Alamo Heights seeks automated flood-warning system PG.18 Installation of HALT in Olmos Basin depends on OK by County Commissioners
PG.04 YERKES' COLUMN
The world is not a perfect place, but there's plenty of reasons to give thanks
PG.05 EDITORIAL
How athletes and coaches handle losing says a lot about their character
MAHNCKE PARK IN THE CROSSHAIRS PG.15 Neighbors in city’s
urban heart fear more cannibalization of housing stock
COMMUNITY NEWS
PAGE 14 VOL. 4, ISSUE 5
LOCAL SOCIETY ALAMO HEIGHTS
KING WILLIAM
on the scene of the latest parties
MONTE VISTA
OLMOS PARK
TERRELL HILLS
NOV. 2 - DEC. 7, 2015
INFRASTRUCTURE
Terrell Hills collects public input on street plans PG.17 City Council
expected to hear engineering report Nov. 9
PG. 22 BUY LOCAL
REVITALIZING SAN PEDRO CREEK PG.19
Improvements, public art to give San Antonio's other downtown waterway new life
THE ALCOVE ALAMO HEIGHTS New apartments offer neighborhood feel with modern amenities
PG. 23 EAT LOCAL
FRESH DONUT Shop on Austin Highway offers more than just tasty pastries
2
NOV. 2 - DEC. 7, 2015
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, Joyce Hotchkiss, Carole Miller, Eric Moreno, Edmond Ortiz, Eileen Pace and Susan Yerkes ART Creative Director Florence D. Edwards Contributing Photographer Leland A. Outz ADVERTISING Advertising Director Jaselle Luna Zone Manager Kelly Jean Garza Account Manager Diana Zinsmeister Controller Keith Sanders READER SERVICE Mailing Address 4204 Gardendale St., Ste. 201 SA, TX 78229 Fax Phone (210) 616.9677 (210) 338.8842 Advertising Inquiries jluna@localcommunitynews.com Story Ideas: tips@localcommunitynews.com Website: www.salocallowdown.com LOCAL Community News publications Zone 2: 78213, 78230, 78231, 78248, 78249 Zone 3: 78216, 78232, 78247 Zone 4/5: 78109, 78148, 78233, 78239 78108, 78132, 78154, 78266 Zone 6: 78258, 78259, 78260, 78261 Zone 7: 78015, 78023, 78255, 78256, 78257 For advertising, customer service or editorial, please call us at 210-338-8842 or write to us at: Local Community News 4204 Gardendale St., Ste. 201 San Antonio, TX 78229 Reproduction in whole or in part without our permission is prohibited, 2015 Helen Publishing LLC and Local Community News LLC, all rights reserved.
Community news remaining relevant
C
ontrary to what some would like us to believe, print is far from dead — at least when it comes to community newspapers. As more large news organizations lay off veteran journalists with institutional memory in favor of younger, lessexpensive scribes specializing in Internet quick hits revolving around celebrities and top 10 lists, something gets lost in the process — you, the reader. Some of the bigger papers have even closed down their communitynews departments, which are about the only direct pipeline they have to most of their audience. That’s not going to happen with LOCAL Community News, which is committed to hyperlocal content. What does that mean in plain English? Simply put, it means LOCAL is going to tell you what’s going on in your child’s school, what your neighborhood is planning, how your politicians are voting, what new restaurants and businesses have located in your area, and so much more. And LOCAL is not alone. Community newspapers still make up the bulk of the U.S. press, far outnumbering the big — and shrinking — dailies. Whether they are free, directmailed monthlies such as LOCAL, or weekly newspapers that land in your yard, community publications remain the best and most reliable source of street-by-street news. National Newspaper Week celebrated its 75th anniversary the first week of October, highlighting the fact that newspapers still have a deep and lasting impact on their communities. The same can be said for LOCAL.
THOMAS EDWARDS EXECUTIVE EDITOR
ON THE COVER: A multimillion-dollar renovation project that aims to revitalize San Pedro Creek could also spur more development on the western side of downtown, including creating new recreational spaces and better drainage. The creek is one of the reasons Spanish explorers founded San Antonio. Artist's rendering/San Antonio River Authority
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NOV. 2 - DEC. 7, 2015
LOCAL COMMENTARY
Thanks and giving in a time of strife by SUSAN YERKES
E
ach November we commemorate Thanksgiving — this country’s longest-running holiday. Back in 1621, the story goes, a bedraggled group of British colonists who arrived here on the Mayflower celebrated their first harvest with friendly natives. Although 1789 saw a Thanksgiving proclamation delivered by George Washington, it wasn’t until the Civil War when another president, Abraham Lincoln, established an official nationwide observance on the fourth Thursday of the month so Americans could pray to
“heal the wounds of the nation.” This Thanksgiving, such a prayer is still lamentably appropriate. Mass shootings, worldwide strife, political polarization and all the issues dominating daily headlines remind us many wounds are far from healed. Thanksgiving is still very much in order. In fact, scientific research has recently proven that giving thanks and helping others are healing actions in their own right. Cultivating what some call an “attitude of gratitude” has shown to make you happier and healthier. A 2014 study in the journal Emotion, published by the American Psychological Association, indicated that saying a simple “thank you” or writing a note of thanks helps people build stronger, more positive relationships. Folks who describe themselves as frequently grateful for their blessings report fewer aches and pains, and tend to take greater care of their bodies. Gratitude reduces depression, loneliness and feelings of isolation, and improves sleep. Just before bedtime, make a list of what you’re grateful for, suggested Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. Research also indicates promoting gratitude
improves self-esteem, strengthens immunity and lowers blood pressure. It’s hard to maintain negative emotions when thinking positively. As a U.S. citizen, I know even my worst days are better than the best days of many across the planet – the homeless, the hungry, the physically and emotionally traumatized, and so much more. As a South Texan, I’m thankful I won’t have to shovel snow to move my car on Thanksgiving Day. I’m grateful to live in a city with such a colorful, diverse and friendly culture, and to have made many fantastic friends here. I am also pleased the city is building more and better greenways for hiking, biking and enjoying the outdoors, and that the weather is great for fun in our parks this time of year. I appreciate the Tex-Mex food, and plentiful food, period. I’m really grateful that Wurzbach Parkway is finished. And the list goes on. When you start listing positives, thanks come easy. As for the giving, recent research demonstrates generosity is good for body and soul. Those who donate time or money to help others consistently report happier sensations. This “pro-
social spending,” or contributing to charities or organizations you feel good about, produces many of the same physical and emotional benefits that gratitude sparks, and often leads to a “pay-it-forward” point of view. This Thanksgiving, locals have many opportunities to help others. You could volunteer for the 35th annual Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner, for instance. Each year, some 4,000 volunteers plan and prepare holiday meals for 25,000 guests in the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. Christian Senior Services is always looking for help with its Thanksgiving Meals on Wheels deliveries to the homebound. The San Antonio Food Bank plans a big Holiday Turkey Round Up just before Thanksgiving. Through Operation Home Cooking, area families bring some 5,000 military men and women stationed here into their residences for the traditional feast. From big organized opportunities for giving to small personal acts of charity, there are a thousand ways to say “thank you” and to give of yourself. This year, I’m grateful to all who keep the spirit alive.
