heart of texas - jan-feb 2013

32
Heart Of Texas Today January-February 2013 Free A Magazine For: Kerrville Harper Ingram Center Point Fredricksburg Comfort Hunt Looking Forward to 2013

Upload: publication-printer

Post on 22-Mar-2016

221 views

Category:

Documents


4 download

DESCRIPTION

Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

Heart Of Texas TodayJanuary-February 2013 Free

A Magazine For:Kerrville

Harper Ingram Center Point

Fredricksburg

Comfort Hunt

Looking Forward to 2013

Page 2: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013
Page 3: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

happy new year!

River Oaks Framing Co.

From:

Largest Selection of Custom Moulding, Ready-MadeFrames and Barn Wood in the Hill Country!

20% OFFCustom FramingBring This Ad to Receive 20% Off

Your Custom Order.**Cannot be combined with any other coupons

or discountsExpiration 03-30-13

w 24 Hour Custom Framing Available w Framed Art & Hundreds of Prints

w Professional, Friendly Sales Staff w Photo Restorationw Large Format Printing w Like Us on Facebook

www.riveroaksframing.com

792-3006 • 841 Junction Hwy. Inside Hometown Crafts

happy new year!

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013 3

We Service all Brands & ModelsHeating & Air Conditioning

24 Hour Service

www.stateaire.com

Page 4: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

New developments, new technology, and new high speed connections.HCTC has plenty to celebrate and so do our members.

Ingram Office220 Carolyn St830.367.5333

Kerrville Office212 Sidney Baker S.

830.315.4349

Mason Office110 Ft. McKavitt325.347.8877

Hill Country Telephone Cooperative, Inc. is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

To Advertise Call 830-370-9257The opinions expressed in Heart of Texas Today are those of the

writers and advertisers. And not necessarily those of the magazine.

PublisherAlice Sadler

Graphics & ProductionGolden Monkey

Productions

Contributing WritersDavid Blackburn

Kelly Doolley

Lainie Johnson

David LeMeilleur

Mary Gentry

Ima Mystery

Cover PhotographyWilliam Kierce

Kierce Photography

“Mama don’t let your babiesgrow up to be cowboys”

6 Why Use A Real Estate Agent

8 How Much Do Your Pets Matter?

11 Happy Camper?

13 Obedience

14 A Texas State of Mind...A Short Story From A Tall TexanEnd Of The World Has Been Postponed(Until Further Notice)

16 Recipes For The New Year

18 A Day with Jay

19 Mission For Women

20 Hill Country Profiles: Billy Wilkinson

21 Kerrville Events

23 Fredericksburg Events

25 A Lesson In Life

27 Mystery Shopper

www.heartoftexastoday.com

4 Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013

Page 5: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

New developments, new technology, and new high speed connections.HCTC has plenty to celebrate and so do our members.

Ingram Office220 Carolyn St830.367.5333

Kerrville Office212 Sidney Baker S.

830.315.4349

Mason Office110 Ft. McKavitt325.347.8877

Hill Country Telephone Cooperative, Inc. is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Page 6: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

6 Heart of Texas Today | January-February 2013

The contents of this article are the opinion of Kelly Dooley, a professional real estate agent with Sherman & Co., Realtors®. Other professional real estate brokers & agents may disagree or have other views. Comments and questions are welcome by email at [email protected]. Your comments and questions and/or Kelly’s response may be printed in an upcoming issue.

Page 7: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

ADORABLE 2BR / 1BA PLUS EXTRA ROOM

with open living, dining, kitchen.Beautifully updated bathroom.

Wood laminate and ceramic tile flooring.1-car garage. Fenced backyard.Only $114,500! MLS #79226

TASTEFULLY UPDATED & BEAUTIFULLY MAINTAINED 3BR/2BA

on corner lot. Covered back patio.

Oversized 2-car garage & 2-car carport.Fenced yard. Workshop.

Only $149,500. MLS #78584

PURRRFECT ALL-BRICK 3BR/2BAwith sitting area in Master.

Stone countertops & double oven in kitchen with breakfast area.

Wood laminate & berber carpet. Subtle decorator colors. Covered back patio & fenced yard.

Only $167,500. MLS #79002

ENJOY THE SERENITY OF THIS 11+ SECLUDED ACRES

from the large covered back patio of this quality limestone home with standing

seam metal roof built in 2005.Open floor plan, stained concrete floors,

high ceilings, corner fireplace, fabulous master suite, and more!

Large steel building for garage or workshop. Horses & Hunting OK!

Only $299,900. MLS #77407

New Listing!

VIEW THE VALLEY from the front of this 4-bedroom (or 3 plus office),

2-1/2 bath estate home with a 3-car garage on a 1-1/2-acre lot.

Covered front and back porches.Fenced backyard.

Conveniently located just outside Kerrville city limits. Only $299,500

Available for showing January 7th.

Kelly DooleyRealtor®

Direct: (830)[email protected]

SHERMAN & CO., REALTORS®819 WATER STREET

SUITE 170 • KERRVILLE, TX 78028OFFICE: 830-257-7588www.ShermanCo.com

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013 7

Page 8: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

8 Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013

Page 9: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013 9

Life’s Short...

Eat Pizza!

Heart Of Texas TodaySalutes Kerrvilles’ Native Son

Johnny ManzielHeisman Trophy Winner

Page 10: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

10 Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013

500 YORKTOWN BLVD 830-895-2888 WWW.THEDIESELDR.COM

"FIXED RIGHT THE FIRST TIME!"

