Online at: www.CommunityCircular.com
Transcription
Online at: www.CommunityCircular.com
Online at: www.CommunityCircular.com 1 2 Online at: www.CommunityCircular.com S mithson Valley High School in partnership with Comal ISD, the Comal County Sheriff’s Office, Bulverde/Spring Branch EMS/Fire Department and community agencies presented an impactful event that sent a powerful message to teens about the consequences of alcohol impaired driving. Shattered Dreams is a two-day, school-based program that promotes responsible decisionmaking among high school students when it comes to underage drinking and impaired or distracted driving (impaired driving is drinking then driving or riding with a drinking driver). The showcase of the program is a mock crash scene acted by SVHS theater students that depicts the realistic yet tragic outcome of adolescent drinking and driving. An audience of 1,000 SVHS juniors and seniors watched the dramatization unfold complete with a deceased teen being pulled from mangled wreckage of a car. The Bulverde/Spring Branch EMS and Fire Department, New Braunfels Police Department, AirLife, Zoeller Funeral Home, Comal Towing and CISD Counselor Crisis Team all play roles over the two day event. Capt. Andy Fox with Bulverde/Spring Branch EMS coached the student actors and coordinated the crash scene. “The audience was so quiet during the assembly,” said Lori Niles, Family and Consumer Science (FACS) teacher at Smithson Valley High School. “It shows they are affected by this realistic scene. The program emphasizes the consequences of alcohol-related crashes-the ripple effect an accident has on innocent victims and the friends and families who grieve them. Its purpose is to influence better driving decisions,” added Niles. FACS students facilitate the whole project, directed by Lori Niles and Mrs. Wendy McCuiston, FACS teacher and co-coordinator of Shattered Dreams. For the remainder of the school day, “living dead” students are pulled from class by the Grim Reaper (actor) every 15 minutes to show that every 15 minutes a young person dies from a drinking/ driving related accident. A friend then comes in to class to read the students mock obituary. After school a student retreat was held for participants. Guest speakers included Machelle Cevallos- SAFD/ Shattered Dreams Liason, Kandy Perkins- mother of former SVHS student Randall Perkins, and Scotty Bolleter – Chief/Paramedic/ clinical Direction for Bulverde/Spring Branch EMS. The second day of the program is a mock memorial service. Students look on as a funeral service is enacted using a real casket. Guest speakers were Mrs. Sally Bratton, who lost her niece in a drinking and driving accident, and Mr. Charles Herring, who lost his daughter in a reckless driving accident. Mr. Herring and his wife designed a key chain that was given out to all assembly attendants with the acronym “IGYB- I’ve Got Your Back,” encouraging students to speak out about driving safely. Doug Dunlap, Criminal Justice Instructor, coordinated the interactive components of Shattered Dreams which includes a DWI simulator that is available during social studies class for upperclassmen, while freshman and sophomores can view the 2011 Shattered Dreams video and the AT&T ‘no texting’ video. The CISD Counselor Crisis Team and Connections team are also on hand to provide counseling. The SVHS Shattered Dreams prevention program occurs every two years because it is for juniors and seniors. The program was put on in 2011 and 2013. A collaborative effort between administration and faculty, students, parent volunteers, community organizations and a host of public agencies; planning begins six months prior to the event. “This community collaboration shows the interest of all partners to reduce alcohol related incidents that happen all too often,” said John Montelongo, Principal of Smithson Valley High School. “It’s important to bring this real-life issue to the table for our youth. “It lets them know you can’t just push the re-set button on life like in a video game. The thought-provoking scenarios are presented to improve students’ decision making on this topic,” added Montelongo. This focus on changing the attitudes and behaviors of young adults when it comes to drinking, texting and distracted driving seems to have an impact. Student Logan Bienack said, “We students at Smithson Valley have suffered through many losses in the past few years. Learning safe driving lessons has made us aware of how to keep ourselves, as well as our close-knit community and friends out of danger. The choices we make are the ones that can make or break us--and events coming up such as prom and graduation will make many of us think twice about our actions on our Friday and Saturday nights.” Sgt. Rick Cardenas, Comal County Sheriff’s Office/Community Resource Team agrees that the program is effective. The Sheriff’s Office has delivered the program on three campuses so far including Canyon High School, Canyon Lake High School and Smithson Valley High School. “The events have a very positive effect on the students,” said Cardenas. “Law enforcement presence brings reality to the event.” There is a lot of praise from those who witness the program. “If the Shattered Dreams program prevents even one death--which I am sure it already has--than it’s a success,” he added. Online at: www.CommunityCircular.com 3 4 Online at: www.CommunityCircular.com L ocated near downtown, not far from Brackenridge Park, is a place of serenity, a place that evokes a sense of calm amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Nestled atop a hill, is the unique and beautiful 38-acre San Antonio Botanical Garden. A place of tranquility where life is in harmony and balance with nature. If you have never been, or if it has been awhile, then this is the perfect time of year to visit the Garden. There is something for everyone. You enter the Garden grounds through the quaint and historical Daniel Sullivan Carriage House. Built in 1896, it was moved to this site stone by stone from its original location downtown. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it houses the gift shop and restaurant. The annual Art in the Garden is one of the newest exhibits and it runs through February 2014. It is a collaboration with Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum and features ten contemporary sculptures strategically placed throughout the Garden grounds and showcases the works by members from the Texas Sculpture Group, the Mid-South Alliance and Chicago Sculpture International. “We are so pleased to continue the tradition of Art in the Garden and look forward to the new pieces each year,” said Bob Brackman, Executive Director of San Antonio Botanical Garden. “We encourage all of San Antonio to come experience these contemporary sculptures. The art pieces fit beautifully and compliment the garden. It is a great venue to showcase these works.” Shadow Land, a painted steel sculpture by Houston artist Ben Woitena, is a work of dark and light contrasts, like shadows playing off each other. The sculpture resembles a leaf petal. There is an illusion of softness, as if it was cut and folded out of paper into origami rather than cut out of hard cold steel. Another sculpture, Legacy II, created by Swiss-born artist Jean Jacques Porret, was crafted in the lost wax technique of bronze casting. This art piece sits gently perched on a granite stand and appears to defy gravity as it weaves, folds, bends and twists around like liquid motion. Brackman says visitors tell him they enjoy how the art looks in an outdoor setting versus an indoor venue or typical museum setting. The Adams Family from Louisiana, visiting San Antonio for a business conference, came for a day outing to enjoy the park and take pictures. They said, “It’s just beautiful here. There is so much to see, and we really are enjoying this, especially the art.” The Garden is an ever-changing living museum of plants. There is always something new to see and experience. “Were all about education,” explains Brackman. “We’re about gardening, about fun, about teaching, and we want people to experience the garden for its beauty, and we want them to learn from us as well.” When asked what his favorite part is, Brackman expresses, “My favorite changes every day, and it’s never the same. From sunrise to sunset, there is something different … and I am blessed to work in a profession I love, to be surrounded by passionate volunteers who grow and sell plants, guide guests and help in the gift shop. They water and maintain our plant collections and do so much to help us throughout the year. We could not do this without our volunteers.” Over 600 volunteers put in about 32,000 man-hours last year. Don Clowe, a Botanical Garden member for four years and volunteer says with a smile, “I love to play in the dirt. It’s fun. Besides, it’s cheaper than paying for a psychiatrist.” Clowe says he especially enjoys working with sedums and other succulent plants. He takes great care to place air plants into the crevices of the limestone wall that runs along the walkway. “This is my way of creating a poor mans’ version of a Chihuly art sculpture,” he chuckles, “I make my art out of plants, and I just love it.” The effect is truly artistic and captivating. The Garden offers a complex view of horticulture. From their formal gardens to a collection of different themed gardens like the Japanese Garden, an 80 X 80 square foot garden surrounded by an intricately woven handmade fence; a gift from the Botanical’s Sister City of Kumamoto, Japan. There is also a Sensory Garden (Garden for the Blind) and many other garden displays. The Watersaver Garden, a partnership with San