Right at HOME community magazine September 2019

Upcoming Events

The San Antonio 110 9/11 Memorial Climb Wednesaday Sept. 11, Check-in opens at 6 a.m. and close promptly at 7:15 a.m. Participants will climb the stairs twice to reach (and actually exceed) the 110 floors of the World Trade Center to pay tribute to first responders who perished at ground zero.

Tower Of The Americas, 739 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd.

78205; www.SanAntonio110.com.

35th Zoo Run Relay - Friday, Sept. 13, 6 p.m.

Grunt and growl with your friends at this fun running event through the San Antonio Zoo and Breckenridge Park. Teams of four runners cover two miles each. New individual 4 and 8-mile entry option. San Antonio Zoo. 3903 North St. Mary's St. 78212; www.sazoo.org/events/zoo-run-relay.

D9 Summer Film Series Presents Goosebumps 2 – Friday, Sept. 13, 6:15 p.m.

Councilman Courage and City Council District 9 sponsor a family-friendly movie outdoors at sundown. Food trucks will offer snacks for purchase, but families are welcome to bring their own refreshments, bug spray and chairs. Blossom Park, 15015 Heimer Road 78232; www.sanantonio.gov/council/d9.

Fright Fest At Six Flags Fiesta Texas - Friday, Sept. 13 - Sunday, Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m. It's a spooky time of year as zombies and ghouls take over the park. Experience terrifying haunted houses and spooky, fun shows FREE with park admission.

Fiesta Texas, 17000 IH-10 West 78257; www.sixflags.com.

Ronald Reagan High School Theater – Thursday, Sept. 19 - Saturday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.

The Great Gatsby. Gloria Jennings Robinson Auditorium, Ronald Reagan High School, 19000 Ronald Reagan Drive 78258; 210-356-1800.

Ronald Reagan Varsity Football - District opener Friday, Sept. 20, at 7:30 p.m. v Johnson High School at Heroes; www.rankonesport.com/Schedules.

Single Professional Networking Meeting Friday, Sept. 20, 5-7 p.m. Join other 55+ widowed, divorced and single mature professional for a relaxed social event. The Lion & Rose, 17627 La Cantera Parkway 78257; www.spn-sa.org.

Chosen Women’s Event - Friday, Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m. - Saturday, Sept. 28. Since 2005, Chosen has been a place for women to come together and soak in God’s love. Worship, girl time, guest speakers, and chocolate. Summit Christian Center, 2575 Marshall Road 78259; www.summitsa.com.

Parents’ Night Out – Friday, Sept. 27, 5:30-9:30 p.m. Leave the kids with the ´ staff of the Mays Family YMCA for an evening of supervised, active fun. Kids 6 months to 13 years. Mays Family YMCA of Stone Oak, 21654 Blanco Road 78258; 210-497-7088.

Scrapbooking Club - Saturday, Sept. 28, 1-5:45 p.m. Share time with others who love working with paper crafts and get some projects done. Bring your own paper projects, cardmaking, scrapbooking or other paper crafts. Parman Library, 20735 Wilderness Oak 78258; 210-207-2703. x Book Clubs at Parman Library – Tuesday, Oct. 1, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Jane Austen Book Club – readers of Jane Austen’s novels and other texts inspired by her works; 6:30-7:30 p.m., Parman Picks Book Club – discuss a popular, contemporary book. Parman Library, 20735 Wilderness Oak Road 78258; 210-207-2703.

Send your upcoming events to StoneOakInfo@gmail.com.

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Christ-Centered Curriculum Cornerstone Christian Schools…Where Warriors are Made!

C

ornerstone Christian Schools (CCS) are unsurpassed in the world of Christian education, with a campus located at 17702 NW Military that carries the elegance of a university setting and classrooms featuring state-of-the art technology.

Every teacher is dedicated to serving Jesus Christ and to individually challenge the students in their care through encouragement while preparing them for their future. CCS fosters an environment of doing all things with excellence!

