LOCAL: Stone Oak, Encino Park, North Central, 78258, 78259, 78260, 78261 July 2014

INSIDE

MEDICAL GUIDE PG.17 Bringing you the most recent news and latest trends in health care

STONE OAK

VOL. 1, ISSUE 2

ENCINO PARK

FAR NORTH

COMMUNITY NEWS 78258 78259 78260 78261

JULY 2014

WHAT'S

INSIDE YOUR COMMUNITY

PG.15 Sweeping improvements coming to Gold Canyon Park Upgrades part of comprehensive plan for North Side green spaces

PG.21 VIA’s Park and Ride projected to help ease traffic woes Facility could open in two years at Stone Oak and U.S. 281

PG. 28 BUY: Inverarte New art gallery showcases the masters of Mexico

PG. 31 EAT: Big Hops Gastropub Third location pairs craft brews, food

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PREPARE TO PAY TOLL PG.11 Construction could begin in 2016, end by 2018 PG.25 NEISD

students push message of girl empowerment

Three San Antonio members of Girls Inc. appear on NBC’s ‘The Today Show’

PG.23 H-E-B’s

Stone Oak Market brings new concept, restaurant Inventory reflects far North Side’s international population

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JULY 2014

FROM THE EDITOR tedwards@salocallowdown.com

President Harold J. Lees Publisher Assoc. Publisher Gregg Rosenfield Rick Upton

New reporter joins LOCAL newsroom

EDITORIAL Executive Editor Thomas Edwards News Staff Collette Orquiz, Bain Serna and Will Wright News Intern Alexis Fernandez Contributing Writers Olivier J. Bourgoin, Rose Mary Budge, Ron Aaron Eisenberg, Miranda Koerner, Lakendra Lewis, Carole Miller, Eric Moreno, Travis E. Poling, Arthur Schechter and Susan Yerkes

ast month I announced to readers that LOCAL Community News has achieved another milestone by adding a sixth publication to our chain of informative and entertaining newspapers.

ART Creative Director Florence D. Edwards Production Designer Pete Morales Contributing Photographers Aiessa Ammeter, Joshua Michael and Rudy B. Ornelas Contributing Illustrator Jeremiah Teutsch ADVERTISING Advertising Director Jaselle Luna Account Manager Amber Montemayor Controller Keith Sanders READER SERVICE Mailing Address 4204 Gardendale Ste. 201 SA, TX 78229 Phone Fax (210) 338.8842 (210) 616.9677 Advertising Inquiries jluna@salocallowdown.com Story Ideas: tips@salocallowdown.com Website: www.salocallowdown.com LOCAL Community News publications Zone 1: 78204, 78205, 78209, 78210, 78212, 78215 Zone 2: 78213, 78230, 78231, 78248, 78249 Zone 3: 78216, 78232, 78247 Zone 4: 78109, 78148, 78233, 78239 Zone 5: 78108, 78132, 78154, 78266 For advertising, customer service or editorial, please call us at 210-338-8842 or write to us at: Local Community News 4204 Gardendale Ste. 201 San Antonio, TX 78229 Reproduction in whole or in part without our permission is prohibited, 2014 Helen Publishing, LLC and Local Community News, LLC, all rights reserved.

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Now I have some more wonderful news to share: We are also welcoming a new reporter, Bain Serna.

His inclusion brings to four the number of full-time journalists on our staff.

Bain makes a welcome addition.

Not only is he quick-witted with a ready smile, but he also is a good observer of the human condition, excellent qualities for a reporter.

But don’t let his easygoing manner fool you. He has a competitive spirt.

Bain holds black belts in taekwondo and judo, has fought professionally in mixed martial arts and has been a high school wrestling coach. There are several videos on YouTube of Bain’s matches.

Bain proudly served our country during his enlistment with the Army as an infantryman, and was even deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.

He is still in the Army Reserve.

In addition to his other talents, Bain is also an experienced journalist. He has covered a variety of stories for the Karnes Countywide, has written BUYs and EATs for LOCAL as a freelancer, and has worked as a contributing writer for other publications.

Bain will bring a wealth of experience and insight to his new role. I am excited about his debut with LOCAL, and I know we will see great stories from him.

THOMAS EDWARDS EXECUTIVE EDITOR FACEBOOK.COM/SALOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS

6

NOW OPEN!

JULY 2014

LOCAL COMMENTARY

Can the bicycle dreams come true?

by SUSAN YERKES

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hen it comes to biking, San Antonio is still behind many major cities. But environmental awareness, a health-conscious population and growing national enthusiasm for biking have been catching on here.

You see a lot of people out on bikes these days. There are more bike racks, bike shops, bike lanes and signs on the streets.

This spring, however, the smooth ride hit a pothole when residents on a stretch of South Flores Street asked City Council to remove recently created bike lanes from their roadway, and the council caved in despite a vocal protest. The city had just spent a cool million creating the lanes, as designated by its own master plan for biking. Now, the city will spend another $745,000 un-striping them and striping an alternate designated bike route. The argument, which created bad vibes on both sides, is a vivid reminder the wheels of change don’t always spin smoothly when it comes to sharing the road.

“A couple of years ago I thought maybe San Antonio had hit a tipping point in moving forward with active transportation — walking, biking and so on, but the first time we ran into a wrinkle the council backed off,” said Scott Ericksen, the veteran public involvement coordinator for the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, which brings together city, county and other major stakeholders to plan transportation projects.

“That skirmish was a reminder that cycling and walking are not truly built into our culture at the neighborhood level yet,” Ericksen said. “But we’re still moving in the right direction.”

It takes time to change attitudes. Many folks are still not aware a cyclist has as much legal right as a semi-truck to be in any lane. Did you know there’s a city “Safe Passing” law that requires motorists to give a minimum three feet of space when passing a cyclist? An ordinance requiring bike lights at night places some responsibility on bikers, too.

Also, the San Antonio B-Cycle bike-

sharing program has brought biking further to the fore, especially with the expansion of near-downtown housing and entertainment.

Julia Murphy with Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas points to positive changes. The biggest was the passage of a comprehensive regional master plan in 2011 that eventually will bring more than 1,700 miles of bike routes, bike lanes, paths and greenway trails. Back in 2000, there were only 36 miles of such facilities. Today there are 284 miles built or in the planning on streets, and another 86 in greenways. Pretty impressive.

“When I left San Antonio in 2002, I thought it was never going to be bike-friendly,” said Jack Sanford, a widely respected bicycle advocate with Austin-based Bike Texas. “But a lot has changed. There’s an amazing energy. The trails system is ahead of most cities in the U.S. Where things are still lacking is the on-street system.”

Sanford said one of the best moves city leaders could make would be to work with a national set of progressive engineering standards created by the National Association of City Transportation Officials.

NACTO’s Urban Bikeway Design Guide, which was recently endorsed by the Federal Highway Administration, includes wider bike lanes (up to 10 feet), including a full foot or two of “buffer” striping.

“That would help a lot more people feel safe to ride the streets, and San Antonio is still pretty far behind in that area,” Sanford said. Back in 2010, an MPO bike study found a whopping 325,000 area residents — at that time, 15 percent of all adults and 48 percent of folks under 20 — had ridden a bike during the past 30 days. Unfortunately, most also said they didn’t feel safe. But change is coming.

“I’ve seen an explosion in the number of riders,” said Bill Simons, co-owner of Bike World and a member of the B-Cycle board. “It’s not just all of a sudden cars are going to love bicycles. But drivers will get used to it as more bikes are on the road.”

Associate Probate Judge Oscar Kazen, chairman of the MPO’s Bicycle Mobility Advisory Committee, has seen the changes up close. Building better bike infrastructure is about something that goes beyond cycling.

“It’s about a vision of the city itself — how it should just be normal to have walkable, bikeable streets for everyone.

It’s about taking time to slow down and consider quality of life,” Kazen said.

Bottom line: Despite some speed bumps, this area is on the way to a brighter biking future. This is no time for backpedaling. Ride on!

Send your thoughts to syerkes@ salocallowdown.com.

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JULY 2014

OUR TURN Views and opinions about your community

Forget soda scolding, stick to city services

C

ity governments should not spend public funds to scold people who imbibe sugary drinks. Instead, City Hall must remain focused on delivering basic functions such as streets, drainage, parks, libraries, and police and fire services.

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However, not too long ago the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District asked the City Council to help fund the broad-based advertising campaign “Soda? No Thank You.” Metro Health’s director, Dr. Thomas L. Schlenker, said the goal is to cut down or eliminate sodas being consumed by adults on a daily basis, from 64 percent to 49 percent by June 2017.

He also wants to reach women because research shows they control the purchasing in families, including what drinks kids have.

Though no price tag was mentioned, the campaign includes print, television, the Internet and outdoor advertising.

The underlying reason for the slam on sodas is to reduce obesity and other health-related conditions, including diabetes. A recent Gallup poll indicated the Alamo City has the second-highest obesity rate in the United States.

Metro Health has a laudable objective, but it shouldn’t involve turning city government into a soda nanny.

