Dominion Magazine - April 2017

SAN ANTONIO’S PREMIER COMMUNITY

FIESTA A River of Dreams It’s April, and that pretty much means just one thing in San Antonio: Fiesta time!

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LIVE THE SUITE LIFE. LOCATED IN THE DOMINION RIDGE SHOPPING CENTER 2 2 2 1 1 I H - 1 0 W.

LIVE THE SWEET LIFE.

FULL INTERIOR RENOVATIONS Kitchens | Bathrooms | Room Modifications EXTERIOR RENOVATIONS Roofing | Exterior Carpentry Paint Professionals

Meet the owner, Aron Lofton and family 17806 IH-10 suite 300 | San Antonio Texas 78257 210.906.9151 | Call to speak with a live person now!

COME VISIT US AT EILAN!

WHO ARE WE? THD Construction is a residential and commercial renovation company founded in 2004 as Texas Home Design.

WHAT DO WE DO? THD handles full interior and exterior renovations with over 80 full time, project managers, skilled carpenters, paint experts, masons, and roofing crews.

WHERE ARE WE LOCATED? The Lofton family resides happily at the Dominion. THD has offices at Eilan at LaCantera and our original home office in downtown Austin,Texas.

WHY CHOOSE THD TO BID YOUR NEXT PROJECT? You will be dealing with real people that enjoy delivering your vision on time and on budget. We have the expertise to set realistic expectations for home owners. We treat your home like we would like ours to be treated. Our Team is comprised of the most highly skilled designers and craftsmen in the business. They are experienced professionals with knowledge and expertise in all the newest practices. They are dedicated to remaining on the cutting edge of design work. We work together in a unique design-build process that blends design creativity and uncompromising craftsmanship. This ensures that your project is completed to the highest of standards – both yours and ours – and that your space is beautifully transformed into an area or home that is uniquely yours, ready for you to create many new happy memories. Our staff can handle the design, the budget, and the construction all in one bundle.

THE THD FAMILY CARES ABOUT THE COMMUNITY!!!

We happily donate time, materials, and funding to a great and meaningful organization that makes a big difference in tomorrows future.

Meadownlands Academy (RMYA) is an orphanage located in Boerne.

RMYA creates brighter futures for children in crisis by promoting individual success and healthy relationships in a safe, healing environment, giving children and families the tools to end the cycle of abuse.

CONTENTS THE DOMINION MAGAZINE | THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE DOMINION HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

APRIL 2017

It’s April, and that pretty much means just one thing in San Antonio: Fiesta time!

WELCOME 14

STUDENT PROFILES 46 Poni & Cloi Bryan

THE CLUB

Calendar 16 Club Happenings 18 Club Renovations 20

42

from the hoa 22

TASTE OF THE DOMINION 50 So Many Answered Prayers

hoa happenings 24

TMI 60

Texas Independence Day Celebration

SOCIAL GROUP 30 Strong Foundation Ministries

Golf 48 HOME TOUR 54

2017 Annual Meeting

CHarity 32

COVER 36

Travel 62

50

Dubai - From Pearls To Oil

Area Events 66

Staff Profile 34

Artist Profile 72

Emiliano Benitez

Business Profile 42 Good Vibrations

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F A M I LY | R E A L E S T A T E | B U S I N E S S

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APRIL 2017 | VOLUME 4 ISSUE 4

PUBLISHED By SMV Texas Design Group, LLC 930 E. Blanco, Ste. 200, Boerne, TX 78006 210-507-5250

SMV TEXAS DESIGN GROUP, LLC CEO/PRESIDENT Benjamin D. Schooley ben@smvtexas.com

Welcome TO

the Dominion Magazine Dear Reader,

A quarter of 2017 has come and gone! Springtime brings blooms and loads of fun to The Dominion.

We hope you were able to attend the Food Truck Event last month. It’s always great to see our diverse group of residents out having a great time. We have the Mariachi Dash scheduled for April 8th and invite you out for a 5k/10k walk/run and kids ½ mile fun run.

If you haven’t already made plans to attend one of the upcoming Fiesta San Antonio events scheduled from April 20 – April 30, you should definitely plan to kick-off Fiesta 2017 with our very own annual Dominion Fiesta Party! Scheduled for Sunday, April 9th (weather permitting) we will take over Pecan Grove with food, drinks, music, a decorated golf cart parade, and a Fiesta hat decorating contest! We’ll have fun for the kids and celebrate Fiesta, Dominion style!

OPERATIONS MANAGER Peggy Schooley peggy@smvtexas.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Benjamin Weber ben.weber@smvtexas.com THE DOMINION HOA OFFICE 20 Dominion Drive San Antonio, Texas 78257 (210) 698-1232 | www.dominionhoa.com THE DOMINION COUNTRY CLUB 1 Dominion Drive San Antonio, Texas 78257 (210) 698-3364 | www.the-dominion.com

The HOA Board Elections are underway and you should have received the annual meeting notice and candidate information last month. Our elections and annual meeting are being held on Wednesday, April 12th at 7:00 p.m. at The Dominion Country Club. Each of the Committee Chairpersons will present the latest undertakings and upcoming plans for each of the committees. Please make plans to attend.

The Dominion Magazine is published by Schooley

James D. Berg, Chairman Dominion Homeowners Association

Magazine and Schooley Media Ventures are not responsible for any inaccuracies, erroneous

THE DOMINION | MARCH

information, or typographical errors contained in

2017

SAN ANTONIO’

S PREMIER

THE DOMINIO

this publication submitted by advertisers. Opinions

COMMUNI TY

Y 2017 FEBRUAR

Y 2017 N | FEBRUAR

’S PREMIER

Media Ventures in Boerne, TX. The Dominion

MARCH 2017

ITY

COMMUN

SAN ANTONIO

THE OFFICIAL

ION OF THE

RS ASSOCIATIO N

PUBLICAT

HOMEOWNE

THE OFFICIAL

PUBLICATIO N OF THE DOMINION

expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of

DOMINION ION

ERS ASSOCIAT

HOMEOWN

THE GREAT S M A T EEST JOURNEY T E A M OF ALL IS ONE YOU Life CANNOT MAKE ALONE for VOLUME

4 ISSUE 3

DOUG AND

JANE MOE

Dominion

Resident Katrinia Kraemer and Joint Help for Kurdist an

ARE IN IT

TOGETHER

VOLUME 2 4 ISSUE

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FOr Advertising opportunities call 210-507-5250

The Dominion and/or Schooley Media Ventures.

Copyright 2014 Schooley Media Ventures, 930 E. Blanco, Ste. 200, Boerne, TX 78006

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T h e D o m i n i o n -M a g a z i n e . c o m

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Women’s Forum Annual Gala Masquerade Ball - “Night in Disguise” 7:00 p.m.

Please join us for a fabulous evening of fun and frolic!

Our gala evening starts at 7:00 p.m. with cocktails and delicious passed hors d’ouevres.

Supper Club 6:00 p.m.

This fun group always offers an elegant buffet and a fun program. The Supper Club is a wonderful way to meet your fellow-Members, and a GREAT time is always had by all! $25.95 per person 6:00 p.m. Cocktails 7:00 p.m. Dinner and Program Please RSVP to 210-698-3364

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Women’s Forum Luncheon 10:30 a.m.

You are invited to join us for our Spring Social and Shopping Spree luncheon: “Friends are like Flowers.” Shopping time begins at 10:30 am!

As a reminder social time starts at 11:30 a.m. with the luncheon beginning at noon. The luncheon costs $19.50 for members and guests.

If you invite any guests, please provide their name(s) when you make your reservation.

Make your reservation by either sending an email to receptionist@the-dominion.com or calling (210) 698-3364 by Wednesday, April 5.

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History Club 4:30 p.m.

Keep your mind sharp and engaged and attend History Club this month!

Please RSVP to 210-698-3364 Camera Club 6:00 p.m.

Join us this month and learn about all things CAMERA! $10 per person Light refreshments served 16

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Crawfish Boil on the Terrace 6:00 PM All you can eat crawfish, shrimp, potatoes and corn.

Featuring Live Music!! $26.95 per person Please RSVP to 210-698-3364

Kids Easter Egg Hunt & Bunny Brunch 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

This treasured family event features an Easter Egg hunt of over 3000 eggs, a cookie decorating station and a lovely brunch.

EGG HUNT STARTS PROMPTLY AT 1:30 P.M. Landers Photography will be on hand for pictures with the Easter Bunny. Pictures will be charged to your Member account.

Reservations required to 210-698-3364 $29.95 Adults $17.95 Children 2+ 48 hour cancellation policy in effect.

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Easter Sunday Brunch 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Enjoy an exquisite holiday brunch with family and friends $39.95 Adults, $15.95 Children 4-11 Reservations required to 210-698-3364 48 hour cancellation notice in effect

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Pickleball Social at the Tennis Pavilion 12:00 p.m.

Open to ALL Members who want to have a great time! Pickleball is all the rage in Europe and quickly becoming very popular in the U.S. Come have a drink, enjoy hors d’oeuvres and socialize with your fellow-Members!

For more information call the Tennis Centre at 210-698-2288

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Monthly Sunday Brunch 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Enjoy this lovely Dominion-signature brunch with family and friends! $29.95 Adults $17.95 Children 4-11 ROTARY CLUB The Dominion Rotary Club cordially invites you to visit our club to listen to our speakers or to learn about Rotary.

All meetings are held at the Dominion Club at noon on Tuesdays except for the First Tuesday Social, 6:00 PM at the Grill in Leon Springs.

