Volunteers in AHISD reach out to students in need
PG. 05 LOCAL COMMENTARY SUSAN YERKES Holidays bring plenty of good reads about San Antonio, Alamo and Texas
PG.19
Angel Program offers a helping hand when ends don’t always meet
PG.06 EDITORIAL
Moving San Antonio municipal elections to November could increase participation
DOWNTOWN LIVIN’ PG.23
Museum Reach getting another 218 apartments and townhomes in new 2017 projects
COMMUNITY NEWS
PAGE 13 VOL. 4, ISSUE 6
LOCAL SOCIETY
ALAMO HEIGHTS
KING WILLIAM
on the scene of the latest parties
MONTE VISTA
OLMOS PARK
TERRELL HILLS
DEC. 7, 2015 - JAN. 4, 2016.
Low Vision Reading Room for kids debuts downtown Central Library opens space stocked with Braille and largeprint books, read-alongs and CDs for kids who are sight-impaired
PG.21
BUY LOCAL PG. 25 THE PIPE
CORNER
King William shop offers smokes, wine and fine art
PG. 24 ENERGYX
FITNESS
Training center offers rowing regimen for fitness
Donations sought for playground honoring deceased tot PG.15
Northwood PTA says Dylan Michael Vaughan Toddler Playground needs major upgrades
EAT LOCAL PG. 27 VIVA VILLA
TAQUERIA
Cortez family of Mi Tierra debuts downtown taco stop
PG. 26 OLD MAIN
ASSOC.
Monte Vista gets a late-night, upscale pub
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DEC. 7, 2015 - JAN. 4, 2016
FROM THE EDITOR tedwards@localcommunitynews.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 Olivier J. Bourgoin, Rose Mary Budge, Joyce Hotchkiss, Carole Miller, Edmond Ortiz, Eileen Pace, Travis E. Poling and Susan Yerkes ART Creative Director Florence D. Edwards Contributing Photographer Neven Jones and Rudy B. Ornelas
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w w w. p h y l l i s b r ow n i n g . c o m
Season for peace
O
ne of my fondest memories about growing up at Fort Sam Houston is the weekday, lateafternoon observance that included a short burst of solemn music and the simulated firing of cannons. No matter what you were doing, if you were outside and heard the music you stopped and turned in the direction of the flag flying over the MacArthur Parade Field, close to Beach Pavilion. Army brats like me and adult civilians stood at attention to honor the Stars and Stripes, but if you wore a uniform or BDUs like my dad, you saluted. Even if you were in a car or on a bike, you braked, got out or got off, and paid your respects to Old Glory. The cannon fire always followed. I loved everything about that tradition. Participating in the daily ritual made me feel patriotic toward my country and proud of the job my father and his fellow soldiers carried out to keep America safe. Growing up on military reservations, I often heard the term “peacekeepers.” Now it may surprise some of you to think that men and women who wage war are called peacekeepers. But as my dad always reminded me, soldiers are the last people who want a war, and the first ones to pray for peace. This time of year we're going to hear a lot about peace on Earth. This is a wonderful sentiment. But as folks mouth the words and sing the songs, and thoughts of presents and candy canes dance in some heads, let’s not forget the warriors stationed here and abroad safeguarding us so that we can enjoy these glad tidings. Remember the peacekeepers. Bless them, bless you and may all enjoy a safe holiday.
THOMAS EDWARDS EXECUTIVE EDITOR
ON THE COVER: A low-vision reading room in the Central Library, 600 Soledad St., funded by a donation from the Semmes Family and San Antonio Public Library foundations, gives sight-challenged children an opportunity to enjoy books through the Braille alphabet and other means. Pictured is Zephyr Castro, 3. See the story on page 21. Photo by Rudy B. Ornelas
5
SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM
LOCAL COMMENTARY
The gift of reading, San Antonio style by SUSAN YERKES
W
hen I think of holiday
gifts, my thoughts turn to books. Blame my upbringing — I grew up in a bookstore. When we moved to San Antonio in the 1960s, my parents opened H. R. Higgins Books, named after my stepfather. (It later became The Twig.) I love to read, and I had permission to take most books home and peruse them, as long as they came back spotless. (Even today, a peanut butter and jelly stain on a book page sends me into a momentary panic.) For years after my folks sold the shop I couldn’t walk into
a good bookstore without buying half a dozen titles. And despite occasional Amazon buying binges, I still feel fiercely loyal to independent bookstores, where the proprietors read voraciously and recommend skillfully. In fact, I’d like to give all my readers the gift of a book this Christmas. But since that’s not in the budget, I’ll settle for recommending a few San Antonioflavored books I’ve enjoyed this year. “San Antonio’s Spanish Missions: A Portrait,” by Lewis Fisher, with beautiful photos by Mike Osborne and a foreword by the Rev. David Garcia, celebrates the beautifully preserved missions, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Another of Fisher’s books, “American Venice: The Epic Story of San Antonio’s River,” tells the history of the River Walk in photographs and text. “San Antonio: The Saga” is another magnificent tome full of images from the fantastic sound-and-light show in Main Plaza. With big changes coming for the Alamo, Paul Walker’s “Remember the Alamo: Texians, Tejanos and Mexicans Tell their Stories” brings a new perspective to the mission’s tale. There’s also the new biography by Ron J. Jackson Jr. and Lee Spencer White, “Joe, The Slave Who Became an Alamo
Legend.” And rock star Phil Collins’ “The Alamo and Beyond: A Collector’s Journey” is a sumptuous book on the Briton’s huge collection of Alamo artifacts, which he subsequently donated to the state. It features many of the historical pieces that will someday be on display in an Alamo museum downtown. Classic film fans will enjoy “Not Thinkin’…Just Rememberin’…The Making of John Wayne’s ‘The Alamo.’” Paula Allen’s fascinating “San Antonio Then and Now” pairs stories of the city with past and present photographs. Most recent of all is “San Antonio: Our Story of 150 Years in the Alamo City,” from Trinity University Press – a big, impressive coffee-table book with a sesquicentennial’s worth of stories and pictures. Foodies will love restaurateur Cappy Lawton’s “Enchiladas: Aztec to Tex-Mex” or “San Antonio Beer,” an account of the city’s brewing biz from the 19th century to today by LOCAL Community News contributor Travis E. Poling and Jeremy Banas. Sandra Cisneros’ new memoir “A House of My Own” is high on my hot list of fiction books. Jan Jarboe Russell’s “The Train to Crystal City” is an important, eye-opening account of the long-secret internment camp in Crystal City, where
thousands of Japanese and German families were imprisoned during World War II. Cynthia Leal Massey’s “Death of a Texas Ranger: A True Story of Murder and Vengeance on the Texas Frontier” is a great Wild West read. Bryce Milligan’s Wings Press is a San Antonio treasure, and you’ll find some great books on the website wingspress.com. Notables are the new anthology of Texas women’s work, “Her Texas: Story, Image, Poem & and Song”; poet Naomi Shihab Nye’s new offering “Famous”; and Joe Holley’s rollicking story “The Purse Bearer: A Novel of Love, Lust and Texas Politics.” Also new is a book that brought back many memories for me: Mary Carolyn Hollers George’s “Rosengren’s Books: An Oasis for Mind and Spirit.” The beloved downtown bookstore was my parents’ biggest competitor. And finally, here’s a great tip for all readers – a free app called OverDrive that gives you access to e-books, audio books and more from hundreds of libraries, including the San Antonio Public Library. In return, the best gift you could give me is to recommend the books you have enjoyed this year. Happy holidays, and read on! syerkes@localcommunitynews.com
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DEC. 7, 2015 - JAN. 4, 2016
OUR TURN Views and opinions about your community
Move city elections to November
V
oter participation in local elections continues to drop, but District 8 Councilman Ron Nirenberg has an idea to stop the decline that is worth supporting — move the balloting from May to November. Nirenberg touts the example of Austin, which saw a 40 percent rise in electorate turnout when municipal elections switched from the spring to mid-fall, to coincide with state and national balloting. Another advantage to changing election dates is the savings passed on to taxpayers by combining one election season managed by the Bexar County Elections Department. Analysts know that more voters turn out during a countrywide contest, such as the one to select a president, so why not build on that momentum by adding municipal
balloting? If not, voter apathy could worsen, with participation continuing to fall. During the key race for San Antonio mayor in May, in which 14 candidates sought the position, only 14 percent of registered voters even showed up at the polls. When fewer voters cast ballots, then special-interest groups and those with very narrow agendas control the balloting and the ultimate fate of a city. Nirenberg’s idea deserves consideration. So far, most of his colleagues on City Council have not exactly given the notion a ringing endorsement. Mayor Ivy Taylor even worries that partisanship could enter the local races if they are held the same time as state and national contests. Truthfully, local elections for City Council rarely have split along party lines and have a lot more to do with money, demographics, neighborhoods and geography. Plenty of cities in the area already hold November elections with nary a whiff of partisanship or problems — Converse, Cibolo and Windcrest come to mind. This idea has merit and could boost local democracy. Contact your San Antonio council member and let them know you support moving the elections to November.
