San Marcos Outlook - July 2009

San Marcos Outlook July 2009

July 2009

San Marcos, Texas Volume 1 Issue 2

also online at: www.sanmarcosoutlook.com

San MarcosOUTLOOKget acquainted with your hometown


Mon-Sat 10-6 Sunday 12-4

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Summer Vacation in your Hometown

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Jessica Sebastian

San MarcoS outlook

Cover PhotographerMonty Marion

Marketing and Sales Lawry Ross

Alison Emery

San Marcos Outlook, a subsidiary of Pithy Productions Inc.,

is mailed monthly to 7,000 higher income homes in the 78666 zip code.

You can also pick one up from local merchants. Contact us at [email protected] for infor-

mation on advertising and submissions. San Marcos Outlook, 283 Cordero Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666, 877-479-1470

Visit our website: www.SanMarcosOutlook.com ©Pithy Productions, Inc. 2009

Associate EditorKerry King

Ahhh, the icy cool San Marcos River... few towns in Texas are so blessed as to have such a natural resource. It’s summer, which is the time of year everyone gets out and starts to enjoy everything San Marcos has to offer, isn’t it about time you followed suit. Take a vacation to your own town and try something new.

Go soak up the sun while enjoying the cool spring fed water directly from Edwards Aquifer that stays the same temperature all year round. You can rent a kayak and enjoy the miles of winding river and beautiful native animals that San Marcos has to offer. Grab a few frisbies and take advantage of the frisbie golf course on RR12, or take your dog to the newly renovated dog park, while your kids enjoy the skate park close by. Pop your head into one of the cute little boutiques on the square that you’ve never been to before.

There are so many fun adventures to be had right here in town, you just need to get up and go find them!

San Marcos Calendar of Events -July-

July 4th, 5:00PM to 11:00PM, Summerfest San Marcos 2009, San Marcos Plaza Park, San Marcos Parks & Recreation @ 512.393.8400 www.summerfestsanmarcos.com

July 7th, 7:00PM, San Marcos Public Library Summer Read-ing Program: Family Night, San Marcos Public Library, Robin Wood @ 512.393.8200 www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/departments/library/index.html

July 9th, 7:30PM to 9:00PM, Summer in the Park Concert Series: Terri Hendrix Band, San Marcos Plaza, San Marcos Parks & Recreation @ 512.393.8400

July 10th, 9:30AM and 11:00AM, San Marcos Public Library Summer Reading Program: Jungle Jim’s Bugs of the World, San Marcos Public Library, Robin Wood @ 512.393.8200 http://www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/departments/library/index.html

July 14th, 7:00PM, Movies in the Park: Madagascar 2, San Marcos Plaza Park, Rodney Cobb @ 512.393.8400 http://www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/departments/parks/index.htm

July 16th, 7:30PM to 9:00PM, Summer in the Park Concert Series: Hill Country Brass, San Marcos Plaza, San Marcos Parks & Recreation @ 512.393.8400

July 21st, 7:00PM, Movies in the Park: The Longshots, San Marcos Plaza Park, Rodney Cobb @ 512.393.8400 www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/departments/parks/index.htm

July 21st, 7:00PM, San Marcos Public Library Summer Reading Program: Family Night, San Marcos Public Library, Robin Wood @ 512.393.8200

July 23rd, 7:30PM to 9:00PM, Summer in the Park Concert Series: Mission City Hot Rhythm Cats, San Marcos Plaza, San Marcos Parks & Recreation @ 512.393.8400

July 28th, 7:00PM, Movies in the Park: Mall Cop, San Marcos Plaza Park, Rodney Cobb @ 512.393.8400 http://www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/departments/parks/index.htm

July 28th, 7:00PM, San Marcos Public Library Summer Reading Program: Family Night, San Marcos Public Library, Robin Wood @ 512.393.8200 www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/departments/library/index.html

July 30th, 11:30AM to 1:00PM, Legislative Update Luncheon: Sen. Jeff Wentworth & Rep. Patrick Rose; City of San Marcos Con-ference Center, Call the Chamber at 512.393.5900 for Reservations

July 30th, 7:30PM to 9:00PM, Summer in the Park Concert Series: Salsa Del Rio, San Marcos Plaza, San Marcos Parks & Recreation @ 512.393.8400

July 31st, 10:30AM, San Marcos Public Library Summer Read-ing Program: Incredible Bubble Magic Show, San Marcos Public Library, Robin Wood @ 512.393.8200 www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/departments/library/index.html

Jessie Sebastian Publisher & Editor-in-Chief


by Kerry Watson

Kerry Watson founded Pithy Productions Inc. in Wimberley in 1999, a web design & consulting firm that specializes in ecommerce, or helping small businesses sell on the Internet. Kerry can be reached at 877-605-8327 or on the web at www.pithyproductions.com.

Online Local Directories Reveal So Much More Than Yellow Pages

Don’t make me think!

Pithy Productions Inc. has been creatingbeautiful websites since 1999

- Specializing in ecommerce sites -

cloning the owner’s brain.

www.PithyProductions.com/portfolio 877.605.8327

A good website is like

How long has it been since you cracked a Yellow Pages? Me too. If you are a small business owner who still uses the phone book you may be shocked to Google your own company name -- try it now -- and see the many “Local Directories” that your potential customers see when they try to find you.

“Local Directories” generally include your company name, address, phone, and a map to your facility. Your office hours and other helpful information may be

included. And if you’ve ever had a customer really love or really hate you, you may see some VERY public reviews from your actual customers.

Local directory “Angie’s List” is famous right now for posting reviews of medical doctors, in addition to reviewing plumbers, carpenters, and services. A doc can save your life but be reviewed poorly for a bedside manner. Nevertheless even medical reviews are here to stay.

Face it, cranky customers post lots of reviews about your company, and they can be wildly inaccurate. Did you try and try to please a customer, and it was never enough? Sadly, that customer will rage against you online.