Antonio Water System, is a program that communicates the message to garden responsibly. Another exhibit is WaterSaver Lane, which has six themed landscapes that show how to achieve different looks by choosing different plants that use less water. In addition, the park offers education classes, summer camps and theatrical performances like Shakespeare in the Park, concerts in summer months and family exhibits. The summer’s long running exhibit is Savage Gardens, opening June 29th and is all about carnivorous plants. Another family favorite is the Children’s Vegetable Garden. Twice a year a family rents a plot of land and for 13 weeks every Saturday the children learn from Master Gardeners on what to plant, how to plant and the children can take pride in what they’ve grown. The Garden is even host to Dog Days. Special weekends during the year, where with admission and a $5 donation you can bring your pooch. The funds collected are shared with local animal friendly charities who co-sponsor the event. Typically open only during the day there are evening programs such as Starlight Movies in the Garden, Concert under the Stars, Gardens by Moonlight and Family Flashlight night. A walk along the Texas Native Trail transports you through three distinct ecosystems. Enjoy a stroll into the East Texas Pineywoods, along a oneacre lake which provides a home for black-bellied whistling tree ducks, wood ducks, mallards, green herons and more. The pride of the Garden is the Lucile Halsell Conservatory. Built by the San Antonio Botanical Society at a cost of $6.9 million, this futuristic glass structure is an architectural icon and features many exotic plants. The Garden also has one of the most breath taking skyline views in the city. In the 1800s, this was the highest point in San Antonio. The Garden is also available to rent for corporate events, retreats, meetings, wedding ceremonies, receptions and private parties. For a complete list of upcoming calendar events, admission costs and more information, visit www.sabot.org or call 210-207-3250. ne of the best ways O to enjoy nature is by hiking or walking, especially on a cool spring day or just after a summer thunderstorm, when there is a crispness in the air. You step out onto a trail, take a deep breath, and fill your senses; like a sponge soaking up water, you feel like a wilted plant springing back to life. You are rejuvenated and relaxed, ready to take on any new challenges that lay ahead. There are many places in and around Central Texas to go hiking or walking. According to a recent poll by WOAI-TV for their “Best of SA” series, the best walking trail in San Antonio is Mission Reach followed by McAllister Park, Friedrich Wilderness Park, and Government Canyon State Natural Area. Before you venture out, keep in mind to practice safety. Make sure to pack some snacks and a bottle or two of water. Wear comfortable clothing and sturdy shoes and make sure to let someone know where you are going or better yet, join a hiking or walking group. Meetup.com is a website that lists over 20 related hiking groups where you can meet other hiking enthusiasts and sign up for events. The site has calendars, photo links and offers information and comments from members about places to hike throughout the country. Robbie Grzymek, an organizer on the Meetup site for the San Antonio Walking Buddies, takes a group out on Saturday mornings for a leisurely stroll along the San Antonio Riverwalk. “I just think that it’s a good way to be able to exercise and to be with friends. We laugh and have a good time. Anyone can join us and walk at their own pace, it goes fast and takes about an hour to walk the 4 mile round trip,” explains Grzymek. “There are several other areas we go. There is the Monte Vista area, an old historic neighborhood by Trinity University and during the Christmas Season, we go to the University of Incarnate Word and see all the lights on display. We also walk over in the Alamo Heights area.” The Walking Buddies meet at Pearl Brewery at 8:30am on Saturday mornings and after their walk, they go to the farmers market where they listen to music, have coffee, and do some shopping. For a more rigorous outing, you may want to check out the San Antonio Hill Country Hikers. Lead Organizer Paul Nemeth says, “We try to hit as many trails in the Austin/San Antonio area as we can throughout the year. We have our fitness hikes and medium-paced hikes. Normally we have fitness hikes on Friday evenings and Monday evenings. We also have Riverwalk hikes on Wednesdays and then on Sundays, and occasionally on Saturdays, we have mediumpaced hikes for members who do not want to go so fast.” Paul recommends hiking Government Canyon State Natural Area, Leon Creek and Salado Creek Greenway. “There are trails that run off the sides of the paved areas and on the Meetup site, under files, there are maps of parks we have been to. Government Canyon has front and backcountry. The front country has some trails that are flat and level out. The backcountry is a little more challenging and rocky with great scenic overlooks. This is a great time of year to see the Texas Parks and Wildlife Sites: Guadalupe River State Park The park is located at 3350 Park Rd. 31, off State Hwy 46. One of the state’s most beautiful State Parks is located along the boundary of Comal and Kendall counties. The park has 4 miles along the Guadalupe River frontage. Park visitors may enjoy a variety of outdoor activities including canoeing, fishing, swimming, tubing, picnicking, hiking, and camping. Call 830-438-2656 Honey Creek State Natural Area This area is located inside of Guadalupe River State Park at 3350 Park Rd. 31, off State Hwy. 46. HCSNA is 2294 acres located in Western Comal County. Entry into Honey Creek is for guided tours only. The diverse geology, flora, and fauna make Honey Creek a special place for all visitors using 2 miles of nature/interpretive trails. The Saturday morning walking tour begins at 9am. Call 830438-2656 in advance. Canyon area and pretty soon the cactuses will be blooming, it’s going to be a really wonderful year for that.” Paul says on an average 20 people show up for hikes and as many as 40 for the Riverwalk hikes. Twice a year the group has road trips to places like Devil’s River State Natural Area, Kickapoo Caverns, and Seminole Canyon. “We have a great time and our folks have a sense of humor, and the conversation is lively. It really is a great group.” This year National Trails Day will occur on June 1, 2013. National Trails Day is always the first Saturday in June. American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day® (NTD) is a celebration of America’s magnificent Trail System. Upper Guadalupe River The Upper Guadalupe River, from the Guadalupe River State Park to Canyon Lake is a favorite for canoeing, tubing and fishing. There are a number of canoeing and tubing b businesses in this stretch of the Guadalupe River. X X X X X X X X X X Useful Websites: hiking.meetup.com www.hillcountryoutdoorguide.com www.nps.gov www.alltrails.com www.localhikes.com www.sanantonio.gov/parksandrec www.localhikesbeta.com www.austintexas.gov/page/trail-directory www.americanhiking.org www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/parks/ things-to-do/hiking-in-state-parks Top Recommended Places for Hiking/ Medina River Natural Area 15890 Texas 16 S. Walking from San Antonio Express/News Address: Phone: 210-207-3111 government canyon state natural area Address: 12861 Galm Road Phone: 210-688-9055 Web: www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/government-canyon Hours: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Mondays Admission: $6; free for ages 12 and younger More experienced hikers flock to this 8,624-acre area, which has more than 40 miles of hike-and-bike trails of varying terrain, although the protected habitat area trails are closed from March through August. Overnight camping is allowed Fridays and Saturdays. There are shorter trails, but the most beautiful areas are at least a 4-mile hike away. The endangered golden-cheeked warbler also nests here. Bring plenty of water. FRIEDRICH WILDERNESS PARK Address: 21395 Milsa Road Phone: 210-564-6400 or 210-207-5320 Web: www.sanaturalareas.org/fp/fpindex.html Admission: Free A favorite destination of bird watchers — it’s a nesting site for two endangered species, the black-capped vireo and the golden-cheeked warbler — this park also offers grand views of the city. The nature preserve, across Interstate 10 from the Dominion, offers 5.5 miles of hiking trails with varying levels of difficulty. There are paved, wheelchair-accessible paths suitable for children, as well as steeper dirt paths offering a tougher workout. No dogs or bicycles. mission rEACH Address: South Alamo Street at Blue Star to Padre Park Phone: 210-227-1373 Web: www.sara-tx.org Hours: Sunrise to sunset Admission: Free If you’re looking for rugged, rocky trails, don’t go to the Mission Reach. If you want to view a restored ecosystem along the San Antonio River and the Spanish missions while walking or jogging on a paved path, this is the spot. When the linear park on the South Side is complete, it will stretch 8 miles from South Alamo to Mission Espada. Currently, about 5 miles are open. The path is suitable for all fitness levels and is wheelchair accessible. Web: www.sanaturalareas.org/mr/mrindex.html Hours: Sunrise to sunset Admission: Free The 6 miles of trails in this 500-acre natural wilderness area connect to the 7-mile Medina River Greenway. Some trails in the natural area are wheelchair accessible; others feature steep slopes. An interpretive feature showcases El Camino Real wagon trail that settlers followed. Leashed