Wimberley Valley News and Views January 2021

Wimberley Valley

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NEWS & VIEWS Volume 24 Issue 2 • Wimberley, Texas • January 2021 Postal Patron

T he Wimberley Way of Living

Wimberley Valley News & Views

Page 1

January 2021

Con tra ct I n

Want Results? Call us today!

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Randall Morris & Associates

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612 FM 2325 $350,000 - Molly Wendt.

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5D ays

600 FM 2325 Restaurant Space For Lease - Melinda

901 Angostura Ln $604,000 - Traci Maxwell

00 Vista Ladera $181,713 - Clay Ewing

TBD Mt. Sharp Rd $906,500 - Don Montague

LD

14 Longbow $329,000 - Zach Adkisson

Melinda Everett, Associated Broker 512-695-5963

Traci Maxwell, Associated Broker 512-393-9996

Zach Adkisson, Sales Associate 512-217-4776

Molly Wendt, Sales Associate 512-940-1711

Clay E Ewing, Associated Broker 512-922-7475

Don Montague Sales Associate 512-921-1014

Serving the Wimberley area • Century 21 Randall Morris & Associates • 13320 Ranch Road 12 Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

Contact us today and find out how our experience can work for you!

Kurt Kimmerle

Laura Kilber

Lee Pruden

REALTOR® Associate

Broker

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512.667.8278

512.376.8098

512.771.9463

14500 RR 12

Marti Eveleigh REALTOR®

512.618.1342

Wimberley Mountain Plaza

Wimberley Valley News & Views

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January 2021

The bumpy road ahead

Wimberley Valley News & Views

Some bright winter mornings invite me outside. The warm sunshine splashing through my eastern windows cajoles me. “Come out,” it says waving long fingers at me in the pale blue sky.

Some days I oblige, pausing my indoor activity, grabbing a coat and walking out my door.

Quite near my home is a narrow road that leads to a pond providing an excellent sojourn. One of those days recently I travelled along, enjoying the warm sun as it patted me on the back, and listening to the early birds twittering in the trees, I began thinking about this year that was about to finally close and the new year ahead.

The perfect analogy lay before me in the road I was walking down. Lots of repeated bumps filled a long stretch, no doubt made by tire tracks when the ground was wet, and now dried hard and rough. That was my impression of how the new year would begin.

Bumps, some bigger than others, and perhaps lots of them, but just as I continued to walk where the road smoothed out as I neared the pond, so would the new year.

We adapted and overcame in 2020. There was suffering and mourning, courage and determination, but a new year with new hopes is here. If we set our minds and hearts to look to the early light of the year that beckons all of us and decide that this year will be different–better–than the last, I know we can succeed in making it so.

Best wishes for a healthy, happy new year.

Thank you for joining us.

Publisher Victoria Belue Schaefer Creative Designer Cyle Johnson Ad Design Joey Johnson Cover Kevin Schaefer

Wimberley Valley News and Views, a subsidiary of Pedal Ranch Publications, is mailed monthly to all homes, businesses, and post office boxes in the 78676 zip code.

You can also pick one up from local merchants.

Contact us at info@WVNewsViews.com for information on advertising and submissions.

Wimberley Valley News and Views P.O. Box 91554 Austin, TX 78709 512-709-6935 Visit our website: WVNewsViews.com

WVNewsViews.com Wimberley Valley News & Views

Entire contents copyright ©2021. Reproduction of any of this publication requires written permission of publisher. We are not responsible for the products and services advertised or the views contained in this publication.

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January 2021

✯ CALENDAR OF EVENTS ✯ Visit WVNewsViews.com • Every Mon.-Thur. 4:15-8:30pm. Katherine Anne Porter night school to service those who have a few credits to graduate or cannot attend high school during the day. Free to attend. Applications can be found at www.kapschool.org or call (512) 847-6867.

• Every 1st Mon. Wimberley Merchants Association meets at the Sassy Scrapper’s at 6:15pm. For more info call 512-847-6544.

• Every 2nd Mon. Wimberley Valley Art League meets at the Wimberley Community Center at 6:30-8:30pm. Visit WimberleyArtLeague.org for information.

• Every 2nd Mon. Wimberley 4H meets during the school year at VFW on 401 Jacobs Well Rd. Wimberley.

Every 2nd Mon. 10am the Jacob’s Well Chapter NADAR (National Society Daughters of the American Revolution) meets at the Emily Ann Theater. For information contact Laura Chalberg at jacobswellnsdar@gmail.com.

• Every 3rd Mon. The Wimberley Area Parkinsons Association meets at the Chapel of The Hills Church, 14601 RR 12 in Wimberley from 9-11am. Caregivers, friends, and relatives are welcome.

Guest speakers and general discussion. Parkinson’s exercise program For more information contact. Paul 361-265-8161 or visit WimberleyAPA.com.

• Every Tues. 6:30-8pm. Community Bible Study, An Interdenominational Bible Study. 2019-2020 Course of Study: 1&2 Peter, Joshua and Christian Living. To register call 512-808-9156 or email paula.king206@yahoo.com.

• Every Tue. Wimberley Home Health offers free blood pressure monitoring 10-10:30am at the Wimberley Community Center in the Seniors Lounge.

• Every Tue. The Wimberley Rotary Club meets via Zoom at Noon.

For information to join the meeting, call 512 847-2510.

• Every 1st Tue. the Wimberley Community Center hosts free medical checks 9:30-10:30am. For more info call 512-847-2510.

• Every 1st and 3rd Tue. the Wimberley Lions Club meets at the Wimberley Community Center. Call 512-847-0207 for info.

• Every 2nd Tue. Wimberley Masonic Lodge meets at 181 Masonic Road, meal at 6pm and lodge stand meeting at 7pm. Call 512847-3463 for more information.

