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City Council Michael Carpenter Mayor Jim Fowler Councilmember David Scagliola Councilmember Daryl John Councilmember Cedric Edwards, Sr. Councilmember Matthew Duke Councilmember
Executive Team
Editor’z Letter
John Kessel City Manager John Bierschwale Deputy City Manager Brian James Executive Director Bob Cantu Chief of Staff
By Chuck McCollough, Editor
VOLUME 30 ISSUE 10 30 Years and counting...!
PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY Public Affairs Department Linda Klepper Communications Manager Chuck McCollough Editor Chris Matzenbacher Sales Director Lucille Sims Thomas Copy Editor Contributing Staffers Erin Matlock Office Manager Mary Spence Events Manager Graphic Design/Art Direction Alexis Souza Contributing Writers Chuck McCollough, Lucille Sims Thomas, Andrea Allinger, Kari Bridges, Jim Webb, Stan Leland, Kiko Martinez, Ashley Festa, Rudy Arispe, Tom Lovett, Kaylie Kennedy Contributing Photographers Chuck McCollough, Mary Spence, Joshua Nolden, Lisa Green, Diana Webb, Bryan Tobias, Mike Harris, Beverly McCollough, Ross Dye, Marc Bane, Michael Carpenter, Bryan Nguyen, Joe Herczeg, Andrea Allinger, Kari Bridges, Catherine White, Elizabeth Leland, Rudy Ornelas, Christopher Matzenbacher, Samuel Rhodes, Linda Klepper, Patty Hocker with NASPA (North American SCRABBLE Players Assn.) Schertz Magazine is published monthly by the Public Affairs Department of the City of Schertz promoting city, community, and business activities. Our mailing address is 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas 78154. © City of Schertz, Texas The editorial office of Schertz Magazine is at 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas 78154. Call (210) 619-1630. Fax (210) 619-1619. Website is schertz.com and schertzmagazine.com
OFFICIAL FINE PRINT Send queries about articles or photographs to Schertz Magazine at 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas 78154. For advertising information: Schertz Magazine, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas 78154; call (210) 619-1630; Fax (210) 619-1619; email sales@schertz.com. NEWS POLICY Schertz Magazine encourages submission of news and event announcement items. News and event announcements must include contact name and contact phone number. All news and event items must be for activities that occur inside the Schertz city limits. Publication cannot be guaranteed. If you would like to submit an item to Schertz Magazine, email us at events@schertz.com or call us at (210) 619-1630. The appearance of advertising in this publication does not constitute endorsement by the City of Schertz. All products and services advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, political affiliation or other non-merit factor of purchaser, user or patron. Articles that appear in Schertz Magazine do not necessarily reflect the official position of the City of Schertz and does not constitute an endorsement therein. The appearance of any advertisement in Schertz Magazine does not constitute an endorsement of the goods or services advertised. Any publication of Schertz Magazine, whether draft or final is sole property of the City of Schertz and cannot be reproduced or distributed in any way, whether in print or electronically, without the express permission and written consent of the City of Schertz.
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And then turn the page and turn back time to the heyday of drive-in movie theaters and one in particular - the Starlite Drive-In Theater in Schertz.
In that spooky spirit turn the pages of this month’s Schertz Magazine and be prepared for some paranormal fun.
Husband-wife/writerphotographer team Jim and Diana Webb capture in words and photos the fun, excitement and nostalgia of the now closed theater on FM 78.
ctober is my favorite 31 days of the calendar.
It is my birth month and home to the most fun night of the whole year - Halloween.
We introduce you to Brad Klinge, a Schertz resident and international ghost hunter who along with brother, Barry, formed the group Everyday Paranormal. Their interest in the supernatural led to a Discovery Channel show called Ghost Lab and adventures far and near. Brad talks about reportedly haunted places in Schertz and the area. If this story doesn’t get you in the Halloween mood - nothing will.
The Starlite Drive-In even has a Halloween-like element. Legend has it the area has had ghostly activity in years gone by. Read the story and then find someone who went see a show there in the past and ask if they saw anything eerie. Next, turn off your TV and read about some Clemens High School folks who work on TV now or in the recent past. We profile three Clemens High School students who studied journalism there and went on to media careers.
PAGE 28 You will enjoy the stories of Ashlei King, Hilary Whittier and Jon Coker who graduated in the 2005-2007 period and went on to make their school and Schertz proud. Ready to be inspired? Read about Morgan Russell, a Girl Scout Cadette in Troop 1176 who is working on her Silver Project and improving her community. Morgan is working with Schertz Public Library Director Melissa Uhlhorn on a project to turn part of the nearby Schertz Playscape into a storybook. Morgan “wowed” Schertz City Council members when she appeared before them to explain the project and how it reflects her love of books and reading. One thing to notice. Look closely on photos of Morgan wearing a vest with badges. Then try counting them…. there are a lot.
Quiz! How do you spell FUN?... S-C-R-A-B-B-L-E. At least that will be the case when the state Scrabble championship comes to the Schertz Civic Center on October 17-19. As a journalist who once misspelled the word misspell (think single woman last name pell) I really appreciate the talent of folks who can not only get letters in the right order horizontally, but vertically too. Locals like Nancy Scott will be watching their Ps and Qs ….and the other 24 letters … in the quest to be the best in the letter scramble that is Scrabble. Now where is my dictionary? Also look for stories and information on the November election, the annual Fall Clean up and more in Your Source for Hometown News - Schertz Magazine.
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Inside...
FEATUREZ
Clemens Trio in Career 21 Brad Klinge - Ghost Hunter 25 Starlight Drive-In 28 31 Girl Scout Storybook
DEPARTMENTZ TALK OF THE TOWNZ Updatez Visionz / Chamber
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CIVIC NEWZ Updatez Election Notice
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CALENDARZ
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COVER
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Nothing symbolizes fall and October like a pumpkin patch - such as this one at Bracken United Methodist Church near the intersection of FM 2252 and FM 3009. Halloween fun is on its way. OCTO BER
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TALKOF THE
TOWNZ Three-City ALS Ice Challenge Fun Galore Three Cities – Cibolo, Schertz, Selma – and their mayors and fire departments decided to supersize the now famous Ice Bucket Challenge Thursday night, August 21, in front of Blue Bonnet Palace and raise funds for ALS research. Schertz Mayor Michael Carpenter, Schertz Mayor Pro Tem Daryl John, Schertz City Councilmember Cedric Edwards Sr., along with Cibolo Mayor Lisa Jackson and Selma Mayor Tom Daly and other officials from their cities, as well as Guadalupe County Pct. 3 Constable Michael Skrobarcek (who organized the event) got super soaked with water coming from four fire trucks (2 from Schertz and one each from Cibolo and Selma.) And then the mayors and other officials climbed onto a dunking tank to raised more money from “friends” and family who wanted to see the fundraising stars get even wetter. OCTOBER 2014
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RACAP Taking Applications for 2014 HOLIDAY PROGRAMS The Randolph Area Christian Assistance Program (RACAP) will begin accepting applications for the Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday assistance program October 6, 2014. Applications will be accepted through November 4 for Thanksgiving and the Christmas program deadline is November 26. Applications will be accepted from families in need of help for the holidays because of limited or no income, who are at or below the Federal Poverty Guidelines. RACAP welcomes organizations, businesses, groups, or individuals who would like to participate by “adopting� families, or donating food or money. Anyone interested in sponsoring a family for Thanksgiving only or Thanksgiving and Christmas should submit their sponsorship application no later than November 3rd. The deadline for Christmas only sponsorship is November 21st. This help is greatly needed and much appreciated. Donations may be dropped off at the RACAP office or mailed to 307 Pfeil St, Schertz TX 78154. Applicants for assistance must live in the following zip codes: 78108, 78109, 78132, 78148, 78154, 78247, 78233 Live Oak only, or 78266. Those in need of assistance may contact RACAP at 307 Pfeil, Schertz, Monday - Friday, 1-3 p.m. or call 210-658-1613 between those times.