pets, bikes, group camping and fishing are allowed. DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER PARK Address: 19399 NW Military Highway Phone: 210-564-6400 or 210-207-5320 Web: www.sanaturalareas.org/ep/epindex.html Hours: 6 a.m. through sunset Admission: Free Popular with dog owners (and dogs), this natural area adjacent to Camp Bullis offers impressive views of the city, especially from its wooden watchtower. There are 5 miles of hiking trails. Some are smooth and paved, while others are natural and rocky. Kid-friendly with a playground and picnic facility. • • • • • Exhibits Rich in Local Artifacts Extensive Photography Collection Genealogy Records Newspapers & Maps Oral History Recordings Call for information on adult tours & student groups. Open Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm 401 W. Coll Street, New Braunfels, TX 78130 • 80 cu. In., fuel-injected, liquid-cooled V-Twin engine • Nimble & lightweight handling • Low seat height • Sleek instrumentation pod • • 4-stroke, 1.8 liter engine Ultra lightweight NanoXcel® hull • • • Crossplane crankshaft New sharper headlight cowling Three level D-Mode electronics throttle response control Motorcycle Disclaimer Dress properly for your ride with a helmet, eye protection, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves and boots. Do not drink and ride. It is illegal and dangerous. Yamaha and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation encourage you to ride safely and respect the environment. For further information regarding the MSF course, please call 1-800-446-9227. Specifications subject to change without notice. Professional rider depicted on a closed course. ©2013 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. • yamaha-motor.com Watercraft Disclaimer ©2011 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. Follow instructional materials and obey all laws. Ride responsibly, wearing protective apparel. Always ride within your capabilities, allowing time and distance for maneuvers, and respect others around you. Don’t drink and ride. For more information, visit yamaha-motor.com or call 1.800.88.YAMAHA. Comal Taxidermy Studio bringing wildlife indoors By Miranda Koerner C omal Taxidermy Studio has been preserving beasts of Texas heritage and exotic wildlife since 1989. The shops feature regal Ibex, white-tailed deer, fish, cheetahs and even lions. “I think what makes us stand out is our level of service,” David Graham, owner, said. “There are no requests that our staff cannot handle. For example we just finished a life-size crocodile for a museum in Seattle, Washington. We have it coming out of the water and grabbing a life-size Impala by the leg. It takes time, dedication and experience to pull a piece like this off.” A haven for hunters, fishermen and outdoor enthusiasts, Comal Taxidermy Studio has a sister company, Helluva Hunt, which offers hunting adventures for the local and international enthusiast. Graham opened the business with partner George Williamson to offer hunting opportunities to customers who dreamed of tracking the large animals they were buying. Williamson and Graham take customers on adventures straight out of a storybook, fishing in Panama or hunting doves in Argentina. And don’t think you’ll be eating out of a tin can in the woods—all accommodations are luxurious. Think steak dinners, four star resorts and swimming pools. “We’ve gone to Africa, New Zealand, Costa Rica-everywhere,” Graham said. “My favorite hunt was one we did in Spain. It was neat to see the IBEX and two thousand year old roads.” Even if you aren’t a hunting enthusiast, Graham and Williamson can set up the romantic getaway or adventure of your dreams. With the partners right by your side, itinerary worries and details are all taken care of. “Traveling the globe with their clients gave everyone the confidence that we believe in everything we offer,” Graham said. “We don’t expect to be on someone’s romantic getaway but we always enjoy the opportunity to share time with our clients abroad and to get to know them better. We have been fortunate to meet a lot of our clients for the first time at a fire pit in Africa or Argentina while we were in camp.” According to Graham, the biggest problem in the taxidermy industry is that many customers don’t do their research or inspect the work of a shop before purchasing a piece. He says that many customers are disappointed when they receive shoddy work of a trophy piece that could be a child’s first deer or trophy mount. “You wouldn’t buy a painting off the internet without seeing it. We have an open door policy--you can always come and see our quality work,” Graham said.” I guess the one thing that amazed me is hunters spend $1000 to $200 annually on their sport, and pick up the phone to take their business to the person with the lowest price. They will have to look and live with that decision for the rest of their lives.” Graham says that customers should inspect artists’ work on the eyes, painting techniques and ear positions. Many customers come to his shop with butchered pieces that need repairs. He warns that even if a shop has a Web site with photos, the photos may not accurately represent the quality of work. “I always have a saying that you would not buy an oil painting online without looking at it closely or knowing the artist,” Graham said. “Why would you treat your trophy that will be with you for the rest of your life any different?” Every artist has a favorite painting and for Graham, it’s no different. His favorite piece acquired by Comal Taxidermy Studio was a Bengal tiger skin. As Bengal tigers are illegal to hunt, the tiger died a natural death. Exotic animals aren’t unusual at Comal Taxidermy Studio, as its artists handle animals from all sizes and continents. “We mount everything from a squirrel to an elephant,” Graham said. “No job is too big or too small.” In addition, Comal Taxidermy Studio helps collectors find pieces from owners who may be downsizing or customers looking to fill a new house. The company often works with interior designers to find the perfect piece for a customer or searches high-end real estate sales. “I call it the best kind of recycling,” Graham said. “There are a lot of people that love to have this kind of art in their home, but would never pull a trigger. But it’s not just adults who love Comal Taxidermy Studio. In May, the company often has tours from schools. “Teachers are looking for something for the kids to do and they love to come here,” Graham said. Not surprisingly, he said the children are always well behaved. Comal Taxidermy Studio is located at (830) 620-1230. For more information or to visit Comal Taxidermy Studio, please visit http://www.helluvahunt.com/ or http://www. comaltaxidermystudio.com. In addition, please “like” them on Facebook under “Helluvahunt” or “Comal Taxidermy Studio.” O n Nov. 6, 2012, Guadalupe Commissioner’s Court made the announcement that Amazon.com, the largest Internet retailer in the world, would be building a 1.3 million-square-foot, state-of-the-art fulfillment center in Schertz. It has an estimated price tag of $166 million but city officials think it could be assessed at up to $200 million. When you do the math, the structure has the capacity to house about 27 football fields or 29 acres under one roof. It is also the biggest industry for Schertz, which already has two other Fortune 500 companies (Cisco Systems and Caterpillar) in their industrial park. Amazon will bring 350 jobs to Schertz and an estimated $11 million in annual payroll. Former Schertz Mayor George Antuna played a role in the city’s negotiations with Amazon while he was acting as mayor. He believes that Amazon will create more than the 350 jobs they’ve promised. “We’re excited to have Amazon here. They’re very conscious of the community and know what it means to be a good neighbor.” The property’s favorable logistics and strategic location were two of the primary factors in Amazon’s decision to build in Schertz. It sits between the I-35 and I-10 freeways, near an established FedEx freight service. It’s also close to the Schertz Railroad Station. Antuna described the property as shovel- ready - all the utilities were readily available. In fact, the Maruchan Noodle Company was interested in the same site about six months before Amazon came calling. Antuna said, “The city passed on that deal because we didn’t think they were a good match for us.” Amazon has committed to hire 31 percent veterans as part of the work force. That’s about 115 jobs for vets. Schertz is near the Randolph Air Force Base and as a result, more than half of Schertz residents are veterans. Schertz City Administrator John Kessel said, “Amazon is a good fit for the community. Many people come back here during their last year of duty. They want to call Schertz their home when they leave the service.” It turns out that the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District stands to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the deal. That’s because Amazon didn’t ask for any tax abatement from the schools. Antuna said, “This could easily equal hundreds of thousands a year for the district.” SCUC Superintendent Dr. Greg Gibson said, “Our district has experienced an abundance of residential growth and has been lagging in commercial growth. For example, our total taxable assessed value (TAV) per student is approximately $272,639 as compared to $525,884 in Comal ISD, which is just across 1-35. The Amazon center will go a long way in closing the gap in appraised value.” Tax incentives did, however, figure in Amazon’s deal. David Gwin, executive director for Schertz Economic Development