LOCAL: Hollywood Park, Hill Country Village, 78247 October 2013 by San Antonio Local Community News

www.salocallowdown.com

INSIDE

Medical guide

pg.15 Getting you the up-to-date information about your local health care provider

Vol. 1, Issue 11

HILL COUNTRY VILLAGE

HOLLYWOOD PARK

COMMUNITY NEWS NORTH CENTRAL 78216 78232 78247

10/2013

Forums help NEISD plan 21st century classroom, growth SUSANpg.03YERKES INSIDE

LOCAL COMMENTARY

pg. 12 Transforming the Future initiative

involves community meetings, input

Mill Springs Cabin gets new lease on life at Bradley Middle School pg. 10 Community bonds with school, faculty, students to rebuild living-history site

What's

INSIDE your community

pg.21 EAT LOCAL: La Mesa Come to 'The Table' for new dining experience pg.11 Dispatch fees have HP, HCV seeing red Mayors claim new fees amount to double taxation; Bexar County ending free service

fantastic deals

pg.08 North Side volunteers committed to helping homeless every day Mobile Loaves & Fishes provides food, clothing, other necessities

coupons INSIDE

Discover the city through LOCAL deals from restaurants, retailers and services in your community, and save pg. 23 money while you do it!

october 2013

From the editor tedwards@salocallowdown.com December 2012

Stubborn fat has met its match.

President Harold J. Lees Publisher LocaL is where you are. Gregg Rosenfield Assoc. Publisher president LocaL is what Harold J. Lees we do. Rick Upton

Patronize advertisers who support LOCAL

From THe eDITor

tedwards@salocallowdown.com

uring the elcomeseveral To Your FIrsT Issue oF last locAl commuNITY NeWs. our months philosophy here at the newspaper is keeping our readers I've used thisin touch, informed publisher Editorial and aware of what's happening in their Gregg Rosenfield editor's pulpit to neighborhoods street by street, business by Executive EditorAssoc. publisher thank a number business, venue by venue and even in the Thomas Edwards Rick Upton of government and education. ofcircles people for in addition, we want to help our advertisers News Staff eDITorIAl the success ofresults possible and sponsors get the best executuve Collette Orquiz andeditor Will Wright by making LocAL— the our go-to choice for LOCAL Community News Thomas Edwards consumers who want to know where the designer, Rickgreatest Fisher; reporters Collette Contributing Writers managing editor GETTING TO products and deals can be found. Travis E. Poling KNOW Orquiz and WillWeWright; our Angela Covo, Joyce Hotchkiss, Kate Hunger, know readers havetalented a wide variety of sources to NOW editorial Assistant getsales information about theour worldreaders. around them, but freelancers; the staff; and Eric Moreno, Bonny Osterhage, Travis Collette Orquiz lOOkiNg fOr here at LocAL we're taking a new approach to an old THomAs But there is one very important E. Poling, Gianna Rendon, idea: covering our local communities as thoroughly as contributing Writers Lucille Sims eDWArDs Bowlin, Joyce Hotchkiss possible by featuringyet, storiesand on the events and news group I haven't mentioned ExECuTivE EdiTor Thomas andSean Susan Yerkes and Kate Hunger that have a direct impact on your life, your family, your they are as integral to our success as neighbors and your friends. ART proofreader Army brat, grew up in • Editorial anyone else — our advertisers. We want to focus on the everyday folks in the Joyce Hotchkiss San Antonio Creative Director • ad dEsign/Editorial community as well as the news-makers; we want to Even Has cats, dogs and as LOCAL embarks on its ArT Jr. Richard Fisher what is unique and what brings us together. horses second year ofcelebrate creative Director serving public, but to do this,the we also need to hear from you – because R. Fisher Favorite movies: Ad Production you areof at our the center of what we cover. the contributions advertisers "Planet of the Apes" contributing photographers And while it's true we are supported by advertising Pete Morales (original),cannot "Star Warsbe understated or overlooked. Collette Orquiz, Leland A. Outz emaiL and value the relationships we have with our customers, Episode IV: A New thomas edwards Contributing Photographers When this publication wascontent nothing the news and editorial are independently Hope" ADVerTIsING produced byaa team ofstaffers' top-flight journalists Advertising Directors more than a gleam in few Steven Gilmore, Josh Huskin, Joshua old newspaper and photographers. or email Jaselle Luna nickname: "Kid our Death"advertisers took a gamble eyes, Michael and Sarah Sudhoff tedwards@salocallowdown.com LocAL is mailed directly each month to readers Account manager motto: Saving the world living in hill Village, hollywood Park and ZiP and invested money incountry our dream Dawn Radick Advertising one sentence at a time. As the San Antonio area codes 78232 and 78216. to help create a publication that continues to grow, knowing Advertising Director reADer serVIce This is not the only edition of LocAL we produce, but filled a gap in tonews coverage. mailing Address what’s happening just down the it is the only edition tailored your life, your interests, your community, your schools Jaselle Luna 4204 Gardendale Ste. 201 SA, TX 78229 street is harder to keep up with. and your Without organizations. their financial support Fax Local Community News monthly phone even if you didn't have this newspaper delivered to your home or business, you can Account Managers and their belief in what LOCAL (210) 338.8842 (210) 957.2799 editions have got San Antonio keep up with all the stories we cover by visiting SALocalLowdown.com. 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local our turn

Views and opinions about your community.

Employ a vet ire a veteran. They served us, now it's time for local companies to serve them. San Antonio has been called Military Town U.S.A., and with good reason — thousands of service members and civilian support personnel are employed at area defense installations. Their presence in this area pumps billions of dollars back into the local economy. And let's not forget that military members put their lives on the line daily to protect our national interests and preserve our cherished liberties. So return the favor. Area businesses should do their part whenever possible to hire a veteran. Not only is giving a job to a veteran a way to thank him or her during or after the transition to civilian life for their service to the country, it also is an affirmation of the important role the military plays

in keeping the economy thriving. Without the presence of the U.S. military, San Antonio and surrounding areas including the Metrocom would be a shadow of what they are today. Since the 1840s with the arrival of the Army, the military has been the lifeblood of San Antonio. Local companies such as Valero Energy Corp. and USAA, as well as national retail giants like Walmart, are to be commended for their commitment to hire veterans whenever possible. At the same time, government outsourcing agencies and nonprofits designed to find civilian employment for veterans must do a better job of linking up with the appropriate enterprises in the private sector. Texas alone has nearly 2 million veterans, and just under a half a million

served in Iraq or Afghanistan. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who is from San Antonio, has said it is the "moral obligation" of businesses to hire these service members. Recent legislation even gives businesses tax credits to hire veterans. Our professional military members are part of a highly trained, highly motivated force operating on land, air and sea under the most adverse conditions. These same skills can be brought to bear in the private sector, where vets can be trained to take on new tasks and adapt to new situations. Veterans Day is Nov. 11, just around the corner. So let's remember our vets. They fought hard to ensure the rest of us can continue to enjoy the American way of life. It's only fair local businesses give veterans a chance to pursue the same dreams.

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.

Watch out, religious freedoms are next Editor: Regarding the recent editorial about thought police and the City Council's passage of the nondiscrimination ordinance: Creating an issue is the issue! Those people down there on the council are very much in bed with many of the same kind who now run our government in Washington, D.C., and they are very much in favor of doing away with religious freedom, as well as a lot of other freedoms we have enjoyed since 1776. They have almost succeeded in banning God from America and are still after anyone who has the guts to post the 10 Commandments on the lawn. The council would like nothing better than to convict a local churchman for "violating" the ordinance concerning purported discrimination. Incidentally, the law passed by San Antonio is redundant: God's law has already taken that adverse behavior where some people think of themselves as better than others into account.

David Montjoye

local commentary

VIA streetcar: On the right track? by susan yerkes

ome folks are saying the VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority has gone off its trolley with the current streetcar plan. After all, it hasn’t been that long since we ripped up the streets to take out the tracks of an antiquated system that started with mule-drawn cars and ended in the 1930s, when rubber-tired buses and the automobile ruled the road. Back in 1997, the Metropolitan Planning Organization was the first group to come out with a new-back-to-the-past plan to run oldtime trolleys in the downtown area. It sounded like a modest proposal. But city planners had broader ambitions. One key idea, espoused early by Nelson Wolff — now the Bexar County judge — and a few other outspoken leaders, was a lead-in to (gasp!) light rail. In 2000, VIA took the light-rail idea to voters with a proposal to increase the city’s sales tax for funding. Voters responded with a resounding “no.” The replica rubberwheeled downtown trolleys have been the only streetcars S.A. has seen since.