Your student will be well prepared for ultimate success at CCS, offering a Bible-based curriculum to ages K4 through 12th grade. If you are looking for a premier, college preparatory education with a family environment, we look forward to meeting you. Watching your children blossom into the people that God created them to be is why CCS exists. We want to develop the whole person spiritually, intellectually, physically and socially with unprecedented excellence in a Christcentered environment. It is our goal to build students who are self-confident, compassionate, and prepared for anything that comes their way. Being a Warrior is more than a mascot. It’s a way of life; It’s a mindset of fortitude, strength and gratitude, constantly striving for the very best!

We have many families that start with their children at CCS in K4 and stay until graduation because of the family-like, God-centered atmosphere with exceptional academic, fine arts and athletic options. Our elementary school staff nurtures our youngest students, offering many programs and special events for parents and grandparents to participate in their educational experience. At the end of elementary, the students are taken on a tour of the middle school, experiencing firsthand what the coming years will entail. The transition from fifth to sixth grade is less stressful when you know what to expect. During the 8th grade year, all students visit Washington, D.C., learning firsthand about American history. It’s a trip the students truly enjoy as they load up the busses in D.C. and visit places like Ford’s Theatre and Monticello.

Cornerstone Christian Schools has created the Warrior Institute (WI), a university-style organization of our 8th-12th grade curriculum. The WI is designed to give students voice

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and choice in their academics and intentionally prepares CCS Warriors for success in college and career. When CCS graduates move on to college, they select a major that is housed in a particular school or department. Similarly, CCS students choose a specialization that is housed in a WI Academy. Our Academies include Business, Fine Arts, Humanities, Science & Engineering, and Health Sciences.

CCS realizes that some students prefer to sample a variety of electives within an Academy or sample courses from several academies, never committing to an Academy at all. These students are simply Interdisciplinary. In short, the WI enables each student the opportunity to create a personalized academic pathway for graduation that aligns with his/her strengths and interests.

The WI is designed to prepare each student for higher education or with the skills to go immediately into a desired career path. The Warrior Institute offers not only unique academic programs, but also a series of experiential activities formulated to allow students to apply the skills they have learned. For example, during spring break, our high school students can attend an academic excursion to somewhere like Paris or New York. There is truly something for everyone at CCS! Along the way, students discover their specific God-given abilities and talents.

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We count it a great honor to teach your children, to partner with you in their education. Call 210-979-9203 or visit sa-ccs.org to schedule your campus tour. You can also send your student to our campus to be “Warrior for a Day” and shadow a CCS student.

Discover the difference that sets CCS apart and the reason our graduates have gone on to become doctors, lawyers, teachers, ministers of the Gospel, and hold many other exemplary positions. Our children are 100% of our future and our most valuable resource. It is our pleasure to walk beside your family during these most influential years.

Cornerstone Christian Schools is truly where Warriors are made.

If your student enjoys theatre, our high school Drama Department took the Theatre class to Nationals during the 2018-2019 school year, where they won several awards! Our middle school and high school choirs competed at various levels as well, coming home with numerous trophies. Is your child an artist? Several of our students win college tuition money from citywide and national competitions such as the San Antonio Livestock and Rodeo. Excellence and respect is carried out beyond the classroom and is a part of every athletic event as well. Our world-class coaches (some of whom have played in the NCAA, WNBA, NBA, and MLB) are dedicated to creating, encouraging and forging student athletes in state-of the-art athletic facilities. The opportunities are endless!

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WORSHIP DIRECTORY

All are Welcome!

Abiding Presence Lutheran Church

“There’s not a single problem in our world that serving others can’t solve,” he said. Abiding Presence helps connect people to a ministry of service where they can get involved, be in relationship with God and others, and help make the world a better place.

By Amy Morgan

ou’ll be immediately welcomed Y and accepted when you walk into Abiding Presence Lutheran

Church, 14700 San Pedro at the Oak Shadows exit.