There are more pressing issues for City Hall to take care of: traffic lights in school zones, an adequate public safety presence, filling potholes and spraying for mosquitoes, and all the

hundreds of other services a city is expected to provide residents to ensure their well being, comfort and security.

San Antonio — or any city — has better things to do than tell Little Johnny to put down that soda, like fixing and improving infrastructure.

What’s more — in spite of the jokes from Charles Barkley about the so-called “fat” women in San Antonio — the population actually is beating the obesity problem.

According to Metro Health’s own figures, the city’s obesity rate has dropped 35.1 percent in 2010 to 28.5 percent in 2012, and that includes people cutting down on sugary drinks.

Obviously, current campaigns have already done an effective job of getting the message out about quaffing too many sugary drinks per day, so why spend funds better used to improve traffic commutes, buildings and education?

That’s what a city should be doing.

What’s next? An all-out ban on sodas? A campaign to eradicate hamburgers and enchiladas?

While this is not an all-out assault on large sodas like the one mounted in New York City by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, using city funds to shake a finger at folks for popping the top on a Big Red is a waste of money.

Allow parents to teach their kids to make better choices, and permit current programs to continue to help trim the area’s obesity rate.

-The Local Community News editorial board includes Harry Lees, Gregg Rosenfield and Thomas Edwards.

Send letters to the editor to tedwards@salocallowdown.com or snail mail them to Local Community News, 4204 Gardendale, Suite 201, San Antonio, TX 78229. We reserve the right to edit for taste, grammar and length.

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WATER SITUATION IS SERIOUS EDITOR: Susan Yerkes’ recent column

on the Blue Hole was an absolutely wonderful article on water preservation.

The history of the Blue Hole and the population growth of certain counties was very interesting and informative.

I hope area homeowners and city officials take the seriousness of this situation to heart. Thanks for exploring and writing this article.

Gwynne Vosburgh

LIGHT RAIL IN SA WOULD HELP EDITOR: The city of San Antonio

really needs streetcars and trolleys.

Unfortunately, voters were misled by the opponents and the tea party, including state Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels. Many of the opponents do not understand that light-rail transportation, or LRT, is very useful in keeping a number of cars off the road.

Of course, it will not reduce congestion 100 percent, but LRT does makes a difference.

Opponents and the tea party do not understand that our traffic is bad enough — like Los Angeles — because we don't have light rail. San Antonio hasn't had any rail-transit transportation since 1932.

LRT will attract local riders and tourists if voters aren't sleepy.

David Pattison

9

SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM

HAPPENING LOCAL

Plan your month with our calendar of upcoming events in the community.

OUR GUIDE TO YOUR MONTH

HAPPENING KEY

FITNESS

ART

TEEN TIME The Parman Branch Library, 20735 Wilderness Oak St., from 6-7:30 p.m. hosts cooking, crafting, gaming and more for teenagers ages 13-18. Have fun, chill out and make new friends. For more, call Marisa DeBow at 207-2703 or email marisa.debow@sanantonio.gov.

EVERY TUESDAY

LEGACY FARMERS’ MARKET Offering a family-friendly atmosphere, the Legacy Farmers' Market is open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturdays and Sundays and features live music, local artists and fresh-grown local produce free from pesticides. It is located at 18402 U.S. 281 North. For more, visit www.legacyfarmersmarket.com.

WEEKENDS

WALK WITH A DOC Come to the parking lot at Stone Oak JULY 5 Hospital Medical Offices, 1139 E. Sonterra Blvd., at 9 a.m. for fun, information and healthy exercise.

Supported by the Texas Medical Association and powered by Stone Oak Women’s Center, Wellness Division, the community walk is for everyone interested in taking steps for a better lifestyle. While strolling at your own pace, have questions answered by local physicians. For more, call 6142229 or visit www.walkwithadoc.org.

PARMAN CHESS CLUB Whether you’re just learning or are a grand JULY 6 master, the Parman Pawn Stars want you. All ages and skill levels welcome.

The chess club meets every Sunday 2-4 p.m. in Meeting Room A at the Parman Branch Library, 20735 Wilderness Oak St. For more, call the library staff at 207-2703.

DRIVER’S ED The North East Independent School District Driver Education program has been teaching teens for more than 35 years. Successful completion of the NEISD seminar can result in a 15 percent discount in auto insurance.

The full program includes 32 hours of classroom instruction, a minimum of 14 hours in-car training and requires 30 hours of driving documented by a parent or adult. Classes are 10 a.m. to noon or 12:30-2:30 p.m. at Reagan High School, 19000 Ronald Reagan. Cost is $370. For additional information and online registration, visit www. neisd.net/drive or call 407-0170.

JULY 7-31

TALK

OUTDOOR

MUSIC

FOOD

AUTHOR VISIT Be ready for songs and silliness when children’s author and “singing zoologist” Lucas Miller drops by the Parman Branch Library, 20735 Wilderness Oak St., from 4-4:45 p.m. to entertain and inform kids about the world of animals.

The event is free, but tickets are required.

Tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning July 7 at 10 a.m.

For more, call the library staff at 207-2703.

JULY 10

KIDS’ CUPCAKES PROWESS JULY 11, 18, 25 Using secret ingredients, children, ages 7-14, can show off their skills 6-8 p.m. at Young Chef ’s Academy, 20330 Huebner Road, Suite 110.

Kitchens will turn into competition zones, as contestants, divided into two teams, will create from scratch one cupcake recipe and one frosting recipe. Then, they will bake and decorate their creations. Pizza and punch will be provided. Space is limited.

Parents will be required to drop off and pick up students promptly. Cost is $29.

For more and to register, call 407-0140 or visit https://communityed.neisd.net.

SCHOOL BOARD Trustees of the North East Independent School District meet in open session at 6:30 p.m., 8961 Tesoro Drive.

JULY 14

CROSS-TRAINING CLASSES Workouts are offered for beginners, using several forms of exercise to develop functional fitness. Learn multi-joint and musclemovement conditioning such as burpee, dead lifts and pull/pushups via kettle bells, barbells and medicine balls. Cardio drills to develop agility, speed and increased calorie burn included. A total of six sessions, twice a week, begin Mondays and Wednesdays 6-6:45 p.m. or Tuesdays and Thursdays 7:30-8:15 a.m. at GFit Studio, 23132 U.S. 281 North. Cost is $60.

For more and to register, call 407-0140 or visit https://communityed.neisd.net.

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DANCE-FITNESS CLASSES JULY 14 Participants will experience - JULY 15 high/low impact dance-based cardio-fitness exercise with weight training for strength and toning incorporated into the workout using popular dance

HAPPENING continues on pg. 10

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JULY 2014 projects. Cost is $155 per child per week.

For more and to register, call 407-0140 or visit https://communityed.neisd.net.

HAPPENING continues from pg. 09 moves such as Latin, jazz and hip-hop choreographed to today’s hottest music.

A total of six sessions, twice a week, begin Mondays and Wednesdays 6:45-7:30 p.m. or Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:45-10:30 a.m. at GFit Studio, 23132 U.S. 281 North. Cost is $36. For more and to register, call 407-0140 or visit https://communityed.neisd.net.

POWER STEP-AEROBICS CLASSES Get into shape with easy-to-follow step-aerobics seminars, without the complicated choreography of a cardio workout.

Strength training using body bars and dumbbells also will be included. A total of six, 45-minute sessions begin at 9 a.m.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, in GFit Studio, 23132 U.S. 281 North. Cost is $51. For more and to register, call 407-0140 or visit https://communityed.neisd.net.

SUMMER CAMP From 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Encino Park Elementary School, 2550 Encino Rio St., will be home to “Discovery Camp” for kindergarteners through fourth-graders.

Weekly themes set the tempo for a perfect blend of fun and creativity leading the way to exciting field trips. Cost is $155 per child per week. For more and to register, call 4070140 or visit https://communityed.neisd.net.

UNTIL AUG. 8

JULY 15

ELSEWHERE IN SAN ANTONIO Tons of fun summer activities are on tap in Stone Oak and Encino Park, including classes such as this one at Love to Swim School, 20210 Stone Oak Parkway. Though tumbling lessons are offered at the school's other two locations, the classes are not available at the Stone Oak operation. For more, call 702-3444 or visit love-to-swim.com. Photo by Joshua Michael

“WORKSHOP OF WONDERS” The Encino Community Center will become a “Workshop of Wonders” as Hope Arise United Methodist Church holds a free vacation Bible school.

It is open to children from preschool through fifth grade. Activities include crafts, hands-on science activities, snacks, games,

JULY 31 - AUG 3

1 0 0 %

FIGHTING HUNGER TexasMobilePack and Feed My Starving Children are seeking volunteers to help pack 4 million meals for hungry children overseas during a six-day event Sept. 25-30. The goal is to line up 20,000 volunteers to work two-hour shifts at two local sites.

More on the organizations and their goals can be found at http://texasmobilepack. org/ and at http://www.fmsc.org/.

ONGOING

music, mission work and interactive Bible stories. Sessions are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 31 and Aug. 1. Children will need to bring a sack lunch on those days. Activities on Aug. 2 are 9 a.m. to noon. The event wraps up 10:30-11:30 a.m. Aug. 3. To register, visit the church website at www.hopearise. com/vbs. Registration ends July 11. The center is at 1923 Encino Rio St. For more, call Carla Waldschmidt at 422-9197.

