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8 contents 10 Dominion residents offer opportunities for Money & Manners 16 Cibolo Nature Center 19 Water Conservation: Tips Facts & Resources 24 Newt Gingrich: Rediscovering God in America 28 Don t Spend It All On the Nursing Home 30 Fun & Exciting Summer Camps for Kids 31 Corkscrew Corner 32 Austin Steam Train: A ride back to simpler times 36 Summer Pet Safety Tips Things to Try This Summer at Texas Ski Ranch 40 Jack Hanna stops by SeaWorld & visits with Community Circular Magazines 45 Pioneers of The Dominion & Future Plans for the Community 46 Super Slow Fitness 48 Say No To Heart Disease 52 Mercedes-Benz of Boerne 54 Dirty Dusty Designs 59 Puzzles Publishers: Community Circular Magazines a division of White-Frisbie Media Graphic Design Taylor Davis Michelle Fortenberry Jared Hawkinson Lucy Hutchenson James Tootle Administrative Risa Castillo Jared Hawkinson Jake Hatcher Sales Rachel Danley Sheryl Hawkinson To advertise your product or services in The Dominion Magazine, please contact Rachel Danley at or by at [email protected] The Dominion Magazine is a periodical published for the enjoyment of The Dominion subdivision. The magazine is intended to cover entertaining and informative topics that are of interest to The Dominion subdivision. The magazine is not affiliated with The Dominion subdivision or any government agency and is supported by its advertisers. We want your feedback! What do you think of our all-new The Dominion Magazine? As a reader, we want to hear from you. If you have feedback on any of our articles, or the magazine itself, we want to know about it. We encourage you to visit our web site at and let us know what s on your mind. The Dominion Magazine is published by Community Circular Magazines, a subsidiary product of White-Frisbie Media. It is provided for the enjoyment and education of its readership. The information presented in this magazine is believed to be true at the time of publishing. Community Circular Magazines does not guarantee or warranty any of the services or products produced by the companies represented herein. Community Circulars is a proud member in excellent standing with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). If you have any feedback on this publication, please contact us at or visit our web site at Become a contributor to The Dominion Magazine! We are looking for contributors to our new magazine. Have an article idea? Or maybe you would like to write periodically for the magazine. We re looking for readers to contribute their ideas, articles, photography, short stories, poetry and more! Have a photo that you think would look great on our cover? Send it to us! To send us your content or ideas, please go to our web site at We re also accepting photos for our The Dominion Pet s Corner - send us photos of your furry family members so our readers can learn more about how special they are to you. Where in the world is The Dominion Magazine? Traveling? Be sure to take The Dominion Magazine with you! Take a picture holding the magazine. Tell us a little about your travels. We would love to know where you ve been traveling and where in the world The Dominion Magazine has been! We would like to say thank you to the local businesses that support The Dominion Magazine. Many Dominion area business owners and/or employees are also residents in the area; we appreciate their support and thank them for the services they provide to our readers. 8 TheDominionMagazine.com

10 European and Texan sensibilities combine to form a unique partnership and offer valuable opportunities to the San Antonio area. Money& Manners A few years ago, Mark and Heather Magarian were leading what seemed to be very different lives on distant shores. He, an Englishman with a background working as a trader for billionaire Martin Gruss and also serving as a Vice President at Deutsche Bank in London - she, a native San Antonian, mortgage banker and part-time model whom regularly traveled the world. Mark and Heather met at the ultra-chic Chinese restaurant, Hakkasan, where Mark was entertaining clients and where Heather was visiting on holiday. Mark says that when he first saw Heather across the room, he knew she was the one. Growing up in London, Mark says he was always very analytical. He wanted to understand what drove good and bad decision making, especially in the world of investments in which irrational behavior is the hallmark of market bubbles and bottoms. He wanted to understand why he did what he did and that ultimately led to insights into the behavior of others. Mark remembers one of the stories he read during the crash of 87 in The Telegraph on how some investors had success when others were failing. How had they accomplished that? Mark distilled it to two things: All had a lot of hardship to get where they were and were willing to make decisive changes when needed. Mark was off and running. He started reading books on the financial markets and analyzing them. The ones who made it when everyone else was losing it, soon became clear. Their personalities had developed the ability to adapt, sense opportunity and not follow the herd. 10 TheDominionMagazine.com

11 Mark & Heather pictured at The Dominion Country Club Meanwhile, Heather was growing into a young lady in her native San Antonio. She was of Scots-Irish descent and with the encouragement of her parents, Heather learned and competed as an Irish and Scottish dancer. She practiced diligently every day and ultimately won the World Championship of Irish Dancing in This involves no small amount of talent and precision. It brought her into a new culture and into the art world where she was introduced to the European style of elegant living, the social graces, and eventually to Mark. It was late in 2006 when Heather and Mark met. They began dating immediately and conducted a long distance romance for under a year before Heather moved to London. The Magarians were married in summer of 2008 in the fairytale setting of Dundas Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland. They spent another year living in London several blocks from Buckingham Palace before building a house in The Dominion and making San Antonio a permanent home. Now Mark works as a financial advisor and portfolio manager for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and Heather runs a school of etiquette and charm for children. The beauty of etiquette is that it helps us move more fluidly in the social arena because it is a universal language, Heather says. Even those without the benefit of having refined their personal presentation at a charm school understand and respond to being treated with gentleness, fairness, kindness and respect. Heather keeps very busy with her etiquette business Little Miss Manners, which has expanded into a variety of venues including semi-private summer classes, the Girl Scouts & Brownies, Jr. Cotillion, Mom s Class (a semi-private class for the mothers of the children she teaches) and private lessons for adults. Each promotes confidence, closeness and trust. Heather demonstrating her talent as a World- Champion Irish dancer TheDominionMagazine.com 11

12 It is my goal to empower each student with the confidence to handle almost every type of social situation. One of Heather s clients comments: My 8 yr. old daughter not only enjoyed her classes, but learned so many things other than just your typical manners. She would come home every day very excited about what she learned and continues even now to speak of the sessions. I would highly recommend Little Miss Manners summer program and have already planned on doing a refresher course this summer for my daughter. Trust is vital in every relationship, but it is perhaps nowhere more important than in the investment field. Working with an advisor that is qualified to handle your affairs, always with your interests at the forefront is paramount. Mark, with 14 years experience in his field, uses the latest technology and live feeds from all over the globe to screen thousands of stocks in real time with the touch of a button each working day. From a global macro perspective, Mark isolates trends in stocks, bonds, commodities and currencies finding alternative investment opportunities and narrowing the focus to areas displaying the most promise. At a micro level he chooses a handful of stocks out of those thousands looking for strong margins, little to no debt and high growth. It s a best in class approach. Of all the secrets Mark has learned over the years, he says his global approach and perspective are perhaps the most important. From my first job trading emerging markets as the Russian crisis unfolded in 1998 to working in more developed markets with the tech bubble in 2000, it seemed that every situation I was thrown into had a turbulent market. With a mandate across strategies and asset classes of generate returns but manage downside and protect capital, I was forced to become more disciplined and precise in managing risk. Mark says There s usually an opportunity somewhere but what does that mean and shouldn t we be investing in our own country? Part of what I m doing is helping my clients understand the global economy and how to succeed in it, Mark continues Without a good money manager to advise them, many individual investors try to manage risk themselves which without all the information and tools can be a difficult task. Every decision involves risk; even sitting on cash has its own risks attached to it. One of the big differences in my approach is I am more active in making decisions to reduce risk and protect capital. Of course, every client s needs are different. Determining risk tolerance is part of the equation for developing a successful portfolio. Mark & Heather on their wedding day in Scotland It s like Sun Tsu s Art of War. Different situations dictate different tactics. One of Mark s clients shares, I ve discovered from working with Mark that when I turn on the T.V. and see some bad news in the world I don t have to worry because I know he s already doing something to either protect my assets or take advantage of an opportunity. The problem is the industry is dominated by sales people. Sales has little to do with the skills needed to make good investment decisions; one needs to know how to change the outcome to take advantage of the hidden opportunities in the midst of what may seem a challenging market. Mark doesn t believe in riding out bear markets. The byproduct of a bear market environment is that as the market becomes depressed - people become more fearful. But those who have managed their money well are in a position to buy into opportunities at attractive prices. Mark states I work with individuals who want a different outcome to the norm, are focused on the bottom line, and covet the level of accountability and day-to-day risk management that they deserve. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney has the credibility and infrastructure that allow Mark to implement his strategies. A client sums it up, Mark s experience is unique in San Antonio. I feel I get a much higher level of service from him and the results speak for themselves. Mark & Heather s dogs, Larry & Oscar. Heather s summer etiquette classes ( Little Miss Manners) teach social skills to children from the ages of Four two-hour summer sessions offered weekly. Etiquette is the internationally accepted code of conduct standardized in the French courts and is used by diplomats and leaders the world over. Classes are very interactive and quite fun ~ Heather is down to earth with her teaching, which has been embraced by hundreds, It s the What s in it for you? method, which works every time : ) or (210) Mark D.V.F. Magarian Financial Advisor for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Member SIPC 9311 San Pedro Avenue, Suite 1200, San Antonio, TX call (210) or (210) TheDominionMagazine.com