Reader Comments

But that hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm of modern streetcar advocates, who point to Dallas, Seattle and other cities where modern electric streetcar systems can help spur prime “infill” development in deteriorating city cores, and connect outlying pockets of people and prosperity to each other and a healthy downtown heart. After all, VIA doesn't serve just San Antonio, but several communities in the greater metropolitan area. These days, 70-plus U.S cities, from Albany, N.Y., to Yakima, Wash., are onboard with proposed light-rail projects, from historic cars on modern tracks (as in Tampa, Fla.), to sleek, stylized streetcars that make frequent stops; to faster, sleeker models connecting far-flung areas or cities. And most are hoping to capture state or federal dollars in addition to local public and private bucks. One more reason, said S.A.

streetcar advocates, to get on track ASAP. To many folks, the idea of spending hundreds of millions of bucks to tear up downtown streets and put in fixed-route trolley tracks is just plain nuts — not the seed of mass transit, but a pricey route to ruin. What’s wrong with rubber-tired buses, operating on flexible routes? I have asked those same questions, even though I grew up in a city where urban rail has deep roots. Every day my mother drove my dad to the neighborhood El stop in Evanston, Ill., where he took the 20-minute light rail ride to the center of Chicago. These days many transportation historians credit

the El and streetcar and suburban rail lines with the 19th-century rise of Chicago’s suburbs, back before everyone owned a car. It seems ironic to me that today light rail and streetcar systems are touted as a solution to urban sprawl, knitting together communities and enhancing new growth in now-barren pockets of land along the way, such as some areas of Cesar E. Chávez Boulevard or Alamo Street north of downtown, now the backside of newly bustling Broadway. When early VIA plans surfaced a few years back, they seemed more tourist-oriented, more geared to current profit centers, than truly visionary steps toward a synchronized system of buses, light rail and even full-scale inter-city rail. A lot has changed, just in the past couple of years. The north and south stretches of the San Antonio River are coming alive with new development and new centers of community activity. The southern stretch of Broadway has been transformed – almost overbuilt — with high-rise housing complexes spurred on by the presence of the Pearl. Southtown and SoFlo neighborhoods could even outpace their northern neighbors at the current growth rate. “People said you’ll never get significant downtown housing, and look at it now,” Wolff said. “You have (the University of Texas at San Antonio) downtown growing fast, you have Broadway, you have a potential

Streetcar continues on pg. 07

october 2013 OUR GUIDE TO YOUR MONTH

Happening LOCAL

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

OCT

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 July and August).

OCT

Michelle Kuri Foundation Fundraiser This new

foundation will make its bow at an event from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Medlar’s Jewelry, 7115 Blanco Road. The foundation “will support families with ailing children who are non-verbal and non-ambulatory.” A silent auction will offer a $3,500 diamond necklace donated by Medlars, and the store will donate 30 percent of proceeds from jewelry purchased during the gathering. Brio will provide refreshments; kosher refreshments will come from Café Aroma. To attend the event, call Medlars at 342-5191.

OCT

Gardening in a Drought

Soils, mulch, watering, fertilizer and raised beds are among the subjects that Dr. Tom Harris will cover

in this class presented by the North East Independent School District's Community Education. The class is 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the district’s Community Learning Center, 8750 Tesoro Drive; cost is $27. For more or to enroll in the class, go to communityed.neisd.net and click on Home and Garden under “Browse our Catalog.”

OCT

The Hidden Forest Homeowners Association

holds its annual meeting 6:308:30 p.m. in the cafeteria at Hidden Forest Elementary School, 802 Silver Spruce St. Three board positions are up for a vote.

OCT

The Hollywood Park City Council meets 7 p.m.

at City Hall, 2 Mecca Drive.

North San Antonio Retired Teachers Association

Jerry Ferguson from the Elf Louise Christmas Project will address the group during their meeting at the San Pedro Presbyterian Church, 14900 U.S. 281 North. A “meet and greet” with light refreshments begins at 9:45 a.m., with the general meeting at 10:15 a.m. All retired educators from across San Antonio are invited. For more, visit http://localunits.org/ NSARTA/ or call Michele Bibb at 494-8197.

OCT

The Economic Development Corp. of

Hollywood Park meets at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 2 Mecca Drive.

OCT

Single Professionals Network will hold a happy

hour/social at 5 p.m. at River City Seafood Grill & Bar, on Loop 1604 just east of Stone Oak Parkway. For more on the social group, which is geared to mature single, widowed or divorced people, go to www.spn-sa.org.

OCT

Ethnobotany Middle School Students 10-14 years

old can enjoy a class that explores how different cultures use plants for medicinal

h a ppening k ey

ART

TALK

fitness outdoor Music

FOOD

purposes 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Salado Outdoor Classroom, Phil Hardberger Park East, 13203 Blanco Road. Registration is required; call 207-3106 or 207-3289. A donation of $3 per individual or $5 per family is suggested.

OCT

Whoo wants to know about Owls? There will be

plenty of facts on owls, even a look at the bone-and-fur-filled pellets they regurgitate. Instructor is Master Naturalist Patsy Inglet, aided by San Antonio Zoo staff. The program is 2-4 p.m. in the Salado Creek Classroom near the parking lot at Phil Hardberger Park East, 13203 Blanco Road. A donation of $3 a person or $5 a family is requested but not required.

OCT

Boxer BOOgie Run Alamo

OCT

Terrific Turkeys For all

Boxer Rescue, a dog-rescue group, will raise funds with 3K and 5K runs, which may be done with or without a pet. For competitive runners, chip timing will be offered. Medals and prizes will be awarded, including prizes in a variety of costume categories. Registration is $30, or $15 for those 13 and younger, until Oct. 26. On race day, it’s $35 and $20. The setting is McAllister Park, with runs beginning and ending at Pavilion 2. For more information or to register, go to www.boxerboogierun.com. McAllister Park is at 13102 Jones-Maltsberger Road.

those youngsters who want to know about turkeys but are too afraid to ask, here's the class for them at Phil Hardberger Park East, 13203 Blanco Road, in the Salado Outdoor Classroom from 10-11:30 a.m. Kids 3-6 years old can learn about wild turkeys through hands-on activities and crafts, as well as what turkeys eat and how they sound. A kid-friendly

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craft is included. Registration is required; call 207-3106 or 207-3289. Donations are suggested at $3 a person or $5 a family.

Elsewhere in San Antonio Tent Sale of Books The OCT

Friends of the San Antonio Public Library organization will hold its annual sale in the basement of the Central Library, 600 Soledad St. Books, CDs and audiobooks will go for 25 cents to $1 each. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 4 and 5, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 6. For more information, call Monica Hernandez at 227-9519.

4-6

OCT

Call for Entries/ Application Workshop

Artist Foundation of San Antonio has issued a call for applications for its 2013 artist awards – 10 $5,000 awards in visual, literary, performing and media arts; set design; costume design; and classical singing. Applications will be accepted through Nov. 12. The workshop for artists interested in applying for the funds will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 5 at Trinity University. More information and an online application form are available at www.artistfound.org.

OCT

Cinderella Children’s Ball It’s the Ballet San Antonio

prelude to its season-opening performance – a fairytale event for the younger set featuring lunch (with a special dessert), music and dancing. A ball gown for the photo ops with Cinderella and Prince Charming would be nice. The ball runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the St. Anthony Hotel, 300 E. Travis St. Tickets cost $50, or $350 for a table of eight. Go to http:// balletsanantonio.org/cinderella-childrensball/ to download a ticket order form.

OCT

Jeans & Jewels Jubilee

The San Antonio Northwest Rotary Club will raise funds for Any Baby Can and other charities with a gala event starting at 6:30 p.m. at Pedrotti’s North Wind Ranch. The Rick Cavender Band will provide the dance music; events will include a casino night, silent auction and raffle, and there will be a buffet and cash bar. Tickets cost $60; to purchase them, or for more information, call 576-5475 or go to www.rotarynorthwest.com. Pedrotti’s is at 13715 FM 1560 North in Helotes.

OCT

Green Spaces Alliance Annual Fall Gala Celebrate

land conservation, urban spaces and kids outdoors at the fundraising gala, set for 6:30-10:30 p.m. at the Steves Homestead Museum, 509 King William St. in the historic King William District. The event features food, signature drinks, performances by the

San Antonio Ballet, a silent auction, raffle and art by Dudley Harris. The alliance has worked to protect more than 100,000 acres of sensitive lands over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone. Tickets are $150 per person, but sponsorships for tables up to eight can be made. For more, visit www. greensatx.org, call 222-8430 extension 302 or email info@greensatx.org.

OCT

24-27

Texas Kosher BBQ Championship Congregation

Agudas Achim will provide kosher ingredients – right down to the condiments and sides – and any and all grillers can compete for the title. For information, including how to register a barbecue team, call Mindi Stern, director of membership and communications, at 479-0307. The grilling and family events will be at Congregation Agudas Achim, 16550 Huebner Road.

OCT

Walk to Defeat ALS This

OCT

5th Annual Weston Wright “Lighting the Way”

annual fundraiser helps provide services for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The event will be held at San Pedro Springs Park, 1415 San Pedro Ave., with registration at 10 a.m. and the walk at 11 a.m. To donate or to register for the walk, go to www.WalkToDefeatALS.org.

CONTROLLING YOUR AC JUST WENT MOBILE.

