A Monthly Publication Directly Mailed to the residents of Timberwood Park, Canyon Springs, Lookout Canyon, Riata Ranch and surrounding areas POSTAL CUSTOMER
July 2015 Issue
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID SAN ANTONIO, TX PERMIT NO 6450
North Central Baptist Hospital’s
10th Annual
Summer Celebration de a deca of summer fun!
Saturday, August 1 • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. North Central Baptist Hospital 520 Madison Oak Drive, San Antonio 78258 The first 500 attendees will receive a special 10th Anniversary gift! • FREE Stuffed Animal and Toy Check Up Clinic • FREE Family Photo at the “Summer Fun” Photo Booth • FREE Food • FREE Rides and Attractions including Rock Climbing Wall, Inflatable Obstacle Course, Trackless Train, Face Painting, Balloon Animals, and MORE! • FREE Health Screenings • REGISTER for our FREE Kid’s Cooking Workshop for ages 4-10 years at 10:30 a.m. and noon in Atrium Classroom 1A/1B. Call (210) 297-7005 to reserve your space. • FREE Live Entertainment and Performances. • $10 Athletic Physicals provided by Baptist Sports Medicine and their orthopedic doctors. A release form and parent permission forms will need to be signed on site.
Bring a New Backpack to donate to Living Through Giving and help local children in need
For more information call (210) 297-7005
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NorthCentralBaptist.com
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July 2015 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
Happy 4th of July!
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2015 Winter Celebration
Scavenger Hunt
JOIN THE FUN! With all levels of participation there is one to fit your businesses needs. Scavenger Hunt is a great way to participate in the community and get new business through your door. Diamond Gold Silver Bronze Which level will you be? Date:
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Time: Place:
10 am – 3 pm 502 Madison Oak (Parking Lot Across From North Central Baptist Hospital) FREE with the donation of a toy
Cost:
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2015 Winter Celebration Sponsor s
Hunt RSVP: (210)348–8233 • www.WelcomeHomeSA.com www.welcomehomesa.com
July 2015 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
Note From The Publisher
Enjoying San Antonio
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ast month Living Through Giving started their annual backpack drive, We Got Your Back, with the support of many of our local schools and businesses. We are hoping to collect 1000 backpacks so that kids in our community don’t have to start school without the basic need of having a backpack to carry their school supplies. Please visit livingthroughgivingsa.org to find drop off locations as this drive will continue throughout the summer. LTG will continue to have many events and drives to do what we can to make the lives of these children just a little better. Please consider becoming a sponsor or donating some of your services or time. A $10 donation will make a major difference in a child’s life here in San Antonio. As we celebrate our nation’s independence, I think about what our country represents to me. I am always proud to be an American, but during July, the feelings are especially strong. We are a nation of freedom. We are a nation that is allowed to have freedom of expression and to have our own opinion without fear of punishment or torture. As you travel to the coast or on your family vacation during the month of July, take a few minutes to reflect on the freedoms we have in this country. When you’re out and about in San Antonio and see different military men and women, take a few moments to thank them for their service and sacrifice to our country. The United States military is second to none. The sacrifices of our military are the reason we are allowed the simple freedoms we enjoy each day as citizens of America. July brings us to the heart of summer.
Many of us will be heading out to visit family or on a family road trip. While this year has brought plenty of rain remember to stay hydrated and keep your animals safe and out of the heat. If you are staying in the San Antonio area this summer go downtown and be a tourist for the day. San Antonio is up and coming and the downtown rehab project has brought a ton of new things to do. This city, while being Military City USA, also has a diverse cultural flair. I encourage you to check out the new restaurants and galleries in South Town, walk the Pearl on a Sunday morning and visit the artisans. July is also when we start preparing for our annual Winter Celebration. We are the first and largest event of our kind in San Antonio and it takes many hours of planning to make sure everyone has a great time. Winter Celebration is on its 15th year! Since partnering with Living Through Giving and North Central Baptist Hospital this event has grown to be more than we could have ever imagined. Like our Facebook page for updates on performers, vendors and Santa! If you have a group, organization or business that would like to be involved this year, please contact us at 210-348-8233. We are always trying to make our event better than it was the year before. Lastly, value those things in life that are truly precious, your loved ones and your freedom. Sincerely,
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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
Administrative Assistant Brittany Oliver
Director Of Production Kristin Oliver
Staff Writers Debby Seguin
Writer/Copy Editors Stefanie Young
Contributing Photographer Karen Little
Production/Graphic Design Marie Ferrante
Sales Representatives Patrice Long Heather Jemente Sierra Hernandez
Distribution Israel Vazquez
July 2015 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
Enjoy an afternoon of great camaraderie with Live Music, Trivia and Super Bingo at our
Contributing Writers Jeff Baker Jason Gordon Steve Johnson Donna Olson Risa Weinberger
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RSVP to (210) 209-8956 by July 27th
20500 Huebner Road, San Antonio, Texas 78258 www.independencehill.com
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On The Cover By Stefanie Young he City of San Antonio does a fantastic job of creating an amazing atmosphere for celebrating any holiday season, especially outdoors. There will be plenty of parades, barbecues, fireworks, and sporting events taking place if you don’t already have plans for the holiday weekend. During these events, the Welcome Home staff hopes you will join them in reflecting on the meaning of “Independence”. We would like to thank those who have served, lost someone to a national cause and to those who work to make this nation better each day. Sometimes we forget how we got to where we are, or how many resources we actually have regularly that other’s many not. This is a great city that we live in within one of the best countries Mother Earth has to offer, so live it up! Welcome Home hopes you exercise your family traditions to the fullest, enjoy great food and see some bright skylit horizons this fourth. Happy Fourth of July and remember to be safe!