APRIL 1 Highway Cleanup followed by Lunch and Fellowship APRIL 4 First Tuesday Short meeting and Social gathering with friends and family APRIL 11 Weekly Meeting with Oscar Garcia speaking on Optimum Social Security Strategies Meeting at noon at the Dominion Club APRIL 18 Weekly Meeting with Tom Stringfellow, President & Chief Investment Officer, Frost Investment Advisors Meeting at noon at the Dominion Club.

APRIL 25 Weekly Meeting with Ron Nirenberg, Councilman, City of San Antonio District 8.

Meeting at noon at the Dominion Club The Dominion Rotary Club welcomes nonRotarians to attend our meetings, listen to some great speakers, and learn about Rotary International. A soup and salad bar buffet is available at the club and can be charged to your Dominion Club account. Questions?

Visit our website at dominionrotary.org.

Every Tuesday

Every Wednesday

Every Thursday

Every saturday

Every sunday

Burger Night in the Grille 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Delicious, cooked to order and just $5! Treat the family, invite friends!

RSVP to 210-698-3364

Wine Down Wednesdays 1/2 Price Bottle Specials!

6:00 p.m.– 9:00 p.m.

Wednesdays just got a lot better!

Enjoy the bottles for HALF OFF! Champagne Sparkling wine Chardonnay White Wines Merlot & More

Chef Special Dining Night 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Enjoy a different and very delicious meal every Thursday, carefully selected and prepared by Executive Chef Jay Nash!

A specialty half price appetizer is offered every Thursday as well!

Enjoy!

Tennis- Saturday Morning Workout 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

All levels, men & women.

Guaranteed to hit a thousand balls. Loud music and lots of fun!

Tennis- SUNDAY Workout 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Open to all levels. Contact Coach Dan at dan@thedominion.com

Tuesday Night TENNIS 105 7:00 p.m. -8:30 p.m.

Open to all levels, limit 10. Email Coach Dave dknaszak@the-dominion. com or call the tennis shop to sign up 210-6982288

Thursday Night TENNIS 105 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Open to all levels, limit 10.

Email Coach Dave dknaszak@the-dominion. com or call the tennis shop to sign up 210-6982288

MAY 4

Supper Club - Cinco de Mayo Party 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

All Residents Welcome!

The Club will be festively decorated and we invite you to dress in costume to enjoy an evening of great drinks and food!

Happy Hour pricing on drinks!

Please RSVP to 210-698-3364.

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CLUB HAPPENINGS

SUPPER CLUB

WOMEN’S FORUM

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SILVER OAK WINE DINNER T h e D o m i n i o n -M a g a z i n e . c o m

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T H E C L U B R E N O VAT I O N

by Stephen Phillips, General Manager, The Dominion Country Club

We are extremely excited about all these changes and we know you are as well! Every day we get that much closer to completion!

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Modern Scientific approach to treating addiction Affordable Outpatient Programs Dual Diagnosis Medication Assisted Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Individualized Treatment Pharmacogenetic Testing $325 (per month if insured) $500 (cash pay option if non insured)

5%

DONATION

Five percent of all profits are donated to American Institute of Opiate Abuse

OTCOA San Antonio 9846 Lorene Lane | San Antonio, TX 78216 | info@otcoa.com

FROM THE HOA

UPCOMING HOA meetings Landscape Committee Meeting Thursday, April 6 at 8:00 a.m.

Neighborhood Outreach Committee Meeting Tuesday, April 11 at 9:00 a.m. (at the Dominion Country Club)

Development Committee Meeting Wednesday, April 12 at 7:30 a.m.

Dominion HOA Annual Meeting Wednesday, April 12 at 7:00 p.m. (at the Dominion Country Club)

BOD Meeting to Elect Officers This time of year brings many changes for the HOA and The Dominion. The more obvious changes are the warmer temperatures, greener lawns, the sprouting of more weeds, and the dropping of leaves and more leaves. We ask that you start increasing frequency in landscape maintenance and be sure that pre-emergent weed applications are addressing weed issues in your lawn. If your lawn is predominantly weeds, please consult your landscape contractor to begin plans to replace your turf. This will enhance the overall look of your property and increase property values.

Other changes happening this spring are the elections of new members to the HOA Board of Directors. The following are names of the 2017 candidates running for the three open Board positions: Jane Anderholt Allan P. Baumholtz Keith A. Coelho Charles F. (Chuck) McAleer III Wayne Allen Worthen

We hope you will attend the Annual Meeting being held on Wednesday, April 12 at 7pm at The Dominion Country Club. A presentation will be given with updates on the current state of the HOA and a recap from the various HOA committees. If you’re not able to attend the Annual Meeting, please submit your proxy or absentee ballot to the HOA office by April 7th. Feel free to contact the HOA office with any questions about the Annual Meeting, the candidates, or the election process.

Dominion HOA Annual Meeting

Wednesday, April 12 at 7:00 p.m. (at the Dominion Country Club)

Saturday, April 8 8:00 a.m. near HOA office Run or walk, bring the kids or the dogs, cheer on the racers while enjoying Mariachi Musica!

MARK YOUR MAY CALENDARS APRIL 2017

Security Committee Meeting Tuesday, April 18 at 9:00 a.m.

Cottage Estates HOA Annual Meeting Wednesday, April 19 at 7:00 p.m. (at the Dominion Country Club)

Finance Committee Meeting Thursday, April 20 at 1:00 p.m.

Mariachi Dash 5k/10k Run/Walk, Kids 1/2 Mile Fun Run

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Thursday, April 13 at 4:00 p.m.

Board of Directors Meeting Wednesday, April 26 at 4:00 p.m.

Architectural Control Committee Meetings Thursday, April 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th at 4:30 p.m.

Fiesta Party Sunday, April 9 (weather permitting) 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Pecan Grove Fiesta Hat Decorating Contest, Fiesta Medal Contest, Golf Cart Parade Food, Music, Fun! Viva Fiesta!

Community Shred Day Saturday, May 6, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

HOA office parking lot

HOA HAPPENINGS

FOOD TRUCK NIGHT

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SOCIAL GROUP

by Lynette Aleman, Dominion Resident

AP RI L SHOWERS BRI NG BAR FLOWERS It’s April so you know what they say -- April showers bring May flowers. Of course this is Texas and our weather is just as independent and strong willed as we are. If you do find yourself in the midst of a rainy day and are rarin’ to hit the town, break out those cute rain boots you may use twice a year and your glitzy umbrella and try this bar hop. Make sure to plan for a 3 hour tour.

Start by parking near the St. Anthony Hotel.

This gets you started in a central location for your rainy day pub crawl. After parking, awaken your umbrella from its slumber; let its flowy legs stretch and head to Nectar Wine Bar and Ale House located at 214 Broadway.

Nectar is a new wine bar on the San Antonio scene with a nice selection of wines. If your other half or other members of your party are not wine aficionados, you will be pleased to learn they also offer beers from around the world, as well as non-alcoholic selections.

This is a great place to play with your palate with a wine flight – or to snuggle down with a full glass of wine to wish away the rain. To help enhance the succulent flavors waiting to be unleashed in your glass, Nectar offers munchies that vary in option from Charcuterie or a Smoked Salmon Board, to Grilled Cheese and Build Your Own Goat (where you can play dress up with your goat cheese with drizzles of pesto, honey or boozy cherries!).

If you are feeling up for a challenge, grab one of their board or card games and challenge each other – loser covers the round at the next stop.

This venue boasts a unique Sunday brunch.

For big spenders, splurge on a $28 Ultimate Mimosa which is all dolled up with skewers of donut holes, cheese, fruit, smoked salmon and even a lobster tail with a side of caviar.

Feasting option for brunch includes the Elvis Waffle, Lobster Benedict or the Berry Delicious French Toast. Nectar has also been voted by USA Today as one of San Antonio 10 Best Things to Do in SA. Your next stop will take you to the St. Anthony hotel which is 600 feet from Nectar. On the way you will see Travis Park on your right hand side directly across from the hotel.

The St. Anthony hotel has been designated as a national historic landmark. Enter the 30

APRIL 2017

hotel, pass the check-in desk and you will see the palatial lobby, filled with French Empire antiques -- with a modern twist.

Follow the path that goes to the right and you will find a hidden little gem called the St. Anthony Club. At this hotel bar, you can order a beverage of your choice and relax in the lounge. On some nights live jazz music fills the air. My preference is to grab a glass of wine from here and head back to the lobby and enjoy the views. The tall ceilings and nostalgic windows bring in the light even on a rainy day. Past presidents and old Hollywood glamour have graced this lobby.

A guest list of past patrons include Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson, Eleanor Roosevelt, Lucille Ball, Princess Grace, Judy Garland and George Clooney. This is a great place to relax and feel like a queen (or king). The St. Anthony Hotel also has a few additional bars you can explore, such as the Library Bar, located just above the lobby.

The Library Bar is a quiet little hideaway if you just want to escape the world for a bit.

Haunt Bar is also located in the lobby and is a modern bar adorned with modern tufted loungers for your lounging pleasure.

Nectar

Following your opulent venture at the St. Anthony, your last stop will spice things up at Ocho. Ocho is located inside the Havana Hotel at 1015 Navarro. This is just shy of a quarter mile from St. Anthony Hotel.

When you arrive at Ocho, you pass through the lush green foyer, and your eyes dance in the mélange of blue hues and elaborate chandeliers. The glass walls and ceiling make for the perfect place to be “outside” without having to be outside. Ocho overlooks the Riverwalk in the non-tourist area so you can enjoy the view. Throughout Ocho’s menu, you will find choices with Cuban, Mexican and Texan flair. You will find these cultures displayed throughout the menu. To wet your whistle after the stroll from the St. Anthony, refresh with a Mojito, Hemingway Daiquiri, Tequila Julip, Havana Mule or a Paloma Picosa.