Junior Achievement 5K Run Kick off the holiday season in stride! Junior Achievement of South Texas will host a 5K Run Saturday, November 1, 2014. Registration information is at www.fiscallyfit5k.com. Check-in/late registrations begin at 7:00 AM, Pickrell Park, 703 Oak St. Contact Alamo Tot Spots-Matt Duke, 210.399.4861, for additional information.
SZ Schertz Library Book Sale Oct. 17-18 The Schertz Public Library Book Sale will be held at the library, 608 Schertz Parkway, on Friday Oct. 17 and Sat. Oct. 18.
Chick-fil-A Offering Military Free Food October 13 Chick-fil-A in Schertz, New Braunfels and the San Antonio area will hold a Military Appreciation Night on Monday, October 13, from 4-7 p.m. Chick-fil-A is celebrating the military that evening and inviting all active duty and retired military (ID card hold-
Buy a bag for $3 and stuff it with great books from a wide selection of paper and hardback books for all ages. Some individually priced vintage books will be available. Hours are: Friday 10:00am-5:00 pm Saturday 12:00- 5:00 pm
ers) and their immediate families to come and dine for free at the restaurants. Chick-fil-A Schertz will also be collecting items for Operation Christmas Child that evening, with a goal of 2,014 boxes.
Genealogy Workshop October 5th October is Family History Month and the Schertz Cibolo Valley Area Genealogists will kick off the month with a Family History Workshop at the Schertz Public Library on Sunday Oct 5 from 1-4 pm. The theme of the event is “Saving and Sharing Their Stories� and will include
various methods of saving those stories as well as other ways of exploring family history. Door prizes have been donated by several genealogy vendors and admission is free. The Schertz Cibolo Valley Area Genealogists will also be sponsoring a non-perishable food collection at the
library during the month of October for the benefit of RACAP. There will be a collection box in the library. For more information contact Donna Peterson at 830-609-9006 or donna. jane.peterson@gmail.com
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Veterans Memorial Plaza Dedication on November 11 Join the Veterans Memorial Plaza Committee as they officially dedicate the Veterans Memorial Plaza Tuesday, November 11, 2014. Presentation of flags, plaza history and special recognition begins at 10:00 AM at 512 Schertz Parkway. Join the City as Northcliffe Park is dedicated in honor of Wendy Swan. Ms. Swan was instrumental in the location and installation of landscaping, tree plantings, park amenities and pool equipment at the park.
Wendy Swan Park Dedication October 20
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The dedication begins at 6:00 PM, 4601 Cherry Tree Dr, 78108.
SEEKING NOMINATIONS
STEVE SIMONSON COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Enjoy the BUMC Pumpkin Patch One of the largest and most entertaining Pumpkin Patches in South Texas is open from 9 am to sundown now through the end of October at Bracken United Methodist Church located just east of FM 3009 on FM 2252. This is the 13th year for this fun-filled event that features massive displays of thousands of pumpkins. Special displays of costumed scarecrows and fantasy characters are arranged for taking that perfect picture of your family amidst the festival of fall colors. In the evenings and on weekends there are hayrides and the special Pumpkin Patch Express Train rides for the children. Dress the children in Halloween costumes and take fabulous pictures of them enjoying their day in a wondrous setting of seemingly endless pumpkins. The Pumpkin Patch will be open seven days a week. The Church is located at 20377 FM 2252, about 5.5 miles outside of northeast Loop 1604 and Rolling Oaks Mall. For more information or directions please call Bracken UMC at 830606-6717
The Steve Simonson Community Service Award is presented annually to the Schertz citizen who during the eligibility year exhibits selfless commitment to his or her community via volunteer efforts that made a difference in others’ lives. The award recognizes people who voluntarily offer their time and talent to improve the community in such areas as (but not limited to): • health care • social services • youth or senior activities • the arts • education • justice • housing • nutrition • community growth and development The Volunteer of the Year and two Distinguished Volunteers will be recognized at a dinner in their honor. Do you know of a deserving honoree? The nomination form can be found at schertz.com under the Events category. You may also pick up a packet at the Schertz Civic Center/ Public Affairs Office Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
A celebration dinner will be held Thursday, October 30, 2014 at the Schertz Civic Center. schertzmagazine.com
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Schertz Police Department Halloween Safety Tips Choose a light-colored costume or add glow-inthe-dark tape to the front and back of the costume so your kids can be easily seen. Don’t buy a costume unless it’s labeled “flameretardant.” This means the material won’t burn. Don’t let your children wear masks — they can make it difficult for kids to see and breathe. Put a name tag — with your phone number — on your children’s costumes. Avoid oversized and high-heeled shoes that could cause kids to trip.
Avoid long or baggy skirts, pants, or shirt sleeves that could catch on something and cause falls. Make sure that any props your kids carry, such as wands or swords, are flexible. Accompany young children (under age 10) on their rounds. But make sure they know their home phone number, the cell phone numbers of parents and any other trusted adult who’s supervising, and how to call 911 in case they get lost.
Civic Center: Oct. 3-4 - Alamo Area Square and Round Dance Convention Oct. 18 - Circle of Cancer Care Fundraiser Oct. 18-19 - State of Texas Scrabble Tournament Oct. 21 - Schertz Chamber Luncheon Oct. 23 - Meet the Candidates Oct. 30 - Simonson Awards Dinner Nov. 1 - SCUCISD Education Foundation Fundraiser
Community Center: Oct. 3-4 - Beading House Jewelry/ Trunk Show Oct. 5, 12, 19 - BVYA Basketball Registration Zumba - M, W 6pm
Never go into strangers’ homes or cars cross the street at crosswalks and never assume that vehicles will stop. Give kids flashlights with new batteries.
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Schertz Magazine On Aircraft Carrier
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Schertz resident Susan Dorsey took Schertz Magazine along while she visited her husband, LT Rick Dorsey, who is stationed on the USS Nimitz.
(210) 220-6938 16895 Interstate 35 N Schertz, TX 78154
Take your copy of Schertz Magazine when you travel and take a photo of the mag and you in front of a recognizable place and send to events@schertz. com. You might just make it into the magazine.
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Scrabble In Schertz Spells F-U-N By Kari Bridges
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Organizer and Director to bring her love for the game, and her tournament friends, to Schertz.