M E X I C A N

C U I S I N E

D E C I C AT E D TO

SCHOOL’S-OUT FUN Bush Middle School, 1500 Evans Road, will be the headquarters of a “Youth Revolution” for students from fifth to eighth grades. From 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. kids stay active, engaged and happy during the summer break. Campers will go on field trips, as well as take part in community service, recreation, small-group activities, team building and enriching

UNTIL AUG. 8

P R E S E R V I N G T H E

R E A L

F L AVO R S

SUBMITTING EVENTS: Email all the details along with your contact information two months in advance to tips@salocallowdown.com.

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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM TOLL continues from pg. 01

Some anti-toll critics not giving up the fight

by RON AARON EISENBERG

L

ike it or not, both critics and proponents agree — future tolling on portions of Loop 1604 and U.S. 281 on the North Side seems as inescapable as an expressway with no exit.

Longtime toll-road critic Terri Hall called the plans, “Too complex, too inaccessible, poorly conceived and a Texas-sized bad deal for taxpayers that won’t solve the traffic mess out there.”

Nonetheless, state and local officials maintain the toll lanes will be built, and the process could start in just a few months.

“We must add capacity to the roadway to meet our needs through 2030. Tolling U.S. 281 and Loop 1604 on the North Side is the only viable answer to the gridlock we face,” said Renee Green, the Bexar County engineer and director of public works, as well as the Alamo Regional Mobility

Authority engineering operations director.

The latest plan combines controlled access and tolled highway lanes for eight miles from 281 north of 1604 to the Bexar-Comal county line.

Some of the current roadway would become non-tolled frontage roads.

Additionally, lanes would be added and tolled on 1604 from 281 west to Culebra Road.

FUNDING IS THE REASON Even conservative activist Jeff Judson, a public policy consultant and former president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, said toll roads are likely.

“My crystal ball says we are going to have toll roads. They are inevitable, unless we solve the funding problem,” he said.

Absent tolling, there are no federal, state or local revenues available to build new highways to meet current traffic demands, let alone the expected increase during the next few years, Judson noted.

His solution would be to capture motor-vehicle taxes for highway construction, and stop plans for a proposed multimillion-dollar streetcar system in downtown San Antonio, reprogramming

TOLL continues on pg. 12

Those who support tolling sections of U.S. 281 north of Loop 1604 say it will relieve gridlock, create a smoother commute and keep up with an exploding population. Critics say the concept is a costly boondoggle that won't help control traffic problems. Photos by Aiessa Ammeter

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TOLL continues from pg. 09 those funds for highway construction.

Green agreed with Judson about the dearth of highway-construction resources.

“The problem you have without toll roads is there is no funding to cover the added capacity. The proposed project would cost $458 million and we only have $228 million on hand to build it,” Green said.

“If an additional $230 million became available you would not have to build toll roads, but the money is not there,” she added. “So tolls are needed to cover that cost, and we do not expect the money to miraculously appear.”

The days of single-source funding for roadways is long gone, Green said.

Some wish to do nothing, but Green contends this would spur a domino effect of backups adding to traffic jams across the region.

“It would be a disaster,” the engineer said.

TOO MANY CARS According to the planners, there is just too much traffic on the highways.

“There are 80,000 vehicles a day on U.S. 281 North from Loop 1604 to the Bexar-Comal county line,” Green said. “That roadway, in its current configuration, cannot handle more than 90,000 vehicles a day without becoming gridlocked, and we are almost there.”

Last year, the North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce highlighted the area’s explosive growth by issuing a statement on an environmental-impact study, which analyzed traffic levels on 281 north of 1604 to Borgfeld Road.

The Chamber cited stark statistics from the Texas Department of Transportation and other sources, “The portion of U.S. 281 0.3 miles north of Loop 1604 saw Average Daily Traffic (ADT) of 133,000 in 2010. ATD will rise to 205,000 by 2035.”

Also noted by the Chamber: “Employment growth along the corridor has also risen from 3,312 in 1980 to 25,635 in 2005, and is projected to increase to an estimated 43,635 in 2035.

Also, according to an analysis conducted by the SA-Bexar County (Metropolitan Planning Organization), the number of residents living in census tracts adjacent to the portion of U.S. 281 that is being studied will reach 142,240 by 2035, an increase of 93 percent from 2005.”

The congestion is adversely affecting other North Side roads, officials said.

“Drivers are now spilling over onto Blanco, Bulverde and other parallel roads. Some suggest we build overpasses along U.S. 281 and Loop 1604 to ease traffic congestion … but that approach won’t work,” Green said.

She added, “The fact is we can’t solve our congestion problem with overpasses,” which is why more capacity is needed.

JULY 2014

Business expenses just got less expensive.

THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE WITHOUT TOLL ROADS IS THERE IS NO FUNDING TO COVER THE ADDED CAPACITY. RENEE GREEN, BEXAR COUNTY ENGINEER AND DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS

THE TIMELINE Environmental-impact plans are pending approval by the Federal Highway Administration in Washington, which Green expects by late summer or early fall.

Once OK’d and design work is completed, officials estimate construction could start in 2016, and the entire project possibly finished by 2018, with completed sections opening in stages.

While Texas 130 — another toll road built at a cost of more than $1 billion, intended to relieve traffic on Interstate 35 — has fallen short of expectations, Green said comparisons here are unwarranted.

Texas 130, designed to lure Austinto-San Antonio traffic off I-35, was built with private funds and included a massive advertising campaign to educate motorists.

Meanwhile, 1604 and 281 are highly traveled, so there’s no need to attract drivers to the corridor, Green said.

THE FIGHT IS ON While Judson acknowledged tolling is speeding towards some Bexar County highways, Hall isn’t surrendering yet.

As detailed in comments submitted to the Alamo RMA on tolling 1604 and 281, Hall argues the RMA plan “fails to fix congestion on Highway 281 outside Loop 1604 in Bexar County,” and suggests tolling portions of 1604 will cause greater congestion over time and penalize drivers who stay on the loop and don’t go north or south on 281.

Hall concludes the RMA plan will introduce “permanent congestion into the corridor,” and warns tolling will never end.

Critics of toll roads said she may be right.

At a Jan. 6 news conference in San Antonio, Ted Houghton, Texas Transportation Commission chairman, told reporters, “The toll revenue will remain in local hands. Once the loans for the toll projects are paid off, the tolls will start spinning off cash to fund other projects.”

Minus a roadblock, such as a successful lawsuit killing the project, critics say area motorists should be prepared to pay tolls on portions of 1604 and on 281 north to the Comal County line beginning in 2016.

13

SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM 6528 or visit www.inverarteartgallery. com. (See story on page 28)

LOCAL LOWDOWN Take a quick look at what’s new in the community from opening and closings to news tidbits.

Open and Opening Soon 1. SALATA SONTERRA, 700 E. Sonterra

Blvd., Suite 1107, is the company’s second restaurant in San Antonio. Billed as “The Next Generation Salad Bar,” Salata features salad-and-wrap combinations for those looking at healthier options for lunch and dinner. It is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Monday through Saturday and closed on Sunday. For more, call 272-0424 or visit www.salata.com. (See story on page 32)

2. BIG HOPS GASTROPUB, 22250 Bulverde

Road, Suite 106, is the third San Antonio location to open featuring the Big Hops concept of offering small-batch craft beer.

However, this establishment pairs the brewskis with handcrafted food. Hours are 3 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. For more, call 267-8762 or visit bighops.com. (See story on page 31)

Address of local business Name of local business

3. TRIPLE R MERCANTILE, 1150 E. Borgfeld

Drive, just celebrated a ribbon cutting at the store, which offers one-of-a-kind home furnishings and European antiques as well as handmade bottle-cap jewelry, coasters and soaps from local artisans.

Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday or by appointment.

For more , call 913-1502 or visit www. triplermercantile.com. (See story on page 30)

4. INVERARTE ART GALLERY, 923 N.

Loop 1604 East, Suite 103 in the Waterford Village shopping center, is the store’s recently opened second location. It features the work of Mexican masters, science-fiction surrealism, hyperrealism, abstractionism and magical realism. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and by appointment only on Sunday. For more, call 305-

— the gaucho,” according to a release. The restaurant features 12 cuts of meat slowcooked rotisserie style over an open flame, as well as a salad bar, happy-hour specials, draft beer, flat-screen television, an outdoor patio and more. Catering is also available.

Hours are lunch — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Monday through Friday; dinner — 4:30-9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4:30-10:30 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Saturday and 1-8:30 p.m. Sunday; and happy hour — 4:306:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more, call 497-2500, visit www.galpaogauchousa. com or check out the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/galpaogauchousa.

5. WALKERS’ MOBILE MASSAGE THERAPY, located on the North Side,

is for those who want a massage but don’t want to wait in line. Instead, the massage therapists come to you. They offer all therapeutic services. Hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday through Thursday. For more, call 605-4604 or visit www.walkersmobilemassage.com.