• Every 2nd Tues. Art Society of Wimberley meets in Art Room.

100 Melody, 7pm. Call 512-964-7333.

• Every 2nd Wed. Sep. Through May, Wimberley Garden Club meets at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection at 101 West Spoke Hill Drive. Refreshments at 9:30 a.m. Programs start at 10 am. For more information visit WimberleyGardenClub.org.

• Every 2nd Wed. 11:30-1pm. Wimberley Area Cancer Support Group meets in the Wimberley Visitors Center board room, brown bag lunch. If you have cancer now or in the past, grab your lunch and join us for a relaxing time with others who share your journey. Call Sharon East at 512-924-2002 or Dave Boyd

at 512-923-9373 for additional information.

• Every 3rd Wed. August thru May, 9:45-12am. The Herb Society of America Hill Country Unit meets at the Wimberley Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 956 RR 2325, For more information visit HillCountryHerbs.org.

• Every 3rd Wed. EmanciPet Low-Cost Mobile Spay/Neuter cinic in Brookshire parking lot. Appointments required EmanciPet. org or 512 587-7729; contact ARF for more info 512 8472878. WAG for dog vouchers WimberleyWAGRescue.org or 512 847-3200. Dog/cat vouchers PALS PreventaLitter.com or 512 754-7257.

• Every 4th Wed. Hill Country Neighbors meets at Wimberley Community Center starting at 10am. For more information contact 512-847-2849.

• Every 1st Thur. The Wimberley Alzheimer’s Caregiver’s Support Group meets at 1pm at the Presbyterian Church Library on FM 2325. Contact Linda Germain at 512-924-3661.

• Every 2nd Thur. The Hill Country Bead Society meets at 1pm at the Wimberley Community Center, Blanco Room. Contact Marilyn Pierce, for more info call 512-722-3549 or visit HillCountryBeadSociety.com.

• Every 2nd and 4th Thur. 7pm Wimberley Toastmasters Club meets at First Baptist Church Wimberley, 15951 Winters Mill Parkway, Wimberley. Toastmasters teaches public speaking and leadership. For more info contact Amy O’Neil at amy@texiasllc.com.

• Every 3rd Thur. Live concerts, best music in the Hill Country at Susanna’s Kitchen Coffeehouse, 7:30pm; $20-25 for adults, $5 for children. Food, coffee and soft drinks available. Corner of RR 12 & CR 1492 (Wimberley United Methodist Church.)

For more info go to www.wimberleyumc.org Proceeds benefit Barnabas Connection & Mother’s Day Out scholarships.

• Every Fri. Celebrate Freedom 6-8pm, pizza, 5:30pm Cypress Creek Church. Call 512-847-1222 or visit CypressCreekChurch.com.

• Every 2nd Sat. Wimberley’s Second Saturday Gallery Trail. Visit ten galleries for art, food and fun, 4-7pm. Call 830-708-7433.

• Every 2nd Sat. WAG Rescue’s monthly dog adoption at King Feed.

Call 512-847-3200 for more information.

• Every Sun. The Wimberley Cycling Club fun no drop ride 10-20 miles. Meet 2:30pm Blanco Brew coffee shop. 14200 Ranch Rd 12. Join us on Facebook @Wimberley Cycling Club for more info.

• Every Sun. 4:30pm, The Wimberley Chapter of Overeaters Anonymous meets at the Wimberley Presbyterian Church, 956 FM 2325. OA is for anyone who has compulsive eating issues (overeaters, anorexics and bulimics.) We follow the 12-step recovery program adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous. For more info, please contact Aida at 512-787-8313.

• Fri. Jan. 1, New Years Day • Mon. Jan. 18, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Wimberley Valley News & Views • 512-709-6935 • P.O. Box 91554 Austin, Texas 78709 Wimberley Valley News & Views

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January 2021

Dulce et Decorum est Last night, no bombs fell on the house where I was sleeping. No lions ate my best friend while we slept homeless on the African plains. No militias rousted my wife and me out of bed to expel us from our own country. I did not lay awake in fear of losing my home, savings, or life to starvation or war. I slept peacefully, unlike so much of humanity.

Most of us enumerated our blessings at Thanksgiving and will do the same at Christmastide and other celebrations through the year. It is quite another task to develop a consciousness of the enrichments we enjoy that are absent in so much of the world.

Political unrest, ethnic strife, absence of justice, and gross imbalance of wealth have brought many countries to civil, regional, or even world-wide wars. Those wars are devastating to the environment. The seas, deserts, forests, and skies of conflict nations long bear the scars of pollution, deforestation, uncontrolled fires, and the release of toxic chemicals into the air and water supplies.

In a shared planet, our air and water inevitably distribute pollutants far and wide.

Nature has built-in protocols to preserve itself, but those plans do not necessarily exempt all species from the price to be paid for nature’s balancing conservancy. Unsustainable traditions of humans will necessarily become a thing of the past one day, and the sooner we make the leap to viable and nonpolluting practices, the

easier those preservation costs will weigh on all species, including our own. We are at the crossroads.

Trees, longtime absorber of some of our excess carbon dioxide, are dying by the millions, with many varieties facing imminent extinction. We can still make some of the changes that will improve the quality of life on our only planet. Buying products made sustainably. Using green materials and energy. Working for justice.

Supporting peace initiatives.

Physical comfort like I enjoy every day can only be experienced by more of the world if I pledge to join others to try to effectuate positive change in the ways we live.

Horticulturist Tim Thompson has managed the garden center at King Feed and Hardware for the past 25 years. They offer everything you need to have the garden of your dreams without stressing your budget. Pick up Tim’s Tips, free one page sheets on how to carry out dozens of gardening projects available only at King Feed Nursery. Call Tim at 512-847-2618.