16 Cibolo Nature Center in Boerne Offers Summer Camps for Kids With its 100 acres of Hill Country trails and wilderness plus an 11,000 squarefoot facility with sprawling porches, the Cibolo Nature Center (CNC) is ideal for outdoor adventure in the summertime where kids can explore, observe, and investigate our natural world. If you re a parent or guardian who s seeking great summer activities for your kids that are closer to home and kinder to your wallet, then you really should consider CNC in Boerne. And there s absolutely no cost for you and your family and friends to enjoy the Center year-round. CNC offers seven weeks of individually-themed Nature Camps and Art Camps throughout June and July. Children ages 6 to 12 are invited for a summer of nature and fun. (Five-year-olds may participate in Nature Camp if they ve attended kindergarten.) The mission of CNC summer camps is to bring environmental awareness and stewardship to children while fostering friendship and respect through nature, play, and creative hands-on educational activities. There are also traditional camp activities such as games, crafts, skits, silly songs, and special guests. Mary Gomillion, Director of Children s Education at CNC, stresses that We re a licensed day camp, which puts safety as a top priority as is evident by our trained and qualified summer staff. She adds All camp weeks are packed with activities, presenters and most of all fun! Each week-long camp runs Monday through Friday. Nature Camp is from 9 am to 1:30 pm and Art Camp follows from 1:30 to 4:30 pm so it s possible to attend both camps during the same week. Campers dress comfortably for the outdoors (swimsuits are appropriate for some Nature Camps). The weekly rate for Nature Camp is $150 per child while Art Camp costs $175 (art supplies included). Multiple-week discounts and scholarships are available. Registration packets and scholarship forms can be downloaded online at 16 TheDominionMagazine.com

17 Week 1 (June 6-10) Creek Week. Bring swimsuits and water shoes to cool off while swimming with the fish and learning to catch them, too. It s catch-and-release fishing only at the Cibolo, so fish can go on their merry way to be caught another day. Week 2 (June 13-17) Rowdy Reptiles. If you like snakes then you ll especially enjoy this camp. Snake expert Pete Mimikos teaches about these important animals including the poisonous varieties. Go on a snake hunt (and look up for snakes that live in trees!). Week 3 (June 20-24) Things with Wings. From predatory birds to bats to bugs, investigate creatures that fly to survive. Butterflies fly freely around the butterfly house. Learn amazing things from visiting experts and prepare for the Insect Olympics. Week 4 (June 27-July 1) Cibolo Native Americans. Cibolo Creek is rich in Native American history. Games were a large part of how Native American children learned to hunt for food. Celebrates how Native Americans lived and learned from the land. Three more Nature Camps in July Week 5 (July 11-25) - Something s Fishy! Week 6 (July 18-22) - Nature Trackers. Week 7 (July 25-29) - Water Week. For these camp descriptions, go to Campers spend time outside learning to see the beauty of nature and develop artworks based on their discoveries. This camp encourages a comfortable, creative and fun environment for all students to develop new techniques and skills while learning to express themselves through art. Doris Perez, Director of Operations for CNC, says, The opportunity for children to explore the creative process and the natural world at the same time makes Art Camp a really special event. Week 1 (June 6-10) Take a Walk with a Line. Creativity blooms after inspirational hikes in the park. Have fun experimenting with a variety of drawing media and methods. Explore art fundamentals such as composition, volume, light and shadow, line and color. Week 2 (June 13-17) Deep in the Art of Texas. Mockingbirds, lightning bugs, prickly pear, armadillos and buffalo inspire this camp s young artists. Work in a variety of media while celebrating the many styles of local Lone Star artists. Observe creative processes from one of Boerne s very own professional artists. Week 3 (June 20-24) Color Your Summer. Express your artistic spirit in bold or delicate colors with imaginative and descriptive brushstrokes. Experiment with landscape, self portrait, and other subject matter with various forms of wet media including watercolors at the Cibolo Creek. Week 4 (June 27-July 1) Tell Your Story. This week s art camp is all about creating a story using your imagination on canvas. Discover the connection between art and literature by exploring narrative elements in a work of art and how to interpret the story that it tells while creating your own book. Three more Art Camps in July Week 5 (July 11-25) Discovery-Scape. Week 6 (July 18-22) The Art Explorers. Week 7 (July 25-29) Contemporary Collage Craze. For these camp descriptions, go to On Fridays, family and friends are invited to view an exhibit of art that s created during camp. by Scott Sparks Cibolo Nature Center 140 City Park Road, Boerne, TX Ph: [email protected] Web: TheDominionMagazine.com 17

19 Water Conservation in San Antonio & Surrounding Cities by Susan Marx Waterfall and pool at Westcave Preserve located just west of Austin, Texas. In the 19th century, American writer 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 Fraser introduced Senate Bill 332 a law that could make groundwater 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 directly affects how much is available for everybody else. San Antonio, as most of us already know, sits right on top of the Edwards Aquifer a massive reservoir of fresh water that extends 180 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. New Braunfels (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 or Ruiz adds Within the San Antonio region over the past 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 resource. It s an example of how public policy leads to conservation. Ruiz believes, however, that water conservation is nothing short of behavior TheDominionMagazine.com online at CommunityCircular.com 19

20 modification. Even though technology has given us more efficient appliances (like lowflow toilets), Ruiz said, It really comes down to people changing the way they think about and use water. With the population doubling in San Antonio over the last 20 years, the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) is actively exploring ways to diversify off the Edwards Aquifer and supply the growing needs of the community. Fact #1 Texas is prone to cyclical drought. Water conservationist Todd Votteler, PhD said, Water planning is based on the worst drought on record for which we have measurement. The drought of record in Texas ( ) depleted the aquifers to such an extent the Comal and San Marcos springs (which draws on Edwards Aquifer) went dormant. That in turn caused the San Antonio River to dry up (the San Antonio River is fed by Comal and San Marcos springs). Recent tree ring studies of the Bald Cypress (which live 300-1,000 years) show that Texas has seen worse droughts than the 1950s drought and that a serious drought occurs about every 50 years. Fact #2 Since the mid-50s the population has doubled in Texas and is expected to double again by the year 2040 but state water supplies have not kept pace. San Antonio is one of the fastest growing cities in South Central Texas with a current population of 1.7 million and counting. Fact #3 The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) makes long term plans for statewide water supply to meet the needs of the growing population and to prepare for the inevitable recurrence of drought. Based on data gathered across the state TWDB has determined that a full 30% of new water demand will be met through water conservation savings. Fact #4 Texas has extremely variable rainfall. It s feast or famine. We seem to either be in drought or are experiencing a deluge. The Edwards Plateau has some of the most intense rainfalls on record with as much as 22 inches falling in 3 hours. This water recharges the aquifer but the rest floods on the surface and is lost unless it is captured in reservoirs. The Comal River flows through Landa Park and is fed by natural springs. Edwards Aquifer Zones Regional Detail Contributing Zone Recharge Zone Transition / Artesian Zone Artesian Zone Travis 9 Edwards Real Kerr Bexar I-10 2 Kendall 3 US Hays Comal 7 8 I-35 Area Detailed 10 HWY 90 1 Kinney source: Uvalde Medina Las Mora Springs Medina Lake Large solution chamber Limestone fault Flowing limestone conduit San Antonio Bexar Canyon Lake Comal Springs San Marcos Springs Barton Springs San Felipe Springs Miles 0 30 North 20 online at TheDominionMagazine.com CommunityCircular.com