There’s not much you can do about bad reviews. They’re almost impossible to remove even if they are fraudulent or written by a competitor!

Prevention is key. When happy customers sing your praises, ask them put it in writing, and give them the address of an online directory that lists your company!

Gather up testimonials and put them on your own website. Overwhelm the public with sheer volume of satisfied customers.

Your local web company can help you build a solid online reputation BEFORE that one wacko customer - there’s always one! - tells wild stories about you. This is vital part of any good web company’s SEO or Search Engine Optimization services. If you already have 99 good reviews, you won’t be harmed. If a bad review is your only review, then contact your local web company NOW for damage control.


Al is 30 years old. His premium for a Traditional PPO health plan (PPO) with a $1000 deductible, 80% coinsurance is $219.00 per month. His premium for an HSA qualified health plan (HSA) with a $2500 deductible, 100% coinsurance is $106 per month. Al chooses the HSA and deposits the difference in the two premi-ums, $113.00, into his health savings ac-count each month. (Al COULD put more into his account if he wanted to!).

Six months later Al goes to the doctor for a checkup and has some lab work done. The office visit costs Al $100 and the lab work is $400. Al has over $600 in his H S A account which he uses to pay his bill. Five hundred dollars is credited to Al’s HSA deductible. If Al had the PPO plan, he would pay a $35 copay for his visit and $200 in lab fees. $200 would be credited to his deductible. Up to this point Al has spent $219 per month on health insurance. With his H S A plan he is not out any additional money. With a PPO plan he would have to spend an extra $235.

A few months later Al is playing baseball, breaks his leg and has a $12,000 hospital bill. Al pays $2000 to satisfy the remainder of his H S A plan $2500 deductible. Al’s health plan pays $10,000. For the rest of the calendar year, Al’s covered medical and prescription costs are paid at 100%. If Al had chosen the PPO plan, he would pay $800 to satisfy the remainder of his $1000 deductible. He would owe an additional $2000 to meet his 80% coinsurance. His health plan would pay $9,200. For the rest of the calendar year, Al would continue to pay his office visit copay of $35 per visit and his pre-scription drug copays. Hospitalization and lab fees would be paid by his health plan at 100%.

With the HSA plan, Al had to come up with $2000 to pay his medical bills for this year and he has over $700 left in his HSA savings account at the end of the year. He also gets tax savings on over $1200. With a traditional health plan, Al would have to come up with $3,035 to pay his medical bills for the year and he would have spent over $600 dollars more in monthly premiums.

A side-by-side comparison of this example is available. You may request it by e-mail. I am available to answer any questions you may have.

Using an HSA Qualified Health Plan Compared to a Traditional

PPO Health Plan

RAY 851.7241COREY 749.8372

331 W. Hopkins Ste 108San Marcos

Beautiful Hair needs an Expert

512.754.MINK

Connie Ulmer is a licensed, independent Life and Health Insurance Agent working with Terry Jester and Associates. She specializes in Individual and Small Group insurance. You July reach her at 512-557-2269 or [email protected]

www.tjesterinsurance.com

325 E. Hopkins St. San Marcos

[email protected]

Connie UlmerInsurance and Financial Services

by Connie Ulmer

EnchantmEnt

Owner - Diana Holms116 Wimberley Square Wimberley, TX 78676

www.EnchantmentWimberley.com512-635-7659

Wimberley

1215 Military Drive (first left past Airport Rd. HWY 21)

San Marcos, TX

Custom CyclesPremier

512/353-8888Glenn Price

Email: [email protected]

512-847-8169512-905-9878

Ugly Stepsisters Maid ServiceOrganic Products Available

Insured & Bonded


The San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce is the community’s leading advocate and champion for business. Its primary objective is to create a climate of growth and success in our commu-nity. The Chamber provides leadership opportunities, volunteer programs, and business-building initiatives that focus on the critical priorities of our commu-nity. By leveraging the support, talent and resources of our members, the Chamber connects business leaders to

each other and helps to improve the economic vitality and quality of life for everyone.

Today, as businesses and communities are more dependent on each other for their success, the Chamber’s role has evolved. Today’s Chamber helps build stronger communities by keeping its membership focused and involved in the top business, civic and social priorities of the community. Membership consists of both large and small businesses from virtually every profession, plus individuals and non-profits. In addition to serving as the voice of business on legislative issues, the Chamber provides networking and educational activities for working professionals and serves as the front door to the business community.

The San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce is committed to working towards finding effective solutions to a broad set of issues facing our community today. In order to arrive at those solu-tions, business and community leaders are finding it increasingly important to collaborate. The Chamber is the catalyst and convener for these discussions.

Chambers of Commerce have existed for about as long as com-munities in Texas. Every town has one. Why? It isn’t by accident! Because many years ago, business people realized that there are certain things that need to happen in a community that require long range thinking, private investment and collaboration. Chambers were formed to bring railroads, highways, colleges and universities, airports and many other improvements to communities.

The San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce is open to every member of our business community. Check us out on our website at www.sanmarcostexas.com, on LinkedIn, or follow us on Twitter.

Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

512.353.8900 www.medparkpharmacy.com

2004 Medical Parkway Suite A San Marcos.

Wynn [email protected]

TURN $499 INTO $3,200 IN WELLNESS INDUSTRY!!!!!

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Water Damage RestorationFire & Smoke RestorationMold RemediationBiohazard Scene Remediation

San Marcos, New Braunfels and Surrounding Areaswww.puroclean.com/dfr-tx (800) 893-5806

24-Hour Emergency Service

Phyllis Snodgrass, IOM, is President of the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce. She serves on the Board of Regents for the US Institute for Organization Management, as Vice Chair for the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives (TCCE), serves on the Southwest Regional Advisory Board for the Small Business Development Center Network and serves as Board member for the Hays County United Way.