Homestead Exemption What is a Homestead Exemption?

Homestead exemptions are granted by the county appraisal district where the property is located. The exemption reduces a homeowner's property tax bill by removing part of the home's value from taxation. All Texas homeowners may receive a general residence homestead exemption on the value of their property for school taxes upon application. Other taxing entities may also offer exemptions of some percentage of the home's value. Other exemptions are available to homeowners who are over 65 or disabled and require the same application process.

Who qualifies?

These requirements must be met to receive the exemption: You must own your home on January 1 of the year for which you are applying. You must reside at the home as your principal residence on January 1 of that year and not claim any other property as your homestead. Only individual homeowners (not corporations or other entities) may receive a homestead exemption.

A homestead can be a house, condominium, or a manufactured home. It can include up to 20 acres, if the land is also owned by the homeowner and used as a yard or for another purpose related to the residential use of the home.

How to apply for a Homestead Exemption: Wimberley Valley News & Views

by Tim Thompson

by Alice Gumbert Lebkuecher

Your Homestead Exemption will be denied unless all of the required documents show the same homestead address. First, fill out the application specific to your county appraisal district, then mail all of the documents to the appraisal district for your county.

Go to your county's appraisal district website and download the Residence Homestead Exemption Application (Form 50-114).

Include a copy of your driver's license or identification card.

Your driver's license needs to be from the Texas Department of Public Safety (TX DPS), and the address must match the homestead address.

Application deadlines: You are to file the completed application with all required documentation beginning Jan. 1 and no later than April 30 of the year for which you are requesting an exemption. If you qualify for the age 65 or older or disabled persons exemption or the exemption for donated homesteads of partially disabled veterans, you are to apply for the exemption no later than the first anniversary of the date you qualify for the exemption.

Alice Gumbert Lebkuecher is a sales agent with Keller Williams Realty, Partners in Real Estate, in Wimberley. She works with both buyers and sellers in Wimberley and surrounding areas. To contact her, call her cell at 713-253-1311 or by email at aliceinwimberley@gmail.com.

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January 2021

Quantity or quality?

Fall and winter are great times to plant trees, and it seems intuitive that lots of canopy cover is good for homeowners and communities. Consequently, some residential yards have five or so largespecies shade trees planted in an area no bigger than about 700 square feet. Newly planted, these sapling trees don’t appear to be taking up much room in a yard. The problem is: Trees get big.

These young trees will do their best to grow into tall, large-canopied trees with substantial trunk diameter. And those are the parts we can see. Allowed to grow in the open, tree roots can extend two to four times the diameter of the crown. Imagine five trees trying to grow healthy root systems within the confined spaces that define some yards.

Also, as these trees grow, their canopies will meet, and those branches will tend to die and break off rather than mingle. The competition for sunlight often causes the canopies to grow narrow, a poor growth habit. Eventually, one tree will outgrow another, depriving the smaller tree of sunlight. This interferes with photosynthesis, limits reserves, and further weakens the tree. Often these trees just die young. Actually, I’ve just described some of what goes on in a natural forest setting, but replicating that in the urban environment is undesirable.

It seems logical that planting lots of trees multiplies their benefits for homeowners and communities. Indeed, a well-managed tree planting and replacement program is important to neighborhoods and future generations. But “well-managed” means that decisions are informed and not based on what appears to be common sense.

Would you rather have one or two trees that have adequate room and light to encourage their health, safety, and beauty? Or do you prefer three to five trees that are destined to become lowquality and subject to breakage, wind throw, pests and diseases, and early death? And on which scenario would you rather expend your valuable water and maintenance resources?

Planning appropriate tree numbers and placement can spare property owners and communities the waste associated with overplanting.

A Wimberley resident, Steven Austin is a member of the Texas Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture and is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist and ISA Tree Worker/Climber Specialist. His expertise includes integrated pest management of trees and shrubs and state-of-the-art organic treatments. He holds a commercial pesticide license with the Texas Department of Agriculture and is Texas Oak Wilt Certified by the Texas Forest Service.

Steven is an Arborist Representative for Bartlett Tree Experts. Call 512-392-1089 or toll-free at 800-443-8733.

2021 real estate market snapshot Here’s a look at where the market stands right now, and what you’ll want to keep an eye on moving forward.

Low housing inventory: at the end of last year, inventory was tight and homes were selling quickly! Look out for similar patterns in 2021 that lead to favorable conditions for sellers and a competitive market for buyers.

We need more space: Homes with extra rooms and closed floor plans are more appealing to buyers looking for space to accommodate home offices, gyms, etc. Properties with ADUs (accessory dwelling units) like a granny flat or converted shed may also attract multi-generational families or those looking for rental income.

The market is rebounding: Following the uncertainty of 2020, the real estate market has quickly rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, and remains one of the earliest industries to do so.

Increased buyer demand: Many millennials have fast-tracked plans to buy with money they saved while staying home. Plus, mortgage rates continue to hover at historic lows, making home ownership more affordable for many. This year could be a perfect time for those with secure employment to buy.

A country on the move: As circumstances change and businesses offer more opportunities to work remotely, Americans are moving across the board. They aren’t just moving from cities to Wimberley Valley News & Views

by Steven Austin

by AJ Harwood

suburbs - in some cases, they are switching from city-to-city, suggesting that many urban markets are still quite healthy.

If you are wondering what your own home would look like on the market after the holidays, give me a call! I am happy to run a comparative market analysis (CMA) to see what homes in your neighborhood are going for right now. At the end of the day, real estate is local, and I’m happy to walk you through what’s going on and how it applies to you in the Wimberley – Texas Hill Country area. If you’re thinking of selling your home – now may be the very best time to sell, give me a call. I would be honored to help you through the home selling process.

