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STYLISH SWIMWEAR

Brazilian Beachwear Seizes Summer

Lorain Dib is the owner of Acqua & Coral Brazilian beachwear company. Visit the website to view their products at acquaecoral.com.

By Amy Morgan

Summer is here. With San Antonio’s hot weather stretching for months — chances are you’ll attend at least one event hosted around a pool. What to wear? You’ll want to look confident and polished. Retire the oversized T-shirt and old, saggy-bottomed suit to the back of your closet and consider beachwear from the new website Acqua & Coral, found at www.acquaecoral.com.

Site founder Lorain Dib launched her carefully curated line of swimwear, bodysuits and lingerie in March to fill a void she noticed when searching for beautiful, welldesigned items like those found in her native Brazil. “Brazilian beachwear is so beautiful, so colorful, so different,” Lorain enthused. “When I went to the beach here in Texas, I didn’t see what I was looking for. We offer a different cut and style.”

Spending time at the beach is a way of life in Brazil, with its long coastline and warm weather year round. Women are known for their beauty and consider their swimwear an important wardrobe investment.

Tropical Breeze Current Bikini

$150

“Rio de Janeiro, one of the most popular cities in the world, is known for its natural beauty, beaches and people,” Lorain said. “The stretches of sand are integral parts of the city's soul and lifestyle. Rio’s beaches are bustling hubs of activity, reflecting Brazil’s vibrant and diverse culture. Each beach has its own personality, attracting different crowds, but you’ll see beautiful girls wearing bikinis on every one.”

Lorain was inspired by the vibrant colors and chic, cosmopolitan style she noticed on Brazil’s beaches during her visit last fall to start www.acquaecoral.com. She’s determined to introduce her San Antonio neighbors to what they’ve been missing.

Lorain carefully handpicked featured items from the wealth of inventory available in her homeland. Each piece was designed and manufactured in that country by artisans who know how to craft the high-quality materials to accentuate a woman’s best assets. The form-fitting cut of Brazilian swimwear has been demystifying stereotypes and standards for years, Lorain added. The fabric retains its shape and color and provides excellent breathability – a must in the hot, humid weather found in both Brazil and San Antonio.

The line at www.acquaecoral.com includes both onepiece and two-piece options to appeal to body type and preference. Cover-up clothing can be dressed up or down, taking you quickly from poolside to patio. Comfortable sandals in a variety of bright colors complete the look.

You won’t see a piece you choose duplicated at your neighborhood pool party. Lorain imported only a limited selection for the initial offering at www.acquaecoral.com, so your outfit will remain a unique showstopper.

Body Larissa $145

The company name Acqua & Coral comes from the colors of sunset at the point where the sky meets the sea on the Brazilian coast. Lorain was taken by their brilliancy on the trip that launched her new business. Coral also gives a nod to the sinuous shapes of both the organism and her swimwear.

Planning a resort vacation getaway? Make sure your companion’s eyes are on you by selecting a new suit or lingerie in the adventurous cut popularized in Brazil. If you are wearing a lovely gown for a special event, why not make your garments underneath equally as beautiful? Acqua & Coral’s luxurious, sexy lingerie is perfect for a romantic getaway, honeymoon or anniversary celebration. Each piece is crafted to perfectly accentuate a woman’s shape and make her feel beautiful and confident.

Lorain also was impressed by a line of bodysuits with unique details like fringe, cut-outs and built in beadwork. High-quality fabrics accentuate the figure and offer a smooth silhouette when paired with pants or a formfitting skirt. Metallic accents, like those of the swimsuits, are plated with gold. Some include a plunging, deep V neckline, others are backless or cropped to expose a toned midriff.

Lorain’s seen women wearing these styles with confidence throughout Brazil and wanted to share their secrets with the women of San Antonio.

Be a standout this summer, visit www.acquaecoral.com and discover the swimwear and lingerie style you’ve been missing.

Pearls of the Beach Sandals $65

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Community Calendar

Presented by Frost

Air Supply: The Lost in Love Experience – Friday, July 5, 8 p.m at the Tobin Center.