The 5K/10K Walk/Run to benefit a children's program at The San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind starts at 7 a.m. Oct. 26 at Roosevelt Park on the Mission Reach Trail. For more, visit www.salighthouse.org/ events or email nlipton@salighthouse.org.

OCT

The 3rd annual Dance with the Dead Halloween Ball Come dressed as your

favorite dead Texan and foxtrot to the jazz sounds of the East End Arcadians at the Institute of Texan Cultures, which will resurrect the ghosts of Prohibition-era Texas during a Halloween-themed event that includes a a museum ghost hunt with the Ghost Seekers of Texas and an art slam. The festivities include hors d'oeuvres, cash bar, dance contest and costume contest. The event is 8:30-11:30 p.m. at the institute, 801 E. César E. Chávez Blvd. Admission to the age 21-plus event is $20 at the door, $15 in advance or $10 for museum members. Add $5 for the ghost tour. For more, call 458-2300 or visit TexanCultures.com.

The Free Home Manager APP is here. Control your home’s electricity on your smart phone. Track usage, adjust settings, and save up to 10% on heating and cooling costs. Visit cpsenergysavers.com/homemanager

Submitting events: Email all the details along with your contact information two months in advance to tips@salocallowdown.com.

13-CPS-0915 HM Local Community News_V2.indd 1

8/12/13 1:44 PM

october 2013 Address of local business

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

Open and Opening Soon

Name of local business

2 3

fashion. To register, visit www.goodwillsa. org. Donations that are resold at Goodwill retail outlets help fund educational programs and services that assist people in finding better jobs and building careers. Store hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. For more, call 924-8581.

2. Flooring 101, 15707 U.S. 281

North, recently opened in the Hill Country Village Shopping Center behind McDonald's. The store features major brands, plus some products not available in the chain stores, according to the owner. It is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday. For more, call 402-3101. (See story on page 20)

3. La Mesa-The Table, 300 W. Bitters Road, Suite 185, recently debuted in Embassy Oaks and features Mexican food including tortilla soup. Other items on the menu are pasta, fried fish and sandwiches. It is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and closes at 8 p.m. on Sunday. For more, call 403-2106. (See story on page 21)

Whether you're in the mood for Mexican food or a dish with a Texas twist, La MesaThe Table offers many different selections to diners. Photo by Collette Orquiz

1. Goodwill, 3730 N. Loop 1604 East, has just opened its newest store at the intersection with Bulverde Road. A series of workshops are 11 a.m.-3:15 p.m. Oct. 5 to offer tips on do-it-yourself craft projects, Halloween costume ideas and

4. Brick House Tavern & Tap, 1011

N. Loop 1604 East, is opening soon in the Stone Oak area and will offer burgers, brews and pub food. According to Houston-based officials with the restaurant, Brick House has 15 locations nationwide that are "quickly becoming America's favorite neighborhood tavern." Menu items at other locations include chicken and Belgian waffles, meatand-cheese board, Shock Top mussels, deviled eggs, burgers, pizza, sandwiches,

meatballs and a host of culinary offerings. There also is a brunch. For more, visit brickhousetavernandtap.com/.

IN OTHER NEWS… Officials recently unveiled the

Urban Ecology Center at Phil Hardberger Park. The grand opening featured exhibits from botanists, ecologists and biologists specializing in the Texas Plains. The center has a number of classrooms and meeting rooms, restroom facilities and Wi-Fi. Park officials will offer programs for schools, youth groups, adult lectures and weekend workshops.

Campuses across the North East Independent School District including Stahl Elementary last month held Grandparents' Day celebrations filled with food, games and big hugs. At the invitation of the Stahl PTA, during a three-day period grandparents ate lunch with their grandchildren in the cafeteria and received a poem memento.

Monday-Friday 8:00am-6:00pm Saturday 9:00 am-3:00pm Sunday 3:00 pm-6:00 pm

Fans at North East Independent School District football games and other events now have low-fat options when they visit the concession stand. The choices, part of the "Right Bites" initiative, include fruit cups, chicken wraps, baked chips, cheese sticks and Vitamin Water. Mayor Julian Castro, NEISD board President Susan Galindo and Superintendent Brian G. Gottardy are featured in new public service announcements airing during football games at Blossom Athletic Center and Heroes Stadium. NEISD is one of the first in the United States to launch the program, officials said.

Sharon Funk, who served as head volleyball coach for 14 years at Madison High School before becoming the North East Independent School District's girls' athletic director, was honored at a recent NEISD board meeting after being inducted into the Texas High School Athletic Directors Association Hall of Honor. Funk has been with NEISD 27 years.

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MacArthur High School staff and students, including cadets

in the JROTC program, held a flag ceremony Sept. 11 in honor of the thousands of lives lost during the terrorist attacks 12 years ago in New York City, Pennsylvania and the Pentagon.

Friends, family and officials

recently crowded Hollywood Park City Hall during a retirement reception for Police Chief Steve Kwiecien. The official ceremony included presentation of a plaque by Mayor David L. Ortega.

The San Antonio Water System

and Gardening Volunteers of South Texas partnered with the Hollywood Park Economic Development Corp. to hold a recent Neighborhood Fair Water Conservation Seminar that brought arborists, irrigators and other experts to the Voigt Center to discuss environmentally friendly ways to preserve local landscapes. The event was billed as the first in a series of programs on home improvements, landscaping, conservation and more to increase home values and "maintain The Park's country atmosphere," officials said. "What Sells in HP" is scheduled for Oct. 19.

The Ruth Jones McClendon Section of The National Council of

Negro Women and The San Antonio Metropolitan Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction recently celebrated their first Red Shoe Dinner at the San Antonio Airport Hilton Hotel to benefit the San Antonio AIDS Foundation. There

were more than 175 attendees at the dinner — all in their red shoes.

Edward and Ninfa Villarreal

won the yard of the month for Hidden Forest in September. They have lived in the subdivision about a decade.

The Wurzbach Parkway overpass

at U.S. 281 is taking shape, but bridge crews aren't expected to set beams for several more weeks — possibly late in the fall, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. "When that time comes, crews will close all frontage road or main-lane traffic, as appropriate, on the side of the highway beams are being set on," said TxDOT spokesman Josh Donat. "The overpass will have four major spans—one each going over the frontage roads and one each going over the main lanes." In comparison, the bridge at Henderson Pass near the Loop 1604 interchange struck by a truck in August — which shut down 281 for several days — was a single-span beam, spanning all lanes of the highway with one set of beams.

Local student Richard Mendez

has enrolled as a first-year member of the Class of 2017 at McMurry University in Abilene. He is majoring in physics with a civil-and-mechanical engineering focus.

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Streetcar continues from pg. 03 medical school (by) Fox Tech …The game is changing. Cities are very competitive for young professionals who want to live in an urban environment. We’ll be left behind.” Richard Gambitta, former chairman of VIA’s Streetcar Committee and now a member of the powerful VIA board, also sees the streetcar as a step toward uniting S.A.'s sprawling patchwork quilt of neighborhoods, in sync with existing bus routes and VIA’s recently launched PRIMO service. The key, Gambitta said, is linking all these through VIA’s East and West Side “multimodal centers” (bureaucrat-speak for transportation centers where bus, streetcar, light rail and even rail can converge, in this case at the Alamodome and the old International & Great Northern Railroad depot) via a network of routes across the city and beyond. The West Side hub, if connected to inter-city rail, could eventually become

“a Grand Central Station” here, he said. In fact, Lone Star Rail is garnering support for an inter-city network that could stretch from Austin to S.A., Georgetown and beyond. “From the two multimodal hubs, we can go anywhere in the city, county and region,” Gambitta added, noting that savvy financing options, from grants to private investment, and future technologies, from cleaner electric to solar power, are also critical to doing this right. Like it or not, the streetcar plan is on track and gathering speed. Whether that light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming freight train of debt or a sunlit future is still unknown. I’m betting on sunshine. What do you think? Email comments to syerkes@ salocallowdown.com.

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october 2013

Mobile continues from pg. 01

Many homeless not ready to give up by Collette orquiz

ruly caring for those who have nothing requires a daily commitment, which is why volunteers with a North Sidebased assistance ministry say they are on the streets all year serving free, nutritious meals to the homeless.

