Seguin Today: December 2022

Somewhere Santa is sleeping while Rudolph and the other reindeer play games. In the workshop, elves tinker away crafting toys for good girls and boys to be delivered by midnight flight.

Away Santa will soar with a sleigh full of gifts ready to be stowed below merrily dressed trees. He’ll taste-cookies and sip fresh milk before dashing back up the chimney and into the air. Around the world, he and his team will fly, riding an aurora borealis trail of lights back to the North Pole while Christmas carols leave a hum on the wind.

Below, the Polar Express chugs dutifully, casting billowing plumes of smoke into perfect snow flurries, while a family sips hot cocoa and watches it pass out their window.

Jolly Old Saint Nicholas jolts from his slumber and lets loose a thrice-quaking belly-laugh that wakes Mrs. Claus.

“Merry Christmas!” He exclaims, his belly jiggling, as he booms.

“Oh, honey,” grumbles Mrs. Claus. “Go back to sleep. It’s not yet for three more weeks.”

Happy Holidays, ya’ll.

Photo courtesy Chief Jason Brady

KWED & THE MAKING OF Christmas Magic

Story & photos by Lizz Daniels

When I was little, there were two things on my list to Santa each Christmas: a game boy so I could play Pokémon and a Talkboy Tape recorder. Growing up in the 90’s this magical piece of tech was introduced to me through what remains my favorite Christmas Movie: Home Alone. I’d watch Kevin McAllister use the recorder to get up to his shenanigans and dream of owning one for myself.

Sadly, neither of those much-coveted gifts ever made their way under my tree. My childhood best friend, however, did get one, and any time I’d go to her house, it would transform me, not into a booby-trap setting mastermind, but a reporter.

Somewhere buried in a box, there are undoubtedly tapes of me belligerently interviewing my sweet, timid-voiced little sister about whoknows-what. I started a school newspaper in middle school, which I produced using clip art and Microsoft Word. Then I discovered photography, and all bets were off.

And now, here I am — a happy member of the KWED staff. But our workplace is unlike anything I have ever imagined or experienced anywhere else. You may not know this, but our entire staff is comprised of only eight people. It’s a unique environment that genuinely feels more like family than work.

At the head of our family is, of course, general manager Darren Dunn. He sets the rules, steps in to help wherever needed, and sorts out disagreements when we squabble like siblings.

More importantly, however, he sets the tone for how things feel in the office, and the holidays are a special time at KWED.

“KWED is an institution in Seguin, and it has always had employees who become part of a special family,” Dunn said. “It’s a family that take care of each other, and more importantly that takes care of the community. It’s family in every sense of the word. We love each other, despite our differences. We have shared experiences through our work in this community. And we share one common vision -- to keep this community informed and engaged in those things that make life worth living.”

Last year was my first holiday season with KWED, and one thing that stood out to me was the commitment to participate actively in the community, to give back, and try and make Seguin a better place. I had no clue about the Christmas Angel, or getting up at 6 am on my day off to participate in the KWED Food and Toy Drive. And as much as I still dread that early morning alarm, I look forward to the event itself. I think we all do, even if we need a little caffeine to be our best-selves first.

“Our KWED family is at its best during the holiday season,” Dunn said. “I remember the very first time we hosted the Food & Toy Drive. I have to give a lot of credit to our News Director Cindy Aguirre. It was Cindy’s idea and we started kicking it around in the newsroom. We didn’t know what to expect, we just thought we needed to find a way to bring more donations to Blue Santa and the Christian Cupboard. I’m no longer surprised by the generosity of this community, but that first year, I was shocked by how many people, businesses and organizations came out to show their support. It has just grown from there. It’s my favorite event of the year, but that first one will always have a special place in my heart.”

I wandered downtown Seguin on Black Friday, capturing photos for this issue, and found things feeling more normal than the past few years. Families dressed in Christmas sweaters and beanies were out shopping despite the damp, chilly weather. The streets were being decorated, and stores advertised Sip and Stroll mugs on each corner. Maybe it was the lights in the downtown square or Mariah singing ‘All I want for Christmas is You’ everywhere I went, but Seguin managed to stir some feeling from childhood that is often lost as we grow up –– Christmas magic.

