Right at HOME community magazine December 2018 issue.

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Praiseworthy Pediatrician Little Buddies Pediatrics Relocates to Stone Oak

By Amy Morgan

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mother of young children recognizes the signs …. croupy cough, high fever, goopy goo that has turned green ….. these, and a myriad of other aches and pains that may or may not be serious, compel the decision: it’s time to call a pediatrician. But what if illness or injury strikes, and you haven’t found the perfect practitioner? Or perhaps you’ve moved and need to establish a relationship with a new doctor for well visits and immunizations?

Look no further than Little Buddies Pediatrics, headed by Luis A. Lopez, M.D., F.A.A.P. In August, Dr. Lopez relocated his practice to 20642 Stone Oak Parkway, just across from Canyon Ridge Elementary School, to better serve Stone Oak families. He’s quite familiar with the area: Dr. Lopez, his wife, Vilma, and their children have called the neighborhood home since 2006, when he opened his own pediatric practice in San Antonio. His adult son and daughter graduated from Reagan High School and Texas A&M University.

His decades of experience in pediatrics make him an ally parents can trust with the care of their most prized possessions: their children. He considers the needs of children and their parents and takes great care to explain the treatment plan and expectations, which includes any complications or side effects.

“I treat children not only as patients, but as friends,” he said. “I want them to feel comfortable and relaxed. I really have two patients, the parent and the little child. We have to be in agreement in how we will work together.”

Dr. Lopez is a board certified pediatrician who became chief resident in 1996 during his pediatric residency at Jersey City Medical Center, affiliated with Seton Hall University. He began his medical training in Peru, from which he and his wife emigrated. In Texas, he worked at the multi-specialty United Medical Center,

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where he took the helm as Assistant Medical Director. Later, he rose to Chief of Pediatrics at Fort Duncan Medical Center in Eagle Pass. Dr. Lopez was named Physician of the Year in 2001 by the Eagle Pass Business Journal.

Little Buddies Pediatrics is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and Dr. Lopez sees patients personally at the office during those hours. Dr. Lopez has tailored his practice to address issues that concern parents most.

Another benefit for busy parents, Little Buddies Pediatrics offers one-on-one allergy testing and treatment, reducing time and expense of an additional office visit or specialist referral. Children can continue to return to the office where they are comfortable for their allergy-related medical needs.

“We test for environmental allergies, and in some cases, we do allergy shots,” Dr. Lopez said. “San Antonio and Southwest Texas is ground zero for allergies.” The most common findings are allergic rhinitis to weeds, mold, oak and mountain cedar.

Most notably – he schedules appointments for sick and well patients separately. His reasoning: no one wins when a sick child remains in a physician’s waiting room for long periods of time. The ill patient is miserable, the accompanying parent is anxious, well children are unnecessarily exposed to contagious contemporaries, and parents panic every time a sick-looking neighbor coughs.

Instead, when a parent calls Little Buddies Pediatrics about a sick child, the patient is scheduled for a specific time to come in, avoiding a long wait before seeing Dr. Lopez.

Little Buddies Pediatrics accepts and files almost every major primary insurance, including Tricare, Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Humana, Aetna, United Health Care, Cigna, PHCS, and OSCAR. To facilitate a timely visit, the office requests parents fill out insurance forms prior to their appointment. Forms can be found online at www.littlebuddiespediatrics.com, along with more information about the practice. Now is the time to establish your relationship with Little Buddies Pediatrics so you are ready the next time your child has a compelling medical need.

Well visits at Little Buddies Pediatrics are scheduled in advance for first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon, leaving room in the middle of the day for those same-day concerns that pop up urgently. This avoids cross contamination of children in the waiting room and gives everyone peace of mind.

Dr. Lopez also encourages parents to schedule routine visits in the summer, so there’s plenty of time to prepare before school or camp starts and students need that physical immediately.