Corporation, represented the city in negotiating the deal. He said, “The city agreed to grant a percentage of the estimated $166 million in a reduction in property taxes for six years.” After that, the tax deal falls away. Schertz also agreed to rebate back up to $500 thousand in fees and permits to shorten the incentive window (from the county’s eight-year tax incentive deal). Gwin said, “It’s important to realize that these incentives are performancebased and contingent upon Amazon building the center and hiring a minimum of 350 full-time, benefitted jobs.” If they don’t perform, there is no incentive. Sales numbers go back a ways on the state level. Amazon has long refused to pay sales tax for online sales. In Sept. 2010, however, Texas sent Amazon a $269 million bill for uncollected sales tax from 2005-2009, citing the Irving fulfillment center as grounds. Amazon responded by closing the Irving center and refusing to pay the tax. Since then, Texas State Comptroller Susan Combs and Amazon cut a deal to “resolve” the tax bill in return for Amazon investing $200 million in brick and mortar facilities in Texas, creating 1,000+ jobs and charging sales tax. Whether or not the state will keep all the sales tax remains an open question. Gwin said, “There are conditions in place that would allow for the city and the developer to share in locally-sourced sales tax revenue for up to a 10-year period.” That means the city could get as much as $35 million.” But, Gwin said, “As it stands right now, state law does not require an internet-based retailer to collect sales tax for the municipalities.” So unless and until there are changes in legislation, Schertz won’t see any of that money. Kessel and Gwin both said they aren’t counting on the city getting sales tax dollars from Amazon. Even without it though, Amazon is a great boon for Schertz and San Antonio. “From the very first year, the city will realize a net revenue of nearly $400 thousand. This will go a long way to improve streets and build a new fire house.” Three fulfillment centers are being built in Texas this year (the other two are near Dallas-Ft. Worth). Each of those is at least 1 million-square-feet. Construction is already well under way on the new Amazon fulfillment center in Schertz. It is expected to begin operations by fall 2013. Darryl Gonzales and Valerie Reyna of D.C.D.I. Handyman Services Team Up to Serve Homeowners in Central Texas By Cleo Garcia Have you been dreaming about remodeling your home or just want to add on a deck or perhaps update your flooring? Whatever your vision is, owner Darryl Gonzales of D.C.D.I. Handyman Services has been turning home-improvement dreams into reality. “I work closely with my clients, and they know what they want. I take their vision and make it come to life. I help my clients achieve their goals with a customized look without the huge price tag, saving them time and money.” With over 20 years of remodeling and construction experience, Darryl specializes in home remodeling, mid-level residential construction, full service roofing, room additions, siding, tile work, concrete projects, painting, EPA certified lead-based paint remodeler, window and door installations, pressure washing, duct work and much more. With an eye for detail, Darryl is an expert craftsman whose work is of the utmost perfection. His dedication, honesty and willingness to take on any task to accomplish what the client is looking for, keeps clients coming back and sending him referrals. Originally from Houston, Darryl says what he provides is a customized highend product, nothing you can buy off the shelf. “If you can dream it, I can build it.” Darryl’s background is in commercial construction and as a COO in the entertainment business, he oversaw the quality control of approximately $10-12 million in sales and was responsible for all remodeling and construction projects, as well as build outs, including pulling permits. He took that experience and expertise and now owns K & D Handyman Services in Arkansas. The success of that business has led him to Valerie Reyna & expand into the Central Texas area, Darryl Gonzales where he will continue to offer the same superior quality services at affordable rates. Darryl has joined with Valerie Reyna in San Antonio to open D.C.D.I. Handyman Services of San Antonio, L.L.C., opening June 2013. Valerie has worked many years in customer service and quality control of $40-50 million in the construction industry; working in the public sector and handling multiple renovation projects with school districts, cities, counties and universities. With their combined expertise, attention to detail and elite remodeling/ construction service, and customer relations experience; Daryl and Valerie look forward to serving clients in the Central Texas area and helping them turn their home-improvement dreams into reality. No job is too big or too small; D.C.D.I. is there to handle it all. For more information, contact Valerie at 210-284-4689. Greetings! For years I’ve written articles for the Community Magazines related to furniture and particularly leather furniture – you can find many of the previous articles on our website in the Leather Learning Center at www.choiceleatherfurniture.com This time let’s talk about the many advantages of leather furniture. There are many advantages when you chose leather furniture – appearance, comfort, durability plus it’s environmentally friendly. Leather looks great and compliments almost any lifestyle (as long as you get the right leather for YOUR lifestyle). Home or office, choosing leather makes good sense for many reasons; not only does it make a very comfortable piece of furniture that will last much longer than anything covered in fabric - it also adds an air of affluency. But I need to note here that I’m referring to genuine leather – NOT Bonded Leather or Blended Leather or Bi- Cast Leather – using “leather” in their name is terribly misleading and is in fact against the law in some countries (England and New Zealand to name two) – because they are made of Vinyl! See our website for more information on these “pseudo” leathers and why you should avoid them. Real Leather offers a wonderful “hand” (feel) and as you use it more and more, its natural beauty will be enhanced as it develops a “patina”, making it even more unique. When a leather sofa starts to age, it becomes softer from absorbing the natural oils on your skin. Leather sofas get more comfortable over time, and unlike fabric sofas they are easy and quick to clean with a quick wipe down. A real advantage is that leather will not hold dust like a fabric sofa – a real plus for allergy sufferers (and who around here doesn’t suffer from allergies?) Leather comes in a variety of colors - yellow, red, black, brown, purple, blue, white and many more – whatever color you want is most likely available. Genuine Leather furniture will last 5 to 7 times longer than a fabric sofa for many reasons - Leather is much thicker than almost any fabric used to cover furniture, it can withstand more punishment than any fabric. On top of being fashionable and more durable over the long haul, these unique pieces are also eco-friendly; leather will not harm the environment and is made from a natural material. Now that I’ve stated my case for choosing leather furniture – I’d be remiss if I failed to mention that a major factor in the longevity of any piece of furniture is the internal construction. There are many leather sofas built today with NO metal seat springs – using a much cheaper “webbing” which is constructed from nylon bands. There’s nothing better than tempered steel seat springs for longevity and comfort. Nothing. We’re always happy to answer any furniture related questions – call, email or just come on by the store (1027 N.E. Loop 410 – between Nacogdoches and Broadway) – we’re always glad to see you!! You don’t have to “sell the farm” to pay for Mom’s long term care. “M By Attorney David Voeller om has to go into the nursing home. Should we put our names on the deed of her house?” “Is the nursing home going to take mom’s home when she dies?” “Should we start giving away mom’s assets to try to save them?” These are some of the most frequently asked questions from people who are faced with a loved one who may already or will soon need long-term or nursing home care. Fortunately, with proper legal planning, the house, assets, and inheritance can be saved. Sadly, the uninformed or misinformed may just end up having to pay the price and put that unfortunate “for sale” sign in the front yard. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human services, nearly three out of every four Americans over the age of 65 will need long-term care services at some point in their lives. Forty percent will enter a nursing home, and twenty percent of those in a nursing home will be there for more than five years. In other words, it is virtually certain that you will eventually be responsible for paying for expensive long-term care for a family member or for yourself. While most people intend to stay in their own homes as long as possible, there often comes a point where the level of care needed exceeds what family members can provide. At that point, expensive nursing home care may be required. Since 2002, MetLife Financial has conducted annual surveys on long-term care costs. According to the 2011 survey, the average cost of a private room in a Texas nursing home is $188 per day. That’s almost $69,000.00 per year! The high cost of long term care, and figuring out how to pay for it, can be a source of great stress and anxiety for those needing the care or for those called upon to provide the care for a spouse or parent. There is a great deal of confusion and misinformation regarding the different options available to help pay for long-term care. When surveyed, over half of all Baby Boomers thought Medicare would pay for their long term care. Almost half thought their private health insurance would cover the care they needed. In reality, Medicare will only fully cover the cost of long-term care for up to 20 days. Private health insurance won’t cover anything! So how will mom’s care be paid for? If she doesn’t have longterm care insurance, nursing home employees, social workers, or helpful friends will usually advise her to spend down all of her assets (including the family farm) on the nursing home care. Then, once she’s almost destitute and has only $2,000 left to her name, she’ll qualify for Medicaid. Once she qualifies for Medicaid, Medicaid will pay the nursing home bill for her. The vast majority of people, unaware that there is an alternative to this option, will follow this conventional wisdom and end up spending down their assets in order to qualify for Medicaid. After working hard and saving all their lives, they end up spending their entire life savings on nursing home care, and leaving nothing to their children or grandchildren. Facing this prospect, many people will try to save their assets by gifting them to their children. This can be a huge mistake since Medicaid will penalize transfers made in the five years prior to applying for assistance and require the applicant to private pay. This can be a devastating situation for someone who gave all their money away only to find out that they have to pay for their own care, and they no longer have any money with which to do so! The Medicaid qualification rules are complicated. Because of their complexity, and the fact that high penalties exist for those who accidentally break the rules, most people who don’t work as Elder Law Attorneys don’t realize that anything else can be done. Fortunately, there are alternatives. In most cases, if someone goes through the proper legal steps, the law allows a married person who needs Medicaid to save up to 100% of their assets. A single person who needs Medicaid can save well over 50%. With proper legal planning, the outcome does not have to be as devastating as others have encountered. Whether mom is already in the nursing home, or wants to plan ahead just in case, proper legal planning can help save her assets so that they can be passed down to her children and grandchildren as an inheritance, rather than being depleted by nursing home costs. If you or someone you love is facing the stress of paying for long-term care costs, don’t believe it when you are told that the only option is to spend down all of the assets. Contact the attorneys at The Voeller Law Firm for assistance. We can help get mom qualified, and preserve her assets so you don’t have to put that “for sale” sign on the family farm. The Voeller Law Firm 19311 FM 2252 San Antonio, TX 78266 Phone: (210) 651-3851 email: jvoeller@voellerlaw.com F or decades, the Garden Ridge park has been known for its underground adventure tours. Now it is developing a reputation for aboveground thrills as well, with the addition of its latest attraction, the Canopy Challenge. Launched in July of last year, the Canopy Challenge is actually three attractions in one: the Adventure Course, the Zip Line and the Canopy Kid Challenge. The first two attractions deliver heart-pounding excitement for adults, teenagers and older children alike, whereas the third is intended solely for the tots in your family. For Travis Wuest, Natural Bridge Cavern’s vice-president and co-owner, the new attractions continue the park’s 50-year history of bringing families together to enjoy the outdoors. “We feel a great responsibility to carry [our grandmother Clara Wuest’s] legacy forward,” he says, referring to the family matriarch who was instrumental in opening the caverns to the public. The Canopy Challenge, he adds, keeps the park “relevant and fun.” If you’ve never made the trip out to Natural Bridge Caverns, or if it’s been a while since your last visit, now is the optimal time to load up the family car and see what the park has to offer. Adventure Course After being secured into a harness, you have 30 minutes to ascend your way up four tiers of obstacles including balance beams, single- and double-tightropes and stepping planks. Although you are entirely safe, you feel the exhilaration of being suspended 60 dizzying feet in the air as you climb your way to the top. Once there, the Canopy Challenge does not end, as the pinnacle affords you a gorgeous, unparalleled view of the surrounding Hill Country. Wuest notes that the course is a fun way to overcome a fear of heights. You must be able to fit comfortably and safely in the harness to participate. For more specific size and weight restrictions, visit the park’s official website (naturalbridgecaverns.com). Since helmets are not worn, no cameras or other loose articles may be taken on the course. Canopy Kid Challenge If you have little ones in tow who aren’t large enough to join you on the Canopy Challenge, Natural Bridge Caverns has them covered as well. The junior version of the course, traversable even on tiny feet, costs only $4.99 a person. point in the tour, you get to experience complete darkness as all of the lights are turned off. As you might expect, the Lantern Tour, the first tour of the day, is illuminated only by the light from the lanterns you and your group carry. This unique attraction allows you to experience the caverns as the earliest explorers in the 1960s might have done so, says Wuest. Zip Line After completing the Canopy Challenge, you are invited to take flight on one of the four new zip lines, which also debuted in July of 2012. As you glide down the 720-foot length of cable, make sure you soak in the beautiful vista of the Hill Country as you’ve never seen it before. The Canopy Challenge opens daily at 10:30 AM and runs until the last cavern tour of the day departs. Natural Bridge Mining Company If you have a child with aspirations of becoming a prospector, he or she will love panning for treasures in the kids’ mining activity. After buying a bag of “rough” and pouring its contents into a screen tray, your little miner lowers it into the sluice—a series of troughs. Watch as the water washes away the dirt and grime, leaving behind gems, minerals, fossils or flint arrowheads, which you can then identify using a chart. Discovery Tour This is what started it all, the tour that prompted USA Today in 2003 to list Natural Bridge Caverns as one of the “10 Great Places to Get Nature on Film.” Still the park’s most popular attraction, the Discovery Tour sends you 180 feet below the surface where you are introduced to ancient yet still-active formations. For half a mile, behold the unparalleled beauty of Texas’s largest show cavern while listening to one of the park’s knowledgeable tour guides. Hidden Passages Tour and Lantern Tour The Hidden Passage Tour, opened in 2008, and the Lantern Tour, opened in 2010, are the latest routes in Natural Bridge Cavern’s world-renowned cave system. According to Wuest, the Hidden Passage Tour takes you past the “most rare and delicate formations” the caverns have to offer and includes some very dramatic lighting. During one Adventure Tour For the exceptional thrill-seekers, the Adventure Tour gives you an opportunity to explore the caverns as they were originally discovered—without trails or handrails. Two separate tours, the Hidden Passages Adventure Tour and Discovery Adventure Tour both invite you to crawl and climb your way through undeveloped, pristine caverns with the assistance of professional staff members. For the very adventurous, the Hidden Passages Tour includes rappelling. Although physically challenging, these two tours are adventures you won’t soon forget. The park’s attractions are subject to change, so check Natural Bridge Cavern’s website for details. Since it opened its gates in 1964, the park has been giving locals and tourists alike a chance to connect with the natural wonders that lie beneath the earth’s surface. Now, with the addition of the Canopy Challenge, there has never been a better time to visit Natural Bridge Caverns. Valentine: a sweetheart chosen or complimented on St. Valentine’s Day (Webster’s Dictionary) It was a glorious, sunny and unseasonably warm Valentine’s Day afternoon in Stone Oak when residents of the Independence Hill Retirement Community gathered to renew their vows. The Providence High School Choir stood poised at the far end of the mezzanine balcony and filled the garden-like atrium of the assisted living hall with an angelic sweetness of sound. An archway, covered in white ticking, trails of English Ivy and white wedding bouquets set the stage where Pastor David Huereca stood. After the Wedding March Processional played, Pastor Huereca greeted the standing room only audience. This was followed by a prayer for loved ones lost, as several widowed residents looked down from the other end of the balcony. An ambulance idling outside the entrance preparing to carry an elderly gentleman to the hospital and the obvious frailty of some of the vow renewal participants bore witness to the long lives of those taking part and the fact that this ceremony, unlike the marriage ceremony itself, was a testimonial of faithful love rather than a promise of it. The unspoken reality of the fleeting nature of life and the resilience of love filled the room with a kind of tenderness and hope that is indeed rare. The choir sang Ave Maria and I Believe and then Pastor Huereca asked the couples that could to stand. Thirteen senior couples, save the