Seguin Today: March 2024

A HIDDEN GEM

ICYMI

SISD

Lee

after

New

Short and Long-Term Skilled Nursing Care

Services Offered:

• Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapies

• Cardiac Care

• Diabetic Management

• Stroke Care

• Pulmonary Care

• Wound Care

• Respite Care

• IV Care & Management

• Secure Memory Support Unit with Social Activities and Outdoor Courtyard

1210 Eastwood Drive

Seguin, TX 78155

Phone: (830) 379-9308

1219 Eastwood Drive

Seguin, TX 78155

Phone: (830) 379-7777

2024, Volume 4 l Issue

Dandelions are already blooming in my yard, which can mean only one thing –– spring is here! Gone are winter’s cold and gloomy days as we enter warmer weather and locals venture out to explore the community.

The weather has been mild enough that some brave individuals are already hitting the river to enjoy the sun while kids prepare for spring sports leagues.

It goes without saying that there is a lot to do for fun in Guadalupe County. We have great outdoor spaces and loads of local businesses that offer entertainment for all ages. In this issue, we decided to take a look at two of those to inspire your adventures.

First, you’ll head on a family staycation with News Director Cindy Aguirre-Herrera. Cindy is the queen of staying local, and in this first-hand experience, she shares a bit about how she took her family out in style without going too far from home.

Then you can grab a glass of your favorite wine and read this month’s cover feature on Windmill Farms Winery. And just in case you missed it, we’ve also included a recent news story about how SISD is renaming one of its buildings in honor of the late educator (and my friend) Jack Lee.

Enjoy the nice weather, y’all, and don’t forget to check out the Seguin Today podcast, available wherever you listen.

Lizz Daniels Creative Director

facebook.com/KWEDradio

THIS ISSUE

COVERSHOT

Robin and Ryan Richter are the owners of Winmill Farms Winery located just outside Seguin where they produce Texas-made wine on site.

Photo by Lizz Daniels

GOOD GRAPES

EVENTS CALENDAR

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

DIY: RECIPE TO TRY

Irish soda bread for St. Paddy’s Day

ICYMI: JACK LEE LEARNING CENTER

SISD names building in honor of late educator

A Hidden Gem

A Guadalupe County Staycation with STYLE

Column by Cindy Aguirre-Herrera

Want to get away? Of course, we all want to get away, but in between school sports and crazy work demands, slipping away for those “vacations” can often be difficult, especially when you add in all those extra hours of being on the road or in the air.

Recently, my family discovered that some of our best memories were simply destined to be experienced close to home. That’s because we are finding that some of the best and hottest spots for a staycation can be found right here in Guadalupe County.

Traveling a mere 19 miles or 24 minutes by vehicle, my family headed down the road to Marion for a weekend of glamping at Son’s Rio Cibolo.

Son’s Rio Cibolo is the latest resort location to operate under the Son’s Island Getaways umbrella. The company is a collection of five other campgrounds operating within the various stretches of the county. Although the most popular Son’s Island in McQueeney is temporarily closed, its other locations, Son’s Blue River Camp, Son’s Guadalupe, Son’s River Ranch, and Son’s Geronimo, continue to drive folks in with their very own unique riverside experience.

At Son’s Rio Cibolo, this best-in luxury glamping runs along two miles of spring-fed Cibolo Creek frontage at 178 Rio Cibolo Way.

Despite that, it’s gaining traction as a “trending” water spot in Texas, Son’s Rio Cibolo, we found, remains a secret gem, especially when it comes to locals.

Even though the resort opened in the summer of 2022, the 100-acre vacation property has already undergone plenty of additions, making it the ideal spot for our family getaway.

With highs only expected in the upper 50s, my family wasn’t sure what to expect from our weekend visit. We also weren’t too sure about this growing trend of the “glamping experience.”

However, after arriving to the spacious waterfront property and seeing the tropical cabanas and bird house cabins along the banks of the Rio Cibolo Creek, any doubts we might have arrived with were quickly thrown out the window.

Arriving anywhere early is rare for my family, but we didn’t procrastinate this time on getting to our destination hours in advance of our 3:30 p.m. check-in.

By arriving early, my family took advantage of the campground while enjoying one of the many cabanas nestled along the riverbank. It was a day spent fishing, shooting hoops, and even playing a few rounds of ping pong and pool in a rec room located in the middle of the property. A cluster of three pools and four hot tubs are also made available to guests year-round.

Unlike other vacation check-ins, our visit was all done ahead of time. No need to wrangle with front desk or resort personnel. In fact, on that day, we were provided with our access code for our stay in Cabin #5, The Wren, and up the flight of stairs to the birdhouse, we went.

The modern amenities and uniqueness found in the glamping experience quickly guaranteed a future return for our family. As my kids stated, “It was just like a hotel but cooler.”

