Right at HOME December 2017

HOME RIGHT AT

DECEMBER 2016

SLEEP SOUNDLY

Pulmonary & Sleep Institute Page 4

David Marks, MD, is the owner of the Pulmonary & Sleep Institute.

Dr. Mark’s is the only sleep medicine physician in the Stone Oak area double board certified by both the American Board of Sleep Medicine and the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Photo by: Greg Harrison

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12/17

Parents’ Day Out – Saturday, Dec. 17, noon- 4 p.m. Enjoy a day out or catch up on last minute shopping while the little ones are having a fun-filled, wellsupervised, active day at the YMCA. Mays Family YMCA, 21654 Blanco Rd.78260; Registration $15. www.ymcasatx.org/maysfamily/.

12/17-18

Faces of Christmas – Christmas Choral Concert - Friday, Dec. 16, and Saturday, Dec. 17, 7:00 p.m., or Dec. 18, 3:00 p.m.

Enjoy a choral concert featuring music of the season. Bulverde United Methodist Church, 28300 U.S. Highway 281 North 78260; 830-980-7745.

Illuminations – Nighttime Half Marathon, Relay, St. Nick at Night 5K Saturday, Dec. 17, 5:30 p.m.

JW Marriott Hill Country Resort and Spa, 23808 Resort Parkway 78261; www.illuminationshalf.com.

Celebrate JOY at Summit Christian Center – Saturday, Dec. 17, 5 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 18, 10:30 a.m.

Christmas carols and worship service, photos with Santa, The Christmas Story reading and cookie decorating. Children may wear pajamas and enjoy pancakes during the children’s service. Summit Christian Center, 2575 Marshall Rd. 78259; www.summitsa.com.

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12/13 12/11

Celebrate LOVE at Summit Christian Center – Saturday, Dec. 10, 5 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 11, 10:30 a.m.

Christmas carols and worship service including video of Christmas Blast holiday party for 1,600 children in the care of Child Protective Services and musical entertainment by the Summit Children’s Choir. Summit Christian Center, 2575 Marshall Rd. 78259; www.summitsa.com.

Bush Middle School PTA Holiday Band/Choir/Orchestra Concert Tuesday, Dec. 13, 6 p.m. Bush Middle School, 1500 Evans Rd. 78258.

12/16-18

12/10

14th Annual Winter Celebration Saturday, Dec. 10, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Santa arrives by helicopter at this family event featuring 60,000 pounds of snow, a parade, raffle, vendors and more. North Central Baptist Hospital, 520 Madison Oak 78258.

Christmas Handbell Concert Sunday, Dec. 11, 5 p.m.

San Pedro Presbyterian Church, 14900 San Pedro; 210-494-6560; sppcsa.com.

12/17

sat & sun’s

Legacy Farmers’ Market Saturdays/Sundays, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Local market features produce and handcrafted wares from area farmers, artisans and cottage industries. Legacy Shopping Center, 18402 U.S. Highway 281 North 78259; legacyfarmersmarket.com.

12/10-11

Upcoming Events

5th Annual San Antonio Coffee Festival - Saturday, Jan. 7, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Coffee and coffee related arts and crafts. La Villita Historic Arts Village, 418 Villita St. 78205; lavillita@sanantonio.gov.

Send your upcoming events to StoneOakInfo@gmail.com.

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Sleep Soundly

Board Certified Stone Oak Physician’s One-Stop Shop Fixes Sleeping Problems

The Pulmonary & Sleep Institute team. Pictured (L-R back row), Starr Marks, Clara Cardenas, Elizabeth Santa Cruz, Ashley Barrera and Tricia Lyles. (In front, seated) David Marks, M.D.

By Amy Morgan

A

A person with a sleeping problem has a dilemma: how to correctly identify the problem and fix it. Restful sleep is essential to health and happiness, yet obtaining proper diagnosis and treatment can be a confusing maze of specialists, sleep labs, insurance companies, hassle and time.

That problem has a solution in Stone Oak, at the Pulmonary & Sleep Institute, founded and run by David Marks, M.D., and his wife, Starr, a former neonatal nurse.

Dr. Marks is the only double Board Certified Sleep Medicine physician in the Stone Oak area by both the American Board of Sleep Medicine and the American Board of Internal Medicine. As a pulmonary and sleep medicine physician, he focuses on caring for patients with all aspects of lung disease and sleep disorders. One suffering with insomnia, potential obstructive sleep apnea or narcolepsy may schedule their own appointment directly with the clinic or be referred by their primary care physician. Dr. Marks is in network with most major insurances plans and does offer cash paying patients a discount.

