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SEGUIN A u t h e n t i c

T e x a s

l i v i n g

April|May 2017

Springin g Forward

BMX Biking | Canes for Vets | Texas Plants

13625 US Highway 87 W La Vernia, Texas 78121 (830) 779-2600

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www.seguinfamilymedicine.com AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING ~ SEGUIN

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Vol. 3, No. 6 Seguin magazine is published six times a year by the Seguin Gazette.

PUBLISHER

Jeff Fowler EDITOR

Travis Webb DESIGN

Hannah Ruiz Melissa Crume Becca Harrison

M

y, how time flies. It seems like the last issue of Seguin just hit the streets, and here we are again with another one. And we’ve already started working on the next issue — and beyond.

What makes it easy is that we love what we do; putting together a magazine that highlights what’s special and unique about Seguin and the people who live and work here. This issue is no exception.

You want to get active? We’ve got you covered, from volleyball to BMX to getting in shape for summer. You want artisans? We’ve got that too, from beautifully handcrafted canes to deliciously crafted beer. Need to get ready for spring? Yes, we have that to, from fashion to flora.

Throw in a classic car, a great cup of coffee, and a peek inside a local fashionista’s closet, and we’ve pretty much touched all the bases. Or at least most of them. Well, some anyway. We’ll try to catch the rest next time. Or the time after that. Or … well, you know what I mean.

There’s just so much about Seguin that sets us apart. I guess that’s why we keep doing this. So turn the page and come on in. We’re glad you’re here.

Jeff Fowler

WRITERS

Felicia Frazar Marcel Louis-Jacques Forrest Grimes CONTRIBUTORS

Lizz Pumphrey ADVERTISING

Elizabeth Engelhardt Gay Lynn Olsovsky Lorinda Spaulding TO ADVERTISE IN SEGUIN MAGAZINE CALL

830-379-5402 All material herein c. 2017 Southern Newspapers Inc., dba The Seguin Gazette, 1012 Schriewer Road, Seguin, TX, 78155.

All rights reserved

hot tip LIFE IS TOO SHORT, JUMP ON THE BED

An inside look from our WRITERS...

“Journalism is frequently a stressful, taxing profession. Which is one reason I jumped at the chance for an-on-the-job visit to our local brewpub.

It doesn’t hurt that Seguin Brewing Co. has some of the best craft brews around. I’m all for new experiences, especially when they’re delicious and come in a pint glass.”

— Travis Webb “Classic cars have always piqued my interest.

So, getting to take a closer look at Crystal Gutierrez’s Chevrolet Impala was an awesome experience. Crystal has some great ideas for the pink-painted classic, and I’m excited to see what she comes up with.”

— Felicia Frazar “It was interesting to get to learn more about the sport of BMX. It varies greatly from more popular sports such as football and basketball.”

— Forrest Grimes “This workout that the guys at Guadalupe Regional Wellness Center came up with is a simple yet effective way to get or stay in shape. ” — Marcel Louis-Jacques

SEARCH SEGUIN GAZETTE

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SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

D

On

the

Cover

Photo by Lizz Pumphrey It’s was a cold day in February, when we decided to put kids in shorts and tank tops, but Penelope was a trooper as long as Star, the dog, was around!

Penelope’s outfit is from LaVernia Country Store, with shoes from JCPenney.

Extraordinary healthcare.

Right around the corner.

It’s advanced medicine with a personal touch.

With over 100 exceptional physicians and more than 35 specialties, Guadalupe Regional Medical Center has been Seguin’s #1 choice for healthcare since 1965. We’ve been taking care of our community for 50+ years by always providing state-of-the-art technology and the most individualized care possible. It’s what we do. It’s what you deserve. Always.

Come — be part of the GRMC family. We’ll take great care of you and your family, now and well into the future.

FIND A LOCAL PHYSICIAN: 830.401.7401 1215 E. Court St. • Seguin, TX 78155 • 830.379.2411 grmedcenter.com

THE HOTTEST SPOT

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16 FEATURES

AROUND TOWN

IN EACH ISSUE

24 CANES FOR VETERANS

8 IMBIBE

6 SIZZLIN’ FIVE

28 MOTHER, DUGHTER CONNECTION

10 CLOSET CLOSE UP

18 FASHION

12 BE YOU – BE WELL

40 FAVORITE FINDS

32 NATIVE GARDENING

14 UNDER THE HOOD

42 FACES OF SEGUIN

36 BMX BIKING

16 CULINARY CREATIONS

46 READER’S COMMENTS 48 TESTIMONIAL

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SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

Proudly serving Seguin, New Braunfels, Lake McQueeney and the surrounding lake and river communities

Debbie Freeman Brown SEGUIN

Karen McMillan SEGUIN

Jay Crowell SEGUIN

Brannon Monkerud NEW BRAUNFELS

Matt Skinner SEGUIN

Don Ennis NEW BRAUNFELS

Cynde Parker SEGUIN

Mike Stevens SEGUIN

Julie Ennis NEW BRAUNFELS

Lea Phelps SEGUIN

Jordan Lippe Walker NEW BRAUNFELS

Fanny Harkins SEGUIN

Kelley Rose SEGUIN

Lynn Zarr, Sr. NEW BRAUNFELS

Eve Hiner SEGUIN

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Carol Sewell SEGUIN

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Not pictured from Seguin: Cindy Olvera and Willie Velasquez

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April 7th

MOONLIGHT AND ROSES

Enjoy a night of music at the Memorial Rose Garden during the annual Moonlight and Roses event. The evening includes light hors d’oeuvres and an awards ceremony. This year’s event is set for 7 p.m. on April 7.

