SCHOOL ZONE SAFETY:
pg.13
discretionary funds given to coker project NORTH EAST ISD
pg.12 New principal
named for Churchill High School
Justin Oxley’s appointment greeted with cheers from community
COMMUNITY NEWS Vol. 2, Issue 10
HILL COUNTRY VILLAGE
pg.10
HOLLYWOOD PARK
north central
78216 78232 78247 78248 78249
SEPTEMBER 2014
BOOSTING RETAIL
City of San Antonio moves forward with NEC Revitalization Plan pg.03 local commentary
SUSAN YERKES
fantastic deals
coupons INSIDE Discover the city through LOCAL deals from restaurants, retailers and services in your community, and save money while you do it! pg. 19 pg. 19 www.salocallowdown.com
Dogs are all ears at Brook Hollow Branch Library
pg 14
Therapy canines prove attentive listeners for youngsters learning to read
NEW in this edition pg. 18 LOCAL Restaurant Guide
Time to eat out! Get great deals from restaurants in your neighborhood
pg. 15 BUY CORRIE'S KARATE Female martial artist with belts in Japanese and Chinese self-defense opens a new karate studio on Heimer Road.
pg. 16 EAT BAVARIAN BRAUHAUS North Side family opens eatery featuring traditional German foods infused with the flavors of Texas.
2
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september 2014
From the editor tedwards@salocallowdown.com
President Harold J. Lees Publisher Gregg Rosenfield Assoc. Publisher Rick Upton Editorial Executive Editor Thomas Edwards News Staff Collette Orquiz, Bain Serna and Will Wright Contributing Writers Joyce Hotchkiss, Eric Moreno, Travis E. Poling and Susan Yerkes ART Creative Director Florence D. Edwards Production Designer Pete Morales Contributing Photographer Rudy B. Ornelas Contributing Illustrator Jeremiah Teutsch Advertising Account Manager Marc Olson Controller Keith Sanders READER SERVICE Mailing Address 4204 Gardendale Ste. 201 SA, TX 78229 Phone Fax (210) 338.8842 (210) 616.9677
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Advertising Inquiries rupton@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 4: 78109, 78148, 78233, 78239 Zone 5: 78108, 78132, 78154, 78266 Zone 6: 78258, 78259, 78260, 78261 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.
14-CPS-0472 ES Ad_Local Community News_V2.indd 1
6/20/14 11:22 AM
Editorials are not news stories
S
ometimes I get letters from readers who want to agree, disagree or just comment on “Our Turn” in LOCAL Community News, the editorial that offers opinions on weighty matters of the day. Many times the letter writers say something like, “Too bad whoever wrote ‘Our Turn’ didn’t have the courage to put his or her name on it.” Actually, “Our Turn” is signed each month, and the names of the editorial board run at the bottom — Harry Lees, Gregg Rosenfield and myself. The three of us select a topic for each issue and then a staff member is assigned to write “Our Turn” based on that consensus. The editorial is considered the “voice of the newspaper” and is never signed in the traditional sense. Instead, it is an opinion piece chosen by the newspaper’s senior management that offers a viewpoint hopefully informed by reason and research. Sometimes readers get editorials confused with news stories and features, which do carry bylines — the name of the writer. Rest assured, the three people who select the editorial topics for LOCAL— Lees, the company president; Rosenfield, the publisher; and myself, the editor — hang our names out there every month. We’re not hiding. Just look for the little box at the bottom of “Our Turn.” We welcome your calls, cards, emails and letters whether you’re for or against our take on an issue, or just want to add your voice to the conversation.
Thomas Edwards executive Editor facebook.com/salocalcommunitynews
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local commentary
S.A.’s red-hot political football by susan yerkes
Budgets are no fun. Just thinking about the city of San Antonio’s annual budget is enough to give me a headache. Since San Antonio’s fiscal year starts Oct. 1, the City Council is scheduled to vote on the 2015 budget in September. This year we’ve already heard plenty about one of the biggest, and most contentious, budget issues — so-called legacy costs for police and firefighters. Legacy costs —expenses a business or organization has incurred in the past that stretch into the future — are a big deal these days, mostly when it comes to health care and pension benefits. Back in the 1980s, many folks criticized the
city for committing to extremely high legacy costs for public-safety folks, in the wake of bitter city bargaining with the police and fire unions. A quarter of a century later, the chickens are coming home to roost. City Manager Sheryl Sculley knew it would be a tough battle. Nobody likes giving up benefits. And when unions get involved, it’s natural they should fight tooth and nail to protect members’ benefits while negotiating for more. With that in mind, for over a year now, Sculley has taken her compelling case to the city through the media. When it comes to heath plans and pension contributions, San Antonio’s police and firefighters receive far more, and pay far less, than their civilian counterparts. That includes zero health insurance premiums for themselves and their families, and their deductibles are $250 and $500, respectively. San Antonio’s first responders have a deal almost unparalleled anywhere in or outside Texas. In the last 10 years, the city’s share of medical costs for public-safety personnel jumped from $21.46 million to nearly $52 million. In the same decade, those costs for civilian city employees (who have taken some benefit reductions) increased from $15.74 million to just $20.25 million. You can see where this is going.
