Right at HOME community magazine September 2018 Issue

HOME RIGHT AT

SEPTEMBER 2018

THANKS TO OUR TEACHERS! Page 4 Students: Please share this copy of the magazine with your favorite teacher.

(L-R) Jennifer Elder, Dan Morrison, Kimberly Lippincott, Leslie Lorenz and AmyLynn Muguerza. Learn more about these teachers on page 4.

Photo by Gary Lott Photography

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Thanks to our Teachers!

magazine into school and present it to their favorite teacher as a gesture of thanks and so he or she can make sure to benefit from these special offers. It’s just our way of saying thank you to those who mean so much to all of us.

On the cover five such wonderful educators agreed to be our cover models this month. From (L-R), Jennifer Elder is in her 6th year teaching science at Reagan High School. This year she’ll teach chemistry and forensic science. Last year, Mrs. Elder was named Reagan’s teacher of the year and secondary teacher of the year for NEISD.

By Amy Morgan

I

t’s September, and although San Antonio’s weather might not feel much cooler, there’s a change in the air. School is back in session! As we turn our thoughts to school days, most people can recall that special teacher who inspired them and made a difference in their lives or in the lives of their children.

Right at HOME Magazine recognizes the dedication and commitment of the many teachers who make such a positive impact in our community. In that spirit, we asked some local businesses to offer a special educator discount to let our teachers know how much we appreciate them and their efforts. We encourage our readers to take their copy of Right at HOME

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Seated on the couch is Dan Morrison, the Director of Bands for Reagan High School. Under his direction the award-winning band performed in the 2018 Rose Bowl Parade and recently was selected to march in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in November 2019.

Kimberly Lippincott is starting her 28th year of teaching for NEISD, 20 at Reagan High School. This year she will teach English III GT/AP. Leslie Lorenz teaches AP and regular senior English and has taught at Reagan for six years. She recently completed writing her first non-fiction book and is hoping to publish it soon.

And finally, AmyLynn Muguerza is in her 12th year teaching 2nd grade and was part of the inaugural teaching team to open Vineyard Ranch Elementary School just a few years ago.

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Member Mentors

By Amy Morgan

he Club at Sonterra hits a hole in one when it comes to T attracting and retaining members. The secret? An ambassador program created several decades ago to

link new members with a seasoned club couple who can introduce them to others and help them plug into activities matching their interests.

“Our ambassadors really help new members learn how to maximize their club membership,” said Deborah Routan, membership director, who coordinates the ambassadors, along with Gina Graham, ambassador chair.

“It is so important to get that warm welcome and access to a veteran who can show them the ropes and get them involved in things they will enjoy.”

One ambassador couple, Dwight Parscale and his wife, Rita, are regulars at the Club at Sonterra. Their home is on the 18th hole, and most mornings Dwight can be found in his “office” table in the dining room. He also serves as vice chair of the Board of Governors.

“This is an extremely social club,” he said. “If you are new on your own, it’s hard to figure out how to mix yourself into it. Ambassadors take you from newbie to old-timer.

Everybody is very thankful and really enjoys the fact somebody is reaching out to them.”

Dwight added ambassadors also support the club’s many activities.

“By and large your ambassadors are those kind of people,” he said. “If they need volunteers, we are the ones to call on first.” Dwight and Rita enjoy designing and running games for special events, and they have spent many hours creating the much-beloved Halloween haunted house.

The ambassador initiative has been so successful it has replicated itself. Those who were once shepherded by an ambassador have come full circle and are now ambassadors themselves.

Such is the case with junior members Morgan and Kurt Bertram, who joined the club to meet new friends when they moved from the Midwest several years ago. They met the Parscales on a club-sponsored wine tasting excursion, and now the couple is all in. They eat at the club several nights a week and recently hosted an 80s trivia night – complete with themed food and drinks. Morgan also plays in the Club at Sonterra’s tennis league.

“We enjoy spending time up there and connecting with other people,” she said. “It’s fun to get a couple together with others and create new friendships.”

“I have never seen another club that has an ambassador program like this one,” Dwight said. “People who come here seem really surprised and pleased about it. We don’t let new members sit by themselves very long.”

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Ambassador couple, Dwight Parscale and his wife, Rita, are regulars at the Club at Sonterra.

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

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH

Legal Team Helps You Leave a Legacy

By Amy Morgan

S

ylvia’s 65-year-old mother unexpectedly became so ill she was hospitalized and placed on a respirator. She had completed neither a medical directive nor a will, so after months of squabbling among the five siblings, the family made an agonizing decision to remove life support. Their grief over their mother’s death was compounded because they did not know her wishes and exacerbated as her finances were tied up in probate court for years.

This scenario does not have to occur. Prior planning can go a long way toward sparing your loved ones unnecessary pain and preserving your legacy.

Lisa Guerrero, Esq., practices Estate Planning and Probate law to help her clients create a plan to secure their futures.

