Zone 5 September 2014

METROCOM SCHOOLS’ REPORT CARDS
pg.14 AREA DISTRICTS MEET, EXCEED STATE STANDARDS
pg.11 Nor-Tex
fantastic deals
development set
for Metrocom
coupons INSIDE
Discover the city through LOCAL
deals from restaurants, retailers and
services in your community, and save
money while you do it! PG. 23
COMMUNITY NEWS
bracken
Vol. 2, Issue 3
cibolo
garden Ridge
schertz
Schertz, Cibolo city
councils approve
rezoning requests
Selma
09/2014
pg.16 Northeast
What's
INSIDE
Lakeview
soliciting area
input
your community
pg.18 National
College partnering with
community to shape
future job training
Night Out unites
residents, cops,
communities
against crime
Evening events set for
Oct. 7
pg. 21 EAT LOCAL
SABOR LATINO
RESTAURANT
Latin American, Caribbean dishes
offer many alternatives to Tex-Mex
pg.17 Texas Mobile
Pack event aims
to feed 4 million
Goal is to supply meals to
nourish starving children
www.salocallowdown.com
pg.12
REUNITED
White child adopted
by black family
unearths her roots
pg. 19 BUY LOCAL
RANDOLPH FAMILY DENTAL
Cosmetic dentistry practice has new
location in Schertz
2
SEPTEMBER 2014
From the editor
wwright@salocallowdown.com
President
Harold J. Lees
Publisher
Gregg Rosenfield
Currently Accepting
New Patients
Assoc. Publisher
Rick Upton
Editorial
Executive Editor
Thomas Edwards
Managing Editor
Will Wright
News Staff
Collette Orquiz and Bain Serna
Contributing Writers
J.E. Jordan, Miranda Koerner, Eric Moreno
and Arthur Schechter
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and Consultations
Hearing Aid
Repairs
Custom Hearing
Protection
Tinnitus
Evaluations
Contact Us
Today!
Doss Audiology & Hearing Center
5000 Schertz Parkway, Suite 300
Schertz, TX 78154
Phone: 210.819.5002
www.dossaudiology.com
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Luz Moreno
Account Managers
Dawn Radick and Joe Rieras
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Time to bench
domestic violence
T
he domesticviolence
case involving
Baltimore Ravens
running back Ray Rice
was a hot-button story
this summer. Rice
admitted assaulting his then-girlfriend,
now-wife, during an incident in February.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in
July handed Rice a two-game suspension
– a punishment that drew criticism from
many who believed it too lenient. However,
when TMZ released the full video of
Rice’s incident on Sept. 8, the Ravens that
same day released the running back and
the NFL suspended him indefinitely.
The Rice incident prompted more
national exposure of the serious issue of
domestic abuse, specifically intimate partner
violence. There’ll likely be more discussion
on that topic in the days to come.
The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention defines IPV as “physical, sexual
or psychological harm by a current or former
partner or spouse,” and calls for measures to
prevent IPV before it begins. A March research
brief by the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation
cited 2012 Texas Department of Public Safety
statistics indicating 114 women in Texas were
killed in 2012 as a result of IPV – including five
in Bexar County and one in Comal County.
The Kronkosky brief also cited statistics
from the San Antonio Police Department,
which indicated a 2.8 percent increase in
received domestic-violence calls, from
43,971 in 2011 to 45,008 in 2012.
Further statistics, along with the many
aftereffects of IPV, are too numerous to list
here. Thankfully, there are several hotlines
and counseling services available to provide
education about, and prevention of, domestic
violence – nationwide and locally.
Notable in the north San Antonio area
are the Guadalupe Valley Family Violence
Shelter in Seguin and the Crisis Center
of Comal County in New Braunfels.
Other listings are available at the Texas
Council on Family Violence website.
Will Wright
Managing Editor
facebook.com/salocalcommunitynews
3
salocallowdown.com
local letters
AIR FORCE OFFICIAL PROMOTES
HARMONY IN LAND-USE STUDIES
Editor: I’d like to thank LOCAL
Community News and writer Eileen Pace for
“Air Force Studying Urban Influence” in the
August 2014 issue, which highlighted the
importance of the partnership in the Joint
Land Use Study between the community
and Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.
I’d like to respond to a comment
attributed to Kate Silvas, Converse
Economic Development Corp. executive
director, who stated the following about the
designation of certain areas as proposed
Air Installation Compatible Use Zones:
‘“It’s akin to property-taking,” Silvas
said, citing that some of the city’s private
landowners had been told they would
not be able to develop certain tracts.
“The federal government doesn’t have
the money to buy it, but it is basically
saying we can’t develop this land.
Therefore, economic development
can’t happen on that property.”’
The 12th Flying Training Wing and
JBSA are working very closely with the
community in the ongoing Joint Land
Use Study, which is not a regulatory
document or enforceable action — but a
collaborative effort between residents, city
and county officials, and senior military
leaders to discuss what’s in the best
interest of the neighborhood as it moves
forward. This study reflects the interests
of both the area and JBSA-Randolph,
within the context of our operation.
We are offering the community
a chance to work with us to protect
the missions of JBSA-Randolph, to
include the 12th FTW, Air Education
and Training Command, Air Force
Personnel Center, Air Force Recruiting
Service, the many mission support
organizations and more residing here.
According to the Joint Base San
Antonio’s “Total Military Economic
Impact Statement” for fiscal year
2013, JBSA supports and serves more
than 420,000 military, dependents,
CORRECTION
A story in August’s LOCAL Community News incorrectly listed the phone number for
Rocket’s Feed, located at 9135 Schaeffer Road in Converse. The correct number is 263-9688.
civilians, retirees and veterans at a
worth of more than $9.6 billion.
The study, funded by the Department of
Defense, Office of Economic Adjustment
and with contributions from Bexar County,
is being conducted in hopes to allow the
local community to grow while keeping
in mind public health and safety while
preventing future encroachment and
protecting the operational missions of JBSARandolph in support of national defense.
We feel collaborative planning on
development is in the best interest, not
only of our flying mission and the rest of
JBSA-Randolph, but to the San Antonio
metropolitan communities overall.
I speak for all of the JBSA-Randolph
missions when I say we truly enjoy being
part of Military City USA, and we’d like
to continue to work with all of you to
ensure we can maintain our operations.
Air Force Col. Matt Isler
Editor’s note: Isler is commander of the
12th Flying Training Wing at Joint Base San
Antonio-Randolph.
6th Annual Weston Wright “Lighting the Way” 5K/10K Run/Walk
Special relay races for 5 to 10 year olds
ING
BENEFIT
Blind Children’s Programs
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Wheatley Heights Sports Complex
200 Noblewood Drive
TING
PRESEN OR
SPONS
Chipped timed race managed by Irun
For more info or to register now
www.salighthouse.org/events
(210) 531-1533 nlipton@salighthouse.org
Side by Side, There is No Hiding Who is the
MoSt Qualified for Judge of County Court at law #10
Karen Crouch
Opponent
Years as an Attorney
28 years
17 years
Jury Trials throughout Texas as Lead
Attorney
Over 150
Less than 14
Years Served as an ELECTED Judge
16 years
0
Years of Judicial Experience
20 years
0
Jury Trials as an ELECTED Judge
480 trials
0
10 years
Managing Judge
Never Participated
COMPARE THE CANDIDATES
Courts in Schools Participation
Karen Crouch is the MOST QUALIFIED Candidate for
Judge of County Court at Law #10
EARLY VOTING: October 20 - 31 ELECTION DAY: Tuesday, November 4
Crouch
Karen
FOR JUDGE.
Karen Crouch is a former Judge in Bexar County and
currently serves as a Judge sitting by assignment
KarenCrouchForJudge
Pol. Adv. paid for by the Karen Crouch Campaign, Mrs. William E. Crouch, Treasurer, 108 Lochaven Lane, San Antonio, TX 78213 in compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act.
4
SEPTEMBER 2014
OUR TURN
Views and opinions about your community
Streetcar provides
valuable lesson
W
hen the people speak,
elected leaders would
be wise to listen.
Such is the case regarding San Antonio’s
aborted plans to funnel $32 million to an
ill-advised downtown streetcar project.
The politicians changed their minds after a
petition calling for a charter-amendment vote
that could have derailed the proposal landed
at City Hall with thousands of signatures.
Now the City Council under new
Mayor Ivy Taylor has decided to pull its
support. Meanwhile, the amendment
could be on the May ballot.
In a LOCAL Community News editorial
several months ago, we urged city leaders
to abandon the project, which carries a
total price tag of $280 million or more.