“We’re Stone Oak’s only true, high-quality sleep diagnostic center,” said Dr. Marks. “We offer all-in-one care.” Testing, diagnosis and treatment provided are personable, timely and affordable.

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“We are not just a sleep lab, we are a sleep institute.” Although we have an excellent sleep lab facility in house, its use is just one component of the many services we provide,” said Dr. Marks.

“We are not just a sleep lab, we are a sleep institute.

A patient of the Pulmonary & Sleep Institute meets Dr. Marks and shares information about sleep habits and problems. Dr. Marks analyzes the information and recommends a course of action – one option being a sleep study conducted in-house in one of the two beautifully decorated private rooms.

PSI has two well appointed bedrooms in their in-house sleep lab.

“We offer a little extra TLC to our sleep study patients. Each of our two sleep lab rooms has a private bathroom, Wi-Fi, a big screen equipped with Apple TV and all the amenities to make you feel right at home. I realize being in a sleep center is not always the most comfortable, so we try to make it as pleasant as possible,” Dr. Marks said. Patients are greeted with a welcome letter which includes Dr. Marks’ personal email to encourage patient feedback.

“We talk about their concerns. A diagnosis of sleep apnea doesn’t necessarily mean a CPAP machine – it may consist of weigh loss or lifestyle modifications,” (something he knows about, as he recently completed his first half marathon.)

“It’s about appropriately counseling folks on the results of the study.”

An additional course of action may consist of a home sleep study. Patients of the Pulmonary & Sleep Institute will receive instructions regarding the use of a diagnostic home testing device that measures oxygen and airflow while sleeping. “It captures enough data to diagnose sleep apnea,” Dr. Marks said, “and it’s a good alternative option for patients that aren’t physically able to stay overnight in our sleep lab.

Dr. Marks demonstrates the CPAP or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy Machine to a patient diagnosed with sleep apnea.

Dr. Marks loves helping his patients improve their symptoms and impact their quality of life.

An in-home sleep study option is also offered to patients.

Whether testing is done in the lab or at home, Dr. Marks personally interprets the results to ensure proper scoring.

“We take pride in the quality of our studies,” he said.” “Having experienced registered technicians is essential.” Dr. Marks pledges to have sleep study results ready to discuss with his patients within a week of their completion.

Dr. Marks develops an individual treatment plan, depending on your results. Treatment plans may include a CPAP machine, a consultation with a dentist for a dental device, an appointment with the on-staff nutritionist, or a recommendation for surgery.

All patients who come to the Pulmonary & Sleep Institute are evaluated by Dr. Marks. “I am in clinic both mornings and afternoons,” he said. “I no longer use a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant because I enjoy providing personal care to each of my patients.

Another advantage to his sleep clinic is the ability to maximize patients’ insurance benefits. Sleep studies are billed out as an “in office” procedure so many patients are only subject to their copay and there is no separate billing or hidden fees. This has saved patients thousands of dollars when compared to using an outside sleep lab. If a patient lacks insurance or for some reason is subject to their deductible, the office partners with CareCredit, which gives the patient 6 months to pay their study interest free.

“I take out the middle-man to provide the best, comprehensive sleep disorder care in the most timely and cost effective manner,” he added.

Marks completed medical school, residency, and his fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. In addition to his double Board Certification in Sleep Medicine, he is also Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Critical Care, Pulmonary Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Care.

Married for five years to Starr, together they have two teenage daughters, a 4-year-old son, and a 1 ½ -year-old daughter. His family lives in Stone Oak and attends Cornerstone Church.

115 Gallery Circle Ste. 102 San Antonio TX 78258

210-494-4220

www.pulmonarysleepinstitute.com 5

get involved, contact Kent Kirkman, 210-325-1333 or visit www.stoneoaksarotary.org.

The Stone Oak Rotary Club presents…

Wine Tasting & Casino Party Saturday, March 4, 2017 6:30pm – 10:00pm Holy Trinity Banquet Hall 20523 Huebner Road Black Tie Optional Call 210-391-3272 for tickets.

Make your Silent Auction bids online at

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Please make checks payable to: Stone Oak Rotary Club 19141 Stone Oak Parkway Suite 104-168 San Antonio, TX 78258

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Feeling the Love Ronald Reagan High School Band Takes Distinguished Honors at Bands of America Grand Nationals Competition, Will Represent San Antonio in 2018 Rose Bowl Parade

By Ellie Leeper Morrison

T

he Ronald Reagan High School Marching Band competed in the Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis, the weekend of November 12, finishing seventh out of one hundred of the nation’s best bands, and was bestowed the distinguished honor of the invitation to march in the 2018 Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, Calif. Ronald Reagan High School accepted the invitation and will be representing the nation’s top band programs in the parade on New Year’s Day of 2018.

