucker June 20 woodlandscenter.org

RUSK

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Got Winsomeness?

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Terri Hendrix / John Evans AUGUST 6

Dirty River Boys / Zach Walther & The Cronkites SEPTEMBER 3

The Fab 5 / Johnny & The Spinsations

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46

Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition | June 2015

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JUNE 4

/’win·s m/

adjective 1. Attractive or appealing in appearance or character. Cheerful, pleasant, appealing.

Your speech should always be winsome, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you must answer each person. ~Colossians 4:6

Recently, while standing at a business counter, I noticed a man near me ON the counter.

Well, not really a man, but a hand-sanitizer dispenser shaped like a man’s frame, holding the bottle that represented his head and torso. I am not inclined to use sanitizer, being loyal for decades to my mother’s soapand-water washing instructions.

This time, however, I reached for the stuff. Why? Because I liked the way it was presented to me. I found Sanitizer Man humorous, winsome, and an expression of creativity. In a world full of hurt, he was kind of healing. And I’m not talking only about killing germs.

That got me to thinking about my witness. Do I come across to those who appear resistant to God as a humorous, winsome, creative, hurt-healing Christian? I know we are often called to be sober, vigilant, instructive. Given the times, these characteristics seem all the more important. But, as I considered my new friend, I realized in Sanitizer Man humor and serious purpose co-existed. They can do the same in me.

“Pathetic indeed is the stern, somber Christian who has developed the look of an old basset hound through long hours of practice in restraining humor and squelching laughs.” ~Chuck Swindoll

June 2015 | Postcards Magazine: Montgomery County Edition 47

“Show Dad he’s the best with a new truck from Bill Fick Ford!”

Happy Father’s Day from Bill and Amy Fick