“We try to be there every day, so that in the middle of July when nobody is thinking about the poor and the hungry, we’re there,” said Lisa Morgan who, along with Karen Bell, founded the local chapter of Mobile Loaves & Fishes Inc. “At least we’re there.” Working out of a small church kitchen, volunteers prepare and serve 4,100 meals a year from a catering truck to keep the stomachs of the homeless from going empty. The ministry began in Austin in 1998 and branched out to San Antonio 12 years ago. It also provides food and

clothing to those in immediate need. In the beginning, Morgan and Bell coordinated 600 volunteers. With the help of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, private funding and donations, they have been able to feed and clothe those who have nothing. As the weather cools and the holiday season approaches, many charitable organizations prepare campaigns to feed the homeless. While volunteers with Mobile Loaves & Fishes enjoy celebrating special days with those living on the street, they do not serve on holidays such as Thanksgiving so they can instead focus on day-to-day services. MLF serves up sandwiches for lunch and a hot meal for dinner. Keeping nutrition in mind, volunteers prepare dishes that include a protein, fruits and vegetables, a starch and a dessert. Most of the food is purchased through the San Antonio Food Bank, while breads, pastries and desserts are provided by H-E-B, and restaurants such as Bill Miller’s Bar-B-Q and Olive Garden donate leftovers. After volunteering a year ago with her kids during Thanksgiving week, North Side resident Wendy Barker was emotionally moved to help out more. Waking up on the third day of vacation, she asked her

children if they still wanted to participate. To her surprise, they both replied, “Well if we don’t go, who’s going to feed them?” Barker spoke with Morgan and Bell, and when a position came available, she jumped at it. Barker is the part-time paid chef, and coordinates purchases, plans meals and cooks evening dinners. Because she only works 15 hours a week, she does not always get to see what the service calls its “clients.” “I know they’re there, and I always want to make something for them that will make them feel good and be able to sleep well,” Barker said. Because the nonprofit is solely funded by donations, Barker said she tries to create healthy meals that taste good with what she has. She encourages donors to buy an extra loaf of bread when they are out at the grocery store, because one loaf of bread can feed sandwiches to 10 people. The ministry not only provides food, but also hands out clothing, toiletries and books and magazines. Morgan said the books get snatched up. “There’s such humanity there. They haven’t given up themselves, they are just members of our community who need immediate help,” Morgan said. Morgan and Barker said it is unfortunate

the homeless are stereotyped as drug addicts and lazy, because that picture is not a true portrait of most of those reduced to living on the street or hand-to-mouth. Meanwhile, the ministry could always use more help. Every job is filled by a volunteer, and currently Mobile Loaves & Fishes has about 300. Volunteers hail from Boerne to Bulverde, and they attend many different churches. Duties include ordering food, fundraising, handing out meals and interacting with the homeless. “We love all of our volunteers, no matter who they are. We’re an ecumenical group,” Morgan said. Morgan said creating a feeling of community is important, which is why she believes it is good for the volunteers and the homeless to see each other. “We’re in this together. We’re not judging you, you’re not judging us,” Morgan said. Moblile Loaves & Fishes is always looking for donations, whether it’s food, toiletries, clothing or money, volunteers said. For more information or to volunteer, email Barker at barkersintx@gmail. com, call Sandy Finleon at 494-1606 or email sfinleon@gmail.com.

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“Demand Soars For Breakthrough Arthritis Treatment FDA Cleared, Covered By Most Insurance Even Medicare” Osteo Relief Institute offers powerful, cutting-edge arthritis treatment… prepares for overwhelming demand as news of it’s amazing results spread across the San Antonio area

San Antonio TX – Arthritis sufferers can’t get it fast joint, reduces friction and allows greater motion with enough and doctors offering it can’t keep up with the less pain or no pain at all in some cases. demand. Hyalgan treatment not only lubricates the joint, but “Results are truly impressive and patients are it acts as a shock absorber helping reduce grinding, inthrilled,” mentioned the staff at Osteo Relief Institute flammation, and pain. For Spine, Joint And Neuropathy Pain located at 19016 Here’s something very important to consider: Even Stone Oak Pkwy, Suite 280. though Hyalgan IS a natural substance and is NOT conThey are referring to their innovative arthritis treat- sidered a drug, it is NOT something you can get at your ment program featuring Hyalgan at The Osteo Relief local health food store. It is scientifically researched, Institute in San Antonio, TX - 2 blocks North of Loop developed by pharmaceutical companies, FDA cleared 1604 on Stone Oak Pkwy, behind North Central Baptist and can ONLY administered by a qualified Doctor. Hospital. What’s Results Can You Expect? They’ve found that the response has been a little According to Hyalgan manufacturer, Sanofi Pharmaoverwhelming. Once patients found out there is an FDA ceuticals and their FDA clearance research, “A course approved, Doctor administered arthritis treatment that of Hyalgan treatment– will relieve pain in a majority actually works – without the side effects of toxic pain of patients for 6 months without the safety concerns of But There Is A Problem… pills or risks of replacement surgery - and has enough non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) theraEven though Hyalgan can help many patients, it is scientific research that it is covered by most insurances py. In many patients, the effect of Hyalgan is likely to not a wonder cure. It does not help everyone. and even medicare – the office be came flooded with last even longer than 6 months.” For that reason, every potential patient should have arthritis sufferers wanting to find if they, too, could be And the best part is: Since Hyalgan is a natural helped. substance; it can be used over and over without risk. If a free knee screening. You will only be accepted if we What Is This Treatment And How Does It Work? it works for you, you may be able to look forward to feel you are most likely to get the pain relief and outcome you are looking for. If you are suffering with knee (or other joint) arthritis years with less pain. That’s why Osteo Relief Institute would like to inand pain, you are not alone. Degenerative joint disease Who Should Consider Hyalgan Therapy, vite you to come in for a knee arthritis screening at no or “arthritis” affects 21 million Americans and typicalWhere Can You Get It And cost to see if you actually are a candidate for a comprely involves the weight bearing joints – like your knees. When Should You Start? According to the American College of Rheumatology, You should certainly consider Hyalgan therapy if hensive evaluation and Hyalgan treatments. All you have to do is call 210-714-2698 after readnearly 70% of people over the age of 70 have x-ray you have been diagnosed with knee arthritis or told you evidence of the disease (and the ranks much younger need a knee replacement. If you have not been diag- ing this and when the scheduling specialist answers the victims of this progressive disorder nosed with arthritis but have either phone, tell her you would like your risk free “Conquer Read This If You Have Already continue to grow significantly). knee pain, stiffness, swelling, dif- Knee Pain And Arthritis Screening.” She will know exHad Treatment Without Good The worst thing is: Arthritis ficulty walking or climbing stairs actly what you are talking about and schedule you for Results can be devastating. The pain can or loss of motion in the knee – you our first time available. During this time you can get all of your queskeep you up at night and make getshould have an examination to de…Even if you’ve failed Synvisc, ting out of bed and moving around Supartz, or other arthritis programs termine what the cause of your tions answered in a warm, friendly environa daunting task. The pain and stiff- or had “blind” injection procedures, problem is. If you have any of those ment and begin to find out if Hyalgan therapy and ness can drain all the happiness and issues mentioned, there is a very our specialized rehab program is right for you. good results may still be possible But if you would like to do this, you should call joy right out of a person’s life. good chance you already have - or when using Hyalgan and the right now. The demand for this procedure has been And up until now, treatment are starting to get arthritis. overwhelming. However, since our doctors cannot options have been limited, not that computerized digital imaging system Very Important – Do Not Wait possible screen everyone and we always makes sure good...or that appealing to most pa- employed at Osteo Relief Institute Here’s Why… and our P.A.C.E Rehab Program tients. The basic protocol has been Studies indicate that if the arthritis to give every single patient the personal attention they a steady diet of toxic pain pills un- (we do not utilize SynVisc because is caught soon enough, the cushion- deserve, we have to limit the number of free screenings til your joints completely wear out it is crosslinked with formaldehyde ing effect of the treatments com- to just 20. and other chemicals…) But… just imagine how it would feel to have much, and then it’s time to surgically rebined with our specialized rehabiliplace the knee joint. tation program may actually help if not all, of your knee pain finally gone. Imagine going the knee heal thus help avoid joint replacement sur- to bed and being able to sleep through the entire night– But Now Things Have Changed and waking up refreshed and energized… ready to take Osteoarthritis is a joint disease that mostly affects gery. In other words, the sooner you start – the better. the cartilage. Cartilage is the tissue that covers the ends Does the procedure hurt? A local anesthetic is giv- on the brand new day…without the arthritis pain that’s on bones in a joint. When healthy, cartilage allows en and the procedure is virtually painless. Most patients been terrorizing you and ruining your life. And imagine finally knowing you have a treatment bones to glide smoothly over one another and acts as a say it feels like nothing more than a slight “pinching” to manage the pain caused by your knee arthritis. Well, shock absorber. sensation…that’s it. you may not have to just “imagine” anymore… beYour “normal” knee also contains a small amount Why Treatments At Osteo Relief Institute cause Hyalgan treatments and our specialized therapy of fluid called synovial fluid. This synovial fluid is a Are So Extremely Precise thick, gel-like solution that cushions and lubricates the Our doctors are particularly well trained in state- regimen could be the answer you’ve been looking for. If you’d like to find out - at no cost to you - if Hyjoint – much like oil lubricates the engine of your car. of-the-art digital motion imaging which allows them to In osteoarthritis, the cartilage breaks down and see inside the joint and get the natural cushioning Hyal- algan can help, simply give Wendy a call at 210-714wears away and the synovial fluid loses it’s lubricating gan medicine exactly where it needs to go. This makes 2698 right now. Why wait one more day in pain when properties and “dries up.” This is like running your car sure treatments have the best possibility for maximum you may not have to? Call now before someone else get’s your free spot. with very old or no oil at all. Now as you attempt to success. This is very important beHere’s How To Get A One More Thing It’s Important… use your knee(s), there is not enough lubrication which cause studies clearly indicate that Free Screening At Ever since offering this innovative causes bones to grind together resulting in pain, swell- doctors doing these types of proOsteo Relief Institute treatment, our office has been flooded ing, stiffness and the joint continues to wear out. This cedures - without digital imaging with calls. For that reason, if when you is a vicious cycle and can lead to bone-on-bone rubbing can miss the joint space up to 30% Simply call 210-714-2698 and excruciating pain. of the time. when Wendy answers the phone call, the lines are busy or you get voice mail…just keep calling back. The posPain pills do NOT lubricate the joint or fix the How To Check Out This tell her you want your Free “Conquer Knee Pain Screening”. sibility of living pain-free is well worth problem. They simply mask the pain so you do not Breakthrough Treatment And Discover if Hyalgan can ease or the effort it may take to get through to feel the pain as your joints continue to deteriorate. The See It Is Right For Youeliminate your knee arthritis Osteo Relief Institute and schedule your eventual repercussions of this are obvious. Risk FREE pain like it has already done free screening. Hyalgan Is Very Different All the doctors at Osteo Refor so many others. And don’t forget: Hyalgan treatments And here is why: It contains hyaluronate, one of the lief Institute are extremely excited Osteo Relief Institute are covered by most insurances and two natural lubricating agents in synovial fluid. Hyal- about the response and results gan is precisely introduced directly into your knee joint with this wonderful treatment and 19016 Stone Oak Pkwy Suite 280 medicare. To schedule your free screening call 210-714-2698 now. San Antonio TX in a series of 3-5 treatments (depending on severity) would like to share it with as many over a 4 to 6 week period. This instantly cushions the arthritis sufferers as possible. 210-714-2698

