November 2010

I cannot believe it, but we are wrapping up another year of AYC! I want to thank everybody that has made Active Youth and Community a success. Without our advertisers, we would not be able to print. Without our readers, we wouldn’t have advertisers. Without our writers, we wouldn’t have content for our readers! But each of these elements needs one other, and thus far , it has worked out great. So thank you so very much to everyone involved and here’s to continued success.

So with November comes the official return of the holiday season. This time of year is always exciting and can also be undoubtedly nerve wracking! We have included an article in this issue that may help a little with Holiday planning and hopefully relieve some of the stress that comes with it. If you are one of the many readers that has a house with 4-legged members of the family, please read our Pet Column concerning some avoidable holiday hazards for pets. Just because the weather is turning a bit cooler, that does not mean that you want to neglect your yard and gardens. Tom has his usual advice and his favorite tips to offer up in the Tom’s Thumb portion of this month. Remember to make sure that your car is road ready if you are traveling this holiday season. Sevcik’s and Kwik Kar are ready to make sure that your vehicle passes a general inspection to ensure that you and your precious cargo arrive in time and safely. Go pay them a visit and remember to tell them that we sent you. There is absolutely no shortage of events that come to our area this time of year. Check our our family events page and get on out there! First Fridays in historic downtown Bryan is going on, there are some home A&M football games left, the George Bush library has “The Heart of Truth” Red Dress Collection, Celebrities and First Ladies Red Dress collection. Also, one of the area’s favorites, Santa’s Wonderland kicks off this month to share its magic as well as many other activities for everyone to enjoy.

My only personal snippet that I will mention this month is how fast our little ones grow up. I was just looking through some pictures of my family from the holidays the last couple of years. Wow it goes quick. I just want to encourage each of you to take in the great things in life each and every day. I know it is much easier to get bogged down and buried in the clutter, but try to take a little of the good with you every day! Find something that makes you happy and pay attention to it! Things are always changin’!

Thanks for reading and we will talk to you soon!

Geoff Spahr
Publisher Active Youth & Community Magazine

March 2010!

Ok, I give up on this Texas weather. As I am writing my little piece for this month’s issue, the weather man on television is outlining what is to come, complete with snow, driving precautions that will be necessary, and school closures. That’s not too uncommon, other than it is almost March! Crazy, but I guess it’s a bit exciting and fun (as long as everyone remains safe), at least my daughter’s seem to enjoy it. It does seem a little backwards that last month I was suggesting some great outdoor family activities and now we are bundling up once again. Seems that it won’t last long though, I saw a forecast for two days from the snow with sunny highs of 63 degrees! Oh well, I digress, this Texas weather…

Crazy weather or not, I am convinced that we are blessed with one of the best communities in the country and I know that the next couple of months are going to be filled with beautiful weather. Speaking of this time of year, and fresh on my mind from a ever-so-slight personal oversight, it is a great time to take your car into a service center to make sure that it is ready for the hot summer months. If you are getting that little nudge from your vehicle that something may be wrong, do not delay, especially. Small problems can quickly turn into costly repairs and service and all of these may be able to be avoided with minimal cost if you just get your car checked out. I could have avoided my little auto problem, but didn’t. So do some research and go get your ride checked out, if you are worried about time, call ahead and make an appointment. Yes they do that (most places), and yes it will save you significant time.

I wanted to also mention that if your family is so inclined, the spring is a wonderful time of year to bring a new pet into the house. Please don’t misunderstand what I am saying, I am not saying to get a pet because it is about to be spring, I am say that if your family has made the decision to welcome a pet into the family, spring is great. The great weather provides ample opportunity for your family and the new pet to bond while enjoying great outdoor activities. Enjoy parks, walks, frisbee golf, jogs, playing ball or just spending time in the sun. There is much to consider before making the decision, and please give great consideration to visiting the Brazos Animal Shelter first. Not only can you find a wonderful companion, they can make sure you get the right type of pet and provide information on how to make the first few weeks more enjoyable. The shelter has animals of all ages, depending on what you want. I love the new ads on television about shelter pets, how they are not damaged goods. That is so true. I personally have a 12 year old dog that I got from the shelter when he was less than 6 weeks old. He is and always will be one of the best friends I have. I am sure there are many more like him awaiting a great home!

Stay warm, play hard, and be safe!

Geoff Spahr
Publisher, Active Youth & Community Magazine
College Station, TX

Mom's Corner by Taylor Coker

For the Love…

Today has been one of those days.

It has been one of those days when I feel as if I am walking on eggshells, and any moment I just might have to break down and scream… “FOR THE LOVE!”

