Right at HOME Video e-Magazine June 2023 Issue

Your Local Roofer

Practical Privacy

By Amy Morgan

As summer heats up, you may realize your once-appealing outdoor area has lost its

luster. Scorching sun and rising temps can diminish the pleasure of relaxing on the patio. Perhaps you were one of the many families who installed a pool during the pandemic, but you didn’t realize the surrounding area would become too hot to allow you to watch your children splash. Don’t miss out on enjoying your investment. Consider a patio cover or pergola to create a cool, shady oasis.

Diamond Decks, owned by Donnie Ferguson, is one of the largest authorized installers of Renaissance Patio Cover products. Renaissance Patio Covers come in five basic styles that can be modified to fit your needs. Whether your tastes tend toward the clean lines and modern look of the Moderno patio cover or the bold, decoratively sculpted trusses of the contemporary wood frame-style Classico roof, you’ll be able to find something that suits your décor. Best of all, patio covers can be installed in just a few days.

Renaissance products are made in Florida, so they were designed to withstand weather extremes of heat, gale-force winds and rain. The insulated patio roof panels use aircraft-grade aluminum alloy skin on the top and bottom and are filled with high-density, insulating foam that creates a thermal break to slow heat from descending. In fact, the temperature under a coated aluminum structure can be 30% cooler than under a wooden roof system, Donnie said. All Renaissance Patio Cover products incorporate an integrated gutter built into the roof system, are finished with a glossy baked-on powder coat

Donnie Ferguson, Kasey Unroe and the team at Diamond Decks create the perfect backyard escapes including outdoor fireplaces, kitchens, decks, pergolas and patio covers.

Patio Covers Provide Shade, Visual Barrier

and use nylon-coated fasteners to ensure that rust, corrosion, chipping, and peeling are never an issue. Diamond Decks installers also can run electrical wiring for ceiling fans inside the interior of a beam so the conduit isn’t visible, providing a cleaner, more aesthetically pleasing look.

A growing number of homeowners are choosing to use man-made materials as they add decks, patios covers and roofs, Donnie said. Not only has the rising cost of lumber made other materials more attractive, the newer composite and aluminum products allow more possibilities for customization, withstand weather and require no maintenance. “It doesn’t make sense for people to buy a wooden deck right now,” Donnie said. “A composite product costs almost the same, and once it is in, you’ll have no upkeep.”

Adding a covering provides benefits in addition to the obvious immediate shade it casts. Coverings can deflect sunshine from a home’s walls and windows, enabling the interior temperature of the home to remain cooler and subsequently reduce electricity bills. A covering also provides protection from the elements if you have pets that stay outdoors. No need to worry about them getting soaked in a rainstorm or suffering in the heat.

Many customers are choosing to add screens to their covers to keep marauding mosquitos at bay, Donnie said. The Dolce seamless screen system is compatible with the other Renaissance patio products, and its high-strength framing system won’t impede your view.

Has a next-door neighbor moved in or expanded their outdoor footprint? Aluminum privacy walls are becoming another popular option in highdensity Stone Oak. Donnie and his sales team will help design the perfect layout to match your style and provide a visual barrier from those nearby. Once again, consumers are trending away from wood toward lower maintenance, man-made materials, which look sleeker and more modern, Donnie said.

Clients can visit Diamond Decks’ showroom inside the Stone Ridge Market HEB on 281 and Evans Road to view a variety of entertainment solutions including decorative concrete, outdoor kitchens and fireplaces, and masonry products.

The company offers many attractive financing options at low interest rates. In its nine years in the San Antonio area, Diamond Decks has grown into the largest outdoor living space builder in town, Donnie said. Go to Diamonddeckstx.com to get started on your wish list. Call for an inhome design consultation or visit our showroom.

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Blistering Burns

By Amy Morgan

Ouch! You held the match too long when lighting fireworks. Or maybe you positioned

your S’more too close to the fire. Ever lit a gas grill and singed more than the hair on your arm? Or jumped on a mini-bike and realized the exhaust pipe wasn’t covered? Stayed in the sun too long? Any and all of these common situations can cause a nasty burn!

According to the Cleveland Clinic, nearly half a million Americans go to the emergency department every year for medical care for burn injuries.

We’ve all probably experienced a first-degree burn (like most sunburns). Who doesn’t remember the sting! Burns are classified by severity of skin damage. First-degree burns may cause the top layer of the skin to turn red and eventually peel. First-degree burns and some small second-degree burns can be treated at home, according to Trenten Martinez, D.O., an American Board of Emergency Medicine certified physician at Physicians Premier, a free-standing emergency room located west of Highway 281 on Highway 46 near the HEB Plus.