THE DIESEL DR

24 Month/24,000 Mile NATIONWIDE WARRANTY A lot is riding on who you use for your automotive repairs and preventative

maintenance. LeMeilleur's offers you peace of mind with Experienced, Knowledgeable

ASE Certified Technicians. GAS * DIESEL*HYBRID DOMESTIC * FOREIGN CARS * TRUCKS * RV'S

Groundhog Day, February 2nd, is a popular tradition in the United States. It is also a legend that traverses centu-ries, its origins clouded in the mists of time with ethnic cultures and animals awakening on specifi c dates. Myths such as this tie our present to the distant past when nature did, indeed, infl uence our lives. It is the day that the Groundhog comes out of his hole after a long winter sleep to look for his shadow.

If he sees it, he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his hole. If the day is cloudy and, hence, shadowless, he takes it as a sign of spring and stays above ground.

The groundhog tradition stems from similar beliefs asso-ciated with Candlemas Day and the days of early Chris-tians in Europe, and for centuries the custom was to have the clergy bless candles and distribute them to the people. Even then, it marked a milestone in the winter and the weather that day was important.

The Roman legions, during the conquest of the northern country, supposedly brought this tradition to the Teutons, or Germans, who picked it up and concluded that if the sun made an appearance on Candlemas Day, an animal, the hedgehog, would cast a shadow, thus predicting six more weeks of bad weather, which they interpolated as the length of the “Second Winter.”

Pennsylvania’s earliest settlers were Germans and they found groundhogs to in profusion in many parts of the state. They determined that the groundhog, resembling the European hedgehog, was a most intelligent and sensible animal and therefore decided that if the sun did appear on February 2nd, so wise an animal as the groundhog would see its shadow and hurry back into its underground home for another six weeks of winter.

Groundhog Day History

Page 11: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

How does the old saying go, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!” If you were going to take a trip in your car before you started out hopefully you would have done a pre-trip inspection, checking fluids, tires, air conditioner. air filter, etc. But when it comes to recreational vehicles this is just one aspect of getting the coach ready for the trip. Unfortunately, the lack of preventive maintenance or just routine scheduled maintenance will eventually result in emergency maintenance. So much for a fun trip when you are broken down on the side of the road with a problem that could have easily been prevented with a pre-trip inspection. So how do you become a “Happy Camper” when you are R’Ving? There are several preventive maintenance steps you need to take to help prevent potential problems before they exist. Let’s take a closer look at some com-mon sense pre-trip maintenance to get you ready for the big adventure! Hopefully this will help to make your trip safe and pleasurable instead of a costly nightmare!

Basic RV maintenance:

lKnow when your manufacturer recommends schedule maintenance.lCheck all fluid levels: engine & generator oil, transmission, power steering, brake and windshield washer fluids.l Check your filters: Fuel, and/or Fuel-Water separator and your air filter.l Check for leaks: look underneath, around your axles, check your hoses.l Check your Serpentine/V-Belt: does it look frayed? nicks or chunks missing? Does it have too little tension?, another sign it is worn and needs to be replaced.l Check your cooling system: radiator, radiator coolant, hoses and clamps.l Check all lights, interior and exterior.l Check your wiper blades, replace them when they need it, sometimes large blades can be difficult to locate out on the road.l Batteries: check your chassis (engine) and your house batteries. In addition, check your inverter, and does your generator run?l Brakes, Wheel bearings, Axle seals all play an important role getting you down the road and stop-ping you once you get there!l Tires: check for the condition, look for uneven wear, cupping, tread depth and proper tire inflation. Check pressure when tires are cold. If in doubt replace or repair.

In addition to the mechanical aspect of maintenance go thru your coach and check it out also. An RV requires more maintenance than your standard automobile. Most often a breakdown is caused because the RV owner failed to do preventative maintenance. And if the task seems daunt-ing, find a service center or an RV technician you can trust to get your ride ready for the next trip. So Happy Trails to you with the peace of mind you have made a good trip even better by taking the extra precautionary steps needed before you venture into the wild blue yonder!

Happy Camper?By David LeMeilleur

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013 11

Page 12: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013
Page 13: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

ObedienceWhen children are consistently disobedient, it is because the parents are not doing their job correctly.

Discipline means “training” not “punishment”. We discipline our children to teach them how to grow into responsible adults who fit into society and are able to care for themselves and their families.

Some parents discipline by repeatedly telling their children what they want them to do. Each time the par-ent repeats the command they say it a little louder, as if the child is hard of hearing. Eventually the child is still ignoring the parent, and the parent is now in a rage.

Parents must first determine if what they are asking is reasonable for the child. To ask a two year old to tie his shoelaces is not reasonable. But to ask a seven year old the same thing is reasonable.

If your request is reasonable, and you are sure that your child knows how to do what you are asking, then you should only make your request once. Do not explain why, do not give any reasons, do not raise your voice, and do not repeat yourself. These are all delaying tactics that teach your child that you do not ex-pect him to obey the first time you ask.

By the time your child is two years old, and often times even before that, he is old enough to learn that there are consequences to not being obedient. Some of those consequences might be – time out (remem-ber one minute for each year of age), or taking away a favorite toy or activity or television show.

The earlier in life that your child learns the importance of obedience and the consequences of disobedi-ence, the better life your child will have.

If you stop and think about it for a minute, you will realize that you live with the consequences of your disobedience even as an adult. If you do not obey speed limits you will pay consequences, such as speed-ing fines, possible loss of driving privileges, possible increase in insurance premiums and many more possible consequences. These are consequences that get your attention well enough that you obey speed limits as much as possible.