“Every estate plan should include medical and financial powers of attorney,” she said, “as well as a directive to physicians document, which prevents families from having the burden of making end of life decisions for their loved ones.” Lisa also recommends everyone have a Will.

“If you have minor children, your Will can name guardians for them and a trustee to oversee financial details,” she said, recalling a situation where a young couple had perished in a car accident, leaving two young ones.

They did not have Wills, and when both sets of grandparents stepped forward, the children had to spend time in foster care while a judge sorted things out.

“It would have been a much easier transition for the children if the parents had Wills designating who they chose as guardians,” she added.

Guerrero Law, PLLC officially opened its doors in July 2017, in the same building on West Rhapsody as Guerrero CPA, owned by Lisa’s husband, Ed. The offices are conveniently located in North San Antonio, close to the airport.

Lisa started her legal career after raising her son, Brandon, and serving her community for 22 years as a teacher. Her final position was in the special education department at Stone Oak Elementary. She enjoyed helping teachers and parents design plans to accomplish children’s educational goals, skills that parallel the legal services she now provides. She graduated from St. Mary’s School of Law in San Antonio, where she met classmate and colleague, Maricela Garcia, Esq. As with Lisa, Maricela attended law school later in life. She grew up in the valley and is fluent in Spanish. She worked as a paralegal for eight years, where she gained experience and solidified her dream to practice law. Maricela focuses on Real Estate and Business Organizations. She can provide legal guidance related to purchase or sale of real property.

(l-r) Lisa Guerrero and Maricela Garcia are Attorneys at Law at Guerrero Law, PLLC. She also can help you understand the benefits of different business structures and determine which one is best for your business or nonprofit organization. Being informed can provide asset protection and proper business management.

“It is important to set rules in place to govern your business instead of being reactive to an issue when there’s a problem,” she said.

“Many of our clients are business owners,” Lisa added. “We understand they are busy, so we will meet at a time convenient to their schedule. We want to help them grow their assets while they are living and preserve what they have acquired, so what they worked so hard for can be passed along to loved ones.”

Whether it’s business or personal – members of Guerrero Law, PLLC are available to undergird your efforts with the legal structure you need to fulfill your goals and leave a legacy.

Lisa Guerrero, Esq. Maricela Garcia, Esq. Attorneys at Law

506 W. Rhapsody Dr. San Antonio, TX 78216 (210)-305-5866 • Estate Planning (Wills/Trusts) • Business Law • Probate • Tax Law • Real Estate Law

(l-r) Lisa Guerrero and Maricela Garcia review a client file at the office of Guerrero Law, PLLC.

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

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PET TIP

your Pup’s Fido the Destroyer Relieving Separation Anxiety Here are a few tips to try:

Dogs are a denning animal, so using a kennel is a great way to ensure your pup is safe while you are away. Another benefit, you’ll find your home in one piece and as you left it upon your return. Introduce your puppy to a kennel at a young age to teach them their “den” is a safe and happy place. Older dogs who have not previously been kenneled may need a little more motivation.

Try luring in an older dog with treats and keep initial stays short and under your watchful eye until your pup has learned to enjoy his safe haven. You can make kennel stays more fun by offering your dog toys like a Kong stuffed with treats or peanut butter or safe interactive puzzles for your pup to play.

Some dogs enjoy music or television while they are home. See if you can discern which station is your pet’s favorite! It is important to keep your dog from getting bored – because he’ll find his own ways to entertain himself, which might not be what you had in mind.

By Courtney Crowley

ogs have been man’s best friends for centuries. We’ve bred D them to be our loyal companions - with us every step of the way. It’s no wonder some suffer separation anxiety when they are left alone - especially for long periods of time.

As school days bring a change of routine, you may find yourself needing to find creative ways to keep your furry family member occupied and content in your absence.

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Exercise is the cure for many ills, including separation anxiety. Many behavior issues can be resolved if you plan a little extra time to make sure Fido is exercised, tired and happy. Try to take him on a quick walk around the block before heading out for the day. Also, consider the age, breed and daily exercise level your pup needs to remain healthy and out of mischief. If your furry family member requires more exercise, get active with him dock diving, biking, weight pulling, barn hunting, luring or other dog sports. Find events and clubs near you at www.akc.com, or search your area on social media. You can also check out local doggy daycare, arrange play dates with other furry friends, visit dog parks, or hire a pet sitter to come in during the day to help Fido burn some energy.

Lastly, remain cool, calm and collected when leaving or coming home. If you get too excited either way, your pup may react with more emotion (and destructive behavior) when you leave.

If you have extreme issues of separation anxiety contact a trainer or vet who can better assist you.

SENIOR MOMENT

93 Years Young

By Amy Morgan

R

ecently, U.S. Air Force Colonel Pete Palazzolo celebrated his 93rd birthday, surrounded by family members, daughters Lucy and Claudia, and friends he’s made in his 11 years living at Independence Hill Retirement Resort Community. He was delighted to share his celebration and cake with one of his granddaughters, who turned 38 just one day later. A few days before, while watching the Queen of England celebrate her 92nd birthday, he pronounced her just “a young chick.”