Immerse the burn in cool water (But don’t apply ice) and take over-the-counter medication to combat pain. Aloe vera gel provides sunburn relief.

Second-degree burns are defined by the presence of blistering. They are further classified into two categories, the most important difference for patients being the presence of pain. Pain is a good sign, although it means you burned deep enough to hit superficial nerves. These types usually heal without scarring. For burns that cause blistering encompassing an area smaller than the palm of your hand that are not located on your face, genitalia, palms, soles of your feet, across joints, or circumferential around any body part, apply antibiotic ointment or egg white and cover lightly with non-stick gauze. Egg white has absorbable essential amino acids and vitamins required for the body to heal, not to mention

antimicrobial/anti-inflammatory effects. Seek medical attention as soon as possible for burns that blister that do not meet the criteria.

Burns that blister without pain signify a depth deeper than the superficial nerves. These burns need to be evaluated as they may require hospital admission to a burn specialty center. Regardless of the severity, you need to keep all burns clean and apply proper dressings, said Dr. Martinez. Even first and second-degree burns can become infected and cause skin discoloration and scarring.

Warning signs to look for: Burns that don’t improve after two weeks, severe pain, fever, yellow or green discharge, or other signs of infection.

Third-degree burns affect the body all the way down to the fat. This type of burn also destroys hair follicles and sweat glands. Because third-degree burns damage nerve endings, you probably won’t feel pain in the area of the burn itself, rather in the tissue adjacent to it. Third-degree burns can be life-threatening and often require immediate emergency intervention. Depending on severity, treatment may include IV fluids to prevent dehydration and shock, IV antibiotics, blood clot formation prevention, hospitalization to a burn center, daily wound care and likely skin grafts. If a person experiences electrical burn, burns with smoke exposure/ inhalation of smoke in enclosed fires or if someone’s skin or eye color looks changed, rush the individual to the emergency room immediately.

If in any doubt, the trained emergency physicians at Physician Premier are ready to evaluate, educate and treat your medical problem. Accidental burns can happen at any time. 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.

Community Calendar

Presented by Frost

Sticks & Stones 13.1, 10k, 5K runs – Saturday, June 10. Staggered starts 7:31-8:31 a.m. Run on the tail, road or hybrid through the Leon Creek Trail System. Tuscany Venue, 16102 Old Fredericksburg Road 78257; www.scallywompus.com

Fellowship of San Antonio Vacation Bible School – Sunday, June 11 - Thursday, June 15, 6 – 8:30 p.m. Ready, Set, Move… Follow Jesus Here, There and Everywhere for kids entering kinder through 5th grade. Fellowship of San Antonio, 23755 Canyon Golf Road 78258; www.thefellwoshipofsa.org

Summit Christian Center Vacation Bible School – Monday, June 12 - Thursday, June 15, 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. City of Heroes curriculum for kids 6-11. Summit Christian Center, 2575 Marshall Road 78259; www.summitsa.com.

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.

Tejas Rodeo – Saturdays through November, 5 p.m. – 1 a.m. Enjoy live rodeo action: bronco riding, team roping, barrel racing, mutton bustin’ and calf scramble. Live music at 9 p.m. Tejas Rodeo Company, 401 Obst Road 78163; www.tejasrodeo.com.

Immersive Disney – Thursdays - Sundays through Aug. 13. Times vary. Surround yourself in the immersive worlds, music and stories of Disney animation. Lighthouse ArtSpace, 221 Burleson St. 78202. www.lighthouseimmersive.com/disney/sanantonio

Reagan Rattler Sports Camps, Strength and Conditioning – From Tuesday, May 31, dates and times vary by sport and age. Grades 3 – 12. Football, wrestling, volleyball, girls track, throwers camp, softball, soccer, cross country, basketball, baseball. Stone Oak Campuses including Bush and Lopez Middle Schools; www.rattlersports.com/now-openregistration-for-reagan-summer-camps/

Schoolhouse Rock Live at the Magik Theatre – through Sunday, June 4, dates and times vary. Live theater production of the fun-filled retro musical featuring classic songs like “Just a Bill” and “Conjunction Junction.” The Magik Theatre, 420 S. Alamo St. 78205; www.magiktheatre.org

