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DEC. 24, 2014 - JAN. 26, 2015

WHAT'S

INSIDE YOUR COMMUNITY

PG.12 More Eagle Scout projects on tap for Lorence Creek Preserve

Two projects unveiled this fall: play area and refurbishing walking path

PG.03 LOCAL COMMENTARY SusanYerkes opines that San Antonio doesn't need NFL team to be 'worldclass' city

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PG.14 VALENTINO'S New restaurant on Blanco Road serves up homemade Italian fare

LOCAL EDITORIAL PG.04 OUR TURN Before annexation, city needs to ensure services are available

LOCAL LOWDOWN PG.08 NEWS & NOTES Open and opening soon in your neighborhood

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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 Ron Aaron Eisenberg, Joyce Hotchkiss, Eric Moreno, Eileen Pace and Susan Yerkes ART Creative Director Florence D. Edwards Production Designer Pete Morales Contributing Photographer Rudy B. Ornelas Contributing Illustrator Jeremiah Teutsch ADVERTISING Advertising Director Marc Olson Controller Keith Sanders READER SERVICE Mailing Address 4204 Gardendale Ste. 201 SA, TX 78229 Phone Fax (210) 338.8842 (210) 616.9677

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7/16/14 2:18 PM

Every group has a few bad apples

T

he national dialogue about police conduct has taken an ugly turn, and much of the bellicosity directed at law enforcement is nothing short of ludicrous.

I spent more than half of my career as a reporter covering police, county law enforcement and federal agents.

Like many people, I have some questions about the Eric Garner case in New York. But based on my experiences, I can say the system in the San Antonio area to catch bad cops does work. I wrote about cops under indictment, cops who went to trial, cops suspended by their chief or civil service commission, cops handed indefinite suspensions, cops forced to retire…

And yet for every one of those aberrations, I could list hundreds of other officers who just did their jobs; who put up with an amazing amount of verbal abuse and eternal paperwork; who went on mind-numbing calls that ranged from parents who couldn’t control their own kids to frightened grannies scared by a raccoon in the house; and who saw more unrelenting violence than most people can comprehend.

To the critics I would say: Talk to the officer who just handled the case of a baby with its skull bashed in, the same officer who has to go home and tell his or her spouse with a forced smile that it was just another day on the job, and then hug his or her own child like the world is filled with rainbows and unicorns. I wonder if the naysayers know what that’s like.

Constructive criticism is helpful, but it needs to be honest. Don’t tar and feather all police because of a few rotten apples.

If critics want anarchy, then let’s just do away with law enforcement.

Otherwise, tone down the rhetoric and engage the brain. Every profession has its sinners … and saints.

THOMAS EDWARDS EXECUTIVE EDITOR FACEBOOK.COM/SALOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS

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LOCAL COMMENTARY

San Antonio a world-class city without NFL

by SUSAN YERKES

C

hristmas is over, and Santa failed to deliver a major league football team to our collective stockings, despite the recent ballyhoo about the Oakland Raiders possibly relocating here. But, a lot of folks still have visions of the NFL dancing in their heads.

So as the new year begins, I’d like to offer a reminder, and propose a toast.

First, the reminder. When it comes to courting major league teams, the Raiders are not our first rodeo.

The Alamodome was built after voters approved the $177 million project, thanks in part to a powerful public-relations

campaign headed by former Mayor Henry Cisneros and then-Spurs' owner Red McCombs. One of the major selling points was the idea that if we built a state-of-theart football stadium, San Antonio stood a good chance of getting an NFL team to play there, despite widespread skepticism.

The skeptics proved right. Of course, the Alamodome was also sold as an expanded convention facility – fortunately, as it turned out — although it took awhile for the venue to hit its stride. The Alamodome opened in 1993, the same year Cisneros decamped to Washington, D.C., to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The dome was a “legacy” project for him.

More than two decades later, Cisneros is still on the NFL bandwagon.