April 22nd

RELAY FOR LIFE

Guadalupe County Relay For Life is taking over Central Park for this year’s venture. Guadalupe County residents are invited to participate in the American Cancer Society’s largest fundraising campaign starting at 4 p.m. on April 22. Walk laps and visit vendor booths set up by area businesses, organizations and individual groups in an effort to raise money for the cause.

April 29thEARTH DAY CELEBRATION

Area businesses, organizations and individuals gather in Central Park to show off how they are making Seguin a little greener during the annual Earth Day Celebration. The event is paired up with the city’s Trade Days and offers up children’s activities, music and more. This year’s event is set for April 29.

May 7th

MEDIEVAL KNIGHTS BALL

The Seguin Silver Center is bringing mothers and sons together for a Medieval Knights Ball on May 7. The event includes dinner, a photo booth, performance by the Seguin High School drama club, dancing and more. Children and moms alike are encouraged to dress the part, but it’s not mandatory.

May 20thBADGES, BIKES AND TYKES

The Seguin Police Department and Seguin Fire Department are once again joining forces to bring the community together for a picnic on May 20 in Starcke Park. The event marks the end of National Police Week and brings together local law enforcement officers, firefighters and children together for an afternoon of fun, games and a bicycle give-a-way.

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SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

Five events you don’t want to miss

spring, well done 2016

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Emanuel’s Lutheran Church, E.L.C.A. And

Day School Ages 18 Months to 5 Years SundayWorship: 9 a.m. · InformalWorship: 11 a.m. · ELYO ( Emanuel’sYouth Organization): 6 p.m.

Sunday School: 10:15- 11:15 a.m. · KWED 1580 Radio Broadcast- 10:15 a.m.

206 N Travis St. Seguin, Texas 78155 (Corner of Travis and Mountain Streets) PH: (830)379-5046 · Email: info@emanuels-seguin.org · www.emanuels-seguin.org

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VISITSEGUIN.COM 830-401-0810 AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING ~ SEGUIN

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“It’s a malty stout with a kind of coffee finish.”

Brian Wallace, Co-Owner

S

BY TRAVIS WEBB

t. Patrick’s Day may have come and gone, but at Seguin Brewing Co.’s downtown brewpub there’s still ample cause for celebration.

The local brewers, best know for the German-style beers, have made a foray into the world of Irish stouts.

Co-owners Brian Wallace and Shaun Washington imported malts from the U.K. and used a different brewing process for their newest offering.

“It’s a nitro stout. It’s carbonated differently and poured differently,” Brian said.

The brewing process and a nitrogen faucet on the tap help give the beer a creamy finish.

“It changes the texture of the beer,” Brian said. “It’s a malty stout with a kind

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SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

of coffee finish.”

The beer, which is currently only available at their downtown tap room, involved quite a bit of research.

“It was really fun to make it.

We’d never done a stout before, much less an Irish stout. It was just fun for us to try something new. The research was fun, what defines a stout, what’s good about it, what’s bad,” Brian said.

“It’s all about thinking ‘what do I want my end product to show up like?’ To me, that’s the real art.”

Seguin Brewing Co. is located at 111 West Gonzales Street in downtown Seguin.

Contact 210-771-3913 for more information.

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Mark Your Calendar for the big Le Vian Trunk Show & Sale

April 29th See all that’s new from Le Vian

830-625-3203

A Fine Jewelry Store • Since 1981 New Braunfels Marketplace 651 N. Business IH 35 Suite 240 www.ernestos.com

AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING ~ SEGUIN

9

Kelly Follis O

BY FELICIA FRAZAR

ne step into Kelly Follis’s closet and her unique sense of style is obvious.

Inside her cozy home in the country, the utility room that houses her washing machine, dryer and hot water heater, and connects to the master bathroom, also doubles as a large walk-in closet.

With upper and lower clothing rods on both sides, a built-in dresser in the middle and a storage bench at the end under the window, Kelly’s closet is easily a great multi-purpose room that is organized, color-coordinated and offers a lot of space to move.

“My sister designed and organized this closet when she lived here,” she said. “She wanted access to the laundry room. She designed the whole house. She wanted the drawers in here, and 10 SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

Closet Close-up

the bench and to have plenty of space. It just flows really well.”

As an aide to Sen. Donna Campbell, Kelly’s work attire is mostly business casual.

“I try to get pretty professional clothes for work,” she said.

“I like to go to the Ann Taylor outlet. I have also found this website thredUP (thredup.com), where you can find quality, secondhand high-end clothes. I do take my bosses hand-me downs, as well.”

When she’s not representing the senator, Kelly said her clothing choices can vary depending on what her schedule calls for and which events she may be attending.

“I like to really dress up, or I like to wear blue jeans and T-shirts,” she said.

When she dresses up, she goes all out, Kelly said.

“My most recent formal purchase was for the debutante ball,” she said, showing off a green and black dress.

While her daily attire may seem basic, it usually has something to say.

“I like my causes and I have all of my cause shirts — my kids’ stuff, my church, my political causes — and that is what I really like to wear because I can also make a statement,” she said.

“Instead of just wearing something that is comfortable, I wear something that is comfortable where I can still say something about what I support or what I am doing without having to say anything. I have a lot of T-shirts from the runs that I’ve done.”

For dressing up her outfits, Kelly turns to accessories, but

nothing that costs too much, she said.

“I like cheap jewelry,” she said. “I like being able to buy rings and earrings where you can buy three for the price of one. I do have some crosses that my brother gave me. And I have a bracelet that spells out ‘Kelly’ in Morse code. I don’t like shoes because they are an accessory that costs as much as the outfit.”

As for shoes, Kelly has her basic necessities, from strappy heals to dress boots.

“I like my boots,” she said. “I like the kind with a small heal, so I’m not flat on the ground but I’m not too high up. I’m comfortable and my legs are kind of covered up so I’m not cold.”

AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING ~ SEGUIN 11

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BY MARCEL LOUIS-JACQUES

s spring transitions into summer, those of us who may have taken a sabbatical from our New Years’ fitness resolutions are granted another opportunity to finally sculpt that beach body we’ve been looking for.

Getting into shape doesn’t need to be as hard as many of us make it; Justin Gonzales and Kyle Harper of the Guadalupe Regional Wellness Center said some of the biggest challenges most gym-goers face is trying to do too much during a workout.

“It’s very easy, you come and you don’t have to do too much,” Justin said.

“I think people try to do too much, and they’re not holding themselves accountable because they think they have to do too much.”

“A lot of new members come in for about two weeks and want to see results right away,” Kyle said. “But it’s really about being consistent for a month, two months, three months.”

Kyle and Justin are both fitness coordinators at GRMC and, while your best bet is to train with the professionals, they developed a workout routine that can be completed at home or at the gym.

“The exercises we selected are multi-joint movements, they’re fullbody exercises so it’s engaging multiple muscle groups at once,” Justin said. “Not only is it strengthening certain groups, it’s also going to give you a cardiovascular workout when we go through it in a circuit fashion.”

The routine consists of seven steps that engage your entire body, and each can be done with just your bodyweight and 12 SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

dumbbells; however, it’d be wise to take the proper precautions before embarking on your fitness journey.

Staying safe Many gym-goers — especially men — tend to set themselves back by lifting more weight than they can handle. In truth, lifting heavy weight won’t do anything positive for you if your form is compromised.

“Don’t worry about how heavy you’re lifting at the beginning, just focus on getting the form down,” Kyle said. “When we get new people in our program, we keep the load very light to start because we want to hammer down the movement patterns, and make sure they’re doing things properly and firing the right muscle groups before we start adding load and progressing.”

“That’s the importance of having a professional coach,” said Wellness Program Director Josh Wilson.

“When you talk about why people drop out of the gym, so often it’s because they get hurt. It could be just a minor muscle pull — it doesn’t have to be anything major — but often times they’re doing too heavy of weight without having the correct form.”

A common misconception Go ahead and buck the notion that more reps at a lower weight creates a more lean physique or fewer reps at higher weight helps you bulk up.

“I think that’s a big misconception in the fitness world,” Justin said. “You want to lift heavy with good form anywhere from eight to 12 reps — that’s going to be your zone where you’re burning calories and building muscles. That’s what we call hypertrophy zone.”

Squat Press

1. Bring the dumbbells into a rack position right above the shoulder line.

2. Push your hips back and sit down into a squat position until your hips are in line with your knees.

3. Push from your feet, drive up, extend your hips and push the weight over your head.

Areas Worked: glutes, hamstrings, quads, core, triceps, shoulder, chest

Row

1. Bend at the hips with a slight bend at the knees and flat back.

2. Let the weight hang, pull back with the shoulder blades and rotate your hands in with your elbows tight into your body.

3. Release, get full extension of your arms.

Areas Worked: back, biceps

Push-up

1. Keep your shoulders, hips and ankles in a straight line, with your hands under your shoulders, about shoulderswidth apart 2. Bend your elbows at a 45 degree angle as close as you can get to the ground, and drive yourself back up Areas Worked: core, triceps, chest, shoulders

Reverse Lunge-to-Curl

1. Stand tall with the dumbbells by your side, feet hipwidth apart.

2. Take a big step back, plant your back foot and drop your hips straight down into a lunge.

3. Keep your shin on your front leg vertical (knee behind your toes).

4. Drive off your front foot to come forward and bring your feet back together.

5. Once your feet are back together, curl the dumbbells and repeat process with opposite leg.

Areas Worked: legs, core, shoulders, biceps

Plank

1. Keep your shoulders, hips and ankles in a straight line while balancing on your forearms.

2. Keep your abs, glutes and quads tight as you hold your position.

3. Hold the plank anywhere from 15 seconds to one minute — it should be difficult if you’re doing it correctly!

Areas Worked: core, core, core!

Kettle/Dumbbell Swings

1.Stand shoulder-width apart with your toes slightly angled out.

2. Bend at the hips, push your rear end back, let the kettle/ dumbbell hang between your knees.

3. Drive your hips forward as hard as you can, stand tall at the top of your swing and squeeze your glutes.

4. Let the momentum of the kettle/dumbbell swing it back.

The height of the kettle/dumbbell should only go as high as your hip thrust takes it, don’t use your upper body to raise it.

Areas Worked: hamstrings, glutes, lower back, conditioning

Burpee

1. Start on your stomach, flat on the ground.

2. Pull your knees in toward your chest, land flat on your feet.

3. Drive up, extend at the hips and jump as high as you can.

4. Return to starting position and repeat.

Areas Worked: cardio, full body

AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING ~ SEGUIN 13

e h t r Unde d o o H

C

BY FELICIA FRAZAR

rystal Gutierrez developed a love for classic cars when she was young.

“My father had a 1950, 5-window pickup,” she said.

“He was supposed to hand that to me, but he ended up selling it. It broke my heart. So, I got my own car.”

About 12 years ago, she was introduced to a 1962 Chevrolet Impala and fell in love.

The Impala is Chevrolet pink with a pearl white top that has a pink shimmer, while the trunk features a painting of Medusa, which is an homage to Crystal’s father.

“When I was younger, I had a head full of curlers and my dad would call me Medusa, so I put her on it,” she said.

Crystal admits her car is a rolling work in art.

“She’s getting there little by little,” she said. “She’s a constant work in progress.”

The pink Impala has made its way into some car shows, earning Crystal a few awards.

However, she hopes to eventually use her car to help raise awareness and money for breast cancer.