202 N. C.M. Allen Pkwy San Marcos

P.O. Box 2310

Phone: 512.393.5900www.sanmarcostexas.com

Business Championby Phyllis Snodgrass

-Compounding Pharmacy-


You Think a Bank is a Bank is a Bank… Think Againby David Pevoto

David Pevoto is Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager of the San Marcos Branch of Schertz Bank & Trust. 1917 Dutton Drive, Suite 205. San Marcos. 512 754-7401

Butterflies in Your Stomach?by Ren Linér

Ren Linér is President of the San Marcos Toastmasters Club. A charter member since 1991, he earned Toastmasters’ highest des-ignation, Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM), in 2007. San Marcos Toastmasters meet every Tuesday evening from 7:00-8:30 p. m. in the Main Classroom of the Central Texas Medical Center. Visitors are always welcome!

Meets Every Tuesday 7:00-8:30 PMMain Classroom,

Central Texas Medical Center1101 Wonder World Drive

A public speaking and leadership training organizationSAN MARCOS TOASTMASTERS CLUB

http://sanmarcos.freetoasthost.org (no “www”)[email protected]

(512) 353-0217

SAN MARCOS BRANCH1917 Dutton Dr. Ste. 205

SCHERTZ BANK & TRUST

LOBBY HOURSM-TH 9 - 4

Fri 9 -5

DRIVE IN M-F 7-6Sat 8 -1 www.schertzbank.com

Never before has the difference between your local community bank and the Wall Street non-traditional bank been more ap-parent than in today’s financial services marketplace.

Today there are several types of “banks”:

Community Banks are locally owned and managed by a local board of directors and characterized by local lending deci-sions, local investment and civic involve-

ment in their communities. The vast majority of banks in the United States are “community banks”.

Mega-Banks could be defined as those multi-billion dollar banks that are “too big to fail.”They operate across state lines and are en-gaged in a multitude of financial services related to businesses.

Investment Banks work with entities wanting to raise capital and generally do not accept customer deposits.

Central Banks are responsible for managing monetary policy. The Federal Reserve is the central bank empowered to conduct and enforce monetary policy in the United States.

Savings Banks originally created to promote home ownership. These banks have declined since the 1980’s, some still exist and are effectively traditional banks.

“Offshore” Banks are chartered outside of the United States, and frequently in the Caribbean. Although many are perfectly legitimate, you should use caution prior to investing or depositing money into

any entity “with a deal too good to be true”.Online Banks are a relatively new banking concept and are

driven strictly by the internet. Don’t confuse “online banks” with “online banking”. Most traditional banks offer online banking ser-vices but should a problem arise, you can go to a brick and mortar building to talk to a bank representative.

Credit unions like to position themselves as banks. However, they are not subject to some of the strict banking regulations of tra-ditional banks. Additionally, credit unions are not subject to federal income tax or a number of state or local taxes, nor do they have to adhere to the Community Reinvestment Act.

Your local community banker is a great resource for any ques-tions that you might have regarding your financial needs, and is a source of stability in these turbulent times.

Do you get butterflies in your stomach when you stand up to speak? You can make them fly in formation.

At some time in life, almost everyone faces the challenge of speaking before an audience. It might be at school, at work, at church, or at a friend’s wedding. It might also be in a job interview, where the all-important audience is composed of just one person. Since few of us are born with natural public

speaking abilities, having a case of the jitters is very common. It’s also quite normal to look back at speaking occasions and wish you had seemed less nervous or had communicated what you really wanted to say in a clear, organized way.

If you, like many others, wish to become more confident by sharpening your communication skills, it’s important to find a friendly and supportive environment, such as your local Toastmasters club, where self-improvement is the common goal. When you surround yourself with others who are there for the same reasons, you feel immediately welcomed.

In addition to a good amount of laughter, meetings provide “hands-on” participation, and include prepared speeches, impromptu speeches, and constructive evaluations. You develop your abilities at your own pace, with the encouragement of new friends who have walked the same path. And, as you improve

speaking proficiency, you’ll learn to be a better listener, too. Whether they realize it or not, people in all walks of life are

making “presentations” every day. As they interact with bosses, employees, coworkers, customers, friends and neighbors, the way they communicate can be as important as the words themselves. That’s why better communication practices can often improve one’s value as an employee, or enhance one’s desirability as a new hire. By identifying the right organization and attending your first meeting, you’ll be setting out on a journey that can yield many personal rewards. Take the first step today. You won’t regret it.


by Zack Ross

Zack Ross is an award winning tattoo artist and the owner of No Surrender Studios Custom Tattoo Shop & Art Gallery, [formerly Live Electric Studios] just South of the Square at 142 S. LBJ. Zack worked for 5 years in the San Diego area before moving to Texas in early 2008. Zack welcomes the opportunity to answer your tattooing questions and help guide you to the perfect tattoo. Cell: 512-626-5919; Shop: 512-754-9341.

“What is flash?” you ask. Flash is the pre-printed designs that you see hanging on the walls of some tattoo shops. To the custom tattoo artist, flash is not desirable and does not challenge the creativity or artistic ability of the artist. The big problem with selecting a flash design is that other people can choose the same thing and have the same tattoo. However, a production design can be a good starting point

to get an idea for a custom piece. The most important reason to go for a custom tattoo is that you won’t see your tattoo walking down the street on someone else.

Many times production flash is for production tattooers…in other words, you don’t have to be an artist to reproduce a decent flash tattoo. Production shops typically try to line up as many tat-toos as possible each day to generate the most profit--money is the driving force.

A custom tattoo takes a lot more time and effort. There are discussions with the customer on the concept, then creating and refining the drawing before the needle ever hits the skin. In a custom shop, the artist takes great pride in each tattoo and wants to give the customer a beautiful piece of body art along with a memorable experience.

