MAY 2018
OVER 20 YEARS IN THE HILL COUNTRY HEALTH • AUTO • HOME • LIFE COMMERCIAL • FARM & RANCH We are a mid-size insurance agency located in Boerne, TX and we specialize in Farm and Ranch, Hospitality Commercial Insurance and hard-to place commercial business, and offering a full line of Personal Insurance. Our Mission is to understand our clients’ needs in life to assist them with offering the right insurance plan.
1002 East Blanco | Boerne, TX 78006 | (830) 816-6601 | info@yatesinsurance.com
IT’S PRUNING SEASON! DON’T WAIT. GET ON OUR SUMMER PRUNING SCHEDULE NOW! CERTIFIED ARBORIST DEEP ROOT FERTILIZATION PHC TREATMENT TREE PRUNING TREE MITIGATION TREE REMOVAL PLANTING STUMP GRINDING
www.burkettarborcare.com | 830.229.5700 | Contact us for a FREE ESTIMATE
STILL WONDERING WHAT WE DO?
STOP IN TO CHECK OUT OUR INVENTORY WE GUARANTEE A PLEASANT BUYING EXPERIENCE. YOU SHOULD GET EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT AND YOU SHOULD ENJOY GETTING IT.
Family owned and operated since 1992
CHECK US OUT AT WWW.ONTHEMOVEVEHICLES.COM CALL US AT 800-645-9949 | 28825 IH-10 W BOERNE, TX 78006
websites
|
brochures
|
logos
|
other pretty things
210.507.5250 • 930 E. Blanco, Boerne 78006 we’re so good, you thought this was an article. didn’t you?
B I G T H I N G S A R E H A P P E N I N G AT H A M I LTO N & C O ! Under new ownership Women’s hair &
coming soon!
Salon makeover coming soon so stop in to see what the fuss is all about! Don’t worry guys, you will still have your own exclusive barbershop 930 E. Blanco, Boerne - 830.443.4500 - www.hamilton-co.com
CONTENTS
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Marjorie Hagy History Marjorie is a bibliophile, a history nut and an insomniac, among several other conditions, both diagnosed and otherwise. When she's not working tirelessly to avoid getting a real job, she nurses an obsession with her grandson and is involved in passing legislation restricting the wearing of socks with sandals. She is an aspiring pet hoarder who enjoys vicious games of Scrabble, reading Agatha Christie, and sitting around doing nothing while claiming to be thinking deeply. Marjorie has five grown children, a poodle to whom she is inordinately devoted in spite of his breath, and holds an Explore record for never having submitted an article on time. She's been writing for us for five years now.
Old Timer Just Old Timer The Old Timer tells us he's been a resident of Boerne since about 1965. He enjoys telling people what he doesn't like. When not bust'n punks he can be found feeding the ducks just off Main St. or wandering aimlessly in the newly expanded HEB. Despite his rough and sometimes brash persona, Old Timer is really a wise and thoughtful individual. If you can sort through the BS.
Kendall D. Aaron Spiritual
10 From The Publisher
26 Golf “Pro”
12
28 History
Calendar
16 Art of Living
32
18
34 Spiritual
Mother’s Day “Gifts”
I’m just a normal guy. I’m not a theology student, I don’t preach in church, and I’ve never written a book. I’m just a normal guy that thinks, and feels, and is on a never-ending journey attempting to be the best person I can be. I fail frequently at this quest, yet each day, the quest continues. I’ve lived in Boerne since the late ‘80s, I’ve got a most beautiful wife, three wonderful children, and just really, really love God. Thanks for going on my spiritual journey with me.
EXPLORE magazine is published by Schooley Media Ventures
Summer Camps
in Boerne, TX. EXPLORE Magazine and Schooley Media Ventures are not responsible for any inaccuracies, erroneous information, or typographical errors contained in this publication submitted by advertisers. Opinions expressed
20 This Month in Texas History
36
Old Timer
do not necessarily reflect the opinions of EXPLORE and/or
24
38
Texas Tunes
Ventures, 930 E. Blanco, Ste. 200, Boerne, TX 78006
Floating Texas Rivers
Publisher Benjamin D. Schooley ben@hillcountryexplore.com
8 | EXPLORE
Schooley Media Ventures. Copyright 2016 Schooley Media
Operations Manager Peggy Schooley peggy@smvtexas.vom
Creative Director Benjamin N. Weber ben.weber@smvtexas.com
ADVERTISING SALES 210-507-5250 sales@hillcountryexplore.com
NOW OPEN!
512 RIVER RD.
|
BOERNE, T X
|
NE XT TO LIT TLE GRETEL
DEAREST EXPLORE READER, I read a lot. In my previous life, I was a voracious reader of fiction, and had read every Stephen King book multiple times over. As I’ve gotten older, I have found that I read a lot of stuff about self-improvement. Some of it is in the printed form, and some of it is online, but of the few sites that I frequent each day, several of them are of the “self-improvement” category. I still read some fiction, but I suppose I found that the time spent “getting lost” in a book could more effectively be spent “getting lost” in myself. I’ve learned a lot via this reading. I am by no means improved to the point that I no longer need to do selfimprovement reading, but I have certainly learned enough about how I operate that I have made a lot of changes in my life for the better. For that, I am proud. One of the things that I have read over and over, via multiple authors, is this most profound statement: BE HAPPY. This has frustrated me to no end as I find it so overly simplistic as actually impossible to follow. As if we can all just wake up each day and go “Wow – I’m just going to be HAPPY today!” and we snap our fingers and are instantly transported to utopia. Some of the authors unpack the pursuit of happiness, and some of them outright just say “Be happy every day. No matter what. You can do it. It’s your choice.” What about while someone in your family is dying? What about when you are in serious financial trouble? What about when one of your kids was just arrested? You expect me to believe that we can simply make a choice to be happy, and that it’s as easy as that? Bologna. I have become so frustrated at this sentiment that I’m deciding to re-write this chapter titled “BE HAPPY” to something more realistic. Just call me Dr. Schooley. I lost my only brother in 2013 after about a year long bout with a particularly wicked form of cancer. He was 34. Was this a happy time? Absolutely, positively not. It was grueling and heart-wrenching, and frankly, it continues to this day.
I have a friend that is broke. As in, he is so ridiculously broke financially that he literally has to worry about what he’s going to feed his kids tonight for dinner, and he’ll probably have to run by the Food Pantry for assistance. He’s behind on his rent, his car is going to be repossessed soon, and bill collectors call him day and night. My neighbor has been dragged through divorce hell for the past few years. He has been divorced a while now, but his ex is so unbelievably hell-bent on destroying him that she is getting dangerously close to succeeding. He rarely gets to see his son, and even when he does, it comes at a tremendous emotional and financial toll, and as soon as he is able to be with his son, his ex flares up with a new accusation and he is dragged back into the blender. It’s heart-wrenching to watch a healthy loving father being emotionally ruined simply out of spite. Of my 3 examples above, do you think that these people can wake up and throw open the curtains to the morning sun and say “What a glorious day! I think today I shall choose to be happy!” Well, yes and no I suppose. With each of these people, there are (and were) times of happiness. And laughter. And hugs and joy and lightheartedness. Yes, my brother was dying but there were still afternoons of happiness as we spent time together. My friend that is broke still went to RANDOM with me the other day and laughed until his stomach hurt. My sad father still had a beer with me on my tailgate a few nights ago and we laughed and encouraged one another and enjoyed our time. I suppose, we were HAPPY even when we had no business being happy. I’m not very happy right now, and I suppose that I haven’t been for the last 5 years. I’m tired and broke down and sick of the struggle that life has been. I’m not looking for pity, I’m just being honest. But while I’ve been unhappy, have I also had times of happiness? The answer is YES. I have taken the road trip and had the great meal and enjoyed great company and experienced happiness. I would hazard a guess that my other 2 friends would probably say the same.
Somebody told me one time that “it’s impossible to splash a little happiness around and not get some of it on yourself.” I have thought about that statement countless times over the years and I think that it contains far more truth than something as simple as “BE HAPPY.” The reality is that, as humans, there are times that we are unhappy. It could be one day, one week, or a complete decade. However, in the midst of all this unhappiness, I think that we DO have the power and strength to choose to allow happiness to find us. We all know people that just seem to miserable. 24/7/365 they just hate everything and everyone. Even when a cute kid runs by laughing, they grumble and remain miserable. This is not the person I’m talking about because I think that person simply wants to miserable and works hard to remain there. I’m talking about you and I that really, truly WANT to be HAPPY. I know I’m probably not making any sense and I need to wrap things up anyway. I guess my point is that while I sit in my crappy little office, listening to the rain splash against the window, and with light classical music playing, I am just trying to say that life really, really sucks sometimes. But as much as it might suck, there’s far more beauty and happiness out there that we don’t enjoy because we’re so focused on the sucky part. I’m as guilty as the next person. I’m no better at any of this as I was yesterday, but I’m at least trying to see it for what it is. I would hope that on my deathbed I won’t remember the stupid stressors and heartache I experienced, but rather, would remember my happiness and how I hopefully enjoyed a good life. My “good life” may not be as good as some, but this one is mine, and much of the work to realize the happiness falls on my shoulders. My self-improvement continues. Welcome to May. School is almost out, the temps are rising, and I hope that you venture out, EXPLORE, and not stop until you find all the happiness that this world has to offer. Smiling,
So if we’re capable of being happy in the midst of unhappiness…could we actually make the choice to simply be happy? ben@hillcountryexplore.com
10 | EXPLORE
5 1 8 R I V E R R O A D, B O E R N E , T X | w w w. l i t t l e g r e t e l . c o m | 8 3 0 - 3 3 1 - 1 3 6 8
AREA EVENTS
Get out and enjoy the great Texas Hill Country!