21 Karen Guz of SAWS says that since the creation of the EAA, they have been actively involved in educating the community on ways to conserve on an individual level. Guz said, We don t worry that we re going to run out of water. The Stage 1 Alert is part of a legislated water conservation management plan that prevents this. It means cutting back on per capita consumption and finding ways to diversify supply. Conservation also means being involved in partnership with the community and cultivating an awareness of how curbing personal water usage contributes to sustaining water supplies and keeping cities thriving and beautiful places to live. Guz says they re very proud of the fact that average water consumption has dropped significantly over the past 20 years. She says we ve doubled the number of customers but are using the same amount of water. That s an astonishing claim and it supports the findings of the TWDB that conservation is one of the best and most cost effective ways of supplying more water. As part of their ongoing efforts to educate the community, SAWS offers free conservation consultations. A representative comes out to your home and shows you exactly how to cut down on water usage. Guz says that on average, people do change their habits after this consultation. SAWS also offers free water-saving showerheads to those who visit their service center or have a consultation. These showerheads cut water usage down by half! Instead of using 3.5 gallons of water per minute, you only use They also give away free faucet aerators, which save gallons of water a minute. And for those households that meet the criterion SAWS also offers up to two free high efficiency toilets. Low income households may also qualify for free installation and plumbing repair. Incredible as it may seem, just by using more efficient fixtures and appliances, limiting your showers and other in-home use, like only running the washing machine when you have a full load, can save indoor consumption by 30%. By modifying watering habits as well, customers can shave off as much as 10,000 gallons annually. Multiply that by 1.7 million people and you can begin to see what a massive difference just a few relatively small adjustments can make. The biggest area of conservation that still needs improvement on the individual level is outdoor usage. Roland Ruiz and Karen Guz both say people generally over water their yards and that they have a hard time understanding that watering less is better for most landscapes. When you live in an area that is characterized by cyclical drought, you may also have to accept the fact that your yard may not be that green in the midst of a dry period. Another alternative is converting traditional grass yards to drought resistant Xeriscape. Xeriscape isn t just about rocks and cactus. There is a wide variety of plants you can choose from that only require minimal watering. SAWS has developed a site at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens called WaterSaver Lane that demonstrates how you can have Mediterranean landscapes, Hill Country Landscapes, Cottage Garden Landscapes, Spanish, Wild and traditional American that all look lush and colorful without using a lot of water. To see these landscape alternatives visit the gardens or the SAWS website It s also nice to know that SAWS is diversifying off the Edwards Aquifer by using the Trinity aquifer (which sits directly underneath the Edwards), Canyon Lake and an aquifer storage and recovery system The Comal Springs in New Braunfels, Texas emerge from underground. TheDominionMagazine.com online at CommunityCircular.com 21

22 they ve developed using the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, south of San Antonio. The Carrizo-Wilcox (unlike the Edwards, which is made of limestone) is made of softer sandstone. SAWS injects water into the Carrizo-Wilcox for storage during wet times and then goes back and retrieves it again when demand is high in a dry period. It s a natural underground reservoir. Through various partnerships, the San Antonio Water System has developed a large water reclamation project that recycles wastewater for agricultural use, cooling towers and as production water for large commercial users like Toyota, Microsoft and University Health Science System. This is a large scale water conservation effort. In fact, on May 4, 2011 the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) awarded SAWS for recycling and reusing water. Ann Hayden of SAWS said, The reclamation project allows San Antonio to attract large industries to the area without significantly impacting water resources. It takes a big chunk off potable demand. The reclamation site is also currently being developed as a future solar farm. Another industrial-sized SAWS conservation effort involves teaching businesses how to reclaim condensate off of their cooling systems. One large mall in San Antonio, for example, collects 40 gallons of water a minute from their air conditioners and recycles it to their cooling tower. SAWS has two other large scale water conservation projects on tap for the not too distant future. They are currently testing Wilcox Brackish Water Desalination which will deliver as much as 10 million gallons of water a day beginning in 2016 and a partnership with Gonzalez County called Regional Carrizo which will use Schertz/Sequin Local Government Corporation excess water through a shared pipeline coming together at the border of the City of San Antonio in late Finally, upon review of their 50 year water management plan under TWDB, SAWS is currently accepting Requests for Competitive Sealed Proposals (RFCSP) for a water supply supplement from parties with the ability to deliver water to Bexar County as part of an effort to diversify supply. In Texas, water conservation is a way of life. Texas State University limnologist Walter Rast studies inland fresh water supplies. Rast was head of United Nations Environmental Protection (UNEP) from headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya but has also contributed to water management all over the world. He said, That s where I learned that if I was going to work with sustainable water supplies I had to get into socioeconomic concerns. Water problems are basically the same everywhere you re either dealing with quality or quantity, Rast continued. What s different is the beliefs people have about water use. Ultimately the best solution is to get all the stakeholders together (water suppliers and water users) to discuss everybody s wants and needs. That can be a challenge. You invite everybody to a big powwow and smoke the peace pipe over what s best for the collective, Rast said. From his point of view, People either embrace water conservation or die of thirst because water may be a renewable resource but it s also a limited resource. Rast advocates building an additional water reservoir in San Antonio to compensate for the scarcity and deluge characteristics of the region. As the population increases, Rast says there will be less fresh water per capita and that means we need to start conserving water now. Xeriscaping: Large beds featuring native plants and drought resistant grass such as bermuda or zoysia will keep your yard looking great with minimal watering. 22 online at TheDominionMagazine.com CommunityCircular.com

24 Newt Gingrich speaks about Rediscovering God in America at Cornerstone Church Written by Travis White Photos by Paul Wharton On Sunday, March 27th, Cornerstone Church welcomed former Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich, in grand style. Opening 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 modernday 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. 24 online at TheDominionMagazine.com CommunityCircular.com