For over 26 years, Scott has traveled around the country and Canada playing in various SCRABBLE ® Tournaments. Now, she is working closely with the 2014 State of Texas SCRABBLE® Championship Tournament
Scott first discovered SCRABBLE® Tournaments over 25 years ago when she saw an advertisement in the newspaper about a new SCRABBLE® Club that was forming in San Antonio. Soon after joining the club she was encouraged to attend her first tournament
laying the board game SCRABBLE® has become a lifelong hobby and passion for Schertz resident Nancy Scott.
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that was being held in San Antonio. “I didn’t do exceptionally well, but I enjoyed meeting new people from all over Texas,” said Scott, who was instantly hooked on the tournament play and comradery. Six months later, after continuing with the club and feeling more proficient and confident in her skills,
Scott attended her first out-of-state SCRABBLE® Tournament in Lafayette, La. She enjoyed the experience so much that she soon found herself competing in various competition levels and won several first place awards in SCRABBLE® Tournaments held in Reno, Phoenix and New Orleans. Her biggest win was the Western Canadian Championship in Calgary, Canada.
“The most important reason that we wanted to have this state championship tournament in Schertz is because of local resident Nancy Scott, who sponsored a tournament there before. The feedback from those attending that event was that folks enjoyed it and would like to have future events in Schertz,” said Mike Willis, volunteer and tournament organizer. “We are focused on celebrating SCRABBLE® in the great State of Texas. We not only have some of the most colorful and friendly players who love to have a great time and enjoy fellowship, but we consistently have some of the highest caliber competition in the country. This tournament was designed to be different from the cookie-cutter design of SCRABBLE® events -- this is like a get-together of longtime friends, letting our hair down and having some phenomenal competition,” Willis said.
“The friendships I have made have been an important part of my life,” Scott said. Scott has been instrumental in helping to bring The 2014 State of Texas SCRABBLE® Championship Tournament to the City of Schertz. The state tournament be held in the Bluebonnet Hall at the Schertz Civic Center on October 17-19.
Willis, who has spent an entire year organizing the championship tournament in Schertz, shared the process of organizing the details that need to be considered when hosting a tournament. Of course there are the typical elements to be considered, such as securing the venue, date, price, prizes, play space, food, lodging and distance that people would have to come. The organizer is also responsible for getting the tournament
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sanctioned with the North American SCRABBLE Players Association (NASPA), the current Hasbro, Inc. approved governing body. Other elements that add to the fun of the entire experience include: local activities for family members, Hall of Fame nominations, selection and induction, and Talent Show.
might think, our games are timed and each player gets 25 minutes to make all of their plays. We also keep manual score for both players just in case there is a scoring discrepancy.”
“Most of the people will be arriving from all over the state. This tournament is one of the only, and maybe the only, State Championship Tournaments out there,” said Willis, who has been the permanent organizer of the Texas event for 22 years.
Players are placed in groups of 16 based on their ratings. Ratings are gained by playing in a rated, sanctioned tournament. The better you do, the higher your rating. Typically, there are three divisions: Recreational, Intermediate and Expert.
“Playing in a tournament game is much different than playing at home or even online, it is more structured. There’s a specific overdraw procedure, a specific order of play,“ said
“Games are played in a Round Robin format where you play everyone in your assigned group one time. The best record afterwards wins. The computer software does all the pairings
Bryan Pepper, director of the 2014 Texas State Championship Tournament.
and assigns who goes first each game. The player with the highest cumulative
“It’s not as easy as you
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Scrabble in Schertz cont’d from page 15 differential is the winner,” said Pepper, who is also a volunteer and responsible for all of the administrative responsibilities such as collecting entry fees, setting up tournament software, keeping track of all paperwork, making rule adjudications, recording the scores and sending the results to NASPA for rating. “It’s like the Texas SCRABBLE® player’s reunion. Most everyone that can come usually does. Not only are we playing our favorite word game, we’re seeing all our friends that we usually see only at tournaments. We also introduce the new member of the Texas SCRABBLE® Hall of Fame if one was voted in that year,” Pepper added. SCRABBLE® Tournaments played in Canada and the United States are administrated by NASPA and its tournament committee. Players depend on the official online listing of tournament locations and dates to learn of the different SCRABBLE® tournaments being played throughout North America.
If you would like to register to play in this tournament, visit www.cross-tables.com and click on Schertz, Texas to download your pre-registration form. Mailed entries with your division level entry fee must be received no later than Friday, October 17. Rated players must be current members of NASPA. Participants much be either a Texan by birth or a Texas resident during the previous year to qualify as a contestant. Alternatively, players may participate if they have attended at least 10 State of Texas Scrabble Championships or are member of the Texas Scrabble Hall of Fame. The Hasbro, Inc. board game is sold in 121 countries and in 29 different languages. The objective of the game is to earn the most points by making up words using all of your tiles and placing them onto the game board. The more difficult the word, the more points you earn.
Your Schertz Chamber Welcoming New Business and Members! Congratulations to Christ Church, Synergy Home Care, CineMedia, Red McCombs Toyota, AMM Collision Center, and to the Chamber family!
Synergy Home Care
Christ Church
CineMedia
AMM Collision Center
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Red McCombs Toyota
VISIONZ OCTOBER EVENTS Monthly Chamber Luncheon The October 21st luncheon will feature ETC HR who will address the MarketPlace updates in Health Care for Businesses. The luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Schertz Civic Center, 1400 Schertz Parkway. General Admission by RSVP is $28 and $18 for Schertz Chamber Members. RSVP deadline is October 14th.
The Chamber’s Monthly Mixer The Chamber After-Hours Mixer is scheduled on October 16th at SurePoint Self Storage located at 17305 IH35 North in Schertz. Time is 5:30pm to 7pm. Food, beverages and Chamber Cash drawing! Admission is $10 and free to Schertz Chamber members.
Biz Ed Class – October 22nd Featuring employment attorney Alicia Haff who will discuss issues small businesses face regarding employment regulations, I-9 forms and healthcare requirements. General admission is $10 and Schertz Members are free. Breakfast provided by RBFCU. Call 566-9000 to RSVP.
SAVE THE DATE: GVEC and the Schertz Chamber present the Gatsby Gala and Awards Banquet! November 14th at the Schertz Civic Center from 6pm to 10:30pm. The theme is Gatsby and attendees are invited to dress in the period. Our entertainment will feature comedian Cleto Rodriguez and Big Band Music! Tickets will go on sale at the Chamber offices on October 6th.
The Schertz Chamber of Commerce promotes business networking, marketing, advocacy and more! Join our membership by going online at schertzchamber.org or call our offices at 210-566-9000
Kick off the Holiday season! Festival of Angels Friday, December 5 Hal Baldwin Municipal Complex
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FEATUREZ
Clemens Trio Shines In Media Careers
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hree former Clemens High School students have a lot in common: they were all athletes, they all worked as journalists during their college years and after working in different cities and states to perfect their crafts, they all came home. Ashlei King, 2007 Clemens graduate and 2010 University of Texas grad, took a route through Abilene and Tulsa then fulfilled her lifelong dream and landed at Fox 29 and News 4 San Antonio last spring. Hilary Whittier, 2005 Clemens graduate and 2009 graduate of Texas Christian University, recently returned to Texas from New York City, finding her home at FOX 6 in Houston as a lead reporter and fill in anchor.