“I just want to help in anyway I can,” she said. “I don’t have anyone in my family who has had breast cancer, but I am all for helping raise money for the cause. Anything with that or anything for the kids.”

14 SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

Crystal Gutierrez, of Seguin 1962 Chevrolet Impala, 2-door hard top Engine: V8 350 with 400 horsepower Transmission: Automatic

AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING ~ SEGUIN 15

s k r e p e Th a g n i e b f o

A T S I R BA

BY STEFFANIE AGNEW

As you sit down at your favorite coffee shop and the sweet taste of your caramel macchiato or warm cup of Joe rolls down your tongue and fills you with that indescribable joy, ever wonder what it took to craft your delectable beverage?

Your amazing drink was probably made by a hard-working barista, who carefully measured each portion of caramel, milk, coffee, shots of expresso or other components to make sure they were just right to craft the masterpiece that sits before you.

Lauren Tims and Staci Rendon are baristas at Court Street Coffee Shop who both said they enjoyed their jobs as baristas, and felt it gave them an exciting and rewarding experience.

“It’s a lot more than I originally thought it would be like,” Lauren said. “When I first thought about being a barista, I was like, ‘Oh man, it’s going to be really chill, just making coffee and that’s it.’

But there’s way more that goes into it.”

Lauren said making drinks is harder and takes more time than people sometimes realize.

“It takes usually, a good double shot of espresso takes at least 26 seconds, steam the milk takes about 30 seconds as well, so depending on your timing of that, your drink could take a little bit to come out,” she said.

The day starts early for baristas so they can open the shop before the morning rush of customers needing their caffeinated wake-up drinks. By 7 a.m. when the shop opens, coffee must be brewed and the baking underway.

“I would say it does stay pretty busy in the morning for coffee,” Lauren said. “It turns more into food around lunchtime, and there’s a lunch rush, usually around 11 a.m.”

But the coffee shop still gets busy after lunch. Depending on the time of year, people need an afternoon ice cream frappe fix.

At night, an influx of coffee drinkers come in to enjoy their evening.

Staci described being a barista as busy, but a super fun job with great perks.

“Free coffee is a perk,” she said. “Also,

Lauren Tims, left, and Staci Rendon.

definitely talking to the regulars is super fun, and I love getting to hear the music.”

One of Staci’s favorite aspects of her job is making latte art. There’s nothing cooler than being handed a drink with an intricate design in the foam topping.

Lauren also enjoyed making foam art in drinks and said that she was practicing to get better.

“When I first started, I was like ‘nope, can’t do it. Beyond me,’ she said. “I’ve been watching a lot of videos on Instagram. I’ve gotten way better. I can make leaves and hearts, and swirly type patterns. I’ve gotten some really good compliments on my lattes, and then on my caramel macchiato, the caramel drizzle part, I’m really good with that.”

g n i t a r CeleOb M M

18 SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

Photos By - Lizz Pumphrey Location - Blue Lotus Winery Models - Patricia Trinidad, Veronica Trinidad, Paris Cantu, Talen Trinidad, Penelope Trinidad

Patricia is wearing an aztec boho western gypsy blue womens high low dress by Rancho Estancia, $39.99, from La Vernia Counrty Store.

Kendra Scott, Rayne necklace in abalone shell, $90.00, and Kendra Scott, Danielle earrings in abalone shell, $75.00, both from Gift & Gourmet.

She is carrying a Barrington striped St. Anne Tote, $160.00, from Gift & Gourmet.

20 SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

Penelope is wearing a Tea N Rose black & pink floral lace dress, $19.99, from La Vernia Country Store. Her earrings are Kendra Scott, Lexi in gold & magenta, her necklace is Kendra Scott Elisa pendant necklace in fuchsia kyocera opal, $85.00 from Gift & Gourmet. Penelope is also wearing Arizona peony girls wedge sandals, $29.99 from JCPenney.

Talen is wearing Arizona boys button-front shirt, $26.00, Arizona cargo shorts in navy, $34.00 and Converse Chuck Taylor All Star axel boys sneakers, $40.00 all from JCPenney.

Paris is wearing a Umgee floral 70’s style sleeveless dress, $40.97 and pink wrap bracelet, $19.97 both from Bling and Company.

Veronica is wearing Anne French seabreeze lace shift dress, $32.99. She is also wearing Kendra Scott Morris necklace in crackle ivory pearl, $150.00, Meghan pendant necklace in crackle ivory pearl, $70.00 from Gift & Gourmet.

AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING ~ SEGUIN 21

Patricia is wearing a lightweight camel tassel kimono, $18.99 Wrangler women’s Rock 47 embroidery trim sleeveless dress in white, $42.99 and Yellowbox reinette brown sandals, $56.99, from La Vernia Country store. Kendra Scott Milla long necklace in crackle brown pearl, $150.00, Meghan neclace in silver white mother of pearl, $70.00, Mikka necklace in silver & white mother of pearl $50.00, and Maxwell earrings in white & mother of pearl $70.00 from Gift & Gourmet.

Davidisinwearing Performance Veronica R Cinco RanchCamo mayaAntler palazzo pants Hoodie $24.97, with a blue

By Columbia from long Gift & sleeve top, longand pearl and Gourmet, Jeans Boots crystal necklace from Bling from La Vernia Country andStore.

Company.

He is carrying a White Wing Shotgun Case from Gift & Gourmet.

Talen is wearing Arizona short sleeve solid polo shirt in hawaiian ocean, and Arizona chino shorts boys in nickelcactus from JCPenney.

Paris is wearing a white spaghetti strap tribal embroidered top, $24.99, with rope tie chambray shorts, $39.99 and Ariat criuser saddle tan suede aztec print shoes, $82.99 from La Vernia Country store.

Bling & Company Giftique

A gift store and a boutique all in one Come Visit us!