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Family Life
If Nature Calls, DON’T Answer! By Debby Seguin
It all started with an episode of “Little House on the Prairie.” The family had to camp under the stars and we all thought that camping looked like fun. Oh, if only you could edit real life like a movie! You could start by cutting the two weeks of preparation for a two-night stay. At home, we tend to take things like bandaids, foot spray, Q-tips, food for five, paper towels, lighter fluid, potable water, wash rags, towels, and clothing for unknown temperature ranges, for granted. Taking it all with you is whole other story. We packed and piled, and piled and packed, everything in the dining room. I looked at all the stuff and while calculating the cost of a mid-size U-Haul, thought, “Heck, why not just stay here and go mountain climbing?” We could also edit personality styles. Mine is the “figure it out as you go” personality,
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which hubby calls scatterbrained, whereas I prefer the more positive “creative freespirit,” which is normally very attractive until you get to the campsite and everyone starts demanding clean underwear and food of all things. My husband, whom I refer to as “Germ Guy,” although he prefers the more positive “hygienically perceptive,” (which is normally attractive until you are forced to sterilize the weenie fork in between marshmallows), has just begun his inventory list of various disinfectants, bug sprays, Ebola vaccine and tsetse fly netting. I am in the car with the engine running while he has barely started alphabetizing his vitamin and herb supplements into his compartmentalized container (necessary lest we succumb to vitamin deficiency on our 48 hour diet of s’mores and lukewarm weenies). Lastly, we could edit out the unlimited variety of crawly creatures, which either buzz, sting or eat everything except concrete. I own a “sounds of nature” CD that features tranquil sounds of rushing water and a variety of birdsong, which is very relaxing. But at 5 a.m., real birdsong sounds more like a college kegger, which I am in no mood for after a midnight battle with a tent flap sporting an attitude. Despite these “edits,” there are some things I would leave in: Bacon frying in the crisp, morning air, our kids playing Frisbee and fishing down by the lake instead of watching TV, my husband COOKING (oh, I mean “grilling”), and not thinking once about bills or chores or how we are going to pay for college. Come to think of it, we may go camping again real soon… Debby Seguin can be reached at writewell62@yahooI’llnevercampagain. com
July 2015 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
The Importance Of Family Dinners By Steve Johnson, College Nannies + Tutors itting down around the dinner table as a family may or may not be a regular habit in your family. Kids activities, busy work schedules, and TV time may be a few things getting in the way, but be sure to make sitting down with one another a priority. Preparing and eating dinner together encourages family bonding, creates a tradition, and instills an overall healthier lifestyle for your kids. Family Bonding Encouraging everyone to gather around the dinner table allows you to open the lines of communication between you and your children. Utilize this time to ask how school, their peers, and other activities are going in their lives. Talking about their daily activities will encourage them to come to you with other issues, and create a healthy
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bond between you and your family. Creates Tradition Eating around the dinner table on a regular basis, once established, will become more “normal” than not gathering together. If you are a typical family, some days of the week are busier for your family than others. If that is the case, make sure that you are preparing a family meal around the table on the days where it is possible to do so. These habits will stick with your family for years to come, and may be a tradition your children carry on. The benefits will be well worth the effort! Healthier Habits Eating together increases your family’s level of health in many ways. Not only are you eating a home cooked meal instead of eating out at a restaurant or preparing quick packaged food—you are encouraging healthy habits for your children. Eating
family dinners regularly lowers the risk of obesity in kids and teens. It also encourages better grades and imposes a routine that decreases the chances of getting caught up in less desirable behavior. Increasing the number of times each week your family has dinner together holds many benefits for both you and your children. Making it a priority will increase family bonding and build your relationship with your kids. It will create a tradition that will hold true for years to come, and will promote healthier and more positive outcomes for them. The staff at College Nannies and Tutors encourages you to check out fun and easy recipes to make for your family. There are several great recipes on the College Nannies and Tutors’ Kid-Friendly Recipes board on Pinterest at www.pinterest. com/collegenannies/kid-friendly-recipes.
Wanna Have Some Fun In Your Mouth?
Got Your Back 2015 By Stefanie Young o many children in Bexar County will begin the school after the summer without a backpack. At Living Through Giving [LTG], they feel that shouldn’t be the case and have begun their annual event, “Got Your Back”. After collecting more than 800 backpacks during the 2014 backpack drive, LTG has started collecting backpacks with participating schools and businesses. LTG
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19141 Stone Oak Pkwy
(210) 494-5858
will aim to break that record and collect new and slightly used backpacks to give to needy children for the upcoming school year. The purpose of the drive is to help children begin the year with the tools necessary to succeed. “Being able to see the children’s faces light up while going through the backpacks, is such an emotional sight,” Russell Groomer, Living Through Giving founder and owner of Welcome Home Community Newspaper said. “Living Through Giving
10003 NW Military Hwy
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July 2015 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
strives to make an impact in these children’s lives as best as we possibly can.” Living Through Giving will be accepting backpacks or cash donations that will be used to purchase school supplies and other needs for children in the San Antonio area. If you, your business or school would like to join them in their cause, or if you have any questions, contact them at 210-384-8233.
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Bio-Identical Hormones: Blood Levels Necessary
By Donna Becker, D.O. Enhancement of Life (210) 545-5224 any doctors and even some pharmacists will give a woman hormones without ever checking a blood level. People vary tremendously in their requirements for hormones. I have patients who take Estradiol 10mg to achieve a blood level of 35-75 and others who need only 0.5mg for the same optimal result. But think about it: would any doctor give the same dose of insulin or thyroid to every patient? Of course not. In my practice are many nurses and
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doctors, including dentists, veterinarians, and medical doctors. One such professional came to me saying that she was still having terrible hot flashes. She had self-prescribed the highest dose of premarin, a synthetic estrogen derived from pregnant mare’s urine, with a synthetic progesterone-like medication. I explained to her that I only prescribe bio-identical hormones, the exact copy of the hormones that humans make in their reproductive years. I needed blood work: estradiol,
Discoveries Thru Vision By John M. Nevelow, O.D. Nevelow Eye Associates (210) 349-2437 • www.drsnevelow.com previous years when the cataract needed to be more mature or the term “ripe” was used. veryone will get cataracts if we live However, we are not picking fruit and “ripe” long enough. It is the natural ageing was not the best term to use. The world process of our eyes. Our parents or population is aging and cataract surgery is grandparents may not have lived long enough the most common surgery performed around for the surgery but probably had cataracts in the world. their later years. Besides the type of cataract Cataracts take years to develop and the surgery performed today works better vision changes are slow to progress until our when the cataracts are newer rather than in
Cataract Surgery
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progesterone, testosterone, as well as 2-3 pages of detailed blood work to accurately and correctly prescribe the hormones necessary to replicate herself at about age 30, the first 7-10 days of her cycle. Young women’s hormones do vary, depending on the day of their cycle. Unable to correct her moodiness, hot flashes, insomnia, and night sweats, she agreed to blood testing. Her blood levels revealed that she actually had too much estradiol, although she was suffering with hot flashes! I eliminated her temperature dysregulation and hair-trigger moodiness by giving her bioidentical estradiol as a patch, oral micronized progesterone as a capsule, and a precisely measured amount of potent testosterone cream applied to the labia minora nightly. Testosterone cream applied in this manner helps to keep the delicate tissues taunt and improve libido. Breast and uterine cancer may be increased with any type of hormone
therapy. Studies are on-going. Blood clots which could lead to heart attack and strokes also may be increased by any type of hormone therapy. We do know in the WHI study, the women taking only the synthetic estrogen did NOT suffer an increase of breast cancer, but when progestin was added, invasive breast cancer did occur. So definitely stay away from the synthetic progesterone like drugs—take only progesterone. Progesterone is so safe it is prescribed to pregnant women under certain circumstances. Get tested, know your blood levels. Get the precise amount of hormones prescribed that your blood levels dictate. 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.
natural lens becomes cloudy enough to affect our daily activities. The current surgery performed breaks up the old opaque lens of our eye and a new artificial lens is placed in the same position as the original lens. This allows light to pass thru the clear lens to the retina improving our vision. The surgery takes about 15 minutes and is performed with a local anesthetic. Only one eye is operated on and then the second eye is operated on at a later date. The patient has improved vision the next day. The newest development in cataract surgery is the introduction of a laser. This laser helps breakup the old lens in a more consistent and precise manor. This helps the surgeon obtain better results than the previous method. The first patients in the
morning to the last patient of the day have consistent results. The laser portion of the surgery is at this time not covered by insurance or Medicare. It is not considered the “standard of care” by them. Nevelow Eye Associates co-manage cataract surgeries and we have seen a difference in outcomes with the laser. Dr.’s John and Erin Nevelow would be happy to discuss this surgery or other options with you and help determine if you would benefit from this latest technology. Should you want any further information about this topic or other eye or vision concerns call our office at 210.349.2437 or email at jmnevelowod@satx.rr.com. You can also look us up on Facebook. Come in or call about our summer specials.
