FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF FIES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF FIES
W H O W E A R E
For more than 50 years, Brighton has been providing critical services to young children with disabilities and delays. Founded in 1969 as a school by parents of children with Down Syndrome, Brighton Center has evolved into the largest non-profit in San Antonio providing pediatric therapy services to babies and toddlers, offering two inclusive early childhood education preschool centers, and special education advocacy services. Mission driven and focused on holistic impact, Brighton has been recognized consistently for our results-oriented approach, our service, and cultural excellence.
The Ultimate Balance
Travelers
By Dionne Roberts
During the many seasons of our lives, finding that travel buddy who shares your sense of adventure and travel style can be frustrating. Whether your existing friend group is taking on new family obligations, coupling up or facing the physical limitations of a life well-lived, many people end up stuck – wanting to travel but not wanting to go it alone.
While traveling solo can be an enriching experience, it can also feel daunting, particularly when navigating unfamiliar destinations, managing logistics, or simply desiring companionship. Enter hosted trips: the perfect blend of independence and community for solo travelers.
Hosted trips are curated travel experiences led by a dedicated host who manages the details, leaving you free to enjoy the journey. These trips often cater to small groups and offer a structured itinerary, combining group activities with opportunities for personal exploration. Think of it as having the best of both worlds – the camaraderie of group travel with freedom for solo adventures. It also addresses the three biggest concerns for solo travelers – loneliness, logistics and safety.
• First, hosted trips provide a built-in social network. You’re with a group of like-minded individuals who share your interests, whether it’s exploring historical landmarks or indulging in culinary adventures. Often these experiences lead to unexpected friendships that continue even after the journey is over!
• Second, even in the best of circumstances planning a trip can be time-consuming and stressful. This can be especially true for solo travelers who must handle every detail and decision alone. Hosted trips eliminate this burden by providing an itinerary where these details, from transfers and hotel to activities and dining recommendations, are covered, ensuring you make the most of your destination without the hassle of research and bookings.
• Finally, even for the adventurous at heart, traveling solo can sometimes feel risky, particularly in unfamiliar places. Hosted trips provide an added layer of safety and support. Having a knowledgeable host along for the journey to assist with unexpected situations while also providing insider knowledge can enrich your experience and ensures you stay safe throughout your journey.
Why Hosted Trips Are Perfect for Solo
Blake Aaron
Purchase Tickets
Community Calendar
Presented by Frost
Fiesta San Antonio – April 24 - May 4. San Antonio’s biggest party is back, with events to please everyone. Click here for the event schedules: https://fiestasanantonio.org.
Activities at the Walker Ranch Senior Center – MondayFriday, 7 a.m. - 4 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
Tejas Rodeo – Saturdays, March 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
Garden Run Club – Saturdays through May 31, 7 a.m. Run through the garden’s 38+ acres on a marked one-mile route before public hours. San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Place 78209; www.sabot.org
Mama Mia – Tuesday, April 1- Sunday, April 6, times vary. The smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA. Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston 78205; www.majesticempire.com/events
Valero Texas Open – through Sunday, April 6. Venerated golf tournament will celebrate its 103rd anniversary in Texas. TPC, 23808 Resort Parkway 78261; www.valerotexasopen.com.
Dearly Departed presented by Reagan Stage Theater Thursday, April 3, Friday, April 4, 7 p.m., Saturday, April 5, 1 p.m. Comedy tells the story of the Turpin family’s attempts to prepare for their father’s funeral in the backwoods. Black Box Theater, Ronald Reagan High School, 19000 Ronald Reagan 78258; www.reaganstage.org.