Dr. Lopez and his staff at Little Buddies Pediatrics desire to create a long-term relationship with their families to provide the care their patients will need from birth to 18 years old. All staff members are bilingual. The office provides prenatal consultations, newborn visits and screenings, well-child checkups, sports/school/camp physicals, immunizations, vision and hearing screening and, of course, sick visits. Dr. Lopez himself responds to urgent, after-hours calls. The in-house lab gives quick results for strep, flu and urinalysis.

Luis A. Lopez, M.D., F.A.A.P., is the owner of Little Buddies Pediatric Clinic which recently relocated to Stone Oak.

New Pediatric Office Near You! l New Patient Specia

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LITTLE BUDDIES PEDIATRIC CLINIC HAS MOVED TO A NEW LOCATION 20642 Stone Oak Parkway Suite 105 San Antonio, TX 78258 210-650-0814

WE ARE FULLY BILINGUAL! www.littlebuddiespediatrics.com 5

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Empowering Others

By Amy Morgan

C

ounselor Matt Eidson sums up Ronald Reagan High School senior Neely Kasanoff as, “a Renaissance woman who has done a little bit of everything on the Reagan campus.” And he is not understating Neely’s involvement. The Stone Oak native is in the Gifted and Talented Program, performed in theater, represented Reagan in Model United Nations and was a PAL, working with ALE students. She also serves as president of the Empowerment Club, organizing a Power to Give service project for the community this month.

“Neely is one of the most engaging and delightful students I have had the pleasure to come to know in my 15 years at Reagan High School,” he added.

Outside of the Reagan campus, Neely has found time to volunteer with Camp Camp, serving children with disabilities. “Our mission is to remind campers that their diagnosis doesn’t define them. We are there to help them have a good time,” she said.

Neely started connecting with special education students in kindergarten. She noticed many of her Reagan ALE friends were eager to attend Homecoming, but were reluctant, “not sure it was for them.”

Neely and her friend Hannah rallied the PALS to attend the dance as a group with ALE students. They organized dinner at Oaks Crossing restaurant, pictures, and transportation. “We were all in a circle dancing at Homecoming, and everyone was cheering,” she said. “It is a highlight of the year.”

Neely Kasanoff is one of Reagan High School’s most outstanding seniors. She plans to make her college choice this month with law school to follow.

Neely faithfully teaches music to elementary students every Sunday through her synagogue, Temple Beth-El, and serves as vice president of social action and community service for the regional board of the BBYO – the largest international Jewish youth group serving 10,000 teens in an area encompassing San Antonio, Houston and Austin. Part of her responsibilities involved coordinating the group’s regional convention last spring.

Of all her campus accomplishments, Neely counts the Model United Nations as being a valuable steppingstone for her future. “My dream career would be as a foreign diplomat and ambassador,” she said. “Model UN set me up for success.”

This summer she completed an internship in the office of a civil litigator, where she observed the inner workings of the justice system first hand, attending hearings and a court case.

“I saw cases of people who had some bad luck in one point in life and are now paying for it,” she said. “For most this wasn’t their first lawyer.” Neely was impressed to see how the lawyer with whom she worked made everyone feel their voice was heard, an example Neely plans to emulate in her future career.

Neely will decide where she’ll attend college this month, with law school to follow. She’s in the top seven percent of her class at Reagan. Her sister, Merrill, is a Reagan junior.

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Golfer Gives Back Member Leverages Ladies’ Tournament to Benefit CASA

By Amy Morgan

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orma Renfro is an extremely competitive golfer, despite learning the game later in life. She had been a cutting horse rider, but after she and her husband John married and moved to a neighborhood inside the gates of The Club at Sonterra in 2008, Norma quickly realized she enjoyed staying closer to the couple’s home on the second hole of the north course rather than commuting to the stables.

She joined several golf leagues and has never looked back. Now Norma competitively golfs three to five times a week. She plays Stableford once a month with dozens of women from clubs across the area. Sundays, she and John golf together with other couples.

Wednesdays are competitions with the Sonterra Women’s Golf Association; Mondays she’s part of the San Antonio Women’s Golf Association. Norma served as chairman of membership on the board of that 60-year-old organization for the past five years.