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Nevelow Eye Associates • 19190 Stone Oak Pkwy, Ste. 120 • 210.349.2437
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July 2015 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
Stone Oak Business Association Announces Scholarship Award Winners Tonima Ramee Saleh
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he Stone Oak Business Association is proud to announce its 2015 SOBA Scholarship recipients.
SOBA awarded $1,000 to five Ronald Reagan and Johnson High School graduating seniors as part of its commitment to investing in the community and its future leaders. Scholarship award selection was based on GPA, letters of recommendation, school and community activities and involvement, as well as two student essays. Funds for the scholarship program were provided by SOBA’s annual business expo. The Business Association would like to thank all the students who submitted their application and wish them, along with the scholarship recipients, a memorable path toward furthering their education and bettering themselves.
SarahGrace Freeman SarahGrace has lived in the Stone Oak area for twelve years. She attended Hardy Oak and Wilderness Oak elementary, Lopez Middle School and Reagan High School. During her four years at Reagan she has involved herself in both extracurricular activities as well as service organizations. She has competed on the varsity track and varsity soccer teams serving as a senior captain. As a member of PALs, a peer leadership and mentorship program, she has led service projects and mentored at-risk elementary children.
Tonima Ramee Saleh is a senior at Ronald Reagan High School and is heavily involved in community and school activities. At school, she was SecretaryGeneral of the Model United Nations club, winning various awards and organizing the school’s own conference. She was also team captain of Academic WorldQuest, UIL Social Studies and Current Events, and co-captain of the Reagan Quiz Bowl team. Her interest in international relations and politics lead her to Japan as part of the Kakehashi Project after being selected by the Japanese government to help promote US-Japan relations. Outside of school, Tonima is heavily involved with volunteer work. For the past four years she has been an assistant swim instructor for Kinetic Kids, an organization that provides recreational activities for children with special needs. She also spends her summers teaching at SA Youth, an organization that mentors the city’s inner-city youth, because of her passion for reforming public education. Tonima hopes to combine her passion for service -- interest in Foreign Service and Public Service -- by majoring in Sociology and Policy Studies at Rice University.
Kayla Shapiro
The greatest value to her is her commitment to Jesus and making him known. She is highly involved in her church, CrossBridge, and has traveled to Mexico, Africa, and Spain to serve those in need and spread the good news of Jesus’ love. SarahGrace plans to attend Baylor University where she will study engineering and Spanish, with the goal of mastering the language and putting her engineering skills to use in an underdeveloped country. She has enjoyed being a part of the Stone Oak community and looks forwarding to starting her college career in Waco—Sic ‘em Bears!
Kayla Shapiro will graduate Summa Cum Laude from Ronald Reagan High School and is the daughter of Michael and Vicki Shapiro. Kayla is an All-State Band musician and is an officer and section leader in the Reagan Band. She is the Undersecretary General for the Reagan Model United Nations Team and is a five time Best Delegate at national conventions. She is a National Merit Commended Scholar, member of National Honor Society, and an active member of her Robotics team. Kayla plans to study biomedical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.
Paige Whittington Christopher Joseph Originally from New Zealand, Christopher moved to Texas from Alabama in 2008, enrolled at Tejeda Middle School and then Johnson High School. At Johnson, Christopher is one of the drum majors of the award winning Johnson High School marching band which placed first in both Bands of America competitions attended this year. He also plays saxophone in the wind ensemble and first jazz band at Johnson. He has also taken multiple study abroad business trips to Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore with St. Mary’s University. Christopher is also one of the founding members of a chemistry research and design group at Johnson, which received multiple grant awards from the Air Force Education Fund as well as the North East Education fund. Christopher is attending the PACT program at the University of Texas at Dallas which is an accelerated medical program that guarantees him to acceptance Southwestern Medical School class of 2022.
July 2015 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
Paige Whittington is a graduating senior from Ronald Reagan High School who is strongly involved in band and academics. She is a member of several honor societies, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta (a math honor society), and Spanish Honor Society, and she is one of three students in the never before offered multivariable calculus class at her school. Along with graduating fifth in her class, Paige has pursued academics outside of school such as through her involvement in NASA’s High School Aerospace Scholars Project in which she completed months of online coursework before traveling to the Johnson Space Center to design a mission with NASA engineers. Apart from academics, she is an active member of the Reagan marching band, wind ensemble, and symphony orchestra, and she has earned the positions of Vice President of Music, Flute Line Leader, and principle flute player. After high school, Paige will be attending the University of Texas at Austin and majoring in aerospace engineering. She will continue pursuing her passion for music by playing the flute while mastering her exciting yet difficult major.
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Which Financial Documents Should You Keep On File? …And For How Long?
life of the policy plus three years. Medical records and health insurance. Keep these documents around for five years after the end of any major treatment. If you can claim medical expenses, keep them for seven years. Client Centric Wealth Management may be reached at 210-807-7599 or www. ccwmgmt.com 19230 Stone Oak Parkway, Suite 315, San Antonio, Tx, 78258. Eric Zeitler, Eric Weissgarber and Michael Simpton offer securities through Sigma Financial Corporation. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Sigma Planning Corporation, a registered investment advisor. Client Centric Wealth Management is independent of Sigma Financial Corporation and SPC.
K9 Corner
Move your walks to cooler hours and bring water for Fido. Pavement gets very hot, and although your sneakers protect your feet, their paw pads aren’t so lucky. Keep activities short. Remember they may not want the game to stop (this includes chasing butterflies in the back yard). You can also, spend your days playing at the cool Beach Club at K9 Country Club! Whatever your solutions are, you need to be in control of the situation because it’s so much better to prevent it then to watch them suffer through it. K9 Country Club is located at 31305 Oak View, Bulverde TX 78163. For more information, call (830) 980-8476 or visit www.k9countryclub.net.
By Eric Zeitler Client Centric Wealth Management (210) 807-7599 Investment statements. Organize the any people have financial annual statements by type: IRA, 401(k), documents scattered all over the house. If this describes your “filing mutual fund, brokerage statements. Retain system,” you may have a tough time keeping the record of your original investment in a fund or a stock. tabs on your financial life. Bank statements. Keep the last three Organization will help you, your advisors ... and even your heirs. If you’ve years on file. Credit card statements. Keep statements got a meeting scheduled with an accountant, financial consultant, mortgage lender or detailing tax-related purchases for seven insurance agent, take an hour or two to put years. Mortgage documents, mortgage things in good order statements and HELOC statements. Keep Here is what you should have: mortgage statements for the ownership
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By Catherine Laria K9 Country Club (830) 980-8476
Hot Fun In The Summer Time!