-The Local Community News editorial board includes Harry Lees, Gregg Rosenfield and Thomas Edwards.
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HAPPENING LOCAL
Plan your month with our calendar of upcoming events in the community. HAPPENING KEY
OUR GUIDE TO YOUR MONTH
FITNESS
ART
FORD HOLIDAY BOAT DEC. 20 CAROLING From 6:15 to 8:15 p.m., singers on five barges will perform Christmas carols along a 2 ½-mile stretch of the downtown River Walk. The scores of groups participating are from schools, churches, civic choral organizations and businesses.
THROUGH
SAISD The San Antonio School District 7, 14 Independent board has its monthly A Meeting on Dec. 7 and the B Meeting on Dec. 14. The sessions take place at the David G. Burnett Center, 406 Barrera St., at 5:30 p.m. To see each meeting’s agenda, go to www.saisd.net and click on the Board tab.
DECEMBER
DECEMBER
8
MONTE VISTA The Monte Vista Historical Association board meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the
601LCN
BEGINNERS BIRD WALK The San Antonio Audubon 12 Society outing begins at 8 a.m. at the Judson Nature Trails start point, 246 Viesca St. in Alamo Heights. It will be led by Georgina Schwartz. Nonmembers are welcome and binoculars can be provided. The walk is held the second Saturday of the month.
DECEMBER
TALK
OUTDOOR
MUSIC
FOOD
Landa Branch Library annex, 233 Bushnell Ave. For more, call 737-8212 or go to http:// www.montevistahistorical-sa.com/. MADRIGAL DINNER The Heights High School 11, 12 Alamo choir hosts this annual event for a “magical evening” with caroling and “delicious food” at 6900 Broadway, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. both days. The auditorium will be transformed into a medieval castle, replete with lords and ladies, jesters and town criers. Appetizers include fruit, cheese, rustic breads and wassail (sans alcohol); a first course of tomato soup; entrees are beef bourguignon, roasted garlic mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus; and figgy pudding for dessert. A vegetarian option is available. Suggested age for children in attendance is 10 and up. Tickets are $25 per person, but sales end Dec. 8. For more,
DECEMBER
BRING IN THIS COUPON FOR AN EXTRA $10 BONUS!
CHRISTMAS AT VILLA FINALE Villa Finale Museum & Gardens 12 is dishing up holiday sparkle topped with 1920s-vintage Christmas cheer. From noon to 4 p.m., $5 tours of the house will feature a huge tree inspired by former owner Walter Mathis as well as his glass ornaments, Santa collection and German music boxes. From 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., it’s “A Cat’s Meow Christmas,” starting with seasonal beverages and ‘20s sweets. Then the San Antonio Brass Orchestra will perform favorite tunes from the ’20s as well as holiday music. Tickets cost $15; a combo ticket for the tour and concert is $18. For tickets, call 223-9800. Villa Finale is at 401 King William St.
DECEMBER
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HAPPENING continues on pg. 08
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HAPPENING continues from pg. 09 WINTER ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW 11-13 Vendors will offer handmade items for sale from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. all three days. They’ll be set up along the River Walk Extension near Rivercenter Mall and the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
DECEMBER
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TERRELL HILLS The City Council meets 14 at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 5100 N. New Braunfels Ave.
DECEMBER
NUTCRACKER SWEETS The annual fundraiser for the 14 Battered Women and Children’s Shelter will offer an array of treats – savory as well as sweet – at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Noted chefs, including many from top restaurants around town, will create the bits of culinary bliss. There will be live jazz, ballet and a silent auction, too. Tickets cost $50 for adults and $25 for teens 13-17; there’s no charge for kids 12 and younger. Buy tickets through a link at nutcrackersweetssa. org, where you’ll also find a list of the chefs and the treats they’ll be serving.
DECEMBER
DEC. 7, 2015 - JAN. 4, 2016 ALAMO HEIGHTS The Council meets at 14, 28 City 5:30 p.m. both days at the municipal complex, 6116 Broadway.
DECEMBER
NEISD TRUSTEES North East Independent School 14 District trustees are scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. in the NEISD board room, 8961 Tesoro Drive.
DECEMBER
SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS, CAMP 153 Hood’s 15 Texas Brigade, Camp 153, meets at 7 p.m. at Grady’s Bar-B-Q, 6510 San Pedro Ave. Members and guests are welcome to eat beginning at 6 p.m.; no reservations are required. The Camp meets the third Tuesday of each month. For more, visit www.hoodstexasbde.com.
DECEMBER
DECEMBER
17
SAN ANTONIO CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE 17 The group meets the third Thursday of each month at Grady’s Bar-B-Q, 6510 San Pedro Ave., for a 6 p.m. dinner and 7 p.m. meeting. Those interested in Civil War history are invited to share stories and ideas. No reservations are required. For more, contact Nancy Hodges at lyndz76@yahoo.com or Daniel Snell at surveyking@satx.rr.com.
DECEMBER
OLMOS PARK The City Council meets at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 120 W. El Prado Drive.
AHISD The Alamo Heights Independent School District 17 board meets at 7 p.m. at the Central Office, 7101 Broadway.
DECEMBER
LOCAL IS WHERE YOU ARE LOCAL IS WHAT WE DO
THE NUTCRACKER Ballet International and 18-20 Mejia the San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet will stage the holiday classic, which will be choreographed and directed by Paul Mejia, once a principal dancer under George Balanchine at the New York City Ballet. Noted Russian dancers will take the principal roles and students at San Antonio Metropolitan Classical Ballet will portray the children. Performances, which take place at the Lila Cockrell Theatre, are at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 and 2 p.m. Dec. 20. Tickets range from $29 to $110 and are available at Ticketmaster. com, ArtsSA.org or by calling Arts San Antonio at 226-2891. The theater is at 610 E. Market St. in the Convention Center.
