LOCAL: Castle Hills, Shavano Park, North Central, 78213, 78230, 78248, 78249 November 2013

Castle Hills voters give bond issue cold shoulder

pg.12 $13 million proposal would have paid to fix street and drainage problems Vol. 2, Issue 05

castle hills

shavano park

What's

INSIDE

78213 78230 78231 78248 78249

11/2013

INSIDE LOCAL COMMENTARY

your community

SUSAN YERKES

pg.03

pg.14 Thousands of global refugees calling District 8 home

Fleeing strife, war, famine, they come to North Side looking for a new start

north central

Illustration

by Jeremiah Teutsch

pg.14 North Side garden a place with no boundaries for refugees House of Prayer Lutheran Church hosts garden for all

pg.20 Jewish Community Center programs open to community, director says From tennis to soccer, theater, senior services, education and more, the facility reaches across all of San Antonio

pg.22 North Side Scout earns wings by helping Hindu temple Eagle Scout project involves beautification effort

pg.22 Raindrop Turkish House — A place to build bridges North Side cultural center offers cooking classes, Turkish language lessons and more

pg.25 Holiday ad Section

Former councilwoman looks back while moving ahead Elisa Chan

Chan hopes conservative values will propel her to Texas Senate Political expert says anti-gay remarks could hurt her in race; Joe Krier takes District 9 seat

2

NOVEMBER 2013

From the editor

4

Dece

tedwards@salocallowdown.com

Stubborn fat has met its match.

LocaL is where you are.

President Harold J. Lees Publisher Gregg Rosenfield

From THe eDITor Can’t miss Assoc. Publisher Rick Upton

with columnist Yerkes

tedwards@saloc

DW

uring the lastTo Your FIrs elcome few locAl commuNITY Ne LocaL is what months,philosophy readers here at the n we do. keeping our readers in touch, in mayis have noticed and addition aware of what's happening in a new neighborhoods street by street, bu to our team of business, venue by venue and eve excellent writers. circles of government and educat Veteran journalist in addition, we want to help ou Susan and Yerkes sponsorshas get the best results p brought her incredible talents to the by making LocAL the go-to cho consumers pages of LOCAL Community Newswho want to know wh managing editor GETTINGisTOwriting a monthly greatest products and deals can be found. and column.

ART Travis E. Poling KNOW We know readers have a wide variety of s Not only am I personally delighted Creative Director NOW editorial Assistant get information about the world around th Susan has joined our ranks, but I Richard Collette Fisher Orquiz Jr. lOOkiNg fOr here at LocAL we're taking a new approac THomAs feel thrilled for our readers, who Production idea: covering our local communities as tho contributing Designer Writers eDWArDs get to enjoy an honest and unique SeanMorales Bowlin, Joyce Hotchkiss possible by featuring stories on the events a Pete ExECuTivE EdiTor voice that always informs, and Kate Hunger that have a entertains, direct impact on your life, your Contributing Photographers amazes and neverneighbors fails to deliver. and your friends.

• Army brat, grew up in proofreader • Editorial Steven Gilmore, Josh Huskin, Joshua I have known Susan for many years, We want to focus on the everyday folks i Joyce Hotchkiss San Antonio • ad dEsign/Editorial Michaels, Mark Sobhani and Sarah Sudhoff• community as well as theanews-makers; we having first met her when she hosted Has cats, dogs and ArT celebrate KLRNwhat andisIunique was aand what brings u Contributing Illustrator horses news-talk show on creative Director but she to dowas this,awe also need to hear from yo panelist.

At the time competitor Jeremiah Teutsch R. Fisher Favorite movies: you are at the center of what we cover.

—the a top "Planet of Apes"columnist at the now-defunct contributing photographers Advertising And while it's true we are supported by a (original), "Star Wars San Antonio Light — and I was a San Collette Orquiz, Leland A. Outz emaiL and value the relationships we have with ou Advertising Director EpisodeAntonio IV: A New Express-News thomas edwards police reporter. the news and editorial content are indepen Hope" ADVerTIsING Jaselle Luna In later years, she movedbyover toofthe produced a team top-flight journalist Advertising Directors old newspaper Account Manager Express-News, where she continued and photographers. or email Jaselle Luna nickname: "Kid Death" to share her wit andLocAL wisdom with directly each month to tedwards@salocallowdown.com Kelly Jean Garza and Marc Olson is mailed Account manager motto: readers.

Saving the You world may living in hill country Village, hollywood P not have always Controller Dawn Radick one sentence at a time.

As the San Antonio area codes 78232 andbut 78216. agreed with what Susan wrote, you Gerard "Jerry" Sulaica continues to® grow, knowing reADer serVIce This is not the only could never forget it.

Her prose left edition of LocAL we Send stubborn fat packing with CoolSculpting. mailing Address what’s happening just down the READER SERVICE it is the only edition tailored to your life, your interests, your community an indelible image in your mind.

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Mailing Address In addition, she is a sensitive Community News monthly phone even if you didn't have this newspaper delivered to your home or busi contouring treatment. Now you can target and sculpt away Local those exercise4204 GardendaleFax Ste. 201 SA, TX 78229 writer knows tug onSALocalLowdown.com the (210) 338.8842 (210) 957.2799 editions have got San Antonio keep up with allwho the stories we how cover to by visiting and diet-resistant love handles and belly fat without surgery or downtime.

Phone heartstrings. journalism awards covered exploring neighborhood Advertising Inquiries LocAL wants to hearThe feedback on how we're doing, but also keep us i CoolSculpting is FDA-cleared, safe and effective. See a positive difference in the rupton@salocallowdown.com (210) 338.8842 won, toointeresting numerous to mention, issues and trends and letting anytimeshe youhas see something or hear of something going on in way your clothes fit in as little as one treatment*. readers know everything from what story Ideas attest to her professionalism. community you think is newsworthy.

Fax tips@salocallowdown.com business is coming in the next For instance, in thisnot inaugural She does scareedition easily.you Shewill is find a stories about how t (210) 616.9677 Contact us today to schedule your consultation. block over to how local government Website is helping emergency Medical Services tackle response times, efforts by journalist sure of her convictions and Or to learn more, visit www.dermsa.com www.salocallowdown.com decisions will effect their lives.

Advertising Inquiries living near the San Antonio international Airport to soundproof their ho a true believer in the power of the comprehensive listing of news briefs in LocAL Lowdown. rupton@salocallowdown.com press to right wrongs and comfort the For advertising, customer service or editorial, please We have an independent editorial So think about us and let LocAL know what's important to you. i am call us at 210-338-8842 or write to us at: afflicted. Already in these pages she staff to report without fear or favor to San Antonio, having grown up here and having worked as a crime rep local community News LOCAL Community News publicationsand opinion has tackled including 4204 Gardendale Ste. 201 to be a trustworthy source of news. writer offweighty and on forsubjects nearly three decades.

San Antonio, TX 78229 Zone 1: 78204, 78205, 78209, 78210, 78212, 78215 sexual predators and the debate over or at tips@salocallo Editors and reporters want to i can be reached at tedwards@salocallowdown.com Zone 3: 78216, 78232, 78247 the controversial streetcar proposal. hear from the readers, community Reproduction in whole or in part without our permission prohibited, leaders and businesses about what Zone 4: 78109,is78148, 78233, 78239 faCEBook.CoM/sAlocAlcommuNITYNeWs I can’t wait to see what she writes about 2012 Helen Publishing, LLC and is important to them.

New TwiTTEr.CoM/sAlocAlloWDoWN next, and I hope LOCAL’s readers feel the Local5:Community News, LLC, all rights reserved.

Zone 78108, 78132, 78154, 78266 NORTH CENTRAL NORTHEAST NORTHwEST same way. In the meantime, Susan also 18540 Sigma Rd. 7832 Pat Booker Rd. The Shops at La Cantera San Antonio, TX 78258 San Antonio, TX 78233 15900 La Cantera Pkwy. wants to know what you think. Just email For advertising, customer service or editorial, please Ste. 20270 210 | 490.4661 210 | 657.9338 her at syerkes@salocallowdown.com. call us at 210-338-8842 or write to us at:

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Editorial president Executive Editor Harold Thomas Edwards J. Lees News Staff publisher Gregg Rosenfield Collette Orquiz and Will Wright Assoc. publisher Contributing Writers Rick Upton Rudy Arispe, Olivier J. Bourgoin, Joyce Hotchkiss, eDITorIAlMiranda Koerner, Eileen Pace, executuve editorGianna Rendon, Arthur Travis E. Poling, Thomas Edwards Schechter and Susan Yerkes

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4

local our turn

Views and opinions about your community.

Politics needs dose of civility

T

hey say the art of politics is compromise, but leaders both locally and on the national level don’t seem to be getting the message.

The same goes for many of their supporters.

Here in the greater San Antonio area, angry residents launched recall initiatives to oust San Antonio City Council members who voted in favor of a nondiscrimination ordinance offering additional protections to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons.

In Cibolo, voters upset over the debut of a Walmart in their city wanted to unseat four council members.

In Washington, D.C., we just saw the debilitating effects of a government shutdown and furloughs that left 23,000 San Antonians out of work for about two weeks. Right or wrong, the effort arose out of an attempt to derail a national health care plan that was already law and had been upheld as

NOVEMBER 2013

constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The question now is: When is everybody going to calm down? When will civility reign again? When can we see a return to decorum and the art of debate, which can help decide a political course for the betterment of our cities and our country?

These days, the message in politics seems to be, “My way or the highway.” But there rarely are any true winners in such political standoffs.

This is not an endorsement nor is it a denial of the decisions made by Congress and these councils. Rather, it is a reminder to political leaders and their factions that decisions can be rendered without brinkmanship and actions that threaten local economies.

What happened to good manners in the political arena? Certainly one can get his or her point across without trying to put hardworking Americans out of a job … or one can agree to concessions and

compromises to preserve those jobs.

It’s easy to point fingers and assess blame, whether it’s local politics or the battles at the national level between Democrats and Republicans.

The real losers are local residents and the American people.

Temperatures need to come down, the rhetoric needs to give way to real conversations and discussion has to replace shouting matches.

America is prized for its system of representative government, from local councils to bicameral legislatures. But in these forums, not everyone is going to agree.

We used to be represented by statesman and citizen-volunteers. Today it’s ideologues and showboaters.

The common people — all of us — need to send a message to our leaders and fellow voters that enough is enough. It is time

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

Send letters to the editor to tedwards@salocallowdown.com or snail mail them to Local Community News, 4204 Gardendale, Suite 201, San Antonio, TX 78229.

We reserve the right to edit for taste, grammar and length.

local commentary

A shot in the wallet: The tangled web of U.S. drug prices by susan yerkes

A

few months ago I took a big shot in the wallet when the price of the only prescription drug I take – a generic – soared from $17 to $165 for a month’s supply. I thought it was a mistake. But it was not. Pharmacists at two different chains couldn’t explain the change.

I set out to get an answer.

Americans take a lot of prescription drugs — an estimated $326 billion in 2012. But even experts can’t fully explain the pricing.

“One of the most confusing markets for consumers is located at the pharmacy counter,” wrote Joey Mattingly in U.S Pharmacist last year. “Numerous policies at different levels of government and the private sector have further complicated this market, creating a system nearly impossible for the average person to navigate… the complexity can be overwhelming for health care professionals, as well as the public.”

