CanyonLakeMagazine.com 1 2 CanyonLakeMagazine.com CanyonLakeMagazine.com 3 contents 6 Troy French of Comal Classic Custom Homes: Publishers: Seizing Opportunities of the Canyon Lake Community Circular Magazines a division of Building Boom 17 Water Conservation in San Antonio and Surrounding Cities 22 Newt Gingrich Speaks About Redisovering Sales God in America Rachel Danley Graphic Design 26 You Don’t Have to Spend it All on the Nursing Home Michelle Fortenberry Sheryl Hawkinson Jared Hawkinson 29 Corkscrew Corner: Impaired Taste Bud Syndrom Lucy Hutchenson Administrative
Faith Pena Jared Hawkinson 30 Full Steam Ahead on the Austin Steam Train Albert Salazar 34 Summertime Pet Saftey Tips 38 Jack Hanna drops by SeaWorld of San Antonio To advertise your product or services in Canyon Lake Magazine, please contact Rachel Danley at 52 Dinosaur Tracks and More at The Heritage 210-348-3709 or by email at Museum of the Texas Hill Country [email protected] 55 Puzzle Page
Canyon Lake Magazine is a periodical published for the enjoyment of the greater Canyon Lake Canyon Lake Magazine is published by Community area. The magazine is intended to cover entertaining and informative topics that are of interest to Circular Magazines, a subsidiary product of White- the Canyon Lake area community. The magazine is not affiliated with the City of Canyon Lake Frisbie Media. It is provided for the enjoyment and or any other government agency and is supported by its advertisers. education of its readership. The information presented in this magazine is believed to be true at the time of We want your feedback! publishing. Community Circular Magazines does not What do you think of our all-new Canyon Lake Magazine? As a reader, we want to hear from guarantee or warranty any of the services or products you. If you have feedback on any of our articles, or the magazine itself, we want to know about produced by the companies represented herein. it. We encourage you to visit our web site at www.CanyonLakeMagazine.com and let us know what’s on your mind. If you have any feedback on this publication, please contact us at 210-348-3709 or visit our web site at www.CanyonLakeMagazine.com
4 CanyonLakeMagazine.com CanyonLakeMagazine.com 5 Troy French with clients Steve and Linda Neely at their home in Mystic Shores at Canyon Lake.
Seizing Opportunities of the Canyon Lake Building Boom Troy French, owner of Comal Classic Custom Homes
by Susan Marx • photos by Travis White
6 CanyonLakeCanyonLakeMagazine.comMagazine.com Canyon Lake is fast becoming one of the most desired places to live in Central Texas and a growing percentage of those choosing to live here are opting for custom homes. Troy French (owner of Comal Classic Custom Homes), specializes in that market and says he’s seen a trend developing over the last few years. The Canyon Lake area has a lot of beautiful building sites to offer with magnificent views, access to lake recreations and all the plusses of a central location to San Antonio and Austin and strong Hill Country communities, such as Bulverde, Spring Branch, New Braunfels and Gruene. From 2000 to 2010 Canyon Lake grew 26% in population (from 16,800 to 21,262) reaching nearly half the population of neighboring New Braunfels. In the same 10 year period, the number of home sites grew 35% (from 8,693 to 11,775). The boom not only includes people retiring to the Hill Country, but also an influx of young people. With exemplary schools in the Comal Independent School District, 80 miles of lake and river shorelines stretching from the Guadalupe River and gentle rolling hills lined with oak, cedar and wildlife, this highly desirable area appeals to all ages. For Steve and Linda Neely, Mystic Shores at Canyon Lake was the perfect location to build their dream home. After living in a busy Houston suburb, this was the perfect place to escape the crowds and enjoy the peacefulness of the Texas Hill Country. Troy is a native Texan - born in McAllen and raised in Corpus Christi. He studied construction at Southwest Texas State University while working his way up in the industry and moved to Canyon Laketen years ago as construction manager for a prominent custom homebuilder. As a licensed Texas realtor, Troy knows the business from every angle. But what really makes Troy stand out is his drive to not only build the best homes but provide his clients with top-notch service. Troy’s drive to achieve this level of customer care has its genesis in personal tragedy. When Troy was nine years old his parents decided to build a custom home. They went through all the usual motions. Everything was going according to plan until about halfway through the process. Then the builder started distancing himself. It was hard to even get him on the phone. About this same time, Troy’s father was diagnosed with cancer. The builder continued to drag his feet and when the house was 90% completed, the French’s (whose rental release was up) moved into their new home only to receive an eviction notice from the FDIC. The builder had filed for bankruptcy and disappeared, leaving them with a legal nightmare. A prolonged and painful battle over the debts the builder had not paid ensued. During this period, Troy’s father passed away believing his family was going to lose their home. It all worked out in the end but for Troy it was a life defining moment. Troy wants to save his clients from that kind of suffering. Opportunities Since 2009, when the Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC) was disbanded there is no longer any government oversight (or even any special licensing, for that matter) necessary to call yourself a home builder in Texas. Of course there are building codes in place but these do not protect the financial interests of the buyers. Home builders are paid directly by the banking and loan companies at trigger stages in the building process. Unlike the real estate business, there’s no escrow to regulate the distribution of those funds either. The banks check to make sure the work is being done but they don’t police the payment of subcontractors. And there’s the rub. The buyer must beware and do their due diligence. Troy advises everyone to get multiple bids on the home they want to build. He urges them to check the builders’ references and call their subcontractors to see how (and if) they were paid before signing on the dotted line. Norman Lenz, who hired Troy to build his ranch-style home last year, says that “Troy listened to what I wanted and exceeded my expectations.” Lenz did exactly what Troy suggested. He interviewed several contractors and, by process of elimination, whittled it down to Troy. Lenz says he chose Comal Classic because his wife is handicapped and he knew he wouldn’t have to worry about anything going wrong. Lenz says he is very happy with his custom home building experience – if anything Troy went overboard on customer service. CanyonLakeCanyonLakeMagazine.comMagazine.com 7 At Comal Classic Custom Homes, Troy helps his clients from start to finish. Although most of Troy’s customers already have their lot and house plans, his service includes lot acquisition, securing a loan, choosing a designer, working with “MEP’s” (mechanical electrical and plumbing suppliers), establishing the orientation of the home and lot, interior design features and making sure everything is complete all the way through to warranty. Troy works on a fixed percentage rate plus overhead so the deal is the same whether you’re building a house for $350,000 or a million. One of the secrets to his success is his thorough specifications. Troy typically gives clients 25- 30 pages of specs, detailing each and every custom choice they make together. He says “the specs are a critical step in the process because they help eliminate surprise overages and inhibit mistakes.” Most builders don’t go into all the minutiae but that’s where you’re most likely to get in trouble. Of course, no builder can promise the price of copper is going to stay the same or that those NanaWall® doors you have your heart set on aren’t going to skyrocket and add thousands to the cost. That’s why Troy gets it all down on paper with the pricing right there in black & white, assuring the price on the contract is the price the owner pays. As part of the service, Comal Classic provides a decorator to stay with clients every step of the way – helping with the selection of virtually every design decision. Troy then creates a mock-up of exterior selections so his clients can see and touch samples of the custom choices they’ve made BEFORE they are installed. Communication is key. Troy stays in constant contact with his clients, providing a one-on-one experience most other builders can’t duplicate. It’s a partnership, Troy says, because you aren’t just constructing a home, you’re building a relationship, a close relationship. That means there’s never a time when it’s too late to call – to talk things over and make sure everything is right and both parties are happy. By the time the house is finished and the owners move-in Troy says he feels like he has made a new set of friends.