Ashlei King
Jon Coker, who graduated from Clemens in 2006, pursued his studies at UTSA while working for KENS 5 and Trinity Broadcast by day and performing with Team Energy for the San Antonio Spurs by night. He then landed a director’s position with Motivational Productions of San Antonio in 2013. These now professional members of the media have another common thread -- their passion stems back to the Clemens High School journalism program. Although the three were only briefly connected during their Clemens years, “each added greatly to the strength and integrity of the program in their own time,” according to thenjournalism adviser Mary Holman.
King cut her journalism teeth on the high pressure, deadline-driven world of the yearbook staff, where she served three years as a staffer and then was co-editor of the Stampede Yearbook during her senior year. Whittier took the newspaper route, joining the staff as a freshman, then leading as co-editor of the monthly paper The Clemens Correspondent for two years. She was also a senior reporter and anchor for Clemens Broadcast Network, a weekly news show on the campus. Coker became the weekly face of Clemens Broadcast Network’s weekly show, but few knew that he spent each day with a camera “surgically attached to his hand” and long nights in the show’s “produc-
tion room,” a converted 36-square foot, narrow darkroom the staff called “The Dungeon.” “Those were certainly glory years,” Holman said of the three young talents’ tenure at Clemens High School. “Clemens journalism students are, year after year, kids with serious journalistic integrity and high expectations of themselves. These three are great examples of that commitment to be the best, deadline after deadline, no matter the circumstances or obstacles.”
Ashlei King Driven to Succeed A self-proclaimed “Air Force brat,” King’s long run in SCUCISD began at
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my mission to prove them wrong,” King said.
FEATUREZ Clemens Trio Shines cont’d from page 21 Rose Garden Elementary School when she moved to the area from Germany at eight years old. Joining the journalism world in junior high as a newspaper and yearbook staffer, she later juggled responsibilities as a four-year letterman on the varsity track team, threeyear varsity cheerleading letterman and three-year staffer and editor and still managed to graduate magna cum laude. Her drive to succeed has been a trend throughout her life. “The thing that drives me most is when people tell me I can’t do something; it then becomes
King’s first journalism assignment was at UT-Austin, where she served as the CBS affiliate’s UT reporter and assistant news director for Texas Student Television’s KVR News. After leaving UT-Austin, King worked for KTXS in Abilene where she won a Texas Associated Press Award for deadline editing. That led to a two-year stint working for the CBS affiliate in Tulsa, Okla., where she remembers the challenges of covering Oklahoma’s famously dangerous weather as well as the story that reminded her that her role as a journalist could give voice to those who too often remain unheard when she did a live interview with
CNN’s Don Lemon after a tragic, shooting spree in Tulsa. Blaise Labbe, director of news at WOAI/KABB, is happy to share King with FOX-SA. “I am very excited to have Ashlei join our team. She is a proven journalist who is very passionate about her profession, and we are glad she chose to come home to San Antonio and continue her career,” Labbe said.
Hilary Whittier Focused Beyond Her Years Hilary Whittier left a life as a nationally ranked competitive figure skater to join the ranks of the journalists at Clemens in fall of 2001. In her first weeks as a student Hilary Whittier
new to public school, her journalism work followed the reporting of the events of September 11. Those early days formed an unusual bond between the young journalists and helped them understand the idea that service is at the core of good journalism. “Hilary brought a sensitivity to her analysis of not only the news coverage but of human nature that got my attention,” Holman said. “She has kept that; she is one of the most genuinely curious people I have ever known.” Whittier touched lives at Clemens outside of her journalism pursuits. Former English teacher Kristy Dunn remembers her as directed and focused beyond her years, “She was not only kind and sweet, but steadfast and dedicated to really learning,” Dunn said. “Now, all these years later, I’m greeted often via Facebook with her incredible smile and a charm that is genuine, letting you know she is truly interested in your life.” Her early start proved fruitful, as she ended her time at Clemens as co-editor of the high school paper as well as an anchor/reporter for CBN, the school’s newscast run by students for students. She chalks her early successes in high school and in the industry to facing fear of failure. “Most of us have a fear of failure, which is what pushes us,” Whittier said.
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high school teachers were convinced that my hand was surgically attached to my camera.” Coker began to explore media as a career rather than just a hobby. “I’d already spent hours of focused time shooting, editing, and writing projects for the Clemens Broadcasting Network,” Coker recalls. And within months after graduating in 2006, Coker was offered a job by KENS 5-TV. As the youngest employee of the station, he floor directed, operated cameras and teleprompters, wrote scripts, edited, and hosted segments and entertainment news packages for shows including Great Day SA.
Jon Coker and wife Jaymee
After leaving Clemens, Whittier spent a year playing basketball for Howard Payne University, then made the tough choice to focus her energies on her journalistic goals. She left Payne for Texas Christian University where she majored in Broadcast journalism and psychology. After two years in Washington, Whittier landed the job that she had been waiting for since high school -- a position in New York City at WPIX as a “one-man-band” feature reporter -- a reporter who finds, writes, shoots and edits her own stories. After two years in New York City, Whittier followed one
of her lead producers back to the Lone Star State.
Jon Coker - Surgically Attached Camera? Jon Coker remembers being known as “the shy kid” among his peers until he stepped on a stage or in front of a camera. In elementary school, he performed in plays and even choreographed and directed small productions in his garage for his whole neighborhood. At age 12, he began hosting Bobcat News for his middle school and at age 15, his parents bought him his first video camera. Coker remembers, “Many of my
In addition to his studies at UTSA and work at KENS 5, Coker tried his hand at mascoting by adopting the character Kenny the Bear. “It was this promotional work as Kenny the Bear that opened doors for me to connect with the San Antonio Spurs, Rampage, and Silver Stars through Team Energy, an entertainment team for the San Antonio Spurs,” Coker said. “I spent the next three years performing with the Spurs Coyote, breakdancing, and hyping up Spurs fans with promotional games by night while balancing working at KENS and working as a dance instructor by day.” Although he enjoyed these
years as a multi-tasking media professional and performer, in 2010, he founded Animotion, a dance club geared toward helping troubled students who needed an incentive to keep their grades up, Coker decided to explore another talent. “I discovered my calling as a youth minister,” Coker said. This calling turned out to be more life changing than he first expected, as his first day as a youth and children’s pastor was also the day he met Jaymee Velazquez, his future wife. In addition to their work at the church, the two served as co-workers at the Trinity Broadcasting Network where they managed the station’s broadcasting license and produced and directed a public affairs program. Life has a way of winding back on itself. “A chance interview with a special guest from Motivational Productions led me back to my high school days when I starred in two of Motivational Productions’ high school films upon the recommendation of my favorite teacher, Ms. Mary Holman.” As a result of that interview, Coker accepted a director’s position with Motivational Productions, and currently works, still alongside his wife and administrative assistant, traveling all over the country as motivational speakers and presenters while continuing to serve their local church as youth pastors.