oldest who remained in their wheelchairs, came to their feet, joined hands and gazed into each other’s eyes as Pastor Huereca read the renewal of vows, each followed by a collective chorus of “I Do.” There were kisses all around and tears of gladness as each couple walked, and in some cases rolled their wheelchairs, two by two through the archway, down a garden path, posing for photographs on the way to a champagne reception. Wait-staff, crisply attired in black and white stood at attention offering flutes of bubbly, while others helped the guests to their seats. A table laden with original wedding photos, many black and white now faded to soft sepia-tone, had the place of honor by the door, while an antique beaded wedding gown held the spotlight from a dress form in a far corner. Bite-sized chunks of cheese, plates of crackers and fresh fruit led the way to frosted urns of tea, punch and lemon ice water. A tiered white wedding cake, baked and artfully decorated with marshmallow icing by Independence Hill’s resident chef Raymundo Torres, took center stage and cascades of miniature red velvet cakes surrounded it. The retirement community’s executive director Michelle Houriet gave a heartfelt toast, noting that more than 760 years of marriage were represented at the ceremony. In a day and age when the odds of staying married are increasingly at risk, the question of the day was not so much “How did you meet but how did you do it?” The couple with the most years of marriage, Roland and Eleanor Poirer (celebrating 73 years as husband and wife this coming Sept.) made some humorous comments about who has the toughest time making it work but both felt that the best way for couples to get along is simple: “You agree.” Can’t argue with that! Gladys Limkemann, the smiling wife of retired Army chaplain August – her husband of 61 years said, “If you really and truly love each other you can handle anything.” She added that the old adage, “Don’t sleep on your anger,” was extremely important. August readily agreed saying “I don’t like to feel anger.” They also said that their commitment to doing things together is part of their successful marriage. They don’t watch TV in the daytime either, choosing to talk to each other instead. “One day at a time. One season at a time,” August Limkemann said. William and Mary Zwartjes, claiming the second longest marriage in the group, said “We met on a kind of blind date and it was love at first sight.” William is a retired Corporal with the Army Air Corps and Mary was volunteering with a ladies club to do something for the servicemen. She was sweet 16. “Everyone said it would never last and here we are 68 years later,” Mary said. “I wouldn’t want anyone else.” It was the second time Dr. Ted and Ann Glenn chose to renew their vows. You can’t say I love you too many times. Renewing marriage vows is all about saying “I’d do it all over again.” List of participating couples: Roland and Eleanor Poirier – (72 years) William and Mary Zwartjes – (68 years) Merrill and Lucille Harper – (65 years) Bob and Alene Boerner – (64 years) Robert and Helen Loadman – (64 years) William and Lura Wurzbach - (62 years) Dr. Ted and Ann Glenn (62 years) August and Gladys Limkemann (61 years) John and Dixie Watson – (46 years) Carl and Jackie Marmion – (38 years) Walter and Dawn Garms – (35 years) Howard and Iris Koota – (17 years) Jack and Martha Bowden – (16 years) Profit Faster: Successful Companies Secrets for the Small Businesses A s any entrepreneur will tell you, building a successful business in a slow economy can be extremely challenging. Business owners need smart, efficient ways to grow their companies in the face of a less-than-stable market. We asked Nitesh Jain, a business automation expert, profitability consultant and CEO of San Antonio based Localfirm, Quacito, for his thoughts on the matter “The best way for businesses to become more profitable is through systems automation,” Jain states. “By using technology to automate workflows, repetitive tasks and procedures that were previously done manually, businesses save time, money and stress. “The advantages of systems automation are threefold,” continues Jain. “First of all, it’s beneficial for business owners, who profit financially by minimizing the grunt work associated with manual processes. When you have a manual process, you have to pay an employee day in and day out to do the same task; building a system that handles these processes means you can realign those employees to more important and valuable jobs.” Additionally, he noted, systems automation provides business owners with more flexibility in their day-to-day operations. Small business owners in particular can become so tied to the daily running of their companies that they feel they don’t have time even for activities they enjoy doing, their family or to take a vacation. “Use of automated systems minimizes the amount of hands-on work that business owners have to oversee; application dashboards provide a ‘quick glance’ overview of activity, giving owners a sense of how business is performing and projects are progressing without the need to get heavily involved. In a nutshell, giving business owners the power of accurate data, at right time to make the right decisions.” Employees benefit from system automation as well. Freed from the tedious effort associated with completing repetitive manual tasks, employees can focus their time and attention on more interesting projects – thus increasing their knowledge and boosting their morale. Jain points to a recent Quacito client – a large pest control agency with offices throughout Texas and the Southeast. “The company’s sales reps had to use ten different paper contracts for all of their various services, which led to a lot of duplication of effort and information. Furthermore, the sales manager had to sit in the back office keying in data from these contracts for all 45 of the sales reps. We built a streamlined automatic system for them that abolished the need for paper pushing; everything is now on a centralized server and sales reps can enter information using their iPads – information which managers can access immediately.” Finally, systems automation helps customers by providing them with an efficient and easy-to-use end product. Another recent Quacito project involved automating the back end processing for an employee benefit services company; those using the benefits system can now update their insurance information online 24x7 instead of via a paper form during office hours only, and their changes are implemented in real time. It’s a much better user experience for them. “Systems automation is something we really believe in here at Quacito,” concludes Jain. “Our slogan is ‘We automate your business Grunt Work’.” “C entral Texas has a very distinct archaeological record. We have a lot of chipped stone projectile points that are unique on the face of the earth,” Dr. Mike Collins Most of us are aware that Texas has a rich cultural heritage but relatively few of us know that our state’s historical legacy also includes several Stone Age archaeological sites and the largest Clovis assemblage of artifacts in America. This massive Clovis find comes out of the Gault Site about 50 miles north of Austin near the town of Florence. Gault has thus far yielded up the oldest art yet found in Texas (some decorated stones dating back 11,000 years) and even older finds dating back to an older-than-Clovis era are being unearthed there. The Gault Site is situated along the Balcones Ecotone - a place where the uplift to the Edwards Plateau meets the impervious Comanche Aquifer, forcing groundwater to the surface in the form of springs, creeks and streams. The geology at Gault exposes large deposits of quality stone, ideal for flintknapping (making stone tools). These qualities and other less obvious ones have made the region a special area of habitation for many thousands of years. Gault’s lead research scientist Dr. Mike Collins, from the Department of Anthropology at Texas State University, said “An abundance of archaic artifacts were discovered at Gault in 1908, when the land first went into cultivation. At that time a lot of artifacts were churned up in the plow zone.” But Gault would not become a protected area for scientific study for quite some time. In 1929, Professor Pearce from the Department of Anthropology at the University of Texas is said to have heard rumors about a place full of artifacts north of the capital and went out to learn about them. Locals directed him to the Gault Farm where there were so many artifacts at the surface the owners had turned it into a pay-to-dig site. They weren’t giving it up to scientists. “The plundering of artifacts at Gault went on for 90 years before the land changed hands and a window of opportunity opened to secure the site for study,” Collins continued. In 1998, Collins and a team of scientists from U.T. approached the new owners and gained permission to excavate the artifacts they found there for a period of four years. By the time the archaeologists got there, plundering at the Gault Site had completely disrupted most of the Archaic Age deposits (9,000 – present). Bottles, cans and cigarette butts were mixed in with the midden along with broken and discarded artifacts. At about this depth, they found fire-cracked rocks from earth ovens and not nearly as many collectible artifacts. This is where most of the plundering stopped. Below the disturbed archaic layers some artifacts from the Paleo-Indian Period (12,000 – 9,000) were found but not many. Further down, however, the research team found several hundred thousand pieces of stone, bone, ivory and teeth dating back to