25 Pastor Hagee pointed out that during Gingrich s tenure as Speaker ( ) the Federal Budget was balanced, an accomplishment that has not been repeated since his time in office. The son of a 27-year career soldier, Mr. Gingrich opened his remarks by saying he was touched by the tribute paid to the members of the military. Gingrich pointed out that in the last line of the first stanza of the National Anthem ( For the land of the free and home of the brave. ) that he believes it is not possible, as Americans, to be free if we are not brave. He stated that, bravery can come in many forms, not just fighting, but campaigning, and sometimes just standing up for what you believe, no matter what the political elites have told you... Gingrich continued, It s important for us to cultivate courage and the boldness to believe in who we are and what we do. Mr. Gingrich presented a dramatic position: I believe our entire Judeo-Christian civilization is under siege on two fronts: radical Islamics and secular atheists. Each of them is dedicated to a world in which our Judeo-Christian traditions wouldn t survive. He went on to say that political elites are trying to create generational amnesia; resulting in generations that have no idea what it means to be an American. According to Gingrich, his childhood was spent relocating from military bases all over the world during a time when a balloon cloud was a real possibility. His father was an infantryman in the Army for 27 years and his family was stationed all over Europe and the US. He spoke of witnessing dramatic post World War I & II scenes in Europe while growing up. This included one event in particular during his freshmen year of high school when he visited the battlefield of Verdun in Douaumont, France. Gingrich recounts: [at the battlefield] they have a huge building called the Ossuary and the basement is glassed in; the bones of the 100,000+ men who had been blown apart in the field are [entombed] there. As a freshman in high school, this [experience] was really overpowering. By the summer of 1958, I was forced to collide with the reality that countries can die and civilizations can disappear. And that good leadership is crucial. According to Gingrich, after his time as Speaker he had planned on staying out of public service. He enjoyed working on his books, movie projects and just resting. However, according to Gingrich, what got him reengaged was the 9th Circuit Court, which ruled that saying one nation under God in the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools is unconstitutional. Gingrich felt moved to do something, For some reason, this particular decision struck me as so blindingly stupid and so profoundly un-american that in 2002, I decided someone needed to talk about it, but not talk about it in an ideological or theological way. They need to calmly talk about history. This, Gingrich said, was the inspiration for his book Rediscovering God in America. >> TheDominionMagazine.com online at CommunityCircular.com 25

26 Gingrich continues with how he is a true believer in presenting facts in his debates. Rediscovering God in America is a walking tour of Washington DC in which the reader can see things with their own eyes and not someone else s distorted views. In one of his first examples, Gingrich cites the Declaration of Independence and the central statement in defining America: that we are endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights. He points out two competing philosophies: first there s the philosophy that power comes from the government and that government defines who you are. Then there are those who believe power comes from God. Gingrich believes this statement means that sovereignty in America rests with individual citizens- not the State and that, furthermore, power is loaned to the government by the people. According to Gingrich the founding fathers believed that a wise people could remain free, but a foolish people would inevitably end up in a dictatorship. Another idea presented in Rediscovering God in America is the Washington Monument, which is the tallest structure in Washington, DC. Gingrich points out, At the top of the monument, the first thing the sun shines upon every morning is the inscription laus deo meaning glory to God. As a third example, Gingrich told the audience that in President Lincoln s 702 word, post-civil war inaugural address (March, 1865), Lincoln makes 14 references to God and there are two quotes from the Bible. Now I ask you, Gingrich continues, How could you teach a history class, whether it s high school or college, not notice in passing that in Lincoln s greatest oration he references God 14 times and quotes the Bible twice? And we re going to teach American History as though we were secular? As a final example, Gingrich points out The greatest liberal Democratic President of the 20th Century, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, described WW II as a war between Pagan dictatorships and our Christian civilization. When we landed at Normandy on June 6, 1944 at 10pm the President went on national radio and led the Nation in a prayer for six and a half minutes. Gingrich says that he has a project each year to get the maximum number of radio stations across the country to re-play this prayer. Gingrich cited a recent Gallop poll where 80% of citizens said they thought of America as an exceptional country. An on-the-spot sample of his audience produced a roaring applause when Gingrich posed the question How many people here would agree that America is an exception country? Gingrich proposes a platform for an exceptional America. In his provocative closing, Gingrich pointed out that in 1802 Thomas Jefferson passed the Judicial Reform Act which abolished 18 out of 35 judgeships (over half the Federal judges disappeared). [James] Madison, [Thomas] Jefferson, and [Alexander] Hamilton all said there is no such thing as judicial supremacy. Gingrich continues, it is an absurdity to have three co-equal branches of government. And in the Federalist papers, Hamilton writes that the weakest of the three branches of government is the judiciary. Gingrich points out that starting in the late1950s the Earl Warren court created a new model of judicial supremacy, in which the court tells the rest of us what to do. According to Gingrich, Hamilton proclaimed that such a situation, would be an absurdity; that would be an oligarchy of non-elected officials. Gingrich believes that if 80% of US citizens believe their county is exceptional, then that belief should be organized into a movement to get something done. Perhaps as a modest start we could create a modern day Jefferson project, and use the 9th Circuit Court for a demonstration effect. And then maybe other judges would see that we intend for them to judge within the American framework and work as American judges understanding American history it s just a start. Gingrich reminded the audience in his closing that, we will remain free as long as we re brave. That bravery will come from our churches and synagogues and from everyday folks. It won t come from the elites; it won t come from those who are currently in power. It will come from average everyday folks who decide that we have to be Americans. 26 online at TheDominionMagazine.com CommunityCircular.com

28 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, left in savings before Medicaid begins to pay for the cost of her care. We ve already spent almost $200, 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 preserved. Don t make decisions in the dark. Know your options and plan ahead so you are able to meet your long-term goals. This particular family recently followed up with me and informed me that their mother was finally experiencing some relief from worry and has been sleeping better with the knowledge that she is going to be able to leave a little something to her children and grandchildren all because her children visited with an elder law attorney and got the right advice. Law Office of James N. Voeller Attorney At Law FM 2252 San Antonio, TX Phone: (210) online at TheDominionMagazine.com CommunityCircular.com

30 Fun & Exciting Summer Camps for Kids Aquatic Science Adventure Camp This fun camp for students who are interested in aquatic or marine sciences mixes education and recreation. Activities during the week-long sessions include aquatic biology and water chemistry, swimming, tubing, scuba/snorkeling, river rafting, glass-bottom boat ride, a trip to SeaWorld and more. Ages 9 to 15 Web: Ph Freeman Aquatic Building, Texas State University San Marcos, TX Artworks Art Studio for Children 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 experiment with mixed-media painting using watercolor, acrylics, collage materials, markers, oil pastels, clay, wood, wire and more. Ages: 1.5 to 14 Web: Two locations are in San Antonio: 1840 Nacagdoches Rd., zip 78209, ph: Mainland, Suite 103, zip 78250, ph id Tech Camps at Trinity University These popular summer day and overnight camps are designed for beginner to advanced learners, and average six students per instructor for customized instruction by highly trained adult-only staff. They offer a variety of cutting edge summer camp courses for kids and teens including video game design, Flash animation, programming, app development, video editing, and more. Ages: 7 to 12, 13 to 17 Web: Ph: Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 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. Ages: 7 to 18 Web: Ph: 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 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. Ages: 5 to 14 Web: Ph: , ext North St. Mary s Street, San Antonio, TX SeaWorld San Antonio Campers discover magnificent animals behind the scenes while they come face to face with marine life. All camp sessions feature plenty of time for SeaWorld fun, so campers will enjoy all of the spectacular shows, animal attractions and rides of SeaWorld San Antonio. Grades 5 to 12 (career camps: grades 9 to college) Web: Ph: SeaWorld Drive, San Antonio, TX Southwest School of Art & Craft This school is a nationally recognized leader in arts education with classes and workshops 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 media or subject in a positive, nurturing and fun environment. Ages: 5 to 18 Web: Ph: Augusta, San Antonio, TX Stone Oak Youth Theatre Stone Oak Theatre (SOYT) is an educational theatre and performing arts experience for kids and teens. This summer, young students may enroll in a Camp Experience a three-week course with three fun and unique classes each day that are geared towards their age group. Ages: 7 to 12, 12 to 18 Web: Ph: Blanco Rd, Suite 101, San Antonio, TX 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: Ph: North IH 35, New Braunfels Texas 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: Ph: Broadway, San Antonio, TX online at TheDominionMagazine.com CommunityCircular.com 30