Comal Classic Custom Homes is located at 1937 IH 35 N. Suite 102, New Braunfels, Texas 78130. You can reach Troy French at (210) 573-5970 or on the web at www.comalclassic.com
8 CanyonLakeCanyonLakeMagazine.comMagazine.com CanyonLakeMagazine.com 9 10 CanyonLakeMagazine.com CanyonLakeMagazine.com 11 12 CanyonLakeMagazine.com CanyonLakeMagazine.com 13 14 CanyonLakeMagazine.com CanyonLakeMagazine.com 15 “Freedom Found”
By Sheryl Hawkinson
I’m eager to begin this informative series of beer and… can you imagine cupcakes? This is proof that today’s wine enthusiasts have the authority to enjoy what they want with whatever articles focusing on the enjoyment of wine. I’m they want, no limitations attached! in no way an expert of the divine fermented Be creative, challenge your taste buds. And more importantly friends, juice, simply a wine enthusiast with a desire enjoy your new found freedom! Cheers! to learn more. I enjoy continued training and Please remember to drink responsibly. Do not drink and drive. studying the enormous array of wines and wine accessories that are abundantly available I look forward to hearing from you. Send your suggestions, trials and errors to: [email protected] and feel throughout the world. free to follow my blog at: corkscrewcorner.blogspot.com
The following series of articles will be written to invite you to discover and learn. Allowing you, the reader, to teach and enlighten me and other aficionados on the subject of fine wines. My articles will include researched information, personal experiences and of course related subjects derived from you, the readers. I look forward to sharing the information that comes my way. Now, let’s take this journey together… Some may feel trapped following wine etiquette from the past. We’ve been trained to drink whites with poultry and fish, and reds with dark meats, well this is no longer the case. Personally, I’m not at all trapped in the past wine and food pairing regulations. I know what I like and what I don’t. In fact, after a week long instructional course studying wine etiquette and “how to drink wine” my husband came home and simply told me that during the conclusion of the class, the instructor announced, “It all comes down to what you like.” Well, that answers it, if I feel like enjoying a glass of Merlot with my lobster dinner, then so be it. I’ll never have to worry about the wine police storming me from all corners of a restaurant, knocking the glass from my hand, guns drawn, and arrest me for not pairing a Sauvignon Blanc with my meal. Fortunately for us, times have changed and the human palate now has permission to enjoy whatever it desires with a fine lobster dinner. Recently, a commercial on television featuring a specific credit card hit the airwaves. This card focuses on a new business serving wine,
16 CanyonLakeMagazine.com n the 19th century, American Iwriter Mark Twain said (of the American Southwest) “where whiskey is for drinking over and water is for fighting over.”
People are still fighting over water in Texas – mostly landowners who want it in writing that they own the water beneath their land like minerals and gas. Rule of Capture is the long held notion that says whatever you can pump out of your land is yours and there’s no limit except for the capacity of the pump. In fact, there is a bill before the Texas State Legislature right now on this very issue. Republican Senator Troy Water Fraser introduced Senate Bill 332 – a law that could make groundwater Conservation a “vested property right.” The thing is, water is a shared limited resource and when it’s in short supply, what you withdraw from the groundwater in San Antonio & directly affects how much is available for everybody else. San Antonio, as most of us already know, sits right on top of the Surrounding Cities Edwards Aquifer – a massive reservoir of fresh water that extends 180 by Susan Marx miles long and 45 miles wide encompassing many species of plants and animals. Archeological records show that native American Indians settled here 11,000 years ago because of the abundance of clean groundwater. In fact, San Antonio is one of the only cities in the U.S. that draws almost exclusively from an aquifer to supply its population with potable water. The State of Texas established the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) in 1993 (which was implemented in1996), to oversee and limit water usage of the aquifer to protect the endangered species that thrive there. If SB 332 becomes law, Roland Ruiz (public information officer at EAA) says they will seek to be exempted because of the EAA Act. Hydro-geologist Brian Smith of the Barton Springs Water Conservation District of the Edwards Aquifer says, “The real limiting factor is that we need to maintain a certain level in aquifers to provide adequate flow to the springs.” Without adequate spring flow the rivers dry up and destroy habitats, wildlife and aquatic recreation. Smith said, “We have to reduce over- pumping to protect the aquifers.” The seven months prior to May of this year are the driest on record and weather predictions lead experts to believe the current drought is on track to continue. Canyon Lake(which uses Comal Springs and well J-17 – both fed by the Edwards Aquifer) announced a Stage 1 Critical Drought on April 13 restricting outdoor watering to even or odd days depending on your address. Fair Oaks Ranch and Bulverde/Spring Ranch (which use the Trinity Aquifer and Canyon Lake which is fed by the Trinity) announced Stage 1 Critical Drought on April 14 and are also restricting outdoor watering. On April 18, 2011 the EAA issued a Stage 1 Critical Drought Alert requiring permittees in San Antonio to reduce their pumping by 20%. For more information about possible restrictions on water use in your area contact http://www.edwardsaquifer.com or http://www.trinityglenrose.com. Ruiz adds “Within the San Antonio region over the past 12-15 years there has been a fundamental shift in perspective on the use of water.” When the EAA placed a cap on permits and started restricting water usage of the aquifer they created a water market. Water has a financial value like it never had before and people are treating it like a precious Waterfall and pool at Westcave Preserve resource. It’s an example of how public policy leads to conservation. Ruiz located just west of Austin, Texas. believes, however, that water conservation is nothing short of behavior
CanyonLakeMagazine.com online at CommunityCircular.com17 modification. Even though technology has Fact #2 given us more efficient appliances (like low- Since the mid-50s the population has doubled flow toilets), Ruiz said, “It really comes down in Texas and is expected to double again by the to people changing the way they think about year 2040 but state water supplies have not kept and use water.” pace. San Antonio is one of the fastest growing With the population doubling in San cities in South Central Texas with a current Antonio over the last 20 years, the San population of 1.7 million and counting. Antonio Water System (SAWS) is actively exploring ways to diversify off the Edwards Aquifer and supply the growing needs of the Fact #3 community. The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) makes long term plans for statewide Fact #1 water supply to meet the needs of the growing Texas is prone to cyclical drought. Water population and to prepare for the inevitable conservationist Todd Votteler, PhD said, recurrence of drought. Based on data gathered “Water planning is based on the worst across the state TWDB has determined that drought on record for which we have a full 30% of new water demand will be met measurement.” The drought of record in through water conservation savings. Texas (1950-1959) depleted the aquifers to such an extent the Comal and San Marcos springs (which draws on Edwards Aquifer) Fact #4 went dormant. That in turn caused the San Texas has extremely variable rainfall. Antonio River to dry up (the San Antonio It’s feast or famine. We seem to either be in River is fed by Comal and San Marcos drought or are experiencing a deluge. The springs). Recent tree ring studies of the Bald Cypress (which live 300-1,000 years) show Edwards Plateau has some of the most intense that Texas has seen worse droughts than the rainfalls on record with as much as 22 inches 1950s drought and that a serious drought falling in 3 hours. This water recharges the The Comal River flows occurs about every 50 years. aquifer but the rest floods on the surface and through Landa Park and is lost unless it is captured in reservoirs. is fed by natural springs.