DECEMBER
HAPPENING continues on pg. 09
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“I worked out at a large gym for more than 20 years. Lost motivation and have taken a 4 year break. Tried the 30 day trial and have now joined Koko. Really enjoy the small, intimate setting.” Jean
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But don’t take their word for it, come see it for yourself! We believe that Koko has the answer for you, and want to give you 30 days of complete fitness and coaching for $30. Come see what makes Koko FitClub so different from other gyms. Get started and change your life today. Yours in good health, Leslie and Jason Edwards 999 E. Basse Rd. Suite 184, Next to Torchy’s Tacos
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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM HAPPENING continues from pg. 08 HO, HO, HO – SCHOOL’S OUT Campuses at the Alamo Heights and North East independent school districts will be closed for Christmas break.
DEC. 17 - JAN. 1
LIBRARIES CLOSED All San Antonio Public Library sites 24-27 will be closed Dec. 24-27 as well as New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
DECEMBER
FREE ADMISSION AT SAMA The San Antonio Museum of 26 Art, 200 W. Jones Ave., continues its holiday tradition of a free community day with no admission from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is housed in the historic Lone Star Brewery on the Museum Reach of the River Walk. For more, call 978-8100 or visit www.samuseum.org.
DECEMBER
POP-UP ON PEARL JANUARY This monthly market, a 2 collaboration of the IAMA Coffee Shop and Mujeres Mercado, offers musical performances plus vendors selling jewelry, home accessories and more made by local female artisans. It runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the coffee shop, 1627 Broadway at Pearl Parkway.
ALAMO HEIGHTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE The Chamber 6 holds luncheon meetings the first Wednesday of the month in a private room at Paesanos Lincoln Heights, 555 E. Basse Road. Guests are asked to arrive by 11:30 a.m. for a meet and greet; the guest speaker is featured at noon. The cost is $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers. For more, call 822-7027 or go to http://alamoheightschamber.org/.
Toasty Toes
JANUARY
NUTRITION DISCUSSION Live With Nature, a nutrition/ 7 discussion group, meets from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at EcoCentro, 1802 N. Main Ave. The group’s sessions look at nutrition’s role in dealing with health challenges. They take place the first Thursday of the month, are free and open to the public, and may include health tips, recipes and plant exchanges. For more, call 492-4620.
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AUDUBON SOCIETY MEETING The monthly meeting of the San 7 Antonio Audubon Society starts at 7 p.m. at The First Tee, 915 E. Mulberry Ave. For more, call 308-6788 or go to saaudubon.org.
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DEC. 7, 2015 - JAN. 4, 2016
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. THE PIPE CORNER, 727 S. Alamo St.,
Granada Homes Introduces…
Suite 200, is a Southtown tobacco and smoke shop offering fine cigars, as well as an art gallery with wine, wine tastings and even beer. Hours are noon to 10:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, noon to midnight Friday and Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday. For more, call 263-9729 or visit facebook.com/ thepipecorner1. (See story on page 25)
(on Premises)
2. ENERGYXFITNESS, 5162 Broadway,
G r a n a da H o m e s
Retirement Community on the Beautiful San Antonio Riverwalk with ALL BILLS PAID
Efficiencies & One Bedrooms starting at $335 a month • Courtesy patrol provided for building • Fire detector system and emergency alert system in each apartment • On-site service coordinator to assist with supportive services to enhance standard of living • Chapel, game room, TV room, library, thrift shop, ballroom, laundry room, garden patio & restaurant • Lunch program available Monday – Friday • Socials – Birthday parties, bingo, bake & rummage sales, blood pressure & blood sugar checks and more • Government rental assistance available
Riverwalk Salon
Men & Women Haircuts, Hair Color, Manicures, Shellac, Solar Nails, Spa Pedicures, Eyelashes and Waxing
w w w. g r a n a da h o m e s . n e t
Mon-Sat 10a-6p, 210-227-4743
G r a n a da H o m e s 31 1 s o u t H s t. m a r y ’ s s t. s a n a n to n i o , t X 7 8 2 0 5
210-225-2645
is billed as San Antonio’s first rowing studio and offers a variety of fitness classes including Power Row, Shockwave, row and flow and yoga. For more, call 608-4241 or visit www.energyxfitness.com or facebook. com/EnergyX-Fitness. (See story on page 24)
3. THE OLD MAIN ASSOC., 2512 N. Main
Ave., is a new “neighborhood tavern-style bar offering craft and classic cocktails, beer, wine and fare that some have dubbed
Address of local business Name of local business
‘San Antonio Soul Food,’” according to a company statement. The pub is located in the Monte Vista Historic District. Hours are 5 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday, which includes brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more, call 562-3440 or visit facebook.com/ theoldmainassoc/. (See story on page 26)
4. VIVA VILLA TAQUERIA, 905 Dolorosa
St. in Market Square, is touted as an authentic Mexican restaurant introducing a new taco-eating cultura from the interior of Mexico. Hours are 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday. For more, call 987-8482or visit vivavillatacos.com or Facebook.com/ vivavillasa. (See story on page 27)
LOWDOWN continues on pg. 11
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Students with the Garner Middle School National Junior Honor Society lined Harry Wurzbach Road holding large U.S. flags to show respect for past and present military members on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Commuters driving by honked and cheered the pupils. Later that morning, the school held three ceremonies to honor the armed services, with a performance by the school orchestra and readings from the theater arts department. Courtesy photo
LOWDOWN continues from pg. 10 IN OTHER NEWS
STAGE ONE WATER RESTRICTIONS IN ALAMO HEIGHTS have been lifted for now. City officials, however, are reminding residents the city has year-round water regulations that allow “automatic or manual irrigation systems … any day of the week but only before 10 a.m. and after 8 p.m.,” as well as “hand watering with a handheld hose, soaker hose, drip irrigation system or bucket … any time during the day.” Also, residents are reminded that
sprinkler systems must be equipped with a sensor to prevent them from turning on during rains, according to officials. FIVE HISTORIC HOMES IN THE KING WILLIAM HISTORIC DISTRICT received needed repairs and revitalization on Oct 3, preservationists said. The city’s Office of Historic Preservation and over 30 volunteers from the University of Texas at San Antonio’s College of Architecture, as well as San Antonio College, came to
LOWDOWN continues on pg. 12
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LOWDOWN continues from pg. 11 the district with their paintbrushes and power tools to work on the homes as part of the semiannual Students Together Achieving Revitalization program. The five residences are located in different parts of the neighborhood, and “many of these homes have been passed down through generations and hold great sentimental value to the current owners,” an official said. CITY AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS HAILED THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS RESIDENCES south of downtown during the groundbreaking Nov. 6 for the new Sunglo Urban Homes and Lotus Urban Homes green living community. According to a press release, Lotus Urban Homes, located at 1603 S. Presa St., will be a 17-unit housing development on the site of a former hotel and bar. Sunglo Urban Homes, 1519 S. Presa, will be a 10-unit development. The property was formerly a Citgo gas station. Both development sites will be certified by Build San Antonio Green. Completion of the developments is expected at the end of 2016. “Sunglo Urban Homes and Lotus Urban Homes will provide significant economic benefit by addressing reinvestment and infill development priorities,” said District 1