Though VIA Metropolitan Transit
has pushed the project for months as part
of a larger multimodal transportation
Save Up To 35%
No More Pesky Mosquitoes!
system, it’s clear to see the 5-plus miles of
tracks that would service the downtown
area serve only a few, not the many.
San Antonio abandoned streetcars in
the 1930s, and with good reason: Their
day is long over. Today the city and a
dozen surrounding communities have
an excellent bus system provided by VIA.
Downtown streetcars would just be a
novelty to dazzle a few tourists’ eyes, but
at $280 million, do we really need them?
There was never community consensus
for the streetcar system, which represents
a colossal waste of taxpayer money.
A better use for that money is local
street repair and maintenance projects,
or reallocating funding to pay for the
expansion of U.S. 281 and Loop 1604,
thereby replacing the use of proposed tolls.
The widespread lack of public support
for the streetcar initiative has been no secret
to local leaders. Opposition started growing
the minute the public learned of the deal.
Any future projects of this magnitude —
including streetcars and light rail — deserve
a public vote, rather than bureaucrats and
politicians alone deciding the issue.
-the Local Community News
editorial board includes Harry Lees,
Gregg Rosenfield and Thomas Edwards.
“10 Rooms In 1”
5
salocallowdown.com
DENTAL
Happening LOCAL
Plan your month with our calendar of
upcoming events in the community.
OUR
GUIDE
TO YOUR
MONTH
NGOC-TUYEN ONG, D.D.S.
ART
FALL SCOUT ROUNDUP
The Two Rivers District of
the Alamo Area Council of
the Boy Scouts of America is conducting
its Fall Scout Roundup for first- through
fifth-graders (ages 7-10). The Two Rivers
District serves north Bexar, Guadalupe
and Comal counties, representing Seguin,
New Braunfels, Canyon Lake, Schertz,
Cibolo, Selma and Randolph Air Force Base.
Meetings are 7 p.m. on the first Thursday
of each month at Tree of Life Church,
5513 Interstate 35 South in New Braunfels.
For more, visit www.alamoareabsa.org.
THIS
MONTH
SCHERTZFEST/BBQ COOK-OFF
The city of Schertz will
celebrate SchertzFest 2014
Sept. 19-20 at Pickrell Park, 703 Oak St.
The family-fun event features live music,
carnival rides and food. The sixth annual
barbecue cook-off Sept. 20 features a
$10,000 purse, with the grand-prize
winner receiving $1,500 and a trophy.
Sanctioned by the Texas Gulf Coast BBQ
Cookers Association, spots are available
on a first-come, first-serve basis. Proceeds
benefit the Schertz Parks and Recreation
Foundation. For more, call Sarah Gonzalez
at 619-1015 or Jutta Jacobs at 619-1153.
sept
19-20
COMAL COUNTY FAIR
The annual Comal County
Fair & Rodeo will stage daily
events at the Comal County Fairgrounds,
701 Common St. in New Braunfels with
children’s activities, exhibits, vendors,
carnival rides, special attractions and
nightly entertainment. The Professional
Rodeo Cowboys Association will
compete Sept. 25-27 at 7:30 p.m. For
more, visit comalcountyfair.org.
SEPT
19-28
METROCOM CHAMBER ROTARY
CLUB GOLF TOURNEY
The Randolph Metrocom Rotary
Golf Tournament will be at Olympia Hills
Golf & Conference Center, 12900 Mount
Olympus St. in Universal City. Proceeds
from the 18th annual “Fair-Way for Kids
Benefit” will aid needy children in the
SEPT
22
Providing quality dental services in
a warm and friendly atmosphere.
ha p p ening k ey
fitness
TRI COUNTY
TALK
outdoor
Music
FOOD
Judson, Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City
and Marion independent school districts.
Registration begins at 10 a.m. with a
putting contest and box lunch preceding
the 12:15 p.m. tee time. An awards dinner
follows at 5:30 p.m. To register, visit
www.randolphmetrocomrotary.org.
KID’S CLOSET CONNECTION
CONSIGNMENT SALE
The semiannual event connects
sellers of gently used children’s items
with buyers seeking to purchase quality
goods at discounted prices. The bargains
will be at Knights of Columbus Hall, 509
Schertz Parkway in Schertz, 11 a.m. to 7
p.m. Sept. 26 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept.
27. For more, visit www.kidscloset.biz
or call Brittany Giddens at 391-9221.
SEPT
26-27
GARDEN RIDGE LIONS CLUB
FISH FRY The club’s 42nd
annual Fish Fry, Bar-B-Q and
Auction will begin 3 p.m. at the Garden
Ridge Community Center, 9500 Municipal
Parkway (FM 3009). The event is the
primary fundraiser for Lions Club charities,
which include providing eye exams and
glasses for disadvantaged children, funding
the Texas Lions Camp for special-needs
youngsters, providing Thanksgiving and
Christmas food baskets and Yuletide toys
for needy families, and scholarships. The
event features live entertainment, silent
and live auctions and two raffles. Dinner
will be served from 3-6:30 p.m. Tickets
are $10 for adults, $5 for children.
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210.651.1919
Tricountydental@Hotmail.com 6018 Fm 3009, Ste. 114, Schertz, Tx (Next To Walmart Entrance)
OCT
4
SCHERTZ CIBOLO VALLEY
GENEALOGISTS WORKSHOP
The group will celebrate
National Family History Month with a
free Family History Workshop 1-4 p.m.
at the Schertz Public Library, 798 Schertz
Parkway. The theme, “Saving and Sharing
Their Stories,” will include chronicling
methods and offering ways to explore
family histories. Admission is free; door
OCT
5
Happening continues on pg. 06
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COME & ENJOY
LOTS OF FUN!
Full Service Bar
Snack Bar
Cosmic Bowling
Mon - Thurs 11am-11pm
Fri 11am-12am
Sat 9am-12am
Sun 12pm-9pm
12 AMF Lanes
Music & Games
Billards
23129 IH 35 North
New Braunfels, TX 78132
(Schwab Road Exit)
830-626-0830
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TEXAS PEST CONTROL
HAPPENING continues from pg. 05
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Phone: 210-496-5918 Fax: 210-967-9727
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beer samplings, and the Great Guitar
Auction. For more, including tickets and
information, call 830-629-5077 or visit
www.GrueneMusicandWineFest.org.
prizes will be awarded. The club is also
collecting nonperishable food items at
the library during October. For more,
call Donna Peterson at 830-609-9006 or
email donna.jane.peterson@gmail.com.
GARDEN RIDGE HOLIDAY
MARKETPLACE
The Garden Ridge Women’s
Club hosts its annual Holiday Marketplace
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Garden Ridge
Community Center, 9500 Municipal
Parkway (FM 3009). More than 50 vendors
will offer one-of-a-kind gifts, a silent
auction and raffle, and delicious food. All
proceeds will be donated to local charities.
oct
11
GUADALUPE COUNTY
FAIR & PRCA RODEO
The 131st annual Guadalupe
County Fair & PRCA Rodeo will stage daily
events at the Seguin Events Complex, 728
Midway in Seguin. Included are children’s
activities, exhibits, vendors, carnival rides,
special attractions and nightly entertainment.
Pre-sale admission tickets to the fair and
weekend rodeo are available at Wyatt Arp
Dodge, the Seguin Chamber of Commerce
and the Guadalupe County Fair Office in
Seguin. For more, visit www.gcfair.org.
oct
9-12
28TH ANNUAL GRUENE
MUSIC & WINE FEST
The Americana event benefiting
the United Way of Comal County features
the best in live Texas tunes, food and
libations at Gruene Hall and The Grapevine
in New Braunfels. Each day features
vintner and music events, wine, food and
oct
9-12
ALL WORK GUARANTEED
(210)496-5918
SEPTEMBER 2014
CIBOLO FEST 2014
The city of Cibolo sponsors the
annual event featuring carnival
rides, petting zoo, 5K run, pony rides, silent
auction, games, car show, food, arts and
crafts booths, and live entertainment, 10
a.m. to 10 p.m. at 200 S. Main St. For vendor
information, call Peggy Cimics at 566-6111.
oct
11
oct
11
BRACKEN CHRISTIAN
SCHOOL WARRIOR BASH
Representatives from the
Happening continues on pg. 07
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HAPPENING continues from pg. 06
Robertson clan – including Uncle Si, Al, Jep,
and Jessica – from A&E’s “Duck Dynasty”
will headline the Bracken Christian School’s
second annual fundraiser, beginning 5
p.m. at Leon Springs Dancehall, 24135
Interstate 10 West in San Antonio. The
event includes dinner, a raffle and live
auction, and a presentation by the TV
family. Proceeds benefit Bracken Christian
School programs. Individual tickets are
$150; sponsorships, including meet-andgreet opportunities with the Robertsons,
are also available. For more, call 830-2218121 or visit www.brackenchristian.com.