The Ronald Reagan High School Marching Band’s 2016 show was entitled ‘One Love’, inspired by a poem about universal love by all people, for all people, by Maya Angelou. The show featured Bob Marley’s “One Love,” Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now,” among other more traditional classical music pieces. Under the leadership of Head Director Dan Morrison and Assistant Directors Greg White, Mason Daffinee, Ray Ulibarri and Noel Gabrintina, 300 students have taken the field all season to deliver emotionally-charged performances at the highest level of musicianship and pageantry for audiences of more than 30,000 people in mega-domes and stadiums across the state of Texas During a motivational speech to the band before their Grand and the nation.

National Preliminary performance at Lucas Oil Stadium, Director Morrison stated, “This is a time where there has been a lot of turmoil One Love has been both a in our country and a lot of expression of people with very opposite crowd and adjudicator favorite opinions. This show is twelve minutes for people to watch something all season. The creative team and just feel good. To feel connected with you, to feel connected with has pushed the activity of each other, and for you to feel connected to the audience. And that is marching band to a new level why we do this. This is what you are going with their decision to include a to remember.” featured student vocalist and forty dancers from the Reagan Morrison also brought dance program in the show in in his older sister to collaboration with veteran Indianapolis, Hollywood Reagan Dance Director Valeria actor Jennifer Morrison of Sisson. The team works “House MD,” “How I Met together like superglue, Your Mother,” and “Once committing to an initial Upon A Time,” to offer creative vision and executing a encouraging words of thoughtful, high-level approach Mikayla Simonsen performs her support to the students and to the construction of the show’s narrative. One Love had vocals with the Reagan Band during the staff about delivering a a very clear beginning, middle, the Grand Nationals Finals. performance to an audience during which you give and end that led audiences Percussionist Keona Kenoshiro plays something of yourself that through twelve minutes of a cathartic emotional experience, leaving the xylophone in the drum pit you have never given before. most either in or near tears and on their feet for the entire final movement of the show.

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New Store Celebration!

Stone Oak Vision Source opens its beautiful new store on Knights Cross.

On Friday, November 11th, folks from all over the Stone Oak community came out to celebrate the grand opening of the newly constructed store for Stone Oak Vision Source. The optometry practice and retail store moved into their beautiful new building located at the corner of Stone Oak Parkway and Knights Cross. The doctors and staff invited the community to come share in the festivities.

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9

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH

Reliable Family Help

College Nannies and Tutors Solves Child-Care, Schoolwork Dilemmas

By Amy Morgan

I

f you are in need of a safe, reliable and trained sitter to occupy your children while you catch up on holiday errands or attend a special event, look no further than College Nannies and Tutors, located at 20079 Stone Oak Parkway, Suite 1104.

The franchise is offering a holiday treat of three complimentary hours of care to new families to use for shopping or a date night.

And with the ability to book your favorite sitter through an app on the phone, scheduling is simple and convenient. Once a family enrolls with College Nannies and Tutors and completes an in-home consultation, booking is a snap.

Steve and Lynn Johnson are the College Nannies, Sitters and Tutors franchise owners in Stone Oak. “It is a one-on-one approach,” he said. “It’s not just another hour of school at night or a packaged program. It’s the nursing major helping someone with biology. The student looks up to the role-model college kid who individually shows them how to figure out their homework.” There are no tutor enrolment fees.

You could be having coffee with friends and decide you want to Parents are billed only for the time scheduled, he added. schedule a girls’ night. Click on the app, check sitter profile and availability on the calendar, and book immediately. “It’s really For information, please contact: just that easy,” said Steve Johnson franchise owner. “It’s a great www.collegenanniesandtutors.com. way to have flexibility in a family’s life.”

Families are billed for the hours used – no need to handle cash. Fees are individualized based on each family’s unique requirements determined in the initial consultation.

College Nannies and Tutors recruits college students to serve the needs of families as regularly-scheduled nannies, occasional sitters, or homework helpers.

Johnson brought the concept to San Antonio two and onehalf years ago, opening the flagship location in Stone Oak. He opened a second location in 2015 at Bandera and 1604 and currently serves all north San Antonio.

He conducts a thorough background check on each employee, trains and handles payroll. “The nannies, sitters and tutors are all adults and work for us as W-2 employees, so we have control. They are accountable for a high level of quality in their service delivery,” Johnson said.