“People notice that feeling of nostalgia, like they’ve come home,” said Steve Cox, who’s been senior pastor of the congregation for the past eight years. The mission of Abiding Presence is to seek God and serve others. The congregation is completely inclusive —everyone, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status — is invited to serve, teach, preach and lead, Steve added.

LIFE REDEFINED! 1278 N Loop 1604 E San Antonio, TX 78232 Service Times Saturday - 5PM Sunday - 8:30, 10, 11:30AM Stay Connected! northrocksa.com @northrocksa Northrock Church

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Abiding Presence participates in the worldwide ELCA “God’s Work – Our Hands” annual day of service.

Congregants fill backpacks and sew quilts to be delivered for Lutheran World Relief. Those who prefer more physical tasks travel to the Mission Reach to pick up trash and plant seeds or join teams at Habitat for Humanity or Texas Ramp Project to lend their skills to construction projects.

Even the youngest are involved.

Pre-school children divide pet food into gallon bags to distribute through Meals on Wheels’ AniMeals program, while learning about its significance to shut-ins.

“Watching a 4-year-old scoop dog food into a bag knowing she’s making a difference for the older man who can’t leave his home — it warms my heart,” Steve said.

Abiding Presence holds services at 5:30 p.m., Saturdays, and 8:30 and 11 a.m., Sundays, with 10 a.m., Sunday School for all ages. Wednesday nights all are invited for a meal, after which children and adults head to music practice, then reassemble for worship at 7 p.m. with times of study to follow. True to the rich Lutheran musical heritage, Abiding Presence’s worship includes choirs, acoustic guitar, band, and hand bells.

The church enrolls toddlers up to 5 year olds in its NAEYCaccredited Day School. The thriving congregation looks forward to celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2020.

“We are constantly reforming and learning how to be Christ-like in new ways,” Steve said. Join them for their Reformation Festival Oct. 27. Find out more at APLC.org.

Crown of Life Lutheran Church Gathered by the mercy of Jesus to receive his great love for us in Word and Sacrament

crownoflifesa.org

SENIOR MOMENT

Social Butterfly Independence Hill Senior is the Life of the Party

By Amy Morgan

R

on Scherer is known throughout the Independence Hill Retirement Community as the “life of the party.” The active senior is quick to offer a smile or a joke to uplift the spirits of others. He loves to dress for an occasion – whether it’s the top hat and “tuxedo” t-shirt he wore to the community’s Kentucky Derby party or the tribal “tattoo sleeves” that decorate his arms. He enjoys wearing the forearm coverings so much he is affectionately called “tattoo man,” a humorous moniker Ron relishes.

Ron treasures only two things more than a good joke – his kitten Zoe, and his family, which includes his six children, 17 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and beloved wife, Alice Jean. Their pictures cover an entire wall of his home facing the greenbelt in one of Independence Hill’s outer cottages. Ron and Alice Jean celebrated 49 years of marriage before her death in 2001. Although the high school sweethearts grew up in Pittsburgh, they traveled across the country with Ron’s U.S. Air Force career for the first 22 years of their marriage.

Ron joined the Air Force in 1951 because he wanted to jump out of airplanes, he said. He’s been on a lot of airplanes, but he lamented that he never did get to jump out of one. Ironically, his four daughters, inspired by his dream, recently parachuted together in Colorado on their annual sisters’ getaway.

Ron is a devoted Pittsburgh Steelers fan. He notes that both he and the team were born in 1933. He owns six recordings of their Super Bowl games and enjoys reliving the glory of their successes.

When he retired, the Scherers settled in Live Oak, where they lived for the next 47 years. Alice Jean had become accustomed to sunshine postings, he said, so they never returned to live in Pittsburgh. Ron became a restaurant manager for Jack in the Box and supervised a warehouse for an engineering contractor at Kelly Base. Alice Jean ran the house. The family was active at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish for decades.

“God gave me the wife every man should have had,” Ron said.