SCHERTZ LIBRARY BOOK SALE
oct
The event will be held 10 a.m.
17-18
to 5 p.m. Oct. 17 and noon to
5 p.m. Oct. 18 at the library, 798 Schertz
Parkway in Schertz. Buy a bag for $3 and
stuff it with a wide selection of paperbacks
and hardbacks. Included are children’s
books, cookbooks and vintage offerings. For
more, call bookstore manager Joanne Ward
at 566-0415 or email jjward75@att.net.
RITA’S GIVE BACK GALA
oct
The Circle of Cancer Care
18
is sponsoring the event
to support female cancer patients in
northeast San Antonio, Schertz and Cibolo,
beginning 7 p.m. at the Schertz Civic
Center ballroom, 1400 Schertz Parkway,
Building 5. The gala, including dinner,
live music and silent auction, costs $75
per person. For more, call 802-1740 or
email circleofcancercare@gmail.com.
SCHERTZ CHAMBER EVENTS
The Schertz Chamber of
Commerce has the following
events during September and October:
The monthly Biz Ed class and breakfast,
featuring “Mastering your Memory” by
guest speaker Craig Krause, will be held
7:30-9 a.m. Sept. 24 at the Chamber
offices, 1730 Schertz Parkway. Admission
is $10; free for Chamber members.
The fifth annual Chamber/Caterpillar
Golf Classic is Oct. 3 at Northcliffe Golf
Club, 5301 Country Club Blvd. in Cibolo.
Benefiting DECA programs at Clemens
and Steele high schools, the event begins
with an 11 a.m. shotgun start, with
awards, live and silent auction items as
well as a raffle beginning at 5 p.m.
The Chamber’s After Hours Mixer, hosted
by Sure Point Self Storage, will be held
5:30-7 p.m. Oct. 16 at 17305 Interstate
35 North. The event features food,
beverages and a Chamber cash drawing.
Admission is $10; free for members.
The Chamber’s Oct. 21 luncheon, featuring
“Health Marketplace Updates,” from
sept
/oct
Heather Garcia of ETC HR, is 11:30 a.m.
to 1 p.m. at Schertz Civic Center, 1400
Schertz Parkway. Admission is $28, $18
for members. Please RSVP by Oct. 14.
A “Meet the Candidates Forum,” featuring
city council candidates from Schertz
and Cibolo, will be held from 6-8 p.m.
Oct. 23 at the Schertz Civic Center.
The forum is open to the public.
Schertz Chamber Toastmasters convene
each Monday at 6:45 p.m. at the Comfort
Inn & Suites meeting room, 5571 Interstate
35 North in Selma. For more, call 5669000 or visit www.schertzchamber.org.
CIBOLO GRANGE
The nonprofit agricultural
weekly
and civic organization hosts
a Farmers and Artisans Market each
Thursday 2-6 p.m. at Grange Hall, 413
N. Main St. in Cibolo. For more, visit
CiboloGrangeFarmersMarket/Facebook.
ST. PAUL’S CHURCH
monthly FREE SUPPER
During the first Wednesday
of each month, St. Paul Evangelical
Church, 108 S. Main St. in Cibolo,
serves a free dinner 6-7:30 p.m. For
more, call the church at 658-5874.
FUNDANCERS’ CALLER
SCHEDULE
weekly
The FunDancers’ Square and
Line Dance Club meets each Sunday
at Community Center North, 4923
Morning Drive in Schertz. Lessons
start at 5 p.m., with dances 7-9 p.m. For
more, visit the club’s information link
at the Austin Square and Round Dance
Association website, www.asrda.org.
CIBOLO VALLEY BAPTIST
AWANA CLUB
weekly
Cibolo Valley Baptist Church,
5500 FM 1103 in Schertz, offers Awana
Clubs for ages 3 through 18. The evangelism
and discipleship program actively involves
parents, church leaders and mentors in
training children to follow Christian
principles. Meetings are Sundays from
5:45-7:30 p.m. For more, call Awana
Commander Amy Long at 300-1054 or
the church office at 658-0525, or visit the
church website at cibolovalleychurch.org.
FIGHTING HUNGER
ongoing TexasMobilePack and Feed
My Starving Children are
seeking volunteers to help pack 4 million
meals for hungry children overseas during
a four-day event Sept. 25-28. The goal
is to line up 20,000 volunteers to work
two-hour shifts at three local sites. For
Happening continues on pg. 08
What’s Smarter Paying
Off Debt or Investing?
It probably doesn’t happen as much as you’d like, but from time to time, you have some
extra disposable income. When this happens, how should you use the funds? Assuming you
have adequate emergency savings — typically, three to six months’ worth of living expenses
— should you pay off debts, or fund your IRA or another investment account?
There’s no one “correct” answer — and the priority of these options may change, depending on your financial goals. However, your first step may be to consider what type of debt
you’re thinking of paying down with your extra money. For example, if you have a consumer
loan that charges a high rate of interest — and you can’t deduct the interest payments from
your taxes — you might conclude that it’s a good idea to get rid of this loan as quickly as
possible.
Still, if the loan is relatively small, and the payments aren’t really impinging on your
monthly cash flow that much, you might want to consider putting any extra money you have
into an investment that has the potential to offer longer-term benefits. For instance, you
might decide to fully fund your IRA for the year before tackling minor debts. (In 2014, you can
contribute up to $5,500 to a traditional or Roth IRA, or $6,500 if you’re 50 or older.)
When it comes to making extra mortgage payments, however, the picture is more complicated. In the first place, mortgage interest is typically tax deductible, which makes your loan
less “expensive.” Even beyond the issue of deductibility, you may instinctively feel that it’s best
to whittle away your mortgage and build as much equity as possible in your home. But is that
always a smart move?
Increasing your home equity is a goal of many homeowners — after all, the more equity
you have in your home, the more cash you’ll get when you sell it. Yet, if your home’s value
rises — which, admittedly, doesn’t always happen — you will still, in effect, be building equity without having to divert funds that could be placed elsewhere, such as in an investment.
In this situation, it’s important to weigh your options. Do you want to lower your mortgage
debts and possibly save on cumulative interest expenses? Or would you be better served to
invest that money for potential growth or interest payments?
Here’s an additional consideration: If you tied up most of your money in home equity, you
may well lose some flexibility and liquidity. If you were to fall ill or lose your job, could you get
money out of your home if your emergency savings fund fell short? Possibly, in the form of a
home equity line of credit or a second mortgage, but if you were not bringing in any income,
a bank might not even approve such a loan — no matter how much equity you have in your
house. You may more easily be able to sell stocks, bonds or other investment vehicles to gain
access to needed cash.
Getting some extra money once in a while is a nice problem to have. Still, you won’t want
to waste the opportunity — so, when choosing to pay down debts or put the money into
investments, think carefully.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
Cedric B Edwards, AAMS
Financial Advisor
3820 F M 3009 Suite 104
Schertz, TX 78154
Bus. 210-566-4540
cedric.edwards@edwardjones.com
8
SEPTEMBER 2014
HAPPENING continues from pg. 07
more, visit www.texasmobilepack.org or
www.fmsc.org. (See story on page 17)
MORGAN’S WONDERLAND
HOSTS
SENIORS
ongoing
Let age work in your favor during
“Senior Fridays” at Morgan’s Wonderland,
5223 David Edwards Drive. For $8, every
second and fourth Friday, there will be senior
activities 11 a.m. to noon. For more, call 4955888 or visit www.morganswonderland.com.
SAN ANTONIO
SCORPIONS’ SOCCER
oct
The team will host North
American Soccer League games on Oct. 4
(vs. Ottawa Fury FC), and Oct. 11 (Tampa
Bay Rowdies). Each begins 7:30 p.m. at
Toyota Field, 5106 David Edwards Drive in
San Antonio. Ticket prices vary. Proceeds
help support Morgan’s Wonderland. For
more, visit www.sascorpions.com.
ON THE HORIZON
ALAMO CITY MILITARIA EXPO
oct
Military antiques and collectibles
25
from a variety of dealers and
individuals will be sold 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 509
Schertz Parkway. Event admission is $6
for adults; free for ages 12 and under.
For more, call 843-6012 or 512-7317093; or visit www.acmemilexpo.com.