Things heated up this summer, when the Raiders, with their current lease on Alameda County’s aging O.co Coliseum about to expire, weren’t getting far in their push for a proposed $800 million new stadium. And presto! Suddenly, they were entertaining new suitors.

Some reasoned San Antonio’s a perfect fit for the Raiders. It’s hard to take the idea very seriously. Oakland is the nation’s fourthlargest media market. San Antonio is the 36th largest and no amount of annexation is going to change that anytime soon. The Bay Area boasts six times as many major

corporate headquarters, and has a much larger pool of dollars for premium seating and sponsorship. If the Raiders do anything, they’re more likely to return to Los Angeles.

Even though it’s conceivable that an NFL team might play in the Alamodome for a time (the New Orleans Saints practiced and played three games here in 2005 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina), folks on the inside of the Raiders talks were pretty candid about the fact we’d eventually have to build a new stadium to keep the team here.

Why would our leaders even seriously contemplate doing that?

Back when the Alamodome was built, there was a lot of talk about how an NFL team would help sell San Antonio as a “world-class city.” The NFL didn’t come, but San Antonio is a world-class city anyway.

We have the five-time NBA champion Spurs, one of the coolest collective class acts in sports, the WNBA San Antonio Stars and the AHL San Antonio Rampage, all playing in the AT&T Center. The Alamodome has hosted five Men's and/ or Women's NCAA Final Four basketball tournaments and a U.S. Olympic Festival.

(We just snagged another Final Four for 2018, to which the city’s committing $44 million more in Alamodome upgrades.)

The dome has proved a fantastic home for our town’s only NCAA FBS team, the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Roadrunners, and high school playoff games. Not to mention hundreds of events from monster truck jams to rock concerts.

And in December, Major League Soccer officials confirmed San Antonio is among four cities being considered for a new MLS team in the latest league expansion.

There’s much more than sports to being a world-class city. In a 2014 Forbes magazine report comparing the business climates of 200 major U.S. metro areas, San Antonio ranked sixth. Oakland came in 62nd. We’re on a roll here, and Mayor Ivy Taylor is correct to focus on education and economic development, rather than put too much effort into pie-in-the-sky NFL dealings.

And now for that New Year’s toast, in the form of a cheer: “Go Raiders! Just go someplace else!”

Email Yerkes at syerkes@ salocallowdown.com.

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DEC. 24, 2014 - JAN 26, 2015

OUR TURN Views and opinions about your community

Services must be there for annexation

S

an Antonio is looking at its largest land grab in 20 years, a move that could annex five areas equal to 66 square miles and make the city the fifth largest in the nation.

Before city leaders do such a thing, they must first make sure they can provide adequate police, fire and ambulance services; take care of infrastructure such as bridges, streets and drainage; and build or maintain parks and libraries.

If the city is incapable of handling such a load, then those areas — which would add about 200,000 people to San Antonio’s population — should stay outside the city limits.

It’s not worth straining the city’s resources just so San Antonio can be bigger than Phoenix and Philadelphia.

The city is looking at Interstate 10 West, U.S. 281 North to near the Comal County line, I-10 East, Texas 151 and U.S. 90/Loop 1604.

According to District 9 Councilman

Joe Krier, if the move goes through from 2015 to 2020, it would be a limited-purpose annexation. There will be no city services, no collection of property or sales taxes during the first three years. Although residents can vote in City Council and recall elections, they are not eligible to run for office during that time, nor can they cast ballots in a bond election.

However, the city can require permits and fees for commercial and residential buildings.

The areas in question are all rapid-growth sectors. No doubt politcos are rubbing hands at the thought of all the new taxes.

True, it can be argued that residents from the five areas driving on San Antonio streets and using San Antonio resources should pay their fair share, but there is little doubt some do not want to become part of the Alamo City.

For one thing, there are fewer regulations in unincorporated areas, compared to city ordinances that cover everything from historic preservation to code compliance.

