Allison and Robert D’Alfonso with their “love map” showing the states they have already visited on their first seven wedding anniversaries. And even though he’s a Longhorn and she’s an Aggie, “We’re staying married for life,” he said.

By SARAH DOOLITTLE
Four Points News

The map on the wall of Allison and Robert D’Alfonso’s bedroom is dotted with red hearts, and it tells the story of seven years of anniversaries spent at locations around the U.S.

The couple — Allison, a stay-at-home parent and essential oils representative and Robert, a dentist and owner of Lakeway Cosmetic Dentistry — live in Steiner Ranch with their three children, Joseph 4, Tinley 3 and Caleb, 20 months.

They first met in Houston, where they attended the same church. Or as Allison said, “We met at a bar — a salad bar,” where a post-service lunch was being hosted. As a member of the group’s leadership, she was required to meet and greet new members.

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Steiner Ranch resident Todd Pendleton (left) opened Champion Cryotherapy at the Trails at 620. The staff helps offer innovative therapies to accelerate athletic recovery of pain and inflammation.

Freezing therapy that helps healing  

By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News

Local entrepreneur Todd Pendleton launched Champion Cryotherapy at Trails at 620 a couple of months ago. The Steiner Ranch resident founded the company after experiencing the benefits that whole body cryotherapy has delivered to professional athletes and movie stars since 2011.

“I’ve battled shoulder pain and inflammation for years,” Pendleton said. “After hearing the Dallas Mavericks refer to WBC as their ‘secret weapon’ during their Championship season of 2011, I decided to try it. Two weeks of the short 3-minute therapy sessions relieved my pain and inflammation. I could once again enjoy my favorite activity: playing ball with my sons.”

Champion Cryotherapy’s mission is to deliver superior, innovative therapies to accelerate athletic recovery, relieve pain and inflammation, and elevate well-being.

One of Champion’s primary therapies is whole body cryotherapy, which is a Rheumatologist-invented, research-proven cold therapy that triggers the body’s pain and inflammation fighters. A person chills in a cold air sauna for three minutes, and then their body activates its natural restorative process. The results are relief from pain and inflammation, accelerated muscle recovery, boosted energy levels and vitality, increased metabolic rate, enhanced complexion and elevated well-being.

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Steiner Ranch friends surprise John Holsinger as he walked out of rehab after his 50-foot fall from cycling.

A group of Steiner Ranch cyclists and friends surprised John Holsinger the day he was discharged from the rehab center after surviving a 50-foot fall while cycling earlier this year.

By LYNETTE HAALAND,
KIM ESTES
Four Points News

In early November, John Holsinger walked out of Brookdale Lakeway rehab center, with a cane of course. Two months prior he nearly lost his life after falling some 50-feet while cycling.

On the day he was discharged from the rehab center, there was a group of Steiner Ranch cyclists and friends who were there to surprise Holsinger and cheer for him as he walked out.

“He has made an unbelievable start to a normal life again surprising all his doctors and therapist along the way,” said Hollie Kenney. “This is a miracle.”

Holsinger hopes to be able to go back to work in February or March.

“I’m getting stronger every day. Right now I’m doing outpatient physical therapy on my right arm and right leg,” said Holsinger, in an email exchange last week. “It’s going to take some time for everything to heal and get closer to normal. This is the slow, painful part.”

Steiner Ranch resident Holsinger is recovering from near fatal injuries sustained in a Labor Day bicycle accident in Georgetown where he fell some 50 feet from a bridge.

On Sept. 5, the 52-year-old triathlete met up with 50 riders from the Bat City Cycling club for a planned 60 mile bike ride through Northwest Austin.

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A network of trails provide public access to the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge — and expansive views of Hill Country — located north of Lake Travis.

Golden-cheeked Warbler
Setophaga chrysoparia
male, 2nd year bird
7 mi W of Bee Cave,
Travis Co., Texas
18 April 2007

By SARAH DOOLITTLE
Four Points News

The Balcones Canyonlands Preserve plays a huge part in area development. The 31,790 acre land preserve was established in 1996 as part of the Balcones Canyonland Conservation Plan.

“The primary purpose of preserves is wildlife habitat,” not public recreation, according to Johanna Arendt, Community Liaison for the Travis County Department of Transportation and Natural Resources.

Balcones is home to many birds and wildlife. As the saying goes, everything’s bigger in Texas, and that includes the number of bird species that can be found in the state — over 620 species, according to the Texas Ornithological Society — which is more than any other state in the U.S. The same is true throughout Texas ecosystems.

“Similar diversity is found in mammals, reptiles and plants.” Arendt added, “The loss of habitat due to development has taken its toll.”

Balcones mark in Four Points

Before the building boom in Four Points, the area was mostly private land used for ranching and cedar harvesting. Arendt describes the area as having been, “a mix of dense oak-juniper woodlands and oak-juniper savannas with heavily wooded canyons.”

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