When Ron moved to Independence Hill, he was delighted to realize Holy Trinity Catholic Church was located just across the street. He loves the camaraderie of joining new friends in the dining room for meals and is always ready to embrace the many social events offered.

Ron began training with the Senior Games team and participated in the one-mile run. True to his outgoing personality, he soon became a team spokesperson! He puts his decades of grand-parenting experience to good use with Independence Hill’s Grand Pal mentoring program, which serves Stone Oak’s Las Lomas Elementary School. He looks forward to reading with the children and is very impressed with the facility. “Holy Mackerel, the library looks like Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh!” he said.

Life at “the Hill” has put the spring back in this social butterfly’s step.

Ron Scherer is pictured here with his infamous tribal tatoo sleeves and his beautiful kitten Zoe.

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Tribute to Teachers

Teachers pictured (L-R front row) Kim Young, Jennifer Chapman and Barbara Harrell.

(L-R back row) Paul Fillingim, Wayne Becken and Kirby Whitehead

By Amy Morgan

I

t’s been said, “The best teachers are those who show you where to look but don’t tell you what to see.” Right at HOME talked with some of the fine professionals in the Reagan cluster who point the way for students in Stone Oak. Paul Fillingim has been a high school teacher for six years, leading Ronald Reagan High School’s theater department for the past three, where he teaches theatre II, III/IV, and productions.

“I have absolutely found my dream job teaching theatre at Reagan —which I attribute to our incredible students,” he said.

“The level of work we are able to achieve is due to their work ethic and passion. Excellence is their expectation.”

At the other end of the spectrum, two kindergarten teachers at Tuscany Heights Elementary School, Kim Young and Jennifer Chapman, share decades of teaching experience. Just last year their team received a $4,000 grant from the North East Education Foundation and HEB to create a learning lab for their students. They noticed gaps in their students’ social and emotional abilities that were not easily addressed during academic teaching times, so developed a plan for a space to allow the children an appropriate place to develop those skills.

“I am the proud principal of a group of kindergarten teachers who saw a need and didn’t stop until they found a way to make it happen for their kids,” said Tuscany Heights Principal Tara Bailey.

Reagan history teacher Kirby Whitehead helped open the school, his third, in his 12th year of teaching. He looked forward to joining the team with Mr. Hannon, Reagan’s first principal, who had been his vice-principal the year Mr. Whitehead started teaching at Bradley Middle School.

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Mr. Whitehead developed a number of new programs, including the Model United Nations and the World History AP courses that he teaches today.

“While there are a number of original teachers still here after 20 years, I like to think of myself as the first on campus,” he said. In 1976, he was with his parents as they bought cattle to start their family ranch on the very land Reagan High School now occupies.

Like Mr. Whitehead, Wayne Becken also was among the inaugural group of Reagan teachers 20 years ago. He has kept a graduation tassel to commemorate each year. Although Mr. Becken has taught AP Calculus and Pre-AP Algebra for 34 years, this year he transitioned to Computer Science. He enjoys the technology and looks forward to being able to teach coding and web development to students with a wide range of experience.

Mr. Becken finds joy helping people experience that “aha” moment of understanding something for the first time. Another highlight, when students come back and share their success stories. A former calculus student made his day recently when she told him about her summer internship with a prominent accounting firm in New York City.

Pre-AP and AP-Chemistry teacher Barbara Harrell began at Reagan in 2000. In her years at Reagan she has taught high-level chemistry and biology classes. Mrs. Harrell says she loves the school, the students, the camaraderie of the staff, and the support of the Reagan parents and community.

“I have had countless students email me after graduating and tell me how much I helped inspire them to study science after high school and how prepared they were for college because of their Reagan teachers,” she said.

The influence of a good teacher can never be erased. Stone Oak families are fortunate to find an abundance of dedication and talent in their local schools.

N o minate rite Yo ur Favo Teacher

Teacher Tribute Contest

Right at HOME magazine will award one elementary school, middle school and high school teacher who receives the most votes a $100 Gift Card from Scuzzi’s Italian Restaurant.