The best way to avoid a bad tattoo, whether it is flash or custom, is to carefully scrutinize the artist’s portfolio. Be careful….there are many people doing tattoos that do not really know their craft. Just

because a shop is willing to give you a good deal does not mean you will get a good tattoo. In fact, the opposite is true. A good artist knows the value of his work and charges accordingly. At the same time, there are incompetent artists that will charge a lot for a poorly done piece. Did I already say that it is imperative to look through the artist’s portfolio?

Don’t compare prices, compare portfolios. The bitterness of a bad tattoo remains long after the sweetness of a good price is forgotten. Remember, tattoos are forever.

San Marcos Skate Parkby Geoffrey Quick

If you are interested in learning more you can find everything you will need at Texas Skate Boards & Apparel. Texas Skate is a locally owned and operated skate shop here in San Marcos TX. The doors opened on Oct.1 2008. Owners, Cody Hobbs and Geoffrey Quick, are both Texas State University alumni who just could not leave San Marcos.

In 2007 San Marcos officially opened their skate park. Though only the first phase is finished it has been a blessing to the community. The first phase was to complete the 10,000 sq ft “street course”. The idea is to emulate the obstacles skat-ers would encounter while skating in the city, but without having to actually be in the streets. The street course has been a blessing to both the community of San

Marcos and the skate community, but this is not the end. Phase two of the San Marcos skate park is already in the

works. The construction contract has been awarded to Ideal Skate Parks out of Austin TX. The plans for phase two are to add a 5,689 sq ft “bowl” and a 1,350 sq ft “mini pool”. The “bowl” is a series of large vertical walls and smooth transitions and the “mini pool” is exactly that, a small pool that is designed to skate not to swim in. As soon as the date for ground breaking is set the bid is for 180 day build then San Marcos will be home to a roughly 17,000+ sq ft concrete skate park.

Along with the “bowl” and “mini pool”, part of phase two will be the installation of lights. Thanks to the generous donation of the lighting system by Wide Light, skaters will be able to enjoy this great facility even more!

The next idea, after phase two is completed, is “mini skate

spots”. The concept behind this is to put small single obstacles in already existing parks through out the city. The mini spots are to help relieve congestion at the skate park and to make skating more accessible to the community.

Skate parks are very important not only to skaters but to the cities they are in. The skate park gives skaters a place where they do not have to worry about being ticketed for skating and they are not in the way of the general public. So support local skate parks, they are healthy alternative.

Tattoos: Flash v. Custom

512-754-9341142 S. LBJ San Marcos

www.nosurrenderstudios.com

512-392-5858241 N.LBJwww.txsk8.com


by Eddie Diaz

Martial Arts for Kids?

Confidence, self-discipline, better listening skills, courtesy, honesty and integrity – are we talking about martial arts? Yes. A child participating in a fun, exciting class will develop these life skills while strengthening themselves both mentally and physically. When considering enrolling your children in a

martial arts school, ask these four questions:Are classes safe? Martial Arts is a highly supervised activity.

The average student to teacher ratio is only 10:1. That’s three times less than a public school. The children are never asked to perform movements that would put them in danger of injury. Martial Arts curriculums have been designed specifically to accommodate ages five and up, and are modified so children can successfully learn and perform all the moves necessary to excel. The curriculum is never harmful, sometimes a little challenging to build greater self-image, but never too difficult, so a child won’t experience failure.

Will my child have fun? Martial arts is good, clean fun for kids, and a great way to give kids a head start on life, providing them with confidence, respect, self-esteem and self-discipline. Good instructors are leaders in the field of motivating children so kids want to learn – excitement and fun are essential tools used to increase the learning and performance for kids.

Will my child learn to be abusive? Look for a school that teaches martial arts as self-defense, not self-offense. A student creed taught in many schools states, “I will use common sense before self-defense, and never be abusive or offensive.” This creed is a commitment students learn in order to maintain the courtesy and integrity of this art.

How much does it cost, and is it worth it? Prices vary from school to school, so look for the benefits. When the primary focus is to teach children life skills that develop the ability to listen, learn and achieve within a highly regulated environment, you’ve found a very valuable school. Most sports don’t build leadership traits – if you have the necessary skills to perform, you’re in the game... if not you’re on the bench. Martial arts is different, with programs designed to develop leaders with confidence, self-discipline, listening skills, honesty, integrity and much, much more.

Eddie Diaz began training in 1989, and has owned Diaz Martial Arts for over 10 years. The school offers lessons for kids, teens and adults in Tae Kwon Do, boxing and MMA, and is located at 166 S. LBJ Dr. in San Marcos. Visit DiazMartialArts.com for more info.

6 Week Summer ProgramIncludes Two Private Lessonsa Uniform or Boxing Gloves

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu . Filipino Martial ArtsTae Kwon Do .Boxing .Kick-Boxing .Thai Boxing

512.392.4763 166 S. LBJ Dr. DiazMartialArts.com

Only $89Diaz Martial Arts

The PerfecT GifT

A Baby Boutique

Wimberley square in the Garden Gate shops

• Specialty Baby Gifts• Swaddle Keepers• Heelarious® Baby Shoes, featured on CNN• Handmade Dresses & More

OPEN Thursday-Sunday 11-5

512-847-8899

THE PERFECT GIFTA Baby Boutique

Autumn Mickey, Owner OperatedIn the Garden Gate ShopS on the Square

847-8899Autumn Mickey, Owner Operated

512-847-8899 • OPEN Thursday-suNday 11-5

IN ThE GardEN GaTE shOPs ON ThE sQuarE

• Specialty Baby Gifts• Swaddle Keeper• Heelarious® Baby Shoes, featured on CNN• Handmade Dresses & More

Hill Country Wine Shoppe

Open Noon-8pm•Closed Tuesday•

114 B On the Wimberley Square

10% Discount for 6 Bottles15% Discount for 12 Bottles

www.hillcountrywineshoppe.com(512) 847-2828

20 Hill Country Wines, Ports & Ale Most Unique to Wimberley

GRILLELocated in the

Embassy Suites San Marcos Hotel, Spa and Conference CenterAnnounces

wrap up the week with a cooked to order lunch including BEEF, CHICKEN, SHRIMP,

CHINESE VEGETABLES, RICE OR NOODLES,SOUP OR GARDEN SALAD

made the way you like it in a traditional wok

$8.0011:00am - 1:30pm

every Friday starting June 12, 2009

join the Rocky River GrilleRockin’ Lunch Dining Club

buy 10 lunches get the 11th lunch freesign up in Rocky River Grille and we’ll stamp your first two lunches for free!