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exas weather has been all over the map but what we can always count on is the heat! So I want to remind you of the seriousness of heatstroke in your pet. All too often people think their dog will stop playing if they feel overheated or will cool themselves down. Not True! Dogs
don’t sweat like humans, so cooling down is more difficult. And the overactive dogs don’t know when to quit. Prevention is best but if you notice any of the following signs you must take action. If your pet seems listless, wobbly, pants rapidly, has labored breathing, glazed eyes, and/or red, hot ears, he may be suffering from heatstroke. At this point, just drinking water is not enough. If possible, immerse your pet in cool water (not ice cold) or lay
period of the property plus seven years. Keep your mortgage documents for the ownership period of the property plus ten years. Your annual Social Security benefits statement. Keep the most recent one. Federal tax returns. The IRS wants you to keep three years of federal tax records on hand, and up to seven years to be really safe. Payroll statements. If you own a business or are self-employed, retain your payroll statements for seven years just in case the IRS comes knocking. Insurances. Life, disability, health, auto, home … you want the policies on file, and you want policy information on hand for the
wet towels on him. You can apply ice packs to the head, neck, or belly and rubbing alcohol to the paw pads. While trying to cool your pet, contact your veterinarian or the emergency hospital. Provide adequate shade and fresh water outside. Consider a summer cut for longer haired dogs. Be careful not to have your dog shaved to the skin. Did you know dogs can sunburn? DON’T EVER leave pets inside the car! Even with the windows down, the temperature inside a car can reach 120 degrees in just 10 minutes! I’ve witnessed first-hand the aftermath of a dog that has died after accidentally being left in a closed car. It is a horrible, horrible death. PLEASE, don’t risk it!
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July 2015 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
Breaking Tradition
Students Tell Their Story About Being At-Risk & Overcoming Odds
By Stephen Bridge
By Aladriann Harper
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he days grew longer and longer as I awaited the arrival of what I thought would be the beginning of my life, the acceptance letter to a nearby early college academy. This school would give me the opportunity to earn a high school diploma as well as an associate’s degree. The acceptance letter had finally arrived and I was indeed accepted. The two years that I attended this non-traditional high school were fabulous. I had learned more than expected about college life and I also gained new friends, but like any school where there are friends and there are foes. These foes came in multiples of two it had seemed. People that were once my friends exchanged their kindness for trickery and so the bullying began. It began out as something simple words and remarks as I passed. It then transformed into pushing and shoving. Then finally it merged into lies and not just any types of lies. I was not afraid that the bullying wouldn’t end but that my parents would over hear these lies and see me in a different light. I would not shame my family and I could not put myself in a ridiculous situation so I packed up my things and I left for a traditional high school. The hardest thing I had to ever see in my life was the look on my mother’s face. The disappointment I had caused my mother to endure. I was ashamed of myself for letting those kids get the best of me, but this was a choice I had to make and live with. There was no going back now. The new high school was okay. I just had this feeling in my heart as if this is not where I belonged. So I set off in search of my home. Somewhere I would not be judged. Somewhere I can learn and finish and my own pace. Somewhere that I felt welcomed. After weeks of research I found ACE. It was strange. The same feelings that I had endured for JECA were now residing in my chest. I had once faced the conflict of belonging and bullying and now that I had been accepted into ACE those worries were obsolete. While I was attending ACE I had the opportunity to work with very driven teachers. Teachers who desired their students to graduate more than some students wanted it for themselves. Whenever I had got distracted or fell asleep from the night before my teachers were pleasant and pushed me to do my best. It took me months of perseverance and dedication to overlook the hardships I had endured. The disappoint I caused. I had to become 100% honest with myself that this was not those kids fault at JECA, this was my own. This was my decision and I am glad that I had finally made the right one this time.
July 2015 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
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went to five different high schools during my high school career. The last time I moved was the worst however, because I moved to a place that I had never been before. The other times I had moved was into a place that I had been around at some point in my life so it wasn’t as bad. Moving to San Antonio was easy but hard at the same time. We got away from my mom’s ex fiancé. My brother and I never liked him since the day we met. However my mom had no other choice then to live with him because she couldn’t support her two sons by herself. Later that year my brother had decided to move down with us when his probation period was over. He was ready to have a new start with us. We planned for a month when he was coming down. Since he had finished paying court fees and even did a little extra community service his probation officer agreed to him being transferred to San Antonio. Just two days before he was due to arrive we got a phone call from the police department saying he had been in an accident. We drove from San Antonio all the way to Dallas at 2 a.m. When we arrived they had no good news for us. I felt like my life was over when we were given this news. For two weeks afterwards I didn’t go to school. I tried going some days but it was just so hard. Everyone knew I was gone. I didn’t have a problem initially saying what had happened but after a while it just started to get to me. I couldn’t stay there anymore with everybody asking me these questions so I just left. I walked right out the front door and nobody stopped me. This started to become a problem and the school had noticed as well. They did not push me to come to school because they knew my brother was murdered. They didn’t want to push me into doing anything I didn’t want to. They worked with some of my teachers so I would not have to completely redo my second half of my junior year. I appreciated that a lot and took four and a half months off of school. The counselors at the school recommended I attend ACE since it was hard for me to stay a whole day at school. I was reluctant at first to attend ACE. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for it yet. Thankfully my mom really pushed me to go. Since then I really started to like ACE. I feel if I hadn’t gone here I really might have never graduated high school. While at ACE I participated in Habitat for Humanity. I liked the idea of helping out other people. Coming to ACE has changed my mind set. I thought I knew what I would like to do when I finished high school. I wanted to just go get a job and be done with school. I was just sure that the last school I might go to would be a trade school. Going to ACE has made me want to continue my education so that one day I could be the one teaching.
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By McKenna Lazarin efore I came to ACE I was attending Churchill High School. During that time, I had a boyfriend who I had known since I was young, and I truly believed hr was my world. Things took a turn for the worse with him and it pulled my focus completely out of school and entirely onto us. He became incredibly abusive and cheated on me countless numbers of times. I went from being a student in the top ten percent, to a girl teachers barely ever saw. The beginning of my junior year I was in five AP classes, balancing a job, and trying to still be a teenager at the same time. I was a wreck from my incredibly poor self-esteem due to the relationship. My mother was finding out about my self-destructive coping methods such as cutting myself, self-medicating with prescription pills, and drug use. Things were just spiraling downwards for me at an incredibly rapid rate; it was mortifying once I realized I was throwing away my incredibly bright future all on my own. That is what made me decide to come to ACE. Upon my first days at ACE, my attitude had already changed tremendously. I knew how wonderful of an opportunity it was to work as fast I wanted to, with having all the teachers I needed practically at my disposal. It was a little difficult prioritizing my classes on my own, of course you want to stay in the room with your friends to chat with but you know you have to be across the building taking a placement test. Eventually I grew more disciplined as graduating was becoming more realistic. The closer I was, the harder I was pushing myself to finish. I attended ACE for four months and not only did I finish on time, but actually five months earlier than my graduating class at the age of seventeen. I learned that with a little help and motivation, anything is obtainable. The teachers were always willing and happy to help; in fact I believe they enjoyed it because they could see the joy in the student’s eyes when they knew they were accomplishing something that they once viewed as an obstacle. The teachers helped me find the best me, the person I had lost years ago and was afraid would never come back. They made you feel like anything you accomplished, big or small, was something to be proud of and view as a step to your own personal success.
