January 2015 78255 56 57 for web by Russell Groomer

A Monthly Publication Directly Mailed to the residents of The Dominion, Crown Ridge, Steeple Chase, Stage Run and surrounding areas POSTAL CUSTOMER

January 2015 Issue

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID SAN ANTONIO, TX PERMIT NO 6450

SPEED NETWORKING Speed Networking is one of SOBA & 10 West’s premier events. During this meeting, you will have the opportunity to introduce yourself to everyone in attendance. Because of the high turnout, make sure to RSVP early. Please bring a minimum of 150 business cards.

Date: Wednesday, January 28 Time: 5:30 to 8:30 pm Location: Canyon Springs Golf Club 24405 Wilderness Oak Cost: RSVP: $20 for Members | $30 for Non-Members Door: $25 for Members | $35 for Non-Members S

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Stone Oak Business Association

To RSVP: 348-8233 E-mail: soba@satx.rr.com www.stoneoakbusiness.com www.welcomehomesa.com

January 2015 • Welcome Home • 78255/56/57

Happy Holidays F rom

Our Family To Yours Our Staff at Welcome Home, Stone Oak Business Association & I10 West would like to wish you a safe and joyous holiday season.

May all your hopes and dreams for the New Year come true for you and your loved ones.

Russell Groomer Publisher of Welcome Home Director of SOBA Director of 10 West rgroomer@welcomehomesa.com

Kristin Oliver Director of Production & Marketing: koliver@welcomehomesa.com

Sierra Hernandez Administrative Assistant shernandez@welcomehomesa.com

Patrice Long Senior Account Representative plong@welcomehomesa.com

Israel Vasquez Distribution

Stefanie Young Writer and Copy Editor Social Media Director Website Manager syoung@welcomehomesa.com

Brittany Oliver Administrative Assistant boliver@welcomehomesa.com

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Stone Oak Business Association

Katrina Cunningham Sales Reprentative kcunningham@welcomehomesa.com

Marie Ferrante Graphic Design/Production graphics@welcomehomesa.com

Call: 348.8233 • E-mail: SOBA@satx.rr.com www.StoneOakBusiness.com

January 2015 • Welcome Home • 78255/56/57

www.welcomehomesa.com

CIGARS • PIPES • TOBACCOS – R e l a t e d A c c e s s o r i e s & M e n’s G if t s –

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210.202.0303 collegenanniesandtutors.com/stoneoaktx

COMING SOON! The Guide With All Your North Side Information The Source is a Business & Medical Directory. It includes: Things To Do, Restaurants, Shopping, Medical, Maps, and more!—right at your fingertips. Pick up a FREE 2014 copy at any of these locations: • • • • • • • •

Falcon Bank – 19230 Stone Oak Pkwy. Frost Bank – Stone Oak at 18762 Stone Oak Pkwy. Frost Bank – Stone Ridge off Evans Rd. by HEB Plus Green Fields Market – 19239 Stone Oak Pkwy. Janie Christine's Gift Boutique – 19141 Stone Oak Pkwy., Ste. 109 Jefferson Bank – Stone Oak at 19002 Stone Oak Parkway Randolph Brooks FCU – 23737 Bulverde Road (Near Johnson HS) State Farm/Betsy Dippo – 19190 Stone Oak Pkwy., Ste. 112

For additional information call 210.348.8233 or visit

www.StoneOakBusiness.com

www.welcomehomesa.com

January 2015 • Welcome Home • 78255/56/57

Note From The Publisher

Helping Others Is A Great Way To Start The Year

s I write this letter, our 2014 Winter Celebration is now over and I can reflect on how blessed Welcome Home is to have been a part of this great tradition. This year’s event, held at North Central Baptist Hospital, was an incredible success. It was our biggest event to date and benefitted the non-profit organization Living Through Giving. Living Through Giving is my mission and a way for me to give back to a community that has supported me for 15 years. I would like to thank Winter Celebration’s presenting sponsors: Welcome Home, and North Central Baptist Hospital for their support in making this event grow every year. (For a list of all the sponsors, vendors and participants look on page 9). I am so happy to have Rita Verreos as our first Winter Celebration Queen. This coming year we will start our Winter Celebration Court. I can’t wait to be able to offer the opportunity to the children and young adults in our city to be able to bless other children in our city by giving them a gift and letting them know someone cares during the Christmas season. If you have been part of our event you should be proud of the tradition we have started. Our success and generosity to the children of our city with our Winter Celebration has inspired others to have Winter Festivals of their own. My desire is through this community involvement we will be able to truly say no child in San Antonio will be without a gift during the Christmas season. As always, I am thankful to the sponsors, performers, and volunteers for helping us in this endeavor.

This year was the ﬁrst year we partnered with organizations who help the children in San Antonio who are in the most need for kindness and compassion. We delivered the toys to DFPS, CASA, Roy Maas, and Summit Church. This was the 13th year of Winter Celebration and I never realized what a tremendous blessing we were missing by not taking our toys directly to the children. This was truly the most special Holiday Season I have ever experienced. I encourage every school organization, company and individual reading this to come join us next year. It will be an experience you will never forget. This year has also blessed the Stone Oak and 10 West Business Associations with plenty of news and events that we covered within Welcome Home. We look forward to getting a jump start on 2015 on January 28 where you can join us for our Speed Networking. With so many businesses growing and opening in the community, we invite the opportunity to get to know them and them to know you. We are looking forward to bringing you your community news in 2015 and thank you for another year of continued support. HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you! As the communities that support us have helped make many of our hopes and dreams come true, we wish you and your family the same in the coming new year.

20770 Hwy. 281 N. Suite 108-149 San Antonio, Texas 78258

(210) 348-8233 • Fax: (210) 497-7342 Article Submissions: articles@welcomehomesa.com Ad Inquiries Email: ads@welcomehomesa.com www.welcomehomesa.com

Directly Mailed To Over 60,000 Households & Businesses in 78232, 78248, 78255, 78256, 78257, 78258, 78259, 78260, & 78261 Zip Codes. Plus, 20,000 in Rack Distribution.

Welcome Home newspaper assumes no liability in advertising other than correction and reinsertion of like-size ad at no additional cost to our advertiser. The opinions stated by the writers or the information printed from other sources do not necessarily depict those of the publisher or advertisers. No liability is assumed. Welcome Home newspaper will not knowingly publish any advertisement which is illegal or misleading to its readers. All copy and type arrangements are subject to approval by the publisher. All stories and photos submitted become property of Welcome Home Editorial and Advertising content of Welcome Home newspaper is protected by the U.S. copyright law. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Publisher Russell Groomer

Distribution Israel Vazquez

Director Of Production Kristin Oliver

Administrative Assistant Brittany Oliver Sierra Hernandez

Writer/Copy Editors Ben Spicer Stefanie Young Production/Graphic Design Marie Ferrante

Staff Writers Debby Seguin Sales Representatives Patrice Long Katrina Cunningham

Contributing Writers Paula Allen Barry and Michele Bibb Elisa Chan Kathy Dodge-Clay Stephanie Fincke Mary Hogan Velizar Iliev Steve Johnson Chris Preston Sandy Whitley Jerry Woods

January 2015 • Welcome Home • 78255/56/57

The Welcome Home Community Newspaper has had the privilege of serving the community for 11 years as one of the few local papers that shines a spotlight on the good things in life – the accomplishments of our amazing youth, inspirational stories and the residents and local businesses that comprise the heart of our area. With �ive different papers covering northern San Antonio, Welcome Home is directly mailed to over 60,000 households and businesses as well as rack distribution.

How To Submit Articles • We work a month in advance so submit by the given deadline (ex: if you submit in January it will be for the February edition) • Like us on Facebook or let us know if you would like to be put on our email list that will notify you of each deadline

What To Submit

• Email articles to: articles@welcomehomesa.com

• News tips or story ideas that one of our writers can turn into a story

• Or submit articles to our website at: www.welcomehomesa.com/submit-a-story

• Announcements (births, engagements, weddings, anniversaries and grand openings) • Community, School, and Sports News • Upcoming events *Always submit photos with your submissions!

Welcome Home Community Newspaper is pleased to offer this free service to the community. Upon submission of a story idea or photo, you give Welcome Home the right to use that submission without compensation. By submitting to Welcome Home, you guarantee that your material is sent with the express consent of the owner, and that its contents are non-proprietary and non-confidential. We cannot guarantee all submissions will be published. Welcome Home is under no obligation to use any idea, photo or article submitted. We reserve the right to edit or alter submissions for conciseness and grammar as needed and may need to prioritize certain events for any reason before publication.

