The Dominion Magazine December 2015

DECEMBER 2015

majestic comforts

take a look at the lamberts home

impact san antonio

Women Making a Difference

resident profile

meet Brian Kenneth Swain

A PUBLICATION OF:

THE DOMINION HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

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

DECEMBER 2015

Meet Chandu and Vasu Radia, a most courageous couple of fifty years that have overcome caste prejudice and government oppression to create for themselves a prosperous destiny.

WELCOME 14

student 48 Meet Alexander Jimenez

THE CLUB

CALENDAR 16 CLUB HAPPENINGS 18 HOA HAPPENINGS 24

FROM THE HOA 28

tmi veterans day 50

44

resident profile 54 Brian Kenneth Swain

home tour 56

STAFF PROFILE 30

Majestic Comforts

This issue we talk with Maintenance Technician, Pablo Salinas

social group 62 Rotary Club

club dining 32

54 54

Holiday Dressing...and Stuff

golf 42

daag 64 good reads 68

Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See

charity 44

community 72

Impact San Antonio

tennis 46

COVER 34

December Holiday Events

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

7

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

11

• Residential and Commercial Painting • Interior and Exterior Painting • Eco-Friendly Paints • Drywall Repair • Wallpaper Removal • Multi-Year Warranty • Carpentry Services • Furniture Quality Cabinet Refinishing • Locally Owned & Operated

12

DECEMBE R 2015

DECEMBER 2015 | VOLUME 2 ISSUE 12

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

Welcome TO

the Dominion Magazine Dear Reader,

Happy Holidays to all!

We have had an amazing fall at The Dominion. The HOA sponsored some wonderful events including National Night Out neighborhood parties, a party for the new residents of The Dominion, a fun-filled Trunk or Treat event for families, our fabulous Bonfire, in conjunction with The Dominion Country Club, and the Turkey Chase Walk/Run on Thanksgiving. The Club has seen wonderful changes ushered in by the new General Manager, Stephen Phillips, and has offered many new and exciting events. We are looking forward to seeing the designer’s plans for renovations to the Clubhouse. It is exciting to think that we will see significant changes to the member areas of the Clubhouse in the coming months, as well. Now we enter the December holidays, a time to focus on our blessings, our family, and friends.

First, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful staff at The Dominion Homeowner’s Association. Rob McDaniel has been an amazing General Manager and leads a staff of incredible people including Julie Macaluso, Sonia Matthews, Lisa Fratangelo, Kellye Fralinger, Lorraine Guajardo, Pablo Salinas, and Cecelia Stewart. They make all of our lives easier and we are lucky to have them all.

Thanks also to our Board of Directors, Committee Chairmen, and committee volunteers for their gifts of time, energy, enthusiasm, and all they do to make this such a wonderful community.

Lastly, thanks to all of you who make our community and Country Club interesting and fun.

We thank you all for enjoying and participating in our HOA magazine and helping make it a very special addition to our neighborhood.

Wishing you a lovely season of peace and gratefulness and a very Happy 2016!

2015

THE DOMINION | NOVEMBER

N | OCTOBER THE DOMINIO

OCTOBER

SMV TEXAS DESIGN GROUP, LLC CEO/PRESIDENT Benjamin D. Schooley ben@smvtexas.com OPERATIONS MANAGER Michelle Hans michelle@smvtexas.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Benjamin Weber ben.weber@smvtexas.com ASSISTANT CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kayla Davisson kayla@smvtexas.com

THE DOMINION HOA OFFICE 20 Dominion Drive San Antonio, Texas 78257 (210) 698-1232 | www.dominionhoa.com

2015

2015

NOVEMBER 2015

DOMINION

OF THE DOMINION HOMEOWNERS

ION OF THE

PUBLICAT

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION

THE OFFICIAL

Jeff Lewis, Chairman Dominion Homeowners Association

ION

ASSOCIATION

ERS ASSOCIAT

HOMEOWN

ATION OF:

A PUBLIC

INION ON THE DOM ERS ASSOCIATI HOMEOWN

VOLUME 2 ISSUE

A PUBLICATION OF:

10

THE DOMINION HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

FOr Advertising opportunities call 210-507-5250

The Dominion Magazine is published by Schooley Media Ventures in Boerne, TX. The Dominion Magazine and Schooley Media Ventures are not responsible for any inaccuracies, erroneous information, or typographical errors contained in this publication submitted by advertisers. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions of

BRIGHTEN YOUR HOLIDAYS WITH CHRISTMAS DECOR 830-896-2976 | www.christmasdecor.net 14

DECEMBE R 2015

The Dominion and/or Schooley Media Ventures.

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

DECEMBER

2

Member Holiday Social 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.

Allow us to celebrate you - our valued Members! This party is for you! The hor d’oeuvres display is lavish, the cocktails are of your choice, the Club is decked out in its holiday finest - let’s all celebrate together!

Member Exclusive Event No RSVP Required

4

Women’s Forum Holiday Bazaar Holiday Magic!

10:30 a.m.

The Annual Bazaar is the answer to all your holiday shopping needs! Gather your friends and family and invite them to this holiday treasure! The culinary treats will surely be divine and the shopping will be spectacular!

Photo SA Camera Club 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Learn a new aspect of photography each month! Cost is $10 per class, charged to your Member account. Please RSVP to www.meetup.com/PhotoSA/

13

Santa Sunday Brunch 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Santa Claus is coming to The Dominion!

Bring your lists and let Santa know your heart’s desire! The elegant holiday buffet will include many specialty items and no one will leave hungry! Landers Photography will be here to capture the magical moments! $39.95 Adults, $15.95 Children 4-11 Please RSVP to 210-698-3364

18

8

Supper Club Holiday Party 6:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m.

Bell ringers and holiday cheer on the schedule tonight! Everyone will mix, mingle, wine and dine!

Please RSVP to 210-698-3364

10

History Club 4:30 p.m. -5:30 p.m.

Keep your mind sharp and engaged and join History Club! Every month Dan Johnston introduces a new, exciting topic or continues from the previous month. This club attendance has grown to well over 75, so get your RSVP in early!

Please RSVP to 210-698-3364 16

10

DECEMBE R 2015

Crazy Christmas Sweater Happy Hour 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Back by popular demand...wear your bygone favorite and enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and happy hour priced cocktails with your fellow-Dominion Members & their Guests! We want to see your craziest Christmas sweater!

27

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

Traditional, elegant & definitely a culinary treat for the entire family!

Standout Selections include: Omelet Station, Prime Rib Carving Station, Shrimp Cocktail, Fresh Fruit Display, Blintz with Berry Sauce, Roasted Red Potatoes, Smoked Salmon Display, Chef selection of breakfast and entrée items, and Pastry Chef Judy’s fabulous dessert extravaganza! $27.95 Adults $10.95 Children 6-11 Children 5 & Under Complimentary RSVP to 210-698-3364

31

New Year’s Eve Celebration At 7:30 p.m.