Councilman Roberto C. Treviño. The city will provide more than $500,000 in incentives to the Sunglo Urban Homes development project, according to officials. And the Lotus Urban Homes project is eligible for more than $100,000 in incentives in the form of city and SAWS fee waivers. HONORING THE VICTIMS OF THE RECENT TERRORIST ATTACKS in Paris, District 1 Councilman Robert Treviño and other leaders joined hundreds in Main Plaza downtown for a vigil Nov. 15 to remember those who were wounded or killed. Spurs players Tony Parker and Boris Diaw, both of whom are French nationals, also attended. TEXAS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE JOE STRAUS, R-SAN ANTONIO, has filed for re-election as the representative of District 121, which covers northern San Antonio, Alamo Heights, Terrell Hills and Olmos Park. Straus, a fifth-generation Texan and graduate of Alamo Heights High School, was elected to the House in 2005 and speaker in 2009. He and his wife, Julie, live in San Antonio and have two daughters. STATE SEN. JOSÉ MENÉNDEZ, D-SAN ANTONIO, HOSTED HIS FIRST COMMUNITY GATHERING for District 26 constituents, who braved rainy conditions to attend the Oct. 24
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event at San Antonio College’s Loftin Student Center Fiesta Room. The town-hall meeting was designed to elicit input from residents to shape district priorities in the next legislative session. “My legislative agenda is shaped by conversations I have at H-E-B, neighborhood associations and community gatherings like these,” Menéndez said. “Saturday’s event was so important because it allowed us to hear the concerns of our neighborhoods and how we can work together to strengthen them.” The meeting also featured representatives from service agencies such as CPS Energy and San Antonio Water System, which provided additional information and helped answer questions from residents. Menéndez said he plans to host similar events for constituents in the district, which includes parts of central San Antonio, Converse, Live Oak and all of Windcrest. THE PASEO DEL RIO ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECENTLY selected Maggie Thompson as the new executive director of the nonprofit. Thompson is the eighth executive director in the association’s 47 years and started Nov. 23. According to a spokeswoman, Thompson is “a seasoned professional in both the nonprofit and for-profit world (and) has a strong background with the city of San Antonio, membership-based organizations as well
as large budgets and long-range planning.” The association promotes, protects and preserves the River Walk and organizes 26 annual events ranging from craft shows to the Ford Holiday River Parade. ST. LUKE’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL HAS BEEN NAMED AS A SILVER & BLACK GIVE BACK 2015-16 Team Up Challenge semifinalist. The school received $2,500 in seed money to begin a service learning project. Students from several grades will shop, prepare and deliver weekend snack bags to children in an after-school program run by Good Samaritan Community Services on the West Side. Semifinalists were selected based on proposals submitted for endeavors to improve their communities. The project is led by Director of Student Life Robin Davenport and eighth graders Sydney Murray and Caroline Hale. “We decided to help kids who may not have enough to eat at home,” Sydney said. “Children shouldn’t have to worry about when they will have their next meal.” The challenge, sponsored by San Antonio sports franchises including the Spurs, gives seed money to 20 semifinalists from area school districts to perform a service project, and five champions selected later from their ranks will receive $20,000 to continue the initiative.
LOWDOWN continues on pg. 14
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LOCAL SOCIETY
THE CHRYSANTHEMUM BALL
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AnaPaula Watson, Helen Eversberg and Jane Gleason
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THE WITTE GAME DINNER
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verything old was new again this season with honored traditions giving way to changing times, places and new beginnings.
The Chrysanthemum Ball, the undisputed queen of San Antonio society events, moved from La Villita and was held at the San Antonio Country Club for the first time. This most exclusive gathering of the social season was thrown by the Charity Ball Association to celebrate les grandes dames raising more than $1 million for children’s charities in Bexar County. Association founder and past President Dela White was honored in the program and in prayer. She was loved and admired by everyone who knew her. White’s beautiful spirit inspired so many people for many
years and she will be greatly missed. The Witte Game Dinner, always a trailblazing event, was held for the first time in Brackenridge Park and set some new standards — it raised a record $666,343 and hosted its all-time largest crowd of 1,700 guests. The city of San Antonio was recognized as the 2015 Game Dinner honoree, Ginny and Randy Cadwallader served as the chairs, KENS 5 morning news anchor Barry Davis was emcee, Rick Shaw was the best auctioneer in the West and The Bellamy Brothers rounded out the evening with a rousing country-music concert. The shining star of the night, undoubtedly, was the delicious array of wild game cuisine by the RK Group. The fare included delicious dishes such as paella, venison enchiladas, handmade gorditas, desserts as far as the eye could
David and Zabrina Rabozo, Eileen Teves, Skyj, Shelley Miester and Allen Lansing
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SA FASHION AWARDS
Lari Nelson, Burgundy andt Tawana Timberlake
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see and everyone’s perennial favorite— the fried quail with cream gravy. The first annual San Antonio Fashion Awards took place at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts. The red carpet, glamorous, avant-garde happening, sponsored by StyleLushTV, San Antonio’s online fashion network, acknowledged those individuals
Xitlalt Xalazar, Michael Quintanilla, Anna Monette and Semon Tam
in the Alamo City who help push forward the local style industry. Backed by SA2020, the awards benefitted the Zero Limits Foundation, a local nonprofit that empowers young adults to achieve their full potential as they pursue careers in the creative field. Happy holidays to all. For more, visit facebook.com/onlinein09.
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14 LOWDOWN continues from pg. 12 NO TALL TALE HERE — SAINT MARY’S HALL STUDENT DIXON SAMPSON wowed judges as “best youth liar” at the 28th annual George West Storyfest Nov. 7 in George West. Competing against three other youth contestants in the festival’s Texas State Youth Liars’ Contest, Dixon’s story included pumpkin pie raining from the sky, a boy getting stuck on a 50-foot tower of ice and working with NASA. During the past seven years, 13 Saint Mary’s Hall students have won the National Youth Storytelling Torchbearer. Dixon will be competing later this school year for the chance to become a 2016-17 Torchbearer and act as “Storytelling Ambassador” by presenting his stories across the nation. STARBUCKS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CFO SCOTT MAW participated in a recent question-and-answer session with the Saint Mary’s Hall Student Investment Group. Educators said the session provided a unique opportunity for students to ask questions about one of the most well-known companies in the United States. Near the conclusion of the gathering, Maw told students, “Find something you like to do, work hard at it, and good things will happen.”