For a moment, I felt that wonder from childhood that often becomes lost as we grow up.

“Christmas has become so commercialized that’s it’s sometimes hard to really embrace the reason for the season,” said Dunn. “Whether you are religious or not, this time of year is supposed to be about showing love and support to others. Seguin, more than any other community I’ve been around, does a great job of making sure that we stay connected to the true spirit of the season. Events like Country Christmas at the Big Red Barn, the Holiday Stroll parade, Sip-N-Stroll and several others are all meaningful activities that allow the community to come together and enjoy the true meaning of Christmas. It gives families a chance to break out of the hustle and bustle that can sometimes dominate our lives.”

My favorite Christmas memory is waking early one morning to hear sleigh bells. When my sister and I came running into the living room, we found ashy footprints trailing through the kitchen out the back door. Our parents said it was Santa, but his boot tread looked an awful lot like my dad’s.

While I’ve outgrown my desire for a Talkboy Tape Recorder, I still smile when I think about those silly tapes I recorded of my sister. Somehow life always takes us right where we need to be, even if we don’t realize it at the time, and it’s okay that I never got it. Instead, I got something better –– Christmas magic, and now I get to make a little magic happen myself each year with KWED. •

STOCKINGS HUNG ON THE WALL WITH CARE

Growing up, Christmas Eve was when all the family would gather and we would have our “Christmas”. We would have supper together and it consisted of roast, mashed potatoes, gravy, salad, Thousand Island dressing and green beans. Our dessert would be egg custard pie (a family favorite and tradition for every holiday and event) and candy that my mother made for friends and neighbors, divinity, fudge, rum balls, and date log. I cannot forget the ever-present fruitcake that I swore as an adult just multiplied in the freezer! After supper, we would take a ‘ride’ to look at the Christmas lights and my mom would stay back to clean up and get dressed. What she was really doing was putting out all our Santa gifts, as that was the night we opened our Christmas presents. Christmas morning was for those wonderful Christmas stockings but I will get to that in a bit. Mom was dressed in a different outfit when we returned with gifts all around the tree; she would tell us that when she was getting dressed she heard Santa and the reindeer on the roof. She would spin the yarn about how she heard this noise, this click click click then she came in the living room to investigate, and our gifts were all around the tree. We would go to bed that night with our stocking hung, we did not have a fireplace but they were hung somewhere usually a wall. The next morning, we ea-

gerly got up and our stockings would be filled with oranges decorated in cloves, peppermint candy, all kinds of large nuts, socks, gum, candy, small toys and other small items filled to the brim. They were not big things but lots of little stuff. It is the traditions that I remember not so much the gifts. These are precious memories!

Another precious memory - Jerry Greiner, my late husband’s birthday was December 18 and he was the baby of his family, his mother did not decorate for Christmas until after his birthday because he was so precious and needed a special day. Christmas came after! We continued that tradition in our marriage and let me tell you it was not easy decorating and getting everything ready the week before Christmas. I was blessed both families came together so it was always a large gathering at Christmas and other holidays. So decorating the week before Christmas was quite the endeavor and then of course, we left it up until Epiphany.

Here’s hoping this brings a little glimpse into my family traditions and reminds you how precious memories are. May this holiday season bring you much love and blessings! We are truly fortunate to live in this Country and this community – Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Special by Seguin Mayor Donna Dodgen

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT OVER THE YEARS

Christmas is a time for giving and spending with family and friends. At the Sheriff’s Office, it also means helping Seguin PD with its Blue Santa program and doing the Santa Sheriff program with the seven rest homes in Guadalupe County. Bringing a smile to their faces is priceless as we go through the rest homes singing Christmas Carols, passing out care packages, visiting, taking pictures with Santa, and giving out hugs.

I come from a family of 10 kids, so many of the presents were what we needed more than what we wanted. However, my parents were able to get the wants in there from time to time. One particular year, I wanted a pump BB gun, and Santa delivered it. A couple of days later, my brother Aubrey and I were out in the yard with the BB gun. I was trying to figure out how it operated, holding it straight up, when I accidentally pulled the trigger. Much to our surprise, a pigeon fell from the sky and landed at our feet.

