Right at HOME Video E-Magazine December 2022

By Amy Morgan

What do most small Texas towns have that Stone Oak has been missing? The personal service found at a

dedicated hardware store! But that deficit corrected November 15, when Bobby and Jill Burk opened a new Ace Hardware location on the northeast corner of Blanco Road and 1604 behind the Chick-fil-A.

Burk’s Ace Hardware launched just in time for the Christmas shopping season. In addition to a full line of Ace-branded implements, specialty items and Seen on TV products, Burk’s will carry high end power tools, grills and accessories. Every homeowner needs a selection of drills, saws, and blowers from well-known brands like Milwaukee, Craftsman, Ego, Torro and DeWalt. Burk’s is also one of only a few places licensed to sell the complete line of Stihl equipment. You’ll also find Ace, Benjamin Moore and Magnolia paint, along with a paint matching machine.

Their selection of brand name barbecuing equipment will make a grill master’s mouth water. They stock Traeger, Big Green Egg, Blackstone, Weber, and OOni pizza ovens, all assembled and delivered on request. The Burks plan to hold grilling demonstrations and tastings. Screens throughout will broadcast the big games, encouraging friends and neighbors to linger. “We are 100% customer-first driven,” Bobby said. “We want you to be as comfortable as possible.”

Jill’s been unpacking a wide variety of home décor and gift items to fill the 1000-foot space at the front of the store dedicated to all things fun and festive. Her goal is to make Burk’s a convenient stop when you need a quick, unique gift. “You can pop in on the way to a girls’ night out or birthday party and select something cute at a great price point,” she said. “We’ll wrap it in a pretty bag, and you’ll be on your way to your event.” Jill’s also scheduling Wine Wednesdays for ladies to mingle.

Now decorated for Christmas, the boutique also carries accessories — earrings, bracelets, small purses, sunglasses — many in school spirit colors. You’ll find cosmetic bags, totes,

Burk’s Ace Opens in Stone Oak

men’s golf belts, dog toys, Hello Mello and Lazy One pajamas, Hot Sox, themed dish towels and cocktail napkins, and four different candle brands.

If you purchase a Yeti product at Burk’s, they’ll monogram it at no additional charge.

The couple looks forward to giving back to the community. They’ve already supported a Rally for the Cure Breast Cancer event. As part of their community focus, the Burks will showcase local artisans producing one-of-a-kind items. They’re the first to offer a Reagan staff member a spot to sell her Noura Blanc candles. “Her husband makes the vessels,” Jill enthused.

Weekend warriors will find everything they need to complete a home improvement project, along with the personalized service that sets Ace hardware apart from a big box store. You can even come in to have someone sharpen your knives. Staff members are all extensively cross trained to be able to knowledgeably help customers find just the right item.

You may recognize friendly faces in the aisles or behind the cash registers, as they’ve hired friends and former Reagan schoolmates of their young adult son and daughter. Jill and Bobby are life-long San Antonians and long-time Stone Oak residents.

Covid shutdowns gave the couple time to think about their next adventure. With the kids graduating from high school, the empty nest nudged the couple to take the next step. Bobby recalled

many happy memories as a child spending time with his great-grandfather in the family hardware store in Utopia and had always dreamed about owning one of his own. His greatgrandfather’s historic building was the oldest in town, and Bobby still can picture the wooden floors, the aisles full of treasures, the men talking around the coffee pot and the bell on the door.

“Every time I walk into a hardware store it brings me back to my childhood,” Bobby said. In his long career selling lumber Bobby made many friends within the hardware and building supply business. He consulted a friend who owns stores in Lulling and discovered Ace was looking to expand into the San Antonio market. The timing to bring one to Stone Oak couldn’t have been better. “I’ve been around this market for 30 years,” Bobby said, “and I’m very familiar with the way Ace operates.” The former home of Too Good to Be Threw provided an ideal Stone Oak location. One of Bobby’s finishing touches – installing a bell to replicate the one in Utopia.

Pop into Burk’s Ace to find the perfect gift for both the do-ityourselfer or stylish spouse – stay to watch the game with your Stone Oak neighbors.

Bobby with his wife Jill and children Abby (22) and Jimmy (19).