When a new patented drug hits the market, the price is usually pretty high.

But the reasons are understandable.

“There’s a rigorous process for approval that can take 10 to 15 years, and a company can incur tens, even hundreds of millions of

dollars,” says Lee Cusenbary, general counsel for San Antonio’s Mission Pharmacal. “To create a profit, new patented drugs may seem very expensive – for instance, when cholesterol-lowering drugs first came on the market. But when the patent runs out, other manufacturers can apply for FDA approval and sell for a lot less, since they don’t have the investment up front. And if one maker’s generic gets too expensive, in a free market somebody else will usually undercut them.”

Sounds good — but with no regulation of generic prices, their costs can vary wildly, too, depending on factors even pharmacists have difficulty pinning down.

“It’s really complicated,” said Mark Richerson, pharmacy director at University Hospital. “The insurers’ prescription benefit, individual companies’ pricing schedules, wholesalers’ prices, dispensing

fees at pharmacies…all are different.”

The price of any generic drug at most big chains depends largely on the company’s formulary – a list of drugs the company may buy in bulk. Big price swings, Richerson says, “could be driven by any number of reasons.

By the time you as a consumer get your prescription, it’s not only the manufacturer that’s part of the cycle; it’s also the supplier, insurer, the pharmacy… it gets very complex.”

While the system is baffling, there’s something you can do: Start asking questions.

Don’t expect doctors to be able to keep up with drug costs, especially

to return civility, debate and reasoned discourse to the halls of power, whether it’s downtown, Austin or the nation’s capital.

We can all learn once again to talk, to negotiate, to come together.

Take a balanced approach.

Ultimately, if you don’t like how an elected leader is getting the job done, then have your say at the ballot box and vote them out of office.

Reader Comments Texas is a right-towork state Editor: This is in response to the letter last month about Texas being one of 20 odd states that allow people to be fired for being gay.

These states are called right-to-work states and a person can be fired for breathing too hard, looking weird or no reason at all.

I grant you this may seem unfair, but it is one of the prices you pay for not being a union state. I do not approve of discrimination, but I also do not approve of misrepresenting Texas.

Penelope Talley

given different pharmacy prices and individual insurance coverage. If you can’t afford a drug, ask about alternatives.

Many doctors can also give you free samples of some expensive drugs.

If your prescription is still under patent, the manufacturer may have a rebate program with the pharmacy that will decrease or cover your insurance co-pay.

And prices for some generics are so low at some chains or mail-order companies that you may actually save by not using your insurance co-pay. Again, you have to ask.

Dr. Jeremy Bass, who often works with low-income patients in the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio’s resident psychotherapy program, gave me the best tip of all – GoodRx.com, a new, independent website that compares prices for thousands of drugs at most pharmacy chains. It also points you to free, no-strings coupons for most drugs (even pet meds) and offers useful info in understandable terms.

I still believe something needs to be done to standardize prescription prices, or at least make them more transparent.

Entrepreneurs such as GoodRx.com may help create that change. In the meantime, if drug prices make you sick, don’t have a heart attack. Instead, here’s my prescription: Become a savvier shopper.

Email comments to syerkes@ salocallowdown.com.

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NOVEMBER 2013 OUR GUIDE TO YOUR MONTH

Happening LOCAL

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

in the Lone Star State. The kid-friendly presentation will run from 10 a.m. to noon in the Salado Classroom at Phil Hardberger Park East, 13203 Blanco Road. There’s no admission cost but donations of $3 a person or $5 a family are encouraged.

18

THE SHAVANO PARK CITY COUNCIL meets at 6:30 p.m. at

NOV.

TWO TOWN HALL MEETINGS

NOV.

THANKSGIVING CLOSURES

NOV.

City Hall, 900 Saddletree Court.

The meeting is rescheduled from Nov. 25. are set for Shavano Park — 6:30 p.m. Nov. 19 and 10:30 a.m.

Nov. 23, both at 900 Saddletree Court.

19, 23

The Northside and North East independent school districts are closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. City holidays for Castle Hills and Shavano Park are Nov. 28-29.

25-29

The city of San Antonio and the Mayor's Fitness Council are challenging residents to continue shedding the pounds through exercise and activities at North Side parks. Photos by Sarah Sudhoff

FITCITY SA FITNESS CHALLENGE The Mayor’s

ongoing

Fitness Council has started another initiative to get residents to move more, exercise more and eat more healthful foods. Logging in to www.fitcitysa.com will let you set up a profile to keep track of your efforts; the site also points out healthy eating options in your neighborhood. One resource for Challenge-related fitness activities is the San Antonio park system’s playgrounds, walking paths and bike trails. The parks also offer free Fitness in the Park programs at sites including Phil Hardberger Park East, 13203 Blanco Road, and West, 8400 N.W. Military Highway; Eisenhower Park, 19399 N.W. Military; and Friedrich Wilderness Park, 21395 Milsa Drive. To find the latest schedule of activities, go to http://www.sanantonio. gov/parksandrec/fitness_in_the_parks.aspx.

saturdays

RAINDROP TURKISH HOUSE COOKING CLASSES These

NOV.

classes, for women only, demonstrate how to prepare Turkish dishes, and the menu changes every week. They take place from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Raindrop Turkish House, 4337 Vance Jackson Road; cost is $10 per session. The Nov. 16 menu is squash boats, Turkish noodles with cheese and rose dessert. On Nov. 23, it’s stuffed mince balls, green salad, yogurt soup and toasted bread dessert. Reservations are required; email rwasanantonio@ turkishhouse.org or call 979-422-9260.

NOV.

28

Antonio at the Colonnade is inviting the community to sponsor soldiers and their families at the hotel’s Thanksgiving Day Brunch. The hotel will sponsor a second soldier for every one whose meal is covered by the community. The buffet, which will run from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., costs $45 for adults, $41 for active-duty military personnel and $18 for children age 5 to 11, plus tax and a service charge; there’s no charge for children under 5. Call the hotel’s specialevents line, 699-5803, to become a sponsor.

WILD TURKEYS IN TEXAS

DEC.

Mario Quesada, who is with 16 the National Wild Turkey Federation, will talk about wild turkeys

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HOLIDAY 5K RUN/WALK FIESTA Castle Hills offers

this event as a way for residents to meet their neighbors and

TALK

fitness outdoor Music

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Dec.

7-8

ALAMO CITY DECEMBER CLASSIC TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT The annual

USATT-sanctioned tournament, sponsored by the San Antonio Table Tennis Club, will take place at Alamo Family Fitness Center, 16675 Huebner Road. It’s open to members of USA Table Tennis at all age and skill levels, and the registration deadline is Dec. 4. For information on the club or the tournament, and to find an online registration form, go to http://www.satabletennis.org/.

Elsewhere in San Antonio RIPE: A SPIRITED MARKET AT EILAN Sundays from 10 WEEKLY

a.m. to 2 p.m., this market/ craft show/deli/food-truck event unfolds on or near the Promenade at Eilan Hotel, Resort & Spa, 17103 La Cantera Parkway. Cooking demonstrations and other culinary events are scheduled, too. Ongoing information is available through a link at www.eilanhotel.com.

through NOV.24

THE WINDS AND WORDS OF WAR An exhibit in the

Gallery of the Central Library, 600 Soledad St., displays 40 vintage patriotic posters from World War I. The posters were commissioned from the era’s top artists, illustrators, cartoonists and designers. The library is open daily and parking is available in the adjacent garage.

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NOV.

15

SINGLE PROFESSIONAL NETWORK The singles/

friendship group will host a happy hour at 5 p.m. at Kirby’s Steakhouse, just east of Stone Oak Parkway along Loop 1604. For more on the group, go to www.spn-sa.org.

NOV.

HISTORIC HOMEOWNER FAIR

This annual event, rescheduled from late September, features representatives from historic-neighborhood associations, purveyors of renovation/ restoration supplies and services, and people with information about improving older homes and “preserving the unique character of San Antonio’s urban neighborhoods.” This year it’s in a classic renovation/restoration site – the Pearl Brewery’s Full Goods Building, 200 E. Grayson St. It runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free and open to all comers.

16

NOV.

20

NORTH SAN ANTONIO RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION In observance

of November's activities honoring military veterans, the group welcomes Devin Schei from the Wounded Warrior Project of San Antonio as guest speaker during their meeting at 9:45 a.m. at the San Pedro Presbyterian Church, 14900 U.S. 281 North.

For more, call Michele Bibb at 494-8197.

NOV.

20

SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION The San

Antonio Chapter of the national organization will hold its monthly luncheon meeting at the Petroleum Club, 8620 N. New Braunfels Ave., at 11:30 a.m. Lunch costs $25. Reservations are required and should be made with Bob Clark, 402-0871, or reservations@sarsat. org, by the Monday prior to the meeting.

The chapter meets on the third Wednesday of the month (except for July and August).

NOV.

20

CHILDREN'S FINE ART SERIES Two special-event

shows featuring the Salzburg Marionette Theatre will be held at Laurie Auditorium at 1 Trinity Place, Trinity University. At 10 a.m., it’s “Hansel and Gretel”; at 7 p.m., “The Sound of Music.” Both are recommended for children 5 and older. Tickets – $7 for the early show, $12 for the evening show – are available through a link at http:// childrensfineartseries.org/sched.htm.

NOV.

PEARL POP-UPS The

now simply 22-24 development known as The Pearl will host a series of pop-up shops at 306 Pearl Parkway, Suite 110. This one, “Living

Well – A Celebration of Daily Life,” will feature ceramics by Linda Perez and photographs by Johnny Walker. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.

ALAMO HEIGHTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 23 HOLIDAY PARADE ON BROADWAY It will be the 36th

NOV.

installment of the popular procession.

Floats and bands will celebrate the holidays, and all along the route, items will be collected for Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children. The parade starts at 5:30 p.m. at Alamo Heights High School and will run down Broadway to Barilla Place/Cleveland Court. To find the Sunshine Cottage Wish List, go to http://alamoheightschamber. org/holiday-parade.

NOV.

29-30

INTERNATIONAL PEACE MARKET/MERCADO DE PAZ Handmade items for

home and personal use, as well as a variety of artwork, will be offered for sale by 100 local and international artists and craftspeople. The market, marking its 24th year, takes place at Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, 922 San Pedro Ave., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

For more on the market or Esperanza, go to www.esperanzacenter.org.

DEC.

3

THE FUTURE OF BEING HUMAN This lecture

presented by the Mind Science Foundation offers a vision of what it will mean to be human as brain science and technology keep moving forward and interacting. The speaker is Dr. David Eagleman, director of the Laboratory for Perception and Action and the Initiative on Neuroscience and Law at Baylor College of Medicine.

The event, at the Pearl Stable, 307 Pearl Parkway, begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m. Admission cost ranges from $5 to $20; Foundation members are free. To buy tickets, go to www. mindscience.org/current-events.

DEC.

7

TAMALES! HOLIDAY FESTIVAL From noon to

5 p.m. at the Pearl, Pearl Parkway and East Grayson Street, three dozen vendors will offer holiday tamales in a range of styles – San Antonio traditional, vegetarian, South American, even sweet ones.

The festival is sponsored by Silver Eagle Distributors, H-E-B and Shiner.