Contributing Zone Edwards Aquifer Zones Recharge Zone Regional Detail Transition / Artesian Zone Artesian Zone Travis
9
Edwards I-35 Kerr US 281 Hays I-10 Kendall 6 5 Real 8 3 4 Comal Area Bexar 7 Detailed 2
10 HWY 90 San Antonio 1 Bexar Kinney Uvalde Medina Miles
0 30 North 1 Las Mora Springs 6 Canyon Lake 2 Medina Lake 7 Comal Springs 3 Large solution chamber 8 San Marcos Springs 4 Limestone fault 9 Barton Springs source: www.edwardsaquifer.net 5 Flowing limestone conduit 10 San Felipe Springs online18 atCanyonLake CommunityCircular.comMagazine.com Karen Guz of SAWS says that since the creation of the EAA, they Incredible as it may seem, just by using more efficient fixtures and have been actively involved in educating the community on ways to appliances, limiting your showers and other in-home use, like only conserve on an individual level. Guz said, “We don’t worry that we’re running the washing machine when you have a full load, can save going to run out of water.” The Stage 1 Alert is part of a legislated water indoor consumption by 30%. By modifying watering habits as well, conservation management plan that prevents this. It means cutting back customers can shave off as much as 10,000 gallons annually. Multiply on per capita consumption and finding ways to diversify supply. that by 1.7 million people and you can begin to see what a massive Conservation also means being involved in partnership with the difference just a few relatively small adjustments can make. community and cultivating an awareness of how curbing personal The biggest area of conservation that still needs improvement on the water usage contributes to sustaining water supplies and keeping cities individual level is outdoor usage. Roland Ruiz and Karen Guz both say thriving and beautiful places to live. Guz says they’re very proud of the people generally over water their yards and that they have a hard time fact that average water consumption has dropped significantly over the understanding that watering less is better for most landscapes. When past 20 years. She says “we’ve doubled the number of customers but are you live in an area that is characterized by cyclical drought, you may also using the same amount of water.” That’s an astonishing claim and it have to accept the fact that your yard may not be that green in the midst supports the findings of the TWDB that conservation is one of the best of a dry period. Another alternative is converting traditional grass yards and most cost effective ways of supplying more water. to drought resistant Xeriscape. As part of their ongoing efforts to educate the community, SAWS Xeriscape isn’t just about rocks and cactus. There is a wide variety of offers free conservation consultations. A representative comes out to your plants you can choose from that only require minimal watering. SAWS has home and shows you exactly how to cut down on water usage. Guz says developed a site at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens called WaterSaver that on average, people do change their habits after this consultation. Lane that demonstrates how you can have Mediterranean landscapes, SAWS also offers free water-saving showerheads to those who visit their Hill Country Landscapes, Cottage Garden Landscapes, Spanish, Wild service center or have a consultation. These showerheads cut water usage and traditional American that all look lush and colorful without using down by half! Instead of using 3.5 gallons of water per minute, you only a lot of water. To see these landscape alternatives visit the gardens or the use 1.75. They also give away free faucet aerators, which save gallons of SAWS website www.saws.org/conservation/watersaverlane/ water a minute. And for those households that meet the criterion SAWS It’s also nice to know that SAWS is diversifying off the Edwards also offers up to two free high efficiency toilets. Low income households Aquifer by using the Trinity aquifer (which sits directly underneath the may also qualify for free installation and plumbing repair. Edwards), Canyon Lake and an aquifer storage and recovery system
CanyonLakeonline at CommunityCircular.comMagazine.com 19 they’ve developed using the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, south of San Corporation excess water through a shared pipeline coming together at Antonio. The Carrizo-Wilcox (unlike the Edwards, which is made of the border of the City of San Antonio in late 2013. limestone) is made of softer sandstone. SAWS injects water into the Finally, upon review of their 50 year water management plan under Carrizo-Wilcox for storage during wet times and then goes back and TWDB, SAWS is currently accepting Requests for Competitive Sealed retrieves it again when demand is high in a dry period. It’s a natural Proposals (RFCSP) for a water supply supplement from parties with the underground reservoir. ability to deliver water to Bexar County as part of an effort to diversify supply. Through various partnerships, the San Antonio Water System has In Texas, water conservation is a way of life. Texas State University developed a large water reclamation project that recycles wastewater limnologist Walter Rast studies inland fresh water supplies. Rast was for agricultural use, cooling towers and as production water for large head of United Nations Environmental Protection (UNEP) from 1993- commercial users like Toyota, Microsoft and University Health Science 2000 headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya but has also contributed to water System. This is a large scale water conservation effort. In fact, on May management all over the world. He said, “That’s where I learned that if I 4, 2011 the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) was going to work with sustainable water supplies I had to get into socio- awarded SAWS for recycling and reusing water. Ann Hayden of SAWS economic concerns. Water problems are basically the same everywhere – said, “The reclamation project allows San Antonio to attract large you’re either dealing with quality or quantity,” Rast continued. “What’s industries to the area without significantly impacting water resources.” different is the beliefs people have about water use.” Ultimately the best It takes a big chunk off potable demand. The reclamation site is also solution is to get all the stakeholders together (water suppliers and water currently being developed as a future solar farm. users) to discuss everybody’s wants and needs. That can be a challenge. Another industrial-sized SAWS conservation effort involves teaching “You invite everybody to a big powwow and smoke the peace pipe over businesses how to reclaim condensate off of their cooling systems. One what’s best for the collective,” Rast said. From his point of view, “People large mall in San Antonio, for example, collects 40 gallons of water a either embrace water conservation or die of thirst because water may minute from their air conditioners and recycles it to their cooling tower. be a renewable resource but it’s also a limited resource.” Rast advocates SAWS has two other large scale water conservation projects on tap for the building an additional water reservoir in San Antonio to compensate for not too distant future. They are currently testing Wilcox Brackish Water the scarcity and deluge characteristics of the region. As the population Desalination which will deliver as much as 10 million gallons of water a increases, Rast says there will be less fresh water per capita and that day beginning in 2016 and a partnership with Gonzalez County called means we need to start conserving water now. Regional Carrizo which will use Schertz/Sequin Local Government
Xeriscaping: Large beds featuring native plants and drought resistant grass such as bermuda or zoysia will keep your yard looking great with minimal watering. online20 at CanyonLakeCommunityCircular.comMagazine.com CanyonLakeMagazine.com 21 Newt Gingrich speaks about Rediscovering God in America at Cornerstone Church
Written by Travis White Photos by Paul Wharton
n Sunday, March 27th, Cornerstone Church welcomed former Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich, in grand style. OpeningO with several patriotic songs, the choir performed the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “America The Beautiful,” and, of course, our National Anthem- all to the delight of the more than 2,000 people in attendance. The event was open to the public and the conservative, presidential candidate was eager to share his views with the audience.