In 1969, I became an uncle at 11 years old, and a couple of years later, my brother Dennis wanted to play Santa for three of our nieces and one nephew. Not wanting to miss out on the actio,n my brother Aubrey and I taped deer horns to our head with masking tape (probably why I am bald now) and pulled Dennis through the living room on a red wagon.

Other memories include going to my aunt and uncle’s (Elton and Evelyn Gerth’s) house for Christmas and playing contact football in the oats field where blue jeans turned green.

Christmas, unfortunately, became a time for roll call. In November 1972, I lost my brother Gary to a drunk driver; in September 1975, I lost my Mom. It seemed the Christmas season changed after that. Getting married in 1982 and having two beautiful daughters helped me regain the spirit. In 2009, we lost my niece’s husband, and this past April, we lost a brother-in-law.

Playing Santa has been a rewarding experience. The first time was for a fellow firefighter’s kids. We drove from the MyCue house in McQueeney to my sister’s house by Cibolo. I was waving at all the people who were waving and honking back at us. When we got to my sister Yvonne’s, I told Sherrell to drop me off down the driveway, go up to the house, and tell them I was at work helping fight a grass fire. A few minutes later, I knocked on the door. My nephews and nieces, along with my uncle Reno got all excited. It

was a lot of fun as I was calling them by their name, and they were trying to figure out who I was. After about 10 minutes, I heard one of my nephews tell a niece, “I think that’s uncle Arnie. “

At this point, they were jumping on me until I told them I saw uncle Arnie at a grass fire as I was flying over. Not wanting to blow my cover, I enlisted the help of my brother Aubrey. I told him to meet me in the utility room, where he put on the Santa suit. We walked around the back of the house, and I told him to walk down the driveway, where I would pick him up later. As I walked into the house, all the nephews and nieces were all over me, yelling, “it was you, it was you!”

When I asked what they were talking about, they said it was me in the Santa suit. I turned around and pointed at Aubrey walking down the driveway, and I yelled out to him. At that point, Aubrey turned around and waved, shouting Merry Christmas. I will never forget the look on their faces. No doubt one of my favorite Christmases.

I believe it was 2006 –– while driving to church for the Christmas Eve service; we had a small snow flurry. It was the year the coast got a lot of snow. Christi and Laura reminded me they had never seen good snow and wanted me to take them. So December 2007, Sherrell and I took them to Steamboat Springs, where it snowed over 4 feet the first night we were there –– another priceless moment.

Working at the Sheriff’s Office for over 30 years, one of my wishes was to be able to close for a day and bring all the employees together. Unfortunately, working shift work in a 24/7 operation doesn’t allow it. However, we host a Christmas/Appreciation get-together, a time to reflect on the past year and recognize them for their hard work and dedication.

I have learned in the past 64 years that Christmas is a time for giving, being with family and friends, and putting smiles on people’s faces. I have learned to keep the Christmas spirit alive even in bad times. Last year, we had 69 of our family members at our house for Christmas.

Let us remember the real reason for the season. And remember, it’s not how big the tree is or how many presents are under it, but what matters the most is who is around it at Christmas.

Merry Christmas, Arnold.

Special by Guadalupe County Sheriff Arnold Zwicke

SOMETIMES YOU JUST KNOW SANTA IS REAL

Christmas time in the Skinner home has always been a very special time for me. So many great memories. As a kid, we would always spend Christmas Eve with my grandparents on my dad’s side. Visiting and playing with cousins, eating lots of food and of course, the presents! We would leave late in the evening, and I can remember watching the sky through the back windshield of the car, hoping for a glimpse of Santa crossing through the clouds. We would get home just in time to catch the 10 o’clock news and see where Santa was on the globe. We changed into our pajamas and always left out the traditional milk and cookies for the big guy and hurried off to bed.

Growing up, we didn’t have a lot of money. Most things we had were used or hand-me-downs from other family members. We were happy though. One year my brother and I were getting suspicious that maybe Santa was not real. We didn’t tell anyone and just kept it between us. Surely, we would find proof. We had our usual traditional Christmas Eve activities and awoke very early on Christmas day and rushed to the living room to see what the fake Santa had left us. To our amazement, there were two brand new bicycles! A 10-speed for

my brother and a 5-speed for me. We just knew that Santa had to be real because mom and dad surely couldn’t afford to buy something that expensive. Time moved on. We grew up, our family began having families and the big Christmas get-togethers vanished as they all began new family traditions of their own.