“Leave” it to us to create the fun! Wheel in great moments with an active lifestyle surrounded by friends and wonderful neighbors. Leave the cooking, cleaning, home maintenance and raking the leaves to us! • Exciting social calendar filled with fun • Restaurant style dining with much variety • Transportation with experienced drivers • Golf, tennis, dining and social privileges at The Club at Sonterra • Pets Welcome/Dog Park on-site • Full Service Apartments, Neighborhood of Homes and Assisted Living available

Call us today!

(210) 209-8956

20450 Huebner Road San Antonio, TX 78258 www.independencehill.com Lic #100102

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on facebook!

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Open House Enrollment Event 100 Savings NO Registration Fee!

Open Ho Saturday use Event , Jan 10 am to uary 24 Noon Meet the Char from Fro acters Elsa, An zen na & Olo f

• • • • •

Spanish Immersion Learning Center

Nursery, Preschool, & PreK High Academic Standards Mother’s Day Out: 8:30 am – 2 pm Full Time Care Supervised Homework Lab “Una Escuela Bilingüe, Para un Niño Moderno”

On The Cover By Stefanie Young “You don’t just luck into things as much as you would like to think you do. You build step by step, whether it is friendships or opportunities.” – Barbara Bush

014 has been another year ﬁlled with unexpected opportunities, failed attempts and triumphs for us at Welcome Home. As we make our way out of the holiday season and into the new year, we’d like to remember how far we’ve come, who has helped us get there and how much further we’d like to go. For all of us at Welcome Home, we are thrilled to have successfully concluded our 13th Annual Winter Celebration on December 6 at the North Central Baptist Hospital. It was a unique experience to meet some of our readers and submitters, along with our sponsors and volunteers. We look forward to yet another great year as we progress through 2015’s trials and tribulations. The staff here at Welcome Home would like to wish everyone a wonderful beginning and we look forward to hearing about the community’s upcoming events and news.

Family Life

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Say What You Mean By Debby Seguin

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ords just don’t mean the same thing anymore. It gets quite confusing. My students say “Hey, dog!” and “You’re bad!” and then assure me I have been complimented. “Cool” things are now “hot” and it’s hard to keep up with it all! I thought, this just happens in the teen world. Surely this phenomenon is not proliferated throughout society at large! However, recently, I found myself taking all things “yuck” and “ew-w-w on The After Christmas Great Return trek. While standing in a line (that could not have been longer had Elvis himself been found alive and well, and working behind the counter) I hear, “May I help the next GUEST please?” GUEST? I’m a GUEST? Hmmm…when you have a GUEST in your home, does the GUEST bathroom have a dirty diaper Agility

Herding

Obedience

Boarding

K9 Country Club & Training Academy

Day Camp • Overnight Boarding • Grooming Training • Cattery • Beach Club • Pet Bakery

• Arthritis Pain • Fibromyalgia • Muscular Pain • Spinal Stenosis • Reﬂex Sympathetic Dystrophy

San Antonio • Seguin • New Braunfels www.tricitypaindoc.com

From all of us here at the newspaper, Happy New Year!

830.626.1000

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OPENING JANUARY 2015 San Antonio’s Only K9 Gym, Your One-Stop-Shop to train your puppy, condition your canine athlete, or rehab your injured pet. Have an overweight pet or one that is overly active? We can help! Plan to come to our open house! Check out our website for dates & details . . .

( 830 ) 980-8476 • www.k9countryclub.net 31305 Oak View, Bulverde

www.welcomehomesa.com

clogging the toilet? Does it have toilet paper strewn about so that no matter what you do, like some magnetic science project gone awry, it will cling unbeknownst to your GUEST to be paraded around in public? Does it have a big sign on the back of the doors that says if your GUEST shoplifts, they will be hunted, tortured AND they will tell mom!? Do you get rid of the towels and hang a giant blow dryer on the wall? Do you have conversations like this with your GUESTS: “May I help you, ma’am?” “This vase is broken.” “How did it break, ma’am?” “I don’t know. I just took it out of the box and it was broken.” “Oh —You took it out of the box, ma’am?” “Well, yes. Yes I did” (feeling strangely guilty). “I’m sorry ma’am, but if you break the hermetically sealed box, that voids the warranty. Here is an 800 number if you have any more questions and, oh, thank you for shopping with us. Next GUEST please!” Why not just say, “May I help the next naïve person who is hoping I can solve their problem when I just want to take my break? Doesn’t sound as nice but at least this GUEST won’t be expecting tea and pastries served on the good china, right? Words have changed, folks. Better take your teen with you so you know if you are “down with that” or even know where to start when replying to a sincere, “Sup, Dawg?” Debby (who is taking New English classes) can be reached at writewell62@ yahoo.com.

January 2015 • Welcome Home • 78255/56/57

Simple Ways To Make Resolutions Stick This Time Special To Welcome Home new year often begins with good intentions, as thousands resolve to make positive changes in their lives. Resolutions are easy to make when one is toasting at midnight and ready to take on the world. But resolutions can be harder to keep as the days turn into weeks and weeks become months. Researchers at the University of Minnesota found that 80 percent of resolution-makers have given up by Valentine’s Day. A January 2012 poll conducted in England found that, of the 3,000 respondents, roughly three-quarters of them admitted they were no longer conﬁdent they would stick to their resolutions for the rest of the month. There are several different reasons why resolutions fail, and recognizing potential pitfalls can help people stick with their positive changes throughout the new year. The following are a few ways to ensure your resolutions last the year. Don’t make an unrealistic resolution. Losing weight is a popular resolution. Some resolve to drop dozens of pounds in an effort to completely transform their bodies. However, when the weight doesn’t magically come off, it can be easy to grow discouraged. Weight loss is not instantaneous, and healthy weight-loss plans advocate gradual weight loss, such as 1 to 2 pounds per week. It can take several months to see a considerable difference if you’re aiming to lose 50 pounds. Instead of setting such a lofty weight-loss goal, establish

incremental milestones with tangible dates. For example, your resolution may be to lose 10 pounds by March 1st. That is an attainable goal. Don’t go it alone. You’re more likely to have success with keeping a resolution if you have outside support. Enlist a buddy to go to the gym with you or provide support as you attempt to quit smoking. Having a support system in place can motivate and inspire, knowing someone will be keeping tabs on you may instill enough anxiety to propel you through your resolutions. Make resolutions for the right reasons. Making resolutions for the wrong reasons can be counterproductive. If you want to lose weight for cosmetic reasons and not to improve your overall health, you may ﬁnd your motivation waning as the weeks turn into months. Making resolutions for the right reasons often provides ample motivation. Avoid boring resolutions. Many people make boring resolutions that often focus on the mundane instead of more positive things. Resolutions need not be changes that profoundly alter your mental or physical well-being. Making fun resolutions will probably help you stick to them. Perhaps you will resolve to spend more time with the kids or promise to try more adventurous activities. Maybe you decide it’s time pursue a hidden passion, such as music or art. Enjoyable resolutions are much easier to keep. Avoid expensive resolutions. Before making a resolution, research how much a resolution might cost. Gym memberships or

new hobbies may stretch your budget, and if you cannot afford a resolution, how can you keep it? If money is a concern, choose resolutions that are ﬁscally possible. Keep resolutions private if you so prefer. Many people are compelled to share their resolutions with friends and family. However, that can lead to feelings of competition or animosity if someone is realizing goals before you. Feel free to keep your resolution private as you go through the process. Once you have met your goal,

80 percent of resolution-makers will have given up by Valentine’s Day. We’d like to help you succeed with some helpful tips.

then you can share your success with others. Don’t give up too easily. Some people are up for a challenge and others are not. Resolutions typically require a little extra effort, especially in the early stages. Resolutions will not necessarily be easy to keep, but the longer you stick to a resolution the easier it becomes to make it a reality, so resist the temptation to throw in the towel too early.

Red Dress 5K FUN RUN & WALK at Methodist Stone Oak Hospital WHEN: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7 7 a.m. Registration 8 a.m. Red Dress 5K Fun Run & Walk

WHERE: METHODIST STONE OAK HOSPITAL 1139 E. Sonterra Blvd. San Antonio, Texas 78258

Wear red or your favorite red dress and help us honor those affected by heart disease by participating in the Red Dress 5K Fun Run & Walk around the campus of Methodist Stone Oak Hospital! One of Stone Oak’s most popular Heart Month events, the Fun Run will now be a timed race to better recognize the success of participants. This annual event highlights the common goal shared by Methodist Healthcare and the American Heart Association — helping the community lead healthier lives. • $20 entry fee, all proceeds go to the American Heart Association • Medals will be awarded to Fun Run winners in various age categories, with special awards going to overall male and female masters (age 40+)

Early registration is strongly recommended, but race entries will be accepted on the day of the event. Participants may register by visiting SAHealth.com/HeartandSoul.