Tejas Rodeo – Saturday, March through November, 5 p.m. – 1 a.m. Enjoy live rodeo action: bronco riding, team roping, barrel racing, mutton bustin’ and calf scramble. Live music at 9 p.m. Tejas Rodeo Company, 401 Obst Road 78163; www.tejasrodeo.com.

Nights at the Botanical Gardens

Select Wednesdays from April through September, 6-9 p.m. Enjoy extended hours, savor delicious food and beverages, explore a vibrant vendor market, and enjoy captivating live entertainment, all amidst the mesmerizing beauty of the Garden during the summer season. San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Place 78209; www.sabot.org/gardennights.

Mays YMCA Summer Sports Clinics and Leagues – Sign up now for session 2 beginning July 8. Clinics and leagues for kids 3-14. Days/times vary by sport and age. Soccer, baseball, football, basketball, 3v3 soccer. Mays Family YMCA of Stone Oak, 21654 Blanco Road 78258; www.ymcasatx. org/programs/sports/youth-sports.

Concordia Vacation Bible School

Monday, June 10 - Friday, June 14, 9 a.m.noon. Scuba: dive into friendship with God shares the love of Jesus with children ages 4 years – 5th grade through games, crafts, worship and more. Concordia Lutheran Church, 16801 Huebner Road 78258; www.concordialutheranchurch.com.

Cornerstone Vacation Bible School

Tuesday, June 11 - Thursday, June 13, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., with early drop off at 8 a.m. available. Uncharted VBS activities include Bible lessons, songs, entertainers, games, hands-on activities, free lunch and snacks for children ages 5 through 6th grade. Accessible for deaf/HOH. Cornerstone Church, 18755 Stone Oak Parkway 78258; www.sacornerstone.org.

Foster Perry Travel presents Lindsey Webster in its Jazz on the Water series Saturday, June 15, 7 and 9:30 p.m. By Land & Sea Concert features nationally recognized Smooth Jazz artists. 501 W. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd. 78207; www.jazzonthewaterus.com.

SARR Texas Sun Showdown – Sunday, June 16, 7:30 a.m. 5k, ½ marathon and 1/2 marathon relay. McAllister Park, 13102 Jones Maltsberger Road 78247; www.runsignup.com/Race/TX/SanAntonio.

Culinaria’s Women & Whiskey with a Twist at La Cantera Resort & Spa Thursday, June 20, 6-9 p.m. Tropical Toasts with Brugal Rum, with tastings, bites, vendors and live entertainment. 16641 La Cantera Parkway 78256; www.culinariasa.org.

TJH Superhero Comic Con – Thursday, June 20 - Sunday, June 23. Hours vary. Four days of fun-filled pop culture featuring celebrity guests, exhibitions, selfies, concerts, rare merchandise and free play arcade. Freeman Coliseum, 3201 E. Houston St. 78219; www.pmxevents.com.

SASCA Autocross Event – Saturday, June 22, 6 a.m. – 3 p.m. Participants compete to drive through a mini road course made of cones sponsored by the San Antonio Sports Car Association. River City Community Church parking lot, 16765 Lookout Road 78154; www.sasca.org.

St. Thomas Episcopal Church Kids Music Camp – Monday, June 24-Thursday, June 27, 9 a.m. - noon. For kids kinder-5th grade. St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 1416 North Loop 1604 E. 78232; www.tom1604.org.

D9 Military Expo – Saturday, June 29, Sunday, June 30, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. City Council District 9 will host a two-day expo to provide resources and information beneficial for military families, veterans and active-duty service members. Walker Ranch Senior Center, 835 W. Rhapsody Drive 78216; 210-207-0955.

Fireworks Display – Thursday, July 4, 9:00 p.m. The Club at Sonterra hosts a fireworks display that can be seen from locations across Stone Oak. The Club at Sonterra, 901 E. Sonterra Blvd. 78258; www.clubatsonterra.com.