october 2013

Cabin continues from pg. 01

NEISD police pursuing leads in vandalism case by Eric Moreno

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living-history pioneer town at Bradley Middle School damaged by vandals this summer will once again become a classroom for thousands of students thanks to an outpouring of community support, officials said.

The public is invited to a grand reopening of the Mill Springs Cabin from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 23 at the school, 14819 Heimer Road. “We’re back stronger than ever,” said Principal Justin Oxley. “Our wonderful community, student body and teachers have cleaned up every bit of the vandalism, installed roll-down security doors and external lighting — purchased through donations — and raised $15,306.01 through multiple community fundraising efforts.” That's welcome news for a community saddened and outraged just months ago by reports that vandals defaced the site. For more than a decade, the Mill Springs Cabin has been a popular livinghistory display teaching tens of thousands of students about 19th century Texas. What started in 1999 as a one-building log cabin grew into a frontierera town that includes a general store and a museum. Justin Oxley Each year, Bradley Middle the seventhSschool grade Texas history students at Bradley learn jobs or roles and take part in teaching Lone Star State history to thousands of fourth-graders who visit the grounds. However, the site was heavily damaged in July when a vandal or vandals jimmied the door of the cabin, destroyed many of the displays and covered the interior with spray paint, investigators said. While there had been some instances of graffiti or “tagging” in the past, this

Teacher Mike Bailey (above) has helped lead efforts at Bradley Middle School to maintain and restore the Mill Springs Cabin living-history site, which sustained heavy damage in July at the hands of vandals. The site, which includes a general store (bottom photos), offers a window into 19th century Texas life. A grand reopening is Oct. 23. Photos by Josh Huskin

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was the worst incident, officials said. The living-history program operating the Mill Springs Cabin site is independently run and receives no funding from the North East Independent School District. The community rallied to clean and repair the site, Oxley said. Faculty, students, former students, neighbors and supporters held fundraising events including a summer music festival, a bake sale, a lemonade stand and a community movie night at a nearby swim center.

Cabin continues on pg. 14

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Dispatch continues from pg. 01

Fees don't go into effect until April 1 by Lucille Sims Thomas

feud over a fee for dispatch services has the mayors of Hollywood Park, Hill Country Village and other small municipalities up in arms as Bexar County moves forward with a plan the mayors say amounts to double taxation.

On the other hand, county officials say the fee has been in the works since 2006 and the towns have known all along it was coming. The fee took effect Oct. 1. It funds the services of the centralized Bexar County Public Safety Communications Center, which handles dispatching requests for residents living in unincorporated areas and small towns. The computer-aided dispatching service used by the center is actually owned by city of San Antonio, and the county pays an ongoing support cost, officials said. Hollywood Park Mayor David Ortega said the computer-aided dispatch system put into place by the county several years ago is funded by existing county taxes that residents already pay. “Whether you’re a citizen of San Antonio, a

resident of Bexar County or a resident of Hollywood Park, Hill Country Village or Somerset, we all pay county taxes — a portion of which pays for the dispatch system that they are now wanting to charge a fee for,” Ortega said. Gabriel DurandHollis, mayor of Hill Country Village, also challenged the charges. Both cities have their own police departments. “The bottom line is our Bexar County taxes have been paying for the dispatch services all along — whether it was a new system, old system, broken system, whatever — improved system. And everyone who lives in Hill Country Village is also in Bexar County, so their taxes are paying for this,” Durand-Hollis said. The annual fee for Hill Country Village $10,200 and $19,800 for Hollywood Park. Both mayors are adamant that county

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taxes cover the fee the county will soon impose. Both said the fee will hurt their cities' bottom line as they try to balance their budgets. “Back-charging us causes tension between the municipal government and the county government," Durand-Hollis said. "I would rather have things that lessen tension and improve cooperation. I mean, that would be a better atmosphere than ‘we’re gonna charge you whenever a call comes in or whatever.’” “And remember, we respond if there is an accident on (U.S.) 281 and somebody doesn’t get out there in time. We’re not gonna worry too much about whether it’s in San Antonio, Hollywood Park or Hill Country Village — if somebody needs help, we’re gonna respond,” he added. A press release from Robert Adelman, communications manager for the Bexar County Sheriff 's Office, states the center is funded by county property taxes. According to the release, the assessment of a dispatch service fee to Hollywood Park and Hill Country Village is not akin to a double charge. Other sheriff 's office communication centers charge fees and before the

Dispatch continues on pg. 14

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october 2013

Future continues from pg. 01

Churchill High School programs paving the way by Kate Hunger

ocus groups meeting the last few weeks in the North East Independent School District are helping educators take the next steps in an initiative aimed at rethinking the 21st century classroom.

Officials say they are looking at a blend of technology and old-fashioned instruction for a roadmap to the future in a district where growth is slowing but the need for innovation is accelerating. Superintendent Brian Gottardy has touted the Transforming the Future project at various events, including six community meetings in September. “As successful as (NEISD) has been for many years, I truly believe we need to prepare our students for an everchanging world,” Gottardy said. “We need to prepare our students for 21st century

The North East Independent School District is building what could be its last middle school, named for World War II fighter pilot David Lee 'Tex' Hill, at 21314 Bulverde Road. Even as enrollment growth slows for the district, initiatives are under way to design the classroom of tomorrow based on the Transforming the Future project. Photo by Steven Gilmore

learning, 21st century skills and a 21st century world that is much different.” The strategic design project grew out of Gottardy’s participation last year in a Region 20 program, the Transformational Superintendent Collaborative Visioning Institute. Beginning with the community forums and a survey available online until Oct. 10, the process includes focus groups for students, faculty, parents and the community at large, as well as a strategic

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design committee and action teams. The district will go to the school board with an action plan in January. Technology is an important piece of the vision, but it isn’t the whole picture, the superintendent added. “Technology is not the end-all,” Gottardy said. “Technology is a tool that we need to use to facilitate this new and improved instruction. A lot of people will call it the 'flipped classroom.'"

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In a nutshell, that means ensuring students get involved with each other and educators whether it's verbal or online, often using non-traditional methods and settings. "It’s about getting students engaged," Gottardy said. "The idea of students sitting in rows and the teacher lecturing, that doesn’t work anymore like it did maybe when I was in school. Most students want to interact in groups. They want to be up at the Smart Board, they want to be doing a video about the lesson they are learning. They want to be doing interactive activities. At the same time, they’re learning, but they are engaged and having fun doing it.” He pointed to efforts under way at Churchill High School as an example of an innovative approach he hopes will inspire teachers and students. Last year at the high school, about 30 educators met regularly in brainstorming sessions to develop new approaches to teaching, said Assistant Principal Todd Bloomer, who led the five-session class with Assistant Principal James Barton. The group became a professional learning community, aided by technology such as Twitter to share ideas about best practices. A new group of teachers is participating in the classes this year.