Whether the city will eventually go broke can be argued depending on whose statistics you use, and there’s a mind-numbing array to choose from, including the city’s at http:// www.sanantonio.gov/info.aspx, and the combined police and fire unions’ at www.PublicSafetyFacts.com. The key issue is more simple: As legacy costs continue to rise, our tax dollars keep stretching to provide basic city services beyond police and fire protection, from libraries to street maintenance. Nationwide, city leaders call it crowd-out and many U.S. cities have taken a giant hit because of it. Last fall Manhattan Institute senior policy adviser Stephen Elde produced a detailed study on crowd-out in which he said rising legacy costs force cities to either raise taxes, take on more debt or spend less on schools, roads, public transport, libraries, assistance for the poor and other public functions. “Troublingly, many governments are choosing (to cut non-legacy spending), creating the paradox of government that spends more and more to do less and less,” Eide said. It’s an eyeopener, no matter where you live. So far, the negotiations on the police and fire contracts, which nominally expire Oct. 1, have been unproductive. A breakthrough
UPGRADE TO METAL ROOFING
before the final council vote on the new budget is unlikely. No problem for the unions, since a generous evergreen clause in their contracts keeps current provisions intact for 10 years after the deal expires. Sculley, however, says another provision in the union contracts allows the council to unilaterally change employee benefit plans when they approve a new budget. If that happens, the unions will almost surely go to court, dragging out the process and costing more taxpayer dollars. To get council members’ support for a fight with the powerful and popular police and fire unions will be tough, but Sculley reportedly has support. While the union benefits have dramatically boosted San Antonio’s legacy costs, folks who run smaller cities are also increasingly focused on crowd-out, and the need to keep careful watch on future benefits obligations. The only way you have a say in how your taxes are spent is to let your elected leaders know you’re paying attention to where your money is going now, and what today’s commitments mean to your future tax rates. What do you think about legacy costs? Let your elected representatives know. And while you’re at it, let me know, too. Email syerkes@salocallowdown.com.
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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 system, it’s clear to see the 5-plus miles of
8 Offices
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.
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Happening LOCAL
go to www.adltexas.org or call 655-1481.
Plan your month with our calendar of upcoming events in the community.
OUR GUIDE TO YOUR MONTH
happening key
fitness
ART
LEARNING FOR LIFE There’s no reason grown-ups can’t be back in class, too – in fun, interesting or challenging classes and courses offered by North East Independent School District Community Education. This month and over the course of the fall, the school-district program has a dizzying selection of classes – financial subjects, arts, music, crafts, gardening/landscaping, cooking, computers, genealogy, dancing and much more. Many of the classes are held at the Community Learning Center, 8750 Tesoro Drive. To check out the offerings and register for a class, go to https://communityed.neisd. net/ComEdWeb/root/default.aspx.
ONGOING
JAVA WITH JOE Meet each Wednesday with District 9 Councilman Joe Krier at his field office, 16500 U.S. 281 North at Thousand Oaks Drive, Suite 290, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
WEEKLY
HOLLYWOOD PARK The city will hold a public hearing on the proposed tax rate at 6 p.m. in City Hall, 2 Mecca Drive. Call 494-2023 for more.
SEPT 4
TALK
outdoor
Music
FOOD
Private appointments can be scheduled during the first hour; open-door sessions are the second hour. For information, contact Constituents Chief Adam Trevino at adam.trevino@sanantonio.gov or 207-0955. MEOW MONDAYS AND WOOF WEDNESDAYS The Animal Defense League, 11300 Nacogdoches Road, reduces dog and cat adoption fees on these two weekdays in order to help more animals find “forever homes.” On Wednesdays, dogs over 4 months old cost $35 to adopt; for puppies up to 4 months, the fee is $60. On Mondays, any cat can be adopted for just $20. Free food and some medical care and insurance are included. All ADL pets have been examined, vaccinated and spayed or neutered if they’re old enough. The League’s hours are 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily. For more on the adoption process,
THROUGH SEPT 29
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING Trustees of the North East Independent School District meet 6:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at 8961 Tesoro Drive. To confirm dates and times, call 407-0533.
SEPT 8
TREE COMMITTEE The tree committee meets every third Monday of the month in Hollywood Park from 7 to 8 p.m. in City Hall, 2 Mecca Drive.
SEPT 15
HOLLYWOOD PARK The City Council meets every third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 2 Mecca Drive.
SEPT 16
Happening continues on pg. 06
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september 2014
HAPPENING continues from pg. 05 EVENING AGLOW MEETING Aglow, a Christian “transformational kingdom” group, meets the third Tuesday of the month for fellowship, song and an inspirational message. The gathering starts at 7 p.m. at Anne Marie’s Catering, 12475 Starcrest Drive (at Bitters Road). Everyone is welcome to attend. For more on Aglow International, go to www.aglow.com.
SEPT 16
HABITAT RUMMY In this class at Hardberger Park, children 7 to 10 years old learn what constitutes a habitat and then apply the various components to habitats required by various animals. The session runs from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Salado Classroom near the park’s eastern entrance, 13203 Blanco Road. Donations are accepted but not required. Class size is limited and children must be registered; call 207-3280 or email susancampbell@ sanantonio.gov for registration.
SEPT 16
RETIRED TEACHERS The North San Antonio Retired Teachers Association will open its monthly meeting with a “meet and greet” at 9:45 a.m.; the meeting begins at 10:15 a.m.
SEPT 17
The meeting place is San Pedro Presbyterian Church, 14900 San Pedro Ave., and members are encouraged to bring a friend. The group meets the third Wednesday of the month during the school year. SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION The San Antonio Chapter of the national organization will hold its monthly luncheon meeting at the Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels Ave., at 11:30 a.m. Lunch costs $25. Reservations are required and should be made with Bob Clark, 402-0871, or reservations@sarsat. org, by the Monday prior to the meeting.
SEPT 17
CHRONIC PAIN SUPPORT GROUP Meetings take place the third Wednesday of the month at Baptist HealthLink, 188 W. Bitters Road, from 4 to 6 p.m. One main topic per hour is covered in the group discussions, which may be large or small. A syllabus and more information are available at http:// chronicpainsupportsa.wix.com/cpsgsa.