Monday-Friday 10-6 Saturday 10-5

In beautiful downtown Seguin.

Candles, home decor, trendy fashion items, boots, chocolates, specialty soaps, Frio Cooler products, Texas made items, We offer unique gifts for everyone.

115 W Court Street 830-379-1609

ANNIESLOAN ® CHALKPAINTS Now a global phenomenon, Annie Sloan first developed the Chalk Paint® range in 1990 to answer the need she had for a versatile paint that would work beautifully on furniture without priming or sanding; that would be easy to use and quick to dry; and that could be used for a number of different paint techniques.

KGift & Gourmet

We carry a complete line of paints and supplies. Call today to reserve a spot at our next Chalk Paint® workshop.

830-379-9995 keepersinteriors.com 615 N Austin St, Seguin, TX 78155

Keepers Interiors

830-379-1242

212 S. Austin

Like and follow us! facebook.com/giftandgourmetseguin @giftandgourmetseguin

Monday-Friday 10am-6pm Saturday 10am-4pm Closed on Sundays

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24 SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

Against the grain

BY FELICIA FRAZAR

W

hen he’s not working, Greg Huston can often be found carving, sanding or painting a veteran’s story onto a cane.

“That is pretty much what I do now. At night it helps me relax,” he said.

Greg is a U.S. Army veteran, who severed twice — once between 1990 and 1995, and again between 2005 and 2012.

“I served in the Army and was a military police officer, psychological operations, then I went back as an MP instructor,” he said. “In 2012, I was medically discharged.”

He may not show it, but there are days he requires a cane to walk.

“At work, I don’t use a cane. I can’t. When I’m out in public, then I can use my cane and it does help quite a bit,” Greg said.

But instead of using a traditional metal cane, he carved his own out of cedar.

– “I needed a cane, and all you get are those flimsy aluminum canes, so, I decided to make my own,” he said. “Plus, those are not tall enough for me.”

His cane became a topic of conversation with some family and friends who also are veterans.

“I had a couple of other veterans ask me where

I bought it,” he said. “When I told them I made it, they asked if I could make them one and how much I would charge them.”

The answer was nothing.

Among other ailments, Greg was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder – and as he worked on crafting more and more canes, he came to realize that it was therapeutic.

“One thing I learned while I was making mine was it actually calms me down,” he said. “I figured, while helping them, I can help myself. I decided to start making canes free of charge for other veterans. It has just been a good, positive result for me.”

In an effort to get the word out to help more veterans, Greg created a Facebook page, calling it Vet Mobility.

Since November, Greg has made 19 canes that have gone to veterans across the country, with about 300 orders in the bank, including one for a veteran who once refused to leave his home.

“I had one guy who, according to his wife, never left the house, but he got his cane and she can’t stop him now,” he said.

“Everybody, so far, says now they are proud to use a cane.”

For many, using a cane comes with a stereotype that they are old or broken, but these canes help break that feeling, Greg said.

“I found out when I started doing this, that it becomes a conversation piece, it breaks the ice.”

AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING ~ SEGUIN 25

“It gives them a little more confidence.

It takes away one more stigma they have,” he said. “It’s just one of those things that society hasn’t grasped the concept. Like me, I look perfectly healthy, but I’m not. It is just one of those things that now they can walk around and, if somebody looks at them funny, they say ‘Look, this is what I did in my life.’”

Each one is unique and tailored for the individual, telling their personal story.

“I make each cane based on the information they have given me,” he said. “When I get a request from them, I have them message me on Facebook with what information that they want. I go through their pictures and see what they are all about.”

Those stories can include time of service or the other things the veteran has accomplished in their life, Greg said.

“I’ve got one who is a veteran, but her biggest thing was it wasn’t the only thing she has done in her life,” he said. “She didn’t want something that just portrayed that, and she had to have bling on it. Of course, I had to get with Michelle, my wife, to find out what bling was.”

That cane was for Renee Rostick, of Baltimore, Maryland.

“He took what I said and made it absolutely fabulous. It is beautiful,” she said.

“He put one of my favorite scriptures on there. I’ve had it out a couple of times and it fits right into my world. I can’t thank him enough.”

Another cane Greg made was customized for a 78-year-old, who is attending college, while working full time and undergoing dialysis treatments.

“This is one for a strong man,” he said.

The one thing each cane has in common is Greg carves a semi-colon into the handle.

“It just means ‘my story is not finished yet,’” he said. “It’s a reminder. That is why I put it on every single one. I’ve had my own issues with my military service. Mostly, these guys are in the same boat I was in.”

The canes also help to open up the lines of communication for veterans, Greg said.

“I found out when I started doing this, that it becomes a conversation piece, it breaks the ice,” he said. “It is not just they are wounded or disabled, it is a story, it is their story. It gives them something in common with the other people that they are there with. The funny thing is, I get most of the comments about mine from the old Korean War and World War II vets at the VA (Veterans Affairs). We’ll sit and talk forever. It just lets them know that we have something in common and it’s an ear for them to talk to.”

A majority of canes are made from cedar or mesquite for high durability, but Greg is looking to branch out and test other types 26 SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

of wood.

“The one that I am still going to try is huisache, only because it is so prevalent around here,” he said.

The hand-made canes take a couple of weeks to make from start to finish.

“I trim down the branches, I skin it and then once it is skinned, I let it dry for about two weeks depending on the weather,” he said. “Once it is dried out, it gets skinned again.

Depending on the knots and characters of the wood, determines on how I’m gonna’ design it as far as cutting out or making the grooves.”

When he first started, Greg has sanding all of the canes by hand making it slightly longer process. But, a Christmas present has helped to reduce the time it takes to smooth out the surface.

“Luckily, Santa Claus was nice to me and got me a sander. It helps. Before that I was doing it all with sandpaper,” he said.

