SMGA News: July-August 2022
Welcome to Our Newest Board Member!
Olivia Palomares recently joined the SMGA board to complete the one-year term of Lisa Prewitt, who resigned due to family responsibilities. Olivia works remotely as a Digital Marketing Manager at Virtana, a company based in Palo Alto, California. Olivia has resided in San Marcos for 8 years, having fallen in love with the community during her undergraduate studies. Olivia received both her bachelor’s and master’s degree from the School of Healthcare Administration at Texas State University. Outside of work, Olivia enjoys trail running, swimming, kayaking, bike riding, and yoga. Olivia can often be found on the trails with her heeler mix, Nina.
You are invited!
Proceeds from the event will benefit SMGA’s work in River Recharge Natural Area, the closest natural area to the Oak Heights Neighborhood.
Trail Crew at Work: RReNA
Ronnie Borden 
Shiela Torres-Blank and Ben Peck 
Greg Moore 
Jo Korthals 
Mark Taylor 
Dick McBride
Eric Weeks giving the group instructions at Prospect Park 
Bernie Andersen and Cindy Hobson
Trail crew photos by Lance Jones
Making Seed Balls: Youth Environmental Stewardship, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
After mixing the clay, Jack Downey* created a flat “taco,” into which he inserted seeds. The kids then rolled the “taco” into a ball and placed it in a container to dry.
Kids at St. Mark’s Church recently worked to create seed balls using clay and wildflower seeds. The balls can be thrown into the garden at any time to wait for rain, which will dissolve the clay and release the seeds. This is one of a series of projects to teach the children about the natural environment and the things they can do to care for it.
If you have photos of kids engaged in similar programs in local churches or schools, please contact Loop editor Susan Hanson.
Kids waiting for their “tacos” *Jack is Program Coordinator at Headwaters at the Comal in New Braunfels.
Tamara Downey, Director of Children’s and Family Ministries at St. Mark’s, helping one of the kids put on an apron, helping another put wildflower seeds onto the clay, and, finally, writing a child’s name on the seed ball’s paper container. (photos by Susan Hanson)
Friends of Trees: Community Forestry Program
Give 2-3 hours of service to make some little trees happy and strong.
Activities vary by site; mulching, planting, pruning, root collar excavations & more.
No experience necessary! Instructions and tools will be provided.
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