“There’s staff behind our service. We’ll figure out solutions to never leave you in the lurch,” he added. “Our business is helping families. We match the right caregiver with each family. We are constantly recruiting and hiring sharp, responsible people who are role models to the children they care for.” Tutors help middle and high school students academically. Johnson said their approach differs from other tutoring services because college students – experts in the subject matter but just a few years older than their pupil – resonate with the younger ones.

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SENIOR MOMENT

Life-long Learner

A Love for Learning and Travel Inspired her Students

By Amy Morgan

can be life-changers. They open doors to a love of learning or influence in the T eachers right direction. Mary Blackwell, 89, holds that special place in the hearts of the many

students she impacted in her 25 years in the Chicago schools.

Blackwell taught middle school English – a subject replete with challenge. “Their nemesis seemed to be irregular verbs,” she remembers. She fondly recalls the escapades of a student, Alonzo. “He has tuned out to be a fine gentleman. His mother calls me regularly (decades later) and thanks me for helping her with her boys.” And Alonzo – well, he brings her brisket and ribs from the family restaurant when he visits.

Blackwell knows teaching was her calling. “You cannot learn to become a teacher in a college,” she said. “It’s in here (pointing to her heart). I don’t know of anything else that I could have been or wanted to be other than a teacher.”

“I love people,” she added. “I learned when I was very young you should realize your purpose.

I know why I am here; I am supposed to help people.”

Blackwell’s female relatives, including the grandmother who reared her after her mother died, were teachers. She followed the family footsteps, then conveyed the gift to her daughter, Phyllis Reed, who teaches English at the college level in San Antonio after stints teaching on U.S. military bases around the world.

Blackwell visited her daughter in the Philippines, - one of many excursions that brought learning to life. Information gleaned through extensive worldwide travel made her lessons leap off the page.

“I needed to have experiences,” she said. “Traveling broadens one’s scope. When I saw something in a book I could say, ‘This is it! I have seen it!’”

Her voyages have taken her to London, most of eastern and western Europe: Paris, Poland, Russia (including a peek at the Kremlin), Austria, Finland, (where her tour’s bus was reportedly stolen by the Russian mafia) Scandinavia, France, Switzerland, then on to Africa, and the Orient.

“I’d show my pictures, and the students would ask questions.

It would open up a whole new world … that’s teaching!” she exclaimed.

Blackwell lost her beloved husband of 65-years, Richard, in April 2014. She determined it was time to be closer to her daughter and granddaughter, Regina Bamsebi, and joined the Independence Hill Retirement Community family last spring.

Already she knows no stranger.

Mary Blackwell taught middle school for 25 years in her hometown of Chicago.

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“A lot of people call me Miss Sunshine,” she confided. “I want people to feel good when they leave my presence.”

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Blackwell sings soprano in the Independence Hill Hilltoppers Choir, plays bridge almost every day and enjoys weekly church services. As she plans her next adventure…. India or Australia top her list.

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LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED

PET TIPS

Have a Holly, Jolly, Stress-free Holiday

By Tamara Wetegrove

K

eep these tips in mind to ensure you and your pet have a happy, healthy holiday season!

No paws in the candy dish Store chocolate and sweets out of your pet’s reach, as they can make them very sick.

Don’t get “shocked” If your house is illuminated by a Christmas tree or other holiday lights, be sure to tape down or cover all cords in and around the house to avoid shocks. Unplug all lights when you aren’t home.

Tinsel time Hang your tinsel high and secure it out of reach from your four-legged kid. Do the same for any low-hanging ornaments on the tree.

a quiet room where they can relax and unwind with blankets, food, water, toys and anything else that will be comforting during the excitement.

Pet Vacation If you are traveling for the holidays and can’t bring your Give your pet a safe place to retreat pet along, bring them to Camp so they can romp and The hustle and bustle of the holidays and additional people play with their fur-iends. Make your reservations now in your home can be stressful for your pets. Give them we fill up quickly over the holidays.

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FINANCIAL FITNESS

By Jennifer Scroggins

Got A Sec?

Or 2 or 3? Let me tell you what a difference exactly 3 seconds can make.

I play coed softball on Wednesday nights. Recently, after a nice win, I get to my car to head home. I pop the hatch, load my equipment, close the hatch, get in and start the car. Then POW! A softball comes right through the rear window. I scream! Glass flies everywhere! Needless to say, not too happy. But later, after I calmed down, it occurred to me, I was pretty lucky. 3 seconds earlier, I was standing in the exact spot where the ball hit.