The most comprehensive events calendar. Send submissions to info@hillcountryexplore.com
GRUENE May 13 Mother’s Day Gospel Brunch with a Texas Twist In the tradition of a New Orleans-style gospel brunch, this event serves awe-inspiring gospel music coupled with a mouthwatering buffet catered by the Gristmill River Restaurant and Bar. One complimentary Champagne drink and a long stem rose for your sweetheart included. May 17 Come and Taste It: Meet Texas’ Best Winemakers A featured winemaker showcases three of its newest released, top-selling, or hardest-to-find wines, alongside a craft brew hand-picked by The Grapevine staff. The complimentary tastings are held on the patio and garden. Samples of food that is offered for sale will be provided, and each event features live music and prize giveaways. May 19-20 Old Gruene Market Days Nearly 100 vendors offer uniquely crafted items and packaged Texas foods. Free admission. KERRVILLE May 4 Kerrville Farmers Market-Downtown A producer-only market offering a variety of locally sourced produce, meat, eggs, bread, cheese, beer, wine, and more.
BANDERA May 1 Cowboy Capital Opry Grand Old Opry-style entertainment hosted by Gerry and Harriet Payne. Refreshments and door prizes. Silver Sage Community Center May 5, 12, 19, 26 Chuck Wagon Dinner & Show Barbecue dinner and dessert, live country Western band, gunslingers, Western photos, kid’s face painting, wagon rides, roping lessons, and archery. May 5 Medina River Cleanup The annual river cleanup is conducted as a service to the Bandera community by the Medina River Protection Fund. It was established as a perpetual fund to engage residents in all parts of the county in a community-wide effort to preserve and protect the river. This year honors John Bilderback. Food service for volunteers and donors includes breakfast tacos, lunch, and a barbecue dinner with music and entertainment. Free T-shirts for volunteers, free tent camping with hot showers at Pioneer River Resort. Bandera City Park May 13 Second Sunday Music Fest The Frontier Times Museum and the Bandera Music Hall of Fame join together to present an afternoon of music, food, and fun. Frontier Times Museum May 19 Armed Forces Day There will be live music, a silent auction, hamburgers, hot dogs, beans, fixin’s, 50/50 raffle, special military service cakes, and a live auction—all with no cover charge. Proceeds support veterans and their families and fund the Bandera Honors Veterans Celebration. 11th Street Cowboy Bar May 26 Funtier Days Parade Annual Memorial Day Weekend parade down Main Street—one of the most colorful parades of the year. Sponsored by the Bandera County Chamber of Commerce. Parade applications available on the Chamber’s website. BLANCO May 4, 25-26 Arts in the Park Enjoy a free Spring concert series featuring music representing all interests, from blues and gospel to Western and El Tule. Food will be available to purchase from local restaurants. Bring your chairs, your tapping shoes, and enjoy an evening under the stars. Bindseil Park BOERNE May 5 & 19 Hot Rod Night Hot Rod Saturday Nights are reminiscent of old-fashioned Americana street parties—a gathering place for old and new friends. Soda Pops
12 | EXPLORE
May 12-13 Boerne Market Days Since 1850, Main Plaza has been a center point of trade for the people of Boerne. In the present day, on the second weekend of every month, Main Plaza is home to a magical outdoor market that blends the traditions of the Texas Hill Country with the creations of today’s culture. Hundreds of festive booths display everything from collectibles and remembrances of the past to modern innovations that will bring a smile of wonder to those who stroll past. Scrumptious food and captivating music top the experience and delight the senses. COMFORT May 5-6 Spring Antique Show Sponsored by Texas Presentations, many antique dealers will display their wares for sale. Admission is $5 for the two-day event. May 8 Music in the Park The 2018 season opens with The Almost Patsy Cline Trio. Back by popular request, this group enjoyed the attention of more than 300 delighted members of the audience. Event is free and open to the public; bring your own lawn chair and enjoy. FREDERICKSBURG May 4 First Friday Art Walk Fredericksburg Tour fine art galleries offering special exhibits, demonstrations, refreshments, and extended viewing hours the first Friday of every month. May 5 Derby Day Party Enjoy the sounds of Churchill Downs at Messina Hof Hill Country’s Derby Day party. Watch the main event in the VIP room while enjoying newly released wines and light appetizers. Showcase your Derby Day hat for the chance to win a specially labeled bottle of wine. Mint juleps will be available for purchase. May 12 Texas Flower Country Women’s Run Run or walk through the fields of beautiful Wildseed Farms. After the run, enjoy the farm’s scenic grounds, a Champagne brunch, craft beer, massages, live music, and the boutiques of Wildseed Farms. Each entry includes a great tech race T-shirt. May 25-27 Fredericksburg Crawfish Festival A three-day festival dedicated to music, entertainment, food, beverages, and fun inspired by all things Cajun. May 26-27 WWII Pacific Combat Program at the National Museum of the Pacific War Bringing history to life with equipment and weapons used during WWII and a battle re-enactment set on an island in the Pacific. May 28 Memorial Day Observance A ceremony to honor all of those who have lost their lives serving in the United States Armed Forces.
May 5 Kerr County Market Days An indoor marketplace for vendors of original handcrafted goods, artwork, and homegrown plants and produce. Pets on a leash are welcome. May 19 Shatter the Stigma—Motorcycle Ride and 5K Walk/Run The Volunteer Services Council for Kerrville State Hospital hosts its annual fundraiser for mental health. In addition to the 5K walk/run and motorcycle ride, there will be a raffle, live music, bloodmobile, and a hamburger lunch. They will also be hosting other nonprofit entities in the community as well as vendors at the event. May 24-June 10 Kerrville Folk Festival The 47th annual international songwriters festival features more than 100 songwriters and their bands. May 25-27 Texas Masters of Fine Art & Craft The 15th annual exhibition of some of the finest professional artists and craftspeople from all over Texas. May 26-27 Kerrville Festival of the Arts The fifth annual juried fine art show and sale, featuring 100 artists working in a variety of media—painting, sculpture, jewelry, glass, and photography. This pet-friendly venue held outside under big tents will have concessions on site and nearby restaurants and shops. NEW BRAUNFELS May 5 Wein & Saengerfest Proceeds from the event benefit the New Braunfels Parks Foundation and the Downtown Association. Along with wine and craft beer tasting, the event offers a host of entertainment and activities that include continuous live music, a grape stomp, an artisan market, food seminars, a Chef ’s Showdown, and activities for the kids—culminating with a street dance—all in downtown New Braunfels. Admission is free. STONEWALL May 5-6 Lavender Festival at Becker Vineyards Celebrate everything lavender including vendors, cooking demonstrations, live music, and more at the 20th annual event. WIMBERLEY May 5 Market Days The oldest outdoor market in the Texas Hill Country and the second-largest in the state, featuring more than 475 booths filled with art, crafts, antiques, and treasures. Stroll the tree-shaded paths, listen to live music, and shop to your heart’s content. May 12 Second Saturday Gallery Trail On the second Saturday of every month, come early and stay late for wine, light bites, and an art-filled evening at many of the galleries in and around Wimberley.
Mother’s Day Brunch MAY 13TH WITH LIVE MUSIC BY AARON RIVERA
Fancy or
Casual brunch
Bovines & Fins will have brunch and so will the Food Trucks! Also Featuring A Special Champagne Bar
Yay!!!!
11
Up
pe
rC ibo lo
80+ Craft Beers
C re
ek
Rd
Random is Now Open!!
. | 83 0-4 28 -30 26
Kid ZONE
FAMILY Friendly
/RandomTexasFamilyFun
t /RandomBeeRGaRdn
Dog FRIENDLY /RandomTexas Wonderful Food Truck Eats BOOK YOUR NEXT EVENT AT RANDOM! LIVE MUSIC
::
w w w. d u r a n g o r e s e r v e . c o m
::
Discover Boerne’s Premier Custom Home Community Conveniently located 2 blocks off North Main at the intersection of Commerce and Shooting Club Road
Welcome to Durango Reserve
A development created for quality custom homes, where the buyer selects their builder and plan design.