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The Spring Branch Middle School Cheerleaders.
Submitted By Donna Olson he SBMS Cheerleaders are gearing up for another big year! With Coach Stephanie Hoover at the helm, the team is looking forward to working together and getting to know each other. The first order of business for the squad is attending the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) camp at UT Austin in July, where they will have the opportunity to hone and showcase their skills. Exciting times ahead for this talented group of girls! Please welcome the
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T.H.E. Reaps Benefits From Girl Scout Gold Project
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2015/2016 SBMS cheerleaders: Front row: Kelsi Klingelhefer, Hannah Ford, Cadence Chacon, Sarah Thorpe, Paulina Martinez, Sunny Robles, Kaylee Villa, Lauren Gonzales Middle row: Madison Rogers, Selah Kossl, Rylie Young, Carly Bair, Kylie Rodriguez, Ciana Nanney, Gracie Oquin, Miranda Rodriguez Back row: Clay Long, Kelsey Nix, Madilyn Guy, Peri Olson, Madi Harwell, Brianna Grell, Hailey Gray, Megan Hawks
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Submitted By Risa Weinberger, Girl Scout Volunteer ameryn Manley, a member of Girl Scout Troop #11, has been working with the students at Tuscany Heights Elementary to help them learn the importance of growing fresh and eating fresh vegetables. For her Gold Award Project, Cameryn designed 14 garden boxes for the classes to use for gardening projects. During the winter break, she gathered a group of helpers to create the garden boxes. To prepare the students for their gardening experience, Cameryn read a book to the all of the first graders about planting a garden. She also prepared growth charts of a variety of vegetables for the elementary teachers. The teachers were then able to choose which types of plants their classes were going to plant in their assigned boxes. The children learned that planting a garden is easy and the produce can be very tasty. Cameryn chose this project because “it is my hope that more kids will eat more fresh vegetables and less fast food. I am worried about the climbing causes of childhood obesity.” According to the teachers at Tuscany Heights, they love the hands-on learning experiences they can share with their students. “Thanks to Cameryn Manley’s Girl Scout Gold Award Project, the students at Tuscany Heights Elementary are getting a hands-on experience about how easy and fun gardening can be.” The kindergarten students are very eager to see how their plants are doing and look for new plants sprouting from the ground. Congratulations to Cameryn Manley
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For her Gold Award Project, Cameryn designed 14 garden boxes for the classes to use for gardening projects.
for creating this very meaning project for a group of young impressionable students. Hopefully they will make healthier food choices for the rest of their lives.
July 2015 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
Take Charge Of Your Retirement Destiny
By Michelle Houriet, Executive Director Independence Hill Retirement Resort Community (210) 209-8956 s we age, most of us want to live yourself is key. Start today by attending the independently as long as possible. Independence Hill Assisted Living Open The last thing we want is to burden House on July 30th 4:00pm - 6:00pm. You our children who are working or recently will be pleasantly surprised by the unique retired themselves, and have their own lives way we have brought the beauty of the outside and responsibilities. It was once the norm into our atriums, the extensive calendar of to move in with your children, but seems events, and touching relationships between to no longer be the preference for aging our team and residents. adults. Seniors are now planning ahead for While you are there you can also learn their future and choosing their retirement about our other communities within the community so their children do not have to same campus that offer independent full make that choice for them. It really appears service apartments/cottages and a resortto be a “win-win” for everyone! style neighborhood of homes for active Living in a retirement community allows adults 55+. Like anything else, planning you many freedoms, as you do not have to ahead is empowering and will allow you rely on your family for daily needs, such as to choose your destiny. At Independence transportation or your social calendar. It is Hill Retirement Community, the Lifestyle also wonderful to have great meal options Specialists have years of experience helping and great friends to dine with. Establishing seniors find the best place to call “home”! great friendships with people your own age We would love to help you with making who share your common interests and giving your retirement decisions come true. Please you the freedom to visit with your family RSVP by July 27th at (210) 209-8956 for for those memorable times… this lifestyle our Open House. gives you the best of both worlds! There Cheers to your Happy Retirement! is definitely something to be said about Independence Hill Retirement Resort maintaining your privacy and having your Community is located in Stone Oak at own place to hang your hat! 20450 Huebner Rd., San Antonio, TX If you have not looked in to a retirement 78258. For more information, call (210) community yet, it is never too early. 209-8956 or visit www.independencehill. Deciding on a community that is the best com fit for your lifestyle is very important and visiting communities to experience it for
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A Special “Thank You” from July 2015 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
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One Of A Kind: Texas Hill Country Peaches
By Tanji Patton GoodTaste (210) 273-3155 ave you tried the Hill Country peaches yet? The juicy Texas treats are already popping up on restaurant menus—my first taste of the sweet sensations was recently at Zinc Wine Bar and Bistro where they were served with an ice cream creation, and Twin Sisters whipped their stash into a tangy, sweet jam that was part of a tasty turkey sandwich with goat cheese. YUM!
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When they arrive each summer unscathed by late frosts or spring hails, many Texans breathe a sigh of relief...including yours truly! Telling someone that Hill Country peaches are in is almost as much a part of summertime conversation as talking about the heat. Peach stands have already set up shop along roadsides, which is why we’ve gathered together some of our favorite peach
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fixings for the season. Word is the crop looks to be the best since 2010, and all this rain has made for a bountiful harvest! Perhaps the best variety of all, the Freestones, will be here soon! Why not raise a glass to that good news with a Frozen Peach Margarita or a Peach Nectar Champagne (I use Enza Prosecco) each made with real ripe Texas peaches. Those refreshing drinks are just the starters—we assembled some delicious peach dishes http://goodtaste.tv, some from very high profile chefs and some from often the best chef of all—Mom! Everything from a tangy peach and pecan salad from our friend Chef Danny Trace at Brennan’s of Houston to simple cinnamon and spice peaches done on the grill courtesy of our friends at H-E-B Cooking Connection. We even have the recipe for Peach Kolaches from Chef Denise Mazal at Little Gretel in Boerne. There are many more! In addition to the great peach recipes, we also have links to many of the Hill Country spots where you can buy or pick your own perfect peaches! While you’re on Goodtaste.tv, be sure to sign up for a chance to win a two night stay at the luxurious Houstonian Hotel and Spa that includes treatments at the award
winning Trellis Spa. Cheers! Tanji is an Emmy award winning journalist pursuing her passion for wine and food. Tanji explores the inviting worlds of chefs, wine makers and culinary newsmakers. If you would like more information, she can be reached at Goodtaste@tanjipatton.com.