6. SMOKEY MO’S BAR-B-Q, 20210 Stone

Oak Parkway, No. 306, is located at the corner of Evans Road and is a “family business providing a quality product in a family environment,” the owners said. All meats are cooked on-site. The restaurant offers family packs, group packs, fullservice catering and breakfast. Hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday and breakfast daily until 10:30 a.m. For more, call 481-3835 or visit smokeymosbbq.com.

8. BILL MILLER’S LAGUNA MADRE SEAFOOD CO. NO. 4, 18195 U.S. 281 North, took over the old Bill Miller’s barbecue spot at 281 and Loop 1604 and is fast catching on with the locals. The menu features fried and grilled seafood, plus other selections including gumbo, sandwiches, tacos, salads, meals for the landlubber and children’s plates. For more, call 314-3019.

7. GALPAO GAUCHO BRAZILIAN STEAKHOUSE, 20079 Stone Oak Parkway,

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LOWDOWN continues from pg. 13 COVERED DROP-OFF for parents driving their children to campus are all part of the attractions at the new David Lee “Tex” Hill Middle School, the fourteenth middle school for the North East Independent School District. Located at 21314 Bulverde Road, the new school is set to open in August, district officials said. The 214,711-squarefoot campus sits on an 80.75-acre site, can hold up to 1,500 students and has 65 classrooms. The school colors are royal blue, cardinal red and Carolina blue and the school mascot is a tiger. It s named for David Lee “Tex” Hill, who served with a group of aviators known as the “Flying Tigers” during World War II. The original cost from the 2011 bond project to build the campus was projected at $65 million.

A SUIT AGAINST THE STATE OF TEXAS CLAIMS the civil rights of Hispanic English language learners are being violated by a lack of adequate instruction in high schools statewide, including in the North East Independent School District. The suit also mentions Southwest Independent School District, but says the problem exists across Texas, according to an Associated Press story in the Austin American-Statesman. The suit “alleges that English language learner

JULY 2014 programs are underfunded and poorly monitored, and that instructors are often not properly trained,” according to the AP. The suit also contends that “high school English language learners ‘across Texas continue to perform abysmally due to the grossly deficient language programs,”’ the AP story stated. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund filed the 27-page complaint on behalf of the League of United Latin American Citizens in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The civil action argues Texas is violating the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974, which says no state can deny students educational opportunities by failing to “take appropriate action to overcome language barriers that impede equal participation” in instructional programs. Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams is named as the chief defendant in the civil action.

Texas Education Agency attorneys have shared the complaint with the state Attorney General’s Office, said spokeswoman DeEtta Culbertson. “Many of the allegations have already been heard in federal court and defended by the state. We stand ready to defend them again,” she told the AP. REAGAN HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA STUDENT Lana St. Clair recently performed Lalo’s “Symphonie Espagnole” at the

University Interscholastic League State Solo and Ensemble contest and was awarded a first division, superior rating. She was also named an “Outstanding Performer” for her rendering. The event was held at the University of Texas at Austin. Contest judge Eka Gogichashvili invited the teen to be one of eight nationwide violinists to participate in the 15th annual Baylor University Chamber Music Conference this summer, school officials said.

IN AN EFFORT TO HELP RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE facilities in San Antonio, Stone Oak Elementary School students created a Fiesta-style chair as part of the nonprofit's 4th Annual "Chair-ity" event. The July 17 silent and live auction at the Old San Francisco Steakhouse, 10223 Sahara Drive, features chairs with unique designs and decorations by local artists, celebrities and supporters. Proceeds will benefit the Ronald McDonald House, which gives families with ailing children a place to stay during treatment.

ROCKETRY TEAM MEMBERS FROM THE NORTH EAST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT brought home awards from the annual Team America Rocketry Challenge at Great Meadow in The Plains, Va. The students, comprising five teams from

Krueger School of Applied Technologies, beat out more than 700 teams from across the country to advance to the recent national finals for a fly-off. A sponsor said this marks the seventh year NEISD has sent a team to the nationals. According to the Team America website, the NEISD teams took seventh, ninth and 17th places in the competition, netting a total of $6,000 in prize money. TARC, the world’s largest rocket contest, is sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association and the National Association of Rocketry. According to North East officials, teams design and build a model rocket that can travel exactly 825 feet and back within 48 to 50 seconds while carrying two raw eggs that must return undamaged to the ground. “These are truly innovative students who have gained tremendous experience with problemsolving, teamwork and finding creative solutions,” said Tracy Thomas, who also teaches high-powered rocketry at Krueger.

GREAT HARVEST BREAD CO. at 20079 Stone Oak Parkway No. 1103 — as well as another location at 2276 N.W. Military Highway, No. 109B — has new owners, according to a news release. Abel Pena and Monique Brim recently purchased the bakeries from

LOWDOWN continues on pg. 16

15

SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM GOLD CANYON continues from pg. 01

into a city park. San Antonio bought an additional seven acres to add to the site.

Starting in 2015, using funds made available by the 2010 bond program, improvements to the park are scheduled to begin at an estimated cost of $1 million.

According to Krier, improving Gold Canyon Park was always an important project and money had always been earmarked for it.

“It’s my understanding that a neighborhood constituents’ committee that two of my predecessors on the City Council sat on, Kevin Wolff and Carroll Schubert, advised on what money from the bond was needed for District 9 and they were the ones that recommended park improvements,” Krier said. “For years now, District 9 has enjoyed a continuity of commitment to parks.”

According to Krier, the goal is to make Gold Canyon Park a pleasant destination

Goal is to preserve land now, Krier says

by ERIC MORENO

I

mprovements coming to Gold Canyon Park on the North Side are in keeping with the city’s commitment to improve public green spaces based on input from the community, District 9 Councilman Joe Krier said.

“Fifty years from now, I don’t want the children of District 9 to say that we didn’t do enough for park procurement and improvements when we had the chance,” Krier said during a recent public forum to discuss park upgrades.

Gold Canyon Park is off Corporate Woods on Gold Canyon Drive.

The city has touted a philosophy of adding to and/or improving green spaces for several years now and over the course of several City Hall administrations. The other North Side parks slated for improvements or already undergoing upgrades are Hardberger, Panther Springs and Stone Oak. “When I was chosen as city councilman for this district last year, one of the things

GOLD CANYON PARK UPGRADES n Bidding starts in November; construction begins February 2015 and finishes a year later. n Initiative is consistent with City Parks System Plan. n Improvements include trailhead and a trail system, a one-mile loop, an entry drive, a parking lot, park signage, drinking fountains and benches. n Exercise equipment possible.

SOURCE: City of San Antonio

I discovered that was a pleasant surprise was how strongly the residents here feel about wanting more park facilities,” Krier said. “What they want is two things — one is more parks and two is improvements to the parks they have.”

Gold Canyon Park is 72 acres of undeveloped land. In 2010, a private citizen donated 65 acres of the land with the goal of one day turning the area

for decades to come, as well as an example to future generations of San Antonians on the importance of natural spaces to the city.

“The planned improvements will make the land a natural-areas park,” said Tish Williamson, a spokeswoman for District 9. “This initial round of improvements will create a trailhead and a trail system, approximately a one-mile loop, an entry drive, a parking lot and possibly install exercise equipment.”

Other improvements include park signage, drinking fountains and benches. The feedback gathered at the recent public meeting will be used in finalizing the project’s overall design.

“Any future improvements to the park will be decided on through public input through the Parks and Recreation

GOLD CANYON continues on pg. 16

THE PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS WILL MAKE THE LAND A NATURAL-AREAS PARK. TISH WILLIAMSON, SPOKESWOMAN FOR DISTRICT 9

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JULY 2014

GOLD CANYON continues from pg. 15 Department,” Williamson said. “Bidding for the Gold Canyon Park project is scheduled to take place in November of this year with construction scheduled to begin in February 2015. The estimated date for completion is February 2016.”

The proposed improvements to the area are consistent with the current City Parks System Plan, which outlines various improvements that could be made in council districts.

The new walking trail and addition of parking spaces in Gold Canyon Park, for example, will allow anyone to get around the area. In its current state, the park is not open or accessible.

“As the city grows and becomes more urban, natural space will become harder and harder to get,” Krier said. “A century

from now, people will not remember what we paid for Gold Canyon Park.

They will remember that we (the city government) had the vision to acquire that land for future generations.”

Krier also cited the city’s acquisition of Hardberger Park, which lies in both districts 8 and 9, as an example of the forethought the city has given towards maintaining green spaces and natural areas.

In District 10, $700,000 is earmarked for Comanche Park to pay for additional parking, exercise equipment and trails in the shadow of the park’s landmark tower.

“There will never come a time where we can, as an example, demolish a subdivision and revert it back towards natural land,” Krier said. “You have to get that land and preserve it now before it disappears forever.”

AS THE CITY GROWS AND BECOMES MORE URBAN, NATURAL SPACE WILL BECOME HARDER AND HARDER TO GET. JOE KRIER, DISTRICT 9 COUNCILMAN

LOWDOWN continues from pg. 14 the previous owners. Both locations will continue to offer fresh baked breads, cookies and other sweet treats, along with a full line of sandwiches in the coming months.