Bruce Baker :: 210-857-8055 | William E. Canavan, Jr. :: 210-289-6489
14 | EXPLORE
• Ken Nietenhoefer •
Premier Custom Home Builder in the Texas Hill Country For over 40 years, KCN has been building beautiful custom homes of all sizes in Boerne, Comfort, Bandera, Pipe Creek and throughout the Texas Hill Country. Our reputation for honesty and integrity, combined with our commitment to deliver excellent quality, expert craftsmanship, and customer service, has afforded us the opportunity to build many long lasting relationships with our clients. In fact, we have constructed two or more jobs for 32 different customers.
830-816-5202 920 East Blanco Road Boerne, TX 78006 www.kcnbuilders.com
Journey School
A hands-on multi-sensory curriculum for ages 2 months-5 years. Art, Drama • Music, Spanish • Summer Camp up to 3rd Grade Organic Breakfast & Lunch • Gardening, Outdoors on 3 acres
TEACHING CHILDREN TO LEARN WITH AN UNCOMPROMISING SPIRIT OF JOY AND ADVENTURE!
UPCOMING EVENTS
44 and 46 Old San Antonio Road Boerne, TX 78006 jennifer@journeyschool.com 512-694-3537
Open House - June 2 Summer Camp Begins - June 9 Berges Fest - June 16-17 (Visit our booth at Berges Fest!) for tuition rates sheet, email krissy@journeyschool.com WWW.HILLCOUNTRYEXPLORE.COM | MAY 2018
| 15
ART OF LIVING BY BEN SCHOOLEY
T
“THE ONLY JOURNEY IS THE ONE WITHIN.” - RAINER MARIA RILKE
For Shawn Dunham, life has certainly been a journey. From being a collegiate athlete to wrestling rodeo bulls to being a professional actor, Dunham has experienced a lot. A true troubadour, Dunham has discovered that life is defined not by your vocation, but perhaps is more defined by what you seek to find in your life.
Dunham begins, “I was born in Refugio, Texas and raised in Agua Dulce. I was an average student, but more was way more into sports than academics.” Eventually landing a scholarship to play football at Sul Ross, Dunham was eventually hurt and got into bull fighting on a dare. Literally. “Two guys that lived with me were pro bull fighters and one night they dared me to try it. So I stood in the arena, and stared down that bull and loved it. Rodeo bull fighters are similar to rodeo clowns, though we don’t do a lot of the funny stuff. We’re there strictly for rider protection.” From there, Dunham spent the next 14 years a full-time professional rodeo bull fighter. “I worked mainly in Texas and Louisiana. I did everything from youth rodeo to the pro shows. I miss it a lot.” During his early days of bull fighting, Dunham’s grades in college suffered. He explains, “My folks said that Uncle Sam and I were going to become good friends if my grades didn’t improve, so in ‘93 I joined the Marine Corps. I got out in ‘95 due to a blown out knee, and went right back to rodeoing again professionally until 2004.” Once he “hung up his spurs”, Dunham enrolled in Police training and became a police officer. “It was something I always wanted to do , so in 2004 I became a cop. I worked narcotics in Freer, Texas, and then moved out to West Texas and worked a narcotics immigration task force. I enjoyed the work, but hated the paperwork.” While working the narcotics division, Dunham received a call from a friend that encouraged him to join the Army to work Intel in Iraq (at the height of the Iraqi War), and so “in 2007 I raised my right hand again and joined the Army. They wanted me because of the police work and because I was SWAT certified, and they knew I would be a good fit. I was in Intel, and was able to teach guys much of my training. I did two tours in Iraq, and do not care to return ever again.” Upon his discharge, Dunham suffered from severe PTSD, and was considered 100% disabled, though he could still work, though he was in no hurry. “I just hung out for a while until I had to get a real job. I was still recovering from my tours, and really just took it easy for a while. I then worked for a vet clinic as a manager for them, and the love of horses grew on me more and more, as we worked with horses a lot.”
16 | EXPLORE
That love of horses caused a friend to call Dunham and explain that he was going to Los Angeles to pitch a new TV show about disabled vets and outdoor adventures. Dunham tagged along, and while in LA, he was hired to work as a horse wrangler behind the scenes of a western show. They asked him to perform a few of the stunts on the show, but when the producer met him, he said that Dunham’s look was perfect for the show, and he was hired for speaking roles. Since then, Dunham has simply been living the adventure. He continues, “50% of my bills are handled by the film work, which is few and far between but a lot of fun. The rest of it is old fashioned cowboy work – running fences, cows, etc – I love life too much to work a real job, man. I can take a day and go fishing, or spend time with my friends, or just saddle up my horses and do what I want. The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man, I will tell ya is 100% fact.” Dunham is also an avid singer/songwriter and works closely with “Songs and Voices” and the “Warrior Cry Music Project”, which provides guitar lessons to returning soldiers struggling with PTSD. Dunham explains, “I have written several songs about PTSD, and I get to go to several of these shows and tell people about the disorder. You can find info about the groups online, and we just had a fundraiser at the Roundup in October. I’m working on a 3rd album that I have 3 songs on – Mark Jungers has a studio and I’m going to head up there to Nashville to record my album.” The consummate traveling journeyman, Dunham shows no signs of slowing down. He finishes, “I’m just living day by day, man. I’ve got a few movies coming up; in March I’m leaving for two movies in New Mexico. If I could find a lady to put up with my lifestyle, then that would be great. I’m on the road so much, and have such a gypsy heart, so that would probably be tough. I just see the beauty in the little things every day. Once you’ve been through hell and back, and you’ve seen the ugly side of human life, you appreciate the little things; good music, good whisky, good friends, bluebonnets, a sunset – It’s all so beautiful, and man, life is too short.”
WWW.HILLCOUNTRYEXPLORE.COM | MAY 2018
| 17
“
”
Mother’s Day is May 13th. It’s still not too late to get her something she will most certainly never forget. We here at EXPLORE have put together a list of some things your mom may (or may not) find pretty darn awesome.
Who doesn’t love a versatile small kitchen appliance? Especially mom. She spends most of her time there anyway, right? So why not make sure she has the very best equipment a minimum wage job can afford.
Nothing is more fitting for ANY mother than a fully stocked liquor cabinet. Whether it’s a new mother who hasn’t slept for 7 months because of junior’s colic. Or the mother of a middle schooler who has just finished your science fair project at the last minute for the 3rd year in a row. EVERY mother deserves a good strong “pick-me-up”.
The years of dealing with all of your constant BS has taken its toll on your mother and her body. Remember she grew you for 9 months. Give her something to show that you’re sorry and want her to look like her 20 year old self again.
The ever popular coupon book. When you’re not sure what mom wants, you can’t go wrong with a few handwritten pieces of paper with empty promises written on them.
Moms hate wrinkles. It’s a scientific fact. If you, your siblings or father walk out of the house with wrinkled clothes, the entire neighborhood will immediately know your mother is a good for nothing lazy booze hound for letting her family out with wrinkled clothes. So help her keep the secret.
When mom’s not in the kitchen or laundry room she’s in the yard. Making it look beautiful. It’s kind of hard for her to do with that beater of a lawnmower she has. Replace it with a shiny new one. She’ll thank you.
Unless your mom is ok with letting you go outside with wrinkled clothes, she’s probably always wanting to know how to better parent you. Books on the subject of parenting are plentiful and when it comes from you, she’ll know she needs to work a little harder on raising you right.
It isn’t often when mom gets to sit down. With the constant cooking, ironing and yard work, sitting time is a luxury not often enjoyed. However, when she does find those precious moments, make sure she can still be productive with Sit and be Fit DVDs. Remember, you destroyed her body.
These days everyone gets a trophy. Except mom. But this will let you tell her how much you appreciate her taking you to soccer practice, games, your friend’s house, shopping, the movies, restaurants, fixing your food, washing your underwear and keeping that yard oh so spectacular. Because if anyone deserves a participation trophy, it’s your mom.
18 | EXPLORE
After what is sure to be a long, yet rewarding day of laundry, ironing, yard work, chaperoning and cooking, your mom is probably pretty rank. Make sure though, when you tell her she stinks, she has a fancy cap to protect her hair in the shower.
Gentle, Caring, Family Practice, Courteous Professional Staff • State of the Art Procedures & Techniques
WE’ VE RECENTLY E XPANDED George E. Metz III, DDS • Michael Hoeppner, DDS
830-229-5581
Gentle, Caring, Family Practice, Courteous Professional Staff State of the Art Procedures & Techniques
NowRaccepting appointments for Kevin Beitchman, DDS, MS - Orthodontist WE’ VE ECENTLY E X PA N DED George E. Metz III, DDS • Michael Hoeppner, DDS
Kendall Woods Dental 830-229-5581
25 FM 3351 South Boerne, Texas 78006
Now accepting appointments for Kevin Beitchman, DDS, MS - Orthodontist
Kendall Woods Dental
WWW.HILLCOUNTRYEXPLORE.COM | MAY 2018
| 19
H
History is a popular topic with our readers. Marjorie Hagy’s HISTORY piece is probably the most popular article in our illustrious publication month after month. With that fact, we thought we’d share some broader Texas history each month. Nothing earth shattering, but we hope you might find something to make you pause and say, “Huh. Well I’ll be.”