My wife, LeeAnn and I moved to Seguin in December of 2012. We arrived just in time to see Christmas in Seguin. We soaked it all in! The Sip and Stroll, the Christmas parade of lights and the lighting of Central Park. We fell in love immediately! Only one thing was missing. Santa should arrive on an antique fire truck. We made it a goal that the next year, Santa would arrive in Seguin on the fire department’s antique fire truck. Our staff came through and got the old truck running. They taught me how to drive it. It’s not as easy as you think. There are several sequences you must go through to get it started and drive it. The day finally came, and my wife and I had the privilege to drive Santa and Mrs. Clause in the parade of lights. What a treat! We have kept up the tradition and drive Saint Nick into town every year on the old fire truck. We love Christmas in Seguin!

Special by Seguin Fire Chief Dale Skinner

STORY BOOK CHRISTMASES IN QUEBEC

Special by Seguin Police Chief Jason Brady

Growing up in a township in Quebec, my childhood Christmases were truly the stuff of holiday story books. Snowmen, snow angels, snow forts, ice skating on frozen ponds and snowball fights, yup we did it all. My family would venture by snowmobile deep into the woods, with our dogs following behind, to select the perfect trees to bring home and decorate. Like the iconic carol, my uncle would hitch up one of his horses to an open sleigh and we’d ride down the unplowed snowy backroads bundled up in blankets drinking hot cocoa from a thermos. After Midnight Mass in the village church, our family would meet at my grandparents’ home and open presents by the large fireplace. Santa no doubt must have made his delivery while we were restlessly squirming in the hard pews just prior.

The early 90s found me alone over two-thousand miles away patrolling the streets of Corpus Christi, a city of palm trees, beaches, and a rich Hispanic culture. Initially, I felt like a stranger in a strange land. As a new officer, holidays off were not an option. Christmas time became associated with arresting reckless drivers who engaged in too much “holiday cheer” and breaking up fights when feuding family members were “home for the holidays”. I also witnessed great kindness and generosity as my partners purchased and collected food and toys for families that were lacking. We distributed blankets and care packages made by caring citizens to the area homeless. I was

fortunate to be invited into the homes among the families of fellow officers to share in their Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners on my breaks when few if any eateries were open. It was during these years that tamales were added to my list of favorite holiday dishes.

When I was blessed with a family of my own, the holidays took on a new meaning as my wife Patricia and I viewed the magic and wonder of Christmas through the eyes of our children. It was important to us that our kids understood the meaning of the season, so we included them in food collection drives and serving veterans dinner at the VA hospital on Christmas day. My wife often assisted me with “Shop with a Cop” a program where officers shop with a needy child for clothing, shoes, and a toy. I still recall one small boy who asked if instead of a toy for him, could we get something for his mother to open on Christmas? Yeah, I teared up a little that time. Of course, we managed to accommodate him and still buy him a toy.

While my Christmas experience has changed over time, sharing, and helping others has grown into a rewarding tradition. This time of year can be stressful and even depressing for some. Let’s all resolve to be patient and kind to one another. Please remember our police officers, dispatchers and yes, even our firefighters who will be away from their families protecting yours. Merry Christmas Seguin from the Brady Family.

MAGIC AND THE EXCITEMENT OF THE HOLIDAYS

by Seguin City Manager Steve Parker

The holidays are such a special time of year for me and my family. I grew up in a small town in South Texas called Three Rivers. I was an only child to two parents who adopted me at an early age. My nearest relatives were at least seven hours away so most holidays were just the three of us. On occasion, we would make a trip to my grandmother’s house in West Texas. My grandmother was the mother of 10 children which meant a lot of cousins for me. Those holidays were the most special to me because most all my relatives would attend those events. Being one of the youngest grandchildren and an only child meant I was rather spoiled by my grandmother and other relatives. Those were truly magical times which always made me want a large family myself. I now have four children whose ages range from 19 to 26. As great as my childhood trips to my grandmother’s house were, nothing compares to the holidays