Plus, whether you book a birdhouse waterfront cabin or any of the smaller cabins, all come fully furnished with a full kitchen, towels, linens, patio furniture, a picnic table, a grill, fire pit, and hammock. Most importantly, all units are well insulated with heat and air conditioning.

And yes, it is important to note that our birdhouse cabin included a full-sized private bathroom.

Not only did our cabin #5 sleep six, but it also offered both a front and back porch –– perfect for star-gazing or for overlooking tranquil spots along the creek, including its gushing waterfall dam and scenic hike and bike trail.

Of course, after unpacking, my family immediately returned downstairs to the launching pad for the free kayaks and paddle boards. The cooler temperatures that weekend did nothing to hinder other guests from also grabbing an oar and enjoying some time on the water.

Speaking of guests, it was clear that most had traveled several miles -- some even overseas to enjoy the waterfront resort. And while some had

business in the big city, they opted for the luxury camp to change up the monotony of the average hotel stay.

At night, Son’s Rio Cibolo also lends itself to plenty of fun and relaxation. Lights majestically outline the pool area, game room, and even the actual volleyball net -- creating that warm ambiance throughout the campground. Adding to our own experience was the snuggle weather in mid-February that warranted using the fire pit and consuming one too many smores.

While the waterfront cabins were the first to be introduced at the grounds, the operation over the last year has grown into not only Glamping Tents but the new addition of Safari Cabins. The Safari Cabins sleep nine with four full beds and one twin futon couch. Each also comes equipped with a kitchenette and nearby bathrooms and showers.

For those just looking to get away for the day, rentals in one of the creekside cabanas are also available. The Hawaiian-style cabana includes a bar top table with stools, lounge chairs, a hammock, a BBQ pit, electricity, running water plus a ceiling fan.

The vision for this property will also continue with the recent acquisition of Rio Cibolo Ranch. The property recently expanded to absorb the large event venue and large rodeo arena that sat next door. Property managers say more waterfront cabins are also in the works.

A stay at Son’s Rio Cibolo varies in price depending on the “glamping” experience that someone is looking for. Nonetheless, the prices appear reasonable, with even cheaper rates available during the off-season or if booked in advance.

Meanwhile, these luxury staycations close to home might just be my family’s newest attempt at unwinding from that hectic day-to-day schedule.

After all, it’s often the locals who are last to realize the true gems that exist in their own backyards – gems that truly make you feel as though you are vacationing miles away. These local treasures are here waiting to be discovered, and they come with all the comforts of home and more.

For booking information, visit sonsriocibolo.com. •

A Texas winery EXPERIENCE a short drive from the city of Seguin

BStory & photos by Lizz Daniels

arns litter the countryside of Guadalupe County, dotting empty pastures with worn wood siding and tin roofs looking relatively unassuming. But one of these barns underwent a transformation to become one of the area’s hottest wine bars and local destinations ––Windmill Farms Winery.

Owners Robin and Ryan Richter opened the winery on Huber Road nearly two years ago, and have poured their hearts, souls, and a lot of grapes into the project during that time.

“We had this barn and it was huge, and the straightest one on the property,” Robin said. “All the others were built by Willy Wonka. And so we were like, ‘What do we do with it?’ And Ryan suggested an Airbnb. We love Airbnb, and we’ve stayed at multiple. Some of them have their own bathroom for each bedroom. Some of them have their own kitchenette for each one. In some of them, you have one kitchen, and everybody eats together. So we could never finalize in our heads which one we would want to make into this.”

The couple found their answer by looking at each of their strengths. Robin has a knack for antiques and interior design, while

Ryan has a mind for science. Through their shared interest in wine, they found their path with help from their friend Brandy, who runs Water to Wine in New Braunfels.

With a crop of new grape vines on the property, the ultimate goal is to produce from grape to bottle, but in the meantime, Windmill Farms wines are created from grape sources all over the world, with Ryan managing the production aspect of the business.

“We have 35-plus wines,” Ryan said. “We have to outsource our grapes from all over the place. Our Malbec comes from Argentina. So we bring the grapes in, and then it’s all in basically small batches. It’s about 28 bottles I’m making at a time, which is a good thing because I can keep the histamines and sulfites low in the wine. For some of my sweet wines, I’ve had to go to bigger batches just because they fly off the shelf really fast, especially in the summertime. And then doing bigger batches also helps me save space. So in order to make a pomegranate or a watermelon or something, I add a flavoring after the fermentation process to give it that different flavor. I’m not fermenting strawberry or peaches like that.”

Ryan takes each batch seriously, and while he can’t do a true barrel-age on the wines due to space, he does still manage to get that traditional flavor profile that connoisseurs might be looking for.