LOCAL LIVE MUSIC KEY: Alamo City Music Hall, 1305 E. Houston St., alamocitymusichall.com Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, 226 N. St. Mary’s St., 226-5700 Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St., 226-5700 Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersa@gmail.com Sam's Burger Joint, 300 E. Grayson St., 223-2830 The Korova, 107 E. Martin St., 226-5070 12/7 Indiemerch Tour: The Black Dahlia Murder, Goatwhore, Iron Reagan, Entheos, Artificial Brain, 6 p.m., Alamo City Music Hall, $18 12/9 White Reaper, VOID OF DEVICES, Junkie, Loafer, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, $7 12/10 Comfort & Joy: Jim Brickman, 7:30 p.m., Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, $32.50/$52.50 12/11 Deicide, Season of Suffering, 7 p.m., The Korova, $20/$25
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15
SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM NORTHWOOD continues from pg. 01
Recreational area at school has become community gathering place by BAIN SERNA
A
playground built to honor a toddler after his untimely death is falling into disrepair two decades later, and community groups are seeking help to improve and repair the site at Northwood Elementary School. Because private funds were used to construct the playground on the campus, which is accessible to the public afterhours, the North East Independent School District can’t pay for the renovations. Organizers said they are short about $4,000 of the $32,000 total. “It has come under some disrepair and it definitely needs to be upgraded,” said Brett Beyer,
Seeing God In New Ways by Les Hollon, PhD Senior Pastor at Trinity Baptist Church
J.B. Phillip’s classic, “Your God Is Too Small,” was first published in 1961. I remember reading it years later when I was a teenager. After preaching one night of a weekend revival, I was then asked to preach a week long revival, to be held two month’s later. It was challenge enough to put together one sermon, but eight?! I had a lot to learn - fast. The seemingly overwhelming task brought me to my knees and kept me there. The more I learned, the more I realized there was more for me to learn. Phillip’s book, now a
The Dylan Michael Vaughan Toddler Playground at Northwood Elementary School, named for a 2-year-old struck and killed by a vehicle in front of his home more than 20 years ago, is falling into disrepair. The PTA, the child's parents and others have banded together to raise funds to renovate the play area, which has become a local fixture. Photo by Rudy B. Ornelas
president of the Northwood PTA. The playground was named after 2-year-old Dylan Michael Vaughan, the son of David and Berti Vaughan, who died after being hit by a passing car in front of the family home April 27, 1995. Exactly a year later the playground, which was constructed specifically for small children through kindergarten age, was opened at the school, 519 Pike Road. The rubber-tile flooring of the
Dylan Michael Vaughan Toddler Playground has peeled and become worn out, and the remaining equipment has deteriorated after much use. “Everyone here at Northwood, all the moms and dads, have been taking their kids to this playground,” Beyer said. “It is unique in that it is for a younger agegroup area, more for toddlers through kindergarten. As a community, that’s where many take their babies and toddlers because
it is very safe. It’s a great meeting place, and it’s got great shade and trees.” In fact, the playground is an essential part of the community, Beyer said. The PTA, the Vaughans and other community members have mounted a major effort to secure funding for the enhancements, and NEISD officials have indicated they will also donate to the cause. “Because the playground was originally paid for and put in by the PTA and not district money, it is the PTA’s responsibility to maintain it and take care of it,” Beyer said. The PTA has raised funds through its annual Green Back night, in which the Vaughans have been helpful in sharing their story to raise awareness of the playground’s needs. Also, Northwood Principal June Sharrer has been instrumental in supporting and promoting the fundraising, according to Beyer. Planned upgrades include a colorful soft rubber surface on the ground estimated at $18,000, toddler-friendly playground equipment to replace the worn equipment, and other amenities. “Our goal was to raise about $32,000
NORTHWOOD continues on pg. 16
classic, revealed to me a pathway by which this learning could best happen. Let God be God in the awareness that I can never fully understand all there is to know about God. God is ALWAYS MORE than I can know or imagine. And faith grows by not limiting God to my meager human abilities. For instance, our name, TRINITY, acknowledges our awareness of God’s bigness. God is so powerful, so wonderful that one name can’t fully describe God. God comes to us as Creator, Christ, and Spirit. During this holy-day season, let faith grow you into the height, depth, and breadth of God’s fullness.
Blessings,
Pastor Les
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16 NORTHWOOD continues from pg. 15
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for the renovation and we are within $4,000 of that goal,” said David Vaughan, Dylan’s father. “We hope to start the renovation January of next year.” The Vaughans see the playground as more than just a recreational area; it is also a symbol of healing and hope for future generations. “About 90 percent of marriages do not survive the death of a young son or daughter,” David Vaughan said. “Berti had the idea to build the playground for toddlers Dylan’s age shortly after his death. It gave us something very positive to work on that first year and helped us to be among the 10 percent able to preserve our union. I can’t begin to tell you what this playground means to us. It also helped our son and daughter and this entire community grieve in a good way.” Vaughan noted that Dylan’s playground is also part of a designated neighborhood park, and that no other elementary school in San Antonio has a play facility designed for the toddler age group. “We are amazed and pleased at how many families with very young toddlers use the playground,” he said. “We are also amazed at how many from outside Northwood travel to use this playground. It is truly a gem.” The memories of their son are still vivid, and still precious. “Dylan was already showing signs of being physically gifted like his siblings,” said Berti Vaughan. “He ran like the wind and could already throw balls with precision. We would have been taken for an extraordinary ride as we had with his siblings. He was a beautiful boy.” The Vaughans continue to express gratitude and appreciation to the community, which they praised for being responsive and helpful in preserving both Dylan’s namesake playground and his memory. “The Northwood and Alamo Heights community opened their hearts to us when he died,” his mother said. “I will never forget the outpouring of caring and generosity from these lovely communities. They are still responding to our fundraising efforts. I would like for Dylan to be remembered as the wonderful promise of life we all see in toddlers. And that in his name there is a place toddlers from our community can go to have fun and engage in their own promise.” To help with a donation, call 865-7357, email brett_kathryn@ yahoo.com or visit www.gofundme. com/ezofr4. Checks can be made out to the Northwood PTA or dropped off at the school.
17
SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM
BEHIND EVERY PROJECT IS A
Alamo Heights revamps treepreservation rules
Schnabel’s Hardware Since 1942
by EDMOND ORTIZ
Much M re in tore This
A
LAMO HEIGHTS — Officials have modified the city’s tree preservation ordinance to help make it easier for homeowners facing the dilemma of removing heritage trees.
The city of Alamo Heights is making it easier for property owners to remove and replace significant or heritage trees. Photo by Edmond Ortiz
The City Council voted unanimously Oct. 26 to amend the ordinance, including a reduction in some fees. “Lots of trees surround us. Some cities don’t have tree ordinances. Ours is a lot like San Antonio’s tree ordinance,” said Mayor Louis Cooper. “I’d say we’ve probably saved lots and lots of trees over the years in Alamo Heights.” In a Sept. 14 public hearing, Jason Lutz, community development services director, said it has been a challenge for property owners to cut down an unwanted tree. The
owners have to find some other place on their land to deposit it pending removal. Previously, the city required for the removal of a heritage tree — usually a larger or older tree — to be mitigated by the planting of additional trees on the property or off-site on a one-to-one ratio, and with a $125 permit fee. Property owners with trees not classified as a heritage tree were charged $25 with no requirement of mitigation. Additionally, the city until recently had not allowed the applicant to pay
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a fee in place of planting trees. Lutz told the council the ordinance requirements have resulted more in a random distribution of trees, rather than contributing toward the city’s overall desire for community beautification. “In the old policy, if you wanted to cut down a tree, you’d have to replace it on your property, but some of the lots aren’t suited for the tree, be it by its size or type,” Cooper said. He was citing the lot size, foundation
PRESERVATION continues on pg. 18
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and sidewalk as challenging factors. Such beautification, Cooper has said, includes careful preservation of the variety of trees in Alamo Heights. In council discussions, Cooper pressed for the amended ordinance to include tree height as a factor in the overall effort to preserve the city’s tree canopy. Lutz also told the council that most property owners having trouble with the old tree mitigation requirements had instead expressed a wish to pay a fee in order to accomplish their project. Councilman Fred Prassel told his colleagues that fees in the tree preservation ordinance, before the council amended it, seemed high and perhaps discouraged some property owners. Cooper said the city’s Community Development Services Office and an arborist can be available to work more closely with a property owner who faces the possibility of having to cut down a tree.