May 1, 1718 San Antonio de Valero Mission was founded by Franciscan father Antonio de San Buenaventura y Olivares at the site of present-day San Antonio. Four days later the nearby San Antonio de Béxar Presidio and the civil settlement, Villa de Béxar, were established. The mission, originally located west of San Pedro Springs, survived three moves and numerous setbacks during its early years. After a hurricane destroyed most of the existing buildings in 1724, the mission reached its latest site on the east bank of the San Antonio River. After the mission was secularized in 1793 it became the Alamo. Due to its rudimentary fortifications, the abandoned mission became an objective of military importance in the conflicts of the nineteenth century, and it changed hands at least sixteen times. Portions of the mission’s structures have survived as part of the Alamo Battlefield Shrine.
by Gen. Mariano Arista. The battle, which began about 2:00 P.M. and lasted until twilight, resulted in a standoff. After darkness ended the action, both armies bivouacked on the battlefield. Of 3,461 troops that formed the Mexican Army of the North, Arista’s commissary reported 102 killed, 129 wounded, and 26 missing, including deserters. The American army, which totaled over 2,200 soldiers, reported five dead and forty-three wounded. The Mexican army was decisively defeated the following day at the battle of Resaca de la Palma.
May 12, 1942
Surgeon Denton Cooley and his associates at Houston’s St. Luke’s Hospital performed the first heart transplant in the United States. The patient, Everett Thomas, lived for 204 days with the heart donated from a fifteen-year-old girl. Texas physicians and scientists made numerous contributions to the field of human heart transplantation as it evolved from preliminary experimentation to an accepted orthodox therapy for patients with end-stage cardiac disease. Two Houston surgeons, Cooley and Michael E. DeBakey, have been in the forefront in developing heart surgery and heart transplantation; their rivalry was the subject of a book by journalist Tommy Thompson. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, a total of 26,704 heart transplantations had been reported worldwide by the mid-1990s, and 1,804 of these were performed in Texas. Worldwide, just over 3,000 heart transplants are performed each year. In 1994, 167 of these were in Texas.
Construction began on a German prisoner of war camp some twelve miles northeast of Huntsville in northeastern Walker County. This construction also marked the origins of the town of Country Campus. The POW camp had a capacity to house 4,800 men, providing housing and medical facilities, a clothing shop, barbershop, laundry, bakery, cafeteria, commissary, gymnasium, guardhouse, fire station, and motor pool. In addition, clubs for both officers and enlisted personnel were provided. Prisoners held at the camp were leased as laborers to local farmers. The camp was deactivated on January 25, 1946, and the property was donated by the government to Sam Houston State Teachers College (later Sam Houston State University) and renamed the Sam Houston Country Campus. The buildings were adapted to serve as dormitories, administrative offices, classrooms, and recreational facilities. Buses shuttled students between the country and main campuses. A post office was established at the site in 1948, and a year later the community reported a population of 1,000. By 1964, however, when the post office closed, the town reported 425 residents and one business. In the 1980s some of the old buildings, a golf course, and pastureland remained at the site. Country Campus in 1990 comprised sixty residents.
May 8, 1846
May 19, 1910
May 3, 1968
The battle of Palo Alto, the first major engagement of the Mexican War, was fought. At the site north of Brownsville, American forces under Gen. Zachary Taylor clashed with Mexican troops commanded
20 | EXPLORE
A 500-pound meteorite fell to earth outside the northeast Texas community of Charleston during the passage of Halley’s Comet. Delta County’s most publicized event of the decade was not without precedent, however, as more than 230 meteorites have been catalogued in Texas. The earliest written record
dates from 1772, when Athanase de Mézières learned of the Texas Iron from Tawakoni Indians near the Brazos River. Considered the largest preserved find from Texas, this 1,635-pound meteorite was venerated by several Indian cultures for its supposed healing powers and is currently housed at the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University. Other finds in Texas include the 500-foot- diameter Meteor Crater at Odessa, the third largest crater in the United States, and the Peña Blanca Spring meteorite, which plunged into a swimming pool on the Gage Ranch in Brewster County on August 2, 1946.
May 22, 1971 The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum was dedicated on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. It was the nation’s fifth presidential library and the first to be located on a university campus. It serves as a center for scholarly research and as a historical museum. Scholarly interest in the LBJ Library centers on its unusually rich archives of manuscripts and audiovisual records. More than 30 million pages of manuscripts, mostly papers of President Johnson, form the core of the research collection. As the most comprehensive single collection of materials on a president of the United States, the library’s holdings span Lyndon Johnson’s entire political career. Added to the Johnson papers are those of Lady Bird Johnson and many of Johnson’s contemporaries and associates. Operated by the National Archives and Records Administration, the LBJ Library is part of a system of presidential libraries devoted to research through preservation of materials related to those who have held the job of president of the United States.
your local Design Build Firm servicing the greater Boerne and Texas Hill Country, as well as North San Antonio.
Specializing in:
Other Features:
Architectural color rendered master plan
• Irrigation Installation and Repair (including water efficient drip irrigation)
including brilliant images and plant descriptions in both 2D & 3D, outlining 10 months of color with a balance between evergreen and deciduous foliage containing movement throughout, resulting in low maintenance, drought tolerant and deer resistant landscape.
• Outdoor Kitchen • Lot Clearing, Cedar Tree Removal and Mulching • Outdoor Lighting • Hardscape (including Fire Pits, Seat Walls, Retaining Walls, Flagstone Patios, Stained and Stamped Concrete, Arbors, Pergolas, Split Rail Cedar Fencing, and more)
Stop in and see us, our associates are ready to assist you. 3 2 2 5 5 I H 1 0 Wes t , B oer n e, TX 78006 | Tel : 830. 816. 3200 | Fax: 830.249.3090 w w w.acaci al an d s cap ean dd es i gn . com
LOVE YOUR WATER! Have the Healthiest, Cleanest, Freshest, Water in the Neighborhood!
FREE Trial Offer
Try a Kinetico Water System on us for up to 30 days and experience the Kinetico difference!
830-443-4702 KineticoSA.com
D
FLOATING TEXAS RIVERS Summer is coming and living in Boerne gives us many opportunities to partake in activities involving water. We live near several lakes and are a short three hour drive to the coast. But one of the most popular summer water activities is jumping in a tube and floating down a Texas river. To help you navigate the waters, we took a closer look at some of the tubing spots you can go this summer. So grab your cooler, get ready for “tube chutes” and happy tubing!
GUADALUPE
COMAL
FRIO
The Guadalupe River is probably the most popular river to float in Texas; its character changes as the river flow changes with the release rate of water from Canyon Lake. Although the Guadalupe River is sometimes referred as a party river, it is also family friendly because the river is so large making it easy to spread out and find your own private spot while tubing. So take your pick depending on what kind of crowd you are traveling with.
The Comal River offers the best “know what to expect” when it comes to floating. If you’re looking for a two hour float trip, in cool, clear water, then the Comal is for you. During the weekends in the summer the Comal River can be very crowded, often with a party crowd, so if taking the family opt for a week day. The Comal River is the shortest navigational river in the United States and because it is spring-fed, it retains a year-round temperature of approximately 72 degrees.
Texas is HOT! And when you need a place to cool off during the summer, there’s no better river than the springfed Frio River. The Frio, Spanish for cold, offers the best scenery of all the rivers. The Frio is 47 miles long and has enormous Cypress Tress, cliffs, boulders and clear waters – the hill country at its finest. The Frio is a great tubing river for those that want to get away from the crowds. In general, the Frio is a slow moving river, but there are still some shoots and small rapids. Like the Guadalupe, water levels fluctuate with rain amounts. Floats can be as short as 30 minutes or up to any amount of time. A great place to start is at the South FM 1120 bridge. This is also the recommend floating trip when the river condition is low.
When floating the Guadalupe the best way to get your tube on the water is to use an Outfitter. They will rent you tubes, provide access to the river, and get you back to your car. Basically, show up and you’re on the water. On the other hand, doing it yourself will involve more planning. You’ll have to find river access points and parking and you’ll need to buy your inner tubes and then transport them. If you opt for the easier route, and plan to rent your tubes take Hwy 46 from Boerne, go left on 377 and then another left onto River Road. River Road is packed with places to rent tubes, grab beverages and food, and camp. If in a time crunch, make sure to check on the river levels before jumping into your tube – depending on rain amounts, the float time varies along with your float route. In terms of price, the average cost is around $15-$20 for tubes, plus around $10 for cooler tubes. Some charge for parking.
24 | EXPLORE
The river has three shoots that are mini waterfalls that “shoot” you down the river. At the rivers end, everyone is forced to exit, climb some stairs that lead you to a shuttle stop and you will be brought back to your car. The three top Comal Tube Rental Outfitters are Texas Tubes, Rockin’ R, and Corner Tubes. All provide shuttle service to and from the river as many times as you wish to tube. Tube rental prices are similar to the Guadalupe tube prices. If floating the Comal doesn’t wear you out, Schlitterbahn, is located within walking distance to the River. Cabins are available to rent along the river if you are interested in making the visit into a mini weekend vacation getaway.
