Right at HOME Video e-Magazine June 2020 Issue

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DENTAL

& ORTHODONTICS

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Play the Right at HOME Trivia Contest!

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1. What is the name of the dog in the Camp Bow Wow video?

2. What are the first names of the couple in the Senior Moment article on page 14?

3. What is the telephone number to Stephens Roofing?

4. In what store are the Diamond Deck showrooms located?

5. Name ONE of the challenges in the Opt-for-Optimism Challenge from Frost on page 11.

All entries must be received by June 30, 2020 to be eligible.

Four correct entries will be drawn and awarded Gift Cards from our participating restaurants.

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PET TIP

Canine Companions

By Courtney Crowley

D

ogs have been man’s best friend for centuries. They have protected us, provided companionship, delivered lifesaving medicine, and served as indispensable helpers —all while becoming beloved members of our families. As people have stayed home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many are turning to canine companions to provide an antidote to the loneliness of isolation. And what better time to add a new furry family member than when you have time to devote to helping him adjust?

In fact, according to Fox News, “In New York City and Los Angeles, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says applications to foster dogs and cats is up 200 percent. PetPoint, a software program shared by some 1,200 shelters nationwide, reports fostering and adoptions are up 700 percent over last year.

Good for your Health “’It has been a whirlwind of wonder,’ says Camille Bates of Midwest Animal Rescue. ‘We put out a national call for foster families and the response has been incredible. If you are going to be at home, fostering or adopting a pet is a great time for you to bond with a buddy.’”

Did you know that owning a dog could improve mental and physical health, and even extend our lives? Studies show that hanging out with a pooch can lower your blood pressure. Playing with, petting and sometimes just looking at a dog can lower heart rate and blood sugar level, which can lower the risk of several illnesses. Dog owners have been found to have lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and experience fewer heart attacks than those who do not have pets.

Along the same lines, regular exercise is also beneficial for health. Our canine companions depend on us to meet their needs to get out and get moving. Whether it is a hike or a stroll around the block, our furry family members provide the extra motivation we need to get off the couch.

Besides entertaining us and making us laugh, pets can improve mood and prevent depression. They’ll give us a reason to get up in the morning and love us unconditionally. Dog owners are known to have higher levels of serotonin and dopamine than those without a canine companion.

People who own dogs laugh more, says a study published in the journal, Society and Animals.

Families with dogs might have healthier children. Kids who grow up with dogs in their homes tend to have fewer allergies, fewer days home sick from school, and are less likely to have eczema than kids who don’t have dogs, according to Science Daily.

In normal times, taking your pup on an outing or participating in canine sports groups will give dog owners opportunities to interact socially with others who are likeminded. Dog parks, breed clubs, and active sports provide reasons to meet and connect with others who share love and admiration for their pup and yours.

No matter the reason for the decision to add Fido to the family, we’ll all benefit from the relationship.

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Watch Buddy’s adventure at Camp Bow Wow!

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SALUTE TO THE CLASS OF 2020!

These twelve students were featured in Right at HOME Magazine this year.

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Senior Spotlight Reagan High School Reconfigures Final Festivities

By Amy Morgan

T

o say it’s been a strange culmination to the 2020 school year would be an understatement. Ronald Reagan High School students left the campus March 6 eagerly anticipating spring break. The COVID-19 pandemic and its fallout was just starting to peek its head over the horizon. What student could have envisioned that instead of rejoining friends to swap stories after a week away – vacation would turn into isolation?

Shelter at home orders closed schools for the rest of the semester, robbing many of their traditional rights of passage. Prom, spring sports seasons, UIL and extracurricular competitions – all cancelled.

The next time most seniors stepped back on campus was April 30 — although technically, their feet did not touch the pavement.

They drove through to pick up their caps, gowns and other senior memorabilia, including signs of recognition to place in their yards. Reagan teachers and administrators manned a spirit line and offered words of encouragement to the students as the line snaked through the parking lot.

Several of Reagan's Varsity Dance Team seniors were honored by

“The two-hour wait in the car was a roller coaster of emotions,” their mothers in place of the traditional "breakfast kidnapping," said Senior Class Officer Michelle Phillips. “The teachers and according to Colonel Emily Kiolbassa. staff surprised us with a parade, which included signs, posters, decorations, and music. Pulling up to the event made me realize that that was it, that was the last time I would see my teachers, and that it was the end of such an important part of my life.

“It was truly the most perfect way to say goodbye to my school. My teachers and staff had been setting everything up since 12 and left at 7. While we drove through the parade, I had the chance to say hi to my teacher, Mr. Becken, and of course he said, ‘I was expecting to see you cry.’ Little did he know that I cried 15 minutes before. Picking up my honor chord, cap, and gown was the final piece of the puzzle, a puzzle that took four years in the making.”