Your children need to feel the same way about what you require of them. Every child has something they like enough that they will not want to loose it by being disobedient. If you take away his favorite televi-sion program and he doesn’t seem to be impressed by loosing it, you either haven’t taken away the right program or you haven’t taken it away for a long enough period of time.

After once or twice of loosing something important to him, he will learn to listen to you the first time you request him to.

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013 13

Page 14: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

A Texas State of Mind..A Short Story From A Tall TexanEnd Of The World Has Been Postponed (Until Further Notice)By David BlackburnWell, I suppose that if you are reading this then the world did not end on December 21, 2012 as the Ma-yans predicted it would. What a relief, huh?

I really don’t know what to do with all that canned chili and freeze dried food I have stashed in my garage, but I am sure I will eventually find a good use for it....maybe a big dinner for the in-laws some-time. In any case, I feel much better now that the long awaited date has passed and the earth did not burst into flames or the flying saucers did not return to turn us into an alien food source for the extraterrestrials.

The world of the Maya and their incredible history began to interest me when I was a college student atthe University of Texas. One of my best college friends was an archeology major and concentrated his studies on the Mayan civilization. I got a vicarious thrill from his classes, papers, and his frequent trips to Mexico to tour the ruins of Mayan cities and sites. I became captivated and intrigued by their astronomical observations, their obsession with time and calendars, and their predictions about the future. One day, just a few monthsafter I had graduated, my buddy came to me with a proposal that was impossible to ignore.

“We need an adventure,” he said. “We have all graduated and before you know it, we will all be married and have jobs and responsibilities. We need to do one last big wild thing while we still have the chance.”

Such as what, I asked? I was always up for an ad-venture, and my pal Clint had a knack for creating the best scenarios for fun and excitement. We had gone on many canoe trips and camping trips, raced motorcycles, traveled to many distant cities to attend

concerts, and so on. Clint was also the luckiest guy I had ever known; he always seemed to stumble into the best of things and I really enjoyed going along for the ride.

“I’ve got it all figured out. We need to go to Guate-mala and canoe a river that has never been canoed before. It’s called the Usumacinta and it runs from the highlands of Guatemala into Mexico. It flows right through the heart of the ancient Mayan Empire. It will be great!”

I asked what seemed like a logical ques tion: “Why has it never been canoed be fore?”

“Too dangerous, of course! There are not many maps of the river and none are very accurate, plus there is a lot of white water and gosh knows what else. What do you think? Let’s do it!”

In order to understand Clint’s enthusiasm for attempting something risky and dangerous, you have to understand that he was fundamentally different that most people. As I said, he was the luckiest guy who ever lived—nothing bad ever happened to him.

Ordinary mortals, such as myself, might take a moment to pause and consider the negative conse-quences of paddling a tiny canoe in a roaring white-water river over a thousand miles from home, with little chance of rescue or immediate medical attention if an emergency arose. Not Clint, though. He had never sprained an ankle or caught a cold; everything he touched came up smelling like roses. So he naturally assumed, based on all his previous life experiences, that this “adventure” would be just that—a ton of fun with no downside for anyone. His excitement was conta-gious....and I suddenly found myself making plans to go to Central America.

14 Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013

Page 15: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

Clint was actually the one orchestrating the trip. He rounded up and convinced several of our mutual bud-dies as well as our girlfriends to drop everything they were doing and commit to spending a minimum of six weeks traveling throughout Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. He selected two very roadworthy vehicles (a truck and a van), two fiberglass canoes, all sorts of camping gear, cameras, film, critical supplies such as food, water, first aid gear, and within two weeks we were ready to launch. Just before we left, Clint had one last card to play.

“You know, we are going to take a LOT of great pic-tures on this trip. Let’s see if we can sell them to some-body like National Geographic. Maybe we can all have a good time and make some money, too.”

So he picked up the phone, called directory assistance in Washington, D.C., and got the main number for the offices of National Geographic. He called and asked to speak to the assignments editor and was immediately connected (How likely is THAT to happen? Didn’t I tell you Clint was the luckiest guy I ever met?). He laid out our plan to canoe an uncharted wild river and asked if they would be interested in buying some of our photos. The editor said no, that they did not purchase photos from anyone; they relied on their staff of profes-sional photographers to provide the content for their publication. Then he said he was interested in our trip and wondered if we would allow one of their photog-raphers to accompany us. And, of course, National Geographic would be happy to fund our trip and pay for all expenses. Yes, that’s right. They were going to pick up the en-tire tab for our adventure. Clint’s lifelong lucky streak was red hot and within three weeks we were in Belize City for our rendezvous with one of the most amazing characters I have ever met--Otis Imbolden, staff photog-rapher for National Geographic magazine. It was mid January, but still very hot and humid. Otis, who was in his mid-fifties and had traveled the world for years, met us at a small hotel and we spent the evening discussing our plans and getting to know each other. He told us stories of his travels and assignments, such as the time he was chosen by David Rockefeller to accompany him and his new bride on their round-the-world honeymoon trip. (“Most people take an Instamatic camera with them on their honeymoon. Mr. Rockefeller took took a National Geographic photographer on his...”).

As it turned out, Otis had been scheduled to do a photo shoot of several Mayan archaeological sites along the Usumacinta River, but he had been plan-ning to go overland to these sites.

Our call to National Geographic just happened to come in when he and his editors were talking about their project. Making the journey to these locations via the river would save him several weeks of slog-ging through the jungle.