1001 E. McCarty Lane San Marcos, TX 78666 512-392-6450 extension 2041

E M B A S S Y S U I T E S

San Marcos - Hotel, Spa & Conference Centersanmarcos.embassysuites.com

R


Kevin Hollemans is a financial advisor who builds diversified investment portfolios and is passionate about helping people achieve their financial goals. He specialiazes in individual long-term investors and small business owners. He looks forward to working with you. Now is the time to schedule your free protfolio review. Call or visit today.

Must Do IIby Kevin Hollemans

You’ve probably seen plenty of magazines featuring pictures of afflu-ent-looking people who have “made it big’’ in investing. While these photos may grab our attention, the articles can be more illuminating - because, if they’re honest, they will usually reveal that those investors who supposedly “hit the jack-pot’’ actually earned their prosperity by diligently following a few simple steps over many years.

Here are three to consider:• Create a plan - If you don’t have an investment plan, you are

susceptible to making costly mistakes. You need to create an invest-ment plan that’s based on your risk tolerance, your specific goals and your time horizon. By putting together a diversified portfolio, you may be able to make steady progress toward your objectives.

• Keep investment performance in perspective - Many people make one of two mistakes when it comes to tracking their invest-ments. They either forget about what they own, or they follow every single price movement, large or small. Both of these moves can be troublesome. If you pay no attention to what you’ve invested in, you could someday find that your investments are no longer suitable for your needs. On the other hand, if you are constantly fretting about price movements, you’ll be tempted to make hasty “buy’’ and “sell’’ decisions that may work against you. Instead of following either of these paths, look for a middle ground. Review your portfolio

regularly - at least once a year.• Invest for the long term - To really invest for the long term,

you need patience, perseverance and the ability to focus on events that won’t occur for several decades. Overall, you will probably find that most of your portfolio will be devoted to achieving your long-term objectives - a comfortable retirement, college for your kids, etc. So, you must build - and maintain - the mix of investments that have the “staying power’’ you will need.

There you are - three simple steps to help you work towards your long-term goals.

102 Wonderworld Dr Ste 302 . San Marcos

Kevin H Hollemans Financial Advisor

512-393-2022

[email protected]

Carol Peters, education ConsultantTexas Certified Teacher, Academic Mentor

[email protected]

New location: 109 E. Hopkins, Suite 209,San Marcos, TX 78666

DRIPPING SPRINGS: 858-2040WIMBERLEY: 847-5070LakE TRavIS: 263-3993

BUDa: 312-0002aUSTIN: 445-5489

SaN MaRcoS: 396-7070

•Septic pumping

•cleaning

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• Drywall

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• Powerwashing

• CarPentry

• light eleCtriCal

Garcia’s General Home Repair

512 963-7175

sPeCializing in

small jobs

John Garcia

[email protected]

1005 HWY 80 / 512.393.3344 www.austingoodwill.orgChanging lives through the power of work!


Maggie’s EventsMaggie Butler

[email protected]

Certified Wedding Planner

chiropractic massage therapy

acupuncturecolon hydrotherapyionizing foot soak

nutritional therapy

www.hillcountryalternativetherapy.com

1435 N Walnut New Braunels, TX

830.632.5906

Leslie Tatum owns Hill Country Alternative Therapy in New Braun-fels. Their team of experts specializes in wellness counseling, colon hydrotherapy, acupuncture, chiropractic care and massage therapy. To schedule a consult, contact the office at 830.632.5906 or visit the website at www.hillcountryalternativetherapy.com.

Toxicitiesby Leslie Tatum

Toxicity comes in different forms. If you can imagine an invisible virus attacking your body, much like measles or our resent scare, the swine flu. We can’t see it or for the most part we can’t taste or smell it. But it surrounds us daily through our environment.

We cannot control our exposures but we can control a level of toxicity through our food. We now have over 1,200 chemicals in processed foods. They are used to preserve our food, enhance

the taste, and appeal. Produce is also under attack. Pesticides and herbicides are known carcinogens according to the EPA. Dieldrin, a carcinogenic insecticide, banned over 25 years ago is still found in our soil today.

Removing toxicities can be a challenge. Here are a few ideas to help protect you:

• Try going organic where you can. It makes a big difference. The FDA is very involved in the regulation and control of organics.

• Movement, deep breathing and sweating can be an everyday release of toxicities. This action pushes the toxins through the system and is very effective.

• Colon hydrotherapy is used to release toxins from the large intestines. But be careful of the quick colon cleanses. They are hard on the system and not always effective. Hydrotherapy may be for you if you recently have had surgery, have been or currently

on several medications, not having regular bowel movements, or bloating and cramping.

• Most toxicity is stored in the liver. To remove toxicities from the liver we recommend a 21 day cleanse. Make sure you have a balanced system and an educated practitioner to assist you.

• Choose a supplement that is in a whole food form. The synthetic form is highly toxic. How can you tell if they are synthetic? Read the labels for high levels of milligrams. Whole food has a low level of milligrams so they are highly absorbed.