If you want to stick to the basics, they also offer a full bar menu along with beer and wine selections. They also offer an eclectic appetizers and dinner menu.

Ocho

I hope you enjoy this rainy day journey to a few of my favorites.

St. Anthony’s

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CHARITY

by Sonia Matthews, DHOA Neighborhood Outreach Cooridinator

STRONG FOUNDATION MINISTRIES

I recently sat down with Pastor Jim Gipson at the Strong Foundation Ministries, Family Mission Center where my children and I volunteer with our church. He shed some light on a growing dilemma happening in major cities around the country. “Most people aren’t aware of it,” he said, “but children and families with children are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population, and it’s true even here in San Antonio.” He shared with me that even though the population at large doesn’t see them, homeless families with children are all over town. “Some of these families are “doubled up” and living with family or friends, others are in area hotels, shelters, camping outdoors or living in their cars. One thing is for sure, they usually keep a low profile

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because of their children.” He said the real reasons for being homeless vary, but the most common self-identified reason is being unemployed or underemployed. It’s also not uncommon to meet a family that recently moved to San Antonio looking for employment or better opportunities that haven’t worked out yet. “Regardless of the reason or reasons a family is homeless, it’s not the children’s fault,” Pastor Jim said. “The only way for us to help the kids, is for us to serve the whole family. So in the big scheme of things it really doesn’t matter why, as long as the parents are willing to step up to the plate and do whatever is legal, honest and moral to provide for their children then we may be able to help.”

Having three young children myself, I can’t imagine what my family would do if we were unemployed and lost our home.

It’s a daunting thought. Yet I’ve come to understand there are hundreds of families in San Antonio that are forced to face that reality on a daily basis. Often their options are so limited, they are forced to split up and are scattered at various shelters or with family and friends throughout the city making a complicated situation even more difficult to navigate. I’ve discovered Strong Foundation has programs in place that are designed to serve the whole family. They are a faith based, 501(c)(3), non-denominational Christian organization located just outside of the downtown area at 414 N. Hackberry Street. In a donated former nursing home,

Strong Foundation is focused on serving homeless families with children that are serious about doing their part to get back on their feet and have a changed life. Since opening their doors in February 2004, Strong Foundation has served over 600 families and almost 1400 children.

In order to enroll in the program at Strong Foundation, the parents go through an interview process to ensure they fit into a family-friendly, child-safe environment and that they’re ready and willing to do their part to get back on their feet and have a better life.

I discovered the Strong Foundation program is pretty no-nonsense and once a family is accepted into the program, the adults’ full-time job is looking for work and taking steps to move forward in life. The program includes accountability, a curfew, and participants are also required to attend classes to improve life skills, to educate themselves on financial freedom, and to fine-tune their parenting skills. School age children are required to attend school and there are programs in place to assist them with this difficult time in their young lives.

Being a Christian ministry, the Strong Foundation staff also encourages everyone to participate in what Pastor Jim calls the “God Stuff”. Pastor Jim said, “Our hope is that everyone would give our Creator a chance to have the place in their hearts that He would like to have, but still there is no requirement to attend our Bible Studies, Sunday morning Church service, or to have any type of religious affiliation.” Strong Foundation is also intentional about networking with other organizations serving the homeless but chooses to operate without City, State or Federal Funds. Instead, Strong Foundation is

supported primarily by people and churches in the community that are aligned with their approach and purpose.

In addition to serving families with children, Strong Foundation started a new program in November 2015 called HomeBase to serve young women aging out of the Foster Care system. They are offered a safe place to live along with structure and guidance to help them transition into adulthood.

Some have earned their high school diplomas since enrolling, one is in college. Others are working and plan to enroll at SAC or St. Philips Junior College in the fall.

The number one reason families or Foster Care Alumni contact Strong Foundation is because they need a safe place to live now, and the ministry staff is very intentional about meeting their immediate needs. My observation is Strong Foundation is about so much more than just shelter though. They offer the people they serve the opportunity to build their lives on The Strong Foundation this country was founded on, faith in God, family values and hard work.

To get involved or for more information you can follow/like on Facebook, visit them in person or on the web at www.

StrongFoundation.org . You can also call for more information at (210) 641-Help(4357).

My experience with Strong Foundation is that they are the “real deal,” I hope you will get involved.

Strong Foundation operates as a volunteer driven Mission Center and they are intentional about providing serving opportunities for individuals, church groups, local businesses, and organizations.

You don’t have to leave the country to be involved in mission work and they even have opportunities for you to serve with your children.

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S TA F F P R O F I L E

Emiliano Benitez, Waitstaff/Bartender, the Dominion Country Club

by Peggy Schooley

Emiliano Benitez is one of those people you run across now and again. You meet him and immediately feel you are friends and always will be. His life experiences have covered a lot of ground and taught him that the most important things in the world are the people you love and spend time with, hard work and goals.

“I came to work at The Dominion about three years ago. My friend, Jimmy Vasquez, told me the Club was hiring. I was lucky enough to be chosen, and I’ve loved it here ever since.”

I asked Emiliano for his favorite things about working at the Club. It was apparently a very easy question. “I love working here. The Club members are always nice to me, and often I feel I am treated as family, that I’m more than just an employee. My clients make me feel like a close friend in many cases.” I asked him for some of his secrets of his job – “I know many of my clients. When I see them enter the building, I already know what they’d like to drink and I make sure that drink is in their hands as soon as possible! I also am the bartender for many happy hours and a number of the Club’s events. I now find that some of the members also want me to help with their private parties – and I’m glad to do that anytime!”

Emiliano grew up in a small town, Puebla, outside of Mexico City. He arrived in San Antonio in 1996 at the age of 21. “Even though I had taken English in school, and thought I knew it, I found out very quickly that I didn’t.

In fact, I wasn’t even good at saying ‘I can’t speak English’! Instead it came out ‘Me no English’ and led to a lot of ribbing from my friends and some embarrassment at my work as a server. It resulted in my hanging back from the tables to avoid conversations. But I knew I couldn’t let this keep me back from my future. I signed up for ESL classes at San Antonio College and attended for two years.

My instructor gave me the best advice, which I followed religiously: Watch no Mexican/ Spanish language television, English only.

No Spanish radio, English only! No Spanish

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newspapers, English only! Your job is to learn English and to do that you need to live in English!” I reflect that learning languages isn’t easy in general, but as a young man hindered by this language barrier, Emiliano simply put his head down and worked hard every day to learn and improve. The result is that today he speaks with some accent but with confidence in his skills. This is such an accomplishment and one that not everybody can attain.

Emiliano and his wife, also from Mexico, have four children. As he said “We absolutely said three was our final number…but God had a different idea, and Daniel, who is 8 now, showed up almost six years later!” Their oldest daughter, Jacqueline, 19, who also has worked at The Dominion as a server, is currently a Churchill High School senior with plans for college in the Fall. Michelle, 14, is a freshman at Churchill, while son Maximiliano is 13 and in the 7th grade at Eisenhower Middle School.

Emiliano and his family are avid outdoorsmen. He loves to bike, hike, anything outside. Often he will ride from the Medical Center area to the Club. He told one harrowing tale about “a college girl hit me simply by not paying attention.

She went through a stop sign and took me out. I was fortunate in that I had only slight injuries, nothing major. But that shows how scary riding on city streets can be. I now ride very defensively. In fact, I try to stay in park settings, but I can’t always make that happen.”

I asked him what his long term dream is – “To be able to return to Seattle, Washington area where I lived for a couple of years long ago. I hiked Mt. Rainier, Mailbox Peak and few other mountains. The weather there is reminiscent of my hometown – but much more beautiful! We are returning there some day for a vacation with an eye towards picking a retirement location.

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FIESTA A River of Dreams

by Brian Swain, Dominion Resident though, the foundation around which the city was first settled. Many years later, it became the natural resource that facilitated creation of one of the state’s, and indeed the world’s, best known and most scenic tourist attractions, the San Antonio Riverwalk, an oasis of cypress-lined paved paths, arched stone bridges, and lush growth that winds through the San Antonio city center. It plays host to millions of residents and tourists each year, and contributes immeasurable recreational, economic, and cultural value to our city. With its fifteen miles of sidewalks and paths, and more than two thousand acres of public land, the Riverwalk provides access to numerous restaurants, museums, the King William historic district, the Spanish missions, and a host of unique artworks. $2.4 billion is spent at businesses along the Riverwalk each year, and these businesses support 31,000 jobs.

It’s April, and that means pretty much just one thing in San Antonio: Fiesta time! Our annual month-long extravaganza of parades, parties, food, and general carrying-on is just one of the many things (okay, the biggest thing) that sets our city apart from the rest of the nation. It generates three hundred or so million dollars in economic impact to the city, draws more than three and a half million attendees, and requires the enthusiastic support of seventy-five thousand volunteers to make happen over a hundred individual events throughout the month. This year will mark the 126th anniversary of the celebration, and in addition to the immense economic impact that it all has on our city, the sponsoring organizations who make the parades and parties happen will realize many hundreds of thousands of dollars in charitable contributions as a result. The events take place from one end of the city to the other, on college campuses, downtown streets, and, of particular importance for this month’s article, on our single most important city landmark, the San Antonio River and Riverwalk, the setting for the Texas Cavaliers River Parade, 36

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arguably the most extravagant and well-known event in the entire month of April.

The San Antonio River, the lifeblood of the city of San Antonio and the primary landmark for which our city is known, begins humbly at a spring known as the Blue Hole on the campus of the University of the Incarnate Word a few miles north of downtown. It flows southeast at a rate of about four hundred cubic feet/second for two hundred and thirty or so miles, through five counties, before emptying into the Guadalupe River ten miles northwest of San Antonio Bay. The river, known since 1531, was, like its namesake city, named in 1691 for Franciscan friar San Antonio of Padua. Five eighteenthcentury Spanish missions (now collectively a UNESCO World Heritage site) line the river, with the best known being San Antonio de Valero, or, of course, The Alamo.