“You have to have room to age in a barrel,” he said. “And aging in barrels, you have to turn the barrel so that all the wine touches the outside and stuff. So I’ll add oak chips or oak cubes, or even a powder. That’ll allow all the wine to touch that oak. You know, there’s more surface area if you chip up a barrel, of course, and so it gives it that flavor. The sweet wines are typically aged for two weeks to four weeks or a little more while the bolder wines have more alcohol present in them. And those take about eight weeks because it takes a longer for the fermentation.”

Once the wines are done aging, they are bottled and packaged before becoming available for purchase.

Bottles line the walls inside the Windmill Farms barn, and an eclectic assortment of furniture decorates the space, making it feel warm and welcoming. An upstairs loft overlooks the interior bar, and outside are tables for guests who prefer the open air. On the weekends, live music can often be heard, and food trucks are available. The location is also a Harvest Host, allowing RV camping members to stay onsite with no camping fees.

It’s a Texas-style winery without the haughty atmosphere some might associate with Napa Valley or Italian vineyards, and they pride themselves on that fact.

“Sometimes, we’ll get a wife and husband who doesn’t think they’ll like wine,” Robin said. “I’ll let the wife sit there, but then she can convince him to try a little, and he doesn’t die. So then he ends up getting a glass and it works out for everybody. We also suggest people try a wine flight, which will give them any four samples they want. And it’s a pretty hefty sample size. So if they’re just a sweet wine drinker, we’ll make them a board of sweet if they’re brand new, and like, ‘I don’t know, if I drink wine,’ we’ve got some options we would suggest for them. Or they can tell us favorite fruits, they love. And we go from there and make them a flight.”

The winery is open Thursdays through Sundays and is a short drive from Seguin, New Braunfels, San Marcos and Schertz. Windmill Farms is also available as a venue for parties, weddings, and more, and they even offer custom wine building for groups, plus a wine club for regulars.

With their second anniversary approaching this coming Memorial Day, Robin and Ryan have their wine glasses ready as they prepare to keep their barn doors open and the Texas-made wine flowing. •

MARCH

Upcoming events and special promotions happening locally!

Featured Events

Featured Events

TLU Tax Clinic

The Texas Lutheran University Tax Clinic will be open to the public through Monday, April 15. Hours of operation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Please note the clinic will be closed during TLU’s Spring Break, Saturday, March 9 through Saturday, March 17.

The clinic is located at 1000 West Court Street in Seguin. To drop off materials, drive in the Main Entrance off of Court Street and get in line. A volunteer will be there to greet you. Taxpayers will then remain in their cars, and student volunteers will come to you and gather tax information, and provide the tax return to you. For further questions, call 830-372-6050.

March 19

Grandparents Raising Grand Children

The First Presbyterian Church, Seguin is offering a Grand Parents Raising Grand Children Group at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 19 at 1121 E. Walnut St. The group is available to assist with questions regarding your rights and benefits available to you and will meet the third Tuesday of the month. For questions or more information, call 830-379-5421. If there is no answer, leave a message and someone will get back to you as soon as they receive the message.

March 28

Ceremony Honoring

Vietnam Veterans

The Veterans Outreach Center will host a Ceremony to Honor Our Vietnam Veterans on from 3 to 5 p.m. March 28 at 205 E. Weinert St. Guadalupe Valley Young Marines will be helping to pin Vietnam Veterans who have not been pinned and thanking those who have been pinned. The Special guest speaker is Lt. General Brad Webb. Please RSVP at 830-303-4188, ext 1249.

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

March 2024

March 23

Mental Health for Youth & Teens Workshop

The Precious Life Services will present, Mental Health First Aid for Youth and Teens, from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 23 at the GVEC Community Room, located at 927 N. Hwy. 46 in Seguin. Registration is required by visiting https://preciouslifesuicideprevention. org/mental-health-first-aid/. Space is limited to 10 students per workshop.

March 28

Chamber March

After Hours Mixer

The Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce will have its March After Hours Mixer from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 28 at the Bar Seguin, located 410 N. Austin St. For tickets information, visit https://secure.acceptiva. com/?cst=9bcc07.

For more information, call 830-372-8037 or email absommers@tlu,edu.

March 23

The BIG Battle

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Comal & Guadalupe Counties will have its Rock Paper Scissors Competition, The Big Battle, from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, March 23 at the Mc Kenna Center, located at 801 W. San Antonio St. in New Braunfels. The event is for adults 21 and over. Spectator tickets are $25 and the contender fee is $5. To register and for more information, visit: tinyurl. com/bigbattleguadco

April 20

Seguin River 5K Run/Walk

The Seguin Faith Lutheran Church will have its Seguin River 5k Run/Walk at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 20 at the Seguin Dance Pavilion, located at 950 S. Austin Str. in Seguin. For event details visit www. athleteguild.com/event/seguin-tx/2024seguin-5k-river-runwalk. For questions, contact Cody Goetz at SeguinRiverRun@ gmail.com. Proceeds benefit the South Texas Pregnancy Care Center.