“The finishing touches I still do by hand, because it helps make it a lot smoother and gives it that glass-smooth finish.”

If the veteran served any time overseas, Greg paints the country on the cane, as well as any awards they have received.

“Every one is hand drawn, hand painted, or hand inlaid with a lot of bling,” he said.

Getting the right look may take a little time.

“It is not a long process, even though I do it all by hand,” he said. “It’s kind of hard when you’ve got a tick because everything is a little wobbly. If it’s too bad, I’ll sand it down and start over.”

Greg is not alone in his endeavor.

“Michelle will come out here and help me color, while I’m working on a cane,” he said. “It’s a little alone time for both of us, and a little bit of rehab from the day. She has got some residue effects from my service.”

Since Greg doesn’t charge the veterans for their canes, he works off donations.

“I created a GoFundMe account to help offset the shipping costs,” he said. “The whole purpose of this was not to make any money. I wanted every dime to go for the canes. It started out as $40 to $50 per cane, and I’ve been able to reduce that down to about $10. Hopefully I can continue to keep doing my part to help them out. It’s one of those things, no matter what happens, no matter what branch you were in, we’re all the same family.”

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Mother, Daughter Connection

BY FELICIA FRAZAR

M

others and daughters share a special bond.

For Kelle and Skylar Sullivan, that bond is a little stronger than most.

The duo not only work together in the family business, Texas Tiger Volleyball Club and Sports Complex, they also workout together and compete alongside each other.

“It has definitely been a blessing, because not many moms can say they have this relationship,” Kelle said.

“What I created was a mini me. I had no idea at that moment but, as the years pass by, it has become much more obvious that she is a replication of myself. I think it was her senior year she said, ‘I am the new and improved model. I’m the 2.0.’ It has been a joke ever since then that we are very much alike. Our eating habits are very similar, our body composition is alike.”

The pair can even share clothes, although Skylar is more likely to raid her mother’s closest than the other way around.

“I wear her clothes and she gets upset,” she said.

“That’s because you don’t give them back,” Kelle rebutted.

Kelle and husband, Frank, began Texas Tigers Volleyball Club when Skylar was in junior high school, to help their daughter hone her skills.

“Volleyball was always Frank’s thing,” Kelle said. “I didn’t grow up playing volleyball, he did. I helped him coach, but he and Skylar have this very special bond when it comes to volleyball, because they both just get it. It is just something very innate in both of them and is something they just understand. They understand the game, they understand the process, they understand the mechanics, and how to coach it and direct individuals.”

As the program grew, Skylar began coaching alongside her father, while Kelle helped them manage the teams.

However, as time went on, Kelle and Skylar found something they could share together — CrossFit. “I got into CrossFit, and became very passionate about that,” Kelle said.

At first, Kelle tried to get her daughter to join her, but Skylar resisted.

“The first two years, she kept begging me to go, and I was like ‘no,’” Skylar said.

“She was not interested,” Kelle said. “I couldn’t get her to work out for anything. And to modify her eating, forget it.”

Slowly, the younger Sullivan began joining her mom in the CrossFit classes.

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out,” Kelle said. “It is great to be able to test a workout with her.”

The two make everything a competition — who has the better times, who is lifting what.

“We do have a great relationship,” Kelle said.

“It does have its pros and cons, because we are so much alike. We have a lot of head-butting because our personalities are very, very similar.

She’s kind of cool to hang out with. She’s kind of fun.”

Three years ago, Frank and Kelle sold their construction company and decided to focus their efforts on building the Tigers’ program, which happened to be right up Skylar’s alley.

“We weren’t sure what she wanted to do on her career path and where she wanted to go,” Kelle said. “So, the more we talked about it, the more it became apparent that this is her life, this is her passion, this is what she wanted to do. We talked to her, she said she would really like to grow the Tigers’ program and that this is what she would really like to do.”

Kelle manages the program and the facility, and has started teaching Skylar the ropes of running the business.

“I never really understood how much work it was until the past year and a half, when I started helping with some of the duties,” Skylar said. “Being able to go under her wing and understand all of this has been a really cool experience.

Some people’s parents don’t give them the opportunities that mine have. Just learning the process of everything has been a really cool experience.”

The pair also partnered up last summer to create CrossFit Youth programs.

Being able to work alongside her mom on a daily basis is more of a bonding experience, Skylar said.

“It is a lot of fun,” she said. “I don’t really have to watch what I say. She is pretty much always thinking the same thing I am already thinking. She finishes my sentences for me half the time, which is a lot of fun. We’re like a power couple, but it’s my

“It has definitely been a blessing, because not many moms can say they have this relationship,” - Kelle Sullivan

mom and me, instead of like a spouse.”

That’s not to say that things always run smoothly, Kelle said.

“There are times when we butt heads, but we both know when to back off,” she said. “If something is really important to her I know when to stop pushing and visa versa. It’s not really worth the fight over it.

Everybody argues when you work together, especially when it’s family.”

This family has more than a working relationship, Kelle added.

“We spend a lot of time together,” she said. “We work together, we like to play together, we like to go on trips together, yet we still have our own lives as well.

That is what I think makes it work.”

Furthermore, Kelle said she gets to watch as her daughter continues to grow as an adult.

“She’s going to spread her wings, but she’s not going to fly that far, and I’ll get to be able to share that experience as she develops her career and as she develops her passion in coaching,” she said. “Being able to step back and watch that and watch all of the lives that she touches and the difference that she makes is really kind of interesting at times, but it also has been very fulfilling. I’m excited to be able to watch her grow and flourish.”

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— Groups work to preserve natural Texas landscapes —

BY TRAVIS WEBB

I

t’s wildflower season in Texas — a time of the year that nature lover’s throughout the Lone Star State can take in some of the most breathtakingly vivid beauty Mother Nature has to offer.