The best places to rent tubes are from Andy’s, Frio River Cabins, Happy Hollow Grocery, and Josh’s. For the best place to stay check out Neal’s Lodge Campground. Neal’s Swimming Hole, fed with natural spring waters, offers cool crisp Frio River fun even during drought years. Many Cabins are available right on the banks of Neal’s Swimming Hole. You’ll be certain to find the perfect spot along the Frio River with over 70 RV spots, cabins, condos and lodges to choose from.
24 Wasp Creek Rd. Boerne, TX 78006 830.777.6704 SaintTryphon.com @sainttryphonwine #COMETASTETEXAS
REAL. TEXAS. WINE. Open THURSDAY - SUNDAY
Boerne’s FIRST Winery
100% Texas Wine
A/C & HEATING | REPLACEMENT WINDOWS ROOFING | REMODELING F I N A N C I N G AVA I L A B L E Newport Construction Services
TACL# B00014512E
210-503-5526
Locally Owned • www.n3wport.com
TEXT HVAC to 51660 to receive $59 A/C CHECK UP
WWW.HILLCOUNTRYEXPLORE.COM | MAY 2018
| 25
T
GOLF “PRO” The Texas Hill Country offers some of the best golfing experiences anywhere in the state. Courses designed by pros who’s names even non-golfing types know. Fantastic. Problem is, unless you make mid-six figures, you probably never have, nor ever will play on a course like that. We here at EXPLORE are a frugal bunch. Not cheap. We just like to have our fun AND be able to buy food for the family for the next 2 months. Here are a few golf courses the staff like to frequent that will leave enough pocket change for a little something from the snack cart.
The Buckhorn Golf Course:
Oak Valley Driving Range and Par 3:
To a lot of people, Comfort might seem like an odd place to find some good golfing. Sure enough though, The Buckhorn Golf Course resides just West of the main drag and offers up some seriously fun golf. This course is also one of the nicer, yet fairly inexpensive courses in the area. Wide rolling fairways make this an extremely forgiving course. I should know. The first time to play Buckhorn I hadn’t played in 3 years and I ended the 18th whole with the same ball I started the 1st. And no, it’s not a testament to my skills. Buckhorn offers some beautiful Hill Country views as well as some pretty challenging holes. One of the cool things about their website, is that you can book your tee times online. A great feature if you’re looking to avoid human contact at all costs. Book early because this is a popular course. 36 FM 473 • Comfort, TX 78013 • 830-995-5351 • www.buckhorngolfcourse.com
Nestled in the hills just West of Helotes on Hwy 16, Oak Valley is another fun, spurof-the-moment golf outing course. There isn’t much to this 9 hole par 3 but that’s part of what we like about it. It’s a great place for practicing your short game or to get out of the house for a few hours. Go on a weekday and chances are you won’t run into much, if any, crowd. Wide open spaces means it’s quite forgiving for everyone. Kids love playing this course, and at $1 per hole for 9, you won’t feel too bad if they start complaining that they don’t want to play anymore. The course also offers a driving range if you’re just wanting to launch some golf balls into oblivion. Since it’s just a par 3, the only carts to rent are pull carts for your bag. 18632 Bandera Rd. • Helotes, TX 78023 • 210-695-2606
Canyon Lake Golf Club: This semi-private course takes full advantage of the rolling countryside, live oak trees, and the views of Canyon Lake. You’ll find this course to be relaxing, fun and affordable. The course offers good variety with some up and down holes, dog legs and a couple of challenges. The fairways are a little rough and some of them require some decent accuracy to avoid trouble. The back nine is a little harder than the front and offers very good variety. The greens were a little small for us once every fourth month golfers here at Explore. We prefer greens the size of Boerne Town Lake that funnel your ball directly to the hole. Being a country club it’s a bit fancier than the other courses we played. Just make sure you don’t show up in a trucker hat and wife beater otherwise you might be checking out the apparel selection in their pro shop. 405 Watts Lane • Canyon Lake, TX 78133 • 830-899-3372 • www. canyonlakegolfclub.com
26 | EXPLORE
Build Your
Dream
MODEL HOME NOW OPEN 4 Truss Drive (off hwy. 46) | Boerne
210-408-9107
info@wd-homes.com
ALL ROADS LEAD By Marjorie Hagy
T
The very first road builders in Texas were the American bison, whose scientific classification is the very Roadrunner-esque Bison bison and who might have belonged to one of two subspecies in North America, the Bison bison bison.
Here’s something you might not know about the beautiful Texas Hill Country and, as pioneer Boerne settler John G O’Grady wrote of Kendall County for the 1867 Texas Almanac, it’s “timber, cypress, cedar, live-oak, post-oak, white-oak, black-jack, elm, poplar, walnut, hackberry, with a good variety of apple, plum, cherry, etc.,”: it didn’t used to be that way at all, except up the mountainsides and down the riverbanks, where the bison couldn’t easily go. But everywhere they could go, they went, and everywhere they went, they ate, and they ate everything, from the native grasses that covered North America- grasses that grew six, eight, ten feet high, tall enough to hide a man- to every hopeful sapling whose seed had been dropped by a bird in the midst of those amber waves of grain. One might think of a herd of bison cutting a swath through the places
28 | EXPLORE
they migrated to and from, but these weren’t any old herds of bison, and they cut much more than your plain-old swath. These were MEGA herds, whose numbers were almost beyond our present-day comprehension. In 1839, a guy named Thomas Farnham made his way through a herd of American bison along the Santa Fe Trail for about forty-five miles, for three days; he estimated that he could see about fifteen miles in each directionnothin’ but bison. Do the math on that one and you’ll find that Farnham’s one herd covered at least 1,350 miles. MILES. Another guy, one Luke Vorrhees, rode over two hundred miles in Nebraska in 1859, through one enormous herd of buffalo. The whole time. In 1871 a fella by the name of Colonel RI Dodge traveled along the Arkansas River through a herd of American bison he estimated to have been at least twenty-five miles
all of us have this idea, culled from every cowboy and Indian movie ever made, of native Americans more or less growing out of the back of a horse, more natural atop his steed than on foot, sporting a pair of buckskin trousers with fringe and an enormous feathered headdress and that’s just not how it was you see. In real life the indigenous people hadn’t ever even seen horses til the Spanish explorers showed up with them, but that’s actually another long roundabout story- see, the early ancestors of the natives used to have the early ancestors of horses, but they were very different creatures and only got to about the size of a biggish dog, and the native ate those horses, they didn’t ride them. Well, they were teensy, after all, and the Indians would’ve sooner thought of riding around on a coyote as a horse the size of a Labradoodle, and anyway the native people living in 1500 didn’t have a memory of those tiny prehistoric horses anyway, those had been millennia ago, back int he forgotten mists of time. Even after the Europeans showed up with this new brand of enormous, weird horse, the native population still didn’t even start riding them until about a hundred years later, and a lot of the European newcomers made it illegal for the natives to ride horses anyway. I think it’s all really fascinating, and it’s things like this that’ll sidetrack you off down a rabbit hole and cause you to seriously overshoot the deadline for your article, but since I realize that none of this has anything to do with the story I’m telling I’ll move on...Right after I mention that some of those Spanish horses inevitably escaped from their Spanish owners and ran off into the wilds, and eventually all met up with one another and started their own big families of wild horses. At one point, Texas had something like a million- one million!- wild mustangs roaming around the place! You know Mustang Island, the destination of choice for loads of us every summer when we make our annual pilgrimage to Port A? A lot of those wild horses had the island practically to themselves for hundreds of years. On old maps of Texas, whole huge chunks of the state were sometimes labelled ‘Wild Horse Desert’, or simply ‘Wild Horses’. So these horse-and-wheel bearing Spanish explorers showed up around 1500 or so and built a few what-you-might-call roads, just enough to haul silver out of their mines in Mexico, but it wasn’t until Alonso De Leon led his expeditions starting in 1686 that anybody really started thinking about laying down some trails in earnest. De Leon’s exploratory team noted some of the old native footpaths as well as some of the spots they believed would work pretty well for setting up trading posts- San Antonio, San Marcos and Laredo, to name a few, and around 1690, the Spanish in Texas started to get to work on the first roads. These would become the caminos reales, or royal roads, or King’s highways, since they were under the authority of the Spanish crown, which at that point in time was sitting atop the head of a certain King Carlos II, who’s a fascinating study in his own right, but I can’t get into that right now or else this thing will never get writtenbut look him up.
across and fifty miles long. Again, these weren’t acres or yards or any measly little unit of measure, these were MILES. One begins to see why some awestruck zoologist simply called them Bison bison bison. They roamed the continent for millennia, maybe, and where they roamed they ate everything in sight and of course, they spread immense amount of homegrown fertilizer to nourish the grass so that when they came back ‘round again in another year or two, the grass would be tall and healthy again, and ripe for the eating, and so would those brave little saplings, and they gobbled those up too. The circle of life. So trees, back before the first Europeans came and the bison began to disappear, were scarce since they didn’t have the chance to grow, and the great forests of the Hill Country wouldn’t come along for a while, and this world was a very different place. Think of that!