Public hearings will be held in the fall. Residents should come armed with questions. If San Antonio is going to dip into their wallets, they need to be assured of adequate public services.

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

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JAVA WITH JOE District 9 Councilman Joe Krier’s weekly WEEKLY meetings on Wednesdays at his field office, 16500 U.S. 281 North at Thousand Oaks Drive, Suite 290, is taking a coffee break during December. Constituents Chief Adam Trevino expects the public conversations to resume in January after the holidays. For more information, with exact dates and times, email adam. trevino@sanantonio.gov or call 207-0955.

Naturalist, at Phil Hardberger Park to learn about arrowheads and Clovis points that Native Americans used for hunting, cleaning hides, preparing food and for spiritual ceremonies. Flint knapping will be demonstrated. Participants can make their own arrowhead necklace. The event, 9 to 11 a.m., is at the Urban Ecology Center, 8400 N.W. Military Highway, on the park’s west side. It is free, but donations are accepted.

For more, call 207-3280 or 492-7472.

NEISD BREAK There will be THROUGH no classes in the North East JAN 4 Independent School District during winter break, with school resuming Jan. 5. Also, campuses will be closed Jan. 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

PICTURE YOUR WORLD The JAN Green Spaces Alliance brings 11 its photo workshop program to Comanche Lookout Park from 1 to 5:30 p.m. The workshops, which are for youths age 8 to 18, provide hands-on instruction in composition and technique as participants

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HAPPENINGS continues from pg. 05 photograph the natural setting around them. Digital cameras will be provided to those who don’t bring one. This workshop, led by a professional photographer, costs $10 for Green Spaces members and $20 for nonmembers. Register online at www.greensatx.org. Comanche Lookout Park is at 15551 Nacogdoches Road.

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING Trustees of the North East Independent School District regularly meet 5:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at 8961 Tesoro Drive.

JAN 12

HILL COUNTRY VILLAGE The City Council meets at 5 p.m. in City Hall, 116 Aspen Lane.

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RAMBLIN’ REPTILES Blaine Eaton visits Phil Hardberger Park to explain how the reptiles of South Texas survive in urban and rural environments. The event is 10 a.m. to noon at the Urban Ecology Center on the west side of the park, 8400 N.W. Military Highway. There is no admission cost, but donations are allowed.

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LIBRARIES CLOSED San Antonio Public Library branches will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

JAN 19

RESTAURANT WEEK Culinaria, which promotes San Antonio as a wine and food destination, has launched a second yearly edition of its popular dining fest. Special three-course lunch and dinner menus will be offered at two price levels: $10 lunch/$25 dinner and $15 lunch/$35 dinner. Participating restaurants include Mellow Mushroom, 115 N. Loop 1604 East, Suite 2100; Umai Mi, 555 W. Bitters Road; and Ruth’s Chris Steak House, 7720 Jones-Maltsberger Road. Call the restaurants for reservations, which are suggested but not required.

JAN 19-24

SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS Hood’s Texas Brigade, Camp No. 153, a local chapter of the national organization of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, will hold its monthly meeting with an educational program 7 p.m. at Grady’s Hill Country Smokehouse, 6510 San Pedro Ave. at Jackson Keller Road.

Members and guests come early and eat;

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HAPPENING continues on pg. 07

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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM HAPPENINGS continues from pg. 06 no reservations are required. The Camp meets every third Tuesday of the month.

For more, visit www.hoodstexasbde.com/.

JAN 20

HOLLYWOOD PARK The City Council meets at 7 p.m. in City Hall, No. 2 Mecca Drive.

EVENING AGLOW MEETING Aglow, a Christian “transformational kingdom” group, meets the third Tuesday of the month. The gathering starts at 7 p.m. at Anne Marie’s Catering, 12475 Starcrest Drive. For more, go to www.aglow.com.