SEPT 17
NAME THAT BIRD As part of the Hardberger Park First Saturday Program, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Salado Creek Outdoor Classroom, 13203 Blanco Road
OCT 4
on the east side of the park, guardians and children are invited to join Jana and Greg Gibbons, Master Naturalists and avid birders, as they provide hands-on activities including bird-call identification. A kid-friendly craft is included. A donation of $3 per person or $5 per family is suggested. To register, call 207-3280 or email Susan.Campbell@sanantonio.gov. NATIONAL NIGHT OUT The annual event held to prevent crime and get neighbors acquainted with each other returns to San Antonio communities. According to the San Antonio Police Department, “NNO also strengthens neighborhood spirit and community-police partnerships, while sending a message to criminals that ‘neighborhoods are organized and fighting back against crime!’” For details, important dates, registration and more, visit http://www.sanantonio. gov/SAPD/NationalNightOut.aspx.
OCT 7
EDEN HOLIDAY MARKETPLACE Folks looking for a good bargain are encouraged to visit this free community outdoor event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Eden Duck Pond at Thousand Oaks Drive and Tavern Oaks Street. Patrons will find handcrafted gift
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items, jewelry, purses, yard art, candles, cosmetics, sandals, hair bows, wood art and wind chimes, plus many favorite homebased local businesses and a food truck. Orders also will be taken for fresh greenery to include wreaths and centerpieces to be delivered during the holidays. The event is child friendly and smoke free. For information on being a vendor, contact Melva Rodriguez at maryk3@swbell.net.
Elsewhere in San Antonio VENDOR APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE Anyone interested in selling handmade items at the annual Esperanza Peace Market can pick up an application at the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center, 922 San Pedro Ave., or download it from the website, www.esperanzacenter. org. Applications are due by Oct. 1; the holiday market typically takes place the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving.
through oct 1
INTIMATE IMPRESSIONISM FROM THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART The McNay Art Museum is one of only five sites in the world to host this traveling exhibition of nearly 70 smaller-scale works by impressionist and
sept 3 - jan 4
Happening continues on pg. 07
7
salocallowdown.com HAPPENING continues from pg. 06 post-impressionist masters. The intimacy of the works’ size and setting is enhanced by the subjects, which include people and places well-known to the artists. The museum has scheduled a wide range of activities in conjunction with the exhibit; more details are at www.mcnayart.org. Hours will be extended for the duration of the show, and there will be a $10 surcharge for entry to the touring exhibit. YOUNG QUILTMAKERS The “Texas Art Quilts and Modern Masterpieces” exhibit at the Institute of Texan Cultures is set to have a related show – “Texas 4-H Quilts and Student Masterpieces.” That show features six student quilts, made as part of 4-H studies of textiles and clothing; some students create such bedcovers for charitable organizations, including Quilts of Valor and Project Linus. Both exhibits are open during regular hours, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission ranges from $6 to $8. The Institute is at 801 E. Cesar Chavez Blvd.
sept 5 - jan 11
ROCKS AND FOSSILS OF TEXAS Rock and fossil formations found in the state will be explained in a kid-friendly way by David Turner of St. Mary’s University. A craft will be included in the program, which runs from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Urban Ecology Center of Phil Hardberger Park, 8400 N.W. Military Highway on the west side of the park. The session is free but a donation to the Hardberger Park Conservancy is appreciated.
SEPT 6
ST. GEORGE EPISCOPAL CHURCH MENTAL HEALTH FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP This gathering takes place the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. in the meeting room of the Parish Building (near the nursery). Patients and their family members, friends and providers are all welcome. St. George is at 6904 West Ave.
SEPT 10
UNITE TO FIGHT PKD The annual San Antonio Walk for PKD, polycystic kidney disease, will take place at O.P. Schnabel Park, 9606 Bandera Road, starting with registration at the Graff Pavilion at 7:30 a.m. Participants are asked to raise funds for PKD research; those who raise at least $100 get a T-shirt and prizes are awarded to those raising $250 or more. The money can be turned over at registration. For more information on the various walks, or to register, go to walkforpkd.org/sanantonio.
SEPT 13
SEPT 14
TEJANO RANCHING FAMILY DAY On the eve of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Institute
of Texan Cultures offers a look at the indelible impact of Tejanos on Texas ranching. There will be vaqueros, plus examples of the distinctive cooking and music of Tejano ranch folk. There is no admission cost for this Second Sunday event, which runs from noon to 5 p.m. The Institute is at 801 E. Cesar Chavez Blvd. RANCH CHIC FASHION SHOW The American Cancer Society will present a show – with the help of Wrangler, Cavender’s and jeweler Kendra Scott – featuring Western-themed clothing modeled by cancer survivors. The event is from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Rosenberg Sky Room, 847 E. Hildebrand Ave., on the University of the Incarnate Word campus. Individual tickets are $75; a row of 10 seats is $800. To reserve a seat, contact Renee Silber at 595-0249 or renee.silber@cancer.org.
SEPT 18
WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S This fundraiser, which targets a prominent form of dementia, starts with registration at 7 a.m. at the AT&T Center, AT&T Center Parkway at East Houston Street. A 5K race starts at 8:30 a.m. and a 2-mile walk sets out at 9:40 a.m. Participants are asked to make a personal donation to the cause and also raise money from others. Registration is required; to register, go to www.alz.org and enter a San Antonio ZIP code under Find a Walk to get to the page with a registration link.
SEPT 20
TASTE OF THE HEIGHTS The annual fundraiser, presented by the Alamo Heights Chamber of Commerce, runs from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway. Silent auctions for various goods and services will supplement the main entertainment: food from an array of San Antonio restaurants. Part of the proceeds will benefit the Witte and Morgan’s Wonderland. Advance tickets cost $50, which includes valet parking. They can be purchased through a link at www.tasteoftheheights.com.