Your Club - The Perfect Setting for New Year’s Eve Wonderful Friends, Lasting Memories. Ring in 2016 at your Club! Enjoy a lavish hors d’oeuvres reception and hosted bar, followed by an elegant three course plated dinner. Save room for dessert, which will be equally extravagant! Dance the evening away to the music of the very popular “Oh So Good Band” and dine from the gourmet omelet station before the evening ends. Capture the magic moments - Landers Photography will take photos this evening. An amazing evening awaits you! $105 per person. Please RSVP to 210-698-3364 *Clubhouse dining suspended at 2pm to prepare for this event

Every Tuesday

Every Wednesday

Every Thursday

Every Friday

Every saturday

The Dominion Rotary Club 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

This international service group meets at The Dominion every Tuesday

Ladies Bible Study 12:30 p.m.– 2:00 p.m.

The ladies get together every Wednesday in the Wine Room. Stop by this week!

Men’s Bible Study 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

This group meets every Thursday in the Piano Lounge. Stop by this week!

Women’s FUN Tennis Friday!

9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Women’s FUN Tennis Friday!

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

All levels, men & women. Guaranteed to hit a thousand balls.

Loud music, lots of fun!

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

Enjoy delicious Italian favorites, gourmet and cooked to order.

Children 11 and under dine complimentary from the pasta bar. $14.95 Adults Please RSVP to 210698-3364

Tennis - Thursday Men’s Workout 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

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

Delicious, cooked to order and just $5!

Treat the family, invite friends!

RSVP to 210-698-3364

Friday Night Happy Hour 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Kick off the weekend with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and 1/2 priced cocktails with your fellow Dominion Members and Guests!

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

Delicious and bountiful - includes baked potato, hearth rolls and a crisp garden salad. $23.95 per person RSVP to 210-698-3364

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

17

THE

DOMINION CountryClub Happenings the dominion kids’ boofest The Dominion Kids’ Boofest was an eerie treat of delicious dining, trick or treating, hayrides, cookie and pumpkin decorating, and FUN with fellow-Dominion goblins!

18

DECEMBE R 2015

Supper Club’s Military A p p r e c i at i on The Dominion celebrated America’s finest with the TMI Color Guard, a beautiful vocalist and many of our Members decked out in their military uniforms. This is a Dominion-Signature event you do not want to miss next year!

november kids’ night Etiquette and the Social Graces! The Dominion kids learned the art of small talk, introductions, place settings, table etiquette, and much more at the November Kids’ Night! They came to the class as impressive young ladies and gentlemen, and left a little more refined!

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

19

women’s forum happy hour The Women’s Forum fall happy hour had a “Vintage” theme and definitely brought out the best of decades past! The Dominion Board of Governors even stopped by to do some people watching! Hats off to our Dominion ladies for going all out to make this a fantastic event!

Ladies - if you haven’t yet joined the Forum, join the FUN today!

Friday Night Lights A Happy Hour on the Driving Range!

Cranked up DJ music, fun times playing mini-tennis, enjoyable lawn games, target chipping practice, and awesome food and drinks made this Happy Hour the best social occasion of November!

20

DECEMBE R 2015

Mat Wieland, Area Sales Director, LDR Spine

THIS CHRISTMAS, GIVE HIM THE GIFT OF GENT.

styling for the discerning gentleman™

styling & grooming products | accessories | gift cards

$10 OFF YOUR FIRST EXPERIENCE 930 E. BLANCO, BOERNE TX

::

830.443.4500

::

w w w. c o m p l e t e g e n t . c o m

HOA Happenings T r u n k- or - t r e at Another successful Trunk or Treat is in the books for The Dominion. We hope you and the kids were able to join us for a spooky good time on Halloween. The Trunk or Treat event brought out several hundred people for music, candy, and fun!

Thank you to all who attended, those who dressed up in costumes, and all of the volunteers who decorated their trunk to pass out candy! See you next Halloween!

24

DECEMBE R 2015

Hard surface and carpet restoration and cleaning.

Commercial and residential properties.

Specializing in luxury homes and businesses.

BEFORE

AFTER

8 3 0 - 4 3 1 - 0 3 4 1 • w w w. t h s r t e x a s . c o m • t h s r t e x a s @ g m a i l . c o m

There has never been a better time to join The Dominion Country Club!

The Dominion Country Club is your oasis, and home away from home. The Club offers a world-class 18-hole Bill Johnston designed signature golf course with full practice facilities, an incredible tennis program, swim center, fitness and spa in the locker-rooms, and Clubhouse dining with fun filled social activities. There is something for everyone here at The Dominion Country Club! Please contact Aleya Davis in the Membership Office for more information at 210.698.4820 or Membership@The-Dominion.com

committee update By rob mcdaniel, general manager of the dhoa

December has arrived and 2015 will soon be coming to an end. This year was a busy and productive year for The Dominion HOA, with many projects and improvements, both big and small. These include performing preventative maintenance on bridges in The Dominion, replacing street light globes, trimming trees, renovating common areas, pressure washing monuments and mailboxes, repaving or sealing streets, repainting the electronic billboards, and painting light poles. The HOA also coordinated many social events throughout the year, such as the New Resident Socials, Fiesta Event, Bark in the Park, 4th of July Celebration, 28

DECEM BE R 2015

National Night Out, Trunk or Treat, Turkey Chase 5k/10k walk/run, and the annual Community Bonfire.

Operationally, we transitioned to new gate transponders to increase security, increased coverage by SAPD Officers and provided body cameras for security personnel. Administratively, the HOA currently has a very low delinquency rate and low number of covenant violations. To that point, HOA staff spent considerable effort resolving several long-standing and significant delinquent accounts and yard violations. The HOA, working jointly with our landscape contractor Maldonado Landscaping and SAWS, was also able to reduce water consumption and expense by over 15% from the previous year. As a result of this initiative and the overall focus on fiscal responsibility, the HOA will come in within budget and provide for a well-funded Reserve account. The HOA also implemented a new payment program to accept credit card transactions for one-time and recurring HOA payments.

2016 will likely be as busy and productive with many projects, events and process improvements planned. The HOA already is planning more street maintenance projects, creating a master plan for use of common areas. The HOA is also strongly considering or planning on extending SAPD coverage to 24/7, adding more surveillance cameras at the gates, bidding the Security contract, renovating additional common areas and building a storage facility. All of this, while continuing to grow by adding approximately 75 new homes.

Much of the above would not be possible without the many talented, dedicated and hard working volunteers serving on HOA committees or the Board of Directors. These volunteers are residents who help the HOA focus on its Vision and Mission, as well as identify priorities and process improvements. If you have interest in serving on a committee or the Board, please contact the HOA office.

If you would like to submit an idea or suggestion, all owners are welcome to do so and/or attend any Committee or Board meeting. Â Here is to a great 2016!

rob mcdaniel General Manager of the HOA

The Neighborhood Outreach Committee (NOC) Fall events have come and gone and we are happy to have had a great year of HOA social events! Our Halloween Trunk or Treat event was bigger and better than last year, the weather was beautiful and we had a blast!

Thank you to resident Sara White for your hard work in organizing the event and thank you to all residents who attended! The Annual Bonfire and Turkey Chase 5k/10k events were very well attended and so much fun! Ideas on improvement and plans for next year’s events are already in the works. We hope you have a great holiday season and we look forward to seeing you in the new year!