JAN 20

RETIRED TEACHERS The North San Antonio Retired Teachers Association will open its monthly meeting with a “meet and greet” at 9:45 a.m.; the meeting begins at 10:15 a.m. at San Pedro Presbyterian Church, 14900 San Pedro Ave. The guest speaker will be Maricella Borroel of public television station KLRN.

JAN 21

SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION The San Antonio Chapter of the national organization will hold its monthly luncheon meeting at the Petroleum

JAN 21

Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels Ave., at 11:30 a.m. Lunch costs $25. Reservations should be made with Bob Clark, 4020871, or reservations@sarsat.org, by the Monday prior to the meeting.

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CHRONIC PAIN SUPPORT GROUP Meetings take place the third Wednesday of the month at Baptist HealthLink, 288 W. Bitters Road, from 4 to 6 p.m. A syllabus and more information are available at http:// chronicpainsupportsa.wix.com/cpsgsa.

JAN 21

NATURE WALK: SOILS & PLANT LIFE From 8 to 10 a.m., visitors to Phil Hardberger Park can learn about the relationship of soil to geology (rocks) and the effect of soil on plant communities. Randy KillianSmith, an accomplished Earth science teacher, leads the walk along the Savanna Loop Trail. It begins on the west side of the park at the Urban Ecology Center, 8400 N.W. Military Highway. There is no cost, but donations are welcome.

For more, call 207-3280 or 492-7472.

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DEC. 24, 2014 - JAN 26, 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 1. FITNESS HQ, 139 N. Loop 1604 East, Suite 100, is a one-stop shop that helps exercise enthusiasts find the right fitness equipment, while also offering delivery, installation and service featuring the leading brands. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. For more, call 699-8100 or visit www.fitnessheadquarters. com. (See story on page 13)

2. VALENTINO’S, 14357 Blanco Road, is a new Italian restaurant that opened in October. The fare includes homemade pizza, as well as specialties of the house including Chicken Aristocrat (a chicken breast topped with eggplant and mozzarella served with spaghettini in a white wine cream sauce) or the Shrimp Romano, a dish that includes a brandy cream sauce with roasted peppers and spinach. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. For more, call 492-1415. (See story on page 14)

Address of local business Name of local business

3. BAYSEAS SEAFOOD RESTAURANT,

13954 Nacogdoches Road, recently debuted at the corner of O’Connor Road in the Valencia Shopping Center. Entrees include catfish, shrimp and oysters, along with a variety of side items such as hush puppies, fried okra, coleslaw, french fries, macaroni and cheese and more. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday. For more, call 314-5219.

4. LIQUOR 1 WINE SPIRITS AND BEER,

2235 Thousand Oaks Drive, No. 105, recently opened (it is the second store).

The company, which has been serving San Antonio for several years, offers extras and service that employees say will keep customers coming back. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more, call 758-5825.

LOWDOWN continues on pg. 09

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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM LOWDOWN continues from pg. 08 5. POLLO TROPICAL, 838 E. Bitters Road, held a grand opening in November to bring its popular and fast but casual Caribbean fare to San Antonio. The restaurants are found at more than 100 locations across Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas. There are also five licensed restaurants located on college campuses, and over 30 franchised locations in the Caribbean, Central America and South America. Both Pollo Tropical and Taco Cabana brands are owed by Fiesta Restaurant Group, based in Addison. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to midnight daily. For more, call 4032026 or visit http://pollotropical.com/.

6. TRANS4MATIONS GYM, 15909 U.S. 281 North, Suite 116, offers fitness training that focuses on strength, conditioning, flexibility and other factors. The regimen can be modified to accommodate a variety of fitness levels. Group or personal training sessions are available. Hours are 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday and closed Sunday. For more, call 490-4447 or visit www.t4mgym.com.

7. PINNACLE KIDS’ ACADEMY, 15706 Classen Road, is an early learning center that provides child care and learning services for children from infancy to 12

years old. The academy’s philosophy is “making learning fun in a safe environment.”

Hours are 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more, call 248-9725 or visit www.pinnaclekidsacademy. com or the Facebook page.