WURSTFEST IN NEW BRAUNFELS
The 54th annual “Salute to
Sausage,” will be held over
10 days at 178 Landa Park Drive in New
Braunfels with a variety of daily events, food
booths and activities. Wurstfest opens 5 p.m.
weekdays, 11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
For more, including ticket and schedule
information, call 830-625-9167, 800-2214369 (toll-free) or visit Wurstfest.com.
nov
7-16
ELSEWHERE
NAMI 3K WALK SET
The National Alliance on Mental
Illness will hold its annual
3K walk at the Wheatley Heights Sports
Complex, 200 Noblewood Drive in San
Antonio. Registration for the fundraiser
benefiting NAMI-area programs begins 7
a.m.; the walk starts at 8:30 a.m. For more,
call 734-3349 or visit nami-sat.org.
oct
4
Submitting events: Email all
the details along with your contact
information two months in advance
to tips@salocallowdown.com.
LOCAL LOWDOWN
Take a quick look at what’s new in the community from opening and closings to news tidbits.
Open and Opening Soon
RANDOLPH FAMILY DENTAL, 3900 FM
3009, Suite 104 in Schertz and 651 S.
Walnut Ave., Suite B in New Braunfels,
offers cosmetic dentistry services. Open 8
a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
and Friday, by appointment only on
Wednesday, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each
second and fourth Saturday at the Schertz
location (call 658-9031). Open 8 a.m. to
5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and
Friday and closed on Thursday at the New
Braunfels location (call 830-625-1400). For
more, visit www.randolphfamilydental.
com. (See story on page 19)
SABOR LATINO MEXICAN
CARIBBEAN RESTAURANT, 9260 FM
78 in Converse, dishes out a variety
of original Mexican and Caribbean
foods. Open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday
through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday. For more, call
566-6989 or visit SaborLatinoConverse/
Facebook. (See story on page 21)
Address of local business
Name of local business
MATTENGA’S PIZZERIA, 6044 FM 3009,
Suite 290 in Schertz, is a family-owned
and operated pizza parlor. Open 11 a.m. to
9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11
a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For
more, call 592-1138 or visit www.mattengas.
com or MattengasPizzeria/Facebook.
STRONG RESPONSE, a client-based service
offering affordable education and training
options in basic self-defense, CPR, first aid
and safety, recently opened in Garden Ridge,
but they come to your place of choosing for
lessons. Classes can be scheduled any time
on any day of the week. For more, call 8591824 or visit strongresponsetraining.com.
IN OTHER NEWS
TEN CANYON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
are among the new class of Youth
Leadership New Braunfels, comprised of
LOWDOWN continues on pg. 09
REAL. LOCAL. SAVINGS.
See how much you could save on car insurance today.
J.R. WIlliams | 210-658-6268 | 3126 Pat Booker Road | Universal City
Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Homeowners coverage is written through non-affiliated insurance companies and is secured through the GEICO Insurance Agency, Inc. Boat and PWC coverages are written
through Seaworthy Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and through other non-affiliated insurance companies, and are secured through the GEICO Insurance Agency. Motorcycle and ATV coverages are underwritten by GEICO Indemnity Company. GEICO is a registered
service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. GEICO Gecko image © 1999-2014. © 2014 GEICO.
8 Offices
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Visit us at 12709 Toepperwein, Suite 309 San Antonio, TX 78233
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Benefi ting the United Way of Comal County
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9
salocallowdown.com
LOWDOWN continues from pg. 08
For more, contact Garrett at 683-1169.
this year’s area sophomores and juniors.
The pupils – Gregory Bielke, Sara Brooks,
Rachel Carroll, David Churchwell, Sophie
Machalec, Logan Magnusson, Conner
Morawiec, Abigail Newland, Logan Piner
and Shelby Steinbach – will assemble
once a month in six-hour sessions from
October-April. The meetings will cover
city government, economic development,
social needs, personal skills and other
key neighborhood topics. The program,
sponsored by the New Braunfels Chamber
of Commerce, trains students in leadership
techniques and awareness issues, and factors
which could shape the community’s future.
DIGNITARIES ACROSS THE METROCOM
recently participated in the ALS Ice Bucket
Challenge to promote awareness and raise
funds against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
With no known cure, ALS, also known as
Lou Gehrig’s disease, affects the brain and
spinal cord. The philanthropic endeavor
raised over $100 million during a six-week
span this summer via trendy videos where
participants pour freezing water on their
heads. The doused then challenge others’
mettle. On Aug. 21, Guadalupe County
Constable Michael Skrobarcek, Selma
Mayor Tom Daly, Selma Councilman
Kevin Hadas, Schertz Mayor Michael
Carpenter, Schertz Councilmen Daryl John
and Cedric Edwards, Cibolo Mayor Lisa
Jackson and Cibolo Councilman Jim Doty
accepted the drenching, facilitated by fire
department members from all three cities,
at Blue Bonnet Palace in Selma. Comal
Independent School District employees,
led by CISD Superintendent Andrew
Kim, also took the challenge Aug. 25.
Included were numerous administrators,
teachers, faculty and several members
of the district’s board of trustees.
RANDOLPH METROCOM ROTARY CLUB
seeks candidates for its Volunteer of the
Quarter program, recognizing outstanding
area contributors. Nominees must live,
work or volunteer in Cibolo, Converse,
Garden Ridge, Kirby, Live Oak, Marion,
Schertz, Selma, Universal City or Windcrest.
Winners will be announced during
ceremonies held in October, and in January,
April and July of 2015. Email nominations
to Liane Garrett at Liane@MadWomen.biz.
The Rotary’s board of directors will review
submissions and select quarterly winners.
7th Annual Holiday Fair
Sponsored by the Women of
Universal City United Methodist Church
Saturday, October 4th from 9 am to 3 pm
90 Winn Avenue, Universal City (210-659-5555)
www.ucumctx.org/HolidayFair
• Huge Silent Auction
Café Serving Breakfast & Lunch • Many Arts & Craft Vendors
• Handcrafted Cards & Gifts • The Book Nook with CDs & DVDs
• Plants & Outdoor Décor in the Gardening Galore Shop
• Home & Holiday Boutique • Gently Used Treasures
• Pantry with homemade jams & baked goods
•
FREE ADMISSION
LOWDOWN continues on pg. 10
Oktoberfest
Cibolo Fest 2014
Oct. 11th, 2014-Saturday
10:00 am to 10:00 pm
200 S. Main Street, Cibolo, TX
Carnival Rides, Petting Zoo, 5K Run
Pony Rides, Silent Auction, Games,
Car Show, Craft and Food Vendors
Entertainment and more!
ADVERTISING FOR:
For Vendor information please call
Peggy Cimics
CIBOLO
DENTAL
at 210-566-6111 or pcimics@cibolotx.gov
MONTH OF PUBLICATION: 14/04
SEE YOUCHANGES?
THERE!
Annual Family Celebration
Everyone is invited to attend!
Saturday, Oct. 18th
4pm-8pm
• Live Music by
The Bohemian Dutchmen
• BBQ Dinner
• Children’s Activities
• Handmade Crafts
• Silent Auction
Silent Auction Items Will Include: A Colorado
Vacation, James Avery Jewelry, Gift Baskets,
Homemade Desserts and much, much more.
For more information
visit our website at
www.triumphantlutheran.org
or call 210-651-9090.
21315 Bat Cave Rd.
Garden Ridge 78266
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SEPTEMBER 2014
David Lindow (center), pastor of First Baptist Church of Universal City, helps pack meals for malnourished
children during a recent TexasMobilePack event. See story on page 17. Courtesy photo
LOWDOWN continues from pg. 09
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF SAN ANTONIO
recently received a $4 million donation
on behalf of Valero Energy Foundation
and the Klesse Foundation. The gifts – $3
million from Valero and $1 million from the
family of Valero Energy Corp. Chairman
Bill Klesse – will go towards construction
of the new Children’s Hospital of San
Antonio. The gift from the Valero Energy
Foundation will be recognized in the
pediatric hematology/oncology outpatient
center. The money from the Klesse
Foundation will be applied to an area within
the Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
GUADALUPE COUNTY PRECINCT 3
CONSTABLE Michael Skrobarcek and his
deputies are on the lookout for kids on
bikes – and they have tickets! Don’t fret –
it’s a good thing. Officers are distributing
“citations” to children observed wearing
helmets while riding bikes, scooters or
skateboards, obeying traffic laws and
traveling in safe locations. The riders, ages
12 and under, can redeem citations for free
desserts at the Chick-fil-A, 6038 FM 3009
in Schertz. “Through this program, we
are looking for opportunities to reinforce
safe riding, reach out to and interact with
young riders and their parents, families
and friends, and help keep our community
safe,” said Skrobarcek, who cited statistics
indicating ages 5 to 24 have the highest
rates of nonfatal bicycle-related injuries,
which comprise nearly 60 percent of bikerelated injuries requiring hospitalization.
