January 2015 78259 for web by Russell Groomer

A Monthly Publication Directly Mailed to the residents of Encino Park, Evans Ranch, Redland Heights, Emerald Forest and surrounding areas POSTAL CUSTOMER

January 2015 Issue

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

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.

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January 2015 • Welcome Home • 78259

Wishing You A Happy New Year!

s ’ e n i t n e l a V k n u r T w o h S

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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

•

Stone Oak Business Association

January 2015 • Welcome Home • 78259

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

Call About Our Holiday Specials

Saturday, February 28, 2015 Events begin at 8:00 a.m. Tuscany Heights Elementary School 25001 Wilderness Oak San Antonio TX 78260

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All proceeds benefit the Tuscany Heights PTA

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 • 78259

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.

Seeing to your family’s needs

t Nevelow Eye Associates, we focus on the specific needs of each patient. Regular eye exams are key to healthy eyesight as well as early detection of certain diseases, including glaucoma, diabetic eye diseases and macular degeneration. We provide the l a t e s t fashions in glasses, all types of contact lenses as well as laser vision consultations for the entire family.

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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

Production/Graphic Design Marie Ferrante

Director Of Production Kristin Oliver

Distribution Israel Vazquez

Writer/Copy Editors Stefanie Young

Sales Representatives Patrice Long Katrina Cunningham Brittany Oliver

Administrative Assistant Sierra Hernandez Brittany Oliver

Staff Writers Debby Seguin

January 2015 • Welcome Home • 78259

Contributing Writers Barry and Michele Bibb Jennifer Bissen Rex Castillo Elisa Chan Stephanie Fincke Chasity Furse Mary Hogan Velizar Iliev Steve Johnson Tori Tyler Sandy Whitley

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On The Cover

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.

Come visit us to see what makes a Montessori education so valuable & unique! $250

By Stefanie Young hen Welcome Home heard about all the Johnson Theater department and their upcoming production of High School Musical, we jumped at the chance to invite the community! Come see the Johnson High School Fine Arts Department in action as they are proud to present High School Musical in the Johnson Auditorium on February 5 – 7 at 7:00 p.m. and February 8 at 2:00 p.m. The star crossed lovers, Troy Bolton, captain of his school’s The Cast of High School Musical took the time to tell us about their basketball team, and Gabriella experiences in rehearsal and their characters. Montez, a brainy student from is over the two exchange numbers and go another world, meet for the first time at a New Year’s Eve party. Both find their separate ways. Join the cast, faculty, themselves at the same ski resort celebrating and production team as they unfold this with their families against their will. The story filled with competition, love, fighting two teens find themselves not wanting to the odds and dilemmas. Tickets are $10 for general admission participate in the festivities until Troy picks up a microphone and invites Gabriella to and $12 for reserved seats. If you need more join him on stage where they sing karaoke information on tickets, please call (210) together and fall in love. Before the night 356-0613.

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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

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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 • 78259

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.

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January 2015 • Welcome Home • 78259

www.welcomehomesa.com

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 • 78259

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 • 78259

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!

What Do You Do When Your Child Has An Attention Problem?

By Leslie Jernigan, M.A. Learning Foundations Diagnostic and Learning Center 210-495-2626

hristmas vacation is over and you hoped that school would be a little bit better after your child had some time to rest, relax and decompress over the break. But it’s the ﬁrst week back and you’re already getting phone calls and emails from his teacher: “If he would only focus better,” “She does not want to follow instructions,” “He just won’t pay attention.” Sound familiar? A child’s ability to focus can be inﬂuenced by any number of things: time of day, type of activity and level of interest, fatigue, stress, even what the child has eaten for breakfast. Johnny may love hands-on learning and be active and engaged during his morning science class, but tune out during the social studies class that’s right before lunch. A child may be super-focused for hours on his iPad, but can’t sit still for more than 2 minutes in church or in math class. One