As rivers go, it’s by no means the longest, the deepest, the fastest, or the most impressive, averaging just forty-five feet in width, and seldom more than ten feet deep. It is,

And on Monday, April 24th, the Texas Cavaliers will once again play host to the Fiesta River Parade, where, as in years past, something like a quarter million San Antonians and visitors will line the banks of the river to watch the magnificent parade of floats and the introduction of this year’s King Antonio XCV. This year’s River Parade will offer a festival of live music, lights, and celebrities, including more than fifty colorful, festively decorated floats sponsored by local businesses and community organizations and military installations. King Antonio XCV will reign over the evening’s festivities and welcome the thousands of spectators along the river’s winding route. Money raised from the event will be donated to children’s charities in our community through the Texas Cavaliers Charitable Foundation.

But this intimate relationship between the Riverwalk, the Texas Cavaliers, and Fiesta cannot be fully understood and appreciated without considering for a moment the history of the river, how the Riverwalk came to be, and the work that today goes into keeping the river the cultural and natural treasure that it is.

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The modern history of the San Antonio River begins with a flood, one that on September 7, 1921 left the downtown area under nine feet of water and resulted in fifty deaths and massive property damage. As a direct result of that tragedy, a number of major capital improvements were undertaken to better manage flooding along the river.

These include the Olmos Dam, which is clearly visible to anyone driving south on Highway 281, just past the Quarry Market.

The flood also spurred the idea of paving over the Great Bend portion of the San Antonio River that winds its way through the middle of downtown, an approach favored by many business leaders of the time, but which was fortuitously overridden by the San Antonio Conservation Society and plenty of city leaders of the era. Around that time, an ambitious young architect named Robert H. H. Hugman proposed a plan that would address the city’s flooding issues while simultaneously creating a bold new urban landscape in the heart of the downtown area.

Taking inspiration from his days living in New Orleans, a city that takes its heritage from French history, Hugman suggested to San Antonio civic leaders that they were missing out on an opportunity to leverage the city’s Spanish origins. He proposed creating a Riverwalk that would become a hub of business and tourism for the city. His vision went by the name of The Shops of Aragon and Romula, and while that grandiose name never really stuck, the architectural vision that he had for the river and surrounding area slowly became a reality over the ensuing couple of decades.

But not all business leaders of the time were fans of Hugman’s project. “The river projects will never amount to a hill of beans” was the sentiment expressed by D. D. Book, a major property owner at the time, objecting to Hugman’s vision for creating viable retail commerce along the river. “If you ever see more than two people walk on the Riverwalk at any time, I’ll eat your hat!” And while we’ll never know whether or not Book made good on his gustatory wager, it’s safe to say that he was mistaken—very badly mistaken— about the impact Hugman’s Riverwalk would have on the city of San Antonio. It took a $400,000 bond issue (a lot of money for the time, though it doesn’t sound like much compared to the $850 million public works bond issue we’ll all be voting on this May) and the support of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration (WPA), but the project was completed in 1940. But, in the pessimistic Book’s defense, it should be stated, as well, that businesses didn’t exactly flock to the new Riverwalk when it was first completed in the early forties.

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It took the arrival of the Hemisfair World’s Fair in 1968, and the construction of a huge new convention center, the Tower of the Americas, and a couple of big new hotels, to really prime the pump of commerce.

But how does all of this history relate to Fiesta? Well, quite directly as it turns out.

In 1941 the Texas Cavaliers celebrated the completion of WPA improvements to the Riverwalk (or Paseo del Rio if you prefer) with the very first River Parade. King Antonio has been making his entrance in the River

Parade ever since. But that inaugural parade did not come together easily. To build and outfit the fifty river barges required for the parade, local businessmen were each asked to pony up $60. Fifty-one agreed and were named “Admirals of the San Antonio Navy” for their support. The barges were constructed by WPA workers and propelled only by pole and oar. Some 50,000 spectators were on-hand for that first River Parade and the introduction of King Antonio XXIII, with adults paying twenty cents and children a dime for the privilege. Shortly after this

inaugural Parade, World War II broke out and all Fiesta festivities were suspended for the duration of the conflict. Once the war was over, the Parades resumed, but only amid much political infighting concerning ownership and organization of the River Parade and other Fiesta events. Only with the creation of the Fiesta San Antonio Commission were the ownership and control issues sorted out, allowing the River Parade to continue to this day as one of the most prominent events of the April Fiesta season.

But the River Parade could only be the successful event that it is, and the San Antonio River could only remain the vibrant and iconic landmark that it is, with the support, leadership, and drive of a dedicated group of individuals and city officials focused on a program of improvements and maintenance to the Riverwalk, and a host of flood control initiatives throughout the San Antonio River watershed. “The river has been a work in progress for many years,” says former mayor Lila Cockrell. And that goes not only for capital improvements, but also for stewardship responsibilities. In 1937, the Texas State Legislature created the San Antonio River Authority (SARA), charged with managing flood control programs, and promoting sustainability of the river and surrounding ecosystem for all the citizens of San Antonio, as well as the various towns along the river’s meandering path toward San Antonio Bay.

“San Antonians demand that their government officials be responsible stewards of our natural resources,” says former mayor Julian Castro. “And resource number one is the river that is the beating heart of our city.” SARA General Manager Suzanne Scott takes that challenge very seriously and very personally, and has dedicated many years

of her life to promoting and educating San Antonio citizens about the river, improving its quality, and overseeing a wide range of capital projects designed to both protect the city from occasional rainstorm events that can lead to flooding, and also improving the quality of the river to facilitate recreation and tourism.

SARA has overseen dam construction, channelization, and other flood control projects up and down the river pretty much since the organization’s inception, but perhaps the most impressive capital projects that have been completed, and which very few San Antonians are even aware of, are the massive San Antonio River and San Pedro Creek drainage tunnels that lie one hundred fifty feet beneath the city, designed to carry hundred-year flood waters safely past the downtown area. The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) and Bexar County began this work in 1987, with the San Pedro Creek tunnel completed in 1991 and

the San Antonio River tunnel finished in 1997.

Almost as if scheduled specifically to test the work, a major flood then occurred in October of 1998 and the tunnels worked precisely as advertised, saving the city from immense damage and causing USACE officials to observe that this was the first major capital infrastructure project in their history that had paid for itself in the first year following completion.

But whereas flood control projects are designed to deal with events that happen infrequently, sustainable management of a resource like the San Antonio River is a never-ending pursuit, one that is focused on the many complex ways in which the water and surrounding land interact. Scott talks passionately and knowledgably about technical concepts like non-point-source pollution and impervious ground cover. She has a clear and well-grounded understanding of what the river needs to remain healthy and, indeed, to continue improving in quality in the coming years. SARA dedicates considerable resources to analyzing water quality, particularly following major rain events, as a result of which any number of contaminants are washed into the river.

These run-off situations raise not only trash levels in the river, but also the levels of E. coli and other bacterial contaminants. Scott and her many colleagues at SARA work tirelessly

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“As San Antonio nears its three hundredth anniversary,” she says, “my dream is for our city to be the largest in the country with no impaired waterways at all.”

to spread the word to San Antonio citizens about trash disposal, pet waste cleanup, and fertilizer application. And they work closely with developers to encourage proper drainage design, and effective techniques for constructing impervious cover (i.e., concrete, asphalt, etc.) that preclude the drainage of rainwater through the ground.

Scott goes to great lengths to point out that while SARA is not at all averse to new development throughout the city, they are keen to work with developers, architects, and builders to employ effective techniques for maximizing drainage and hence minimizing damage to the river.

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SARA regularly consults with the city and with the Texas Cavaliers about the River Parade and ways of minimizing the effects of hundreds of thousands of celebrating spectators so close to the water. The cleanup effort following such an immense gathering is enormous, and potentially even more so in the unfortunate event of a rainstorm during or immediately following the parade. Scott and her colleagues work constantly on social media, in the press, and through other communication channels to educate San Antonians about the history of the river and why it is such a valuable part of our culture and infrastructure, but also about practices as seemingly banal as proper trash disposal and not feeding or otherwise encouraging the presence of wildlife near the river.

Because, in the end, the San Antonio River is far more than just the Riverwalk. It is

an integrated ecosystem of river, feeder streams, land, people, animals, plants, and weather events. It is a resource that we celebrate at certain times each year—Fiesta and other less well-known events. But for many it is simply something we take for granted, even though it is the single biggest tourist draw in the city, indeed the thing that sets San Antonio apart from other major cities in the U.S. But it’s worth thinking about from time to time, and not only while watching the Fiesta River Parade in April.

Spare a thought whenever you find yourself walking, biking, or kayaking along any point in the fifteen miles that extend from the Museum Reach just north of the city to the Mission Reach, still under construction down south. Or when you walk across one of the many bridges on your way to a restaurant or concert downtown and glance down as a river barge passes beneath. Or when a friend or relative visits from out of town and you take them downtown to see firsthand the landmark that everyone thinks about when they think about San Antonio (no offense to The Alamo). The San Antonio River and Riverwalk are landmarks that define our city culturally and economically, not just during this month’s Fiesta celebrations, but throughout the year. They are precious resources that we all own, we all benefit from, and for which we all share the responsibility of preserving and protecting.

w w w. j i m b o l e s c o n s t . c o m

210.710.6441

BUSINESS PROFILE G O O D V I B R AT I O N S

by Denise R. Marcos

Emma Rudkin (left)

Imagine living in a world where silence prevails. The sounds of ocean waves crashing and birds singing are nonexistent. Imagine that the hums and dings of everyday life are just faint sounds in the very far distance. For some, this is a reality they know all too well.