Also available is an expanded indoor and outdoor seating area at the Northwest Military Highway location and free wireless Internet and a coffee and espresso menu from local roaster What’s Brewing, at both stores. The Stone Oak bakery is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

For more, visit www.GreatHarvestSATX. com or visit the Facebook page at San Antonio Great Harvest.

A FUNDRAISER CELEBRATING BAR LOUIE STONE OAK’S ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY raised $47,000 to benefit Bexar County Emergency Scene Rehab, according to a release. “While it was our original intent to donate our contribution to the San Antonio Fire Department, there were unforeseen circumstances that forced us to shift our donation to Bexar County Emergency Rehab,” said general manager Richard Gerber. Bexar County Emergency Rehab is a nonprofit volunteer organization that responds to emergency scenes and offers rehabilitation services

to firefighters and other emergency response personnel. Bar Louie Stone Oak is at 22610 U.S. 281 North in the Villages of Stone Oak shopping center.

A RECENT PRESENTATION AT THE PARMAN BRANCH LIBRARY centered on the topic “Lake|Flato Houses: Embracing the Landscape.” According to a release, Frederick Steiner and architects Karla Greer and Brian Korte discussed the landmark homes built by Lake|Flato Architects of San Antonio, a firm that is “nationally and internationally known for buildings that respond organically to the natural environment,” according to a statement issued by the library. Steiner is the dean of the School of Architecture and the Henry M. Rockwell Chair in Architecture at The University of Texas at Austin. Greer and Korte are partners with Lake|Flato. The library is at 20735 Wilderness Oak St. THE CITY’S NIGHTTIME CURFEW FOR MINORS — or those 17 and younger — remains in effect during the summer, according to a reminder from District 10 Councilman Mike Gallagher. The curfew hours are 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., though exceptions exist for teens who are working, helping a parent or performing certain other vital functions.

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Digital dentistry pushing local care to next level

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dvances in dental technology and techniques are allowing for more effective, efficient and comfortable oral health care and dental cosmetics, area dentists say, giving patients better and less nerve-wracking treatment options.

Digital technology is one aspect changing the face of 21st century dental care in the areas of examination, diagnosis and treatment, according to Jason Kboudi, a dentist at Advanced Smile Care, 11874 Wurzbach Road.

Kboudi said the use of an advanced X-ray scanner known as the cone beam, a 3-D imaging device, has gained wider use in dentistry the last few years.

“We can now take sort of a head and neck CT scan of the jaws, particularly important when we’re talking about placing implants or sometimes orthodontics or root canals, where we can actually

see a 3-D image,” Kboudi said.

Digital technology expedites procedures such as crown insertions, he said.

“Instead of somebody making them by hand, they’re actually being designed on a computer and built on a milling unit that’s connected to the computer,” the dentist said.

A milling unit is a machine used by technicians to make dental prosthetics.

“You essentially take a block of porcelain and you have the computer design of what the porcelain crown is going to look like, based on the digital impression that you are taking,” Kboudi said. “The milling unit grinds the piece of porcelain into the shape the computer has designed.”

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This process enables crowns to be made and installed the same day.

Dr. Bernard Rust, who has been practicing dentistry for more than 40 years, said technology is improving patient comfort and procedures each day.

“We have seen amazing advances in technology in the dental field. Computers have enabled dentists to make the patient experience more comfortable and much quicker,” said Rust, whose practice is at 13341 U.S. 281 North at Bitters Road.

“Computer-guided implant placement and CT cone beam X-rays take the guesswork out of implant placement. Cadcam technology has given us the ability to take precise impressions with a digital scanner.”

He added, “These impressions are much more accurate and there is no more messy impression material. This is a wonderful thing, especially for patients with a strong gag reflex.”

Digital dentistry has also made advances with the use of the VELscope, a hand-held device used for a more sophisticated level of oral examination.

However, it is not a replacement for a regular oral exam, said dentist Ibis Clyde of Bella Smiles Family Dentistry, 19298 Stone Oak Parkway, Suite 1105.

A VELscope screens for malignancies in the mouth such as oral venereal

diseases and oral cancer, and helps dentists see unhealthy tissue indiscernible to the naked eye in an oral exam.

The VELscope emits ultraviolet light bathing the patient’s mouth as a digital camera takes photos.

“You put the light on the patient’s mouth and then it goes through the tissue and the light bounces back,” Clyde said. “If there is healthy tissue the light will reflect back normal, but if you see a black spot that means that there is bad tissue and it won’t reflect out.”

Another new dental tool helping to calm some patients is the Single Tooth Anesthesia System, nicknamed “The Wand.”

The STA is a less-intimidating, less-painful alternative to typical metallic syringe needles used to numb tooth areas, because the STA uses an intravenous tube, according to Clyde.

“The way it injects is just the little tip of a needle and everything else is like an IV,” Clyde said. “Patients barely feel it, if they feel it at all, because it drips like an IV.” Another instrument putting patients at ease is the NOMAD, a cordless, hand-held X-ray device, Clyde said.

The NOMAD takes regular dental X-rays, replacing much of the big and bulky X-ray contraptions on clinic walls some patients find intimidating, she added.

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Holistic healing gaining ground in Alamo City

by ROSE MARY BUDGE

P

ainting contractor Don Garrett was having big problems with his neck and upper back. Then, he discovered Heeling Sole, which offers Ashiatsu barefoot massage. His aches and pains have since abated.

Retired school teacher Pam Wilkinson suffered from Bell’s palsy, a facial paralysis. She found her answer at the Integrative Healing Institute where owner Kim Krost used a special oil to counteract the condition.

Garrett and Wilkinson praise such medical approaches and the ancient concept of holistic healing.

Whether you live in the older parts of the city or in newer neighborhoods such as Stone Oak and Encino Park, holistic practitioners are making their mark.

Some, such as chiropractors and tradition-steeped herbalists, have a long Texas history. Others are relative newcomers.

An example of innovation is Farm to Juice, which is capitalizing on the nation’s health and physical-fitness craze. Featuring cool drinks made from fresh fruits and veggies, it’s a hot holistic destination in Stone Oak. Today, San Antonio has more holistic practitioners of all types than 10 years ago — acupuncturists, Reiki masters, energy workers, massage therapists ... the list goes on and on, noted Sherrie Reimers, naturopathic doctor and president of the San Antonio Holistic Chamber of Commerce.

According to Reimers, the conventional medical community has become more accepting of holistic techniques.

“I recently worked with a team including an M.D., an acupuncturist and a massage therapist to restore health to an 81-year-old woman,” Reimers said, adding the patient was so energized by the efforts she went dancing.

Sounds like magic, right?

But, Reimers emphasized that utilizing all applicable and legitimate methods in establishing an individual’s wellness — in other words, relying on the holistic concept of health care, fosters a cooperative relationship — simply makes sense.

Sandra Carrell Tremblay, director of the Alamo Heights Chiropractic Health Center for 20-plus years, also

believes in medical cooperation. She said physicians and surgeons have been very accepting of chiropractic medicine’s value, readily referring patients her way.

Krost of Integrative Healing, which offers a variety of methods including massage, lymphatic drainage, aromatherapy and reflexology, isn’t as convinced about holistic medicine’s acceptance, while conceding attitudes may be shifting and physicians gradually becoming more comfortable with the field.

Although the word “alternative” is often used as a synonym for holistic practices, these groups emphasize that it’s really a misnomer. They explain that holistic is an unchanging, timeless idea, while alternative is a medical category constantly in flux, as today’s alternative may be tomorrow’s mainstream.

Yoga is an apt illustration, according to Kristal Cuevas, owner of Southtown Yoga Loft. She noted nobody bats an eye these days if you say you’re into yoga. It has smoothly segued from far-out to cool and trendy.

“We’ve got an athlete’s yoga class, a prenatal class and a fun, family yoga class going on at the Loft, and I think such down-to-earth sounding things at studios have contributed to yoga’s acceptance and popularity,” Cuevas said.

19 Nowadays, there’s a type of yoga to suit almost anyone’s needs, and Jeni Spring, owner of Heeling Sole, just may provide the easiest-to-do version of all. It’s called Ashi-Thai or “yoga for lazy people,” and she said the therapist does the stretching work while the client reaps the fitness benefits.

Spring’s specialty is Ashiatsu barefoot massage, a sort of surfing motion performed by the therapist’s feet on the patient’s back that, she said, can cover a larger area than a hand massage and reach deeper into body tissues.

However, not all holistic practitioners are legitimate, she warned. Move into any new or unfamiliar therapy with caution, she advised. Thoroughly research the methods. Inquire about the practitioner’s training. Look for a license. Such steps can ensure safety and guard against quackery.

Spring also believes more must be done to educate the public and the conventional medical community.

For more information about holistic medicine, visit the American Holistic Health Association website, www. ahha.org, the American Holistic Medical Association website, www. holisticmedicine.org, and the website of the Holistic Chamber of Commerce, www.holisticchamberofcommerce.com.

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In fact, one out of every 10 people in the Alamo City is over the age of 65, with an estimated 50,000 military retirees included in this demographic.