Schertz 48th Annual Fourth of July Jubilee Thursday, July 4, 8 a.m. - 10 p.m., fireworks at dusk, 9 a.m., 5K; 9:15 a.m., parade. Parade ends at Pickrell Park, with a carnival, live music, games, activities, barbecue. Pickrell Park, 701 Oak St. Schertz 78154; www.visitschertz.com.

July 4th Celebration – Thursday, July 4, 11 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Official Fourth of July celebration offers live music, food, games, a parade, carnival and the H-E-B Fireworks Extravaganza. Woodlawn Lake Park, 1103 Cincinnati Ave. 78201; www.saparksfoundation.org.

Air Supply: The Lost in Love Experience Friday, July 5, 8 p.m. Experience the music of 1980s phenom Air Supply, including top hits that sold millions of copies. Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, HEB Performance Hall, 100 Auditorium Circle 78205; www.tobincenter.org.

Easier Extractions

Remove Wisdom Teeth Early

By Amy Morgan

Having wisdom teeth removed seems like a rite of passage for teens and young adults. Most will experience the oral surgery.

What are wisdom teeth? And do people need to have them taken out?Wisdom teeth are the third molars in the back of the mouth. They usually don’t grow in until the late teens or early adult years.

Often the mouth doesn’t have enough room for wisdom teeth to grow in properly. They might try to erupt at various angles. If they can't grow in properly, wisdom teeth can become trapped within the jaw — a term called impaction — which can lead to infection or damage teeth roots or bone.

“There’s a very small population of patients who have the space in their mouth for wisdom teeth, even if they come in appropriately, and who are effective at keeping them clean. It is not a matter of if they’ll cause problems, it’s when,” said Clifford Houston, D.D.S., managing dentist at 7to7 Dental & Orthodontics’ Alamo Ranch location.

Adults with existing wisdom teeth should have them removed if they develop:

• Pain in or near the teeth.

• Repeated infection of tissue behind the last tooth

• Cysts or tumors

• Damage to nearby teeth

• Gum disease or tooth decay

• Sinus problems

Most Americans have their wisdom teeth removed between the ages of 15-22, before problems occur, Dr. Houston said. Taking out the teeth early has several advantages: The roots aren’t fully formed, the bone of the jaw is less dense, and young people tend to recover from surgery quickly, making the procedure a safer and easier option as a teen.

Young people often are covered by a parent’s dental plan, have a family to look after them afterward and can complete the procedure during one of their breaks from school.

As you age, the bones in your mouth solidify. “Teeth that have been chewed on for 20 years are much more difficult to remove,” Dr. Houston said. Adults also may have health conditions that might cause problems with recovery.

Dr. Houston’s handled wisdom teeth and other complex

extractions with 7to7 Dental for the past four years. He can’t count the times a patient will come in with debilitating tooth pain. While he finds it very fulfilling to be able to relieve a patient’s agony, he’d rather them be proactive.

“Many patients put off oral surgery because they are scared,” he said, “and while the idea doesn’t sound like a good day to anyone, if local anesthetic is done appropriately, the patient should feel nothing but pressure.” Dr. Houston has become so skillful he recently removed 13 teeth from an 84-year-old patient under local anesthesia alone – with no pain!

For those who’d prefer a less present experience, Dr. Houston can provide sedation. He’ll administer nitrous oxide - laughing gas – to take the edge off. He also can prescribe an oral medication that reduces anxiety, makes a patient sleepy and causes temporary amnesia. These work well in tandem with local anesthesia and provide a more affordable option than IV sedation.

Prior to surgery, Dr. Houston uses an in-office Cone-beam CT scanner to provide a three-dimensional view of the jaw to pinpoint the roots of the wisdom teeth and screen for any complicating factors.

7to7 Dental co-owners “Justin (Coke) and Dr. Winburn have all the latest technology, so patients can be assured they are getting the best standard of care,” Dr. Houston said.

After surgery, the patient might experience some pain and swelling that usually can be remedied by antiinflammatory medicine. He tells patients to avoid spitting, sucking through a straw or smoking for a few days to decrease the likelihood of a dry socket.

Summer is an ideal time to schedule your student for their wisdom tooth extraction. They’ll spend a few days eating soft food and speedily return to normal activity. Break out the spoons!