For one local young woman, it is something she encounters every day.

After losing her hearing to a profound level at age three, Boerne native, Emma Faye Rudkin learned to navigate the world without being able to hear much of what was going on around her.

“When doctors told my parents I was deaf and I would continue to lose whatever hearing I had left as I got older, it took an emotional toll on us all,” Emma said. “They told my family I wouldn’t be able to function at a normal level and they should enroll me into a deaf school and teach me sign language. It was a lot to take in. Whatever they decided to do would determine the course of my life.”

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Rudkin’s diagnoses came in a time before the Internet was easily accessible and before much research was available to the public about hearing loss. For young parents, Kathy and Kurt Rudkin, the news was devastating. What were their options? What would they do?

“I spent hours looking up everything I could about hearing loss. Ninety percent of deaf/ hard-of-hearing (HOH) children are born to hearing parents. Emma was the first deaf person we’ve ever known. We didn’t know what to expect, but we knew we were going to do whatever it took to ensure Emma was just as successful as any of the other kids—that she had the same opportunity to do anything and everything they could do,” Kathy said. “So, she wore hearing aids, and we enrolled her into speech therapy, which she took yearlong for 10 years. She learned to read lips, which helps her fill in the gap of the missing sounds to help her communicate.

Later, in her teens, she would learn sign language to further her communication skills as her hearing loss progressed.”

The Rudkins spent many hours with Emma learning the sound and shape of each letter and understanding new words. They worked intensely on reading every single day. They captioned all their TVs, made flash cards and journals of unknown words or hard to pronounce words and worked diligently with speech therapists; a practice they attribute to her success and love for books today. “We had decided as a family, if Emma couldn’t enjoy an activity due to not hearing, none of us would participate. It makes you acutely aware of how unaccommodating this world truly is for the deaf/hard-of-hearing,” said Kathy.

Growing up in a small town where no one shared the same obstacles as little Emma was difficult. The solitude of being on the outskirts of social acceptance that came from her differences proved its challenges in ways the Rudkins were not prepared to face.

“Emma would come home crying nearly every day and only our family knew everything she was facing and dealing with.

She wanted to be like the other kids, to just fit in—to hear like they heard and to feel included,” Kathy said. “It broke my heart in unmeasurable ways. How do you comfort your child and tell her that may never be something she can have? As a parent, you only want the best for your kid. Were we doing all we could to help her? I stayed strong for my family during the day, but the nights were, many times, unbearable.”

As Emma grew older, the silence took its toll. Despite her close relationship with her

family and her childhood friends, Emma grew lonely. For her, trying to just hear and function in a hearing world was becoming increasingly difficult. She entered a state of darkness and anger toward God. Depression began to set in and she was becoming debilitated by her differences.

“I became angry, depressed and horribly insecure. I knew I needed to change, for this was a life not worth living,” Emma said.

“Although I grew up in a Christian home and went to Christian school, I had the head knowledge but not the heart knowledge of who God was. I associated so much of my pain with a God who had not answered my prayers to make me hear. So, in desperation, I signed myself up for a local Christian camp, and when I returned, something clicked that completely transformed me. For the first time, I felt God wasn’t ignoring me or punishing me by making me deaf. He was preparing me for something much bigger— something that would help me change the lives of others through my own deafness. I wanted to start a nonprofit for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, but I knew, to be successful, I needed a platform to raise awareness about it.”

Her transformation led her to plan for her future. So, in 2010, Emma took her passion for music, something she’s always loved, to a new level. She intensely studied piano, music theory, guitar, ukulele, kick drum and singing in preparation to compete for a title in the Miss America circuit. In 2015, and then again in 2017, Emma would walk away with the title of Miss San Antonio. Aid the Silent, her nonprofit, was founded in 2015. Music was Emma’s door to something big.

“Although I am unable to experience music in all its fullness, I know there are lyrics moving melodically with the song and beautiful sounds created with instruments and voices that I will never hear. Yet, music is not something only to be heard, it is something to be felt with the entire body and to be experienced with all the senses,” Emma said.

This passion and desire of inclusion for the entire deaf and hard-of-hearing community, led the Aid the Silent team to pursue a dream of bringing the deaf community a sensory experience unlike any other.

So, this spring, on May 20, 2017, Aid the Silent will host an inaugural Good Vibrations Music & Arts Festival (GVMAF) at the 1850 Settlement in San Antonio, Texas from 4pm to midnight, benefiting the nonprofit and in recognition of the deaf/HOH community.

Open to the entire public, hearing and nonhearing alike, this concert will be fun for the whole family. Attendees can shop artisan’s booths, partake in crafts and games, delight in good grub from area food trucks and enjoy eight hours of live music, featuring singersongwriters: Ben Rector, Matt Wertz, Penny & Sparrow, Ryan Proudfoot, Brad Blackburn and Aid the Silent Founder, Emma Faye Rudkin.

To accommodate the deaf/HOH patrons, the festival will include live captioning, sign language interpretation, T-coiling, a looping technology that allows hearing aid wearers to tune into the music directly, transformative wearable audio technology that converts sound into high fidelity vibrations, and a synchronized LED dance floor that will harmonize to the beats of the music. To the average hearing person this will look like any other concert; to the deaf/HOH person it will be a full out sensory experience.

loss, that deaf/HOH is not a one size fits all – there is no one way to approach hearing loss.

“Growing up, I didn’t feel included outside my home. We didn’t go to the movies like other families, and attending events was difficult because I couldn’t hear or read what was going on,” Emma said. “Our team wants this event to set an example for our community’s businesses, schools and churches. To demonstrate how you can throw a completely deaf/HOH-accessible event. By adding some simple components to an event, you’re promoting openness and inclusion. As a community partner, it’s an essential marketing investment.

“Music was something I’ve always loved.

I want others who are deaf and hard-ofhearing to experience this passion in a way unknown—to feel it with their entire body.

With the support of our sponsors and the community, we can bring this dream to life,” Emma said.

“Our donors have shown us great support since our establishment, but with resources such as hearing aids only covered under insurances in 21 states in the U.S., not including Texas, finding funds to continue to help as many children as possible, has proved challenging,” Emma said. “By bringing awareness to Aid the Silent, we hope to gain support from more communities to be able to provide families and their children with the resources and services they need to find personal success. We know this event will help us do that.”

The goal of GVMAF is to be a place where festivalgoers (hearing and non-hearing), can enjoy, side-by-side, a full music experience. A place where all can experience a completely interactive, sensory-filled concert and walk away with knowledge about hearing loss.

General admission, VIP, and meet and greet tickets available at goodvibrationsmusicfest. com. For bulk ticket discounts, contact the GVMAF team, directly at 830-249-1744 or info@goodvibrationsmusicfest.com. Kids five and under get in free.

This event will be a fundraiser for Aid the Silent’s four branches: Deaf Resources, Deaf Education, Deaf Ministry and Deaf Research.

The festival will also serve many additional purposes such as bringing awareness on prevention and early intervention associated with hearing loss. According to a study by the University of Gallaudet, Texas is the second largest state (next to California), with the highest deaf/HOH population—more than 15 million people. In addition, research done by the Hearing Health Foundation noted that hearing loss is the number one military war injury, affecting up to 60 percent of military personnel returning from overseas deployment. San Antonio is home to seven military bases.

At the festival, Aid the Silent will have an interactive booth simulating what it’s like to live with hearing loss. The nonprofit aims to promote deaf unity among the entire deaf/ HOH community—encouraging one another to support the choices and paths each person has taken to address their hearing T h e D o m i n i o n -M a g a z i n e . c o m

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STUDENT PROFILE PONI & CLOI BRYAN

By Peggy Schooley

Even though you see Poni’s and Cloi’s names together at the top of this page, that might be where many twin-ship likenesses end.

I was blessed to meet these wonderful young ladies and to hear for myself so many similarities, with so many differences!

Cloi has the distinction of being one minute older than her fraternal twin, Poni. As she told me “That’s where she got her name! It means Second Born Twin!” Cloi is a freshman at TMI, and she focuses on the cheer squad, drama, and tennis. “Cheer is something people often underrate – but it is hard work and takes a huge amount of focus and practice to do the stunts and routines. The squad at TMI has almost twenty girls in it right now – many of the girls are from The Dominion, too.” She further explained “Mrs. Amanda Q has us starting practice on August 1st all the way through December. We put in many hours of practice in preparing for our performances for the Texas Association of Private and Parochial School (TAPPS) competition. The year before the TMI Varsity Cheer earned sixth. This year the TMI Competition Cheer team earned 2nd place!

We plan to go on to 1st next time.”

Cloi is also very enthusiastic about drama.

“When I was in elementary school, we lived in Midland. My teacher, Ms. Lewallen at Bowie Fine Arts Academy, was so inspiring that she created a passion in me I didn’t know I had. I not only acted in dramas, but in All City School musical theater as well.

Unfortunately, I don’t have time to focus on my singing right now, but I will again soon.” Cloi’s college plans definitely include a relocation to Hollywood as soon as she can get there.

Cloi Bryan

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Poni, also a freshman at TMI, is driven by her tennis involvement. “Tennis has been my main sport for a long time, and while TAPPS doesn’t assign levels to players as the Club does, I’m a freshman on the varsity team.”

The confidence her coaches instill in her is definitely visible in her level of achievement on the tennis courts.