Both of Pete’s parents were born in Sicily and immigrated to America not long after the turn of the century. He grew up in Chicago in the 1920s and 30s and enlisted in the Army Air Corps (before there was an Air Force) as soon as he graduated high school in 1943. He went straight to flight training and became an aerial navigator in 1944.

“In my time, when you took an airplane from one place to the other, you navigated by whatever was available – mostly the stars, especially across the ocean,” he said. Pete had an illustrious 30-year career with the Air Force, serving as Commander of an Air Force Communication Squadron in Tokyo in the 1960s. He eventually ended up at Randolph Air Force Base in the early 1970s, responsible for the reenlistment program for the entire Air Force, but it was flying he loved most.

“I remember with great nostalgia my days in the plane,” he said. “In the early 1950s flying hadn’t improved that much from the Amelia Earhart era. There was some danger, but a lot of adventure. We used to do a lot of kidding around.”

He remembers flying a plane full of refugee families from Hungary during the Cold War. “In those days we were very liberal. The kids could come up in the cockpit and look around. One little boy was very curious and was hanging all over my desk. I showed him the line of longitude on the map, and then sent him back to his seat to look out of the window at the ocean and tell me when crossed that line. We did things like that back then,” he said with a laugh.

Independence Hill resident Pete Palazzolo recently celebrated his 93rd birthday.

Palazzolo had an illustrious 30-year career with the Air Force, serving as Commander of an Air Force Communication Squadron in Tokyo in the 1960s.

I Can’t Wait To Be a

Senior

Later, Pete was a navigator with an air rescue unit stationed in West Palm Beach, Florida. He vividly remembers assisting the U.S. Coast Guard when a National Airline DC-6 flying from Miami to New Orleans disappeared over the Gulf of Mexico. His crew landed an SA-16 amphibious airplane in the water in their effort to locate the debris. All in all, Pete accumulated more than 5000 flight hours. In his 93 years, Pete has outlived two beloved wives and seen many things change.

No matter the age…The desire

fun-filled life

is always for a there. You’ve retired so let us do the work and you focus on

“playing!”

“The technology explosion is one of the most exciting things,” he said. Since he gave up driving just last fall, Pete has learned how to use his computer to order groceries online from HEB’s delivery service. “They do a good job, I order ice cream, and it’s here in two hours –still frozen hard as a rock.”

(210) 764-5260

20450 Huebner rd., San antonio, tX 78258 www.independencehill.com

Pete joins a group of six friends to eat together at Independence Hill’s spacious dining room each night. He also enjoys happy hour and participating in water aerobics classes. He attends a men’s breakfast and never misses Friday’s noon mass, provided by the priest from Holy Trinity church just across Huebner Road.

“This is a relaxed life,” he said. “You don’t have to cook or clean.”

Pete loves viewing the trees from the patio of his private cottage apartment and is pleased the community is right in the heart of everything - close to doctors, hospitals and, of course, restaurants, where the Italian-American orders his favorite – pasta with red sauce.

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Full Service Apartments, Assisted Living and Neighborhood of Homes

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Capturing History

By Amy Morgan

enior Eva Lorenz is one of a select group of Ronald Reagan High School students who never has to worry about forgetting her lunch or running low S on her cafeteria account. If she needs anything or just wants to say a quick hello,

she can pop up to the room of her mother, Reagan English teacher Leslie Lorenz.

And Eva is delighted to have her mom close by. “It is the nicest thing ever,” she enthused.

Eva was a member of Reagan’s Silver Stars Drill team as a sophomore and Diamond Dancer Dance Team as a junior but decided last year to run for Student Council instead. She had struggled with a series of injuries and wanted to focus her energy on giving back to the Reagan community.

“I’d see the Student Council at pep rallies, introducing themes of prom and homecoming, and running with the flags at football games,” she said. “I realized Student Council would be a creative way to be involved in the school, planning and leading school spirit and activities.” Eva was elected Student Council Historian, which allows her to photograph and document the year’s activities.

Counselor Matt Eidson said, “Eva is confident and brilliant while being relatable to others. She is admired among her peers and among the faculty. Eva hopes to pursue the field of medicine to be a leader among the next generation of young women in the fields of science and mathematics.”

In 2017, Eva was the only Reagan student selected to attend the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership conference. Founded in 1958, HOBY seminars allow high school sophomores to recognize and apply leadership skills to begin a life of effective, ethical community service.

Eva enjoyed a taste of college life by staying in a dorm at the University of North Texas in Denton with 200 other students from across the state. The participants also performed community service, met like-minded peers and attended lectures from guest speakers.

Eva has been a life-long resident of Stone Oak, where she attended Bush Middle School. Eva plays piano and has taught herself to play guitar, learning from videos on YouTube. She also is involved with Impact youth group at Community Bible Church, helps with Vacation Bible School and attends Camp Tejas.

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