IN OTHER NEWS

CITY COUNCIL HAS APPROVED A TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE that will help spur development in District’ 10’s Northeast Corridor revitalization project, according to Councilman Mike Gallagher.

“This TIRZ will allow the city to invest in necessary infrastructure to help spur private investment along Perrin Beitel and Nacogdoches (roads),” Gallagher said. “When a developer makes improvements, property values increase. With the TIRZ, the taxes on the increase in property values will be set aside to pay for public improvements in the Northeast Corridor. This also means that the area will essentially invest in itself and help determine its future prosperity.”

A RECENT GRAND OPENING AT THE ANIMAL DEFENSE LEAGUE celebrated the construction of two adult dog buildings and a new puppy room in a partnership with the city’s Animal Control Services. Officials said the construction at the league, 11300 Nacogdoches Road, will help San Antonio

become the largest no-kill city in the country.

In May 2012, San Antonio voters approved the 2012–2017 bond program, which included five propositions totaling $596 million. Of that amount, $2.2 million was approved for the construction of the kennels to increase the city’s capacity to house stray pets. The City Council approved an ordinance on May 20, 2013, to allow the facility to be constructed at the nonprofit Animal Defense League on the Northeast Side.

“Meet the Mayor: From Potholes to Policy” community gatherings held in each City Council district during her visit Dec. 9 to the Semmes Branch Library, 15060 Judson Road. The library is in District 10. During the 90-minute session, Taylor invited residents to share their comments, questions and concerns, and a representative of the 311 Call Center was on hand to offer additional information about city services.

KAREN FUNK HAS BEEN NAMED THE FIRST FEMALE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR for the North East Independent School District, succeeding Jerry Comalander after he announced his retirement in September. The board of trustees approved her appointment Dec. 8. Funk, 56, was the volleyball coach for 14 years at Madison High School. She joined Comalander’s staff in 2000 as an assistant athletic director, then was named girls’ athletic director in 2011. Comalander, who was named NEISD athletic director in 1989, will stay on through Jan. 31, and Funk moves into her new job in February, officials said.

CPS ENERGY ANNOUNCED PLANS TO RELOCATE four North Side transmission towers in December. The work required the closure of West Avenue from Nakoma to north of East North Loop Road, officials said.

THE WINNERS OF THE DISTRICT 10 NATIONAL NIGHT OUT PARTICIPATION EVENT have been named, said Councilman Mike Gallagher. They include: for neighborhoods — Valencia, first place; Feather Ridge, second; and Hills of Park North, third. For apartments — Eagle Ridge.

And for community centers, Lou Hamilton.

National Night Out, which was held Oct. 7, is designed to bring neighbors and police together in a partnership to fight crime.

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10 AIRPORT continues from pg. 01

Congressman: Up to 1,500 homes could be affected

by ERIC MORENO

T

wo councilmen and a congressman are urging federal officials not to cut hundreds of homes from a map that determines eligibility for subsidized soundproofing against aircraft noise at the San Antonio International Airport.

Concerns about airport noise are not new, and for decades residents in North Side neighborhoods have sought government funding assistance to lower the decibel level as planes zoom in and out.

“Airport noise continues to be an issue for some District 9 residents,” said District 9 Councilman Joe Krier. “I have asked our federal lobbying team to consider encouraging the (Federal Aviation Administration) to keep the current noise contour boundaries instead of adopting smaller boundaries.”

In November, U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, sent a letter urging the FAA “not to render ineligible homes currently deemed … eligible (for the assistance).”

Smith said up to 1,500 homes could be left out.

The entreaties center on the Residential Acoustical Treatment Program, or RATP, a noise-mitigation project managed by the airport’s Engineering and Planning Division. The RATP is used by the city to address the noise concerns of residents living near the airport.

The FAA — which funds 80 percent or $2 million of the program — proposed adopting a smaller boundary based on the data from a recently completed Noise Exposure Maps study. The NEM determines a home’s potential eligibility for the RATP. Updating the NEM every five years is required for federal funding eligibility. No San Antonio tax dollars are used to fund the program.