SEPT 25
WESTON WRIGHT “LIGHTING THE WAY” 5K/10K This annual fundraiser for the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind will feature chiptimed 5- and 10-K run/walk. Check-in starts at 7 a.m. and runners set off at 8 a.m. While those races are going on, there will be fun relay races for youngsters 5 to 10 years old. Registration runs Sept. 10-25; until Sept. 10, the cost is $25, rising to through the 25th. Register through a link at www.salighthouse.org/events/. The event takes place at the Wheatley Heights Sports Complex, 200 Noblewood Drive.
SEPT 27
Submitting events: Email all the details along with your contact information two months in advance to tips@salocallowdown.com.
8
september 2014
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. BAVARIAN BRAUHAUS, 300 W. Bitters Road at West Avenue, features authentic, house-made German cuisine, along with German beer on tap. Recipes handed down from grandmother to mother to son give the new restaurant its authentic German taste. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. For more, call 396-7170 or check out http://www.bavarianbrauhaus. com/. (See story on page 16) 2. CORRIE’S KARATE, 512 Heimer Road,
is a female-led self-defense studio offering cardio kickboxing, Zumba classes and mixed martial arts instruction that includes Japanese karate and kung fu. Hours are 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. For more, call 639-9496. (See story on page 15)
Address of local business Name of local business
3. BAHAMA BUCK’S ORIGINAL SHAVED ICE COMPANY, 12914 Jones Maltsberger Road, Suite 101, is now open at this third location. The national franchise, which has two other shops in San Antonio — 8910 Bandera Road, Suite 212, and 2610 TPC Parkway, Suite 109 — features snow cones, smoothies, Paradise Fruit and Island House Coffee. All products are advertised as gluten free. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 11 p.m. Sunday. For more, call 402-1551 or visit bahamabucks.com.
4. SANTIN AUTOMOTIVE, 11307 Perrin Beitel Road, is an auto and truck center that offers bumper-to-bumper diagnostics, repairs and maintenance, roadside assistance, on-site service, diesel and gasoline, automatic and manual transmission work, alignment and balancing tires. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. For more, call 648-4100 or visit www.santinautomotive.com.
avoid the Loop 1604-U.S. 281 interchange.
5. GOLDEN CHICK, 22002 U.S. 281 North,
opened in mid-July, joining more than 130 restaurants in the chain. The fried-chicken restaurant, which started in Central Texas in the 1960s, offers Golden Combos, family meals, tenders, salads, sides and drinks. San Antonio has five Golden Chick restaurants, with a sixth slated to open at 8534 Interstate 35 South. For more, call 497-5025 or visit www.goldenchick.com.
IN OTHER NEWS
WATCH THOSE SPEED LIMITS in Hollywood Park now that City Ordinance No. 942 is in place, making 25 mph the maximum across town. According to a release from officials, in mid-July the Public Works Department began erecting new signs alerting residents to the change. Some areas of the city, such as the 100 block of Mecca Drive to Sunway Drive, remain 20 mph, officials said. The speed limit dropped from 30 mph following a lengthy street and traffic improvement study, including a survey among residents. In past hearings, officials said they wanted to make the city safer and discourage cut-through traffic by motorists trying to
GOLF CARTS ARE NOW ALLOWED ON HOLLYWOOD PARK STREETS after the City Council recently approved their use. However, some restrictions still apply and residents must obtain a permit from City Hall. The carts have to follow all traffic rules and display a sticker, officials said. A GROUNDBREAKING HELD RECENTLY heralds a new sidewalk construction project where gaps exist on Moss Briar Street between Henderson Pass and Moss Arbor Street, according to officials with the City Council District 9 Office. About 300 feet of sidewalk will be built “to enhance pedestrian safety.” Officials credited Larry Lamborn, president of the North Central Thousand Oaks Neighborhood Association, with getting the project going. “This is a much-needed improvements project and is sure to be much utilized by the NCTONA residents,” said Councilman Joe Krier in a news release. IN SPITE OF PROTESTS EARLY IN THE PROCESS BY NEIGHBORS, a new Walmart celebrated a grand opening Aug. 13 at 12639 Blanco Road. Residents at one point
LOWDOWN continues on pg. 08
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salocallowdown.com HAPPENING continues from pg. 08 started a petition drive out of fears the construction and traffic would disrupt neighborhoods, wildlife and activities at Hardberger Park. According to the San Antonio Business Journal, in June city leaders and Walmart officials developed an alternative plan that paved the way for a smaller store — 165,000 square feet instead of the 185,000 of most Supercenters — “and for the retention of 75 percent of the trees on the property.” The Blanco/Wurzbach Parkway store, which is open 24 hours a day, could hire up to 300 employees. NAMES ARE BEING SOUGHT FOR THE NEW DISTRICT 9 BRANCH LIBRARY at 2515 E. Evans Road, according to San Antonio Public Library officials. It is located in the former Adobe Cafe. On June 26, the library board chose the geographic name of the facility as the Encino Branch Library, but officials also held three public input meetings to solicit names. Suggestions can still be emailed to SanAntonioPublicLibrary@ sanantonio.gov with the subject line “Encino Branch Library” or mailed to San Antonio Public Library, Dale McNeill, 600 Soledad St., San Antonio, TX 78205.