Our trip to the launching point of the expedition took us through Guatemala City and then to Tikal, the capital city of the Mayan world. In its’ day, Ti-kal was home to over two hundred thousand people, but now Temple it is a historical site under the protection of the gov-ernment. We stayed in a hotel just outside the gates of the ancient city and were surprised to learn that everyone there knew Otis. He had been there many times before and was something of a celebrity. “Senor Otis!” The hotel manager shouted when we entered the lobby. “It is so good to see you again! We have your favorite room ready and for you and your friends we will turn on the hot water!”

We toured the ruins the next day and were amazed what we saw. There were huge temples and build-ings that stretched for miles and only a fraction of them had been excavated. Otis convinced the guards to allow us onto the grounds that evening so he could get some night shots.

Continued on Page 28

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013 15

Page 16: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

By Mary Gentry

Cut meat into small strips. Season w/ salt & pepper then sauté in 4 TBLS. butter until brown. Add the

flour & mix until well blended, then add consommé, tomato sauce & bay leaves. Simmer for 10 mins.

Remove bay leaves. Combine meat, sauce, sour cream & chives. Serve atop wide egg noodles.

Combine cookie crumbs w/ melted butter. Press into buttered 9-inch pie plate. Meltmarshmallows in milk. Cool. Add the liqueursto the cooled milk-marshmallow mixture. Whip cream until stiff & fold into mixture. Pour Into pie shell & chillthou roughly.

16 Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013

BEEF STROGONOFF8 TBLS. butter

3 lbs. Sliced tenderloin tips

8 chopped shallots

2 garlic cloves (minced)

2 medium onions (chopped)

12 mushrooms (any variety)

2 bay leaves

8 TBLS. sour cream

2 TBLS. Worcestershire sauce

1 cup dry sherry

Dash Tabasco sauce

5 TBLS. flour

4 cups beef consommé

6 oz. tomato sauce

2 tsps. salt

1/4 tsp. crushed black peppercorns

4 TBLS. chopped chives

GRASSHOPPER PIE

1- ½ cups Oreo cookies finely crushed6 TBLS. butter, melted32 large marshmallows½ cup milk4 TBLS. green crème de menthe2 TBLS. white crème de cocoa½ pint whipping cream

Page 17: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

By Mary GentryBaked Cheese Grits1 Cup Quick Grits1 Teaspoon salt4 cups boiling water3/4 stick butter2 eggs, beaten1 roll nippy or bacon cheese, cubedParmesan cheesePaprika for garnishBoil grits for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add butter, eggs, and cheese. Pour into greased casserole. Bake 45 minutes at 300 degrees. Remove from oven; sprinkle generously with Parmesan cheese and paprika. Return to oven and brown (15 minutes). Serves 6

Biloxi Crab CakesIngredients: lots & lots of fresh lump crab meat 2 cups chopped celery2 eggs1 yellow onion (diced)chopped green onions (about ¾ cup)parsley1 diced red pepperDijon mustard (to taste---2-4 tablespoons)mayonnaise (to taste―1 cup should do it)Louisiana Hot Sauce (as much or as little as you prefer)Creole Seasoning (garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, black pepper)Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce (to taste)1 ¾ cup fresh bread crumbs (more or less)Mix all ingredients and form on a baking coated with virgin olive oilBake at 350-375 degrees until golden brown about 10-12 minutes.Serve with lemon butter sauce (melted butter, juice of one lemon, heavy cream). And dust with Creole Seasoning.

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013 17

Page 18: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

Confined to a wheelchair since birth, Jay Armstrong has never let his cerebral palsy slow him down. While severe dyslexia may have limited his reading skills, nothing stopped the native Texan from writing his first children’s book, “A Day with Jay”.

“It was important to me to let kids know that their classmates in wheelchairs or with physical challenges were no different than them,” says the 26-year-old from his home in Southlake. “They just need to help them find ways to do the same things that they do. They’ll make a great new friend and, who knows, they may even be friends for life!”

A 2007 University of Texas graduate, Armstrong wrote the original “A Day with Jay” when he was only nine years old. Never one to be held back, he mastered higher learning via strong auditory skills, taking exams orally and earned a B.S. in Sport Management. Upon graduating, he decided it was time to get the book published.

“Jay’s been a constant inspiration to me,” insists Todd Dodge, four-time state champion foot-ball coach. “He’s truly passionate about everything in his life.”

While in college, the author was active in The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, where he cultivated friendships with athletic greats, many of whom have gone on to play professional sports. A passionate sports fan since he was a child, Armstrong was the sports writer for his high school news-paper and was “on the bench” with each of his high school teams. He received a 5A State Baseball Championship ring and medal in 2002 when the coach and the entire team insisted that he be includ-ed on the roster at the beginning of the season.

Currently, Jay spends his days speaking at elementary schools, social clubs and business orga-nizations to spread the word that those with physical challenges are no different than the rest of us. “Jay is an amazing young man,” says Dr. Daniel Presley, Former Principal, and Southlake Carroll High School. “His positive outlook on life is contagious.”

“A Day with Jay” is professionally illustrated and features a compelling insight into the feelings of excitement and fear that he experienced during his first days of elementary school. In the book, author Jay Armstrong reveals how as a six-year-old he had to deal with knowing that he was different and the innocent, honest questions asked of him by the other children.

Copies of “A Day with Jay” can be purchased through his website, www.adaywithjay.com.