• Enjoy refreshments and visit various tables with educational material • Early packet pick up Friday, February 6 from noon to 5 p.m. in hospital lobby

21856_MHS_Welcome_Home_Jan_2015_Red_Dress_ad_v3.indd 1 January 2015 • Welcome Home • 78255/56/57

www.welcomehomesa.com

For more information on heart month events and for heart healthy tips: MethodistHealthcareSanAntonio SAHealth210

www.SAHealth.com

Did You Know? Owning a pet, particularly a dog, could reduce your risk of heart disease according to the American Heart Association. If you have a dog at home that you want to bring, your furry friends are welcome! Please keep pets on a leash.

12/10/14 4:43 PM

Santa arrives via AirLife Helicopter

Winter Celebation’s First Queen, Rita Verreos Mergenthaler, waves during the parade.

2014 Winter Celebration Saturday, Dec 6, 2014

By Stefanie Young

n December 6th, generosity was brought to life along with the Holiday Spirit as Welcome Home Newspaper and North Central Baptist Hospital teamed up with the non-profit Living Through Giving for their annual Winter Celebration. The event kicked off at 10:00 a.m. with the Alamo City Community Marching Band and the Cowboy’s Alamo City Harley-Davidson crew leading the parade. The highlight of the event happened at 10:30 a.m. when Santa arrived via AirLIFE helicopter and took pictures with the kids in attendance. The liveliness of 60,000 lbs. of snow, vendors, and raffle prizes drew in the crowd to make one of the largest toy drives in San Antonio come to life. Over 10,000 people arrived, many with toys in hand, to enjoy the snowball fights, carnival rides and funnel cakes. Performances by local schools took place throughout the day. The goodness and hospitality of Winter Celebration’s guests, volunteers, and participating schools made Winter Celebration 2014 and successful event! Scavenger Hunt, which took place outside of the event this year, was played in order to earn a chance at the Grand Prize of $1000. Participants visited businesses, through November and the first week of December, to land stamps that added up to raffle tickets and a chance to win grand prizes. Grand Prizes included the $1000 shopping spree, hotel stays, a GoPro camera, and a tailored suit! General prizes included spa days, gift cards, and memberships to various businesses. This year, The Independence Hill Retirement Community, Coronado at Stone Oak, VIA, and The Haven and The Laurel all generously donated shuttles and buses for easy and convenient transportation to Winter Celebration. With so many people in attendance, Living Through Giving was thankful to have so many people volunteering at the event, with help from Out of the Box Productions to make the

celebration run as smoothly as possible. Ultimately, Living Through Giving’s Toy Drive brought in over 8,000 toys for children in need. Once the toys were collected in full, the Living Through Giving staff made stops throughout San Antonio where kids in need would be surprised to learn their community had not forgotten them on Christmas. Donations ranged from action figures and toy cars to dolls, stuffed animals and instruments. With such an array of trinkets, Living Through Giving was able to help light up the faces of so many children and restore some hope within their surroundings. Through the course of 2014, Living Through Giving has hosted a number of events. Sponsors and businesses have helped bring new light to the non-profit. Living Through Giving’s focus has remained true since the beginning: to focus on “children and youth who may have experienced abuse, neglect or some other type of family disruption.” Those working with the Living Through Giving organization said they strive to protect the hopes and dreams of children who may not have anywhere else to turn. Living Through Giving works to raise awareness for the youth of San Antonio who are in need. As the New Year begins, the non-profit is hoping to have even greater success in their mission. Winter Celebration 2015 will be here before we know it! Welcome Home Community Newspaper and Living Through Giving would like it to be bigger and better than ever! If you would like to participate or contribute to Living Through Giving or any of the upcoming events, call (210) 348-8233, or email at info@livingthroughgivingsa.org.

www.welcomehomesa.com

January 2015 • Welcome Home • 78255/56/57

Thank You To Our Sponsers Hosts – Welcome Home Newspaper North Central Baptist Hospital

Diamond Level Sponsors – Community Bible Church GDC Marketing & Ideation Randolph Brooks FCU Smile Kings Dental & Orthodontics Vethan Law

Gold Level Sponsors – 3T San Antonio AAA-Texas Bahama Bucks Benson Honda Betsy Dippo, State Farm Bricks 4 Kidz Broadway Bank Chik-Fil-A Chocolateka College Nannies + Tutors Coronado at Stone Oak Elements Therapeutic Massage Emerald Homes Independence Hill JW Marriott San Antonio Jet’s Pizza Mays YMCA Park at West Avenue Ray CPA

River Valley Real Estate Rusty Whittemore, Farmers Insurance Sartorial Luxury LLC School of Rock Shearer Hills Baptist Church Silverleaf Resorts Smokey Mo’s BBQ Speech & Language Center Stone Oak Pediatric Dentistry Studio Martial Arts Tansations Boutique The Fish/KLSR The Egg & I The Laurels & The Havens Two Sisters Salon World Pediatric Dental

Silver Level Sponsors – A&E Air Conditioning & Heating Bilingual Child Academy Demo’s Greek Food Nothing Bundt Cakes San Antonio Self Storage Service King Collision Center

Bronze Level Sponsors – Bella Smiles Family Dentistry Jefferson Bank Lone Star National Bank Pure Posh Salon Staybridge Suites Stone Oak Stone Creek Jewelers

January 2015 • Welcome Home • 78255/56/57

The UPS Store #5218

Participating Businesses Animal Care Services Arbonne International Big Guido’s Child Advocates of San Antonio Camp Bow Wow Cricket Wireless Dave & Buster’s San Antonio Drake’s Fun Foods Galaxy 2000 Girls Inc. of San Antonio Great Clips Green Energy of San Antonio I9 Sports It Works Joy Concessions Inc. Learning Foundations Learning RX Legend Physical Therapy Love-To-Swim and Tumble School Marie’s Jewelry & Accessories Mi Taquerias Jalisco Musical Arts Center of SA Nazneen’s Pursenality Night Light Pediatrics Nuskin Enterprises Orange Theory Fitness Premier Designs High Fashion Jewelry Primrose School at Cibilo

www.welcomehomesa.com

Canyons Pro Martial Arts Reel Photo Booth Rick’s Hunger Buster River Sub Ltg. SA Made By Hand Mercado San Antonio Eye Center San Martin Orthodontics Southern Journeys Super Funnel Cakes Swiftwater Car Wash The Juice Box The Vitamin Shoppe Timeless Sunsets Deck & Patio Toe Juice Trans4mations Gym Woodlawn Theatre

Special Thanks To – Alamo City Community Marching Band Cowboys Alamo City Harley Davidson EcoBox HEB Miss Latina San Antonio Miss Latina San Antonio Teen Outside The Box SA Moving Guys San Antonio Fire Department San Antonio Missions Baseball San Antonio Scorpions University of the Incarnate Word

Toy Drive Participating Schools – Bernal Middle School - NISD Brandeis High School - NISD Bush Middle School - NISD Churchill High School - NEISD Garcia Middle School - NISD Hardy Oak Elementary - NEISD Hobby Middle School - NISD Holmes High School - NISD Johnson High School - NEISD Las Lomas Elementary - NEISD Lopez Middle School - NISD Madison High School - NEISD Marshall High School - NISD Monroe May Elementary - NISD O’Connor High School - NISD Reagan High School - NEISD Stone Oak Elementary - NEISD Vineyard Ranch Elementary NEISD Wilderness Oak Elementary

Living Through Giving thanks all businesses, performance groups, volunteers, and community members that helped make this event a success. We couldn’t have done it without you. Happy Holidays!

Hormones And Quality Of Life

By Donna Becker, D.O. Enhancement of Life (210) 545-5224 55ish woman said, “I don’t know if you can help me”. So many women have said this to me, I think because they have been to other doctors who mistreated them, so they believe that their problems of memory loss, anxiety, temperature irregularity, and mood changes are signs of physical or mental weakness. This conversation occurred during the free 15min consultation I offer to all new patients. She described day and night hot ﬂashes that

were so debilitating she conﬁned herself to air conditioning during the summer and fall months, seldom venturing outside. Sweating constantly, she felt depressed and sad. Her family doctor unhelpfully gave her an antidepressant, and she self-medicated with alcohol beginning about noon of each day. Exhausted because she was not sleeping, sedatives did not help. “I don’t know what to do!” And then she began to cry, “There is something wrong with me, I have been to many doctors, hormones didn’t help!” She had been given the old horse derived pregnant mare’s urine synthetic estrogen and progestin.