“No, I am not planning to go to college with a continued focus on my tennis. Instead, I really enjoy digital arts of all kinds, computer or photographic, or both – and I love the written word. English is one of my favorite classes as well. So, I’ve decided I want to be a journalist, and I have several schools already in mind for my undergrad work. Whatever school it is, though, it will definitely be out of state! Learning to adapt to new situations is an important part of adulthood.” At this time, Poni is looking at Arizona State and Boston University – both schools have exceptional journalism programs.

Exploring a little further, Poni and I discussed her inspirations, and her philosophy in life. As she said “I know that I love to creatively express myself through language and photographs. I love writing essays because they allow me to focus on little, tiny, almost overlooked details and turn those into an important part of the story or the picture. It is important to be open and outgoing. To look at life through an open lens, with a fresh mind; as if you’ve never seen it before. Take that tiny detail and make it the thesis statement. You’ll find you’ll change your whole perspective that way.”

Cloi and Poni, when asked individually about whom most inspires them, answered “My parents”. “I am so grateful for the opportunities given to us. Not everyone gets to have a private education in a wonderful school like we have. It wouldn’t have happened without our parents’ sacrifice and support. We live in a wonderful, safe neighborhood, and we are able to express ourselves freely at home.

Who could ask for more?”

Poni Bryan

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DOMINION GOLF

by Kyle O’Brien, Director of Golf, Dominion Country Club

THE 2017 DOMINION CUP IS A WRAP The 2017 Dominion Cup is a wrap and what an exciting weekend it was. The golf was great, the food was delicious, and the competition was extremely close. It all started Friday night with the pairings party. We had great food, camaraderie, and posted some matches that were sure to make the weekend exciting. After day one the Blue team held a one point lead at 10.5 to 9.5. The Green team with Defending captain Michael Kaylor would need to secure 10.5 points on day two to retain the cup. The Green team was off to a good start closing out several matches early.

As the day progressed both teams were at a dead split with the fate resting on 4 remaining matches on the course. As the pressure mounted the Blue team was able to secure the winning point with only 2 matches left on the course. The final total of 20.5 to 19.5 goes to the Blue Team (picture below) for this year’s victory. Congratulations Team Blue and a special THANK YOU to ALL who participated in this year’s event!

2017 Championship Team

“NEW” SUNSET STAKES HOW IT WORKS Each week we will host a blind draw (A,B,C,D) 9-hole scramble event. Teams will compete and the top finishers each week will be paid out in pro shop credit. In addition, teams will be competing for their chance at the “Powerball Pot”.

POWERBALL POT Every Thursday there is an additional Team Skins game. If a team gets a skin on a given hole, they will have a chance to draw for the “Powerball Pot”. For example, if a team has a skin on #5, they will have a chance to draw the #5 out of a jar with numbers 1-9 in it. If the number is drawn, the team wins the pot.

If a different number is drawn then there is not a winner and all “Powerball” monies will roll over to the following week. The pot will be capped at $2000 and once that happens, only previous Sunset Stakes contestants will be able to enter until the pot is won.

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ADDITIONAL DETAILS Open to Golf Members & dependents over 21 Happy hour on Course drink specials All men will play the Blue Tees All women will play the Red Tees Must have established handicap Blind draw for teams only (no requests) Entry Fee $10 Member Charge for daily shop credit payouts Entry Fee $5 Cash for “Powerball Pot” paid in Cash 3-Person teams will require 2 drives per player 4-Person teams will require 1 drive per player Sign up by 5pm on Thursdays for 5:30pm Shotgun

Kyle O’Brien (Captain), Hector Cruz (CoCaptain), Roberto Alvarez, Keith Coelho, Ed DeVane, Eddie DeVane, Giancarlo Ferruzzi, Speedy Gonzalez, David Griffin, Dennis Gutzman, Daryl Haby, Jay Gutierrez, Mike Houlihan, Col. Dan Johnston, John Kaler, Jimmy LeDoux, Ron Lenss, Dan Monroe, Billy Smith, Bo Sommer

CARING FOR THE COURSE Taking care of our Course is everyone’s responsibility. Utilize these Course etiquette procedures and tips and we can make sure our Course stays pristine and beautiful throughout 2017!

Practice Like the Pros See the description to the left on proper divot patterns. When practicing simply place your next ball at the back of your previous divot. In addition, to provide quality hitting turf for all Golfers, please keep all of your practice sessions within the designated hitting area provided.

Proper Ball Mark Repair It is a great habit on the green surfaces to repair any pitch marks that you make and any others you may see. To correctly repair a pitch mark, insert your divot repair tool or tee in the ground on the outside edge of the pitch mark and push the grass to the center.

To avoid damage to the roots do not twist or lift turf.

Properly Entering a Sand Trap & Rake Placement Always try to enter a sand trap at its lowest point. After you play your shot exit the same way you entered while raking your footprints as you exit. For proper rake placement after you play please leave your rake parallel to the bunker completely outside of the bunker.

Proper Divot Repair Should you make a divot after playing a shot, it is imperative that the divot be filled with the divot mix that is provided to you.

For proper divot repair, place the sand in the divot and tamp down with your foot in where the sand is equal to the ground surface. This will allow for a more playable shot should a ball find a sand-filled divot as well as prohibit irregularities in surface as the repaired divot heals.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW For the enjoyment of all golfers here at the Club, here is some helpful information and additional tips to know and use when you are on the Course.

Pace of Play Our Club pace of play is set at 4-hours for an 18-hole round of golf. Should there ever be room in front of you, ALWAYS allow faster groups to play through. At times the Golf Professional Staff will allow 5-somes, 6-somes, and other non-traditional groups on the Course. If allowed, these groups will be held to the same pace of play standard as all other groups on the Course.

Remember “Your place on the Course is directly behind the group ahead of you, not directly ahead of the group behind you” Teeing off #10 & Course Signage For the enjoyment of those already on the Course, please do NOT tee off of #10 unless instructed by the Golf Professional Staff. In addition, Course signage is there for a reason, so please mind signage instructions at all points on the Course. It is also a general rule to never drive your carts off the path within 50 yards of a teeing ground or green perimeter.

Cart Path Only It is never what a golfer wants to hear but a decision that is made to protect the golf course and keep the conditions of the Course at the highest level possible. Please be courteous to ALL MEMBERS during these restricted times and KEEP IT ON THE PATH!

LADIES STABLEFORD TOURNAMENT T h e D o m i n i o n -M a g a z i n e . c o m

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TA S T E O F T H E D O M I N I O N

by Michael G. Guerra, Chief Development Officer, San Antonio Food Bank

The hugely popular and growing spring member event, Taste of the Dominion, is now in its fourth year partnering with the San Antonio Food Bank. This year’s event is scheduled in for Thursday, May 11 at the club.

The Food Bank services reach greater San Antonio, including Kendall and surrounding counties, and provide urgently needed food and grocery products to 58,000 individuals at risk for hunger each week.

Proceeds from ticket sales and silent auction items from the previous three years have already helped provide more than 100,000 meals in our local area. Organizations in Boerne, New Braunfels, and of course, San Antonio are getting a direct boost from the funds raised from the event.

This year’s funds will again be used to provide summer meals to children at risk of hunger during summer break. The Food Bank’s “Summer Isn’t Fun When You’re Hungry” campaign will get a jump start from all proceeds at this year’s silent auction (so bid high and often!), along with tickets sold to non-members.

The event will again feature tastings from approximately 20 local restaurant favorites, along with music, adult beverages, and the sunset on our beautiful new outdoor patio at the club. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased by non-members at www.safoodbank.org and can also be purchased the evening of the event.

Tell your friends and let’s make this the biggest and most generous member event yet. Summer truly isn’t fun when you’re hungry and a kid, and this event will help us all make a difference for so many.

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HOME TOUR James & Lori Cline

by Peggy Schooley :: Photography by Ben Weber

So Many Answered Prayers So often in life we embark on a project not really knowing or understanding why, really.

We just know that we really need to do it, whatever it is. Your family encourages you, your friends applaud you, you are a little confused by it all, but you push off from the shore. All you can do is complete your project to the best of your ability and know that someday, maybe, you’ll know God’s purpose in it all.

With that in mind, let’s go back in time a bit. About 15 years ago, as James explained, “Mimi and I were living at 3 Vineyard in the Dominion. We decided to try the country life for a while and purchased 30 acres on Ammann Road in Boerne, contracted with Ken Bentley to create our dream home, and were happy there until about eight years ago.

That was when Mimi passed away, leaving me with a huge home that had lost much of its heart and fire. After a while, a lot of advice from my three children, my family, and my friends – and hours of prayer, I sold Ammann Road, and found a lot I loved back in the Dominion.”

He continued “Nobody else seemed to want it – covered in a forest of trees, a relatively steep drop off, and what many said was “no view”. But, I hauled an extension ladder to the site and climbed above those trees downslope, and I could see what they had missed – a beautiful site with a gorgeous view, backing on to Camp Bullis and very, very private. I was sold! I made an offer and went to work!”

He again contracted with Ken Bentley to create a totally different home – James asked for a ‘contemporary minimalist’ home. As he had to explain to me, that means that “No form in this house is without function. There is no ‘folderol,” no doo-dads, and no jarring

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visuals. It was instead to be serene, and calm, and shhhhhh…stillness for your spirit”. James continued by outlining how “Ken carefully mapped every detail with me -- gates line up with limestone walls which line up with courtyard surround, with the windows.

Everything is beautifully symmetrical and simple without being spare. If it is not symmetrical, it is planned carefully with purpose.”

of blessing in the foundation under the master bedroom, the living room, and other areas important to me. Ultimately, the house was finished, I moved in and thought about dating – also at the encouragement of my kids, family and friends – after all, Mimi had been gone for almost 7 years.” After a while, and all the dating sites, he gave up. There just didn’t seem to be a match for him. But he continued to tell God about it.