A Day With Jay

Jay Armstrong

18 Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013

Page 19: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

Mission for WomenBy Jane Miller

I didn’t know exactly what Mission for Women was suppose to be about a year and a half ago when I opened its doors. I only knew that God wanted me to open a place for women to come for coffee, fellowship, and to grow in their walk with God. I knew for certain that if I obeyed Him, He would show me the rest.

God wants, more than anything, to have a personal relationship with each of us. Think of it! The God who created the universe wants to have fellowship with you. He thinks about us constantly. And whether we admit it or not, we all need to feel God’s love and presence each day in our life.

Mission for Women is where ladies come and go, or sometimes stay for the morning. They get a cup of coffee, a muffin, or whatever snacks we have for the day, and visit with others. Women need friends. We share the fellowship and the joys we have with God and with Jesus Christ, His Son. We listen to each other and we care about one another.

God has blessed us in so many ways this past year. We have had opportunities to help meet the needs of others. A local Church Bible Study brought a car full of food which provided help

Jane Miller, Julie Appel

And Dina Aguilar (in back)

for many families. We started a garden so we could share the veggies. We bring things like fresh yard eggs or things which we no longer use, like clothes or anything that might be used, to bless others. We are also there to just support each other through the many challenges women go through.

Our house has a living area, bath, two other rooms and a kitchen downstairs. Someone might come and say, “Let’s fix breakfast tacos this morning.” We like to cook a pot of stew or soup to enjoy on cold mornings. Upstairs we have another unique room and a bath. Our house is made up of things that our ladies have contributed. One sweet lady brings fresh flowers for our coffee table. Others bring special coffees, teas or sweets. It’s our home away from home.

Our ladies arrange in age. Some drop their children off at school and stop by for the morning but most of our ladies are over 50 with some of us being way over. God said, “Listen to me, I have created you and cared for you since you were born. I will be your God through all your lifetime, yes, even when your hair is white with age. I made you and I will care for you.” We are all different. Some are well educated, some are not. Some of us have walked with God for a long time; some are just learning how. We are a family of women who are learning to stay in happy fellowship with the Lord.

We will start a Bible Study on 1st John on Tues-days at 10:00 beginning September 4th. We would love for you to join us or just drop by for a cup of coffee.

We’re open every weekday morning from 7:30 to 11:30 except for Thursdays when we open at 9:00.

Coffee and snacks are donated by the ladies that come, so there is no charge.

We want not only to share our faith with you but to be encouraged by yours: Each of us will be a bless-ing to the other.

Mission for Women312 D Street, Kerrville, TX 78028

Jane Miller (830) 459-5451

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013 19

Page 20: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

20 Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013

Billy Wilkinson, born and raised in Abilene, graduated from Schreiner University in 1996.He currently resides in Austin and is President of Telecommunications for Invenio MarketingSolutions, a multinational firm with offices in Texas, Virginia, Washington State, and Canada.

He has served on Schreiner’s Board of Trustees for nine years.

HOTT: With so many educational institutions to choose from, what attracted you to Schreiner University?WILKINSON: Actually, Schreiner was not my first choice. I enrolled at Baylor and spent one semester there. I had played a lot of tennis in high school and had joined the Baylor tennis team. I needed to pay my own way through school and was teaching part time at the tennis center. One day the Schreiner tennis team came to Baylor, I met their coach, and he offered me a full scholarship to attend Schreiner and play tennis for them.

HOTT: And the rest is history?WILKINSON: Not exactly. I was interested, but I had never been to Kerrville and didn’t know much about Schreiner, so I agreed to visit the campus and take a look around. I drove from Waco to Kerrville in the late fall when the leaves were turning; the countryside and the city of Kerrville were incredibly beautiful. The total college population was the same as the size of my graduating class in Abilene and the atmosphere was very friendly. When I coupled that with the scholarship offer, it was pretty much of a no-brainer.

HOTT: What was your best experience at Schreiner?WILKINSON: I had many great experiences there. I came to play tennis, but before long I excelled academically due to the small size of the classes and the quality of the teaching. I managed to get a liberal arts education while majoring in business; I was able to develop some excellent communication skills and critical thinking skills that have benefited me ever since. By my junior year, I had transitioned from a tennis scholarship to an academic scholarship. Schreiner was very good to me with regard to financial aid.

HOTT: You have had a great deal of success since graduation. How did that happen and how did Schreiner prepare you for that success?WILKINSON: If I had to put it in a nutshell, I would say that Schreiner prepared me to be a leader. Since the school was smaller than Baylor or UT, I was able to stand out a little more. I was president of the student body when I was a senior and that prepared me to get involved with a variety of issues. I also began to meet people at the executive level and learned how to interact with them. That background has been an asset in everything I have ever done.

HOTT: Are you still involved with the college and the community?WILKINSON: Oh, yes. I have been a member of the Board of Trustees for nine years. I have seen the student population grow to over 1200; we now have better buildings and physical facilities, but we still maintain a very low student/teacher ratio that offers much more individual attention for the students. A lot of very successful people have been Schreiner graduates, and I think the quality of education is why they have done so well.

HOTT: How would you describe your career since graduation?WILKINSON: I worked in banking for several years and I also attended Sam Houston State to get my MBA degree. I love working with smaller companies that are poised for growth and that is what I am doing now. As the president of the telecommunications division for Invenio, I have seen some phenomenal growth in our industry and I love being a part of that. I guess you could call me an “execu-preneur” in the sense that I like to apply my managerial skills to help build fledgling companies into successful enterprises. That is very exciting for me.