Celebration Cautions

By Amy Morgan

It’s an American tradition to celebrate our country’s birthday with rockets’ red glare – and the more bombs bursting in air the better, it seems. Fireworks stands bloom along Highway 281 just outside city limits even before school lets out for summer break.

Don’t let your enthusiasm overcome common sense. Lonnie Schwirtlich, M.D., founding partner of Physicians Premier, has treated scores of fireworks-related injuries in his 42 years as an emergency physician.

He recommends taking a few precautions to ensure your festivities don’t include an unplanned visit to his free-standing emergency room located just west of Highway 281 on Highway 46 near the HEB Plus.

One of the most common injuries occurs when a firecracker blows up in someone’s hand, resulting in burns and soft tissue injury, Dr. Schwirtlich said. Sometimes the firework has a fast fuse, but most often, the person gets distracted and doesn’t throw the lit object in time. This problem can be prevented by always lighting fireworks on the ground rather than while holding them, he recommended.

Dr. Schwirtlich’s seen explosions rip open and traumatize muscles and tendons, cause burns and broken bones. There’s also a problem called compartment syndrome where extreme swelling cuts off the circulation to a body part — in this case, a finger. Without medical intervention, there’s a risk of losing the extremity. Numbness, especially of the fingertip, is a symptom, and the affected person needs to be seen in the ER. Numbness also may signify a burn has gone so deep that it qualifies as third degree.

Any burns should be irrigated with cool water to remove the gunpowder and char. If a third-degree burn is suspected, the injury needs to be evaluated by a medical professional. Sometimes skin grafts are needed to enable a third-degree burn to heal properly. If the burn seems less serious, apply triple antibiotic or over-the-counter burn cream and keep the affected area wrapped with a clean dressing until it heals to prevent infection.

Another risk when lighting fireworks is for the explosion to blow debris into a person’s eye. If that

happens, flush with water and watch for increasing pain or light sensitivity, which can signify a corneal abrasion. Seek prompt medical attention if that is the case. You don’t want to risk losing your precious eyesight.

Dr. Schwirtlich recommends checking for and removing any flammable material from your staging area prior to lighting a flame. Check the wind direction and keep your unlighted stock well away so a stray firecracker or ash doesn’t blow in and inadvertently start things before you are ready. If you are using a holder to launch a rocket, make sure it is well braced, so it doesn’t tip over and direct an airborne, flaming object into an unintended area. Always pay attention to what you are doing. Many accidents happen when people are distracted or not thinking clearly.

It should go without saying that it’s not a smart idea to shoot fireworks at other people.

Likewise, alcohol and flame don’t mix. Alcohol is flammable, so don’t combine matches and cocktails. And crafting homemade fireworks by adding gunpowder or stacking rockets together risks more fallout than you might be expecting.

Other advice from the National Safety Council:

• Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks

• Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding

• Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don't go off or in case of fire

Don’t be one of the thousands of people injured badly enough each year to require medical treatment after fireworks-related incidents. Take some precautions and use good sense when you celebrate.

Fireworks Safety for the Fourth

Superior Scientist

By Amy Morgan Reagan Senior Will Study Neurobiology at MIT

Reading college science textbooks is not the typical pastime you’d expect for a high schooler. But Reagan senior Cynthia Li has found the practice helpful in her pursuit of academic excellence, as well as being interesting, she said. Currently Cynthia, ranked number three in the class, has been studying an embryology textbook to prepare for the hour-long lecture she’ll give to members of the school’s biology club she founded her sophomore year. As president, Cynthia searches current science literature to select topics and plan activities to inspire her classmates to expand their knowledge beyond what is taught even in Reagan’s most advanced AP and Honors classes.

The budding neuroscientist became interested in biology because, “There’s so much diversity. Chemistry is limited to the elements, but in biology, there’s always something new to discover - a bacteria, a metabolic pathway or a different species,” she said. Cynthia’s particularly interested in cellular biology, finding the convergence of backup functioning particularly fascinating. She noted that the current trending field of AI stems from neuroscience that combines machine learning and the human body.