Bring Coastal Grilling To Your Backyard By Blake Groomer Groomer’s Seafood (210) 377-0951 an’t make it to the coast this summer? Bring the coast to you and to your grill! Enliven your backyard recipe repertoire by swapping the standbys -burgers, steaks, and chicken -- for something from the sea. Whether you go for fish, shrimp skewers, lobster or more, there’s something here at Groomer’s Seafood for every taste! I love cooking seafood on the grill because it’s so fast and, because most seafood is relatively mild, it readily absorbs smoky flavors. Also, as many know, seafood is super-healthy—it’s an excellent source of lean protein and some types of fish, such as salmon, are phenomenal sources of omega-3 fats, which are good for your heart and your mental health. But, seafood can be intimidating if you’ve never grilled it before and the possibility of ruining a meal can be daunting when making your summertime menus. With a few tips and tricks of the trade though, you’ll find that you too, can be a seafood grilling master! First step when grilling anything, especially fish, is to preheat your grill on high. This does a number of things. Bringing the grill up to temperature will help in caramelizing the fish and provide the defined grill marks that supply the immense flavor all grillers love. Having the grill preheated will also lessen the amount of time your fish is on the grill, resulting in less opportunity for your fish to dry out. The second trick; use plenty of oil! Be sure after you scrape your grill grates clean with a grill brush, to oil the grill rack to reduce the chance of sticking. Third, the most common question; how long do I cook it? Use the Canadian cooking method! Do 5 minutes per side per inch of thickness. So if you have 1 inch thick steak of swordfish, cook for 5 minutes on one side, flip, and 5 minutes on the other and you’re
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done! It’s really that simple and so delicious. If you’re dealing with more delicate fillets or smaller seafood items like shrimp I recommend grilling on foil. If you’re cooking larger fillets or whole fish use a grill basket to make flipping the fish over easier and the fish will be less likely to break and fall apart on you. My last and most important tip is to use good seasonings. Don’t drown your seafood in salt, MSG, and other seasonings used to mask the natural flavor of these ocean treasures. Our seasonings Giby’s Fish Camp and Rick’s Treaux Gourmet Spices let the sea, taste like the sea with just a little boost of flavor and they are all natural! As always should you have any questions please feel free to call us at 210-377-0951 or to email me at groomerseafood@gmail. com. From all your hometown seafood experts here, have a great summer and we hope to see you soon!
July 2015 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
Step Into Decorating By Mary Lozano-Jenkins The Jenkins Group, Inc. (210) 490-0161 ummertime brings families closer together and it’s the best time to look at your home in a different way. Spring has come and gone, and it’s time to play and relax and enjoy time with family members we often do not see. Let’s take a look at the inside of our homes and make sure you have certain items in order. Make sure you have: • Plenty of relaxing areas in your home for your visitors and for your family. • Color and more color in everything you own, from the patio table to the guest rooms and bathrooms. Lime greens, yellows, and reds are always welcome to bring in the summer mood. • Patterns to make things more interesting; summertime is the time for those stripes and plaids. • Water features are important during summer—in our homes they create so much relaxation and are very inviting. Place a fountain on the kitchen counter or even on that backyard patio. Summer is a great time to get the children involved in redecorating their rooms. Some fun, new bedding with fresh painted walls will give them an uplift for their return back to school. Have your summer wreath on your front door and always a few summer flowers by the entrance. Inside, fresh fruit platters for your company and flowers with
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many colors are critical to add that extra pop to the room. Find a spot in your home where you can enjoy summer, and create the right ambiance! Let us help you with your decorating plans. We are always available to help you with color analysis and paint selections. Mary Lozano-Jenkins is a Registered Interior Designer. For more information, call (210) 490-0161 or visit www. thejenkinsinteriordesigngroup.com.
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SVMS Rocket Club Has Success At Nationals
Pictured at the National Smithsonian Air and Space Museum are SVMS Rocket Team members (l-r) Nick Henderson, Shaylee Fellbaum, Hannah Marfin, Reilly Cooper, instructor Bart Cooper, Andres Gomez-Garcia, Catherine Haegelin, and Curtis Parsons.
Submitted By Jason Gordon he Smithson Valley Middle School Rocket Club’s trip to Virginia to compete in the 13th-Annual Team America Rocketry Challenge was an amazing experience. The SVMS team, which was one of the youngest at the competition, finished in 46th place out of more than 700 teams, many of which were comprised of high school students. In addition, the team, guided by instructor Bart Cooper, traveled to Washington D.C. where they met Congresswoman Donna Edwards, as well as Dr. John Langford, CEO of Aurora Flight Science and Dr. Ellen Stofan, Chief Scientist at NASA. Cooper said his team was impressed by Stofan’s statement that NASA will
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complete a manned mission to Mars by the mid-2030s and that the students could very well be some of the engineers involved in this project. The SVMS team also toured the National Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. During their competition, the students were the fourth-ranked team out of 13 from Texas. This year’s rules required a rocket carrying a raw egg to reach as close to 800 feet as possible and return it to Earth uncracked within a timeframe of about 46 to 48 seconds. At nationals, SVMS’ rocket reached about 790 feet and returned to earth in 50 seconds with the egg uncracked. “It was an amazing experience and one I know our team will never forget,” said Cooper.
July 2015 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
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Bill Brown Helps Wounded Warriors At Fisher House
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Submitted By Jason Gordon ill Brown students are a unique bunch. They have hearts of gold, and are wise beyond their years. There have been some personal struggles at the campus. The daughter of a BBES custodian was diagnosed with cancer. 3rd and 5th grade Dual Language students organized a penny drive, bake sale, and helped with a garage sale in order to help with the health costs. They were able to organize the whole school and the community. Bill Brown students were also extremely interested in helping Wounded Warriors and giving back to our military community after our music teacher Carol Murray asked if 5th grade students would create the slideshow for our Veterans Day Ceremony. The students did a great job with the slide show and they were inspired to do more with our Veterans as one of their Project Based Learning (PBL) assignments. They were all interested in doing something with Wounded Warriors in San Antonio. 3rd and 5th grade teachers sat down with the 5th grade “Content Captains” to help them organize activities, teacher workshops, guest speakers, research, and labs. Following a flow chart, the students were able to design the volunteer project from the foundation up. 5th graders facilitated the activities and teachers facilitated the overall project with writing workshops and direction with research. After researching influential individuals of the 20th an 21st Century, groups of
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Therapeutic Optometrist
Nearly 60 Bill Brown Elementary students gather in front of the Fisher House in San Antonio after volunteering their time to help Wounded Warriors and their families.
3rd and 5th grade dual language students evaluated, synthesized, analyzed, and presented in both English and Spanish their findings. “We found a culminating project to tie together all their work,” said BBES principal Sarah Permenter. “The students were able to see that they can plan, learn, research, and organize their own learning. With questions designed by the kids, the teachers contacted Joe Dominguez at the Fisher House to talk about what they could do to help.” The Fisher House in San Antonio provides military families housing when a loved one is suffering from an injury, disease or illness. On Saturday, May 30, BBES students and families met to caravan out to the Fisher House. Upon arrival, the students unloaded garden tools, gloves, toiletries, and baked goods. After two hours of volunteering their time, Dominguez said the students, parents and faculty members, had finished the entire yard work he had scheduled for the next two weeks. One of the guests staying at The Fisher House spoke to the children about the impact a “small army” can have on a community. She thanked the children for the donations of food, supplies, and for their time. “The parents, children, and teachers left that day with a sense of being part of something bigger than themselves, along with memories of community service that will last a lifetime,” Permenter said.