According to the experts, there are plenty of reasons why the senior set call San Antonio home.

The city is home to an unbelievably far-reaching selection of health care options. The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio recently received one of the largest training grants of its kind in the world — a $3.4 million infusion of funds over the next five years to further research on aging.

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The North Central area boasts North Central Baptist Hospital, Methodist Healthcare Center, Sonterra Health Center, Alamo Healthcare Systems and the Rheumatology Associates of South Texas, along with many other health care providers, doctors, treatment facilities, therapists, specialists and more.

According to the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, San Antonio’s cost of living continues to rank among the lowest of large U.S. cities. In 2012, AARP listed San Antonio second in its “Top 10 Places to Live on $100 a Day.” Retirees can pick from many affordable choices ranging from housing developments for those still very active to communities offering flexible facilities for folks desiring home health care or full-nursing services.

There is even help available for downsizing and making modifications to a residence as one ages.

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“The goal of our personalized service,” said owner Karen Barlow, “is to ensure that the transition is a smooth process.”

21

SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM VIA continues from pg. 01

Site has room for other businesses

by LAKENDRA LEWIS

A

multimillion-dollar VIA Metropolitan Transit Park and Ride facility coming to the far North Side will help alleviate traffic congestion and make it easier to get to work and events, according to officials.

“It’s more than just a parking facility,” said Clay Smith, VIA director of the Advanced Transportation District.

“It will provide individuals with opportunities to ride a bus or carpool to get to their location, or take the bus to the downtown area for events.”

The Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization recently awarded $15 million to VIA for the construction of the long-anticipated, multi-level park and ride facility at U.S. 281 and Stone Oak Parkway, VIA officials said.

The site will include 400 parking spaces.

The money comes from $12

About $15 million in funding from the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization is helping VIA Metropolitan Transit build a new park and ride facility at U.S. 281 and Stone Oak Parkway. Photo by Joshua Michael

million in federal funding, with a $3 million local match.

The original park and ride design, approved by the city in 2012, was to be done in two phases, with the first phase calling for the scheduled completion of 170 parking spaces by 2015. The second phase entailed purchasing additional land and working with the Alamo Regional Mobility

IT WILL PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO RIDE A BUS OR CARPOOL TO GET TO THEIR LOCATION, OR TAKE THE BUS TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA FOR EVENTS.

VIA continues on pg. 22

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JULY 2014

VIA continues from pg. 21 have been using it to get to work in the downtown area. So we’ll really be able to reach out to a larger number of people who live in the Stone Oak area who’ll want to leave their cars behind and take advantage of the public transportation.”

With the exception of its Express buses, there are very few VIA bus routes that go north of Loop 1604.

As part of VIA’s SmartMove initiative, the new permanent park and ride facility is projected to also improve travel times, stimulate economic growth, promote pedestrian and bikefriendly neighborhoods, and enhance mobility between the far North Side and downtown’s central business district.

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The facility will have a connector ramp that allows cars and buses direct access to lanes on 281, as well as direct access to Stone Oak and 281 frontage roads, VIA officials said.

The facility’s four-level design also will include a loading area, an enclosed or shaded waiting area, restrooms and a place to purchase bus passes.

The property surrounding the 6.5-acre facility also could be used for potential business ventures.

“There’s a possibility for coffee shops or any type of development compatible to the transit facility that’s there,” Smith said. “It could be something in the future that lends itself to that.”

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Authority and the Texas Department of Transportation on coordinating a design.

But thanks to the additional funding, the VIA board agreed to forgo those phases and construct the entire facility.

“We’re about 30 percent finished with the design, so we’re going to (build) it all at once rather than stage it in multiple years,” Smith said. “Instead of 2015 we’ll open in 2016, but we’ll have the entire facility built at that time and not just a portion of it.”

Smith said VIA is applying to the city for a building permit.

VIA currently has an Express Bus route agreement with the Walmart located off Loop 1604, west of 281 near Park Hills Baptist Church.

VIA spokeswoman Priscilla Ingle said the construction of the new park and ride is expected to cut down on traffic congestion and make for smoother transportation for people going into downtown, as well as those seeking employment in the 281/1604 area.

“Individuals who are using the service now will greatly benefit from the park and ride facility,” Ingle said. “We’ve been providing the Express service from Loop 1604 for several years now and there are people who live in that area who

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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM HEB continues from pg. 01

Neighborhood groups gave input on store design

by TRAVIS E POLING

T

he drive to the grocery store just got a little shorter for nearly 50,000 residents in the heart of Stone Oak with the June 20 opening of H-E-B’s newest store.

H-E-B Stone Oak Market at the corner of Wilderness Oak and Hardy Oak streets is a new store concept that is smaller than an H-E-B Plus, but with the addition of a restaurant and numerous high-end features such as Wagyu Kobe beef, a charcuterie featuring cured meats and a deli that includes 30 varieties of hummus.

The store forms the fourth corner of a massive “square” for H-E-B in the area.

Before, patrons wanting to shop close to home had easiest access to H-E-B stores at Blanco Road just inside Loop 1604, U.S. 281 North and 1604 and a third at Evans Road and 281. Each one is four to five miles apart.

The H-E-B at Wilderness Oak and Hardy Oak streets is part of a new store concept that includes more glutenfree items, international fare and a restaurant. Photo by Joshua Michael

Neighbors have praised the debut of the new store.

“I’m sure it will be welcome by everybody,” said Dave Durrant, president of the Canyon Rim Homeowners Association, a sub-association of the Stone Oak Property Owners Association. “H-E-B has always been a great neighbor.”

Stone Oak Market H-E-B also may help the San Antonio based-grocery

chain recapture some of the market lost to competition from a Whole Foods Market that opened in 2012 in The Vineyards on Blanco Road just outside 1604.

“This one is a whole new format,” said Kim Harle, a spokeswoman for H-E-B. “It’s smaller with a lot of unique items.” The store is 80,000 square feet and employs about 350 people including the restaurant staff.

As part of the new approach, the

signage indicating what is in each aisle will reflect items that are becoming staples in many San Antonio kitchens, pointing shoppers to gluten-free products, meat substitutes, organic meats and other previously nontraditional categories.

Other superlatives include the biggest beer selection at a San Antonio H-E-B with 600 different brews, one of the chain’s largest coffee inventories, wine from regions not represented at the other stores including Greece and Yugoslavia, and a large selection of bulk items such as spices and fresh-made nut butters.

The selections reflect the broad mix of people from around the world who have settled in the pricey Stone Oak area, store officials said.

There also will be a stronger focus on organic items such as meats, wildcaught salmon and shrimp and an expanded assortment of organic baby-food products, Harle said.

“We’ll buy organic first (when available) and expand our offerings,” Harle said.

In addition, this grocery store wants patrons to sit down and stay a while.

While some H-E-Bs are being built without hot-deli counters or have removed

HEB continues on pg. 24

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HEB continues from pg. 23 them, as the company did in New Braunfels, Stone Oak Market will feature a restaurant called Oaks Crossing Bistro & Bar. The restaurant will feature small plates with items such as truffle and Parmesan fries, beer-battered fried cauliflower and asparagus and shrimp ceviche. A selection of sliders includes prime beef and brie, barbecue brisket and slaw and tomatillo fried chicken. Street tacos and Texas barbecue by the plate or by the pound round out the menu.

Like Bar Blanco inside the competing Whole Foods, Oaks Crossing will have a diverse selection of Texas-made craft beer and wine for patrons. H-E-B’s first in-store restaurant was Mueller Café, which opened last year at its new store on the site of the former Robert Mueller Municipal Airport in Austin.

H-E-B also has four parcels of 0.75 acres each available on the Stone Oak property for development by businesses that don’t compete with their services. The company did not disclose who the tenants will be.

The grocery and retail giant consulted Stone Oak neighborhood groups during the concept-planning phase about what residents would like to see from the new store, Harle said.

“They research each community,” Harle said of the development process.

“We’re a company of innovation, so we like to hear from people.”

The groups H-E-B asked to weigh in on the store’s features included representatives of area schools, neighborhood associations and local businesses, she said.

“A lot of the store layout came from those meetings,” Harle said.

Landscaping, store and parking-lot layouts and lighting were all designed with specific community requests taken into consideration, she said.

According to information posted on the website of H-E-B’s development arm, the primary trade-area demographics for the store as of 2013 were a population of 45,754 with a median age of 35.7 and median household income of more than $105,000. Just over 30 percent of the residents in those households are under 18.

The established, yet still-growing area is a prime target for many retailers and food purveyors. Besides Whole Foods, a Super Target grocery and a Green Fields Market, the landscape will become even more competitive when Trader Joe’s opens its second San Antonio location at Stone Oak Parkway near Loop 1604.

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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM MENTORS continues from pg. 01

Members stress concept to girls of gender equality

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local girls’ mentorship group that includes students from schools on the North Side is using lights, cameras and life lessons to teach their peers that beauty is more than skin deep.

Three members of Girls Inc. of San Antonio — including two from the North East Independent School District — recently hit the national spotlight during a segment on NBC’s “The Today Show” called “Love Your Selfie.”