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Cabin continues from pg. 10

Future continues from pg. 12

Thanks to the donations, the school has added two new stations to the tour to enhance the students' learning experience. A media center will help pupils research any questions they have during field trips. "This is a great example of how something bad can bring the community together, and shows how good people are,” said NEISD spokeswoman Aubrey Chancellor. “It was amazing to see how quickly everyone banded together to get the cabin back in shape and better than ever. We are definitely looking forward to the grand reopening." During the event, officials will unveil the refurbished original buildings as well as the new facilities. “This evening is packed full of fun classroom activities, tours of the cabin area and food for all our students, parents and community members,” Oxley said. The site has provided educational resources to more than 50,000 students, a figure that includes this year's incoming fourth-graders. “We’re anticipating having roughly 4,000 fourth-grade students tour the Mill Springs Cabin area this year,” Oxley said. “(This) brings us to over 52,000

But beyond incorporating technology into instruction—“Technology shouldn’t be a day we go to the computer lab,” Bloomer said—other options include giving students a choice about how they want to demonstrate their mastery of a lesson. Some might choose to make a video, while others could opt to write a paper, he said. Teachers at Churchill already have begun to change the way they deliver lectures and structure their class time, Bloomer added. Some foreign-language classes use Twitter. A math teacher records lectures on video for students to view before class, so that they are ready to “dive into things” when they get to school, Bloomer said. The goal is to answer an important question: “'What do kids need and when are they ready to learn?’” he said. And while NEISD is looking to the future, district officials are also watching growth begin to slow down. The district is building its 14th — and foreseeably last — middle school, Gottardy said. Named this summer after World War II fighter pilot and combat ace David Lee “Tex” Hill, the campus outside Loop 1604 at 21314 Bulverde Road will open in August 2014. “At this time we believe we have enough high schools,” Gottardy said. “We are building our last middle school. We have land already purchased for two elementary schools along Bulverde Road but we do not have bond money to build those schools. I believe at this time we have plenty of capacity in our elementary schools north of 1604 to handle normal growth for some time.” The district’s most recent bond project passed in 2011—$64 million, for technology and library materials—so it’s not yet time to consider an additional bond program, he said. The district is monitoring the status of a 900-acre property that recently was listed for sale. That property is one of the last remaining undeveloped areas within the district. “The mid-90s to the later 2000s we were growing quite a bit,” Gottardy said. “We grew anywhere from 1,600 to 2,500 (students) a year. That was a large middle school a year. Over the last three or four years, our growth has slowed down quite a bit, mostly because we are getting close to being landlocked.” NEISD, with an enrollment of 68,000, gained 600 new students this school year. The district, which had 46,825 students in 1997, increased by 2,044 students in 2001. Last year, enrollment increased by 374. For more information on the transformation project or to participate in the online survey, go to www.neisd.net and click on the Transforming the Future logo.

Dispatch continues from pg. 11 local charge was imposed, the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office investigated the legality of the arrangement, he said. BCSO began providing dispatch service to Hollywood Park on March 31, 2006, at no cost to the city, Adelman said. The computer-aided dispatch became fully functional on Aug. 17, 2010, with the county deferring assessment of the fees for the first year of service. This gave the Sheriff ’s Office time to examine user patterns and develop a fee structure based on a percentage of use and for municipalities to budget for the service fee, Adelman said. “The computer-aided dispatch fee is a bargain in comparison to what it would cost you to do it in-house,” Adelman said. According to a memo from Adelman, Hollywood Park paid about $40,000 a year before switching to the sheriff 's dispatch services. "For seven years, Hollywood Park has saved at least $280,000 in dispatch service fees that they would have paid to their prior dispatch center," Adelman said in the memo. Bexar County Commissioner Kevin Wolff, who represents Precinct 3, also disputes the claims of double taxation. He said it boils down to costs for services. “Your county tax pays for the sheriff ’s department and constables," Wolff said. "It pays

The living-history program that runs the Mill Springs Cabin project at Bradley Middle School receives no direct funding from the North East Independent School District. Though hit hard by vandals this summer, the community rallied to restore the pioneer-style town. Photo by Josh Huskin

students over the past 14 years.” The NEISD Police Department continues to follow leads in the case, including reviewing surveillance footage. Anyone with information can call a tip line, 599-7614, or the department's direct line at 655-2273.

"This matter is still under investigation,” said police Capt. Mark Contreras. “We encourage anyone with information to come forward." For more on Mill Springs Cabin, the grand reopening or donating, contact the school at 491-8300.

for their dispatches and their activities. It does not pay for cities that choose to have their own police force. It is incumbent upon those cities that want to have their own police force to give them the tools necessary to do their jobs.” Small cities with their own police forces can create individual dispatch offices if they don't want to help shoulder the cost of what the county offers, he added. “If they don’t want to use our dispatch system — that’s fine. Build your own. Go contract with someone else like Alamo Heights,” Wolff said, while adding that the county’s system is much cheaper than that of Alamo Heights’. He used Shavano Park as an example of a city that came to the county’s system to save money after using another municipality's dispatch service. Wolff said there are 26 cities in the county’s dispatch system, with some claiming they’re being double-taxed and others that are perfectly fine with the setup. “The difficulty for the county is we can’t do this sort of piecemeal. This is a system owned by the city of San Antonio. So the county has to pay almost $500,000 a year to San Antonio for dispatch services. So we ain’t getting it for free either,” the commissioner said. Shavano Park Mayor A. David Marne said his town switched to the county’s dispatch service not only to save money but because of interoperability with the county.

“That’s an additional service that we are requesting from them. It just so happens that they dispatch (for the Sheriff 's Office), and we’ve asked to be added to that to get a service. So we are asking for a service different from what many people already get,” Marne said. “I believe we’re getting a good service for what is a reasonable price, a reasonable cost,” Marne said. But Hollywood Park's Ortega said that in his opinion, his town has actually saved the county money. “The town of Hollywood Park has saved the county money because we have our own police force that we pay for separately. So even though we dispatch through the county, the county doesn’t have to dispatch its sheriff ’s (deputies) to assist because we have our own police force,” Ortega said. Hill County Village Mayor DurandHollis said the county has invested a lot of money in its upgraded system and is trying to get the municipalities to cover the cost. “The way I see it is, everyone in Bexar County is going to public school, but if you elect to pay more to go to private school — that’s your choice. But if you don’t elect to do that, you still get to go to school,” Durand-Hollis said. Though the fee took effect Oct. 1, Adelman said to help the cities ease into it with their budgets, they have been given until the end of April to start making payments.

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MEDICAL HEALTH CARE Helping SA go from fat to fit by susan yerkes

obody likes being called “Fatso,” but collectively, San Antonians have gotten used to it. Yet little by little, that scale seems to be changing. For years, the Alamo City's population has ranked almost at the bottom of nearly every national study of obesity and fitness, and near the top for diabetes. According to San Antonio Metropolitan Health District figures, 60 percent of the population is either overweight or downright obese. This spring, the American College of Sports Medicine’s annual “Fitness Index” placed San Antonio third from rock bottom among the 50 largest U.S cities. Now things appear to be turning around In July, Mayor Julian Castro trumpeted good news: Figures showed that from 2010-2012, some 70,000 adults — close to 7 percent of the population – dropped out of the “obese” category. More good news, he said, was a recent survey by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control that now ranks San Antonio fitter than most of Texas.

professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio with a private internal medicine practice, has stressed the need for increased awareness of health and fitness for decades. But there’s only so much a doctor can do, he said. “The medical community in itself has very limited resources to be able to perpetuate what is needed to really make a difference in awareness of preventive health," Juarez said. "I think that commitment has always been there, and physicians do their part in educating and recommending, but it takes the patient’s interest and compliance to make a difference." He added: “Employers, the community in general, all need to be involved. And we still need to educate the insurance companies to let them know that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Jan Tilley, owner of JTA Wellness, is a registered dietitian and said she is beginning to see a positive change. “My company takes physician referrals and files insurance, and we see a lot of patients with diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol," she said. “Food is such an important component of those diseases. You can throw medicine at them, but if you change the way you eat, you can cut the medicine in half." According to Tilley, “In the past few years I’m seeing more doctors who embrace dietitians as part of the solution. I know of several doctors in town who won’t take a

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Fit-living practices pushed by both the city of San Antonio and the health care community have helped about 7 percent of the population — or 70,000 residents — drop out of the obese category, good news for a region once considered one of America's fattest. Photo by Sarah Sudhoff

Castro, who has pushed fitness initiatives, attributed much of the change to a $15-million plus federal obesity prevention grant stressing healthier lifestyles. But there is another group working just as hard to make San Antonio a fit city — the medical community. Dr. Daniel Juarez, a clinical assistant

new patient until they see a nutritionist." Jenny Hagendorf, outpatient dietitian for the UT Health Science Center, agreed. “If patients have a family history of diabetes or heart disease, doctors are beginning to refer them to nutrition counseling," she said. Added Juarez: "They say it takes a village to raise a child. And it's going to take all of this village to raise a healthy city."

MEDICAL HEALTH CARE

San Antonio’s medical scene getting recognition Compiled by Angela Covo

llness can strike even the most cautious, but even in the worst of circumstances, those who live in or near San Antonio have an edge: The city is a great place to find top-notch help, experts say.