Before Mr. Gingrich spoke, Cornerstone’s Senior Pastor John Hagee opened with his own message and tribute to all branches of the American military titled ‘A Cry from Valley Forge.’ In the recitation by Hagee, a solider from Valley Forge speaks to modern- day Americans: “It is the soldier from Valley Forge to Afghanistan who fights for our God-given rights. It is the soldier, not the minister, who has given us freedom of religion. It is the soldier, not the reporter who has given us freedom of the press. It is the solider, not the lawyer who has given us the right to a fair trial.” online22 at CanyonLakeCommunityCircular.comMagazine.com Pastor Hagee pointed out that during Gingrich’s tenure as Speaker was a real possibility. His father was an infantryman in the Army for (1995-99) the Federal Budget was balanced, an accomplishment that 27 years and his family was stationed all over Europe and the US. He has not been repeated since his time in office. spoke of witnessing dramatic post World War I & II scenes in Europe The son of a 27-year career soldier, Mr. Gingrich opened his remarks while growing up. This included one event in particular during his by saying he was touched by the tribute paid to the members of the freshmen year of high school when he visited the battlefield of Verdun military. Gingrich pointed out that in the last line of the first stanza in Douaumont, France. Gingrich recounts: “[at the battlefield] they of the National Anthem (“For the land of the free and home of the have a huge building called the Ossuary and the basement is glassed in; brave.”) that he believes “it is not possible, as Americans, to be free if the bones of the 100,000+ men who had been blown apart in the field we are not brave.” He stated that, “bravery can come in many forms, are [entombed] there. As a freshman in high school, this [experience] not just fighting, but campaigning, and sometimes just standing up for was really overpowering. By the summer of 1958, I was forced to collide what you believe, no matter what the ‘political elites’ have told you...” with the reality that countries can die and civilizations can disappear. Gingrich continued, “It’s important for us to cultivate courage and the And that good leadership is crucial.” boldness to believe in who we are and what we do.” According to Gingrich, after his time as Speaker he had planned on staying Mr. Gingrich presented a dramatic position: “I believe our entire out of public service. He enjoyed working on his books, movie projects and Judeo-Christian civilization is under siege on two fronts: radical just resting. However, according to Gingrich, what got him reengaged was Islamics and secular atheists. Each of them is dedicated to a world the 9th Circuit Court, “which ruled that saying ‘one nation under God’ in in which our Judeo-Christian traditions wouldn’t survive.” He the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools is unconstitutional.” Gingrich felt went on to say that political elites are trying to create “generational moved to do something, “For some reason, this particular decision struck amnesia;” resulting in “generations that have no idea what it means me as so blindingly stupid and so profoundly un-American that in 2002, I to be an American.” decided someone needed to talk about it, but not talk about it in an ideological According to Gingrich, his childhood was spent relocating from or theological way. They need to calmly talk about history.” This, Gingrich military bases all over the world during a time when a ‘balloon’ cloud said, was the inspiration for his book Rediscovering God in America. >>
CanyonLakeonline at CommunityCircular.comMagazine.com 23 Gingrich continues with how he is a true believer in presenting facts the Nation in a prayer for six and a half minutes.” Gingrich says in his debates. Rediscovering God in America is a walking tour of that he has a project each year to get the maximum number of radio Washington DC in which the reader can see things with their own stations across the country to re-play this prayer. eyes and not someone else’s distorted views.” Gingrich cited a recent Gallop poll where 80% of citizens said they In one of his first examples, Gingrich cites the Declaration of thought of America as an “exceptional country.” An on-the-spot sample Independence and “the central statement in defining America:” that we of his audience produced a roaring applause when Gingrich posed the are “endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights.” He points question “How many people here would agree that America is an exception out two competing philosophies: “first there’s the philosophy that power country?” Gingrich proposes a platform for an ‘exceptional America.’ comes from the government and that government defines who you are. In his provocative closing, Gingrich pointed out that in 1802 Then there are those who believe power comes from God.” Gingrich Thomas Jefferson passed the ‘Judicial Reform Act’ which abolished believes this statement means that “sovereignty in America rests with 18 out of 35 judgeships (over half the Federal judges disappeared). individual citizens- not the State and that, furthermore, power is “[James] Madison, [Thomas] Jefferson, and [Alexander] Hamilton all loaned to the government by the people.” According to Gingrich the said there is no such thing as judicial supremacy.” Gingrich continues, founding fathers believed that “a wise people could remain free, but a “it is an absurdity to have three co-equal branches of government. And foolish people would inevitably end up in a dictatorship.” in the Federalist papers, Hamilton writes that the weakest of the three Another idea presented in Rediscovering God in America branches of government is the judiciary.” is the Washington Monument, which is the tallest structure Gingrich points out that starting in the late1950s the Earl in Washington, DC. Gingrich points out, “At the top of the Warren court created a new model of judicial supremacy, “in which monument, the first thing the sun shines upon every morning is the the court tells the rest of us what to do.” According to Gingrich, inscription ‘laus deo’ meaning ‘glory to God.’” Hamilton proclaimed that such a situation, “would be an absurdity; As a third example, Gingrich told the audience that in President that would be an oligarchy of non-elected officials.” Lincoln’s 702 word, post-civil war inaugural address (March, 1865), Gingrich believes that if 80% of US citizens believe their county “Lincoln makes 14 references to God and there are two quotes from is exceptional, then that belief should be organized into a movement the Bible. Now I ask you,” Gingrich continues, “How could you to get something done. “Perhaps as a modest start we could create a teach a history class, whether it’s high school or college, not notice modern day “Jefferson project,” and use the 9th Circuit Court for a in passing that in Lincoln’s greatest oration he references God 14 demonstration effect. And then maybe other judges would see that we times and quotes the Bible twice? And we’re going to teach American intend for them to judge within the American framework and work as History as though we were secular?” American judges understanding American history… it’s just a start.” As a final example, Gingrich points out “The greatest liberal Gingrich reminded the audience in his closing that, “we will remain Democratic President of the 20th Century, Franklin Delano free as long as we’re brave. That bravery will come from our churches Roosevelt, described WW II as a war between ‘Pagan dictatorships and synagogues and from everyday folks. It won’t come from the elites; and our Christian civilization.’ When we landed at Normandy on it won’t come from those who are currently in power. It will come from June 6, 1944 at 10pm the President went on national radio and led average everyday folks who decide that ‘we have to be Americans.’” online24 atCanyonLake CommunityCircular.comMagazine.com CanyonLakeMagazine.com 25 You Don’t Have to Spend it All on the Nursing Home! by James N. Voeller