Her connections and enthusiasm inspired her to agree to chair the premiere women’s golf tournament at The Club at Sonterra – the Sonterra Women’s Golf Association Classic Affair Invitational.

The event is held Tuesday through Thursday on the first week of October each year.

Not content to rest on the laurels of her predecessors, Norma realized her group’s philanthropic donation had the opportunity to really make a difference for a charity because of the tournament’s size and visibility.

Sonterra Golf Member Norma Renfro loves to play competitive golf so much she agreed to chair a women’s charity golf tournament each year at The Club at Sonterra.

“Women come from Dallas, Houston - all over,” she said. “We have this huge platform. I thought we should be doing something sizable for somebody!”

Norma already had a connection with CASA, serving as a volunteer child advocate on three court cases over seven years.

So it was a natural fit to designate CASA the beneficiary of their fundraising efforts. She selected attractive merchandise for the tournament’s silent auction and, with the help of The Club at Sonterra, upgraded the wine pull to include quality bottles that would attract members’ interest. When the receipts were tallied, the tournament raised $8200 for CASA this year.

“They were super happy and sent a lovely letter to thank us,” Norma said. She has high praise for Member Relations Director Debbie Gonzaba and The Club at Sonterra for their assistance.

“We raised thousands more than we would have because of Deb’s recommendations for silent auction items,” Norma said, “and the Club gave us a lot of good wine at a great discount for the wine pull. That really made a difference.”

Norma has already committed to spearheading next year’s tournament and - ever competitive- has increased her fundraising goal to $10,000. She knows she’ll look to Debbie for help.

“Debbie is the heartbeat of the club,” Norma said. “She always goes the extra mile.”

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Where friends invite friends!

Ask a member how to join today.

Active Military Discounts ~ Our Amenities ~

Two 18-hole Championship Golf Courses Men’s & Women’s Golf Associations Jr. Golf Programs 25 Tennis Courts Tennis Leagues & Junior Clinics Jr. Olympic Swimming Pool Fitness Center Kids Club

~ Social Activities ~ New Year’s Eve Gala Quarterly Member Mixers Valentine’s Dinner Breakfast with the Easter Bunny Brunch every Sunday Wine & Liquor Tastings Summer Music Series Kids Club with Mini Camps Clubs within a Club

Deborah Routon | Director of Membership | drouton@ClubAtSonterra.com

901 Sonterra Boulevard • 78258 • 210.483.4292

www.ClubAtSonterra.com • Facebook .com/ ClubatSonterra

Next to Starbucks and Champions Car Wash

Unless otherwise indicated, Attorneys are not Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

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SENIOR MOMENT

9/11 Responder Becomes Pastor José and Evie Zambrana

By Amy Morgan

and Evie Zambrana are recent transplants to San José Antonio. They met 50 years ago as teens at a party in

their hometown of Queens, N.Y. They worked in New York City and Pennsylvania, until they followed their daughter, Melissa, and her family to San Antonio last year. The vibrant couple brought their ministry, Debt Free in Christ, to San Antonio, teaching financial responsibility and debt freedom.

José serves as associate pastor at New Vision Community Church of the Nazarene and will be ordained this spring.

José spent 33 years with the Con Ed utility company, which controls all the steam in Manhattan. In northeastern cities like New York City, steam turbines generate electricity for the city, José explained. The excess steam cannot be released into the rivers, because the water’s temperature would kill the wildlife, so it is distributed through pipes under the city streets, providing air conditioning, hot water and heat. If the pressure is improperly managed, pipes will explode.

One of José’s responsibilities at Con Ed was to check the giant steam valve named Big Bertha, located under the former World Trade Center Building One. It was so large, it took six men to open the valve, he said. He narrowly escaped tragedy during the first trade center attack in 1993.

His normal routine would have placed him right where the bomb detonated, but providentially, he was working a later shift that day. José was called upon to help restore the steam back to the North Tower after the bombing. Due to his trustworthiness, he was given a key to the freight elevator of the Tower so he could gain access at any time to service the steam station. José still carries the key today.