Even graduation ceremonies looked different. Each student was assigned an individual time to cross the stage of Reagan’s auditorium to receive their diploma, their parents their only audience. Each crossing was live-streamed to allow other family members to watch without being present. It took several days the first week of June to complete the process for all 860 of Reagan’s graduates. The events were captured and incorporated into a DVD that includes graduate pictures and pre-recorded speeches from students and officials representing Reagan and NEISD. Reagan similarly recognized its Summa Cum Laude students with a slideshow posted on the school’s Facebook page.

Emily Kiolbassa recounts her experience, “As a senior, it is difficult to process the fact that we won’t get to participate in some of the most fundamental senior traditions we’ve been looking forward to. However, it has been really important to also look at the positives and do our best to be creative and come up with new ways to enjoy these times.

“For instance my dance team, youth group at church, and other extra-curriculars I’m involved with regularly meet together over zoom to have lighthearted conversation and maintain a sense of normalcy. This keeps all of us motivated and excited for our futures and helps us ensure we’re not taking any of our last few months together for granted.

“It has been amazing watching different communities come together to celebrate the small moments of everyday life that we seem to have looked past or brushed off just a few months ago before all of this began.”

These students embody their new theme: Reagan 2020 #allinthistogether.

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TO LEARN MORE AND SCHEDULE A FREE DEMO, CALL KENT KIRKMAN AT 210-325-1333 13

SENIOR MOMENT

Social Seniors Hostess with the Mostest Enjoys Greeting Potential Residents

By Amy Morgan

G

rateful that they have remained safe and healthy on the grounds of Independence Village, Lee and Jim Bourg enjoy the benefits of their maintenance-free house and peaceful Cul-de-sac. Their two-bedroom home offers space to pursue their interests without being overwhelmed, while their screened porch and yard allow their two rescue pups to romp. They’ve even found a silver lining in the COVID-19 changes. Lee’s book club resumed meeting this month in one of the outdoor gazebos, which brought back lovely memories of their daughter, Terri’s, wedding, held there three years ago.

Terri reconnected with her high school sweetheart when she helped her parents with their move to Independence Village five years ago, Lee said. Returning to the gazebo reminded them of the joyous occasion.

The couple looks forward to returning to normal activities soon.

Lee, known as “the hostess with the mostest,” greets guests when Lee and Jim Bourg enjoy the benefits open houses are held at the Clubhouse. In addition to book club, she plays bridge weekly. Jim swims in the evenings, and they attend of their maintenance-free house at monthly programs that feature footage from scuba dives in various Independence Village. waters. They both enjoy dinner club, where they join several dozen friends for special gourmet meals prepared by Independence Village’s chef. He’s always looking to introduce a new delicacy, they said – although the staff put the kibosh on his idea to serve rabbit one April. “It felt too much like eating the Easter Bunny,” Lee said, which caused Jim to guffaw at the memory.

Jim began his career at Proctor and Gamble in Cincinnati in the early 1960s. His specialty was transportation —today described as supply chain. He eventually moved the family to McAllen, where he became Vice President of the Wornick Company, which created, packaged and distributed MRE’s for the military. His meals fed service members during Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lee mentioned in particular how delicious their freeze-dried shrimp turned out to be. She said she encountered a beautiful tower of shrimp cocktail at a party and was stunned to realize that it had been reconstituted.

In the 36 years they lived in McAllen, the couple raised Terri and son, Cory, and served at St. Mark Methodist Church.

Jim was treasurer and established a foundation that endowed college scholarships. Lee served on “just about every committee the Methodist church had,” she said. The couple currently attends Coker United Methodist Church where they enjoy the “absolutely wonderful music program.”

Lee spent decades teaching school, eventually becoming a counselor and principal in the Valley. After “retiring” she taught adults who were pursuing alternative teaching certification. The Bourgs were active in a symphony group that brought the San Antonio Symphony to the area. Performers would arrive mid-week, hold events in both Harlingen and McAllen, play a pops concert and conclude with an opera Saturday night. Lee loved the occasion to dress in formal attire and the opportunity to dine with the musicians after their performances. She fondly recalls sitting at the feet of Roger Williams while he played piano during a private party.

Jim also is passionate about sports. He hopes college football will be able to resume, so he can root for his beloved University of Michigan Wolverines.

For more information about the lifestyle offered at Independence Village, call (210) 764-5260, or go to www.independencevillage.com.

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