AS DEVELOPMENTS UNFOLD AT THE ENCINO BRANCH LIBRARY, new public artwork is being planned for the facility with help from future patrons. The city’s library system and Public Art San Antonio have asked the community to participate in the design of the artwork, officials said. The selected artist team of Joe O’Connell and Blessing Hancock was inspired by the art of storytelling, and their concept design “represents abstracted storybook pages entwined within an oak tree forest,” according to a City Council District 9 news release. The San Antonio Public Library system had asked residents to submit phrases and quotes from literature relating to the theme “natural wild.” Suggestions were inspired by books, journals, poems, articles or resources in the library’s citywide collection. Contributions from local and regional authors, as well as multilingual phrases, were encouraged. An announcement is pending. THE ANIMAL DEFENSE LEAGUE has opened a new Recovery Kennel facility near its hospital and other buildings at 11215 Iota Drive. It features 31 kennel slots that let ADL — a no-kill shelter — house 31 to 45 more animals each day.
LOWDOWN continues on pg. 10
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LOWDOWN continues from pg. 09 Officials said it also allows ADL to provide more low-cost spay and neuter services to the community. The league takes in more than 3,100 stray animals each year from the city’s shelter. The kennel includes runs that house small, medium, large and extra-large animals, officials said. DURING A RECENT NATIONAL CONFERENCE in Washington, D.C., Bradley and Bush middle schools received their Schools To Watch re-designation status from the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. Education leaders from the schools who attended included Charles Reininger, Debra Norton, Gary Comalander, Elisabeth Krimbill, Steve Berg, Michelle Ramirez-Castaneda and Laura Trevor Wilson, according to the North East Independent School District. The Schools To Watch Program identifies and honors U.S. schools “so all might learn how to achieve academic success through best practices for all young adolescents,” officials said. A PACKED PUBLIC MEETING ON REDLAND ROAD IMPROVEMENTS north of Loop 1604 took place recently at The House of Living Bread Church, 18940 Redland Road, under the auspices of District
9 Councilman Joe Krier. This public meeting highlighted improvements planned for the road using funds from the 2012 Bond-funded Road Improvements Project. The renovations include widening the lanes from two lanes to five lanes and adding bike lanes, curbs and sidewalks. For more details, Krier said residents can contact Joe Doctor at 207-8415 or joe. doctor@sanantonio.gov with the city’s Transportation & Capital Improvements Department. In addition to Krier and TCI, representatives at the meeting included consultants from Freese and Nichols Inc., a firm specializing in engineering, architecture and environmental science. U.S. SLED TEAM PARALYMPIAN JOSH SWEENEY received the inaugural Pat Tillman Award for Service during ESPN’s annual ESPY ceremony. Sweeney, a bilateral amputee and Purple Heart recipient who served in Afghanistan, said he was humbled after accepting the honor, presented by actor Jeff Bridges following a feature on Sweeney narrated by actor Gary Sinise. Sweeney’s goal led the U.S. Sled Hockey Team to a 1-0 victory in the gold-medal game at the Paralympics in Sochi, Russia. One of his training sites is the Northwoods Ice and Golf Center.
REVITALIZATION continues from pg. 01
Infrastructure improvements, tax financing part of plan by ERIC MORENO
T
he City Council has given its stamp of approval to a sweeping blueprint for revitalizing a once-proud Northeast Side business corridor that has fallen on hard times.
District 10 Councilman Mike Gallagher, as well as his predecessor Carlton Soules, led the charge to make the Northeast Corridor Revitalization Plan a reality, with the goal of reversing what many see as a downward slide for the Naco-Perrin corridor. The council recently authorized the project at Gallagher’s urging, which means it can now move forward with the use of city resources. “What the NEC Revitalization Plan essentially amounts to is that the city has decided to focus on this area as it has
others in attempting to revitalize them,” Gallagher said. “The city (government) realized that there are other areas of San Antonio that have not seen as much growth or attention, and I think there is a conscious effort to change that.” According to Gallagher, “This plan is a great step going forward, especially for the residents of the Northeast Corridor.” The area defined as the NEC includes the land between Perrin Beitel and Nacogdoches roads north of Northeast Loop 410, O’Connor Road, and portions of NacoPerrin Boulevard and Thousand Oaks Drive. A market study conducted by Wendell Davis & Associates in 2013 determined the vacant land and commercial property covers 1,222 parcels appraised at a value of more than $122 million. “One of the things that was discovered in the market study was that there was over $95 million in unmet demands in this area,” Gallagher said. “What that means is that area residents are having to drive further from where they live to obtain the goods and services that they want. The businesses just aren’t there and bringing those in and meeting those needs is one of the main goals of the plan.” The study also indicated businesses
REVITALIZATION continues on pg. 11
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salocallowdown.com REVITALIZATION continues from pg. 10 in the area lose nearly $200 million each year in retail sales to shopping centers outside of the corridor. “A problem I see with the area right now is that there is a real lack of diversity in the businesses,” said Jan Kirby, chairwoman of the Northern Hills Homeowners Association. “I think our residents would like to see some of the types of businesses that we don’t have in the area currently move in, either into one of the abandoned buildings or into a new space. It would be nice to have, as an example, a bookstore in the area or, say, a Starbucks to go to that’s close by.” The five-year revitalization plan, with a six-person steering committee, has seven goals to improve the business climate, some of which are under way. “Revitalizing the area is a real win-win deal for the city of San Antonio and the residents of the area,” said Jack Judson, a steering committee member and former president of the similarly themed Austin Highway Revitalization Project. “The city benefits in a number of ways, including tax revenues. There are obviously more taxes to collect from businesses that are operating than there are for vacant or unused ones. And, the residents of
Seven Major Goals of NEC Revitalization Plan n Reinvest in schools, apartments and single-family neighborhoods to maintain a stable customer base. n Activate vacant and underutilized properties with large-scale, catalytic development projects. n Reintroduce native trees, shrubs and permeable surfaces. n Improve the appearance of buildings, signs and parking lots through incentives tied to uniform design guidelines. n Establish a unifying brand that positions the corridor for investment and communicate positive change. n Build a coalition of influential businesses and property owners that will advocate for funds, services and other resources. n Recruit community-serving retail and service businesses based on a thorough knowledge of market conditions. SOURCE: City of San Antonio