I explained, “Estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone are the same hormones found in a young woman in a cycling, waxing and waning, kind of balance. However, I will keep your hormones steady and balanced so that inside of yourself, you will feel as if you just completed a menstrual cycle. You will not have periods. Hormones don’t have to increase and decrease as they did when you were a younger woman, ovulating and menstruating monthly. You will feel sort of like you did the ﬁrst 10 days after your period stopped when you were younger. Estradiol and progesterone both are needed to stop the temperature dysregulation. Progesterone will help you to be calm and rested. Testosterone improves overall sense of well-being. I will precisely mimic hormone levels found in your younger self by measuring your blood levels. Labs guide therapy.”

“But what about the side effects? I don’t want to get cancer and all that!” Blood clots, breast cancer, cancer of the ovaries and uterus, other problems with liver, and gallbladder have been associated with hormone replacement therapy.More recent studies such as the ELITE and the KEEPS study have shown beneﬁts of estradiol therapy for prevention of heart disease, the number one killer of women. Quality of life: living each day with joy and thankfulness, giving wisdom and guidance to our loved ones, and loving ourselves and this life. Donna Becker, D.O., Board Certified in Emergency Medicine. Enhancement of Life is located at 14603 Huebner Rd., Suite 2601, San Antonio, TX 78231. For more information, call (210) 545-5224 or visit www.antiagingsa.com.

A New Year’s Focus On Your Family Submitted By Steve Johnson t is hard to believe that a new year is upon us. It is the season of resolutions, plans, and promises! As you commit to improving your health and living within your budgets, don’t forget to include key areas of your family life in those resolutions. College Nannies and Tutors suggest you ponder the following topics as you are planning out your new year. Academic Success: Did your children struggle last semester? Are they not quite where they want to be? If they are struggling in a certain subject, the sooner action is taken, the greater the chance of success

and grade achievement. Most subjects are cumulative. The longer a student is behind or underperforming, the harder it is to get back on track. Teachers are very receptive and appreciate parents and students addressing issues proactively. If help with a tutor is needed – don’t procrastinate! The longer there is a subject matter struggle, the harder it is and the longer it takes to solidify the knowledge. Childcare Planning: It is a good idea to assess your child care solution annually. Are you happy with your current situation? Do you have an adequate backup solution or Plan B? Do you have a solution for the

summer once school lets out? One of the biggest gaps in child care planning with most families is an adequate backup solution. For example, if a relative watches your children, there is a gap if they fall ill or need a day off once in a while. An on-call solution can help with this. Also, you should have your summer childcare planning in place by spring break. Summer nanny demand ﬁlls up fast! Late January through March is the optimal time to arrange for a summer nanny! So, as you are making those New Year resolutions, be sure to add a resolution about your family! You can get help and guidance in these areas by speaking with the staff at

College Nannies and Tutors. They can be reached at (210) 202-0303 or on the web at www.collegenannies.com.

Ring In The New Year With Your Pet

New to the Area? If you are new to the area, we’d like to extend a special welcome with a free gift filled with maps, magazines, local business coupons and info to help you get settled in your community.

Please call (210) 414-6200 or e-mail kathy@bconnectedusa.com.

Selling more than a home . . . selling a lifestyle!

Kellie Lynn Guerra REALTOR®

210-305-1778 k g uerra@ phyl l i sbrowni ng.c om 242 0 0 I H - 1 0 West, S ui te 101 • S an A n tonio, Te x a s 7 8 2 5 7 10

When making healthier resolutions for yourself, you can include your pet as well.

Special To Welcome Home t’s the time of year when people make resolutions to be a better and healthier version of themselves. So why not make resolutions that will mutually beneﬁt you and your pet? Here are some ideas to help you and yours have the best year yet. Eat more fresh food. This may seem like an easy resolution. However, it takes time and preparation. For humans, this means incorporating more fruits and veggies into your diet while for pets this means ensuring that their pet food uses ingredients such as fresh turkey, salmon and duck, fresh omega 3 and 6 oils (from coconuts and canola), wholesome berries and fruits and vegetables like peas, spinach and carrots.

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Now Fresh premium petfood by Petcurean is a great example. You can learn more about choosing a pet food with the freshest, healthiest ingredients at petcurean.com. Get more exercise. Did you know pets can decrease our blood pressure and cholesterol levels and increase our opportunities for exercise, outdoor activities and socialization? Exercising together will not only help optimize your health but also allow you to spend more time together. Use that agenda. This doesn’t seem like a resolution, but sometimes making a plan is the only way resolutions will come to life. Most of us schedule time for other appointments and meetings, so why not set aside some priority time for pets too?

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Leon Springs Veterans Unforgotten Submitted By Kathy Dodge-Clay n November 11, 2014, Leon Springs Elementary School hosted a wellattended Veterans Day celebration. This is always one of the highlights for the campus as students are able to exhibit leadership roles. Cub Scout Troop 223 began with an honorary flag raising ceremony. Several distinguished guests from their district and city were in attendance. NISD’s Superintendent Brian Woods, Superintendent for Elementary Administration Betsy Wynn, City Councilman for District 8, Ron Nirenberg, and last, but certainly not least, Kevin Wolff, the Bexar County Commissioner, Northside Pillar for Citizenship, and a US Navy Veteran were in attendance.

Leon Springs was honored to host such a celebration for so many wonderful Veterans and their families. Dr. David Jones, US Navy, was a guest speaker. He spoke to the faculty, staff, students, parents, and Veterans about the meaning of Veterans Day. After Dr. Jones spoke, Councilman Ron Nirenberg addressed the audience about celebrating the day by saying that there was “No better way to do that than here at Leon Springs Elementary where every single year you put on the very best in decorum and solemnity that this day deserves here in the City of San Antonio. So, on behalf of the City Council, and our citizens here in District 8, and the rest of our city, I want to say thank you to the parents, the teachers, the educators. Dr. Woods, this is truly the very best that San Antonio has to offer right here at Leon Springs Elementary.”

TMI Poetry Winner Bound For State Submitted By Paula Allen sophomore at TMI – The Episcopal School of Texas was selected to advance to the state Poetry Out Loud competition, to be held February 28, 2015, in Austin. Sophomore Alexandra Prado was the school competition’s winner; she will represent her school among students from high schools all over Texas. Junior Sofia Miranda-Fred was named runner up and will take part in the state competition if Prado is unable to attend. The TMI competition was held December 1 in the school’s Margaret M. Alkek Theater with eight contestants. Seniors Markell Henderson and Lexy Roberts, juniors Miranda-Fred and Elba O’Ward, sophomores Prado and Elizabeth Holmes

and freshmen Greg Arcuri and Haddie Hill were chosen by their English teachers from classroom competitions in all four Upper School grades. Students recited from memory one poem in each of two rounds, including the work of a diverse selection of poets including Rita Dove, Walter Savage Landor, Edgar Allan Poe, Theodore Roethke, Anne Sexton and Vijay Seshadri. Judges were local poets Jesse Cardona, Bonnie Lyons, Ph.D., and Mo Saidi, M.D. The winner of the Texas state competition will go on to national competition April 28-29 in Washington D.C. This is the third year TMI has participated; each year, the school’s representative has made it to the final round at state.

Hello From Clark, Texas

By Dr. Jerry Woods Principal Clark High School 210-397-5150

lark, Texas has been a very active place during the holidays and in welcoming the new year. Our students are constantly conducting various drives and fundraisers, and the holidays are no exception to their ‘giving’ attitude. At the time of submission of this article, our band, choir, and orchestra students are having

their holiday concerts and dozens of needy children will have a much better Christmas due to our Student Council connecting our staff with the Roy Maas organization. I’d like to congratulate our Clark Newspaper students. These students were recently awarded the “Newspaper Pacemaker Award” for our paper, “The Chronicle”. This award comes from the National Scholastic Press Association and is considered the Pulitzer Prize for high school newspapers.

Councilman Ron Nirenberg addressed the audience NISD’s Superintendent Brian Woods with Leon Spring about celebrating the day by saying that there was “No better way to do that than here at Leon Springs students during the Veterans Day celebration. Elementary.”

Poetry Out Loud is a national program that encourages high-school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance and competition. Founded in 2005 by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, the program has competitions in 2,255 high schools across the country. Founded in 1893 as the flagship school of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, TMI is a private, co-educational, collegepreparatory school for grades 6-12, with optional Junior ROTC and boarding programs. For information, visit www.tmisa.org or call 698-7171.

