Heart Of Texas Today September-October 2014
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Bandera Ingram Center Point Hunt Harper Comfort Kerrville
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Heart of Texas Today | September - October 2014
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+DOORZHHQ Publisher Alice Sadler
5 A Brief Obamacare Update 6 Negotiating Real Estate Commissions
Graphics & Production Golden Monkey Productions
9 Get In The Game With Your Car! 10 Fall Fun at the Western Museum of Art 12 A Major Cause of Child Abuse 14 Me-Ma and the Devil go Trick or Treating 18 A Texas State of Mind… A Short Story from a Tall Texan: Still Creek Ranch
Head Writer David Blackburn Contributing Writers Kelly Dooley David LeMeilleur Denise LeMeilleur
21 The CCPAL Doggie Mobile
Lainie Johnson
24 Am I Overweight or Obese?
G. Wayne Hacker
26 Kid’s Fun Pages
Todd E. Peter
28 Autumn Recipes
Nancy Foster
30 Dia De Muertos
TD Cooper Paula Pirone
www.heartoftexastoday.com To Advertise Call 830-370-9257 The Opinions expressed in Heart Of Texas Today are those of the advertisers and writers. And not necessarily those of this magazine.
Cover Photography William Kierce Kierce Photography
Kelly Dooley
Joann Faust AUTHENTICALLY RESTORED HISTORICAL +20( ,1 .(559,//( 2DN ÀRRUV +HDUWODQG NLWFKHQ DSSOLDQFHV 2XWGRRU NLWFKHQ Call Ed or Kelly! -- $480,000 – MLS #83649
(830)-329-2902 Joann@ShermanCo.com
(830) 459-0452 Kelly@ShermanCo.com
Ed Hamilton (830) 739-0056 Ed@ShermanCo.com
SHERMAN & CO., REALTORS Ž 819 WATER STREET ONE SCHREINER CENTER 68,7( ‡ .(559,//( 7; OFFICE: 830-257-7588
www.ShermanCo.com
WIDE OPEN SPACES WITH SOARING CEILINGS!!! Beautiful 3869-sq. ft. home with 3-car garage on large lot in Riverhill Call Ed or Kelly! – Only $399,500 – MLS #82370
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New Listing! CUSTOM HOME ON 24+ ACRES!!! 3757-sq. ft. home with workshop & game room. 2-car garage / 2-car carport / Ag exempt Only $498,500! – Appraised at $500K in Nov, 2013. Call Kelly! – MLS #84364
2001 FABULOUS ROCK HOME IN NORTHWEST HILLS!!! *UHDW URRP 5HF URRP $WWDFKHG *XHVW +RXVH :RRG ÀRRUV Call Joann or Kelly! – Only $395,000 – MLS #83723
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$ )5$0( 21 $* (;(037 $&5(6 Fenced & Cross-Fenced! Minutes to Town! MLS #84807 -- $199,500 – Call Kelly!
HOA LAKE PICTURE PERFECT HOME IN THE COUNTRY!!! 2008 Home with Open Floor Plan on 2 acres. MLS #84364 – Reduced to $315,000! -- Call Kelly!
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Lots & Land 1.84-ACRE PRIME COMMERCIAL lot with city utilities on Junction Hwy. in Kerrville. $387,000. MLS #82988. Call Kelly or Joann! +,*+ 9,6,%,/,7< &200(5&,$/ $&5(
ADORABLE “CABIN IN THE WOODS� CLOSE TO TOWN!!! Nicely updated. Fireplaces in & out. Private well. Call Ed or Kelly! – Only $149,900 – MLS #82525
SURSHUW\ LQ .HUUYLOOH &LW\ XWLOLWLHV DYDLODEOH 2ZQHU ÂżQDQFLQJ considered! Priced at $185,000 for quick sale. MLS
#82880. Call Ed or Kelly! 4.24-ACRE BUILDING SITE IN HUNT! Area of nice homes. HOA River park. Only $69,500! MLS #84086. Call Kelly! FOR SALE OR FOR LEASE -- for your MANU)$&785(' +20( RU 59 0.44-acre lot with water, electric, & septic in Center Point. Septic rated for one 2-bedroom mfg home less than 1500 sq. ft. --OR-- two RV’s. No deed restrictions! Purchase for only $49,900! Or lease for $300/month. MLS #82721. Call Kelly! COMMERCIAL lot in Kerrville with city utilities available. App. 50’ X 190’. Priced for quick sale at $31,500. MLS #82894. Call Ed or Kelly!
