TRAVEL TIME
A Smarter Way to Travel This Year By Dionne Roberts
J
anuary has a funny reputation. The holidays are over, the tinsel and decorations come down, and suddenly everyone is expected to be organized, motivated, and ready to take on big plans. When it comes to travel, though, January doesn’t need grand resolutions. It’s simply a great time to think ahead and make future trips easier and more enjoyable for everyone—kids included. One of the smartest things families can do this month is look ahead instead of rushing ahead. January is an ideal time to talk about school breaks, family milestones, and those “someday” trips that keep coming up at the dinner table. Planning early often means better flight options, better room choices, and fewer compromises later. This matters even more when traveling with children or multiple generations. Another helpful habit is building flexibility into your plans. Adding buffer days, choosing destinations with a variety of activities, or allowing time to slow down can make a big difference. Kids tend to handle travel better when schedules aren’t packed, and parents enjoy trips more when there’s room for unexpected delays, naps, or spontaneous fun. January is also a great moment to upgrade how your family travels, not just where you go. That might mean prioritizing nonstop flights, selecting hotels close to main attractions, or planning one special experience everyone can look forward to. Thoughtful planning often turns travel days into part of the adventure instead of something to endure. It’s also the perfect time to get organized before travel season ramps up. Check passport expiration dates (yes, even the kids’), refresh travel apps, and create a simple digital folder
for confirmations and documents. These small steps don’t feel exciting, but they save time, money, and stress later in the year. The start of a new year is a chance to travel with more confidence and less chaos. With a little planning—and sometimes a knowledgeable guide behind the scenes—family trips can feel smoother, more memorable, and far more enjoyable from start to finish.
Dionne Roberts, MCC, VTA Foster Perry Travel 888-878-5863 (888-TRVLTME) www.fosterperrytravel.com
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Researching Renewables Reagan Senior Studies Environmentally Friendly Energy
By Amy Morgan
I
t’s not every day a high schooler has the opportunity to publish clinical research in a peer reviewed scientific journal, but Ronald Reagan senior Angela Huang is not your typical student. Beginning her freshman year, she conducted research through Texas A&M about the emerging industry of space tourism. Her specific interest was studying the amount and impact of CO2 emissions that might be released when civilians become able to go to space as companies like Blue Origin and Space X grow in popularity. Angela was able to collect data on fuel capacity and thrust and use derivative equations to predict that potential emissions could amount to as much as those generated by the country of Congo, she noted. The project allowed her to combine her passion for STEM-field research and the environment. An avid conservationist, Angela developed her love for the outdoors during road trips and hikes with her parents through America’s national parks. Last summer she spent four weeks in Maine doing conservation work on the Appalachian trail, replacing decaying and unstable bog bridges with steppingstones. Her team of seven students hailing from across the United States lived in a tent outdoors for the entire month, cooked their own meals on a portable stove and walked 30 minutes to a shower once a week. “It was a lot of physical labor," she said, and while Angela developed close friendships with her peers, she admits she was “glad to be in her own bed and eat homecooked meals.” She also recently completed a laboratory learning research internship at Princeton University. Angela explored ways to create a new fuel blend using ammonia that would lower the amount of CO2 released upon combustion. The only high school student participating on that project, Angela worked with the reactor, coding and creating simulations. She hopes to parlay that experience into a spot in Princeton’s freshman class next year. And with a GPA of 108 and her class rank of third in Reagan’s 2026 graduating class, it’s difficult to imagine she won’t achieve that dream. Angela’s favorite class at Reagan has been Multivariable Calculus (the highest math course available). She appreciates the small class size that challenges her and finds it “incredibly satisfying” when she completes a project. Angela plans to major in chemistry or engineering, eventually becoming a scientist. She truly believes
that science is at the edge of breakthrough to generate more forms of clean energy through different chemical pathways or atom fusions, and she wants to be part of that endeavor. She’s also part of San Antonio’s Youth Climate Council, where she joins like-minded peers monthly to learn about local environmental efforts. Last year, her group developed a project to connect local businesses with ReworksSA, an organization that helps groups budget and connect with ways to focus on renewable energy and climate technology. “We wanted to bring attention to work already being done in the community and bring our energy and passion to it,” she said. Part of Reagan’s varsity tennis team, Angela learned how to play at age nine through the YMCA. She appreciates the game’s physicality and test of mental strength. Angela considers the team’s playoff win over perpetual rival Vandergriff a favorite Reagan memory. She also serves as a class officer. Angela was selected Junior Class President, a position that involved planning events including prom. She enjoys leadership, which she considers a “great way to meet people” and considered the class pickleball tournament at Dill Dinkers another highlight. Angela also volunteers in the Chinese community, serving at the San Antonio Chinese Alliance’s mid-Autumn festival and participating in the dance group with her mother. Angela describes herself as “an outgoing person who loves to combine science and environmentalism to make our world a better place.”