Congratulations to our choir program that had 15 students achieve Area Finalist and are one round from being All-State. These students represent the top 5% of the 17,000 who began the process in September. The students are: Amanda Chin; Sara Pieper; Katherine Telford, Anika Nieto; Hannah Wadlow; Jordan Correa; Alexis Flores; Jose Guerra; and Travis Hausman. Congratulations to our girls’ basketball team who is currently ranked #4 in San Antonio and the surrounding area. As we approach district play, we wish the best of luck to our girls’ and boys’ basketball teams. I’d also like to congratulate our boys’ soccer coach, Walter Rule. Coach Rule was recently inducted into the Texas Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame. Coach Rule and I

TMI sophomore Alexandra Prado, left, enjoys the applause with junior Sofia Miranda-Fred,as they were named first place and runner-up respectively in the school’s Poetry Out Loud competition.

have worked together for many years and I was proud to be present for his induction. Finally, I’d like to thank Steve Perez for his service as Clark’s Plant Manager the past 8 years. Steve has been promoted to a district supervisor. Words can’t express the amount of work it takes to maintain a 6A high school with 3000 students, 250 staff members, and events going on 6 days/ evenings per week. Mr. Perez did it with a smile and willingness to help anyone at any time. I know many members of the outside community are thankful for his service as well. Have a great start to 2015 and I will see you in Clark, Texas or wherever our awesome Cougars are performing.

Marching Together From Past To Present For Our Future By City of San Antonio MLK, Jr. Commission staff ach year, a variety of educational, inspirational and celebratory events honor one of the nation’s most revered civil rights leaders. The signature event, the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. March, is scheduled for Monday, January 19, 2015. The march will begin at 10 a.m. at the MLK Academy located in the 3500 block of MLK Drive and end at PittmanSullivan Park, 1101 Iowa. Once again, it is expected to draw more than 100,000 adults and children. San Antonio hosts one of the largest marches in

the United States. The MLK, Jr. Commission organizes the march and leads the community effort of various events paying tribute to Dr. King. The wide variety of educational, inspirational and celebratory events, take place at locations across the city. The “Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial City-County Commission,” now referred to as the “San Antonio Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission” or “MLK, Jr. Commission,” was established on April 3, 1986, by official act of the San Antonio City Council through City Resolution No. 86-15-19 under the leadership of then-Mayor Henry Cisneros. The MLK, Jr. Commission is a volunteer

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organization. On January 19, 1987, chaired by Aaronetta Pierce, the Commission and the City of San Antonio held its first official Martin Luther King, Jr. March. Although in 2015 the City of San Antonio celebrates the 28th anniversary of this City-sponsored event, the history of the local MLK, Jr. March goes back even further. The late Rev. Dr. Raymond “R.A.” Callies, Sr., a San Antonio teacher, pastor and one of the founders of the San Antonio MLK, Jr. March began leading processions in San Antonio honoring Dr. King’s legacy soon after Dr. King’s death on April 4, 1968 and worked tirelessly to have a statue of Dr. King erected. Since then, community

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members, each year increasing in number, have gathered to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King. This year’s theme is “Marching Together from Past to Present for Our Future.” Improving the quality of our youth’s education is very important to the MLK, Jr. Commission. If you would like to support the MLK, Jr. March, annual MLK, Jr. scholarships, or any of events that will take place, the MLK, Jr. Commission welcomes the partnership of local and national businesses. Please contact the City of San Antonio MLK, Jr. Commission staff by email.

6th Annual Fincke Cup Soccer Clinic Submitted By Stephanie Fincke he 6th annual Fincke Cup Soccer Clinic will be held on Sunday, March 1st from 2 – 4 p.m. at the Mays YMCA with registration beginning at 1:30 p.m. (a rain date is still TBD). You can pre-register or sign up to volunteer for the clinic at www. FinckeCup.com. Deadline to register for the clinic to ensure a 2015 Fincke Cup T-shirt is Sunday, February 15th. T-shirts can be pre-ordered on the website as well through February 15th with mailing options available for delivery. Preregistration will continue until Saturday, February 28th but will not guarantee a t-shirt if registering for the clinic after February 15th. The clinic will run from 2 – 4 p.m. The cost for pre-registration is $25 and $30 for walk-ins the day of the clinic. Each participant should bring cleats (or athletic shoes), an age appropriate ball, and a desire to learn and have fun! Ian’s Foundation was formed in memory of Ian Fincke who passed away tragically at the age of 16 as the result of a traumatic brain injury sustained during a skateboarding accident. The foundation was formed to advance the safety and welfare of San Antonio youth through education and scholarship awards. Ian’s love for the game of soccer inspired the creation of the Fincke Cup, an annual soccer match played between Johnson High School and Reagan High School Varsity Boys and Girls Soccer Teams. The school with the highest aggregate score for the night receives the coveted Fincke Cup Trophy and

Save The Date: The 2015 Fincke Cup Soccer Clinic will be held Sunday, March 1st at the Mays YMCA.

bragging rights for the year. A scholarship is awarded to a boy and girl from each team for a total of four scholarships annually. To date over $24,000 in scholarships has been awarded to deserving San Antonio students. The soccer clinic for the youth of San Antonio is the main fundraiser that supports the scholarship awards and allows the local high school soccer players an opportunity to teach soccer skills to the youth of San Antonio. There will be local soccer club coaches in attendance as well as a presence from the SA Scorpions professional soccer team.

Score Big With Guests At Your Super Bowl Party Special To Welcome Home ry these chicken wings during the big game, or any other time. Broilkingbbq.com offers a wide variety of recipes, tips, and tricks for everyone from the novice griller to the diehard outdoor chef. The barbecue chefs at Broil King have developed this recipe for delicious grilled wings. Grilled Chicken Wings with Roquefort Dip Serves 6-8 people

3 lbs. chicken wings, cleaned and trimmed Select wings of roughly equal size for evenness of cooking. Ingredients Marinade: 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1 clove garlic, minced 1/4 teaspoon cayenne 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon oregano 1 teaspoon kosher salt 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar Blue Cheese Dip 1/2 cup Mayonnaise 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tablespoon onion, grated 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 1/3 cup blue cheese, crumbled Directions

Preheat the barbecue on high. Cut each wing at the joint to make two pieces, and discard wing tip if still attached. In a large re-sealable bag, whisk together vegetable oil, garlic, spices and vinegar. Add chicken wings and toss to coat. If using rotisserie basket, spray or brush lightly with vegetable oil to prevent sticking. Place chicken wings on bottom of basket, cover with the top part, and fasten on tightest setting to secure the wings in place. Cooking grids will need to be removed, and a drip pan placed beneath. If using rear rotisserie burner, set to high. If using lower burners, set to medium. Place the basket on spit and in the rotisserie and start the motor. Cook until golden brown and crisp, about 45 minutes to an hour. If cooking directly on well-oiled cooking grids, turn heat to low, and cook, turning frequently until golden brown and crisp, 30 - 45 minutes. Use an instant-read

The 6th annual Fincke Cup Soccer Match will be held on Tuesday, March 1st. The girl’s game will begin at 5PM followed by the boys game at 7 p.m. with the presentation of the Fincke Cup trophy at the conclusion of the boys game. Come out and support the RHS and JHS soccer teams at Blossom Athletic Center in this special memorial tribute to Ian. Ian’s foundation was the inspiration behind bringing wheelchair soccer to San Antonio and continues to support the STRAPS (South Texas Regional Adaptive and Paralympic Sports) at Morgan’s

Wonderland. Ian’s Foundation also supports the local YMCA by providing scholarships to allow San Antonio youth that could not afford to play soccer the opportunity to play the sport that Ian loved so much. We are looking for donations of gently used soccer equipment to help with this cause. There will be a drop box at the soccer clinic as well as at locations throughout San Antonio. Please visit www.IansFoundation.org to see locations or if interested in making a donation or becoming a sponsor.

Fencing Cadets Place In American Cup

Farrah Lee-Elabd, age 16, won the bronze medal at the Junior Women’s event and Robin Cheong, age 16, won 6th place finalist medal at the Cadet Men’s event.

Submitted By Velizar Iliev wo Cadets from the Olympian Fencing Club in San Antonio won bronze and 6th place finalist medals in the Cadets and Junior events at the 2014 North American Cup Fencing Competition. The event took place November 7-10, 2014 at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, KY. Farrah Lee-Elabd, age 16, won the bronze medal at the Junior Women’s event and she competed against 180 female athletes 19 years and under. Robin Cheong, age 16, won 6th place finalist medal at the

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Cadet Men’s event and he competed against 171 male athletes 16 years and under. Both fencers competed against top US fencers as well as fencers from Canada, France, Lebanon and other countries. Farrah and Robin are both High School Juniors and straight A students at Saint Mary’s Hall. They both train at the Olympian Fencing Club (http://www. olympianfencingclub.com/) in San Antonio, Texas with some of the best fencers in the nation. They are coached by Velizar Iliev, a US Olympian and three-time World Champion.