“For example, let’s say three oak trees are growing together as a clump on your lot. You, the homeowner, want to cut down two of them,” Cooper said. “An arborist would make a recommendation, but (the city) also has authority to weigh in. Common sense will weigh in.” Making options and fees more flexible in the tree ordinance, Cooper said, should encourage a property owner to give tree mitigation greater consideration. “We think it’s very important to have a tree, but make it more understandable for what a homeowner thinks is in his or her best interests,” the mayor said. “We’ve made the ordinance more user-friendly and made it more realistic for the homeowner to remove a tree and make the replacement easier.” Cooper also said nobody could deny the beauty of a small city filled with trees, surrounded by San Antonio’s growing, modern urban environment. “I think our tree canopy is one of the reasons why people enjoy living here,” he added.
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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM ANGEL continues from pg. 01
Community continues to share generosity, cofounder says by BAIN SERNA
A
LAMO HEIGHTS — The season of giving never stops at Alamo Heights High School thanks to the Angel Program, which has taken flight to help when students and their families are in need, officials say.
Although the Alamo Heights Independent School District is regarded as property rich, about 23 percent of the nearly 5,000 students enrolled are on a free or reducedprice lunch program, as well as living at or below the poverty line. The Angel Program is now being used across the district. “I grew up with many financial and emotional hardships, so the needs recognized by our district kids resonated in
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The Angel Program, which started at Alamo Heights High School and has spread to the rest of the district, helps students and families in need. Coordinators with the program include Chrissy Fitch (left), the AHHS Parent Teacher Student Organization liaison, and Dawn Hedgepeth, a student support counselor and licensed clinical social worker. Photo by Rudy B. Ornelas
a big, big way for me,” said Carrie Conner, a former district parent who started the program in 2008 with Alamo Heights Junior School counselor Lisa Lucas. The goal remains to reach out to high school students and their families who are experiencing financial hardships, while keeping everything confidential.
“Every request (in the Angel Program) is met with donations received at light speed and always more than requested,” Conner said. The high school has two social workers who inform Lucas about a student’s needs without revealing the name, officials said. “I’ve been here 14 years and over the years
WE’VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR SEVEN YEARS AND IT’S BEEN AMAZING, AND NOW THE OTHER CAMPUSES HAVE STARTED IT. ALL THE CAMPUSES HAVE AN ANGELS PROGRAM IN THE ALAMO HEIGHTS DISTRICT. CARRIE CONNER, PROGRAM CO-FOUNDER I’ve known that there are a lot of families that wanted to give, that could give and had good resources for giving,” Lucas said. “We’ve been doing this for seven years and it’s been amazing, and now the other campuses have started it. All the campuses have an Angel
ANGEL continues on pg. 20
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ANGEL continues from pg. 19 Program in the Alamo Heights district.” According to Lucas, an email is sent to community members who have voluntarily signed up to receive notices letting them know when a student needs help. At the high school, about 140 people have volunteered to work with the program, including the two social workers, a Parent Teacher Student Organization liaison, 135 parents and some faculty members. “Whoever is available to help with that need responds accordingly,” said Chrissy Fitch, the PTSO liaison. “Typically four to five people help with any given need. In addition, at Christmas time, the social workers meet with students at the high school that they know would especially be blessed by a Christmas gift.” The social workers then compile a wish list for these students. Members of the program — dubbed The Angels — have an opportunity to purchase a gift. “Typically 40 to 50 students are served this way,” Fitch said. “We need to be aware that there are needs in our community; our fellow school families go through times of difficulty and crisis and we need each other, we need to care about each other. We need to bear each other’s burdens. The Angel Program is one way that we can do
DEC. 7, 2015 - JAN. 4, 2016 that in the Alamo Heights community.” Assistance can include H-E-B gift cards for grocery needs, providing beds and bedding, helping a student pay for a dentist or doctor visit, donating a used computer, gift cards to help a student who is the first in the family to go to college buy dorm items, helping with an electric bill, providing Wal-Mart cards to purchase basic clothing needs, donating gently used coats or other clothing, and more. Fitch said the community has risen to the challenge of helping the less fortunate. “We are part of a very caring community that desires to help these students,” she said. “It is so encouraging to see people eager to respond to my emails and to help, even though they don’t know the student and will never know how their contribution blessed that student. The Angel Program also provides a venue in which we can look beyond ourselves to the needs of those around us.” She added, “Our students can only be successful learners when they know they have a safe place to have their emotional burdens cared about, as well.” According to Lucas, the beauty of the Angel Program lies in the generosity of the community and the gratitude of the recipients. “It’s a great satisfaction to see that we have such giving families,” she said. “Even though they have great wealth, they want to share that, and that’s beautiful to me.”
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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM LOW VISION continues from pg. 01
In the photo to the left, grandmother Sylvia Trevino (center) watches over Oscar and Vincent Trevino (left) during a recent visit to the Low Vision Reading Room at the Central Library. Relatives and teachers are being encouraged to bring kids to the new room (far left), which helps sightchallenged children enjoy hundreds of books. Photos by Rudy B. Ornelas
Space hailed as new door into the world of books by SUSAN YERKES
W
eston Wright loves to read. At 11, he figures he has already devoured about 600 books. Now, thanks to a new, specialized reading room for children with impaired eyesight at the Central Library, he’s planning to read even more. What makes his story special is that Weston has been blind since birth. In October, he was one of the speakers at the opening of a new Low Vision Reading Room for children at the Central Library of the San Antonio Public Library system, 600 Soledad St. “I’ve been reading Braille since I was about 18 months old,” Weston told the crowd assembled at the opening
ceremony in October. “It has really helped me. So I’m really excited about this (the new reading room)—it’s going to help unlock the door of imagination for a lot of blind children like me.” Tucked into a quiet corner near the children’s section on the third floor of the library, the Low Vision Reading Room is stocked with hundreds of Braille
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and large-print books for children and read-alongs (books paired with CDs) in English and Spanish. Many were recently purchased with a grant from the Semmes Foundation. The San Antonio Public Library Foundation also provided financial support. There is also a magnifying monitor, and an audio listening station. Fancifully shaped sculptures and tactile wall-mounted pieces provided by The Color of Blind, an exhibit and a San Antonio arts organization, liven up the area for both the sighted and sightless. “People often don’t think of the library as a place for people who have difficulty
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reading, but we have collections both for adults and children,” said library Public Services Administrator Joel Banglian, who coordinated the creation of the new area. “We’re really trying to get the word out about this to families, and to teachers who have low-vision children in their classes.” Adult Braille books are kept in a separate section of the downtown library and at Mission Branch Library, and can be sent to any branch library or loaned out through the books by mail program. The demand for audio resources
LOW VISION continues on pg. 22
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22 LOW VISION continues from pg. 21 for the blind community is growing, Banglian said, and many audio titles can be downloaded from the library’s website at mysapl.org. But San Antonio still has a strong Braille readership. “Children need access to these materials,” he added, “and this is a great opportunity for us to reach out and say ‘yes’ to the low-vision community.” A few years ago, the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind, which has been empowering blind and visually impaired people for 80 years, opened a Blind Children’s Center with state-of-theart equipment, a playroom, Braille and large-print books, computers and more. “The children’s program has been our dream forever,” said Nancy Lipton, Lighthouse public affairs director. “We have already served 700 or more children. It’s so important that parents have places to bring even the youngest children to learn, so that when they start school they can be on the level of sighted children.” Lighthouse Rehabilitation Director Vince Boyd provided technical training and tips for the public library staff on some of the technology in the Low Vision Reading Room, and the Lighthouse Choir sang at the opening ceremony. The Reading Room is another great new resource for visually impaired children and families, Lipton said. “Lots of students are given magnifiers, Braille readers or assistive technology in school, but they can’t take them home. We have them at the Lighthouse, but we’re not open evenings or weekends. The library’s new room gives people more access, more independence,” she added. Weston’s family has worked with the Lighthouse since he was 3. Now a fifthgrader at La Vernia Intermediate School, he is in gifted and talented classes. “Weston does everything other children do,” said Christina Wright, his mother. “But when we first found out he was blind, we were not given any direction about where to go, or how to connect to other families,” she added. “That’s a real challenge in a world geared to the sighted. Now Weston and I work very hard at community awareness. We want to reach families with kids with low vision or who are completely blind, to let them know there are places to go. The library’s low-vision room is the first one in San Antonio besides the Lighthouse, so it’s really important.” A few weeks after the Low Vision Reading Room debuted, Weston was busy putting together some Braille books he has at home that he has already read. He plans to donate them to the library’s collection, so other children can enjoy them. “I’m looking forward to reading more in the future,” Weston said.