Happening continues on pg. 10

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NOVEMBER 2013

Address of local business

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Name of local business

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

Open and Opening Soon 1. ALAMO OLIVE OIL CO., 7400 San Pedro Ave., Suite 944, has just opened in North Star Mall and offers aged balsamic vinegar and gourmet extra-virgin olive oils from around the world, infused with rosemary, lime, lemon, black truffle and chipotle. There also are daily tastings.

Hours are 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m.

Sunday. For more, call 525-1200 or visit alamooliveoil.com. (See story on page 28)

2. BELDEN'S Alamo garage, 2035

Lockhill Selma Road, has moved to this new location, formerly Ferguson's Alamo Garage. The family-owned business, which has five area locations, has been in operation since 1972. Hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday. For more, call 366-1122 or visit http://www.beldensautomotive. com/. (See story on page 27)

3. LOST BAR & GRILL, 12730 N.W. Military Highway, Suite 110, offers a "casual atmosphere with a neighborhood pub feel," as well as a full bar with premium cocktails and craft beer and a kitchen serving wings, burgers and the "one and only 'Chubby Melt,'" according to a spokeswoman. Hours are 2 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Monday through Thursday and noon to 2 a.m. Friday through Sunday. For more, call 408-1662. (See story on page 30) 4. PIATTI RISTORANTE & BAR, 17101

La Cantera Parkway, Suite 7114, opened its doors in late October at the Éilan development, marking the second San Antonio location for the Californiabased chain. The restaurant overlooks the fountain on the piazza for what staffers say is a wonderful view. For more, call 251-3542 or visit www.piatti. com/eilan/. (See story on page 29)

4

6 3 8 72

5 1

5. MUNCHIES, SHAKES, SNACKS & MORE, 2009 N.W. Military Highway, Suite

105, is now open and offering flavors from both Mexico and traditional San Antonio favorites such as corn in a cup, aguas frescas and shaved ice. Munchies has both a drivethrough and places where family and friends can sit down and enjoy the treats. For more, call 636-0597 or visit munchiesnacksa.com.

Alamo Olive Oil Co. at North Star Mall offers gourmet olive oil and vinegars, allowing customers to taste each one before purchase. Knowledgeable employees also prepare samples of other fare for patrons. Photos by Collette Orquiz

6. VOGE BOUTIQUE, 1846 N. Loop 1604 West, Suite 105, is a recently opened store that carries "trendy women's clothing you will not find everywhere," according to operator Kristen Voges. "Everything is unique and appealing to all ages of women." Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday. For more, call 254-9297

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7. NEURORESTORATIVE SAN ANTONIO, 124 S. Winston Lane, just celebrated a grand opening. The new facility, the second one in the San Antonio area, offers transitional residential, outpatient and day treatment services, including specialized support for military members and veterans. It also is a contract provider for the Veterans Administration Assisted Living Pilot Program. For more, call 9790830 or visit NeuroRestorative.com.

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atomizers, batteries, cases, starter kits and hundred of e-liquid flavors "at rockbottom pricing," according to owner Kory Atkinson. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Monday through Saturday. For more, call 332-9672 or visit www.vaporway. com or friend them on Facebook.

IN OTHER NEWS...

DISTRICT 8 COUNCILMAN RON NIRENBERG recently announced he has

stepped down as general manager of radio station KRTU at Trinity University to devote more time to his family and his city duties. Nirenberg had been at the jazz station for more than four years. He and his wife have a consulting business. Nirenberg graduated from Trinity in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in communication. He earned a master's degree in communication from the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School, then spent a decade with the Annenberg Public Policy Center, researching and analyzing local governments, including San Antonio.

JANICE PUNDT of Jackson-Keller

Elementary School recently received $1,000 in school supplies as part of OfficeMax's "A Day Made Better Program," which recognizes educators who spend their own money on school supplies for students.

THE 300 STUDENTS at West Avenue

Elementary School have embarked on a program encouraging a lifestyle free from drug abuse and bullying. A school rally held Oct. 25 was part of a week that included learning about the dangers of drugs and why being a bully is not good for the community. October was Bully Prevention Awareness Month and Oct. 23-31 was Red Ribbon Week in Texas. The event was planned to honor both causes.

Organizer Kristen Latronico-Limon said she hopes the school can do this every year, according to officials with the North East Independent School District. Lee High School cheerleaders performed cheers and dances. The high school's Peer Assistance & Leadership group helped inflate biodegradable balloons that students and teachers launched into the air as a symbol of the pupils' promise to live a healthy, safe life.

BLAINE SMITH, a hearing-care professional with McLean Audiology, 4402 Vance Jackson Road, Suite 156, has been recognized by the state Senate for his 32 years of work in Texas. A Senate resolution also notes Smith has "provided exemplary care through Advanced Hearing and Communications" and founded the charity program Vaqueros del Oido, the Hearing Cowboys — volunteers who have traveled across the

United States, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean providing thousands of patients with free care and hearing aids.

In addition, the resolution states he played "a pivotal role in establishing mandatory hearing screenings for newborns in Texas" and is a board member of Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children.

WAEL ALMGHRABI, a local college

student, was among 297 graduates who earned degrees in August from Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan. Almghrabi graduated with a master of arts degree.

THE NORTHSIDE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD recently heard the boundary proposal for Ellison Elementary School that involves five elementaries in the Interstate 10 West corridor; heard the results of the community, employee and parent surveys about a possible bond election in 2014; approved the schematic design for the new and yet-to-be-named "Kallison Ranch area" high school; and appointed several campus administrators.

The Antonian College Preparatory High School cross-

country boys took first place in the 5A division at the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools state meet Oct. 26.

This is the fifth state championship win in a row. They were led by sophomores Mateo Mendoza, Jacob Garza, Benjamin Lopez and senior John Diaz. The girls finished in second place and were led by sophomore Allyson Gomez and juniors Rachel Frei and Robin Montemayor.

IN SHAVANO PARK, Republic Services has changed the city's recycling service schedule from the first and third week of every month to every other week.

There will be no increase in rates, officials said. The change took place Sept. 30.

Additional recycling carts are available for a nominal rate if residents need more than the 95-gallon recycle container.

THE Answer for Cancer

Take time to take care of you.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The CTRC encourages women over age 40 to schedule an annual mammogram and reminds all women that any changes in the breast should be reported promptly to a doctor. The CTRC is recognized as a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Center, and is the only cancer center in South Texas to achieve this great distinction of excellence. Let our team of world-class specialists help you and your family find your answer for cancer.

Call (210) 450-5050 to schedule a mammogram, or visit our website at www.ctrc.net for more information.

BELDEN’S ALAMO GARAGE NOW OPEN!

IN HONOR OF VETERANS DAY, about

60 veterans, their spouses or their survivors received recognition for service to the country with a homecooked breakfast Nov. 7 at the Granados Adult and Senior Center, 500 Freiling St. The breakfast included scrambled eggs with ham and cheese, toast and red, white and blue yogurt parfaits. The veterans or their survivors received a pin and a salute ceremony, the Lee High School JROTC presented the colors and the Arnold Elementary School choir sang the national anthem.

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NOVEMBER 2013

Happening continues from pg. 10

LOCAL HEALTH

The latest in medical, health care and fitness news for your community.

The City Council awarded a $6.6 million

contract to improve street and pedestrian safety in the South Texas Medical Center.

The contract is part of a multi-phase collaboration with the Medical Center Alliance. The city will fund construction from the voter-approved 2012-2017 bond program. The project will upgrade traffic signals, add 5,200 feet of 6-foot sidewalks, and install a new crosswalk system.

Construction should finish in January 2015.

Dr. Priti Mody-Bailey is the new vice

president and senior medical director at Community First Health Plans.

Community First is the nonprofit health plan owned by University Health System.

Mody-Bailey previously served as president and chief executive officer of University Health System’s nonprofit provider group practice, Community Medicine Associates.

Baylor College of Medicine has

teamed up with The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio to provide a 10-member pediatric team that includes associate

and assistant professors from the medical college. The pediatricians are led by Associate Professor Ricardo Quiñonez.

The team includes pediatricians C. David DuBose, Kelly M. Basaldua, Crystal M. Davenport, David Diaz De Leon, Sarah F. Denniston, Jorge F. Ganem, Vanessa L. Hill, Stacey L. Keller and Maria De Los Angeles Sandoval.

Methodist Children’s Hospital

recently celebrated 15 years as San Antonio’s first hospital built especially for the treatment of children in the city.

University Hospital recently was part

of a national study along with 19 other hospitals to see if hospital workers putting on gowns and gloves before entering a patient’s room in an intensive-care unit made a difference in positive tests for two drug-resistant bacteria. While the study showed that wearing the gloves and gowns made little difference for patients, hospital officials said the gains are significant enough to continue the practice.

The weekly farmers’ market will be shifted, temporarily, to the parking lot west of the Full Goods Building.

14

GAUDEAMUS HOLIDAY CONCERT A benefit concert

DEC.

CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON The

DEC.

for St. Luke’s Episcopal Church will feature the St. Luke’s Choir and Choristers at 6 p.m., with a reception to follow at 7 p.m. Works by Purcell, Praetorius and Rachmaninov are among the pieces to be featured, along with seasonal Christmas music. There’s no admission cost, but there will be a free-will offering during the concert. To reserve a seat, contact Russell Jackson at russellj@stlukes-sa.net or call 828-6425; the seating is first come, first served.

Sponsors are always welcome. The church is at 11 St. Luke’s Lane, at Jones Maltsberger Road, in Alamo Heights.

North San Antonio Retired Teachers Association will open its annual luncheon with a “meetand-greet” coffee at 10:30 a.m., followed by a performance by the Sweet Adelines

18

singing group at 11 a.m. and lunch 30 minutes later. Members are encouraged to bring a friend, too. The catered lunch costs $15. Reservations, which are required, can be made by calling Michelle Bibb at 494-8197 before Dec. 11. The event will take place at San Pedro Presbyterian Church, 14900 San Pedro Ave.

"THE NUTCRACKER” The Alamo City Dance Company, 21-22 which is in residence at the San Antonio School for the Performing Arts, 12915 Jones Maltsberger Road, is taking reservations for its performances of the holiday staple. Shows are at 2 and 6 p.m. Dec. 21 and 2 p.m. Dec. 22. Tickets are $30 orchestra, $25 balcony for the performances, which will take place at McAllister Auditorium on the campus of San Antonio College, 1300 San Pedro Ave. To reserve seats, call the Alamo City Performing Arts Association box office at 495-0129 or visit the box office, at 12915 Jones Maltsberger Road.

DEC.

Submitting events: Email

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Mad Men Of course we cater to men. It is an outdoor sports store, right? Urban trekkers, high altitude adventurers, runners, campers, the list goes on and on. Year after year fleece vests by Patagonia are a must have piece for our easy winters. Paired with a great fitting button up from Kuhl or Royal Robbins and your men are looking sharp. And long gone are the days of all black on the ski slopes. Kjus, 686, Burton, Salomon and Volcom will change the way you think about on-the-slope style. the future is now Every year we try to find the cool gadgets, “toys” and accessories for the person that has everything...

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NOVEMBER 2013

Bond continues from pg. 01

Mayor wants citizens panel to review projects by lucille sims thomas

C

ASTLE HILLS — Voters handily rejected a $13 million bond proposal Nov. 5 that would have allowed the city to begin addressing street and drainage problems.