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January Calendar of Events SOBA & 10 WEST SPEED NETWORKING Wed, January 28. (Canyon Springs Golf Club, 24405 Wilderness Oak) 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Join the Stone Oak Business Association and the 10 West Business Association for a night of speed networking. At this event you have the opportunity to introduce yourself and your company everyone in attendance. Make sure to RSVP early. The cost is $20 for members and $30 for non-members. To RSVP call 210-3488233, go online to www.welcomehomesa.com, or email soba@satx.rr.com. CHRISTMAS LIGHT FEST Thurs, January 1. (Don Strange Ranch, 103 Waring Welfare Road) 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Enjoy family fun and start a new holiday tradition with two million lights sparkling across two miles of scenic ranchland at Don Strange Ranch during Christmas LightFest. Tickets are $20 and may be purchased in advance online at www. sanantoniochristmaslightsfest.com. RESIDENT ART SHOW Thurs, January 1. (Artpace, 445 N. Main Ave.) This FREE event features something for everyone. Artpace opens its fall 2014 Artist in Residence Program Exhibition on Thursday. The show features work conceived and completed during a two-month residency at the downtown “art laboratory” by Austin artist Anna Krachey, who often draws from domestic life in her elaborate photographic still-lifes; New York-based Adam Helms, who explores the psychology and iconography of radical politics and subcultures in his photography, drawing and sculpture; and Japanese artist Takashi Arai, who is well known in his country as a unique contemporary daguerreotypist. DISNEY’S THE LION KING Fri, January 2 – Sun, January 4. (Majestic Theatre, 226 East Houston Street) Times range. Disney’s “The Lion King” returns to the Majestic Theatre next week for a long run. Those with a tendency toward tardiness, take note: You must be in your seat when the show starts. If you’re not, you may be stranded in the lobby, unable to enter until well after the opening procession of the animals, a deeply moving scene in which the creatures move through the theater. It whets the appetite for the visual grandeur and emotionally rich storytelling to follow. Ticket prices range from $35 - $171 and can be purchased at www. ticketmaster.com. THE GREAT TAILGATE OF SAN ANTONIO Fri, January 2. (Alamo Dome, 310 Montana Street) 3:00 p.m. This wristband gives you access to the best party kicking off the 2015 Alamo Bowl! It includes, open bar(beer, wine, margaritas), catered food by Heavenly Gourmet, Live bands and entertainment, including Mysterious Ways U2 tribute band, HD televisions streaming the program, VIP Lounge seating with heat lamps. Wristband holders have the option to go in and out of the party as well as access to onsite restrooms. UTSA VS RICE - WOMENS BASKETBALL Fri, January 2. (UTSA Convocation Center, One UTSA Circle) 7:00 p.m. The 2013–14 UTSA Roadrunners women’s basketball team represents the University of Texas at San Antonio during the 2013–14 NCAA Division I women’s basketball season. The Roadrunners, led by ﬁrst year head coach Lubomyr Lichonczak, play their home games at the Convocation Center and are ﬁrst year members of Conference USA. Come on down to the Convocation Center for a great basketball game from your local Womens College Basketball Team! MANET TO GAUGUIN Fri, January 2. (McNay Art Museum, 6000 North New Braunfels) Organized to coincide with intimate impressionism from the national gallery of Art, this exhibition, featuring approximately 30 works, focuses on one of the great strengths of the McNay’s graphics collection, 19th century

prints. Admission ranges from Free to $15. NATURE CONNECTS – ART WITH LEGO BRICKS Fri, January 2 – Sun, January 4. (San Antonio Botanical Garden) 5 p.m. Join us as the Garden presents 27 sculptures that make up 14 displays created from nearly 500,000 LEGO® bricks! Placed throughout the Garden, the displays range in size from 6 inches to nearly 8 feet. The largest sculpture is a mother bison, made from 45,143 bricks! Each sculpture has an internal structure built with steel rods and plates, which provide support and balance for the large works. Surrounding the support structure, each sculpture is constructed entirely from LEGO® bricks, glued together using only the connections of the bricks, one at a time placed by artist Sean Kenney – www.seankenney.com. Nature Connects is open during regular Garden operating hours, through January 4, 2015. Regular admission rates apply. CHUCHO REYES, THE SHOW WILL START Sat, January 3 – Sat, January 17. (Inverarte Art Gallery, 923 N Loop 1604) This showing is free! This exhibition presents a selection of 17 masterpieces by Chucho Reyes that were part of the Guy Moore Collection, a renowned Beverly Hills architect and designer, who established a friendship with Chucho Reyes in the 1940’s. His aesthetic point of view is an example of Mexican Modernism, which was expressed not only pictorially, but also in his conception of architecture. His inﬂuence was decisive in renowned architects, such as Luis Barragan, Mathias Goeritz, Max Cetto, Juan Sordo Madaleno and Ricardo Legorreta. VIOLENCE FUELS BLUE STAR EXHIBIT Sun, January 4. (Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum, 116 Blue Star) “I was moved to create this series of drawings, “Tierra y Libertad (Land and Liberty),” after the disappearance of a close friend due to drug cartel violence,” says Fernando Andrade, one of the city’s top young artists. Andrade’s show shares Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum with a group installation called “Spatial Planes,” an exhibition of paintings by Joe Lopez, and an installation titled “Northern Triangle” dealing with border issues: Steve Bennett. This event continues throughout the month every Friday –Sunday. Admission ranges from $3 - $5. MONSTER TRUCK JAM KICK OFF Thurs, January 8. (Kent Powersports, 15664 IH-35 North) 2 – 5 p.m. Check out the Captain’s Curse Monster Jam truck and meet the driver, Alex Blackwell. Food from 2pm - 5pm, and enter for a chacne to win 2 tickets to Monster Jam! Admission for this event is free. UTSA VS SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI – MENS BASKETBALL Thurs, January 8. (UTSA Convocation Center, One UTSA Circle) The UTSA Roadrunner’s Men’s Basketball Team represents the University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas. Originally competing as an NCAA independent in 1981-1982, the Roadrunners joined the Atlantic Sun Conference in 1986-1987, and eventually joined the Southland Conference in 1991-1992. The team is currently a member of Conference USA, and plays its game at the oncampus Convocation Center, and is coached by former NBA player Brooks Thompson. UTSA has won four conference tournaments and three conference regular season championships. Bring the family and come support your local UTSA Men’s Basketball team! Admission ranges from $7 - $20. SALOME Thurs, January 8. (Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle) An opera in one act Based on the play by Oscar Wilde Music and Libretto by Richard Strauss Sung in German with projected English translations The nubile princess Salome lusts for the imprisoned John the Baptist. Her stepfather, King Herod,

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lusts for her. He asks her to dance in exchange for anything she wants. Her price: the prophet’s head! Powerful, intense, salacious — since its 1905 world premiere, Strauss’ hair-raising retelling of this biblical tale continues to shock and thrill audiences. Tickets range from $29 $145 and can be purchased at tobi.tobincenter. org. G.R.E.G 2ND ANNUAL 5K RUN/WALK Sat, January 10. (McAllister Park Pavilion #2, 13102 Jones Maltsberger Road) 8 a.m. It’s that time again to participate, in the 2nd annual Baby Greg III Kids and SIDS 5K walk/run. Your commitment makes a huge impact on those who have suffered the loss of a child to SIDS. Registration is officially open for Baby Greg’s 2nd Annual 5k walk/run. Click on the link to register: www.kidsandsids.org. Thank you for your support and always remember G.R.E.G: God Relieves Emotional Grief. Price to participate ranges from $7 - $20. $7.00 Registration with shirt $15.00 Virtural Walkers $7.00. TEAM IN TRAINING RESOLUTION RUN Sat, January 10. (Brackenridge Park, 3700 North St. Mary’s Street) 8 a.m. Is a Marathon or Half Marathon on your Bucket List? Take the First Step and Try Team In Training for FREE! Team In Training will change your life with best in class endurance sports coaching, daily work-outs, clinics & 1x1 support. You’ll change the lives of cancer patients by raising funds for critical research & patient services. To join is free so get out of the house and start meeting your goals! THE SPIRIT OF MICHAEL JACKSON Sun, January 11. (Aztec Theatre, 201 E. Commerce Street, Suite 200) Paramount pays tribute to the pop legends’ life and legacy with a stunning stage presentation. The show features one of the top Michael Jackson impersonators straight from the Vegas stage! The show’s dance troupe performs all of Michael Jackson’s choreography to perfection! The production includes lasers, large screen video projection, concert lighting and 50,000 watts of awesome sound. Spanning his forty year career, the show will take the audience on a visual journey that captures the essence of Michael Jacksons’ worldwide concert appearances. It’s a show for the ages, and for all ages! Tickets range from $17 to $52 and can be purchased at http:// theaztectheatre.frontgatetickets.com. NORTHWEST TOASTMASTERS CLUB Mon, January 12. (Patriot Heights, 5000 Fawn Meadow) 6:45 p.m. Meetings are held in the Chapel of Patriot Heights main building Monday evenings 6:45 pm to 8:15 pm, unless it is a holiday. Come join us for fun while we work on our speaking and leadership skills. Visitors are welcome. Please come see a meeting in action. Prices to attend range from $48 to $68. SAN ANTONIO BOOK FESTIVAL – FICTION CONTEST Mon, January 12. (Central Library, 600 Soledad) 11:30 a.m. The San Antonio Book Festival is launching its 2nd annual Fiction Contest for students in grades 7 to 12, giving young writers the opportunity to showcase their creativity and narrative skills. Winners from three divisions, 7th/8th grades, 9th/10th grades and 11th/12th grades, will be awarded cash prizes, get their stories published on the San Antonio Book Festival website and be recognized at the Festival on April 11, 2015. First place winners will receive $250, second place will receive $150, and third place $100. First place winners also receive $500 for their schools. Entries are being accepted now through Jan. 12, 2015. Thirty finalists will be announced on Monday, February 2, 2015. The winners will be revealed the week of Feb. 16, 2015 with surprise visits to the recipients’ classrooms. For official rules and guidelines visit http://www.saplf.org/festival/ fiction-contest/.

