Seguin Today: August 2023

As I write this month’s editor letter, my social media feeds are full of back-to-school photos. This year, one of my dearest friend’s firstborn is going to be a senior, and man, do I feel old! I first photographed her when she was maybe three, and have been lucky to play pretend auntie ever since.

I don’t have kids, but this year, I relate to the joy and sadness of the school year starting. Like so many other seniors this year, this girl that I love will graduate in May and will go off to make her mark in the world –– she’s going to be a doctor. Like so many of her peers, she is brave, strong, brilliant, and I have no doubt these young adults will change our world for the better.

As a former teacher, and someone who often plays mediator for my friend and her teen daughters, here’s some advice I have. You can take it as you will.

For the seniors: Listen to your parents, but don’t be afraid to learn to fly. Fight the senioritis as hard as you can, it’s not easy, but you have to try. Find things you love, and carry those with you when you leave home. And finally –– never be afraid to be yourself. There’s only one YOU in the entire world. And for the parents –– be patient. Teens are impossible; you can’t win. Listen to them, and validate their fears, joys and everything else. Treat them like the young adults they’re trying to become so that when they get into the real world, they’re ready. And last but not least –– be prepared to forgive mistakes and help them up when they fail.

Together, you will both make it through senior year. Best of luck to you all!

Lizz Daniels, Creative Director

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kwed.seguindailynews @kwed

COVERSHOT

Grandmaster Dick Strom now holds his 10th dan in martial arts. He is located in Seguin where he passes on his knowledge to a new generation.

SEGUIN’S BEAUTY STANDARD

Exploring the multi-generational legacy of Seguin Beauty School

ELITE MARTIAL ARTS

Introducing the world’s newest 10th degree blackbelt - Seguin’s Grandmaster Dick Strom

EVENTS CALENDAR

Community events & special promotions happening in the area this month.

DIY: RECIPE TO TRY

Fresh veggies for summertime - baked peppers with rice stuffing

THE HIGHEST OF CIVILIAN HONORS

Drowning victims recognized for heroism

Photo by Lizz Daniels

GENERAL MANAGER

Darren Dunn

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Lizz Daniels

WRITERS

Cindy Aguirre-Herrera

Lizz Daniels

MARKETING DIRECTOR

Nick Spence

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS

Laurie Ann Heideke

Linda Duncan

DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCER

Jarred Kindles

OFFICE MANAGER

Priscilda Rodriguez

BeautyStandard

Guadalupe County’s Exploring the multi-generational legacy of Seguin Beauty School

Driving through downtown Seguin, it’s hard to miss Seguin Beauty School. Located right on Court Street across from the courthouse, its black sign with bold white lettering announces its presence to passersby.

It’s a local staple serving an important role in the community. Students come to learn, and clients come to get a little self-care at an affordable cost.

Jennifer Evans is the assistant chief administrator at the campus, the daughter of its founders, and the latest in the family to carry on a multi-generational legacy.

“The school was opened in 1977; my parents opened it,” Jennifer said. “My mom’s family ––my great-grandma used to have the largest chain of schools in Texas. She had several and then my grandma had several. My mom ended up opening her own, my aunt and her brother, so it’s just been in the family for years. It’s crazy. My mom was a little girl and grew up in the school just like I did. I remember coming here every day after school, and being like ‘oh, we have to go back to the beauty school,’ and never thinking I would do this again because I was just around it my whole life.”

As with many children, she didn’t initially want to follow in her parent’s footsteps. It took time and life experience. After going off to college, she thought she might just pick up some hours in the summer, but ended up loving her salon education so much that she stuck with it –– the only of her siblings to do so. Since then, she has moved from student to educator and then on to her current administrator role.

Story & Photos by Lizz Daniels

“My favorite part through all the years is probably teaching,” Jennifer said. “I love the teaching part. I don’t do it anymore, or very rarely, but I enjoy talking to students and prospective students that come in. We have students that come in and don’t really know what they want to do. They’ve decided to try it and have never worn makeup before. They don’t fix their hair, but when they start, they learn, and it’s amazing to see how some come in that way, and by the time they’re graduating, they’re almost like a new person. They’ve learned to do their hair and makeup, and they’ve learned to talk to clients. It’s rewarding in the school aspect, but when they leave, they get to do that for someone else to make them look good.”