The Landscape Committee Next time you drive out the north gate, look at the work being done on the right side of Dominion Drive, from the Pump Station to right past the gate. The Landscape Committee has started a large project to improve the look of this area, as well as reduce maintenance and water usage. The project will go on for a few months and includes larger mulch beds, some drought tolerant planting, and some hardscaping.

As we wrap up our fall projects we are looking forward to the spring! If you have any areas about which you are concerned, let us know about them. And, if you have any landscaping talents and would like to help us imagine and plan some of the islands we will refurbish, let us know - we would be happy to talk about your participation.

The Finance Committee Since August, HOA staff and the committee have been diligently working on the 2016 Budget. A very important component of the long term financial life of The Dominion is capital replacement reserve funding and the committee also produces a 5 year budget that includes capital reserves. The Finance committee believes it is prudent to conservatively reserve for future major expenditures other common area expenses, like streets. During the holiday giving season if you would like to volunteer your time with the HOA, we would love for you to join our committee and share your financial knowledge and expertise. The meetings are held once a month on the 3rd Thursday at 1:00 pm. If you are interested, please email lisafratangelo@sbcglobal.net The Security Committee over the course of 2015 has made several additions and changes to standard protocol. The Committee implemented the Community Contact Officer position to streamline resident issues and free up the officers to process gate traffic. The patrol vehicle was replaced with a new, more reliable Jeep vehicle.

The Committee updated the Contractor / Vendor Policy to expedite the processing and shorten the wait time at the gates.

The Security Committee requested and received budget approval for SAPD officers to be on property 24/7. They also requested and received budget approval for security video recordings at all gates.

The patrol / supervisors were issued body cameras and a dash camera was installed in the patrol vehicle. In an effort to decrease or stop the number of violations, the Security Committee acquired a traffic camera system to monitor speeding and failure to stop.

Overall, Security reduced officer turnover from 45 in 2013, 28 in 2014, and only 15 so far in 2015, which ultimately increases professionalism and consistency. Security also started a new training program for officers regarding The Special Needs Community and Security, which

UPCOMING HOA EVENTS Landscape Committee Meeting Thursday, December 3 at 8:00 a.m.

neighborhood outreach Committee Meeting Tuesday, December 8 at 8:30 a.m.

security committee meeting Tuesday, December 8 at 1:00 p.m.

development committee meeting Wednesday, December 9 at 7:30 a.m.

Finance Committee Meeting Thursday, December 10 at 1:00 p.m.

board of directors meeting Wednesday, December 16 at 4 p.m.

Architectural Control Committee Meetings Thursday, December 3, 10, 17 at 4:30 p.m.

reviews Autism, Alzheimer’s, Vision & Hearing Impaired, and people with Neurologic Impairment. Thank you to all residents for a great year and we look forward to a safe 2016.

Architectural Control Committee in the past month reviewed over forty-three applications for construction projects in the community. These included issuing four building permits for new residences, two preliminary reviews for new homes, five or more on outbuildings, pergolas, pools and the rest to various smaller projects.

Within the past year, the ACC reviewed and approved over fortysix new homes within the community, seven of those were displayed in the popular Parade of Homes 2015. It is hoped that all Dominion residents were able to visit the successful event and see the new designer homes within the growing new neighborhood, The Bluff.

Lastly on a sad note, the committee lost one of their members, Mr. John Lovingfoss. He volunteered his time to the committee for over two years, bringing his experience in development and desire to help The Dominion in protecting land values with cohesive and high quality design. We are thankful to have had the chance to work with him and will miss him dearly.

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

29

Pablo Salinas STAFF PROFILE

TITLE: Maintenance Technician Hometown: Port Isabel, TX how did you get into your field?

Because I enjoy the outdoors and fishing, I was able to land a job with South Padre Islands Public Works in 1987, where I worked until 2007, before coming to San Antonio.

What has been your most rewarding experience in your business?

Getting to meet residents from different cultures and listening to some of their stories.

How long have you been with The Dominion?

I’ve been with The Dominion since 2008.

What is your favorite aspect about working at The Dominion?

My favorite aspect is being able to work with an awesome staff at the HOA. Favorite feature at The Dominion?

My favorite feature of The Dominion is The Lakes. I think it’s the nicest place to take a walk and relax.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Spending time with my grandkids and watching movies and relaxing with my wife.

30

DECEMBE R 2015

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

31

BY CHEF JAY NASH, HEAD CHEF OF THE DOMINION COUNTRY CLUB

32

DECEMBE R 2015

t

he holiday season brings out scores of traditional recipes and favorite foods and is my favorite time to cook, as I love the fall and winter and my selection of vegetables after harvest time. Perhaps the most popular side dish (other than good mashed potatoes) is the dressing, aka stuffing. The difference between the two is simple, they are the same ingredients, but stuffing is used to actually stuff whereas dressing is cooked separately. The variety of ingredients and styles are as diverse as regions and family traditions from bread or rice based, to adding oysters or giblets or anything in between. Here are a few helpful hints that apply to all.

First, when stuffing a bird or other protein, mix the dry and wet ingredients of the stuffing immediately before roasting. Cooking stuffed birds takes longer than unstuffed, and for poultry make sure you hit 165 degrees on an instant-read thermometer. Next, remove stuffing and hold warm before carving and for dressing I like to cook with parchment paper lined pans on top and bottom to retain moisture and prevent sticking and makes clean up easy. I always cook the final 10-15 minutes uncovered to prevent mushy dressing. Lastly, some ingredients can be prepared ahead of time to reduce stress on the big cooking days.

Chop your vegetables that will hold a day ahead and store in re-sealable bag as well as bacon or sausage.

Nuts can be toasted, skinned and chopped a couple weeks ahead of time and stored frozen.

I’ve included my most recent favorite dressing recipe as it is an excellent side dish to almost any holiday entrée and combines sweet and savory with a great presentation.

You will definitely see this recipe or a very similar version on various buffets, brunch and specialty menus at the club this holiday season. This recipe also works well mixing into cooked traditional dressing. There is one thing to note and avoid which is overcooking and cooking with to much liquid when the dried fruit is added which causes an unpleasant squishy texture.

Other ingredients you may want to try in specialty dressings include mushrooms of all varieties, shitakes and oyster mushrooms are popular for holidays, leeks, bacon, different nuts, lentils and small legumes and all types of dried fruits, apples, pears, and even some winter squashes like butternut. Enjoy trying different things and it may become the hit of your holiday gathering and stiff competition for the famous fruit cake!

INGREDIENTS

6 Tblsp Butter 18 ounces peeled pearl onions, (blanched 1 minute in boiling water) 4 ½ cups chicken broth 2 Tblsp chopped fresh thyme 1 ¼ cup wild rice 1 ¼ cup long grain white rice 1 cup julienne dried apricots ½ cup dried cherries ½ cup dried cranberries ½ cup raisins ½ cup golden raisins 1 cup toasted and chopped pecans

METHOD

Melt the butter over medium heat and add pearl onions. Let cook while stirring frequently about 15 minutes until browned and set aside.