His expertise proved invaluable in 2001. When the towers fell, the steam system from 14th Street south was destroyed, José said. The utility company needed to release the pressure from all the valves across the city to prevent possible ruptures.

José helped restore steam back to the North Tower after the 1993 bombing. He was the only employee entrusted with a key to its freight elevator to access the World Trade Center building.

Although the building was destroyed in the 2001 attacks, José still keeps the key as a reminder of 9/11.

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“We were basically saving Manhattan from blowing up,” he said. “I was actually at war. I spent a lot of days sleeping on top of my desk in the office because I was too busy to go home.”

Evie was teaching 3rd grade and remembers the miracle of being able to assure the safety of her son, who was working in Manhattan that day. She was talking with him as he watched the second plane hit, so she knew the news before it was even reported.

The couple enjoys the freedom from home maintenance they’ve found at Independence Village and its convenient location. José brought portable pickleball equipment and is recruiting friends to play the game. Evie loves their porch, where she can enjoy viewing the mature trees and flowers from her newly installed swing.

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Thursday, January 31, 2019 at 9:30am.

PET TIP

Presents for Pups and their Parents Other sites will adorn just about any surface with a favorite photo of Fido.

Enjoy your morning coffee while gazing at the likeness of your favorite pup on your cup.

The website, IHeartDogs, along with many others, donates to dog-rescue organizations with each purchase. Check out their t-shirts, tanks and wine glasses printed with trendy dog-related sayings.

Maybe the pet parent in your life wants to get more active with their pup.

Investigate local training facilities that specialize in fun dog sports: agility, dock diving, barn hunting, nose work, or even doggy playtime. You can sign up for a new class to try with Fido.

By Courtney Crowley

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t’s that time again – you’re making a list and checking it twice to ensure you have the perfect presents for the loved ones in your life. Whether shopping for Fido or your pet-obsessed friends and family members – you’ll find a plethora of products to proclaim your puppy love. Just let your fingers do the walking.

A quick Google of gifts for dog lovers results in thousands of selections.

For the more practical pal, grab a gift card from your local pet store, groomer, feedstore, or pet boutique. Extra cash for food, treats, toys and supplies is always appreciated. Another plus, Fido can tag along to the store and pick out his own present.

You’ll find personalized car stickers, custom dog identification tags, ornaments and more on Pinterest and Etsy, whether your pup is a pure breed or rescue mutt. Online there’s dog-related jewelry in all price ranges, beauty products, refrigerator magnets, pajamas, home décor, tote bags, etc. If you can put an image or picture of a dog on it, anything is available.

If you plan to stuff your furry family member’s stocking – look for high quality toys and treats that won’t be hazardous to health or happiness. If you don’t mind the noise, keep your dog occupied with a new squeaky toy while the kids are playing with their own bounty. If you really want to splurge, you could invest in an automatic ball launcher for the pup who never tires of fetch. Of course, you can never go wrong with a plain tennis ball or two. Even better - find a ball that can be loaded with peanut butter or a treat! And your pup can never have enough decorative accessories. Holiday-themed collars, leashes, beds or blankets will look great at the family gatherings.

For the sentimental pet parent, choose a do-it-yourself ornament kit made from a mold of their furry family member’s paw print.

You don’t need to rob Santa’s sleigh to please your pup or pet parent. Ideas are only limited by your imagination.

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RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT

WE WANT TO MEET YOU! Join Right at HOME as we celebrate our cover story business, Little Buddies Pediatric Clinic at Scuzziís Italian Restaurant on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 from 6pm-8pm. Enjoy complimentary food samples and a cash bar. No admission fee but space is limited to the first 100 people who RSVP for the event. Email you reservation to RSVP@stoneoakinfo.com by 1/5/19.

ALL ATTENDEES WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO WIN ONE OF THREE $50 GIFT CARDS FROM OUR LOCAL DINING GUIDE RESTAURANTS.