31 Impaired Taste Bud Syndrome By Sheryl Hawkinson The descriptions the experts use in defining a wine s flavor can cause many wine enthusiasts such as Bob Bowker of Cedar Park, to want to simply throw in the towel. After hearing from Bob regarding his desire to experience every flavor in his wine, he expressed his frustration: I have participated in numerous wine tastings in Napa and the surrounding areas of California and no matter how hard I try to focus on the tastes that the experts talk about I have difficulty in identifying them. Well, Bob, you are not alone. Many of us are unable to uncover those specific hidden treasures in the wineglass we hold. I personally call this Impaired Taste Bud Syndrome. You might hear the experts say, this wine has a hint of cherries, chocolate and or some other flavor such as spiced mocha, white pepper or citrus. However, if you have difficulty discovering a specific flavor poised in your glass of wine, don t be discouraged. Each winery has established a label on the back of their wine bottle that provides the consumer their own interpretation of their wine and the flavorful treasures it holds. However, not all taste buds are created equal and can not necessarily decipher each taste the same. For example, I may love the scent of a specific perfume and drench myself in it, though the lady standing next to me in the elevator might be gasping for fresh air. Taste is an example of the same issue. I may be enjoying the chocolate flavor in a specific wine while my husband tastes only the notes of earthy soil. Did I say soil? I did! Do you suffer from Impaired Taste Bud Syndrome? The inability to distinguish specific flavors in a specific wine is more common then not. Overcoming ITBS will allow you to experience and discover a wines own significant character to the fullest. Here are some suggestions to help you conquer your own Impaired Taste Bud Syndrome : 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 TheDominionMagazine.com online at CommunityCircular.com 31

32 By Susan Marx All aboard! If you re looking for something out of the ordinary to do this weekend or want to visit the Austin area, why not take a ride back to a simpler time? Grab the kids and spend the day touring the Texas Hill Country on a genuine vintage passenger railroad line. Or take your husband, girlfriend or a group of friends on one of their evening themed 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 organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of the steam trains by making them run again. Executive director Holly Doggett tells us 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 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 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 32 online at TheDominionMagazine.com CommunityCircular.com

33 photo by Tom Williamson The Austin Steam Train Association offers free public tours of the train every other Thursday. photo by Tom Williamson Alabama undergoing a complete overhaul. Meanwhile, a 1960 Alco 442 diesel pulls the train, which has its own bit of history. According to engineer John Mandell, this particular model locomotive is the only one left in the United States still running. A retired electrical engineer, Mandell volunteers his time helping restore the 786 steam engine and gets the 442 ready for weekend trips. I ve been working out here for about 8 or 9 years and mainly I like to do the mechanical stuff, he says with a laugh. Although steam trains are only used for recreational excursions these days, they once roared through the wild west, churning out clouds of steam and linking the outlying towns with urban centers. In fact, the Giddings-Llano line (the track ASTA uses) was extended out to Granite Mountain in 1885 for the express purpose of hauling pink granite into Austin to build the capital building. Conductor Steve Barry (who was a signalman on the Pennsylvania Railroad and a history buff) says the railroad was the only means of mass transit after the stagecoaches stopped running. You can still see the old stagecoach road winding its way out of Burnet, if you know where to look. There were plans to run the line all the way up to the Transcontinental Railroad but these were abandoned in the 1950s. The Giddings-Llano line transferred ownership a few times before the city of Austin purchased the right-of-way in 1986 and later passed it on to Capital Metro. The same track is still used today to haul freight in and out of the city. In March 2010, Capital Metro started their Red Line commuter service from Leander to downtown Austin. That s one of the reasons why the Austin Steam Train only runs on weekends and special occasions. They share an increasingly busy track. ASTA has passenger cars in three distinct classes. The first class cars are top-of-the-line, climate-controlled touring cars with sleeping compartments, galleys and private lounges. The excursion class cars are climate-controlled but do not have berths, kitchens or an eating area, while the coach class cars are the oldest passenger cars of the fleet. These cars hail from the Pennsylvania Railroad. Though beautifully restored and painted bluebonnet blue, these are the most utilitarian. They have TheDominionMagazine.com online at CommunityCircular.com 33

34 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 outreach coordinator Daniel Doggett explains that the consist (i.e., the compliment of cars that make up a train) varies with each run but typically includes at least two of each class plus a concessions car this is where people buy snacks and souvenirs and socialize. Whatever class you choose, you ll be treated to an unforgettable experience. A real vest-wearing, pocket-watch carrying conductor walks the aisles and brakemen hop on and off to switch tracks and couple and decouple the cars. They carry walkie-talkies these days but still use hand, whistle and light signals to communicate just like they did way back when. The engineer is the only licensed crew member right now but they are all trained and regulated by the Federal Railroad Administration. Conductor Steve Barry says that by the end of 2011 all conductors in the U.S. will also be required to carry a FRA license. Even so, according to Doggett (whose job is mainly all about coordinating the 100+ volunteers), all the crew members, including the conductor, are volunteers. Whenever you choose to ride, arrive early. All seats are reserved and assigned and the train begins boarding 45 minutes before departure. It leaves the station precisely on schedule so don t be late! Once you re seated and the train starts rolling, a friendly car attendant gives you the official welcome aboard. Then you re free to roam the train. Adventuresome folks stand in the vestibules watching the scenery whip by the open windows. First class passengers enjoy complimentary coffee and snacks. There are a few private rooms on these cars which can be reserved by special request. The train runs at a leisurely average speed of 30 mph so you can sit back and enjoy the passing surroundings. When the trains first started running up here, cotton was a major industry until the dust bowl in the 30s, says Conductor Steve Barry. You can still see some of the old cotton merchant buildings in and around Bertram. You may also want to keep an eye out for Signal Hill, a rocky outcropping where local militia set fires that could be seen as far as Austin, to warn of hostile Indians in the area. Although you can t see it from the train, Fort Croghan sits atop Post Mountain, three miles south of Burnet on Hamilton Creek. It was the third of four forts commissioned by the Federal government in 1849 to protect the frontier. Some of the first Texas Rangers lived there. If you take the Hill Country Flyer you ll stop in Burnet, a charming old western town which was once home to legendary Confederate hero 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 34 online at TheDominionMagazine.com CommunityCircular.com

35 president of the Republic of Texas. You ll have a two-hour layover there 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 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 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. She advises passengers to call ahead or go online for reservations because many of the specialty rides sell out, sometimes months in advance. The Thomas the Tank Engine event is their most popular - an average of 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 groups of ten or more. To begin your journey out west, visit for tickets and information or call (512) The Austin Steam Train Association offices are located at: 401 East Whitestone Suite A-103 in Cedar Park, TX Riders enjoy games and snacks during their ride. photo by Tom Williamson UPCOMING SPECIALTY FLYERS Twilight Flyer: Train ride after dark! Murder Mystery: Themed evening of dinner and mystery. Holiday Flyers: Special flyers run for most holidays. Princess Flyer: Join princesses for tea, biscuits and photos. Day Out with Thomas: Ride with a full sized Thomas the Tank Engine, meet characters and enjoy storytelling and live music. photo by Kris Krieg Visitors excitedly wait to board the train for one of the popular weekend trips. TheDominionMagazine.com online at CommunityCircular.com 35

36 by James Peterson, DVM 1) By far, the most common problem our pets face in warm temperatures is heat stroke. Also known as heat stress or hyperpyrexia, this is a real emergency for our dogs. 2) Body temperatures can skyrocket to more than 106 degrees Fahrenheit quickly. At 110 degrees, brain damage starts to occur. 3) Dogs can t dissipate heat by sweating like us they must pant to cool themselves. Often, they are simply unable to cool themselves efficiently. 4) Any pet can overheat on a warm day, but short faced breeds are at a higher risk. 5) Never leave your pet unattended in a car during warm weather. 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. 6) Many summer time parties and holidays are celebrated with fireworks. These loud noises can cause anxiety in pets. Some will even try to escape, often injuring themselves in their panic. 7) Besides being lost, a scared pet is also at risk for being struck by a car or being attacked by another, more aggressive animal. 8) When running errands, leave your dog at home. Just a few minutes in a hot car can spell disaster for your pet. 9) If you find your pet collapsed in the yard, disoriented, or panting excessively, move him immediately to a cooler environment. Use cool water towels across the neck and belly along with fans to bring his temperature down. Don t use ice! 10) Make immediate plans to transport your pet to the veterinarian for assessment and life-saving treatments. Dr. Peterson is a Veterinarian and owner of Hill Country Animal Hospital and The Palms Pet Resort. The Palms Pet Resort is vet owned, always has a vet on call and certified staff every day, around the clock. For more information on your pets health, please go to thepalmspetresort.com hillcountryanimalhospital.com 36 online at TheDominionMagazine.com CommunityCircular.com