Combine thyme and broth and bring to a boil, add wild rice and return to a boil, reduce the heat to a light simmer, cover and let cook 30 minutes. Add white rice, cover and simmer until almost all the liquid is absorbed, approximately 15 minutes. Add in dried fruits, do not stir, let simmer 2-3 minutes. Mix in pecans and lightly season with salt and pepper and transfer to a buttered baking dish and bake 30 minutes until thoroughly heated.

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

33

34

DECEMBE R 2015

BY Kevin Thompson | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN WEBER Chandu and Vasu Radia joined The Dominion Country Club in the late 1980s before moving to Galleria Drive in early 1990, and they were the third family of Indian descent in the development. Today, they estimate that there are over 40 other families. Chandu retired from CIGNA, and Vasu has owned Elite Travel and Empress Employment Professionals for over 30 years.

Vasu currently serves on the Neighborhood Outreach Committee of the Homeowner’s Association, where Chandu previously served.

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

35

FLEEING UGANDA “We could only take two suitcases and about $2000,” Chandu Radia begins. “I packed a Persian rug in one suitcase.

It was worth a lot more than a bag of clothes. “Bodies were lying on the street,” Radia’s wife, Vasu, remembers about 1971 Uganda. Dictator Idi Amin had commandeered control of the Ugandan government, just nine years after the country gained independence from the British crown. “When Uganda became independent in 1962, there were only 68,000 Indians in the country,” recounts Chandu. “But they controlled 90% of the business.” Indian business owners came from industrious stock. Britain had brought 20,000 of their ancestors from India to lay railroad across West Africa in the 1890s. When the railroads were finished, about six thousand Indians remained in Uganda to become merchants and traders.

His father was one of these amazingly resilient and industrious people. “My father became a very wealthy man,” Chandu explains. “He owned five cotton ginneries, five soap factories, and three cinemas. Our family home stretched 16,000 square feet, with a 9-car garage requiring a total of six servants to help care for it all!

There, the elder Radia taught his two sons and four daughters about honesty and integrity. “Other cotton ginneries would rig their scales to cheat the uneducated African farmers. My father didn’t like that at all!” It is obvious that Chandu learned that lesson well and follows his father’s training in this regard. “Farmers would ride their bicycles an extra fifteen or twenty miles to do business with him.”

Enter Idi Amin. Chandu’s father would have despised and deplored Idi Amin’s treatment of his countrymen. In 1971, Amin began the process of transferring all business to citizens of African descent, resulting in all Indians being expelled from the country with the exception of physicians and government workers. Chandu and Vasu were forced to leave Uganda, leaving behind a $500,000. net worth as well as millions from Chandu’s father’s home, cotton gin, and soap factory.

This photo was taken in 1949. Chandu is standing on the right with his elder brother. Others in the photo are Chandu’s parents and his four sisters

MARRYING UP Interestingly enough, this wasn’t Chandu’s first time to leave it all behind. In 1960, after two years with a British insurer in Uganda, the company asked Chandu to start an office in Tanzania, 700 miles to the south. After his father’s premature death, his mother and sisters joined him in Tanzania. There, in Tanzania, Chandu would meet his future bride.

“A friend invited me to see a play,” Chandu recalls.

“Afterwards I asked, ‘Who was that beautiful girl onstage?’” It was the beautiful Vasu and Chandu is eleven years her senior.

Not letting the age difference deter him, he found his way backstage to meet her. He reflects and chuckles - his love for his beautiful bride is obvious For the next two years, Vasu continued to meet with Chandu. When her immediate family decided to return to India, she stayed behind with an uncle to finish high school.

Vasu recollects that when her uncle found out that she was 36

DECEM BE R 2015

dating someone from a lower Hindu caste, he sent word to her family in India.

They said, ‘Put her on a ship and send her to India!”

From Chandu’s perspective, that was a really bad day. “When Vasu told me her family expected her home in India immediately, I left work early, arriving home around 4 p.m. My family knew something was wrong because they seldom saw me before midnight. A few minutes later, my sister knocked on the door and says, ‘Your friends are here.’ They said if you want to marry Vasu, we’ll make it happen. Come to this meeting hall at 7 p.m.”

Chandu had his doubts. “I asked if they could find a priest to do it because

all priests are Brahmins, the same class as Vasu,” Chandu remembers. In three hours, Chandu’s friends assembled a priest, a bride and a cloud of witnesses. At 7 p.m., just three hours later, a hundred people assembled including Vasu’s high school teacher. Vasu had turned 18 just two days before.

With the vigor of a young groom, Chandu recalls the family’s resistance: “Vasu’s cousin in Kenya announced, ‘I’m going to come and kill him!’ Fortunately for me, Kenya was 500 miles away! He lives in Toronto now, and we’ve since become very good friends. But at the time it was very intense.”

Not only was their age difference a challenge for their families to accept, but also the fact that the marriage was their own choice and not arranged. “It wasn’t customary to date at all,” Chandu admits, “because virtually all Indian marriages were arranged. But I was definitely liberal. I drank alcohol. I ate meat. I was a bad guy. And my family was a lower caste.” Vasu relates, “It was considered a very bad deed for me to marry Chandu because he and his family were a part of a lower caste. It’s okay to go up (in caste); it’s not okay to go down. My younger sisters would not be able to marry because of what I did. The impact of my and Chandu’s decisions and actions ranged very far. So we came to America and started bringing my sisters over here.”

ONLY IN AMERICA

This photo was taken in Tanzania in the year 2008 when we took our “kids” and their spouses to East Africa.

In the course of his friendship with a Peace Corp volunteer, Lynn Muench, Chandu declared “I’m going to Hartford, Connecticut, to the insurance capital of the world!” Because of his insurance experience in Tanzania, Chandu knew that he could restart his career in the US. During the conversation, Chandu learned that Lynn was from Hartford, and the Radias eventually stayed with Muench’s parents during their first three weeks in the States. Unfortunately, not everything for this relocation fell into place so easily.

While in Uganda, Chandu wrote letters, sent through the U.S. Embassy, to U.S. insurance companies seeking a job.

“They actually all responded.” Chandu recalls. “Only in America!” But after several failed attempts to secure visas, and despite Connecticut General Insurance Company’s willingness to hire and sponsor Chandu, it took a political connection to break the dam.

Vasu worked for Esso Africa (now Exxon). Her boss, Herb Triplett, attended college with Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield. Vasu must have been an impressive employee, because not long after she told Triplett about their situation, visas appeared. The Radia’s set sail for Hartford, and Chandu began his climb up the corporate ladder at Connecticut General.

The next ten years whirled by with promotions for Chandu: HR Manager in New Jersey, Marketing Manager in Indianapolis, and then Director of Finance and Operations in New Orleans. “I was the oldest person in my new hire training class,” Chandu remembers. “Everyone else went into New York City on weekends. I stayed back and studied.

“When I moved to Indianapolis, one of my subordinates said, ‘Remember me? I was in your training class. We used to laugh at you asking all those questions.’”

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

37

It’s obvious who got the last laugh.

“I have no college degree, but I was methodical, outgoing, very organized, and a great recruiter. I have a command of the English language though you might not be able to tell. I write better than I speak and I once wrote for Harvard Business Review.” Vasu adds, “Chandu was and is fearless and ambitious.”