Single Professionals Networking Meeting – Friday, April 4, 4 – 6 p.m. Join other 55+ widowed, divorced and single mature professionals for conversation, libations and food in a relaxed, social setting. Stonewerks Lincoln Heights, 999 E. Basse Road 78209; www.spn-sa.org
Adventures in Marriage Workshop – Friday, April 4, 6:30-9 p.m., Saturday, April 5, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Skill-based marriage enrichment for every season of life. Grace Point Church, 9650 Huebner Road 78240; www.livethelifesatx.org
NCAA Men’s Final Four Weekend Events – Friday, April 4 - Monday, April 7, times vary. Events surrounding the Men’s Final Four include a March Madness Music Festival, open-team practices at the Alamodome, Tip-Off Tailgates, River Rally and Championship River Parade. Locations vary in downtown San Antonio. www.mysanantonio.com/sports
NCAA Men’s Final Four Fan Fest – Friday, April 4 - Monday, April 7. Times vary by date. Interactive games, celebrity and athlete appearances, autograph signings. Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, 900 E. Market St. 78205; www.ncaa.com/mens-final-four/fan-fest#overview.
Come Alive – Event honoring Pastor Hagee on his 85th birthday and 67th year of ministry. Friday, April 11- Sunday, April 13, times vary by event. A weekend of inspiration, celebration and unforgettable moments, w/ motivational comedian Michael Jr. and a praise concert led by Kim WalkerSmith. Cornerstone Church, 18755 Stone Oak Parkway 78258; www.sacornerstone.org/event/family-events/come-alive.
The Master of Chicken – Saturday, April 12, 1 – 4 p.m. Presented by Culinaria, Chefs bring their best version of a chicken sandwich and compete for Master of Chicken, determined by guest vote. Includes beverages and tastings. The Alley on Bitters, 555 W. Bitters Road 78216; www.culinariasa.org.
Single Professionals Networking Meeting – Wednesday, April 16, 4-6 p.m. Join other 55+ widowed, divorced and single mature professionals for conversation, libations and food in a relaxed, social setting. El Jarro, 13421 San Pedro 78216; www.spn-sa.org
Night Markets at Pearl – Wednesday, April 16, 5-9 p.m. Bidi Bidi Market, 303 Pearl Parkway 78215; www.atpearl.com
Opera SA presents Madame Butterfly – Thursday, April 17; Saturday, April 19, 7:30 p.m. Powerful opera tells the tale of a Japanese woman’s unrequited love for an American sailor. HEB Performance Hall at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle 78205; www.tobincenter.org.
Easter – Sunday, April 20
Fiesta San Antonio – April 24 - May 4. San Antonio’s biggest party is back, with events to please everyone. Fiesta San Antonio Commission, 110 Broadway, Suite 350 78205; www.fiestasanantonio.org.
Single Professionals Networking Meeting – Friday, April 25, 4-6 p.m. Join other 55+ widowed, divorced and single mature professionals for conversation, libations and food in a relaxed, social setting. La Hacienda, 18747 Redland Road 78259; www.spn-sa.org
Aerospace Academy
JHS Senior Leverages NEISD Dual Credit Training to Prepare for Aviation Career
By Amy Morgan
Johnson High School senior Caden Barr has dreamed of piloting a plane since childhood. But rather than prepping for a military slot or college that offers flight school, Caden is getting a jump start on his career by learning how to work on airplane engines as a certified mechanic. He’s one of the few JHS students to take advantage of NEISD’s Dual Credit partnership with St. Philip's and enroll in the Alamo Academies Aerospace Academy. When he graduates from Johnson next month, Caden also will have earned a Level 1 Aircraft Structures Mechanic Certificate of Completion.
He’ll return to St. Philip’s this summer and complete his Aircraft Technician Airframe associate’s degree, which he plans to leverage to land a spot in a flight training program with a commercial carrier like United or Delta Airlines.
“As a kid, I thought it was the coolest thing to be in the sky and fly,” Caden said. He took a private flight lesson on his 15th birthday, which encouraged him further. “I didn’t even know how to drive a car yet,” he said, “but the instructor let me take off and fly in the sky.”
Caden’s shown great dedication to his dream. While the JHS first bell doesn’t ring until 8:50 a.m., he’s at school by 6:25 to catch the bus that takes the C-Tech academy students from JHS and Churchill to St. Philip’s Southwest Campus.