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Shavano Park Location 4035 North Loop 1604 W. San Antonio, TX 78257 210-493-8884 SPACE IS LIMITED TO THE FIRST 100 RESERVATIONS

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115 N. Loop 1604 E, Ste. 1108 | San Antonio, TX 78232

Excludes crawfish, lobster tails, and steaks.

One coupon per table. Must surrender coupon at time of purchase.

Present coupon when ordering.

Not valid with any other offers or discounts. Dine-in only.

Duplicates will not be honored. Expires 11-30-18

Upcoming Events

12/10

12/15

Winter Wonderland - “Frozen” Edition!” - Monday, Dec. 10, 6 – 7 p.m. Come meet the Snow Queen and her sister and enjoy fun winter-themed crafts, games, and refreshments. Encino Library, 2515 E. Evans Road 78259; 210-207-9250.

Parents’ Day Out – Saturday, Dec. 15, 1-4 p.m. Leave the kids with the staff of the Mays Family YMCA for a parents’ day out to shop or tackle holiday tasks. Kids 6 months to 13 years. Mays Family YMCA of Stone Oak, 21654 Blanco Road 78258; 210-497-7088.

12/11

12/15-16

One Singular Sensation – Saturday, Dec. 15, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 16, 3 p.m. 25th anniversary of the variety show featuring NEISD cheerleaders, dance and drill teams, and pep squads. The entire cast of 1,200 girls will dance in the finale to the song “One” from A Chorus Line. Littleton Gymnasium at Blossom Athletic Center, 12002 Jones Maltsberger Road, 78216; www.neisd.net.

Bush Middle School PTA Holiday Band, Choir and Orchestra Concert – Tuesday, Dec. 11, 6:30 p.m. Bush Middle School, 1500 Evans Rd. 78258; 210-356-2900.

12/12

Reagan High School Holiday Concert - Wednesday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m. Ten Reagan choirs encompassing 300 student singers perform in collaboration with Reagan’s orchestra department. Half the proceeds benefit the SA Food Bank. Reagan High School, 19000 Ronald Reagan Drive 78258. Seating is limited, call 210-356-1800.

12/14-16

12/15-16

Christmas Choral Concert – Friday, Dec. 14, and Saturday, Dec. 15, 7 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 16, 3 p.m. The Bulverde/Spring Branch Community Chorus will present Celebrate Christmas with a wide selection of Christmas favorites. Bulverde United Methodist Church, 2330 Highway 281 North 78261.

830-980-7745.

Celebrate Christmas at Summit Christian Center – Saturday, Dec. 15, 5 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 16, 10:30 a.m.

Christmas carols and worship service, photos with Santa, cookie decorating, and hot chocolate. Children may wear pajamas during the children’s service. Summit Christian Center, 2575 Marshall Road 78259; www.summitsa.com.

12/16

Christmas Handbell Concert – Sunday, Dec. 16, 5 p.m.

Handbell players from San Pedro Presbyterian Church join with others from Abiding Presence Lutheran Church to present a Christmas Concert. San Pedro Presbyterian Church, 14900 San Pedro Ave. 78232; www.sppcsa.com.

12/26-28

Kids’ Art Camp – Wednesday,´ Dec. 26 – Friday, Dec. 28, 1 – 4 p.m. Keep the kids ages 4-13 busy and active over the holiday break with a fun-filled afternoon of art, crafts and games. Mays Family YMCA, 21654 Blanco Road 78260; 210-497-7088.

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Parents’ Night Out – Friday, Jan. 4, 6-10:30 p.m. Drop off the kids at the Fellowship of San Antonio and enjoy an evening out. Fun, games, movies, activities and more. Ages nursery – 5th grade. Reservations required. The Fellowship of San Antonio. 23755 Canyon Golf Road 78258; www.thefellowshipofsa.org.

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7th annual San Antonio Coffee Festival - Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. A celebration of coffee and coffeerelated arts and crafts. Local coffee artisans will roast and brew 40+ coffees. La Villita Historic Arts Village, 418 Villita St. 78205; sanantoniocoffeefestival.com.

Send your upcoming events to StoneOakInfo@gmail.com.

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