7th Floor of Alkek Library at Texas State University) The Wittliff Collections are proud to present their first solo exhibition of images by one of America’s premier portrait photographers. In this series, based on his latest book from the University of Texas Press, Michael O’Brien celebrates the individuality and independent spirit of Texans—from ordinary folk to the rich and famous, including those born here and those who eventually made Texas home. For his new edition of The Face of Texas, O’Brien has added portraits and updated photographs of people from the first edition. This winning combination of images and stories about a fascinating, eclectic mix of Texans is a fitting homage to our unique state. 2ND ANNUAL RED BOWL RUN Sat, January 17. (Eilan San Antonio, La Cantera Pkwy) 8 a.m. The Red Bowl Fund supports mission partners across the globe as they carry out orphan care, prison ministry, and poverty/hunger alleviation efforts. These mission partners are grounded in the local church of these communities year-round and they rely largely on Red Bowl funding to support their life-saving and life-giving ministries. The Red Bowl fund is managed and distributed to these partners monthly by Grace Point Church in San Antonio, Texas. The cost to participate ranges from $25 $40 and can be purchased at www.carreraraces. com. STRAUSS: REQUIEM Fri, January 16 – Sat, January 17. (Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle) 8 p.m. Valero Classics Series presents Strauss Festival January 16 & 17, 2015, 8:00 p.m. H-E-B Performance Hall at The Tobin Center Sebastian Lang-Lessing, conductor San Antonio Symphony Mastersingers, John Silantien, director Aaron Jay Kernis, Whisper, Echo, and a Cry, Mozart Overture to Don Giovanni, Tod und Verklärung MOZART Requiem in D minor. The Strauss Festival opens with the music of Richard Strauss and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in works portraying the struggles and redemption of mankind, and the terror of unrepentance. Tickets range from $25 - $81 and can be purchased at tobi.tobincenter.org. MAYA BEISER FEATURING GLENN KOTCHE Thurs, January 22. (Aztec Theatre, 201 E. Commerce Street, Suite 200) 7:30 p.m. Beiser has captivated audiences worldwide with her virtuosity, eclectic repertoire and relentless quest to redefine her instrument’s boundaries. A featured performer on the world’s most prestigious stages, Beiser appeared as soloist at the Sydney Opera House and New York’s Lincoln Center. She was also a featured speaker and performer at the 2011 TED conference; her TEDTalk has since garnered over half a million views online. Beiser has conceived, performed and produced her critically acclaimed multimedia concerts. Tickets range from $29 to $110 and can be purchased at theaztectheatre.frontgatetickets. com. MARVEL UNIVERSE LIVE Fri, January 23. (Alamodome, 100 Montana Street) 7:30 p.m. Marvel Universe LIVE! will captivate audiences with an authentic and original story that brings more than 25 Marvel characters together on one epic quest. The story is framed around the battle over the Cosmic Cube, the source of ultimate power and one of the most feared and coveted treasures in the Marvel Universe, that has been shattered into pieces by the Mighty Thor in order to prevent from falling into the wrong hands. With the pieces scattered across the flobe, Thor’s villainous brother Loki devises a scheme to clone its powers, inciting a threat that could not only decimate Earth but also obliterate the Universe. Tickets range from $20 to $75 and can be purchased at www. ticketmaster.com.

THE FACE OF TEXAS Mon, January 12. (The Wittliff Collections,

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Terms To Know Before Heading To The Rodeo Special To Welcome Home he San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo is just around the corner. We have put together some rodeo terms that might come in handy! The growing popularity of rodeo, which, according to the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association, attracts 30 million fans each year, has piqued the curiosity of many people who have never before attended a rodeo or watched an event on television. Upon discovering the rodeo, men, women and children often find it as compelling if not more compelling than most popular mainstream sports. For those interested in rodeo but uncertain about its terminology, the following are a few terms to know, courtesy of the PRCA.

• Barrelman: An entertainer who uses a barrel to distract a bull after a ride. Such distractions sometimes protect the cowboy. • Breaking the barrier: This occurs during a timed event when a rider leaves the box too soon, failing to give the bull a sufficient head start. Riders who break the barrier are assessed a 10-second penalty. • Bullfighter: An athlete who protects the bull rider after he dismounts or is bucked off. A bullfighter can distract the bull by directing its attention to the exit gate or even

stepping between the bull and the bull rider. • Chute: a pen that holds an animal safely in position. • Covering: this occurs during roughstock events when a rider stays on at least the minimum time of eight seconds. • Draw: Conducted three days before each PRCA rodeo, the draw is random and assigns each roughstock competitor a specific bucking horse or bull. Time-event contestants are assigned a calf or steer in a random on-site draw shortly before each rodeo begins. • Flags: used in rodeo’s timed events so judges can signal the timers to stop the clocks. Judges in the arena will drop the flags. • Flankman: a cowboy or cowgirl who works in the bucking chutes, adjusting the flant strap around the animal before the ride. • Go-round: each round of competition in a rodeo. • Hazer: the cowboy who rides on the right side of the steer from the contestant to make sure the steer runs straight. • Hooey: the knot a cowboy uses to finish tying the calf’s legs together in tie-down roping. • Piggin’ string: the small rope used to tie a calf’s legs together in tie-down roping.

• Rank: an adjective of praise and respect used to describe especially challenging roughstock. • Riggin’: a suitcasestyle handhold customized to a rider’s grip and attached to a molded piece of leather that is cinched, with a pad, around the horse’s girth. • Roughstock: the bucking horses and bulls used in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding, usually bred and raised for the job. • Stock contractors: the companies that bring livestock to the arena for rodeos. • Triple Crown Winner: a cowboy who wins three world championships in the same year. For more information on the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo visit www.sarodeo.com.

Rock N Roll Marathon Special To Welcome Home ore than 24,000 runners, from professional athletes to casual joggers will rock the streets this weekend for the Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon & Half Marathon. Taking place in December for the first time in the event’s seven-year history, the 2014 event is introducing a new day of running with a 10k on Saturday. Additionally, America’s best distance runner Meb Keflezighi will headline race weekend by pacing the new Rock ‘n’ Roll 10k on Saturday and greeting participants at the marathon and half marathon start line as Sunday’s Grand Marshal. “From Boston to New York, 2014 has been a great year for me and I look forward to capping it off with thousands of my fellow runners in San Antonio,” said Meb, who recently finished 4th overall and was the first American at the 2014 New York City Marathon. “My motto, ‘Run To Win’

means to get the best out of yourself and I look forward to helping athletes of all abilities achieve their goals in San Antonio next month.” Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio’s Sunday races include a true festival of distances with a marathon, half-marathon, 2-person half-marathon relay, 5k and Bike Tour, which all start downtown at the intersection of Cherry Street and Commerce Street. In addition to Meb serving as the grand marshal, Sunday’s events will also include live bands and enthusiastic cheerleaders lining the race routes to create the ultimate fitness-centric, block party environment. Multi-platinum rock band Everclear will headline the finish line concert at the Alamodome. Meb will pace the Rock ‘n’ Roll 10k on Saturday, which will start at the Alamodome, run through downtown and finish at Alamo Plaza. Both days of running will feature high-energy music on-course, post-race entertainment, quality finisher’s medals and

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more. Participants who complete the race on Saturday and any distance race on Sunday will also earn a special spinning “Remix Challenge” medal, offering the chance to get three medals over race weekend. In addition to pacing Saturday’s 10k, Meb will make several appearances throughout race weekend including hosting clinics at the Health & Fitness Expo, where all runners pick up their race packets. Humana, a leading health and well-being company, as title sponsor of the Humana Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon & 1/2 Marathon. In addition to its focus on personal wellness for people at every age and stage, Humana also works to simplify healthcare and to make it easier for people to achieve their best health. “Humana has been part of the San

Antonio community for almost four decades, and we are committed to helping San Antonians make wellness and health a way of life,” said Pattie Dale Tye, Humana Vice President and Project San Antonio Leader. “Our partnership with the race also helps support the work of Humana’s Project San Antonio, where we are working with partners throughout the community on a multi-year effort to improve health and wellness across San Antonio.” Race weekend begins with a two-day Health & Fitness Expo at the Alamodome, where all participants go to pick up their race number and explore more than 100 running and fitness retailers, exhibits and clinics. For more information or to register for the event, please visit runrocknroll.com or follow @RunRocknRoll on Twitter.