At least 81 percent of the voters voiced their disapproval of the proposal at the polls, which also saw nine state constitutional amendments on the ballot.

Mayor Bruce Smiley-Kaliff said the City Council put the bond initiative on the ballot at the “overwhelming request” of residents who want the town’s street and drainage problems fixed.

However, he acknowledged residents overwhelmingly told City Hall that paying for such improvements with a bond issue is not what they wanted. It was the second time in three years voters

have said no to such an initiative.

“The voters (on Nov. 5) were very strong in their voice that that was not how they wanted to proceed. And the city will conduct its business accordingly going forward,” Smiley-Kaliff said.

The issue became a lightning rod for controversy in the weeks leading up to the vote, with former council members decrying the measure and residents organizing an anti-bond campaign.

Former Mayor Bob Anderson who, along with several other homeowners, formed a specific purpose committee called No Bond Nov. 5, said the proposal failed because the mayor and council refused to listen to residents.

“It was preordained that it would not succeed because they would not listen to anybody," Anderson said. "When you have four out of five people saying that they don’t like something, it is bound to fail."

Mayor Bruce Smiley-Kaliff said a $13 million bond proposal to pay for infrastructure improvements defeated by voters means the city will have to look at other sources of funding for repairs. Photo by Joshua Michael

Smiley-Kaliff now hopes to form a standing street and drainage committee that will not only choose and prioritize projects by working with

The street-repair plan was poorly thought out, poorly managed and most importantly poorly presented to the public Resident John Kenny

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Resident John Kenny said he is both happy and sad the bond failed.

“The street-repair plan was poorly thought out, poorly managed and most importantly poorly presented to the public," Kenny said. "This is and was a classic example of a public-relations disaster. I am saddened because I will be the first person to stand up and say our streets need repair. I broke my ankle while walking my dogs on my street and from

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salocallowdown.com that day I said something has to be done.”

Kenny said that he and many others had implored the council to wait until May while researching all options.

The city held three town meetings and support for the referendum appeared very small, he added.

“I wanted the council to investigate all forms of alternative sources of funding and devise a plan that would benefit more of the citizenry," Kenny said. "One council member stated that he was not aware of any other forms of funding.

This, in my opinion, was a big part of the downfall of this bond. If the council did not take the time to investigate and discuss alternative forms of funding, how could we (the residents) believe that they would plan street repairs in a fair, impartial, needs-based way?”

Voters in Castle Hills also rejected a bond proposal to fix the city’s streets in 2010, so Smiley-Kaliff said he plans to make sure residents support a financial commitment before trying again.

He believes a "citizens panel" would have the time and focus to bring recommendations to the council that would find favor with their neighbors.

“Right now we actually need a group to put their heads together and tell us

More than 80 percent of the electorate on Nov. 5 voted no on a multimillion-dollar referendum to pay for street and drainage repairs. An anti-bond group urged voters to reject the initiative. Photos by Joshua Michael

— OK how do we do it — and in what order we do it. Still, every single person on the City Council is committed to trying to fix the streets," he said. "We have to explore bonds; we have to explore tax increases; we have to explore pay-as-you-go alternate funding.”

Anderson said the next time, the council

must hear what residents are saying.

"This (bond defeat) is what happens when you don’t listen to the people you serve," he said.

Kenny also believes more transparency is needed if a bond initiative is to pass that will bring money to fix the town’s streets and drainage woes.

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He is advocating for more openness at meetings, with additional chances for residents to speak, share concerns and freely impart ideas.

“Basically, transparency — which has been thrown about City Hall so flagrantly — actually needs to be accomplished,” Kenny said.

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14

Refugees continues from pg. 01

Nirenberg: Helping new arrivals gives S.A. chance to share hospitality

by Eileen pace

A

s growing numbers of refugees from wartorn countries and other parts of the planet resettle near the Interstate 10 corridor, City Hall and the Northside Independent School District are stepping up efforts to help them integrate.

But there are also a number of nonprofits, including a North Side church, that are offering a helping hand to these new arrivals.

San Antonio is now home to 8,000-10,000 foreign refugees, and most are living in District 8 near the I-10 corridor or just west of the interstate, said Councilman Ron Nirenberg.

NOVEMBER 2013

“So we have a large and growing population of refugees that are trying to make it in a new country here in San Antonio," he said. "We have various challenges with regard to transportation, education, health care and other services.”

Many of the new arrivals hail from Afghanistan, Somalia, Bhutan, Burma, Burundi, Congo, Ghana, Eritrea, Sudan, Cuba, Pakistan, Thailand, Iran, and Iraq, officials said. Additional Syrian refugees are expected in the next 18-24 months as a civil war continues to ravage that country.

“San Antonio is a welcoming community, but it suffers from a lack of awareness about this issue,” Nirenberg said. “This is an opportunity for San Antonians to show what we’re made of.”

NISD offers General Educational Development diploma training and some language education for adult refugees. NISD is also tasked with educating the refugee children who live within its attendance boundaries.

The district estimates about 1 percent of its students consist of refugee children, or nearly 1,000.

“They’re anywhere from 4 years old to 19,” said Deputy Superintendent Linda Mora.

“They come in with not only no English, but very little formal schooling or sometimes even

mastery of their own language.

They speak many different languages — Arabic, Nepali, Vietnamese, Farsi, Filipino, Burmese, Urdu,” she said.

Some who have come from war-torn countries may have been living in the wild, and Mora added some of the educators have to teach the new students how to use the bathroom, how to handle a fork or how to eat a sandwich.

“The basic skills of civilization,” she said.

“The teachers are amazing,” Mora added. “They buddy them up with a peer friend or a peer tutor. They figure it out.”

Nirenberg is spearheading an effort to create a cohesive structure for service providers and government agencies to work together to address the needs of the new residents.

He would like the VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority to become involved.

“There’s a lot of difficulty with using our bus system, specifically because of language barriers,” Nirenberg said.

Nirenberg is meeting with officials from around the community, including from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, which has a medical refugee clinic, as well as family service providers

Garden continues from pg. 01

Refugees from different backgrounds, cultures join to tend plots

by Miranda Koerner

F

or many motorists driving down Wurzbach Road to Interstate 10 every morning, the lush garden on the side of the House of Prayer Lutheran Church is probably a bright spot in the otherwise chaotic rush of traffic.

For the refugee-students who tend it, the garden at 10226 Ironside Drive is a way to keep down grocery bills and learn English in a new land far from their country of origin.

However, CIELO Gardens is more than just lemongrass and okra, said the Rev. Sandra Leifeste — it's a place without borders that gives these new arrivals from all corners of the globe a chance to mix, meet and learn more about their new home.

“Cielo means heaven, so I always say it’s a little piece of heaven,” Leifeste said.

The CIELO Gardens at the House of Prayer Lutheran Church are an interfaith green space bringing together refugees from across the planet who have resettled on the North Side. They till and plant in the garden while learning English and seeking employment. Photo by Joshua Michael

“It gives the gardeners a connection to their roots, both literally and culturally.

Many of the refugees have to depend on the younger members of their family, as they can easily adapt to the new language and technology, but in the garden the elders are in charge of the knowledge.

It creates a balance in families.”

CIELO Gardens is a joint project involving Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Services, Northside Independent School District Adult Education and the church.

Additional support to provide gardening opportunities for recently resettled refugees comes from the University of the Incarnate Word’s Interfaith Council, Green Spaces

Alliance South Texas and others.

The garden is founded on five principles: community, interfaith interaction, education, literacy and opportunity — or CIELO. After President Obama in 2011 issued a challenge for people of different faiths to find common ground and cooperate in community service, Northside ISD and Catholic Charities approached House of Prayer and asked if they could use the church property to host English-as-a-second-language classes, where the garden is used as part of the instruction.

In addition, the classes teach job readiness and provide a gathering place for refugees from Congo, Cameroon, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Burma, Iran, Iraq and many other countries, some of them torn by war.

Refugees represent several religions and philosophies, including Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, animists and humanists.

“When we opened two years ago, we had a prayer blessing in Hindu, a Catholic blessing and a Lutheran blessing. We hope to repeat that with our anniversary in March,” Leifeste said. “We’re trying to cross boundaries. We want people to know we welcome everyone, whether or not they are Christian, that we can help and serve. Our mission as Christians is to help those in need regardless

Garden continues on pg. 16

15

salocallowdown.com to help refugees cope with settling in.

He hopes to bring the agencies together for a brainstorming session before the end of the year.

Officials said San Antonio has become a desirable destination for victims of war, famine and terrorism looking to start over in the New World. Not only are government agencies involved in the integration effort, but several area charities are stepping up to help.

With civil strife raging in countries around the globe, the United States has seen a dramatic increase in the number of refugees coming into the country over the past five years. The State Department says of the 70,000 people arriving in the U.S. last year under the United States Refugee Admissions Program, more than 10 percent were assigned to live in Texas— greater numbers than were sent to any other state.

Many of them are starting new lives on the North Side.

Last year, more than 700 refugees were welcomed by Catholic Charities of San Antonio. Its director of refugee services, Hisham Batar, came to the U.S. as one of those refugees in August 2000.

He first fled Sudan's civil war in 1992 to a refugee camp in Egypt and later went to India.

“I was about 16 at the time. If I didn’t leave, I would have been picked up by the government and forced to fight in the war,” Batar said.

Batar said he was able to get a soccer scholarship from the University of Delhi in New Delhi, India, where he earned a science degree. But by 1998, there were no jobs and things became so bad he slept on the street. Eventually, the United Nations recognized Batar as a refugee and,

Employment is good here. That’s why they send more refugees to San Antonio than any other U.S. city Hisham Batar

separated from his family, Batar arrived alone in San Antonio two years later.

He found a job at Catholic Charities and worked his way up. Now, 13 years later and with a post-graduate degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio, Batar manages the caseload and resources,and guides the placement of each family arriving at San Antonio International Airport from an expanding list of countries.

By the time a caseworker meets the refugees at the airport, his workers have already arranged everything needed for the family to live for the first few months, Batar said.

“They make sure the apartment is ready, that there is enough food, the beds are in,” Batar said. “We have a list from the federal government of items we must provide before they get here.

When we pick them up at the airport, everything has to be in the apartment.”

The relatively stable job market is one reason the new arrivals are assigned to the Alamo City, he added.

“Employment is good here. That’s why they send more refugees to San Antonio than any other U.S. city,” he said.

“Most of the refugees here start at the bottom," he added. "I have refugees who started working at University Hospital in

housekeeping. Now they are radiologists,” he said. “They go to school. They move up.

I have a lot of refugees at the Toyota plant.

It’s very hard work. But they’re moving up and Toyota is sending them to school.”

Catholic Charities is a VOLAG, government-speak for a "voluntary agency" assigned by the State Department to bring in refugees. The U.S. government provides funding for housing, food, health care, language instruction, job placement and other needs for about six months. After that, the refugees are on their own.

But they are able to utilize the volunteer systems that have sprung up around San Antonio for education, language instruction and acculturation.

The House of Prayer Lutheran Church has created a volunteer system that offers English-as-a-second-language and culture classes, and has a garden area for the refugees.

Many grow food from their homelands alongside “American” vegetables.

First Baptist Church downtown offers English-language classes, along with a “friendship class.” Attended by women, most of whom have never seen a stove or a microwave, the class offers cultural education and lessons about cooking meals in an American kitchen.