About the time Connecticut General Insurance Company of North America combined initials to form CIGNA, the Radia’s were transferred to San Antonio. Chandu oversaw four Texas offices and local Dominion co-founder Gene Canavan was one of his agents. “The company has been good to us,” Chandu says as if he weren’t retired. “America has been good to us.”

THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES For a couple who visited the 48 continental states during their first six years in America, you wouldn’t expect a slowdown. We drove cross country in a brand new orange Chevy Vega after trading in the old fleet car the company had sold to us for $1000.,” Chandu recalls.

“When I told my boss, he said, ‘My gosh! You’ve seen more of America than I have.” Chandu built his endurance for long road trips while racing in safari rallies: 3,000-mile car races through the West African backcountry. He completed the ten-day car racing marathon on two occasions, and he still keeps up with the racers.

Vasu’s love of adventure inspired her to start a travel agency that is now in its 34th year of operation. She also owns an employment franchise, Express Employment Professionals. “She’s a workaholic!”

38

DECEMBE R 2015

Chandu complains. “I would tell my employees that I never wanted to see them in the office at 7 or 8 o’clock at night. I left every day at 4:30.”

When asked which of Chandu’s qualities she exhibits, Vasu boasted, “I have everything plus!”

“Her biggest strength is her multi-tasking,” Chandu adds. “I have to get a project done before moving on.” Vasu follows by saying, “Chandu’s a perfectionist so it takes him a long time. My work is quality. I get the job done to satisfaction.”

Change claims their son, Saneel, takes after his mother. Saneel owns a high-flying digital company in New York City. He and his wife, Whitney, blessed the Radias with their three-year-old granddaughter, Roarke. She was named for Howard Roark, a character in an Any Rand novel, representing an individual’s power to control his or her destiny by choices made. Their daughter, Saloni, a project manager, recently moved from Austin to Newport Beach, California.

Vasu concludes, “It has been a very interesting and exciting ride.”

Though, this remarkable ride doesn’t seem to have a finish-line anytime soon for the couple. Chandu is scheduled for an ankle replacement, so that he can resume his daily 3.3 mile walking regimen. “He’s very disciplined, but lately he’s been goofing off,” Vasu reveals. Yet, Chandu is quick to defend: “It’s because of my ankle!”

The Radias recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at The Dominion Country Club. Nevertheless, after fifty adventurous years together, Chandu and Vasu Radia haven’t lost a single step.

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

39

MERRY CHRISTMAS 50 7 E. Blanc o Rd. | Boe rn e , T X | 830-331-2 7 7 2

by Kyle O’Brien, pga director of golf at the dominion country club

The much anticipated Big Chill Tournament will be here before you know it! Start putting together your 3-person teams now for our annual event that takes place Saturday, December 12th, starting with a 9:00am shotgun start.

You and your team will get to test out the course as Dane Foley, Gold Course Superintendent, and his team gets the course set up in the toughest possible conditions.

The format will be a 3-person Scramble. Each player on a team will hit a tee shot. The best tee shot will be selected and each person will play from that location and so on until the ball is holed. This format will be continued for the duration of the round.

Scoring will be Gross and Net payouts. Handicaps for the net portion will be based off of 20% of the total team handicap.

The entry fee, which covers awards and lunch after play, is $65 per player.

Now is a good time for all to start getting your games ready…

On Tuesday, December 2nd, come be PRO-active and do some early holiday shopping with your favorite Dominion Golf Staff! The evening of the Club Holiday Party, we will be opening the Golf Pro Shop from 5pm-9pm.

Everything will be on SALE! Discounts of up to 30% off Member Price will be available during this holiday event.

We hope to see you there!

It doesn’t take a holiday for the Golf ladies to have a good time, but don’t they look devilish in their Halloween best? Golf, lunch, fun costumes and fabulous ladies made for a great day on the course!

42

DECEMBE R 2015

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

43

Some of the Dominion residents who attended the IMPACT Award Night ceremonies.

by Cynthia Schluter, Vice President, Impact San Antonio, Dominion Resident On October 28th, San Antonio witnessed the non-profit version of the Academy Awards, but instead of the gold statues, three very deserving non-profits each went home with checks for $108,000!

On Grant Award Night, the Girls Inc. of San Antonio, Magdalena Ministries, and Support Lending for Emotional Wellbeing, Inc. (SLEW) were awarded the generous grants, given by Impact San Antonio.

Two additional agencies each received awards of $3000 – The UTSA Foundation’s Opera on the Run program and Bexar County Partners for Youth.

The concept behind Impact is brilliant. We are a non-profit organization comprised of women who each donate $1000 annually.

We combine all of these donations to create one or more $100,000+ grants every year. By empowering and uniting women, we are able to positively impact our community in a BIG way. Since 2005, we have awarded $1,732,000 in grants!

I am so proud to serve as Vice President of the board of Impact San Antonio, and as the co-chair of the Member Engagement Committee.

44

DECEM BE R 2015

For all of our members, Grant Award Night is the exciting culmination of a year of hard work by the board and by our grant review teams who reviewed over 100 applications in order to determine our worthy finalists.

The only requirement for membership is the annual $1000 donation.

While there are no mandatory meetings or service requirements, we have many wonderful opportunities for involvement, including educational seminars, volunteer events, and participation in committees that review all of our grant applications. Every member has an equal voice in where our grants are awarded every year! As we do service in our community, we also have the opportunity to work with an incredible group of women.

For more information about our wonderful organization or information about membership, visit our website at www. impactsanantonio.org. For inspiring stories of some of our past recipients, click on the “Grants Awarded” tab.

Magdalena House (Family) Magdalena House is a long-term transitional home that serves mothers and their children who have fled dangerous and abusive lives. This vital organization provides its beneficiaries transformation through education, programming, and a nurturing community.

Magdalena House will use their Impact Grant to provide substantial funding to build a second home on their campus, thus doubling their capacity.

Girls Incorporated San Antonio (Education) Girls Incorporated of San Antonio supports girls, between the ages of six and 18 navigate through gender, economic, and social barriers and allow them to grow-up as healthy, educated, and independent women. Girls Inc. will use their Impact Grant to purchase two 30-passenger buses. Currently, the number one barrier to expand the influence of the Girls Inc. program is transportation.

SLEW - Support Lending for Emotional Wellbeing (Health & Wellness) The purpose of the SLEW Wellness Center is to offer an integrated cancer survivorship program. This program will improve the emotional and physical health of uninsured, under-insured, and low-income women. Some of these women are survivors of cancer, or are undergoing cancer treatments. SLEW offers programs to promote a better quality of life and long-term survival. The Impact Grant will be used to improve and finish-out new space for their facility.

This will allow them to adequately support current programs, expand activities, and offer an exercise program.

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

45

dominion

Tennis By barry mills, director of golf

RED BALL CLASS A helpful hour at The Club for our novice tennis players, as this beneficial class is full of fun and fundamentals! The Red Ball class is held after school every Monday through Thursday from 4-5pm.