38 The The Texas Texas Ski Ski Ranch Ranch is is Central Central Texas Texas action action sports paradise, and and whether you you are are looking to to go wakeboarding and and waterskiing, or or just just interested in in a a relaxing day day on on the the beach, TSR TSR has has something for for you. you. With With Summer just just around the the corner we ve created the the ultimate check list list of of things to to try try at at TSR! 1. WAKEBOARD WITHOUT A BOAT Grab 1. Wakeboard your friends and without head out a to boat the cable lakes. TSR s Grab your friends and head out to the cable lakes. TSR s cableway allows six riders at time to circle the cable, holding cableway allows six riders at a time to circle the cable, holding onto ropes attached high above. Beginners of all ages will love onto ropes attached high above. Beginners of all ages will love the ease of learning on TSR s beginners only two-tower cable the ease of learning on TSR s beginners only two-tower cable system and friendly coaching from experienced dock staff. system and friendly coaching from experienced dock staff. 2. DINE ON THE BEACH AT WAHOO S FISH TACO 2. Dine on the beach at Wahoo s Fish Taco Wahoo s Wahoo s is is TSR s TSR s new new bar bar and and grill grill with with unique unique flavors fl avors of of Mexico, Mexico, Brazil Brazil and and Asia Asia combined combined with with a Hawaiian Hawaiian northshore northshore vibe. vibe. Whether Whether you ve you ve worked worked up up an an appetite appetite on on the the lake, or just want to to head head to to the the beach beach after after a long long day, day, Wahoo s is is the the perfect place to unwind with with a cold cold drink drink and and great food. Not to mention, the restaurant overlooks the the lakes giving diners a bird s eye view of of all all action and and beautiful South Texas sunsets SUPPORT Support LOCAL local RIDERS riders at AT Thursday THURSDAY Night NIGHT SHOWDOWNS Showdowns Thursday Night Showdowns are TSR s competitive summer wakeboarding series where local riders of all skill levels join together for some family friendly competition. Grab your friends and come out to support the local wakeboarding scene. From beginner riders pushing their trick limits to international Pro s like two-time World Wakeboard Champion Tom Fooshee, every evening promises to put on a good show TAKE Take A a LESSON lesson FROM from the THE Pros PROS What better way to learn how to wakeboard then from the best? TSR has a full staff of expert boat drivers and coaches who eat, drink and sleep wakeboarding. TSR s coaches are are knowledgeable, friendly and eager to help riders of of all all skill skill levels levels and and ages GIVE Give YOUR your CHILD child A a VACATION vacation Camp Camp TSR TSR is is the the perfect perfect getaway getaway for for any any kid kid looking looking for for a a week filled with action sports and fun. With overnight and day week fi lled with action sports and fun. With overnight and day sessions customized with rock climbing, skateboarding and sessions customized with rock climbing, skateboarding and water sports, TSR is the perfect place for kids to learn to ride water sports, TSR is the perfect place for kids to learn to ride and have fun in a safe and encouraging environment. and have fun in safe and encouraging environment. 6. HOST A BEACH BASH 6. Looking Host to a beach spice up bash your next fundraiser, company team Looking to spice up your next fundraiser, company team build, corporate event or private party? TSR has group rates, build, corporate event or private party? TSR has group rates, packages and ideas to host a unique beach bash of any size. packages and ideas to host a unique beach bash of any size. With meeting rooms, catering from Wahoo s, wakeboarding, With meeting rooms, catering from Wahoo s, wakeboarding, sand volleyball and more, TSR is sure to host an awesome, sand volleyball and more, TSR is sure to host an awesome, one-of-a-kind party! one-of-a-kind party! Wakeboard WAKEBOARD at AT NIGHT NIGHT! Only Only at at TSR TSR can can you you wakeboard wakeboard after after the the sun sun goes goes down. down. Public Public lakes lakes forbid forbid skiing skiing at at night night so so TSR TSR threw threw up up some some stadium stadium lights lights around around the the cable cable to to provide provide a a unique unique riding riding experience experience like like no no other. other. Night Night riding riding is is open open to to the the public public Thursday Thursday through through Saturday all all Summer Summer long! long! Stop STOP, by DROP the board AND SHOP shop Drop into into TSR s TSR s Board Board Shop Shop to to check check out out the the season s season s hottest hottest trends. They ve got got everything from from bikinis, bikinis, board board shorts, shorts, sundresses and and t-shirts to to flip ip flops, ops, sunglasses and and watches. They also have top top of of the the line line wakeboards, waterskis, life life jackets and more! Challenge CHALLENGE a A friend FRIEND to TO a A rock ROCK climbing CLIMBING race RACE! TSR has a a great three-sided, ft. ft. rockwall inside inside the the doors doors of of the facility! The The best best part... the the wall wall is completely is portable! TSR TSR will gladly bring it it to to any any event to to add add a high a high standing amenity! 10. Check CHECK out OUT tsr THE mastercraft WAKE ZONE! TSR TSR is is South Central Texas Texas exclusive MasterCraft boat boat sales sales center, private test test lake lake and and inboard inboard service service center. center. Stop Stop by, by, test test drive drive the the best best and and learn learn what what the the industry industry has has to to offer! offer! This This is is not not your your ordinary ordinary dealership; dealership; this this group group of of seasoned seasoned professionals knows knows what what performance performance is all is all about about and and is here is here to to help help you you out! out! New New Braunfels, Braunfels, TX TX online at TheDominionMagazine.com CommunityCircular.com

40 Jack Hanna meets with Community Circular Magazine reporter Rachel Danley Hanna shares a presentation on Flamingos of SeaWorld San Antonio 40 TheDominionMagazine.com

41 Six month-old Cheetah of Columbus Zoo African Porcupine 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 TheDominionMagazine.com 41

42 Hanna shares his knowledge of each animal in the show including Penguins of SeaWorld San Antonio Two-toed Sloth Slow-poke Young Iberian Lynx of the Columbus Zoo 42 TheDominionMagazine.com

44 Pioneers of The Dominion In the early 1980s, Janet Key remembers attending an invitation-only party for potential buyers of undeveloped property on the far north side of San Antonio. The guests paid $500 just to be on the list and be one of the first 50 people to purchase a lot in the proposed development. Under a large tent outside near hole #3 they were served lobster and champagne. The three original founders Wayne Wright, Gene Canavan and Rich Luders shared their vision of an exclusive gated community on over a thousand acres that they would call The Dominion (a name attributed to Mr. Wright). At the time, Key says there were no homes or paved streets on the proposed lots but there were some cows grazing and a few horse stables. Yet the founders were so sure of their master plan that they established the Dominion Home Owners Association in 1983 before the first home in their development was even built. In 1984, Key bought into the founder s vision and became one of the original settlers of the Dominion when she bought a lot (with no street in front of it) and built her home. In 1988 she became Chairman of the Dominion HOA Board, and she says, I have been selling real estate in the Dominion since day one. Key is a real estate broker with Kuper Sotheby s International Realty which is located outside the guard house at the Main Entrance of the Dominion. Let s give a brief nod to the three original founders and pioneers of the Dominion to give them their due: Long-time attorney Wayne Wright has recently been a high profile figure on commercials for his personal injury law firm. Wielding his cowboy hat, he declares in his ads, You deserve respect and justice so we demand it! Wayne Wright s personal injury lawyers serve San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Austin, Houston, and El Paso. Gene Canavan (now deceased) retired as City Councilman for District 8 in San Antonio on October 15, 1981 before he was a cofounder of the Dominion. Rich Luders is the owner of the original Rudy s Country Store and Bar-B-Q in Leon Springs. The landmark Rudy s expanded with restaurants throughout the Southwest with the same original recipes from Rudy s in Leon Springs. Rich Luders and his wife Kathleen are long-time residents of the Dominion and continue to live there. As a sidenote, German immigrant Max Aue migrated to central Texas in the mid-1850s. He played a pivotal role in the birth and development of the Leon Springs community and is considered to be the town s founder. (There is an Aue Road named after his pioneering family in the Dominion.) Max s son, Rudolph, opened a one-stop gas station, garage and grocery store in 1929 called Rudy s Country Store. Bar-B-Q was added to the operation s name in Janet Key says we d be remiss if we didn t at least introduce two prominent Texas legends who also lived long ago on the land now known as the Dominion. Anson Jones ( ), doctor, Texas congressman, and the last President of the Republic of Texas when the State joined the USA in 1845, owned 1,200 acres in what became the Dominion. He became 44 TheDominionMagazine.com