Health Help for Holiday Travelers

By Amy Morgan

There’s no place like home for the holidays. One of the great joys of the season is

gathering with loved ones from far away. But what happens when cousin Zach twists his ankle during the not-so-casual game of flag football? What if Aunt Cathy burns her arm taking the ham out of the oven or Uncle Mike starts feeling chest pain after a big meal? Their regular family doctors are miles away, and offices are closed.

What may seem like a minor problem can exacerbate quickly, says seasoned physician Lonnie Schwirtlich, M.D., the founding partner of Physicians Premier free-standing emergency room located just 15 minutes north on US Highway 281 at Highway 46 near the HEB Plus.

In an emergency, timing is crucial. Dr. Schwirtlich describes a “golden hour” — the first hour when treatment is optimized for best outcome. You don’t want to waste that time sitting in a waiting room away from the family you traveled to visit.

Physicians Premier can handle any type of traumatic injury or illness, pediatric or adult. The facility includes on-site X-rays, CAT scans, a full laboratory and ultrasound and is staffed by board-certified emergency room doctors.

This season Dr. Schwirtlich already has seen several serious cases of bacterial pneumonia secondary to flu. It’s common for someone to recover from a viral infection just enough they believe they are well enough to travel, he said. A few days later, they suddenly develop fever and chills and think they are having a relapse. Unfortunately, it’s something far worse – a bacterial superinfection. “This can be life threatening,” Dr. Schwirtlich said. “Bacteria look for people when their resistance is down. They just crash. It’s really important to be aware of and get treatment fast.”

People may worry that their insurance won’t cover the cost of out-of-area emergency care. The prudent layperson clause states a patient has the right to obtain care if they believe their condition is life altering or threatening. Physicians Premier is an out-of-network provider for all health benefit plans. However, Federal law requires insurance companies to process your ER visit at the in-network level and guarantee coverage in a true emergency. The physician-owned and operated facility commits to work with the patient to make sure charges are charted and billed appropriately with the least amount of expense. They also offer a discounted selfpay rate and remain authorized for Medicare and Tri-Care.

“We continue to be able to take care of our military and vets,” Dr. Schwirtlich said.

When in doubt, call Physicians Premier at (830) 438-6911, 24 hours/7 days a week. The highly trained medical staff will triage your problem over the phone and help you decide if you should come in. They also can contact your family doctor back home to coordinate care and convey treatment information.

“We are glad to do that,” Dr. Schwirtlich emphasized. “We want to get people taken care of appropriately so they can get back to enjoying their holiday with their family.”

Physicians Premier allows patients to access the care they need when they need it, saving time, money, alleviating concern and allowing for a healthier patient and community. Find them at MDpremier.com.

What to do When your Out-of-Town Guest Needs Medical Care

O Holiday Hosting

Is Your Pup Ready to Participate?

By Camp Bow Wow Staff

ver the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house we go…. Gathering with

family is a wonderful part of the holiday season but raises a quandary for pet parents. What is the best plan for your furry family members? Should you bring them with you when you travel, or will looking after their transportation and lodging needs add unwanted stress to the festivities?

While you hate for Fido to miss out on the fun, assess the situation to determine what’s appropriate. Are other guests allergic to your precious pooch? Will the house be full of small children who would need constant supervision around a non-child friendly dog? Is your pooch elderly or so timid that being in the hustle and bustle would cause distress? If so, you might consider boarding at doggy camp or enlisting a trusted friend or pet sitter to care for them at home where their environment is quiet and more comfortable.

However, if your gregarious pup looks forward to joining in with a pack of relatives — furry and human — the solution might be to bring him along. Heed the advice from the Humane Society to make sure your pup’s introduction to the party goes smoothly.

Allow host and guest dogs to become familiar with each other in neutral territory. Place each/all pups on a leash and introduce them to each other outside of the home. As the dogs see each other, reward good behavior with treats and positive verbal reinforcement. While keeping some distance, pay attention to their body language and watch carefully for any indication they are wary or defensive, like growling, baring teeth or the hair bristling. Let the pups continue to walk and sniff to help them avoid encroaching too quickly on the other dogs’ space. Again, reinforce friendly behavior with words and treats.

Begin walking together on a parallel track. As long as friendly behavior continues, you can let them walk more closely and sniff each other. Don’t be in a rush. Let the pups determine when they feel comfortable enough to want to get close or play. As long as all things remain pleasant between the potential pack members, you can bring them into the house together.