Caden reported he wanted to make the most of his time in high school to further his path to flight school. He enjoys working with his hands, and he believes it will be helpful as a pilot to know how plane engines work. He also hopes hiring airlines will recognize his dedication to aviation. Alamo Academies teacher Ms. Moran noticed Caden’s potential and tapped him to serve as an Ambassador on the Student Leadership panel. He presented and fielded questions for both the high school and Alamo Colleges programs. He credits her with helping him improve his public speaking skills.
Although Caden has taken at least eight aerospace courses through Alamo Academies in addition to
completing a summer internship disassembling and cleaning engine parts with StandardAero, he still had time to be involved on the JHS campus. He was selected as senior class vice president, a position responsible for planning activities that bring the class together. He stayed busy with senior sunrise and sunset events, as well as a King of the Court volleyball game where the girls’ volleyball team teaches the boys how to play – a reverse twist on powder puff football. Caden’s been part of the JHS swim team, is a member of the National Honor Society and will graduate in the top 10% of his class.
He also has served as the school’s technical theatre carpenter for the past four years – the last two as Carpentry Head. Caden directs teams to build set structures. He was especially fond of a pergola they built for the school’s production of Mama Mia.
Caden might be best remembered on campus for his love of spreading Christmas cheer. For the past several years he has worn a light up suit or Santa costume to school during the week before winter break.
“I like to see people smile, and they seem to like my humor,” he said.
Fundraisers for Fido
Fiesta Fun Benefits Rescue, Therapy Organizations
By Camp Bow Wow Staff
Fiesta – San Antonio’s biggest party also purposes to do good. More than 100 participating organizations will raise funds over 11 festive days to support charities that give back across the city. Just one representative of Fiesta “royalty,” El Rey Feo, has raised more than $10 million over the years to help local students pay for college expenses.
You might not be aware there’s a canine counterpart – El Rey Fido – who will be crowned along with his philanthropic pack on April 26. You can bring your well-behaved furry family member to Hops & Hounds, 1123 Ave. B., to enjoy the coronation fun at 10 a.m.
The feel-good event has raised tens of thousands of dollars annually for needy dogs and cats at the San Antonio Humane Society (SAHS). In addition to fundraising, the Canine King and Royal Court will serve as ambassadors reinforcing the benefits of spaying/neutering, microchipping, educating and adopting –the mission of SAHS.
The winner earns the title by being the pup who raised the most dollars during the competition period of September 2024 to March 27, 2025. El Rey Fido and the Royal Court will be fitted with crowns and velvet capes embellished with sequins. Titles include Prince/Princess of the Food Bowl, Duke/Duchess of the Chew Toy, Duke/Duchess of the Fire Hydrant and Knight/Maiden of the Royal Court.
Boogie, a one-year-old pug, was topping the leaderboard in mid-March, raising more than $6500. She follows the paw prints of her sister, Bou, who holds the 2024 El Rey Fido crown.
A quick glance at the contestants’ fundraising pages reveals the benefits of rescue organizations like SAHS and the value of pet adoption. Five-year-old Staffordshire Terrier Jazz, who’s in line for Princess, shares a heartwarming story of her abandonment and rescue. Jazz was surrendered to ACS when she was 9 months old and suffering with a foot infection. Now a “tripawd” due to a leg amputation, Jazz loves attending Fiesta events, her human parent wrote. A social dog who loves meeting new people and dogs, “her sweet and loving personality wins hearts everywhere she goes” and spreads positive awareness of her Bully Breed. Jazz is literally alive due to the efforts of rescue organizations and is happy to support the San Antonio Humane Society. Find more stories at https://sahumane.org/el-rey-fido.
Another likely Prince, Grizzley, the Giant Bear, doubles down on doing good. Not only is he in the running as second place fundraiser pup for SAHS, Grizzley serves as a certified therapy
dog through Therapy Animals of San Antonio. Grizzley brings “pawsitive vibes” and cuddles to people at hospitals, schools and on military bases, his pup parent wrote.
Therapy Animals of San Antonio sponsors its own Fido-friendly Fiesta event, the Pooch Parade, held this year on Saturday, May 3. In its 26th year, the Pooch Parade also includes royalty – current King AnBarKio Bacon will continue his reign, with Teddy earning the King in Waiting spot. A canine costume contest at 8 a.m. kicks off the festivities. You and your pup can compete for Top Dog, Most Creative, Most Patriotic, Best Fiesta Flair, Best Matched Human and Animal and Best in Show.