HOW DO YOU GIVE THANKS? CONTACT SYERKES@LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.
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OUR TURN Views and opinions about your community
Good coaching teaches life lessons
W
hatever happened to good sportsmanship — and for that matter, accountability and responsibility? One has to wonder after recent highprofile accounts of young players, and even coaches, showcasing behavior that went beyond just a flag on the field. Their actions instead highlighted a culture emphasizing winning at all costs — no matter what. One episode that received nationwide attention chronicled the gridiron assault on a referee blindsided by two Jay High School varsity football players during a game against Marble Falls. The teammates later claimed they only followed a coach’s instructions when they tackled the unsuspecting official. In another case, a recent television broadcast revealed a coach yelling at his preadolescent football players
to maul their opponents. Let’s face it — losing is a part of sports; and it’s an inescapable fact of life. We can’t all be winners. Each of us is going to fail at one time or another, whether it’s during an athletic contest or in business, school, family, love or finances. The best sports programs inspire players to win, but not at the cost of their souls. Good coaches teach athletes that how you play the game is still important, and the best instructors know how you react when you lose says something about true character and the full measure of a person. Young athletes — and people in general — must learn to own their mistakes and not blame others. Accountability applies not just to sports; it also is the bedrock of most social interaction, from work to home, faith and nearly everything else. There is nothing silly or ridiculous about learning to lose gracefully and accepting responsibility for a blunder. These are essential lessons which should be taught on the gridiron, in the gym and in the locker room because they remain important for the rest of life. -The Local Community News editorial board includes Harry Lees, Gregg Rosenfield and Thomas Edwards.
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NOV. 2 - DEC. 7, 2015
HAPPENING LOCAL
Plan your month with our calendar of upcoming events in the community.
OUR GUIDE TO YOUR MONTH
HAPPENING KEY
FITNESS
BRAD MEHLDAU TRIO Jazz pianist Brad Mehldau, known for his intense performances and love of improvisation, brings his trio to the Aztec Theatre for a show sponsored by ARTS San Antonio. He will be accompanied by Larry Grenadier on bass and Jeff Ballard on drums and percussion. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $29; purchase them through ArtsSA.org or Ticketmaster.com, or by calling ARTS San Antonio at 226-2891. The Aztec is at 104 N. St. Mary’s St.
NOV. 4
SPIRIT OF AMERICA DINNER The San Antonio Chamber of Commerce honors the men and women serving in the armed forces at this annual dinner. The speaker will be Command Sgt. Maj. Patrick Z. Alston. Cocktails are at 6:15 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. at the Marriott Rivercenter Hotel, 101 Bowie St. Tickets are $100 for members, $125 for nonmembers. To register, go to sachamber.org/ and click on the Spirit of America event link.
NOV. 4
SAAS ANNUAL DINNER The San Antonio Audubon Society gathering starts at 7 p.m. at the San Antonio Zoo Beastro, on Zootennial Plaza. The program, presented by Matthew Matthiessen, is “Birds of Northern Peru.” Dinner features an Italian buffet. Tickets, at $25 each, must be purchased by mail, with checks sent to SAAS, 5150 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209. Members may arrive as early as 5 p.m. for a zoo visit before the program. The zoo is at 3903 N. St. Mary’s St.
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FAMILY FLASHLIGHT NIGHT Get a really different look at the San Antonio Botanical Garden and join in activities including a constellation craft-making session and a light maze. Be sure to take a flashlight to check out nighttime insects. The event is from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and is free with admission, which ranges from $7 to $10, though children under age 3 get in free. The garden is at 555 Funston Place.
NOV. 6
ZEMLINSKY STRING QUARTET The Zemlinsky quartet, an award-winning Czech ensemble, continues the San Antonio Chamber Music Society’s season with a concert
NOV. 8
ART
TALK
OUTDOOR
MUSIC
FOOD
that features works by Mendelssohn, Krenek and Janancek. It starts at 3:15 p.m. at Temple Beth-El, 211 Belknap Place. Tickets, $25, may be purchased at the door, or online at www.sacms.org. NEISD TRUSTEES North East Independent School District trustees are scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. in the NEISD board room, 8961 Tesoro Drive.
NOV. 9
NOV. 9
TERRELL HILLS The City Council meets at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 5100 N. New Braunfels Ave.
ALAMO HEIGHTS The City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. both days at the municipal complex, 6116 Broadway.
NOV. 9, 23
MONTE VISTA The Monte Vista Historical Association board meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Landa Branch Library annex, 233 Bushnell Place. For more, call 737-8212 or go to http://www.montevistahistorical-sa.com/.
NOV. 10
OPEN HOUSE The Alamo Heights Toastmasters Club will hold its annual open house starting at 6 p.m. in Room 365 of the Administration Building of the University of the Incarnate Word, 4301 Broadway. A social hour, with refreshments, will precede the group’s meeting at 7 p.m. For more, call 538-1878 or go to alamoheights.toastmastersclubs.org.
NOV. 11
BEGINNERS BIRD WALK The San Antonio Audubon Society outing begins at 7:30 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.
NOV. 14
TWILIGHT IN THE PARK A seated dinner under the trees of Travis Park will feature Mexican cuisine drawn from the newly released cookbook “Enchiladas: Aztec to Tex-Mex,” by restaurateur Cappy Lawton and food writer Chris Waters Dunn.
NOV. 17
HAPPENING continues on pg. 07
7
SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM HAPPENING continues from pg. 06 The event, which raises funds for the park, starts at 6 p.m. with cocktails and appetizers, accompanied by live music; dinner will be prepared by St. Anthony Hotel Executive Chef Michael Mata. The tickets, $150, include a signed copy of the cookbook. To purchase them, call 2073914 or visit www.saparksfoundation.org. Valet parking is available for $5 at the St. Anthony. The park is across from the St. Anthony at East Travis and Navarro streets. SONS OF CONFEDERATE NOV. VETERANS, CAMP 153 Hood’s 17 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.
NOV. 19
OLMOS PARK The City Council meets at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 120 W. El Prado Drive.
SAN ANTONIO CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE The group meets the third Thursday of each month at Grady’s Bar-B-Q, 6510 San Pedro
NOV. 19
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. AHISD The Alamo Heights Independent School District board meets at 7 p.m. at the Central Office, 7101 Broadway.
NOV. 19
NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY OF TEXAS The monthly meeting of the organization’s San Antonio chapter will start with a seed and native plant exchange at 6:30 p.m., followed by the program at 7 p.m., at Lions Field Adult Center, 2809 Broadway.