Cynthia will head to MIT in the fall with the goal of becoming a neurosurgeon. While she admits to enjoying research, she appreciates that as a surgeon, she’ll have more direct impact in creating solutions. She’s already started to watch chemistry professors’ YouTube lectures to prepare for her rigorous science classes — information that also helps her as she competes with Reagan’s UIL Science team. Her biology group has swept districts for the past several years, with Cynthia coming in first every year. Last year she placed third in the state.

Cynthia credits retired Reagan teacher and UIL coach Mr. Pannkuk as vital to her academic success. In addition to providing supplemental

resources, “He always encouraged me to learn. Always rooted us on,” she noted. “He was so knowledgeable and supportive.”

Cynthia returns the favor, creating YouTube videos of her own as a hobby that she releases at her site, Di-atom. She enjoys offering clear, compelling explanations of complex scientific concepts, she said. She used 1500 frames of stop motion technology and Gummi bears to depict how the HIV virus spreads inside a cell, editing later to add textboxes explaining the cellular biology mechanisms. That particular video took her three weeks to make.

This spring Cynthia placed first in the state’s Brain Bee and hopes to qualify for the international meet this summer. She’ll need to carefully coordinate her travel schedule, as she’ll also fly to China to visit family – her fourth trip to the land of her parents’ birth. Cynthia noted the stark contrast of their rural living arrangements to suburban Stone Oak where she and her two older siblings have grown up. In her spare time, she takes Origami up a notch, creating complex architectural projects from multiple sheets of paper. “It is amazing that someone can create something so beautiful and complex out of a simple sheet of paper,” she said. Who can guess what this multi-talented student will create next.

Limiting Loss

ID Your Pup to Increase Odds of Reunion

By Camp Bow Wow Staff

Earlierthis year a compelling story splashed across San Antonio’s newsfeeds. It was a heartwarming tale of a beloved pup, Butterscotch, who was reunited with her family after being lost for seven years. She had been adopted through Animal Care Services, which had implanted her with a microchip at the time. When Butterscotch wound up in the facility a second time, ACS scanned the chip and was able to return her to her grateful family.

Her owner was quoted as saying, "We are overjoyed to have Butterscotch back home where she belongs. She's a cherished member of our family, and we never lost hope of seeing her again." It’s so easy for a curious pet to slip out of a gate left open or a door that’s ajar.

Hopefully, you’ve never had to experience the feelings of fear and desperation as you comb through your neighborhood, dog treats and empty leash in hand, searching for your wayward pup. According to AKC reunite, one in three pets will go missing in their lifetime. That one site alone states it’s helped more than 685,000 lost pets find their way home.

Many shelters will microchip pets prior to adoption – which was a blessing for Butterscotch and her family. But if that wasn’t your experience, consider how microchip technology might be an important investment to spare you and your furry family member much heartache.

A microchip is a tiny, radio-frequency identification device (RFID) encoded with your contact information to make it easier to reach you if your pup’s lost and found. Your vet can painlessly insert it under your dog’s skin. Vets often perform the procedure while your pup is having another routine procedure like spaying or neutering, but anesthesia is not necessary, as the procedure takes no longer than the time required to give an injection. Preloaded microchip injection kits and at-home

scanners also can be ordered online at a low cost.

A microchip is not a GPS, but a permanent form of ID that needs to be registered in some type of recovery database. The chip corresponds to information you upload, which you need to update should you relocate. One caveat - it is important to keep the microchip information up to date. It defeats the purpose if your pup’s family’s phone number has been disconnected or you no longer live at the address listed.

You can attach a tag to your pup’s collar that designates his microchipped status as well as your owner information. Another option to increase your pup’s chance of being returned to your family should he get lost is to keep a GPS locator tag on his collar. You can then track your pup’s real-time location through an app on your phone and hopefully retrieve him quickly. The only problem with these products is they don’t help if your Houdini pooch slips out of his collar, a not uncommon situation with getaways.

Whether a GPS or a microchip, the reunification of Butterscotch with her loving family highlights the importance of your taking steps to ensure the safety and well-being of your beloved pup.

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