The American Academy of Pediatrics
found bike helmets could prevent up
to 88 percent of serious brain injuries
caused by bicycle collisions and falls.
CANYON HIGH SCHOOL’S VOLLEYBALL
TEAM earned the American Volleyball
Coaches Association’s Team Academic
Award for 2013-14, for the third straight
year. The squad compiled a combined 3.75
grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. The
team also enjoyed a 39-11 overall record,
advancing to the regional quarterfinals.
“I’m very proud of our girls,” head coach
Heather Sanders said. “We want our players
to not only be successful on the court,
but to be leaders in the classroom and
community. This honor is a great example.”
ATHLETES PARTICIPATING IN COMAL
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT sports
get free entry into all district home contests
at the middle and high school levels in 201415, with $10 yearly all-event admissions
for other students. Adult all-sports passes,
$65 for the year, includes any Comal
Independent School District home event,
including varsity football games. Passes
can be purchased through athletic offices
at Canyon, Smithson Valley and Canyon
Lake high schools or via the “C-Tix” link at
the district’s website, www.comalisd.org.
WALMART AND SAM’S CLUB customers
and members recently concluded a sixweek campaign raising funds nationwide
for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
Children’s Hospital of San Antonio
partnered with 57 locations across San
Antonio, Victoria and Laredo amassing
$403,226 to help provide inpatient
care for more than 10,000 children,
70,000 emergency-department visits
and more than 100,000 outpatient visits
yearly. Nationally, through donations
accepted at cash registers and in-store
fundraising, Walmart totaled more
than $40.2 million for the 170 hospitals
comprising Children’s Miracle Network
Hospitals, assisting patient care for more
than 10 million youngsters annually.
11
salocallowdown.com
NOR-TEX continues from pg. 01
Construction
on mixed-use
properties to
begin in 2015
by WILL WRIGHT
C
IBOLO – The Schertz
and Cibolo city councils
recently approved rezoning
for Nor-Tex HQ Farms’ 677-acre
mixed-use development, which
will straddle Guadalupe and Comal
counties between Interstate 35 and
Schwab and Green Valley roads.
San Antonio-based Denton
Communities, the developer, is planning
1,330 lots on 512 residential and 132
commercial acres. That includes 25
acres for a future Schertz-CiboloUniversal City Independent School
District campus, with plans to provide
dozens of acres for parks in the area.
Wayne Pruski, SCUCISD executive
director of facilities, planning and
development, said the school district
purchased the property from NorTex Farms in December 2013. It spent
$1,701,682 – portions of land-acquisition
funds approved by voters in its 2013 and
2006 bonds – to close on the 25-acre tract.
“More than likely it will be either
an elementary or middle school
campus,” Pruski said. “I don’t know
when we would build on that; it would
depend on (population) density and
enrollment in that area of the district.”
Roughly two-thirds of the Nor-Tex
development is situated in Schertz,
with the rest in Cibolo. Denton officials
project construction for Schertz
will begin within nine months, with
building in Cibolo slated for 2019.
Denton officials had no further
comment on the project. However, despite
planning and zoning commission public
hearings held in Schertz and Cibolo
from late 2013 through early 2014, only
recently did some residents voice their
opposition to the project during council
meetings in both cities this summer.
Schertz’s council unanimously
approved Denton’s rezoning request in
June. In August, members of Cibolo’s
council – split over concerns about the
project’s traffic impact on FM 1103 –
narrowly passed rezoning by a 4-3 vote.
Cibolo has scheduled a $13.8 million
bond for November, in which voters will
be asked to OK funding for improvements
along 1103 and Haeckerville Road, and
add a firefighting facility over a fouryear period. Cibolo voters approved
a $2.8 million bond issue to upgrade
two major intersections and Fire
Department facilities last November.
Requests by LOCAL Community
News for comment from Cibolo
council members and City Manager
Bob Herrera were unsuccessful.
Dan Kossl, Denton’s vice president of
development and land acquisition, said the
developer will donate $100,000 to Cibolo
for 1103 improvements and upgrades
to Green Valley Road leading into the
Landmark Pointe subdivision. Denton
officials said Nor-Tex Boulevard, set to
connect the I-35 frontage to Green Valley
Road, would be constructed to serve as an
alternate route to alleviate traffic on 1103.
Schertz’s Planning and Zoning
Commission held public hearings on
the proposed project in December and
January. On May 2, the city mailed 134
notices to residents living within 200 feet
of the project in a residential area near
the I-35 frontage and Covers Cove.
Fourteen of the 18 written responses
opposed the project, most of them citing
concerns it might decrease residential
property values and increase traffic.
However, Schertz’s P&Z board on May
14 voted 6-1 to recommend rezoning to
the City Council, which voted to approve
the measure during its June 17 meeting.
Brian James, the city’s executive
director of development, made it clear
that changing rezoning from General
Business to Planned Development
District is only the first step in a
process that has a long way to go.
James said that Nor-Tex’s initial
plans, which include the dedication of
14-plus acres for a city park near the
SCUCISD school site, fits into the city’s
plans for managed development.
“We’re in a growing economy and
this area is doing as well as any other
in the state,” he said. “This is one of a
number of projects that are coming into
the city. We’re trying to be thoughtful
about development so it fits into the
vision of the kind of community that
residents in Schertz want to have.”
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SEPTEMBER 2014
REUNION continues from pg. 01
Byrd reconnects
and reunites with
her birth sisters
by J.E. jordan
C
ONVERSE – What if
in researching your
ancestry you discover you
weren’t whom you thought?
Seven decades ago, Ray and Edwinna
Wagner, a childless African-American
couple, adopted Verda Wagner Byrd before
her second birthday. Byrd, a Caucasian,
spent her entire life believing she was
African-American. Now, after recently
reuniting with her white sisters, Byrd
proudly calls herself “interchangeable.”
“I had always, always – until this
past February – thought I was black,”
said Byrd, 71, “but then I got my birth
certificate and complete adoption
papers, and there it was – white.”
It’s been a long personal journey for
After discovering her true roots, Converse resident
Verda Byrd recently reunited with her birth sisters in
San Antonio. Photo by Joshua Michael
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Byrd, a child of one race unknowingly
raised by parents of another ethnicity.
Though uprooted, Byrd feels
comfortable in her own skin.
She grew up an only child in Newton,
Kan. Ray Wagner was a porter on the Santa
Fe Railway, a well-paid responsible position.
“That was one of the criteria for adopting
a child; $250 a month was good money
for any job in those days,” Byrd said.
The 1940 U.S. census indicated Newton’s
population numbered just over 11,000
residents. Byrd remembered the racial mix
as “90 percent white, 5 percent AfricanAmerican and 5 percent Hispanic.”
Attending integrated schools and
an African-American church, Byrd
was brought up thinking she was,
in her word, “black.” However, she
always thought she was adopted.
“Edwinna had told me when I was 10
to 12 years old,” Byrd recounted. “I didn’t
know what it meant. Maybe I was naive, but
I never thought any more about it. Edwinna
was very strict, so whatever she said was
OK with me. So, it didn’t print in my head
what the definition of adoption was.”
In fact, Byrd said the idea she might
have another family somewhere, “never,
never, ever crossed my mind.”
In 1974, after the Wagners died, Byrd
was sorting through their possessions and
found her adoption records. She learned she
was born as Jeanette Beagle and her birth
parents were Earl and Daisy Beagle. Yet,
her race was not mentioned. Her curiosity
about the Beagles and her life before
adoption went no further at the time.
“I thought, ‘OK, so what?’” she
recalled, saying she simply put the
information aside. Nearly 30 years passed
when she came across the revelation
again. This time curiosity prevailed.
Recently at a Jim’s Restaurant, Byrd
related an account of her other branches
in her curious family tree. Reaching into
a colorful tote bag containing documents
and photos, she depicted the story behind
her birth family and her adoption.
By 1943, Earl had left the family, and
Daisy – a 27-year-old mother of five – was
critically injured when she fell down and
was struck by a trolley car. Spending a
year in the hospital, her children were
dispersed – four into welfare facilities
and baby Jeanette, placed separately,
into foster care with the Wagners.
The older kids reunited with Daisy
reunion continues on pg. 13
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REUNION continues from pg. 12
when she recovered. However, when Earl
briefly returned, the parents signed papers
allowing the Wagners to formally adopt
Jeanette. In 1944, a new birth certificate was
issued in the name of Verda Ann Wagner.
