cover in separate file
San Antonio WOMAN
JULY/AUGUST 2015
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24
72 128
12
Contributors
14
What’s New
28
At Home
38
Beauty
42
Fashion Calendar
44
Guys to Know
47
Health Matters
68
Business Woman Spotlight
70
According to Linda
79
Society
90
Sustainable Gardening
93
Senior Care-Giving
115
Mommy Matters
118
Role Model
120
Hill Country Guide
123
Travel
125
CityScene
126
Artbeat
132
Calendar
134
Dining
141
Dream Home Guide
144
Weddings
145
Women on the Move
16 LAWYE
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SPECIAL SECTIONS
16 UP FRONT
According to AARP, nearly 5.8 million American children live with their grandparents and in Bexar County, more than 18,000. We visit with three families who tell us the joy and emotional turns parenting a second time around can take.
8 | sawoman.com
24 PROFILE
Jelynne LeBlanc-Burley is a top executive at CPS Energy. We talk with her about her role in ushering our city into the 21st century and how her bold steps as a youth helped paved her path to success.
IN 72 WOMEN BUSINESS
51
Texas Organ Sharing Alliance
81
Women in Law Directory
99
San Antonio Private Schools
128 ENTERTAINING
Family law is one of the fastest growing areas of law today. We visit with four leading attorneys who tell us how they got their start, trends they see, and how they balance their clients’ emotional strains with their own personal life.
We visit a local couple to learn their tested tips and tricks for entertaining guests at home. Get creative recipes, strategies and ideas to help create a memorable gathering that appears flawless.
San Antonio WOMAN FROM THE EDITOR
PUBLISHER J. Michael Gaffney
Nicole Greenberg, Editor San Antonio Woman
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jasmina Wellinghoff
I welcome you to the July-August issue of
SAN ANTONIO WOMAN. As we developed this
issue, we wanted to spotlight those among us
who are making bold choices to envision a better
future for our families and community. For the
Photgraphy by Marie Langmore
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JULY/AUGUST 2015
past 13 years we have profiled those who have
made such bold choices, taken risks to advance
an idea or adopted a role that makes a positive
impact on those around them. For this issue
that encompasses the passage of Independence
Day, we visit with those who are both visionary
and tenacious in helping people add value and
quality to their life.
Our cover profile, Jelynne LeBlanc-Burley, is doing just that. She is helping CPS Energy meet
EDITOR Nicole Greenberg
COPY EDITOR Kathryn Cocke CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Wendy Atwell, Robyn Barnes, Nicole Crawford, Ron Bechtol, Linda Elliott, Amy Howell, Cheryl Van Tuyl Jividen, Pamela Lutrell, Josie Seeligson, Janis Turk PHOTOGRAPHY Jessica Giesey, Marie Langmore, Al Rendon, Janet Rogers, Elizabeth Warburton GRAPHIC DESIGN Tamara Hooks, Maria Jenicek, Luis Portillo BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING Steven Cox, Cindy Jennings, Madeleine Justice
San Antonio’s 21st century energy demands while devoting herself to our community to empower
ADMINISTRATION & CUSTOMER SERVICE Nancy A. Gaffney
are two additional examples of San Antonians thinking about our future in bold new ways, Helmy
INTERN Annabelle Spezia-Lindner, Alexandra Wagner
fearless thinking among our youth. Sara Helmy, our Role Model and Guy To Know, Darryl Byrd
— through the virtual connections of social media — and Byrd — through the marshaling of re-
sources and urban renewal.
Our Upfront story also focuses on our future through the lens of parenting from a grandpar-
ent’s perspective. My own parents helped raise my nephew when my brother fought in Desert
Storm. I was in high school, and a toddler added new dynamics to our family unit. We learn more
about this steadily growing trend, the rewards and sacrifices of parenting a second time, and how
this trend has impacted three amazing sets of grandparents and their grandchildren. Our spot-
light on parenting continues with a focus on managing sibling rivalry in Mommy Matters.
Our Women in Business story also focuses on family, from a legal perspective. Four leading
San Antonio lawyers discuss one of the fastest-growing areas of the law. We learn about the raw
emotion that accompanies divorce and custody battles, the new trends shaping this legal specialty
PRINTING Shweiki Media, San Antonio, Texas EDITOR EMERITUS Beverly Purcell-Guerra FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION call (210) 826-5375 email: info@sawoman.com PUBLISHED BY
and how these women balance their personal life with their meaningful work.
We learn from those we feature that being bold and visionary can be physically taxing! We take
time out in this issue to enjoy the healing aspects of gardens in Sustainable Gardening and enjoy an
evening gathering in Entertaining, where tried-and-true ideas and recipes for bringing friends and
family together make gatherings come off flawlessly. One local family, the Spezia-Lindners, help us
get into a celebratory mood with their take on a savory summer night in San Antonio.
Special sections this issue help you identify meaningful options for the unique stage you may
be in life. Take time to read the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA) special section spotlighting the organization and its 40 years of extraordinary work and shaping miracles that give people a
second chance at life. Our 2015 San Antonio Private School directory provides an updated listing
of private school options in our area, and our SAN ANTONIO WOMAN Law Directory spotlights a list of lawyers ready to help you with your personal or professional plans.
Thank you for spending time with SAN ANTONIO WOMAN. I look forward to hearing what
you think. Enjoy!
10 | sawoman.com
8603 Botts Lane, San Antonio, TX 78217 210-826-5375 www.pixelworkscorporation.com San Antonio Woman is published bimonthly by PixelWorks Corporation (Publisher). Reproduction in any manner in whole or part is prohibited without the express written consent of the Publisher. Material contained herein does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher or its staff. San Antonio Woman reserves the right to edit all materials for clarity and space and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors or omissions. San Antonio Woman does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertisements or editorial, nor does the Publisher assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. Articles and photographs are welcome and may be submitted to our offices to be used subject to the discretion and review of the Publisher. All real estate advertising is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make such preference, limitation or discrimination.” Printed in the U.S.A.
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CONTRIBUTORS
AL RENDON
Al Rendon photographs the homes seen in SAN ANTONIO WOMAN and 78209 MAGAZINE. “A room is four walls until someone moves in the first object. People choose their environment and the decor in a room to express their personality. The room expresses the family’s taste, and the unique homes of 78209 are very tastefully detailed. My photographs use light to bring a home’s personality to life. When I raise the camera and focus on a room’s view, I am composing to express its owners’ personality in the best light.” He has had more than a dozen major solo exhibits, and his work is in such permanent collections as the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution and the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago.
ROBYN BARNES
Robyn Barnes’ passion is writing about homes and the people who live in them. As a regular contributor for the At Home column in SAN ANTONIO WOMAN, she has seen all kinds of homes around town. “I’ve seen historic homes and cutting edge modern penthouses,” she says. “It’s a privilege to share a family’s home and a slice of their lives with readers. A house can be a fabulous monument to design and architecture but it isn’t really interesting until you meet the family who lives in it.” In addition to At Home, Barnes also writes the magazine’s Senior Caregiving column.
12 | sawoman.com
W WHATS NEW SCHOOLS CHANGE THEIR NAMES
Buckner Fanning Christian School has officially changed its name to The School at Mission Springs (TSAMS). The new name is one that Buckner Fanning originally gave the school when it opened Sept. 8, 1998. The school is committed to an exemplary Christian and academic education. It is a fully accredited school as well as a Visitation Core Knowledge school serving pre-K3 through high school. The website is under construction and will be accessible by August at www.tsams.org. Their new phone is 210-721-4700. Monarch Academy has officially changed its name to The Academy at Morgan's Wonderland. It is still located at
5235 David Edwards Drive, San Antonio, TX 78233, and the phone is 210-479-3311. With its new name the school has also updated its website address to be www.morganswonderland. academy.
KUDOS TO SAN ANTOIO WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS!
In San Antonio, the number of women-owned businesses has doubled since 1997, from 33,859 to 66,700. Local employment by firms in San Antonio has grown by more than 60 percent to 64,300 and annual sales grew from $5.8 billion to $8.9 billion during the same period. Texas ranks second in the nation in the number of women-owned businesses created in the past 18 years, according to a “State of Women-owned Businesses” report commissioned by American Express OPEN. (Source: San Antonio Business Journal).
CONGRATULATIONS, SAINT MARY’S HALL CLASS OF 2015
On May 22, the Class of 2015 came together with family, friends, alumni, faculty and staff at the Ancira Event Center on the Saint Mary's Hall campus for the school’s 134th commencement ceremony. The event marked the return of commencement ceremonies to Saint Mary's Hall after 13 years of celebrating them off campus. This year’s graduates will attend 49 colleges and universities in 20 states, and the group of 94 students earned a staggering $11.3 million dollars in merit scholarships. The Class of 2015 also includes five National Merit Scholars, 17 National Merit Commended Scholars, nine National Hispanic Scholars, and seven students committed to competing at the collegiate level. Saint Mary’s Hall prepares students for success in college and fulfillment in life. We offer challenging academics, a wide variety of athletic opportunities and a thriving fine arts program. If you are interested in learning more about the school and its exciting and unique programs, visit www.smhall.org. 14 | sawoman.com
W UP FRONT
RAISING GRANDCHILDREN Three San Antonio couples discuss the rewards and the sacrifices By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF
Photography by MARIE LANGMORE
According to AARP, 7.8 million
American children live with relatives
other than their parents, and
5.8 million of those live with their grand-
parents. In fact, this number
has been rising steadily over the past four decades and has attracted the attention of social scientists and
various social agencies. In Bexar
County, more than 18,000 grandparents have assumed the parental role.
We have three real-life stories that are
both sad and joyful — sad because the
biological parents were either unable or unwilling to raise their own
offspring but also heartwarming
because loving grandparents stepped in, ready to sacrifice again for a new generation of children.
16 | sawoman.com
“We need to step in and raise our children to be responsible adults; otherwise the consequences propagate down the line.”
Suddenly We Had a Baby to Raise Marisol and Alonzo Whittington were looking forward to their
mares and suffered from asthma largely because his parents smoked
ness in 2011, and Marisol was also pursuing a college degree at Texas
resolved. Marisol set up a cozy room for him in their comfortable Gar-
empty-nest years. The couple had started a commercial cleaning busi-
State in addition to holding another job as senior contract manager
with Sodexo, an international company that offers food and facility management services for a variety of institutions. To relax, they liked
to ride motorcycles and explore new restaurants. Most of their chil-
dren were adults and on their own with the exception of the youngest,
Arianna, who still is a college student.
Then one day, Alonzo’s oldest son from his previous marriage
showed up on their doorstep with his girlfriend and a baby boy in tow,
saying he wanted to introduce the boy to his grandparents. That visit
soon led to others, with baby Estevan spending longer and longer pe-
riods with the Whittingtons without his parents. Marisol and Alonzo
eventually learned that Child Protective Services (CPS) had been vis-
iting the younger couple’s apartment for some time to monitor the
child’s care and safety. Their lifestyle and perennial financial problems
were cause for concern. A few months later, the CPS caseworker, Chireen Mendoza, approached the Whittingtons to see if they would
consider becoming Estevan’s guardians. “How could we say ‘no’?” asks
Marisol. “The alternative was the foster care system, and I couldn’t
live with that. So suddenly we had a baby to raise.” Marisol cannot say
enough about Mendoza’s meticulous handling of the situation and the
caseworker’s dedication to Estevan’s welfare.
Little Ezo, as Estevan is nicknamed, joined their household in Sep-
tember 2014 at the age of nine months and has been flourishing ever since. When he arrived, he was behind on his vaccinations, had night-
nonstop, explains Marisol, but all of these problems have since been
den Ridge home, and life changed for everyone. Today, the family’s
routine revolves around Ezo’s schedule. Fortunately, Arianna and
other relatives are happy to help, surrounding the now 18-month-old
with love and attention.
“He brings us so much joy,” notes grandma, who is actually his step-grandmother. “You teach him a new word, and you get so excited about that. He comes and hugs you, and it’s so heartwarming. He’s a very good boy and smart as a whip.” Though we often think of grandparents as older, Marisol is only
44 and her husband, 54. They are thankful that they still have the en-
ergy to rear their grandson to adulthood, especially since they made
the decision to officially adopt him. The new familial relationship can
get a bit confusing when little cousins come over to play, but it’s too
early for explanations at this time. Marisol and Alonzo have become
Mama and Papa, and they are leaving it at that. While the biological
parents are not exactly banned from visiting, few visits have taken
place, which Marisol believes is better for the child.
She sees her second parental career as an opportunity to do an
even better job than with her own kids. “You learned from your expe-
july/august 2015 | 17
W UP FRONT riences with your children,” she explains. “I think my children were somewhat spoiled. For instance, both
wanted brand-new cars at 16, and both got them. I don’t want to repeat that mistake. Maybe Ezo will get
a job to help pay for his car, and maybe it doesn’t have to be a new car. And there will be no video games
all the time. We are better at this parenting game now. We are very nurturing, but we also believe in dis-
ciplining children. So with Ezo we can start right.” It also helps to be more financially stable and have familial support, something the Whittingtons did not enjoy earlier in life as they moved from place to place during Alonzo’s military career.
We break our conversation to take a look at Ezo’s room, freshly decorated with blue carpeting and walls
and toddler toys galore. In his closet, perfect little outfits are lined up on the low rod. Despite the talk about
not indulging kids, the new mom admits that it’s hard to resist buying the cute clothes. He’s the best-
dressed kid in his day care, she confides, laughing. Now that they are parents again, the spouses find them-
selves entertaining all the concerns and worries that parents normally have about schools, extracurricular programs, starting a college fund, involving him in sports, entertaining his little friends, etc. “My husband
and I are very excited and a little scared,” she admits. And she offers advice to other grandparents in similar
situations: “Be prepared. It’s hard work, but the rewards outweigh the sacrifices. We need to step in and
raise our children to be responsible adults; otherwise the consequences propagate down the line.”
Guiding a Teenager One of the first things Jean French tells me
about her 16-year-old grandson, Patric, is how
handsome and charming he was during a recent
social occasion when he acted as escort to
“princesses” at the Fiesta Teen Queen Corona-
tion, an event sponsored by the Woman’s Club of
San Antonio. “This was the first time he’s ever
done anything that formal,” notes the proud grandma, who is the club’s president. “Everybody liked him. I could see him blossoming.”
Patric came to live with Jean and her husband,
Jack French, in January of 2014 after his mother,
Jean’s daughter, suffered both health and finan-
cial troubles and could no longer support her son. His father, who works in Afghanistan, visits for a
few weeks every summer and pays child support.
“When Patric first came to us, he didn’t laugh and
he didn’t talk much,” says Jean. “He was kind of beaten down. He didn’t have social skills. But he’s
learning fast. The teachers tell me that he’s socia-
ble at school, and now when I give him a hug, he hugs back, and when we walk on the street, he
holds my hand. Little by little, he’s getting more
comfortable. I want him to have a normal life of
a teenager, but I don’t push hard. He still has some catching-up to do.”
18 | sawoman.com
Jean gives credit to her husband, whom she describes as “the salt of the earth. He has been the rock we all lean on.”
While he was often left to his own devices in the past, life in the
French household offers structure, expectations and a dose of dis-
cipline. There are chores to do, church to attend on Sundays, and
dinner is a family affair every night. Jack is teaching the teen how
to mow the lawn and trim the hedges so grandpa and grandson can
spend time together. There’s no skipping school, and this summer
Patric will be encouraged to find a part-time job like so many others
his age. In the last year-and-a-half his school grades have consid-
erably improved, and he seems to be warming up to church services
as well. Grandma’s heart was gladdened recently when she heard
him join in the singing. She made no big deal about it, but she knew
that something had changed.
to take me upstairs to the entertainment room, where he spends lots of
time playing those games. Someday he may want to design or test them.
Does he like living here, with his grandparents? I ask. “It’s good,” comes the brief answer. But then he amplifies: “They make me laugh sometimes… I feel loved and taken care of.” To keep the conversation going I ask him what surprised him
Because Patric will be with them a relatively short time before
the most in this new life. He doesn’t hesitate on that one: “What
However, Jean has the necessary power-of-attorney documents to
laugh. Calling herself “a professional volunteer,” Jean has served
becoming an adult, the Frenches have not formally adopted him.
deal with medical and financial issues that may arise. She and Jack also plan to help with his college expenses. “Next week, I’ll make an
appointment with the school counselor to make sure he’s on the right track for college,” she notes.
This is not the first time that Jack and Jean have offered a help-
ing hand to a family member. They took care of Jack’s elderly parents for 14 years and often hosted Jean’s adult children – and their offspring – for prolonged periods of time. At one time all three of
her grown children lived with them. Jean gives credit to her husband, her children’s stepfather, whom she describes as “the salt of
the earth. He has been the rock we all lean on.”
When Patric joins us after school, he’s polite and pleasant but not
very talkative. Jean tries to draw him out by asking about school and
some tests. I eventually find out that his favorite subject is math, and I
already know from grandma that he loves console games. He’s willing
surprised me is how much my grandma goes out.” Jean and I both
on a number of community organization boards and has been pres-
ident of six of them. Her responsibilities keep her busy and on the
go. But that kind of volunteer work is unfamiliar to her grandson.
During our three-way conversation, she calmly tells Patric that
he can express anger if he feels angry, that she wouldn’t mind. He
nods, noncommittally. She also would like him to know that his
school friends are welcome to come to the house. But Patric shakes
his head “no.” Though his friends know that he lives with grand-
parents, he’s clearly not ready to invite them over. He either can’t
or is not willing to explain why. When he bolts upstairs to the game
room, Jean and I spend a little time talking about her community
projects and the family’s summer plans. “We have lots of plans for
the summer — the zoo, the Carlsbad Caverns, the Witte Museum, a
teen group at our church, car shows… he loves watching car shows!”
she exclaims, her voice rising in excitement.
july/august 2015 | 19
The children are now the focus of their lives. “We’ll provide for them no matter what”.
After Tragedy, New Hope David and Lydia Lerma have had a lot to deal with in the past
couple of years. Back in March 2013, their beautiful 27-year-old
Sarah fell ill and was hospitalized with what Lydia describes as infected ulcers. That was the beginning of months of repeated hospi-
Sarah left behind two children, David and Emerie, now 4 and 9,
respectively. Since the children were already living with the grandpar-
ents during their mom’s illness, it was only natural for them to stay
there after her death. Like the Whittingtons, the Lermas couldn’t pos-
talizations, which eventually led to open-heart surgery and the
sibly let them go to an orphanage or into foster care. These were their
will and prayer,” says Lydia with tears in her eyes. “She felt so much
band Dada,” explains Lydia. “When he sees me crying, he comes to
insertion of a pacemaker. “She survived with the help of her strong
better when she was released September 17.” And then, about a
month later, Sarah’s parents got the call every parent dreads. Their daughter was in the emergency room, having suffered a blunt
babies. “David calls me both Nana and Mama, and he calls my hus-
me and asks, ‘Are you crying because of Sarah?’ He tries to console
me. Emerie, who was 7 when her mom died, is very angry. She and
her mom were very close. She won’t talk to me (about her feelings),
trauma to the head. The doctors were not hopeful. Some days later
but she now goes to therapy. Fortunately, she likes going to therapy.”
their youngest child, without ever learning how she had been in-
how during a recent storm, she tried to reassure the shaken Emerie
they had to make the gut-wrenching decision to pull the plug on jured. The grieving parents were left without even the consolation
of closure.
20 | sawoman.com
And the little girl is scared of losing her grandparents. Lydia describes
that she, Lydia, would protect her should the house get damaged. “But
what if you die?” asked the child. “I don’t want you to die.”
UP FRONT W While we are talking, little David pops in and out of the room,
looking vigorous and happy like any 4-year-old. His sister joins us
later when Grandpa David brings her home from school. Emerie is
a good student, likes gymnastics and swimming and is good at art,
like her grandmother, who’s an accomplished artist.
A retired police officer, (big) David is thankful that his colleagues
rallied around the family and helped both when Sarah died and a
year later when another misfortune befell the family. Their home of
many years in the Jefferson neighborhood caught fire one day, caus-
ing enormous damage. Fortunately, no one was in the house at the
time. “After the fire, I got more than 90 calls from the (San Antonio
Police) Officers Association,” he recalls. “The Association’s Benevo-
lent Fund helped us a great deal financially. We also received help from Aerial Athletics, where Emerie goes to gymmastics. The owners
gave a generous donation and 12 new leotards for Emerie and other clothes for the children.” His police buddies showed up in numbers
for Sarah’s funeral, as well, though David hadn’t told anyone about
her death. Then-Chief William McManus saluted Sarah in her coffin.
“The (police) department is a brotherhood, a very tight group, very
helpful,” notes David.
With the assistance of attorney Margaret Preismeyer, whom they
also praise, the Lermas started the adoption process as soon as they
were able to regroup a little. David says he didn’t want to deal with the
biological father, child support “and broken promises.” And it was also
a way to obtain medical insurance for the youngsters and all the priv-
ileges of parenthood. While Lydia worries about her age and staying
healthy enough to see her “babies grow up,” David has a different attitude. “I don’t think about it,” he states.
“I pray that everything will be OK with my children, and I put my worries on Christ. He is in charge. I just go. That got me through all of this. It’s been rough … Emerie and I pray every morning on our way to school, and (little) David is catching on.” Both grandparents work hard to make life not only normal but ac-
tive and enjoyable for the kids. David takes them to the park, bicycle riding and on short trips to the coast; Lydia provides a loving home
and helps with homework. “I may have to go back to school to relearn algebra,” she quips, “but I have been able to get by so far.”
Like the Whittingtons, the Lermas had hoped to enjoy retirement
and do some traveling. But as David puts it, “Man proposes, God dis-
poses,” meaning the best-laid plans may go astray, and one has to
If you have the primary responsibility for your grandchildren, the Bexar Area Agency on Aging can be a useful resource. Call 210-477-3275 or go to www.aacog.com.
adapt to changed circumstances. The children are now the focus of their lives. “We’ll provide for them no matter what,” says Lydia.
july/august 2015 | 21
W PROFILE
READY FUTURE FOR THE
JELYNNE LEBLANC-BURLEY HELPS CPS ENERGY MEET 21ST CENTURY GOALS By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF Photography by MARIE LANGMORE
W
hile most of us were relaxing during the last Memo-
rial Day weekend, Jelynne LeBlanc-Burley spent a great deal of time cooped up inside the CPS Energy
Emergency Management Center, following weather reports
and guiding the company’s response to potentially dangerous
developments caused by the storms. Emergencies are part of
her job. LeBlanc-Burley is the executive vice president and
chief delivery officer for CPS Energy, San Antonio’s municipally owned utility that supplies electricity and natural gas to
a total of 1.1 million customers in the greater San Antonio area. “I understand what happens to property and to people in
these situations. Over the years I have seen a lot of devastation, and I have a keen sense of the potential for danger. It
can quickly become catastrophic, so you have to be on it,”
she says. “I wanted to make sure that we had the correct in-
formation and that that information was disseminated appropriately, and that we had resources deployed to help
people affected by outages.”
Since she took the helm of the Energy Delivery and Customer
Service sectors, she has been implementing customer-focused
policies that utilize both technological and human resources
24 | sawoman.com
to improve service, help people in need, conserve energy and
look to the future needs of both CPS Energy and the public. “Our
utility is at a crossroads right now,” explains LeBlanc-Burley.
“Our industry is changing, and it all started with this (she holds
up her smartphone). Customers today want control, conven-
ience and choice, and we have to be ready.”
These choices may range from the way they pay their bill — in
person, by mail, online — to programs that would allow customers to choose how they access solar energy. Those who can-
“Jelynne manages the majority of our customerfacing functions, and that is by design. She demonstrates her ‘customer-obsession’ in everything that she does. Her attitude and commitment to our customers are reflected by her team." – Doyle Beneby,
not install rooftop panels, for instance, will be able to get solargenerated energy through a “community solar system” by buying
President and CEO, CPS Energy
nationwide are in the process of developing “smart grids” to op-
timize both the delivery and conservation of energy. To begin
or renting panels on a public system. Another recent service cre-
with, your meters will be replaced by digital “smart” devices that
chargers for electric cars; 120 have been installed so far.
the need for meter readers to access customers’ property. While
ated in response to consumer demand is the installation of public
And there’s more. LeBlanc-Burley points out that Thomas Edison
would be very comfortable seeing our present electrical infra-
structure because it has not changed substantially for 100 years. But a major overhaul has begun. CPS Energy and other utilities
will directly communicate with a central data center, eliminating this Grid Optimization Project is supervised by another executive,
LeBlanc-Burley is preparing for the post-installation challenges.
Managing a workforce of 1,850 employees (the largest CPS En-
ergy group) is very much part of that. “With all the new devices
july/august 2015 | 25
W PROFILE added to the infrastructure, we need to keep our workers skilled
and educated and anticipate the workload ahead of us, not just
from interfering with the family’s grocery shopping: “I would
tell them, ‘You can call her on Monday. Now we are just buying
for the linemen but for engineers and data scientists, too,” she
eggs.’” The startled person would back away.
lytics now.” In addition, her business plan includes things that
“It was a very fulfilling career,” says LeBlanc-Burley of her years
ments for the overhead transmission grid, call center technolog-
ber the time we worked together on a drainage problem or hous-
notes. “We will be collecting a lot of data; it’s all about data anawe as consumers never think about — cable and pole replace-
ical improvements, pipe replacement for gas transmission, substation modernization, etc. She pulls out a little card to give
me the exact numbers showing the vastness of the task: 7,744 miles of overhead electrical lines, 4,915 miles of underground
with the city. “I still run into neighborhood activists who remem-
ing issue. One regret I have is that I won’t be able to give back to
my hometown of Baton Rouge anything like what I have given to
San Antonio. San Antonio has embraced me, but San Antonians
have a way of letting you know that you are not from here. Still I
lines, 1,508 miles of transmission lines and a gas line system con-
like it here. It’s a much more diverse city than Baton Rouge.”
Managing and motivating such a large workforce can be a chal-
city, she doesn’t hesitate: “Both entities are citizen-focused, but
sisting of 5,210 distribution and 89 transmission miles.
lenge for any executive. LeBlanc-Burley believes that employee
engagement is the answer. “We need to explain to employees our
vision and strategies, why we are going in the direction we are
going. It is also our job to make sure they have the tools to do
their job in a safe manner and that we send them home at night
the way their families sent them to us in the morning.”