Recently, I met with three middle-age siblings who told me a story similar to one that I have heard many, many times before. “Mom’s in a nursing home and, in no time, her bank account will be completely spent.” They asked me what will happen when her money is all gone. I changed the subject slightly and asked them to tell me about their mother. “What kind of person is your mother? How long has she been in the nursing home? What’s been important to her in life?” In unison, their faces lit up as they animatedly told me about the loving, little woman that they called “Mom.” What stood out to me was their reflection on their mother’s spending habits, relating how she lived frugally, spent less than her monthly Social Security check, and always planned on leaving an inheritance to help her children. The kids had encouraged her to travel and enjoy what she and their father had accumulated, but she always had reasons not to spend. Three years ago, Mom had a stroke. After attempting multiple other alternatives, the family agreed that the small, local nursing home was the best option for her care. Each day, when Mom had a visitor, she mentioned how sad she was that her life savings was being spent to pay for the nursing home. After learning more, such as the monthly cost of the nursing home, the amount of Mom’s remaining savings, and her monthly income, I asked them a question: “Do you think that your mother would be happy if more than half of her remaining savings could be preserved for her children?” “Wait a minute,” Brian, the oldest son, said. “The nursing home told us that our mother can have no more than $2,000.00 left in savings before Medicaid begins to pay for the cost of her care. We’ve already spent almost $200,000.00. Are you saying that her life savings does not have to be completely spent? I don’t care if I ever get a dime from my mother, but I want her to be happy.” Unfortunately, this exchange happens with regularity. Families rely on misinformation and unnecessarily spend more than is required, causing elderly parents to live with needless regret and remorse. If you, or a loved one, are private-paying for nursing home care, make sure you have all of the facts before the family’s life savings is spent. Visit with a lawyer who can explain your real options. Don’t make decisions without complete information. In the example in this article, rather than see the family spend all of the life savings that their parents had accumulated to pay for Mom’s nursing home costs, over one-half of Mom’s remaining assets were Law Office of preserved. Don’t make decisions in the dark. Know your options and plan James N. Voeller ahead so you are able to meet your long-term goals. This particular Attorney At Law family recently followed up with me and informed me that their mother 19311 FM 2252 was finally experiencing some relief from worry and has been sleeping San Antonio, TX 78266 better with the knowledge that she is going to be able to leave “a little Phone: (210) 651-3851 something” to her children and grandchildren—all because her children visited with an elder law attorney and got the right advice. online26 atCanyonLake CommunityCircular.comMagazine.com CanyonLakeMagazine.com 27 San Antonio Spurs Summer Basketball Camp Learn skills, practice drills, and experience competitive thrills while becoming a better basketball player with the pros in their weeklong summer basketball camps. The Spurs Summer Basketball Camp strives to provide campers with an educational experience both on and off the court. Fun & Exciting Ages: 7 to 18 • Web: www.nba.com/spurs/fanzone/bbcamps_11.html • Ph: 210-444-5021 Summer Camps University of the Incarnate Word or Saint Mary’s Hall San Antonio Zoo and Aquarium At Zoo Camp Adventures, spend the week learning all about animals and nature with for Kids age-appropriate games, stories, crafts and animal encounters. Zoo Camp Adventures offers week-long camps concentrating on specific topics with creative learning experiences in a positive, nurturing and fun environment. Aquatic Science Adventure Camp This fun camp for students who are interested in aquatic or marine sciences mixes education Ages: 5 to 14 • Web: www.sazoo-aq.org • Ph: 210-734-7184, ext. 1101 and recreation. Activities during the week-long sessions include aquatic biology and water 3903 North St. Mary’s Street, San Antonio, TX 78212 chemistry, swimming, tubing, scuba/snorkeling, river rafting, glass-bottom boat ride, a trip to SeaWorld and more. SeaWorld San Antonio Campers discover magnificent animals behind the scenes while they come face to face with Ages 9 to 15 • Web: www.eardc.txstate.edu • Ph. 512-245-2329 marine life. All camp sessions feature plenty of time for SeaWorld fun, so campers will 248 Freeman Aquatic Building, Texas State University enjoy all of the spectacular shows, animal attractions and rides of SeaWorld San Antonio. San Marcos, TX 78666 Grades 5 to 12 (career camps: grades 9 to college) • Web: www.seaworld.com/sanantonio Artworks Art Studio for Children Ph: 800-700-7786 • 10500 SeaWorld Drive, San Antonio, TX 78251 During their summer camp, kids spend the day being an artist as they experiment with mixed-media painting, collage, drawing, and sculpture. Learn a wide range of new skills and Southwest School of Art & Craft experiment with mixed-media painting using watercolor, acrylics, collage materials, markers, This school is a nationally recognized leader in arts education with classes and workshops oil pastels, clay, wood, wire and more. taught by outstanding local, regional and national artists in state-of-the-art facilities. Their summer art camp for kids offers one- and two-week long classes, concentrating on a specific Ages: 1.5 to 14 • Web: www.artworksartstudio.com media or subject in a positive, nurturing and fun environment. Two locations are in San Antonio: 1840 Nacagdoches Rd., zip 78209, ph: 210-826-2787 Ages: 5 to 18 • Web: www.swschool.org • Ph: 210-224-1848 7715 Mainland, Suite 103, zip 78250, ph. 210-256-2787 300 Augusta, San Antonio, TX 78205 iD Tech Camps at Trinity University Stone Oak Youth Theatre These popular summer day and overnight camps are designed for beginner to advanced Stone Oak Theatre (SOYT) is an educational theatre and performing arts experience for kids learners, and average six students per instructor for customized instruction by highly trained and teens. This summer, young students may enroll in a “Camp Experience” – a three-week adult-only staff. They offer a variety of cutting edge summer camp courses for kids and course with three fun and unique classes each day that are geared towards their age group. teens including video game design, Flash animation, programming, app development, video editing, and more. Ages: 7 to 12, 12 to 18 • Web: www.soyt.org • Ph: 210-481-2400 21518 Blanco Rd, Suite 101, San Antonio, TX 78260 Ages: 7 to 12, 13 to 17 • Web: www.internalDrive.com • Ph: 888-709-8324 Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78209 Texas Ski Ranch Camp TSR (Texas Ski Ranch) offers a fun, encouraging atmosphere for kids to pursue action sports in a safe, supportive environment. During full-week camps and day camps, beginners to advanced riders have a blast while sampling skate park and water sport activities with TSR’s customized camp sessions.
Ages: 5 to 16 • Web: www.texasskiranch.com • Ph: 830-627-2843 6700 North IH 35, Canyon LakeTexas 78130
Witte Museum The museum’s summer camp, Adventure Club, hosts week-long day camps for kids. Their two exciting summer camp programs are “Amazon Adventure” and “Expedition San Antonio River.”