Community Calendar Presented by Frost River Road Run – Saturday, Jan. 10, staggered starts beginning at 8 a.m. Scallywompus presents the first race in their 2026 Texas Hill Country Half Marathon Series. Half Marathon, 10K or 5K. Comfort Park, Downtown Comfort 78013; www.scallywompus.com. Single Professionals Networking Meeting – Wednesday, Jan. 14, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Join other 55+ widowed, divorced and single mature professionals for conversation, libations and food in a relaxed, social setting. Milano’s, 19239 Stone Oak Parkway 78258; www.spn-sa.org.
Activities at the Walker Ranch Senior Center – Monday - Friday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Hot meals served daily from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. for qualifying seniors and their spouses. Exercise, field trips, bingo, loteria, movies, arts and crafts, free health and wellness screenings vary daily. 835 W. Rhapsody 78216; 210-207-5280. Stone Oak Rotary Club – Tuesdays, noon-1 p.m. Guest speakers weekly. Dona Tota, 923 Loop 1604 W. #115 78232; www.stoneoaksarotary.org. Illuminate at the Botanical Gardens – Through Monday, Jan. 11, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Entry times available every 30 minutes. All-new handcrafted lanterns, glowing trails that wind through the Garden’s natural beauty, and larger-than-life sculptures delight. San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Place 78209; www.sabot.org/illuminate. New Orleans Night – A Mardi Gras Party – Fridays, Jan. 2, 9 and 23, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Featuring the music of Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller, New Orleans night has been a Jazz, TX tradition since 2016. Jazz TX, 313 Pearl Parkway 78215; info@jazztx.com. Single Professionals Networking Meeting – Friday, Jan. 9, 4-6 p.m. Join other 55+ widowed, divorced and single mature professionals for conversation, libations and food in a relaxed, social setting. Encore, 2903 E. Loop 1604 78259; www.spn-sa.org.
Shen Yun – Weekends, Jan. 9-11, 24-25, times vary. Experience the magical world of ancient China through classical Chinese dance. Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, HEB Performance Hall, 100 Auditorium Circle 78205; www.tobincenter.org. High School Football Showcases – Saturday, Jan. 10. Noon, 5 p.m. The Navy All-American Bowl will feature the best high school football players and band members in the country at noon. Stay for the All-Star football game at 5 p.m., which highlights more than 100 of the best football players from Bexar and surrounding counties. Players are nominated through their varsity coaches. Johnson and Reagan High Schools typically are included. Alamodome, 100 Montana St. 78283; www.nbcsports.com/allamericanbowl.
Let’s Rodeo Ball – Saturday, Jan. 17, 6:30-11:30 p.m. Let’s Rodeo Ball is one of San Antonio’s premier fundraising events, drawing more than 2,000 guests for an evening of top-tier entertainment, gourmet dining, open premium bar, and dancing. Funds raised support the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Scholarship Fund. Freeman Coliseum, 3201 E. Houston St. 78219; www.sarodeo.com. Concerts at Stable Hall – Saturday, Jan. 24, 7 p.m. Bob Schneider & His Band. One of the most-celebrated musicians in the live music capitol blends folk, rock, rap, funk, bluegrass, reggae, and country. Stable Hall, 307 Pearl Parkway 78215; www.stablehall.com.