with my own kids especially when they were young and truly believed in Santa Claus. I will always remember the magic in their eyes and the excitement in their hearts. I still remember on one occasion when three of my kids were between the ages 5 and 8. Around 8 o’clock on Christmas Eve, we took them out to leave food for the reindeer (a mixture of oatmeal and glitter). I managed to sneak around back and ring a set of jingle bells from the back yard. Sheer panic filled their minds as they were sure they had missed Santa because they were not in bed. They bolted up to bed crying. Maybe not my best parenting move but still pretty funny. Now I have a 2 year old grandson who I get to spoil. To see him, makes me so nostalgic for when my kids were little and I could see the magic in their eyes. Enjoy your little ones during times like these because they sure go grow up fast.

Special

FAMOUS PANCAKES & THE TASTE OF CHRISTMAS

Christmas was always a special and exciting time growing up as a kid. Dad would grab his chainsaw and we set out to find the perfect tree on our property. Most years, we found some really nice trees, other years ,dad would say, “Jenny, just put that part in the corner, no one will see it.” My brother and I would help decorate the tree with mom, probably getting in the way more than we helped. Every Christmas break from school meant we had extra time to feed cows, fill feeders but it also meant we had more time to deer hunt. Christmas Eve was the big night for us to open presents and get ready for Santa. The meal was always a big part of celebrating. We would change between smoked turkey, steak and potatoes or chili and tamales also accompanied by too many desserts to list. Most years on Christmas or the day after, we would drive to Houston to see my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins to again celebrate with presents, food and football.

Now that I have my own family, we try to keep traditions while making them ours. Like most, our Christmas tree is the center piece of the

house and draws the most excitement for the kids. Decorating cookies and building gingerbread houses have become something we really look forward to. Christmas Eve is spent at nana and papa’s house with my brother, sister in law, niece and nephew. With a living room half filled with presents and four grandchildren ages 7, 8, 9, & 10, controlled chaos comes to mind. Christmas morning comes early at our house because the kids can’t wait to see what Santa brought them. After presents, I fix my famous breakfast of pancakes or French toast, eggs, bacon and fruit. Most of the day is spent playing with new toys, playing games and spending time together. A few days later, we celebrate with my wife’s side of the family having our annual white elephant gift exchange. The exchange has become really fun, except for the person who ends up with the shadow box which is an ugly gag gift type decoration that keeps returning year after year. For u,s Christmas is a time of family, food and fun. From my family to yours, hope you have a Merry Christmas.

Special by Guadalupe County Judge Kyle Kutscher

My dad was a self-employed diamond-setter in Dallas, which meant that the December holidays were a very busy “rush” season for him, right through Christmas Eve. In the midst of all that, he also saw this time of year as an important time to connect with and say thank you to his loyal customers. And he was eager for me to understand the importance of connection and gratitude, so throughout my teenage years he enlisted me to bake cakes for all of his customers. I’m not a particularly

talented baker and it’s possible I complained about this a time or two— but the lesson took. And now, many years later, I always think of this time of year as starting with a spirit of gratitude that leads to staying connected. In my family today, we don’t bake cakes, but we do send lots and lots of Christmas cards to family and friends far and wide, letting them know that we are grateful for our connection to them and happy to share our news of the past year. •

Special by Dr. Debbie Cottrell, TLU President

Featured Events

Featured Events

Dec. 5

Rising

Stars of Guadalupe Co.

The Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals will recognize Guadalupe County’s most promising young professionals at its Rising Stars of Guadalupe County event from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5 at the Columbus Club Hall, located at 1015 S. Austin St., in Seguin. For tickets and more information, call 830-379-6382.

Dec. 10

Living Nativity

Experience the Nativity in a new way with the Faith Lutheran Church. FLC will have its Living Nativity from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 at 1326 E. Cedar St. in Seguin. Youth groups from the community will be working together to host this drive-thru Living Nativity.

Dec. 9

Blood Drive

Guadalupe Regional Medical Center (GRMC) will have Blood Drives from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14 and Thursday, Dec. 22 in the Selig Room of GRMC. All donors will take home a holiday Grinch T-shirt, including points to redeem for eGift cards. If at least 27 successful units of blood are collected, you will have a chance at winning a $25 Amazon gift card. To schedule an appointment or for more information, contact Veronica San Miguel at 830-491-8166.