Our environment will always have toxins present. Small steps on a daily basis such as exercising, taking supplements and going organic can go a long way to support a healthier lifestyle.

Maggie has had seven years of experience throughout the hospital-ity industry in settings such as catering and events and fine dining restaurants. She received her wedding planner certification license from The Wedding Planning Institute in 2007 and has a Bachelor’s degree in Professional Writing from Texas State University-San Marcos. Visit her website at www.mkbweddings.com or e-mail her at [email protected].

Getting Married?

by Maggie ButlerWhether the proposal is performed

amidst candlelight, over a serving of chocolate soufflé, or on a park bench, the decision to say ‘yes’ is the easy part. However, the choices following the proposal can be overwhelming for the newly engaged bride.

Before looking at any bridal books, the best way to deal with wedding de-cisions is to write down what kind of wedding you see yourself in. Make a list of your favorites: colors (pink or green), fabric textures (chiffon or satin), foods (appetizers or full-course dinner),

cocktails (pink cosmopolitan or Texas tea). If you envision being surrounded by flowers, trees, and soft earthy hues, then a garden wedding might be what you’re looking for. Use your list when browsing through bridal magazines; Martha Stewart Weddings is one of the best. Look for themes or color schemes that match your list, then rip out the pages and keep them in a binder dedicated to wedding materials. Use this binder when meeting with vendors. That way nothing gets lost in the shuffle and, when you are ready to make final decisions, all the paperwork is there.

Use your list to help you find the resources that match the wed-ding you want. Oftentimes, finding a venue (and other vendors) with the right qualities and for the right price can be challeng-ing. Get an overview of Texas venues by visiting websites like

texasoutside.com and theknot.com. Then go to the local city yellow pages and see what kind of facilities your city already offers. Think outside the box. Small cities like New Braunfels and Wimberley have prominent businesses like Dry Comal Creek Winery, Hide-out on the Horseshoe, Well Seasoned Catering, Celebrations, and Historic Gruene that welcome weddings. A bit off the beaten path, these companies are just a few of the best-kept bridal secrets of Central Texas.

After all this list making, take some time out from wedding details and go on a date with your fiancé. Remember: celebrating what you have together is what all this planning is all about.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions


• SaleS • Service • repair •

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1 Mile out Hwy 80 (First leFt on Military Drive) 512/353-1854

by Meredith Mulvey Gowens

Meredith Mulvey Gowens, DVM is a graduate of Texas A&M Uni-versity. She has been an associate veterinarian at King’s Highway Animal Clinic since May 2007. The clinic has served San Marcos and the surrounding area since 1979, and was voted Best Veteri-narian in Hays County in 2005 & 2008.

Infestation

Fleas are becoming quite a nuisance this year. Fleas can affect both humans and pets. Adult fleas prefer to be on a living creature rather than in the environment, whereas the immature fleas survive in your living environment. If you are trying to eliminate a severe flea infestation you must remember to treat both the animals and the environment. Pets with limited flea exposure will benefit greatly from monthly flea control

products.Many products are available to treat fleas on your pets. Your

regular veterinarian and their staff can help you choose what may work best for your animal. It is very important to remember to choose a product labeled for the appropriate species of animal, age, and weight range. Check with your veterinary care team to make sure the product is labeled for use with your pet and verify the application instructions and frequency. Make sure to treat all pets in the household for fleas, not just the pets you have observed fleas on.

The environment also needs to be addressed because immature fleas reside in the carpet and yard. Daily vacuuming is recommended, making sure to vacuum furniture cushions and under furniture. The vacuum bag or canister should be emptied into an outside garbage can or bag promptly after vacuuming to dispose of flea eggs or adults that were picked up. Several options exist for treating the home and yard, including professional extermination, do-it-yourself sprays, and foggers. If treating the environment yourself, please remember to read all product labels and follow them carefully. Make sure all pet dishes, water bowls, and food bins are removed from the environment to avoid contamination with the pesticide products. If you happen to have fish, make sure to check the warning labels for safety around aquariums. Keep pets and people away from the treated area for the appropriate length of time indicated on the product labels.

Fleas can cause conditions in both pets and people that require medical treatment, so we should protect both ourselves and our pets against these pests. A successful flea control program typically requires treatment of the both the pets and the environment. Your veterinary care team can help design a flea control program tailored to you and your pets needs, just ask.

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by William R. Cook

Garage Doors Certainly are Beasts of BurdenOne of the most ignored and overlooked

maintenance components of your home is your garage door and opener. These beasts of burden are frequently ignored, neglected and taken for granted...that is until they stop working.

An average two-car garage door has nearly forty moving parts and weighs approximately 300 pounds. When in the

up position, the door is usually 8 feet above the floor with your second most expensive investment parked directly underneath. Last year approximately 20,000 garage door related injuries were treated in America’s emergency rooms.

Given these facts, proper maintenance and repair should be a higher priority on our never-ending to do lists.

Basic routine maintenance should be performed every six months to maximize performance and extend the life of the moving parts of your garage door(s). While repairs should be left to the professionals, the following activities should be completed every six months:

1. Lubricate hinge joints with a silicone-based lubricant. Be careful in selecting a product as many common spray lubricants are alcohol-based and can actually dry out moving parts.

2. Do not lubricate track and rollers. This common misconception only serves to attract dust particles and cause further wear. While it does appear to be a short-term fix, over that short time, problems will become worse.

3. Release the door from the opener by disengaging the trolley (pull the red string down).

* Raise the door to the halfway point. A properly balanced door should remain in that position. If the door falls or rises on its own this is a symptom of spring failure. Improperly balanced garage doors can cause opener and/or door damage.

* Raise and lower the door manually. The door should require no more than ten pounds of force to raise. This is the maximum weight residential openers are designed to raise. Clacking, screeching or popping sounds also indicate moving parts failure.

*Please Do Not attempt any repairs. Certain garage door components can cause serious injury!