James was a bit surprised, himself. “I wasn’t sure what drove me to build such a home, but I gave it all to God, planting scriptures

In the meantime, Lori was busy raising 8 children, home schooling them and building a mission with mothers in the Philippines.

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Lori’s story begins “I had been married for nearly 25 years, homeschooling our eight children and teaching mothers how to train their children and home educate them as well. I had the idea that, if we someday developed a string ensemble, this could be an open door to share our faith with others and strengthen our family bond. Soon we had five violinists, one viola, two cellos and a big double bass!! A musical highlight for our entire family was traveling in a 37’ motorhome for 18 months. It was all so organized, you would never know that there were 10 people and 10 musical instruments on board! When we would arrive somewhere to play, we would begin exiting in our matching outfits, and it was like clowns coming out of their tiny car at the circus.

The first person would exit, then the next, and the next, on and on. It was a marvel! It was a life-altering experience performing and speaking to home education groups across the US and then later, across Asia for six weeks! Imagine the luggage! Each child carrying their own instrument and more!

We’ve been in the Hong Kong airport at least 10 times!!

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James & Lori’s wedding at the Dominion Country Club Suddenly, with eight children still in the home, Lori found herself without a husband. Even though she had very little financial support she refused to give up homeschooling and became totally dependent on God’s provision for

them. God’s faithfulness was demonstrated in unexpected ways. They were asked to come to Korea to start home schooling there.

Upon arrival, Lori began working to train five families and a few years later homeschooling had mushroomed to over 1,000 families!

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Lori’s singlehood remained static for fifteen years. “I had an important ministry, I had children that needed my leadership and guidance, and being an effective Christian mother is the most valuable and important role in the world. People often questioned me ‘But your kids won’t ever fit in!’. My answer? I don’t want them to fit into the world – I want them to change the world! In fact, my favorite quote is by Winton Churchill – he said ‘the hand the rocks the cradle rules the world’ and there is no truer fact.”

Lori and James were set up on a blind date by friends May, 2016. The two had friends who could vouch for them to the other person,

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and those friends encouraged them to get to know one another. Every conversation was better than the one before. When Lori told James “Ever since I saw Swiss Family Robinson when I was a child, I’ve wanted to live in a treehouse” and when she explained to him that her approach to the potential chaos of so many children and things was “I live in what I like to call contemporary minimalism. I don’t need things around me and I search for calmness and the people who love God wherever I am”….well, James knew he’d found his prayers answered in a beautiful woman with blonde hair and eight children. And he knew why – and for whom he’d built the house he did.

“We were married on August 13, 2016. Yes, that was only three months after we’d met.

But when you are mature enough to know your own heart and to seek God’s plan for you, you will know when the person is right.”

As Lori continued “When I walked into this home, I knew that it was God who created it, through James, just for me. Everything in it is exactly as I would have planned it if I could have. Every cabinet, drawer, mirror, and detail. Exactly right. And when I’m in the Master Bedroom, I look out the windows at the tops of trees – and I have my Swiss Family Robinson dream come true.”

James happily counted up and announced “We had 27 people here for Thanksgiving, 19 of them were little children, and we had not one spilled drink, argument, or anything but joy!” Lori says “My children, through homeschooling, were able to focus on their God-given strengths, and they now are happily living their lives doing things that are important to them and to the world around them.” James’ children also follow their parent’s lead by doing the same and living their lives as strong Christian families focused on raising their own children to “change the world!”

Lori is excited about being in the Dominion.

“I am attending the upcoming Women’s Forum Luncheon, and I am looking forward to making even more friends here.”

James and Lori both work tirelessly on their ministries – James invites any men who would like to study the Bible in the company of other men to please join at 26 Majestic Way on every Tuesday morning at 7:00 a.m.

Krispy Kreme doughnuts are promised.

“Just show up! Nothing else is required. No Bible knowledge is required. Just being a man searching for the discipleship of and fellowship with other men just like them

is enough. Call 210-275-3073 if you need directions!”

Lori strongly feels, “It is the fulfilling mission of older women to teach younger women. In over 30 years of discipling young mothers, I find they often struggle with anger. I believe that about 80% of that anger is from a lack of skill, as it had been for me. My ministry is called Help Your Joy because as I help mothers gain skill and confidence in their home, their joy is multiplied! My website will be completed soon. If however, anyone thinks I can be of help to them, PLEASE just email me at LoriHelpYourJoy@gmail.com.”

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T M I & T E X A S I N D E P E N D E N C E DAY

by Stephanie Livsey, TMI Director of Community Relations

TMI – The Episcopal School of Texas was one of two schools honored March 2 in a Texas Independence Day observance at the Cenotaph in Alamo Plaza.

Presented by the Alamo Mission Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT), the event traditionally honors area schools of historical significance.

This year’s ceremony highlighted the contributions of TMI and St. Philip’s College, both founded by the Rt. Rev. James S. Johnston, first bishop of the independent Episcopal Diocese of West Texas.

Students from both institutions were part of the program. TMI’s Symphonic Band played patriotic songs, the varsity cheer squad performed a routine and mascot Prima Panther appeared. Members of the Texas Military Institute Corps of

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Cadets, TMI’s award-winning JROTC unit, presented the colors, Cadet Maj. Mark “Harry” Ware led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Texas Flag, and Cadet Sgt. First Class Nathaniel Miseli read “Texas, Boldest and Grandest,” a salute to the state and its history.

Since 1912, the DRT has honored local schools on Texas Independence Day, the anniversary of the adoption of the Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico.

Previous schools recognized have included Central Catholic High School and Jefferson High School.

The Rev. Carol Morehead – TMI parent, former TMI trustee and associate rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church – delivered a tribute to TMI, its founder and alumni. “We are proud of all that the school and its alumni have accomplished as we look forward to TMI’s 125th anniversary in 2018,” Morehead said, “and we are most inspired when we consider our founder’s prayer for ‘a school set apart to the glory of (God’s) great name.’

May we always strive to fulfill that prayer, in all we do as students, teachers, parents and friends of the school.”

Founded in 1893 by the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, TMI – The Episcopal School of Texas is a private, co-educational, collegepreparatory school for grades 6-12, with optional military (JROTC) and boarding programs. For information, visit www.tmi-sa.org or call (210) 698-7171.

D O M I N I O N T R AV E L S

by Marilyn Farello, Dominion Resident

D UBA I - F RO M P E A RL S TO O I L You’re going WHERE? Are you sure that is safe? Why would you want to go to that area? These were some of the many questions we got when we told people we were going to the Persian Gulf. In actuality, the cities we visited on our cruise are among the safest in the world and amazingly interesting.

The entire area’s growth is quite recent—oil was not discovered in the region until 1932 in Bahrain. Before the discovery of oil, the region was relatively poor with pearl diving being the major source of income for most of the inhabitants for thousands of years. This was very difficult and dangerous work—sharks and drowning just two of the perils the divers faced. Imagine clipping your nose with pieces of turtle shell, plugging your ears with wax, tying a stone to your foot, and diving to the bottom of deep waters. Sounds pretty treacherous!

The invention of the cultured pearl by the Japanese in the early 1900’s decimated the pearl diving industry in the Gulf region. Enter oil and lots of money.

Dubai in the United Arab Emirates was the first city we visited, and certainly the most impressive. Oil was discovered in Dubai in 1966 and the once desert city rapidly expanded. Cranes (25% of all building cranes in the world), giant skyscrapers, and man-made islands are everywhere. Unlike a lot of the Gulf region, Dubai does not have an unlimited supply of oil—projections indicate that oil will run out by 2029. The government, then, made a decision to have an economy based on tourism rather than oil, and has been quite successful.

Dubai’s goal is to have the biggest and best of everything. The tallest man-made structure and building in the world is in Dubai—the Burj Khalifa, completed in 2009. We rode 124 floors in the elevator of this building in 60 seconds—and it barely felt like you were moving! The largest shopping mall in the world is also in Dubai—complete with a skating rink, largest aquarium in the world, and every American restaurant chain you can imagine. Texas Roadhouse, P.F. Changs, Shake Shack—menus the same except that no alcohol is served. I even bought Christmas ornaments in the Dubai Mall Bloomingdale’s. As if this mall was not big enough, an even larger mall is currently under construction. The streets are impeccably clean as are all the cars on the road. Clean cars in a desert climate? We inquired about this and were told that if you drive a dirty car, it is a $100 fine. With my always-dirty car, I’d be poor if I lived in Dubai. You get the picture— bigger is better in Dubai. Guinness World Records has even opened an office in Dubai since the city has so many “world records.”

Our next stop was Muscat, Oman. Muscat is the capital and largest city in Oman. Oil is king in Oman, as well, leading to a thriving economy. Oman is one of only two countries in the world to be ruled by a sultan. The city of Muscat has quite stunning topography, turquoise waters flanked on both sides by mountains. Contrasting with the rest of the Persian Gulf, architecture in Muscat is low-lying (three stories or less) white buildings.

It was then on to Manama, Bahrain. Bahrain is an archipelago of more than thirty islands and is smaller and less well known than some of its more famous cousins. Like Dubai, Bahrain’s supplies of oil are

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running low. The government of Bahrain is looking to tourism and finance to continue its economic growth. Bahrain has a large financial and banking industry and was named the world’s fastest growing financial center in 2008. The country also built a large racetrack facility and in April, 2004, hosted a Formula One race, the Bahrain Grand Prix. This is an annual event and had helped to put Bahrain on the map. We visited the racetrack and rode a land Rover obstacle course. Fun! Still another source of revenue for Bahrain is the King Fahd Causeway which links Bahrain to Saudi Arabia. Millions of Saudis come to Bahrain to watch movies, go to restaurants, and buy alcohol— prohibited in Saudi Arabia.