K9 Corner By Catherine Laria K9 Country Club (830) 980-8476

Trained To Trick

reason for this disparity is that a video game can provide a stream of constant and constantly changing stimuli that many real life situations can’t. Leading Attention Deﬁcit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) expert Russell Barkley has suggested that ADHD might better be termed Attention Dis-regulation Disorder because these students have difﬁculty regulating their attention and can seem to veer between inattention and hyper-focus. So is it your child’s fault that she can’t seem to pay attention? Is it YOUR fault? The answer is neither. A child with attention challenges often is unaware that she has shifted her attention. These shifts of attention are not intentional. She simply has not learned how to regulate her attention or even recognize when she is not paying attention. Kids with true ADHD are often bright and highly creative. I frequently hear from

ere you prepared for the rain and icy weather we received in November? By prepared, I mean, whatever did you do with that over active dog of yours? Many people are at a loss when they can’t follow their pet’s normal exercise routine. It’s proven that a tired dog is far better behaved in your house; therefore it is vital that your pet receive regular exercise no matter what the weather. With winter months upon us, you want to prepare now for alternatives to your daily walks or ball throwing. One way is trick training. Tricks are a great way to get the brain engaged and will

actually tire your dog out just as much as a short jog. One way to train a trick quickly is to ﬁnd something your dog is doing on his own, like stretching, sleeping on his back, or wiping his nose with his paw. Begin to anticipate this behavior and be ready to mark it with a “yes” and a reward, like a small treat. Once he is offering it repeatedly, you can name it like “Take a Bow”, “Roll Over”, or “Salute!” Be creative. Teach him to back up down the hallway or dance on his hind legs. Another indoor game is hide-and-seek, people or toys will work great. One tip is to train a word with the task. Take a good smelling treat, show it to your dog, hide it under a towel or cup in front of him, then

You’ll Get A Charge From This

By Rusty Belden, President Belden’s Automotive & Tires (210) 494-0017

i, Rusty Belden from our family at Belden’s Automotive & Tires. I recently came across a great article from Intune Magazine by AC Delco and wanted to take the time to share it with you: We’ve all been there – usually on a cold, winter morning – when a twist of the ignition key produces only a clicking sound instead of the sound of the engine starting. You may even get a slow, labored “rrr-rrr” sound instead that suggests the engine is ohso-close to starting, but the battery doesn’t have enough power to start the engine.

Even if a jumpstart gets your vehicle running, you’ll want to make time to have the battery inspected and tested – especially if you’ve got a few more months of winter temperatures to content with each morning. If it is indeed time for a new battery, you’ll likely encounter two speciﬁcations: Reserve Capacity (RC) and Cold Cranking Amps (CCA). RC is the measure of how long the battery will last without the engine running, such as if the headlights are inadvertently left on, while CCA is the power that can be pulled from the battery at

parents that their son or daughter is smart and seems to understand the material, but just can’t manage to get the schoolwork done. If this frustrates you, could you imagine how frustrating it is for your child? Although having the ability to process multiple trains of thought does lead to creative thinking, it also makes it difficult to focus and follow through with one idea. Your child may have all these great ideas, but doesn’t finish what she starts. When attention is focused inward, the tracking of time may be lost on children with ADHD. They may appear slow, irresponsible or inconsiderate of your time, but it is likely that they are simply unable to judge time accurately. So how do you teach your child to control his attention? Try teaching your child these four steps and have her practice using them at home and school: Help her begin to recognize what it feels like to be focused and what it feels like not to be focused. Guide her in becoming aware of what she give the command “Find It!” This will be an easy find and he will get immediately rewarded. After practice, when you hide something out of sight the first time, place a treat with it to encourage a longer search. Want to take it to the next level? Something we are really excited to announce is K9 Country Club’s fully equipped training and rehab room, opening January 2015. This room will feature a Dog Pacer treadmill, fit balls, massage table, Bosu Balls, wobble boards, videos to instruct, and games to inspire. It is going to be the perfect go-to room for training puppies, working on strengthening your canine athlete, or adding to your rehabilitation regiment. This will be an amazing addition to our already popular membership which includes a full field of agility equipment and a

0 degrees F for 30 seconds. And while CCA seems like the speciﬁcation to focus on, a battery with greater RC is more important for new vehicles loaded with electronic features. Belden’s Automotive & Tires offers a wide range of batteries for most cars, trucks, minivans and SUVs. The batteries come with a great limited warranty that includes free replacement* for 18 months, 30 months, or 42 months. On another note, did you know that Modern Cars don’t need a long warm up? Years back, motorists used to let their cars warm up in the driveway for a few minutes on a cold winter morning. There were good reasons for that, mostly because old cars used carburetors to mix air and fuel. Carburetors have long since been replaced with electronic fuel injection, which pretty much eliminated the need for wintertime warm-ups. A good rule of thumb is the freezing mark: If it’s above freezing,