This information is designed to provide a brief overview of the subject matter covered and is offered for general educational and informational purposes only. Used with permission by the Buffini & Company.

Allison “AJ” Harwood, JD, MBA, GRI, is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX REAL PROPERTIES and was recently Ranked as the #1 Top Producer for the First Quarter of 2020 in the RE/MAX system for the Austin Texas area. He is Wimberley’s “Peak Producer” offering Professional Representation for both Buyers and Sellers in Real Estate Transactions. He may be contacted at 512.847.“SOLD” 7653 or at AJ@REMAXRealProperties.com or drop by our office location at 160 South River in the South River Business Park, Wimberley, Texas 78676.

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January 2021

Secure in the change Social scientists dedicate careers to studying why people seek stability in their lives and what they will do to ensure it; others analyze how we respond to change. We are comforted by ideas, practices, and things we inherit but we are excited and stimulated by the new, the experimental, the unknown just ahead. We may not recognize it, but a familiar (I hope it is for you) institution in Wimberley embodies these two necessary and inescapable components of our existence – the Wimberley Village Library.

People familiar with libraries strove to create here a reliable and familiar anchor in any community, a meeting place where ideas and information live and are exchanged. At the same time, they launched a new actor in the social and cultural development of the town. For the next thirty years, the library functioned as libraries have for many years.

Although some may wish our town was Brigadoon, there always will be a larger world that creates and indeed depends on developing new concepts, new approaches to old issues, new tools to solve problems, and new avenues of expression and learning.

Wimberley’s magnificent physical setting draws increasing numbers of new residents from diverse backgrounds and experiences, bringing hopes and expectations for what their social and intellectual options can be. Technologies for creating, sharing, and

by Dell Hood

preserving the information and experiences we all have come to expect in the digital world require libraries to revisit the standard tools of the past; investment in new material formats now drives the need for new library designs to provide access and support for patrons, whether they are comfortable with the technology or need help to learn what is available. The library is engaged in a major expansion to respond to these expectations, but it will continue to provide the outstanding service and familiar materials we are accustomed to. So while your library provides a sense of security and stability, it is also the avenue you can use to engage and explore a constantly changing world.

Dell Hood is chair of the board of trustees of the Wimberley Village Library District.

Self-fulfilling resolutions Happy new year, everyone! Hoping this finds everyone doing well and starting 2019 off with flying colors.

I’m choosing to look at the whole New Year’s resolution thing a little differently... by focusing on our home, our safe haven, place of refuge from all the outside pressures, maybe we don’t have to worry about possible failure when it comes to diet, bad habits and the like.

As with the resolution, we can start by looking at what’s not working in our space. Enjoying our outside world is key to our health and happiness, why not make it something wonderful. By coming up with some ideas about your lifestyle, as a start, you can more easily see if you would really enjoy that fire pit. Do you really love all that grass and the watering it requires or could you do away with some of it and utilize the space for either native evergreen and perennial plantings or maybe even your own veggie and herb area? Are there areas that have mechanical stuff, AC, electricity or where you stash stuff so it’s hidden. Why not remove any sod and go with either a mulched area or a river rock area over weed block. Little things will make a huge difference and Wimberley Valley News & Views

by Lindley Pond

lend room for more free time to enjoy your space. If you are stuck and need a gentle nudge, give us a call. We’d love to help! Happy, healthy 2021 to all.

We’re here to help fulfill your “outside dreams.” Call us for a free consultation and design. Lindley Pond is owner of Lindley Pond Landscaping. We are here to make things out of your reach happen. Don’t hesitate to call or email. We’d love to help you design LINDLEY FONT: Frederika The been Great helping folks in Central the shady spot youPOND deserve.

We’ve LANDSCAPING FONT: Avenir Book Texas for over 15 years. Give us a call for design and installation PURPLE: PMS 2082 of your new GREEN: “lawn.”

Contact us at 512-775-1629.

PMS 7473

P: 512.775.1629 W: lindleypond.com E: lindleypond171@gmail.com

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January 2021

Which water filter is right for you?

by Randy Lawrence 840 E. Summit Drive Wimberley, Texas 78676

512.847.0630

www.HackettFinancialGroup.com Scott@HackettFinancialGroup.com

Custodian Services with

120 Joe Wimberley Blvd.

Suite 106 Wimberley Pharmacy Building

Steven E Austin

Arborist Representative ISA Certified Arborist #TX-3616AT

1324 Old Martindale Road, San Marcos, TX 78666

bartlett.com SAustin@bartlett.com p 512.392.1089 f 512.392.7398

CUSTOM WINDOW COVERINGS AT AFFORDABLE PRICES

Beat The Heat... Solara& Complete Cellular Shades •line The best for our Texas heat!

Now Offering of insulation Custom Draperies!

Beautiful new–Window • Save energy Stay coolTreatments, Blinds, Shutters, • Great colors, styles, and prices Woven Woods, Cellular Shades and More.

• Fast available delivery and installation Most in two weeks or less.

• Blinds,service Shades,&Shutters Better lower We’ll have you covered! prices than the big box stores.

Free estimates

512-847-8970

If you ever consider buying a filter for drinking water, it will quickly become apparent that there is a wide range of pricing and technologies to choose from.

It can be difficult to determine which type of filter is appropriate for your water supply. Learning about different levels of filtration that are available can help you make an informed choice.

Often referred to as taste and odor filtration, the most common type of water filter is activated carbon. Its primary use is to remove chlorine from the water, which can certainly improve taste and odor. Filters that utilize carbon include refrigerator filters, faucet attachments and filtration pitchers. It is important to note that some of these filters don’t appear to live up to the claims made by their manufacturers. Independent testing results that show this are readily available online. There are types of carbon which can remove lead and other heavy metals, but the majority of store bought filters will have little effect on these and other contaminants. While a carbon filter alone may not give you the quality of water you would like, they are often used as part of a larger filtration system.