NOV. 24
GOBBLE, GOBBLE — SCHOOL’S OUT Classes are on hiatus for the Thanksgiving holiday in the Alamo Heights, North East and San Antonio independent school districts, and also for Saint Mary’s Hall.
NOV. 23-27
NOV. 27
RIVER PARADE The Ford Holiday River Parade sets off at 7 p.m. from the River Bend and finishes
HAPPENING continues on pg. 08
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NOV. 2 - DEC. 7, 2015
HAPPENING continues from pg. 07 at Lexington Avenue, along the Museum Reach. The grand marshal is Julián Castro, the former mayor and current secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Tickets can be purchased – online only – at www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/ river-tickets. Some seating is free. ZOO LIGHTS – HOLIDAY NIGHTS A twinkling, exotic landscape will be the setting for holidaythemed entertainment, activities and dining at the San Antonio Zoo from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets cover games and rides, including the carousel and the train, and there will be opportunities for photos with Santa. The tickets cost $10.25 for Zoo members and $12.25 for nonmembers; for more, including photo package prices, check out www.sazoo.org/events/zoo_lights/. The zoo is at 3903 N. St. Mary’s St.
NOV. 27 -JAN. 3
INTERNATIONAL PEACE MARKET The Esperanza Peace and Justice Center once again offers an alternative to the mall, presenting an open-air market with handmade items for the home, clothing, jewelry and other accessories, artworks and textiles. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. both
NOV. 27-28
days, and there’s no admission charge. The Esperanza is at 922 San Pedro Ave. ALAMO HEIGHTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE The Chamber 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/.
DEC. 2
NUTRITION DISCUSSION Live With Nature, a nutrition/ 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.
DEC. 3
SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS, CAMP 1325 The Alamo City Guards, Camp 1325, holds its monthly meeting at 7 p.m.
DEC. 3
HAPPENING continues on pg. 09
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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM HAPPENING continues from pg. 08 at Grady’s Bar-B-Q, 6510 San Pedro Ave. Jerry Patterson will be speaking on “Things They Didn’t Teach You About Texas History in School.” Members and guests are welcome to eat beginning at 6 p.m.; no reservations are required. The Camp meets the first Thursday of each month. For more, visit www.alamocityguards.com. AUDUBON SOCIETY MEETING The monthly meeting of the San Antonio Audubon Society starts at 7 p.m. at The First Tee, 915 E. Mulberry Ave. The election of officers will be followed by the annual holiday appetizers and desserts celebration. Members also will be able to sign up for the Christmas Bird Count. For more, call 308-6788 or go to saaudubon.org.
DEC. 3
POP-UP ON PEARL This monthly market, a 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
DEC. 5
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the coffee shop, 1627 Broadway at Pearl Parkway. A FIESTA CHRISTMAS The San Antonio Chamber of Commerce annual gala will honor former Mayor Henry Cisneros, who is also the outgoing Chamber board chairman. It runs from 6 p.m. to midnight at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center; individual tickets are $175, and corporate seating starts at $1,450 for a half-table. To register and purchase tickets, go to sachamber.org and click on the link under Upcoming Events.
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NOV. 2 - DEC. 7, 2015
LOCAL LOWDOWN Take a quick look at what’s new in the community from opening and closings to news tidbits.
Open and Opening Soon
Address of local business Name of local business
1. THE ALCOVE AT ALAMO HEIGHTS, 6419 N. Vandiver Road
near Austin Highway, is a recently opened apartment complex that offers a “quiet, intimate living experience” with community amenities near Alamo Heights. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more, call 829-0909 or visit www.alcoveatalamoheights. com. (See story on page 22)
3. FROM RUFFS TO RICHES, 2518 N. Main Ave., has debuted in the Monte Vista Historic District as “a store for the passionate pet owner,” according to owner Beth Worthington. “We offer everything to keep you and your pet happy, from the best in food to the cutest in fashion. We offer exotic pets as well as your favorites, and the supplies for all pets.” Hours are 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday. For more, call 320-2020 or visit Facebook.com/fromruffstoriches.
2. FRESH DONUT, 1302 Austin Highway,
4. FRONTIER BURGER, 838 N.E. Loop
just opened in the old Shipley Do-Nut location at the corner of Vandiver Road and Austin Highway. In addition to several varieties of doughnuts from glazed to chocolate and apple fritters, Fresh Donut serves tacos, sausage and bacon biscuits, hot chocolate, vitamin water, energy drinks and coffee. Hours are 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. For more, call 988-3101. (See story on page 23)
410, is reintroducing an old favorite to San Antonio, but right now it’s still under construction. According to the Facebook page, “Frontier Burger is bringing the charbroiled burgers of (the) 1940s back to San Antonio and a sense of nostalgia with them. Part of Frontier Enterprises, the company gives a nod to the delicious
LOWDOWN continues on pg. 11
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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM LOWDOWN continues from pg. 10 all-American food of the Alamo City’s past including their fresh pies and hand-spun milkshakes.” The company was founded by G. “Jim” Hasslocher of Jim’s Restaurant fame. For updates, visit Facebook.com/frontierburger.
5. GRACE NORTHRIDGE CHURCH, 2659 Eisenhauer Road, is an Anglican church that formerly held services at Alamo Heights Christian Church and now has moved into the worship space that once housed The Park. The first service was Sept. 20, and the pastors are Matthew Kessler and Brian Patrick. Hours are 10:30 a.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. for Sunday services, plus children’s worship for kindergarten through fifth grade during services and Student Life groups for middle and high school. For more, call 829-5211 or visit www.gracenorthridge.com. IN OTHER NEWS
AN INCREASE IN BICYCLE THEFTS IN ALAMO HEIGHTS has the Police Department putting residents on alert. Officers reported four bicycles missing in September and five in August. Owners should not leave their bicycles unattended and unsecured, as thieves steal them from porches, open garages and bicycle racks, investigators
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said. “Typically, high-value bicycles are targeted by thieves, but in recent cases inexpensive bicycles are being targeted, including children’s bicycles,” said Police Chief Rick Pruitt. “Please help to prevent bicycle thefts by securing them in garages or in buildings where they are not seen by thieves from the streets or alleyways.” AFTER A WELL TESTED POSITIVE FOR E. COLI BACTERIA at 6116 Broadway in Alamo Heights, the site of the municipal complex, the city shut down the well, according to an online post from Oct. 1. A “raw groundwater source sample” for Well F prompted the notification, which led the Alamo Heights Water System to remove the well from service. Two weeks earlier, according to media accounts, another well in the city tested positive for the harmful bacteria. City officials told reporters the water came from untreated groundwater which had not entered the municipal system and wasn’t disinfected. Officials said the city routinely tests a dozen samples a month. FIELD TECHNICIANS HIRED BY GOOGLE FIBER COULD BE OUT AND ABOUT in Alamo Heights for the next month or two, visiting rights of way and taking notes
LOWDOWN continues on pg. 12
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NOV. 2 - DEC. 7, 2015
LOWDOWN continues from pg. 11 and pictures as part of a plan to see what cities will be part of a broader San Antonio buildout for the super-fast Internet service. City officials said the technicians should be in vehicles with their firm’s name. LEO JAUREGUI RECENTLY JOINED THE ALAMO HEIGHTS FIRE DEPARTMENT, coming from the Dallas Fire Department where he had worked since 2008 as a firefighter and paramedic. Jauregui, who is married and has a child, is from Casper, Wyoming. THE TERRELL HILLS FIRE DEPARTMENT RECENTLY promoted firefighter Javier Saucedo to lieutenant. Saucedo joined the department in March 2012 and he “consistently maintains a strong work ethic with outstanding attention to detail, and has been instrumental in the department’s fire prevention efforts,” according to a city statement. During the past year, Saucedo has gained several fire-service certifications, including as an instructor for both fire and emergency medical services. OFFICER JOAQUIN MONTES HAS JOINED THE TERRELL HILLS POLICE DEPARTMENT after recently retiring from the Air
Force following a 22-year career. Montes obtained a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from Wayland Baptist University and graduated from the Alamo Area Law Enforcement Academy this year. He is carrying on a family tradition of military and law enforcement service; his three brothers also served in the military and are now Texas law enforcement officers, a city official said.