While looking good and self-care are key components to working in the beauty industry, the school treats classes like a salon job. This approach prepares the budding young stylists for the real world after graduation. They have hours to upkeep and skills to learn, but all of this is done through a combination of books and hands-on learning guided by skilled instructors.

“It’s like a job,” she said. “The students come in, and clock in ––they have to get their hours. They go to class, our teachers are teaching, we get clients that come in, and they get called out of class. We have another instructor that walks the floor and helps them. It’s sad because our program used to be a year, it’s only eight months now, but it’s like you get really close to these students, and then they’re gone. They graduate and move on, but luckily our clients are pretty committed to Seguin Beauty School. I think the prices also help, but they find someone else and know it’s just part of the routine.”

The beauty school serves an essential role as an educational facility. It serves the Seguin community with salon options and haircuts that start at only six dollars, making it affordable for most community members. From students to seniors, the school is prepared for any service, including nails, waxing, and hair.

“We have many clients that come in,” she said. “A lot of seniors that are on set income come in and get services. It’s cheap –– it’s a school, so they’re students, they’re learning. We have many students that are from Seguin, but also outside of Seguin. They drive in from Nixon, Luling, Lockhart, we have some from Schertz/Cibolo. I’ve had them come all the way from near Schulengberg just because I think we’re the biggest little town around the smaller cities, but it helps students tremendously. A lot of the salons in and around town, they all have been graduates from Seguin Beauty School.”

With a steady stream of new stylists graduating every eight months, Seguin Beauty School remains an integral part of the Seguin community, offering higher education opportunities in addition to needed community service. And with Jennifer’s own kids growing up, who knows, maybe someday the family business will pass on to the next generation yet again, further securing Seguin Beauty School’s local legacy. •

Elite ARTS Martial

Introducing the world’s newest 10th Degree Black Belt

Throughout the world of martial arts, there remains a very diminutive percentage of trainers and instructors who become elite.

Here in Seguin, a sliver of that percentage now includes Grandmaster Dick Strom – the world’s newest 10th Dan (degree). The Chinese character for the word Dan means step or stage and refers to one’s rank or level of expertise, knowledge, and seniority. The 10th-degree black belt is the highest rank achievable, with only about 20 true, accredited 10th degrees in Texas alone.

“This title is very seldom seen outside the Asian community,” Strom said. “It is very rare for many people to ever achieve this level of degree. It takes time, commitment and above all, a dedication to giving back to the community. To my knowledge, there are no certified and accredited 10th Dans in TKD (Tae Kwon Do) in this area or any area near the San Antonio or Austin area as well. There are some in Dallas and Houston but not many. This is a very rare degree or Dan of level Black Belt to get

to. This is a 10th Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo and I was also awarded my own style by AKaTo and Jhoon Rheen. Little towns like Seguin will never usually have any level of 5th Dan or higher in any martial arts in their community but I love Seguin, so I stayed and continue to stay -- (passing) on my knowledge and helping our community and surrounding area.”

In martial arts, many styles, ranks, and belt colors symbolize the different levels of proficiency in the artistry – making the ultimate stripe of his belt a momentous occasion.

For years, Strom has shared his talents as the owner and operator of Strom’s Black Belt Academy in Seguin. In fact, this year, he celebrates 50 years of learning karate while in the military and 48 years of opening his first karate school.

Throughout those decades, he has happily welcomed hundreds upon hundreds of young and old students into his doors.

It is said that the 10th Dan belt is reserved for individuals who have given a lifetime to the furtherance of martial arts and who have demonstrated a lifetime of significant achievement.