Grades 1 to 2, 3 to 5• Web: www.wittemuseum.org • Ph: 210-357-1900 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209
online28 atCanyonLake CommunityCircular.comMagazine.com “Impaired Taste Bud Syndrome”
By Sheryl Hawkinson
The descriptions the “experts” use in defining a wine’s flavor can cause flavorful treasures it holds. However, not all taste buds are created equal many wine enthusiasts such as Bob Bowker of Cedar Park, to want to and can not necessarily decipher each taste the same. For example, I may simply throw in the towel. After hearing from Bob regarding his desire love the scent of a specific perfume and drench myself in it, though the lady to experience every flavor in his wine, he expressed his frustration: “I have standing next to me in the elevator might be gasping for fresh air. Taste is participated in numerous wine tastings in Napa and the surrounding areas of an example of the same issue. I may be enjoying the chocolate flavor in a California and no matter how hard I try to focus on the tastes that the ‘experts’ specific wine while my husband tastes only the notes of earthy soil. Did I talk about I have difficulty in identifying them.” say soil? I did! Well, Bob, you are not alone. Many of us are unable to uncover those Do you suffer from “Impaired Taste Bud Syndrome”? The inability to specific hidden treasures in the wineglass we hold. I personally call this distinguish specific flavors in a specific wine is more common then not. “Impaired Taste Bud Syndrome”. You might hear the “experts” say, this Overcoming “ITBS” will allow you to experience and discover a wines wine has a hint of cherries, chocolate and or some other flavor such as spiced own significant character to the fullest. mocha, white pepper or citrus. However, if you have difficulty discovering a specific flavor poised in your glass of wine, don’t be discouraged. Here are some suggestions to help you conquer your own “Impaired Each winery has established a label on the back of their wine bottle Taste Bud Syndrome”: that provides the consumer their own interpretation of their wine and the • Search for one specific flavor one sip at a time. Wines can be like a bouquet of flowers and hold an array of scents (flavors). Focus on the first flavor that comes to mind. Once you have accomplished your first flavor, move on to the next and so on. • Remember the importance of using four of your senses when experiencing a wine. And document your findings in a notebook. Keep in mind that the sense of smell (aroma), taste (complexity), sight (color) and even touch (body) are all personal conclusions. • Even your lifestyle can effect your taste buds. Ask yourself these questions: Do you consume salty or sweet foods? Do you smoke? Do you drink plenty of water? By simply changing your diet or your lifestyle you can change the outcome of what your taste buds respond to. • When enjoying a glass of wine with friends and family try to draw comparisons to other things you’ve already tasted. Have specific foods available during your tasting so you can easily compare. • Be aware of the changes the taste goes through as it fades on the tongue, and how long that “finish” lasts. • Use your nose! Aroma is a great beginning to the end result. Swirl your wine in your wineglass allowing the wine to release its true aroma. Drop your nose into the glass and draw in the bouquet. Focus on one particular fragrance that is released from the wine.
Now friends, explore and discover the hidden riches in your bottled treasure. Pop the cork and release the flavor! Go with it… but don’t get caught up in the “experts” interpretation, instead search for that specific flavor that tickles your own taste buds. More importantly, enjoy one sip at a time. Cheers!
Please remember to drink responsibly. Do not drink and drive. I look forward to hearing from you. Send your suggestions, trials and errors to: [email protected] and feel free to follow my blog at: corkscrewcorner.blogspot.com
CanyonLakeonline at CommunityCircular.comMagazine.com 29 By Susan Marx
Grab the kids and spend the day touring the Texas Hill Country All aboard! If you’re looking on a genuine vintage passenger railroad line. Or take your husband, girlfriend or a group of friends on one of their evening themed for something out of the trains and make it a night to remember. Either way you’re in for an adventure you’ll not soon forget. The Austin Steam Train Association (ASTA) is a non-profit ordinary to do this weekend organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of the steam trains by making them run again. Executive director Holly Doggett tells us or want to visit the Austin “the train appeals to a wide cross-section of people; military personnel, children and others who’ve used the railroad in the past.” She also area, why not take a ride explains that “ASTA was started by a group of railroad enthusiasts in 1992 when the Southern Pacific 786 steam engine (built in 1916 and housed in Austin) needed a new home.” They moved the still running back to a simpler time? 786 to Cedar Park and have been restoring antique train cars in the 16-acre rail yard there ever since. The 786 steam engine is currently in online30 atCanyonLake CommunityCircular.comMagazine.com son m ia ll m Wi o photo T by
Alabama undergoing a complete overhaul. Meanwhile, a 1960 Alco the old stagecoach road winding its way out of Burnet, if you know 442 diesel pulls the train, which has its own bit of history. According where to look. There were plans to run the line all the way up to the to engineer John Mandell, “this particular model locomotive is the Transcontinental Railroad but these were abandoned in the 1950s.” only one left in the United States still running.” A retired electrical The Giddings-Llano line transferred ownership a few times before engineer, Mandell volunteers his time helping restore the 786 the city of Austin purchased the right-of-way in 1986 and later passed it steam engine and gets the 442 ready for weekend trips. “I’ve been on to Capital Metro. The same track is still used today to haul freight in working out here for about 8 or 9 years and mainly…I like to do the and out of the city. In March 2010, Capital Metro started their Red Line mechanical stuff”, he says with a laugh. commuter service from Leander to downtown Austin. That’s one of the Although steam trains are only used for recreational excursions reasons why the Austin Steam Train only runs on weekends and special these days, they once roared through the wild west, churning out occasions. They share an increasingly busy track. clouds of steam and linking the outlying towns with urban centers. ASTA has passenger cars in three distinct classes. The first class In fact, the Giddings-Llano line (the track ASTA uses) was extended cars are top-of-the-line, climate-controlled touring cars with sleeping out to Granite Mountain in 1885 for the express purpose of hauling compartments, galleys and private lounges. The excursion class cars are pink granite into Austin to build the capital building. Conductor climate-controlled but do not have berths, kitchens or an eating area, Steve Barry (who was a signalman on the Pennsylvania Railroad while the coach class cars are the oldest passenger cars of the fleet. These and a history buff) says “the railroad was the only means of mass cars hail from the Pennsylvania Railroad. Though beautifully restored transit after the stagecoaches stopped running. You can still see and painted bluebonnet blue, these are the most utilitarian. They have
CanyonLakeonline at CommunityCircular.comMagazine.com 31 This 1920s coach car is one of six identical cars that were all constructed by the Pennsylvania Railroad.
photo by Tom Williamson bench seats and sliding glass windows for ventilation. Community seated and the train starts rolling, a friendly car attendant gives outreach coordinator Daniel Doggett explains that “the consist (i.e., you the official welcome aboard. Then you’re free to roam the train. the compliment of cars that make up a train) varies with each run but Adventuresome folks stand in the vestibules watching the scenery whip typically includes at least two of each class plus a concessions car – this by the open windows. First class passengers enjoy complimentary coffee is where people buy snacks and souvenirs and socialize.” and snacks. There are a few private rooms on these cars which can be Whatever class you choose, you’ll be treated to an unforgettable reserved by special request. experience. A real vest-wearing, pocket-watch carrying conductor The train runs at a leisurely average speed of 30 mph so you can sit walks the aisles and brakemen hop on and off to switch tracks and back and enjoy the passing surroundings. When the trains first started couple and decouple the cars. They carry walkie-talkies these days running up here, “cotton was a major industry until the dust bowl in but still use hand, whistle and light signals to communicate – just the 30s,” says Conductor Steve Barry. “You can still see some of the old like they did way back when. The engineer is the only licensed crew cotton merchant buildings in and around Bertram.” You may also want member right now but they are all trained and regulated by the to keep an eye out for Signal Hill, a rocky outcropping where local militia Federal Railroad Administration. Conductor Steve Barry says that set fires that could be seen as far as Austin, to warn of hostile Indians “by the end of 2011 all conductors in the U.S. will also be required in the area. Although you can’t see it from the train, Fort Croghan sits to carry a FRA license.” Even so, according to Doggett (whose job atop Post Mountain, three miles south of Burnet on Hamilton Creek. It is mainly all about coordinating the 100+ volunteers), “all the crew was the third of four forts commissioned by the Federal government in members, including the conductor, are volunteers.” 1849 to protect the frontier. Some of the first Texas Rangers lived there. Whenever you choose to ride, arrive early. All seats are reserved and If you take the Hill Country Flyer you’ll stop in Burnet, a charming assigned and the train begins boarding 45 minutes before departure. old western town which was once home to legendary Confederate hero It leaves the station precisely on schedule so don’t be late! Once you’re Stovepipe Johnson and named after G. Burnet, the first provisional
Plenty of lounge space and 5 private compartments are available in this 1950 first class train car from Chicago.