UIW are excited to welcome Jennielle to our leadership team,” said Dr. David Jurenovich, vice president of enrollment management and student services. “Her experience and leadership in the areas of student recruitment and enrollment management will no doubt contribute much to the university’s continued growth in both size and quality.”
NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS RECENTLY RECEIVED recognition during a meeting of the Alamo Heights Independent School District board. They are Edward Kershner and Benjamin Kurzban — Semifinalists; Sarah Berton, Christopher Friedrichs, Kershner, Benjamin Bursban, Chase Miller, Matthew Parker, Noah Perloff, Derek Stone and Casey Young — Commended; Valeria Cortez, Kurzban, Rosalia O’Brien, Christian Olson, Hannah Ortega, Nikolas Rodriguez, Ricardo Tamez, and Young — Hispanic Recognition.
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD held a grand opening for the new UIW Fine Arts Complex and also held a dedication for the Kelso Art Center on Oct. 14. The 55,000-square-foot UIW Fine Arts Complex includes a music building, concert hall and the newly renovated art center. The complex will give students access to the facilities and resources necessary for a state-of-the-art fine arts education, according to UIW officials. Both the complex and art center feature multiple rooms and spaces for various classes, rehearsals and performances, along with the latest equipment and teaching/learning resources.
JENNIELLE STROTHER HAS BEEN NAMED THE DEAN OF ENROLLMENT for the University of the Incarnate Word. Strother comes to UIW from the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, where she served as vice president for enrollment management/ financial aid, according to officials. “We at
THE CENTER CITY DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT recently welcomed the Kandi Factory, a 90-day OPEN pop-up shop, at Building 7 at La Villita Historic Arts Village. The boutique, owned by Camille Taylor, specializes in women’s accessories and modern, plus-
sized fashion. “The opening of this pop-up shop will further the revitalization of one of San Antonio’s original settlements,” said Assistant City Manager Lori Houston in a press release. “The OPEN program continues to activate underutilized spaces and create opportunities for local entrepreneurs to test their retail concept.” The OPEN program offers business owners a shortterm, no-cost lease and activates vacant storefronts by introducing new, creative and temporary retail locations. OPEN creates an environment that engages customers and confirms downtown San Antonio as a vibrant, urban space ready for long-term investment, city officials say. The La Villita Historic Arts Village will host a new shortterm pop-up shop tenant every 90 days. THANKS IN PART TO DOWNTOWN AND KING WILLIAM, SAN ANTONIO WAS NAMED A “SECRETLY COOL CITY” in an article published Oct. 8 by the Huffington Post, which took notice of San Antonio’s “affordable cost of living, cultural diversity and dynamic downtown growth.” The article, titled “O, Pioneer! 5 Secretly Cool Cities Where You Can Still Get in on the Ground Floor,” noted San Antonio “cool factors” that included the Pearl District, the King William Historic District, the Spanish missions and recent River Walk improvements.
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LOCAL LIVE MUSIC KEY: Alamo City Music Hall, 1305 E. Houston St., alamocitymusichall.com AT&T Center, 1 AT&T Center Pkwy, 444-5000 Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., 812-4355 Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, 226 N. St. Mary’s St., 226-5700 Freeman Coliseum, 3201 E. Houston St., 226-1177 Limelight, 2718 N. St. Mary’s St., 735-7775 Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St., 226-5700 Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersa@gmail.com Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., 223-2830 The Korova, 107 E. Martin St., 226-5070 Tobin Center, 100 Auditorium Circle, 223-8624 11/8 “Static Age” Revisited Tour: The Misfits, She Demons, 6 p.m., The Korova, $22/$25 11/9 Of Montreal, Diane Coffee, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, $15 11/9 Hate Me Tour 2015: Escape The Fate, A Skylit Drive, Sworn In, Sirens and Sailors, Myka, Relocate, 6 p.m., The Korova, $17 11/10 Mariachi El Bronx, 7 p.m., The Korova, $15 11/10 The Psychedelic Furs, Max and The Moon, 7 p.m., Aztec Theatre, $22/$35 11/11 Motionless In White, The Devil Wears Prada, 6 p.m., Alamo City Music Hall, $23/$26 11/11 The Dandy Warhols, The Shivas, 7 p.m., Paper Tiger, $20 11/12 Sphynx, 9 p.m., Limelight, $5 11/12 Juan Gabriel, 8 p.m., AT&T Center, $55.50/$206 11/13 The Fall of Troy, Kylesa, POWWERS, Illustrations, 7 p.m., Paper Tiger, $15 11/14 Lowly Servants, Tera Ferna, Octahedron, Verisimilitude, Little Image, 9 p.m., Limelight, $5 11/15 Willis Alan Ramsey, 7 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint,, $20/$65 11/16 The Story So Far, Basement, Turnover, 7 p.m., Alamo City Music Hall, $20 11/16 Combichrist, The Birthday Massacre, MXMS, Echo Black, 7 p.m., The Korova, $20 11/17 Wallflower World Tour: Diana Krall, 7:30 p.m., Majestic Theatre, $59.50-$99.50 11/17 The AP Tour: Mayday Parade, Real Friends, This Wild Life, As It Is, 5:30 p.m., Aztec Theatre, $25/$30 11/18 Juturna 10 Year Anniversary Tour: Circa Survive, RX Bandits, Citizen, 7 p.m., Alamo City Music Hall, $23 11/19 Peter Case, 7 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, $15/$45 11/20 The Ataris, 7:30 p.m., The Korova, $12/$15 11/21 Hope For Shelter Fest, 9 a.m., Paper Tiger, $18
14
NOV. 2 - DEC. 7, 2015
LOCAL SOCIETY
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an Antonio’s social season began with a bang, offering delightful dancing at night, golden tickets and platinum events.