Follow these 4 Steps to Nominate your Teacher: 1. Visit Facebook.com/StoneOakInfo 2. LIKE our page 3. Post your favorite teacher’s name and their school 4. Use the #teachertributeSA on your post.

We will award the three teachers with the most votes at the end of September. Nominations end September 28th.

Presented by Frost Financial Centers and Scuzzi’s Italian Restaurant.

I N G A D I F F E R E N C E M AT T E R S. K I NMGA K A D I F F E R E N C E M AT T E R S .

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STAFF PROFILE

Welcome Words Hygienist Translates for 7to7’s Dental’s Patients It helps that she can communicate with them directly in their own native tongue. Ali speaks Hindi and Urdu and understands Gujarati. Often she refers patients to 7to7 Dental for care. Ali invites them to call the office to schedule an appointment when she is working so she can translate for them.

Ali considers many of her fellow church members honorary grandparents.

“You meet people from all different walks of life, hear their stories and help them. I think of the struggle they went through and how lucky we are to have access to education and medical care,” she said. “It motivates me to give back and do my best.”

By Amy Morgan

Mehtaab Ali is known as “Ali” to patients and H ygienist colleagues alike at 7to7 Dental & Orthodontics. Ali was born

in Houston to parents who migrated from Pakistan. Close family members encouraged Ali and her sister to diligently study and pursue worthy occupations.

“My dad put a huge emphasis on education,” she said. “He wanted us to make something of our lives.” The girls both were inspired to choose health professions after noticing relatives sometimes lacked medical care. Ali observed first hand how a language barrier could be an obstacle to family and friends from other countries.

“I am really involved with my church, Ismaili Jamatkhana,” she said, “which hosts seminars to help new residents learn to access health care.” Ali works behind the scenes to help organize the community fairs. She encourages participants to consult a dentist, cautioning them about links between poor oral health and diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

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Giving back is one of the hallmarks of the local 7to7 Dental practice. Owners Tiffany Winburn, D.M.D., and Justin Coke go above and beyond to be good neighbors and promote a culture of service to their community. They dedicate the services of their entire staff for a full day annually to provide free dental care to those in need. Throughout the year, 7to7 Dental organizes toy, school supply and turkey drives to continue to provide for others.

Ali became a dental hygienist in 2015, and has worked with 7to7 Dental for the past two years, joining the office at the corner of Stone Oak Parkway and Evans Road when the location opened. She was initially attracted by the practice’s flexible hours. Because the office is open 7 a.m.- 8 p.m., weekdays and on weekends, she is able her to optimize a work/life balance. Ali and her husband of two years, Anthony, enjoy traveling. They’ve been to Iceland, honeymooned in Thailand, and are heading to Singapore and Malaysia in January.

“7to7 is an amazing company to work for!” she enthused. “They let me travel and experience different cultures, which is really important to me. Then I still have my dental home waiting for me when I am done with my adventures.”

Like Dr. Winburn and Justin, who live with their families in Stone Oak, Ali also calls Stone Oak personally and professionally home.

PET TIP

Choosing CBD, Is it Right for Your Dog?

According to topdogtips.com, “In human clinical trials, CBD has long been studied for its potential application in various medical fields. It's been shown that CBD has the ability to relieve inflammation, relieve pain, reduce seizures, reduce symptoms of psychosis, reduce muscle spasms, and reduce anxiety. CBD is also being studied for applications in treating cancer. In the last few decades, scientists also began looking into using CBD for dogs and cats, examining its health benefits and safety, and a lot more animal studies have emerged as a result.”

It’s legal in Texas, and the hot new product is being touted as the miracle cure for many ailments from people to pets. Stores now stock shelves full of CBD liquids and chews formulated for animals. But is CBD the right answer for your furry family member?

Anxiety can affect our furry family members just like our human ones.