“When you are a marital artist like I am, you are kind of like the jack of all trades,” Strom said. “You are a counselor. You are an educator. You are whatever comes in the hat so as far as the community is concerned school wise, I have counselors, principals that contact me if they have my students and they are in trouble. They’ll contact me right when my students are there sitting in the office and say ‘hey, can you talk to him? He is not behaving.’ I’ve actually gone to the school and sat in one of the high school teacher’s classes because she was telling me she doesn’t know what was wrong with her class and she was one of my black belts and I said ‘sure, I’ll come sit in your class.’ So, we got that fixed. I was teaching at Saegert, a child program working with kids (at risk). Well, when I was done with that class, every one of those kids had improved their grades. They all stayed in school, especially on days of karate. They didn’t miss any days because they couldn’t come to karate class if they did. So, it psychologically helped all those kids at the middle school age.”

Story by Cindy Aguirre-Herrera

Photos by Lizz Daniels

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Strom’s career has not only taken him across the globe but has also allowed him to maintain local leadership of providing his skills to reputable folks in the community. Various professions, including law enforcement, from police to the FBI, have all tapped into his expertise.

“This martial art, as taught only here, can help everyone in every aspect of their lives and their children,” Strom said. “This martial arts, as taught here at Strom’s is very unique and is for everyone. This is a way of life. It is not a sport. The Olympics and tournaments could look like sports, but they are just training tools for life. Martial arts as taught here can accomplish so many things in people’s lives as well as their children.”

Not only is Strom a master in the discipline, but he has been dubbed a pioneer in helping to integrate and embrace martial arts programming throughout the state and the country – breaking barriers and allowing schools like his to belong to elite, prestigious martial arts organizations. After having been initially under the instruction of Master O.K. Hyung Kim while in Illinois, Strom was forced to find a new instructor when his job relocated him to Texas. That’s when he said he experienced a rarity and was able to pair up with internationally recognized martial artist and Grand Master Keith Yates, 10th Dan of Richardson, Texas.

212 S. Camp Street pecantownbooks.com

“I ended up finding Grand Master Keith Yates who was attained with the Southwest Tae Kwon Do Association (SDA) and everybody who was in his organization was like his black belt,” he added. “They started with him. They were promoted through him but there was no outsiders like another school or anything. Back in the early 90s, I called him up and he goes ‘no, we don’t let people in the organization. They are all from us that way we know what kind of person they are, all that kind of stuff.’ I said, ‘well, if you give me a shot, I would like to prove myself and what my school could do and my student. So, he said, ‘well come up to Dallas, work out with us, see what it is about, and we will come down there, and see what your atmosphere is, see what the feels of your students are, go through a couple of tests with you and then, we will let you know from there.’ He says ‘more than likely not. We feel safe the way we are.’ Then, a year and a half later, he came to me and said, ‘you know what? We are going to let you in. So, we are the very first ones that got into AKATO or SDA at the time. We were the very first ones he let into his organization.”

For years, Strom locally has been synonymous with martial arts. He says landing in Seguin was among the best decisions that he could have ever made and reflects on that journey ever since.

“I started Strom’s Black Belt Academy in Seguin in 1986 in the hotel across from the Nolte bank, now the Wells Fargo bank downtown on River Street,” he said. “When I was working for Schubert Distributing, Roger and Davis were both students of mine when we were in the building across from the then Nolte bank, now the Wells Fargo bank.

We were located in the ballroom, when the Baenzigers’ came to me and said I needed a bigger location and offered to redo the place above the S&H green stamps store to my specification for a new martial arts school in Seguin, at no cost to me because they saw how the style I taught could benefit the entire community so we moved there and then the school just grew. At the (same) time, I still had a school in Uvalde. When I moved over here permanently, I turned the school in Uvalde over to my first ever Black Belt Albert Salazar.”

The school took off along with Strom’s Black Belt Academy across Texas, the country and eventually, internationally. In 1966, he moved the school because they outgrew their original spot before later moving to the current location in October of 2022.

Although martial arts techniques may date back to ancient times, they are still just as relevant in the modern world. And now, that he has attained the ultimate promotion in black belt, Strom says he looks forward to utilizing those skills by extending that knowledge in more innovative ways.