More surprises ensued. In 2013, she
unearthed Daisy Beagle’s obituary, revealing
she had borne 10 children in all – nine
daughters and a son. Within months, Byrd
found contact information for three of Daisy’s
children – Sylvia Panko, 76; Debbie Romero,
56; and Kathryn Gutierrez Rouillard, 59.
Upon receiving a letter from Byrd,
Panko, thinking it a hoax, contacted
her sisters. Romero called Byrd and
was almost immediately convinced
the connection was genuine.
In August, all three of Byrd’s surviving
siblings, spread across the country,
rendezvoused in San Antonio. For Panko, the
reunion was 70 years in the making, as for
the others, a first opportunity to hug Byrd.
Rouillard recollected her mother
speaking of a child she had to give up.
“Mother had told me she had a daughter
that she put up for adoption and always
wondered if she was all right,” she said. As
Byrd learned more about her first family,
she asked why they moved so often and
was told their parents were “drifters.”
After all, Byrd said she is grateful
the Wagners raised her.
“They provided good for me; better
than my birth parents did for my sisters,”
she said. “My upbringing, my schooling
– my everything, ... (if) I had stayed
with my birth parents, I know I wouldn’t
have had the opportunities I had.”
Byrd graduated high school and earned
degrees at Metropolitan State College in
Denver. She has been married 35 years to
Trancle Byrd, an African-American and
an Air Force master sergeant. When her
husband retired, they moved to Converse.
Rouillard said when Byrd asks about
their mother, “I would tell her what I
felt. ‘Mama put you up for adoption,
and look, you had a wonderful life.
That was mama’s blessing to you.’
“I don’t care what color she is.
It never bothers me at all. She can
say whatever color she wants to say
she is. I’ll accept her as she is.”
The four sisters plan another reunion,
in Dallas, over the year-end holidays.
What matters most to Byrd is she has
found her roots and her family’s petals.
“We are all Daisy’s daughters,” Byrd said.
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SEPTEMBER 2014
REPORT continues from pg. 01
Enhanced academic,
vocational programs
wave of future
by WILL WRIGHT
R
ecently released ratings
show five Metrocom
school districts have met
or exceeded state standards
for accountability, according to
the Texas Education Agency.
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They include Judson, Schertz-CiboloUniversal City, Comal, North East and
Randolph Field independent school districts.
TEA issued preliminary report cards
to the state’s public school districts in
August, based on data received from the
2013-14 school year. Each area district
passed the first set of accountability ratings,
garnering “acceptable” designations for
performance tied to state standards.
“We’re very proud of the work of our
administrators, teachers and students in
this rigorous testing environment,” said
Jennifer Porter, Comal ISD’s assistant
superintendent for curriculum and academic
services. “Their efforts definitely promote
growth and achievement. Whenever you
achieve a level of success, it’s a team effort.”
All Texas school districts in 201415 are continuing efforts to meet
standards established by House Bill 5,
which became law in 2013. The measure
substantially changed curriculum and
graduation requirements and increased
assessments and accountability.
HB 5 has reduced and de-emphasized
testing, previously a significant player in
determining accountability standards.
Now, school districts have the flexibility to
direct students down multiple career paths
— called endorsements — that range from
arts/humanities, business and industry,
multidisciplinary, public service or STEM
(science, technology, engineering and math).
Lawmakers have said school
districts are recognizing that not all
students want to go to college, and the
education system should prepare them
for a future that best fits their skills.
In the latest assessments, districts and
schools were assigned five TEA overallratings categories: met standard; met
alternative (school) standard; improvement
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Andrew Kim, Comal
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District superintendent,
congratulates educators
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Photo by Joshua Michael
required; not rated, and not rated due
to data-integrity issues. Each district
earned performance index points in
four categories: student achievement,
student progress, closing performance
gaps and postsecondary-readiness.
Each earned 89 percent or better in
the system safeguards assessment based
on: performance, participation and
graduation rates, and meeting federal
limits on alternative assessments.
Randolph Field ISD met all 45 of
its requirements for a perfect mark. In
attaining 76 of 78 indicators, SCUCISD
scored 97 percent; and NEISD and
CISD both tallied 96 percent with 81
of 84 and 74 of 77, respectively.
The five Metrocom districts’
individual schools earned distinction
designations from results in most of the
following areas: English language arts/
reading; math; science; social studies;
student progress; closing performance
gaps; and postsecondary-readiness.
NEISD schools received 128 distinctions
for its 67 schools in the assessment.
Campuses achieving the highest
percentage of indicators included the
International School of the Americas
and Northwood Elementary (6 of 6);
Krueger and Nimitz middle schools
(6 of 7), and Hardy Oak and Oak
Meadow elementary schools (5 of 6).
“We are very proud of all our schools
for the progress they continue to make
and we are especially proud of ISA and
Northwood for meeting every single
distinction, which is very difficult to do,” said
NEISD spokeswoman Aubrey Chancellor.
Comal ISD’s 28 schools received 29
distinctions, led by Alamo CollegesMemorial Early College High School (5 of 6).
“We are obviously very pleased
with our ratings,” said Andrew Kim,
Comal superintendent. “There is always
room for improvement no matter how
highly you’re rated, but to have every
one of our campuses meet TEA’s rating
standards shows a level of excellence.”
JISD’s 26 schools totaled 40 distinctions,
topped by Judson Early College Academy
(6 of 6) and Crestview Elementary (5 of 6).
SCUCISD’s 15 campuses
received eight distinctions.
RFISD’s three schools merited
eight distinctions, spearheaded by
Randolph High School (5 of 6).
Only two area schools were given
improvement-required designations:
NEISD’s Olmos Elementary and JISD’s Kirby
REPORT continues on pg. 15
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REPORT continues from pg. 14
Middle School. Preliminary assessments,
issued Aug. 8, won’t be finalized until TEA
reviews school-district appeals in November.
Kim said Comal ISD is also
pursuing other long-term goals.
“While the accountability ratings are
impressive, it’s important that we continue
to focus on instilling levels of critical
thinking, (a) strong work ethic and engaged
communication skills in our students,” Kim
said. “We want them to be lifelong learners.”
According to HB 5, school districts
have been granted a higher level of
control in resetting their graduationprogram paths. As local districts fortify
postsecondary-readiness programs,
they’re also enhancing vocational training
for students opting to skip college.
“In addition to college-readiness
(programs), which is a focus we’ve
always had – we will ensure that
students at each high school have
access to numerous endorsement
opportunities,” NEISD’s Chancellor said.
Kim said guidelines in HB
5 have provided his planning
with “a level of flexibility.”
“One has been to reduce the number
of standardized course exams from 15
to five,” he said. “On top of that, HB 5
also emphasizes the need for our school
district to ensure that students are aware
of their future, as far as not only collegereadiness but career-readiness.”
CISD and other districts are busy
trying to offer students more of the latter.
Kim said other CISD programs are
being constructed enabling students to gain
certification in occupations such as health,
pharmacy and emergency medicine.
CISD board president David
Drastata said tightening collegeadmission requirements helped
direct students down this road.
“Not every kid wants to go to college,” he
said. “The service industry is growing and
there are jobs waiting for these kids who
have the skill set. There are jobs waiting for
them in South Texas, if they’re willing to go.
“It’s more important than ever to
provide that training for those students
who are willing to work right off the bat.”
The goal is giving students
enlightened career paths.
“We want to not only set the bar
but raise the bar in terms of
providing the overall educational
experience,” Kim said.
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will either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. However, perhaps one of the
most concerning aspects of these impactful
statistics is the fact that there are currently no medications or
treatment options besides surgery to correct cataracts making it
the most frequently performed surgery. While most people who
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Plus, because cataracts are now removed under a local anesthetic,
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experience a minor discomfort following surgery. In many cases,
patients can see well enough to resume their normal activities
a few days after having cataract surgery, while their vision will
continue to improve over the following weeks. Because there is no
definite cause of this disease, there is currently no way to prevent
age-related cataracts. The best chance a person has for preventing
cataracts is to avoid certain risk factors that have been proven to
increase your risk of developing this vision problem. These risk
factors include a family history of cataracts, certain diseases,
such as diabetes, long-term steroid use, long term exposure to
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SEPTEMBER 2014
INPUT continues from pg. 01
Another listening
session on
tap this fall
by J.E. jordan
U
Northeast Lakeview College representatives and
area leaders recently held community listening
sessions designed to shape future curriculum. Photos
courtesy Northeast Lakeview College
On June 26, the college partnered
with the Schertz Chamber of Commerce
to hold the first of three communitylistening sessions. All are part of an
initiative by NLC President Craig Follins
to take the pulse of the community.