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Heart of Texas Today | September - October 2014
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LOADS OF CHARM!!! 5HPRGHOHG EHGURRP LQ WRZQ :RRG ÀRRUV HUGE Kitchen, Fenced yard. Large 2-car carport. Possible RV storage. Call Kelly or Joann! -- $129,500 – MLS #84359
NEGOTIATING REAL ESTATE COMMISSIONS by Kelly Dooley, RealtorŽ Commissions are set by individual real estate brokers, and can be negotiated with sellers and buyers prior to entering into a written listing agreement. While it may work to your advantage to shop on line or at several car lots or with various providers of whatever product you would like to buy, negotiating the commission rate with your broker/ agent may not be the best way to increase your bottom line. And choosing an agent solely due to commission may lead you to compare apples to oranges. As with other professions, the rate of pay is often commensurate with the amount of work, expense, experience, and knowledge delivered. For instance, the property that will receive the highest amount of advertising will most likely be the property on which a sale will bring the highest reward (commission) to the listing broker. It is also important that the portion of the commission offered to the buyers’ agents draw as many agents and thus potential buyers as possible. A property will almost always receive the most activity GXULQJ WKH ¿UVW IHZ PRQWKV RI H[SRVXUH WR WKH PDUNHW ,I D SURSHUW\ LV rejected by the market due to a high price during this crucial time period, the activity cannot usually be reactivated by a reduction in list price later. Initially listing a property correctly can therefore often bring a higher sale price than a correction later. This is only one reason why it is so important for a knowledgeable and experienced agent to determine the appropriate list price. While sale price is always a top consideration, there are many other variables within a real estate transaction that can also affect a seller’s or buyer’s bottom line. For instance, often a seller can meet a buyer’s needs by decreasing the price of a property, while maintaining the same bottom line at closing by negotiating other terms of the contract. A knowledgeable and experienced agent would be better prepared WR QHJRWLDWH WKH WUDQVDFWLRQ WR WKH EHQH¿W RI ERWK SDUWLHV UHVXOWLQJ LQ D positive transaction for their client. In short, when considering a broker/agent, we are as different as all others in the human race. Make it clear what you expect, and ask your agent what they intend to do for you. Once you are comparing DSSOHV WR DSSOHV RWKHU QHJRWLDWLRQV PD\ EHFRPH PRUH EHQH¿FLDO WKDQ discussing your agent’s rate of pay if they successfully serve your real estate needs.
Email: Kelly@ShermanCo.com Phone #: (830) 459-0452 Email: Joann@ShermanCo.com Joann Faust Kelly Dooley Phone #: 830-329-2902
SHERMAN & CO., REALTORS Ž 819 WATER STREET ONE SCHREINER CENTER 68,7( ‡ .(559,//( 7; OFFICE: 830-257-7588
www.ShermanCo.com
79.48 Acres
The contents of this article are the opinion of Kelly Dooley, a professional real estate agent with Sherman & Co., RealtorsŽ in Kerrville, Texas. Other professional real estate brokers and agents may disagree or have other views. Comments and questions are welcome by email at Kelly@ShermanCo.com. Your comments and questions and/or Kelly’s response may be printed in an upcoming issue.
When only the best will do‌ LW WDNHV WKLV KLOOWRS 7XVFDQ KRPH ZLWK TXDOLW\ ZRUNPDQVKLS WKH ¿Qest materials from TOP TO BOTTOM (from the standing seam metal roof & 12-14 ft. ceilings with FXVWRP WUHDWPHQWV WR WKH KDQG FXW WUDYHUWLQH VWRQH WLOH ÀRRUV )5217 72 %$&. IURP WKH FXVWRP iron double doors at the front entry to the large covered back patio overlooking Kerrville), and‌ only these rolling green 79.48 ag exempt acres so close to town could be the perfect setting. No lack of storage with large walk-in closets, walking height attic, many custom alder wood cabinets, Christmas tree closet, and even a palatial laundry room. Gated private drive to 3-car attached garage. Potential pond sites. 3 tracts make up the 79.48 acres, so already platted for family compound or for selling a tract if less acreage is needed. 1600-sq. ft. metal storage barn for livestock or other uses, or workshop for the hobby enthusiast. Offered at $1,800,000. MLS #82673. Call Kelly Dooley at 830-459-0452 or Joann Faust at 830-329-2902 for more information or to schedule a private showing. Heart of Texas Today | September - October 2014 7
CARS, RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, TRUCKS & EQUIPMENT
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GET IN THE GAME WITH YOUR CAR!