Now Camino Real sounds like a wide, brick-paved road designed mainly for the King’s comfort on those rare occasions on which he deigns to allow his subjects a brief glimpse of his delicate hand in a flutter of linen and lace as he is borne past them in a gilt sedan chair, but this is Texas and the monarch wouldn’t come near the place for love nor money. This neck of the woods was literally an untamed wilderness, chock full of bears and lions and outlaws and other things that would kill you, including some of the native people who were understandably angry and prone to murderous attack, and back in Spain, King Carlos II, El Hechizado (for ‘the Bewitched’) had his own set of problems, and wasn’t about to visit Texas if his reign lasted a million years, and it wouldn’t. By the time poor Carlos, the last of the Hapsburgs on the throne of Spain, died in 1700, (kicking off the War of Spanish Succession), road crews of Spanish soldiers and native “laborers”- quite possibly, and even likely, slaves- were just beginning to dig out the royal roads along the old Indian trails, marking the paths with big rocks or even just burning the figure of a cross into a tree trunk to point travelers in the right direction. You know how you see a road crew working on I10 sometimes when it gets to be so miserably hot and those little waves are wafting up off the pavement and you get to seeing water mirages up ahead on the road, and you feel so awful for those guys working out there in the merciless Texas heat? If you take away all of their power tools and smoke breaks and sunscreen and bottled water and any sort of medical knowledge about heat stroke, you’ve pretty much got an 18th century road crew experience. They had to cut
The buffalo instinctively discovered and followed the most direct and least difficult ways to navigate the hills and mountains and river valleys, to ford the rivers and streams, to avoid whatever pitfalls might await them along their route, and they always knew the straightest way to fresh water. The native people of this continent honored the buffalo and lived in harmony with them, respecting the great herds and using every part of the slain animal in almost every part of their own lives. Given their relationship to the bison and the ways in which their lives intertwined, it was natural that the buffalo trails were followed by these indigenous people, and over time the paths evolved into a whole system of foot trails that stretched across the continent and connected the natives of Texas to other tribes with whom they traded. Then the Spanish arrived circa 1500, and pretty much ruined everything, but that’s a whole ‘nother story for another time. What matters in this case is that they brought with them a couple of new things that would become big hits, the wheel and the horse. I think
WWW.HILLCOUNTRYEXPLORE.COM | MAY 2018
| 29
and missionaries came across a community of Payaya Indians living at a very pleasant spot the natives called Yanaguana, for ‘refreshing waters’ and which a later expedition of Spaniards would re-christen San Pedro springs. Now June 13th happened to be the feast day of St Anthony of Padua so the Spaniards, in an endearing way they had of pretending like the Indians hadn’t already named the place, called the site, and the river, after the saint: San Antonio.
down the trees on all those paths, first of all, and pull out the stumps, and let me relate this one small thing: last weekend I pulled out the stump- actually I think you would call it the very shallow root system, but let it stand- of a rosebush that was pining for the fjords so to speak, and I thought I would probably die. Granted, I’m a Woman of a Certain Age somewhat past my physical peak, but after that one measly experience I can more easily imagine a 1,300 square mile herd of buffalo than I can a team of guys getting an oak stump out of the ground sans dynamite. There was also digging a roadbed and removing the rocks and boulders which they then set up as markers or used for retaining walls, and when they got to a river or creek they had to figure out- and construct- some way across, over or through it. Seriously, the men who built the caminos reales would probably make The Rock look like a 90-pound weakling, and if they somehow came back to life right now and got a load of one of those memes with Garfield bitching about Mondays they’d probably punch us all in the head, and then go find Garfield and punch his fat ass too. Anyway, in spite of the kind of back-breaking labor that went into every mile of road, by the time Carlos IV, El Cazador (‘the Hunter’), got ahold of the Spanish throne, his subjects in Texas had managed to build a system of roads sufficient to link their major outposts, Santa Fe, St. Louis, Natchitoches, and San Antonio, which came to be called The San Antonio Road or simply the Camino Real, and by 1779 this road system was far enough along to start a monthly mail service, which went to weekly in 1792, even though a letter mailed from Mexico to Texas still took about three months to get here. But something went sideways with Spain’s Texas plans. A combination of things ended Spain’s real involvement here, including the fact that nobody in Spain wanted to come to Texas and be murdered or catch some new disease or wither to death in the heat and the wilderness or otherwise bring down the already dismal average life span. The whole Spanish population of Texas only grew by nineteen souls from 1777 to 1809. Around that time, too, Spain ran into some serious cash-flow problems and slashed their mission and military budgets in the Texas territory, and the Comanches took full advantage of their absence. By 1820, without the manpower to maintain the hard-won Camino Real, the wilderness reclaimed the roads, and eventually even the mules had a hard time navigating the King’s Highway. The one very permanent and most important legacy of the Spanish era in Texas was the founding of the first city in Texas. On June 13, 1691, a group of Spanish explorers
30 | EXPLORE
And then nothing happened for another twenty years, until an expedition of Spanish missionaries including Father Antonio de Olivares and Father Isidro Félix de Espinosa, came exploring in 1709, and decided the place would make a great spot for a mission and a settlement. These are the dudes who renamed the springs, and Fray Espinosa reported his favorable impression of them, giving his opinion that the waters “could supply not only a village but a city which could easily be founded here….” He was right of course, though I doubt he could’ve imagined the beautiful city that would eventually grow here. Olivares- with his propitious Christian name- finally got permission from the Spanish viceroy to establish his village and mission, but a guy named Martín de Alarcón, since he was the governor of Coahuila and Texas and all, got the credit for founding San Antonio on May 1, 1718. It was Fray Antonio de Olivares, though, with the help of the Payayas who already lived there, who got down to work and eventually built the Misión de San Antonio de Valero- which would come to be known as the Alamo- the Presidio San Antonio de Bexar, which was the fort where the settlers would live, and the Acequia Madre de Valero, the irrigation canal for the Alamo complex. And that was all three hundred years ago this month. So we have that main road, the King’s Highway, starting at the Sabine River and passing through Nacogdoches and San Antonio before ending up at the Rio Grande thirty miles south of today’s Eagle Pass. And there was another road out of San Antonio, this one too having begun life as a native footpath itself evolved from the early buffalo traces. This road started in San Antonio and wended its way north, through Sisterdale and Fredericksburg and on up to the Llano River, deep in the heart of Indian country, crossing the Guadalupe and Pedernales Rivers, the Spring, Sabinas and Wasp Creeks on it’s way. This was called the Pinta Trail, and it would become a very important road indeed, and would end up having everything in the world to do with Boerne, and I’ll tell you all about it next month. Happy birthday San Antonio!
A
SUMMER CAMPS Are you looking for something that will not only be fun for your children, but also inspires learning, self esteem and adventure. Look no further. Boerne Parks and Recreation is offering several different day camps for Summer 2018. Science, Engineering and many different youth enrichment type camps just to name a few.
All classes are held at the Patrick Heath Public Library unless otherwise noted. Patrick Heath Public Library Community Room 451 N. Main St. Boerne, TX 78006
SCIENCE CAMPS Bricks Bots and Beakers!
Rotating STEM Science classes between engineering concepts through BricksLEGO’s, Snap Circuits; Bots- Intro to robotics programming with Bee Bot, Blue Bot, Lunar Bot and others; Beakers- Intro to chemistry/physical science with experiments guaranteed to excite young minds! June 19-22 & June 24-27 9:30 am - 11:30 am, $99 For ages 6-11 years
Science All Around Us: Chemistry, Crime Solving & Concoctions
Put on your lab coat students, we are getting inside the experimental lab! We will introduce forensic science by analyzing evidence using microscopes, chemistry and more. Your child will be able to take concepts that are learned to solve a real crime at the end of the week! All students will receive a lab coat to continue experiments at home. June 26-29 9:30 am - 11:30 am, $99 For ages 6-11 years
32 | EXPLORE
Gross Out Science
Looking for an exciting way to engage the young scientist who learns best by getting their hands a little dirty? Step into the Slime Lab as we create water jelly, bubble bombs, fake snot, quicksand, and other gooey, gross projects and crafts! June 19-22 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm, $99 For ages 6-11 years
Candy Making and the Science Behind It
Students will create, decorate and learn the science behind many fun and delicious treats! Activities include experimenting with various confections, creating edible art, learning the history of familiar and unfamiliar treats, candy crafts, games and a lot of practice making and tasting! July 10-13 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm, $99 For ages 6-11 years
New! Drone Camp
Drone Junior Flight Camp is taking a hands-on learning approach and mixing in innovation and adventure. Make new friends, play creative games and embrace what is soon to be one of the fastest growing technological career fields. Take to the skies and become an honorary junior drone pilot. July 17-20 Session 1: 9:30 am -11:30 am Session 2: 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm $107 For ages 7 -12 years
Avengers Ensemble! (STEM Style)
While in the middle of a galactic fight to save Earth, young super heroes will perform experiments in science and engineering, build super hero themed projects with LEGO bricks, create crafts and engage in team battles. Learn the science behind your favorite hero’s power while discovering your own! July 31- August 3 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm, $99 For ages 6-11 years
ENGINEERING CAMPS LEGO Engineering
Develop a greater understanding of designing, creating, building and testing methods of transportation with Legos! Students will be challenged with a variety of moving, rolling, gliding and floating vehicles. July 31-August 3 9:30 am - 11:30 am, $99 For ages 6-11 years
Star Wars LEGO STEM Camp
Build a variety of large and small projects from the LEGO Star Wars collection! Camp will kick of with Jedi Master training and also include Star Wars themed games and crafts. July 10-13 9:30 am - 11:30 am, $99 For ages 7-10 years
Wizarding Academy
Come and discover a world filled with the magic of science! A place where young wizards practice levitation using magnets, learn the transfigurations of every day matter, strengthen their understanding of chemistry with a variety of potions plus so much more. No need to wait for your owl to arrive with an acceptance letter, sign up today! June 26-29 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm, $99 For ages 6-11 years
LEGO Storybuilder!