City's reputation as a hub for cutting-edge medical research, said Mayor Julian Castro. “In San Antonio, we are continually looking for ways to grow and promote our number one industry: health care and

october 2013

bioscience," Castro said. "The sector creates an annual economic impact of more than $29 billion with a workforce of 156,000."

Latest local research

• Fighting bladder cancer: Drs. Robert Svatek and Tyler Curiel, both of the University of Texas medical system, are studying why a tuberculosis vaccine — BCG— injected into a cancer-ridden bladder only treats

New research at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio funded by the Cancer Therapy & Research Center is providing more insights into chromosomes and links with cancers and genetic illnesses. Photos by Sarah Sudhoff

Although often overlooked by national media, several health institutions here are nationally ranked. The 2012-13 U.S. News & World Report rankings of hospitals and doctors ranks the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio’s University Hospital as one of the top 147 hospitals in the nation, a list pared from almost 5,000 institutions across the country. According to the magazine, University Hospital ranked nationally in two adult specialties and listed as highperforming in six adult specialties. One of the world's largest stemcell conferences is also coming to San Antonio, helping establish the Alamo

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the disease sometimes. Thanks to a $450,000 grant from the Voelker Fund, a local philanthropic organization, the doctors will study the mechanism by which BCG works and try to enhance the effect by adding Rapamycin, a compound discovered on Easter Island. • Stopping cancer in its tracks: Last month, San Antonio researchers reported in Nature, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, the discovery of two pathways through which chromosomes are rearranged in mammalian cells. These changes are associated with some cancers and genetic illnesses. “Our finding provides a target to prevent these rearrangements, so we could conceivably prevent cancer in some high-risk people,” said Edward P. Hasty of the UTHSC School of Medicine. Partial funding for that study came from the Cancer Therapy & Research Center. According to a release, the two pathways rearrange chromosomes by recombining DNA repeats naturally found in the genome, Hasty said. DNA, the building block of genes, replicates during cell division and other processes. The researchers propose that the chromosomal rearrangements occur as DNA is being synthesized. The DNA repeats, called repeat fusions, were observed in cells affected by genetic mutations. “We hope the new findings will help us better understand the mechanisms that cause chromosomal instability, which causes some cancers in people,” Hasty said. • New treatment for brain-cancer patients: Last spring, Elizabeth Allen, a spokeswoman for UTHSC, wrote about Terra Bibb, a woman suffering from a deadly brain tumor who was eight months pregnant with her third baby and visited CTRC. The tumor did not respond to conventional treatment, said Dr. Andrew Brenner. The physician and researcher was able to offer the patient a drug still in clinical trials at CTRC – a treatment that saved her life. "It was a miracle," Bibb told Allen. • Effective triple-therapy for diabetes: Local researcher and physician Ralph DeFronzo, professor of medicine, chief of the Diabetes Division at UTHSC and deputy director of the Texas Diabetes Institute, presented findings at the 73rd Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association that could change the way doctors manage the endocrine disease. The standard approach starts newly

Advance continues on pg. 18

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MEDICAL HEALTH CARE

Texas faces challenges meeting medical staffing needs by BONNY OSTERHAGE

n a city the size of San Antonio, you would think there are plenty of medical professionals to serve the population. Think again. “I tried to get an appointment with my primary-care physician when I was sick recently and was told that his first opening was in three weeks,” said one San Antonio resident, who asked that her name not be used. “I thought, ‘If I’m still sick in three weeks, I may have bigger problems.” Her story is just one example of how San Antonio, the seventh largest city in the United States, is struggling to keep up with health care demand. Yet ironically, the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio just enrolled its largest class to date with 225 students and a projection of 15 more in the 2014-15 school year. So where is the breakdown in the system? According to Dr. Florence Eddins-Folensbee, vice dean for undergraduate medical education at UTHSC, there is a bottleneck at the graduate medical education level. “There are only so many residency spots in the state of Texas,” she said. “Until we can increase those residency options, we have to hold off on increasing class size.” “Texas is almost an exporter of residencies,” said Dr. Bryan Alsip, chief medical officer at University Health Systems. “Physicians tend to settle in the area where they do their residency.” Another issue facing the medical population is the change in the lifestyle of this generation’s health care providers. Today’s physicians and health care providers

are more likely to work part-time, go into a “concierge practice” or partner with other physicians to rotate on-call hours. “This generation wants more of a work/life balance,” Alsip said. Combine those two factors with insurance issues that make it nearly impossible for physicians to sustain a private or smallgroup practice, and the problems escalate. “The current payment mechanisms make it hard on the physicians and they are very disruptive to the patients,” Alsip said. “It is a very challenging time in the medical profession in those terms.”

Healing the problem

Fixing these problems requires more than a Band-Aid. The medical community may need some extensive surgery to repair the damage. The good news is, the prep work is being done. UTHSC is working to implement changes and keep qualified physicians in Texas through a program that allows students to pre-select a clinical track in an underserved community such as the Rio Grande Valley. The hope is that the students will become invested in that community and elect to serve that population.

Catch-up program Additionally, a joint program with the University of Texas at San Antonio is in place this year where 20 qualified students pre-commit to the healthprofession track. By pre-committing and maintaining a required grade-point average, these students are given a conditional acceptance to UTHSC. “This is a specially crafted premed program for the selected UTSA students,” Eddins-Folensbee said. The program shortens training time, not to mention debt, by requiring students to complete only three undergraduate years at UTSA before the required four years of medical undergraduate training at UTHSC. “We’ve been behind for a while,” Eddins-Folensbee said. “This is a

october 2013

movement to catch us up.” University Health System is doing its part to address the issues through the addition of more facilities, which equates to more job opportunities. The opening of the 269,000-square-foot Robert B. Green Clinical Pavilion on the downtown campus, and the scheduled debut of a new hospital in the medical center in 2014, are both part of a multimilliondollar capital-improvement program. Currently, UHS operates more than 20 facilities across the community including a school-based clinic at Collier Elementary School. The reasoning behind these facilities is to build “medical homes” for communities across San Antonio, as well as increase job opportunities for those in the medical field. “We have almost doubled our staff capacity in just two years,” Alsip said. That’s not just with primary-care physicians. These “medical homes” include nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants who can care for the patients when necessary. “When we connect a patient with a medical home, he or she may have an assigned physician, but it may not always be necessary to see that particular doctor. That’s where a nurse practitioner or PA comes in,” Alsip said. “We want to make it possible for everyone to be seen.” Furthermore, UHS offers the CareLink financial assistance program that is open to all Bexar County residents. This program covers a large gap for individuals who do not qualify for or cannot afford Medicare and Medicaid. According to Alsip, however, things won’t truly change until the general attitude toward health care transitions from treating illness to promoting wellness. “We need different payment mechanisms in place and we need to start rewarding hospitals for quality rather than quantity,” he said. “We should be focusing on keeping people out of the hospitals and keeping them well.”

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Advance continues from pg. 17 diagnosed patients on a drug called Glucophage (metformin). The researcher, however, said this does not preserve the basal cells, which secrete insulin, leaving patients insulin-dependent and suffering from bouts of hypoglycemia, thanks to the addition of other drugs. “Most of these people end up on insulin, overweight and not very well controlled,” he added. By using three drugs together — Glucophage, Actos (a pill) and Byetta (an injection) — at the outset, basal cells that make insulin are preserved and the problem of weight gain seems minimized, DeFronzo said. • Possible cure for schizophrenia: Neuroscientists’ research at the School of Medicine at UTHSC suggests the possibility of using stem-cell transplants to treat schizophrenia. “Since these cells are not functioning properly, our idea is to replace them,” said Daniel Lodge, assistant professor of pharmacology in the School of Medicine. Lodge and Stephanie Perez, a graduate student in his laboratory, biopsied tissue from rat fetuses, isolated stem cells from the tissue and injected the cells into a brain center called the hippocampus. Rats treated with the transplanted cells have restored hippocampal and dopamine function.

Recognition is on the way

The Genetics Policy Institute recently announced San Antonio is the site of the 2014 World Stem Cell Summit at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter on Dec. 3-5, 2014. “San Antonio is a recognized global leader in the health care and bioscience industries,” said GPI Executive Director Bernard Siegel. For more information visit www. worldstemcellsummit.com.