photo by Tom Williamson
CanyonLakeMagazine.com 32online at CommunityCircular.com president of the Republic of Texas. You’ll have a two-hour layover there Riders enjoy games and snacks during their ride. to eat, shop and walk around. One of the highlights of this trip is the Wild West Show, a shoot-out dramatized by the Burnet Gunfighters Association. “Sheriff” Tex Copsetta, president of the Association is a retired peace officer and wears a felt 10-gallon hat and a vintage peacemaker on his thigh as he moves from car to car with a swagger, telling passengers about the show and inviting the ladies to volunteer as saloon girls. It’s a fun experience and presents a perfect photo-op to capture your nostalgic day in the Wild West. The daytime flyers depart Cedar Park Station at 10 am most weekends. The Hill Country Flyer goes 33 miles to Burnet, which is a six-hour roundtrip including the lunch stop. So expect to spend most of your day on that one. The Bertram Flyer travels 23 miles to Bertram and includes a 15 minute stop at the 1912 depot before turning around. This is a good one to take if your time is limited or if you have small children. ASTA’s specialty trains include the Thomas the Tank Engine and North Pole Flyer (both heavily attended annual events). The most photo by Tom Williamson popular ride for adults is the Murder Train. These usually take place on a Saturday night and depart the station at 7 pm. The Capital City Mystery Players act out a murder mystery onboard as passengers enjoy a UPCOMING SPECIALTY FLYERS box dinner, wine and beer. The Austin Steam Train has become increasingly popular and now “serves more than 30,000 guests a year,” according to Holly Doggett. Twilight Flyer: Train ride after dark! She advises passengers to “call ahead or go online for reservations because Murder Mystery: Themed evening of dinner and many of the specialty rides sell out, sometimes months in advance.” The mystery. Thomas the Tank Engine event is their most popular - an average of Holiday Flyers: Special flyers run for most holidays. 14,000 people show up for it every year. You can also charter an entire car and dress it up to suit your taste or rent the first class party room for Princess Flyer: Join princesses for tea, biscuits and groups of ten or more. photos. Day Out with Thomas: Ride with a full sized To begin your journey out west, visit www.austinsteamtrain.org Thomas the Tank Engine, meet characters and for tickets and information or call (512) 477-8468. The Austin Steam Train Association offices are located at: enjoy storytelling and live music. 401 East Whitestone Suite A-103 in Cedar Park, TX 78613.
photo by Kris Krieg Visitors excitedly wait to board the train for one of the popular weekend trips.
CanyonLakeMagazine.com online at CommunityCircular.com33 by James Peterson, DVM
1) By far, the most common problem our pets face in warm 7) Besides being lost, a scared pet is also at risk for being struck by temperatures is heat stroke. Also known as heat stress or hyperpyrexia, a car or being attacked by another, more aggressive animal. this is a real emergency for our dogs. 8) When running errands, leave your dog at home. Just a few 2) Body temperatures can skyrocket to more than 106 degrees minutes in a hot car can spell disaster for your pet. Fahrenheit quickly. At 110 degrees, brain damage starts to occur. 9) If you find your pet collapsed in the yard, disoriented, or 3) Dogs can’t dissipate heat by sweating like us…they must pant panting excessively, move him immediately to a cooler environment. to cool themselves. Often, they are simply unable to cool themselves Use cool water towels across the neck and belly along with fans to bring efficiently. his temperature down. Don’t use ice!
4) Any pet can overheat on a warm day, but short faced breeds are 10) Make immediate plans to transport your pet to the at a higher risk. veterinarian for assessment and life-saving treatments.
Dr. Peterson is a Veterinarian and owner of Never leave your pet unattended in a car during warm weather. 5) Hill Country Animal Hospital and The Palms Pet Resort. Not only can the car’s internal temperature climb past 110 degrees in just an hour, it is now also a crime in many states and cities. The Palms Pet Resort is vet owned, always has a vet on call and certified 6) Many summer time parties and holidays are celebrated with fireworks. These loud noises can cause anxiety in pets. Some will even staff every day, around the clock. try to escape, often injuring themselves in their panic. For more information on your pets health, please go to thepalmspetresort.com | hillcountryanimalhospital.com
online34 atCanyonLake CommunityCircular.comMagazine.com CanyonLakeMagazine.com 35 1. Wakeboard without a boat 6. Host a beach bash Grab your friends and head out to the cable lakes. TSR’s Looking to spice up your next fundraiser, company team cableway allows six riders at a time to circle the cable, holding build, corporate event or private party? TSR has group rates, onto ropes attached high above. Beginners of all ages will love packages and ideas to host a unique beach bash of any size. the ease of learning on TSR’s “beginners only” two-tower cable With meeting rooms, catering from Wahoo’s, wakeboarding, system and friendly coaching from experienced dock staff. sand volleyball and more, TSR is sure to host an awesome, one-of-a-kind party! 2. Dine on the beach at Wahoo’s Fish Taco Wahoo’s is TSR’s new bar and grill with unique flavors of 7. Wakeboard at NIGHT Mexico, Brazil and Asia combined with a Hawaiian north- Only at TSR can you wakeboard after the sun goes down. Public shore vibe. Whether you’ve worked up an appetite on the lakes forbid skiing at night so TSR threw up some stadium lights lake or just want to head to the beach after a long day, around the cable to provide a unique riding experience like Wahoo’s is the perfect place to unwind with a cold drink no other. Night riding is open to the public Thursday through and great food. Not to mention, the restaurant overlooks Saturday all Summer long! The Texas Ski Ranch is Central Texas’ action sports the lakes giving diners a bird’s eye view of all action and paradise and whether you are looking to go beautiful South Texas sunsets. 8. Stop by the board shop wakeboarding and waterskiing, or just interested Drop into TSR’s Board Shop to check out the season’s hottest in a relaxing day on the beach, TSR has something 3. Support local riders at Thursday Night trends. They’ve got everything from bikinis, board shorts, for you. With Summer just around the corner we’ve Showdowns sundresses and t-shirts to flip flops, sunglasses and watches. created the ultimate check list of things to try at TSR! Thursday Night Showdowns are TSR’s competitive summer They also have top of the line wakeboards, waterskis, life wakeboarding series where local riders of all skill levels join jackets and more! together for some family friendly competition. Grab your friends and come out to support the local wakeboarding scene. From 9. Challenge a friend to a rock climbing race beginner riders pushing their trick limits to international Pro’s TSR has a great three-sided, 33 ft. rockwall inside the doors of like two-time World Wakeboard Champion Tom Fooshee, every the facility! The best part... the wall is completely portable! TSR evening promises to put on a good show. will gladly bring it to any event to add a high standing amenity!