The Castle Hills/Shavano Park Business Alliance believes the benefits of the Alliance are a direct relation to the amount of effort, interest and participation given by the members of the group.

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Garden continues from pg.14 of race, culture and religious background.”

Gardeners must be enrolled as students to have a garden, but do not have to be a member of the House of Prayer church. After six months, they are expected to have employment and many attend community college.

Shukuru Saidi came to America from Congo after suffering a stroke in a refugee camp and being abandoned. Had it not been for a good Samaritan who helped him get his immigration papers for the United States to receive medical care, he would have died, he said. Though he arrived in a wheelchair, Saidi walks, drives and is taking classes to earn his General Educational Development diploma.

In Congo, he was an accountant. After he earns his GED, he plans to enroll in college.

“I can’t thank Sandra enough for giving us this opportunity,” Saidi said. “The

church members, they see this place and walk around like it’s a park. They say it’s very nice to have something more meaningful, so beautiful, at their church.”

For those who have left their families, the garden also provides a sense of kinship, Leifeste said.

“There were a lot of people who didn’t know what to do with a tomato!” she laughed. “They all grow a variety of things, from mint in the Muslim families to beans and herbs with the Asian refugees. There are representatives from each culture who work together to help do what the church needs, like taking care of overflowing compost bins. It teaches leadership development and English at the same time.”

Gardeners pay $10 a year for a plot as “rent” and often flock to the garden after classes to tend their plants and pick ready vegetables. Volunteers from St. Mary’s

The garden is perfect because we have so many clients with so many different backgrounds jennifer yanez-alaniz

An interfaith garden for resettled refugees at The House of Prayer Lutheran Church also involves Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Services, Northside Independent School District Adult Education, the University of the Incarnate Word’s Interfaith Council, Green Spaces Alliance South Texas and others. Photo

by Joshua Michael

University and Incarnate Word often come out to help maintain the land and build more plots when needed. There are 54 people represented in the garden, as every plot equals two people. Since its inception, the classes have grown to 80-100 students.

“The garden is perfect because we have so many clients with so many different backgrounds,” said Jennifer Yanez-Alaniz, education coordinator for Catholic Charities' resettlement program. “You have to be creative to communicate with the gardeners. At any given time, four to seven different language groups are in the garden. They’re able to model

for the rest of us how to churn the soil. It’s a great opportunity for community integration.”

In addition, Yanez-Alaniz said that instructors often teach about healthy living and nutrition, even marketing and creating budgets for food shopping.

“We all have different backgrounds, but here, we create a new family, a new life,” Saidi said. “The classes teach us and feed us—we don’t have to go to a (grocery store), we can spend our money on other things. It’s like a little heaven.”

For more information, visit http:// cielogarden.wordpress.com.

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Politics continues from pg. 01

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Some of the ways that I find ideas to write about is to go to the hardware shows. I go to about 4 a year. The last one was in Indianapolis. It was the Do It Best show. They are some of the best people to do business with. While I was in Indianapolis, I looked especially for a new stain line. One that would be easy for the DIY. I get so many questions about faded front doors, and I wanted a stain that would be easy to use and be durable. And I found one! It’s called Zar Stains. And here is why it caught my attention. At the booth there was a door that had been cut in half. And he was staining ...a fiberglass door. A fiberglass door? Wow, and he made it look so easy, and it was. I figure if he could stain a fiberglass door and it looked great, what could he do with wood? The stain he was using is a gel stain. I was amazed that he could stain a primed fiberglass door and make it look like wood. He just took a white towel rag and dipped it into the gel stain and just wiped it across the door.

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Challengers include tea-party favorite Donna Campbell

by Rudy Arispe

I

f Elisa Chan wasn’t a small-business owner or a public servant, she might have been the captain of a big ship. But these days she is setting sail on uncharted political waters — a journey from City Council to possibly the state Senate.

“Ever since I was a child, I thought it would be so cool (to run a large ship),” she said while sitting in a conference room at Unintech Consulting Engineers on Evans Road, where she is president of the engineering firm she and her husband, Clifford Hew, founded in 1992. “But I chose computer science, which is good because it’s logical and I’m a very logical

person. I like to solve problems.”

On Oct. 18, Chan, 47, bid adieu to District 9, which the former councilwoman oversaw for the past five years. Chan, the first Asian-American woman on the council, was re-elected in May for a third two-year term. On that farewell October day, she closed the door on an important chapter of her life and embarked on a new journey as she steered her ship in the race for the Texas Senate in the GOP primary March 4.

“I believe I have a lot to offer, and I can take my knowledge and experience to continue to represent people at a higher capacity,” the Republican candidate said. “It’s exciting what you can do at the state Legislature, and you need to have people with conservative views who are strong enough to stand up and fight for the right things.”

In September, Chan announced her intent to resign from the council and run against tea party incumbent Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, for Senate District 25. It covers six counties including Travis, Comal, Kendall and parts of Bexar, Hayes and Guadalupe. About 1 million residents live in the district.

If elected, Chan’s goal is to represent

Elisa Chan, a San Antonio businesswoman and former District 9 councilwoman, says she has plenty to offer the voters of state Senate District 25. Photo by Josh Huskin

19

salocallowdown.com conservative interests and ensure that Texas continues to experience sound economic growth, she said. She also plans to fight wasteful government spending and would like to explore new policies regarding energy and education.

“I think I will do well (as a legislator) because I have shown to people what I can do and because of my strong, conservative values,” she said. “Also, being a small-business owner is a tough job. You are the one who has to worry about payroll and putting all your assets on the line. I have a good sense of what business owners think about regulation.”

As for her political platform, the mother of a 13-year-old daughter said she plans to “campaign for the job on my records, qualifications, experience and what I can offer voters.”

David Crockett, a Trinity University professor of political science and chairman of the Political Science Department, believes Chan has quite a challenge.

“She faces a burden because she has to take out an incumbent and another opponent. So it’s going to be tough to win the primary against Donna Campbell,” Crockett said. “She has to hope no one gets a majority. So she

would hope at best that she comes in second and for it to go into a runoff.”

Campbell, an emergency-room physician, unseated longtime San Antonio incumbent Jeff Wentworth in the 2012 GOP primary and Democrat John Courage in the general election by a 66 percent to 33 percent margin.

Crockett also thinks the controversy this summer in which Chan weathered a political firestorm over negative remarks about the gay community in light of a nondiscrimination ordinance has hurt her with voters outside her own sphere of influence.

“You could make the argument that it’s helped her because she’s running in a conservative district,” Crockett said. “I think it’s hurt her because it’s branded her as the candidate who, when on City Council, made some inflammatory remarks about the nondiscrimination ordinance.

And her opponent might use it against her.

On top of that she’s running against two other people in the primary, one of whom (the incumbent) has given her ideological base no reason to switch from her to Chan.”

Former Bexar County Commissioner Mike Novak is also facing off against Chan in the GOP primary. The general election —

which likely will draw a challenger from the Democratic Party — is in November 2014.

Chan, meanwhile, said she will continue to stand by her views. Earlier in the year, she argued that her opinions on samesex relationships, recorded and released without her knowledge, are in line with constitutionally protected free speech.

“I stand by my belief system, and I’m not trying to impose my views on others,” she said. “If my opponent does attack me, then let the voters decide what they believe is right regarding freedom of speech and values.”

The candidate doesn’t consider herself to be a politician.

“I view myself as a person, a small-business owner, someone with a tech background who wants to do something good, and politics unfortunately is sometimes a necessary component,” she said.

Although popular enough with constituents to win re-election to city government, Chan also raised eyebrows at City Hall earlier this year when she initially failed to disclose that she owned property adjacent to the site of a planned library in her district. Chan recused herself during a second vote

on the already-approved facility.

Outside of the public arena, Chan juggles a busy schedule as wife, mom and company president, the last of which involves the strategic planning of the engineering and design firm, as well as overseeing the finances.

“I’m very good with numbers,” said Chan, who received her graduate degree in computer science at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Chan and her husband built Unintech from the ground up, starting with one office in San Antonio and then expanding to Austin with some 45 employees at both locations. Company projects have ranged from building hotels and retail centers for the private sector to roads, bridges and schools for the public sector.

Chan, who is the middle sibling between an older sister and a younger brother, was born in Taiwan and then moved to Brazil with her family. In 1980, her father relocated the family to Beijing to be reunited with his father. Meanwhile, the council on Nov. 7 after reviewing 12 candidates appointed attorney Joe Krier to fill the District 9 seat. He is the former president and CEO of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce.

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JCC continues from pg. 01

Goal of center is to make a difference

by Arthur Schechter

F

or many years, a Brooklyn, N.Y., bakery advertised its rye bread with the slogan: “You don’t have to be Jewish to love Levy’s.”

The same applies to the Barshop Jewish Community Center.

Patronage from a diverse and eclectic base is fundamental to the survival and success of the 2 ½-acre campus, since roughly just 9,000 to 10,000 Jews reside in San Antonio, and only 40 percent are JCC members, officials said.

“I think that’s a very surprising number; for the non-Jewish community, it further illustrates that we are open,” said JCC President/CEO Saul F. Levenshus.

“You don’t have to be Jewish to be a member or participate in programs as a nonmember,” Levenshus added. “The notion that JCC membership is open to

NOVEMBER 2013

the community is still one of the best-kept secrets. It’s a misconception that definitely exists. I’m most proud that we serve the community … the total community.”

According to Cathy Pottorf, longtime JCC director of member services, “It’s the one place that you’re going to go where you’re going to find almost every religion represented. I don’t think anybody would feel uncomfortable here.”

At age 59, Levenshus has spent his career involved with JCCs across America.

Fourteen years ago, he picked San Antonio as a last stop, which came in conjunction with the opening of the JCC’s current site, nestled on the corner of Wurzbach Parkway and Northwest Military Highway.

Levenshus loves the campus’ present address; it used to be located south of North Star Mall but moved in 1999.

“This is a fabulous location … the epicenter of San Antonio – especially with the development of Wurzbach Parkway," he said. "It will be equally distant from every major artery in San Antonio and one of the easiest facilities to get to. This particular area of North Central San Antonio has grown so dramatically with Hardberger Park next door, Alon Town Centre across the street. This is like the real-estate

answer – location, location, location."

The multipronged facility also has convenient hours, he added.

"Convenience is probably the number one reason why people join and remain members,” he said.

The JCC supplies a wide spectrum of services, facilities and organizations with old favorites and new undertakings. For instance, Sports and Fitness debuted a newly constructed tennis clubhouse in September. The annual Jewish Film Festival is always popular, with a nod to Judaic culture. Plus, arts and entertainment enthusiasts frequent the campus’ Sheldon Vexler Theatre for performances.

The JCC is composed of several different program areas, each “working independently, but we also work collaboratively to make sure the campus remains viable,” Levenshus said. “The idea was to create one home for the Jewish community and have a place we could all reside simultaneously. We’re a birththrough-life institution, which means we start with early childhood and we serve older adults in their upper 90s.”

A couple of less-visible but crucial components at the JCC are the Jewish Federation, the fundraising arm,

and Jewish Family Service, which contributes counseling needs.

One youth-oriented organization is the Eleanor Kolitz Hebrew Language Academy, providing an educational branch with an elementary and middle public-charter school for students. Another, the Block and Dreeben School for Young Children, a home for infants to pre-kindergarteners, might be Levenshus’ prized jewel.