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FEATUREZ
Brad Klinge
Schertz Ghost Hunter By Jim and Diana Webb
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chertz resident Brad Klinge developed an interest in mysteries and ghost stories at a young age. In the summer of 1990 his family went on a crosscountry trip with one of the stops being the Gettysburg National Military Park. Brad, who had a VHS video camera, noticed a group of uniformed men moving on the battlefield. He got out of the car to take video of the event. When he later put the camera down to survey the activity, there was no one on the battlefield at all! Brad knew there had not
been time for the soldiers to exit the battlefield. He then checked the camera film and the images were visible. This was the event that crystallized Brad’s interest in ghostly phenomena and stoked his passionate interest in paranormal activity. He was interested in these things not just because they were unusual. He wondered what the scientific reasoning might be behind such activities. When he returned home, and for the next several years, he pursued research into what kinds of scientific theories, quantum physics principles, and mathematical
formulas could be involved. After graduating from college, his job required him to travel. Wherever possible, he would go on commercial “ghost tours� in the local area. On one such tour in 2005 in San Francisco, he took along a mini-sound recorder. While touring the Alcatraz penitentiary he was permitted to enter the prison by himself. He went to one specific cell and took recordings. When he later listened to the recording, he discovered he could hear voices on the tape that had not been audible to his ear while in the cell. This produced another
spike in his curiosity and in 2007, he and brother Barry, formed the group Everyday Paranormal to research paranormal activities and to see if the theories he had been developing had validity. Brad bases all of his research on the law of conservation of energy, which says that energy can neither be created nor destroyed -it can only be changed from one form to another, such as from chemical to kinetic. Soon, he was being contacted by individuals, businesses and organizations across the country to investigate phenomena in their locales. His clients even included
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FEATUREZ
Ghost Hunter cont’d from page 25 law enforcement agencies, from the local to the national level. He thinks the group’s popularity stemmed in large part because its members did not fit the stereotype of a paranormal investigator. They didn’t dress in costumes, use tools such as cards or crystal balls to make predictions, or promise particular results. Instead, they were normal folks with regular jobs, backgrounds and families. Local areas investigated included the Menger Hotel and the Freeman Coliseum.
was a one-hour show called Ghost Lab.
Around this time, the brothers were contacted by representatives of the Discovery Channel. The company was interested in procuring a quality show about paranormal activity to go head to head with other such shows on competing networks. As Brad puts it, “we didn’t go looking for TV -- they came looking for us.” The result
The show ran for two seasons – 2009 and 2010 -- with 13 episodes each season. Each episode contained two locales and two story lines. Brad explained that was the equivalent of 26 half-hour shows each season, and it required extensive traveling, research, and advanced preparation. The brothers found this job very rewarding, but also
very tiring. It didn’t allow for spending much time at home or with their families -- things that were very important to both men. (For those of you who are interested, episodes of Ghost Lab currently are available for streaming on Netflix.) After the show ended, the brothers continued doing investigations all over the country and all over the world. One of the countries in which their popularity soared was Australia. Their Ghost Lab show came to Australian TV a couple of years after its U.S. run and they found they were recognized pretty much everywhere they went. In 2012, after experiencing burnout and wanting to spend more time at home and with his family, Brad “retired” from the business of paranormal investigations.
However, he found his services still very much in demand, and a year later he was back in the business. About this same time, he and his brother, along with Kathy Passero, wrote a book on their backgrounds and experiences entitled Chasing Ghosts, Texas Style. (Copies of this book are available in the Schertz Public Library and on sites such as Amazon.com.) Of course, we had to ask Brad about possible paranormal activity in the Schertz area. He mentioned some of the older buildings, such as on Main Street where the Masonic Temple and the City on a Hill Christian Fellowship are now located. For more information visit facebook.com/bkghostlab.
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Starlite Drive-In Picture Perfect Fun By Jim and Diana Webb
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otorists driving along FM 78 between Schertz Parkway and Roy Richard Drive (FM 3009) typically will notice the large Army tank prominently displayed beside the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) hall. Some might also take notice of some abandoned structures and an old drive-in movie screen just east of the VFW. A still smaller number might look at the old drivein theater site and smile, remembering the good times they and their family and friends enjoyed at the Starlite Drive-In movie theater in Schertz.
Authentic Mexican Cuisine New food & drinks menu Full ambiance make-over! 210-888-2753 - 6032 FM3009, Schertz
The Starlite was the only drive-in movie theater in Schertz. It opened in the early 1950’s and was operational for the next three decades. Nelda and Clifton Chestnut were hired by owner Hoover Edwards, a well-known local merchant, to manage and run the drive-in. Clifton, who passed away in 1984, was an experienced theater operator. Nelda said she and Clifton were excited about his going into the Navy, because they
anticipated that he would be trained in another field. However, when his superiors in the Navy learned that he was an experienced projectionist, they assigned him to theater duties! The Chestnuts managed the Starlite until the late 1960’s. With assistance from their children (Bobby, Tim, Liz, Barbara Jean, and Debbie) as each became old enough and from some hired employees, which included longtime area resident Johnny Porter, they were responsible for all aspects of the drive-in’s operations. Their workday began in the afternoon and lasted until the early hours of the next morning. They ran the concession stand and the ticket booth, operated the projection room, supervised the children’s play area, and drove the train that circled the grounds. Also, they did necessary repairs to the equipment, did yard work, and picked-up and emptied the trash. On Monday mornings, Nelda would visit area communities to distribute flyers listing that week’s movies. Each night, one or more drivers would pull away from their slot and forget to
remove the movie speaker from the car window. Clifton, with able assistance from one of the employees nicknamed Radar ( for his electronic knowledge and USAF experience), would make any necessary repairs to the speaker itself and replant the speaker post in the ground. Son Bobby recalls starting to work with his parents at the drive-in when he was just 9 years old. Among his duties was driving the train, making him one of the youngest train engineers ever! On most evenings, it cost about a dollar per person to attend the drivein movie. However, on Wednesday nights it was just a dollar for a carload! Nelda said it was surprising how many people, especially teenagers, could be crammed into one vehicle. On Friday and Saturday nights, the Chestnuts faced the challenge of folks stowing away in vehicle trunks or climbing the fence to avoid paying the entry fee. Food and snack prices were amazingly inexpensive compared to what is charged in theaters today. A bag of popcorn was 35 cents; a large drink was a quarter. A burger basket, which included fries, was 85 cents. An interesting side note is that the french fries were made from scratch. The family peeled and sliced into fries about 50 pounds of potatoes each day. For several years, the menu also included fresh barbecue from a local merchant, Reuben Beck. Parents often used the Starlite as a babysitter, dropping
their kids at the theater and picking them up after the movies ended. Normally, there were two movies and a cartoon on the playbill. Some evenings Boysville, today a haven for needy boys and girls but then a place for boys only, would bring to the drive-in a busload of residents, with different ages coming on different nights. They would sit on the patio to watch the movie. Nelda said sometimes some of the boys would fall asleep. The bus driver didn’t always check to be sure all the boys were back on the bus before he departed. Nelda would take the sleeping boy(s) back to Boysville. However, the boys would insist she not walk them through the gate because that would only increase the chances of getting into trouble with the staff for having missed the bus.