The Red and White Ball, an elegant evening filled with friends, fellowship and fundraising, was held at the magnificent San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter ballroom, all to benefit the Blood & Tissue Foundation. Chairmen Sherry and Laird McNeil honored 2015 Chairman’s Award recipient Karen Heintz. The award was presented by foundation co-chairwomen Laurie Kaplan and Allison Kustoff. Also receiving special recognition that night was Elizabeth Waltman, foundation director and chief operating officer of the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center. El Rey Feo candidate Darren Casey
Robbie Casey and Pat Hardy
GOLDEN GALA IN THE GARDEN
opened the golden gates of his Terrell Hills mansion for “The DC Big Bang” and raised several hundred thousand dollars for the League of United Latin American Citizens and his run for El Rey Feo. Several hundred friends with golden tickets gathered for a live and silent auction, catering by Don Strange, liberal libations and live music featuring The Spazmatics and the Nick Connolly Trio. The party was a fun-filled evening with great guests and an even greater host. Viva almost-Fiesta! “Bond, James Bond,” was the theme for the Southwest School of Art’s Golden Gala in the Garden Art Sale and After Party chaired by Gloria and Miguel Dilley and Kristin and Dick Tips, along with honorary Chairwoman Cathy Spector and honorary Chairman Jack Spector. This glamorous, black-tie event
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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM
by Les Hollon, PhD Senior Pastor at Trinity Baptist Church
MAHNCKE continues from pg. 01
Area is shrinking piece by piece, residents say
Syncing is a way of staying current. It is a common technological term for updating data connections between compatible devices, like an iPhone to an iPad. Similarly syncing in our family, friend, and work relationships, is essential to compatibility. Understanding what’s going on in our lives, and how it affects each other helps us to be mutually supportive.
by EILEEN PACE
M
ahncke Park residents say losing a battle to keep a children’s museum from turning three lots into parking spaces is just the latest blow in a struggle to preserve the character of their venerable downtown neighborhood.
The tree-lined, quaint quarter across from Brackenridge Park has been in the news the last couple of years over numerous issues related to its prime location in the Broadway corridor, which is undergoing a commercial renaissance: a proposed historic district that eventually failed, encroachment into an otherwise residential street by a retail establishment, and a fight to keep a residential property from becoming a student and faculty parking lot for the nearby University of the Incarnate Word. Proponents argue the changes
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Residents in Mahncke Park say they are paying the price of an urban renaissance as various projects and developments cannibalize pieces of the quaint neighborhood to make room for shops and parking lots. Photo by Leland A. Outz
are part of the area’s revitalization, but not everyone sees it that way. “It’s an unfortunate side effect of all these great things that are happening in the downtown area,” said Gabriel Shelton, the Mahncke Park Neighborhood Association president. “It’s displacing a lot of residents.” Recently, the century-old mostly Craftsman-home enclave faced a new —
and ultimately unsuccessful — struggle: trying to stop a commercial takeover of three more of its homes for the sake of extra parking for The DoSeum. The children’s’ museum, which relocated last summer from East Houston Street to a newly built facility at 2800 Broadway,
MAHNCKE continues on pg. 16
No where is this more important than in our love life. Life is about love. Love is about relationships. We need to sync our love expressions like service, language, gifts, touch, and time. (Read Gary Chapman’s New York Times best seller, “The Five Love Languages”.) In our fast moving world it’s easy to feel disconnected from who and what is most important. So the following is a suggested 3 step process for syncing our relationships: PRAY. Download God’s updates into your life. Position yourself to be a blessing for others by being positioned with God. There are more than 100 ways to pray. Have connecting moments with God daily.
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MAHNCKE continues from pg. 15
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recently requested the city Planning and Zoning Commission to rezone three lots on Mulberry Street off of Broadway, just behind Good Time Charlie’s. The museum summarily was granted a permit that doesn’t change the zoning but does allow for a parking lot. The City Council later approved the measure. Shelton and other residents indicated they are fighting an uphill battle to maintain the cozy integrity of their neighborhood, struggling to hang onto the homes and residential lots that remain. Ruth Rodriguez said the neighborhood has suffered numerous losses over the 25 years she and her husband have lived in Mahncke Park, but particularly in the last couple of years. She said a house on Davis Court was demolished in September to make way for a multi-family complex. “So, we lose an amazing old house but at least still have residences. But we lost a home to the coffee shop, and another house behind that was demolished and a parking lot put in,” she said. DoSeum CEO Vanessa Lacoss Hurd says the facility has dramatically exceeded attendance projections. She said she worked with a civil engineer to monitor attendance counts for the first two or three months after the DoSeum opening, and the report showed a quarter-million people came through the doors, or an attendance about 45 percent above DoSeum projections. At the previous location, the downtown Children’s Museum at 305 E. Houston St., Hurd said counts were much lower — about 153,000 people in 12 months. It closed March 29, and the DoSeum opened June 6. “There’s spillover into the streets 154 days of the year. Weekdays, weekends, evening events,” she said. She attributes the high attendance to the DoSeum’s new role as a community venue. “Some events will bring in 1,000 people for a two-hour event.” Shelton argued that a study during the summer is not representative of attendance at other times in the year, when children are back in school. He also has never seen the traffic study, he added. Homeowner Alicia Perez said the counts were conducted after the museum’s grand opening, when attendance could be expected to skyrocket. She started a petition and rallied Mahncke Park residents to speak out against the taking of the homes for extra parking. “We, as a board, are not saying there’s not an issue with parking and traffic, but how urgent is it?” Shelton said. “And is tearing down houses and paving it the only solution? We feel there are other creative solutions that are available. You know, public transportation, shuttling from some other existing parking lot.” “It seems that the Zoning Commission is wantonly disregarding the rules that
NOV. 2 - DEC. 7, 2015 they’re supposed to go by,” he added. “Keeping that residential space is a huge part of our neighborhood plan. Mahncke Park has a very specific neighborhood plan, and it’s registered with the city. There seems to be no motivation to protect our interests. The rules have no teeth.” As neighbors mounted their protest, DoSeum benefactors had already purchased the three properties on Mulberry Street by the time the case went to the council for a vote. City staff recommended approval of the zoning request, and the council voted Oct. 1 to allow the museum to redesign the three properties for the purpose of parking. The land will not be rezoned, but has been given conditional use status, meaning it can operate as a parking lot in accordance with the DoSeum’s application for the zoning change. Shelton said residents still want a historic-district designation to prevent the loss of architectural integrity. Monte Vista and King William are similar neighborhoods that have such a designation, with corresponding architectural protections. “If it was historic, the Zoning Commission would never have been allowed to issue this conditionaluse permit,” Shelton said. Hurd says The DoSeum will design the new parking area with “generous setbacks from the street, lots of landscaping and low-impact lighting.” “The parking study shows we have shy of 240 spaces,” Hurd said. The DoSeum will gain 55 parking spaces with the demolition of two of the houses on the property it purchased. Although residents as a rule are happy the DoSeum is there, it’s the gradual cannibalization of the neighborhood that raises alarm. Perez said, “Yes, we’re really happy The DoSeum is our neighbor, but it’s like what kind of neighbor are they when they just move in and right away they want to tear down three houses just to pave it over? It’s not a neighborly thing to do.” “And once that corner of the neighborhood is gone, it changes Mahncke Park,” she added. “It ruins the entrance to the neighborhood. It’s just not a neighborly move to make.” “There are these centers of commercial activity all around our neighborhood and that’s where the demand is the greatest,” Shelton said. Another site, the San Antonio Botanical Garden at 555 Funston Place, “has been great neighbors, but they, too, at some point have cannibalized residential properties,” he said. “It’s the nature of living in an urban environment. Unfortunately even though the politicians speak (of) wanting to revitalize the urban core and bring residents into downtown, they want to do that at the expense of the residents that are already here.”