Before they come in, remove any food, treats or toys that could potentially cause conflict. Keep a close eye on all the new furry friends as they interact inside, rewarding them all equally with treats, until you are completely confident they are safe with each other. Sometimes jealousy or over-excitement can trigger aggressive behavior even hours into a visit, so keep checking in with your particular pooch to monitor the interaction.

Just like kids can get cranky when they are tired or overstimulated, create a place for Fido to recharge. Place his crate or pillow in a quiet spot where he can sleep undisturbed by unfamiliar routines, people or pack members. We all need rest to be on our best behavior, and your furry family member is no exception.

Now you can enjoy your festivities knowing you’ve planned for Fido’s holiday also to be merry and bright.

Community Calendar

Presented by Frost

Activities at the Walker Ranch Senior Center — Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Hot meals served daily from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. for qualifying seniors and their spouses. Exercise, field trips, bingo, loteria, movies, arts and crafts, free health and wellness screenings vary daily. 835 W. Rhapsody 78216; 210-207-5280.

Stone Oak Rotary Club – Tuesdays, noon -1 p.m. Guest speakers weekly. Dona Tota, 923 Loop 1604 W. #115 78232; www.stoneoaksarotary.org.

Shooting leagues and classes – Days and times vary. Introduction to firearms, CDL classes, date nights, kids’ classes, men’s events and shooting sports leagues for all skill levels on an indoor range. Buck and Doe’s Mercantile, 24250 U.S. 281 78258; 820-980-3637.

The Velveteen Rabbit at the Magik Theatre – Through Saturday, Dec. 24, days and times vary. Live theater production of the classic story of a child and his beloved stuffed rabbit. The Magik Theatre, 420 S. Alamo St. 78205; www.magiktheatre.org.

Lightscape at the Botanical Gardens

Through Sunday, Jan. 8, 5:30-9 p.m. Entry times available every 15 minutes. Behold the Winter Cathedral's 100,000 lights, roast s'mores in the Fire Garden, and delight in a shimmering field of Texas bluebonnets. San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Place 78209; ticketing@sabot.org.

Rotary Ice Rink at Travis Park – Through mid January, Monday -Thursday, 5 – 10 p.m., Friday, 5 -11 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m.- 11 p.m., Sunday, noon - 8 p.m. Fun and festive recreational activity for the family throughout the holiday season. 301 E. Travis St. 78205; www.rotaryicerink.com.

Zoo Lights – Through Monday, Jan. 2. Lights illuminate at dusk. Zoo grounds awaken with magical lights at dark, including a 15-foot-tall giraffe. San Antonio Zoo, 3903 N. St. Mary's St. 78212; www.sazoo.org.

Ford Holiday Boat Caroling – Thursday, Dec. 1- Thursday, Dec. 23, Monday -Thursday, 6-8:15 p.m.; Friday- Sunday, 6 – 9:30 p.m. Sing in the holidays with family and friends from a boat on the Riverwalk. International Center Building, 203 S. St. Mary’s St. 78205; www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com.

Old West Christmas Light Fest Thursdays – Sundays, Dec. 1- 24, also Dec. 19-22. Weeknights, 6 – 9 p.m., weekends, 6-10 p.m. Synchronized light and music show, lighted maze, Christmas carols, shopping, and Santa’s Holly Jolly Herd of Texas Longhorns. Enchanted Springs Ranch, 242 SH46 West, Boerne 78006; www.christmaslightfest.com.

A Dickens Celebration in Boerne Weekends, Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, times and activities vary. A Hill Country Christmas event of epic proportions, Boerne’s Main Street transforms into a vintage Christmas experience complete with great shopping, visits with Santa Claus, children’s craft activities, unique vendors, food trucks, snow on Main Street, ice sculpting, music, theatrical performances and an amazing 60-foot snow slide for sledding. Main Street, Boerne 78006; www.dickensonmain.com.

WinterFest San Antonio – Saturday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Stone Oak festival with Santa Claus, elves, rocking Christmas music, carnival, food, and 50,000 pounds of snow. North Central Baptist Hospital, 502 Madison Oak 78258; www.winterfestivalsa.com.

12th Annual Holiday Hunger Run – Saturday, Dec. 3, 9 a.m. ‘Tis the season to help others. Run a 5K to benefit Provisions Outreach. Prizes awarded for best Holiday costume. Bulverde Community Park, 29815 Bulverde Lane, Bulverde 78163; www.provisionsoutreach.org.