The preservation of that natural beauty is in no small part thanks to the efforts of volunteers with the Texas Master Naturalist Program and the Native Plant Society of Texas.

One of those volunteers is Seguin’s Nancy Masterson.

The work she does with the Native Plant Society — long dear to her heart — dovetails nicely with her efforts as a Master Naturalist.

The Texas Master Naturalist Program, part of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, began in 1997 and now includes 46 chapters — Guadalupe County’s among them. Statewide, nearly 10,000 volunteers spend their hours working to support the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, conducting citizen science and training programs, and providing education and service aimed at improving the management of Texas’ natural resources and outdoor area.

And make no mistake — the “master” in Master Naturalist is 32 SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

well-earned, the program requires an extensive 6-month training course.

Their mission, according to the nonprofit, is “to develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities for the State of Texas.”

“We train volunteers to be educators for the public,” Nancy said.

“It’s all about nature and natural resources.”

Locally, the nonprofit group has been involved in numerous beautification efforts aimed at improving the Seguin area’s parks and public gardens, participates in service events like Texas Lutheran University’s Day of the Dogs and organizes outreach efforts designed to raise awareness about conservation and agricultural issues.

“If the Native Plant Society is ‘inside the garden,’ then the Master Naturalists cover everything ‘outside the garden,’” Nancy said.

Business suits and high heels aren’t necessarily the first things that come to mind when admiring the beauty of nature, but that was the world she inhabited for 20 years before rediscovering her passion for the great outdoors.

But perhaps “rediscovering” isn’t the right word — Nancy’s love of nature began as a child and never went away, high heels or no.

It’s always been my passion. I had all my career years. I wore a business suit and high heels for 20 years, but on the weekends I would volunteer with the Audubon Society.”

Nancy credits her upbringing — and especially her mother — for helping to instill that love of the natural world.

“We lived on the edge of the woods and my mother loved bird watching,” she said. “I spent all my time in the woods. I’ve always been very comfortable being outdoors.”

And it was the outdoors that eventually brought her to Seguin.

The native New Yorker had spent 22 years in Florida, building a career and a life for herself. But, when it was time to move on from that stage of life, she and her husband fell in love with Seguin.

“When we were first considering a move to Seguin, to Texas, we came and just explored the area,” she said. “This land around here, we just fell in love with it. It still has its natural character. There’s still such a naturalness to it.”

And it was here that Nancy got involved with the Master Naturalist program and the Native Plant Society of Texas.

“Finding a career in the outdoor world was dream come true,” she said.

The latter group especially was a perfect fit for Nancy, who witnessed firsthand the devastation in Florida after one of the most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history — and participated in the restoration efforts.

“I did work with the National Forest Service after Hurricane Andrew. The devastation there was tremendous,” said Nancy.

That, in turn, led to her certification as an arborist.

“I was helping the community replant the right way,” she said.

The Native Plant Society and Master Naturalist Program don’t represent the total of Nancy’s commitment to Seguin since moving here 19 years ago. In the past,

Native Plants Info: With evenings getting longer and the weather growing warmer, the local chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas has some advice on creating various kinds of specialized gardens.

Birds & Butterflies

Feathered friends and brilliant butterflies will appreciate a garden planted with Flame Acanthus, Blue Mistflower, Butterfly Milkweed and Coral Honeysuckle.

Pastel Palette

For a colorful, pastel look, tr y Columbine, Mexican Plum, Prairie Verbena and Rock Rose.

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Choose these native lovelies to help keep deer from browsing on your plants: Cenizo, Evergreen Sumac, Gulf Muhly and Lantana.

Moon Garden

Plant Cenizo, Blackfoot Daisy, Mealy Blue Sage and Silver Ponyfoot for a cooler palette garden that looks as lovely at night as it does in the day.

For more about the Native Plant Society of Texas, visit npsot.org/wp/guadalupe/.

33

Gardening Tips: Master Naturalist Nancy Masterson shares tips on plating a garden with native plants.

Know your purpose —

“Nobody ever says, ‘I want an expensive, high maintenance landscape,” Nancy said.

Not all gardens are the same. Are you planting flowers or vegetables? Do you want shade? To attract birds and butterflies? How about color? The answers to those question will affect every aspect of your garden.

she’s also worked with the Main Street department, the Conservation Society, Habitat for Humanity, the Texas Theatre and the Outdoor Learning Center.

But lately she prefers to focus on her one true calling.

“These days I stick with nature,” she said.

For her, the Seguin area’s native plants are especially noteworthy and worth preserving.

Native plants are better pollinators and feed more birds and butterflies — the latter of which is particularly important owing to the area being a vital stop along the endangered monarch butterfly’s migration.

Native plants are better adapted to the local soil and also use less water than many exotics, especially the many Asian species that became popular after World War II. The very popular Elephant Ear for example, known for it’s large, waxy leaves, can suck up as much water as family of 4 uses in a year, she said. Because they require so much water and have few natural insect predators, many of those popular exotics can be dangerous for Texas’ native species.

“The natural plant palette here has all kinds of wonderful things,” she said.

After efforts to free more than an acre

of Park West from invasive exotics, Nancy said the area already shows remarkable improvement.

“The Seguin Parks department have been a terrific partner,” she said. “There’s so much more biodiversity now. It’s very wellbalanced.”

You can find out more about the local chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist program, including upcoming training and monthly programs, online at txmn.org/ guadalupe/.

Have a plan —

Know the space you’re working with.

Think about your soil, where the shade is — and where it isn’t. Because Guadalupe County sits at the crux of several different vegetative zones, it may be worth performing a soil analysis to know in advance what you’re working with.