TENNIS FUN NIGHT…ROCK BAND STYLE Club members gathered together dressed as their favorite rock band or rock star for a night of Tennis fun with a Halloween twist. Participants enjoyed a laid back evening of tennis games with friends and family, as well as great food and drinks.

JUNIOR LADDER Junior Tennis Members of the Academy Program are very motivated to ‘climb the ladder’! These talented tennis players can accomplish their rise to the Cup by on-going participation in tournaments and match play.

46

DECEMBE R 2015

student

spotlight Alexander Jimenez

Age 14 School Saint Mary’s Hall Three adjectives others might use to describe me are...

Confident, easy-going, and accepting.

What school clubs and organizations do you belong to?

I am the President of the freshman class on Student Council. I also participate in the St. Mary’s Hall chapter of Junior Statesman of America and I am a member of the Young Liberals Club.

What school sports are you involved with?

I play golf with the school.

What college do you plan to attend upon graduation, and why?

I plan to attend Stanford University. I think it provides a great education and I like that it’s in a small town in California. It also opens up many opportunities in life after college.

What do you plan to major in, and why?

I plan to major in Political Science. I want to eventually be involved in government and the Political Science program at Stanford prepares you for jobs in business and working for non-profit organizations as well as government jobs.

What do you see yourself doing in the next 5-10 years?

I would like to be in Law School at the University of Chicago after I graduate college.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I like to spend my free time with my family and friends.

What has been your favorite part of growing up in The Dominion?

I recently moved into The Dominion, but my grandparents have lived here for a long time.

My favorite part of growing up here has been the summer camps because I could get to know other kids that I hadn’t met before.

48

DECEM BE R 2015

TMI Veterans Day

By Paula Allen, TMI Director of News and Information

The Texas Military Corps of Cadets observed Veterans Day on Nov. 11 with a Pass in Review honoring all military veterans. Reviewing officer was James S. Calvert, a member of the TMI class of 1941, who earned the Distinguished Flying Cross as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Other honored guests at this traditional military ceremony included Ken Allard, Ph.D., retired U.S. Army colonel and author of “Warheads: Cable News and the Fog of War”; Ken Mercer, State Board of Education member for District 5; Boerne Mayor Mike Schultz; and members of the Disabled American Veterans KEL-LAC Chapter 114 of Helotes and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 688 of Boerne. Civil War re-enactors representing the Confederacy and the Union also took part.

Alumni and other veterans attending, including Dominion residents, 50

DECEMBE R 2015

were invited to stand and be recognized, with thanks for their service.

A dedication and blessing of the school’s new Alumni Military Memorial followed. The memorial, presented by former student Alexander Johnson as his Eagle Scout project, records the names of all TMI alumni who gave their lives during military service.

In his remarks, TMI Headmaster John W. Cooper, Ph.D., quoted General Douglas MacArthur, an alumnus of the class of 1897, who said: “The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.” “May we never have to inscribe another name here,” Cooper said in closing, “and may we never forget the sacrifice of those whose names we commemorate today.”

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

51

SIMPLY DIVINE Jewelry with a Texas attitude

325 South Main Street, Boerne, TX 78006 • 830-249-7393 www.thegreenbull.com

Now Featuring Seasonal Decor & Fine Gifts 404 S Main St., Boerne, Texas :: 830-249-0081

54

NOVEM BER 2015

by ben schooley Dominion resident Brian Kenneth Swain is not only accomplished in his “normal” career, but has also done more than most with becoming an acclaimed writer. His most recent fiction, Sistina, is his 3rd effort and is fast providing him a well-known name in literary circles.

In addition to his fiction, Swain has also been a featured poet at the Poetry Society of Texas, Houston Poetry Fest (four-time juried poet), Austin International Poetry Festival (juried poet), InPrint, Barnes & Noble, and Borders, as well as on Pacifica and NPR radio. He is the author of the poetry collections Secret Places and My America, and his work has appeared in Di-Verse-ity, Ampersand, Bayou Review, Edgar Literary Magazine, Free Press Houston, Mutabilis Press, Pebble Lake Review, Spikey Palm, and The Texas Poetry Calendar. He is a two-time Pushcart Prize nominee.

As for how he ultimately made the leap to begin writing, Swain begins, “I’ve always been a big fiction reader, but I started writing seriously about ten years ago when a large corporate layoff gave me the opportunity to spend significant time creating my first novel, “World Hunger.” I had spent considerable time writing poetry to that point, but this was the first time I attempted a complete novel. I write because I am filled with stories and story ideas. Some end up as short stories, a few have enough depth to become novels, and many end up in the “dead idea” file on my computer! Bottom line is that I love writing—whether poetry, fiction, essays, or simply blog posts—and I do it primarily for that reason. There is, however, also a legacy aspect to writing, meaning simply that once you publish a book, story, or poem, it becomes a part of the human canon forever and can never be taken away from you.”

Pulling inspiration from a variety of sources including Jose Saramago, Philip Roth, Michael Chabon, Jonathan Franzen, David Mitchell, and William Faulkner, Swain’s ideas are constantly evolving and exposing themselves. He explains, “Writing ideas are a surprisingly spontaneous thing for me. The majority come from the reading I do, whether it is other writers’ fiction or coverage of current events. I will frequently

discover the concept for a story in a single phrase or sentence in someone else’s novel or story. For me, the germ of almost every story starts with the question, “What would happen if…?”

Not one to rest on his laurels, Swain continues to push his skills forward and work on new challenges. “My main large project at the moment is a novel entitled “Outrun the Devil,” a work of historical fiction that juxtaposes the Spanish Inquisition with the first voyage of Columbus to the New World. It’s a convenient coincidence of history that these two events—Columbus’s departure from Palos, Spain for the Americas and the expulsion of the Jews from Spain by Ferdinand and Isabella—both took place at the exact same time and place. The main character in the story is a young Jewish man who joins Columbus’s crew to escape the Inquisition. He is a genuine historical figure (Rodrigo de Triana) and the very first European to see the New World (though Columbus would later steal credit for this distinction).

My most recently published book (“Sistina”) is also a historical novel, and I find myself increasingly drawn to this genre, partly for the fun of the research, and partly because of the awesome storytelling opportunities.”

Outside of writing, Swain spends considerable amounts of time on other forms of expression as well. “I am a musician and spend a good bit of time practicing piano and guitar. I am also into carpentry and furniture building. Finally, as an ancillary consequence of my passion for reading, I am a quite serious first edition collector, with a library of about 2,500 volumes at present.”

A relatively new Dominion resident, Swain is enjoying his new community and finding ways to connect. “I only moved in around the end of July, so I am still learning my way around and meeting new people. I like the strong sense of community, as demonstrated by the good number of events and the enthusiasm people have for meeting and interacting with each other. I also enjoy the convenience of the location relative to places like the RIM and other shopping areas, and the quite easy commute to my office near The Quarry Market.

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

55

intro by cynthia & bill lambert Photography by Ben Weber When Bill and I moved back from Houston, the magic began! We had a beautiful wedding at The Club, and decided to reside here. Two years after we bought our first home in The Dominion, we moved up the hill to our present home. We both stay very busy in our respective lives. Bill was fortunate enough to be a part of the space program, and therefore we have a lot of memorabilia that we get to share and enjoy. Today he is occupied with attending St. Mary’s Law School, and I am also very busy with my restaurant Jacala.