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is doing when she is not focused on the task at hand. What is her body doing? How is she sitting? What does her breathing feel like? Identify what triggered the loss of attention. A tapping pencil? The ringing of a phone? Children playing outside the classroom? Help her develop a strategy for regaining focus. For example, “When I feel tired and get distracted, I will get up and stretch my legs and drink water.” Although many problems with attention are associated with ADHD, attention difficulties can be caused by inefficiencies cognitive processing. If your child is having difficulty staying focused in the classroom, the smart thing to do is to assess his or her processing skills. If there is an uneven pattern of strengths and weaknesses in your child’s processing skills, then 1 on 1 attention training is the most effective way to boost your child’s attention self-control and confidence. Leslie Jernigan, M.A., is Program Director and Diagnostician at Learning Foundations Diagnostic and Learning Center in San Antonio. Email questions or concerns about your child’s learning challenges to leslie@learningfoundations. com or call (210) 495-2626 for a Free Consultation.

swimming area for additional conditioning, rehab, training, and FUN! Check out more details on our website. K9 Country Club is located at 31305 Oak View, Bulverde TX 78163. For more information, call (830) 980-8476 or visit www.k9countryclub.net. no warm-up is needed. If it’s below freezing, a minute or two is all you need. Call Belden’s Automotive & Tires today to get your vehicle’s battery inspected and tested – especially since we still have a few more months of winter temperatures. Our family at Belden’s Automotive & Tires is here to help. Look us up online at beldensautomotive.com for money saving coupons. Buckle up, drive safe and Remember at Belden’s Automotive & Tires, “We Keep You Rolling!” --Rusty Belden, President of Belden’s Automotive & Tires Belden’s Automotive & Tires has Five Locations: San Pedro: 210-494-0017; Medical Center: 210-690-1100; Alamo Garage: 210-366-1122; Boerne: 830981-9700; Bulverde Rd.: 210-481-3330. For more information, call one of the locations or visit www.beldensautomotive. com.

January 2015 • Welcome Home • 78259

High School Musical “

Submitted By Tori Tyler ne of the biggest pop-culture phenomena’s in recent memory is coming to the Johnson High School Stage and it will definitely be something that is fun for the whole family. High School Musical is a modern day re-telling of Romeo and Juliet with a Grease flair. The star crossed lovers, Troy Bolton, captain of his school’s basketball team, and Gabriella Montez, a brainy student from another world, meet for the first time at a New Year’s Eve party. Both find themselves at the same ski resort celebrating with their families against their will. The two teens find themselves not wanting to participate in the festivities until Troy picks up a microphone and invites Gabriella to join him on stage where they sing karaoke together and fall in love. Before the night is over the two exchange numbers and go their separate ways. Back at school, Troy has to act like a jock with his friends to reassure them that he is serious about the team winning the big game. To Troy’s surprise, he sees Gabriella being shown around his school by the principal with Gabriella’s mother. Moments later they are in the same homeroom and reunited, only to land themselves in detention together.

January 2015 • Welcome Home • 78259

The musical that topped the music charts and broke records within weeks of its 2006 Disney Channels permiere has been the talk of Johnson High School student body since it was released that the theatre department would be bringing it to the stage.”

– Tori Tyler The two are brought back together when they both show an interest in auditioning for the school musical, much to the dismay of Sharpay and Ryan Evans, the brother and sister team who have been the leads in the school musicals since kindergarten. The twins start looking into Gabriella and her life at her previous school while Sharpay takes on flirting with Troy to put a stop to the possible competition for the lead roles. Troy and Gabriella start to take on their separate roles within the school, with Troy being the star basketball player and Gabriella being the new found intellectual, the two are asked to focus on events outside of the musical that they both audition for. With the captain of the basketball team auditioning and getting a call back for the school musical it throws the whole school into chaos. There is also a jock who becomes a chef, a brainy student who becomes a hip-hop dancer and a skater student who becomes a cello player. Everything comes to a head when the big basketball game, the Academic Decathlon and the callbacks for the musical all happen on the same day! Join the cast, faculty, and production team as they unfold this story filled with competition, love, fighting the odds and dilemmas. Jay Asterman, who opened Johnson High School seven years ago and helped start the Fine Arts department, will be directing a cast of 60 students plus another 30 students on the stage crew for this family –friendly show. Directing alongside him is Megan Thompson, who joined the Johnson

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High School Theatre Production team this year. Both are eager to introduce Chris Jones as the character of Troy Bolton, Christina Packard as the character of Gabriella Montez, Seth Huggins as the character of Ryan Evans, and Thea Peterson as the character of Sharpay Evans. The musical that topped the music charts and broke records within weeks of its 2006 Disney Channels premiere has been the talk of Johnson High School student body since it was released that the theatre department would be bringing it to stage. Getcha head in the game and come see the Johnson High School Fine Arts Department in action as they are proud to present High School Musical in the Johnson Auditorium on February 5 – 7 at 7:00 p.m. and February 8 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $12 for reserved seats. If you need more information on tickets, please call (210) 356-0613.