“I bought my home in 2008 and we moved here with the knowledge that we were part of the coverage area,” said Joe Donahue, president of the Vista Del Norte Neighborhood Association. “We have 432 homes in this neighborhood and close to 80 have received upgrades. There are over 100 homes in the neighborhood that were part of the coverage area and eligible for the renovations. Now, with the new map with the new boundaries, they aren’t eligible.”

Councilman Mike Gallagher, whose District 10 also includes homes in the airport’s flight path, said he has heard

DEC. 24, 2014 - JAN 26, 2015 complaints from residents. He also is urging federal authorities to maintain the same noise boundaries as before.

“The new noise maps designate fewer streets within several of our neighborhoods, leaving fewer residents the ability to obtain sound-barring windows, doors and insulation,” Gallagher said in a newsletter.

According to the city’s Aviation Department, the RATP boundaries have fluctuated over the years for many reasons.

Computer simulations take into account hours when residents are most likely to be asleep and thus more likely to be affected by the noise.

In 1991, the FAA issued its Noise Compatibility Program, or NCP, recommendations for the North Side in which 10 schools, 19 religious facilities, two nursing homes and one library were acoustically treated.

Since 2012, 988 single-family residences and 216 apartment units have been revamped.

“Some of the improvements that homes are eligible for include replacing the windows and exterior doors,” said Frank Miller, who is director of the Aviation Department. “We also look at the ventilation systems and air conditioning systems.”

The goals of the RATP improvements include dropping the noise level in a residence by at least 5 decibels, which is comparable to doubling the distance of the aircraft flying overhead.

The FAA contributes the lion’s share to the program, with a smaller amount from the airport, Miller said.

“The airport matches the remaining funds, about 20 percent of the budget, through airport-user fees from a built-in passenger facilities charge. No funding comes from city taxes,” the aviation director said.

There are an estimated 2,200 singlefamily and duplex-type residences eligible for treatment. Based on the current levels of federal funds received, the RATP will cover 100 to 120 homes each year of the program. If the 2012 funding level remains constant, it will take 15 to 18 years to acoustically treat all current eligible residences approved by the FAA in 2009.

“Since we are one of the mature facilities that are part of the program in that we have been involved in it for 20 years, we are asking the FAA to allow us to continue the residential improvements to homes that are part of the NEM,” Miller said. “Some of the homes do not qualify as part of the new boundaries, but they are still impacted by airport noise.”

The revised boundaries were sent to the FAA. If approved, the new RATP goes into effect in October 2015.

Krier recently announced that the City Council approved contributing $500,000 to hire Foster CM Group Inc., which in January will inspect the RATP and provide its results to the council.

11

SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM

An artist's rendering of a proposed land bridge (left) crossing Wurzbach Parkway to link two portions of Hardberger Park show it will be covered in grass and trees. Another illustration (above) indicates how a pedestrian walkway might look. Courtesy illustrations

LAND BRIDGE continues from pg. 01

Project supported by councilmen Nirenberg, Krier

by RON AARON EISENBERG

I

f you have $20 million to $25 million just sitting around, former Mayor Phil Hardberger would love to hear from you.

The funds would be used to construct a “unique land bridge” linking the north and south portions of Hardberger Park, which is bisected by Wurzbach Parkway. And if you donate the money, you might even earn naming rights for your contribution.

“We knew we would have to raise the money for the bridge,” Hardberger said, adding he is confident the community will rise to the challenge.

“I am convinced we can raise the money from a combination of sources, including private individual, corporate, city of San

8 Offices

Antonio, state and federal funds,” he said.

The bridge will reflect the park’s natural environs, he added.

“We’re thinking the bridge will be 100 to 200 feet wide and planted with trees and grass to make it look like an extension of the park itself. It will be a one-of-akind structure,” Hardberger said.