They both appreciate coziness along with elegance of old 56

DECEMBE R 2015

world decor. We love the way we can see the mystical city lights constantly moving, and yet be able to relax in our home. It would be difficult to point out one area that we love the most because every room has so much to offer.

Entertaining at home provides us with memories that are created by everyone, and preserved forever in our minds and our hearts. We are sensitive to style and quality, but those considerations never trump comfort and ease. We never forget how we are truly blessed. Planting our roots and having family and friends to share our lives with is the essence of true bliss.

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

57

WINE ROOM An impressive collection of wines and champagnes is perfectly showcased in the Lambert’s wine cellar.

LIVING A well-balanced mixture of sophisticated finishes with ranch-style elements gives their living area a luxurious level of relaxation.

58

DECEMBE R 2015

STUDY Bill’s photo memorabilia from his time with NASA is charmingly displayed above his office fireplace. The warm and masculine features of this room, from the deep red Oriental rug and paprika-colored leather chairs to the stately, dark brown walls and antler-adorned chandelier, transforms this room of production into a space of inspiration.

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

59

60

DECEMBE R 2015

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

61

rotary club

By Brigitte B Saidi, Dominion Resident

Every Tuesday morning at 11:45 am, about forty neighbors and nearby business owners meet at the Country Club for lunch, fellowship, and a lecture or presentation. They are members of the Rotary Club San Antonio at the Dominion (www.dominionrotary. org), and have been meeting there every week since January 2003.

They include members from all sorts of backgrounds such as bankers, business executives, academics, accountants, financial analysts, school and university administrators, realtors, insurance agents, retired military, owners of businesses such as jewelers, builders, florists, exterminators, security systems, and other community leaders.

They are part of a world-wide organization with over 1.2 million members and clubs in almost every country, dedicated to fellowship and service. All are motivated by the motto of Rotary International: Service above Self, and their service projects have sent them around 62

DECEMBE R 2015

the state and around the world. Service projects include donations and many hours of hands-on service. One hundred-percent of members donate regularly to the world-wide eradication of polio and other International Rotary projects.

Several times a year they pick up trash along a section of Ralph Fair Road; they provide donations and working teams at the Food Bank; they regularly host children from foster families at an amusement park; they donate blood; they collect and distribute children’s books and toys; the list goes on and on. Each summer the club finances one school-age musician to attend an intense training conducted

by Cactus Pear Music Festival, where the young musicians pay back with free concerts at nursing homes and community centers.

The community service philosophy of Rotary is perpetuated in the EarlyAct, InterAct and RotarAct Clubs that the Dominion Rotarians sponsor for children from elementary to college age.

Eight years ago, one club member created a Certified Babysitter training course where firemen, policemen, nurses, dieticians, therapists, and pharmacists teach teenagers the skills they need to cope with any babysitting emergency. This course has acquired chapters in many states, as well as a bus outfitted as a teaching center that travels across the nation.

International projects include: collecting prescription glasses, in which a member distributes them in third world regions; club members handing out four railroad containers-worth of donated wheelchairs to the actual benefactors in Monterrey, Mexico -- not a dry eye in the audience on that one!

The club has worked with the Rotary Club in our sister city, Piedras Negras, Mexico, on projects from clean drinking water fountains to helping with flood relief, clothing drives, books and teaching materials for rural schools. The club has sent Rotary teams to France, Germany, and Australia, and hosted visiting Rotarians from every continent, including exchange students from Brazil, Thailand, Ecuador, and Japan.

Last but not least, all members of the Dominion Rotary Club strive to live by Rotary’s Four Way Test of the things we think, say, or do: 1 . Is it the truth?

2. Is it fair to all concerned?

3. Will it build good will and better friendships?

4 . Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

The club gladly welcomes visitors, no reservation needed!

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

63

To inquire about adopting Asher, contact Dominion Animal Advocates Group (DAAG) at (210) 854-8055 or ledouxlou@aol.com.

Asher Asher is a 12-month old, 32-pound Shepherd Mix who was found on the streets of The Dominion. He was confused, sad, and hungry, but so happy to be rescued. When no owner could be found, he was placed in foster care, and he is now ready for adoption.

Asher is an outgoing, playful dog that loves people and is gets along with other dogs. He is very smart, and is quickly learning commands and tricks. Asher loves walks, does well on a leash, and is also crate- and house-trained. Asher is an active puppy and would love a family who enjoys walks and throwing him the ball.

He is neutered, vaccinated, micro-chipped, and heartworm negative.

DAAG was pleased to share its mission and foster pet photos at the November Dominion Women’s Forum luncheon highlighting Donna Fuller’s new book about the healing power of pets.

We must take responsibility for the homeless pets in our neighborhood, and greatly need the support of our community to get these sweet souls adopted into their secure, forever homes.

64

DECEMBE R 2015

San Antonio’s Most Innovative Full Service Pet Resort

WE KNOW YOU DON’T WANT TO LEAVE THEM WITH JUST ANYONE…

This season bring those pampered pets to San Antonio’s finest resort. They will be lovingly cared for by our wonderful staff in our clean, state of the art climate controlled facility.

The Wagmore is San Antonio’s most innovative full service pet resort. We cater to all your pet’s needs, from toys and treats, daycare and professional grooming to long term care. Stop by for a tour anytime we are open.

Exit 546

Monday-Friday 7:00am - 6:00pm • Saturday 8:00am - 4:00pm Sunday 4:00pm - 6:00pm (limited hours for pick up and drop off)

Visit Our Website for Rates & Full List of Services Boarding

Grooming

Doggie Daycare

Training

Book now for the Holidays 9440 Dietz Elkhorn Rd., Boerne, TX 78015

830.981.2273

wagmorepetresort.com

by Brigitte B Saidi, Dominion Resident, Book Club Member

All the Light We Cannot See is a beautifully crafted page-turner set in Germany and France, before and during World War II, with a gentle finale for the time after the war. The main characters are Marie-Laure, a blind French girl who lives with her father in Paris, and Werner, a German orphan from a poverty-stricken mining town in Northwest Germany.

Marie-Laure navigates her world through handling the carefully crafted miniatures of the area created by her Papa, a keeper of the keys at the National Museum of Natural History. During the war, father and daughter take refuge with relatives in St. Malo, on the Brittany coast.

The museum entrusts them with a priceless jewel from the museum collection which is tracked by a Nazi agent for Hitler’s art collection.

Marie-Laure’s refuge and sustenance are the books she can read in Braille.

Werner escapes hunger and deprivation when his ability for mathematics and engineering is recognized. He attends an elite Nazi school where his only friend is brutalized by the system. During the war, he is drafted into a special unit tracing radio operators of the resistance in Nazi-occupied Europe, and has to face the brutal consequences of engineering talent.

The vicissitudes of war connect these two lives when St. Malo is under bombardment by the Allies. This novel has everything; loving families, vicious Nazis, forlorn orphans, unique talents, hidden gems, war and destruction, hardship and survival. You simply have to read on.