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

Pick up a SUBWAY® Card today and load it up with any cash amount. It can be used for any item in our restaurant, and it’s easier to wrap that a sandwich!

NO SEASON HAS TO BE

ALLERGY SEASON! Stone Oak Allergy 155 Sonterra Blvd., Ste. 101 San Antonio, TX 78258

Amanda Trott-Gregorio, MD Specializing in allergy, asthma, and immunology diagnosis, testing, and treatment for adults and children.

Same day appointments available. Call today!

www.stoneoakallergy.com • 210.494.0690

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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.

The Silent Thief of Sight

By Monica Allison, O.D. Stone Oak Vision Source (210) 495-9020

t can come with no warning and no noticeable symptoms. It is the second most common cause of blindness in the United States. “It” is glaucoma, the silent thief of sight. January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month and we encourage all people, especially those at higher risk for this disease, to familiarize themselves with the potential symptoms and need for regular eye examinations. A regular eye examination is especially critical since a person with early-stage glaucoma may not notice any symptoms at all. While the early stage symptoms may not be noticeable, a person with more advanced glaucoma may notice blurred vision, the presence of halos around lights, loss of peripheral vision, and difﬁculty focusing on objects. Glaucoma affects an estimated 4 million Americans. Some people are more at risk than others. Those at higher risk include: •People over the age of 60 •African-Americans over age 40

•People with diabetes •Individuals that have experienced a serious eye injury •Anyone with a family history of glaucoma While there is no cure for glaucoma, early detection and treatment can slow or prevent further vision loss. First and foremost in the process is a comprehensive eye health exam by your family eye doctor. We have the latest technology for diagnosing glaucoma at Stone Oak Vision Source. There is no extra charge for the glaucoma screening during your regular exam and if there is any suspicion of glaucoma, medical insurance will cover the additional testing. We accept most medical insurance plans. Drs. Monica Allison and Lindsey Denison practice at Stone Oak Vision Source located at 19202 Stone Oak Pkwy, Ste. 106. All of the doctors are members of Vision Source, the nation’s number one network of private practice optometrists. Founded in 1991, the Vision Source network includes more than 2,100 offices in all 50 states and Canada. If you or a loved one needs to find a family eye doctor, please call (210) 495-9020 or visit www. visionsource-stoneoak.com.

Tex Hill Dance At Winter Celebration Submitted By Chasity Furse he Tex Hill Dance Department had its ﬁrst ever performance at the Stone Oak Winter Celebration on Saturday, December 6th. The students all helped to donate toys for children in need right here in San Antonio. The 46 seventh and eighth grade dancers worked hard for two months on their jazz routine set to a mix of 50’s and 60’s songs. Mrs. Ward, the Tex Hill Dance teacher, was extremely excited to see her students’ hard work come to fruition in their performance! She knows how hard her students worked and could tell that it paid off! There was a great turn out to watch the Tex Hill Dancers. The students and Mrs. Ward would like to send out a special thank you to Mr. Jimenez (Tex Hill’s Principal),

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Tex Hill’s faculty and staff, family members, and friends that came to watch the performance! It was a wonderful ﬁrst performance for the department and the students along with Mrs. Ward. They are looking forward to more exciting performances in the future! The Tex Hill Dance Department’s spring performance will be in the Johnson High School Dance/Drill Spring Show on Saturday, May 2nd.

January 2015 • Welcome Home • 78259

& DIRECTORY

Medical Allergy & Immunology Family Allergy & Asthma Specialists Dr. John Mastrovich 20650 Stone Oak Pkwy., Ste. 106 Board Certified in Allergy/Immunology 342-6200 • www.faasonline.com

Allergy & Immunology

Stone Oak Allergy & Asthma Amanda Trott-Gregorio, MD Board Certified in Allergy/Immunology 155 Sonterra Blvd., Ste. 101 494-0690 • stoneoakallergy.com

Anti-Aging Enhancement of Life Dr. Donna Becker, D.O. 14603 Huebner Rd., Ste. 2601 545-5224 • www.antiagingsa.com Expert Hormone Replacement for Women & Men