One example of this is reverse osmosis, often referred to as RO, which is a more comprehensive method of filtering drinking water, accomplishing a much greater level of filtration than a simple inline or pitcher filter. An RO unit commonly consists of two or three stages of pre-filtration, often including sediment and carbon filters, before forcing the water through a semi-permeable membrane which removes fluoride, lead and other heavy metals. This membrane will reduce the dissolved solids content of your water by 90-95%, producing high quality drinking water which is stored in a small pressure tank under the sink. The water is forced through a final polishing filter before being dispensed through a separate drinking water faucet installed at your sink. A licensed Water Treatment Specialist can explain the quality concerns that may be specific to your home’s water supply and help you to determine which type of filtration system will best fit your needs.

Superior service before and after the sale

MadeintheShadeof Wimberley.com

Randy Lawrence is the owner of ProQuality Water Systems, a full service water treatment company. He is one of only six Class III Certified Water Treatment Specialists in Hays County (LIC# WT0002693). With over 20 years of experience he has serviced Wimberley and surrounding areas for over a decade.

“When you want quality, call a pro.”

ProQuality Water Systems

Randy Lawrence A

in customer service

Wimberley Valley News & Views

512-618-1334 (830) 822-3533

full service water treatment company specializing

&

integrity

Certified by the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality Class III License # WT0002693

www.proqualitywater.com

Page 8

January 2021

Get unstuck Seniors get stuck emotionally because they stop moving, physically. They don’t stretch themselves out of their comfort zone often enough. They have a lack of variety in the challenges they face. In other words, in a way, life is just too easy.

This is not just a senior problem, either.

Harsh.

But there are easy remedies to this. Getting up and jiggling around the house actually opens the mind. This works for everybody. The nerves start going. The blood flows. Try to really loosen up. Things can’t seem stuck when you are physically moving. It is best to move around while happy and smiling. Even though you may have to start off with a fake smile, if you keep going, the smile will become genuine. Try it. Start fake laughing. Keep going, and you may just really laugh, or at least smile a bit. You may even smile a little just thinking about it.

It works in other ways. Pushing yourself just a little physically will also lead to being willing to push beyond comfort a bit in other areas of life. For example, making a difficult decision while in a happy, moving state is easy. And this will lead to people being willing to let crazier things challenge them into growth.

As an aside – I talked to a six year-old the other day who said he knew karate. I asked him if he’d practice with me, and he looked at

by Sarah Geenberg

me like I was a nut. He explained that he hadn’t done any karate, but that he knew it from video games. I realized that he actually didn’t distinguish the difference. I see kids all the time with expectations of being able to immediately do the moves in video games.

They have no patience to learn and practice because of the ease of success and immediate adrenaline (reward) of the game. We need to be careful of this.

Sarah is the owner of Wimberley Karate and Yoga Studio and is now also the owner of WimberleyYogaTV.com. The school offers indoor, outdoor and online classes. They are particularly proud of the seniors they serve in karate, Tai Chi, and yoga for finding a way to thrive this year. Also, the kids... They are going through more than we know right now.

Wimberley Karate and Yoga Studio Sarah Geenberg (512) 971-8528 501 Old Kyle Road Wimberley, TX 78676 WimberleyKarateAndYogaStudio.com

Achieve a natural smile with tooth-colored fillings In many cases, when people have any work on themselves done they would like for the results to look as natural as possible. Whether it’s our hair, nails or some sort of cosmetic procedure, we may not want to look completely different but simply a better version of ourselves. Many people have that same mentality when it comes to their dental work. In cases such as teeth whitening, porcelain veneers and the like our patients like to look as natural as possible.

When it comes to fillings, you may find it difficult to feel secure in your smile if you have metal in it. Dr. Donnelly understands the importance of wanting to have a beautiful smile and is able to give his patients what they want using tooth-colored fillings. With tooth-colored fillings, your smile is able to look brand new, natural and beautiful. Metal fillings, or amalgam fillings, can be toxic to our bodies as well as unappealing to the eye. Tooth-colored fillings are more durable than amalgam fillings and they are able to match your existing smile exactly.

Amalgam fillings can change shape depending on the temperature of your mouth, which leaves the possibility of expansion, cracking your tooth and inviting bacteria to make your smile its new home. The composite resin we use to make your tooth-colored Wimberley Valley News & Views

by Robert Donnelly, DDS

fillings are more flexible and effectively adhere to your tooth.

These are only a few of the many benefits of tooth-colored fillings. Investigate all the reasons with a dentist you trust knows how to bring out the best in your smile. It can make all the difference.

If you or someone you know would benefit from these services we hope you share this information with them. Please call our office at 512-396-5225 to schedule an appointment or visit us online at SanMarcosDental.com. Come see why Dr. Donnelly was voted a Super Dentist by Texas Monthly Magazine and Best Dentist in Hays County!

J. Robert Donnelly, D.D.S. Master of The Academy of General Dentistry

1337 Thorpe Lane San Marcos, TX 78666 512-396-5225 Fax: 512-396-7022

Sanmarcosdental.com

Page 9

January 2021

Dehydration and accelerated aging Our bodies have the miraclous ability to renew themselves. Every organ, every system is made up of a collection of cells, the basic units of life. Each cell is a capsule created by our body utilizing nutrients to form the cell membrane and the water or life force, inside the cell.