David LeMeilleur
With school starting and fall just around the corner, our minds drift to football and tailgate parties and hot chocolate. And, just like every football player who spends the summers gearing up for months of hard work they have to get ready for the game. Any seasoned athlete will tell you, they can’t just wake up one day and “get in the game”. It takes training and a mental and physical preparedness. Our vehicles also need preparation for the upcoming changes in weather, rain, snow, ice, freezing temperatures. What sort of preventive maintenance can get your vehicle ready for the fall season and keep you and your family safe on the road? Some of the most common would be to test your battery, make sure your engine is protected with coolant, check your tires, as well as many more items need to be evaluated with the new season. Most people can do the easy preventative maintenance checks themselves if they know what they are looking for. Unfortunately, the time to think about doing maintenance often occurs after some major repair has already happened. Do you know where you can go to find a schedule of the maintenance items your vehicle requires? Yes, you are correct if you are thinking owner’s manual. Not only does it give you the mileage time line to follow for maintenance but it will also tell you what type of coolant, the viscosity of the oil, and the quantity your engine needs to keep it running smoothly. Just like you go to the Dr. for an annual checkup or for preventative care, it is important to understand you vehicle has many small items that can become major issues when maintenance is neglected or overlooked. Even the smallest part can significantly impact the use of your vehicle. And neglect is often the cause of most expensive car repairs later. So what are some ways you can save money with car repairs? Let’s tackle this question with the following ways to save money: ¾ Find the best garage and mechanic near you and stick with them. Consider looking for a Triple AAA facility or mechanics who have ASE certification. Call or visit them before you actually take your vehicle, how clean is the shop and lobby, this is usually an indicator of the work they do. And, always rely on word of mouth, sometimes the cheapest labor isn’t always the best work! The old adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” goes a long way here. ¾ Get estimates and shop around if you have been hit with a large repair. Ask them where they get their parts and if they will let you see the old parts they replaced. Some shops will allow you to bring your own parts but usually the labor goes up significantly. Most all shops use what is known in the industry as “flat-rate” labor rates. So there should not be a significant difference in the time it takes to do the job, so price shopping needs to be more than just for labor. Take the whole job into consideration and the relationship you want with the shop. You don’t go to a different Dr. every year for your annual and neither should your vehicle. And finally, what are some preventive maintenance recommendations for your vehicle to get you “in the game” before the fall season starts? ¾ Do your own inspection. Basic enough, give your car a once over so you can catch anything that looks odd. ¾ Learn to check your fluids. You need to know what type of oil and weight your car needs. Check your oil and get it changed regularly, or what your manufacturer recommends. ¾ Check your battery or get it checked and clean your battery contacts. Hard start could be a battery issue. ¾ Check your belts and hoses, look at your serpentine belt and know when to have your timing belt replaced. ¾ Replace your wiper blades; don’t wait until the first rain and streaky windshield to get blades!
These are just a few things that HYHU\ vehicle needs and we cannot stress the importance of checking your owner's manual for anything we may have overlooked here, or anything specific to your vehicle.
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A Major Cause of Child Abuse Most people do not want to abuse or harm their children in any way. But it hapens way to often. One of the reasons THE Pregnancy Resource Center teaches parenting clases is because we want to prevent one of the major causes of child abuse. If parents are taught early how to discipline their children they have a much lower risk of hurting their child. Parents have a responsibilty to hold their children acountable for obedience. Without obedience, children can get hurt or they can hurt others. When a child learns at an early age that there are unwanted consequences to disobedience, they wil folow along a natural path of obedience. Some unwanted consequences might be taking away their favorite movie for a specific period of time dependent on the severity of the disobedience. Remember, at certain ages a child canot be expected to know certain things and that they also make mistakes that are not intentional. Punishment should only be for intentional defiance—not for natural mistakes. Discipline means “teaching”. On the other hand, when a child never experiences unwanted consequences to their actions, they wil be out of control. This causes parents to yel louder and louder expecting the child to suddenly “get it” and start behaving. If this does not hapen, often times the parent has become so angry at this defiance that the parent flies of the handle and does something that is later regreted. Learning the proper way to hold your child acountable as wel as the proper way to discipline when necesary wil give your child a secure foundation so that he can grow into a responsible, upstanding citizen. To learn more, please contact us at www.thepregnancyresourcecenter.org We offer FREE parenting classes, on an individual basis to address whatever concerns you may have about your child – from conception to teens.