FEATUREZ
Bobby said most of the youth who came to the theater were well-behaved and they seldom had to discipline kids. On those few occontinued on page 30
Top right: Pete Pererz holding car speaker from drive-in. schertzmagazine.com
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Starlight cont’d from page 29 casions when a fight would break out, it was his mother Nelda who unhesitatingly would step into the fray and end the disagreement. If she needed backup, Nelda said she simply had to mention calling the local police and
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annually), took a waitressing job and received, in one night tips that exceeded her weekly paycheck at the drive-in. We hope that many of our readers have fond memories
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Bobbie and Nelda Chestnut
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Make your reservation Schertz (210) 566-4222 ahead of time on our Airport (210) 404-9941 website or call either of w e l o v e yo ur d o g . n et our locations!
the offenders promptly left with no further discussion needed. Nelda explained there were several factors that influenced her and Clifton to leave the theater business. One was that the movie distribution companies moved away from charging just a rental fee for each film and began to require a percentage of the ticket sales. Later, they began charging a percentage of the total take, including concessions. A second was that labor union organizers began to employ harassment tactics in an effort to persuade theater owners to support unionization. The third impetus came when Nelda, in the off-season (the drive-in was closed during the winter
of drive-in theater experiences at the Starlite or elsewhere. Among those with specific memories from the Starlite are Schertz residents Pete and Frances Perez. Their first meeting was at the Starlite and it was the site for several subsequent dates. The Perez’s have several Starlite mementoes, including a clock and a car speaker, at their home today. Finally, we share an undocumented anecdote about the Starlite Drive-In. The rumor is it is haunted so be careful and be vigilant if you go visit the site. Maybe it’s the ghosts of all the B-movies shown over the years.
FEATUREZ
Girl Scout Turning Playscape Into Storybook By Stan Leland
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an we go for a walk? Will you read me a story?
Those two requests by children normally refer to separate activities but if Morgan Russell has her way they will become a single activity: “The StoryWalk®” at the Schertz Playscape. Morgan is a Girl Scout Cadette in Troop 1176 who is working on her Silver Award. This award requires a 60-hour service project “that will leave a lasting effect upon the community.” In deciding what to do for her project Morgan, an avid reader, was having a conversation with Melissa
Uhlhorn, library director of the Schertz Public Library. Uhlhorn mentioned a project that she had heard about called the StoryWalk® Project, created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition and the Kellogg Hubbard Library. The idea intrigued Morgan and after some research, she decided creating a StoryWalk® was something she could take on with her usual energy. She identified several popular children’s picture books and selected six to be a part
of the Walk. After contacting the publishers she was able to get permission to use each of the books for the Walk. The most recognized book of the six is “If You Give a Pig a Pancake” by Laura Numeroff. With research done and permission from the authors, Morgan decided it was time to approach the Schertz City Council to get their approval. Morgan wanted to locate the walk around the Playscape next to the YMCA and Schertz library. “I was a little nervous giving my presentation to the Council,” she said. “But they were so enthusiastic
about the idea -- I kind of enjoyed the experience.” Her plan was to have each page of the selected books reproduced onto aluminum and then mounted on a post like a sign. As parents and children walk around the Playscape they would be able to read the story together, exercising both mind and body at the same time. Members of the City Council and the mayor came down from the dais to personally congratulate Morgan for her idea. They then pledged to help spread the word on Morgan’s project. The Schertz Parks and Recreation Foundation has
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already pledged $1,000 in money or in-kind services. Morgan determined that it would require $2,250 to get the first book mounted and set up. After that, printing the pages for the other 5 books would cost $25 per page, which is about $500 for the average picture book.
the books are still needed. If you would like to make a tax deductible donation, make the check payable to Troop 1176 and send it to Morgan Russell c/o Schertz Public Library, 798 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, TX 78154. Donor’s names will be displayed on the StoryWalk®.
The City Council meeting brought the idea into the public eye and several other donors have come forward to support Morgan’s plan, including GVEC. She now has the funding to install the walk and set up the first two or three books.
“I love to read and my goal is to encourage a love of reading in preschool kids,” Morgan said. “Also, I want to promote getting outside and exercising as well.”
As word spreads about Schertz having the only permanently installed StoryWalk® in South Texas, hopefully the rest of her funding will follow. Donations for the rest of
Morgan’s initiative and energy will truly leave a lasting effect on her community and inspire other young people and adults.
CIVIC NEWZ YOUR EXCLUSIVE SOURCE FOR NEWS FROM THE CITY OF SCHERTZ
City Council OK’s Fiscal Year 2014-15 Budget, Tax Rate The Schertz City Council on September 2 adopted on second and final reading the City’s FY 2014-15 Budget of $64,008,742, which is greater than the FY 2013-14 Budget of $62,033,328. Some of the budget highlights for new fiscal year are: Additional support for Fleet vehicles and operations, replacement of aging equipment, a comprehensive class and compensation study and implementation, and the use of a long term debt model to identify the impact of future debt issuances and plan accordingly. Council also passed on second and final reading the FY 201415 tax rate of 0.4974 per $100 of valuation, the same rate overall as the current year. By keeping the combined City Tax rate the same, the City will be able to address all Key 5 Year Goals and return over $300,000 to fund balance with the intention of saving for big upcoming projects. The new budget and tax rate took effect October 1st, 2014.
Meet the Candidate Night The Schertz Chamber of Commerce will present a “Meet the Candidates” event Thursday, October 23 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the Schertz Civic Center, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Bldg. No. 5. Admission is free and open to the public. Candidates running for public office in Schertz and Cibolo will be in attendance. A question-and-answer session with the candidates will be available to the public.
City Council Ballot Information The following City Council candidates will appear on the City of Schertz election ballot for the Tuesday, November 4, 2014 Election: Mayor Michael R. Carpenter Steve White Place 1 Jim Fowler Bert Crawford Place 2 Grumpy Azzoz David L. Scagliola
Sewer Averaging Will Affect Residents, 2014-15 Bills
Mayor Michael Carpenter reads a proclamation at a neighborhood NNO gathering in 2013.
31st Annual National Night Out October 7 Texas will celebrate NNO on Tuesday, October 7, from 6-8:30 PM. Schertz residents and neighborhoods can register with the Schertz Police Department. Contact Corporal Shawn Ceeko at (210) 619-1253 or by email at sceeko@ schertz.com. NNO 2013 involved 37.8 million people in 16,242 communities from all 50 states, U.S.territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide.
National Night Out 2014 is expected to be the largest ever as the event turns 31. NNO, a yearlong community building campaign, is designed to: (1) heighten crime prevention awareness (2) generate support for and participation in local anti-crime programs (3) strengthen neighborhood spirit and policecommunity partnerships (4) send a message to criminals letting them know that neighbor-
hoods are organized and fighting back. Along with the traditional outside lights and front porch vigils, most cities and towns celebrate National Night Out with a variety of special citywide and neighborhood events such as block parties, cookouts, parades, festivals
Sewer averaging for the winter months begins on October 24, 2014 and continues through March 6, 2015, for cycle billing. Meter readings taken over this period determine your sewer average for the next billing year, which begins April 1. The readings will be averaged, and the average will be multiplied by $3.27 and that total added to the base rate of $6.83 for residents with an average below 12,000 gallons. For residents with usage greater than 12,001 gallons, that portion of the average will be multiplied by $5.15 and that total will be added to the rate of $6.83 for residential use. The resulting average will be your sewer charge for the next 12 months. For more information, visit Schertz.com or call 210-619-1100.