More than 1000 people are expected to enjoy the familyfriendly fun, watching dog-themed demonstrations, enjoying treats from food trucks or walking the 2.5-mile parade route that starts at the Alamo Heights Pool House at 9:30 a.m. There’s even a short-cut for those who might not be able to make the entire course. Water stops and treat stations are available along the way. Best of all, proceeds support the mission of bringing people and animals together for healing. Find out more at https://therapyanimalssa.org.
If you plan to bring your furry family members to join the festivities, make sure they are on a leash and have good crowd manners. Whether competing for prizes or cheering the parade, you and Fido can support these worthwhile canine causes while getting your Fiesta on.
By Amy Morgan
ItTroublesome Toothache
7to7 Dental
Handles
Emergencies for Patients and Friends Alike
happens when you least expect it – throbbing pain in the mouth, especially when chewing. Even a sip of hot coffee or cold iced tea can set off a sharp twinge. While a dental emergency can interrupt the course of anyone’s day, it’s even worse when it’s your friend or family member visiting from out of town. Where do you turn for help?
That situation occurred this spring for a couple whose mother was in San Antonio escaping the Minnesota snow. 83-year-old Geri woke up feeling awful – not only was she experiencing a severe toothache in a lower molar, her gums were red, and even her check was beginning to swell. The situation could not wait.
Her family members are patients of 7to7 Dental & Orthodontics and called their office immediately. The professional staff worked Geri in that very day. There was no quibbling about insurance or delay authorizing pre-certification.
A hallmark of 7to7 Dental is accessibility. Because offices are open seven days a week, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., Monday – Friday, and 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, highly trained professionals are always available for same-day appointments or to treat walk-in and emergency patients.
Geri and her daughter-in-law waited just a few minutes before she was taken back for X-Rays that would help diagnose her tooth infection.
7to7 Dental offices are fitted with state-of-theart, intra-oral digital cameras that magnify 50x, so dentists can show a patient the condition of their mouth in real time. X-Rays are digital, significantly lowering radiation exposure and requiring no chemicals to develop— better for the patient and the environment.
Geri appreciated that the pictures were taken right from her exam chair, so she didn’t have to walk down long hallways or repeatedly rise and sit. “The convenience of the in-house X-Rays really impressed me,” she said.
The highly magnified images helped Rebeca Garcia, D.D.S., quickly diagnose Geri’s abscessed tooth and explain her treatment options. First priority was to start antibiotics to fight the infection and
prevent any further risk to her health. Dr. Garcia also suggested Geri alternate taking Ibuprofen and Tylenol to reduce pain. Due to Geri’s age and medical history, and the fact that she would be able to return to care in Minnesota in just over a week, Dr. Garcia recommended Geri take the next steps back home, so she’d be able to have appropriate follow up.
In the meantime, the antibiotics would do their job to clear up the infection. Courteous staff helped Geri fill out the forms so 7to7 Dental could call in the medication and forward the records to her dentist in Minnesota, saving time and avoiding the need for redundant X-Rays.
“They were phenomenal!” Geri said. “They worked me in without a long wait. That means a lot. They were very kind and patient and pleasant. You could feel they cared about me and wanted to make me feel comfortable. I also was very impressed with the up-to-date dental equipment.”
In addition to toothache, 7to7 Dental receives emergency calls about chipped teeth or crowns or fillings breaking. When the unexpected strikes, don’t go to urgent care, the professionals at 7to7 Dental caution. Medical facilities are not set up with equipment, nor staffed with a dentist, to handle a dental emergency.
7to7 Dental welcomes emergency walk-ins – even for patients who have never been seen in their office before. Treatment is affordable. A small fee for the exam and images will help a patient get out of pain and start a plan to resolve the problem.
And with 7to7 Dental’s 10 locations across the San Antonio area (including an office right in the heart of Stone Oak), help is never far when you need it.