Colon & Rectal Surgery San Antonio General Surgery Jorge L. Rincon MD, FACS 1162 E. Sonterra, Ste. 210 587-7744 www.sageneralsurgery.com

Professional

General Dentistry

Seguin, David R DDS 2235 Thousand Oak Dr., Ste. 120 At corner of Thousand Oaks Dr and Henderson Pass 496-2533 • see map pg. 19 www.drseguin-dentist.com

General Dentistry

Canyon Dental Care Jeff Beal, DDS & Justin Rich, DDS 3111 TPC Pkwy., Ste. 114, San Antonio, 78259 424-3611 www.dentalworks.com

General Dentistry

Dr. Perry E. Wood Family Dentistry, Cosmetics & Orthodontics 16616 San Pedro (281/Thousand Oaks) 491-9898 Accepts most insurance

General Dentistry

Garrison Family Dental Austin J Garrison DDS, Gary J. Garrison DDS 22100 Bulverde Rd., Ste. 114 494-7222 www.garrisonfamilydental.com

Internal Medicine

Orthodontics For Adults/Children

Internal Medicine of Stone Oak Lubna Naeem, M.D. 19272 Stone Oak Pkwy., Ste. 105 490-3800 Laser treatment, Botox, Skin care available

Schatz Orthodontics Eric Schatz, DDS 22610 U.S. Highway 281, Ste. 201 272-7129 www.alohasmiles.net

Ophthalmologist/Optometrist

Pediatric Dentistry

Alamo City Eye Physicians, P.A. J. Mark Berry M.D. William T. Walton M.D. 19026 Stone Oak Pkwy., Ste. 216 491-2020

Stone Oak Pediatric Dentistry Dr. “Susie” S. Hayden, DDS, P.A. 20322 Huebner Rd., Ste. 103 491-4141 www.drsusie.net

Ophthalmologist

Speech Therapy

Lynnell C. Lowry, M.D. Alamo Eye Institute Board Certified Ophthalmologist 18720 Stone Oak Pkwy., Ste. 119 697-3821

Speech & Language Center of Stone Oak Barbara A. Samfield 19272 Stone Oak Pkwy., Ste. 108 495-9944 www.stoneoakspeech.com

Optometrist

Urgent Care

Texas State Optical Renee Dunlap, O.D. 21019 U.S. Hwy. 281 N., Ste. 832 490-EYES (3937) www.stoneoaktso.com

Fossil Creek Urgent Care Clinic 22250 Bulverde Rd. (Corner of Evans Rd.) 401-8185 • www.fossilcreekurgentcare.com Open Late and Weekends Family and Pediatric Medicine

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 stateof-the-art Hologic™ 3D mammography. Two sites, North Central (502 Madison Oak Dr., Ste. 450) and the newest location in Schertz (16977 IH35 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 Baptist M&S Imaging is very excited to provide 3D mammography, the technology for breast cancer newest technology for breast cancer detection. detection, at two sites. screenings. 3D mammography is a Digital mammography is different from signiﬁcant advancement and can play a conventional mammography in how the critical role in the early detection of breast image of the breast is acquired and, more cancer and fewer unnecessary call backs. importantly, viewed. The radiologist can The patient has the right to select magnify the images, increase or decrease the site for their mammography. Baptist the contrast and invert the black and white M&S Imaging accommodates patients values while reading the images. These with managed healthcare plans and accept features allow the radiologist to evaluate virtually all forms of insurance. Both sites microcalciﬁcations and focus on areas of are open Monday through Friday and the concern. North Central location is open on Saturday. By offering women the latest technology For appointments or additional information in mammography, the centers hope to call 210-228-XRAY (9729) or visit our increase the number of area women who website BaptistMSImaging.com. follow recommendations for regular

Healthy Eyes Healthy Lives

January 2015 • Welcome Home • 78259

Many health issues can be detected with a comprehensive eye exam Renee T. Dunlap, OD Kara Farmer, OD

21019 US Hwy 281 NorthSan Antonio, TX 78258

210-490-EYES (3937) www.stoneoaktso.com

(In Stone Ridge Market • PetSmart)

Caring for the Eyes of Texas Since 1936

Stone Oak Dermatology “Experienced Care With The Personal Touch” Solo Private Practice

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• Medical, Surgical & Aesthetic Dermatology • Skin Cancer Screening & Prevention

Linda J. Banta, M.D. Board Certified Dermatologist

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109 Gallery Circle, Suite 135 • (210) 494-0504