HOTT: How often do you get back to Kerrville?WILKINSON: At least three times a year, especially when the leaves are turning. I love having a cup of coffee at Starbucks and looking out on the river. Moments like that are what life is all about.

Hill Country Profiles: Billy Wilkinson

Page 21: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013 21

For a more complete and detailed list of events.Go to: Kerrville Convention & Visitors Bureau

2108 Sidney BakerKerrville, Texas 78028Phone (830) 792-3535

www.KerrvilleTexasCVB.com

Email: [email protected] & Cancellations do occur. Please contact the event coordinators or check websites for updates. If youwish to receive the Calendar of events electronically, please send your request to [email protected]

January 2013Jan 3rd Personal Expressions- Camerata Thursday 7:30pm First Presbyterian Church www.cameratasa.orgJan 10th-30th KACC Collectables Show Tues-Sat 1pm-4pm Kerr Arts & Culture Center www.kacckerrville.comJan 10th – Feb 3rd KACC Exhibits Tues-Sat 1pm-4pm Kerr Arts & Culture Center www.kacckerrville.comJan 11th Hill Country Cowboy Breakfast Fri. 6am-8am Courthouse Square Jan 12th Collin Country Presents Sat 9am-4pm The Gallery at the Point www.hcaf.comJan 12th Symphony of the Hills Pops Concert Sat. 7:30pm Cailloux Theater Jan 14th -19th Hill Country District Junior Livestock Show Mon-Sat Kerr County Hill country Youth Event Center February 2013 Feb 1st-3rd KACC Exhibits Fri-Sat 10am -4pm Sun 1pm-4pm Kerr Arts & Culture Center www.kacckerrville.comFeb 1st- 23rd American Watercolor Society Traveling Exhibit Tues-Sun 10am-4pm Sun 1pm-4pm Kerr Arts & Culture Center. Feb 3rd Russian Folk Festival Sun 3pm Cailloux TheaterFeb 6th Texas Coffeehouse Series Wed 7pm-9pm Schreiner University, Lion’s Den www.texasheritagemusic.orgFeb 7th-Mar 3rd KACC Exhibits Tues-Sat 10am-4pm Kerr Arts & Culture CenterFeb 10th Chocolate Fantasy Sun 1pm-4pm Kerr Arts & Culture Center www.kacckerrville.comFeb 12th Mardi Gras on Main Tues Evening 8th Annual Mardi Gras on Main www.ker-rvilletx.govFeb 14th-Mar 1st Love, Loss and What I Wore” Thurs-Sat 7:30pm Opening Week Sun 2pm The Point Indoor Theater, Hill Country Arts Foundation www.hcaf.comFeb 15th Ramona Quimby Cailloux Theater, 910 Main St., 830-896-9393 Feb 15th -Mar 3rd Warren Taylor Watercolors Thurs-Sat 9am-4pm The Gallery at the Point, Feb 28th–Mar 31st Perspectives of Italy Tues-sat 10am-4pm Sun 1pm-4pm Kerr Arts & Culture

Page 22: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013
Page 23: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 23

January, 2013 1 7th Annual Black Eyed Pea and Cornbread Cook-off 1-31 Sparkling Activities at Messina Hof Hill Country 4 First Friday Art Walk Fredericksburg 4 Celebrating A New Year of Art at Artisans 4-26 “Small Masterpieces” Art Show at Whistle Pik Galleries 4-27 “Who Knew” Art Show at Fredericksburg Art Guild 4-31 “Figuratively Speaking” Art Show at RS Hanna Gallery 4-31 “Artist of the Year” Show at Good Art Company 10-12 Gillespie County Youth Livestock Show 12 Fredericksburg Chorale “Dialogues and Dances”12-13 Fredericksburg Theater Company presents Mango Moon in Concert18-20 Fredericksburg Trade Days 19 Fredericksburg Wine Road 290 “Port ‘n Pairings”19 Jazz in January at Chisholm Trail Winery 19-20 Hill Country Gem & Mineral Show 20 Fredericksburg Music Club presents Ava Pine, Vocalist 26 Hill Country Indian Artifact Show 26 Luckenbach Blues Festival 26 Night Out at the Tin Star Ranch 27 American Legion BBQ Benefit 28 Stonewall Chamber Banquet 31 Conspirare “The Sacred Spirit of Russia” Concert 31-2/24 “Sweet Treats” Art Show at Fredericksburg Art Guild February, 2013 1 First Friday Art Walk Fredericksburg 1-2 “Heritage School Student Art” – Artisans at Rocky Hill 1-16 “Student Art Exhibition” at Whistle Pik Galleries 1-22 “Between the Sea & Sky” Art Show at RS Hanna Gallery 1-28 “Everlasting Flowers” – Fredericksburg Art Gallery 1-28 “All You Need is Love . . . and Art!” at Whistle Pik Galleries 1-28 “Wildlife in Color” Art Show at The Good Art Company 2 Fasching Week 2013: Fest Nacht 2 Fredericksburg Chorale Mid-Winter Concert 2 Fredericksburg Dance Club “Almost Patsy Cline”3 Fredericksburg Band Boosters Turkey Dinner 8-17 Texas Hill Country Wineries “Wine Lovers Trail”9 Valentine’s Dance at Pat’s Hall 9 Historic Schools Open House (Cave Creek and Rheingold) 9 Fredericksburg Chorale “Dialogues and Dances”9 Red & White Valentine Luncheon at Becker Vineyards 9 Fasching Week 2013: Fasching Ball “Kabarett – A Dance Between the Flames”9-10 Merlot & Chocolate Tasting at Becker Vineyards 12 Fasching Week 2013: Fat Tuesday Party 15-17 Fredericksburg Trade Days 15-17 Luckenbach Hug In and Valentine Ball 16 Valentine Vines at Texas Vineyards & Beyond 16 Jazz on the Lawn at Pedernales Cellars 16 Valentine’s Dinner at Messina Hof Hill Country 16-17 Texas Gun and Knife Show 17 Fredericksburg Music Club presents San Antonio Brass, Inc. 22-3/10 Fredericksburg Theater Company “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”23 Fredericksburg Wine Road 290 “Ragin’ Cajun”24 Admiral Nimitz Birthday Celebration 28-3/31 “Mindscapes” Art Show at Fredericksburg Art Guild