“One of our students, Dr. Kristin York is in the process of writing a book on how Taekwondo (TKD) – especially -- can help in all areas especially trauma and mental challenges, anxiety, depression, paranoia, self-defense, and so much more,” Strom said. “I’ve already written two books. One is how to train kids and keep them motivated through martial arts training. The other is a student manual, how to run a school and how to operate a school and how to teach. A lot of people think you can get your black belt and you can be a teacher. You can’t. A martial arts instructor is basically an entertainer. So, if I don’t make it entertaining, they don’t stay. So, one of my goals is to help Dr. York and she’s a second-degree black belt – I want to help her and finish writing that book on how martial arts can help the people who have mental issues – that have schizophrenia, and DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) and two personalities, ADHD, bipolar, any kind of mental disorders – martial arts as trained here though not just any kind of martial arts that is fly by night thing but the way we do it can help and that’s one of the reasons she started because she is one of those people and it helped her immensely by the training that we do and the work that we put into our students. I spent three weeks, three hours a day just with her and she said I did more for her than the people, the counselors and the psychiatrists have done for 20 years because I don’t have to go by the book. I go by my own book of how to handle different situations.”

This latest feat is also not stopping him from growing what he sowed so many years ago. He says his focus now remains on growing the family at his new location. He says although he is not quite ready to leave his students anytime soon, he knows that his personal future includes some relaxation, traveling and enjoying it with special company.

In the end, perhaps the most significant part of this milestone for Strom is the date of his promotion, June 19, 2023, which now prominently reads on his office wall certificate.

“My oldest son died Jan. 2, 2022, and his birthday was June 19, so my instructor Grand Master Keith Yates asked me what date I wanted on the certificate and even though I was promoted before that date, I said I wanted that date to honor my son,” he said.

This 10th degree is more than others could ever fathom and a testament to a life of dedication, teaching, focus, honor, and self-discipline.

Strom says never in his wildest dreams did he ever feel that he would reach this pivotal point in his life. He says mixed martial arts is not a career nor a sport. He says it’s a way of living and combating towards all things good.

And so, while the rest of the world leans on iconic martial artists such as Chuck Norris, dubbed the patron saint of roundhouse kicks, the community of Seguin now stands tall alongside its very own elite martial arts legend. •

AUGUST

Upcoming events and special promotions happening locally!

To promote your event on this page contact advertising at 830-379-2234 or email communitycalendar@kwed1580.com

August 2023 HOLIDAYS 13th

Featured Events

Featured Events

August 24

Annual Happy Hour

The Guadalupe County Republican Women’s Annual Happy Hour will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24 at the Seguin Brewing Company, located at 111 W. Gonzales St. in Seguin. Diapers will be collected at the event for the STPCC. For more information, visit www.guadalupecounty-rw.com.

VOTE to Perk Your Park

Max Starcke Park East has been selected as one of nine park projects in the 2023 Niagara Perk Your Park Campaign in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). Visit https://uqr.to/ MaxStarckePark to select the City of Seguin playground project. You can vote once per day, (everyday!) through Monday, Sept. 18.

August 31

Thoroughfare Plan

Guadalupe County is seeking public input on its Major Thoroughfare Plan to provide Guadalupe County with a long-term template to plan for future transportation while making short-term decisions related to roadway funding and the preservation of developing corridors. To learn more and take the survey, visit: www.surveymonkey.com/r/ LFB75JV by Thursday, Aug. 31.

August 25

Dance with the Merles

The Silver Center will have a dance featuring The Merles at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 25 in the Crystal Chandelier Room. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and hot food and cold beverages will be available for purchase. Limited pre-sale tickets are available for $10. To secure tickets, visit 510 E. Court St. or call 830-303-6612.

September 1

State of the City LuncheonThe

The Seguin Are Chamber of Commerce will have its State of the City Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6 at the Silver Center, located at 510 E. Court St. in Seguin. The meal is $20 for members in advance and $25 for non-members and after Friday, Sept. 1. For more information, call 830-379-6382.