45 known as the Architect of Annexation. In the early 20th Century, the German-immigrant Toepperwein family moved from Leon Springs to operate a dairy farm on land now known as the Dominion. Adolph Ad Toepperwein ( ) set many world records as a marksman representing the Winchester Repeating Arms Company for fifty years. For example, during a threeday exhibition in 1906, he made 19,999 hits out of 20,000 hand-thrown wood blocks. He was elected to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. When Janet Key built her home in the Dominion in 1984, she says, I had to drive 13 miles to the closest grocery store. A lot has changed in the past 27 years thanks to the Dominion s founders and the first settlers who shared their vision. At last count, Key s fellow real estate broker at Kuper Sotheby s, Matthew Resnick, says there are approximately 1,845 adults and 885 children who live in a total of 29 distinctive neighborhoods in the Dominion. by Scott Sparks New Developments Will Expand the Old Dominion The three permanent boundaries of the Dominion are Interstate 10 to the west, Aue Road to the north, and Camp Bullis to the east. The southern boundary of the Dominion was not set in stone because there was undeveloped land beyond the gated community as far south as Tejas Trail. According to real estate broker Matthew Resnick with Kuper Sothebys International Realty and a former member of the Dominican HOA, that southward expansion to Tejas Trail is happening right now with the addition of about 300 acres and a new Third Gate. With this planned development, the Dominion will cover a total of 1,500 acres so this additional property constitutes a major expansion to the community. Resnick says within the next two years, four distinctive neighborhoods will be developed. Andalucia will be the first one to open with 89 available lots and it will have two exclusive builders who are well known in the Dominion, Toll Brothers and McNair Custom Homes. In 2012, Resnick reports that the Greater Builder Association has already scheduled a Parade of Homes in the next new neighborhood named Aragon. This distinctive neighborhood will have approximately 45 available lots and offers buyers the option to choose their own builders. Development is planned to expand The Dominion to the southeast over the next few years. RENAISSANCE ARAGON (2012) ALACANTE (2012) ANDALUCIA (2011) VINEYARD ESTATES THE NEW ESTATES THE LEGENDS SANCTUARY CRESCENT CRESCENT THE CHATEAUX THE GARDENS PAVILIONS ESTATES GOLF COURSE ESTATES COTTAGE ESTATES COTTAGE ESTATES DOMINION COUNTRY CLUB COUNTRY CLUB VILLAS ENCLAVE INDEPENDENCE VILLAGE THE CLOISTERS GOLF COURSE THE RESERVE GOLF COURSE IH 10 WEST NORTH The Dominion TheDominionMagazine.com 45

46 A Revolutionary Fitness Program by Rachel Danley I RECENTLY LEARNED about the strength training protocol SuperSlow. As an athlete I was excited to research this strength training method and try it for myself. Harvey and Marjorie Mabry, local owners of SuperSlow Fitness Zone, explained the distinctions of this total body workout. The SuperSlow method includes one-on-one sessions in a strength training studio. The semiprivate studio is kept very cool, preventing sweating and allowing guests to work out in normal clothing without the need for showers. Each session lasts around 20 minutes and is performed only once or twice a week. This nationally recognized method requires that each session be led by a certified SuperSlow Instructor. While in the studio, I experienced the focused and semi-private environment. It was calm and quiet, which allowed me to focus on my technique and cues from my instructor. But don t be fooled by the comfortable environment, this workout was extremely effective. Each state-of-the art Nautilus One weight-resistance machine is designed for highintensity, low-force exercise of key muscle groups. During each exercise the goal is to work the muscle group to total fatigue in three minutes or less. When I began my orientation workout, we started with a seated leg press. My instructor selected a weight resistance based on my current fitness level. The SuperSlow method entails a slow consistent movement, with constant application of resistance through the 90 seconds to three minutes of performing the exercise. I was instructed to spend ten seconds to bring the weight in and ten seconds to extend back out and make periodic pauses in the movement. The result of each exercise was momentary muscle fatigue. In all my years of strength training I have never achieved this state so quickly. This exercise is truly unlike any other. As I continued the workout, my instructor led me through a series of exercises that focused on various muscle groups. The result was the same for each muscle group. I worked the resistance machine with a weight designed for my strength level. By following the timed instructions, momentary muscle fatigue was achieved each time in three minutes or less. The result of total muscle fatigue is improved muscular strength, body shaping muscle creation and increased metabolic rate. Strength training with this method helps you lose body fat and improve muscle composition. In addition to improved muscular strength and endurance, range of joint motion and stability and cardiovascular efficiency are improved. All around physical fitness is increased and this protocol is safe for all starting fitness levels. In fact, SuperSlow is clinically proven to increase bone density, and was founded during Osteoporosis research. Many SuperSlow Zone customers have even worked to improve and overcome compromised joints and injuries. One client experienced a very bad injury in years past. After many surgeries and physical therapy, her strength and stamina were very low. After joining SuperSlow Zone, the client saw dramatic improvements and was even able to dance at her daughter s wedding, something she thought she d never do again. Another client began his workouts at SuperSlow Zone entering on a walker. Several weeks into his strength training he entered with a cane, pointing it in the air through the window. At 84 years old, with Parkinson s disease, this client was able rebuild the strength needed to walk around his house without a walker. Harvey says It s the simple things that improve quality of life. A client mentioned that opening a bottle of water at the age of 73 had become difficult until she started working out at SuperSlow. SuperSlow Zone satisfies the time constraints all age groups face, while helping to preserve and build healthy bodies, mobility and functionality. Marjorie says, We offer a safe and peaceful environment. Each client is monitored through every movement and a report is completed to record each exercise performed in every workout. The Mabrys and SuperSlow Fitness Zone provide a revolutionary fitness program unlike any other. To experience the scientifically proven program contact SuperSlow Fitness Zone to schedule a complimentary consultation and sample workout. Located in The Plaza at Concord Park 700 E. Sonterra Blvd, Suite Woodstone Oaks Business Park, Suite 213, at the intersection of I-10 West between Huebner and De Zavala TheDominionMagazine.com