For now, only traditional ground-level crosswalks link the two portions of the park.

The 311-acre park was carved out of the old Max and Minnie Voelcker property – a working dairy farm that sat between Northwest Military Highway on the west, Blanco Road on the east, Braesview Road on the south, and George Road on the north for much of the 20th century.

Max Voelcker died in 1980, followed by his wife in 2000, and The Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund was established in their memory.

In 2007, voters authorized the city to purchase acreage from the Voelcker Fund and to dedicate it for parkland. The effort was spearheaded by Hardberger, who was still in office. To honor his

LAND BRIDGE continues on pg. 12

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Residents pitch in to help Preserve

by BAIN SERNA

A

series of Eagle Scout projects has continued to enhance the Lorence Creek Preserve, a harbinger of more beautification efforts in the new year for the North Side nature area, residents said.

“Without the work of the Eagle Scouts and all the volunteers, this area would have remained an overgrown trash heap,” said Bill McCalister, a resident and leader of Boy Scout Troop 285. “It now is a showcase of what citizens can do to improve the quality of their neighborhood with their own volition and commitment.”

The Preserve is a 3-acre tract owned by the Lorence Creek Homeowners Association that has been transformed from an unsightly area littered with debris to a walking and resting area with native plants for the neighborhood’s use, said Jeffrey B. Schulz, president of the association.

LAND BRIDGE continues from pg. 11 work, the park was named for him.

Hardberger and the Hardberger Park Conservancy planned from the outset to build a land bridge to benefit wildlife and humans and to link the two sides of the park.

But the funds for the structure were not included in the original allocation for the park.

Hardberger believes $10 million or more will come from private donations and perhaps $6 million or so from a planned 2017 bond issue, which is on the drawing board. The remainder could come from state and federal dollars, he said.

District 8 and 9 council members Ron Nirenberg and Joe Krier, respectively, are both outspoken supporters of the bridge.

Their districts share Hardberger Park.

“I was in attendance when Mayor Hardberger participated in the opening of the Tobin Center (for the Performing Arts),” Nirenberg said. “I remember him saying, ‘When this first began, the campaign to raise money for the Tobin Center, people said it couldn’t be done.’ Phil’s response was, ‘We can do it, we should do it and we did do it!’”

“It’s that same sense of vision now with the land bridge,” the District 8 councilman added.

Nirenberg also uses the park himself.

“I frequent Hardberger Park with my family all the time,” he said. “It’s one of the reasons we bought a home near there.”

He noted Hardberger never tires

DEC. 24, 2014 - JAN 26, 2015 The Preserve, which was deeded to the association as part of a past settlement agreement with a land developer, was used by builders as a dumping ground in the 1970s and ’80s, according to officials.

“There were piles of large rocks and undesirable vegetation growing,” Schulz said. “The HOA hired a D8 bulldozer and cleared much of the debris. It was actually the vision of Bill McCalister, who first saw it as a place of wildlife refuge, propagation of native Texas plants, and a quiet, restful place for the neighborhood to enjoy.”

In the lastest developments, two Eagle Scout projects by Troop 285 were finished and turned over to the HOA during a ceremony Oct. 11. They included a reworking of the walking path and building a children’s play area, Schulz said.

McCalister, who is the vice president and treasurer of the HOA, has been a Scout leader for years with Troop 285.

In 2002, he came up with the idea to use the projects required by Scouts to earn an Eagle rank, along with help from community members, to turn the Preserve into something special.

“I envisioned it could be transformed into a natural area to promote the beauty of native plants, provide a better environment for our deer population, and to provide a

place for our families to rest, enjoy the natural beauty, and enjoy walking without the hustle and danger of exercising on our streets,” McCalister said. Since 2008, the Scouts and neighbors have completed a triangularshaped walking trail one-fifth of a mile long.

Landscaping projects have also added plants and trees including Texas sage, Texas fire bush, lantana, crape myrtle, sago palm, mountain laurel, turk’s cap, rosemary, chinquapin oak, cenizo, agarita and bigtooth maple.