Serving 180 students, “the nationally accredited early childhood program … provides a stellar early childhood education with a strong Jewish component,” Levenshus said, “We tell families who join who are not Jewish that your children are going to be afforded an education that otherwise they would never have an opportunity to be exposed (to).”

As director of early-childhood services for 24 years, Alissa Levey Baugh steers the ship.

“The first five years are seen as the most critical years for development,” Baugh said.

“We’re providing care for children whose families are working outside the home, as well as families who want enrichment.

“We base our learning activities on the development of the children and it’s

JCC continues on pg. 23

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Urban Ecology Center provides window on nature at Phil Hardberger Park Education classes are the main focus by collette orquiz

T

he Urban Ecology Center, the newest addition to the 311-acre Phil Hardberger Park, offers a unique venue to learn about sustainability and the environment, said supporters and the park’s namesake.

Pixel Savvi is not your typical painting studio, in that we offer painting events on the canvas of an iPad. We are all about the customer experience and our painting events are FUN, RELAXING AND ENGAGING! Our desire is for everyone to experience painting using the latest technology to create their own art.

We do not teach you to paint, instead, we guide you through a process that allows the novice to create their own rendition of a painting that has been preselected for a particular evening. Our Creative Director Ivan, paints and leads all participants at each event and we provide you an iPad & Stylus to paint. Everyone that joins an event paints the same painting, and everyone leaves with a printed copy and a digital file.

Phil Hardberger Park has added attractions both aesthetic — such as the 'Golden Age' art installation (left) and practical — the rainwater collection system (right) — at the new Urban Ecology Center. Photos by Collette Orquiz

“The center was an important component of the Master Plan for Phil Hardberger Park from the beginning,” said former Mayor Phil Hardberger. “It fits in with the concept of education about our natural history, past and present.”

The $6.4 million facility — which includes 18,600 feet of space for classes and meetings, as well as nearby trails and picnic tables — debuted in September during a ceremony attended by hundreds of guests including local VIPs. The center, reached from the Northwest Military Highway entrance, provides indoor classes while complementing the outdoor classes on the north end of the park.

Education is the main focus, and sessions are held rain or shine. The programs are open to schools and youth groups, but there are also adult lectures, workshops and discussions.

Topics cover native plants, birds, insects and reptiles, while water conservation, sustainability and more will be offered next year.

The park was established in 2007 after the city purchased 311 acres of what

used to be the Voelcker Dairy Farm.

Voters approved a bond issue to “dedicate it as a parkland for future generations,” according to the Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy website.

The center, designed by Lake Flato Architects Inc. and built by Guido Brothers Construction, houses several offices, and a classroom and gathering hall that can be rented by the public for meetings and events starting in January.

Sandy Jenkins, the parks project manager, said the hall can hold up to 200 people.

The 7,580-square-foot hall overlooks the savannah portion of the park. The wide glass doors can open to let in a breeze, but they also can be replaced with screens to keep out any pests. The hall also has a serving kitchen and dimming lights hanging from the ceiling.

“We have a lot of capacity for people to be able to come and learn about a variety of things — water, solar panels, you name it,” Jenkins said.

The building also has a rain-

Park continues on pg. 24

We have a beautiful venue available for the community to experience. We invite our customers to bring their favorite wine or drink and some appetizers to enjoy while they paint. It’s a painting and social event all in one experience. We have a buffet bar that is stocked with plates, glassware and flatware for your personal use. Come by and visit our studio!

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Jimmy’s Egg is celebrating its one-year business anniversary at 8055 West Avenue in Castle Hills. Business hours are 6 am until 2 pm 7 days a week and breakfast and lunch are served all day.

Jimmy’s Egg has become a popular place for people to meet and enjoy fresh Cracked to Order ™ three-egg omelettes , waffles, egg benedict, and traditional egg breakfasts with their friends.

Jimmy’s Egg offers a large banquet room at no charge and has been popular with business groups, church groups, and civic groups who enjoy a breakfast or lunch buffet during their meeting.

Jimmy’s Egg has been popular for carry out orders and now offers egg-cellent catering that includes a variety of hot breakfast and lunch buffets. Custom orders are also available.

Please call 210-377-3441 for details.

Bacon and eggs breakfast is the most popular entrée ordered.

Other popular menu items are: • Omelettes (over 40,000 combinations) • Thick cut full sliced ham and eggs • Sausage and eggs • Eggs benedict • Waffles • Bacon cheddar pancakes • Sweet potato pancakes • Chicken fried steak • Pork chops • Juicy burgers • Skillet Scrambles • Smoked Turkey Melt Sandwich • California Club Sandwich • Skinny Jimmy • Fresh Salads • Endless coffee and tea refills Pet friendly shaded patio seating is available.

Join the Cracked Egg e-club and receive news about Jimmy’s Egg, coupons, and special offers in your email in box. Receive $3 off on your next visit just for signing up!

22

NOVEMBER 2013

Scout continues from pg. 01

What goes around comes around on undertaking

by Collette Orquiz

T

earing out weeds, spraying pesticide and planting flowers sounds like hard work, but for a 15-year-old North Side Scout those tasks became a chance to earn his Eagle rank while helping beautify a Hindu temple.

Mohan Iyengar, a sophomore at Keystone School, recently completed his required service project to become an Eagle Scout in Boy Scout Troop 66, which is chartered by University United Methodist Church, 5084 De Zavala Road.

Eagle Scouts are responsible for planning, developing and choosing the setting of their project, which has to benefit the community. While most pick schools or churches, Mohan — whose family has ties to India — decided to beautify

Mohan Iyengar (left) holds the plans drawn up by landscape architect Sandra Ethridge for his Eagle Scout service project — beautifying four islands on the parking lot at BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, a Hindu temple. The design shows the dimensions and spots to plant roses. Mohan picked a hardy variety known as a Knock-Out Rose (above) for the project; the flower is drought-tolerant.

Photos by Collette Orquiz

the Hindu temple BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir on the Northwest Side.

The project involved four islands in the parking lot. Each one had to be prepped

for planting by clearing debris and overgrown foliage, and then weeded and sprayed until flowers could be planted.

What was supposed to take only a few

social and cultural center that serves as a hub for San Antonio's Turkish community and a bridge to connect to the larger community through cultural and interfaith outreach.

The center, tucked into a commercial office park at 4337 Vance Jackson Road just off Loop 410, is one of a network of Raindrop Houses across the Southwest.

There are no paid staffers — all the work is done by volunteers, according to Mehmet Oguz, an engineer with a local construction firm who is studying for his master's degree in public administration and working as a research assistant in international relations at St. Mary’s University. Oguz is the San Antonio representative for the Raindrop House’s Dialogue Institute of the Southwest, which puts on informative programs, often in collaboration with other local groups and institutions.

Oguz and his family moved to San Antonio in 2011, after a year in Houston. Before that, they spent eight years in Russia, where Oguz was a high school teacher and principal.

“In Russia, there were only seven other Turkish families in our area,” Oguz said.

“It was hard there. But there are about 600 Turkish people living in San Antonio and many of them are involved in the Raindrop House. You can network here, and feel at home, and also find a lot of

warm American friends. I think of America not as a melting pot, but as a salad bowl, where we can keep our culture alive and also blend with the diverse cultures here.”

Oguz’s wife, Tuba, is also involved in Raindrop House’s women’s programs, and daughter Neda, 4, is enrolled in the new Pre-K 4 San Antonio program.

“She is speaking English and Turkish, and a little Spanish,” the father proudly said.

The children in Saturday school are among those taking the Raindrop House’s free Turkish lessons (there are also free lessons for adults). The instruction helps them keep up with their language, so if they return home they will be ready for Turkish schools.

In addition to communitywide dialogues and speaker programs, cooking sessions and language lessons, there are art classes

weekends lasted much longer because many of the volunteers Mohan had coordinated were unable to help.

“It’s an Eagle project, so of course I have to get other people to help,” the teen said.

He ended up with eight volunteers, but Mohan said he had hoped for 20.

The Indian community and family and friends played a big part in the project and the praise it has received, the Keystone student said. Mohan had to raise money as well as ask for help from the city and other Scouts. More than a dozen donors contributed to the project.

Hoping to receive $1,000, he fell just raised a dollar short of his goal. The majority of the funding purchased Knock-Out Roses, a hardy variety able to withstand the Texas heat and use less water. The rest of the money provided food and drink for volunteers, pesticides, tools and a long watering hose.

The city of San Antonio donated most of the mulch and Pizza Hut provided discounts. Meanwhile, the staff at Home Depot and other knowledgeable people provided insight on planting, pruning and watering.

Scout continues on pg. 24

Bridges continues from pg. 01

Center gives S.A.'s Turkish community a sense of family by susan yerkes

I

It’s 1 p.m. on a Saturday, and the Raindrop Turkish House bustles with activity. A dozen children from 3 to about 12 years old play quietly around their mothers, several of whom are assembling a lunch buffet for Saturday school in a large common room that doubles as a speaker center and a meeting room.

Most of the women are covered Muslimfashion, wearing coats and headscarves, while a couple are in jeans and makeup, their hair loose. Men are working at desks in a few smaller offices. In the kitchen, Selim Eroglu and other regular members of the weekly Turkish cooking class are preparing thick Turkish coffee and unwrapping plates of homemade potato salad, bulgur wheat pilaf and traditional sweets for a celebration for a non-Turkish friend who attends the classes.

It’s a typical Saturday at the Raindrop House, a nonprofit educational, charitable,

and music. In addition, social mixers are held the last Friday of each month, as well as Turkish coffee nights the first Friday of each month. The center is also home to the Helping Hands program, aimed at fostering outreach and assisting those in need.

Erdem Balikci, Raindrop House’s volunteer media director, came to Houston to study engineering in 2006. Three years later, he moved to San Antonio and became involved in the Raindrop House.

At the center he teaches language and traditional Turkish art and marbling, and helps organize a trip to Turkey every year for San Antonians interested in learning more about his country’s culture.

This year he helped two young nonTurkish student musicians, San Antonio's Joshua Gonzalez and John Michael

It’s good to have a space to gather, and for our kids to come. The cooking class is one way to introduce ourselves and share our culture dr. fatma arsLan

23

salocallowdown.com

San anTOniO academy

JCC continues from pg. 20 a very hands-on curriculum, play-based where children are able to discover, explore and enjoy their learning,” Levenshus glows when discussing his employees.

“I’m lucky because I’m surrounded by the best group of professional staff in the JCC world,” he said.

One of those is Lisa Guerrero, director of children and camping services, who started in the Early Childhood department in the 1990s.

With more than 400 campers enrolled, “The growth of that program has been extraordinary and this building is completely inundated with kids all summer long,” Levenshus said. “She’s one of those great people who gets kids, and gets families.”

Guerrero also oversees 18 developmentally disabled youngsters annually.

“The JCC has a summer-inclusion program that we’ve been doing the last 10 years and has received an amazing amount of support,” Levenshus added, “One of the things we at the JCC is most proud of is the work we’ve done to serve individuals with special needs.”

Going on a decade as department head, Randy Holland, director of athletics, pilots the JCC’s youth sports leagues, single-handedly spearheading the facility's most well-liked programs with fall and spring soccer academies topping more than 300 children. Also, a wintertime Spurs Academy basketball league, plus seasonal tee-ball and flag football, led Levenshus to portray Holland as “chief, cook and bottle-washer.”