Using LEGO bricks and other materials to apply the Engineering Design Process, campers will construct their favorite stories in creative ways. Popular stories include fairy tales, Disney books, Dr. Suess and many more. Students learn to look at a book from a new perspective and build it! A new story theme will be discussed each day with exciting crafts, games and challenges to keep students on their feet! Friday is BYOB (bring your own book) day! July 24-27 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm, $99 For ages 6-11 years
Destructive Construction
By using a variety of elements, your child will create cranes, vehicles, tall structures, wrecking balls and other simple machines as a fun introduction to the engineering process. If your camper enjoys pulling things apart and rebuilding, this camp is the perfect way to engage a young builders mind! June 12-15 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm, $99 For ages 6-11 years
Fashion Designer
Young girls graduate from playing dress up to creating their own designs! They will express themselves with their own fashion sense by following the same designs principles used by professionals. This includes basic sketching techniques, coordination of colors for the best effect and mixing textures and patterns for perceptions and scale. August 6-10 9:30 am -11:30 am, $107 For ages 8-12 years
LEGO Storybuilder!
Using LEGO bricks and other materials to apply the engineering design process, campers construct their favorite stories in creative ways. A new story theme will be discussed each day with exciting crafts, games and challenges to keep students on their feet. Friday is BYOB (bring your own book) day giving students a new perspective of their favorite story by creating a build right out of the pages! July 24-27 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm, $99 For ages 6-11 years
Young Builders
In our Young Builders program children are engaged in creative activities with “zillions” of pieces of Lego pieces. Over 15 new games, projects, and activities not found in stores, will be planned and engineered. August 13-17 9:30 am - 11:30 am, $107 For ages 5-7 years
Build and Boost
Through real-life STEM challenges and engaging physical and digital creations, encourage children to develop 21st century skills through coding as they program solutions in a real-world context. Engaging and inspiring kids, and preparing them to change the world. August 13-17 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm, $107 For ages 8-12 years
Junior Engineers
Hands-on construction is learned and executed with our special and unique Lego Engineering kits not found in stores. Learn how to build robots, race cars, four-by-four trucks, cranes, pulleys, levers and much more. August 13-17 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm, $107 For ages 8-12 years
Camp Barbie
YOUTH ENRICHMENT CAMPS
Aerial Yoga Summer Camp
In this kid’s aerial yoga camp, children will experience aerial yoga and mindfulness. Each day kids will have a variety of activities including personal aerial yoga lessons, group activities, mindfulness, breathing, and meditation. June 11-15 Aerial Yoga Boerne 37131 IH 10 Suite 300-2 Boerne, TX 78006 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm, $300 For ages 6-11 years
Up Up and Away!
We are taking to the skies with rockets, gliders, drones and more! Your aviator will explore concepts such as lift, drag, and gravity while we attempt to defy the laws of physics. Don’t let this camp fly past you, sign up today! June 12-15 9:30 am - 11:30 am, $99 For ages 6-11 years
Your child and Barbie will have a great time learning to dress for occasion appropriately, practicing good manners, making new friends, the importance of school work, how to use money, dreaming of careers, attending social functions, hearing great stories, practicing talents., great cooking tips, art and much more! All geared toward self-esteem development in this class. August 6-10, 2018 9:30 am -11:30 am, $107 For ages 4-8 years
World of Discovery
Enter a world of discovery using the fun of Hot Wheels and Play Doh. Children will discover a world of physical science utilizing endless Hot Wheel’s tracks and obstacle courses. August 6-10 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm, $107 For ages 4-7 years
Circus Arts Camp
This camp is an experience designed to introduce children to circus, performing, and visual arts in a safe and noncompetitive environment. Your camper will receive circus arts instruction and have the time of their life learning to perform with silks, special hoops and loops, the art of magic, balloon art and get all fancy with clown face painting. August 6-10, 2018 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm, $107 For ages 5-7 years
WWW.HILLCOUNTRYEXPLORE.COM | MAY 2018
| 33
STRENGTHEN WHAT REMAINS By Kendall D. Aaron
L
Lately I’ve been learning a lot about NOT being perfect. That’s right, I know this might make your head explode, but your humble little writer is actually imperfect. I know that’s hard to believe, but I assure you that it’s very, very true. I’m a flawed man and father and son, and I do a lot of stupid things. I also behave in ways that just aren’t always the best from time to time. Frankly, I’m human.
One thing I noticed recently while hanging with some friends, we talked about kids and life and jobs and the typic stuff. I noted that one of the stories that one of the parents was telling me was about how she had yelled at her kids for being, well, kids, and it bothered her that she had done this and she went to her bathroom and cried for a few minutes out of sheer frustration. It’s something that virtually every parent on earth has done at one time or another and is something that you laugh about later. Later, after they were gone, I thought about that story and tried to view the situation from the child’s point of view. The kid was being a kid and probably whining, talking back, and otherwise doing everything in his power to drive his mom batty, and then she screamed at him. Following that, Mom disappeared to her bathroom and I’m sure the house quieted down a bit afterward. And then life resumed as if nothing had happened. I am not condemning my friend at all, but I have been thinking about this interaction for a bit, and boy, did I find it convicting for me. I’m a single dad of 3 kids and I’m here to tell you that it’s not an easy job. Everything from getting them out the door in the morning to cooking the evening meal can be sheer chaos. And in that chaos, I have yelled. LOUDLY. I have also gotten frustrated at things and snapped a mean word toward a kid. MANY times. I could go and on, but I won’t because these things aren’t fun to admit, but I have been trying to do things a bit differently lately and it’s paying dividends. So you yell at your kids? They probably deserved it, but we all know that yelling isn’t the best nor most mature response. So I’ve been trying to get down on my kids’ level after I’ve yelled at them and look them in the eye and say “I’m very sorry for yelling at me. It’s not the way that I want to respond, and I wish I didn’t do that. I’m not perfect, you know? Will you forgive me?” That’s right – before I get after them for getting on my
34 | EXPLORE
last nerve, I get them to FORGIVE me. Once they nod their little heads, I then can ask them “Do you think you guys could help me with XYZ chore around the house so that Dad doesn’t get so frustrated?” With that, I typically get another head nod and a “Sure Dad” and the whole situation is resolved. But it resolved with a confession, an act of forgiveness, and an agreement to do better together. How will this manifest itself as they age? How will it play out (hopefully) in their marriages? In their jobs? Instead of teaching them that it’s perfectly normal to scream, slam doors and then disappear for a few minutes only to proceed as if nothing had happened, I’m hopefully teaching them to confront the issue with an open mind and more open heart. This has even spilled over into other areas and has been fun to see them respond passionately. For example, I’m self employed and some months are just better than others, which impacts my pay greatly. Recently my son wanted a new xbox controller. We sat down and said “I don’t have the money for that this month.” He was disappointed and might have started in with whining, but instead we continued with a discussion about how sometimes you work really hard at something but you still fall a little short. Does that make you bad? Does that mean you’re lazy? Or does it just mean that you have to pick yourself up and try harder next time? With that little talk, he was completely over the new controller, and he related more to his Dad and had a good talk about persevence and patience. I am by no stretch in danger of being labeled a perfect parent. And I suppose that’s the point, because none of us are. Instead of hiding our shortcomings and moments of failure, why not drag them out into the light and have an honest talk about them. Remember that in some ways, your kids think you’re perfect (especially young kids). It’s upsetting for them to see you be less than perfect, so why not begin to drive home the point that NOBODY is perfect, and that it’s ok to be imperfect. “Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.” (Revelations 3:2) Strengthen what remains. There is work yet to be done. Don’t let your imperfections beat you down. Strengthen what you have, and build up what remains. Trust me, there’s still a lot of work yet to be done.