BUMMs To The Rescue Submitted By Jeff Baker huge Thank You from the Bulverde Food Pantry, Inc., dba Provisions goes out to the Bulverde United Methodist Mens group or commonly known as the BUMMs. The BUMMs are a diverse group of Christian men notorious for their efforts to raise funds and their ability to have a good time through Christian fellowship at their monthly “Steak Breaks”. The BUMMs are always eager to assist in church and community functions whenever a need should arise. Funds raised by the BUMMs go to support those in our church and community including funds for scholarships, Eagle Scouts, neighbors in need of assistance (yard work, meals, carpentry, moral support, etc.), church project funding, and much more. Recently a former BUMM (now working out of state) collaborated with the current BUMMs to raise funds to support
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the ongoing efforts by Provisions to assist the 14.1% of our community population who are food insecure. Provisions assists on the average of 7,500 people each year in our local community providing food and toiletries/personal items, clothing vouchers to The Bulverde Thrift Store, and referrals to other agencies as needed. The BUMMs made two donations in May totaling a graciously welcomed and much needed $7,000.00 dollars. This equates to $49,000.00 in food and supplies that can be purchased through our partner, The San Antonio Food Bank. If you would like more information on the BUMMs, please contact Bulverde United Methodist Church. If you would like more information on Provisions, the website is located at provisionsoutreach.org. and/or follow Provisions on Facebook at www. facebook.com/provisions.outreach.
July 2015 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
New s You C a n U se YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR NEWS AND INFORMATION IN STONE OAK
News From City Council District 9
By Councilman Joe Krier District 9 (210) 207-7325 Collective Bargaining Update I have carefully reviewed the data prepared by the Legacy Task Force, which made comprehensive recommendations on this issue. The Legacy Task Force included a representative from the San Antonio Police Officer’s Association, a retired public officer and area business leaders. I’ve also reviewed the reports of the three outside financial firms that gave us advice on this and other budget issues. That research has caused me to conclude that if we fail to make changes to our current contracts, Public Safety will most likely consume 100% of
the city’s budget in two to three decades. I am thankful the police union returned to the negotiating table on March 17, 2015. It is still encouraging that the union’s most recent proposal agrees with the City’s position that our uniformed officers should make some contribution to the cost of their dependents’ health care. Since January 2014, the city and the police union have held 16 bargaining sessions and exchanged six proposals. Since February 2015, the city has made two proposals and the union has made one. The city’s March 20th proposal includes
What’s New In District 122
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By Lyle Larson State Representative District 122 (210) 402-5402 • (512) 463-0646
ost folks who bought their homes outside of the city limits, in unincorporated Bexar County, did so intentionally. They understood that they would not pay city taxes and thus would not receive city services. To meet needs such as trash service and fire protection, residents of unincorporated Bexar County have developed their own systems, such as emergency services districts (ESDs). When I served on the Bexar County Commissioners Court, we created the first ESD, which introduced a mechanism to fund fire protection and emergency medical response to residents of unincorporated Bexar County. The first ESD in my precinct, ESD #3, was created more than 10 years ago
and is a model district. ESD #3 has the lowest tax rate of the ESDs in Bexar County and holds zero debt. It has contracted with the Bexar-Bulverde Volunteer Fire Department (BBVFD) to build two fire stations. BBVFD operates with very little paid staff and has a response time under 8 minutes - which is on par with that of the City of San Antonio Fire Department - and home insurance rates inside the city limits are the same in ESD #3. In addition to services provided by ESDs, law enforcement and other services are provided by the Bexar County government. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office has dedicated a large number of law enforcement resources and is building substations in the
New Developments Grimaldi’s Pizza With over 100 years of coal fired brickoven pizza-making traditions, Grimaldi’s continues to ensure that future generations are able to experience their distinctive and truly authentic pizza. Why coal-fired brick ovens? The tantalizing aroma of pizza and calzones baked to perfection in their signature coal burning oven offers a unique flavor and a crisp crust that is just not possible from gas, convection, or wood burning ovens. Their fresh ingredients, handmade mozzarella, ‘secret recipe’ dough and pizza sauce make them the most award-winning pizzeria in the United States. It is their passion for pizza that has made them a “must have” for pizza lovers and celebrities alike, including Frank Sinatra
and former NYC Mayor, Rudy Giuliani. We hope to see you at the new Grimaldi’s Pizzeria this fall as they open a new restaurant this fall. They will be located in The Vineyard shopping center off Blanco and 1604. Stream’s New Community Stream Realty Partners, a fullservice national real estate investment, development and services company, has announced plans to develop a 150-unit, active adult, apartment community in San Antonio. The 55-plus living community is the first of its kind in San Antonio, offering a fully integrated lifestyle that will allow residents the opportunity to explore health and wellness initiatives, social activities and group service projects. Stream expects to
July 2015 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
a wage increase of 10.8% over the next 3.5 years for each officer. It covers 100% of healthcare premiums for officers and requires officers to pay a portion on their dependents healthcare premiums. The fire union had yet to come to the negotiating table for a new contract. I continue to urge a contract that provides outstanding pay and benefits to our first responders, protects our taxpayers AND ensures the City’s finances are sustainable will be reached soon. Municipal Property Tax Reduction A number of District 9 residents have called to express their concerns with the notice they received of higher property assessments. The Bexar Country Appraisal District mailed these notices for 2015 and in many cases; appraised values have gone up substantially. I worked to pass a balanced basic services City’s budget last fall. It included
July 2015
no increase to the City’s property tax rate for the 22nd year in a row. The City’s tax rate is applied to the Bexar Appraisal District value and that determines your City property tax. Approximately, 25% of your total property tax goes to the City, the rest goes to your school district, the county and other government entities. The concerns about appraised value, which results in the property tax assessed, come from legitimate concerns about the appraisal process. I encourage you to share concerns with your 2015 notice with Chief Appraiser Michael Amezquita at (210) 2442432 or email cs@bcad.org. You can also protect your appraisal by filling the proper form with the Bexar Appraisal District. As always, if there are items you would like to see in future newsletters, please let me know via email at district9@sanantonio. gov. Working together, we can make District 9 and our City a better place for everyone.