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Schertz Mayor Michael Carpenter New NEP Chairman In the photo below, Schertz Mayor Carpenter (top left in picture below) is shown with the incoming and outgoing boards of directors for the Northeast Partnership for Economic Development. NEP is a coalition of Metrocom cities and businesses. Mayor Carpenter is the incoming Chairman while Cibolo Mayor Lisa Jackson (sitting right) is Vice Chairman and Garden Ridge Mayor Pro-Tem Nadine Knaus (sitting left) is Treasurer. In order (right of Mayor Carpenter) are Live Oak Mayor Mary Dennis, outgoing Vice-Chairman; Converse Mayor Al Suarez, outgoing Chairman; and Universal City Mayor John Williams; outgoing Secretary/Treasurer.
SFR firehouse used in fire prevention program
Fire Prevention Week October 5-11 By Fire Chief David Covington
Change has been in the air these past weeks. Pleasant fall mornings and evenings and in-between sometimes summer hot weather are a hallmark of South Texas this time of year. October brings fall colors, cooling temperatures, ghosts and goblins. But it also brings us a message of prevention. The week in which October 9 falls is the time we celebrate Fire Prevention Week across the nation. It started in 1922 and was meant to commemorate one of the most notorious fires in our history, the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
is no argument with the fact that there were actually two great fires that day. Besides the Great Chicago Fire, a wildland fire called the Peshtigo Fire erupted in northeast Wisconsin. Still the largest wildland fire in American history, the Peshtigo Fire devoured 16 towns and 1.2 million acres and killed 1,152 people.
Rumor has it the fire started with the kick of Mrs. O’Leary’s cow, knocking over a lantern while being milked. Some 250 people died and 100,000 were left homeless in a fire that burned 17,400 buildings, which is about the size of Schertz.
Each October reminds us of how fragile we are when it comes to fire, and each year, Schertz Fire Rescue, like so many other fire departments across the country, will gear up for Fire Prevention Week by giving public talks and visiting schoolchildren to get the message out. This year the message is: “Prevent Kitchen Fires.” More fires start in the kitchen than any other room in the house.
While the guilt of the cow is disputed to this day, there
Schertz Fire Rescue Department will focus on home fire safety and protecting families. For more information on Fire Prevention Week, go to www.fpw.org.
Are You Ready for the
November 4 Election?
SPECIAL SECTION NOTICE OF GENERAL ELECTION
ADVISO DE ELECCION GENERAL
To the registered voters of the City of Schertz: Notice is hereby given that the polling places listed below will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., November 4, 2014, for voting in the general election to elect Councilmembers for Place 1, Place 2 and for Mayor.
A los votantes registrados de la Ciudad de Schertz: Se hace saber que las casillas electorales sitados abajo se abrirán desde las 7:00 am a 7:00 pm, 4 de noviembre de 2014 para votar en las elecciones generales para elegir a los concejales del Place 1, Place 2 y para el cargo de Alcalde.
Locations of Early Voting Polling Places: Early voting by personal appearance will be conducted as listed below:
Direcciones de las Casillas Electorales: La votación adelantada por comparecencia personal se llevará a cabo se enumeran a continuación:
Applications for ballot by mail shall be mailed to: Guadalupe County Early Voting Clerk, P.O. Box 1346, Seguin, Texas 781561346; Bexar County Early Voting Clerk, Jacque Callanen, 203 W. Nueva, Suite 3.61, San Antonio, Texas 78207-4045. Applications for ballots by mail must be received no later than the close of business on October 24, 2014.
Las solicitudes para boletas que se votaran adelantada por correo deberan enviarse a: Condado de Guadalupe que temprano vota a oficinista, P. O. Box 1346, Seguin, Texas 78156-1346; Condado de Bexar que temprano vota a oficinista, Jacque Callanen, 203 W. Nueva, Suite 3.61, San Antonio, Texas 78207-4045. Las solicitudes para boletas que se votaran adelantada por correo deberan recibirse para el fin de las horas de negocio el 24 de Octubre, 2014.
Guadalupe & Comal Counties’ Location, Dates & Hours of Main Early Voting Polling Location (Lugar, Fechas y Horas de los Centros Principales de Votación para la Votación Anticipada)
Guadalupe & Comal Counties: Monday, Oct. 20th through Friday, Oct. 24th, 2014 Lunes, 20 de Oct. hasta el Viernes, 24 de Oct. de 2014 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. de 8:00 de la manana a las 5:00 de tarde Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014 Sabado, 25 de Oct. 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. de 7:00 de la manana a las 7:00 de la tarde Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014 – 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Domingo, 26 de Oct., 2014 – de 1:00 de la tarde a las 6:00 de la tarde Monday, Oct. 27th through Friday, Oct. 31st, 2014 Lunes, 27 de Oct. hasta el Viernes, 31 de Oct. de 2014 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. de 7:00 de la manana a las 7:00 de tarde Guadalupe & Comal Counties: Seguin Elections Office-215 So. Milan Street, Seguin, TX (Main Early Voting Location)
Grace Memorial Church-3240 FM725-New Braunfels, TX
Central Texas Technology Center-Room 118 Conference Room, 2189 FM 758, New Braunfels, TX
Schertz Elections Office Annex-1101 Elbel Rd.-Schertz, TX
New Berlin Community Center-8815 FM 775-New Berlin, TX. (See page 43 for Bexar County early voting locations.)