FIRE IT UP
GOURMET
PIZZA
CRAFT BEER & WINE SANDWICHES * SALADS
A FAMILY RESTAURANT WHERE CRAFT BEER & WINE MEET CRAFT PIZZA IJK
118 Old San Antonio RD. * Boerne TX * 830.331.1212 W e d n es d a y - S und a y 1 1: 00 a .m . - 9 : 30 p .m . WWW.HILLCOUNTRYEXPLORE.COM | MAY 2018
| 35
O
OLD TIMER
One of my favorite things to read each year is the Boerne Star’s BEST OF thing that they do. You’ve got all the normal categories, like BEST BURGER or BEST LAWYER, and some are legit and some are hogwash and everybody knows it. I got to thinking about this the other day and figured I’d do my own BEST OF. Mine won’t be as comprehensive as the Star’s but I bet mine will be more fun. Here we go.
BEST NEWS OUTLET How can this be anything but the Boerne Star? It’s not really a NEWSpaper as there’s not any news in it, but I suppose that’s part of the fun. It’s all obits, social photos, and sports recaps. Maybe that’s all we really need in a newspaper anyway. Now, there IS news that happens here, and no, they don’t cover it. Too busy down at the 4H barns taking photos of kids for the Social Scene pages.
PLACE TO HANG OUT after 5:01 pm but before 7:59 pm BEST MEXICAN FOOD Don’t you dare tell me Mary’s Tacos. That’s bacon, eggs, and tortillas. Mague’s is good. Heck, Guadalajara is good. If you want to know where good Mexican food is, you follow the landscaping trailers, beat up work trucks, and assorted other vehicles that our Hispanic friends are driving. Where are they eating lunch? Don Ruben’s! The décor is eye-scorching yellow, lots of Catholic paraphernalia everywhere, your waitress speaks 3 words of English and your entire bill is $4.25 for enough food to put you in a coma. THAT is where you go for Mexican food.
Let’s face it, Boerne’s “nightlife” consists of the after work crowd, and concludes as soon as the sun falls. I have no idea why this is, as it has been this way since Boerne was born. So where’s the best place for the happy hour crowd? Salvador Dobbs. I have been digging this place. You can get a proper martini or other high ball cocktail, sit on the patio and enjoy the rumbling trucks as they pass. Or you could throw rocks at ducks. Or you could go to freaking Chili’s with the rest of the knuckleheads and swill beer.
BEST NON-ELECTED CITY OFFICIAL This award goes to Betty with Code Enforcement, or whom I affectionately call The Sign Nazi. Her job, as far as I can tell, consists of driving around looking for rule-breakers. You tied balloons to your sign? That’s an infraction! Is that neon OPEN sign flashing a little too quick? Here’s your infraction! I love it. NO SIGN FOR YOU!
36 | EXPLORE
BEST CITY WIDE EVENT Berges Fest is fun. Kendall County Fair is allright. Dickens on Main is a circus of crazy that most locals avoid. My favorite City Wide Event is actually the Movie in the Park that the Parks & Rec department puts on. Summer evening, primarily attended only by locals, kids playing in the waterfall, and fireflies buzzing. It’s about as “small town” as Boerne can feel anymore.
BEST ROAD IN TOWN This one is easy – there is no “good road” in Boerne. They are all either pot-hole filled streets that you must navigate like a minefield, or they are torn to shreds in construction with the promise that it’ll be good as new in August. Notice they didn’t tell you WHICH August?
BEST WAY TO CIRCUMVENT PUBLIC OUTCRY The 17 Herff scandal almost had this town in a Civil War. Then, to everyone’s surprise, the City Council actually shot them down. But 17 Herff, being a smart group of developers, hired a PR firm, gave the development a fancy new logo, and even had some Meet ‘n Greet style meetings with citizens. With all this public goodwill, they went right back to City Council and got that sucker approved so fast your head would spin. Yeah, they loosened their demands for a few parts of their development, but a new logo plus a few well timed PR pieces, and they gamed the whole town. Kudos.
BEST PEACE OFFICER / SECURITY OFFICER Here’s to you Mr. Security Hut Officer at the Boerne Lake. You are out there every day, demanding that citizens bring their utility bill so that they can access their public waters. If not, you stare at us over the top of your aviator glasses and hiss, “Then that will be $5 per car.” On the weekends, you let the line back up to the freeway so that San Antonio folks can come destroy our drinking water source. But here’s to you, Mr. Security Hut Officer – keep up the good work.
BEST MAIL DELIVERY PERSON Whoever is delivering mail to my neighbor is the best in town. I know this because they get their mail, my mail, the mail from the guy down the street. Sometimes they just mail from random parts of town, and ya know, that’s called SERVICE.
WWW.HILLCOUNTRYEXPLORE.COM | MAY 2018
| 37
TEXAS TUNES Music to make even the freshest of California’s transplants feel like they were born and raised here.
RYAN BINGHAM
RECKLESS KELLY
As blazing as a road trip through the American Southwest in July with the windows down. And every bit as gritty! Elements of rock, country, blues and Americana delivered by a blow torch. But that is what makes Ryan Bingham. He is accompanied by a top shelf backing band who are both raucous and tight. The mandolin is very good on songs where it is played and old guitarist Richard Bowden burns up a fiddle throughout.
This is arguably the best album from Reckless Kelly in a while. “Radio” in particular is a must hear for anyone who’s critical of current music establishment especially if you also like uptempo rockers. There are also some lovely introspective ballads, including the title cut. Reckless Kelly has long been one of the most talented touring bands in the country and it’s always good when they release an album that matches the quality of their live shows.
Live
Sunset Motel
Production quality is excellent and the sound is great. The material is well chosen and all except for “The Weary Kind” sound better than their studio versions. Pretty stout in my opinion when “The Weary Kind” is your weakest link, And it is still very good. Throw this one in on the open road and you will not be able to stay under the speed limit.
ZZ TOP La Futura
ROBERT EARL KEEN Live Dinner Reunion
Robert Earl Keen paved the way for Texas country music. His influence can be seen and heard amount many of today’s top Texas singer/songwriters. This is an iconic recording that takes place twenty years after the recording of No. 2 Live Dinner. Many of Keen’s classics are included, along with some new favorites. One of my favorite recent albums is Undone: A Musicfest Tribute to Robert Earl Keen in which various artists pay tribute with their own versions of Keen’s songs. For this reunion album some of those same artists make an appearance, plus a few old friends. Favorites for me are No Kinda Dancer (with Bruce Robison), The Front Porch Song (with Lyle Lovett), and Lonely Feelin (with Cody Canada). This is a must have for any fan of Robert Earl Keen. Order it or download it - you won’t be disappointed!
38 | EXPLORE
La Futura was a long time coming; nine years from 2003’s Mescalero to the 2012 release of this disc. They had released some box sets and at least one very good must-see DVD in “Live from Texas”, but the new disc was nearly unexpected. I think that many of us had given up; we hadn’t even checked up on ‘Top after a few years of airplay silence. It was also not without much trepidation that I purchased the disc (yes; I do hard copies, only) after only hearing one tune on Leno. All too often I have gotten excited about an old-school rocker only to get the disc and get downright depressed; their energy had gone, they were picking at a set of bones so bereft of fresh ideas as to present me with a fairly high-dollar coaster (or BB target, depends upon how bad...) in a nice jewel case with some photo-shopped artwork. Very happily not so with ZZ Top’s La Futura. Most of the tunes ooze with the boogiebased gritty and gutsy experiential, no-nonsense energy that Top fixed us up with from the beginning. Not as thick and heavy as Rhythmeen and not as synthesizer stuffed as Eliminator, La Futura has its own energy and mood, as do most ZZ Top discs. There are a couple of surprises in slower, sweeter ballad-like tunes that I didn’t think I’d like, until I found them stuck in my head! The bulk is that raunchy boogie that I have come to crave, and this fix was long overdue!
Construction, LLC
Site Preparation | Road Work | Soil Stabilization | General Construction Our mission is to please our clients. Chadco Construction, LLC provides its clients with a “single source responsibility”. We stand head & shoulders above similar businesses in our area because of single source responsibility, excellent quality, expertise and our general “hands-on” philosophy. We own & maintain a diverse selection of heavy equipment which makes it possible to do just about any kind of site/earth work. We employ various types of craftsmen, operators and other workers enabling us to provide our clients with better service by utilizing our own resources. Ideally, we try and minimize dependence upon subcontractors and other means of construction outsourcing seen almost exclusively today. Call Chadco Construction, LLC for all your construction needs
GENERAL CONTRACTORS WITH A SOLID REPUTATION ACROSS TEXAS
1002 East Blanco Rd, Boerne, TX 78006 :: 13521 TX-22, Cranfills Gap, TX 76637 8 3 0 - 8 1 6 - 5 4 0 4 : : C h a d Wa r r e n , O w n e r : : c e l l , 8 3 0 - 3 8 8 - 2 0 4 3
www.chadcoconstruction.com