unincorporated areas. Since the City of San Antonio announced their intent to move forward with an annexation plan, many District 122 residents who live in unincorporated Bexar County have contacted my office to share their opposition to the City of San Antonio’s annexation plan, because they are happy with the services provided by their ESD and Bexar County, and they don’t have to pay city taxes. Though it will add hundreds of millions of dollars to its tax base by strategically annexing certain areas, it is unlikely that the City will be able to provide the level of service that is equivalent to the tax revenue it will collect. Additionally, the City of San Antonio holds more than $10 billion in debt, for which the newly annexed citizens would be responsible, though they did not have the opportunity to voice their opinion while the debt was being created. The law that allows home-rule cities to annex without consent has been on the books since 1912. We came up with the concept to file legislation to circumvent the
City after mounting opposition from folks in unincorporated areas both in Bexar County and other parts of the state. The bill we pursued would have allowed Texans to vote before being annexed by home-rule cities. What is more democratic than allowing citizens to vote before taxes are imposed on them? Unfortunately, the strong opposition from the Texas Municipal League and various cities throughout the state were successful in killing the legislation, so citizens who live in unincorporated Bexar County will not have a voice in this process. From potholes on city roads to loose dogs, there are countless needs within the existing city limits that San Antonio has failed to address. Before jumping headlong into a massive annexation plan which will dilute service delivery and compound the unaddressed needs within existing city limits, the City of San Antonio should pause and reconsider their annexation plans. Focusing on addressing the needs of its current constituency would be a greater benefit to all in Bexar County.
commence on the project in early 2016. Stream’s active adult community will be located in the heart of Stone Oak, just north of the Stone Oak Parkway and Hardy Oak Boulevard intersection. The 7.5-acre property sits atop a canyon on Hardy Oak Boulevard and will consist of one- and twobedroom condo-style apartments with views of the Hill Country. “Stream will deliver leasable-luxury and offer the 55-plus community brand new options,” said Luke Bourlon who is part of Stream’s AAL development team. “We are disinheriting the expensive medical- and meal-service packages found in traditional senior housing, and this enables us to deliver luxury at a much more attractive price.” Stream’s new community will take full advantage of its proximity to both the retail
at the Village of Stone Oak in the expanding 281 North Corridor, as well as the Texas Highway Loop 1604 shopping centers, located south of Stone Oak. The property’s amenities will also include health and wellness centers, lush community gardens, an outdoor kitchen area, social lounges and walking trails. Stream’s active adult living team is part of the company’s multifamily division. The group is led by Jeff Patterson, senior vice president, Stream Realty Partners, and comprised of a team of experienced professionals providing services in multifamily, student housing, senior housing and affordable housing.
www.welcomehomesa.com
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I’m Making A List, I’ll Be Checking It Twice
A
s I lie here on the beach, sitting on my beach towel collecting some much needed rays of sunshine during my time off, I have begun to work on both my necessary lists for the year – the list of locations that I’ll be making guest appearances at next fall, as well as the first draft of the naughty & nice list. (There’s still time to change your ways people. Do something positive.) Upon learning again of one specific cause, I became motivated to announce and book my guest appearance early. So I decided to submit this letter to Welcome Home as my formal announcement, knowing I could be of help to such a worthy and noble cause. When I learned about what the new nonprofit Living Through Giving was attempting to achieve, I immediately felt compelled to contribute. The organization’s noble goal of making sure every San Antonio child receives a gift for the holiday season is very much like my own pursuit, and as a result I felt moved to contribute in some meaningful way. So once again I, Santa Claus, a.k.a. Saint Nick, a.k.a. Kris Kringle, a.k.a. Father Christmas, (and whole bunch of other names, let me tell you . . . ) will be making an appearance at Winter Celebration – a family event for all ages on December 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Winter Celebration this year is back at its roots at its North Central Baptist Hospital location. (How exciting. Every time I’ve
made an appearance there I’ve had loads of fun, I sure do enjoy taking pictures with all the kiddos. Be sure to stop by and say hello, my wife gets such joy out of meeting people.) Unfortunately however my reindeer tend to be really lazy during the early holiday time of year resting up for their big finish. As a result, I’ve again decided to fly in with my wife by AirLIFE helicopter, giving Rudolph and his gang another day off. (Boy they do sure get a lot of those. Perhaps I’m spoiling them.) For those that don’t know, every year Winter Celebration has a great community parade featuring area high school marching bands, mascots, as well as community businesses. Following the parade, attendees enjoy everything from raffle prizes, vendor booths, 60,000 pounds of snow, to school performance groups (Wow these kids are talented, WAY more than what I can do – You don’t want to see me dance or hear me sing, trust me . . . but Blitzen, boy he can sing. And Dancer, well, that’s just self-explanatory.) But Winter Celebration’s main purpose is to bring all of San Antonio together on the Northside to gather toys to benefit needy children in the area. (Something we all can agree is a worthwhile goal, right?) Through my sources I also happened to hear that will be the return of the Winter Celebration Royal Court. It’s never too early to sign up and be a part of this huge event. Reserve a booth for
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this one of a kind event today. My appearance tends to be a huge deal and attracts countless people. (Not like I’m bragging or anything.) For more information on how to participate in the Stone Oak Winter Celebration, call the good folks at Welcome Home at 210-3488233 or visit their website, www. welcomehomesa.com. You’ll be glad you did! Your friendly northern neighbor,
Santa Claus
Things Are Looking Brighter at Vision Source
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700 E. Sonterra Blvd, Ste. 202
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✹ Customer Service & Satisfaction is our main goal. We will not hesitate to go the extra mile for you. ✹ We love building relationships with our patients. We believe in providing a lifetime of care for families, it’s not just a one time encounter for us. ✹ Come and check out our deals on sunwear to protect your eyes this summer—Available with or without prescriptions.
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19202 Stone Oak Pkwy Suite 106 (Across from Walgreens) www.sofdpaweb.com
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• (210) 496-7999 www.welcomehomesa.com
210.495.9020
www.visionsource-stoneoak.com
July 2015 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
SOBA’s
Sip and Savor Summer Mixer at Smoke Smoke The Restaurant is led by Chef Extraordinaire, Culinary Institute Instructor and Restaurateur Brian West, the Smoke Restaurant management team counts on a unique set of skills and experience necessary to prepare delectable, mouthwatering foods that are sure to please anyone’s palette. Join SOBA on Wednesday, July 22 for a taste of San Antonio’s Best BBQ. The cost of your ticket . Smoke is one of the hottest new spots in San Antonio. RSVP today to make sure you have a spot.
When: Wednesday , July 22 • 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm Where: Smoke The Restaurant 700 E. Sonterra Blvd., Suite 1117 (Behind Local Coffee)
Cost: Members & Non-Members – $25
(includes a menu tasting and one drink ticket)
E-mail: soba@satx.rr.com
Stone Oak Business Association
RSVP: 348-8233 or visit www.stoneoakbusiness. com
2015 SOURCE IS HERE! 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 2015 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. 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
July 2015 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261
www.welcomehomesa.com
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Bring this coupon and receive 10 OFF with $ 40 of drycleaning. Coupon must accompany incoming order. Not valid w/other discounts or 3 pant special. One coupon per day. Exp. 7/31/15 NC $
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50% OFF Dry Cleaning (Max discount $10)
Wearing apparel only. Not valid on household item, leather, or suede. Coupon must accompany incoming order. Not valid w/other discounts or 3 pant special. One coupon per day. Exp. 7/31/15 NC
5th Men’s Shirt FREE Laundry Bring this coupon with 5 shirts and get your 5th shirt FREE. Coupon must accompany incoming order. Not valid w/other discounts. Men’s shirts only. One coupon per day. Exp. 7/31/15 NC
www.welcomehomesa.com
July 2015 • Welcome Home • 78260/78261