the area have more of a neighborhood. They have places where they can go and an area they can take pride in.” Convincing local commercial property owners to reinvest in the area by cleaning up vacant lots, renovating older building facades and enhancing signage are some of the ways to improve the corridor, officials said. “At one point, this was a very nice section of town,” Kirby said. “My mother bought the home I live in now in the 1980s and it was a lot different then. Now there are a lot of vacant and empty buildings. If new businesses could move into these empty spaces, that would be great for the residents that live here.” Proponents said it will take a grassroots effort that includes discussions with area owners, attempting to convince them to reinvest in their businesses, as well as encouraging investment by outside business partners. “Word has to get out that there are these properties that are available and we have to encourage larger retail stores to get involved in the area and understand that there is a great opportunity for them,” Gallagher said. “Walmart moved into the area in the last year or so and it has been a great success for everyone.” Another goal of the plan, and one that
has already seen a financial investment by the city, is improving the infrastructure of the area. This includes a beautification project using native, drought-resistant trees and shrubs. Planting should be finished in the fall. Other improvements by the city are more lighting and sidewalks as funding becomes available. “We are hoping to create a taxincrement reinvestment zone for the area to serve as a funding mechanism for that type of infrastructure work,” said Michael Taylor, interim assistant director for the city’s Planning and Community Development Department. That would allow a portion of the taxes paid by local businesses to be put back into redevelopment and community improvement projects for several years. “The reality of the situation is that several areas of the city are doing well,” said Carlos Pena, senior vice president of commercial lending with Jefferson Bank and a member of the NEC steering committee. “You see the growth on the West Side of town and in Stone Oak and in downtown and at the Pearl. With the economic potential that exists in this area right now, there is no reason that it cannot see the same type of growth.” For more, visit www. northeastcorridorsa.com.
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CHURCHILL continues from pg. 01
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Top educator’s background includes music, physical fitness by COLLETTE ORQUIZ
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And while he’s only been in the position four months, Justin Oxley, 42, said he is settling in, joking that “hopefully you can see my head stop spinning around.” The newest Charger, a 19-year education veteran, said his background in both the arts and physical education means encouraging Churchill students to embrace programs that lead to personal enrichment. “I’m bringing a lot of enthusiasm and passion for our students to create a wellrounded education package,” Oxley said. Under recent redistricting, Churchill
is now a 6A school with more than 3,000 students. Campuses in the North East Independent School District opened Aug. 25. Among many NEISD families, Oxley is probably best known as the principal at Bradley Middle School, which sends graduates to Churchill. During his tenure, Bradley was named as a federal “Schools To Watch” in the 2010-11 academic year. Oxley took over the leadership team there in 2007. In addition, Oxley was named the 2013 Region 20 Middle School Principal of the Year and a 2014 H-E-B Secondary Principal finalist candidate. Also during his watch, the Mills Spring Cabin — a living history project at Bradley that resembles an Old West town — was repaired with an outpouring of funds from the community after vandals damaged it. Oxley is a good fit for Churchill, parents said. Maria Wade, president of the Bradley PTA from 2012-14, has three children who attended the middle school when Oxley was principal, and now he will be their principal again at Churchill. “Mr. Oxley is an exceptional leader in education. We are so happy for him,” Wade said. “He displayed a sense of excellence among his students (and it) created a positive atmosphere for the (Bradley) campus.”
Oxley said he wants to continue building ties with parents from Bradley and other cluster schools that feed into Churchill. His background involves extensive studies in education. Oxley received a bachelor’s degree in music from Bowling Green University in Ohio, his home state, in 1994. He came to San Antonio to seek a master’s degree in school administration from Our Lady of the Lake University, which he received in 2000. A relative living in the Alamo City had tipped off Oxley that education jobs were available in San Antonio. Oxley and his wife, Amy, made the trek south from Ohio. The couple worked at St. Martin’s Hall, a private elementary school across from OLLU, at the same time Oxley pursued his master’s degree. Oxley referred to himself as a “rare bird” at St. Martin’s Hall because while he was a music educator, he ultimately became a coach after being certified in physical education. His next post landed him at Garner Middle School in NEISD, where he worked as a choir teacher and coach. According to Oxley, he had the “biggest and baddest boys’ choir in the district” — a lot of the music students also played football.
CHURCHILL continues on pg. 13
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salocallowdown.com CHURCHILL continues from pg. 12 His training in both music and fitness have shaped his outlook on education, he said. “I think because I come from a fine arts-athletic background, I want to make sure our students at Churchill have every opportunity to explore alternative types of activities that help create their personality and also academically,” Oxley said. Before becoming principal at Bradley, Oxley also worked at Lee High School as the curriculum assistant principal. He encouraged his students there to follow their passion and succeed. Their triumphs paved the way for Oxley’s doctoral dissertation, which examines how intervention can help at-risk pupils perform at their highest level. “(I) worked with a tremendously wonderful population over there, highly at risk, but those students have a special place in my heart,” Oxley said. The principal is seeking a doctoral degree through the educational studies program at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Churchill’s mission is “Every kid, every day,” and Oxley is confident his team at the campus will foster a creative and productive atmosphere. Though much of a principal’s work
is administrative, he wants to be in the classroom and serve as a quality instructional leader for teachers. “Above all, it’s trying to be personal and building that relationship, that one-on-one relationship, getting yourself out of the office away from the paperwork so you can meet those students, get to know them — that’s primarily my goal,” Oxley said. Wade said Oxley has always had an open-door policy. Any time she had questions or just felt like dropping in to say hello, she received a warm welcome. “With a strong volunteer PTA base and parent support, I can only speculate that Mr. Oxley will continue to persevere with success and lead our Churchill family into an auspicious future,” Wade said. Oxley’s spare time is spent with his wife and their three children. Brandon, a sophomore in engineering, attends Texas A&M University in College Station, where sibling Taylor is enrolled as an incoming freshman in business. The youngest child, Samantha, is a freshman at Johnson High School. His wife is a choir teacher at Tejeda Middle School. Oxley is also a baritone in a barbershop group called the Sterling Quartet, and performs with the San Antonio Chamber Choir.