I mean, if I have to change one more set of sheets after they have been peed on, fold one more load of socks, clean one more found sippy cup that once contained what I think was chocolate milk, change one more dirty diaper of a little one that should have been potty trained months ago, chase one more escaped dog around the neighborhood, help write one more paper for graduate school when I am not even taking a class, try to remember one more thing to pack in one more bag, make one more trip to Target because we forgot something I don’t need, watch one more stupid sci-fi movie I cannot stand, find one more charger to a game I do not play…I think I really will scream…

I simply will not be able to contain myself!

FOR THE LOVE!

Did I mention that I have also kissed two precious skinned knees, helped write the sweetest thank-you letter, watched the most precious child choreographed dance to Christmas music (Yes, I realize it is February, but my kids really like Christmas music.), cuddled with the cutest kids and watched Cinderella for at least the hundredth time, escaped childless to the nail salon with a husband delighted that he was able to sit and talk to me while I got the most incredible pedicure, had a real “mature” conversation with a pre-teen about the Lord that warmed my heart, and sat for a good chunk of the afternoon in the park with one of the dearest friends?

I did!

And, while I do many things I love and probably more things I do not love so much, I do them all…FOR THE LOVE!

Yet, sometimes I forget to cherish the love I receive in return for the love I give…

Like the five biggest hugs before I walked out the door, the most grateful thank you from a two-year old, a perfectly drawn picture of our family from a soon-to-be kindergartener, a gourmet dinner I lifted not one finger to prepare, a look followed by a smile from across a crowded room that only I would have seen or understood, a crazy wagging tail each time I walk in the door, an innocent grabbing of my hand as we walked into the grocery store, a hanging on my leg time to laugh so hard you cry…

2010 has already showed that great things are to come. We are excited and eager at Active Youth and Community to get this new year started in the right direction by bringing you more community news, events, promotions, and information. We are in the process of changing and updating some aspects of our publication. As always, we welcome and value feedback, ideas, and suggestions from the community. If there are things that you would like to see in AYC and we have been missing, please find my email address in the staff box to the left and drop me a quick line.

In this and upcoming issues we are continuing our staple columns and adding a few more. “Auto News” is a new column written by Bill Lofton. Bill is the owner of the Kwik Kar service station located on Rock Prairie and Wellborn. At the end of last year, Bill helped to simply explain the importance of oil to your engine and the different choices you have when maintaining it. We received great feedback from this feature and have decided to continue it. A little basic understanding of your vehicle can make a huge difference, so please continue reading! Brand new for this year is a Pet Column, written by Miriam Rieck. Miriam owns a local canine and equestrian boarding facility like no other and is very passionate about animals. She even offers FREE COPIES of the Brazos Valley Dog Directory. This wonderful and expansive reference book is a must for all area dog owners as it lists most (if not all) of the canine services available in our area. Please contact Miriam for your copy and give her column a read. This month it is featuring our Dog Parks and some things to think about before you go. This month’s local business spotlight is a unique and valuable asset to the College Station Community. Susan’s Ballroom Dance and Etiquette offers an array of dance instruction, programs, and activities for people of all ages. Susan has been offering lessons for 21 years and is a wonderful supporter of AYC. We are proud to offer our readers a closer acquaintance with Susan and all the areas that she can help you with.

February is the month of love and there are many great gift ideas offered in the area. Beyond the roses and chocolate, maybe your special someone would greatly enjoy a message, a visit to the spa, dance lessons, a nice dinner, a short vacation getaway, or just a night out with just the two of you! Whatever choice you make, if you are in need of some relief from parental duties, Powersports is offering a Valentine’s lock in from 8pm to 8am on February 13th, please contact them for further info and be sure to use your coupon offered in their AYC ad.
The weather looks be beautiful this month and a great way to enjoy it is at one of our community parks. In fact, there has been a recent facelift and expansion to the park located off of Alexandria in the Shenandoah subdivision. The City of College Station has added on to the playground, picnic, and basketball areas by providing lighted walking trails through the woods and also installed the area’s newest Frisbee golf course. Frisbee golf is something that I need to work on, but it is a lot of fun, enjoyable by everyone in the family and a great way to get outdoors. This is my first opportunity in 2010 to THANK YOU for reading AYC and for providing our area with a wonderful community. Without everyone’s contributions, College Station would not be what it is today.

‘Til next month…stay safe and happy, and like Tom always says, don’t forget to feed the birds!!

Geoff Spahr
Publisher Active Youth & Community Magazine, College Station