Hard Work and Integrity
Asked to compare working at CPS Energy versus working for the
the contrast is in the nature of the business. The city (offices) can
close sometimes. There’s not one aspect of this business that can
ever close. That’s a huge difference.” To keep up with the de-
mands of the job, this executive wakes up very early, hits the gym
at 5 a.m. and by 6 is already back at her computer, sending mes-
sages to her direct reports and preparing for the day. Basically
the job requires her “to stay on all the time.” She monitors her
phone constantly to stay informed about any employee incidents
that may occur in the course of a day. The work they do is often
A native of Baton Rouge, La., where she became the first black
dangerous, and the concern is not misplaced.
with a single mother who was a role model for her. “She was an
This attitude of caring is also evident in the Community Engage-
child to enroll in her elementary school, young Jelynne grew up
African-American woman lawyer, the first in the East Baton
Rouge Parish in the 1960s,” notes the proud daughter. “She never indicated that being a woman was an extra burden. She just did
what she needed to do.” It was also Mom who encouraged her to
ment programs that LeBlanc-Burley initiated to educate and help
CPS Energy customers as well as in her personal involvement with a number of nonprofits in town. “Service is the price you pay
for the space you occupy,” she says matter-of-factly. Her civic af-
pursue urban studies at Trinity University instead of law, and to
filiations include board and leadership positions with San Anto-
gree. Though her mother passed away, her picture keeps vigil on
Rosa Health System; Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas; San Anto-
stay in San Antonio following the completion of her master’s de-
the daughter’s desk, joined by photos of LeBlanc-Burley’s daughters and her beloved grandmother.
An internship with the City of San Antonio led to a job offer
which segued into an illustrious 24-year career at City Hall, ending with the position of deputy city manager. During her
nio for Growth on the Eastside, known as SAGE; Christus Santa nio Hispanic Chamber; Alamo Colleges Advisory Council; United
Way and others.
Being a black woman in the top echelons of corporate leadership,
Jelynne is frequently asked to speak to young audiences about
succeeding in life and work. Everything is possible, she tells them,
long tenure, she’s been involved in many projects and city de-
but it’s hard work. You have to be disciplined, dependable, pre-
works, international affairs and information services. Her step-
patience, tolerance for different personalities and ideas, and the
partments, from housing and neighborhood services to public daughter, Crystal, and her daughter, Juliet, often accompanied
pared, and you cannot compromise your integrity. It also requires
ability to stay pleasant no matter how you feel inside. Her own
her to public meetings, and each has memories of debates sur-
career embodies these principles. While she has huge responsi-
Alamodome construction. They also have memories of confus-
the soul-nourishing rewards are big, too. “What I like best about
always claiming their mom’s attention. Now a 25-year-old pro-
serve. It’s gratifying to me to look at the town and think how all
rounding certain projects, like the Convention Center or the
ing newspaper articles mentioning their mother and of people
fessional cook, Juliet recalls how she used to stop eager citizens
26 | sawoman.com
bilities that affect the lives of more than 1 million San Antonians,
my work are the people, the people I work with and the people I
those poles and wires mean so much to my community,” she says.
"Jelynne serves on multiple boards, and she is always looking for additional ways to give back to our community. Additionally, she is connected to key stakeholders in the community and has a good sense about where the most beneficial ways are to involve herself." – Doyle Beneby, President and CEO, CPS Energy
july/august 2015 | 27
W AT HOME
HERITAGE HOME IN TERRELL HILLS You can go home again By ROBYN BARNES Photography by AL RENDON
The 1920s and ‘30s were a golden age for San Antonio homebuilding. Homes from bungalows
to mansions in Queen Anne, Prairie, Tudor and Spanish Colonial Revival styles were scattered
throughout the upscale neighborhoods of Tobin Hill, Beacon Hill, Alamo Heights, Olmos Park
and Terrell Hills.
Late in the 1930s, on a wide, tree-lined boulevard in Terrell Hills, a stately Tudor home was
constructed on a large lot by a colonel stationed at Fort Sam Houston. Today Fred and Raven
Labatt live here; it was Fred’s childhood home.
How many people get the chance to return to their elegant childhood home to raise their own
family? “When the opportunity arose for us to buy this house from the Labatt estate, we jumped
at it,” Raven says. “We lived nearby, but our house was small, and our family was growing. This
was a wonderful opportunity for Fred to return home and for me to exercise my interior decorating skills.”
Raven holds a degree in interior design from Incarnate Word College and completed an in-
ternship with acclaimed San Antonio designer Orville Carr. Today she owns Raven Labatt Interiors. “I get my love of design, furniture and style from my parents,” she says. “My father was an
Top: A small English dresser holds part of Raven Labatt’s collection of tortoiseshell boxes. Above: Across the room on a round table is her collection of silver boxes, mixed with Delft vases and a modern acrylic lamp. At right: Rich colors continue into the bar, which was originally a sunroom.
artist, and my grandfather was the founder of Schaefer Homes. My parents owned Environments
in Alamo Heights. I learned to love detail in fabrics, construction and finishes.”
When Fred and Raven bought the home, they knew renovations would be needed. “We enjoy
entertaining, and we have a large extended family,” she says. “We needed a bigger kitchen, a larger living area and room for guests.” They hired Ken Bentley of Ken Bentley & Associates to
coordinate the architecture and remodeling. When they were finished, the house had 5,400
square feet of living space and ample opportunities for Raven to use her design skills.
28 | sawoman.com
july/august 2015 | 29
W AT HOME
FURNISHING FOR MULTIPURPOSE
Her family room is a very large multipurpose space. What advice
does Raven have for furnishing a room this big? “First, have a plan
for how you want to use the space and what you want it to look like,”
she advises. “Then shop for furniture while the construction takes
place. When you find what you like, buy it and put it in storage.”
The room has three seating areas. The first area is marked by
comfortable seating pieces gathered around a large flat-screen tel-
evision housed in an enormous custom-made shelving set. A Franco
Mondini-commissioned painting of a mission hangs over the sofa. “He calls it The Labatts in the Belfry, because he painted us into
the bell tower,” she says.
“This area is where we sprawl and watch TV as a family,” Raven con-
tinues. “It’s a good space for my kids to bring their friends and hang
out.” In the center of the room is a massive fireplace with a walnut man-
tle and marble surround. The fireplace is flanked by tall windows. A ca-
sual seating arrangement allows family and guests to enjoy the fireplace.
At the far end of the room, set before a large bay window, is a seven-foot-
wide round parquet inlay table, flanked by corner pieces. All the room’s custom furniture was crafted by Alamo City Custom Furniture.
“We use this for entertaining, particularly for our large family holiday
dinners,” Raven says. “The table seats 12. Most of the time, though, my 30 | sawoman.com
daughter does her homework here, spread out across the table.”
The kitchen is a gourmet’s delight. The vent hood is custom hand-
hammered copper; it hangs over a Five Star gas range. A bust of a
longhorn hangs over the back of the range. The center island is 20 feet
long, made of walnut with a granite countertop to match the room’s
backsplashes. Hidden inside the island behind doors are refrigerator
doors, a trash bin and ample storage. The dishwasher is hidden here,
too. “When I designed the kitchen, I didn’t want to see any appli-
ances,” Raven says.
There’s seating for
six at a round table in a
bay window. A coffered
ceiling provides a good
backdrop for the two-
tiered chandelier. “The
sad thing is that though
I designed this kitchen for someone who loves
to cook, I am terrible at
it,” Raven laments. “My children come home
from school and ask
where we’re going out
for dinner!”
Opposite at top, a landscape by Caroline Carrington hangs by the entry to the barrel-ceiling hallway that unites the family room with the kitchen. Below, The Labatts in the Belfry by Franco Mondini-Ruiz.
july/august 2015 | 31
W AT HOME
ROOM FOR COLLECTIONS
Across the foyer from the dining room is the spacious
formal living room. Local artist Bettie Ward’s work is fea-
TRADITIONAL TRANSITIONAL
Raven describes her home’s style as traditional transitional. “I love to mix
old with new, antiques with contemporary pieces. I’ve got several collections of
tured here, as well as part of Raven’s collection of Stafford-
antique items, but I also have a love for modern art.”
samples. “These are not toys,” she explains. “In the early
ditional walnut ball and claw set that seats 12. The crystal and brass chandelier
demonstration pieces of their work. Customers would in-
Audubon anchors one wall; several framed antique bird prints hang nearby.
shire dogs. A wall niche displays her collection of furniture
1900s, traveling furniture salesmen would use these as
spect these samples and order based on what they saw.”
The draperies framing the picture window are of yellow
silk with sheer embroidered overlays. The room is full of
color. “My husband owned the rug and the red sofa before
we married, so I had to work with that,” Raven wryly comments. The beautiful marble fireplace is original to the
home. Large built-in shelves at the end of the room hold
various artworks. “When we bought the house, the wood in
the house was a lighter color,” she says. “I wanted a richer palette, so we applied a dark stain that was closer to the
color of the walnut floors.”
The rich colors continue into the bar, which was originally
a sunroom. Raven installed judges paneling throughout the room and constructed built-in shelving at the far end for crys-
tal and barware. A Raven Tavern sign, sourced from an an-
tique show, faces the sofa. A small portrait of A Raven in
Pearls by local artist Franco Mondini sits nearby. 32 | sawoman.com
To the right of the foyer is the formal dining room. The dining table is a tra-
provides light for the beautiful art in the room. An American flamingo print by
W AT HOME
PERFECT POWDER ROOM
The small powder room off the kitchen and hallway is one
of Raven’s favorite rooms because of the sink fixtures. The
custom silver faucet set and sink are placed into the green
marble countertop to resemble mossy rocks along a shining
river. The cabinet beneath is custom-made. The room’s walls are faux-treated to appear like a mossy river bottom.
Art is prevalent in this small space. A contemporary
painting by local artist Bettie Ward hangs in the water closet.
A sparkling Czech beaded butterfly light, dating from the
19th century, brightens a corner.
FAMILY HOME
The Labatts are proof that you can go home again and
that you can take a childhood home and make it your own. The décor may change, but the memories stay.
“This house is an anchor for our family,” Raven says.
“For the four of us who live here and for our extended family,
it’s the place we come together to celebrate and share. We are lucky enough to call it home.”
34 | sawoman.com
36 | sawoman.com
AROUND TOWN W The San Antonio Symphony League hosted its 45th Symphony Ball on Feb. 28 at the JW Marriott Hill Country Resort and Spa, proudly presenting 29 young ladies who are the daughters or granddaughters of League members. The theme of this year’s ball was “A Winter’s Tale.” The Belles are presented during their senior year of high school. The Symphony Belle program and the Symphony Ball were begun in 1972 as a way to build long-lasting support for the orchestra. The Ball is one of the city’s most anticipated events.
1
2
1. Isabella Zertuche, Samantha Boldt, Melissa Mitchell, Avery Riester 2. Ball chairs, Andrew and Kathy Stel
3. Caroline Krenger, Cecilia Herdeg, Alegra Volpe
4. Anie Welmaker and Mollie Farrimond
3
4
july/august 2015 | 37
W BEAUTY
A Smile Says It All Making it prettier and brighter By CHERYL VAN TUYL JIVIDEN They say eyes are the windows of the soul, but few would deny the power of a smile. If yours isn’t exactly as you’d like, there are plenty of improvement options. “Lifestyle is the consideration. Often moms, when their kids are done (with their braces), will change the focus to themselves and want their own smiles fixed – it’s an investment in themselves,” says Dr. Bart Wilson of Mission Orthodontics, which has offices in Alamo Heights and Floresville. Sometimes that improvement can mean moving a tooth that’s distracting, straightening or a full realignment of teeth. Invisalign, a treatment that has been around for over 20 years, has advanced in technology and material. “For aesthetics work, they are a great solution and also for those who grind their teeth,” Wilson says of the clear plastic braces that utilize an alignment tray system. They are not as well suited for moving molars or closing spaces, he says. Wilson also uses Speed Braces with a smaller bracket profile that makes them less obvious than traditional braces. The reduced size, up to one-third smaller, reduces patient discomfort and eliminates the need for elastic ties to move teeth more easily. At New Image Dentistry, Dr. Chrysalis Heinkel views patients who have chipped, cracked, slightly misaligned or stained teeth or those who just want a brighter, more beautiful smile as good candidates for veneers: “They are a fairly quick method to change color, shape and size if someone is unhappy with their smile.” Citing new technologies, Heinkel says, “Our ability to make thinner veneers, with less removal of tooth structure, is possible because of improvements in materials.” She advises, “There are two very important things when considering veneers: You want a material that has similar light refraction properties to healthy tooth enamel as well as one that is high in strength and fracture resistance, and you want a good dentist with a good lab and great communication between the two.” Sometimes your smile can be affected by age, trauma, tooth loss, decay, gum disease, genetics or neglect. Some conditions can create structure collapse. Dr. Joseph Perry of San Antonio Denture Solutions is a Strickland Facelift Denture provider in the San Antonio area. The treatment is a paradigm shift in the approach to dentures, Perry says: “It restores a patient’s facial symmetry.” Traditional dentures can give a sunkenface effect “that registers as an advanced aging
38 | sawoman.com
W BEAUTY appearance, but putting symmetry back while replacing teeth and structure will enhance a smile and recapture a youthful appearance like you’d have if you had not lost your teeth,” he says. Perry designs the treatment with the patient’s goals and condition in mind. Sometimes mini-implants are used to help anchor lower dentures, which helps reduce or eliminate the use of adhesives. The final results can be dramatic. “I can’t tell you how gratifying it is, how good it feels, to see a transformation that in most cases is life-changing,” says Perry. If your smile is already pleasing, sometimes you just want to brighten your teeth and give them a fresh look. Many believe a refreshed smile can give you a younger appearance and boost selfconfidence. There are numerous over-the-counter (OTC) treatments, including gels, strips, toothpastes and, more recently, LED light systems. Heinkel believes treatments from your dentist can have a greater effect. “There are in-office versus at -home versus OTC methods of whitening. At our office we provide ZOOM Whitening and at-home bleaching. ZOOM is the fastest and most effective method. Depending on the initial shade of teeth, you can get up to eight shades whiter. The at-home method is where bleach is placed in custom-made bleaching trays that are specifically made from models of the patient’s teeth. These can be almost equally as effective as in-office but are dependent upon the patient’s compliance at home and take longer for results. It is the combination of the more concentrated bleach provided by a dental office, along with the custom-fit trays, that really makes the difference over OTC products,” she explains. However improvement is achieved, Heinkel finds the most rewarding aspect of dentistry is watching a patient leave with confidence and a changed smile: “It makes our work so worthwhile.”
A final bit of advice Everybody loves a bright white smile, and there are a variety of products and procedures available to help you improve the look of yours. Many people are satisfied with the sparkle they get from daily brushing and regular cleanings at their dentist’s office, but if you decide you would like to go beyond this to make your smile look brighter, you should investigate all of your whitening options. Remember when selecting a whitener or any dental product to be sure to look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance—your assurance that they have met ADA standards of safety and effectiveness. Sidebar courtesy of the American Dental Association
40 | sawoman.com
Start by speaking with your dentist. He or she can tell you whether whitening procedures would be effective for you. Whiteners may not correct all types of discoloration. For example, yellowish-hued teeth will probably bleach well, brownishcolored teeth may bleach less well, and grayish-hued teeth may not bleach well at all. If you have had bonding or tooth-colored fillings placed in your front teeth, the whitener will not affect the color of these materials, and they will stand out in your newly whitened smile. You may want to investigate other options, like porcelain veneers or dental bonding.
How to Pick the Right Fillings for Your Teeth WebMD Feature
By PETER JARET Reviewed By Michael Friedman, DDS
If you have to get a filling, you and your dentist have lots of materials to choose from. Before your appointment, get up to speed on your options.
FILLINGS THAT LOOK LIKE YOUR TEETH
Composite fillings are the most widely used dental filling material. They're made of glass or quartz in resin.
Your dentist may choose a composite filling if the size of your cavity is small to medium, or if your tooth gets a lot of chewing action.
These may also be a good choice for people who are afraid of dental work, since a composite can be bonded in place, which means less drilling.
PROS: Your dentist can closely match the color of a composite filling to the color of your teeth.
CONS: Composite fillings can stain or discolor over time, just like your teeth.
FILLINGS THAT RELEASE FLUORIDE
The newer options for dental fillings include glass ionomers, made of acrylic acids and fine-glass powders.
PROS: They can be colored to blend in with your nearby teeth. They also can be designed to release small amounts of fluoride, which helps prevent decay.
CONS: These fillings can break, so they're not a good choice for surfaces that do a lot of chewing. Your dentist may instead suggest that you use it for a cavity near your gum line or to fill between teeth.
CROWNS THAT LOOK LIKE YOUR TEETH
When you need a crown, inlay, or veneer, the go-to material is typically porcelain, ceramic or another glass-like substance.
PROS: The color closely matches your teeth. These materials hold up for a long time and are very hard.
CONS: You'll need several visits to your dentist to get a tooth restored with porcelain, and it can cost more than other options.
Dentists choose porcelain for veneers because it can be formed into thin shells that fit over the surface of your teeth. july/august 2015 | 41
W FASHION CALENDAR
July 9 Neiman Marcus Ralph Lauren Pre-Fall Styling Day Couture Salon
August 19 Julian Gold Catherine Regehr Personal Appearance and Eveningwear Trunk Show
July 18 Neiman Marcus Cle de Peau Spa
August 19-26 Neiman Marcus David Yurman Styling Event Designer Jewelry
July 22 Neiman Marcus Synactiv Spa July 23 Saks Fifth Avenue John Hardy Jewelry Trunk Show August 2-12 Neiman Marcus Up Close: Estee Lauder August 5-6 Julian Gold Yigal Azrouel Fall 2015 Contemporary Sportswear and Dress Trunk Show August 6-7 Julian Gold Joseph Ribkoff Fall 2015 Sportswear Trunk Show August 12-19 Neiman Marcus The Trend Event Fashion Show August 13-15 Neiman Marcus Gianvito Rossi Ladies Shoes Trunk Show
42 | sawoman.com
August 19-29 Neiman Marcus Made to Measure Event The Man’s Store August 20 Saks Fifth Avenue Astley Clarke Jewelry Trunk Show August 20-21 Julian Gold Evening Gown Caravan Event August 20-22 Neiman Marcus Tom Ford Ladies Shoes Trunk Show August 26 Neiman Marcus Chanel Fall Collection Preview September 9 Saks Fifth Avenue David Yurman Jewelry Trunk Show September 10-12 Saks Fifth Avenue Nini Jewels Jewelry Trunk Show
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RECIO DESIGNS
Unique, one of a kind, meteorite jewelry designed by the Gods and composed by Recio Designs. From fashion forward pieces to alternative wedding bands, Recio Designs, a custom brand created by Houston native, Tiffany Recio, takes the lead on edgy, yet elegant jewelry made from falling stars.
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july/august 2015 | 43
W GUYS TO KNOW
Darryl Byrd By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF Photography by JANET ROGERS
A
fter serving as the founding president and CEO of SA2020 since its inception in 2011 until a few
months ago, Darryl Byrd has recently
launched ULTRAte, a consulting firm that
aims to help clients with the vision and
strategies for business or community devel-
opment. He is well prepared for the job.
Prior to SA2020, Byrd oversaw the rebirth of the Pearl Brewery complex from a neglected
industrial park to a sophisticated urban
mixed-use oasis where people live, shop, dine and attend a myriad of events. He was
instrumental in creating crucial private-public partnerships that facilitated major infra-
structure improvements in the area. His job
at SA2020 was both somewhat similar and quite different. The nonprofit was formed
after thousands of San Antonians expressed
their vision for the city’s future through a se-
ries of surveys and public meetings. As the founding president, Byrd helped shape the
new organization’s mission and operational
strategies, and he remains involved as a board member. He is also a member of the
American Institute of Certified Planners, a former chair of the San Antonio City Plan-
ning Commission and a former co-chair of
Leadership San Antonio. Other commit-
ments include the Emerging Leaders Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and
the development board of UTSA.
44 | sawoman.com
Could you define for our readers the role of SA2020? SA2020 was created to be the core holder of the North Star, North Star being the collective vision of San Antonians regarding how they would like their city to look, feel and behave by the end of this decade. We had to be very serious about the accountability side. How are the goals to be achieved? How do we measure the progress along the way? How do we continually engage San Antonians as owners of that vision? SA2020 engages the public, it measures our progress toward the goals, and it supports the many partners in the public, private and institutional sectors to ensure that that vision becomes a reality. So, would you say it acts as a supervisory entity? I would call it a binding force. SA2020 cannot implement anything by itself. It ties people to the vision and helps to marshal resources. In which areas has there been progress since 2011? In some areas we are doing very well, in some areas we are standing still, and in others we are not making much progress. I’ll give you a few examples. In the area of health the goal was to become one of the healthiest cities in the U.S. One of the measures was the obesity rate. When we started, the obesity rate among adults was around 35 percent. In the summer of 2013, we announced that it had gone down to 28.5 percent. To put that in perspective, when you reduce the obesity rate by that much in a city of more than a million people, you are talking about tens of thousands of healthier mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers. On the other hand, education, this city’s greatest engine for progress, is a mixed bag. One of the metrics was to increase the high school graduation rate. When we began, that rate was 78 percent. The goal was 85 percent. We already exceeded that across the board in 2013. However, not every school district has that rate. Another metric was third-grade reading skills, but we are not making the necessary progress there. There was also progress in the area of environmental sustainability — conservation of water, conservation of energy, and the renewable energy capacity has been increased. Why did you leave SA2020? I am not totally gone; I am still there as a board member. But my passion is the creation of things, so my commitment to SA2020 was to be part of creating the infrastructure of the organization to sustain the effort through the half point. Now I have to go and use what talents I have and feed my passion to help others to make the community we live in better. Tell us about ULTRAte. First, how did you come up with the name? It’s a loose play on Latin words “ultra,” which means “beyond,” and “te,” which means “you.” My whole life has been
about public service, service to the community I live in, even when I worked in the private sector. If you look at the work of SA2020 and the work we did at the Pearl, it’s always been about finding value beyond what you know you can do, beyond just a successful development or business product. It’s been about finding value for the people around you, for the community. So that’s what ULTRAte is about. That’s what I want to do, help folks get added value out of the work they are doing. Who would be your ideal client? It would be an entrepreneur or developer who wants to have what I call a blue-ocean product. That means a product that doesn’t have to fight for a market share with other similar ones but can create a new market. I would like to help my clients do that, create a space for their product where it can live alone for a while. You seem to have accomplished something like that with the Pearl development. It’s definitely not the usual shopping center. How do you feel these days when you take a stroll through the compound? First, I want to preface it by saying that a lot of great people were engaged in that project. But the thing that makes me most excited when I see the Pearl is the catalytic effect it has had on the world around it, which ties back to why I am doing the work I am doing now. That’s that added value that we talked about. What were the biggest challenges in redeveloping the Pearl? The biggest one early on was the infrastructure. Pearl was in an area that experienced major drainage problems; the entire area would flood when it rained. So that was among the first problems we had to deal with. We formed a groundbreaking public-private partnership with the city to take care of that. Another challenge was working with the city and others to make the extension of the River Walk a reality. Pearl was the first private sector investor in the river expansion project. There were also challenges with the development codes at the time. Urban mixed-use developments like the Pearl had never been done before in San Antonio, and the existing codes could not accommodate the complex animal that Pearl would become. We also wanted it to be about San Antonio, to inspire people, not just another place for chain retailers, and to be environmentally self-sustainable. Have you ever considered running for city council? (Laughs) I don’t think I would thrive in that environment. How can individuals and families help realize the SA2020 goals? First, think about what’s most important to you as it relates to the city. Then, with your vote, your advocacy, your influence and your volunteerism, become a champion who is a force of nature for that cause.
july/august 2015 | 45
46 | sawoman.com
HEALTH MATTERS W
UNDERSTANDING ENDOMETRIOSIS
It’s painful but treatable By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF
experiences chronic pelvic pain, excessive pain during periods and intercourse, and/or difficulty conceiving, chances are she may have a condi-
If a woman
tion called endometriosis, which, according to the Endometriosis Association, affects some 89 million women worldwide, including 7.5 million in North America. The disease is most commonly found in women between 25 and 35 years of age, although menstruating teens can get it, too, as can older women, says Dr. Brian Harle, a prominent San Antonio OB/GYN physician and the co-founder of the Seven Oaks Women’s Center. “Endometriosis occurs when the endometrial tissue that normally lines the uterus starts growing in the wrong places, typically on the pelvic organs such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, rectum and the pelvic walls,” explains Dr. Harle. “Sometimes it’s found in other parts of the body such as on the outside of the liver and rarely even in the lungs. These growths are referred to as endometrial implants.” While the uterine lining breaks down every month and is removed from the body via menstruation, the endometrial implants, which continue to behave as endometrial tissue, also fall apart and bleed, but the bloody debris has no way of exiting. Over time, it starts irritating the tissue that it has attached itself to, causing inflammation, which may or may not manifest itself as pain. In fact, the intensity of pain is not necessarily proportional to the extent of the lesions. Women with only small affected areas may experience severe pain, while others with advanced endometriosis may have little discomfort. What causes this abnormal displacement is not well understood at present. One explanation is called retrograde menstruation that postulates that the menstrual blood, which contains endometrial cells, flows back into the fallopian tubes and into the pelvic cavity and gets trapped, ultimately creating the adhesions on the pelvic walls and organs. Another mechanism may involve undifferentiated “multi-potential” cells in the abdominal and pelvic lining that somehow decide to become endometrial cells. Immune system issues may be implicated as well. Regardless of the mechanism involved, however, heredity plays a significant role as the condition often shows up in close blood relatives, notes Dr. Harle.
july/august 2015 | 47
W HEALTH MATTERS Fortunately, endometriosis – or endo for short — is treatable.
While there’s no cure, both the pain and the infertility associated with endo can be managed. Some physicians may start treatment with hormonal therapy – most often birth control pills to stop the woman’s periods — but that approach doesn’t address the whole issue. Dr. Harle believes that the best way to go is to use laparoscopy for both diagnostic and treatment purposes. It’s already “the gold standard” for accurate diagnosis. In the minimally invasive procedure, the physician inserts a thin instrument called the laparoscope to locate the abnormal growths, and if such tissue is indeed found, it can also be removed surgically at that time, solving the problem either for good or for an extended period of time. You can remove 95 percent of the implants, explains the doctor, and the patient gets immediate relief from pain. Then you can follow up with hormonal therapy for three to six months. The fertility issue is a little more complex since other factors could be involved, but the patient’s chance of getting pregnant following laparoscopic treatment increases substantially. Should difficulty to conceive persist, in vitro fertilization is a good option. There’s some controversy regarding the incidence rate of the disease. While the Endometriosis Association cites figures indicating a rise in endo cases, especially in teenagers, Dr. Robert Schenken, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at UTHSC, says that the rise is probably due to better diagnostic tools and greater access to health care. He and other scientists are currently seeking to discover the primary causes of the disorder. He notes that many women have some degree of retrograde menstruation, for instance, but do not develop endometriosis. With colleague Jennifer Knudston, Schenken recently presented a paper at a meeting of the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility about their research. Their results show a substantial decrease in endometrial lesions in mice who lack a gene that codes for a protein named CD44, which is present in endometrial cells and responsible for the sticking and built-up of adhesions. “That proves that CD44 is involved in the attachment (of endometrial implants) but it is not the only factor,” notes Dr. Schenken. “Ultimately the goal is to develop a drug that would suppress the expression of certain genes and prevent the development of endometriosis during menses.” On a more macro level, research and practice have also found that pregnancy produces beneficial results for human patients and other primates. In monkeys, pregnancy reduces the severity of the lesions as well as the chances of the disease recurring, notes Dr. Schenken. Controversy, or perhaps just insufficient data, also surrounds the question of environmental influences as well as a potential link to allergies, asthma and even some forms of ovarian cancer. It may be that there is a genetic predisposition for both endo and ovarian cancer, but the former is not considered a premalignant condition, wrote Dr. Harle in an email. In any case, the overall risk of ovarian cancer is low. Now that’s good news!