“We were looking at, and projecting
out, five years for what kinds of skills and,
really, occupational clusters, that we could
be a part of, and making sure that our
students would be trained for jobs that
would be part of the future,” Follins said.
More of the invitation-only events are
set for September and October, all involving
elected officials, community and business
leaders and economic-development
representatives. The plan is to formulate
academic and workforce-training programs
based on current and anticipated needs.
Established in 2007, NLC serves
6,000 students from 10 Metrocom
communities, northeast San Antonio and
Bexar, Comal and Guadalupe counties.
The first session provided Follins
– who assumed his new role earlier
this year – a chance to get acquainted
with local decision-makers.
“They were quite interested in
learning about what we are doing –
understanding what we do and how we
can work in tandem,” he said. “We want
to understand what the future looks like
in terms of employment development.”
Follins said the information will
enable the college to better foresee
area needs in advance. NLC will then
create academic plans and programs
reflecting those necessities.
The first session, attended by
representatives of several Schertz-area
businesses including construction,
banking and other professional fields,
seemed to hit the right note.
“I really think it was the right thing to
do. Kudos to (Follins) for doing so much
so quickly,” said Maggie Titterington,
president of the Schertz Chamber, of the
initial session also attended by Guadalupe
County commissioners Jim Wolverton
and Judy Cope, Selma Mayor Tom Daly
and Schertz Mayor Michael Carpenter.
Following Follins’ forum address
providing an NLC overview, Gary Ergish, the
college’s vice president for academic success,
presented a review of academic programs.
Facilitated by NLC instructors,
participants were then divided into small
discussion groups and asked to consider
the college’s value to the community,
identify the region’s greatest educational
needs, and recommend ways NLC could
increase program awareness, reach
underserved individuals and entities, and
NIVERSAL CITY –
Northeast Lakeview
College administrators are
continuing to hold public-input
meetings to gauge neighborhood
and business needs so students can
be prepared for the jobs of the future.
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best meet future needs of the community’s
emerging industries and residents.
As for NLC’s value to the area, the
consensus centered on affordability,
accessibility and technical training. Follins
said rapidly burgeoning technology
has made it difficult to accurately
project future employment needs.
“We do know it will play a part,” he
said. “Health care will be a factor in the
future, and career education (programs)
will be something to look at. We also
looked at essential skills students will
need – the ability to show up to work on
time, utilizing critical-thinking skills,
engaging in project-based activities,
and working with other individuals and
groups to find solutions to problems.”
The college president also cited the
need for better-prepared undergraduates.
“We find that many of our students
are woefully unprepared in the STEM
(science, technology, engineering and
math) fields,” he said, adding students
must improve in those areas before
commanding high-paying occupations.
In 2013, NLC joined with Judson
Independent School District’s Judson
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allowing high school students to attend
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their associate degrees for free. Of 125
enrollees in the inaugural class, 96
graduated with associate’s degrees.
To meet the needs of the community’s
industries and occupational areas during
the next five years, session participants said
the college’s focus should be on developing
skilled-labor trades, health care and robotics,
and information-technology programs.
“There was a consensus by at least two
or three people (at our table) that we are
pretty affected by the fact that high schools
are doing away with vocational programs,”
said Joy Brown of Ecko Construction. “We
are very much keyed in on vocational jobs.
Not every kid is geared for college. Schools
are only teaching for college, and that’s just
not the way all of them are going to go.”
Jill Carpenter, vice president of
Broadway Bank in Schertz, agreed.
“We talked about how schools are not
getting (students) ready (for college), even in
finances,” she said. “Kids come out of school
and they don’t even know how to write a
check. They may be going to college, but
everybody needs to know practical skills.”
Once data from each communitylistening session has been compiled,
the college plans to stage an Economic
Development Day. NLC officials have
pledged to participate in more local events
and create a social-media campaign to
promote workforce training. An advisory
council, comprised of session participants,
will assist Follins with future planning.
NLC conducted another forum Sept. 11
at the JISD Education Resource Center. The
third, hosted by the Northeast Partnership
for Economic Development and the TriCounty Chamber of Commerce is scheduled
for 4-5:30 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Olympia
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HUNGER continues from pg. 01
FMSC
spearheading
worldwide
charitable effort
by MIRANDA KOERNER
U
NIVERSAL CITY – When
members of First Baptist
Church of Universal City
began discussing volunteering
for a charity, they had two
requirements: Do more than just
write a check, and find something
where all could participate.
Feed My Starving Children and TexasMobilePack are staging several meal-packing events designed to benefit malnourished children across the world. Courtesy
photo
The churchgoers found their holy grail in
TexasMobilePack. The Christian nonprofit,
Feed My Starving Children, will host the event
at three locations in the San Antonio area Sept.
25-28, with up to 20,000 volunteers packing 4
million meals for hungry children overseas.
“(It) is the largest-scale event we’ve ever
done,” said Julie Gaubert, TMP leader and
FBCUC member. “We were looking for a
nonprofit to help hunger where we could
actually do something. This allowed us to
have people of all ages and physical abilities
volunteer, from 5 years old to the elderly.”
Feed My Starving Children has
coordinated get-togethers since 1987 where
good Samaritans assemble, package and ship
boxed food to feed malnourished children
in more than 70 countries. Now an FMSC
affiliate, MobilePack hosts weekly events
around the country to supply meals.
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participated in a fun service activity.
“That’s when mobile packing began,” said
Allison Schwartz, FMSC communication
team member. “Every day, nearly 6,200
children die from hunger-related causes.
That number has dropped from 18,000
in 1990, but it is still too large.
“Volunteers are essential, (they) enable
FMSC to keep sending more and more
lifesaving meals to precious children
around the world. The volunteers pack
all of our meals and donations pay for
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According to its website, nearly 800,000
FMSC volunteers packed 191,600,000 meals
HUNGER continues on pg. 22
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SEPTEMBER 2014
NIGHT OUT continues from pg. 01
Schertz, Cibolo,
other cities staging
block parties
by BAIN SERNA
C
IBOLO – Metrocom
communities are gearing
up to tell criminals to take
a hike during the annual National
Night Out observance on Oct. 7.
For more than three decades,
National Night Out has been celebrated
annually in thousands of neighborhoods
across the country. Police say the event
sends a clear message that neighbors
are banding together with police to
keep homes and businesses safe.
Over time, the event has evolved into
spirited gatherings featuring block parties,
cookouts, visits by local law enforcement
and emergency-services personnel, parades
and other fun and family-friendly events. “National Night Out is the community
coming together to get to know one
another,” said Tom White, the Cibolo
Police Department’s community initiatives
officer. “A community can be as small
as a block, or as large as the city.”
According to White, National Night Out
events in Cibolo and other Metrocom towns
will promote neighborhood and lawenforcement solidarity. White said many
residents come and go without ever getting
to know their neighbors – leading some
to isolate themselves inside their homes
due to fears of becoming crime victims.
“Those are all reasons that NNO was
developed,” White said. “At least one
evening a year you unlock the door and
go outside and meet and get to know your
neighbors. In Cibolo, where we have only
minor criminal issues, we are trying to
keep our community strong and safe.” NNO participants remain active
in efforts to fight criminal activity by
organizing their communities, White said.
National Night Out, which seeks
to include different ethnicities and
socioeconomic backgrounds, will
feature an array of festivities designed
to thwart evildoing and enhance
togetherness, including in Cibolo.
“We have individuals having a block
gathering and inviting all of their neighbors;
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a neighborhood getting together at one
of the area parks and inviting all of their
residents; and we have Grange Hall,
which is having a gathering and inviting
anyone that wants to come by and have
something to eat and congregate to
discuss community issues,” White said.
“All are ways for the citizens to get out
and get to know their neighbors.”
National Night Out is also meant to
reinforce the bonds and trust between
residents, local emergency-services
units and community-watch groups. “As in years past, we will divide up
into several teams, which consist of, but
are not limited to, city executives, City
Council members, the mayor, police,
fire and EMS, as well as members of the
Schertz Citizen’s Police Alumni Association
National Night Out is the community
coming together to get to know one
another. A community can be as small as
a block, or as large as the city.”
tom white, cibolo police department’s community initiatives officer
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and Citizens on Patrol,” Schertz Police
Department Cpl. Shawn Ceeko said. “We
will visit many of the National Night
Out block parties around the city.”