The nonprofit Girls Inc. teaches young girls to be strong, smart and bold, organizers said.

“Many young girls especially struggle with body image, and so to encourage a higher self-esteem in these young girls, (“Today”) started this

Girls Inc. members Nikole Peña of MacArthur High School (left), Xochi Duran of Providence Catholic and Elizabeth Faudoa of Reagan High appeared on NBC's 'The Today Show' during the 'Love Your Selfie' segment, representing more than 90 of the nonprofit's affiliates across the nation and Canada. Girls Inc. promotes empowerment for young women. Photo by Collette Orquiz

campaign,” said Elizabeth Faudoa, a member and senior at Reagan High School who appeared on “Today.”

Girls Inc. partnered with a Los Angeles filmmaker, Marta Cunningham, whose first feature-length documentary, “Valentine Road,” was a part of the Sundance Film Festival last year.

Faudoa and Nikole Peña, a senior at MacArthur High School, acted in the public service announcement.

The announcement and the segment aired on April 30. Faudo and Pena are Mentors Valuing Peers, or MVPs.

MENTORS continues on pg. 26

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JULY 2014

MENTORS continues from pg. 25 Another San Antonio MVP, Xochi Duran, a sophomore at Providence Catholic School, was featured in a prepared short, and said the publicity was great for the organization. The trio were paired with Girl Scouts and REBel, a peer-education program, on the show.

The national office of Girls Inc. in Indianapolis chose the San Antonio members to represent more than 90 affiliates across the country and Canada during the NBC segment.

The teens said it is important to teach girls there is not one idealized image for the perfect female; girls don’t have to conform to those standards.

Portrayals in movies, magazines and other media constantly bombard young females with the message they have to be perfect, but the models’ forms are often digitally enhanced.

One of Girls Inc.’s founding fundamentals is that “girls have the right to accept and appreciate their bodies.”

The San Antonio chapter of Girls Inc. was established in 2004 with the support of The Children’s Shelter. Two years later it received full-member status in the national organization, and in 2007 became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The organization is led by an all-female board.

The organization stresses six fundamentals, also known as the Girls’ Bill of Rights: n Girls have the right to be themselves and to resist gender stereotypes. n Girls have the right to express themselves with originality and enthusiasm. n Girls have the right to take risks, to strive freely and to take pride in success. n Girls have the right to accept and appreciate their bodies. n Girls have the right to have confidence in themselves and to be safe in the world. n Girls have the right to prepare for interesting work and economic independence.

“It’s an organization that empowers girls of all ages to be strong and smart leaders of the future, (and) teach young girls to stand up for themselves,” Peña said.

Peña, Faudoa and Duran have spent many years volunteering as mentors to young girls at Girls Inc., and even attended camps and other events before they became MVPs. Activities at Girls Inc. are available for ages 6 to 18.

According to its website, these programs “are designed with girls in mind to spark their interests, address their concerns, build their skills and explore the world around them.”

MVPs, ages 13 to 17, are a link between the girls and adults in the nonprofit. They plan and coordinate many of the programs and events.

Amber Marcil, the nonprofit’s special events and communication coordinator, said MVPs show the girls that it is possible to stay and grow in Girls Inc. while having fun.

“Anything we say sounds way cooler and more official if they say it, as far as our 7- and 8-year-olds are concerned, because we’re so ‘ancient,’” Marcil said of the adults.

Faudoa added that MVPs are a bridge between the girls and the adults.

“We are young enough to create an emotional bond with these young girls ... we’re also old enough that they respect us and we can communicate with the facilitators,” Faudoa said.

Currently the girls are in the midst of the Glenda Woods Girls University summer camp, which is 10 weeks of sisterhood, leadership and fun for girls 7 to 12 years old.

Marcil said this is the largest group so far, with all 60 spots filled at both campsites, one at the Girls Inc. headquarters, 1209 S. St. Mary’s St., and the other held on St. Mary’s University’s campus.

During the camp, the MVPs help campers learn to harness their strength, intelligence and boldness

through programs, art, sports, special guests, field trips and more.

“One of the main things we’re about is teaching them just because there’s a stereotype out there or statistic, that doesn’t mean that you have to, like, conform to that,” Duran said.

Demographics for Girls Inc. vary by location, but a good portion of girls who attend camps and events come from lower-income families where there may not be as many opportunities. Marcil said the organization does outreach across the city, and anyone is welcome to join.

Girls Inc. also shows future generations the gender-equality gap can be closed.

“It’s more than just an organization, it’s the embodiment of opportunities for young girls,” Faudoa said. “We empower young girls to pursue whatever career they choose to, we push them towards math and sciences... but basically Girls Inc. teaches these girls that they are capable of doing anything they want to do in the future.”

The MVPs also plan to install Little Free Libraries across the city through the Summer Team Up Challenge. The libraries are stand-alone structures filled with books that neighbors can borrow, take or trade.

For more information about the group, visit http://www.girlsincsa.com/.

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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM

Visitors can see nature without leaving the city

by MIRANDA KOERNER

W

hen temperatures climb and sunny days grow long, it’s not just kids who want a fun summer in the great outdoors. But don’t worry, no road trips are required to escape the city streets for a nature outing — just check out Phil Hardberger Park.

The Urban Ecology Center on the west side of Phil Hardberger Park offers several classes and activities to make nature more accessible to children and adults. Photo by Rudy B. Ornelas

get really engaged. It’s a lot of fun. It’s a good way to teach kids about ecology and conservation. It teaches them about awareness and being outside.”

The park, named after former Mayor Phil Hardberger, is situated north and south of Wurzbach Parkway. The east entrance is at 13203 Blanco Road and the west entrance is at 8400 N.W. Military Highway, near the Urban Ecology Center.

On July 5 the park offers Hog Wild.

During that program, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department urban biologist Jessica Alderson talks about feral hogs and helps kids complete a fun craft.

Another critter-themed event is Wildlife

This summer, the North Side park — a 311-acre spread that was once the home of the sprawling Voelcker dairy farm — is offering plenty of programs for both kids and kids at heart.

The Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy, in conjunction with San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department, the Alamo Area Master Naturalists and the Sierra Club, is hosting events through July during weekdays and on Saturdays.

“The kids love it,” said park education coordinator Susan Campbell. “They

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“Our goal is to get kids outside and into nature,” Campbell said. “They’ll be taking care of this one day. There’s so much here — on the west side there’s great hiking trails. There’s a butterfly garden and wildflowers right here at your back door.”

Wendy Thornton, an Alamo Area Master Naturalist and park volunteer, became interested in visiting the park after hearing about the native plants there.

“It’s not like any other park in San Antonio,” Thornton said. “It’s more than 300 acres of natural savannah and native plants — and it’s in the heart of these (North Side) neighborhoods.”

According to Chuck Saxer, conservancy vice president, that blend of urban ease and natural plant life is intentional. He said the nonprofit conservancy is working hard to make the place attractive to visitors while respecting the natural flora and fauna.

“The park is nature friendly,” Saxer said.

“For example, on the trails, we have crushed granite rather than being paved. It’s a delicate balance and we want to respect nature.

We’re trying to provide an environment for native animals to come back and making an

effort to get rid of the invasive species and return the plant life to a more natural state.”

Future plans include restoring the Voelcker Homestead, which features a dairy barn, an antique windmill and the old stone Voelcker home, which is now watched over by a caretaker. While the windmill and dairy barn have been refurbished, the group is still working on the home and hopes to turn it into a living-history farm.

“It’ll be a good opportunity for children and school groups to see things they typically don’t see when they’re in the city,” said Gail Gallegos, the park’s nature preserve officer.

If classes aren’t your thing, you can always take a hike or go on a biking trail.

There are four dog parks, two each on both the east and west sides with a separate park for big dogs and small dogs.

There are also two playgrounds and a sports field.

On the weekends, Saxer often works as a greeter welcoming guests to the park.

“I go to the park daily,” Saxer said. “My favorite thing is the trees and being out with nature. You can escape without having to get in your car and drive for hours.”

For more about the park, visit http://www.philhardbergerpark. org/ or call 207-3284.

For more information about educational events, call 207-3292.

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re-purposed finds. French pottery, glass fishing floats, pigeon cages, giant dough bowls, glassware and even new pet bandannas! We have a bit of everything. Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10:30 to 5pm

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JULY 2014

BUY LOCAL Learn more about newest purveyors of goods and services in your area

Stone Oak gallery features old and new Mexican art

by BAIN SERNA

A

SEARCH FOR ARTWORK FROM MEXICAN PAINTERS of the past 200 years no longer entails a south-of-the-border trek, thanks to Inverarte Art Gallery in Stone Oak. The local exhibition opened in December at 923 N. Loop 1604 East, Suite 103, in the Waterford Village shopping center, while the original is in Mexico City.

It’s no coincidence the San Antonio gallery is located in Stone Oak, an area increasingly becoming home to well-to-do Mexican nationals.

“We have now a collective exhibition showing many different and interesting artists,” said gallery founder and director David Adberstein. “The Inverarte Art Gallery vision is focused in two areas.

The first one is to create a cultural bridge between the United States and

Mexico to promote 21st century Mexican and American artists. The second one is to be a support for collectors of 19th and 20th century Mexican masters’ art in the United States.”