48 | sawoman.com
EDUCATIONAL
RESOURCES Seven Oaks Women’s Center www.sevenoaks.com
The U.S. National Library of Medicine www.nlm.nih.gov
The Endometriosis Association www.endometriosisassn.org
A special supplement to
2015 GOVERNING BOARD Charles P. Andrews, MD, CPI Director of Clinical Research Diagnostics Research Group Lawrence A. Eisenberg President & CEO Central Texas Investment Group Norma Garcia Director of Marketing Legend Healthcare Rehab & Nursing Facility Glenn Halff, MD Transplant Surgeon UTHSC at San Antonio Michael Horton, PharmD Voluntary Health Bruce Mitchell Representing the Public Strasburger Price Oppenheimer Blend
ABOUT US Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA) is celebrating 40 years as the regional organ procurement organization for Central and South Texas, serving more than 6 million people in 56 counties. TOSA is a private, not-for-profit 501(c) (3) and is one of the 58 federally designated organizations of its kind in the United States. Selected as one of San Antonio’s Top Workplaces for the last three years, TOSA was named 2014 Top Workplace Small Business Winner by the San Antonio Express-News. From its inception as South Texas Organ Bank in 1975, TOSA’s primary focus is to facilitate the process of organ donation for families wishing to save lives, as well as the generous individuals who registered to be donors. Gifts from these heroes provide hope to the nearly 124,000 children, women and men on the national waiting list, a list that grows every 10 minutes. We hope you are inspired by the courageous donors, their families and the recipients you will encounter in this supplement. In learning about TOSA’s 40 years in donation, a field that changes lives daily, we believe you will be encouraged to sign up and save lives as a registered organ, eye and tissue donor by visiting www.DonateLifeTexas.org. Thank you for joining us in being dedicated to saving lives.
Jerry Morrisey, PhD Voluntary Health Beverly Purcell-Guerra Representing the Public Vince Speeg, MD, Chair Chair of the Board UTHSC at San Antonio Daniel Stanton Vice President, Transplant Services Texas Transplant Institute Ken Washburn, MD Medical Director UTHSC at San Antonio For more information and resources, please call 1-866-685-0277. A special supplement to SAN ANTONIO WOMAN
1975 Seven physicians created South Texas Organ Bank 1977 First two kidneys recovered 1980 100th transplanted kidney 1981 100th donor 1986 First multiple-organ donor 1987 First lung donor 1990 1,000th organ recovered 1992 1,000th transplantable kidney 1997 First split-liver transplant in Texas 1997 1,000th donor 1998 First recovered small bowel from Waco 2000 New name, Texas Organ Sharing Alliance 2006 Launch of Donate Life Texas State Registry 2010 First hand transplant in Texas 2010 One millionth donor registered 2014 5 million donors registered 2014 Record 500 transplants from 134 donors 2015 Saving lives daily
40 Years of Saving Lives in Central & South Texas Starting with seven physicians in 1975 who had a vision, to using telecommunication to asses a potential donor in 2015, at Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA), formally South Texas Organ Bank, the goal has always been the same: optimize the opportunity to save lives through organ donation. In TOSA’s 40 years, the most dramatic and palpable ways to see how donation has changed is how technology has become vital to saving lives. “We’re adapting to telemedicine and the Internet and it gives us the capability of sending images and video at any time of day. We are being more efficient and make more offers in a short amount of time,” explained Joseph Nespral, TOSA’s senior director of clinical services. “That would have been impossible a few years ago. Back then it was one call at a time.” Likewise, medical technology has made the process of managing donors much smoother. Additional and more precise testing has allowed for a clear understanding of organ function and has aided in identifying any potential transmittable diseases. “Years ago it was a race to get to the OR,” said Nespral, an 18-year veteran with TOSA. “Now we can take a deep breath and stabilize the donor to place organs.” Mike Rosson, a former regional director for TOSA’s Austin office whose experience spans to the first donor in El Paso in 1973, said TOSA’s hospital development staff have made great strides in earning the trust of hospital staff to allow TOSA to fulfill its mission. Hospital development staff are tasked with educating nurses about the need for cooperation in the donation process. “We show up when we said we will and the families will be treated well,” said Rosson. “We gained their confidence – that’s a big deal.” Along with educating hospital staff, public education has normalized the donation conversation. “It took time for that to really take off,” Rosson said, “but it’s been a major contribution.” TOSA’s 40 years of community education have saturated Central and South Texas, making it difficult to find someone who doesn’t know about organ donation. “Forty years ago a lot of people didn’t know what this was about,” said Nespral. “It’s a well-known procedure now and there’s a chance you know someone who has benefited from a transplant.” Both men agree that the creation of Donate Life Texas, the state’s official registry for organ, eye and tissue donors, has been the chief milestone for TOSA. “By far it’s the biggest development that has occurred over the years,” Nespral said. While TOSA’s first registered donor was an out-of-state donor nearly 10 years ago, Nespral remembers it being an exciting time for the organization. Now, with the establishment of Donate Life Texas, TOSA has started to see a shift in activity with registered donors. “We started off slow, but now we’re seeing a constant number of registered donors,” he said. “We have room to grow, which is good.” Donate Life Texas allows donors to make the decision on their own, ensures their wishes are carried out and eases the burden off families. “It’s tremendous,” Rosson said of the registry. “Nothing I did is more challenging than talking to the family; that’s a difficult task. Now we have this widespread acceptance with people on the registry and families not having to make the decision. It’s been huge. It’s becoming the norm.”
For more information and resources, please call 1-866-685-0277. A special supplement to SAN ANTONIO WOMAN
Celebrating the Gift of Life for 16 years Growing up,
I was always the big, healthy kid…one who loved playing sports. But all that changed in what seemed like an instant...it is something that could happen to any one of us. In April of 1998, when I was 28 years old, my fiancee and I flew to Washington DC. She went for a conference and I tagged along for what I thought would be a relaxing vacation. It was there I began to feel the signs of a cold and I ended up spending most of my time in the hotel room. When I got back home, the doctor said I had bronchitis and prescribed antibiotics. I quickly got over my symptoms, but little did I know how the virus damaged my heart. I would soon find out just how much. It was two months later when I began having headaches, then stomach pains. I saw a doctor three times and was told it was stress. It wasn’t until after a trip to the emergency room a few months later when I learned of the real problem. After getting an ultrasound I was moved to the ICU. It was then that the doctor gave me the news that would change my life forever. My heart was enlarged three times the normal size and was pumping at 10 percent the normal capacity. They said if I didn’t get a heart transplant, I would soon die. For six months, at my insistence, I was given the chance to prove the doctor wrong. I began a medicine regimen that seemed to reverse the effects of my condition. But as quickly as I seemed to progress, my downturn was just as quick. I landed back in the ICU with a fatal diagnosis and was told I had about two days to live unless a donor heart was found. That day came on October 23, 1999.
are.” I responded, “I know who you are too, you are my donor’s mother.” She said, “Yes I am, may I ask you a favor? Can I put my ear to your chest?” I quickly realized this sweet woman just wanted to hear her son’s heart beat. I reached my arms around her, holding her to my chest as everyone around us stared in awe of the beautiful moment happening before their very eyes. The moment is captured in my mind forever, as is the love and appreciation I have for my donor’s family.
The time I have now was only made possible because of a selfless man and his family who realized that in death, life could be given to someone else. It is because of this man and his family that I was able to make my fiancee my wife and raise three children. I went back to work within three months of my transplant and try to live life to its fullest every day.
Today in the United States, there are more than 123,000 people on the transplant waiting list; more than 12,000 of them are Texans. An average of 22 people die every day because there are not enough organs to keep them alive. But you, like the man who saved my life, may have the ability to change that.
After exchanging letters with my Donor Family through Texas Organ Sharing Alliance, we had the opportunity to meet. I invited my donor’s family to a ceremony where we dedicated a rose garden to honor donors. An elderly lady approached me and said, “I know who you
You have the power to save eight lives! Register your intentions on the new state registry, www.DonateLifeTexas.org, and tell your family your wishes to become an organ donor. It’s one of the most important conversations you may ever have.
*Lemuel Bradshaw received his heart transplant at Seton Heart Specialty Care and Transplant Center in 1999. He has spent the last 16 years volunteering with Texas Organ Sharing Alliance and now works for the Tissue Center of Central Texas, where he educates the community and clinical personnel on the importance of tissue donation.
For more information and resources, please call 1-866-685-0277. A special supplement to SAN ANTONIO WOMAN
DONORS
Alma Garza, center, with her Donor Family
Record Number of Patients Save Lives in 2014 Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA) helped 134 individuals offer 500 transplant patients a second chance at life in 2014. These individuals and their families joined a 40-year legacy of Central and South Texas families who have helped restore life for others in their community through organ donation. Thirty-four percent of the 2014 donors chose to give the Gift of Life with the Donate Life Texas registry by signing up online or when they renewed their driver’s license – a 10 percent increase from the year prior, according to TOSA data. In 2013, 119 individuals saved the lives of 436 people awaiting a transplant.
Collin’s father, Bob, echoes that sentiment and was encouraged to see firsthand what the donation meant by meeting one of Collin’s recipients. “You can actually feel and touch and see the impact right in front of you…to know that our son was really a part of their family right in front of us,” Bob said. “It was pretty impactful.” Alma Garza received a liver transplant in early 2014 from a registered donor. Garza had been in the early stages of being placed on the transplant waiting list when she learned from a friend that a local donor family wanted to make a direct donation, a gift offered to a specific recipient, to save her life.
“In 2014 we saw the number of registered donors grow significantly,” states CEO Patrick Giordano. “By registering to be official organ donors with Donate Life Texas, those selfless individuals lifted the burden from their families to make a decision during a time of grief.”
“For it to have been so important (to her to be a donor) means so much to me,” Garza said. “It’s so important that these families do have that talk and register as donors. If more people would have the conversation, then it would reduce the number of deaths. Without this girl I don’t know what God’s second plan would have been.”
One of them was 19-year-old Collin Lovett, who registered to be a donor when he received his driver’s license. His mom, Vicki, recalls a conversation she had with her son after he registered his decision to be a donor.
Since her transplant, Garza has thanked her donor family in person and has become a strong advocate for organ donation.
“It was his choice to register, his decision to donate, and we were proud to honor that decision,” she said.
Nationally, nine out of 10 people support organ donation yet may fail to register as donors and share their wishes with family members.
A Volunteer for Life Paying Tribute to Her Sister’s Memory
“My goal is to make people more aware, so they’re not afraid. Hopefully, they’ll want to be selfless and help anyone they can.”
Mindy’s story started 15 years ago after the loss of her sister Melissa. Melissa suffered primary biliary cirrhosis, a condition that slowly damages liver tissue. While awaiting a life-saving organ, Melissa became too ill to receive the organ transplant and died due to complications from her illness. This unfortunate event led Mindy to volunteer at Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA) to pay tribute to her sister’s legacy. For more than 12 years Mindy Marquez has been an active voice in the community for organ donation. As a TOSA volunteer in Austin, Mindy has been assisting the organization’s efforts to raise awareness on the importance of registering to be an organ donor and how being a registered donor can saves lives. “Fifteen years ago there was a total lack of knowledge of what it entailed to be an organ donor,” Mindy said. “[Melissa] got the ball rolling for me. Everybody has their calling, and I think it’s really important to save people from the same kind of tragedy.”
Today Mindy is focused on debunking the myths and making organ donation a normal discussion point especially within the Hispanic community. More than 40 percent of people waiting on the list for a life-saving transplant are Hispanic. Hispanics are more prone to need a life-saving organ transplant, but are least likely to donate. Over the years Mindy has met many people who have been touched by donation and transplantation. She appreciates the opportunity she’s had to meet those who have received a second chance at life. “It’s a blessing to be able to meet the people who have such an appreciation for life,” Mindy said. In the future, Mindy hopes her efforts will increase the numbers of people who’ve made the decision to save lives. Nationwide, 22 people die each day while waiting for a transplant due to the organ shortage. “If you need it, you get it,” Mindy said. “Because the availability would be there, and the availability will be there by us spreading the word.”
For more information and resources, please call 1-866-685-0277. A special supplement to SAN ANTONIO WOMAN
Key Points about Organ Donation There is a severe shortage of organ donors in this country. 22 PEOPLE DIE EACH DAY because there are NOT ENOUGH organs to transplant
As of May 2015, there are more than 123,400 patients on the national waiting list in need of an organ transplant. 12,000 of them are Texans.
A new name is added to the United Network for Organ Sharing waiting list every 10 minutes.
MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE AWAITING A TRANSPLANT IN THE U.S. ARE
MINORITIES
*
The organ allocation system is blind to wealth, celebrity and social status. Donated organs are placed in recipients based on best medical match and most critical need.
7.4 million Texans are now registered to be life-saving organ donors! Of the 2.3 million people who die in the U.S. every year, less than two percent are eligible to be organ donors. Almost everyone, however, can be a tissue donor.
Transplant success rates increase when organs are matched between members of the same ethnic and racial group. A patient is less likely to reject a kidney if it is donated by an individual who is genetically similar. Therefore, a lack of organs donated by minorities can contribute to death and longer waiting periods for transplants for minorities. • Few people are too old or too young to donate. • Currently there are no age limits for donors. • At the time of your death, medical professionals will determine whether your organs are transplantable. • Organs that can be transplanted are the heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver and intestine.
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PERSON CAN SAVE LIVES
There is no major religion in the U.S. that is opposed to organ and tissue donation. In fact, many religions endorse organ and tissue donation as an act of charity.
• Donation does not disfigure the body or prevent an open casket funeral. • Donated organs are removed in a sterile, surgical procedure, similar to open heart surgery, in a hospital operating room by skilled surgeons. • Organ and tissue donation is considered only after all efforts to save the patient’s life have been exhausted and death has been legally declared. • No costs directly related to organ or tissue donation are passed on to the donor’s family or estate.
Register your decision at www.DonateLifeTexas.org and please inform your family of your decision to donate. Texas Organ Sharing Alliance • www.txorgansharing.org • 1-866-685-0277
For more information and resources, please call 1-866-685-0277. A special supplement to SAN ANTONIO WOMAN
Turning Tragedy into Triumph: A Mother’s 14-year Journey “For me, educating about organ donation is more than just signing up people to save lives on the Donate Life Texas registry,” she said. “It’s an alert to encourage people to live healthy because it is diseases like diabetes that lead to dialysis and the need for a kidney.”
Norma Garcia is a vibrant woman who wants to inspire others. Any day of the week you may find her rubbing elbows with media’s elite like Univision’s Enrique Acevedo, planning her next big event as a real estate entrepreneur, or sitting on the board as a passionate advocate for organ donation. All of this stems from a mother’s love for her daughter and her mission to save lives. Nearly 14 years ago, Norma suffered the unimaginable – the death of her only daughter, Jasmine. What started as a sunny August day vacationing in Mexico in 2001 took a turn for the worse when Norma and her family were involved in an automobile accident. Lying just a few feet away from her was 13-year-old Jasmine, who had suffered critical injuries. She was transported back to the United States; 12 days later doctors delivered the devastating news; Jasmine was brain dead. It was at that moment a representative from Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA) provided a glimer of hope to allow Jasmine’s legacy to live on through organ donation. Norma and Jasmine’s father agreed. In the midst of tragedy, and Jasmine’s heart and liver saved two lives. “I had a choice to be depressed, sad, or I could make a difference for my family, for my Jasmine,” Norma recalls. Today, Norma celebrates Jasmine’s life and legacy by educating the public about organ, eye and tissue donation as a TOSA Friends for Life volunteer. She encourages other donor families and transplant recipients touched by donation to do the same. “I wasn’t a volunteer at first,” Norma said. “My experience started when TOSA invited me to a quilt ceremony and in 2002 sent us to the U.S. Transplant Games in Florida.”
Memorial Advisory Committee for the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) and assisted in the design of the National Donor Memorial in Richmond, VA. She has shared her compelling story with numerous audiences from donor families at special events such as the Memorial Tree Planting Ceremony, to doctors and medical staff at San Antonio area hospitals, and even authored a book about overcoming tragedy called, My Dear Jasmine, A Story from Tragedy to Triumph.
Jasmine Garcia
Norma shares Jasmine’s story with media and considers it a special treat when she can reach out to other minorities who make up over half of the 12,000 Texans waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. In June 2015, she was featured on Univision’s Al Punto con Jorge Ramos to talk about the need for minority donors. Diabetes and hypertension are prevalent among minorities, yet minorities are one-third less likely to donate. Norma believes education is key to making a difference. “We don’t only save one life, we save an entire generation,”she said.
It was volunteer experiences like this that led Norma to realize she had a voice, a story, and Jasmine’s legacy to carry on. And if she could share her experience, it could save lives.
When asked what goals she has in store ahead as a Friends for Life volunteer, she smiled and replied, “Bigger ones!”
From 2002 to present day, Norma’s passion for organ donation awareness has taken her near and far. She served on the National Donor
For information on TOSA’s Friends for Life Volunteer Program, visit www.txorgansharing.org or call (866) 685.0277.
40 YEARS TOGETHER Celebrating Life TISSUE AND EYE BANK PARTNERS San Antonio Eye Bank GenCure The Blood and Tissue Center of Central Texas Western Texas Lions Eye Bank Alliance Lone Star Lions Eye Bank Lions Eye Bank of Texas at Baylor College of Medicine
TRANSPLANT CENTERS University Transplant Center CHRISTUS Transplant Institute Texas Transplant Institute St. David’s North Austin Medical Center Seton Heart Specialty Care & Transplant Center South Texas Transplant Center 120+ Hospitals
One organ donor can save up to eight lives and enhance the lives of more than 50 individuals through eye and tissue donation. For 40 years Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA) has strived to optimize every opportunity to save lives. With service to more than 6.2 million people, the organization has found the key to success — collaboration. “We congratulate our friends at Texas Organ Sharing Alliance during their 40th year anniversary,” stated Jim Wagner, Executive Director of San Antonio Eye Bank. “Our close partnership has ensured that donor families are given the utmost opportunity to save and heal lives through organ, eye and tissue donation.” From Waco to the Rio Grande Valley, TOSA has had the privilege to work with a talented array of partners and volunteers that include six transplant centers, six eye and tissue banks and more than 120 hospitals.
“TOSA has been around doing collaborations with tissue banks for years,” said James Glick, Director of GenCure Tissue Center. “The collaboration in recent years has really strengthened. Our goal is the precious gift of donation and maximizing that donation. To be good stewards of the gift and the community.” “Collaboration with partners with whom we share overlapping goals to some extent is a key element in the field,” said Patrick Giordano, TOSA Chief Executive Officer. “Where we all overlap is the sharing of the success we have seen in the effectiveness of the registry. This ranges from organ transplantation to cornea and tissue donation, as well as contributions to medical research fighting diseases such as juvenile diabetes.” Since its launch in 2006, Donate Life Texas has made a significant impact by being the state’s official registry and best way to ensure an individual’s decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor is honored. To date 41 percent of Texans are registered donors. Donate Life Texas has provided a unified call to action, purpose, and brand recognition seen through the collaborative community events, multicultural advisory councils and the amazing stories of our Friends for Life volunteers. “Personally my biggest motivation is when I go to the donor family ceremonies and hear their stories. It’s like a rubber band around your heart and brings everything back why we do what we do,” Glick said. Giordano sums up, “Texas and TOSA’s community deserve a great registry and we are well on our way in this life-saving endeavor. It takes time, talent, resources and determination to make any effort of this magnitude work.” Texans are encouraged to state their decision on the official state registry www.DonateLifeTexas.org.
TOSA Honors our 2014 Gift of Life Donors Wayman W.
Nicholaus E.
Dillon C.
Eric S.N.
Peyton J.
Brendon R.
Gregory K.
Michael G.
Kenneth B.
Jonathan R.H.
Felix Q.
Matthew S.
Jesus L.
Cooper F.
Brad P.
Johnny B.
Nicholas S.
Terry B.
Robert C.
Julianne M.
David N.
Sandy L.
Juan B.
Cynthia D.L.
Daniel A.
Collin L.
Ruby A.
Inelda S.
Esmeralda C.
Luis R.
Timothy C.
Fernando F.
Juanita P.
Soraya M.
Sergio M.
Christy A.
Gabriella M.
Stephanie B.F.
James K.
Kristi M.
Mitchell S.
Erik H.R.
Nathan A.
Casey B.
Azareyh O.
Elizabeth D.
Vicky G.
Steven L.
Joaquin V.
Justin C.
Anthony E.
Jesse H.
Ashley P.
Santiago V.
Ricardo F.
Victor M.
Efrain R.
Amanda J.
Adan Jose G.
Sophia R.
Bradley S.
Samuel L.
Myra S.
Veronica A.
Maria D.
Evelyn J.
George M.
Ronald P.
Esmeralda A.C.
Barbara F.
Emily G.
Edwardo S.
Michael C.
Aurelio F.
Ryan B.
Narce U.
Rene K.
Victoria B.
Conner R.
Rosalinda G.
David H.
Kenneth P.
Tobias M.
Rebecca H.
Jacqeline M.
Robert D.
Alejandro O.
Rosalva P.
Carlos G.
Santiago M.
Daniel O.
LLozanira C.
J. Max G.
Laura V.
Michelle O.
Brenda B.
Todd P.
Latricia T.
Alexis G.
Juanita L.
Joshia V.
Willie J.
Jose M.
Crafton R.
Thomas M.
Kevin B.
Rudy P.
Christopher K.
Kenneth S.
George J.
Victoria Y.
Ian B.
Esvin S.C.
Louis C.
Conchita R.
Bradley M.
John F.
Royal S.
Gail G.
Cassandra B.
Jennifer A.
Stacie W.J.
Ashley V.
Esther P.
Michelle H.
Jose O.C.
Landon W.
Rodney H.
Adela J.
Griselda R.
William R.
Ernesto C.
Daniel N.
Evangelina F.
Contact TOSA: • for more information about organ donation or the Donate Life Texas registry • to request a speaker at your church, workplace, school or civic club • to become a volunteer and help raise awareness of organ donation
NORTHERN REGION 7000 North Mopac, Suite 160 Austin, Texas 78731 (512) 459.4848 O (512) 459.7794 F
CENTRAL REGION (HEADQUARTERS) 8122 Datapoint Drive, Suite 200 San Antonio, Texas 78229 (210) 614-7030 O (210) 614-2129 F
SOUTHERN REGION 1400 N. McColl Road, Suite 104A McAllen, Texas 78501 (956) 630-0884 O (956) 687-7185 F Follow us on:
DONATE LIFE TEXAS REGISTRY www.DonateLifeTexas.org
www.DoneVidaTexas.org
AROUND TOWN W On May 15th, the San Antonio Public Library Foundation hosted over 400 people at the Central Library
in celebration of the building's 20th anniversary. Guests enjoyed champagne and cocktails in the Library's technology area, Connect, and were greeted by co-chairs Guillermo Nicolås, and Nick and Liecie Hollis. The sold-out event raised $120,000 for the Library Foundation, an essential non-profit organization that bolsters the City’s Library budget, making programming, technology, special projects and material acquisition possible for the library system.
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1. Mark and Lori Wright
2. Jean Brady and Tracey Bennett
3. Elizabeth Fry and Marjory Newman
4. Shannon and Les Sachanowicz
5. Anna Wulfe and Xitlalt Herrera Salazar
6. May Catriona Morrison, Sara Ash Jessop, Katie Reynolds, Elizabeth Lyons
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july/august 2015 | 67
Paula Vogel, MD
W BUSINESS WOMAN SPOTLIGHT
Photography by JANET ROGERS
President, Owner, Dermatologist, Mohs Surgeon
Skin Specialists of San Antonio What do you do? I’m a dermatologist who specializes in the removal of high-risk skin cancers using a procedure called Mohs surgery. I also love cosmetic and aesthetic dermatology.
Length of time at this job: I have been a fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon for 14 years, a board-certified dermatologist for 24 years.
What is it that you like best about your job? I most enjoy creating a pleasant environment and experience that exceeds my patient’s expectations. Education/Major: I graduated from medical school at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md.
What career path led you to where you are today? I graduated from the University of New Mexico with a bachelor’s degree in nursing and then worked as an RN for four years before going to medical school. After medical school, I completed an internal medicine residency and served as an internist at the 121st Evacuation Hospital in Seoul, Korea, for one year. I was very lucky to be selected for another residency at Walter Reed, this time in dermatology. Following those three years of training, I worked at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, where I was chief of dermatology, and at the San Antonio military hospitals – Wilford Hall Air Force Medical Center and Brooke Army Medical Center — for a total of eight years. To become fellowship trained in Mohs surgery and procedural dermatology, I moved to Atlanta for one year for intensive training at Emory University. When I returned to San Antonio, I practiced Mohs surgery in the military, was promoted to colonel and served as chief of dermatology at BAMC. I retired a few years ago and worked for a bit for another practice and then set up my own in 2010. What did you want to be when you were growing up? A cowgirl!
When did you know that you were in the right place in your career? When I was an intern, I did a rotation in dermatology. I wasn’t expecting much, I suppose, but on the very first day, I was so excited. I made up my mind right away.
Who were your mentors? I had two important professional mentors: Dr. Dirk Elston, a past president of the American Academy of Dermatology, encouraged me to do a fellowship in Mohs surgery; and Dr. Bill James, an international leader in dermatology, who was my residency director at Walter Reed. How would you describe your personal style? Casual and athletic. How would you describe your leadership style? Democratic.
Who has been the biggest influence in your life personally and professionally? My father, who always encouraged me to further my education, and my husband, who is a great husband, father and partner in life.
What is the best advice that you have ever received? My dad said, “Always be able to take care of yourself.”
What are your goals? To create a positive work environment for patients and staff.
What community groups or notfor-profit groups are you involved with as a volunteer? Skin Cancer Foundation.
What is your favorite thing to do in San Antonio? Biking the trails that the city has opened up along the river, Salado Creek and Leon Creek.
People would be surprised to know… that I love to browse the funky secondhand stores on Hildebrand and Blanco.
What person do you most admire?