As a history major, Doerr knows how to set the stage; his research into the minutiae of natural history, early radios, and physical environments truly shines.

All the Light We Cannot See is the second novel by Ohio native Anthony Doerr, and is a recipient of various accolades including a Pulitzer Prize and an Andrew Carnegie Medal. It was a finalist for the National Book Award, and has been on the New York Times Bestseller List since 2014. Author Doerr has received several commendable awards himself, such as a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the Rome Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He currently lives in Boise, Idaho and writes a column on science books for the Boston Globe.

68

DECEMBE R 2015

42 GALLERIA | DOMINION Located at the end of a winding street in The Dominion, this private European-inspired estate offers a masterful blend of modern amenities and elegantly appointed spaces for luxurious living and entertaining. The property`s spacious interior imbues feelings of classic Mediterranean-revival styling, evident through its neutral, airy color palette, graceful columns, mouldings and intricate motif carvings. Multiple living and dining areas comfortably accommodate guests for intimate gatherings or divine sit-down dinners. State-of-the-art amenities make the kitchen a dream for the keen chef, featuring stainless steel appliances, gas cook top and custom antiqued cabinets. Suited for the discerning owner, the master suite is elegantly appointed with a sitting area, exercise room, spa bath and exquisite closet. Additionally, all secondary bedrooms are generously sized, while a game/media room could serve as a second master suite. A covered patio and expansive deck offers the ideal backdrop for both relaxation and gatherings alike, showcasing spectacular views of rolling terrain.

Denise Graves

CertifieD Luxury Home marketinG speCiaList

www.thegravesgroup.com | dgraves@phyllisbrowning.com | 210-408-4053 | 210-260-2176

108 Hagen Drive • Boerne $375,000 | MLS #1146993 Charming 4 bedroom, 4 bath home in woods of frederick creek. beautiful kitchen, screened porch, and upstairs game room

Downtown blossoms during its many celebrations, but is amplified when the city’s trees and buildings are adorned by the twinkling lights and tinsel of the season. It’s no secret that San Antonio knows how to ring in the holidays with style. With a slew of events at the new Tobin Center and longstanding favorites at the River Walk, there is no shortage of holiday cheer in the city.

PETER PAN

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

Woodlawn Theatre, thru 12/23

The Magik Theatre, thru 12/30

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

TAMALES! AT THE PEARL

Russell Hill Rogers Theater - The Playhouse San Antonio, 12/3 - 12/21

The Pearl Brewery, 12/6 at 12:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m.

SEA WORLD’S CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

SANTA’S RAILROAD WONDERLAND

Sea World San Antonio, thru 12/31

Texas Transportation Museum, 12/512/6, 12/12-12/13, 12/19-12/20, 12/26 at 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

SIX FLAGS’ ‘HOLIDAY IN THE PARK’ Six Flags Fiesta Texas, thru 1/3

WINTER WONDERLAND ZOO LIGHTS - HOLIDAY NIGHTS San Antonio Zoo, thru 1/3

72

DECEMBE R 2015

The DoSeum - San Antonio’s Museum for Kids, 12/5-12/31

RUSSELL HILL ROGERS’ ‘MUSICAL EVENINGS AT SAN FERNANDO CATHEDRAL’ FEATURING TROIKA San Fernando Cathedral, 12/6 at 6:30 p.m.

JINGLE BELLS RUN/WALK FOR ARTHRITIS Valero Headquarters, 12/12 at 3:00 p.m.

THE JONES FAMILY SINGERS Jo Long Theatre at the Carver Community Cultural Center, 12/12 from 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

ARTS SAN ANTONIO PRESENTS MEJIA BALLET INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING THE NUTCRACKER Lila Cockrell Theatre, 12/19 – 12/21

ALAMO CITY’S DANCE COMPANY PERFORMING THE NUTCRACKER McAllister Auditorium, 12/19 - 12/20, times vary

LA GRAN POSADA – THE REENACTMENT OF THE HOLY FAMILY’S JOURNEY FOR SHELTER Milam Park to San Fernando Cathedral, 12/21 from 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

CELEBRATE SAN ANTONIO FEATURING THE VALERO FIREWORKS EXTRAVAGANZA Hemisfair Park, 12/31 from 5:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

BOERNE

www.ci.boerne.tx.us

SAN ANTONIO RIVERWALK

www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com

OMA’S CHRISTMAS CRAFTS FAIR

FORD FIESTA DE LAS LUMINARIAS

Featuring lunch and photos with Santa, and the Inaugural Opa’s Chili Cook-Off, Kendall County Fairgrounds, Boerne, 12/5 – 12/6 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

San Antonio River Walk, 12/4 - 12/20

WEIHNACHTS PARADE

SANTA AT THE RIVER WITH MUSICAL BARGES San Antonio River Walk at Camden, 12/6 from 6:00 p.m.

- 8:00 p.m.

Downtown Boerne, 12/5 from 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

BOERNE CONCERT BAND’S CHRISTMAS CONCERT Boerne High Auditorium, 12/13 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

BOERNE PERFORMING ARTS PRESENTS THE TEN TENORS’ HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

WINTER ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW Riverwalk (by the Chamber of Commerce), 12/11 - 12/13 from 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.

ALAMO BOWL RUDY’S BAR-B-Q PEP RALLY Arneson River Theatre, 12/31

Boerne Champion Auditorium, 12/17 at 7:30 p.m.

BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA: CHRISTMAS ROCKS EXTRAVAGANZA

FROST AND FIRE The Children’s Choir of San Antonio, Tobin Center, 12/6

Majestic Theatre, 12/12 at 8:00 p.m.

TOBIN CENTER

www.tobincenter.org

CONSPIRARE CHRISTMAS Tobin Center, 12/8

MAJESTIC THEATRE

www.majesticempire.com

BOOK OF MORMON Majestic Theatre, 12/15 - 12/20

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS BY CHIP DAVIS Majestic Theatre, 12/26 at 8:00 p.m.

ELF Cinema on the Plaza, Tobin Center, 12/11

MOSCOW BALLET’S GREAT RUSSIAN NUTCRACKER Majestic Theatre, 12/27 – 12/28

HOLIDAY POPS Tobin Center, 12/18 - 12/20

DOG DAYS

RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER - THE MUSICAL

San Antonio Botanical Garden, 12/5 – 12/6, 9:00 a.m.

- 5:00 p.m.

Tobin Center, 12/21 - 12/24

SAN ANTONIO BOTANICAL GARDENS

www.sabot.org

HOLIDAYS IN BLOOM San Antonio Botanical Center, thru 12/31

FORD HOLIDAY BOAT CAROLING San Antonio River Walk, 12/2 - 12/20

WITTE MUSEUM www.wittemuseum.org

SOUTH TEXAS HOLIDAY TRADITIONS - WITTE FAMILY DAYS Witte Museum, 12/5, 12:00PM - 4:00PM

LA TAMALADA Witte Museum, 12/5, 11:00AM-1:00PM

FORD FIESTA DE LAS LUMINARIAS

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

73

The Dominion Homeowners Association 20 Dominion Drive San Antonio, TX 78257

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID FULTON, MO PERMIT #38