Doha, Qatar was the next destination on our itinerary. This city is what Dubai was like several years ago—an area undergoing massive growth. Cranes, resorts, sports complexes, and stunning new buildings are everywhere. The city is banking on the future and has scored the right to hold the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In Doha, we visited a camel racetrack and watched young camels being trained. This was a fascinating process. Robot jockeys sit on the camel, controlled on the sidelines. Young boys used to ride the camels, but this was deemed too dangerous. Camels can race at speeds up to 40 mph. On the way back from this facility, we had views of the Doha Corniche, a large promenade along the water.

Our final stop was the United Arab Emirates capital city of Abu Dhabi where we spent a couple of days. This city has an amazing skyline as well and is a major cultural and commercial center. More shopping centers abound! One of the sights we visited was the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque—the largest in the United Arab Emirate. It is difficult to describe the grandiosity and beauty of this mosque. It has 82 domes, the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet (over 2 billion knots), columns inlaid with semi-precious stones, the world’s second largest chandelier made of millions of Swarovski crystals, chandeliers gilded with 24 karat gold, and room for 40,000 worshippers. Females are required to wear clothing that reveals nothing but the hands and the face, but it was worth the hassle to see this stunning monument. We were also advised not to touch or kiss a member of the opposite sex— no hand-holding in the mosque!!

The next day we headed to the desert for a 4x4 adventure. I don’t think I realized how beautiful the desert truly is, you can literally see forever. Some of the times the ride was like a roller coaster— awesome—and other times we bashed into the dunes. We stopped for a quick camel ride and then it was back to skyscrapers!

How do you turn a poor, desert area into an area that is lush green, with incredible architecture, and a thriving economy—give up pearl fishing and discover oil! On a more serious note, this is a fascinating area, and a cruise is a great way to visit a lot of countries in a short period of time. The Persian Gulf is a very different part of the world and one that most would enjoy.

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MAMA MIA! WHAT A PRETTY GIRL!

Have you ever thought, “Wow! German Shepherds are regal and pretty, but Mama Mia, aren’t they big?!” Well, I have a solution for you. Me! At just 33 pounds, I am a Shepherd mix in a travel-sized package.

I am kid-approved and friendly with other dogs. I try to be friendly with the cat at my foster home, but she scares me. I am sure I will win her over since I am such a sweet girl.

I am house-trained and walk nicely on my leash. I just love walks! I am teaching my foster mom tricks, too, like giving me treats when she says, “Sit.” She is doing great with that one!

My foster mom says I have great house manners for a puppy, and that I am very fun and loving. Could you tell the cat that?

Mia is a 10 month old puppy who is spayed, vaccinated, microchipped, and heartworm negative. Contact DAAG at daagadoptions@gmail.com or (210) 854-8055, if you are interested in adopting Mia.

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APRIL AREA EVENTS YOU CAN’T MISS

We’ve only listed a partial selection of the amazing activities that occur in our city during our San Antonio Fiesta! The celebration is a month long extravaganza of events, outside activities, Fiesta Royalty, Parades, and fun for every single person in your club, your family, your neighborhood – and all your out-of-town friends. Because the list of activities is so long and so detailed, our Area Events Calendar highlights only a few of the types of events that occur.

Crown the King! Public Crowning of Rey Feo Main Plaza 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

To see a complete list of Fiesta events and more details about each event, please go to www.fiesta-sa.org or the Texas Cavaliers page at www.texascavaliers.org

SATURDAY, APRIL 22

2017 FIESTA EVENTS CALENDAR SATURDAY, APRIL 1

Rey Feo Crown Celebration Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center 7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Fiesta POPS Tobin Center for the Performing Arts 8:00 p.m.

Investiture of King Antonio Alamo Plaza 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Fiesta Arts Fair Southwest School of Art 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Lutheran Coronation Scottish Rite Auditorium 7:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m.

Fiesta Oyster Bake St. Mary’s University Campus 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

SATURDAY, APRIL 15

MONDAY, APRIL 24

UTSA Football Fiesta Spring Game Dub Farris Stadium 1:00 p.m.

Texas Cavaliers’ River Parade River Walk 7:00 p.m.-9:30pm

THURSDAY, APRIL 20

TUESDAY, APRIL 25

Fiesta Fiesta Hemisfair Plaza 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

A Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA) La Villita 5:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Fiesta Carnival Alamodome Parking Lot C 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Ford Mariachi Festival River Walk 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

FRIDAY, APRIL 21

Cornyation Charline McCombs Empire Theater 7:00 p.m.

A Taste of New Orleans Sunken Garden Theater 5:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26

Fiesta Oyster Bake St. Mary’s University Campus 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

A Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA) La Villita 5:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

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Taste of the Northside 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

The Club at Sonterra Cornyation Charline McCombs Empire Theater 7:00 p.m.

Coronation of the Queen Majestic Theatre 7:45 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Ford Mariachi Festival River Walk 6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

THURSDAY, APRIL 27 A Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA) La Villita 5:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Battle of Flowers Band Festival Alamo Stadium 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, APRIL 28 Battle of Flowers Parade Parade Route 12:20 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

SATURDAY, APRIL 29 Fiesta Pooch Parade Alamo Heights Swimming Pool 7:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Fiesta Jazz Band Festival St. Mary’s University Campus 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

King William Fair & Parade King William Historic District 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Fiesta San Fernando San Fernando Cathedral 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.

Fiesta Flambeau Parade Parade Route 6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

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MLS# 1202017 Cute 2 bed, 2.5 bath townhouse across from Boerne High School.

Featuring large bedrooms, walk in closet, dining room, vaulted ceilings, fireplace, and a converted garage.

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ARTIST PROFILE

NAME Ellie McIntosh OCCUPATION Designer and Artist LOCATION Home Base in North Carolina but I work all over the US and abroad HOW DID YOU ORIGINALLY GET INTO PAINTING? I started out as a sculptor in my late teens.

In 2002 I took my first painting class at Del Mar Community college in Corpus Christi. By the end of the class, all but one of my paintings sold and I received my first commissioning for mural. After about a year of mural painting, I began to study under Nicola Vigini with Vigini Studios in San Antonio. There, I learned how to paint various styles of decorative finishes, Venetian plaster, wood graining, marbling, and trompe l’Oiel. As I took on more commissions I began to better understand how to work with my clients pulling together a cohesive ‘look’ with lighting, furnishings, and accessories. That is when I enrolled in a private college in Denver that offered a Bachelors of Fine Art in Interior Architecture and Design with an emphasis in Sustainable Design, The Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD). I continued to work and paint and began to creating complete designs of my client’s spaces. This is when I began using more experimental techniques in my art including the use of mixed media in art and design.

By 2010 while my business was blossoming and I was growing as an artist, I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. During my treatment I could not paint murals or decorative finishes as the extensive surgery made it difficult to use my arms.

Chemotherapy had also taken my creative drive. After finishing treatment I decided to make myself get back to painting right away.

I needed to get my drive back. I stretched a massive canvas on my garage floor and I started painting. With each passing day, the rush of creativity grew stronger. It was not long before I was painting and designing

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nearly everyday and back to working with my dedicated clientele.

Shortly after, my Marine husband was assigned orders to North Carolina. I needed to expand my reach to keep working on quality projects and grow my portfolio after the move. I started teaching at the local college and had the opportunity to travel and join art retreats abroad. From this home base I worked in other metropolitan hubs and expanded network to such places as San Antonio, Denver, Philadelphia, and Atlanta.

This led to a more diverse body of work.

AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS? Publications include; House and Garden Magazine: Top 10 Most Beautiful Spaces Around the Globe, Blossom Magazine, Jacksonville Daily News, The Globe, elle Décor, Décor 8, Corpus Christi Caller Time, Portland News

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ASPECT OF ART? My favorite aspect of art is the art community. I am immersed in art and creativity all the time and I love sharing that passion with others. I love that I can draw from my imagination and bring my ideas to life.

WHAT DO YOU FIND INSPIRES YOU TO PAINT? I am inspired by nature, colors around me, my life experiences, and experimenting with various mediums and techniques as way of creating art. It is inspiring to learn the rules, but even more so, to learn how to break them.

TELL US ABOUT THE CHARITY YOU’RE WITH (THE ONE ABOUT TEACHING KIDS TO PAINT) While visiting Marrakesh, Morocco to paint a large mural and several furniture pieces

for Peacock Pavilions, a boutique hotel. I facilitated a workshop as a guest instructor for a group of 30 young girls from the local village, Douar Ladaam. This was their first art lesson and was a very moving experience for me.

Since that time Project Soar has grown immensely; So much so, some were walking to Peacock Pavilions, from 2 hours away.

The need was there for the program to expand beyond Douar Ladaam. The funders of Project Soar, Maryam Montague and Chris Redecke hired me and several other instructors to write curricula that could be taken into communities throughout Morocco by peace Corpus Volunteers. My focus was on developing the Arts curriculum and branding the program. I take all the lessons from other instructors and design and layout the instructional booklets in English and Arabic and develop the visuals that aid

with various language barriers. Many girls in Morocco communicate in the spoken language Darija and do not learn a written language until age 9. The art workshops and visual lessons help bridge that gap.

In the past year Project Soar was featured in the CNN documentary ‘We Will Rise’ and several of our girls were invited to the Whitehouse to view the film.

IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU HOPE TO GROW AS A PAINTER? I am always growing as an artist. Every piece I paint and the spaces I paint in al present different challenges that lead me to new ideas and new ways of creating. I hope to continue to expand my reach and have continued opportunities to do and share what I love.

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