48 Say NO to Heart Disease and more! by Leigh Ann Grasso, Pharm.D.,R.Ph. Annie s Apothecary - Specialty Pharmacy Nitric oxide (NO) is a naturally occurring molecule produced in the blood vessels that sends important signals to every part of the body. It has a wide range of functions which include supporting the immune system, aiding in wound healing, and maintaining cardiovascular health. One of the most important roles of NO is its ability to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attacks. By causing the smooth muscles around blood vessels to relax, nitric oxide allows blood to flow more easily. This keeps arteries flexible and prevents high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for stroke and heart attacks. So what else can this molecule do? The benefits of nitric oxide seem to be endless. It has been shown to increase exercise tolerance, improve blood flow, reduce swelling and inflammation, assist the immune system and limit damage caused by the sun. Studies have linked deficient nitric oxide levels to depression, dementia, arthritis, and asthma. It is also believed to naturally enhance sexual performance by improving blood flow. Who can benefit from nitric oxide? People who suffer from arthritis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, erectile dysfunction, and anyone who wants to improve their overall health. Athletes can also greatly benefit from the effects of nitric oxide supplementation. By improving blood flow, more oxygen and nutrients reach the muscles. This can lead to improved exercise tolerance, increased muscle gain, and increased strength and endurance. The improvement in blood flow and oxygenation lowers blood pressure and will put less strain on the heart. Our body produces nitric oxide by several different mechanisms. One way is by utilizing the nitrate and nitrite from our diet and converting it to NO. Foods rich in these compounds include fruits and vegetables, mainly dark green leafy vegetables. It has also been shown that foods containing polyphenols, including pomegranate juice, apples, dark chocolate, black and green teas, can boost nitric oxide levels. Nitric oxide is also synthesized from the conversion of L-arginine and oxygen by the enzyme enos. However, if you are over the age of forty, overweight, have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or if you smoke, your body can not effectively convert L-arginine to nitric oxide. Even though NO is produced naturally, often times our bodies don t produce enough of it to receive the full benefits. Optimum levels can easily be achieved with nitric oxide supplements. For any questions or to receive a quick noninvasive test to determine if you are deficient in nitric oxide, please give Annie s Apothecary a call at (830) TheDominionMagazine.com

52 Treating the Customer Right: Mercedes-Benz of Boerne At Mercedes-Benz of Boerne a strong company culture and countless satisfied customers are a powerful force that sets this company apart from all others, allowing it to grow despite tough economic times. As sales manager James Godkin described, When other businesses and dealerships were cutting the workforce and saving, Mercedes-Benz of Boerne moved forward providing the level of service customers deserve without reducing the workforce. And top-notch customer service is not something taken lightly around this award-winning dealership, co-owned by Ron Heller and Bill Bird, which offers new and pre-owned vehicles as well as service and parts. Everyone who walks through the door can anticipate the same royal treatment. Customers can expect to be wowed. We deliver treatment like you d expect to receive from the Four Seasons or the Ritz-Carlton from the moment you walk in the door, said Godkin. Sayings like, How may I be of service?, My pleasure. and I ve got it. are all apart of the high lever of service. That type of attitude toward customers, who they view as part of the family, has earned the dealership notoriety in the Mercedes-Benz world as well as placing them heads above dealerships from other brands. The Boerne dealership has even earned the Mercedes-Benz Best of the Best recognition five years in a row. Awarded to only the top ten percent of dealerships across the country, this recognition places Mercedes-Benz of Boerne among a very select number of dealerships, a distinguishing feat for such a small country city. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz of Boerne has earned the recognition every year of business since their grand opening in Godkin summed up the reason for their success. Customers have told us what they want, and we listen. We provide a level of service that is not known anywhere else in the automobile industry, he explained. So what exactly do customers get when they join the Mercedes- Benz of Boerne family? Anyone who purchases a vehicle from the dealership reaps the benefits of their preferred customer loyalty program where the perks are aplenty. Throughout the week, the staff of 118 employees not only assists new customers as they find their perfect vehicle match, but also attends to members of the loyalty program. With everything from complimentary car washes for life, concierge pick-up and delivery service, and a mobile service van that comes to you without any service surcharges, clients enjoy the distinctive culture of Mercedes-Benz of Boerne. Our culture of empowerment allows each employee to make the Mercedes-Benz of Boerne experience exceptional for customers and provide life-style enhancement, owner, Bill Bird shares a standard that is offered 100% of the time to 100% of our guests. Bird explains that time is valuable and is one of the most important things Mercedes-Benz of Boerne can control for its customers. Our employees have the willingness and ability to handle any situation with a solution bound way of business. They listen attentively when asking, How may I be of service? and the answer is overwhelmingly, My pleasure, I got it. This level of service means every possible need of Mercedes-Benz of Boerne customers is fulfilled. With 90 Mercedes-Benz vehicles in their fleet, customers schedule their maintenance, pick up a loaner from the fleet and are on their way. Guests who visit the lounge enjoy complimentary chair massages, shoe shines, Starbucks coffee and hand-dipped chocolate strawberries. But, when it comes to taking care of customers, the Mercedes-Benz of Boerne culture is distinctly no-holds-barred and goes far beyond coffee and pastries. With the 2012 lineup coming out soon, there are sure to be plenty of new members joining the Mercedes-Benz of Boerne culture. In addition to several relatively minor changes throughout the Mercedes-Benz models, both the CLS550 and SLK-Class models will feature complete revamps. James Godkin described them as whole new vehicles. The M-Class, C-Class, and S350 BlueTec will also feature significant improvements. With five prestigious Best of the Best awards and a new lineup just around the corner, Mercedes-Benz of Boerne plans to keep doing what they do best when it comes to taking care of customers. The mission statement of the dealership sums up their focus: Enhancing the lifestyle of our customers by personally taking ownership of every customer s experience, anticipating their needs, and exceeding their expectations. by Katie Chancellor The Mercedes-Benz of Boerne dealership is located at IH-10 West in Boerne. More information can be found at or by calling (830) For more news about the new 2012 models, see the Mercedes-Benz website: CLS, CL & SLK 52 TheDominionMagazine.com

54 Artist Scott Wade turns dirty vehicles into rolling works of art. by Sheryl Hawkinson As a California transplant, I have never had a car as dirty as my car is right now! For some, the thought of dirt on their beloved four wheel form of transportation is one of great embarrassment! For others it may not be a big deal, still there is one among us in this great big state of Texas who sees it simply as, something more. Scott Wade, identifies the dirty back window of your car as a canvas to express his art! Scott is able to take something embarrassingly dirty, embrace it and create something beautiful! Most of us simply see the dirt as just that DIRT. But for Scott, he immediately sees potential. As a young boy, Scott lived on a long, dirt road in Central Texas for over 20 years. Since our cars were always dirty, I would often doodle 54 TheDominionMagazine.com

55 in the dust on the rear windows of our cars. I started experimenting with ways to get shading. At first I would use the pads of my fingers and brush very lightly to get grey tones. One time I was chewing on a popsicle stick, and I tried using the chewed up end as a brush. I liked the effect, so I started trying paintbrushes, and eventually developed the techniques I use today. explains Scott. To prepare his canvas Scott rubs a thin layer of almond oil on his clean window before driving the dirt roads of Texas, allowing the dust to build up evenly for his next masterpiece. The Texas limestone and clay dust adheres well to the prepared glass but may take up to 2 weeks of driving for the dirt to be thick enough to begin the hour long process of designing and sketching his new art piece. You re probably asking the question, What about the rain? Well, according to Scott, I may sometimes feel a little twang of regret, but really it s great, because that means I get to do another one! The impermanence of this art form is one of the things I really love about it. For one thing, it helps me to not take it too seriously and to really have fun with it. But most important, it reminds me that all of life is impermanent, that we won t be here all that long, and to really enjoy the wonder and beauty while we re here. Scott has been thrilling car owners with his art form for many years. Dirty Car Art, has brought him world-wide recognition. In 2007 he moved from the dirt road in San Marcos to a paved road in Wimberley, Texas. Scott continually seeks opportunities to bring Dirty Car Art to the world, making appearances at fairs, festivals, and corporate events, and contributing his talents to ad and PR campaigns. He now offers his talents to Brides and Grooms, creating a personal piece of art to the couples getaway car. I invite you to view Scott s website: Here you can take a glimpse at some of Scott s past work. For me, I ll never look at another dirty car window the same way again. Maybe you too, can muster up a smile when looking at your very own dirty car window. TheDominionMagazine.com 55