Sometimes a small change in your dog’s routine can cause them to become nervous. Maybe anxiety is just an occasional problem during a thunderstorm. Or perhaps Fido flips out when it’s time to board. You’ll know because he might shake or pant, destroy belongings, go to the bathroom all around the house, or excessively lick himself. If your pup is anxious, many pet parents have tried exercise, massage, creating a safe space in a kennel, playing soothing music, or wrapping Fido in a vest or blanket. However, if none of these suggestions have proven effective, you might consider CBD. Another benefit, the oil can be administered before the problem presents, which is especially helpful if the anxiety trigger, such as boarding or fireworks, can be anticipated.

CBD stands for Cannabidiol. CBD products are made by extracting the ingredient from the cannabis plant. CBD should not contain the chemical compound THC, which is what causes the “high” in marijuana. CBD for pets will not have a psychotropic affect. If you choose to treat your dog with a CBD product, your precious pup will not become stoned.

In another application, CBD can be used to treat pain, especially if traditional products have not been effective or present undesirable side effects for older or unhealthy dogs. If you decide CBD is a good choice for your furry family member, research the product you are considering and make sure it comes from a reputable source. Some brands contain very little CBD and include fillers.

CBD works within the body by impacting endocannabinoid receptors in the nervous system. These receptors are involved in regulating a variety of functions including sleep, appetite, pain and immune system response.

It’s important to seek your veterinarian's expert advice when considering any medication for your pet. Recent studies suggest CBD may provide a safe, powerful, natural treatment for many pet health issues.

By Courtney Crowley

CBD

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Dedicated Dancer Reagan Student Balances Studies, Service and Dance

By Amy Morgan

R

onald Reagan High School senior Brooke Lester can’t remember a time she did not love to dance. When she was just a toddler, her mother used to walk her past Heather Stolle’s School of Dance to pass the time during her older brother’s Taekwondo lesson. “There was a tiny tear in the window tint,” Brooke said, where she would peek in —mesmerized by the dancers. She joined the studio at the age of three and has been dancing there every since.

“Dance is such a big part of who I am,” Brooke said. She literally grew up in the studio, joining the middle school performance group and becoming an officer at a young age. She credits her teachers Ms. Heather, Ms. Kirsten and Ms. Mallory for believing in her even when she had trouble believing in herself and for teaching her the importance of dedication and perseverance.

“Dance team has taught me how to be a part of something so much bigger than myself. Because every girl on our team leans on each other, we all learn to be accountable and responsible to make our team the best we can be,” she said. Her years at the studio have translated directly to Reagan’s dance program, where she is an officer for the varsity team, The Diamond Dancers. Brooke serves the team she loves so much as lieutenant colonel this year and junior captain last year.

Senior Brooke Lester is the lieutenant colonel for the Diamond Dancers this year and looks to study biology and become a pediatric oncologist.

One of her favorite Diamond Dancer memories is their annual trip to Nationals in Disney World. This year the girls performed in the Hip-Hop and High Kick categories, as well as the new Game Day category. The team showcased their hard work throughout the year, earning national rankings of third in Game Day, ninth in Hip-Hop and twelfth in High Kick, competing among the best teams in the nation.

One would imagine dance consumes all of her time, but her work ethic in dance applies to the classroom as well. Brooke diligently concentrates on her studies. She is ranked in the top of her class, with a GPA of well over 100. Brooke also is a member of National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta.

She even finds time to give back to her community as she serves within her church, Holy Trinity Catholic Church. She is also on the Winner’s Circle Advisory Board, where she helped plan Red Ribbon Week and spoke to Las Lomas Elementary students to emphasize a drug-free message.

Her experience as treasurer of Reagan’s Got Hope Club sparked Brooke’s interest in pediatric oncology. She hopes to major in biology and become a physician. She is moved by spending time with oncology patients, delivering care baskets and decorating the patients’ rooms during the club’s hospital visits.

“It is inspiring to see how people handle such hardship with such grace,” she said.

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