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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM TERRELL HILLS continues from pg. 01
All roads under consideration for improvements by BAIN SERNA
T
ERRELL HILLS — City officials want residents to sound off on a proposed 20year plan for road improvements. The comprehensive design and maintenance initiative is aimed at enhancing streets, curbs, bicycle lanes and overall aesthetics, according to planners. Pape-Dawson Engineers Inc. of Castle Hills is collecting the input, and City Council will hear a report Nov. 9. “We’ve gone through almost all the streets in the last 20 years,” said City Manager Columbus Stutes. “We wanted to sit down and take a look at what had worked and what maybe hadn’t as well as we’d hoped, and get public input on what the design standards should be for Terrell Hills.” In September, the city held a public Street Design Workshop in which residents aired their views and offered suggestions on roadway projects for the next two decades. “We heard various points, some good and some bad, and we need all that. We need to know what the community likes and what it does not,” Stutes said. Pape-Dawson will take the collective information, factor in other aspects ranging from poor soil conditions to what residents expect the streets to look like, to draw up a
20-year plan for street designs and features. The consulting contract with Pape-Dawson is not to exceed $65,000, according to officials. That doesn’t mean the city has been idle on road repairs, officials added. Recent street improvements include South Vandiver Road from Garraty Road to Rittiman Road, Elmcourt Street and a section of Ivy Lane. “Pape-Dawson is looking at our plans over the last five or six (street improvement) projects we’ve done, and they will look at those streets and the performance of those streets based on the design elements that were there,” Stutes said. “We’re looking for Pape-Dawson to bring a draft of their findings to the City Council for additional public input in November.” A list of priorities will be drawn from the report for consideration by the council at a subsequent meeting, the city manager added. “We want to have a finalized design standard in front of the council, hopefully for the December meeting,” he said. “After that, the intent is to figure out which streets need to be worked on next, because this will be the standard we use to build our plans around. We’re excited about the process.” The 20-year plan is meant to touch on all streets in the city. Stutes said a design for future street projects helps the city determine costs and how much money should be put aside. City leaders are encouraging residents to continue offering their perspective on street work for future workshops and meetings. “As far as our street-design workshop, we had a good turnout for our (September) meeting with a lively discussion, but we always welcome more input,” said Mayor Anne Ballantyne.
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NOV. 2 - DEC. 7, 2015
FLOOD-WARNING continues from pg. 01
System will provide more warning for residents by BAIN SERNA
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LAMO HEIGHTS— A recent high-water rescue when rain flooded the Olmos Basin is prompting police to push for an automated alert system that detects rising streams and issues a warning. Alamo Heights is leading the way to implement the High-water Alert Lifesaving Technology, or HALT, which would be installed in the Olmos Basin to track rising floodwaters in roadways. The installation hinges on funding approval by Bexar County Commissioners, who in the past three years have already overseen the installation of 52 devices at low-water crossings in Bexar County with flashing lights. Others have cross-arms that automatically lower. An online spec sheet puts the overall project cost at $3 million. The City Council recently approved
moving forward to implement HALT in the Olmos Basin, with Olmos Park and San Antonio using the life-saving alert system as well. The basin is in all three cities. “(Bexar) County still has to approve the overall program, and from our perspective we’re good to go for Alamo Heights,” said Alamo Heights City Manager Mark Browne. “Nothing has been installed yet and we’re in the planning phase. The county is going to look at this issue in November and then after that, it depends on when they can get the construction plans done.” The issue came to the forefront after Olmos Park police rescued a man and his grandson trapped in their submerging vehicle during a flash flood at a low-water crossing last month. The harrowing footage of the rescue caught on police body cameras highlighted the need for an effective alert system to notify motorists of flooding dangers in the Olmos Basin, according to officials. Olmos Park issued online alerts during the rains in late October. Plans call for the installation of a HALT master sensor on Olmos Creek at Devine Road, between Dick Friedrich Drive and Alamo Heights Boulevard, where there is a low-water crossing. That crossing was not the one involved in the mid-September rescue. The sensor will be located below the roadway so that the water, when it
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reaches a certain depth, will activate the sensor during flooding. It will then relay the information to a nearby master station, which in turn will send out a signal to remote beacon stations, activating warning lights that alert motorists. Two warning beacons are planned for Alamo Heights, with multiple beacons also being discussed for placement in Olmos Park and San Antonio in or near the Olmos Basin. The city of San Antonio has agreed to three beacons in the areas of Basse and Jones Maltsberger roads, near the Alamo Quarry Market, according to Alamo Heights Police Chief Rick Pruitt. “It goes to Commissioners Court on Nov. 10 and the decision at that point rests in their hands,” said Pruitt, who has been spearheading the effort to get HALT installed in Alamo Heights and the surrounding areas. “If it’s approved, I don’t have a timeline of when they would be starting
and implementing the program out here.” Pruitt said the Olmos Basin is designed to channel water from upstream areas to collect behind the Olmos Dam, where it stays in the retaining area to either evaporate or gradually be released downstream. The dam was built decades ago to prevent catastrophic floods from inundating downtown San Antonio. “‘Flash flooding’ is a good term to use, because once that water overwhelms the Olmos Creek channel, roadways become flooded, the bridge becomes flooded, and you have lots and lots of water coming in there,” Pruitt said. “We’re very hopeful that the County Commissioners will approve this so we can get that alert system out here.” Browne said the system will protect lives. “We’re excited about the opportunity to have more warning for our residents from a public-safety standpoint,” he added. “That’s a really good thing.”