Pottorf also runs the Texas State Senior Games.The annual event, composed of 26 disciplines, is open to adults 50-plus. In 2014, the JCC will host the competition for the 25th time, affiliated with the Texas State Games, three years running.

This is the third century with a nonprofit JCC in San Antonio.

“We impact people’s lives and we inspire Jewish journeys," Levenshus said.

"We make people feel a little bit better when they leave here than they did when they arrived. The JCC’s contribution in the community is significant. We will continue to look for ways to make San Antonio stronger, and to make the Jewish community in San Antonio stronger."

To learn more, call 302-6820 or visit www.jccsanantonio.org.

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Plumbing Supplies, Cabinets, Countertops, Appliances & Designer Tile Nicholson, organize a six“It’s so fascinating to learn week trip to Turkey and take about Turkish culture, language lessons there. and the connections with “With the American/ our own culture. And Turkish community here, I feel it’s wonderful to meet I have a family,” Balikci said. traditional Muslim women Dr. Fatma Arslan, an from all different parts of engineering professor at the Turkey. They invited me to University of Texas at San celebrate Ramadan with Antonio, is another of the them, and I’ve made a whole regulars in the cooking class. new circle of friends."

She has been in San Antonio Newman is in for a with her family since 2001. surprise at today’s cooking 4337 Vance Jackson Road Her husband is a lecturer class. After sharing a For more, call 377-1110 in computer science and round of traditional dishes, or visit http://www. engineering at UTSA, and Ergolu, Arslan and the raindropturkishhouse. org/sanantonio. their daughters are 5, 8 and 10. other Turkish women bring “When we came, there was a a special offering from the Turkish-American association, kitchen — a “friendship but no central place to meet cake,” layers of cake and until some friends initiated the idea of a Turkish custard topped with whipped Raindrop House here,” she said. “It’s good cream and strawberries, which another to have a space to gather, and for our kids regular class member, Hande Zegin, to come. The cooking class is one way to made and brought from home to introduce ourselves and share our culture.” celebrate Newman’s birthday.

Michelle Newman, a San Antonio artist The women all join in to sing “Happy and travel writer, has been attending events Birthday” in Turkish. The tune is at Raindrop House for about six months, the same as the traditional American since a friend told her she might enjoy birthday song, only the language is it. She started with the cooking class. different. As some there might say, that’s what Raindrop House is all about.

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NOVEMBER 2013

Scout continues from pg. 22

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Mohan said he also received invaluable help from his Scout leaders, including Scoutmaster John Haines, who took him under his wing. Haines made sure Mohan's planning was precise and ready for the troop council.

“He is very lucky to have Mr. Haines,” said Kalpana Iyengar, Mohan’s mother. “He knows how to guide these young men.”

The project went through a comprehensive review by the troop council — which “drilled it," Mohan said — and then on to the district council.

“The thing about my project was that it was much simpler because the organization was so relaxed,” he said.

Though at first unsure about whether he could complete such a massive undertaking, Mohan said he realized over time that he could meet the challenge.

“Once it was done, I kind of realized that I’d finally been able to do it,” Mohan said.

The student also received help from Sandra Ethridge, a landscape architect who drew a diagram of the parking lot.

She also told him which roses to plant.

His mother said the requirements of an Eagle Scout service project are very stringent, but added her son was up to the challenge.

A large, dead tree took up the majority of an island and had to be removed. A friend had towing chains and used his car to uproot the tree. A minor injury also occurred, where an insect bit a volunteer.

Being a Scout also means being prepared, so the volunteers had a first-aid kit.

Many of the volunteers included older Scouts and adults. Mohan learned that aiding other Scouts with their projects in the past, whether donating time or money, came back to him full circle.

“That money that you donate to people, it’ll come back when you need it,” Mohan said. “It’s like a deposit for the future.”

About $200 in donations was not spent, so Mohan will donate it to the temple.

Though Mohan and his family are Hindus, they do not attend services at BAPS. Still, his mother is pleased with his work on the temple.

“I’m proud he did it, and I’m glad he did something at the temple,” Iyengar said. “I wish more Indian boys would become Eagle Scouts.”

Park continues from pg. 01 collection system that includes an underground water-storage system and retention basin.

Along the new 1.84-mile savannah path, local artist Anne Wallace created a sculpture installation based on the history of the area called “The Golden Age.” It simulates wildfire across the prairie in a series of nine sculptures with pieces reflecting the sun and moving in the wind.

The building, built from natural elements such as wood, was designed to reflect the local environment.

“Every component of the building is very natural... trying not to put bad things back into the environment,” Jenkins said.

Constructed with cedar planks and other native materials, the building has 11,020 square feet for educational facilities, connected porches, office space and restrooms. While there are nature centers in Cibolo and Seguin, Jenkins said the Urban Ecology Center will probably “be one of a kind.”

The facility will provide learning resources for generations to come, the former mayor said.

“It is an important educational component in our city and will

help shape the city we want for our children and our grandchildren and their children,” Hardberger said.

In addition to bond monies, the project received a $1 million Urban Indoor Recreation Grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, $100,000 from the San Antonio Water System for conservation and storage management features, and interpretive signage by the San Antonio River Authority.

Debuting recently at Phil Hardberger Park, the Urban Ecology Center provides an educational forum for today's residents and future generations, said former Mayor Phil Hardberger. Photo by Collette Orquiz

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Belden's opens fifth tire and auto shop near Castle Hills by gianna rendon

B

elden’s Automotive & Tires has opened a new garage in the Castle Hills area at 2035 Lockhill Selma Road, where Ferguson’s Alamo Garage used to be.

Rusty Belden, vice president of the company, said his family has known the Fergusons for a long time. When Charles Ferguson, the owner, died this summer, his wife sold the business, he added.

Belden’s is a family-owned business in operation since 1972. Belden’s has four other locations in the San Antonio area and Boerne. The Lockhill-Selma shop opened Oct. 15.

“For us to be in this business for so long is a kind of testament to the type of business that we run as far as honesty and integrity,” Belden said.

Belden's Alamo Garage is

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a full automotive-repair shop and specializes in both foreign and domestic automobiles.

Belden’s doesn’t do body work, but offers a full line of tires. The company also has a facility that

allows it to perform exhaust work and all its facilities are approved by the American Automobile Association.

“We’ve been very blessed,” Belden said. “My dad’s worked very hard over the years, and we have built our business on honesty and integrity.”

Belden’s offers a two-year warranty on all repairs. The shop will still honor Ferguson customer warranties, Belden said.

“We will never do any work that has not been authorized,” Belden said. “We will never do any repairs that are not needed.”

The location is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Trained automotive technicians at the new Belden's Automotive & Tires shop on Lockhill Selma Road work on foreign and domestic vehicles. The wellversed mechanics include Adam Boland (top left) and John Dornak (bottom left); the shop performs only authorized work. Photos by Collette Orquiz

Belden's alamo garage 2035 Lockhill Selma Road For more, visit www. beldensautomotive.com or call 366-1122.

Tuesday is the New Friday!

1st Tuesday Networking mixer with live music at Bohanan’s November 5th, 6 – 9 pm $10 admission with business card Historic Walk of Downtown November 19th, 6 pm The Vistana Apartments An Evening in Alamo Plaza Live Music & Food Trucks November 26th, 5:30 pm Mayor Castro’s Light Up Downtown Beautiful Holiday lights all over Downtown Vote for your favorite display November 29th – January 4th Visit our website for details: www.downtowntuesday.com Call (210) 207-3677 *On Downtown Tuesday, free parking is available at all city-operated parking garages, lots and meters after 5 p.m. Enjoy specials at more than 70 restaurants and other attractions throughout Downtown. Some exclusions apply.

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NOVEMBER 2013

Specialty olive-oil store opens at North Star Mall by collette orquiz

J

ust try it!” is the motto at a speciality food shop that wants customers to drizzle, toss and dip gourmet olive oil at their mealtimes and other occasions.

While spending hours on the Internet researching an autoimmune disease for a family member, A.J. Draz learned about the health benefits of olive oil.

Passion drove Draz to open Alamo Olive Oil Co. The store spent a brief period in the Shops at La Cantera before moving to its new spot in North Star Mall, 7400 San Pedro Ave., Suite 944, across from the food court.

"I felt compelled to pursue this venture and share the knowledge I gained with others,” Draz said.

Studies indicating extra-virgin olive oil benefits the cardiovascular system, enhances the immune system, lowers cholesterol and much more have led to endorsements from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the American Heart Association.

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The shelves at Alamo Olive Oil Co. are stocked with flavored olive and extra-virgin olive oils, ranging from lemon-pepper chipotle and white truffle to blood orange. The store also offers aged balsamic vinegars, organic Italian pasta and gourmet salts, oliveleaf tea, olive-wood products, herb and spice grinders, martini mixes, stuffed olives, cookbooks and anti-aging skin care products utilizing olive oil.

Alamo Olive Oil Co. stocks sweet and savory olive oils, vinegars and other products that are perfect for every meal and on special occasions, the owner said. Photos by Collette Orquiz

Alamo Olive Oil Co. North Star Mall 7400 San Pedro Ave., Suite 944 For more, call 525-1200 or check out alamoliveoil.com.

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“Other than our unique gourmet extra-virgin olive oils and aged Italian balsamic flavors that we offer, we strive for excellent customer service and to exceed expectations,” Draz said.

Featured in the middle of the store is a tasting table where customers can sample mixtures of oils and vinegars; it's where the store team’s creativity and knowledge of the products shine, Draz said.

“Their enthusiasm shows as soon as you allow them to take (you on) a journey of the senses,” Draz said.

The company is opening a second location in Alamo Heights next to Bird Bakery later this month.

Hours at the North Star Mall location are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

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

New Piatti brings Italian flair to Éilan

by Olivier J. Bourgoin

S

ince it opened in 1998, the Piatti Ristorante & Bar at the Alamo Quarry Market has been a popular place to meet, eat and drink.

If you are a fan, you probably owe it to yourself to visit the new Piatti at Eilan, the sprawling resort on the Northwest Side.

The restaurant's address is 17101 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 7114.

The eatery, part of a Californiabased chain, opened Oct. 30.

General Manager Dan Ward, a seasoned restaurant veteran, said the finedining establishment will try some new menu items but also stick to the favorites.

"Although we are going to be adding a few new dishes, what we are mostly going to be focusing on are consistency and continuity from the existing Piatti's at the Quarry," Ward said.

Chef Armando Diaz has worked in Phoenix, San Diego and near Milan, Italy.

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the restaurant is a combination of modern meets rustic. Wood paneling on the main wall is made from reclaimed wood taken from old barns. In the bar, the tables and chairs are higher than in the main dining room, including one large wood table. The massive, barrel light fixtures are made of gray brushed zinc and weigh 250 pounds each.

Ward hopes diners will visit the restaurant often, instead of just special occasions.

"To that effect, we are keeping in the tradition with a 'valuebased menu,'" he said.

Drinks include wines, Bloody Mary pitchers, pomegranate and blackberryflavored mimosas, punch-bowl drinks and a bar menu with shareable plates.

The new Piatti features a separate room for private functions that can accommodate 60 patrons, in addition to the 170 seats in the

bar and main dining area.