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Se habla español. “Like Us" For Special Offers

Tejeda Students Open Board Meeting

Educator Of The Month Announced

Special To Welcome Home n Dec. 8, two students from Tejeda Middle School opened the North East ISD Board of Trustees meeting with the invocation and pledge. Both were selected based on their superior character and academic performance. In front of Trustee members, Executive Staff and guests, Tejeda students Rachel Morse led the invocation and Donovan Sanders led the Pledge to the U.S. and Texas ﬂags. Rachel is a straight A student in the Gifted and Talented program and is taking Pre-AP courses in all core content areas. Rachel excels in athletics and extracurricular activities, and is an exemplary leader and role model among her peers. Rachel was accompanied by her family – her parents, Robert and Sheila, and her brother Luke, who is a ﬁfth grader at Encino Park Elementary School. Donovan excels in his class work, as well as in extra-curricular activities and athletics. His teachers and coaches describe him as an encourager who is always courteous, professional, respectful and optimistic. Donovan was accompanied by his family – his mother Tanya Barnes, his brother Khy who is a second grader at Encino Park, and his aunt, Emily Barrera. A special recognition was also presented at the the board meeting for seven NEISD schools. Representatives from the American

Tejeda Students, Rachel Morse and Donovan Sanders, opened the North East ISD Board of Trustees meeting with the invocation and pledge.

Lung Association presented the schools with banners for earning the 2014 AsthmaFriendly Schools Initiative (AFSI) Gold Champion Award. NEISD is the only district in the country to have earned the gold-level award. In 2013, Camelot, El Dorado, and Larkspur elementary schools were the ﬁrst schools to ever achieve the AFSI Gold Champion Award. Congratulations were shared by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian G. Gottardy and trustees for Thousand Oaks, Olmos, Colonial Hills, Castle Hills elementary schools; Wood and Garner middle schools; and Lee High School.

This holiday season, gift your parents with the care they need to stay where they want most: at home. We can be there when you can’t. • 24/7 Live-in and Hourly Care • Customized Care Plans • Respite Care • Geriatric Case Management Call today for a free, no obligation assessment.

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Seema A. Dar, MD, FACG •Board Certified Gastroenterologist www.sagidoc.com

3338 Oakwell Court, Ste 205

19284 Stone Oak Pkwy

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(210) 268-0124

By Steve Johnson, Owner of College Nannies + Tutors t is an honor to once again recognize a local teacher as Educator of the Month for January. The owners of College Nannies and Tutors in Stone Oak, with the support of Welcome Home Newspaper established this monthly award to recognize educators in our area schools that personify our three core values of: Can Do Attitudes, Growth and Results Driven and Leave It Better. This month’s award recipient from Johnson High School displays these values consistently in his daily interactions with David has creative ways to share information and is the high school students. David Christie, always working early and staying late to incorporate like the awardees before him, has made a these ideas into his classroom. signiﬁcant, positive Role Model impact on Community Newspaper to recognize and the lives of our community students. David Christie is new to Johnson and honor the educators in our schools for their comes with great teaching experience, efforts with our local students. The quality taking the time to help other new teachers, of education in our community is primarily as well as his students. David has creative a direct reﬂection of their daily efforts ways to share information and is always as role models for our students. For more working early and staying late to incorporate information on this award, or to submit a these ideas into his classroom. He uses a nomination, please contact College Nannies variety of exciting resources and current + Tutors at 210-202-0303 or stoneoaktx@ + Full Service Childcare Solutions event videos to help students connect collegenannies.com. World Geography with their personal Full-time lives. | Part-time | Summer | After School | Babysitting | Back Up Ca He has a passion for making a difference + Customized Tutoring for College Bound Students for his students’ lives and their learning. Homework Help – All Subjects | ACT/SAT Prep | AP Support | Study Sk Mr. Christie’s energy is infectious for the teachers around him. He has quickly taken on a leadership role in the Social Studies department. The owners of College Nannies + Tutors | Stone Oak established this recognition with the support of Welcome Home

From Cradle to College We Suppor Your Family Every Step of the Way

Learning Center Now Open! 20079 Stone Oak Parkway | Ste 1104

A New Year’s Focus On Your Family

210.202.0303 collegenanniesandtutors.com/stoneoakt

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

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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.

January 2015 • Welcome Home • 78259

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,

January 2015 • Welcome Home • 78259

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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January 2015 • Welcome Home • 78259