THE COUNTY IS GOING TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE [...] AFTER THAT, IT DEPENDS ON WHEN THEY CAN GET THE CONSTRUCTION PLANS DONE. MARK BROWNE, ALAMO HEIGHTS CITY MANAGER
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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM SAN PEDRO continues from pg. 01
Project to address creek's flood risk by EDMOND ORTIZ
O
bservers consider it unsightly in some spots. A few residents and visitors have mistaken it for a drainage ditch. But San Pedro Creek, which runs through the western side of downtown San Antonio, will see life anew in a big way by the time the city celebrates its 300th anniversary in 2018. Officials with the San Antonio River Authority and Bexar County say the overall schedule remains on track, as they eye restoring and improving water quality along the creek, and reconnecting neighborhoods on the route. The creek, along with the San Antonio River, played a key role in sustaining the city’s early settlement under the Spanish empire and later growth. The 2-mile-long project stretches
from Interstate 35 at the flood tunnel inlet near Fox Tech High School to the confluence with Alazan and Apache creeks at I-35 close to the stockyards. “The primary goal of the project is to improve drainage, and to remove 30 acres from the 100-year floodplain,” said Kerry Averyt, an engineer with the river authority. The project also will include a linear park and public art, but as Averyt said, “it won’t be another River Walk.” The project dates back to May 2013, when the San Pedro Creek study, also known then as a preliminary engineering report, was completed. Among other findings, the study concluded the existing channel walls limit the creek’s right of way, and a flood risk for public safety and property remains. According to the report, there has been a prime opportunity to correct floodplain issues, enhance water recirculation and improve the area’s aesthetics using a “design concept grounded in San Antonio’s cultural landscape and Latino urbanism.” On Feb. 18, 2014, Commissioners Court approved an agreement with SARA to launch a design effort to map out a $175 million revitalization project. The county committed $125 million,
SAN PEDRO continues on pg. 20
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512-826-9612 210-767-3822
G r a n a da H o m e s
Retirement Community on the Beautiful San Antonio Riverwalk with ALL BILLS PAID
James Velasquez, Psychic-Medium Specific in letting you know what’s in store for you. ww ww.yourlifesdirection.com Contact James today to schedule your appointment
210-315-2417
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
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Granada Homes Introduces…
Riverwalk Salon (on Premises)
Men & Women Haircuts, Hair Color, Manicures, Shellac, Solar Nails, Spa Pedicures, Eyelashes and Waxing 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
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NOV. 2 - DEC. 7, 2015
SAN PEDRO continues from pg. 19 with the city of San Antonio dedicating several million dollars in creekside property. The project’s design team includes HDR Engineers Inc., Muñoz & Co., PapeDawson Engineers Inc., Alamo Architects, and Ford, Powell & Carson Architects. There are four phases of designs and engineering. As of October, planners were making revisions to the design work, 70 percent of which was completed by August. All design work is due to be finished by March. “We’re making changes that were requested through public meetings and by stakeholders,” Averyt said of some current revisions. Some of the recent design revisions include a size reduction of a small amphitheater near the renowned Alameda Theater, and the removal of a shaded structure called the Tree of Life. These and other design and engineering modifications are helping to return the total project cost to $175 million, which the 2013 engineering report estimated, from a 70 percent design total of $206 million. Averyt and Bridget Hinze, SARA’s executive offices administrator, said county officials pledged to keep the project within budget. Hinze added that the county has
County and city officials hope to have the San Pedro Creek project finished by 2018, just in time for San Antonio's 300th birthday as a colony of the Spanish empire. Plans call for a lake-like setting, Villa Lagunilla, and improved pedestrian access with amenities, Agua Antigua. Photo by Leland A. Outz
“no major concerns about funding.” SARA will also emphasize native vegetation along San Pedro Creek as part of improvements. “The experts at SARA have been working with the design team to make sure we get in the right of kind of species
THE TEX HILL
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
native to the area,” Averyt said. Additionally, a linear park with walkways and gathering spots would boost recreational opportunities along the creek. Planning started in the late summer for the public art part of the project. A subcommittee will choose the artists for installations at 14 different sites along the creek. But the county prefers to leave fundraising for the public art component to those more closely connected with local arts and culture. “We are talking with the San Antonio River Foundation to help with raising funds,” Hinze said. SARA set up the nonprofit river foundation to raise money to help provide amenities and enhancements along the San Antonio River and its tributaries. “We are also working with the San Antonio Department for Culture and Creative Development on this,” she added. Plans could include a lake-like setting called Villa Lagunilla and a proposed new waterway with improved pedestrian access, Agua Antigua. Following final design, construction is scheduled to start in 2016 with the first phase to be done by May 2018. The grand opening of the new creekway would be a major part of the city’s
Do
wish
300th anniversary celebration. Hinze and Averyt said community involvement is critical to the project’s success. The public is invited to meetings of the San Pedro Creek Subcommittee and the Westside Creeks Restoration Oversight Committee, as well as open houses. Aside from ecological restoration, and enhancements in aesthetics, properties and walkability, the county and SARA see the improvement of San Pedro Creek as a catalyst for economic development in the west part of downtown. In turn, creek improvements could round out the surge of revitalization happening all around the city’s center. “Some people even believe it will become an amenity similar to the River Walk that will create a synergy of activity between the San Pedro Creek and the San Antonio River,” local economist Steve Nivin wrote in a 2013 fiscal impact study. Nivin’s comments echoed those of county Commissioner Paul Elizondo offered earlier this year in a news release. Elizondo has been instrumental in leading the county’s charge in the project. “…San Pedro Creek played an integral role in the early land development of our city’s urban core. This project will turn the focus back to the importance of San Pedro Creek on this city’s history,” he said.
you to age in place? Could you benefit from personal care to: Be Safe and Happy, Keep your household clean, And stay in your own home!
October 1, 2015–January 5, 2016
PRIDE has personal care attendants that can help you remain in the comfortable and familiar surroundings of your own home. Pride’s services can assist you with the following activities of daily living - so you may age in place.
The Tex Hill Scholarship Program provides tuition, fees, textbooks and uniforms to two fifth grade boys who will attend San Antonio Academy during their 6th, 7th and 8th grade years.
“BECAUSE WE CARE, WE SERVE WITH PRIDE” • Meal Preparation • Feeding • Transferring • Bathing • Ambulation and Exercise • Toileting • Dressing • Grooming • Routine Hair and Skin Care • Assistance with normally self-administered medications
Along with PRIVATE CARE, we accept MEDICAID OUR MISSION - Advocate for independence by providing home health services that improve the quality of life and overall well being of the individuals we proudly serve.
sa-academy.org 210.733.7331
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for more information about the programs availabble, please contact us at:
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www.pridephcservices.com Licensed by the Texas HCSSA
21
SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM
Partnership will help improve Travis Park by OLIVIER J. BOURGOIN
T
he St. Anthony Hotel, touted as the “Queen of San Antonio,” is riding high again in the court of luxury with a massive renovation project that brings the 106-year-old building into the 21st century. Renewing a focus to get both locals and out-of-towners to pay a visit, the hotel has also entered a partnership with the city and others to enhance Travis Park. A grand opening Nov. 19 promises to herald a “Texas Jewel Reborn,” but since the summer, officials have held smaller functions at the downtown icon, 300 E. Travis St., to herald its progress. “We want to help our guests create memories and make sure they feel better when they leave than when they arrived,” said Debbie Gonzalez, a spokeswoman for the St. Anthony. According to historical records, the St.