Irish Bread for St. Paddy St. Paddy

Irish Soda Bread

Yields 1 1/2 loaf (20 servings)

• 4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup margarine, softened

• 4 tablespoons white sugar

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup buttermilk

• 1 egg

• 1/4 cup butter, melted

• 1/4 cup buttermilk

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a large baking sheet.

Mix flour, softened margarine, sugar, baking soda, baking powder,

and salt together in a large bowl. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round and place on the prepared baking sheet.

Combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk in a small bowl; brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an ‘X’ into the top of the loaf.

Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Check for doneness after 30 minutes. You may continue to brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes.

SISD names building in honor of the late Jack Lee

Story by Cindy Aguirre-Herrera Photos courtesy Jack Lee Facebook

The efforts and contributions of a deeply respected educator in the Seguin ISD will forever be preserved.

The Seguin ISD Board of Trustees on Tuesday unanimously approved the renaming of the Mercer-Blumberg Learning Center’s portion of the district’s administration building to the Jack Lee Learning Center.  Lee died on Aug. 18, 2019 at the age of 66.

After a month of soliciting name nominations from the community, trustees voted to honor the late educator who spent over 35 years in local classrooms. The board’s decision was made final after receiving 16

official nominations on his behalf.

Among those submitting a nomination was former student Mariaelena Ramirez Boyle. Currently a surgery resident at the University of Michigan, Boyle writes, “Early in my academic career, Mr. Lee gave me the grace to complete my work when I navigated some difficult situations at home. He encouraged me to continue with my education, and to prioritize it despite the barriers in front of me.”

Mike Gonzales, Seguin High School head baseball coach, was also among those who felt compelled to continue Lee’s legacy. Having now returned to the district as a coach,

Gonzales says he better understands the importance of building lifelong relationships with students.

In his nomination, Gonzales writes, “Mr. Lee was the epitome of what it means to be a Seguin Matador. Fearless, empathetic, giving and living to serve a purpose greater than oneself, Mr. Lee always made it a priority to invest in the future through students. I believe there is no one more deserving and fitting.”

Helping to officially honor his name through her work on the school board was Trustee Denise Crettenden. Crettenden says for many students, Lee was their saving grace.

“First of all, as one of those people who was blessed to have Mr. Lee as a teacher, I can assure you that I would not be here without him and he inspired a whole generation of Seguin kids to get involved in their community and to care about what happens in their community and if everybody has at least one teacher like Jack Lee, the world would be better for it,” said Crettenden.

Adding to the conversation was Trustee Linda Duncan. Duncan spoke on how Lee’s impact  in the classroom also made for a better community.

“One thing to me that stands out about Jack Lee is that he loved this community and like you said, he taught a whole generation of our students to care about civics and to care about their community. One big thing that I saw just from being involved in the community, being involved in different groups is he would be the go to person if we needed volunteers and he was always looking for opportunities to get our students involved in the community and so many community service hours have been done and it wouldn’t have happened without him and so, I salute that about him and this is a way to keep his memory alive and a way to show that being involved in civics and your community is important. It’s a lifelong skill and we are all better because of Jack Lee” said Duncan.

Prior to last night’s action, two Seguin ISD facilities were named Mercer-Blumberg. The first was located on the south corner of the district’s administration building at 1212 E. Kingsbury St. District officials say the property currently serves as meeting space, offices, and storage.

The second building is a space at 118 N. Bowie St., which officially operates as the Mercer-Blumberg Learning Center at Saegert.

Other names pulling in one or two nominations each included Jeff Cockrum, Vickie DeLaRosa, Charlie Koehler, John Robert Edward Lee Sr.. Maekalyn Ann-Marie Smith. and the Matador Learning Center. Representatives of the Lincoln/Ball High School Alumni Association also joined the meeting and shared their suggestion of Henry Franklin Wilson, along with their desire to preserve the name Lizzie M. Burges.

Crettenden says she appreciates all those who submitted nominations and even encouraged the district to find more ways to honor deserving individuals.

“I think we’ve gotten a little bit behind in the Seguin ISD. We have a chance to name a lot of things. There are parts of buildings and buildings and fields and all kinds of things that could be named so that future generations understand the amazing people who gave things to this community -- people who were on the board and did big things. People who were educators and community members and supporters. We have the chance to do that and I would like to see us be very intentional in community up with some opportunities very soon so that even more of these people and other people can be honored,” said Crettenden.

The next step for the district will be to work on signage and the future rededication of the space. •

This story originally ran in the Feb. 29 issue of Seguin Daily News