My mother. She is 88 years old and as sharp as she was 70 years ago. She reads, travels, organizes parties, emails and uses Facebook, does crossword puzzles and has an active social life. On a bad day, she picks herself up, smiles and says, “Tomorrow’s another day.” Like Scarlett O’Hara! 68 | sawoman.com
For more with Paula Vogel, MD, go to sawomanconnect.com.
july/august 2015 | 69
W ACCORDING TO LINDA
What’s Relevant in San Antonio by LINDA ELLIOTT
We women must
Embrace Change
I am inspired to write this column about change because of an upcoming conference I will be attending on Sept. 27-29. It is the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) 40th anniversary, and the national conference is being held in San Antonio. The theme is “Inspire the CHANGE.” It’s all about proactive, positive change: Embracing it, leading it, driving it and growing as a result. Our economy is on a trajectory of recovery, and women are one of the main reasons. Take a look at these statistics: • Data from the Federal Reserve Board reveal that women control 51.3 percent of all personal wealth in the U.S., and they make 83 percent of all household purchasing decisions. •
According to the Center for Women’s Business Research, women-owned businesses are the fastest-growing segment of the United States economy, representing $3.3 trillion in purchasing power.
If that’s not enough to make your brain swim, try wrapping your arms around these facts, which come from a 2014 American Express commissioned “State of Women-owned Businesses” report: • There are over 9 million women-owned businesses in the U.S., generating a combined total of over $1.4 trillion in revenue and employing over 7.8 million people. • There are over 756,000 women-owned businesses in the state of Texas, generating more than 620,000 jobs and over $117 billion in revenue. • There are over 63,000 women-owned businesses in the city of San Antonio, generating over 61,000 jobs and over $8.5 billion in revenue. • Texas ranks No. 2, after Georgia, of states with the fastest growth of women-owned businesses between 1997 and 2014. • San Antonio is the No. 1 ranking city with the highest combined economic clout for women-owned firms of the 25 most populous metropolitan areas, measuring growth in numbers, revenues and employment since 2002. So, how did this phenomenon happen? What created this burgeoning turn of societal norms? After all, weren’t we reared to believe that “Men rule the world”? Yes, I do have my theory on how this all 70 | sawoman.com
came about… Back in the early 1980s, some of the best advice I received came from a man. He shared with me the secrets to penetrating the man’s world of business in a respectable and honorable way. I have always followed his advice, and it has paid off in spades. We women typically thrive on and learn from advice from mentors. And it would be my bet that many of those mentors are men. We women, speaking from a sexist and God-given gene perspective, are generally more detail-oriented and organized. I do believe that it comes from having multiple balls to juggle simultaneously. We know how to get things done, and we know how to multitask. That is proven, seeing the number of men who join women-organized and managed organizations. We know how to get it done! I also believe that we women enthusiastically embrace new ways, new ideas and new technologies to make business happen. I’m an advocate of using technology to grow your business, and I believe that women have the creative ability to embrace that direction. We must accept the fact that social media are here to stay. But how do we make them work for us? I have personally seen so many incredible women, both in private and in the public sector, use this medium to tell their story in a persuasive way. I applaud them! In fact, I just learned the new NAWBO-San Antonio president, Cristina Heaney, has made social media a top priority during her two-year term. I could offer you stories upon stories about remarkable women who have achieved greatness, but space does not allow. My personal story, however, might resonate for some. Elliott Connection has no value beyond me because it is too branded. However, Healthcare Think Tank, which I created, does. I have a wonderful team who will ultimately inherit this initiative and can build it to anything they want – and I know they have huge aspirations. BTW, my team consists of women. Go figure! If you are so inspired by this article to learn more about how you can become a woman who can change this world, consider attending the NAWBO National Conference. Go to nawbo.org for more details.
W WOMEN IN BUSINESS he term “family law” can be misleading. The ubiquitous minivan comes to mind, with its rear window’s stick figure parade of parents, kids and pets. Yet that simple representation belies the complexities that families face today. Rising divorce rates, working parents, increased gay marriages and the growing field of assisted reproduction confound family’s simple, traditional notion. These four women are leaders in family law, with a range of expertise in solving the numerous conflicts and issues that arise for the many varieties of today’s families. The two primary fields of family law, according to Christina Molitor, include “the issues relevant to the parent/child relationship as well as the dissolution of a marriage.” Molitor’s practice focuses on complex divorces, contentious custody cases and assisted reproduction arrangements. All of these women bring compassion and empathy to the table. They are juggling their own complicated lives and demanding careers. Yet “you have the opportunity to shape the lives of the people who sit across the desk from you,” says Amy Geistweidt, whose specialties include litigation, military divorce and alternative dispute resolution. Emotions run deep when a family is rendered apart. After almost 20 years of experience as a litigator, “there’s almost nothing you can bring to me that will shock me,” says Amber Liddell Alwais, who is the only female partner in her firm. Rebecca Anne Gonzalez emphasizes that family law is about counseling people about their lives and connecting and listening to them. “My clients are everyday people. They are facing real challenges. We watch people facing bankruptcy and possibly losing their home at the worst time of their life. I’ve even talked people out of suicide,” she marvels. “There are lots of good lawyers in this city, but they don’t want to deal with the emotional part of this type of law. You have to be mentally tough to hear these cases over and over again,” sums up Gonzalez. The advice they offer to young women lawyers following in a similar path was resoundingly consistent: It’s a big city but a small community, so maintain a professional reputation. Don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it from older lawyers who are happy to mentor. There are a multitude of opportunities for leadership in various law organizations and through volunteer work.
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Practitioners of
Family Law By WENDY ATWELL
Photography by JESSICA GIESEY
Family law presents a minefield of emotional, financial and ethical challenges. These women become advocates, guiding their clients and their loved ones through situations that often seem insurmountable. “There are cases where I say, I helped a child today,” says Alwais. “I made sure that child was safe and ended up in the right place, and that’s why I went into this profession, and that is why I practice family law, when I know I helped a child in danger.”
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Rebecca Anne Gonzalez
Rebecca Anne Gonzalez is the eldest grandchild of San Antonio’s much heralded congressman, the late Henry B. Gonzalez. The Gonzalez family traces its roots back to the Mexican-American War with a present-day lineage dotted with respected lawyers, medical professionals, teachers and political and community servants. Being a part of the Gonzalez family meant growing up surrounded by highly educated, accomplished people with the bar set high to achieve the same high standards. This was the setting of Rebecca Anne Gonzalez’s life from the start. “I knew I wanted to be a lawyer since I was 5 years old,” recalls Gonzalez. “Every weekend, I spent with my grandparents Gonzalez. I would go with my grandfather Henry B. to the taping of his weekly televised address. He was very connected to the people and answered all his mail himself. I learned passion, drive and desire to fight for what you believe in, no matter what the challenges may be.” Gonzalez graduated from St. Mary’s University with a BBA in finance and then earned her JD degree from St. Mary’s Law School, just like her prominent grandfather and other family members who call St. Mary’s their alma mater. She was licensed to practice law in 1995. Upon marrying, Gonzalez did as many women do, she “offramped” from her burgeoning law career to support her husband’s professional goals and practice. In her case, that meant helping him maintain a healthy a surgical practice and medical day spa. “Then one day I realized that my marriage was not going to work, and I filed for divorce. I decided I had to figure myself out. Even though we had no children, it was a tough divorce and took several years to complete,” she says. It is that painful experience coupled with the death of her mother, Rosemary, a schoolteacher, from cancer, which thrust Gonzalez back into the legal world. After stints with the San Antonio office of Glast Phillips and then with Chris Weber, Gonzalez launched her own practice, the Law Offices of Rebecca Anne Gonzalez. That was four years ago, and today her practice is thriving. “I thought law would be the hardest thing to come back to, but once I began practicing again, I realized it best fit my skill set,” she says. “It’s fair to say it is what I should have been doing all along. “These painful events — my mother’s death, my divorce and my job loss — pushed me to decide I had to rebuild myself and go out on my own.” It is estimated that 90 percent of San Antonio’s courthouse docket is filled with family law-related cases, Gonzalez says. And she is not surprised 95 percent of her business has become family law. Her firm assists with a wide range of legal matters including contested and uncontested divorce, domestic partnerships, child custody, child support, adoption, child protective services and military divorce, real estate litigation and homeowner association litigation.
“My firm has grown to five lawyers, including myself, and five paralegals in four years, and we are bursting at the seams,” she explains. “Most afternoons my office has 15 to 25 people here. Kids go to the conference room and are given snacks while I meet with their parents. We will have a special kids’ area in our next office space,” Gonzalez says, referring to a new building she is preparing to acquire for her growing enterprise. “My strength is that I am best at connecting with people. I think that is how I have grown as far as I have in such a short time,” says Gonzalez. “My unique quality I have over other lawyers is that I have lived through divorce, and I have that life scar, and I understand how hard it is to get past.” When asked about the cases she has seen, Gonzalez responds, “My firm serves everyday people and lots of military families, which reflects San Antonio’s market. Many of them do not realize the time and expense that go into divorce or custody cases. I give them the big picture. If divorce should happen, I suggest they try to be in the best position to have a good outcome — stay educated, be financially sound and show you are a fit parent.” She continues, “I don’t always sign people up the same day they come meet with me. I think that helps potential clients respect me and return. I encourage them to try to work things out. I try to talk people out of divorce,” she says. Rebecca Anne Gonzalez stands before the U.S. Capitol with her grandfather, Rep. Henry B. Gonzalez, and her parents, Rosemary and Jesse. july/august 2015 | 73
W WOMEN IN BUSINESS
Alwais’ strength is in litigation, something she inherited from her father.
Amber Liddell Alwais
Amber Liddell Alwais is board certified by the state bar as a specialist in family law. During 20 years of practice she has observed three stages of divorce. “For the person who doesn’t want the divorce the first stage is, ‘I will do anything to get you back, including chewing my right arm off and giving it to you.’ And the second stage is, ‘I am so hurt and so angry that I am going to make you pay for putting me and my family through this,’ and hopefully they make it into that last stage which is, ‘It’s over, I know it’s over, I’m not happy that it’s over, but I’ve got to move on with my life.’” Alwais hopes that clients will reach the third stage, but she observes, “Some people get caught between that second and third stage and spend the rest of their lives and most of their money litigating… The phrase, ‘Do you really want to pay me your child’s college tuition to fight this divorce?’ is a fairly common expression.” As a family lawyer, Alwais’ strength is in litigation, something she inherited from her father. “I have more patience than he does, but we’re both very determined, strong in our opinion (read—stubborn!), and we both love to win and hate to lose. We have a drive and a passion. My job is to get out there and advocate, not to be diplomatic.” When she attended law school, she promised her father she wouldn’t go into family law, which was his specialty. But when she got out, she was first employed in family law and discovered she was good at it.
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“There’s almost nothing you can bring to me that will shock me,” says Alwais, meaning “the extent that people will go to malign their soon-to-be former spouse.” As a child, she experienced her own parents’ divorce, which was not amicable, so she knows what her clients are feeling. “The less amicable a divorce, the more indelible the memories are that are going to be left with your children about the divorce. “Most clients promise you that they are never going to put their children in the middle, that they are never going to use their children as weapons, and 99 percent of them don’t realize that is what they end up doing. So you have to sit them down and say, ‘Let me explain to you how you are accidentally or unintentionally putting your children in the middle when you think you’re doing what’s best for them.’” Geographic restrictions “are the most litigated issue in family law these days,” says Alwais. “We are a mobile society. No longer do people live and die in the same town or even the same area. People move, and here in Military City, USA, the chances are pretty high that when there is a divorce in a military family, one of the parents is going to move and want to take the kids with them.” Alwais is the youngest woman to reach partner in her firm. “Three months after I gave birth, I made partner. I’m very proud of that,” she says. She believes the best way she is giving back to her daughter is through her hard work and the example she is setting for her.
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W WOMEN IN BUSINESS
Amy Geistweidt
Family law is what keeps Amy Geistweidt awake at night; that’s how she knows it’s her passion. “I think it picked me,” she says. Licensed in 1993 and board-certified as a specialist in family law, Geistweidt has been practicing family law for over 20 years. She worries about “the kids involved” and “what people are going through, sometimes one of the worst time periods of their life.” There are no easy answers, except being able to help her clients in the best way possible: “The most important thing that I think I do well and try to practice is to listen to the clients and communicate well. That’s what they need most. It’s so helpful when you’re in a courtroom or you’re in mediation, when you have taken the time and the patience to listen to them that you know where they’re coming from, you know what’s important to them, you know who they are...so they can come out of it as healthy as possible when it’s done.” Geistweidt takes on a mixture of cases, including those that focus on property division and child custody. She enjoys collaborative law, which is relatively new. She explains, “We sign an agreement at the beginning of the case. The agreement is that neither of the parties will use attorneys who are working on the case to do any type of litigation. We commit to being open and honest and forthright. We commit to being positive in the process, and we commit to a series of meetings where we sit down and go through both sides’ goals, and we bring in the professionals that we need, whether it’s a business evaluator, a CPA, a child psychologist, a mental health professional or a counselor for one or both of the clients. Normally in the first meeting we establish a road map, in the next meeting we establish the inventory and the goals, and in the next meeting we start talking about how we can best settle the case for the parties. We commit to that process, and we get things resolved by sitting down and having those meetings and not ever in a courtroom.” The difference between collaborative law and mediation, she explains, is that “mediation is inside of litigation. My file is absolutely confidential in a mediation deal, whereas in collaborative law, you can be more open and sharing with the other side the information that you have. If it fails, then both sides have to go out and hire different attorneys to prepare a litigation file.” Born and raised in Fredericksburg, Geistweidt grew up in a very close family environment. She met her husband in church when she was a teen. They now live in Comfort, raising cattle and sheep on their ranch with their 16- and 11-year-old son and daughter. She spends her free time with their kids doing their many activities. This environment helps her retreat from the conflicts that she deals with on a daily basis.
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Geistweidt enjoys collaborative law, which aims to resolve divorce cases without litigation. It is a relatively new approach to the problem.
Part of Molitor’s law practice involves assisted reproduction, in which people choose surrogacy over adoption. This involves the parents’ egg, sperm or both.
Christina Molitor
For Christina Molitor, going to graduate school was a given in her family. “It was never ‘if you go’, it was ‘when you go.’ My parents always expected it.” She was raised in New York and discovered a love for the Spanish language after spending her junior year abroad in Barcelona. She continued refining her ability to speak the language in the Dominican Republic and then Madrid, where she met her Spanish husband. After their marriage, the couple chose San Antonio because it would be an easier transition for him, as a Spaniard, to the U.S., and because she thought it would be helpful to use in her law practice. They’ve been here since she was licensed in 1995 as a board-certified specialist in family law. Since then, Molitor has built a practice that specializes in divorce, custody and assisted reproduction. With three children of her own, she can call upon this experience while guiding her clients through difficult life decisions. “I like to say that I’m a family-restructuring attorney for divorce clients and a family-forming attorney when I’m working on my assisted reproduction work,” says Molitor. “I don’t believe in destroying family during the divorce and custody process. I think we have an obligation to leave our clients and their children in as good a condition as we possibly can at the conclusion of their case.” When working with divorce clients, she asks, what are their goals, where do they want to see themselves in five years or even 10 years from now? Do they want to see themselves particularly in a divorce situation having a cordial relationship with the other parent? Or do
they want to be in a situation where they can’t even look at one another at their child’s graduation? Molitor brings her experience and compassion to each case and makes it a priority to be candid. “I make sure that they see they have a viable plan moving forward,” she explains, because the beginning of a divorce is the most challenging and frightening, when clients are uncertain and faced with the unknown. With advancements in the fertility field, Molitor has noticed a trend in assistive reproduction in which people are choosing surrogacy over adoption. Specifically, she means surrogacy in which the parents have a genetic relationship with the child, which would involve the parents’ egg, sperm or both. This lowers the risk of birth mothers changing their minds. “I can’t say enough how much I enjoy the work,” says Molitor, who has grown her practice through referrals. The law gets complicated when it comes to gay couples or single parents, but Molitor emphasizes the importance of the child’s rights to inherit wealth, survivor benefits and health insurance from both parents. “We have an obligation to these children who are being brought into the world and are being raised by two parents. Not only should they have that assurance; they should have that emotional connection between both parents, regardless of the genetics,” she stresses. The complexities with law can be challenging, but Molitor loves witnessing and being a part of the “total joy that they are going through,” when a child comes into the world. “It’s the feel-good stuff,” she says.
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W AROUND TOWN The Texas Biomedical Forum Gala was hosted on Friday, May 8 at The Argyle. The theme for this year’s event was “Fly me to the moon… let me play among the stars”. With its membership of more than 750 women, the Forum sponsors fundraising efforts to support the Texas Biomedical Research Institute. Members also act as ambassadors to educate the San Antonio community about the vital research conducted by the Institute.
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1. Fred Rolle, Katherine Rolle, Elizabeth Cox, Kevin Cox 2. Gala committee members and trustees serving on Texas Biomedical Forum 3. Dr. Libby Farrimond and Dr. Gillespie 4. John and Edie Wright 5. James and Terry Gouger 6. Drs. Hamed and Vesta Mizani 7. Drs. Matthew and Ann Cross 8. Courtney and Steve Ogle 78 | sawoman.com
SOCIETY W
Supporting the Community July 9 North SA Chamber of Commerce 2015 Small Business Leaders Award Hyatt Hill Country 210-344-4848
August 22 (4th Saturday of every month) The Ecumenical Center Art Heals Hearts The Ecumenical Center 210-616-0885 August 28 Boysville 49th Wildest Auction in the West JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa 210-659-1901
July 10 San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists Scholarship and Awards Gala Corazon de Oro Award -Vikki Carr Henry Guerra Lifetime Achievement AwardMichael Quintanilla Marriott Rivercenter 210-250-3402
September 12 Walk for PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) O. P. Schnabel, Graff Pavilion 210-414-6614
July 17 Christmas In July Mercado Arts and Crafts Fair The Village at the Incarnate Word 210-829-7561 x114
September 19 Walk to End Alzheimer’s Benefiting Alzheimer’s Association AT&T Center 210-822-6449
July 23 Ronald McDonald House 5th Annual CHAIR-ity Old San Francisco Steakhouse 210-614-2554
September 19 Morgan’s Wonderland Free to Soar Gala Morgan’s Wonderland 210-495-5888
July 25 (4th Saturday of every month) The Ecumenical Center Art Heals Hearts The Ecumenical Center 210-616-0885
September 22 YWCA Women of Influence Awards Luncheon The Plaza Club 210-228-9922 x232
August 8 Culinaria Rambling Rose Tasting Becker Vineyards 210-822-1555 August 14 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Boots N’ Shoot National Shooting Complex 210-225-5851
September 24-26 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Bar-B-Que Cook-Off San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Grounds 210-225-5851 September 24 American Cancer Society Ranch Chic Fashion Show Rosenberg Sky Room University of the Incarnate Word 210-595-0249
August 17 American Wounded Heroes Golf Classic The Dominion Country Club 210-381-7492
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Women In Law Women today own an estimated 63,000 businesses in San Antonio. You are busy contributing to the economy and our community, all while balancing relationships, most often marriages and children in the process. And with hundreds of cases filling San Antonio’s court dockets on a daily basis, it is standing room only for those embattled and navigating the complex legal process and a court system that often drains people emotionally and financially. Be prepared and plan ahead. Knowing your legal options is critical. In the pages that follow, we feature our SAN ANTONIO WOMAN Law Directory, where you can find legal experts to help you with your personal or professional needs. The Lady Justice bronze sculpture by local artist, Gilbert E. Barrera. Our Lady is the only naturally exhibited Lady Justice in a public square in the United States, she stands in front of the Bexar County Courthouse atop a restored antique fountain. PHOTO BY ELIZABETH WARBURTON.
2015 SAN ANTONIO WOMAN LAW DIRECTORY
Family Law Jean Brown graduated Magna Cum Laude from St. Mary’s University in 1990. Ms. Brown’s primary areas of law are family law and criminal law. She has been voted one of Bexar County’s best family law attorneys for many years. Ms. Brown is known for settling and trying complicated custody issues and criminal matters.
Education: 1990 Dr Juris Prudence — St. Mary’s University Magna Cum Laude Years in Practice in Texas: 25 Contact: Jean Brown Family Law 222 Main Plaza San Antonio TX 78205 (210) 354-2662 www.jeanbrownfamilylaw.com
Jean S. Brown
Mission Statement: Always do the next right thing!
• Family • Criminal • Probate
Family Law
Rebecca A. Gonzalez P.C.
I extend personal care and understanding to families undergoing some of the most traumatic moments in their personal lives. We extend a helping hand to husbands, wives, parents, children, exes, grandparents, stepparents and new parents in need of legal services. My family law firm stands ready to fight in trial court when mediation fails to produce a just outcome. Our practice serves a broad range of areas, including contested divorce, uncontested divorce, paternity, modifications, alimony, child support and prenuptial agreements. I will be dedicated to protecting your rights and interests — both in and out of court.
• Divorce, Uncontested Divorce, Adoption • Child Custody, Child Support • Military Divorce, Domestic Partnerships • Fathers Rights, HOA Litigation • Child Protective Services
Education: St. Mary’s University, BBA Finance St. Mary’s School of Law, JD Years in Practice in Texas: 20 Contact: Law Offices of Rebecca A. Gonzalez, P.C. 8000 West Avenue, Suite #1 San Antonio, TX 78213 (210) 368-2608 www.rebeccagonzalezlaw.com Mission Statement: A South Texas Legal Legacy Committed to High Standards
Commercial Property Acquisition/Sales Cindy has been intensely involved in complex commercial real estate acquisition/sales and contract projects with large retail companies for two decades, two of which are publicly traded companies headquartered in San Antonio.
Cindy Hill • Commercial property acquisitions/sales • Commercial leasing • Land development
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Mission Statement: “To combine my passion for real estate with my skill and knowledge to help clients reach their goals.” Education: BA - University of Texas at El Paso JD - Texas Tech University School of Law
She knows how critical the details are in commercial property transactions. How these transactions are negotiated, structured and managed makes a big impact on the company/investor’s bottom line. Cindy’s experience and know-how helps the parties in a real estate transaction maximize profit and efficiency.
Contact: Law Offices of Cynthia P. Hill, PLLC 401 East Sonterra, Suite 375 San Antonio, TX 78258
Cindy has proven to be an engaging leader with the ability to organize, analyze, and innovate to lead teams to project success.
cindy@cindyhill-law.com www.cindyhill-law.com (210) 216-1392
Years in Practice in Texas: 20 plus years in private/in-house practice
2015 SAN ANTONIO WOMAN LAW DIRECTORY
Criminal Law/Family Law
Veronica I. Legarreta • Criminal Law • Family Law
Veronica received her J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law. It was there that she participated in mock trial competitions and realized she loved being in the courtroom. After law school, Veronica began her legal career as a prosecutor at the District Attorney’s office, where she quickly built a reputation for being a tough and relentless trial attorney. In 2011, she decided to start her own law firm with fellow attorney Amy Owen and thus Legarreta & Owen, PLLC, was born. Together they specialize in Criminal and Family Law. Veronica is also federally licensed in the Western District of Texas.
Education: JD – St. Mary’s University School of Law BA – University of Texas at Austin Years of Practice: 9 years Contact: Legarreta & Owen, PLLC 613 E. Ashby Place, Suite 1 San Antonio, TX 78212 (210) 532-5321 www.lolawdefense.com
Mission Statement: Experienced in the law. Dedicated to your case.
Lawyer Profile: Nursing Home Negligence
Marynell Maloney • Malpractice • Personal Injury • Wrongful Death
Marynell Maloney has been championing the rights of those in need for more than thirty years. Her background, resources, and experience uniquely qualify her to handle serious medical malpractice, personal injury, and wrongful death claims. Marynell is widely recognized for the quality, thoroughness and intensity of her trial preparation and, most of all, for the outstanding, high-dollar recoveries she obtains for her clients.Marynell is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Personal Injury Trial Law. Marynell is rated as a “Super Lawyer” by Thomson Reuters (printed in Texas Monthly). She carries an AV-rating with a 5.0 numerical score, the highest attainable rating awarded for legal competence and ethical conduct by Martindale-Hubbell. Having achieved dozens of multi-million dollar resolutions for her clients, Marynell is also a member of the Top Trial Lawyers In America's MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR ADVOCATES FORUM.
Education: St. Mary's University School of Law, San Antonio, Texas J.D. - 1980 Trinity University M.A. - 1978 Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio B.A. - 1975
Years in Practice in Texas: 35 Contact: Marynell Maloney Law Firm, PLLC 115 East Travis Street Suite 1800 San Antonio, TX 78205 www.marynellmaloneylawfirm.com (210) 212-8000 (800) 717-6011
Lawyer Profile: Nursing Home Negligence
Michelle Maloney • Malpractice • Personal Injury • Wrongful Death
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Michelle is the first member of the next generation of Maloney attorneys. She was born in San Antonio, Texas, grew up abroad, and attended Sarah Lawrence College in New York City before graduating cum laude from the University of San Francisco School of Law and moving back to San Antonio to practice.
Education: University of San Francisco School of Law, San Francisco, California J.D. cum laude Sarah Lawrence College, New York B.A.
Michelle is licensed in Texas, New York and California and handles medical malpractice, nursing home negligence and wrongful death cases. Since joining the Marynell Maloney Law Firm, Michelle has resolved millions of dollars' worth of cases. Michelle has successfully represented clients in high stakes settlement negotiations and mediations and is honored that her clients have put their trust and futures in her hands. As Michelle works primarily with families who have been devastated by horrific injuries or the deaths of loved ones, she understands how difficult the litigation process can be and she strongly believes that a lawyer's duty to her client is to listen first, advise second, and advocate always.