August 25

Summer Movies in the Park

The Seguin Parks and Recreation Department conclude its free Summer Movies Friday, Aug. 25 in Max Starcke Park East near the Patricia K. IrvineKing Pavilion. Bring your popcorn, drinks, lawn chairs, family and friends. Movies in the Park are made possible by generous support from H-E-B. For more information, call 830-401-2480.

September 16

Fiestas Patrias

The Seguin Guadalupe County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will have its Fiestas Patrias on Saturday, Sept. 16 at the Columbus Club Hall, located at 1015 S. Austin St. in Seguin. There will be food vendors and arts and crafts. Tickets are available at the Hispanic Chamber office from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Fresh veggies Summertime

Baked Peppers with Rice Stuffing

Heat the oil in a large saucepan and fry the chicken, pork and ham or bacon until colored on all sides. Take the pan off the heat and reserve. Meanwhile, cook the rice in plenty of boiling salted water until done — usually about 15 minutes, but follow the instructions on the package. Drain and reserve the rice. Add the garlic, chopped tomatoes, green bell pepper, corn kernels, paprika, saffron, salt and pepper, and parsley to the pan

containing the meat. Let the sauce simmer and reduce the volume of liquid by about half. Stir the rice into the sauce.

Oil a deep ovenproof dish big enough to take all the peppers. Cut off “lids” at the stalk ends of the peppers and remove the seeds. Stuff them with the meat and rice mixture and replace the lids. Tuck the peppers into the dish, cover with foil, and bake at 325 F for 1 1/4 hours.

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 large chicken breast, diced

5 ounces lean pork, diced

4 ounces ham or smoked bacon, diced

7 ounces short-grain rice

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 pounds ripe tomatoes, skinned, seeded and chopped

1 green bell pepper, finely chopped

3 tablespoons corn kernels

2 teaspoons paprika

Pinch powdered saffron

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

6 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

6 large red bell peppers

In Case You Missed It

The HIGHEST of HONORS CIVILIAN

Drowning victims honored for heroism

Two summers ago, a pair of adults drowned in the Guadalupe River. Today, the heroic efforts of these individuals are being officially recognized with the delivery of the Carnegie Medal, a medal said to be North America’s highest civilian honor for heroism.

The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission awards the Carnegie Medal to individuals from throughout the United States and Canada who risk themselves to an extraordinary degree saving or attempting to save the lives of others.

Those being honored posthumously are Victor Villanueva and Casandra Joann Kendrick. Both drowned while saving two small children during a June 13, 2021, fishing trip at the Guadalupe River bridge on FM 1117.

Villanueva, a 30-year-old lumberyard worker from New Braunfels had taken his three sons, ages 9, 6, and 5, to fish in the Seguin River. Another group of people on the tiny island that day included Kendrick a 22-year-old retail clerk. While wading, the 9-year-old stepped into water 15 feet deep near an undertow. In an attempt to reach the boy, his brothers also entered deep water. Villanueva swam to the boy and passed him to another woman who had responded from Kendrick’s party. That woman brought the boy to safety. Kendrick and another woman swam to the younger boys, the other woman using a child’s floatie. While one of the boys held onto the floatie, Kendrick handed the other boy to the other woman, who brought both boys to safety. However before they were able to return to shore, Villanueva and Kendrick submerged and drowned. The boys were unharmed.

Carnegie Hero Fund President Eric Zahren says both Villanueva and Kendrick are among the 16 individuals to be recognized this quarter. He says from their perspective in operating the commission, this is an exercise in examining humanity and looking at these cases where rescuers risk or lose their lives. He says they assess and recognize their mortal and moral choice that they make at that moment and only that moment alone.

“These two individuals saw that there were other lives in danger of being lost and without hesitation, they acted and they acted in a way that they put themselves in peril. So, in this case, it’s not always the case, it’s the same peril affecting the victim but in this case it was. There were children that were drowning. Their lives were at risk and these two individuals Mr. Villanueva and Ms. Kendrick immediately acted to put themselves at equal peril of the victims and in so doing (it), they put the victims’ lives at equal importance to their own and that’s that mortal choice and moral choice and in this case, it cost both of these individuals their own lives to save the young children and those young children will now hopefully live full lives but they will now live on but only because of the sacrifice of these two individuals,” said Zahren.