Jazz Fans And A Good Cause Submitted By Sandy Whitley n December 18, at the Lambermont House located at 950 East Grayson Street, the third Grayson Street Jazz evening was held. Proceeds benefited the St. Paul Episcopal Montessori School. The website explaining what Grayson Street Jazz is all about can be found at www. graysonstreetjazz.com and the website about the Lambermont House is www. lambermontevents.com. This beautiful property has been completely restored in recent years, and for those who appreciate the art of restoration, it is lovely to behold. The school and Lambermont House are considering continuing this type of fund raiser into 2015 once every quarter. The modest entry fee for general admission included 2 drink tickets. Guest vendors

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offered some food items while participants enjoyed the venue. VIP ticket tables for 4 were also offered which included both drinks and light hordeurves. The beautiful spaces of the Lambertmont House with 3 cozy burning fireplaces, and the elegant building dressed to impress in its holiday splendor, was an exceptional setting for live jazz music, joyful decorations, food and drink. Such a fundraiser as this provides a lovely evening, as the Lambermont House and grounds are impressive and inviting. Many volunteered their time and resources; from the musicians, to the Lambermont House, church and school. Please check out the websites/KRTUand be alert for future jazz evenings which support a good cause. Let’s all hope they continue!

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Napa Valley Within Your Reach Special To Welcome Home f the obligations of the holidays tend to leave you feeling frazzled, you might do well to take a lesson from top Napa Valley winemakers, who know a thing or two about slowing down and enjoying the good things in life - in style. Beginning in August and extending into November, Napa is a bustling, buzzing hive of activity. Vintners up and down the valley work around the clock for weeks on end to harvest their grapes at the peak of perfection and transform the luscious fruit into the wines renowned around the world. So when the harvest concludes, Napa Valley winemakers are ready to decompress and enjoy a wine country holiday season that reflects the region’s appreciation for all things fresh, local and handcrafted, and that puts the emphasis on bringing together family and friends. “Harvest is thrilling and I wouldn’t trade it for anything, but when you emerge from it you’re so appreciative of the simple pleasures,” says Elizabeth Vianna, winemaker at Chimney Rock in the Stags Leap District, home to rich, refined Cabernet Sauvignons. Vianna was recently featured with Rutherford Hill Winery’s Marisa Taylor and Markham Vineyards’ Kim Nicholls in the

six-part PBS reality series, “Vintage: Napa Valley 2012.” “Being with the people you love, relaxing, enjoying good food and good wine - it’s a truly special time,” she says. In Napa, holiday gatherings often move outside, into the crisp late-fall air that still carries a sweet hint of fermenting grapes. As soft, angled sunlight recedes and darkness falls, indoor/outdoor string lights along an arbor or pergola lend a feel of casual elegance, and a glowing fire pit warms hands and hearts alike. But even in Napa the weather isn’t always accommodating for outdoor entertaining. Taylor, known for crafting luscious, balanced Merlots at Rutherford Hill, has a solution for those times. “I look for ways to bring the outdoors in,” she says. In Napa, that could mean a grape vine integrated into a table centerpiece or gently curved into a wreath - motifs that can be adopted according to the trees and plants that thrive in any area. Of course, food is foremost at any holiday gathering. Nicholls, who makes a full line of award-winning varietals at Markham, including Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, says the best dishes, just like the best wines, are

ones that say something about their maker. For Nicholls, that means blackberry pies like the ones her mother taught her to make. “Putting your personality into what you are making is really what it is about,” says Nicholls. With this approach, anyone anywhere can enjoy a Napa Valley holiday in style and spirit. But there’s also an opportunity for you to experience it in person, in the valley itself. Chimney Rock, Markham and Rutherford Hill wineries are offering a chance for two lucky winners to visit Napa Valley, complete with airfare, lodging, behind-the-scenes vineyard tours, VIP lunches with scenic views overlooking the Valley and even the chance to blend your own Merlot. Visit the Napa Valley Holiday Pinterest page at www. pinterest.com/NVHoliday for more information.

Acclimating Students For The Return To School Special To Welcome Home he holiday season can be a whirlwind of activity that culminates in lavish celebrations and, for many children, an extended vacation from school. But when the excitement of the holiday has ended, children must return to the classroom, an adjustment that is not always so easy. An entire month of meals on the go and jaunts to the shopping mall, plus parties and various gatherings, can make it difficult for children to readjust to the structured environment of school. Even a short time away from lessons may have students backsliding on information they once knew. Parents and teachers may have to work together to help youngsters get back on track, and the following are few ways to do just that. Enforce typical bedtimes. As the season wears on, parents should gradually return

their households to their normal routines. Youngsters’ bedtimes, which are not often adhered to during the holiday season, should once again be enforced in the days leading up to their returns to school. A gradual transition back to an earlier bed time will have kids accustomed to going to bed and rising early once more. Cut down on play time. On the heels of the holiday season, children love to test out all of their new toys and games. Some may wake up in the morning and spend the entire day trying to beat a video game or assembling a building-block creation. But as the end of the season draws near, parents should try to get back to a normal school day schedule, limiting the number of hours kids spend playing with toys. Consider giving kids some brain-boosting puzzles or encourage them to read books. Encourage kids to work on winter school

Baptist M&S Imaging Expands Submitted By Mary Hogan omen who undergo routine mammograms now have the latest diagnostic technology available to them, digital mammography. Baptist M&S Imaging has expanded into in the Greater Schertz Region with the state-of-the-art Hologic™ 3D mammography. Two sites, North Central (502 Madison Oak Dr., Ste. 450) and the newest location in Schertz (16977 IH-35 North, Ste. 220) use the latest mammography screening technology, Hologic’s 3D mammography. Baptist M&S Imaging is very excited to provide 3D mammography, the newest technology for breast cancer detection, at two sites. Digital mammography is different

from conventional mammography in how the image of the breast is acquired and, more importantly, viewed. The radiologist can magnify the images, increase or decrease the contrast and invert the black and white values while reading the images. These features allow the radiologist to evaluate microcalcifications and focus on areas of concern. By offering women the latest technology in mammography, the centers hope to increase the number of area women who follow recommendations for regular screenings. 3D mammography is a significant advancement and can play a critical role in the early detection of breast cancer and fewer unnecessary call backs.

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projects. Teachers recognize the importance of a winter break for students, but some still assign work over the holiday break. When the holiday season starts to wind down, encourage youngsters to start working on their assignments, devoting some time each day to their schoolwork. This can help keep kids’ minds sharp while ensuring that their work gets done. Schedule some play time with friends. Children may be more anxious to return to school if they realize they’ll once again be able to see their school pals. Arrange a fun gathering of friends before kids return to school. Moms and dads can mingle while the children relax and have fun. Once the holiday season has come and gone, children may be not look forward to returning to school. But parents can employ a few strategies to make the transition back to the classroom go more smoothly.

An entire month of meals on the go and jaunts to the shopping mall, plus parties and various gatherings, can make it difficult for children to readjust to the structured environment of school.

The patient has the right to select the site for their mammography. Baptist M&S Imaging accommodates patients with managed healthcare plans and accept virtually all forms of insurance. Both sites are open Monday through Friday and the North Central location is open on Saturday. For appointments or additional information call 210-228-XRAY (9729) or visit our website BaptistMSImaging.com.

At right: Baptist M&S Imaging is very excited to provide 3D mammography, the newest technology for breast cancer detection.

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