The playground includes swings, slides and climbing areas, along with a table and an exercise station.

According to McCalister, when a Scout wants to do a project for the Preserve, he has to complete a design, get it approved and then raise the money to pay for the equipment and supplies. Over time, many businesses have helped with donations of equipment and other necessities.

Planned Eagle Scout projects for 2015 include refurbishing the back area of the path and constructing a community garden plot for families. There are also plans to keep adding various plants.

The Preserve’s entrance is located at the cul-de-sac of Redwoods Crest and Eagle Grove, just past the Shadow Cliff Swim & Tennis Club.

of seeking support for the bridge.

“During Mayor Hardberger’s 80th birthday celebration in the park, he gave a briefing on his vision for the land bridge,” Nirenberg said. “It was very compelling.”

Krier said he’d love to help Hardberger raise the money for the bridge.

“If we can get the land bridge built, it will be a magnet for visitors and international recognition for decades to come,” the District 9 councilman said. “I have volunteered to work with Mayor Hardberger to make calls and visits to corporations and foundations to help raise the money we need.”

Krier believes naming rights could be part of the deal for a significant corporate donation, which is a suggestion Hardberger and Nirenberg support.

As for the hefty amount needed to build the bridge, Krier said, “Twenty years from now no one will ask the cost. They will only comment on what a treasure the land bridge is for the city.”

To underscore that point, Krier noted, “No one asks how much Brackenridge Park cost the city to build. They just marvel at what a magnificent treasure it is. The same would be true about the land bridge.”

“The land bridge is a great concept,” said Marco Barros, who has lived near Hardberger Park for years. “It is a great location for a park in the city. The bridge would unite the park completely and it would call attention to the public land there as people drive along the Wurzbach Parkway. It would attract

visitors from around the world.”

Animal activist Lynn Cuny, founder and the driving force behind Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation in Kendalia, believes an eco-friendly land bridge is “essential and good for wildlife as long as it does not create any restrictions on animals.”

“There’s a difference between humanuser friendly and wildlife friendly,” Cuny said. “For example, lights would be a deterrent to animals. And, keep in mind the animals were there first.”

The bridge could help expand the public’s knowledge of wildlife in the area.

“I’d like to see an educational outreach effort coupled with the bridge to let folks know fox and coyotes and other animals have lived there long before people and that’s why we need to take into account the highly specialized needs of wildlife in designing and building the land bridge,” she said.

Hardberger said Cuny has some good ideas.

“We are committed to make the park as animal-friendly as we can,” he said, adding there will be no lights on the bridge.

Building community support for the bridge is crucial, other supporters said.

“We need a city leader to step forward to say this bridge is good for the community… the entire community,” said San Antonio ad agency executive Skip Wood. “It’s a great park, open to the entire population and the bridge will make it even better.”

Hardberger said he is ready to lead that effort. And he leaves no doubt the bridge will be built.

13

SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM

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n September, Fitness HQ strengthened its local presence by opening a facility at 139 N. Loop 1604 East, Suite 100.

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DEC. 24, 2014 - JAN 26, 2015 Valentino's, a new restaurant at 14357 Blanco Road, offers a variety of Italian dishes including homemade pizza, house specialities such as Chicken Aristocrat and Shrimp Romano.

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

Aiding family during war leads to restaurant dream

by OLIVIER J. BOURGOIN

I

t’s been a long journey for Valon “Valentino” Berisha from war-torn Kosovo to opening Valentino’s, a fledgling Italian restaurant on the North Side.

Debuting the last week in October at 14357 Blanco Road and Cadillac Drive, the eatery offers homemade pizza, specialties of the house such as Chicken Aristocrat (a chicken breast topped with eggplant and mozzarella and served with spaghettini in a white wine cream sauce) and the Shrimp Romano, which is presented in a brandy cream sauce with roasted peppers and spinach.

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