COKER continues from pg. 01
Sidewalks, driveways and curbs to be improved by BAIN SERNA
C
onstruction improvements to sidewalks, curbs and driveways in the school zones around Coker Elementary will make it safer for students and parents traveling to and from campus, officials said.
Both the city and the North East Independent School District are funding the upgrades. Some are finished and
some are scheduled to start by mid-fall. One of the major upgrades involves a sidewalk near Coker that runs along Julienne Place, part of an effort to enhance traffic safety under a 2011 bond project to improve NEISD campuses. “The sidewalk project was a huge benefit, because prior to that we didn’t have a sidewalk alongside there (on Julienne),” said Principal Tiffany Gill. “We are a campus that is in a community and we have a lot of student walkers, and so now we feel better sending them off-campus where they have sidewalk access.” Gill said that in the past, the school had used the side near Julienne for school dismissal in the afternoon. “We find it a huge safety improvement in keeping our kids safe when they walk home,” she said. “It helps improve our dismissal, keeping it safe so that
COKER continues on pg. 14
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READ continues from pg. 01
COKER continues from pg. 13
Program at seven S.A. libraries by COLETTE ORQUIZ
T
he Brook Hollow Branch Library is going to the dogs, but it's for a good cause — offering a program that improves children's literacy skills by having them read aloud to friendly canines.
The furry, four-legged listeners in the Read to a Dog program have provided a willing — and nonjudgmental — audience for youngsters learning to read since 2012 at the library, 530 Heimer Road. “It’s important because of its support for early literacy,” said adult services librarian Tapley Trudell. “(It gives) them confidence in a skill that is more useful and necessary over time, especially if it can built in a way that a child associates with fun instead of a chore.” Read to a Dog was designed to give children a listener that boosts their confidence by sitting or lying next to them while they read.
Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Toby, listens while Maggie Loftus reads him a story at the Read to a Dog program at the Brook Hollow Branch Library. Wendy Loftus, Maggie’s mother, said her daughter enjoys coming to the library, but especially when the dogs are there. Photo by Collette Orquiz
Children also can simply hang out and play with the dogs. The canines allowed in the library belong to Therapy Dogs Inc. The canines undergo hours of training. “These are dogs that are going to be very well-behaved, who are trained to handle a lot of little kids getting all excited around them,” Trudell said.
READ continues on pg. 17
parents can pick up their kids safely. Otherwise, they were uploading cars on the street, whereas now they are uploading them on the sidewalks instead.” Plans to improve more sidewalks, driveways and curbs along Perennial Drive, which runs next to Coker, are in the works as well, according to District 9 City Councilman Joe Krier, who gave $14,000 from his discretionary account to the Perennial project. Each City Council member gets a certain amount of discretionary funds to use for improvements in his or her district. “For me, it is part of my ongoing commitment to try to improve schoolzone safety throughout District 9 and throughout the city,” Krier said. “This particular project is money being spent on sidewalks, curbs and driveways alongside Coker Elementary School in that school zone.” The councilman earlier this year helped spearhead a project to improve signs and signals around Larkspur Elementary School after a 9-year-old girl on her way to class died after being struck by a hit-and-run driver. Krier said the project at Coker will finish some sidewalks, add more
sidewalks and complete driveways and curbs so it’s safer for parents and kids to get into and out of the school. “We worked with the school district folks as well as the city’s Transportation & Capital Improvements Department on that,” Krier said. “They tell me that construction is going to begin this November and it should only take about two weeks to get completed, so it should be done by the end of this year.” A spokeswoman for TCI said Krier’s funding allocation pays for work that follows federal guidelines to improve mobility for the physically challenged. “We’re doing an ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant curb to accompany and complement the crosswalk that NEISD is installing on Perennial Drive,” said April Alcoser of TCI. “It is an ADA curb that is being installed, as well as the reconstructing of the sidewalks and driveways that are adjacent to the middle section where the crosswalk is going be installed by NEISD, just to ensure that it is ADA compliant.” Residents tell Krier there are still too many areas where students walking to school lack complete sidewalks. “This project will complete an area and give us good sidewalks, and for parents driving their kids, it will give them good curbs and driveways,” Krier said.
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Martial arts with kids inspired woman to open Corrie’s Karate by Collette orquiz
C
orrie Watkins lives a double life, switching from haircuts and highlights during the day to teaching martial arts at night. Watkins recently opened Corrie’s Karate at 512 Heimer Road, renting the space from an attorney who used to own Aikido Sho An Juku Dojo on the second floor of the building. “I would really like to fill the studio up and get it going because I have such a cool place here,” said Watkins, who works with her mother during the day as a hairdresser. Watkins earned black belts in Japanese and Chinese martial arts. She used to hold classes in her home, but moved into the new space earlier this year. She started taking karate classes with her two children to spend more time with them. When they decided
In the photo above, Barbie Alvarez (left) and Sheila Cochran (right) spar during a class at Corrie’s Karate. Cochran (photo, left)) practices martial-arts moves with a sword. Photos by Collette Orquiz
everything you do in your life. It gives you balance, skill, coordination and discipline,” Watkins said. “It builds character in people because it takes endurance to continue.” Corrie’s Karate offers cardio kickboxing and karate classes twice a week, on Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively. Watkins has taught karate for six years and cardio kickboxing for nine years. The classes are open to all students. According to Watkins, she used to coown a place where a male instructor taught children and she taught adults. When they parted ways, she planned to keep teaching adults but was swayed by parents who wanted their children to participate, too. Corrie’s Karate classes offer a wide range of levels, from beginner instruction to black belts. Her students also spar in competitions. Watkins said she really looks forward to her karate nights. “When you’re doing what God put in your heart to do... people are going to enjoy it, they’re going to come because it’s real,” Watkins said.