Let’s rewind and think about this. Had I taken 3 seconds longer to load my gear, the ball would have hit the back of my head at roughly 60 miles per hour. In the blink of an eye, my life could have been forever changed. Depending on where it hit, I most likely would have suffered a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI) of some kind. Mild TBIs can cause problems from chronic headaches to changes in your physical or mental state. Severe injuries can result in coma or even death.1

of us know someone who was injured or got cancer or an illness which prevented them from working for a time. What you should ask yourself is, “am I prepared?”

Because sometimes, your life can change…sometimes the financial stability of your family or business can change…in just 3 seconds. So take 3 seconds. Make the decision to be prepared. You control your ability to earn an income. Take the time to make sure your protect it.

1 http://www.aans.org/patient%20information/conditions%20and%20 treatments/sports-related%20head%20injury.aspx 2 source www.ssa.gov

I began to think what if. What if it had affected my ability to walk or talk or even think? What if I couldn’t do my job or provide an income for my family? Where would the money come from? You may be thinking Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), but did you know in the state of Texas it takes on average 18 months before benefits may be approved?2 Now I ask: Do you have 18 months of emergency money to cover monthly living expenses while you wait? And if you get it, will it be enough?

Jennifer L. Scroggins, Investment Advisor Representative Office: (210) 998-5010 Cell: (210) 789-2003 Email: jscroggins@jhnetwork.com www.jenscroggins.com

What about Disability Income Insurance? Do you have it? What does it cover? How much will it pay you? You see, as an advisor, I know this is not really a rare occurrence. You’re 5 times more likely to become disabled than to die during your working years.2 Most

Registered Representative/ Securities and Investment Advisory Services are offered through Signator Investors, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Platinum Wealth Solutions of Texas, LLC is an independent firm affiliated with Michigan Financial Companies-John Hancock Financial Network. 28411 Northwestern Highway, Suite 1300, Southfield, MI 48034.

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Musical Maestro

Regan Senior Audria Fogarty-Ramirez Competes in Orchestra and Band Student Spotlight

By Amy Morgan casual decision to pick up violin in an elementary school introduction to orchestra program changed the life of Ronald Reagan senior Audria Fogarty-Ramirez.

A

“I tried violin in the fifth grade because I like trying new things,” she said.

Seven years later, music is the driving passion of her life. Fogarty-Ramirez is co-concert master of the school’s varsity orchestra, secretary of the Reagan orchestra program, heads the first violin section, performs in Reagan’s Concinnity Quartet, has qualified for the Regional Symphony Orchestra, and performs with the Youth Orchestra of San Antonio (YOSA) Philharmonic Orchestra.

She also plays synthesizer in the Reagan marching band, which includes committing to the 6A band’s myriad of activities.“I joined band my junior year because they needed a synthesizer player,” Fogarty -Ramirez said. “It’s a really rewarding program, so I decided to come back my senior year, too.” She was able to jump right into synthesizer, she said, because she had played piano throughout elementary school.

Juggling band and orchestra can be a challenge: a recent weekend included auditioning in the earliest Saturday morning spot for a state orchestra competition then joining the band for its UIL Area competition in Austin.

“Audria is one of the most involved and self-motivated students I have ever had the privilege of teaching,” said Sixto Elizondo, Reagan orchestra teacher.

Fogarty-Ramirez hopes to attend either Indiana University or Baylor and major in music performance. Her auditions, combined with her high test scores and GPA above 100, qualify her for a scholarship.

“I plan on majoring in music performance – I’ll be continuing in violin my whole life – hopefully in a big symphony,” she said.

Audria Fogarty-Ramirez plays first violin in the Youth Orchestra of San Antonio and the Ronald Reagan orchestra program, where she holds several leadership positions.

Especially inspiring was her travel last July to Europe with YOSA to play four concerts in Prague, Budapest, Vienna, and Gyor – the heartland of orchestral music. She was awestruck, she said, by the experience of performing the music of great composers in the countries of their origin.

“Getting to perform in the beautiful concert halls was incredible,” she said.

Her favorites include Dvorak’s 8th Symphony and Shostakovich. “He has a kind of dark, intense style. It is hard to play, and it’s a lot of fun once you learn.”

Fogarty-Ramirez hopes to share her passion with others. She co-founded the Texas Future Music Educators club at Reagan, which welcomes any student interested in music as a profession, she said. The club focuses on providing students exposure to real-world musical career experience and the opportunity to attend the TMEA convention in February.

“We’ll invite guest speakers to explain how to bridge the gap from high school music performer to music as a career,” she said, adding she also hopes to reach out to middle schools.

“I’m all about music,” she said.

Audria Fogarty-Ramirez plays the synthesizer in the Ronald Reagan Marching Band, which recently returned from the Grand National Band of Americas in Indianapolis.

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