Water for Elephants –Tuesday, Jan. 20 - Sunday, Jan. 25, times vary. Dubbed “the best new musical on Broadway" by Theatermania, the imaginative offering was adapted from Sara Guen’s noel. Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St. 78205; www.majesticempire.com/events. Single Professionals Networking Meeting – Friday, Jan. 30, 4-6 p.m. Join other 55+ widowed, divorced and single mature professionals for conversation, libations and food in a relaxed, social setting. La Hacienda de Los Barrios, 18747 Redland Road 78259; www.spn-sa.org. 29th Annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Bar-B-Que Cook-Off & Festival – Friday, Jan. 30 - Saturday, Jan. 31, 9 a.m.11:45 p.m. A championship event with competitive Bar-B-Que teams, live music, family activities. Proceeds benefit the Scholarship Fund. S.A.L.E. on the Salado Creek, 1723 Creekview Drive 78219; www.sarodeo.com/bbq. 41st Annual Tower Climb and Run – Saturday, Jan. 31, 7 a.m. Unique athletic challenge fundraising event. Run 1-mile then sprint 952 steps at a new location in the Alamodome. Participants’ funds benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Alamodome, 100 Montana St. 78203; www.fightcf.cff.org. One Singular Sensation – Saturday, Jan. 31, 3 p.m., 7 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 1, 3 p.m. Annual variety show featuring NEISD cheerleaders, dance and drill teams, and pep squads. The entire cast of 1,200 girls will dance in the finale. Littleton Gymnasium at Blossom Athletic Center, 12002 Jones Maltsberger Road, 78216; www.neisd.net. Send your upcoming events to StoneOakInfo@gmail.com.
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DENTAL DIGEST
Hygiene Habits Your Mouth is the Gateway to a Healthy Body By Amy Morgan
A
new year inspires many to evaluate their health habits with fresh eyes. You may first consider diet and exercise, but don’t neglect your oral health. “The mouth is the gateway to the body,” says Shay Green, Lead Dental Hygienist at 7to7 Dental & Orthodontics’ Cibolo location. She noted that an infection in your mouth will circulate throughout your body and bloodstream and can exacerbate a variety of other problems including diabetes and heart disease – even prevent someone from having a much-needed surgery or a transplant. Staying current with regular cleanings and dental exams every six months not only will keep your smile bright but can prevent conditions like gingivitis and periodontal disease, which can eventually lead to bone loss. Shay considers the bones of your jaw your smile’s foundation. “You can build the most beautiful house, but if you don’t have a strong foundation, it will crumble.” The same is true for your mouth. You can have shiny white teeth, but if you don’t have stable bone support, you are in danger of losing them. During a regular dental check your hygienist will first take a general health assessment and ask about daily medications. There are close to 500 drugs that can contribute to dry mouth or puffy gums, Shay said. Your dentist can offer some suggestions like a special mouthwash or water flosser to ameliorate those problems if she notices their occurrence. Next, your hygienist will take X-rays, which will reveal cavities, bone loss, or sub-gingival tartar hiding under the gums. Then she’ll make a visual assessment of the mouth – paying special attention to any abnormalities like inflamed lymph nodes or detectable cancerous lesions. Have you ever wondered what your hygienist was doing when you heard her reciting a string of numbers as she examined your teeth? She’s measuring your tissue to document the health of your gums. Higher numbers indicate deep pockets, which might require a more intense clean. As long as your numbers remain low, she can proceed to clean plaque, biofilm and tartar from your teeth. Plaque, caused by bacteria, is a soft white substance that causes cavities, bleeding and puffiness if it sits on the gums. The good news is that it can be removed fairly easily with a toothbrush. Once plaque calcifies, it becomes tartar that requires a professional to remove. Your hygienist will use a tool with a Cavitron tip that vibrates and squirts water at and just under the