to call it quits, she realized she loved martial arts and wanted to continue. “Karate will make you better at
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EAT LOCAL Learn about the newest neighborhood places for breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks
Restaurant offers German food with Texas flair by Collette orquiz
R
ecipes handed down from grandmother to mother to son give a new North Side restaurant its authentic German taste. Ralph Richardson and his wife, Carrie, unveiled Bavarian Brauhaus in late July at 300 W. Bitters Road, Suite 185. Carrie Richardson said her husband — who has worked in the restaurant business for 25 years — has always wanted to open his own eatery. “This has been his dream. Mine too, but especially his because he has the restaurant experience,” Richardson said. Running the restaurant is a family affair, whether it involves the bookkeeping, cooking, serving or managing. Her sister-in-law in Germany even made the restaurant’s logo, Richardson said. Bavarian Brauhaus features German
fare made from scratch, but some menu items have a Texas twist, including a spicy gravy or the option of adding jalapeños. Patrons will recognize classic German dishes, such as wiener schnitzel, which is hand-breaded pork or veal that is panfried and topped with lemon and parsley. No German restaurant would be complete without a few beers, and Bavarian Brauhaus has six taps that are frequently rotated. German-style beers such as Shiner Bock and imports from Germany such as Spaten Optimator are available. Happy hour includes a full bar and is from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The bar also offers flights of beer and wine, so diners can taste different styles from the Old Country. The location on West Bitters Road
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Bavarian Brauhaus cooks up recipes straight from Germany, such as the wiener schnitzel, which is battered veal or pork with lemon and served with homemade brown gravy. Photo by Collette Orquiz
has seen its share of restaurants, but Richardson said Bavarian Brauhaus fills a culinary niche in the Alamo City. “I think San Antonio is missing a German restaurant. We just don’t have that,” Richardson said. “We have gotten a lot of positive feedback and I think that’s because our food is really, really good.” It is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
BAVARIAN BRAUHAUS 300 W. Bitters Road, Suite 185 For more, call 396-7170 or visit www.bavarianbrauhaus.com
Advertorial
Bluebonnet Pet Crematory National Pet Memorial Day
National Pet Memorial Day is Sunday, September 14, 2014. The holiday was created in 1972 by the International Association of Pet Cemeteries in recognition of the importance of remembering our beloved pets and the bond we shared with them. It helps to educate people about the grief
• Private Cremations • Communal Cremations • Distinctive Urns & Memorials
process that occurs when a beloved pet dies and increases awareness of the many options available to memorialize pets who have passed away. “It’s incredibly important for people to grieve the loss they may experience in their lives,” said Judy with Bluebonnet Pet Crematory. Pets are a part of our family and sometimes are considered the only Children a pet parent may have in their lives. We want to assist them in expressing their love, accepting
“We fully believe that all animals living in our homes and sharing our lives are more than just our pets; they are our best friends and close members of our family.”
their grief and remembering these family members in a meaningful way.”
Ways to Remember Your Pet 1. Spend a few moments reflecting on pleasant memories with your pet
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2. Contribute to an animal protection group or your local shelter 3. Volunteer at a shelter - walk a dog, play with a kitty 4. Create a small memorial in your yard - plant some flowers or a tree 5. Donate money or time to an organization in honor of your late pet And remember, we will see them again when we cross over The Rainbow Bridge.
w w w. blu eb on ne tp e tc re mator y. c om
17 READ continues from pg. 15 One of those trained dogs is Murphy, an American cocker spaniel owned by Ricki Brady. She recently took over the program at Parman Branch Library at Stone Oak, but occasionally visits Brook Hollow. Brady loves bringing Murphy to the Brook Hollow library to see the children. “It’s interesting to see their expression. They’ll use a lot of expressions with the dog, they’ll check and see what the dog’s doing,” Brady said. The program originally was designed for students in kindergarten to fifth grade, but officials said it is especially popular with the younger set, even kids age 4. Librarians said kids who aren’t reading yet can narrate a story from a wordless book. “My kids like the library, but they especially love it when the dogs are there,” said parent Wendy Loftus. According to Brook Hollow volunteer Jaci Sprencel, Read to a Dog enjoys a great turnout each week, with more than 30 children stopping by and reading to the dogs — including her long-haired Chihuahua, Emmy. For a current schedule, visit www. mysapl.org or call 207-9030. Seven out of the 26 San Antonio Public Library facilities host the therapy dogs.
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We have members of all ages and children can start as early as age 6. Judo enhances your physical and mental well being. For some of our junior members, Judo can also build self confidence and may help with bullying issues. Address: 3723 West Ave, Suite 200, San Antonio, TX 78213 Phone: 210.399.5836
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Deep Relationships
With only 16 residents at each AutumnGrove Cottage, our caregivers know their residents’ preferences and personalities, allowing them to build deep relationships. The intimate environment encourages our family members to become friends and each others support system.
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From the moment you drive into the driveway of our cottages, you will experience the look and feel of a private home. It is our belief that people should be able to age in the same manner they are accustomed to living.
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