Page 24: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

Santo CoyoteBuy 1 Dinner or Buffet

Get 1 Dinner or Buffet 50% OffAlcohol Not IncludedNot Valid on Holidays

Expiration Date Feb. 28, 2013

Coupon

Jan 6 Sunday Buffet with DJ Ray Gutierrez Jan 13Sunday Buffet with Bob The Western DJJan 20Sunday Buffet with DJ Ray GutierrezJan 27 Sunday Buffet with Bob The Western DJFeb 3Sunday Buffet with DJ Ray GutierrezFeb 10 Sunday Buffet with Bob The Western DJFeb 14 Valentine Day Special Roses & Choco-lateMusic By DJ Ray GutierrezFeb 17Sunday Buffet with Bob The Western DJFeb 24Sunday Buffet with DJ Ray Gutierrez

Mexican AmericanRestaurant

Breakfast & Lunch HoursSunday-Wednesday 7am-2pmThursday-Saturday 7am-2pm

Dinner HoursThursday-Saturday 5pm-8:30 pm

Banquet & Meeting RoomsProfessional & Social Events of all types.

Catering ServicesWe cater all types of

events from small to large.

830-895-3211www.santocoyoterestaurantbar.com

2124 A Sidney BakerKerrville, Texas 78028

Page 25: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

By David Blackburn

When I was a young man I became intrigued and fascinated by the martial arts. I began to study and train in the regimented discipline of Korean karate, known as Tae Kwon Do, when I was barely nineteen. My first class was terrifying, but as time went by I became more comfortable with the environment and found that I was actually pretty good at it. I continued to train and eventually soon became a tournament competitor and instructor. I eventually taught karate to kids, men, women, and law enforcement officers for several years. I always tried to get as much experience as humanly possible, so I often traveled far and wide to learn from different teachers with varied backgrounds. I studied mostly Korean karate, but also the Japanese and Okinawan styles, as well as a moderate amount of Chinese kung fu. I worked out with some amazing instructors from Texas to Colorado to California to Florida; the resulting amalgamation of training and knowledge made me into a better student, a better competitor, a better instructor, and a better person. I discovered that there was a lot more to martial arts than just kicking, fighting, and breaking boards. A true martial artist also learns a great deal about life and philosophy. Karate is really about understanding your strengths and limitations without the veil of self deception. In other words, it is really a method

to look at yourself and life as it really is so you can then behave accordingly. When I was in my early twenties I knew an old karate teacher who taught me a great lesson. He was a Korean and as hard as nails. I was working out in his class and caught a real nasty kick to the ribcage while sparring a student who was better than I was. I dropped to the floor in greater pain that I had ever felt before and could not get my breath. The old man walked over to me with a disgusted look on his face (after all, how could I have allowed myself to get kicked like that--) and asked if I could continue the match. I was gasping for air and could barely speak; I finally managed to say no, I was hurt and could not go on. His eyes turned into narrow slits and he almost spat at me as he said, "So---you think you are hurt? Tell me, what is life but PAIN??" Good lord, I thought. I was still writhing in agony, but I was sure there was a heck of a lot more to life than just pain. There were things like joy, love, beauty, and wisdom; to name a few. I thought the old guy was crazy, or at least the most bitter and disillusioned person that I had ever encountered. Then he knelt down and came close to my face and said, ever so softly, "And what is PAIN but a reminder that you still live and still have opportunity before you? You are not dead; so therefore you are not yet beaten.....Now rise to your feet--and continue!" I have carried that bit of wisdom with me for my entire life; it has always sustained me in times of adversity and challenge. Whenever I have thoughts that life or events might be too difficult or overwhelming, I remember the words that I heard that night long ago: if I still live, then I am not yet beaten. If my heart still beats, then I can continue--and endure--and perhaps achieve the goal I am seeking. Sage advice from a man who knew what he was talking about.

[email protected]

● NEW! Family Classes

● Martial Art ClassesAges 3½ to Adults

● Special Introductory Program

● Two Free Kickboxing Lessons

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013 25

Page 26: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013
Page 27: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

The wait is over! Kerrville finally has aChristian book store to call its own.Miles and Marcelle Scanland have

worked hard to make their vision of Opening The Word / Fellowship Cafe,Christian book store and specialty coffeeshop a reality, and the mission has been accomplished. The store not only sellsChristian books, gifts, DVDs, and CDs,but has a coffee and fellowship area, a Bible Study room that accommodates twelve people, and a prayer room. Miles says this isn’t just a business,but rather a "ministry to serve the community. Everybody is welcome and we are here to pray with, or forAnybody who asks!"

The Word / Fellowship Cafe1208 Bandera Highway,Tuesday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.The Bible study room is available toChristian groups with a reservation, for no charge.(830) 315-WORD (9673)

Brighten your day. Stop in to browse, have an espresso and fellowship witha friend.