gumline. Stubborn bits of tartar may require the hygienist to use a hand scaler to ensure nothing is left behind. Lastly, she’ll floss and polish to make teeth shiny and bright. As an added incentive to promptly schedule biannual visits, 7to7 Dental provides a complimentary tube of whitening gel to patients following their cleaning. It’s also important to continue good hygiene habits at home. Shay recommends brushing twice a day for two minutes. If you use a manual toothbrush, make circular motions, overlapping each circle, she said. If you use an electric toothbrush, position it half on the tooth, half below, and glide along the gumline. She also reminds patients to floss before bed, a cavity-prevention practice that allows teeth to rest for six to eight hours with no bacteria on or between them. When asked about her favorite part of her job, Shay said while she “loves to see a nice healthy mouth and have great conversations with her patients,” she also enjoys meeting new patients who haven’t seen a dentist in a long time and are really worried. They might not know why their gums are puffy or bleeding. “Three months down the road, they are like a different person,” she said. “It feels very rewarding to see a patient come such a long way.” “We’re always welcoming new patients,” Shay added. “I try to make every patient feel great about themselves and enjoy coming in to the office.” She appreciates that 7to7 Dental is open from 7 a.m.- 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. -5 p.m., weekends for dentistry for the whole family and emergencies. “We are here to serve our community!”
Eat healthier, exercise, and attend routine dental visits for a well rounded and healthy 2026!
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PET TIP
Your Pup in Fitness with Fido Incorporate Your Exercise Routine By Camp Bow Wow Staff
M
ost people mark the advent of a new year with some type of resolve to improve. And leading that list often is the desire to shift those post-holiday pounds. But although they may want to increase their exercise minutes, many pup parents feel guilty leaving their furry family members behind to rush off to the gym. One great option is to sign your pup up for a few hours of camp. They can work off their wiggles and gain social skills while you get your reps in at the gym. Or you could include Fido in your fitness routine! Your pup’s unconditional acceptance and boundless enthusiasm will make starting a new exercise program enjoyable and more sustainable. If you notice you and your pooch have gotten a little pudgy, you might need to start slowly to build up endurance. Walking is a great way to begin. San Antonio generally enjoys cool but not cold winter temperatures and plenty of sunshine, which makes a walk or run with Fido a treat. Set a plan to walk daily, upping your distance and pace as you are able. A walk doesn’t have to be boring. Load up your pup and explore some of San Antonio’s canine-friendly areas. Leashed dogs are welcome along the 15-mile San Antonio River Walk. Try the eight-mile stretch along the Mission Reach south of downtown for less congestion and a view of four Spanish Colonial missions. Comanche Lookout Park also offers more than four miles of trails to explore. Or you can people watch as you walk through dog-friendly Shops at La Cantera or Historic Market Square. Or why not incorporate Fido as you train? Your pup can help you do bodyweight exercises like squats and lunges as you hold his leash. Or develop your stability by holding a position while you play tugof-war with a toy. You can try pushups or crunches with a slurpy dog kiss your reward for each rep.
Direct your pup’s movement side to side with a toy as you perform a Russian twist, or encourage Fido to lie near you as you hold a plank or Downward Dog. If you are looking for cardio, play fetch. Add jumping jacks or burpees between throws to elevate your heartrate. You can also set up an obstacle course with items to crawl under, weave through or jump over for you and Fido to navigate together. You both can shuffle side-to-side, or you can work on your balance by standing on one leg while you direct your pup to sit or roll over. If you’d like to first try these moves under the direction of a fitness instructor, Go Fetch Run offers cross-training classes specially designed for people to enjoy with their pup. Their program combines strength, agility and cardio and is applicable for all fitness and training levels (although dogs must be well socialized and remain on leash.) Classes are held every Sunday morning at 9 a.m. on the east side of Phil Hardberger Park. The first Saturday of the month they offer a free introduction class as part of Fitness in the Parks. So don’t procrastinate. It just takes one step to begin your journey of fitness with Fido. You’ll both be grateful you did!
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