Contact: Marynell Maloney Law Firm, PLLC 115 East Travis Street Suite 1800 San Antonio, TX 78205
Years in Practice in Texas: 6
www.marynellmaloneylawfirm.com (210) 212-8000 (800) 717-6011
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ver the past twenty-four years, and in the true entrepreneurial spirit, I have established a business law firm and successfully represented entrepreneurs in multi-level industries in the areas of Corporate/Business, Securities, and Fashion Law with an emphasis in financial transactions. The underlying premise is to drive the business in
all its facets of operation on a steady course to success. Legal representation and financial counsel are essential resources
for every business owner. Simultaneously, I utilized my M.B.A. in Finance to serve as an Adjunct Professor of Finance for the University of Texas in San Antonio. At the intersection of Law and Finance, lies my role as a Business Attorney. Corporate, Business and Securities Law, Finance, Economics, Taxes, Banking, Insurance, Investments, and Succession Planning, are key components to any business operation, and information needed by every business owner. While an Owner is the driving force behind their business’ success, they rely on my Counsel to integrate these key components into the infrastructure of their business. As a Business Attorney my job is to proactively handle the legal and financial issues particular to Clients’ practices and industries, leaving them to devote the maximum amount of their time and energy to their passion. Navigating business development, stability and growth requires the skills of an Attorney whose knowledge, vision, experience and proven success can make those roads seem seamless. My Law Firm represents businesses of varying sizes in wide array of industries, along with individuals holding professional licenses. These businesses all began in the entrepreneurial spirit; some as start-ups under my direction and Counsel, others sought out my experience and advice for entity re-structuring or as established businesses ready for expansion and diversification. I encourage my Clients to pursue their paths to greatness; to navigate the road less often traveled by most, to achieve their full potential. Who helps you navigate the road to your success? AREAS OF PRACTICE: Business Entity Formation: Corporations • LLC • PLLC • C-Corp • sub-S • Professional Corporations; Partnerships: General Limited • Registered Limited • Professional Associations • Business Advising and Development • Securities • Fashion Law
19202 Huebner Road, Suite 103 • San Antonio, Texas 78258 210.404.9200 • lorussobusinesslaw.com
2015 SAN ANTONIO WOMAN LAW DIRECTORY
Criminal Defense/Family Law
Amy E. Owen • Criminal Defense • Family Law
Amy E. Owen grew up in Terrell Hills, where she attended Incarnate Word High School and then The University of Texas at San Antonio. Amy attended St. Mary’s University School of Law and then she began her career as a prosecutor at the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office. She became a Felony Prosecutor in the Family Violence Section before leaving the DA’s office in 2011 to begin her own criminal defense and family law firm with her law partner, Veronica Legarreta. Legarreta & Owen Law Office specializes in handling all criminal cases, as well as divorce and child custody.
Education: JD – St. Mary’s University BA – University of Texas San Antonio Years of Practice: 8 years Contact: Legarreta & Owen, PLLC 613 E. Ashby Place, Suite 1 San Antonio, TX 78212 (210) 532-5321 www.lolawdefense.com
Mission Statement: Experienced in the law. Dedicated to your case.
Family Law/Criminal Defense Founding partner Lauren Jay Carrington Smyth is hand-picked from the best academic and commercial institutions in the United States, Mexico, Europe, United Kingdom and Japan. The common threads in all of her case appointments are talent, sheer intelligence, dynamism and real passion. “San Antonio Queen of Divorce” Lauren Jay Carrington Smyth is licensed to practice law in Texas (2005), Washington, DC (2006) and England and Wales (2007).
Lauren Jay Carrington Smyth • Divorce Prevention, Conscious Uncoupling & Couples Counseling • Speedy Uncontested Divorce • Protective Orders, Restraining Orders, Kick-Outs with Police Escort • Spousal Support, Maintenance & Child Support Negotiations • Family violence, drugs and DWI
Mission: Carrington Smyth PLLC is a San Antoniobased law firm primarily focused on family law and criminal defense. We take a very modern approach to divorce and separation offering specialty and boutique services to lessen the fear and pain associated with big life changes. Extremely aggressive.
Education: Oxford University, England - QLTT UK Qualifications at Oxford University University of Houston Law Center – JD "El Tec" (EGADE) Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Mexico – International Law Scholarship Legal Intern – Bexar County Office of the District Attorney (2005) Assistant Editor of the Texas Consumer Law Journal (2005) Legal Intern – Hon. Justice Tim Taft, Court of Appeals, First District of Texas (2003) University of Texas at Austin – B.A.
Contact: Carrington Smyth PLLC Bank of America Plaza, Suite 1330 San Antonio, TX 78205 O: (210) 901-5074 M: (210) 660-9207 Lauren.Smyth@CarringtonSmyth.com www.carringtonsmyth.com
Family Law
Heather Tessmer • Family Law • Personal Injury • Wills, Probate and Estate Planning • Guardianships • Business Formations
88 | sawoman.com
Heather was born in Ohio and moved to the Texas Hill Country at a young age, growing up on Lake LBJ in Llano County. After graduating from Angelo State University and marrying her Air Force husband, the couple lived for a time in Germany. They were transferred back to San Antonio and Heather entered and completed law school, having two children along the way. Heather has grown the law practice from her own office with one assistant to professional offices in the Lincoln Center building with an Associate Attorney and various Paralegals and support staff. When not working, Heather enjoys traveling, cooking, gardening and reading.
Education: St. Mary’s School of Law, JD Years in Practice in Texas: 15 Contact: Tessmer Law Firm, PLLC 7800 IH-10 West, Suite 830 San Antonio, TX 78230 (210) 368-9708 www.tessmerlawfirm.com Mission Statement: Tessmer Law Firm, PLLC is dedicated to offering its clients quality legal services with compassion and caring, while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and honesty.
july/august 2015 | 89
W SUSTAINABLE GARDENING
Helping bruised souls find wellness By JOSIE SEELIGSON
Nature helps soothe a range of ailments, connecting people with roots that bottled medicines can’t reach. Many people in busy urban areas don’t access or engage with outdoor spaces, so businesses caring for people are incorporating garden spaces — from large and complex to as simple as a few containers — as integral parts of their workplace’s mission. Earth, water, fire and wind have always supplied humans with basic needs of food, water, energy and shelter plus overall well-being and pleasure. Time spent in nature helps balance, lower blood pressure, reduce stress and increase Vitamin D absorption. Knowing these benefits, many businesses and health centers are incorporating large or small garden areas for their staff and clients, including the following three San Antonio centers:
EDCASA
Eating Disorder Center at San Antonio
Eating disorder patients often retreat psychologically into their own worlds, isolating themselves from life, other people, work. EDCASA’s garden program helps patients reconnect with earth, growing things, life cycles, food at its source. Patients tend the garden, tactilely experiencing soil preparation, planting, watering, fertilizing, weeding, pruning, harvesting vegetables or cutting flowers, smelling herbs or hearing wind rustle in tree leaves. “How beautiful is it to throw yourself into working in the garden?” asks Kay Watt, who started EDCASA in 2007. Eating disorder patients tend to be overly critical of themselves and their bodies, seeking unreachable perfection. In a working garden, they see that beauty can exist in imperfection — flowers among weeds, vegetable vines with nibbled leaf holes, dead stems awaiting pruning for fresh growth. A garden’s changing cycles mimic human life struggles, in turns lush, listless, productive, dormant, thriving, failing. Rewards ring richly. Gardens don’t guarantee success, so healthy vegetables shared or fresh flowers cut and placed in a vase bring great pleasure. Gardening engages patients in external productivity and provides a soothing interface with life, helps them notice and care whether there is rain or drought, harsh temperatures, wind or hail. Patients are more in touch with external surroundings, rather than retreating internally. 90 | sawoman.com
EDCASA holds some classes or activities in the garden, and some patients just sit there to recenter or practice mindfulness. Painted rocks and pots dot the beds, alongside cement stepping stones patients press with hand prints, tiles, gemstones and encouraging words: Stay strong. One step at a time. Find your strength. Wind chimes and colorful pinwheels catch wind; birdbaths and feeders invite chirping. A wooden picnic table sits beneath a shade tree, its base painted lime green but every surface inch covered with artful graffiti: Beauty defined by the soul, not the mirror, or If you’re lucky enough to be different, don’t change. Plant selection attracts birds, bees, butterflies. A plastic garden gnome holds a fake flower amidst living pansies, violas, rosemary, cabbage, mustard greens, kale and broccoli. Many patients have never grown anything from scratch and relish putting seeds into soil, adding water and watching growth. All play roles learning to cope with painful feelings, living and eating mindfully, managing obsessions and stress and embracing joy.
AURORA CANCER CENTER
At Aurora Cancer Center, Dr. Lillian Chou transformed part of an otherwise stark parking lot into a garden grouping of silver feed troughs overflowing with fruit trees, rose bushes, sunflowers, daisies, lettuce and tomatoes. Vines speckled with yellow squash blossoms drape down the feeders’ sides. Staff members and patients pluck tomatoes or lettuce to augment lunch or take home. Many also have started gardens in their own yards or patios. On an adjacent stone patio, people can rest on limestone rocks beneath shady oak trees and mountain laurels. Spineless prickly pear pads (nopales) protrude from soil, sprouting edible “nopalita” pads — rugged drought survivors that grow rich in vitamins and antioxidants against all odds. Cars drive nearby, but birds chirp, leaves flutter and plants teem with vibrant produce — an uplifting alternative to a waiting room. As if on cue, a butterfly flutters in and alights on a leaf, then shimmers away like a mirage. In time, Dr. Chou wants to transform the garden to all edible plants to showcase eating healthy and growing vegetables in unlikely spaces for optimal health and fighting cancer. july/august 2015 | 91
W SUSTAINABLE GARDENING
CHILDREN’S BEREAVEMENT CENTER Children’s Bereavement Center uses backyard garden therapy, age-appropriate elements and metaphoric activities for children and families suffering from loss of a loved one. Its lovely backyard offers pathways through flower beds, shade trees, a playscape, turf grass and patios with tables and benches. Each part purposefully addresses grief’s stages — reality, remembering and moving on to the future.
Seasonal growth in the garden acts as a metaphor for cycles of death and life that follows. Sensory plant beds employ sweet and strong aromas of honeysuckle and rosemary to soothe. A garden pathway transforms into a ritual walk family members traverse, carrying candles to place in garden wall nooks. Even the playscape engages metaphors of tunneling through, climbing out, holding onto support, looking forward for hope.
A side patio’s wooden wishing well sends wishes on smooth stones left for others who come later to take or add to, giving and receiving hope in sadness. Wind chimes ring deep resonance, confirming sacredness for the deceased, self and others. On a large corner wall, tucked behind flowers, rises a “Before I Die” wall. Kids write or draw in colored chalk what they hope to experience in life: “I want to open a barber shop” or “I want my mom to be happy.” A labyrinth brick pattern twirls for individuals to walk and recenter life’s journey; the way into the labyrinth center is also the way out, but trust is required to journey the path effectively.
And every life journey ideally should include a garden or outside space.
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SENIOR CARE GIVING W
SAN ANTONIO BOTANICAL GARDEN
WITTE MUSEUM
SA SENIORS DAY OUT By ROBYN BARNES
Your day off is here, and you’ve promised an outing to your senior family member. You know it’s important to get this person out of the house to break up the daily routine. How do you prepare, and where can you go locally that will be amusing and safe?
Be prepared
Preparation is important for any outing. Review the items you’ll need: bottled water, medications, appropriate clothing and undergarments and snacks. “We let our residents tell us what they want to do, and we are always asking for their suggestions,” says Shelley Bunce, director of sales and marketing for The Forum at Lincoln Heights. “We always let our residents know how much walking there will be because some people are not up for a long day of walking. It is also very important the activity director or whoever is taking their senior out scouts out the location beforehand, keeping in mind what their senior can and cannot do, along with the amount of time they will be doing the activity,” explains Bunce. When preparing for an outing, consider destinations. If you need wheelchair access, call ahead to be sure it is available. Ask about handicapped parking if you will need it. If you are heading to the park, reconnoiter the paths you’ll use to be sure they are smooth and wide enough for two persons. Also check to be sure seating is available along the way. Suitable activities depend upon the senior’s physical ability. Some people are up for and able to take on anything while others need gentler activities. Walks in the park, shopping trips to favorite malls, excursions to dinner and a movie are all possibilities. Talk to your senior about what she’d like to do and what she thinks she’s able to do. Then draw up a plan.
july/august 2015 | 93
W SENIOR CARE GIVING San Antonio outings
SEA WORLD SAN ANTONIO
Depending upon the budget and your senior’s athletic prowess, you have many options from which to choose. Outdoor amusements Morgan’s Wonderland is a great place to stay active and have fun. Staff members recommend an outdoor picnic, a stroll around the Walk & Roll Path, a ride on the carousel or a train trip around the 8-acre park. Morgan’s Wonderland offers Senior Fridays, where admission is $8 for ages 62 and up. Senior Fridays occur on the second and fourth Fridays of the month, beginning in April and running through December. SeaWorld San Antonio is the largest marine life park in the world. Even if you and your senior aren’t into amusement park rides, there are lots of shows to enjoy. Exhibits and shows are wheelchair accessible, and a limited number of electric wheelchairs are available for rent. Be sure to call ahead to inquire about discount pricing (800-700-7786). Six Flags Fiesta Texas might not be the first place to come to mind when planning an outing for seniors, but there’s plenty to do. Of course, there are the thrill rides and the family rides, but there are also great shows. Currently there are two musicals and an evening fireworks show. Call for park information and show schedule (210-697-5050) before your visit in order to take advantage of the best discounts and to plan for the activities you want to do. Wheelchairs and electronic convenience vehicles are available on a limited basis. The San Antonio Zoo is open every day, rain or shine. The Zoo is home to more than 9,000 animals representing 750 species of animals on 56 acres. It features one of the largest bird collections in the United States and was the first to hatch and rear Caribbean flamingos. This is a great place to take a leisurely stroll and watch the animals and the people. Wheelchairs and electric wheelchairs are available on a limited basis. If you’re looking for wildlife without the walk, drive out to Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, open year-round. Take the Drive-Thru and see reticulated giraffes peek over their enclosures, go eye-to-eye with the aoudad or kudu, and see elk, fallow, axis and the Japanese sika. Zebras, ostriches and emus will beg for food at your car windows. Get cold drinks at the Safari Camp Grill and walk through the petting barnyard. Call ahead for senior citizen discount pricing (830-438-7400). If the heat is getting to you and your senior and if you are both in good shape, plan a trip underground to explore one of the area’s caverns. Natural Bridge Caverns, Cascade Caverns and Cave Without a Name are all a short drive from San Antonio. Wear comfortable walking shoes that provide good traction on steep, wet surfaces. Wheelchairs are not recommended. The San Antonio Botanical Garden is a great place to get back to nature. The staff conducts monthly bird walks and native plant walks with docents. You can tour the 38-acre garden at your own pace with the garden map. After your visit, stop by the Carriage House Bistro for refreshment. Much of the garden is wheelchair accessible, but rain may make some areas temporarily challenging for wheelchairs. It is an uphill walk from the parking lot to the entrance. Museum experiences When was the last time you went to the Witte? There’s always something new to see. The Witte’s backyard features historic houses from all over San Antonio. See the materials that were used to build log cabins, and try to build 94 | sawoman.com
SAN ANTONIO BOTANICAL GARDEN SAN ANTONIO ZOO
INSTITUTE OF TEXAN CULTURES
THE MCNAY ART MUSEUM
your own. Inside, prowl the Ice Age exhibit with its mammoths, saber-toothed cats and cave people. Call before you go (210-3571900) to learn about senior discounts. The San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) on the north end of the River Walk has an extensive collection of Asian art, as well as works from the Americas, Europe, Egypt, Greece and Rome. Exhibitions change regularly, so there is always something new to see. SAMA’s website (www.samuseum.org) provides a calendar of activities and events so you can make reservations when needed. The McNay Art Museum is located in the former home of Marion Koogler McNay. It was the first modern art museum in Texas. The McNay is home to the Tobin Collection of Theatre Arts, which comprises more than 9,000 theater arts objects of scene and costume
SENIOR CARE GIVING W design. The museum sits on 23 landscaped acres and is a favorite location for bridal portraits. Admission for seniors (65+) is $5; the fee for adults is $10. You may tour the grounds for free. The UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures in downtown San Antonio offers a good look at Texas’ cultural heritage. The museum tells the stories of the immigrants who came from around the world to settle Texas. Wander through the exhibits to see toys, books, clothing and other objects of settlers’ lives that seem so foreign to us now. The Institute offers senior discounts, and attendance is free to all on the second Sunday of every month. The Briscoe Western Art Museum on West Market Street exists to preserve the art, history and culture of the American West through exhibitions and events. The museum is a collection of Western art and artifacts from the Spanish conquest to present day. See Santa Anna’s sword, Pancho Villa’s saddle, a Wells Fargo Western Mail stagecoach and much more. Call for hours and admission (210-299-4499). With a little planning and preparation, you can confidently take your senior for an outing you both can enjoy! “When we take our blessed seniors for their special day out, we take pictures to capture them enjoying and living the moment to the fullest. We cheer them on to celebrate themselves,” says Belinda Torres Hernandez, founder and owner of Senior Blessings. Hernandez goes on to say, “Either outdoors or indoors, our goal is to celebrate the human spirit. We don’t let the weather hinder us.”
july/august 2015 | 95
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REVERSE MORTGAGES
At Edward Jones, we meet with you to learn your individual needs so we can develop a strategy to help achieve your long-term financial goals. See how personal service can make a difference.
Michelle L. Wood, AAMS Financial Advisor 210.497.1142
HOME HEALTH CARE - HOSPICE
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Greg Heitmeier Hospice Specialist 210.394.3317
MOVING AND TRANSITION SERVICES
CARPET AND UPHOSTERY CLEANING
Anna’s Chem-Dry Anna’s Chem-Dry is a carbonated carpet & upholstery cleaning service. We specialize in Spot Removal, pet stains/odors and 24 hour water removal
Owners Anna L. & Randy Counts Independently Owned & Operated Commercial & Residential
(210) 690-8876 www.AnnasCD.com
COMMERCIAL STORAGE
The Generations Team provides turn-key services for seniors who are downsizing for a move. Services include: floor planning; packing; licensed moving services; unpacking, organizing and new home set-up; important document management; donations, estate sales and liquidations; clear out and staging at the former residence.
PEGGY BROWN, CSA, CMC Member, National Association of Senior Move Managers
(210) 378-1106 www.GenerationsTeam.com
LIFE COACH FOR WOMEN
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I am a certified Professional life coach and a member of International Coaching Federation. I help women of all ages and in all stages of life through individual and group 210.343.1134 sessions. We will strive to learn more about yourself by exploring what’s really important to YOU. www.Ic4wit.com
MEDICARE
COUNSELING
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Joey Arellano Senior Marketing Manager
Cell: 210.639-3502 Office: 210.354-2273
IN HOME CARE
We provide clients with biblical truths for restoration with daily life challenges, such as, unresolved past hurts, marriage problems, abuse etc. We service children, adolescents and adults. Our philosophy is God is never the problem, He is always the solution.
Dr. Marie Priestly 210.325.9418 www.rpcc.us
SENIOR CONCIERGE
SENIOR BLESSINGS “Offering The Gift Of Time” “Exceptional Provider Service, nurse owned & operated agency. Providing “Exceptional” Care! Rates starting at: $14/hr based on acuity with NO MINIMUMS! Serving San Antonio, surrounding cities, and Waco. Available 24/7! Call 210.569.9561 Today for a free consultation. www.exceptionalproviderservice.com
Caring Companion Non-Medical, Shopping, Transportation & Escort, Home Organization, Professional Packing & Unpacking. Bonded, Insured, Belinda Torres Hernandez 210.632.8000 Screened, Private Pay. Se Habla Español, Compliwww.seniorblessings.com mentary Consultation & Gift Certificates.
PERSONAL ATTENDENT SERVICES
STORAGE SOLUTIONS FOR THE HOME FRESH SOLUTIONS FROM A TRUSTED BRAND
PRIDE PHC SERVICES is a San Antonio, Woman owneroperated business. Pride’s mission is to advocate for indeCindy Cruz, RN pendence by providing personal care services that improve the quality of life and overall well being of the individuals Owner/President 210.949.1303 we proudly serve.
For 65 years, Tupperware has provided increasingly hectic families with necessary solutions for better living. Tupperware makes it easy to enjoy healthy meals, fun gatherings and organized homes while being kind to environment. I’d love to get in touch so I can tell you, and show you, exactly how these products help make your Dr. Rosie Valdez life simpler and more delicious. RosieValdez1.My.Tupperware.com 210.760.5466
CONTINUING CARE
YOGA AND FITNESS COACH
Nestled in 28 wooded acres in the heart of the San Antonio Medical Center, Brookdale Patriot Heights strives to provide solutions for seniors and their loved ones. Whether it's a residential solution in Independent Living, or a short-term Heather Lovelace rehabilitation stay in our Healthcare Center. 210.696.6005
HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING
EVENT PLANNING
Let us plan your wedding, anniversary, birthday, or corporate event. Our professionalism and experience create memorable and stress free events for our customers. 210.859.8720 We offer a host of ideas and services specifically tailored to the needs of each unique event. www.oaksandaspens.com
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MORTGAGE
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REAL ESTATE
NORTHSIDE
Rita Brogdon, Sr. Loan Officer
210.834.5652
Preferred Mortgage is a locally owned, full service mortgage company originating conventional loans for purchases and refinances. As a nationally licensed loan officer Rita has the experience to make your home loan experience a positive one. Rita specializes in VA and Texas Vet loans and strives to assist active duty, discharged veterans and disabled veterans in obtaining the best loan for them at the best price!
SENIORS DIRECTORY ONLINE
Holly Weems Senior Real Estate Specialist Cell: 936.240.0250 Office: 210.979.6700
For additional information on resources for seniors visit:
www.SeniorSanAntonio.com
2015
PRIVATE SCHOOL Guide SAN ANTONIO HAS A HERITAGE OF PRIVATE SCHOOL EXCELLENCE BY PAMELA LUTRELL
San Antonio is known for its rich her-
itage, vibrant culture and historical significance.
Residents see all of this
reflected in monuments from the Alamo
to the Missions and institutions from the
military to education. In fact, it is this
heritage within our private schools that adds so much depth to the educational
landscape and community prosperity. Locally, private education has evolved
over centuries with strong foundations in college preparatory programs, faithbased curricula, character development and successful sports programs.
It is this community atmosphere that
often attracts families to private education. The decision of where to educate
children is one of the most important
parents will make. When looking at private vs. public education, often the
choices revolve around the smaller cam-
pus and family feeling, the quality of college preparatory programs, statistics
showing how many students enter top
college programs,
personal attention
from teachers in smaller classrooms,
faith-based programs in specialized
schools, discipline required in behavior
SAN ANTONIO ACADEMY
and success of the school’s graduates.
SAN ANTONIO AREA DIRECTORY OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS “Many are looking for a nurturing at-
SAINT MARY’S HALL
mosphere,” says Rusty Sugg, director of
admissions for San Antonio Christian
School (SACS). A 30-year veteran of private education, Sugg says, “In recent
years, we have seen more families who
want a challenging education for their
children where they are not teaching to
the test, as public schools do.” Each private school has its own program for test-
ing progress and is not required to take
students through the controversial man-
dated tests.
SACS is one of the longest-estab-
lished private schools in the city. It joins
Saint Mary’s Hall and Texas Military Institute (TMI) as part of the foundation of
private education excellence in this area.
SACS was founded in 1972 and is accred-
ited through the Association of Christian
SAN ANTONIO ACADEMY
ST LUKES EPISCOPAL
Schools International (ACSI). The program is a biblically based college
preparatory curriculum for Pre-K 4 – 12
and includes AP and honors classes.
Saint Mary’s Hall was founded in 1879
by the Episcopal church. Today it is an
independent coeducational campus for students and families of all faiths and
known for high educational excellence
and sending students to the nation’s top
colleges.
TMI was founded in 1893 by Bishop
James Johnston and is the oldest Episco-
pal college preparatory school in the
Southwest. It is known for its residential
program, the Corps of Cadets, and its
focus on teaching a small campus the four
pillars of strong academics, military disciplines, competitive athletics and spiri-
tuality. Another community atmosphere
associated with the Episcopal church can
be found at St. Luke’s Episcopal School, located in Alamo Heights.
These schools join a growing list
of private schools in and around
San Antonio structured to meet the needs of a thriving population and
providing the community an educational edge in the state.
100 | sawoman.com
ST LUKES EPISCOPAL
PRIVATE SCHOOLGuide In addition parents may also want to consider the following:
CHOICE CURRICULUM
Because they are not tied to the minimum stan-
dard requirements of public schools, many private
schools offer more diverse curriculum options and
college preparatory classes for students. Several also
SAN ANTONIO ACADEMY
noted awards in music and art. Specialized field
SAINT MARY’S HALL
boast of highly successful fine arts programs with
trips are easier with smaller classes.
CO-ED VS. SAME-SEX ENVIRONMENTS
Some studies have found that students study
more, are less easily distracted and feel less self-con-
scious in schools and classrooms with children of
their own sex, so some schools, like Incarnate Word
High School, Providence Catholic School, Central
Catholic High School and San Antonio Academy,
offer all-girl or all-boy classes. Of course, other parents believe that a co-educational setting provides
INCARNATE WORD HIGH SCHOOL
better socialization, so many private schools are co-
educational. There are local options for both, once
parents determine their child’s individual needs.
PREPARATION FOR COLLEGE AND THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY
Many private schools claim outstanding records
of college placement and even provide counseling and programs to assist students in acceptance at
prestigious universities. Most offer college prepara-
tory coursework, college-credit and dual-participation high school classes and SAT/ACT testing prep
courses. Some offer after-school volunteer programs,
mentoring programs and internships.
Some schools offer travel opportunities with par-
ents and teachers to see museums and sites in Wash-
ington, D.C., New York and even Europe. Many
faith-based schools offer mission trips throughout
the year and all around the world as part of their service hour requirements.
102 | sawoman.com
SAINT LUKES EPISCOPAL
SAINT MARY’S HALL
PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND SPECIAL NEEDS
Because all children have different gifts, skill sets
and learning challenges, private schools are a place
where an individual student’s needs may be considSUNSHINE COTTAGE
ered. Whether a student has a physical, emotional
or learning challenge, smaller private schools are
often able to adapt to his specific special needs.
Often the small classroom size offers a setting where
a child with special needs can get more individual attention and assistance.