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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM DOWNTOWN continues from pg. 01
Developers want to lure more residents to central San Antonio by TRAVIS E. POLING
T
wo new residential projects along the Museum Reach of the San Antonio River are underway and bringing the city a step closer to adding more than 5,000 living units to downtown by 2020.
Dallas-based Alamo Manhattan, after years of pursuing a project that didn’t come to fruition in Alamo Heights, has landed on a small tract in the bend of San Antonio River North at 111 W. Jones Ave., across the street from the San Antonio Museum of Art for a 191-unit complex with a restaurant on the first floor. And nearby, a two-minute walk from the hot Pearl brewery development and also on River North, is the beginning of the SOJO Crossing townhome project with 27 units for sale to those looking for an urban setting, but with the amenities of small fenced yards and enclosed parking. The Alamo Manhattan project is slated for summer 2017 with construction by HarveyCleary, a Texas company; its recent notable projects include the Hotel Emma at The Pearl and Tesoro’s corporate headquarters. “We knew we wanted to be in San Antonio for a while and we’re really picky on sites,” said Wade Johns, co-founder and vice president of Alamo Manhattan. The company had initially planned its first foray into the area with a high-profile project at the so-called “gateway” to Alamo Heights at Austin Highway and Broadway, but vocal community members argued it wasn’t a good
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fit and the project was scrapped in early 2014. “Alamo Heights’ residents still have different visions for their community,” Johns said. While the company isn’t pursuing anything in Alamo Heights specifically now, he thinks there will be something “the community will support and get excited about in the future.” Meanwhile, the River North area of San Antonio is all about development, and both zoning and incentives are in place for the kinds of projects Alamo Manhattan has done in several major cities, including four in uptown Dallas. The site will give river views from most of the units in the six-story, wedge-shaped building. Residents and visitors also will have a rooftop terrace. Underground parking completes the picture for the high-density urban development on a lot a third the size of what more traditional developments would need with surface parking. Studio apartments are 530 square feet; two-bedroom units are 1,270 square feet. The city of San Antonio put up $4.4 million worth of incentives aimed at encouraging more housing to bring people downtown to live and work. Bexar County also kicked in $500,000 in tax incentives for the $40 million development. At a news conference for the groundbreaking of the project, Mayor Ivy Taylor said, “We are building the kind of city where more people want to live in the 21st century: environmentally friendly, adjacent to great public amenities like the River Walk and with convenient commercial space built in.” In keeping with that theme, shortly after the announcement of the Alamo Manhattan project, another Center City Housing Incentive Program-backed project broke ground at 818 E. Myrtle St. SOJO Crossing will be completed in spring 2017. The townhomes will have enclosed garages and fenced green space ideal for those who want some of amenities of home ownership, but in the center of the city. Unlike most projects developing along south Broadway, these
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will be purchased units instead of rentals. They will be up to 2,200 square feet and range from $400,000 to $600,000. Each townhome is three stories with a garage for two cars, a balcony with city views and an optional rooftop patio. “There are a lot of people living here now, but they’re renting,” said Frank Pakuszewski, a principal in SOJO Urban Development LLC, which is developing SOJO Crossing with the well-established Montreal-based residential developer Prėvel. The location is on the other side of the river from The Pearl, with a two-minute walk to new Hotel Emma and another one or two-minute walk to numerous amenities including restaurants, bars, coffee and shops. “We’re not in real estate, we’re in placemaking,” Pakuszewski said. He added Pearl and the San Antonio River are still at the cultural hub for the area, but each new place becomes a part of that. The target market for SOJO is people who might be selling larger houses in the more suburban areas of the city, young professionals and young families with one thing in common: “They want the energy (of living in the center city) and there’s a lot of energy down here,” Pakuszewski said. San Antonio’s center city reinvestment fund pitched in $1 million as an incentive for the developers to bring more housing to the area. In a written statement from the city after the Nov. 18 groundbreaking, District 1 City Councilman Roberto C. Trevino said, “This, along with other nearby development projects and great public amenities, like the River Walk, is quickly making this area one of the most vibrant urban neighborhoods in San Antonio.” As part of the city’s SA2020 goals put in place in 2011 by then-Mayor Julian Castro,
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the city has created incentives through a tax increment reinvestment zone to bring the number of residential units in the center city from Southtown to Lower Broadway from 3,300 to 8,300 or more by 2020. Halfway through that timeline, about 3,900 new units have been built or are in the pipeline, said Tony Piazzi, senior vice president of business development for Centro San Antonio, which focuses on the promotion and improvement of downtown. “We’re well on our way to meeting or exceeding our goal,” Piazzi said. There already was a lot of development happening to the north and south of downtown, but the incentives offered by the city are helping move that activity closer to the center, especially along the river’s Museum Reach and what is now being called the Broadway Cultural Corridor, he said. “You’re seeing the first fruits of those incentives,” Piazzi said. Pat DiGiovanni, CEO of Centro San Antonio, said existing housing in the urban core has a 90 percent or better occupancy rate and some recently opened developments have a waiting list to get in. The growth core for the area, at 7 percent a year, is the highest in San Antonio. “People want to live in the inner city; they want the urban lifestyle. It’s a simpler, but interactive, lifestyle,” DiGiovanni said. The master plan for River North housing development, which includes the Museum Reach, calls for 8,000 units, he said. When fully developed, it will have more than 16,000 people living in a square mile; that would give it the highest population density in the city, which now averages about 3,500 residents per square mile, DiGiovanni said. He called it a tipping point, when retailers and services will start to flock to the urban center to reach those people.
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Row, row, row your way to fitness by EILEEN PACE
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f you didn’t attend an Ivy League school or make a run at the Olympics, you might have only observed rowing as a sport.
Now, a new fitness studio in San Antonio is dedicated to bringing rowing to more people – not for competition, but for getting in shape. “Rowing is kind of the new craze in fitness,” said Alison Smith, owner of EnergyXFitness, 5162 Broadway. “Rowing is amazing because it’s a full-body workout. You use 60 percent legs, 20 percent core and 20 percent of your arms and upper body to do one stroke motion.” Smith said high-intensity rowing can burn up to 600 calories an hour.