It was in 1904 when Andrew Carnegie first wrote in the opening lines of the commission’s founding deed of trust, “We live in a heroic age. Not seldom are we thrilled by deeds of heroism where men or women are injured or lose their lives in attempting to preserve or rescue their fellows.”

To better explain the elite honor of receiving this award, it should be noted that to date, more than 10,000 medals have been awarded. That’s 10,000 recipients selected from more than 100,000 nominees over the past 119 years.

Zahren says of those 10,000 medals, only 20 percent of those medals have been awarded posthumously just as they will be for Villanueva and Kendrick.

“In the case of these two individuals, they made the ultimate sacrifice and a verse from the Gospel of John appears on the back of every Carnegie Medal we’ve all heard it many times before but it states that “there is ‘no greater love than to lay down a life for a friend.” In these cases and all posthumous cases where a Carnegie Medal is awarded -- these heroes have taken it one step further and in many cases have acted on behalf of a stranger,” said Zahren.

Story by Cindy Aguirre-Herrera

Zahren says the prestigious recognition comes with a medal for heroism and also a small financial grant – both will be given in this case to the next of kin. He says the medal in their view is priceless. He says it’s never been about money or a financial grant. He says it was very important to Carnegie that neither the hero nor a dependent of the hero would suffer as a result from that split-second decision by the hero to put their life at risk.

“We do three essential things. We recognize heroism, civilian heroes in the U.S. and Canada. We support those heroes and their dependents but that as importantly, we also tell these stories because it was important to our founder Andrew Carnegie and it remains very important to us till this day that these stories are told, others hear these stories, and that it may compel within others in our society to look at each other differently, to maybe act themselves in a slightly different way toward their fellow human beings and by virtue of that domino effect, if you will, change society for the better and that was Carnegie’s lofty goal for the commission. It’s individual focused but it really has and continues to have wider implications and goals that we continue to practice and work toward,” said Zahren.

Kendrick’s father, Lee Estep, says at first, he wasn’t too sure about the organization or what they wanted to do. He says it wasn’t until after a little research that he quickly realized the significance. Meanwhile, having been a complete stranger to this family on that day, Estep says he is not surprised at all by his daughter’s heroic efforts. He says although the medal is not expected to be delivered until a couple of more months, he already has a special place for it and can’t wait to hold it in his hands.

“The other part I learned, the backside of it, is actually personalized with her name and information and stuff is on the backside of the coin. I’ve already gotten a little area set up where we’ve put the things that have been given (to us) because a lot of people have come across (over time) and have given us their condolences,” said Lee.

Villanueva’s wife Norma Luna says she too was overwhelmed when she received the news. She says the Carnegie Hero Medal only solidifies what everyone already knew.

“So many emotions. We all know he was a hero. He is a hero. It brought me a lot of peace, happiness, tears, of course. Just to know that even though he is not with us anymore, he is still being honored in some way and that’s never going to go away,” said Luna.

Luna says not only is she grateful that her husband is being recognized but that Kendrick is also getting the recognition. She says, after all, it was her three sons that were saved on that day.

“Oh my gosh, yes! I’ve always expressed this to them -- till this day, you know we still keep in contact but I’m just so so thankful and grateful for her, for her family, for all them because they all had a part of it and just the way that they raised her, the kind of woman she was and how brave she was, I’m so so thankful and grateful to them and I just feel like I owe them so much,” said Luna.

Luna says there’s no forgetting that day two years ago. However knowing that her husband and Kendrick will forever be remembered as national heroes, it makes things just a tad bit easier and

is forever grateful to the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission.

“I’m kind of speechless when it comes to it. It’s amazing for what they do for families who are going through something we never pictured or would want to go through. It’s just an honor for what they do for us and the little bit of peace that they can bring us in these type of situations and the happiness and things just like that. I just think it’s amazing of what they do,” said Luna.

Out of the 16 recipients being awarded this quarter from the national organization, only four are from Texas. •