Mays YMCA Summer Sports Clinics and Leagues – beginning June 5. Clinics and leagues for kids 3-14. Days/times vary by sport and age. Soccer, baseball, football, basketball, 3v3 soccer. Mays Family YMCA of Stone Oak, 21654 Blanco Road 78258; ymcasatx.org/programs/sports/youth-sports

Concordia Vacation Bible School – Monday, June 12 - Friday, June 16, 9 a.m.- noon. Stellar – Shine Jesus’ Light. This free week of fun shares the love of Jesus with children ages 4 years – 5th grade through games, crafts, worship, and more. Concordia Lutheran Church, 16801 Huebner Road 78258; www.concordialutheranchurch.com

Cornerstone Vacation Bible School – Tuesday, June 13 - Thursday, June 15, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Galactic VBS activities include Bible lessons, songs, entertainers, games, hands-on activities, free lunch and snacks for children ages 5 through 6th grade. Accessible for deaf/HOH. Cornerstone Church, 18755 Stone Oak Parkway 78258; www.sacornerstone.org.

Kids’ Base Camp – Three-day experiences beginning Tuesdays – June 13, 20, 27, July 11, 18, 25, 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Learn gun and archery safety, shoot on the range with professional range safety officers, develop outdoor and survival skills. Ages 8-15. Buck and Doe’s Mercantile, 24250 U.S. 281 78258. www.buckdoes.com/kids-base-camp/

Culinaria’s Women & Whiskey at La Cantera Resort & Spa – Thursday, June 15, 6-9 p.m. Milam & Greene social hour with tastings, bites, vendors and live entertainment. 16641 La Cantera Parkway, 78256; www.culinariasa.org

Send your upcoming events to StoneOakInfo@gmail.com.

Reagan High School Musician Transposes Family Hobby into Career Noteworthy

By Amy Morgan

Music connects the past, present and future of Ronald

Reagan High School senior student

Matthew Issa-Abbas like the melody of a song. The multi-talented musician began learning piano as a small child, quickly progressing to lessons with a tutor by age six. Matt added the cello in the third grade, as he noticed his older brother, Noah, a 2019 Reagan graduate, playing multiple instruments. By middle school Matt picked up the saxophone, which added flexibility to his repertoire as he performed with several of Reagan’s top bands and orchestra groups.

Although Matt loves the cello because its soothing, melodic tone appeals to his ear, playing saxophone has provided greater opportunity for his talent to shine. He named baritone saxophone his principal instrument when he applied for a spot at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he’ll head in the fall to major in music education. The highly selective college of slightly more than 7000 undergraduate students is known as one of the top schools in contemporary music in the country, if not the world, he said. Matt performed so well at his admission audition he was awarded one of the school’s top scholarships. He plans to teach elementary school music because, “since I found my passion for music very early on, I want to help the next generation cultivate that passion.”

During his years at Reagan Matt played cello in Reagan’s Varsity Chamber Orchestra all four years while simultaneously marching in Reagan’s awardwinning band – serving as alto saxophone section leader the past two years. His senior year he was appointed Vice President of Music, managing handfuls of students who distribute music to their peers under the direction of head band director Mr. Greg White. He also found enough room in his schedule as a senior to join Reagan’s Jazz Ensemble. Matt played the baritone saxophone as part of the Quid Nunc Saxophone Quartet, which competes as a small ensemble. This year Quid Nunc was named

Texas State Champions of Chamber Music and were one of just 14 wind groups invited to perform in the junior division in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Quid Nunc stands for “What’s Next” in Latin, a phrase selected by Mr. White to inspire his students to think about their future possibilities.

Matt also held an office within the orchestra program as an upperclassman. As service chair he organized donation drives and volunteer events. Head Orchestra Director Mr. Elizondo describes the orchestra student population as a family, a statement which rang true for Matt.

He noted when the last performance of the marching group experienced technical difficulties with their electronic equipment, the students all had to pull together and trust their training to keep the show on the right foot, literally. “It made us stronger as musicians and also as a community,” he said.

In his free time, Matt and some friends formed the rock band, Dinnerplate. You can find them on the schedule at downtown venue The Green Room, where they play Latin fusion or their own Latin punk rock originals.

Don’t Mix Fireworks and Fido

By Camp Bow Wow Staff

Despite South Texas’ heat, summertime means outdoor events. Crowds, loud music, and

fireworks all signify celebration to most humans, but the commotion may overwhelm or frighten your furry family members. Don’t take Fido along only to leave him behind in the car while you head into the festivities. Being alone while the party pops might make him anxious, and temperatures can quickly rise to a dangerous level, causing brain damage, heat stroke or death.