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Think layering —

Planned correctly, the use of different heights and blooms can create contrast and fullness in your garden — as well as help create privacy or cover an unsightly aspect of your property.

It’s also important to consider the mature size of your plants and plant accordingly.

Soil prep —

Nancy advises digging a hole roughly 3 times as wide as your plant, but only as deep as the root ball. “Better to be too high than too deep,” she said.

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s l e e h W

Up

D

By Forrest Grimes

aven Klein finished his collegiate football career, but still wanted to stay active.

“I rode (bikes) when I was a kid, but I stopped around the time I was 13 or 14 and got real big into football,” he said. “I ended up playing college football at TLU (Texas Lutheran University) but, once I finished my football career playing for the Bulldogs, I needed something to stay active. I’m an adrenaline junkie. I love being outside.

I found that riding my bike and riding BMX was a way for me to keep my heart racing, have fun and stay active all at the same time.”

Ellis Baur and his friends started riding BMX at the age of 11.

“We were just a bunch of kids in school that were bored,” he said. “We wanted to stay out of trouble, wanted to do something fun. We just got bikes and started riding together. It turned into more of a passion, something you really loved and wanted to do after school.”

JT Martin has ridden for 20 years and even has a BMX track in his backyard.

“My wife was graceful enough to let me actually build in the backyard,” he said. “I 36 SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

grew up closer to Bulverde. There’s an old racetrack out there called Lonestar. I started out racing there, then got bored and moved to riding trails and street.”

BMX saw a big increase in popularity when the X Games began in 1995. Stars such as Dave Mirra and Matt Hoffman brought more attention to the sport and even have their own video games.

The city of Seguin opened its BMX track at Park West in November, and Parks and Recreation Director Jack Jones said the trail has been a huge hit.

“Everyday when there’s dry weather, there are kids riding,” he said. “We’re hoping, as we go along down the road, that we can get support and volunteers to make more of an advanced jump line with a bigger start line and some taller jumps.”

The track was designed for riders of all levels, Jack said.

“The pump track is a circular loop that runs counter clockwise, and it has a start hill,” he said. “It has some rollers and some banks where you can actually pump using the momentum of your body and go around the track without having to pedal. We also have two separate jump lines.

One is a beginner jump line and the other one is for intermediate type riders.”

Rushton Skinner is among the riders who frequent the track.

“I grew up mountain biking, and I wanted to move on and do something other than the technicalities of the stuff in San Marcos, but we don’t have the mountains here to do some of the crazier stuff on a full suspension,” he said. “So, I got a BMX bike, because I always hear that people can move from BMX to pro mountain biking.”

The track at Park West was built and designed by Austin-based firm Dirt Dojo.

“We designed it to be very beginner friendly for the people who are new to the sport,” Dirt Dojo owner and founder Jake Carsten said. “The pump track is designed to be incredibly beginner friendly, everything is rollable, nothing very tall. The two dirt jump lines are beginner and intermediate. The beginner line is for people who are new to start getting comfortable without being really high off the ground, and the intermediate line is designed for people that have progressed beyond the beginner line and want to start getting bigger jumps, catching more air and more hang time.”

Dirt Dojo provides construction, designs and training.

Jake has decades of experience riding BMX and mountain bikes.

“I raced in leagues and I also competed in the American Freestyle Association many years ago,” he said. “I got a bike as a kid and started riding with my friends. I ended up building little jumps with wood on a cinder block, and once I did that I was hooked. The freedom of being able to travel around the track on the bike and also doing all the tricks and learning to master things creates a sense of accomplishment.”

While some bikers ride competitively, others such as 38 SEGUIN ~ AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING

Daven and JT just like to have fun and enjoy the ride.

“Now-a-days it’s just for fun,” Daven said.

“I just go out there and enjoy my time with my friends.

I like to ride a dirt jump trails, there’s a bunch of big gaps and stuff. I’m not really throwing any major tricks over them, but the time I have the most fun is when I’m in the air.”

Jake said BMX is an easier sport for beginners to enjoy and build experience in than other extreme sports, such as skateboarding.

“At the pump tracks, a parent can get out there with their kid, and even a grandparent can get out there and roll around on the pump track and not feel intimidated,” he said. “A skate park can be bold and have a lot of consequences. Designing facilities that have minimal consequences and high levels of fun is a great way to introduce

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Seguin events Complex people to the sport and get people riding on their bikes whether it is a BMX bike or other kinds.”

Locally, the sport still has plenty of room to grow as more tracks and jumps are built, Jake said.

“There hasn’t been a lot of infrastructure for people to get started in BMX,” he said. “We have racetracks, but if you’re not into racing, it’s not a great venue.

They’re more built for fitness. Things like pump tracks and dirt jump lines are hugely popular in terms of demand, but it’s only been in past five or six years that municipalities have begun to accept and recognize the value. It’s kind of what you saw with skate parks 20 years ago.”

After 19 years and of riding BMX bikes, Ellis said he would recommend it to anyone else looking to get started.

“It’s a great extracurricular activity,” he said. “It keeps you out of trouble, keeps you in shape. It’s an absolute blast, and you get to hang out with your best buds all day.”

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READERS COMMENTS “I enjoy looking at all of the various ads. Puts me in the shopping mood!”

--Shannon Pruett, BSN, RN “I think the Seguin Magazine is awesome, not too many pages, great and interesting articles and just the right amount of advertising. After I’m done reading, I pass it to a coworker so they can enjoy the magazine. Thank you.”

--Sharon Puhlmann

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x 2” 3.5”3.5” x 2”

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Mon. Tues. Thurs. Fri. - 8am - 5pm Wed. 8am - 1pm • Lunch 1 - 2pm

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480 W. Mill Street, New Braunfels, TX 78130

AUTHENTIC TEXAS LIVING ~ SEGUIN 47

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