Skin is the largest organ of the human body. Normal skin, comprised of a collection of cells, is designed to shed its dead surface at the end of their 28-day life span. At a rate based upon your metabolism, younger cells from the deeper basal layers of the epidermis replace what is shed. However, this cycle of renewal and replacement is disrupted when skin experiences damage and dehydration resulting in premature aging. When dead skin cells accumulate on the skin surface, the horny layer becomes thick with lifeless buildup, and that's when problems begin. Skin looks dull, fine-lined, often discolored and congested. Nourishing and protective treatment products cannot penetrate through the build up. New cells are not moving upward through the epidermal layers. This roof-like surface is weakened and no longer functions as a protective barrier. Sensitivity develops as deeper layers are no longer protected against harsh environment and ingredients that come in contact with the skin.

Accelerants to dehydration and aging are poor nutrition, lack of sleep, stress, exposure to UV rays, smoking, pollution and exposure to harsh chemicals.

If you think of your skin layers like a sponge; a wet sponge is more functional than a dry sponge. A wet sponge, like hydrated, healthy skin, is thicker, more plump, elastic, flexible and smoother than a thinned, inflexible, often rough surfaced dry sponge. Water is allowed to evaporate away from the deeper, support layers of cells.

When skin is dehydrated, the sebaceous glands go into overdrive, secreting too much oil in an attempt at providing nature’s protective barrier or sebum to help hold the water in the skin. Premature aging can be avoided and is reversible through proper nutrition, choosing the correct products for your skin and following the guidance of a properly trained, experienced skin care professional.

Karen Laine is a para-medical aesthetician and makeup artist with 23 years experience. Contact her at 512-847-8052. Her office is located at 14500 Ranch Road 12, suite 20, in Wimberley.

The thought that counts There was a television series in the 1970s called Mork and Mindy. It was a comedy about an alien named Mork, played by the incomparable Robin Williams, whose character was sent to earth to investigate human culture. Adopted by a human family, including Mindy, Mork was an innocent who was hilariously baffled by the oddities of human behavior. For me, the most memorable episode was a Christmas episode. In this episode, Mork became aware that modern Christmas meant giving gifts.

Having no money, he created his gifts by hand, and they were hilariously stupid. Embarrassed by the silliness of his gifts, his earth family comforted Mork by saying, “Mork, it’s really the thought that counts.” He replied, “Well why didn’t you tell me in the first place?” Then came the really cool part: He proceeded, using his alien powers, to grant each one of them a special thought, just by snapping his fingers over each of their heads. Suddenly each member of his earth family vividly remembered some exquisite memory hidden in the dust of their brains, treasures long-forgotten. In a feat of unusual prime-time acting skill, we viewers could see the characters’ obvious joy, far surpassing any gift under any tree.

If Mork could snap his fingers over my head, I might find myself in the 1960s for a moment, in our backyard in Corpus Christi, with my siblings and dog, playing in the yard while my father Wimberley Valley News & Views

by Karen Laine, Para-Medical Aesthetician

by Kern Deschner

grilled hamburgers. Or, I might find myself standing by the glassy water in Lavaca Bay, the blazing sunset reflecting off the water, standing next to my future wife, on the last sunset of 1978. Or, I might find myself sitting on a log in the forest of Colorado at sunset, breathlessly watching a herd of elk emerge from the trees and then splash in the water just a few yards away. My young bride is at my side and we are the only ones there. She’s wearing a powder blue ski jacket and a blue and white ski cap. It’s just starting to snow and the snowflakes are sticking to her eyelashes. I would give up all of my Christmas gifts to be in those places again for a few minutes.

Life goes on, time passes, and those perfect places are gone, but they can live if only in the mind. If I had Mork’s power to give a thought, I would hope I could give all of you a few perfect peaceful joyful thoughts for Christmas, maybe just to take you away from 2020 for a few moments. Mork is gone, so we have to find some of those places on our own. Here is hoping you find several this season. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the alpacas!

Rhonda and Kern Deschner are experienced alpaca ranchers raising alpacas through all kinds of Texas weather since 1997. Tierra Prometida Alpaca Ranch can be visited by calling Rhonda at 512753-9962, or at tierra@alpacausa.com.

Page 10 January 2021

Share your money values When it's time to prepare the next generation for a financial legacy, you might want to bring your family members together to talk. But sitting down together isn't easy. Money is a complicated and emotionally charged topic.

Define your own values: What does money mean to you?

Does it signify personal accomplishment? The ability to provide for your family? The chance to make a difference in the world? Is being a wise steward of your money important to you, or would you rather enjoy it now?

Respect perspectives: No two people have the same money values (even relatives).

To one person, money might symbolize independence; to another, money equals security. Generational differences and life experiences especially influence money values. Invite your family members to share their views and financial priorities.

Role model: You're a financial role model for your children or grandchildren. They notice how you spend your time and your money. Look for ways to share your values and financial knowledge.

Teach children to make careful financial decisions. Help them shop by comparing features, quality, and price. Try matching what

they save for a car or for college. Financial responsibility starts early, and modeling it is a lifelong effort.

Thoughtful giving: Gifting is another expression of your money values, but if a family member is the recipient, your generosity may be misconstrued. Your adult son or daughter might be embarrassed to accept your help or worried that a monetary gift might come with strings attached. You may have a family member who often asks for (or needs) more financial support than another, which can lead to family conflicts.

Defining your gifting parameters in advance will makes it easier to set priorities, explain certain decisions, and manage expectations. Example, are you willing to: • Help fund a college education?

• Provide seed money for a small business?

• Help with a down payment on a home?

• Pay for medical expenses?

• Help a family member with special needs?

When your decisions align with your financial values, your gift will benefit you and your family member. Consistent boundaries that define what help you are willing and able to provide is key.

Scott G. Hackett, CFP® is the president of the Hackett Financial Group LLC (HFG), a fee-only registered investment advisor. Contact Scott at 512-847-0630.