These are only a few of the many reasons families
look toward private education. It is a personal
choice, and local schools work to make it affordable
and may even offer some scholarship programs. San
Antonio is one of the best places to offer many
choices for private schools. Following is a compre-
hensive directory for private school options in San
THE WINSTON SCHOOL
Antonio and the surrounding areas.
july/august 2015 | 103
PRIVATE SCHOOLGuide
2015-2016
The Academy at Morgan’s Wonderland Special Needs 5235 David Edwards Drive San Antonio, TX 78233 (210) 479-3311 Contact: Susan Bineham, Ph.D www.morganswonderland.net
Antonian College Preparatory High School 6425 West Ave. San Antonio, TX 78213 (210) 344-9265 Contact: Gilbert Saenz www.antonian.org
Blessed Sacrament Catholic School PK – 8th 600 Oblate Dr. San Antonio, TX 78216 (210) 824-3381 Contact: Michael Fierro www.blessedschool.com
Acorn School Preschool – Kindergarten 3501 Broadway San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 826-8804 Contacts: Rich Lange and Jo Mrvichin www.theacornschool.net
The Atonement Academy PK – 12th 15415 Red Robin Rd. San Antonio, TX 78255 (210) 695-2240 Contact: Marie Mendez www.atonementonline.com
Bracken Christian School PK – 12th 670 Old Boerne Rd. Bulverde, TX 78163 (830) 438-3211 Contact: Judy Engberg www.brackenchristian.com
Antioch Christian Academy K-6th Elementary School 227 Eross San Antonio, TX 78202 (210) 222-0159 Contact: Christina Boswell www.acasat.com
Blessed Hope Academy High School 4930 Research Dr. San Antonio, TX 78240 (210) 697-9191 Contact: Alice Ashcraft www.blessedhopeacademy.com
Brighton Center Special Needs School 14207 Higgins Rd. San Antonio, TX 78217 (210) 826-4492 Contact: Irma Bustos www.brightonsa.org
104 | sawoman.com
SAPRIVATESCHOOLS.COM The Buckner Fanning Christian School PK – 8th 975 Mission Spring San Antonio, TX 78258 (210) 402-6905 Contact: Diane Dunn www.bucknerfanningschool.org
CHILD Montessori School Ages 2 – 5th grade 2829 Hunters Green St. San Antonio, TX 78231 (210) 493-6550 Contact: Jean Stein, director www.childmontessori.org
Concordia Lutheran School PK – 8th 16801 Huebner Rd. San Antonio, TX 78258 (210) 479-1477 Contact: Laura Sisk www.clssatx.com
Calvary Chapel Christian Academy K – 12th 2935 Pat Booker Rd., Ste. 118 San Antonio, TX 78148 (210) 658-8337 Contact: Will Shank www.calvarysa.com/CCCA
Christian Academy of San Antonio PK – 12th 325 Castroville Rd. San Antonio, TX 78207 (210) 436-2277 (Elementary) (210) 431-7355 (High School) Contact: Pam Payne www.christianacademysa.org
Converse Christian School and Learning Center PK – 1st 9146 FM 78 Converse, TX 78109 (210) 659-0203 www.conversechristianschool.org
Castle Hills First Baptist School PK – 12th 2220 N.W. Military Hwy. San Antonio, TX 78213 (210) 377-8485 Contact: Susan Covarrubia www.chfbc.org/school Central Catholic High School 1403 N. St. Mary’s San Antonio, TX 78215 (210) 225-6794 Contact: Veronica Beck www.cchs-satx.org
The Circle School Ages 5-8 (non-graded) pre-K - Middle School 217 Pershing Ave. San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 822-0461 Contact: Blanca Lee Luna www.thecircleschool.org
Cornerstone Christian School K – 12 4802 Vance Jackson San Antonio, TX 78230 (210) 979-6161 (Elementary) (210) 979-9203 (High School) Contact: Dr. Jerry Eshleman www.sa-ccs.org
Colonial Hills United Methodist School Pre-Kindergarten – Kindergarten 5247 Vance Jackson San Antonio, TX 78230 (210) 349-1092 Contact: Lisa Miele www.colonialhills.info
Crossroads Christian Academy PK – 6th 5834 Ray Ellison Blvd. San Antonio, TX 78242 (210) 623-4500 Contact: Pastor Lee www.wherelifechanges.com/academy
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SAN ANTONIO AREA DIRECTORY OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS Discovery School of San Antonio Inc. PK – 1st 222 Salem Dr. San Antonio, TX 78201 (210) 344-3472 Contact: Mary Stanchak mydiscoveryschool.com
Gateway Christian School K – 12th 6623 Five Palms San Antonio, TX 78242 (210) 674-5703, ext. 35 Contact: Mrs. Terri Williams www.gw-school.org
Hill Country Montessori School Ages 18 months – 12 years 50 Stone Wall Dr. Boerne, TX 78006 (830) 229-5377 Contact: Michele Fischer www.hcmontessori.org
Eisenhauer Road Baptist School PK – 6th 3950 Eisenhauer Rd. San Antonio, TX 78218 (210) 655-6831
Geneva School of Boerne K – 12th 113 Cascade Caverns Rd. Boerne, TX 78015 (830) 755-6101 Contact: Erin Barton www.genevaschooltx.org
Holy Cross of San Antonio High School Middle and High School 426 N. San Felipe San Antonio, TX 78228 (210) 433-9395 Contact: Eddie Cedillo www.holycross-sa.com
The George Gervin Academy Youth Center 6944 South Sunbelt Dr. San Antonio, TX 78218 (210) 568-8800 Contact: Jesse Villanueva www.gervin-school.org
Holy Name Catholic School K – 8th 3814 Nash Blvd. San Antonio, TX 78223 (210) 333-7356 Contact: David Solis Jr. www.hncssa.org
Grace Christian School K – 12th 7760 Prue Rd. San Antonio, TX 78249 (210) 265-8166 Contact: Veronica Garza www.gracechristianschool-sa.com
Holy Spirit Catholic School K – 8th 770 W. Ramsey San Antonio, TX 78216 (210) 349-1169 Contact: Lisa Rosenfeld www.hscssa.org
Eleanor Kolitz Academy K – 8th 12500 N.W. Military Hwy., Ste. 150 San Antonio, TX 78231 (210) 302-6900 Contact: Kathryn Davis www.ekhla.org First Baptist Academy PK – 12th 1401 Pat Booker Rd. Universal City, TX 78148 (210) 658-5331 Contact: Teri Flynn www.fbauc.com
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SAPRIVATESCHOOLS.COM Holy Trinity Presbyterian Day School Ages 6 weeks – third grade 16245 Nacogdoches Rd. San Antonio, TX 78247 (210) 599-7640 Contact: Dorothy Colts-Tegg www.holytrinitypres.org/school
Little Flower Catholic School K – 8th 905 Kentucky Ave. San Antonio, TX 78201 (210) 732-9207 Contact: Patricia Martinez www.littleflowercatholicschool.org
Montessori Earth School Ages 18 months – 2nd grade 4911 Golden Quail Rd. San Antonio, TX 78240 (210) 558-8339 Contact: Verna Gabriel www.montessoriearthschool.com
Incarnate Word High School 727 E. Hildebrand San Antonio, TX 78212 (210) 829-3100 Contact: Annette Zahirniak www.incarnatewordhs.org
Lutheran High School of San Antonio 18104 Babcock Rd. San Antonio, TX 78255 (210) 694-4962 Contact: Linda Roese www.lhssa.org
Montessori School Int’l Ages 18 months – 6 years 8222 Wurzbach Rd. San Antonio, TX 78229 (210) 614-1665 www.msitexas.com
John Paul II Catholic High School 6720 FM 482 New Braunfels, TX 78132 (830) 643-0802 Contact: Andrew Iliff www.johnpaul2chs.org
MacArthur Park Lutheran Preschool 2903 Nacogdoches Rd. San Antonio, TX 78217 (210) 822-5374 Contact: Carla Lockett www.macparkschool.org
Montessori Schoolhouse Ages 18 months – 12 years 10711 Dreamland Dr. San Antonio, TX 78230 (210) 341-0731 Contact: Luz Migdalia Ponce www.mymontessorischoolhouse.com
Keystone School K – 12th 119 E. Craig Pl. San Antonio, TX 78212 (210) 735-4022, ext. 325 Contact: Zina Wormley www.keystoneschool.org
Maranatha Adventist School K – 8th 2526 Goliad Rd. San Antonio, TX 78223 (210) 333-8861 Contact: Rebecka Sauls www.maranathasdaschool.netadvent.org
The Montessori School of San Antonio Ages 3-14 17722 Rogers Ranch Pkwy. San Antonio, TX 78258 (210) 492-3553 Contact: Emily Lund www.montessorisa.org
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SAN ANTONIO AREA DIRECTORY OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS Mount Sacred Heart School Ages 2 ½ – 8th grade 619 Mount Sacred Heart Rd. San Antonio, TX 78216 (210) 342-6711 Contact: Maria Casto www.Melissa Zamora.com
New Life Christian Academy PK – 12th 6622 Hwy. 90 West San Antonio, TX 78227 (210) 679-6001 Contact: Nicole Rodriguez www.newlifeca.org
Primrose School at Cibolo Canyons Preschool 3330 TPC Pkwy. San Antonio, TX 78261 (210) 479-7099 Contact: Jeanine Valle www.primroseschools.com/schools/cibolo-canyons
New Braunfels Christian Academy Pre-K and Elementary 995 Mission Hills Dr. New Braunfels, TX 78130 (830) 629-6222 Contact: Carolyn Alsobooks www.nbchristianacademy.org
Northwest Hills Christian School K – 8th 8511 Heath Circle Dr. San Antonio, TX 78250 (210) 522-1102 Contact: Alma Dowdle www.nwhcs.org
Providence Catholic School College Preparatory School for Girls Grade 6-12 1215 N. St. Mary’s St. San Antonio, TX 78215 (210) 224-6651, ext. 210 Contact: Stephanie Takas-Mercer www.providencehs.net
New Braunfels Christian Academy Middle and High School 220 FM 1863 New Braunfels, TX 78132 (830) 629-1821 Contact: Karen Shumway www.nbchristianacademy.org
Our Lady of Perpetual Help School K – 8th 16075 N. Evans Rd. Selma, TX 78154 (210) 651-6811 Contact: Jacqueline Palermo www.olphselma.org
Legacy Christian Academy PK – 12th 2255 Horal St., San Antonio, TX 78227 Elementary: (210) 674-0490 Contact: Angela Stewart Jr./Sr. High: (210) 645-4081 Contact: Pedro Garza www.rainbowhillsschool.net
New Hope Christian Academy PK – 12th 4402 Spear Head San Antonio, TX 78238 (210) 431-8809 Contact: Hilda Rodriguez
Palm Heights Christian Academy PK – 8th 1106 W. Malone San Antonio, TX 78225 (210) 923-8600 Contact: Mark Manuel
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River City Believers Academy PK – 12th 16765 Lookout Rd. Selma, TX 78154 (210) 656-2999 Contact: Shane Land www.rcbaonline.com
SAPRIVATESCHOOLS.COM River City Christian School K – 12th 5810 Blanco Rd. San Antonio, TX 78216 (210) 384-0297 Contact: Susie West www.rivercitychristianschool.com Rolling Hills Academy K – 8th 21240 Gathering Oak San Antonio, TX 78260 (210) 497-0323 Contact: Erin Grosso www.rollinghillscatholic.org Royal Point Academy K – 4th 9965 Kriewald Rd. San Antonio, TX 78245 (210) 674-5310 Contact: Veronica Pena www.royalpointacademy.com Saint Mary’s Hall K – 12th 9401 Starcrest San Antonio, TX 78217 (210) 483-9100 Contact: Julie Helimund www.smhall.org
St. Andrew’s Weekday School and Great Beginnings PK – Kindergarten 722 Robinhood Pl. San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 824-8737 Contact: Kay Osborn www.standrewsumcschool.org
St. David’s Episcopal School Ages 16 months – Kindergarten 1300 Wiltshire San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 824-2481 Contact: Bonnie Babbitt www.saintdavidschool.net
St. Anthony Catholic High School 3200 McCullough Ave. San Antonio, TX 78212 (210) 832-5600 Contact: Alejandro Calderon www.sachs.org
St. George Episcopal School PK – 8th 6900 West Ave. San Antonio, TX 78213 (210) 342-4263 Contact: Melissa Patterson www.saintgeorgeschool.org
St. Anthony Elementary School 205 W. Huisache San Antonio, TX 78212 (210) 732-8801 Contact: Mary Martinez www.stanthonysa.org
St. Gerard Catholic High School 521 S. New Braunfels Ave. San Antonio, TX 78203 (210) 533-8061 Contact: Peter Rivera www.stgerardsa.org
St. Cecilia School PK – 8th 118 Lowell San Antonio, TX 78210 (210) 534-2711 Contact: Mary Crow www.stceciliasa.com
St. Gregory the Great School PK – 8th 700 Dewhurst San Antonio, TX 78213 (210) 342-0281 Contact: Martha Gomez www.stgregorys.net
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SAN ANTONIO AREA DIRECTORY OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS St. James the Apostle Catholic School PK – 8th 907 West Theo Ave. San Antonio, TX 78225 (210) 924-1201 Contact: Ignacia Carillo www.stjamesschoolsa.org
St. Luke Catholic School PK – 8th 4603 Manitou San Antonio, TX 78228 (210) 434-2011 Contact: Dora Calderon www.stlukecatholic.org
St. Matthew Catholic School PK – 8th 10703 Wurzbach Rd. San Antonio, TX 78230 (210) 478-5099 Contact: Alvin Caro www.stmatts.org
St. John Berchmans School PK – 8th 1147 Cupples Rd. San Antonio, TX 78226 (210) 433-0411 Contact: Beverly Abbott www.sjbschool-sa.com
St. Luke’s Episcopal School PK – 8th 15 St. Luke’s Ln. San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 826-0664 Contact: Mary Ann Randolph www.sles-sa.org
St. Monica Catholic School PK – 8th 515 North St. Converse, TX 78109 (210) 658-6701 Contact: JoAnn Wood www.saintmonica.net
St. John Bosco Elementary School PK – 8th 5630 W. Commerce San Antonio, TX 78237 (210) 432-8011 Contact: Sr. Rosann Ruiz www.stjohnbosco-satx.org
St. Margaret Mary Catholic School PK – 8th 1202 Fair Ave. San Antonio, TX 78223 (210) 534-6137 Contact: Dr. Christina Saavedra www.stmmcs.org
St. Paul Catholic School PK – 8th 307 John Adams Dr. San Antonio, TX 78228 (210) 732-2741 Contact: Mary Crow www.stpaulroyals.org
St. Leo the Great Catholic School PK – 8th 119 Octavia Pl. San Antonio, TX 78214 (210) 532-3166 Contact: Carol Johnson www.stleothegreatschool.net
St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School PK – 8th 1700 Clower St. San Antonio, TX 78201 (210) 735-1381 Contact: William Daily www.stmmsa.org
St. Paul’s Episcopal Montessori School Ages 18 months – 12 years 1018 E. Grayson St. San Antonio, TX 78208 (210) 271-2861 Contact: Sandy Martinez www.stpaulsmontessori.org
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SAPRIVATESCHOOLS.COM St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles School PK – 8th 112 Marcia Pl. San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 824-3171 Contact: Becky Pawelek www.stpeterprince.org
St. Thomas More School PK – 8th 4427 Moana Dr. San Antonio, TX 78218 (210) 655-2882 Contact: Kimberly Gutierrez www.st-thomas-more-school.org
St. Philip of Jesus School K - 8th 134 E. Lambert San Antonio, TX 78204 (210) 222-2872 Contact: Ana Maria Laborde De La Portilla spjsa.weebly.com
Salem Sayers Baptist Academy PK – 12th 5212 FM 1628 Adkins, TX 78101 (210) 649-1178 Contact: Teresa Sandoval www.sayersacademy.com
St. Pius X School PK – 8th 7734 Robin Rest San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 824-6431 Contact: Cathy Brown www.stpiusxsa.org/school
San Antonio Academy of Texas PK – 8th 117 E. French Pl. San Antonio, TX 78212 (210) 733-7331 Contact: Mary Wilde www.sa-academy.org
St. Thomas Episcopal School PK – 5th 1416 N. Loop 1604 E. San Antonio, TX 78232 (210) 494-3509 Contact: Robin Rosen www.stthomaskids.com
San Antonio Christian Schools PK – 12th 19202 Redland Rd. San Antonio, TX 78259 (210) 340-1864 Contact: Rusty Sugg www.sachristianschools.org
San Antonio Country Day Montessori School Ages 2 ½ years – 6th grade 4194 Jung Rd. San Antonio, TX 78247 (210) 496-6033 Contact: Carol Ann Wearden www.countrydayschool.net Scenic Hills Christian SDA PK – 9th 11223 Bandera Rd. San Antonio, TX 78250 (210) 523-2312 Contact: Sherry Clapp www.scenichillsschool.org Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran School PK – 8th 6914 Wurzbach Rd. San Antonio, TX 78240 (210) 614-3741 Contact: Ashley Kennedy www.shlutheran.org Sunnybrook Christian Academy PK – 12th 1620 Pinn Rd. San Antonio, TX 78227 (210) 674-8000 Contact: James Hatch www.topministries.org/sca
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SAN ANTONIO AREA DIRECTORY OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS Sunshine Cottage for Deaf Children PK – 5th 603 E. Hildebrand San Antonio, TX 78212 (210) 824-0579 Contact: Dr. Nancy Henderson www.sunshinecottage.org TMI — The Episcopal School of Texas 6th – 12th 20955 West Tejas Tr. San Antonio, TX 78257 (210) 698-7171 Contact: Alanna Nichols www.tmi-sa.org Town East Christian School PK – 12th 2030 Bible Blvd. San Antonio, TX 78220 (210) 648-2601 Contact: J.D. King www.teeagles.org Trinity Christian Academy K – 12th 5401 N. Loop 1604 East San Antonio, TX 78247 (210) 653-2800 Contact: Registrar trinitychristianacademy-sa.com
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Trinity United Methodist School PK – 5th 5319 Newcome Dr. San Antonio, TX 78229 (210) 684-5214 Contact: Linda Koehler www.trinityums.org Village Parkway Christian School PK – 5th 3002 Village Pkwy. San Antonio, TX 78251 (210) 680-8187 www.villageparkwaychristian.net
The Winston School San Antonio PK – 12th 8565 Ewing Halsell Dr. San Antonio, TX 78229 (210) 615-6544 Contact: Julie Saboe www.winston-sa.org
For more information, go to SAPrivateSchools.com
SAPRIVATESCHOOLS.COM
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MOMMY MATTERS W
SIBLINGS
Avoiding rivalry by parenting positive sibling relationships By NICOLE CRAWFORD
Last month my two oldest daughters (ages 6 and 4) competed in the San Antonio Highland Games dance competition. As excited as we all were, I was worried about one thing: They were competing against each other in the same age group. If that’s not a sibling rivalry catastrophe waiting to happen, I don’t know what is. The day finally came, and I was pleasantly surprised. Not only was there a total lack of any rivalry between them, but they also supported each other beautifully. They were genuinely happy for each other.
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W MOMMY MATTERS We parents certainly can’t take all the credit for moments like that, but I do think there are some things my husband and I have done right in preventing sibling rivalry between our children. Here are three of those practices I was reflecting on after the Highland Games.
1. START THEM YOUNG
My husband is the oldest of eight children. When he and his siblings were little, their parents would entrust the new baby to them, emphasizing this was their baby to care for and help. One of my own earliest memories is going to the store the day my sister was born and picking out my very own outfit for her. By including me in this life-changing event, my parents made me feel confident and responsible for welcoming her home. I was an integral part of the event, not an outside observer. Now that we’re grown up, we’re still best friends. Children tend to respond more positively to change when they feel empowered and involved. Enlist them in the life of their siblings from an early age so they feel a sense of closeness and involvement.
2. MAKE COMPARISON YOUR ALLY
I remember comparing myself to my sister when I was younger – not in a spiteful way, but rather in a detached, matter-of-fact way. Her eyes are a lighter shade of blue than mine. She’s a little bit taller. She’s better at the violin; piano is more my thing. This healthy variety of comparison can be used as an ally to enlist your children in each other’s success. It gets them used to the idea that people have different gifts and talents without allowing that fact to dampen their self-confidence. For example, my 4-year-old was curious about her oldest sister’s first dance competition. For the week leading up the event, we looked at pictures of her sister and watched some videos of her first competition. Seeing the pictures and hearing stories were comforting for my younger daughter. It also eased my older daughter’s anxiety about her performance, since she could focus on coaching her little sister.
3. SET THE EXAMPLE
Exemplifying generosity of spirit and respect as parents is the first step to healthy relationships between siblings. Children are extremely sensitive to the interactions between their parents and caregivers. Rimm makes an interesting point about the tendency children have to identify with one parent or another. If one parent is regularly labeled as the “brains” and the other as the “beauty,” or a similar comparison, children might take to labeling themselves in the same way. Rimm encourages families to “consider both parents intelligent. When parents consider each other to be intelligent, their children have high regard for both. Regardless of which parent children identify with, they automatically consider themselves smart.” 116 | sawoman.com
IS SIBLING RIVALRY A PROBLEM? OR IS IT JUST A PHASE?
It’s important to distinguish normal rivalry from serious sibling rivalry
issues. In an article in Psychology Today, psychologist Izzy Kalman ex-
plains the distinction between normal and problematic sibling rivalry:
“Part of the problem comes from the choice of the word ‘rivalry’ to de-
scribe the ongoing hostile relationship between siblings. Rivalry is not nec-
essarily a bad thing. It often refers to the relationship between competitors,
as between two sports team.
“This kind of rivalry hardly describes the situation we call sibling ri-
valry. It is not an ongoing saga of two siblings each trying to be better than
the other. They are not playing fairly by any predetermined rules, and they
don’t respect each other. They are angry, jealous and vengeful… They may
even hate each other and wish the other were never born. Sometimes their
hatred and resentment last a lifetime, as it is common to find adults who have completely cut off contact with their sibling, to the great
anguish of their parents.”
Remember, every child is different, and every relationship between siblings is also different. There is a wide spectrum of factors that contributes to the amount and degree of sibling rivalry your children may or may not exhibit, such as gender and where they line up in sibling order. One thing is for certain: Seeing your children support each other and cheer each other on is an amazing thing to witness. If you are con-
cerned that your children may have a more serious problem with sibling rivalry, seek the help of an experienced professional to help you work through it as a family.
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W ROLE MODEL
Sara Helmy She Connects Clients to Millennials By CHERYL VAN TUYL JIVIDEN Photography by JESSICA GIESEY
Age: 26 Why she’s a role model: Started her own successful business, Tribu Digital Agency, at the age of 22. Pays it forward by mentoring students at Boerne and Communication Arts High Schools throughout the year, helping them with capstone projects. Favorite travel: She and husband, Jason, have made trips to Alaska, Greece, Mexico and Colorado. “We take lots of vacations and weekend getaways because we work so hard,” she says. She credits her parents for her love of travel, especially trips they took to Egypt and Syria. Her role models: Her parents and many mentors. “Work balance is important,” says Helmy, but she admits to taking work home. “That’s where I do my planning.” Often, Helmy will take three or four hours just to unplug and will not take calls. Disconnecting, she says, helps her relax and recharge. What she watches: While she doesn’t watch much television, Helmy and her husband have a Sunday night ritual watching Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead. Words to live by: Her favorite quote is by American independent film director Jim Jarmusch – “Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is nonexistent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery – celebrate if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what JeanLuc Godard said: ’It’s not where you take things from – it’s where you take them to.‘“ What she reads: Helmy relies on industry magazines. When she has time for books, she reads them on her phone. Last read –A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, by Dave Eggers. Favorite spots in San Antonio: Her mother’s porch with its amazing view, any Local Coffee location, The Pearl and Travis Park, which Helmy has been instrumental in rebranding.
When many of her contemporaries were merely thinking about
their futures, Sara Helmy was living hers. At the tender age of 21,
having planned her career path carefully with summer internships at San Antonio agencies throughout her college years at Texas A&M
a plastic-manufacturing company and secured several patents, a path
full of trials and triumph. Her mother took over the business and was most supportive of her daughter in her aspirations.
Helmy’s journey was punctuated with individuals who had an
Corpus Christi, she got the inclination to start her own business.
effect on her. “I’ve had probably a hundred mentors,” she explains.
I threw myself in and saw personal growth, which gave me the con-
anyone when she chose bio med as a college major — “I was trying
Helmy lost her father that same year. “I learned how short life was. fidence boost to try,” she says. At 22 that meant mustering the
courage to leave a secure post-college “awesome” job, as an agency
operations manager in a declining economy – a bold move at a risky
time to try a startup.
Helmy had not only her experience to draw from but also the ex-
ample of her parents. Her father had an impressive career as an ar-
chitect, then as a professor at UTSA and a Ph.D. Eventually he started 118 | sawoman.com
Having attended Health Careers High School, she didn’t surprise
to make myself love something.” A professor pointed out she was
more social than her fellow science classmates and suggested she
reconsider her chosen field. An advisor pointed her to a marketing
economics class, where she became convinced to change her pursuit
to a marketing degree. She is grateful for professors who focused on
her and with whom she remains in touch.
She cites her aunt’s success as a small business owner as well as
her mother as inspiration. Additionally, she recognizes a family friend
government, financial and not-for-profits. Specifically, Tribu devel-
Her mother was 23 when she and her husband, Helmy’s father,
“We’ve shifted to a progressive approach designed especially to cap-
fledgling business by building her team at the same age. That team
grow beyond local and regional clients to include international ac-
who is a priest as being her mentor and friend who advises her.
started their business. Helmy followed suit and ramped up her
ops and implements social media and inbound marketing strategies.
ture millennials,” says Helmy. That mindset has allowed Tribu to
focus and acknowledgement of those who have championed her led
counts in Canada and Brazil.
nal and the Latin translation Gens, meaning tribe. “As a digital
cluding working closely with her husband, Jason, who oversees
her to name her agency Tribu, a nod to the Latin word origin tribuagency we are all about human connection – not just sales. We de-
Quick to recognize that many things play into her success, in-
finance, accounting and business development, Helmy has much
velop stories for our generation, tribe millennials. Ours (agency) is
affection for her hometown. San Antonio, she says, “offers an
ates digital strategies for various brands.
progression and does a great job being Texas-business friendly.
a progressive, digital play area,” she says of her business, which creNow an award-winning agency with a staff of eight and looking
to grow, Tribu supports industries as varied as medical, hospitality,
amazing business climate. I think San Antonio has shown lots of
There’s diversity, and it’s constantly improving. I’m lucky this is
my passion.”
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W HILL COUNTRY GUIDE
Mapping out the sauciest little barbecue joints in Texas Story and Photography by JANIS TURK
Throw a dart at a Texas map, and you can be sure it will land, bull’s-eye, on a town with some great old-time Texas barbecue joint — a place that someone will undoubtedly claim has the best barbecue in the state. Go to any such barbecue joint, be it in Lockhart (the self-proclaimed “Barbecue Capital of Texas”), the Highland Lakes area or the Hill Country, and soon you’ll be standing knee-deep in spare ribs, leaning over slabs of brisket laid out on butcher paper and licking barbecue sauce off your wrists— and be careful not to burn your boots when stepping over a fire pit in the floor. Barbecue joints that I love best are imbued with an elusive Last Picture Show quality that seasons the experience like a black-pepper rub on a brisket. A place can have the most tender barbecue, but if folks don’t stand in line for it in an old store-front building with a squeaky screen door, a water-cooler hanging from the ceiling, neon beer signs on the walls, a parking lot full of mesquite wood out back and a fire crackling in the floor, it’ll never get on the barbecue map of Texas. Texas is “barbecue central,” and so our list begins at the heart of it all in Austin. After that, it’s a short drive to small towns that spoke-off in all directions from there — places like Taylor, Driftwood, Lexington, Luling and Lockhart, where city slickers and Texas “kickers” concur the best barbecue begins.
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Franklin Barbecue
franklinbarbecue.com
512-653-1187
Owners: Aaron and Stacy Franklin have been smoking meat in Austin since 2009 (they started with a food truck). Atmosphere: East-Austin-style laid-back with long lines down the block; people in lawn chairs playing cards and drinking beer while they wait. Barbecue: Possibly the most tender, fall-apart on your fork, melt-in-your-mouth barbecue in the U.S.A. Side dishes: Potato salad, slaw and pinto beans—super simple. Who eats there: Everybody. Even President Obama has eaten here — as has just about every celebrity who’s ever been to Austin in the past five years. Hipsters heart Franklin Barbecue, too. Sauce: Yeah, they serve it—but it’s not big on Franklin’s list of priorities. It’s all about the barbecue, you know. We love it because: Franklin’s meat is smoked much more slowly than that of many other places, so it’s always extra tender. Downside: You have to get there before breakfast for even a chance of getting lunch. Best in the state: Arguably, yes.