William R. Cook is a certified garage door technician and is the owner/operator of Precision Door Service of Central Texas, Inc.

-Serving all of Hays County-

Invisalign - An Alternative to Wire Bracesby Dr. DeAnna Dean

For those who would like to straighten their teeth, but would prefer an alternative to conventional wire braces, Invisalign orthodontics is a great option. Instead of metal wires and brackets, a series of virtu-ally invisible clear trays is used to move teeth. Friends and co-workers are often unaware that Invisalign trays are present.

Invisalign can be used to treat a wide variety of orthodontic cases for adults and

teens. Patients with crowded teeth, teeth with too much spacing, narrow arches, or teeth that may have shifted after conventional braces are all candidates. A dental professional can provide a pre-liminary screening.

Once preliminary eligibility is determined, the patient sees an orthodontist or general dentist certified in Invisalign. Impressions are then taken and sent to the Invisalign production clinic. These impressions are analyzed by a computer, final eligibility is deter-mined, and a treatment plan is provided to your doctor. If the patient decides to initiate treatment, a series of custom-made trays (aligners) are milled by Invisalign, according to specific case needs.

The trays work by applying gradual pressure to teeth that need to be moved. A tray is typically worn for about two weeks and then traded for the next recommended aligner. Your supervising doctor is

usually seen every six weeks. Total treatment time is about a year, using an average of 18 to 30 aligners, depending on the case.

There are several advantages of Invisalign over conventional braces. Clear trays are more aesthetically pleasing. There are no brackets or wires to cause abrasions. Trays must be worn at least 22 hours a day, but can be removed to eat, drink, brush, and floss. For these reasons, Invisalign is often preferred by adult patients. Those interested should consult their dentist to see if they are a candidate.

Dr. DeAnna Dean is an honors graduate of the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio. She has practiced for several years, and recently opened Dean Dental in San Marcos. Dean Den-tal is located on 1920 Corporate Dr. Ste. 105A, San Marcos, TX 78666. 512-353-2727 www.dean-dental.com

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Janell Cottam and business partner Paula Rhodes are both regis-tered architects in the State of Texas. Both have worked in home and commercial design in the Central Texas area for the last 19 years, and have developed their firm Logical Living to help people resolve accessibility issues and remain in their home or business, while retaining the architectural style and quality. Janell Cottam can be reached at 512-663-2410.

The Details of Daily Lifeby Janell CottamShelter is one of the most basic human

needs. We all live in some form of house, apartment, or mobile home and go to work, school, or shopping in some type of structure. The expectation of having some form of built shelter to protect us from the environment is so basic and ingrained many of us take it for granted. Like the concepts

of “where our food comes from” or “where does our garbage go”, in our society we often forget the complexity and thought which was involved in the most basic of our daily activities.

In a good design, the details of daily life are taken into consid-eration. We may not think about it as we walk through our routine, but when something is poorly planned it makes a huge impact. Who hasn’t experienced a place where maybe two doors collide when opened, or the light switch is on the far side from the entrance, or maybe the refrigerator door blocks the entrance to the kitchen when open. Little design glitches like these become magnified when everyday you slam those two doors together, trip in the dark to the switch, or get stuck outside the kitchen because someone is in the fridge.

These type of daily living details become even more significant when you have a mobility issue to deal with. If you use a cane or walker and every time you wish to leave your house you have to navigate steps or a walkway of rough flagstones, it can begin to be a huge barrier. Most homes are built with small bathroom doors, between 28 inches and 30 inches. The average wheelchair is 30 inches. If you find yourself in a chair due to surgery, accident, or age,

this is an aspect of your daily routine which becomes impossible. When we consider the frustration we experience with little glitches like mentioned above, imagine the frustration one experiences when their home inhibits most of their common daily routines.

Shelter is a basic need for us all, and beyond protection from the elements, it should work seamlessly with our daily lives whatever our circumstances. Whether planning a new home or remodeling, investing in a professional will help ensure that the home you build will meet your specific needs now and in the future. If it is well designed up front, once you move in you won’t have to think about it.

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Tim’s Garden: Solar Poweredby Tim Thompson

Just like the plants in our gardens, hu-mans are solar powered creatures. The plants we eat and those we don’t eat all grow through the magic of photosynthe-sis made possible by our friendly neigh-borhood star. The animals we eat thrive mainly on the same plants. Some solar radiation is absorbed through our food,

but our bodies require direct sunshine to absorb vitamin D, an es-sential nutrient our bodies use to build and repair bones and teeth. Without sunlight, we would truly perish.

Sun is a precious commodity in the cold countries my ances-tors called home and was not at all an every day expectation. The good news for us in Texas is this: we can reasonably expect lots of that life-giving solar radiation practically every day. Like so many things in life, the trick is to get enough without getting too much.

When our central air conked out in a recent heat wave, we re-minded ourselves that it’s the nature of Texans to cope with grace and humor, but we lasted only a day before borrowing a window unit. Sunshine equals heat and the long Hill Country days can gen-erate a lot of it. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t had their fill of it by the end of a Texas summer, by which time the cumulative effect of the heat gets downright dispiriting after weeks without respite. Most years, just when we think we cannot take another day of it, the weather breaks, the rains come, the temperatures moderate, and our lives go on.

It all depends on where you are from and what you prefer. For now, let’s just call it WHISKEY. In its own category of alcoholic beverages, it is typically dis-tilled from fermented grain mash consist-ing of barley, rye, wheat and / or corn and sometimes in a malted version. Which are better? Speaking in general, the cus-tomers and friends of my store, enjoy all

the different types and often in an equal ratio.Over the years, I have learned that most experts still believe that

the art of distillation was actually a process that the Irish mission-aries brought over during the 6th century. However, most histori-ans agree that the distillation process itself originated in the East long before then, and was used on perfumes and dyes.