San Antonio Rock ‘n’ Roll Races: marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K – Saturday, Dec. 3, Sunday, Dec. 4, times and courses vary. Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio has become the famous historical landmark-lined course that tours the Tower of the Americas, The Alamo, Mission Concepcion, San Fernando Cathedral and more. Enjoy a finish line concert and live bands. Start on East Commerce St. 78205; www.runrocknroll.com/san-antonio.

Concordia's Annual Drive-Thru Nativity

Saturday, Dec. 3, Sunday, Dec. 4, 5-9 p.m. Travel with the wise men though Bethlehem and enjoy the story of Christmas from the comfort of your vehicle. Seven decorated sets, more than 60 actors, angelic choirs and live animals. Concordia Lutheran Church, 16801 Huebner Road 78258; 210-479-1477.

Christmas at the Caverns – Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18. Weekdays, Dec. 19- 23, 4:30-9 p.m. 30-foot Christmas tree, 1/3-mile trail of lights, Santa “Spelunker” Claus, 500 square-foot outdoor maze, live music, s’mores. Check the website for hours for specific activities. Natural Bridge Caverns, 26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Road 78266; www.naturalbridgecaverns.com.

Cowboy Christmas on the Riverwalk Sunday, Dec. 4, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saddle up and mosey on down to the Briscoe for holiday fun and pictures with Cowboy Santa, arts and crafts. Briscoe Western Art Museum, 210 W. Market St. 78205; www.briscoemuseum.org.

Single Professionals Networking Meeting

Friday, Dec. 9, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Join other 55+ widowed, divorced and single mature professionals for conversation, libations and food in a relaxed, social setting. The Roo Pub,19314 Highway 281 78259 ; www.spn-sa.org.

Send your upcoming events to StoneOakInfo@gmail.com.

Smart tools, sound advice and doing right by the customer. That’s what banking should be—and what we’ve always been.

Classical Contributor

By Amy Morgan

At first glance, Kathy He looks like any other successful, involved high school student. The

outgoing Reagan senior enjoys the camaraderie of playing on the Rattlers’ varsity tennis team, holds the office of President of her senior class, participates in school clubs, volunteers and maintains close relationships with her family.

But her profile starts to diverge from peers when she describes her favorite high school experience as her trip this summer to the Junior Classical League (JCL) National Convention where the participants share a love of all things Latin. Fifteen hundred people meet together annually to compete in classical art and grammar as well as hear lectures about related topics. Kathy said she loved the talent show, the mixers, and shouting her state’s chant “at the top of her lungs” with likeminded peers who all consider Latin cool. Kathy even served as First Vice President for the Texas JCL chapter, recruiting professors to lecture, ordering thousands of trophies and editing rules for contests. She’s so committed, Kathy plans to attend the convention again this summer even after graduation because, “the community is so amazing,” she enthused.

Kathy was first introduced to Latin in fifth grade while attending Basis charter school. She continued studying the language at Reagan and counts AP Latin class with Mrs. Laura Shaw as her favorite, because the teacher is “very supportive. She feels like my mom at school,” Kathy said. Mrs. Shaw makes class fun, inviting students to practice writing grammar charts on graham crackers with icing instead of the traditional paper and pen, an activity appropriately titled Graham Grams.

Kathy’s family, including older sister, Ruiqi, immigrated from China 20 years ago and remain fluent in Chinese. Kathy’s mom is an ICU nurse; her father an immunologist at the UT Health Science Center. While his original field was researching HIV,

he switched to COVID during the pandemic. Kathy has volunteered in his lab and was thrilled to help document rates of Covid positivity across cohorts by analyzing DNA. This experience, and her time volunteering at Camp Camp, have inspired her to consider a career in health care - perhaps biomedical engineering.

For the past two summers, Kathy has served as a mentor helping campers with special needs have a normal camp experience. Although both years the particular camping buddy with whom she spent the most time was a middle-aged adult, she bonded with a young boy who, despite the loss of a leg, enjoyed singing and dancing. Kathy is interested in learning more about how to build prosthetics to help others like him also enjoy a full life.

Ranked number 10 in her class and in the top 1.2%, Kathy hopes her application to Brown will be accepted. Until then, she has plenty on her plate with her singles tennis season upcoming and senior class activities to plan.