Anthony was known as a residence hotel after it was built in 1909 — the same year as the Gunter Hotel just down the block. Presidents, writers, movie stars and royalty have stayed there, but many wealthy Texans — including ranchers — lived there and customized rooms to fit their tastes. Some had banks of walk-in-closets, others had built-in bars and even installed fireplaces. “It got to the point where our guests just never knew exactly what kind of room they were going to get,” Gonzalez said. The latest remodeling standardized all that, dropping the number of rooms to 277 and making them more spacious, as well as adding a spa tub and more technology. The St. Anthony was also rebranded and is now a Starwood Luxury Collection Hotel. Mechanical systems, heating/ventilation/ air conditioning, electrical, plumbing and the kitchen and restaurant received a complete overhaul during the $24 million remodeling which started in 2013. Also new is a full-service spa as well as an open-air rooftop bar, a pool bar, another bar on the ground floor and the Library Lounge. In 1982, the hotel was closed for a year for massive renovations at a cost of $28 million. The new ownership group, B.C. Lynd Hospitality, headed by Clyde J.B. Johnson IV and Brandon Raney, has seen the latest renovation through its completion.
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Along with the massive remodeling, a partnership has been established to beautify and improve neighboring Travis Park involving the hotel, Southwest Airlines and the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. “It was a perfect fit,” Gonzalez said. “Southwest Airlines already had a corporate program in place, where they wanted to work specifically with outdoor spaces. Now the park also receives 24/7 police presence, some permanent lighting has been installed, there is a food truck presence as well as some community programming provided by the city such as outdoor Zumba and yoga classes, book giveaways and a Movies in the Park program which has had great turnouts.” The hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1910, what is known as Tower II was added to the original footprint, basically doubling the size of the large building from 150 rooms to 300. The hotel’s famed Peacock Alley was the setting July 21 for both a party and a book signing by Gaylon Finklea Hecker, author of “ Dusting Off A Legend: The St. Anthony Hotel,” celebrating the past and introducing the present — as well as the new ownership group. One those attending was Amanda Ochse, who, along with her late husband, businessman William “Bill” Ochse, owned
the St. Anthony from 1971 to 1981. Mrs. Ochse said buying the hotel was not a difficult decision. “Well! It was world-famous, it was the center of South Texas social life and it was for sale,” she said. Before the remodeling, the Anacacho Ballroom hosted an average of 60 weddings per year. “We expect to increase that number to about 85 wedding receptions per year,” Gonzalez said. Nor is it uncommon for three generations to have held a reception there, from the bride to her mother and even a grandmother, she added. The ballroom has also been home to the Order of the Alamo Fiesta Cocktail Reception for 68 years in a row. The menu and the wine list have been completely upgraded, according to executive chief Michael Mata. “I am always learning and experimenting with new concepts. Here I am given the freedom to explore and create. I always feel like I don’t know enough. We are learning more about presentation, about farm-to-table and seasonal items, about aging beef, making butter, porcini mushrooms; you name it — everything is fun and exciting,”Mata said. For more, call 227-4392 or visit www.thestanthonyhotel.com.
QUENEDIT DANCE THEATRE SAN ANTHONIO Artistic Directors: Catalina Garza & Ernesto Quenedit
REACH 32,500 RESIDENCES & BUSINESSES 78209 l 78212 l 78215 78210 l 78204 l 78205
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 7:30 PM SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2:00 PM Special Appearance By Student of Escuela Superior de Musica y Danza Monterrey, Mexico
Lila Cockrell Theater Ticketmaster & Alamodome Box Office www.queneditdance.org
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NOV. 2 - DEC. 7, 2015
BUY LOCAL Learn more about newest purveyors of goods and services in your area
New apartment complex offers neighborhood feel by ERIC MORENO
T
he owners and managers of The Alcove at Alamo Heights — an apartment complex that opened in May — say it offers tenants a unique environment that is close to downtown, yet still feels like a cozy community. “We’re really a pretty little complex just tucked away in a quiet neighborhood,” said business manager Michelle Sauerman of International Realty, which owns the property. “Our location really is what sets us apart. We have the feel of a downtown complex and we are still close enough and accessible to downtown without all of its hustle and bustle.” “We’re small, but the neighborhood
feel of it is very appealing,” added Sauerman about the complex, at 6419 N. Vandiver Road. The 107-unit gated community is in the Alamo Heights Independent School District and just off Austin Highway. It offers a wide range of amenities including a dog park, detached garages, a business office, a swimming pool and a 24-hour fitness facility. Units are available in one, two and three bedrooms. “We also have privacy yards on our first-floor units, which are great for our tenants with small animals,” Sauerman said. “The amenity package here is pretty comparable to a lot of larger complexes. Again, they’re larger and we can offer that smaller, homier feel.” Office hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
The Alcove at Alamo Heights (above) is a new complex off Austin Highway that touts the feel of a quiet community while offering amenities such as a crystal-clear pool (right). Photos by Collette Orquiz
THE ALCOVE AT ALAMO HEIGHTS 6419 N. Vandiver Road For more, call 829-0909 or visit www.alcoveatalamoheights.com
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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM
EAT LOCAL Learn about the newest neighborhood places for breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks
More than just doughnuts at Austin Highway shop by EILEEN PACE
R
esidents of the neighborhoods near Terrell Hills and Austin Highway have a new shop to serve their doughnut needs.
Kolaches are among the most popular items at Fresh Donut (above), especially among soldiers from nearby Fort Sam Houston. The new store also offers daily specials on a variety of doughnuts (right). Photos by Collette Orquiz
A family-owned business, Fresh Donut is the latest restaurant to bring quality, hot homemade pastries to North Central. The store is located at 1302 Austin Highway. San Kim, who operates the shop, said when he came to the United States from Cambodia 14 years ago, he was willing to work long hours and decided a doughnut shop would be the best way to support his family. “If you have a job, you can only work eight hours a day. I wanted to
make more money, and I work 16 to 18 hours a day,” Kim said. He now owns 15 doughnut stores in Seguin, Pflugerville, Round Rock and others from San Antonio to Austin. Kim said since he opened Fresh Donut in mid-August, each week has been better than the last. “We have a special of 18 doughnuts for $8.99 all the time,” Kim said. One of the most popular items is the sausage, egg and cheese croissant. The shop’s specialty is the sausage-boudin kolache. Kim said many members of the Army from nearby Fort Sam Houston
come in for the doughnuts and the kolaches. The store honors the military with a 20 percent discount. Fresh Donut also serves tacos, sausage or bacon biscuits, almost 10 kinds of doughnuts (from glazed to chocolate and apple fritters), as well as numerous beverages including hot chocolate, vitamin water, energy drinks and coffee. Hours are 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.
FRESH DONUT 1302 Austin Highway For more, call 988-3101
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