The Salt Lick Bar-B-Que
saltlickbbq.com
512-858-4959 Owners: The Roberts family Smoking meat here since: 1967 Atmosphere: Laid-back and “keep Austin weird” friendly. Set in the country outside town. Barbecue: Big portions served family style—the smoked turkey and chicken are always a hit. Side dishes: Big rings of sausage and generous sides of potato salad. Who eats there: Celebs like Sandra Bullock and Matthew McConaughey, who are sometimes spotted here, and Austinites who don’t think anything of the 20-minute drive to Driftwood consider it an “Austin tradition,” even though it’s not actually in Austin. Sauce: Zesty and sweet; mustard-based. We love it because: We can sit outside in the shade of enormous oak trees and bring our own beer and wine—even a giant ice chest full. Live music under the stars—how very Austin of them. Downside: Long hot summer waits, though you can sit at picnic tables outside. Best in the state: It’s still a contender.
Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que
coopersbbqllano.com
325-247-5713 Owners: The Wooten family Atmosphere: Casual and comfy as a pair of old, worn-out cowboy boots. Barbecue: Known for their “World-Famous Big Chop” pork chops, they also serve brisket, cabrito, chicken and more. Side dishes: The usual suspects: beans, corn-on-the-cob, coleslaw, potato salad, baked potatoes. Who eats there: Hill Country and Highland Lake-lovin’ locals who like Texas-sized pork chops and other tender slow-cooked meats. Sauce: Cooper’s own “barbecue dipping sauce” is tangy, zesty, and full of flavor—and they sell bottles of it to take home, too. We love it because: Cooper’s has branched out to locations in Fort Worth, Austin and New Braunfels, AND they serve blackberry, peach, pecan and apple cobbler at all these locations. Downside: The original Llano location we love is just a little too far from San Antonio. Best in the state? Some would say so.
The official “Barbecue Capital of Texas”
Smitty’s Market
smittysmarket.com (Set in the original Kruez Market building—pronounced Krites)
512-398-9344 Smoking meat on this spot since: 1900 (Note: The place was renamed Smitty’s by the late owner’s daughter after she and brother Rick had a feud/split in 1999). Owners: Nina Schmidt Sells and son John Fullilove. (Nina is the daughter of Edgar Schmidt, who ran Kruez’s on that spot since 1948). Atmosphere: The best in Texas, bar none. A long room of smokestained walls still has little chains nailed to them where butcher knives were once attached “so people wouldn’t walk off with them or get stabbed in a fight,” says Nina. A local post oak fire blazes in the ground, enveloping you in smoke while you stand in line for meat. The parking lot is a sea of chopped wood. Barbecue: So good that for years the owners refused to serve sauce—didn’t want it interfering with all the rich and subtle flavors of the meat slow cooked over an open post oak fire. Seem extreme? Yeah, but the brisket is that good. Side dishes: Whole loaves of white bread, raw onions, Saran-wrapped slices of cheddar cheese, pickles and whole avocados—for starters. Sauce: Zesty and tart (if you ask for it, they’ll serve it—but only under duress). We love it because, like most Texans, we’re loyal: Barbecue has been smoked on this spot for more than a century. A family squabble forced a name change (Kruez Market to “Smitty’s”) when a sibling opened a new barbecue joint under the old name (though they claim to just run their same business in a new location). Either way, the name changed, but the quality didn’t. Locals took sides in the split, and many refuse to patronize the new Kruez Market. Some folks still call Smitty’s by its former name only to sigh and say, “I mean, you know, the old Kreuz’s.” Nice also that it’s open on Sundays. Downside: Long lines out the back door. Who eats here: True BBQ aficionados. Celebrity chef John Besh of New Orleans says he loves this place. Best in the state? Quite possibly, yes. july/august 2015 | 121
W HILL COUNTRY GUIDE
Kruez Market
(The “new” Kruez Market location) kruezmarket.com 512-398-2361
Owner: Keith Schmidt, grandson of Edgar Schmidt (former owner of Kruez Market at original location).
Smoking meat here since: 1999, this building; at “Smitty’s” location since 1900.
Atmosphere: Won’t wow you. Big metal building. Barbecue: Better than I’m willing to admit. Try the zingy jalapeño cheese sausage. Side dishes: Beans, sauerkraut and more. Sauce: None. Ever. Won’t have it. Downside: They barbecue their meat faster than most (in four hours). No BBQ sauce—bummer. Closed Sundays—bummer. Whom you’ll see there: Austinites and those who side with the son in the family feud. We love it because: They carried burning coals in a steel tub from their original location so they can say they cook over the same coal fire their granddad did. Best in the state? Some say so.
Photo courtesy Luling Bar-B-Q
Luling Bar-B-Q
lulingbar-b-q.com
830-875-9019 Owner: Buddy Ellis, (Joe Capello, Sr., pit boss) Atmosphere: Small-town Texas, a slice of Americana. Barbecue: Tender, marbled but not too fatty. Side dishes: Potato salad, beans, cheese, pickles, white bread, Big Red and root beer in bottles. Sauce: Zesty and sweet—spices float to the top—my favorite. (Note: For years, I’d pick up sauce from here and then drive 15 miles farther to Smitty’s because my favorite BBQ place didn’t serve sauce). Lucky for me, they sell the sauce by the cup, pint and even the gallon in Styrofoam containers. We love it because: Luling is home of the “Watermelon Thump” festival. Who eats here: Locals, farmers and everyday folks from San Antonio, Austin, Houston and beyond. Downside: Long lines, busy at lunchtime; closed Sundays. Best barbecue? Pretty darn close to it. 122 | sawoman.com
TRAVEL – FORT WORTH W Downtown dining choices
are all just steps away. Experi-
ence the upscale flavors of Grace or
Del Frisco’s for scrumptious steaks and seafood, or for something a little
different try the trendy Bird Café, which features a number of
local food providers and
a
lengthy
beer and wine
list. In the mood
for
Mexican,
Thai, sushi or Italian?
Head up to
cowtown
All are also options. For culture and entertainment,
Bass Performance Hall offers a variety of sensa-
tional summer performances, including Rodgers +
Hammerstein’s Cinderella in late June and Dirty Dancing in July.
Fort Worth is all grown-up By AMY HOWELL ort Worth has long been heralded as the place “where the West begins” and is often perceived as a little sister to Dallas, its neighbor to the east. In fact, back in the late 1800s, Fort Worth earned the nickname “Panther City” when, as legend has it, a local lawyer wrote that the town had become so quiet and drowsy that he saw a panther snoozing near the steps of the courthouse. Although the Panther City nickname stuck, today’s Fort Worth is anything but drowsy. The city is now bringing back the boom in boomtown. It is regularly found in top 10 lists of fastest-growing U.S. cities and has grown into the 16thlargest city in the nation. What’s the BIG deal, and what’s the draw? Despite offering the amenities of a typical large metropolitan city, Fort Worth still embraces its Old West heritage. As a result, it has retained a unique, unpretentious, “small-town” feel. Like most large cities, Fort Worth has several districts within the city that, over time, have developed their own distinct charm. The cool part? All are just a few miles away from each other. Whether you are looking for a family vacation or a girls’ getaway, there is plenty to do. Start your stay in bustling but very walkable downtown, where you will discover pampering upscale hotels such as the Worthington Renaissance and the Omni. Or for an intimate and charming boutique feel, try the Ashton, centrally located on Main Street.
F
Take a stroll through Sundance Square Plaza, and check out its jetted fountains – from 2 to 6 p.m. the kids can even step in and cool off.
Begin sightseeing just to the north of downtown in
the National Historic Stockyards District. Dine on
the patio at the famous Joe T. Garcia’s for mouth-wa-
tering margaritas and giant jalapeño-peppered nacho
tostadas. It’s served family style, and you won’t get a
menu. Ask for the traditional dinner or fajitas. Make
sure you bring cash because they don’t take credit cards.
Tour Billy Bob’s – the largest honky-tonk in Texas —
and climb on the electric bull for a fantastic photo op.
Or just outside the Exchange Building you can take
a picture sitting on a live longhorn steer – it’s free to
climb on but $5 to get down.
july/august 2015 | 123
W TRAVEL – FORT WORTH Two-step over to the famous Stockyards Hotel, then hop onto a saddle-topped barstool at Booger Red’s Saloon, where you will experience true Fort Worth ambiance. From there, cross the street and stop in the Maverick Fine Western Wear (but be sure to look both ways for cattle). Owner Gayle Hill has been suiting up famous folks such as Loretta Lynn, Eric Clapton, Pat Green, Steve Earl and Cody Canada for years. Nearby you can shop for a pair of custom boots or a new hat at Luskey’s/Ryon’s. While in the Stockyards, don’t miss the Fort Worth Herd, a real longhorn cattle drive that makes its way down Main Street at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. Next, the Cultural District is just a short drive to the west of downtown and houses six museums. Start by touring the world-renowned collection at the Kimball Art Museum. The adjacent Modern Art Museum, often called “The Modern,” stands out for its architectural design and reflecting pond and houses a first-class collection of contemporary art. The Amon Carter Museum is also highly acclaimed, known for having one of the best compilations of Western art in the country. Kids in tow? Head down the road and pop into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame. This kid-friendly museum honors pioneer women of the American West. The recently renovated Fort Worth Museum of Science & History has a myriad of activities for the kids. If you stop there, be sure to book a movie at the Omni Imax® Theatre – adults and children will enjoy the eight-story domed screen with
30-degree stadium seating. Just a few minutes away is the West Seventh Street District, where more dining choices await – Terra Mediterranean, Thirteen Pies, AF&B or Tilman’s Roadhouse, to name a few. Or for a more casual burger and brew, try Rodeo Goat or the always funky and fun Fred’s Texas Café. In the same area, Lane Knight is a fun, fashion-forward boutique for mom. Then cross the street and head to Climate for the whole family. Their sporty collections of Patagonia, North Face, Marmot, Chaco, Ugg and Roxy offer a little something for everyone. Conclude the afternoon or evening with dessert at Sweet Sammies for a giant cookie duo stuffed with ice cream. The cookies are all fresh-baked daily from old family recipes. Just for the record, owners Kelly and Dan Close chose to retire in Cowtown to be near their grown children and open a cookie store because “Fort Worth is just that cool.” Squeeze in a trip to the eclectic Near Southside district, often called the Magnolia district after one of its main streets. This once-forgotten hospital district has transformed over recent years into the hip place to be. Its restaurant row along Magnolia Street features some of the city’s best chefs in an uber-cool atmosphere. For dinner, try deliciously quaint Nonna Tata for Southern Italian-style fare in a former gas station that is now home to Ellerbe Fine Foods, or Lili’s Bistro with live jazz music. Reservations are preferred. Lili’s delicious dessert donuts with coffee ice cream will send your taste buds soaring. For a casual lunch, try Spiral Diner for various vegan delights. Their pile of dairy-free nachos loaded with quinoa tastes like the real thing. Brewed also offers coffeehouse ambiance and lots of charm. Order the fried chicken and waffles, and you won’t be sorry. LAST-DAY SUMMER FINALE? Run through a Texas staple, Chicken Express, for a box of tasty Southern-fried tenders, grab a bottle of pinot grigio and a picnic blanket, and head to the Botanical Gardens to hear the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra play one of its 25th-anniversary Concerts in the Garden. Sixteen evening shows are scheduled this summer between June 5 and July 5. Concerts will include tributes to the Beatles, U2, Journey, the 1812 Overture, Eagles and Elvis – all followed by a fantastic fireworks show. Head north up I-35 and explore this modern “Cowtown” for yourself. There’s plenty to keep you entertained for a long weekend or even a spectacular week of summer. You can find it all in THE FORT!
Photos courtesy of the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau. Page 123: The Fort Worth Herd at the Forth Worth Stock Yards, Little Cowboy at Sundance Square Plaza Fountains, Bass Performance Hall. This page from the top: Maven Boutique on Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fountain at Joe T. Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant, “The Modern” Modern Art Museum, kayakers and paddleboarders on the Trinity River. 124 | sawoman.com
SAARTS.COM W By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF
Two “best-kept” secrets worth discovering In late May, I attended the Edgewood ISD Dance Finals Competition, fea-
turing third-graders who had been practicing ballroom dancing all year. It was a
most wonderful and heartwarming event.
Assembled at the Neighborhood Place on Rivas Street were the dance champion
teams from six Edgewood elementary schools, their parents, supporters, dance
teachers, celebrity judges and public officials, including Rep. Joaquin Castro and District Attorney Nico LaHood and his wife, Davida, who both served as judges.
At some point, the legendary Lola Falana made an appearance and addressed the
kids. While TV cameras recorded the proceedings, it seemed like everyone in that
ballroom had a permanent smile on his or her face as the dressed-up little dancers
showed off their tango and merengue moves. After three couples were proclaimed
third-, second- and first-place winners, all present were invited to join the Family
Celebration Dance, and almost everyone, including yours truly, did. We just aban-
doned ourselves to the joy of dancing.
The district has been offering social dancing classes for several years by contract-
ing with the nonprofit Dance Therapy organization and its Dancing with the Children
program, directed by Jorge Alonso Perez. “We are the best-kept secret in San Anto-
nio,” said Perez, who served as one of the event’s emcees. What he and the remark-
able dance teachers teach the kids goes well beyond dance steps. Respect for each other, discipline, poise, self-esteem and teamwork are all part of the game. A study
by OLLU social science professor Dr. Yolanda Uranga has also shown that the students’ academic performance and school attendance improve considerably.
The program is currently looking for funding in order to offer classes to fourth-
and fifth-graders as well. Besides being an intrinsically pleasant activity, dancing
stimulates the production of feel-good dopamine in the brain, exercises the body and makes social interaction fun and easy. And it’s something that can be practiced
throughout one’s life. If Edgewood can do it, why can’t the other school districts? They just may have happier, healthier students!
The other “best-kept secret” may be the San Antonio Film Festival. Though
it’s been around for 21 years, it’s not well known outside of a circle of filmmakers
and film enthusiasts. Created by film teacher Adam Rocha, the fest is designed to show side by side the work of local, national and international artists, both emerging
and established. All formats are welcome — shorts, feature, documentary and ani-
mation. The 2015 edition is scheduled for July 29-Aug. 2 at the Tobin Center, with
free outdoor screenings and indoor screenings in both the H-E-B Hall and the Al-
varez Theater. Tickets start at $10.
Last year, 138 films were screened and some 2,000 tickets sold, the largest num-
ber in the event’s history. One of the movies shown has since been picked up by a Hollywood director for further development. This year, the number of submissions has gone up, but at the time of this writing, Rocha and his colleagues were “still work-
ing on the lineup.” A trip to Hollywood was in the works “to drum up business.” By
July, you should be able to check the fest’s website, www.safilm.com, to choose what
you would like to see. Let’s show support for our homegrown festival!
I invite your comments, suggestions and news items relating to the arts and cultural life in San Antonio. Feel free to send them to me at jasmina@SAArts.com.
From the top: First-placewinners Gabriel Aldana and Gianna Ramirez performing the merengue. Championship winners, left to right: Executive Director Jorge Alonso Perez; second-place winners – Valerie Santos and Adam Islacve from Roy Cisneros Elementary School; first- place winners – Gabriel Aldana and Gianna Ramirez from Las Palmas Elementary School; third-place winners – Juan De La Cruz and Stephanie Contreras from Stafford Elementary School; and dance instructor Robert Ramirez. Some of the judges, left to right. U. S. Congressman Joaquin Castro, District Attorney Nico LaHood, Davida LaHood, Executive Director Jorge Alonso Perez, and Elizabeth Aleman.
july/august 2015 | 125
W ARTBEAT
Art Speaks to the Human Experience Joey Fauerso’s Work is Part of HemisFair’s New Garden
C
By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF hildren visiting HemisFair Park this summer will have a whole
new playground to explore and enjoy. Created by six San An-
tonio artists and appropriately named PLAY, this playground will
consist of six separate areas within the enhanced green space of the
park, dubbed the Yanaguana Garden. Both the garden and the play stations are part of the overall HemisFair redevelopment plan adopted by the city council in 2011.
Artist Joey Fauerso was “very excited” to have been asked to par-
ticipate in the project. The mother of two little boys who played in the
old HemisFair Park, she had no trouble devising a fun space for kids.
“I was thinking of all the things they would like,” says Fauerso, a
Photography by JANET ROGERS Library. These projects represent a big departure from the rest of her
work. Though she started as a more or less traditional painter, during
a 2005 residency in the Roswell (New Mexico) Artist in Residence Pro-
gram, she developed an interest in animation, which she has cultivated
ever since. A good example of her process was seen in the 2014 Artpace
exhibit Invasive Species: Landscapes. Fauerso was one of three artists
invited to reinterpret the idea of landscape. Her contribution was the
result of a labor-intensive process that started with a video of an actual river landscape. She then painted a large number of scenes from video
stills and proceeded to scan and print them on an ink jet printer. These
now modified, almost abstract images were both displayed on the
prominent contemporary painter and video artist. “I came up with the
gallery wall and reanimated as a 55-minute video. “The idea was to ex-
rounded by a grove of trees. All plans had to be approved by Public
According to a reviewer, it was also a comment on the artistic process
idea of a child-size campsite with tent structures in a semi-circle sur-
pose the same thing both spatially and temporally,” explains the artist.
Art San Antonio, so there were a few slight changes, but the core idea
of observation and interpretation using both old and new tools.
and creativity for kids, but I also wanted it to have artistic integrity.”
She Explores Different Genres
stayed the same. I think it will be a place that sparks the imagination She shows me her drawings of the campsite since the actual struc-
tures have not yet been manufactured. Each tent will be made of pow-
der-coated steel in a range of graduated hues of blue to reference the
sky, and once installed, will be lit up from inside by low-voltage LED lights at night. In addition to encouraging make-believe play, the
campsite would “point to the presence of natural habitats and experi-
ences in an urban landscape,” to quote her artist statement.
It so happened that while she was experimenting with a cardboard
version of a tent one day in the park, a school group came by, and the
kids immediately wanted to go inside. “I felt – OK, I think it’s going
to be magical for kids,” says the artist.
We are having this conversation in mid-May in her south side
home, a former restaurant building that she and her sculptor hus-
band, Riley Robinson, have beautifully adapted and renovated into a spacious, light-filled house. Art by other well-known San Antonio
artists is everywhere: Hills Snyder, Ethel Shipton, Ken Little, Cathy
Though born in San Antonio, Fauerso grew up mostly in Fairfield,
Iowa, in a transcendental meditation community her parents, Paul
and Josie Fauerso, had chosen to live in. In school, the kids studied
yoga and Sanskrit in addition to regular subjects. Meditation was a
daily practice. “It was a rather idyllic way to grow up,” she says. “Med-
itation is a good way to manage stress, but also, when you get into that
state beyond thoughts, it’s a very abstract experience. I feel it creates a psychic environment where you are more likely to be creative.”
She left to attend college and later pursue graduate studies in art,
eventually moving back to San Antonio in 2001 with two of her school
friends. Together, they opened The Bower gallery that focused on
Texas artists. By the time Fauerso met Robinson (at an art opening),
as well as others in the art community, she knew she wanted to stay
here. San Antonio’s sense of its own history and the current momen-
tum toward both preservation and revitalization, especially in the
downtown area, are inspiring to her. Both her career and personal life
Cunningham and others. The couple’s studios are just across a nar-
have prospered ever since.
for their sons Brendan, 6, and Paul,3. Two other artist couples have
and European cities, from Los Angeles to Amsterdam, as well as mul-
of a new community.
art at Texas State University and is currently involved in the Open Ses-
taking. Her first was also a kid-centered project for which she re-
Center in New York City. At least two new shows are planned for 2016.
row passageway from the house, and there’s a studio within the studio
bought property on the same street, she notes. It may be the beginning The HemisFair installation is Fauerso’s second public art under-
designed the children’s reading room at the New Braunfels Public 126 | sawoman.com
The artist’s résumé lists pages of group and solo exhibits in U.S.
tiple residencies, grants and awards. She’s an associate professor of
sions exhibition and curatorial program sponsored by the Drawing
And she’s only 38.
“ One of the things I love about art is that it takes familiar experiences and presents them in a new way. It feels fresh, like everything is possible.
“
Despite her interest in video
art, Fauerso points out that she has
not forsaken traditional painting, though her painted images hardly
look traditional. “One of the things
I love about art is that it takes familiar experiences and presents
them in a new way. It feels fresh,
like everything is possible,” says the artist, describing essentially
her own approach to art-making.
Our cultural expectations about
nature, the human body and gender are often blurred or upended in
her paintings.
Come fall, she will be on sab-
batical from teaching, which will
allow her to work on a new, longer
animation project based on photos
her parents shot during their time
in Iowa. At this point, that project
is not yet defined. Quoting another artist, she explains: “I don’t start
with an idea. I start with a direc-
tion. Then the work just kind of
creates itself.”
Public art, however, demands a
different frame of mind given that
the artist is interpreting a communal rather than a strictly personal
vision. For Fauerso, that’s a welcome challenge. “I would definitely
like to do other public projects,” she
says. “So much of what we see in the
public sphere is just utilitarian, about function. Public art speaks to
the less obvious qualities of human
experience; it’s more about feeling
than function. It presents ques-
tions, surprises and experiences that are less prescribed.”
july/august 2015 | 127
W ENTERTAINING
A Savory Night in San Antonio By STAFF WRITERS
128 | sawoman.com
Entertaining at home is an opportunity to be creative, have fun and gather with friends or family. When you think of parties you’ve enjoyed, what details stand out most? What made the gathering memorable? And how can those of us who aren’t at ease in this arena gain a comfort level with entertaining at home? We visited with friends of SAN ANTONIO WOMAN to find out what they do to make their gatherings so seamless and enjoyable. Drs. Catherine Spezia and Michael Lindner are longtime San Antonians who have raised four children here. As their professional and personal lives evolved, entertaining small and large gatherings in their home became commonplace. They figured out how to make gatherings enjoyable for their guests and also for themselves. “We have done supper clubs, small gatherings for friends and cocktail parties, large fundraising events for schools and very large parties for engagements and baby showers for our friends and relatives,” shared Catherine. “Our main priority is to talk and connect with our guests while we finish preparing the meal.”
Tips and recipes for gatherings at home How did you create your approach to entertaining?
“Michael’s father served as an Air Force officer when Michael was growing up. His mother was responsible for entertaining the Air Force personnel and friends and family that frequented their home,” explains Catherine. The Lindners’ inspired style for entertaining is rooted in Michael’s boyhood memories, watching his mother shape every facet of those gatherings. Michael shared the lessons he learned about preparation and efficiency with Catherine, and together they developed their own personal style for gatherings they have hosted for over two decades.
How do you make entertaining appear well executed and stress-free?
“The most important lessons I learned came from watching my mother prepare and stage elements of a meal in advance. That was key,” says Michael. “The fine art of visiting with guests while subtly completing certain aspects of a meal, up to the time when guests would be served, was not as easy to master for me,” Catherine says. “Michael helped me get the hang of it.”
Some people’s biggest worry is whether guests are having a good time. How do you handle that?
“When our group is large, guests naturally visit with each other,” Catherine explains. “When our group is small, those gathered are usually close enough friends that they don’t mind our adding the finishing touches to the meal while we visit with them.”
Catherine and Michael’s tips for a memorable entertaining/ dining experience
1. It’s important that the food is special is some way. “We put a lot of thought into the food we serve when entertaining.”
2. Summer is actually the time to keep it simple. “The fall is a better time for richer foods that take longer to prepare.”
3. Use travel to inform your meal. “Summer is the perfect time when invited guests are either planning or returning from trips. This can become a fun way to inspire a meal, décor for a table or start a conversation.”
4. Give guests a choice of a specialty cocktail. When guests arrive, give them a choice of the specialty cocktail for the evening along with beer, wine or a nonalcoholic beverage that goes with the menu. The key is that the cocktail is handmade at the time.
5. Rose wine (served chilled) is a good choice for the main course for summer entertaining because it is more complex than a white wine. It goes well on a hot summer night. 6. Use seasonal items whenever possible. Local farmers’ markets are a great source for a variety of seasonal vegetables to complement your entrée and seasonal fruits to use in dessert.
7. Everything that can be prepped in advance should be prepped. “This allows us to spend as much time as possible with our guests. The table is set. If cocktail glasses need a rim, they are rimmed.” The impression you give is that entertaining is easy, and everything is at your fingertips and done.
Gincognito Cocktail (for two)
2 full shots of Bombay Sapphire Gin 1 ounce St. Germaine 1 ounce ginger simple syrup (recipe below) Juice of half a lime Juice of ¼ of a large orange Shake in a martini shaker
over crushed ice, then serve
straight up in a martini glass.
Ginger Simple Syrup
1 cup sugar 1 cup water 2 inches of ginger root, peeled and chopped into four pieces. Dissolve sugar in water over medium heat; stir until all
sugar is dissolved.
Add ginger and reduce heat
to as low as possible.
Leave over low heat for
30 minutes.
Cool and keep refrigerated.
july/august 2015 | 129
W ENTERTAINING
Meals and Beverages Summer time cocktail: Gincognito
(By Word of Mouth Restaurant & Catering in Big Sky, Mont., see recipe on previous page.) Catherine describes this cocktail as a crisp, well-balanced gin drink with enough fruit to make it perfect for summer.
Soup: White garlic (gazpacho) soup - Sopa de Ajo Blanco
When Catherine recently visited Atlanta for the first time, she had a white gazpacho soup named Ajo Blanco. “I suggest starting with this soup, as it can be made the day before. It tastes wonderful and is unexpected. Most people have only had the tomato-based gazpacho.”
Entrée: Shrimp and Grits
(Crook’s Corner restaurant in Chapel Hill, NC) “This is one of my favorite entertaining recipes because it can be partially prepared in advance. It takes six minutes to finalize while your guests are smelling the aroma and visiting with you in the kitchen. Another reason I love this recipe is that it is a starch as part of the entrée, and all I have to do is add a salad and I have a complete meal,” raves Catherine.
Wine: Rose - 2014 Les Domaniers Ott Selection Cotes De Provence (recommended by Twin Liquors) Dessert: Fresh Fredericksburg peach pie
Catherine recommends getting fruit that is in season by making a trip to pick fruit from nearby orchards or select from your local grocery store.
Making your guests feel special starts with being prepared Efficiency is key.