"We are also going to be offering offsite catering and we have another room upstairs which can seat about 100 people," said Jan Bonugli, the event sales, catering and banquet manager. The former owner of Massimo's restaurant and Southtown Café also spent time at Brasserie Pavil.

"There is going to be a Sunday brunch menu and we have plenty of free parking right across the way, as well as free valet parking," Ward said. "We want to offer a sense of community for the (Interstate) 10 West area, similar to what we have at the Quarry."

Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Chef Armando Diaz prepares Italian cuisine at the new Piatti at Éilan including the Niman Ranch All-Natural Pork Chop with potato fracassato, apples, fresh herbs and olive oil (top left) and the antipasti starter with San Daniele prosciutto, finocchiona, local Brazos Valley brie cheeses, fig jam, apples, nuts and pickled red onions (bottom left). Photos by Collette Orquiz

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NOVEMBER 2013

Find yourself at Lost Bar & Grill by collette orquiz

E

very Sunday for the past four years, Utah natives Donna Fisher and her husband, Buddy, would jump in the car, grab coffee and scout San Antonio for a place to open a bar and grill.

Eventually they found a suitable location to let the liquor pour, creating the Lost Bar & Grill,12730 N.W. Military Highway.

“Everything just kind of boom, boom, boom, happened, so it felt like it was kind of meant to be,” Donna Fisher said.

They opened the watering hole in late August, creating the perfect place for Fisher to get lost after resigning from her desk job. The owner had dreamed of running such a place, but she and her husband wanted to give their children time to grow up.

During the day, Lost Bar & Grill feels like a restaurant, but when the kitchen closes about 10 p.m., it is more like a bar.

The beauty of being a neighborhood pub is that patrons are not too

Introducing

www.eatwelltx.com SOuTH TexaS PRemIeRe HealTHy PRePaRed meal SeRvIce.

far from home, Fisher said.

“You can come in when it fits what you’re looking for. You want to come in early and hit happy hour and get dinner, you can do that,” Fisher said. “Or you can come in later and enjoy the bar atmosphere.”

The menu features classic bar food including burgers, wings and fried pickles. All of the pub grub is made with quality ingredients selected

by Fisher’s husband, who also runs a busy restaurant in La Cantera.

However, she added the restaurant has one menu item customers can't find anywhere else — the Chubby Melt.

It’s a burger with a half-pound angus beef patty topped with grilled onions, mushrooms and a secret sauce, pressed between two sourdough grilled-cheese sandwiches.

“It’s insane, it’s ridiculous, but it’s so good,” Fisher said.

The bar and eatery offers a list of premium cocktails, including a topshelf margarita made with T1 tequila.

But if the poison of choice is beer, there are six brews on tap, including three craft beers that rotate with the season.

Customers can choose from the owner’s favorite Utah brewery that makes Wasatch, or select bar staples that include Dos Equis and Anheuser-Busch beers.

Hint: Fisher’s go-to drink is the Ruby Red Cosmo. It’s a “light and refreshing” mixture of grapefruit vodka, ruby-red grapefruit juice and peach schnapps. The rim of the martini glass is lined in pink sugar, and she said it is not too sweet or too bitter.

Lost Bar & Grill is open 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday, and noon to 2 a.m.

Friday through Sunday.

Lost Bar & Grill serves up traditional pub grub but adds a special treat — the Chubby Melt (top left), a burger with grilled-cheese sandwiches for buns. Also available are craft beer and mixed drinks such as the Ruby Red Cosmo (bottom left).

Photos by Collette Orquiz

Lost Bar & Grill 12730 N.W. Military Highway For more, call 408-1662 or check out https://www.facebook.com/ thelostbarandgrill.

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

Supply of houses getting tighter in SA

Recent

Median sales prices mostly up in September for far North Central

PROPERTY LISTINGS zip code guide

by Travis e. poling

M

ost home sellers in the San Antonio area are getting their initial asking price as the inventory of available single-family residential homes for sale shrank in September, according to the San Antonio Board of Realtors.

In fact, inventories dipped to the lowest level in six years in September to an estimated 4.6 months supply and with sales closing in an average of 70 days, SABOR’s analysis of Multiple Listing Service data found. The more houses there are on the market, the more likely the seller is to try and negotiate a lower price or walk away for a sweeter deal, so shrinking inventory, is seen as another sign of recovery, officials said.

For the neighborhoods inside Loop 1604 between Interstate 10 and Blanco Road, closed sales were mostly flat with some modest declines in inventory driving median prices up slightly.

“We have seen our inventory getting smaller and smaller all year, making this more of a competitive market,” said SABOR Chairman Steven Gragg.

“Low inventory could result in sellers receiving multiple bids on homes located in prime locations or being able to sell closer to their asking price.”

September’s average sales price was up 7 percent from the same month last year to $205,728 and the median price also was up to 7 percent to $168,700. That mirrors

the year-to-date average and median prices and increases for the first nine months of the year, SABOR officials said.

The number of houses sold in the San Antonio area in September climbed by nearly a fourth to 2,031 closed deals.

In the 78213 ZIP code, which encompasses Castle Hills, the median sold price was up 10 percent to $107,500 and supply of inventory dropped to 5.3 months from 5.8 months last September, according to data from the Texas Market Trends Report database. The 16 houses sold for the month went twice as fast as those sold a year ago, moving on average in 79 days compared to 157 days last September.

The median home sale in the 78230 area was up 5.4 percent to $181,300 for the month and inventory dropped to 4.8 months from 5.3 months last September.

Closed sales were flat at 31 houses sold.

The biggest leap for the area was in the 78231 ZIP code area, where the median sales price for the month climbed 46 percent to $274,950 and the number of closed sales doubled to 10. Months supply of inventory also went into positive territory for the sellers’ market, dropping to 4.2 months supply from 11.8 months the same time last year.

In 78248, the median sales price dipped 12 percent to $274,900, but closed sales were up to 27 houses from 16 last September. And in 78249, the median sales price rose 6 percent to $147,467, while the number of closed sales was flat at 46.

78213, 78230, 78231, 78248, 78249

Street Address

List Price

SQ. FT.

Built

BR

FB

ZIP

6846 Mountain Spring St

$78,900

884

1981

2

1

78249

6850 Mountain Spring St

$78,900

948

1981

2

1

78249

11769 Spring Dale Dr

$89,900

1,129

1984

2

2

78249

1330 Brook Bluff

$255,000

2,424

2002

3

2

78248

526 Hillwood Dr

$189,500

2,336

1951

4

3

78213

207 Chattington Ct

$389,000

3,132

1973

4

3

78213

14711 Bold Venture St

$292,500

2,660

1980

5

3

78248

Listings continues on pg. 32

Real Estate LOCAL Trends ZIP Code Median sold price

78213

78230

78231

78248

78249

Sept-12

$97,500

$172,000

$188,000

$314,450

$147,467

Sept-13

$107,500

$181,300

$274,950

$274,900

$156,375

New listings

Sept-12

29

41

19

24

55

Sept-13

31

52

8

24

55

Average days on market

Sept-12

157

102

100

99

91

Sept-13

79

129

182

106

69

Closed sales

Sept-12

19

31

5

16

46

Sept-13

16

31

10

27

46

Under contract

Sept-12

26

23

11

13

36

Sept-13

22

27

7

14

50

Months supply of inventory

Sept-12

5.8

5.3

11.8

5.3

4.8

Sept-13

5.3

4.8

4.2

3.2

3.2

Source: San Antonio Board of Realtors: Texas Market Trends report The properties are new listings put on the market from Oct. 18-31. The properties may no longer be on the market by publication date or prices may have changed.

Local Community News assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions.

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Listings continues from pg. 31

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2203 Beacon Crk

$141,000

1,721

2003

3

2

78213

2202 Bedford Stage

$159,900

1,465

2004

3

2

78213

10205 Bull Run St

$200,000

2,000

1972

3

3

78230

3302 Litchfield Dr

$240,000

2,854

1964

4

2

78230

106 Dryden Dr

$115,000

1,462

1954

3

1

78213

15606 Wren Haven

$355,000

2,443

1987

3

2

78248

1419 Fawn Haven

$365,000

3,260

1994

4

3

78248

1703 Fawn Gate

$469,500

4,145

1989

5

4

78248

17119 Eagle Star

$465,000

3,198

1999

4

3

78248

6815 Willow Oak St

$425,000

3,596

1994

4

3

78249

422 Adrian Dr

$77,500

852

1953

2

1

78213

138 Addax Dr

$85,000

1,116

1952

2

1

78213

617 Freiling

$159,000

1,792

1952

5

2

78213

12427 Wandering Trl

$194,500

2,010

1982

3

2

78249

7339 Eagle Ledge

$219,900

2,294

2008

3

2

78249

43 Villa Verde

$389,000

2,716

1998

3

2

78230

4531 Shavano Ct

$240,000

1,962

2005

3

2

78230

3026 Briarfield Dr

$80,000

1,264

1962

3

2

78230

3022 Shadow Bend Drive

$115,000

1,874

1960

4

2

78230

6103 Oakwood Trl

$246,000

2,718

1996

4

2

78249

7314 Chainfire Cir

$124,900

1,543

1987

3

2

78249

7626 Echo Glade

$135,000

1,582

1993

3

2

78249

12703 Huntsman View Dr

$144,900

2,278

1992

4

2

78249

7530 Tantivity

$135,000

1,602

1987

3

2

78249

13206 Hunters Breeze St

$346,000

2,958

1984

4

3

78230

242 Winding Lane

$2,499,000

6,927

2013

5

5

78231

1906 Border Mill Dr

$235,000

2,871

1998

4

2

78230

9 Tilbury Ln

$1,100,000

5,412

2000

4

4

78230

3 Grogans Mill Dr

$289,000

3,300

1994

4

3

78248

9 Inwood Manor

$439,900

2,931

1989

5

4

78248

18 Inwood Point Dr

$559,900

3,670

1991

4

3

78248

11438 Baltic Dr.

$189,000

1,795

1994

3

2

78213

14118 Soapberry Cv

$189,900

2,070

1996

3

2

78249

7502 Carriage Pass

$160,000

2,021

2003

4

2

78249

3911 Forest Island St

$256,000

2,606

1978

4

2

78230

7311 Autumn Park

$159,900

2,120

1991

3

2

78249

7423 Autumn Park

$145,000

1,791

1986

3

2

78249

6327 Regency Wood

$178,000

3,020

1995

4

2

78249

13006 Bristlewood

$159,950

1,685

1984

4

2

78249

8002 Stream Water

$182,000

1,744

2004

3

2

78249

3470 River Path St

$200,000

2,066

1982

3

2

78230

114 Elm Spring Ln

$625,000

4,776

1967

5

4

78231

323 Geddington

$550,300

2,628

2013

3

3

78249

4219 Ramsgate

$112,000

1,977

1971

4

2

78230

5831 Providence Oak

$178,250

2,124

2008

3

2

78249

2811 Hunters Star St

$275,000

2,407

1984

4

2

78230

11502 Whisper Bluff St

$219,500

1,966

1971

3

2

78230

439 Wonder Pkwy

$95,500

984

1955

3

1

78213

211 Denton Dr

$62,000

1,128

1956

3

1

78213

251 Savannah Dr

$75,000

864

1952

2

1

78213

255 Savannah Dr

$85,000

868

1952

2

1

78213

5926 Woodridge Rock

$169,900

2,136

1984

4

2

78249

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