Adberstein hails from a family of artists and art collectors, and 20 years ago came up with the inspiration for Inverarte, which has showcased works by Alexandre Monntoya, Carlos Vivar, Ixreal Montes, Gustavo Valenzuela, Pablo Weisz Carrington, Rafeal Vallejo, Rolando Rojas and Vincent Figliola.

Adberstein believes art is a high form of personal and cultural expression, and added Inverarte Art Gallery is meant to be an exposition of masterpiece paintings true to that form.

“Art is a cultural expression in itself.

When an artist makes an artwork, he is creating something that reflects his

culture,” he said. “Art expresses how we are today, how we see our environment and ourselves, and it gives us the opportunity to create around it.”

Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and by appointment on Sunday.

Inverarte Art Gallery features 21st century works (top) from both Mexican and American artists ranging from still-life to hyperrealistic. Director David Adberstein (above, right) and his assistant Ronnie Levy (above, left) run the gallery. Photos by Collette Orquiz

INVERARTE ART GALLERY 923 N. Loop 1604 East, Suite 103 For more, call 305-6528 or visit www.inverarteartgallery.com

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Los Barrios R estaur ants A San Antonio Dining Experience

Friends, Food & Family. For 35 years that’s what you find at our three Los Barrios family restaurants.

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30

JULY 2014

BUY LOCAL Learn more about newest purveyors of goods and services in your area

Three R’s taught at store — refurbish, repurpose, reinvent

by BAIN SERNA

T

Triple R Mercantile focuses on refurbishing, repurposing and reinventing antiques and vintage wares, with an inventory of unusual items that add flair to homes, owner Wendy Wilson said. Photos by Collette Orquiz

HE TRIPLE R MERCANTILE IS BILLED AS A UNIQUE STORE with a wide array of antiques, home furnishings and decorations, as well as novel gift items that have been “refurbished, repurposed and reinvented.”

The store, located at 1150 E. Borgfeld Drive, gives customers a chance to shop for a variety of items that will bring a unique touch and even a sense of personal artistry to any home, according to owner Wendy Wilson.

“We have antique furniture and unusual gift items,” Wilson said. “I look for different antiques or furniture that you would not necessarily find in other antique stores. If I do get a piece and it is not unique enough, I then will give it a makeover with paint. I like the pieces I sell to make a statement in someone’s home.”

Wilson said that she has been painting and in the crafting industry for many years,

and is an accomplished Batik watercolor artist who sells her work in the store.

Her eye for things that are artistic and exceptional are evident in the variety of inventory at the Triple R Mercantile.

“You may see my truck at estate sales, garage sales and thrift stores. It is wonderful to find a piece I can re-do and make new,” she said. “I call it recycling.

The best thing for me is when a customer comes in for the first time and is so intrigued with the place that they tell me they are going to tell their friends.”

Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday or by appointment.

TRIPLE R MERCANTILE 1150 E. Borgfeld Drive For more, call 913-1502 or visit www.triplemerchantile.com

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EAT LOCAL Learn about the newest neighborhood places for breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks

Latest Big Hops pairs food with craft beers

by OLIVIER J. BOURGOIN

T

HE FOLKS BEHIND THE NEW BIG HOPS GASTROPUB WANT IT TO BECOME — like its beerfocused predecessors — a popular destination for craft-beer fans, but also a haven for food connoisseurs.

The third location under the Big Hops umbrella, at 22250 Bulverde Road, Suite 106, debuted in February and, unlike its forerunners, features a full menu.

Owners Rob and Kylie Martindale have been busy. The first of their Big Hops Growler Stations opened at 8313 Broadway in March 2013, followed by a second at 11224 Huebner Road, Suite 204, a few months later.

A growler is a bottled, takeout handcrafted beer, made popular in the 19th century.

Paul Morales is in charge of the new location’s kitchen.

“I was raised in a meat locker,” Morales said. “My grandfather started the Hy-Grade Meat Co. (a wholesale meat-packing plant) in 1954. I came up in the ranks bagging 10-pound bags of fajita meat. Charcuterie (a branch of cooking devoted to meat products) is almost like second nature to me.”

He’s not kidding. The Art Institute of San Antonio graduate sports tattoos on his forearms displaying different cuts of meat and is a past winner of The Fine Swine, a pig-cooking competition.

“I love what I do and I love it here,” he said, adding his staff brings a personal touch to the menu.

“We make our own sausage. We grind and case it in-house, and we home-cure and smoke our bacon right here,” he said. “We also buy as many items as we can from local sources.”

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His favorite dish is the pork belly glazed with a Saint Arnold Root Beer reduction, and he also recommends the cheese, including smoked cheddar and Manchego.

General manager Kevin Hobbins, ruler of the 3,000-square-foot restaurant, said the menu is designed around beer and the socializing associated with sharing dishes.

“We offer a charcuterie board that’s delicious and you can pair your food with one of the many choices of craft beers on tap,” Hobbins said.

There are 51 taps including 48 beers, two-thirds from Texas with eight brewed in San Antonio.

TxDMV # 005344018C

Bartender Aaron Mendiola (above) pours the first draught of newly tapped Guadalupe's Americano, a wheat beer. This is just one of many local craft beers being paired with a new menu at the recently opened gastropub. Photo by Collette Orquiz

BIG HOPS GASTROPUB 22250 Bulverde Road, Suite 106 For more, call 267-8762 or visit www.bighops.com

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32

JULY 2014

EAT LOCAL Learn about the newest neighborhood places for breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks

Salata Sonterra offers mix of healthy dining options

by COLLETTE ORQUIZ

E

NDLESS SALAD-AND-WRAP SELECTIONS await those looking for healthier options for lunch and dinner at Salata Sonterra, which the staff calls “The Next Generation Salad Bar.” Customers have a variety of ingredients and combinations they can select, from lettuce to cheese to dressing in the tossed-to-order salads and wraps.

“Everything is specialized as to how you want it, whereas other places have preset salads ... Our whole concept is that you customize it to what you like,” said Kasey Hanlon, vice president of operations.

Franchise owners Tom McCarthy and Pat Hanlon — who is Kasey’s father — oversee the company in Austin, and opened Salata in early January at The Plaza at Concord Park, 700 E. Sonterra Blvd., Suite 1107.

The location is in the middle of offices, retail shops, residential areas and Reagan High School. The salad bar offers catering.

Another Salata outlet in San Antonio is in the Huebner Oaks Shopping Center, 11075 Interstate 10 West, Suite 310.

Ordering is simple at Salata, and it starts with a base of spinach, spring mix, romaine lettuce or Salata Mix, which includes

cabbage with the spinach, spring mix and romaine lettuce. From there, customers can select vegetables, fruits, nuts and cheeses.

Salad-and-wrap lovers can stack as many toppings as they like for a set price, and add chicken, turkey or seafood for an extra cost.

Ten dressings, ranging from classic buttermilk ranch to the popular fresh herb vinaigrette, can be drizzled on salads.

Salata offers gluten-free items including dressings and marinades for meat and seafood, and the restaurant is vegan and vegetarian friendly.

Kasey Hanlon said Salata fills a niche for people who want to watch what they eat, but if a diner dumps a bunch of ranch dressing on a salad, the staff will not judge.

“I think we’re the healthiest option, if not one of the healthiest options, in

San Antonio right now,” Hanlon said.

Ordering online is available for those on the go. Hanlon said Salata’s website — www.salata.com — simulates the salad bar, making online payment easy. The items will be waiting at the register for pickup.

Salata is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed on Sunday.

Salata Sonterra offers numerous fresh ingredients (above) for diners to customize wraps (left) and salads. It also has vegetarian and gluten-free options. Photos by Collette Orquiz

SALATA SONTERRA 700 E. Sonterra Blvd., Suite 1107 For more, call 272-0424 or visit www.salata.com

Sizzling Summer Special From San Antonio’s Prime Steakhouse BUY A LARGE 1 TOPPING PIZZA AND GET A

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LIVE LOCAL

FREE Basic Home Inspection Call for Details

From real estate trends and neighborhood listings to home improvement, we’ve got you covered.

Real Estate LOCAL Trends ZIP CODE MEDIAN SOLD PRICE

NEW LISTINGS

AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET

CLOSED SALES

UNDER CONTRACT

MONTHS SUPPLY OF INVENTORY

78258

78259

78260

78261

MAY-13

$259,900

203,000

265,000

298,313

MAY-14

328,000

245,000

278,250

291,000

MAY-13

132

57

107

75

MAY-14

153

66

108

87

MAY-13

106

61

100

155

MAY-14

85

99

98

100

MAY-13

113

49

87

54

MAY-14

91

46

62

57

MAY-13

112

56

83

48

MAY-14

76

31

69

54

MAY-13

2.7

2.6

3.4

3.8

MAY-14

3.6

2.4

4.7

4.2

SOURCE: San Antonio Board of Realtors: Texas Market Trends report The properties are new listings put on the market from early May 2014. The properties may no longer be on the market by publication date or prices may have changed. Local Community News assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions.

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