History being what it is, San Marcos and the rest of the world has come to recognize 9 or 10 whiskeys as the most famous. These few have been narrowed down even further, to a most favorable 4 or 5 preferred choices. My experience has influenced me to bal-ance my selection and accommodate palates that appreciate good american whiskeys. This selection includes great bourbons that by law must be distilled in Kentucky! American whiskey is strangely called bourbon (a French word), originating from Bourbon County Kentucky in the 1700’s. After America was grateful to France for helping us defeat England and win our independence, the Virginia legislature (because Kentucky used to be the Kentucky District of Virginia) dropped a number of French names onto american soil.

Although Texans don’t generally use the word summer as a verb, we sometimes seek refuge in the cooler climes of Colorado, Ruidoso or Santa Fe, but more typical are the time-tested Texas traditions of cool drinks in the shade, slower paced lives, ice cold watermelon and playing in the chilled waters of the San Marcos, the Comal, the Blanco and the Guadalupe. Next time you sizzle into those cool waters, think about it: you could say we’re both solar-powered and water-cooled.

Other popular whiskeys including Irish, Scotch or Canadian vari-eties...were all named after their respective area of origin.

Although Bourbons have not gotten as much advertising money as some of the newer vodkas or rums, they still have a huge chunk of the overall market and continue to be enjoyed by millions.

In moderation, I firmly believe that your journey into the fasci-nating world of whiskeys can be fun and adventurous! There are now so many flavors and styles that I have resolved to not only to try, but to also sell the mainstream whiskeys, as well as the less notable whiskeys that will always be on the horizon.

Wimberley Valley News & Views Page 13 August 2007

Horticulturist Tim Thompson has managed the garden center at King Feed and Hardware for the past 18 years. Call him at 847-2618.

by Tim Thompson��

� Free consultation for all your nursery questions � complete selection of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals,

vegetables, herbs, bulbs, seeds, potting soil, soil amendments, mulch, pots, tools, everything for your garden and pond!

Open Monday-Friday 8-6, Sat. 8-4:30, Sun. 10-4:30

Wayne McQuaid

13320 Ranch Road 12 & FM 3237 • P.O. Box 1 • Wimberley, Texas 78676

Office: 512-847-2291 Fax: 512-847-3547

Wimberley Land Company��

Website: www.wimberleylandco.com E-Mail: [email protected]

Randall MorrisOwner/Broker

Dave Estey

David Erck

Susan Thurber

Anita BrownOffice Manager

Wimberley’s Real Estate Source!

Sally Covington

See Us First

Debbie MizeStaff

DW Ackerman

Laura B. KilberAngel Laughlin

Ardis Barnett

Barbara Latimer

Carolyn Nichols

Traci Maxwell

Troy Wilkerson

Kathy Johnson

Mike Boyle

Mary Fladger

Rachael HerringMilissa Wilson Sheryl Kelley

In complex systems of connection, reliance, and interdependence, every

action causes ripple effects across the system. The accuracy with which these ripple effects can be predicted is in inverse proportion to the com-

plexity of the system.Itʼs hard to imagine a more com-

plex system than Mother Nature. Our community and our lives are inextricably intertwined with All There Is. Both in and beyond our world, things that happen far from us have an undeniable impact on our lives. Importantly, the opposite is true as well: the things we do here reach far beyond the sphere of our daily lives. Itʼs here that we find choices that make a difference.

Every tree planted in Wimberley cleanses the earth of a little car-bon dioxide. Planting a lot of trees cleans a lot of carbon dioxide, and the positive effect benefits all the earth. Unfortunately, positive and ill effects are equally difficult to predict.

It is easy indeed to make changes to our land that have far reach-ing, but unexpected results. Moving deliberately and with all care as we make changes in our property is often the best we can do to avoid creating problems we cannot otherwise foresee.

As witness, consider the plot of land cleared of virtually every-thing except oaks near us a few years ago. On steep slopes of rocky and shallow soil, trees, shrubs, vines, and grasses will form a sup-

portive mat of roots, stolons, and sod, and they protect themselves from the ravages of severe weather by the protection they afford one another. With their support structures gone or biodegrading, the oaks on this particular lot have begun to fall over, one or two at a time, with every storm this year. Ironically, the probable intention was to make more nutrition and water available to the oaks, making them healthier and more vigorous.

The lesson for humans is clear: weʼre all in this together, and we, with all living creatures, absolutely must have the strength and sup-port and protection that we can only get from each other.Horticulturist Tim Thompson has managed the garden center at

King Feed and Hardware in Wimberley for the past 20 years. Pick up Tim’s Tips, free one page sheets on how to carry out dozens of gardening projects. They’re available only at King Feed Nursery. They offer everything you need to have the garden of your dreams without stressing your budget. Call Tim at 847-2618.

Complete selection of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, vegetables, herbs, bulbs, seeds, potting soil, soil amendments,

mulch, pots, tools, everything for your garden and pond!

Free consultation for all you nursery questions

Open Monday – Friday 8-6, Sat. 8-4:30, Sun. 10-4:3014210 RR 12 North Wimberley

Art Madeley is the owner of Faultline Liquor, located on the outskirts of San Marcos, one quarter of a mile west of Craddock St. on Ranch Road 12 going towards Wimberley. “We are located on top of the Balcones Faultline, and things here have remained undisturbed for 13 million years. I think it is safe to say that we won’t be going anywhere.”

Whiskeys or Whiskiesby Art Madeley

512-754-PINT (7468) www.faultlineliquor.com1904 Ranch Rd 12, #114 . San Marcos


BAND LINE-UPJuly 3 - Redneck Jedi

July 4 - Carlton Pride and ZionJuly 10 - Shelley King

July 11 - Hunter McKithan BandJuly 17 - Clay Jeffrey Band

July 25 - Zydeco Blanco

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San Marcos Outlook - July 2009

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