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013 27

Page 28: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

I must say that being amongst those ruins in the moon-light and hearing the howls of the jaguars and lord knows what other types of wildlife was more than a little spooky. I could only imagine what it must have been like fifteen hundred years ago when the city was thriving. It was on this occasion that I first became aware of the Ma-yan predictions concerning 2012. As we were checking out of the hotel, I purchased a t-shirt that depicted some lovely Mayan hieroglyphics. I asked the clerk what they said and he told me that it was the Mayan prophecy about the end of the world.

“These letters depict the Mayan calendar,” he said. “That calendar is called the bactun, and the glyphs say that when the bactun ends, then the world ends.” The last day of the calendar, he went on to say, was De-cember 21, 2012. That seemed pretty far into the future at the time. The more we traveled, the more I Lake heard of this prediction. It was looked upon as a reality amongst the locals, who had lived with this information for countless generations. I knew that many cultures had predicted the end of the world throughout history, but this seemed different somehow. It felt to me as if it were somehow based in fact and scientific observation rather than just religious fervor. The date of the end in 2012 was over thirty six years into the future so it did not con-cern me very much at the moment. My immediate focus was on the canoe trip and the perils of the fast moving Usumacinta.

The evening just before we were set to embark on the riv-er we gathered in the small dining room of the tiny hotel and scrutinized the only map of the Usumacinta that we had, a copy of one we found in the public library in San Cristobal, Mexico, that had been drawn over a hundred years ago. Otis looked at it with a wary eye and was not impressed or confident.“Boys,” he said, “this map is not worth a damn. I am a little hesitant to risk my butt without a better idea of where we are going and what we are in for. Let’s post-pone the trip for one day while I do something.”

End Of The World Has Been Postponed (Until Further Notice)By David BlackburnContinued from Page 15

The next morning, Otis took his National Geo-graphic American Express card and chartered an airplane. He flew the entire span of the river and photographed every foot of it. That evening he developed his film and created a composite map of the river that revealed many details we were not aware of.

“See that,” he said. “That looks like a series of rapids to me. And so does that and so does that. And that looks like a waterfall. This is going to be a little trickier than just paddling the boat, don’t you think?”

We all agreed. Otis had probably saved our lives by providing this critical information, and when we shoved off the next morning, we were much better prepared for the challenges and obstacles that lay before us. We said goodbye to our support crew, who we planned to reconnect with several hundred miles downriver, and let the fast waters of the Usu-macita take us into the heart of the jungle and the world of the Maya. We were going to be the first people to canoe this river since the Maya them-selves and were going to publicized in the national Geographic, assuming we survived the trip.

An interesting incident occurred just a few hours after we left. Our support crew and vehicles were preparing to leave when several other trucks carry-ing canoes appeared. The occupants were a group of graduate students from Harvard University who were also there to canoe the Usumacinta. They had been planning their trip for over two years and were astonished to discover that they had missed their opportunity to be the first explorers of the region by a mere four hours. Talk about being bummed out---

The trip downriver was filled with excitement and unexpected events far too numerous to detail in this short space. Those descriptions of wonder and

28 Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013

Page 29: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013

fear will have to be enumerated in a future article; let me merely say that it was the trip of a lifetime for all concerned, even the worldly Mr. Imboden.

When we arrived at the end of the river trip ten days later, we found the support crew (our girl-friends and a couple of our buddies who drove the vehicles) waiting. We were filthy and exhausted. Otis, of course, knew an innkeeper in the small village and secured us some comfortable rooms and once more an ample supply of hot water for bathing. After getting cleaned up, we sat down for dinner in a small restaurant and the waiter offered an unusual soup of some kind. I took a spoonful and decided it was pretty tasty, but I could not recognize the ingre-dients. When I asked Otis what was in it and he smiled and said, “You’re hungry, aren’t you? Best not to ask...”

We all ate ravenously and began to relax for the first time in weeks. After dinner, Clint and I ventured out to see if we could find some beer or alcohol to bring back to the hotel. We came across a small Mexican liquor store that appeared to be stocked with nothing but tequila. However, down on a bottom shelf, covered with dust, was single bottle of Seagram’s V-O. I grabbed it and three bottles of tequila and we headed back to the hotel. When we arrived with our booty, Otis did not seem very interested. He did not care much for tequila, it seemed. When I took him to the side and showed him the Seagram’s, his eyes lit up like a kid at Christmas. Then we partied like madmen until the wee hours of the morning and a good time was had by all. We parted ways with Otis in Vera Cruz. He flew back to Washington and we drove through Mexico and crossed the border at Lar-edo. The first thing we did was stop at the closest Denny’s and order hamburgers and milkshakes; nothing has ever tasted so good before or since.

A few months later we told by Clint’s new found contacts with the Geographic that Otis’ photos would not merely be an article in the magazine. They had decided to publish a hardback book with all of his amazing images under the title, “The Mysterious Maya”. It is a fabulous book and still available today.

While the Mayan prophecies of the end of the world did not come to pass, Clint’s prediction did come true. Soon we were all settled into our varied career paths and long term relationships; the opportunities for additional adventures became much less frequent and far more dif-ficult to pursue. Such is life for most of us...all except for Otis Imbolden, who continued his travels to faraway lands and exotic places for many years to come.

Shop Local

Heart of Texas Today | January - February 2013 29

Page 30: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013
Page 31: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013
Page 32: Heart of Texas - Jan-Feb 2013