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Heart of Texas Today | September - October 2014
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830-739-4673 www.elancakes.wix.com/elan2 Call to place your order today! Heart of Texas Today | September - October 2014 17
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Bandera County Convention and Visitors Bureau 126 State Highway 16 S, Bandera, TX 78003 1-800-364-3833 cowpoke@banderacowboycapital.com Contact us for our current events
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Heart of Texas Today | September - October 2014
The CCPAL Doggie-Mobile By G. Wayne Hacker I would venture to say that the CCPAL Doggie-Mobile, with its semi-trailer size and large posters of kennel dogs adorning its sides, is probably the most recognizable vehicle in town. (Sorry Chicken Car and Longhorn float.) I’m sure you have all seen it a time or two making its way down Main Street in one of Bandera’s holiday parades. If you look real close, you can usually find me riding shogun in the pickup pulling it. My job is really quite simple. I am there to point out all the children darting out onto the parade route to gather up all the goodies tossed to them by the preceding floats. That way our driver has plenty of time to brake and avoid them. The way we see it - forward progress is always secondary to the safety of the youngsters. There is another purpose for my being tucked away inside the cab. That way I don’t block anyone’s view of the bevvy of beauties we always have riding in the bed of the pickup waving a big Bandera “Howdy Y’all” to all you spectators that crowd up along the route. While it is enjoyable to participate in the parades each year, it is just a sideline to the main function of the Doggie-Mobile, which is to transport our animals to adoption sites around the area. Thanks to our mobility, we have been able to place over 500 dogs a year in loving homes. The Doggie-Mobile is rather unique in nature. I can’t recall ever seeing another one quite like it. The idea was conceived by Mary Butler, a retired board member and custom built by Cargo Craft in Corsicana, Texas to the tune of $43,000. It is a 20 foot trailer with built in compartments to house 43 small animals. The inhabitants ride in air conditioned comfort - whether on the move or sitting still – thanks to a built-in 20 gallon gasoline run generator. The trailer carries 30 Gallons of fresh water for drinking and 35 Gallons of non-potable water for cleaning purposes. It was paid for with grants given to us by The Kronkosky Foundation, San Antonio Area Foundation and The Cailloux Foundation. Its upkeep and maintenance comes solely from the money we receive from good folks like you - either through purchases at The CCPAL Resale Store and Doggie Boutique at 8469 Highway 16 South or by cash donations. For adoptions or cash donations you can contact Marlene at 210-867-1769 and to donate goods or inquire about directions to our retail store, call Margie at 830-688-0635. We are a 501 (c) 3 organization and will gladly give you a receipt for you taxes. Heart of Texas Today | September - October 2014
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“Two things are infinite: The universe and human stupidity; And I’m not sure about the universe.” Albert Einstein
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Día de Muertos At first glance, the Mexican custom of the Día de Muertos — the Day of the Dead — may sound much like the U.S. custom of Halloween. After all, the celebration traditionally starts at midnight the night of Oct. 31, and the festivities are abundant in images related to death. But the customs have different origins, and their attitudes toward death are different: In the typical Halloween festivities, death is something to be feared. But in the Día de Muertos, death — or at least the memories of those who have died — is something to be celebrated. The Día de Muertos, which continues until Nov. 2, has become one of the biggest holidays in Mexico, and celebrations are becoming more common in areas of the United States with a large Hispanic population. Its origins are distinctly Mexican: During the time of the Aztecs, a month long summer celebration was overseen by the goddess Mictecacihuatl, the Lady of the Dead. After the Aztecs were conquered by Spain and Catholicism became the dominant religion, the customs became intertwined with the Christian commemoration of All Saints' Day on Nov. 1. Specifics of the celebration vary with region, but one of the most common customs is the making of elaborate altars to welcome departed spirits home. Vigils are held, and families often go to cemeteries to fix up the graves of their departed relatives. Festivities also frequently include traditional foods such as pan de muerto (bread of the dead), which can conceal a miniature skeleton.
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Kierce Photography Award Winning Photography “From Portraits to Rodeos We Do it all.� Call us for your next event. (210) 273-4033 William Kierce has been approved for PRCA Rodeos. And tours the PBR events.
“Tuscan Home on 79+ Acres” Contact Kelly Dooley at 830-459-0452 Or Joann Faust at 830-329-2902 Sherman & Co., Realtors® www.ShermanCo.Com
See page 7 for more photo’s and information