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San Antonio seeing boom in hospitals by susan yerkes

ealth care is huge in San Antonio, and it’s growing by leaps and bounds. The big-box hospitals are expanding at an unprecedented rate, while clinics and specialty hospitals are popping up all over town. Jim Reed, president of the San Antonio Medical Foundation, credits “ an explosion in population, the aging of the population and a change in the way health care is delivered” for spurring the hospital boom. One of the newest trends is the growth of more emergency-care facilities instead of doctors' offices and concierge hospitals. Meanwhile, almost $1 billion in new construction is in the works in the South Texas Medical Center alone, including a massive expansion and renovation of University Hospital. The Methodist System, which owns the biggest facility in town according to state figures, is working on an $18.6 million upgrade of its flagship Methodist Hospital, $10 million-plus in changes at Methodist

Children's Hospital, and $4.5 million more in upgrades to Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital. In early September, the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, which saw earlier plans for a new $350 million children’s hospital in the South Texas Medical Center in partnership with Vanguard and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia fall apart after Tenet acquired Vanguard, signed a new memorandum of understanding with Methodist Healthcare to consider a partnership on the project. Downtown, University Hospital’s new trauma tower – a $778 million project — is under way. Methodist is working on a $50 million expansion of Metropolitan Methodist Hospital. And Christus Santa Rosa, partnering with Baylor College of Medicine and Houston-based Texas Children’s Hospital, has converted the venerable downtown Christus Santa Rosa into the San Antonio Children’s Hospital to the tune of $135 million. The major Bill Rasco chains are

you see a lot of change.

expanding their coverage area, too. The new, $10 million Baptist Emergency Hospital in Schertz opened in April. On the South Side, Baptist’s 220,000-squarefoot Mission Trail Hospital at Brooks City-Base, which opened in 2011, is already eyeing expansion. North Central Baptist in Stone Oak is undergoing a $32 million expansion, and Methodist’s Stone Oak Hospital is going great guns. Meanwhile, Christus Santa Rosa Hospital-Westover Hills is adding a $12 million medical office complex. Christus Santa Rosa Health System not long ago debuted a freestanding emergency center at Alon Town Centre and has another new short-stay surgical hospital in the Alamo Heights area. Then there’s the massive military medical presence, from the South Texas Veterans Health Care System, with $40 million in new construction coming up, a $500 million project to transform the old Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base into the new Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgery Center and the mammoth, billion-dollar transformation of Brooke Army Medical Center into the San Antonio Military Medical Center. While the big hospitals get bigger, small specialty hospitals seem to be flourishing, too. In August, Woodlands-based Victory

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Healthcare, which already operates Victory Medical Center-Southcross, opened the posh new $49-million Victory Medical Center-Landmark on the North Side at Vance Jackson Road and Loop 1604. From the biggest of boxes to the smallest of clinics, one thing is sure — patients will be seeing more and more medical care options in the next few years, officials said. “Overall, our inpatient hospital numbers have remained fairly stable at a little over 100,000 visits a year," Reed said. But that’s offset by patients being treated on an outpatient basis. “And you are seeing a lot of movement towards emergency-type care facilities rather than doctors’ offices. You’re seeing a modernization and speedier procedures as technology changes,” Reed said. “You see a lot of change in the industry,” said Bill Rasco, former president and CEO of the Greater San Antonio Hospital Council and now Member Relations Consultant for the American Hospital Association’s Federal Health Care Section. “You have the major tertiary care centers, with the trauma centers, and then you also see the larger systems reaching out into the community the way Baptist has done with its emergency clinics," Rasco said. "To me, that’s very good, since the smaller hospitals can help specific communities."

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Learn more about newest purveyors of goods and services in your area.

Flooring store caters to customers from ground up by Gianna Rendon

looring 101 is on a mission to make flooring fun and simple, owner Chase Knudson said. The store primarily works on residential flooring and is located at 15707 U.S. 281 North in the Hill Country Village Shopping Center behind a McDonald’s restaurant. Flooring 101 celebrated a grand opening in June. “I do like to try to make it simple,” Knudson said. “I try to take the headaches out of it. Come visit me and let me show you.” The store offers all major brands, many of which can be seen in its showroom. While the big do-it-yourself outlets may offer some brand-name wares, Knudson said customers can find many products

in his store the larger chains don’t stock. He also can get the same quality brand-name products for less since he is a small-business owner, then pass the savings on to the customer, he added. “Because it is just me, (customers) usually get the best prices,” the owner said.

Knudson, whose wife is a teacher, also does free estimates. Although Knudson sells a lot of wood flooring, the store also offers carpet, tile and laminate. “I enjoy what I do,” Knudson said. “I like seeing people’s faces when they remodel their house. They’re really happy. I like making people happy.” Knudson was born in San Antonio and earned a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He lives in Hollywood Park and has been in the flooring business for more than seven years. Flooring 101 is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday. Keeping it simple and fun, Flooring 101 offers major brands from tile to hardwood, and the owner says they can even get those hard-to-find items not always found at the big retail outlets. Photos by Collette Orquiz

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Owner wants to 'mix it up' with new eatery at Embassy Oaks by Gianna Rendon

fter 14 years in the restaurant business, Curtis Garcia is trying something new. “I’m just going to mix it up,” Garcia said. Garcia has just opened La MesaThe Table at 300 W. Bitters Road, Suite 185 in Embassy Oaks. He owns a pair of Garcia's Mexican Restaurants in Schertz, but he wanted to create another eatery where he could serve a different kind of food, which led him to launch his latest venture. La Mesa offers a variety of menu items, including Mexican dishes and other fare such as pasta, fried fish and sandwiches. La Mesa won't have a specialty dish in the first few weeks, but Garcia said the tortilla soup is a

hit at his other restaurants. La Mesa-The Table offers beer and wine, making it the perfect place to unwind after a busy day, Garcia said. “Come to The Table,” Garcia said. “It’s a place where you can sit down and enjoy some food.”

La Mesa’s food and service will set his restaurant apart from others, the owner added. “I hope that people will come join us, try us out and give us a shot,” Garcia said. “I think they’ll be kind of surprised.” La Mesa-The Table is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. La Mesa-The Table serves up a variety of menu items including burgers, pasta and enchiladas, with an array of beers and wines to wash them down. Photos by Collette Orquiz

La Mesa-The Table 300 W. Bitters Road Suite 185 For more, call (210) 403-2106.

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october 2013

Live LOCAL

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

Recent

North Side seeing upward trend in home sales

PROPERTY LISTINGS Street Address

Latest figures show promising growth for market By travis e. poling

edian home prices are still on the rise in San Antonio and moving faster as the available inventories shrank in August to the lowest point since early 2007. Houses in the San Antonio area sold in the busy month of August in an average of 69 days on the market, according to the San Antonio Board of Realtors. SABOR’s analysis of Multiple Listing Service data found the median sales price increased by 8 percent to $174,500, compared to August 2012. The average price rose 7 percent to $209,672. Total homes sold citywide rose 15 percent to 2,413. The trend was born out in Northeast Side communities between Blanco and Judson roads. Median price in the 78216 ZIP code moved up 3.5 percent to $150,000, according to the Texas Market Trends Report. Median prices in 78232 showed a 13 percent upward spike to $209,000 and 53 closed sales moved in an Steven Gragg average of 47 SABOR Chairman days, compared to 100 days the same month last year. The housing market in 78247 saw an 8.3 percent increase in median sales price to $149,900, while closed sales were up to 81 from 68. “August was another outstanding month

August was another outstanding month for the San Antonio market

for the San Antonio market, and it’s no surprise as we have seen steady gains in sales and prices since the beginning of 2012,” said SABOR Chairman Steven Gragg. “Median prices particularly have shown substantial growth, and part of that has to do with a rise this year in sales of higher-end homes. Since February, homes priced over $500,000 have edged close to or gone over 4 percent of total homes sold. Usually that number is closer to 3 percent.” The Texas A&M Real Estate Center reports that all the major markets in Texas have seen upward movements in housing market strength all year and sales hit record highs in the second quarter of this year. Year-to-date sales in San Antonio increased by 19 percent compared to last year. SABOR President Angela Shields said homes are selling at 97 percent of their list price.

H o u ses P u rchase d in J u ly

year-todate SALES increased

19% compared to last year

List Price

97%

Built

Zip

1422 Plumeria St

$194,900

2,064

1976

78232

$139,500

2,030

1979

78247

2202 Orange Blossom St

$149,500

2,088

1974

78247

13715 Cape Blf

$449,900

3,594

1981

78216

16122 Ambush Grv

$127,500

1,431

2005

78247

12239 Farview Ln

$279,000

2,771

1995

78216

14926 Morning Tree St

$114,000

1,480

1984

78232

3514 Bunyan

$139,900

1,962

1978

78247

14118 Shire Oak St

$164,900

2,312

1979

78247

3518 Bunyan St

$169,900

2,308

1978

78247

3351 Jenkins Dr

$203,500

2,280

1981

78247

16918 Union Cavern

$153,000

2,856

2003

78247

11902 Persuasion Dr

$165,000

2,511

1988

78216

17706 Krugerrand Dr

$219,900

3,478

1992

78232

78216

78232

78247

july-12

$145,000

$185,000

$138,450

July-13

$150,000

$209,000

$149,900

july-12

July-13

july-12

109

100

July-13

108

july-12

July-13

july-12

July-13

july-12

4.1

3.2

3.6

July-13

3.5

2.6

2.1

Real Estate LOCAL Trends ZIP Code Median sold price New listings

Closed sales Under contract Months supply of inventory

OF THEIR LIST PRICE

SQ. FT.

2038 Lotus Blossom St

Average days on market

HOMES ARE SELLING

zip code guide 78216, 78232, 78247

Source: San Antonio Board of Realtors: Texas Market Trends report The properties are new listings put on the market from Aug 21-Sept. 9. 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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