During those celebrations,
Schertz city officials will read and present
proclamations to organizers at each
event, Ceeko said, touting the overall
value and importance of National Night
Out festivities in the neighborhoods.
“This allows the resident to get to
know those who serve the community and
address concerns, provide information
and, in general, work together,” he said. To learn more about the nationwide
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“We really try our best to make our
patients happy and comfortable when
they come to see us,” Blair said. “Our
customer service is something we are
very proud of. We have great facilities in
good locations, and we offer everything
anyone could want in a dental office.”
Needing more space for specialty procedures, Randolph Family Dental recently moved into a larger facility in
Schertz. Photo by Joshua Michael
Randolph Family Dental, in Schertz,
is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday,
Thursday and Friday, by appointment
only on Wednesday, and 8 a.m. to 3
p.m. each second and fourth Saturday.
In New Braunfels, it is open 8 a.m. to
5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
and Friday and closed on Thursday.
RANDOLPH FAMILY DENTAL
3900 FM 3009, Suite 104 In Schertz
Call 658-9031
651 S. Walnut Ave., Suite B In New Braunfels
Call 830-625-1400
or visit www.randolphfamilydental.com
Now Offering
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Schertz, TX 78154
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210-651-5808
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• Mariachis every Sunday
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NFL TICKET
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Great Food, Wine, &
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With Seasonal Beers On Tap
• Playground for kids within view from patio dining
• Full service bar - Come watch your favorite
sporting event on our many flat screen TV’s
• Party room available up to 60 people
Closed on Mondays. Tue-Fri 11AM -10PM
Sat 9am-10PM Sun 9AM-9PM
210-658-6600
www.bigpapaspizzaandsportsbar.com
170 Buffalo Place
Cibolo, Texas 78108
BIG PAPA’S PIZZA AND SPORTS BAR
Mon-Thur 4pm -10pm
Fri and Sat 11am - 11pm
Sunday: 11am - 10pm
1420 SCHERTZ PKWY. SCHERTZ, TX
Our Sweet Treats Make
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• Cheesesteaks
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316 Pat Booker Rd
Universal City, TX 78148
210-659-8930
Mon-Thu - 11:00 - 8:00
Friday - 11:00 - 9:00
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210.651.0719 · 18408 FM 2252 · Bracken · 78266
www.clairessweettreats.com
21
salocallowdown.com
EAT LOCAL
Learn about the newest neighborhood places for breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks
Sabor Latino boasts tastes
of Latin America, Caribbean
by ERIC MORENO
C
ONVERSE — Richard Munoz
toiled in the restaurant
business a long time when
he noticed something missing.
I wanted to have
a place where
people could go
and try other
Latin foods besides
Mexican.
Although Mexican restaurants in
the San Antonio area are plentiful, very
few tout flavors of other Latin American
and Caribbean locales. So in August,
he opened Sabor Latino Mexican
Caribbean Restaurant, 9260 FM 78.
“I wanted to have a place where
people could go and try other Latin foods
besides Mexican,” he said. “We serve
Mexican dishes, sure, but we also serve
Puerto Rican, Dominican and Cuban
dishes. … All over Latin America.”
Caribbean food is less spicy, not infused
richard munoz, OWNER,
sabor latino mexican
caribbean restaurant
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with chili pepper. Fried plantains are
served, but absent from the table are area
diners’ accustomed side of tortillas.
“The meats are also marinated and
seasoned a little differently in Caribbean
food,” Munoz said. “I think if people
try it, though, they will like it. We have
a mix of foods here. It gives us the
chance to introduce them to people,
to let them try something new.”
Enchiladas are one of Sabor Latino’s
popular dishes. Also offered are customary
Puerto Rican cuisines such as mofongo
(mashed, fried plantains) and sancocho
(a traditional Latin American stew).
“Caribbean food and Latin American
food were really being underserved in
210-592-1138
Order Online at www.Mattengas.com
* Dine in only 5-9pm other discounts don’t apply
Welcome Home to Lookout Hollow
Rustic Comfort meets Modern Chic
SABOR LATINO MEXICAN
CARIBBEAN RESTAURANT
9260 FM 78 In Converse
For more, call 566-6989,
or visit SaborLatinoConverse/Facebook
Delivered Fast!
21.95
6044 FM 3009, Ste 290 (behind Chick-Fil-A) Schertz, TX 78154
this area,” Munoz said. “What we offer
anyone is to have quality, fresh food
that is expertly prepared and at a good
price. It’s a taste you don’t normally get,
and you don’t have to go far to get it.”
Hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday
through Thursday and 7 a.m. to
9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
San Antonio’s
Best Chinese Food
$
An order of wings & a 16” Family Pizza
w/2 toppings & an order of our
Signature Italian Donuts
A variety of Latin American and Caribbean dishes
are offered at Sabor Latino Mexican Caribbean
Restaurant in Converse. Photos by Joshua Michael
family special
(Serves 4 to 5)
39.95
$
28.
$
25
2 Entrees • 1 Chicken Fried Rice
2 Egg Rolls & 3 Cheese Rangoons
Tax, delivery & gratuity not included. Not valid w/ any other offer. Exp 12-31-14.
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22
SEPTEMBER 2014
HUNGER continues from pg. 17
in 2013, with each meal costing 22 cents.
Schwartz said 525,000 children received
daily meals through efforts of MobilePack,
with 208,911 helpers packing more than 50
million meals during 206 events in 38 states.
“Through MobilePack, new
neighborhoods experienced the power of
volunteering and serving others,” Schwartz
said. “The impact is real! Volunteers pack
meals. Kids get fed. Lives are changed.”
At the upcoming TexasMobilePack,
volunteers will also form teams to amass
funds for future meals. Gaubert noted
helpers, donating a couple of hours of their
time, don’t have to be church members.
“It’s a great opportunity to impact world
hunger without leaving San Antonio,”
she said. “In two hours, each volunteer
will pack a box with enough food to
feed a child for 7 1/2 months. Over four
days, we’re going to pack enough food
to feed 11,000 every day for a year.”
More than half of meal-packing
volunteers are under age 18, Schwartz
added, with the organization on track to
pack its one-billionth meal this year.
“It’s just such a blessing to be able to
help,” said Karen Becker, FBCUC member
Fall Kitchen & Bathroom
Remodeling Sale
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• Fencing
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“You dream it
We will build it.”
www.candjsanantonio.com
TexasMobilePack events will take place Sept.
25-28 at the following locations:
n Children’s Hunger Fund, 4940 Eisenhauer
Road, Suite 146, San Antonio
n Schertz Civic Center, 1400 Schertz Parkway,
Building 5, Schertz
n University United Methodist Church, 5084 De
Zavala Road, San Antonio
and TexasMobilePack volunteer. “We
saw the video at church and couldn’t
wait to sign up and volunteer.”
While TMP has a goal to wrap 1.25 million
meals in Houston and 1 million in Dallas in
a six-week span, joining San Antonio’s efforts
are several volunteers from FBCUC, including
Bridget Richter and her 15-year-old daughter.
“As a mom, I wanted to work with
my kids and serve and know we were
making a difference,” Richter said. “It
really felt like MobilePack was something
our community could do together and
something the whole city could do together.
“You’re taking part in actually saving
lives. Little kids and elderly people
are literally working together to save
lives. My kids think it’s amazing.”
For more information, visit www.
texasmobilepack.org; to sign up, contact Julie
Gaubert at info@texasmobilepack.org.
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Yearly Maintenance
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210-657-4776
www.AllServiceAC1.com
AR’s, AK’s, Handguns,
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11503 E. Loop 1604 N., Suite 103, Universal City, Texas 78148
210-369-9631
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• 24 Month, 24,000 Mile Nationwide Warranty
• Maintenance/Repair – Oil Changes – Brakes
• Engine Diagnostic – Drive-Ability Concerns
Main Street Garage is a husband and wife business in Schertz, Texas, Henry (UTSA 03) and
Melissa (UTSA 95, UT Austin 99) have owned Main Street Garage since December 2010.
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5524 Walzem Rd,
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Shop online at www.mrgoldus.com
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Schertz
• Osteopathic manipulative medicine
Victoria S. Chang, DO
Board-Certified
Internal Medicine
Blaine Carmichael, PA
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Call (210) 656-5600 or go visit Med1st.com to learn
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6/6/14 3:04 PM
COMMUNITY NEWS
7110_MedFirstShertz_MovingAd_.indd 1
4204 gardendale Ste. 201
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78229
An affiliate of Baptist Health System
MedFirst Schertz
16977 IH 35 North, Suite 210
Schertz, TX 78154
(210) 656-5600