Fireworks:

As fun as the rockets’ red glare seem to us, fireworks can be hazardous for your dog. Just the sights and sounds can panic a pup, who might jump a fence or break a restraint in desperation to get away. Create a safe space in a kennel, play soothing music, or wrap Fido in a vest or blanket while you are gone.

Fireworks, lit or unlit, can cause physical damage to a curious canine. Anything on fire can severely burn muzzles or paws. Lighter fluid and matches are poisonous to animals. And even unused fireworks may contain potentially toxic chemicals such as arsenic, potassium nitrate and other heavy metals. Prevent the problem before it starts. Keep your pup far away from the blast zone or places where hazardous materials are stored.

Festivities:

Going to a night parade or event? Resist the temptation to adorn your dog with glow sticks. While the ASPCA states the phosphorescent chemicals are not highly toxic, chewing or swallowing could cause excessive drooling or gastrointestinal irritation. And swallowing a large piece of plastic could cause an intestinal blockage – resulting in an emergency vet visit fraught with anxiety and expense.

What about that barbeque, where someone may be tempted to slip man’s best friend a little snack from the table or a sip from a festive beverage? Although Spuds Mackenzie represented a beer brand, he didn’t actually drink the product, because fermented hops and ethanol are poisonous to dogs (and cats). Just small amounts of alcohol could cause a pup to become dangerously intoxicated, go into a coma, or in severe cases, die from respiratory failure. Other ingredients that might wind up on the potluck table that could harm your furry family member include onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes and raisins.

Too many people in an unfamiliar, noisy, crowded place can stress your pup. Consider if the holiday picnic will be as fun for him as it will be for you before you pack Fido in the car. It might be better to make sure your furry family members remain at home, safely indoors, with a comfortable place to retreat when the fireworks burst in air.

Grand Opening

7to7 Dental’s Launches Ninth Office on TPC Parkway

By Amy Morgan

Ever been frustrated because your dentist’s office was closed when you when you had

an emergency? Struggled to schedule your family’s bi-annual teeth cleanings around your busy lifestyle? Now there’s even more availability for high quality, convenient dental care for those who live in Stone Oak and San Antonio’s Far North Central corridor. 7to7 Dental & Orthodontics opened its ninth office on June 1 at 4272 TPC Parkway. You won’t miss 7to7 Dental, as the practice’s blue and orange flags designate its spot directly across from the JW Marriott resort.

7to7 Dental’s co-owners Justin Coke and Tiffany Winburn, D.M.D., selected the location to serve the needs of the many families living in or moving to the growing area. Services on the east side of U.S. Highway 281 have not kept pace with the increasing number of those who depend on them, said 7to7 Dental’s Director of Marketing Travis DeZuba. “We want to make things more convenient, and we believe families will find our services helpful,” he said. Insured patients pay nothing out of pocket for Brighter Whiter cleanings and exams for adults, cleanings and exams for children, or second opinion evaluations.

As an added incentive to inspire new patients to schedule a service, the first 10 patients seen at the new location on TPC will receive a special white Yeti tumbler emblazoned with 7to7 Dental’s

logo. As well, new patients in June can benefit from a 20% discount on one of 7to7 Dental’s membership plans. These low-cost, in-house dental plans can include the entire family. Covered patients receive free regular cleanings and general care at each of three membership levels. General Manager Patrick Fridley, who led 7to7 Dental’s Braun office, and Dr. Rebeca Garcia from Alamo Ranch will oversee TPC’s team of professionals who’ve been seasoned at 7to7 Dental’s other eight offices. 7to7 Dental is proud to promote from within the company each time they open a new location, Travis said.

Since 7to7 Dental first opened its doors in San Antonio fifteen years ago, their mission has been to provide dental care during days and times that are convenient to the patient, not the doctor. That’s why 7to7 Dental offices are open from 7 a.m.- 7 p.m., seven days a week, for dentistry for the whole family and emergencies.

This progressive approach to care started with four employees at one office. Since then, 7to7 Dental has grown to include 262 team members across multiple locations in San Antonio. Still locally owned and operated by North Central San Antonio residents

Justin Coke and Dr. Tiffany Winburn, the friendly neighborhood dentist is here to stay. Come see why 7to7 Dental is a better kind of dental practice for the whole family.