Litigation: Interesting trial strategy I am sitting with other prospective jurors in a courtroom. I handed my information sheet to the young lady at the door and chose a seat. Most of my fellow panel members are looking around the spacious, welldesigned courtroom or are looking at their electronic devices (“screens” as the young people refer to them).

A bailiff enters and places yellow legal pads on the judge’s bench and where the court reporter is seated beside the bench. He then instructs everyone to remove their hats and to silence their electronic devices.

Now lawyers are filtering in. One young lawyer who is sitting alone at a counsel table smiles as his eyes scan the sea of faces arrayed in front of him. He tilts his head at times to see panel members seated towards the back. I appreciate the attention he pays to his preliminary assessment of the folks, twelve of whom will soon decide his client’s fate. I have already deduced that it will be a criminal case having seen a prosecutor I know in the courtroom.

Two more lawyers join the young man at the counsel table and suddenly I am wondering whether he may not be a lawyer, but rather, the defendant himself. That leads me to consider whether his appearance alone at the counsel table may have been a strategic ploy by the defense team. I think about the pros and cons of such a ploy. On the one hand, his pleasant demeanor was clearly Wimberley Valley News & Views

by Scott G. Hackett, CFP®

by Roland Brown

displayed to the panel members before their thinking could be colored by the announcement which came later that he was accused of murder. On the other hand, I have always wanted the jury to see my client with me from the beginning as an extension of me and vice versa believing that it tends to connect the client with the jurors who will hopefully identify with me as a responsible person.

Ultimately, I think the ploy, if it was that, worked pretty well. It would have been more effective though had the defense attorneys interacted with the young man more during the next hour or so as the judge was excusing various jurors and generally getting ready for the voir dire examination of the panel to begin. Trial is theater and non-verbal communication is critical in both. Oh, I didn’t get chosen for the jury!

Roland Brown is a litigation attorney with forty-plus years experience handling civil litigation throughout Texas. For more information call 512-847-2500 or visit RolandsLaw.com.

Practice Area • Personal Injury 512-847-2500

Visit us at RolandsLaw.com

Page 11 January 2021

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Page 13 January 2021

Socializing during a pandemic

by Tracy Sheffield, RVT

Wimberley2x3.pdf

6/6/07

We are not supposed to be socializing in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. So, why talk about something we are not supposed to be doing? The reason is, we are not talking about people, we are talking about puppies.

With behavior problems a major reason for pet abandonment, one of the best things you can do to ensure your dog has a long, happy life, is to properly socialize them as a puppy.

What exactly is puppy socialization? It is the process whereby the puppy learns to function in and react appropriately to life in the human world. This includes things like interacting with new people appropriately, behaving reasonably for the veterinarian and the groomer, and demonstrating a lack of aggression towards other dogs and people.

It is very important for people to realize that behavior that may appear cute in a tiny puppy can become dangerous in an adult dog.

A small puppy growling over a food dish may look adorable. That same behavior in a one-hundred pound adult dog can be dangerous for all concerned. Even a small breed dog can inflict a nasty bite wound, especially on a young child. Aggression is never cute.

How to socialize your puppy is a question many owners may have. Your veterinarian can help you with socializing techniques.

Ask about this on your initial puppy visit.

The American Kennel Club has a S.T.A.R. Puppy Program that does a good job of getting your puppy launched properly into the world of humans. It clearly outlines the role of the owner and what the puppy is expected to learn. Even if you don't participate in the program, the list of things the puppy should be able to do is very helpful in deciding how to socialize the puppy.

Talk with your veterinarian about the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program and the follow-up program, the Canine Good Citizen.

Everyone, but most importantly, your puppy will be glad you did.

It is the first step for a long happy life for your new dog.

5:36:10 PM

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Wimberley Office

150 RR 3237, P.O. Box 727 • Wimberley, TX 78676 Office: 512/847-2278 • Fax: 512/847-5131

Tracy Sheffield, RVT works with her husband, Dr. Mike Sheffield, at Wimberley Veterinary Clinic. Wimberley Veterinary Clinic sees all kinds of animals, dogs, cats, horses, birds, pocket pets, reptiles and other exotic animals. Make your boarding reservations online at WimberleyVetClinic.com or call us at 512-847-5630.

•Septic Pumping •Cleaning •Repairs DRIPPING SPRINGS: 858-2040 BUDA: 312-0002 WIMBERLEY: 847-5070 AUSTIN: 445-5489 LAKE TRAVIS: 263-3993 SAN MARCOS: 396-7070

Wimberley Valley News & Views

847-5630 • 12605 RR 12, Suite 1

Page 14 January 2021

Specializing in Wimberley & The Surrounding Hill Country Pending

New

New

Sold

1132 Haynes St MLS 6184679 Great fixer upper in SM, close to downtown, school & river. 3 bedroom 1 bath attached carport. $182,000 Ross Pelc

2370 Wayside Dr MLS 1386756 $729,000 20.29 Acres. Cleared of cedars ,wildlife exemption. Well, septic, fully fenced, tiny house.Alice Lebkuecher

2901 Mt Sharp Rd MLS 9044685 $595,000 3/3 on 5 ag exempt acres. Needs updating.

Gorgeous oaks! Alice Lebkuecher

9304 Flintrock Cir Austin MLS1138618 $850,000 Beautiful 3/3 on 3+ Gorgeous acres. Pool! Debbie Donaldson

Pending

000 Joe Wimberley Blvd MLS 9981986 Commercial 1.169 Acres, Zoned C1 $325,000 Jim Donaldson

300 Windmil Cove #D MLS 5647086 50 acre tract in River Mountain Ranch. Private Blanco River Park.Ag exempt $1,161,000Alice Lebkuecher