• Have all serving pieces, bowls, plates, platters ready in kitchen staging area. • Have carving station ready for entrée (if needed). • Place colanders in sink for draining veggies or pasta. • Garnishes for final plating are prepared, on small plates or bowls in the refrigerator. Ziploc bags are good for this. • Invest in a coffee grinder/maker with clock and timer. Set time when you expect mealtime to end so you can visit with guests rather than making coffee between dinner and dessert.
Always use your best china, flatware and linen napkins when possible.
Centerpieces: Size and design matter:
• Allow guests to see each other by using appropriately sized centerpieces. Plan on removing them once guests are seated. • Be generous with quantity of flowers in centerpieces.
Individual salt and pepper shakers allow guests to season their food without waiting.
Place cards on seasonally appropriate holders for a well-rounded table theme.
Fill and preset water goblets before guests arrive. Add ice cubes just prior to seating.
130 | sawoman.com
White Gazpacho Soup (4 servings)
4 ounces (1/2 cup) blanched, peeled almonds (can use slivered almonds) 3-4 slices of a stale baguette or white bread 3 cloves garlic 4 cups (32 ounces) water 5 tablespoons extra-virgin Spanish olive oil 3-4 tablespoons Spanish sherry vinegar 16-20 seedless green grapes (optional) Salt to taste
Blanch and peel almonds, peel garlic. Trim crust from bread, place bread in 1 to 2 cups of cold water to soak. While bread is soaking, place garlic and almonds into food processor or blender, blend on pulse until smooth.
Remove bread from water with a slotted spatula and squeeze out excess water. Tear into quarters and add bread and 1 teaspoon salt to the processor or blender, blend on pulse. While blending, slowly drizzle olive oil, then vinegar, and finally the water into the processor or blender.
Adjust salt, vinegar and oil to taste. Strain through a sieve into a container or bowl, pressing as much as possible through the sieve. Seal and chill at least 2-3 hours or overnight. Serve in chilled bowls or glass mugs, with grapes on the side.
Crook’s Corner Shrimp and Grits (4 servings)
2 cups water 1 (14 oz.) can chicken broth ¾ cup half-and-half ¾ tsp. salt 1 cup regular grits ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 tablespoons butter ½ teaspoon hot sauce ¼ teaspoon white pepper 3 bacon slices
1 pound medium-size shrimp, peeled and deveined ¼ teaspoon black pepper 1/8 teaspoon salt ¼ cup all-purpose flour 1 cup sliced mushrooms ½ cup chopped green onions 2 garlic cloves, minced ½ cup low-sodium, fat-free chicken broth 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice ¼ teaspoon hot sauce Lemon wedges
Bring first four ingredients to a boil in a medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in grits, reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes or until thickened, then add cheddar cheese and the next four ingredients. Keep warm.
Cook bacon in large skillet until crisp. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings in skillet. Crumble bacon and set aside. Sprinkle shrimp with pepper and salt, then dredge in flour.
Sauté mushrooms in hot drippings in skillet for 5 minutes or until tender. Add green onions and sauté for 2 minutes, then add shrimp and garlic and sauté for 2 minutes or until shrimp are lightly brown. Stir in chicken broth, lemon juice and hot sauce and cook for 2 more minutes, stirring to loosen particles from the bottom of skillet.
Serve the shrimp mixture over hot cheese grits. Top with crumbled bacon and serve with lemon wedges.
If you have a gathering you would like considered for Entertaining, please email nicole@sawoman.com. july/august 2015 | 131
W
Summer
Calendar
ART // MUSIC // FILM // THEATER // DANCE // OUTDOORS July 4
July 10
FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION
STEVE MARTIN & MARTIN SHORT:
Woodlawn Lake Park, 8:30am - 11pm Join us for the biggest and best party in town celebrating the Fourth of July. Families are invited to participate in a fun-filled day that kicks off with the firecracker 4K fun run followed by hours of live entertainment, a parade, great food and cold beverages. At dusk the H-E-B Fireworks Extravaganza will light up the night. www.saparksfoundation.org
The Majestic Theatre, 8pm Two of the hottest comics in the country, together on stage for one hilarious night of comedy. www.majesticempire.com
July 4
STARS AND STRIPES OVER SAN ANTONIO The Alamodome,6-10pm Festivities will feature live music, food trucks and the largest fireworks display in San Antonio. www.starandstripesoversanantonio.com
July 9
TYLER OAKLEY’S SLUMBER PARTY The Tobin Center,6-10pm Armed with a quick wit and fabulous hair, Tyler Oakley has won the hearts of over 5 million YouTube subscribers with his weekly videos. Now, Tyler is packing up his living room and hitting the road for his first-ever live tour! Get up close and personal with everyone’s YouTube bestie. www.tobincenter.org
Fun!
MEGHAN TRAINOR July 16 The Tobin Center
July 10
ART PARTY: GO F.I.S.H. San Antonio Museum of Art, 5:30pm and 6pm By San Antonio Museum of Art and KRTU Jazz 91.7. Hosted docent-led gallery tours. Cocktails by Esquire Tavern and music by The Fishermen Band. www.samuseum.org
July 11
ROB THOMAS: THE GREAT UNKNOWN 2015 TOUR The Majestic Theatre, 8pm Rob Thomas is a gifted vocalist and accomplished songwriter known as the lead singer of Matchbox Twenty as well as for his solo work. His many hits include Lonely No More, This Is How A Heart Breaks, Streetcorner Symphony, Push, and 3AM. www.majesticempire.com
July 10
BALCONES HEIGHTS JAZZ FESTIVAL Wonderland of the Americas, 7pm You’re in luck if you’re a jazz fan; a free jazz concert will take place at the outdoor amphitheater at Wonderland of the Americas. Stake out your spot for this entertaining evening under the stars. Munchies, drinks and snacks are available. www.reachfortheheights.org
July 11
THE TWIG: MISS ANASTASIA’S WILD AND WACKY STORY TIME The Pearl Brewery, 10:30am Join Miss Anastasia for a special wild and wacky storytime. www.thetwig.com
July 12
REO SPEEDWAGON The Majestic Theatre, 8pm REO Speedwagon is known for their many platinum hits, which include Keep On Loving You and Take It On the Run. For over 30 years they have been electrifying concert audiences worldwide. Join them for this brilliant performance. www.majesticempire.com
July 16
MEGHAN TRAINOR The Tobin Center, 7:30pm Meghan brings her infectious sense of fun to songs like her debut single All About That Bass, with its carefree celebration of girls with good curves. Hear her other fun songs from her debut album and songs from special guests Life of Dillon and Charlie Puth. www.tobincenter.org
July 17
July 19
THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS' BILL MEDLEY
MIGUEL COVARRUBIAS: CULTURE + CARICATURE
The Majestic Theatre, 8pm Bill Medley is best known as half of the unmistakable duo, the Righteous Brothers. Their hits include You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin, Just Once in My Life, Unchained Melody, and (You’re My) Soul and Inspiration. In 1987, Medley scored a monumental hit with Jennifer Warnes, on (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life, for the film Dirty Dancing. Have the time of your life at this unforgettable concert. www.majesticempire.com
San Antonio Museum of Art, Gallery Tour with Marion Oettinger, PhD 3pm - 4pm Free with museum admission Curator of Latin American Art, Marion Oettinger, PhD, offers insight on the life and works of Miguel Covarrubias, a twentiethcentury artist with a talent for capturing the spirit of an age and the imaginations of a generation. Limited space. Exhibit will continue until October 18. www.samuseum.org
July 19 July 18
SMASHING PUMPKINS AND MARILYN MANSON THE END TIMES TOUR The Freeman Coliseum, 12pm The Smashing Pumpkins and Marilyn Manson are joining forces to coheadline The End Times tour. The tour will span 23 dates in support of Marilyn Manson’s The Pale Emperor and The Smashing Pumpkins’ Monuments To An Elegy. www.attcenter.com
FRANKIE AVALON, FABIAN AND BOBBY RYDELL THE GOLDEN BOYS The Tobin Center, 4pm The show unites three exciting performers who emerged from the same South Philadelphia neighborhood at the same time and went on to become worldrenowned personalities. The show spotlights each of the performers and their all-time greatest hits, Venus, De De Dinah, Volare, Wild One, Kissin Time, Turn Me Loose, Tiger, and I’m A Man. www.tobincenter.org
( EDITOR’S PICK )
July 20
Now thru September 7
PAT BENATAR AND NEIL GIRALDO
DISCOVER THE ICE AGE The Witte Museum Mammoths, saber-toothed cats, bears, cave people and gigantic "terror birds" last seen in Texas and Florida make Discover the Ice Age an exciting and educational exhibition about life during Earth’s last Ice Age. Discover the Ice Age features fossils, casts and several life-sized animatronic models of animals. This exhibition provides a unique and exciting walk through the Ice Age era for families and visitors of all ages. www.wittemuseum.org
132 | sawoman.com
The Tobin Center, 4pm Rock legends Pat Benatar and Neil “Spyder” Giraldo, the force behind one of the largest arsenals of rock hits, including Love Is A Battlefield, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Heartbreaker, We Live For Love, Promises In the Dark, We Belong and more will take to the stage in San Antonio for a powerhouse performance. www.tobincenter.org
WWW.SAARTS.COM Have an Event to share? Contact us at editor@sawoman.com
GO TO
JULY/AUGUST
FOR MORE ON ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT IN SA
2015
COLBIE CAILLAT August 14 The Majestic Theatre
August 1
August 14
THE FORD CANOE CHALLENGE
COLBIE CAILLAT AND CHRISTINA PERRI: THE GIRLS NIGHT OUT, BOYS CAN COME TOO
The River Walk, 7 - 11am Local celebrities, corporate teams, and Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts compete in timed heats canoeing the San Antonio River. This event is fun to watch from the banks, but even more fun to participate in. www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com
August 1-2
DOG DAYS The San Antonio Botanical Garden, 11am-1pm A dog-friendly weekend at the Garden. Doggie treats and pools of water will be available for your pup as you stroll and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. There is a $5 donation per dog that will go toward local animal-friendly charities. All dogs must be on a leash. www.sabot.org
August 2
FIFTH HARMONY The Tobin Center, 7pm 2015 belongs to Fifth Harmony. The group was named Favorite New Artist by the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. The group performed at the White House Annual Easter Egg Roll and received widespread critical acclaim for their recent tour and two charttopping singles. www.tobincenter.org
The Majestic Theatre, 8pm Two-time Grammy Award-winning artist Colbie Caillat released her fourth full-length album, Gypsy Heart, in September of 2014. The album immediately landed in the Top 20 of Billboard’s Top 200 Chart fueled by the strength of her goldselling single Try. To date, Caillat has sold over 6 million albums and 10 million singles worldwide. Gather your girlfriends for one awesome girls night out! www.majesticempire.com
August 15-29
CULINARIA RESTAURANT WEEK Various Restaurants Tier 1: $15 Lunch, $35 Dinner Tier 2: $10 Lunch, $25 Dinner Restaurant Week is a cross section of the San Antonio culinary scene encompassing a diverse range of cuisines. Visitors and residents can experience the quality, variety and hospitality that embody the San Antonio dining experience. www.culinariasa.org
August 19
August 21
August 26
"WEIRD AL" YANKOVIC: THE MANDATORY WORLD TOUR
1964...THE TRIBUTE
YES & TOTO
The Majestic Theatre, 8pm “1964” …The Tribute takes their audiences on a musical journey to an era in rock history that will live in all of our hearts forever. They are hailed by critics and fans alike as the most authentic and endearing Beatles tribute in the world. Choosing songs from the preSgt.-Pepper era, “1964” recreates an early ‘60s live Beatles concert, complete with period instruments, clothing, hairstyles, and onstage banter. www.majesticempire.com
The Majestic Theatre, 8pm Among the world’s most influential and respected progressive rock bands, Grammy Award-winning YES has sold nearly 40 million albums in a career that has spanned more than four decades. YES is joined by TOTO on stage to continue their tradition of symphonic progressive rock that remains timelessly fresh and innovative. www.majesticempire.com
The Majestic Theatre, 8pm “Weird Al” Yankovic is the biggest-selling comedy recording artist in history. He has won three Grammys and countless accolades for classics like Eat It, Like a Surgeon, Yoda and Smells Like Nirvana. His musical parodies and high-energy stage presence have made his concerts weirdly popular around the globe. Everyone always has a great time, and this time it’s mandatory. www.majesticempire.com
August 8
CULINARIA RAMBLING ROSÉ Becker Vineyards, 1 and 3pm Rambling Rosé attendees can sample wonderful rosé wines, including one from Becker Vineyards. Attendees can also experience the wines through a blind tasting with a panel of experts. Chef John Brand will prepare tasty bites to savor with the wines. www.culinariasa.org
August 14
AMERICAN IDOL LIVE The Majestic Theatre, 8pm American Idol Live will give fans an opportunity to get up close and personal with the top five idols from Season 14. The top five will showcase their individual artistry and talents all set to a live band. Past tours have featured stars such as Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia, Adam Lambert, Scotty McCreery, Phillip Phillips and many more. www.majesticempire.com
July 5-19
CACTUS PEAR MUSIC FESTIVAL Located at Coker United Methodist Church 231 E North Loop Rd, San Antonio, TX 78216
Friday, July 10th– 7pm
Saturday, July 11th – 7pm
Friday, July 17th – 7pm
Saturday, July 18th – 7pm
CANCIONES, CLARINET & FLUTE
L’CHAIM | TO LIFE!
GERMANIC GIANTS
BELLA ITALIA
Featuring: Schlein, Bloch, Greenstein, Mendelssohn, Schulhoff, and Copland
Featuring: Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms
Featuring: Wolf, Verdi, Tchaikovksy
Featuring: Mozart, Schubert, Arroyo, Jaeger, and Haydn/ Salomon
www.cpmf.us
july/august 2015 | 133
W DINING
Folc
The food is both avant-garde & full of comfort
If you know where to look at Folc, vestiges of
the old, cheeky-chic Ciao Lavanderia still re-
main. The open kitchen, at least from the
dining room, appears pretty much the same. But what’s coming out of that kitchen could
hardly be more different.
Chef and co-owner Luis Colon has put to-
gether—maybe fabricated is a better word—a menu whose categories (Fowl, Sea, Land and
Earth) are nothing if not inventive, and the line between appetizers and mains is, fashion-
By RON BECHTOL
ence with a plate such as the fried sweet-
breads with coffee mayo, but here Colon’s
rendition surely sets the standard as well.
Coffee mayo is a favorite tool of the kitchen;
it also appeared at the center of an un-
adorned plate of sliced Virginia ham. A few
of the pieces might have seen better service
in a broth (more on that later), but a Virginia-
born dining companion pronounced the taste
worthy of the Commonwealth’s seal of ap-
proval. Slabs of sturdy toast, grilled to pro-
Photography by JANET ROGERS
tion away from a deviled bone marrow dish
that didn’t rise to the same level. And yet, on
another occasion, an appetizer portion of
marinated hamachi with micro herbs and a
fan of Asian pear was both handsomely
plated and deftly seasoned.
Maybe Sea
trumps Land—logical if you think about it.
That wine list, by the way, yielded pinot noirs
from both Chile and France that were supple
enough to go with pretty much every dish.
The dessert menu offered up a moist butter-
ably, a touch blurred. (Hint: Logically enough,
duce just a hint of char on the ragged edges,
by the smaller price.) The wine list, put to-
were served with a masterful duck terrine
scoop of lush, house-made cajeta ice cream,
often serve as a base for toppings the likes of
(Dehydrated meringue is another of chef’s
you can tell what’s meant to be a small plate
gether by Cecilia Barretto (she previously
owned the wine shop, Vinously Speaking, in
the Medical Center area), also defies expecta-
are another part of Colon’s arsenal. They
studded with carrots and pistachios, and they ricotta with pea tendrils (another kitchen
tions. All of this might initially seem challeng-
fave) and a savory salt cod concoction.
style — he did do a stint at Alinea, Chicago’s
Blending Land, Sea and Earth was one
ing to those unfamiliar with Colon’s artful
temple of avant-garde gastronomy, after all.
Fear not: There are also comforts.
And we might as well start with one of them.
evening’s special consisting of lightly sautéed
nut squash cake plated atop a lightly sweet-
ened squash purée and accompanied by a
all dusted with dehydrated brown butter.
tricks.) Next time, we intend to try the double chocolate cookie with beet sherbet and chocolate powder.
Some of that same alchemy can be found
grouper and morel mushrooms over which a
next door at sibling establishment Park So-
Wisps of lacy and lightly licorice-like chervil,
alumnus of Alinea’s The Aviary bar in
solicitous waiter poured a savory ham broth.
cial cocktail bar, helmed by David Naylor, an
At first glance, the pork schnitzel would ap-
an herb seldom seen hereabouts, lent an air
Chicago. Any of Folc’s plates can be had at
offerings, mentions of hardboiled egg and ca-
new menu will have moved squarely into
lor’s menu will seem as unfamiliar as most
pear to be one of the menu’s least ambitious pers notwithstanding. But it’s so impeccably
done, right down to the crackling coating, the
grilled lemon, and the beautifully dressed
greens on top, that one can’t help but wonder
of vanishing spring. By publication time, a summer mode, so we suspect that those other
harbingers of spring, asparagus, may have
been replaced by something more seasonal.
Too bad, for these unabashedly fat and care-
the bar, and though the drinks listed on Nay-
dishes issuing from the kitchen, their execu-
tion is impeccable. And you can always start
slowly with a classic Manhattan or Negroni,
building up steam and courage from there.
why the dish has never seemed so good else-
fully trimmed spears, presented with button
Planned for the future is conversion of an in-
but some consider it, too, to be Platonic in its
adorned with more chervil, were one of one
which time the complex will graduate from
where. (We haven’t tried the fried chicken,
perfection.) There are fewer points of refer134 | sawoman.com
mushrooms and peas in rich cream sauce and
evening’s highlights, serving to direct atten-
tervening space into a “fine dining” venue, at
double- to triple-threat status.
Opposite page: Folc’s butternut squash cake. This page, clockwise from the top: Interior view of Folc; pork schnitzel with capers and egg; Virginia ham; marinated fish with peppercorns, herbs and soy.
july/august 2015 | 135
TIME EAT to
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AMERICAN
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136 | sawoman.com
203 S. St. Mary’s 999 E. Basse 18720 Stone Oak 2211 N.W. Military 18802 Stone Oak 300 W. Bitters 126 W. Rector 9405 San Pedro 1146 Austin Highway
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828-2829 691-3332 271-2888 229-1491 641-1998 698-2141 653-7839 520-5552 654-8400 496-0222
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1289 S.W. Loop 410 4822 Walzem Road 2815 N. Loop 1604 720 E. Mistletoe 121 Alamo Plaza
674-0019 653-5688 545-0666 320-8211 212-8698
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555 S. Alamo 150 E. Houston 3920 Harry Wurzbach 515 Villita 226 E. Olmos 7701 Broadway 14439 N.W. Military #100 2015 N.E. Loop 410 204 E. Houston 112 College 728 S. Alamo 5148 Broadway 842 N.W. Loop 410 700 E. Sonterra Blvd. LÜKE 125 E. Houston MESON EUROPEAN DINING 923 N. Loop 1604 E. NOSH 1133 Austin Highway SAVEURS 209 209 Broadway WAXY O’CONNOR’S 234 River Walk
229-1000 227-9700 821-5454 224-1976 822-0100 828-9050 888-1500 655-6171 476-8600 518-1000 224-7555 822-7673 798-4154 798-5466 227-5853 690-5811 824-8686 639-3165 229-9299
HAMBURGERS BIG’Z BURGER JOINT BOBBY J’S BUCKHORN SALOON BURGER BOY CHRIS MADRID’S CHEESY JANE’S CHESTER’S HAMBURGERS
FATTY’S FUDDRUCKERS
2303 N. Loop 1604 W. 13247 Bandera Rd. 318 E. Houston St. 2323 N. St. Mary’s 1900 Blanco 4200 Broadway 1006 N.E. Loop 410 9980 IH-10 W. 16609 San Pedro 621 Pat Booker 1624 E.Commerce 115 Alamo Plaza 8602 Botts Ln.
408-2029 695-4941 247-4000 735-1955 735-3552 826-0800 805-8600 699-1222 494-3333 658-3000 299-8110 223-9944 824-6703
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18414 Hwy. 281 N. 17625 Blanco Rd. 13838 Jones Maltsberger 330 E. Grayson St. 9010 Huebner Rd. 1639 Broadway
545-3800 492-0301 481-3600 223-2830 699-1189 223-1028
ITALIAN 1203 N. Loop 1604 W. ALDINO AT THE VINEYARD 8539 Fredericksburg ALDO'S RISTORANTE BRAVO CUCINA ITALIANA 15900 La Cantera Pkwy. CAPPARELLI’S ON MAIN 2524 N. Main CARRABBA’S ITALIAN GRILL 12507 IH-10 W. CERRONI’S PURPLE GARLIC 1017 Austin Hwy. DOUGH PIZZERIA 6989 Blanco 200 E. Grayson, #100 IL SOGNO OSTERIA LORENZO’S 8032 Fredericksburg Rd. LA FOCACCIA ITALIAN GRILL 800 S. Alamo 824 Afterglow LITTLE ITALY LUCE RISTORANTE E ENOTECA11255 Huebner LUCIANO’S 849 E. Commerce 401 South Alamo 521 River Walk MICHELINO’S MILANO RISTORANTE 11802 Wurzbach PAESANOS 555 E. Basse 111 W. Crockett Loop 1604 at N.W. Military 255 E. Basse PIATTI PIATTI EILAN 1701 La Cantera Pkwy., #7 PICCOLO’S 5703 Evers Rd. 16019 Nacogdoches POMPEII ITALIAN GRILL TRE TRATTORIA 4003 Broadway
340-0000 696-2536 877-9300 735-5757 694-4191 822-2300 979-6363 223-3900 692-9900 223-5353 349-2060 561-9700 223-0500 888-7030 223-2939 493-3611 828-5191 227-2782 493-1604 832-0300 251-3542 647-5524 946-5518 805-0333
MEDITERRANEAN DEMO’S COPA WINE BAR GREEK TO ME JERUSALEM GRILL JOHN THE GREEK MIMI & DIMI’S PAPOULI’S GRILL
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342-2772 732-7777 495-2672 699-6688 680-8400 403-0565 674-3464 659-2244 804-1118 641-1313
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ORIGINAL MEXICAN PALOMA BLANCA PALOMA RIVER WALK PAPPASITO’S CANTINA PERICO’S BAR AND GRILL PICANTE GRILL PICO DE GALLO RIO RIO CANTINA ROSARIO’S ROSARIO’S NORTH SALSALITO’S SAZO’S LATIN GRILL SOLUNA COCINA MEXICANA TACO TACO TOMATILLOS CANTINA URBAN TACO
528 River Walk 5800 Broadway 215 Losoya 10501 IH-10 W. 10820 Bandera 1439 E. Sonterra Blvd. 3810 Broadway 111 S. Leona 421 E. Commerce 910 S. Alamo 7915 San Pedro 14535 Nacogdoches 11523 Bandera 101 Bowie 7959 Broadway 145 E. Hildebrand 3210 Broadway 290 E. Basse, #105
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420 W. Market 225 E. Basse 16641 La Cantera Pkwy. 705 E. Houston
224-6500 225-0722 558-6500 225-5100
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Chama Gaucha 18318 Sonterra Place San Antonio, TX 78258 (210) 564-9400 ANTLERS LODGE THE BARN DOOR BOLO’S ROTISSERIE GRILLE FLEMING’S GREY MOSS INN KIRBY’S STEAKHOUSE LITTLE RHEIN STEAKHOUSE MORTON’S STEAKHOUSE MYRON’S STEAKHOUSE J. PRIME STEAKHOUSE THE PALM PERRY’S STEAKHOUSE RUTH'S CHRIS
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520-4001 824-0116 691-8888 824-9463 695-8301 404-2221 225-1212 228-0700 493-3031 764-1604 226-7256 558-6161 821-5051 227-8847
ENHANCE YOUR LISTING!
Call (210) 826-5375 for more information. july/august 2015 | 137
DREAM HOME Guide
Luxury homes available for purchase in San Antonio and the Surrounding Texas Hill Country Area
SanAntonioDreamHomes.com
142 | sawoman.com
W Weddings
David Sixt Photography
Mr. and Mrs. Cole Henson (Alexa Cantu) May 9, 2015
Jenna-Beth Lyde/Parish Photography
David Sixt Photography
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Blake Miller (Taylor Danielle Watts) May 30, 2015
David Sixt Photography
Mr. and Mrs. Peter William Pierce (Rachael Jordan Lee) May 16, 2015
Mr. and Mrs. Trenton Reeves Leon (Jessica Lynn McCauslen) May 2, 2015
David Sixt Photography
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Thomas Conner (Kathryn Ashley Little) May 9, 2015
Laurie Rush Photography
144 | sawoman.com
Mr. and Mrs. Randy Balderas (Jacqueline Perez) March 14, 2015
WOMEN ON THE MOVE W
Megan Butler
Alpha Home, providing residential and outpatient treatment for women with addiction, has named Megan Butler as development and marketing director. She previously served as events and membership manager for Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center and as development coordinator for the Green Door in Washington, D.C., one of the nation’s most successful community-based mental health centers. She is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, Orlando.
Megan Lutz
Security Service Federal Credit Union announces that Meagan Lutz is now manager of its Evans branch, 21101 North Highway 281, in the Plaza at Encino Commons. She is in charge of branch operations, sales, service, employee development and membership growth. She earned a degree in management from UTSA and was nominated for the San Antonio Women’s Chamber of Commerce 2014 Bloomberg Leadership Series.
India Chumney
India Chumney is now chief development officer for the Children’s Shelter, bringing 15 years’ experience from her job as director of resource development for Communities in Schools of San Antonio. She has also held leadership positions with the Children’s Museum and the Children’s Crossing, a retail clothing store. A graduate of UT Austin, she is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Renee Maldonado
Renee Maldonado has been named vice president, card operations manager, in the Broadway Bank card operations department. With 20 years of experience in the banking industry, she became a banking services manager at Broadway Bank City Base Landing Banking Center in 2007 and a banking officer in 2008. Before joining Broadway Bank, Maldonado was an assistant branch manager in the financial industry.
Jessica Gonzales
Jessica Gonzales has been promoted to account executive — public relations at KGBTexas.communications. In her new position she will plan, coordinate and direct public relations initiatives in support of client goals and strategies.
Emily Sanchez
Emily Sanchez has been promoted to loan coordinator, banking officer in the Broadway Bank Austin Region. Before joining Broadway Bank in 2014 as a commercial real estate associate, she worked in the mortgage industry in Austin for 13 years with experience processing and underwriting residential loans, and as a loan officer. Sanchez earned a BA degree in philosophy from Middle Tennessee State University in 2000.
july/august 2015 | 145
W LOOKING BACK
San Antonio women picture themselves driving the new Hudson Convertible Coupe for Orsinger Motor Co. on Main Ave.
146 | sawoman.com