the Clovis period (13,500 -10,000). They had hit pay dirt. In earlier studies, Collins had noted that the abundance and depth of Clovis artifacts indicates Clovis were not merely mobile mammoth hunters using specialized tools as previously thought and the same thing appeared to be true at Gault. “Specialized hunters of mammoths would have had little reason to frequent a site like Gault whereas it is ideally suited to the needs of generalized hunter-gatherers.” Clovis points found at Gault include a wide array of bifacial points, knives, adzes, choppers, scrappers and long blades. In a quote from an article previously published by The Atlantic Review a decade ago, Collins said he has come to look at Clovis as a techno complex – a constellation of technologies shared by multiple ethnically distinct peoples over a wide area. In 2002, just months before the temporary excavation at Gault would have to turn the site back to its owners; Collins rented a backhoe and dug a trench hoping to find evidence of a culture older than Clovis lower down. Sure enough, they found artifacts dating back as far as 15,000 years ago. That’s older than the earliest Clovis culture by some 1,500 years. This discovery lit a fire under Collins and he set to work to secure and acquire the site permanently for scientific study. It took some doing but in 2007 Collins bought the 34 acres that now constitutes the Gault Site and donated it to The Archaeological Conservation so it will always be preserved for research. He then created a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit called the Gault School of Archaeological Research. In 2009, the Gault School received a grant from the National Science Foundation to document the deposits that they’ve found there. Most of the money is used to pay for radio-carbon dating and the Optical Spectral Luminescence (OSL) that helps them determine the age of the artifacts. Finding an older-than-Clovis culture at Gault was exciting enough but it now places this Texas archaeological site squarely on the world stage. Here’s why. The Clovis culture was long believed by the majority of the scientific community to have been the first to colonize the Americas. Clovis were believed to have derived from Asians who walked here by way of the Bering land bridge that was exposed at the end of the last glacial maximum. As it turns out, however, the artifacts found on the Bering land bridge only date back as far as 11,000 years ago while modern evidence establishes the Clovis culture arriving here some 2,000 years earlier. Advances in Paleoclimatology and oceanography over the past 30 years now prove that the Bering land bridge was covered in an ice block 13,000 years ago making it impossible for the Asians to have walked over it then. “It just makes sense that the earliest people in America got here by boat,” Collins said. He’s not the only one to think so either but for a long while they were a tiny minority. The idea is not new. It’s been hotly debated for decades and dissenters to the Clovisfirst theory were severely criticized by the most professional archaeologists and other scientists. “Over the last 15 years, though, there has been a ‘sea change’ in thinking about when the first humans arrived in America and how they got here. The turning point in thought about an older-than-Clovis culture in America involved two relatively recent archaeological finds: the site at Montverde, Chile in 1997 (which is the first to uncover perishable artifacts from the Clovis period) and the discovery of an older-thanClovis culture lying directly below Clovis at Cactus Hill, Virginia in 1998.” Tom Dillehay’s analytical documentation of Montverde was so convincing, it has won over many who previously doubted an early migration from Europe. In 1999 American archaeologists held a convention in Santa Fe, NM called Clovis and Beyond. Dr. Collins describes the gathering as more of a food fight than a scientific debate. Nevertheless, since then, more of the scientific community is taking the older-than-Clovis theory seriously. Now, Collins said, the majority of thoughtful archaeologists see the first peopling of the Americas in a new light. Asians did walk across the Bering land bridge into America but they weren’t the first to get here and the latest evidence suggests they came from Europe by boat. A key argument against the theory Europeans crossed the Atlantic that long ago is anchored in the belief that Stone Age cavemen could not have accomplished the task or survived living on the ice. Collins calls this “chrono-racism” – the discrediting of prehistoric tribal bands as intelligent, adaptable humans. Non-believers also point to the fact that no boats dating back to that period have been found. But Collins and a few like-minded colleagues* believe this is naïve. • Primitive European boats would’ve been made of skin on wood-frame, like the whaling boats of the Inuit, and would not have survived • The current sea level is more than 300 feet higher than it was during the last ice age making it likely any prehistoric maritime artifacts are on the continental shelf under water • There is widespread evidence people around the globe used skin on woodframe boats to ply the waters more than 33,000 years ago and we don’t have those boats either In fact, the earliest older-than-Clovis sites in America exist along the North American Atlantic coast, not in the west. This suggests a migration westward not the other way around. The widely acclaimed book Across Atlantic Ice (published in 2012) by Dr. Dennis Stanford and Dr. Bruce Bradley postulates that an early European culture known as the Solutrean came to America by crossing the Atlantic in boats and that their technology and culture are the origin of Clovis. Stanford and Bradley have yet to make a convincing case for these early European people as the antecedants of Clovis but Across Atlantic Ice is winning over a fresh crop of archaeologists to an expanded view of how the earliest peopling of the Americas came about. By taking a multi-disciplinary approach Stanford and Bradley describe how it is possible and even probable that a band of Solutrean hunter-gatherers (a culture that lived from 24,000 – 16,000 years ago) migrated to America from Southwestern France and the Iberian Peninsula in Northern Spain some 20,000 years ago. Though there missing links in the theory, it makes sense that as the glacier pushed into the center of Europe, destroying forests and habitats and driving human and animals southward to the terrestrial margins, the Solutrean and other tribes along Europe’s west coast would’ve explored the exposed continental shelf to hunt sea mammals and fish. • The discovery of ivory, eyed-needles and remains of marine animals in La Riera Cave in Southwest France supports a water adaptation about 18,000-19,000 years ago as does evidence of an absence of habitation there around the same time. • Small groups may well have ventured onto ice floes in water tight clothing made from seal skin and navigated the freezing Atlantic by the stars. However they got here, the shifting thought about the origins of the first people in America puts Gault and its olderthan-Clovis artifacts under a bright global spotlight. Because perishable artifact assemblages (wood, fiber and skin) are missing from almost all Stone Age archaeological sites, most of the artifacts are made up of animal bones and stone tools. Researchers consider the way the tools were flaked, what type of stone was used, where it was quarried, where proximal artifacts are found and what is found with them. Of course, other things can be derived from the long, repeated habitation at Gault and from what scientists do not find. For example, Collins points out that the hunter-gatherers in Central Texas were surrounded by archaic people who made the transition from total dependence on natural resources to at least some dependence on horticulture (or farming) somewhere between 3,000 and 2,000 years ago. That transition did not happen in Central Texas. Collins believes the archaeological evidence shows that those people were very aware of the long distant cultural and political landscape. “We find exotic materials in Central Texas sites and influences that moved from one people to another. Then when you get to the contact time when Europeans were writing about the Native Americans here you repeatedly come across stories like Sacajawea, (the Plains Indian who led Lewis and Clarke to the west),” Collins said. Sacajawea knew about and could communicate with every Native American group from the Ohio River Valley to the Cascade Mountains. Bottom line, the hunter-gatherers in Central Texas weren’t stupid. They didn’t embrace horticulture like the surrounding cultures because they had a better way to survive the highly variable climate and rainfall here. They cooked native Camus bulbs and baked them into cakes they could carry with them. They knew they couldn’t depend on cultivating crops and chose to stay mobile. The fact that they returned to Gault and other sites along the Balcones Ecotone over the millennia speaks to how special this area of Texas is and has been. There is a Gault Site exhibit at the Bell County Museum in Belton and the Bob Bullock Museum in Austin plans to open a Gault exhibit in early 2014. To learn more, to volunteer, donate or to tour the site go to www.gaultschool.org. I n 2013 Dietz-McLean Optical will celebrate our 75th anniversary. We are very proud of this accomplishment, and extremely appreciative of our customers whose support has made this happen. During these 75 years there have been many changes in eyeglasses and the way they are made. Despite these changes our commitment to