After graduating from Texas State University with a master’s degree in kinesiology, Smith moved to San Antonio with her husband and opened the studio this year. “It’s sort of like cycling when you go into cycle class,” Smith said. “The instructor takes you through different drills on the cycle bike. We do that same thing on the rower.” Smith said her business is the first studio in the Alamo City focused primarily on rowing for fitness. “There are some other places in town that include the rower in a circuit class,” she said. “But ours is a singular rowing class.” Sessions include IndoRow, about 45 minutes on the rower; Shockwave, a teamoriented, circuit-training session where rowers set the pace; and Power Row class. “Power Row class is our signature workout. It’s where you do a rowing
Danny Galvan, coach and manager at EnergyXFitness, teaches a Power Row class to a group of women on Nov. 21. Photo by Collette Orquiz
segment, then do a little resistance training and hop back on your rower and then round it out with the ‘finisher,’” she said. A row and flow class is 30 minutes of rowing and 30 minutes of yoga. Smith said rowing might be new to many, but it’s a regimen most can handle. “It takes about five times to feel right. But, we do have clients that come in the first time and they’re a natural,” she said. EnergyXFitness follows a class schedule Monday through Saturday, available on
the website. Smith’s goal is to open the center full time for personal workouts. Classes at the drop-in rate are $20, but clients may purchase a training block at discounted rates.
ENERGYXFITNESS 5162 Broadway For more, call 608-4241 or visit www.energyxfitness.com or facebook.com/EnergyX-Fitness
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Erik Rosales, owner of The Pipe Corner, loves bringing his dog Big to work (far left), where he sells cigars, pipes, wine, champagne and beer (left). Far-left photo by Neven Jones, other photos by Collette Orquiz
BUY LOCAL Learn more about newest purveyors of goods and services in your area
Southtown tobacco store promises smokes, wine and fine art by ROSE MARY BUDGE
G
oing from a gas-station proprietor to a purveyor of fine wines, cigars and pipes—hey, that’s a big career change in anybody’s book. But for San Antonio entrepreneur Erik Rosales, the move also is the realization of a lifelong dream.
“I always wanted this kind of business — a place with ambiance where customers could enjoy a bottle of wine and a smoke surrounded by amazing artwork,” he said. His dream came true with the recent opening of The Pipe Corner in
Perhaps the best part of the owner’s business concept is his emphasis on local art. “We want to give community talent a boost whenever we can,” he said. Art openings and sales will be regular features. And if your wallet’s thin, savor this: There’ll be a free wine tasting every First Friday. Hours are noon to 10:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, noon to midnight Friday and Saturday, and closed Sunday and Monday.
the historic heart of Southtown. The opening went well, he noted. Even better, business so far is good. The shop is nestled in a buildingtop setting at 727 S. Alamo St. Smoking enthusiasts can climb an ornate iron staircase to peruse wares, then puff away on the patio after purchasing collectible pipes or luxury cigar brands such as Montecristo and Arturo Fuente. For the wine fancier, there’s an ever-changing list of imported labels plus local offerings from the Becker and Messina wineries. Beer also is sold. A patio food cart carrying hot dogs promises to be a major attraction. Plans also include opening similar shops, specifically in Mexico where Rosales was born and has familial ties.
THE PIPE CORNER 727 S. Alamo St. For more, call 263-9729 or visit facebook.com/thepipecorner1
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DEC. 7, 2015 - JAN. 4, 2016 The Old Main Assoc. in the Monte Vista Historic District features a variety of unique eats including Shorty's Short Rib with lentils (far left) and the Concha Burger (left) with duros —fried, flour wagon wheels. Photos by Collette Orquiz
EAT LOCAL Learn about the newest neighborhood places for breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks
Neighborhood pub steps it up in Monte Vista by OLIVIER J. BOURGOIN
J
aret Peña’s creative engine has been running above the red line for the past couple of years. Humming along on all cylinders, the young entrepreneur opened The Old Main Assoc. a couple of months ago in the Monte Vista Historic District.
Being one of the top mixologists in town, Peña is quick to remind anyone that although the food menu is impressive, this is a bar as well as a restaurant. The Old Main Assoc. is at 2512 N. Main Ave. (between Woodlawn and Mistletoe avenues). The menu, designed by chef Lorenzo Morales, the former sous chef of the defunct Arcade Midtown Kitchen, is already on the map for its Concha Burger, a beef patty served on a Mexican seashell-shaped pan dulce sweetbread that comes with melted cheddar, onions and a hint of pecan aioli on top and garnished with duros (round pasta, crisp and drizzled with Valentina hot sauce). Tongues are also wagging about the chicharrones fries with chunks of pork cracklings topped with melted queso fresco in a chorizo gravy. Some of the other
menu items include short ribs, squash and mushroom enchiladas and a steak ranchero. Not your typical bar or pub food, but reasonably priced. “There are very few places in town where you can get a steak at 11 p.m.,” Peña said. “Everything on the menu is moving fairly well, but you’ve got to try our house-made fideo. We start with a charred tomatoes base and it’s really amazing.” The 1,200-square-foot space, which was once home to Beat Street Bistro, employs 10 people. It also features a 750-square-foot outdoor patio with a cool
mural and seating for about 70 patrons. The Sunday brunch menu includes pan de huevo French toast and steak and eggs ranchero. Hours are 5 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday, with brunch 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
THE OLD MAIN ASSOC. 2512 N. Main Ave. For more, call 562-3440 or visit facebook.com/theoldmainassoc/
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EAT LOCAL Learn about the newest neighborhood places for breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks
Cortez family does it again with new downtown taco destination by OLIVIER J. BOURGOIN
T
o say the Cortez family knows something about the restaurant business would be an understatement. In fact, some of their eateries have become legendary fixtures of the local culinary landscape — Mi Tierra and La Margarita, anyone? — and are nearly synonymous with downtown Mexican dining and Market Square. The Cortez Family Group also owns Pico de Gallo on the near-West Side. Now they’ve done it again with the addition of Viva Villa Taqueria at 905 Dolorosa St., a 3,000-square-foot-space located in the Concho Street building
one block west of La Margarita. Members of the family said they opened the new eatery to take advantage of downtown’s changing demographics, including the growth of an urban population moving to central San Antonio. “This is our first quick-service restaurant,” said Cariño Cortez, who is in charge of Viva Villa. “As you know, our other restaurants are full-service and we wanted to open one that focused on quick service with more offices around and more walkability — but not just any type of food. We wanted the right type of food that could be served very quickly but also a place where people could linger on for a while if they wanted to.” The business’ logo advertises
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Cariño Cortez (left) is the manager of Viva Villa Taqueria, the newest restaurant for the Cortez family, which features tacos (above) and authentic Mexican street food with craft beer on draft and lots of different frozen beverages. Left photo by Collette Orquiz, right photo courtesy
“Revolutionary Tacos.” Opened Oct. 23, the new restaurant — which specializes in tacos and authentic Mexican street food — employs a staff of 15. In a recent telephone interview, manager Gilbert De La Paz said some of the most popular items on the menu are the mini-tacos al pastor and the ribeye with chile pasillas, which is served in a traditional cast iron pan with seared queso panela and homemade corn tortillas. “We’re also the only place in town to serve Big Red Soft-Serve ice cream. We sent a serving of it to Vice President Joe Biden when he was in town,” said De La Paz.
The manager's favorite dish is the cochinita pibil, a recipe from the Yucatán made with pork cooked in banana leaves. “It’s made in the traditional way and it’s very authentic,” De La Paz added. Hours are 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
VIVA VILLA TAQUERIA 905 Dolorosa St. For more, call 987-8482 or visit www.vivavillatacos.com or facebook.com/vivavillasa/
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WITH PURCHASE OF BURGER + DRINK.
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17305 IH-35 N, Ste. 101 Schertz, TX 78154
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512-826-9612 210-767-3822
1907 NACOGDOCHES RD SAN ANTONIO, TX 78209
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