Well-Rounded Reagan Student Excels

Conversations about death are rarely fun. This subject can be particularly difficult for parents

and their adult children. Adult children may avoid bringing up the topic because they do not want to think about their parents’ mortality, and they may also want to avoid sounding as though they are waiting for their parents to die.

Despite these valid challenges to having conversations about death, you should not avoid the topic. Your parents will die at some point; having an estate plan addressing what happens to their money and property will preserve their legacy. Without an estate plan, state law governs what happens. Those default state rules may not reflect your parents’ wishes and may result in expensive and timeconsuming court proceedings.

The following are some key ideas to consider when discussing estate planning with your parents:

• Be open and honest about your concerns. Being truthful about your concerns is a significant challenge when discussing what will happen to your parents when they die or lose the ability to make decisions for themselves. To facilitate the best conversations about estate planning, address any challenging family issues while your parents are available to provide their insights.

• Ask your parents what their wishes are. What do your parents want? Avoid assumptions, they may already have some ideas about their estate planning instructions.

• Discuss any planning already in place. Your parents may have done some estate planning in the past but never updated it. These documents may no longer be relevant due to changes in the family over time, new property or investments, death or divorces, changes in tax laws, etc. Ask your parents if they have any of the following documents, and if they do, these legal documents should be reviewed and updated:

• past wills or trusts

• powers of attorney

• insurance policy and retirement plan beneficiary designations

We can help!

Our attorneys can help you with your family estate planning. For assistance with these and other business law, tax planning, or estate planning matters, contact our office today!

We help clients that are ready to invest in their family and business to protect their wealth and save taxes.

Ivan Ramirez, Attorney at Law

The Law Office of Ivan Ramirez & Associates 18756 Stone Oak Pkwy, Suite 200 San Antonio, Texas 78258

Email: ivan@ram-law.com Website: www.ram-law.com Phone: 210-448-7755

The information provided is designed for general information only and is not intended to be legal advice, nor does it create an attorney client relationship. Consult an attorney before making any legal decisions based on your individual circumstances.

Don't Delay

Dental Benefits Expire December 31

By Amy Morgan

Time is nearly up! Every year it seems like the weeks of December fly by faster. As the days disappear, so too will your dental benefits if you don’t use them before the clock strikes on New Year’s Eve. That’s a Saturday this year, so while the 7to7 Dental & Orthodontics office on the corner of Stone Oak Blvd. and Evans Road remains open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday- Friday, they’ll close at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

So don’t delay. Schedule your family’s final dental appointments of 2022 ASAP, including your older kids when they come home from college. An added plus, after your visit to 7to7 Dental, your teeth will be shiny and bright for your holiday gatherings, pictures and social media posts. Not only will the hygienists polish your teeth during the cleaning, 7to7 Dental provides a free tube of whitening gel to each patient to encourage continued oral health.

When you drop by the office you can help 7to7 Dental make the season merry and bright for those who are less fortunate. The practice makes it a point to give back — donating thousands of toys over the past 10 years to organizations like Blue Santa who work directly with families in the community. The team whole-heartedly embraces the drive that provides toys to needy children in San Antonio. Co-owners Justin Coke and Tiffany Winburn, D.M.D., encourage employees to participate with fun incentives, including a visit from Blue Santa himself. Patients can join in by bringing a toy to any of 7to7 Dental’s seven locations by December 16. “We choose to partner with Blue Santa because they work directly with the community and help many families both during the holiday season and throughout the year,” said 7to7 Dental’s Director of Marketing Travis DeZuba.

If you’re looking for a Christmas gift to brighten someone’s smile, you can gift 7to7 Dental’s membership coverage! Options include three plans to meet any budget and needs. Each covers cleanings as well as X-rays, fillings, extractions, crowns, and implants. The Platinum plan includes a 10% discount on orthodontics, a savings that virtually covers the cost of the plan if someone needs braces or Invisalign.

The professionals at 7to7 Dental & Orthodontics care about your oral health and are available 7 a.m.7 p.m., seven days a week, for dentistry for the whole family and emergencies. 7to7 Dental is a local business grown in 14 years from the practice of one dentist and six staff, which now employs 240 San Antonio community members. Both co-owners live in Stone Oak with their families and are part of the community.

Watch Our Project Videos.