your great vision remains. Eyeglasses, then as now, perform the basic function of helping you see better, and believe it or not look better. Here are some tidbits about eyeglasses in 1938 as compared to now. 75 years ago all eyeglass lenses were made from glass; optical plastics were still a thing of the future. Today less than 5% off all lenses are made out of glass and variations in modern plastics provide endless possibilities in terms of durability, weight and optics. If you wore a bifocal or trifocal in 1938 you wore a line. While bifocals and trifocals are still made today, most people requiring both near and far vision correction wear progressive lenses that have no lines. Not only are these lenses cosmetically better than their predecessors, their design creates better vision than imagined all those years ago. In those years all calculations required to grind a lens were performed by hand with pencil and paper. Today sophisticated computer systems guide the entire process. Frames were metal, plastic and rimless. Gold and silver were the basic color choices for metal and rimless. Black, brown and tortoise were the colors for the plastics. Glamour, probably not yet there was some styling for the times. Today virtually every fashion designer makes frames. But it doesn’t stop there, frames of every color combination shape and size are made and many truly improve you looks. Titanium has become one of the most popular metals in which to make frames. Lightweight and strong it enables designers to create styles and shapes that not only look good, but provide unbelievable comfort. While glasses today rarely resemble those of 75 years ago, our dedication to you, our customer, has remained unchanged. Dietz-McLean Optical, since 1938. Let our family treat you like family! Now Offering “Total Connect Remote Interactive Services” More Than Your Typical Alarm System ….It’s Your Lifestyle Use Your Smartphone—Tablet—Laptop To Remotely: • • • • • Arm and disarm your alarm Receive a text or email on any security activity View your home by video surveillance Turn your lights on or off for indoor or outdoor Control your thermostats for heating or cooling I t’s not every day that two women share the incredible vision and passion for animals that Jennifer Garcia and Kymberly Rapier share. These two joined together with an immense love for animals to form Pretty Paws Mobile Pet Grooming, a business founded on quality and care. With Pretty Paws, quantity and profits are not the priority. For Garcia and Rapier, true love for animals and caring for pets is of the utmost importance. Garcia learned of her dream at a very young age. She was known to bring small animals home as a child and even wrote her aspirations down in a note as a second grader, describing her dream of being a “Doggie Hair Stylist.” Living in Hawaii as a teenager, Garcia and a friend took it upon themselves to rescue dogs from death row, where they were to be euthanized. They spent time with the dogs taking them to training classes and finding permanent homes. Garcia says, “I felt overwhelming joy to work with and save them and see the positive impact on the new owners. I learned that I can change the lives of people and animals.” In 2005 Garcia combined her artistic talents with her passion for animals when she began her work as a groomer. She says, “I love, love, love my job. I get to play with dogs and get puppy kisses all day!” In her eight years as a groomer she has enjoyed working with her clients to turn blank canvases into masterpieces and enhance the beauty and comfort of each dog. Rapier is the happy owner of six dogs: two Schnauzer, two Toy Poodles, a Lab and a German Sheppard. She also operates Pretty Paws in Big Sky, Montana. Garcia is the happy owner of three dogs, four cats, two snakes, a handicap guinea pig and an African Side-Neck Turtle with cancer. Of which, all but one animal were rescued. Pretty Paws specializes in working with animals at their home. Garcia says this allows the groomer to work with the animals close to their owners and eliminate the use of kennels. Pretty Paws goal is to groom the pet and get them back to their owner as quickly as possible. She also prefers the calm and comfort this allows the animal to maintain. Pretty Paws is excited to offer its services in the greater San Antonio area. The mobile pet spa travels from Boerne to New Braunfels and even beyond. Manned by two groomers, the spa includes two grooming tables and a stainless steel tub. The company offers affordable services and includes special discounts for military, seniors, service dogs and even special neighborhood discounts. Garcia and Rapier are excited to share their love for animals with your family and offer your pets the care and attention they deserve. For more information or to schedule your services, please call 210439-7442 or visit www.prettypawssa.com. Online at: www.CommunityCircular.com 45 T here are some summer camps that will help your child improve his soccer skills, and some that will teach your kids how to speak Spanish. Comal County, however, takes summer camp a little more seriously. For the fifth year in a row, the Comal County Sheriff’s Office will host three sessions of its Junior Deputy Academy. Camps will take place at various school campuses in the area, in an effort to positively impact the lives of young people as they transition into adolescence and ultimately into adulthood. “We recognize (that) our youth are the future leaders of tomorrow and we, in law enforcement, have an opportunity to influence behaviors that can assist with that success,” states Comal County Sheriff, Bob Holder. The program will touch approximately 300 children at three different camp sessions over the summer. Each program will host a maximum of 100 campers and is open to Comal County resident children between the ages of 9 and 11. The camps will run from 8:00 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday, and offers kids an interactive experience that will focus on modern safety training, as well as role playing that will encourage kids to make wise choices when it comes to drugs, alcohol, gangs and violence. Campers will also have the opportunity to tour the sheriff’s office and meet key public safety personnel and public servants within the law enforcement community, such as the Game Warden, Juvenile Probation Officers, the District Attorney, along with members of the Sheriff’s K-9 unit and SWAT Team. They will tour the 911 Communication 46 Online at: www.CommunityCircular.com Dispatch Office and watch as actual calls are handled by the communication operators. Finally, they will take a tour of the jail, as they discover what the consequences can be for making poor decisions in future years. Sergeant Rick Cardenas supervises and oversees the Junior Deputy Academy and feels strongly about the principles which drive this program, and the positive impact it can have on our youth and the community at large. “Our goal is to reach young people at that age of reason, before adolescence, when kids are old enough to understand the rewards of making the right choices and the consequences for making the wrong choices. This program will have a strong impact on their development, before the ideas and attitudes of adolescence set in.” The Junior Deputy Academy has a proven track record of steering young people in a positive direction, as teachers have spoken about borderline students who have become leaders after being exposed to this program. Some campers have even returned to the Academy to enhance their experience and reinforce the concepts taught at the summer camp. The camps are free to the public, thanks to the generous support of sponsors such as Comal Independent School District, Bluebonnet Chrysler/Dodge, State Farm, Edward Jones, Coleman Plant, Heart of Texas Promotions and many others. Each session is limited to 100 campers, and these coveted spots are awarded on a first come, first served basis. Parents may sign their children up for camp on the Comal County website and contact Sgt. Cardenas with any questions. The camp will culminate with a graduation ceremony on Friday, where family and friends are welcome to attend to watch the junior deputies receive their official deputy badges. HEB will again be providing the graduation cakes for each camp, and Blue Bell Ice Cream will provide the ice cream cups. Each camper will also be presented with a swag bag full of items that will remind them to make positive choices as they move into adolescence. The teen years can be very challenging for parents and for the child as well. The Comal County Junior Deputy Academy can equip our young citizens with the information and tools necessary to understand and respect the laws that were designed to keep us safe, and maintain order in an ever changing society. While learning to bend a soccer ball like Beckham is an impressive skill, learning to make the right choices, which lead to becoming a responsible citizen within our community, carries promise and hope for a future that seems increasingly unsure in these volatile times. This is an amazing program with proven results and our law enforcement officials should be commended on their vision and their efforts, as they lead our youth in the right direction, providing them with confidence and a sense of civic responsibility. Comal County Junior Deputy Academy www.co.comal.tx.us/so/Junior_Deputy_Academy.html Contact: Sergeant Rick Cardenas (830) 643-5840 soarcs@co.comal.tx.us Academy Dates: June 24-28 @ Canyon Middle School July 15-19 @ Mt. Valley Middle School July 29-August 2 @ Smithson Middle School Online at: www.CommunityCircular.com 47 48 Online at: www.CommunityCircular.com