4. Take a lesson from the Pros 10. Check out tsr mastercraft What better way to learn how to wakeboard then from the TSR is South Central Texas’ exclusive MasterCraft boat sales best? TSR has a full staff of expert boat drivers and coaches center, private test lake and inboard service center. Stop by, who eat, drink and sleep wakeboarding. TSR’s coaches are test drive the best and learn what the industry has to offer! knowledgeable, friendly and eager to help riders of all skill This is not your ordinary dealership; this group of seasoned levels and ages. professionals knows what performance is all about and is here to help you out! 5. Give your child a vacation Camp TSR is the perfect getaway for any kid looking for a week filled with action sports and fun. With overnight and day www.TexasSkiRanch.com sessions customized with rock climbing, skateboarding and New Braunfels, TX water sports, TSR is the perfect place for kids to learn to ride 830.627.2843 and have fun in a safe and encouraging environment.
online36 atCanyonLake CommunityCircular.comMagazine.com CanyonLakeMagazine.com 37 Jack Hanna meets with Community Circular Magazine reporter Rachel Danley
Hanna shares a presentation on Flamingos of SeaWorld San Antonio online38 atCanyonLake CommunityCircular.comMagazine.com Six month-old Cheetah African Porcupine of Columbus Zoo
Hanna holds Charlotte, a four month-old Red Kangaroo rescued and bottle-fed at the Columbus Zoo
Hanna greets guests and autographs photos before and after each show
CanyonLakeonline at CommunityCircular.comMagazine.com 39 Two-toed Sloth “Slow-poke”
Young Iberian Lynx of the Columbus Zoo
online40 atCanyonLake CommunityCircular.comMagazine.com CanyonLakeonline at CommunityCircular.comMagazine.com 41 42online atCanyonLake CommunityCircular.comMagazine.com CanyonLakeonline at CommunityCircular.comMagazine.com 43 How To Make Your Home More Energy Efficient by Meredith Keller
You may think that the single largest source of wasted energy in your “Comfort World windows from Window World all feature home is the fact that your kids stand in front of the open refrigerator interlocking, double barrier weather stripping at sash sides to protect door while trying to decide what to eat next. However, you might be against air infiltration.” surprised to learn that homes lose most of their energy through old Other elements that can cause poor energy efficiency include poorly and drafty windows and doors. According to Martin Bomba, owner of caulked electrical outlets, windows, siding and doors. Inadequate Window World, there are a variety of reasons that windows can fail and insulation in walls and attics, along with old appliances will also cause become points of energy loss. your home to lose energy and your heating and cooling costs to rise. “Old, aluminum, single-paned windows offer no thermal efficiency Most older homes do not have enough, if any, insulation in their and act as little more than a wind break.” exterior walls. Any type of overlapped siding will have drafts, as it is hard Other points of failure in older or poorly installed windows, include to completely seal wood or fiber cement siding and offers no insulating rigid spacers between panes that do not allow for expansion and properties. Window World also offers an incredibly energy efficient contraction with variable temperatures. This can cause condensation to siding product called Prodigy by Alside. Prodigy siding is virtually build up between double-paned windows and allow air to pass through. maintenance free and has high-performance built-in insulation bonded Bomba states, “Window World vinyl windows offer energy efficient securely to the plank. Its interlocking panel design ensures a tight fit Low-E glass, along with a warm-edge spacer that is not thermal with no gaps that need to be caulked. conductive, so it expands and contracts as needed to accommodate Bomba further states, “Prodigy is a ‘green’ product that never needs changes in temperature.” to be painted, is fire and insect resistant, and it is completely recyclable.” The average life of a builder-grade window is typically only 8 to 10 Prodigy offers an R-Value of 5.3, versus a .2 value for fiber cement years. After that, the weather stripping can begin to breakdown between siding’.” That’s five times the energy efficiency of ordinary siding. the window sashes, allowing air to pass through, which can often lead to There are many ways to increase the energy efficiency of your home. whistling windows. One way to determine if the seal on your window You can get a true picture of where your home’s points of waste occur is still good or starting to fail, is to take a dollar bill and slip it between with an energy audit from your local utility company. A small investment the window sashes when your window is open. Then close and lock your in your home can provide huge energy savings over the years, and once window, and try to pull the dollar bill back out. If you are able to pull the kids are out of the house, you’ll save even more! the dollar bill back out, then the seal is not effective.
44 CanyonLakeMagazine.com CanyonLakeMagazine.com 45 Our world today is bombarded from all angles with disorder, fear and pandemonium on a daily basis. However, as difficult as it has been, there is a group of people that have, with determination, been able to stay focused on love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control with a purpose to accomplish a long awaited victory over the world of hate and mayhem.
In 2001, Max and Sherry Greiner knew, after hearing from God, they were to construct places around the world where all people could draw closer to the peace most of us desire. For this reason, in 2004 the Grainer’s founded The Coming King Foundation. An outreach designed for all who have the desire to draw closer to Jesus Christ within beautiful meditative gardens placed throughout our nation and the world. Not only one religious denomination is represented in this outreach, instead there are 17 Trustees from different denominations taking part in providing these gardens. Many well know advocates of Jesus Christ support the agenda, including Governor Mike Huckabee, Dr. James Dobson, Franklin Graham, Dr. Pat Roberston, Rick Warren, and the late Dr. Bill Bright and Dr. Oral Roberts all supporting The Coming King Foundation through prayer. online at CommunityCircular.com 46 CanyonLakeMagazine.com Written by Sheryl Hawkinson • Photos by HeloPhotography.com
Over two million dollars have been provided by individuals across America in support of the common goal. Not only have the funds been raised without professional fundraisers or public tax money, but many Christian artists have donated time and sculptures valued at three million dollars welcoming guests to the gardens. Only 60 miles from downtown San Antonio in the city of Kerrville is this landmark in the making. The 23 acre “Coming King Sculpture Prayer Garden” site, donated by the Hershel Reid family of Dallas, TX, welcomes drivers above Interstate Highway 10 with a 77’7” tall, 70 ton, contemporary iron sculpture named The Empty Cross. The cross which is located half way between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans began its erection on the 1,930’ high hill the morning of July 26, 2010. With many people in support of the cross, there are plenty who are against the cross as well. Opponents and challengers continue to throw attacks, lawsuits and threats against the cross and its founders yet the cross remains upright and strong at the same latitude as Israel. Foundation Trustee, Dr. Bruce Cook of Austin said: “Cities and nations have destinies and identities just like people. The city of Kerrville has long been associated with art, music, wildlife, fine foods, and retirement. Tourism is a natural outgrowth and outcome of the local heritage and natural scenic inheritance of the area. Kerrville is destined to become a destination attraction.” Artist Max Greiner Jr., designed the hollow sculpture as a spiritual reminder of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians know that Jesus hung on the cross, taking upon Himself the sins of the world. After three days He rose, defeating death, hence The Empty Cross. If you have not yet accepted His gift of salvation, The Empty Cross is your invitation to surrender your life unto Him. “For it is by grace you have been saved.” The garden, when completed, will display 77 Bible scriptures on 16” engraved ceramic tiles in languages from around the world.
To find out how you can take part in this amazing work, visit: www.TheComingKingFoundation.org. Guided tours are possible by calling TCKF office at 830-367-7706
online at CommunityCircular.com CanyonLakeMagazine.com 47 48 CanyonLakeMagazine.com CanyonLakeMagazine.com 49 50 CanyonLakeMagazine.com CanyonLakeMagazine.com 51 52 CanyonLakeMagazine.com CanyonLakeMagazine.com 53 54 CanyonLakeMagazine.com www.CanyonLakeMagazine.com/puzzles
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