Dec. 15

Toy Distribution

Seguin Choirs & Chamber Orchestra

Friday, December 9

The Seguin Choirs and Chamber Orchestra will present John Rutter’s “Mass of the Children,” at 7 p.m. Friday Dec. 9 at the Seguin High School Performing Arts Center. Admission is free. Donations will be accepted at the door.

The Precious Life Suicide Prevention is accepting registration for its No Child Left Behind Christmas Toy Distribution until Thursday, December 15. All eligible families must register by email providing the following information: Parents Full Name, address, phone number, age, date of birth and gender of each child being registered. No phone registrations accepted. For more details, please visit https://preciouslifesuicideprevention.org.

Dec. 31

NYE Dance

The Seguin Youth Services will have a New Year’s Eve Dance from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Dec. 31 at the Geronimo Community Center, located at 280 Navarro Dr. Presale tickets are $20 and $25 at the door. Limited advance table reservations with purchase of 10 tickets by Wednesday, Dec. 28. For table reservations and tickets, call 830-214-4722. Tickets are also available at KWED, Shanafelt Auto, Joe Cool’s AC, and Seguin Youth Services.

Jan. 12

Citizens University

The City of Seguin will have its Inaugural Citizens University from 6 to 8 p.m. January 12 to March 9. The program will give residents an opportunity to get a behindthe-scenes look at the inner-workings of city departments and services. For more information and an application, visit https:// bit.ly/seguincitizensuniversity. Space is limited and the application deadline is Sunday, Jan. 1. For more information, call 830-386-2590 or email jsourdellia@ seguintexasgov.

Chocolate Bark with a Delicious PEANUT CRUNCH!

COOKING DIRECTIONS

Roast and caramelize the nuts:

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line the bottom of a sheet pan with parchment paper. Spread the peanuts on the prepared pan in a single layer. Roast the nuts until they are a medium brown, about 15 minutes.

While the nuts are roasting, put a piece of parchment paper or a nonstick baking liner on a work surface. Measure the sugar and butter and put both of them next to the stove.

apart. Let the nuts cool completely, and then break up the larger pieces. The pieces don’t have to be uniform.

Store the nuts in a zippered plastic bag at room temperature if you are not making the bark immediately.

Make the bark:

1

As soon as the nuts are roasted, place a medium, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Use an unlined copper pot if you have one. When the pot is hot — test it by flicking a drop of water into the pan; it should sizzle and dance across the bottom — immediately add the hot nuts and the sugar. Cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the sugar liquefies and coats the nuts. If they start to smoke, reduce the heat. When only a few specks of sugar remain unmelted, remove from the heat. Sprinkle the salt over the nuts and add the butter. Stir until the nuts glisten and start to separate from one another.

Scrape the nuts onto the parchment paper or baking liner and spread them

Line the bottom of an 8-by-12-inch sheet pan with parchment paper. Stir the tempered chocolate and peanut butter together in a medium bowl.

Pour the chocolate into the prepared pan. Spread it evenly with a small offset spatula. Tap the pan on a work surface to even the top.

Sprinkle the caramelized nuts over the chocolate. Tap the pan again to settle the nuts into the chocolate. When the chocolate loses its sheen and starts to set, after about 15 minutes, cut the bark with a sharp knife into 2-inch squares or other fanciful shapes of your choice. Leave the bark at room temperature until it is completely set, about 1 hour, and then separate the pieces.

Store in a cool, dry place, not in the refrigerator.

Kendra Scott Parker Cuff, $85, Gift & Gourmet

Julie Vos Marbella Hoop & Charm Earring, $165, Gift & Gourmet

Kendra Scott Alex Drop Earrings, $75, Gift & Gourmet

Photos by Lizz Daniels

Kendra Scott Elisa Baguette Necklace, $85, Gift & Gourmet

E Newton Beaded Grateful Bliss Earrings, $58, Gift & Gourmet

Kendra Scott Blair Earrings, Gift & Gourmet

Two Left Feet Socks available at the Mercantile.