Sold

122 S Rainbow Ranch Rd MLS 6828422 Custom built 4/3 on 9+ acres. Media room, office, 3 fireplaces. Jim Donaldson

400 Spoke Hollow MLS 2547804 7.6 acres with 180 Degree Panoramic views. $375,000 Mickey Brown

1112 B River Mtn Rd MLS 2227817 $1,295,000 Nice 3/3 with guest house on 10+ acres. Multiple dwellings, pool, river access.Alice Lebkuecher

New Price

Sold

Pending

2020 Jacobs Well MLS 2244713 $1,150,000 Craftsman style 3/2.5 w/study on Cypress Creek. 3+ acres! Alice Lebkuecher

188 Tulley Ct MLS 6087763 Beautiful 3/3 Custom Built in gated community.

1200 Skyline Dr MLS 5935040 $695,000 Beautiful porch views from this 3/2 on 6+ acres. Office Debbie Donaldson

Pending

Sold

29 W Inwood Forest MLS 3250694 Private 3/2 on 1.5 acres. Open living, energy efficient.

Beautiful Oaks. $325,000 Jim Donaldson

49 Whistling Wind Ln. MLS 7437294 Light Bright 3/2/2, Move-In Ready! $349,000 Linda Germain

Sold

11 Overbrook Court MLS 1038699 Elegant Custom Golf Course Home & Guest House $500,000 Linda Germain

235 Smith Creek Rd MLS 3968200 Cabin on Smith Creek! 3/2 log style home on 2.49 Acres. $475,000 Jim Donaldson

Mickey Brown 512-468-4509

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Jim Donaldson

Debbie Donaldson

713-253-1311

830-857-3371

512-665-9588

Jeff Hutto 936-327-2303

Ross Pelc 512-270-1703

Greg Ward 512-648-7538

Linda Germain

512-924-3661

13210 R anc h &RViews d.1 2 , St e A, Wimberley, TX WimberleyPar tn er s2021 . co m Wimberley Valley News Page 15 January

REAL PROPERTIES

MAIN OFFICE DIRECT (512) 847-SOLD (7653) • www. AJsTexasHomes.com NEW OFFICE ADDRESS: 160 South River, SOUTH RIVER BUSINESS PARK, WIMBERLEY, TX 78676

We can do this! Wimberley Strong!

NEW LAND LISTING!

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LOT 14 ESCONDIDA RANCH STUNNING 20.08+/- AG EXEMPT ACRES, POND, WET WEATHER CREEK VIEWS! GREAT BUILDING SITES FOR A LUXURY HILL COUNTRY HOME! $562,240

188 GLEN ELLEN COURT THIS 1.87+/- ACRE LOT IN “THE VINEYARD” HAS STUNNING MAJESTIC LIVE OAK TREES! PARTIALLY CLEARED BUILDING SITE! $317,000

160 AUGUSTA SPACIOUS 4/3/2 GOLF COURSE HOME OVERLOOKING THE 13TH FAIRWAY! BONUS SUN-ROOM OFF THE KITCHEN AREA! $349,700

2251 S RAINBOW RANCH MAKE THIS SPACIOUS 3,687+/-SQ.FT, 4-BEDROOM/4-BATH/4-CAR GARAGE HOME ON 10.45+/- ACRES YOUR HAVEN IN THE HILL COUNTRY! $699,700

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600 SHADE RD STUNNING 2/2/2 LOG HOME W/SPACIOUS FRONT PORCH ON 5.77+/- ACRES IN SOUGHT AFTER BLANCO BEND W/ BLANCO RIVER ACCESS! $547,000

35 LA BUENA VISTA MAKE THIS SPACIOUS 2/2 HOME YOUR HAVEN IN THE HILL COUNTRY! SPECTRUM INTERNET/CABLE! SUPER LOCATION JUST MINUTES TO DOWNTOWN! $279,700

5005 & 5003 LYNNDALE DR NEW LISTING IN THE SOUGHT AFTER LYNNDALE SUBDIVISION! TWO CONTIGUOUS LOTS! ZONED SF3!

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105 WIGEON NEW LISTING NEAR HAYS CITY! SPANISH STYLE 3/3/2 CUSTOM HOME ON 2+/- ACRES W/A TEXAS “KING RANCH” APPEAL! DESIGNER’S DREAM FOR ENTERTAINING! $569,700

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OO LEATH HOLLOW LONG DISTANT HILL COUNTRY VIEWS FROM THIS 10.285+/- ACRE TRACT! ZONED RESIDENTIAL! GREAT OPPORTUNITY! $349,700

1100 THOMPSON RANCH MAKE THIS UPDATED TINY CABIN YOUR WEEK-END GETAWAY! SHORT TERM RENTALS OK! LONG DISTANT HILL COUNTRY VIEWS! $780,000

000 BROOKMEADOW DR RARE 5.032 +/- ACRE TRACT IN BROOKMEADOW! POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY W/CITY APPROVAL! MAJESTIC LIVE OAKS! $349,700

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1051 COUNTY ROAD 1492 NEW LISTING IN WIMBERLEY TEXAS! THIS UPDATED AND UNIQUE “EARTH STYLE HOME” BUILT PARTIALLY UNDERGROUND ON 1.47+/-ACRES! $439,700

220 BENNEY LANE COMMERCIAL LOT IN DRIPPING SPRINGS! SUPER LOCATION - LOT 5 (1.5+/- ACRES) ON BENNEY LANE IS ZONED CS – COMMERCIAL SERVICES! $597,000

2925 MAIL ROUTE RD, FISCHER, TX NEW LISTING IN FISCHER, TEXAS! MAKE THIS UPDATED HOME ON 24.2+/ACRES W/SEASONAL CREEK YOUR HAVEN IN THE HILL COUNTRY! $847,000

Wimberley Valley News & Views

PENDING

Page 16 January 2021