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CITY OF SCHERTZ AND BEXAR COUNTY JOINT GENERAL ELECTION
NOVEMBER 4, 2014
For more information contact the office of the Bexar County Elections Administrator, Jacquelyn F. Callanen, at (210) 335-VOTE (8683)
THE HOURS OF EARLY VOTING WILL BE: Monday, Oct. 20th through Friday, Oct. 24th, 2014 Lunes, 20 de Oct. hasta el Viernes, 24 de Oct. de 2014 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. de 8:00 de la manana a las 6:00 de tarde Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014 Sabado, 25 de Oct. de 2014 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. de 8:00 de la manana a las 8:00 de la tarde Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014 – 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Domingo, 26 de Oct., 2014 – de 12:00 de la tarde a las 6:00 de la tarde
Bexar County Main Early Voting Location: BEXAR COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER
300 Dolorosa (DEAFLINK available for the hearing impaired) In addition to the main early polling place, early voting will be conducted at the following locations: BROOKHOLLOW LIBRARY 530 Heimer Road CASTLE HILLS CITY HALL (SE CORNER OF COUNCIL CHAMBERS) 209 Lemonwood Dr. CLAUDE BLACK CENTER 2805 East Commerce CODY LIBRARY 11441 Vance Jackson COLLINS GARDEN LIBRARY 200 North Park CONVERSE ED KNEUPPER JUSTICE CENTER 402 S. Seguin Rd COPERNICUS COMMUNITY CENTER 5003 Lord Rd. EAST CENTRAL ISD ADMIN BUILDING 6634 New Sulphur Springs Road ENCINO PARK COMMUNITY CENTER 1923 Encino Rio FAIR OAKS RANCH CITY HALL (COUNCIL CHAMBERS) 7286 Dietz Elkhorn GREAT NORTHWEST LIBRARY 9050 Wellwood HENRY A. GUERRA, JR. LIBRARY 7978 W Military Dr. JOHN IGO LIBRARY 13330 Kyle Seale Pkwy JOHNSTON LIBRARY 6307 Sun Valley Dr. JULIA YATES SEMMES LIBRARY @ Comanche Lookout Park 15060 Judson Road LAS PALMAS LIBRARY 1515 Castroville Road LEON VALLEY CONFERENCE CENTER 6421 Evers Rd LION’S FIELD 2809 Broadway MAURY MAVERICK, JR. LIBRARY 8700 Mystic Park
MCCRELESS LIBRARY 1023 Ada Street MEMORIAL LIBRARY 3222 Culebra MIGUEL CARRILLO, JR. ELEMENTARY 500 Price Ave. MISSION LIBRARY 3134 Roosevelt Ave. NORTHSIDE ACTIVITY CENTER 7001 Culebra NORTHWEST VISTA COLLEGE 3535 N. Ellison Dr. OLMOS CITY HALL 120 El Prado W PALO ALTO COLLEGE 1400 W. Villaret Blvd. PARMAN LIBRARY@Stone Oak 20735 Wilderness Oak PRECINCT 1 SATELLITE OFFICE 3505 Pleasanton Rd. SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY COLLEGE (ECO Centro Bldg) 1802 N. Main SHAVANO PARK CITY HALL (COUNCIL CHAMBER) 900 Saddletree Ct SOMERSET HIGH SCHOOL 7650 South 1604 West SOUTHSIDE ISD ADMIN BLDG (BOARD ROOM) 1460 Martinez-Losoya SOUTH PARK MALL 2310 S.W. Military THOUSAND OAKS/EL SENDERO LIBRARY 4618 Thousand Oaks TOBIN LIBRARY @OAKWELL 4134 Harry Wurzbach UNIVERSAL CITY – CITY HALL. 2150 Universal City Blvd. UTSA 6900 N Loop 1604 W WINDCREST TAKAS PARK CIVIC CENTER 9310 Jim Seal Dr. WONDERLAND MALL OF THE AMERICAS @ CROSSROADS 4522 Fredericksburg
SPECIAL SECTION
Monday, Oct. 27th through Friday, Oct. 31st, 2014 Lunes, 27 de Oct. hasta el Viernes, 31 de Oct. de 2014 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. de 8:00 de la manana a las 8:00 de tarde
Applications for Ballot by Mail shall be mailed to: (Las solicitudes para boletas que se votaran adelantada por correo deberan enviarse a:) Jacquelyn F. Callanen, Elections Administrator, 203 W. Nueva, Ste. 3.61, San Antonio, 78207 Applications for Ballots by Mail must be received no later than the close of business on Oct. 24, 2014. (Las solicitudes para boletas que se votaran adelantada por correo deberan recibirse para el fin de las horas de negocio el 24 de Oct., 2014.)
***Check City website at schertz.com. schertzmagazine.com
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Use or Lose Your Insurance Benefits BeforeYear End Leigha M. Nielsen, OD 17460 IH 35 North, Suite 412 Schertz, TX 78154
210.590.2482
www.schertztso.com
Caring for the Eyes of Texas
PLEASE JOIN US AT Best Friendz FOR THE
FALL & HALLOWEEN TROLLBEADS EVENT
Fri. Oct. 3rd - Tues. Oct 7th Buy 3 Beads, Get 4th Bead Free 824 Main St. Schertz | 210-231-0403 Mon-Fri 10-6 Sat 10-5
Hand-made crafters needed!
ELECTION DAY NOVEMBER 4, 2014 POLLING PLACES (UBICACIÓN DE LAS CASILLAS ELECTORALES EL DÍA DE ELECCIÓN) Polls Open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Comal County:
Guadalupe County:
Precinct 303 Schertz Elections Office 1101 Elbel Rd., Schertz 304 Schertz United Methodist Church, 3460 Roy Richard Dr., Schertz 305 Selma City Hall, 9375 Corporate Dr., Selma 306 Crosspoint Fellowship Church, 2600 Roy Richard Drive, Schertz 401 Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 212 N. Barnett St., Marion 402 Schertz Community Center, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz 403 Knights of Columbus Hall, 509 Schertz Pkwy., Schertz 404 Schertz Community Center North, 3501 Morning Dr., Cibolo 409 Elaine S. Schlather Intermediate School, 230 Elaine S. Schlather Pkwy., Cibolo
Bexar County Precinct 4087, 4126, and 4127 Ray D. Corbett Junior High 12000 Ray Corbett Drive
SPECIAL SECTION cont’d
Precinct 202 John Paul II Catholic High School, 6720 FM 482, New Braunfels 301 Westside Community Center, 2932 So. IH 35, New Braunfels
For more information contact the office of the Bexar County Elections Administrator, Jacquelyn F. Callanen, at (210) 335-VOTE (8683) (Para mas informacion comuniquese con oficina del Condado de Bexar Administrador de Elecciones, Jacquelyn F. Callanen, al telefono (210) 335VOTE (8683)
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Dr. Mark Penshorn of Penshorn Dental
*Valid on PAD0101. See store for details. Offer expires 12/31/14.
ANY SINGLE ITEM* (EXCLUDES SLI)
*Offer good on single item. Not valid on automotive, marine/RV, lawn & garden, powersports and golf cart batteries. Valid one coupon per customer, per visit. Not valid with other offers or discounts. Valid on retail purchases at participating stores only. See store for details. COUP960 Ø1Ø1BBØ18 Expires 11/30/14
LAYOUT REVIEW
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CW/PR
CD
PM
Initials:
Initials:
AD
BP
AV
Date:
Date:
SA
ET
CW = Copy Writer, PR = Proof Reader, CD = Comm. Director, AD = Art Director, SA = Studio Artist, PM = Project Mgr., AV = Alan, BP = Bus. Partner, ET = Enterprise Teammate
Looking Back
October
Quote of Note
“Man is a history-making creature who can neither repeat his past nor leave it behind!”
Author - W.H. Auden, The Dyer’s Hand
Local History
On October 22 1843, 129 passengers aboard the Jen Key DeTeau sail ship in Antwerp, Belgium, set sail for a 72-day voyage to Texas under the sponsorship of Impresario Henri Castro, who promised the colonists free land west of San Antonio, Texas (Castroville). Among those on board were nine members of the Joseph Schertz family and a son-in-law (Pierre Mergele). The Schertz family left four children at home in Riedisheim, (Alsace) France for later travel to Texas. This small group of Alsatians would become the first and most influential founders of the community we today call Schertz, Texas.
Texas History
The first of several large groups of Irish immigrants arrive to settle in South Texas (October 1829). The opening battle of the Texas Revolution occurs on October 2, 1832 when Mexican troops entered Gonzales, Texas. The first Congress of the Republic of Texas convened at Columbia, Texas. On October 13, 1845, Texas voters approved annexation, the state constitution and the annexation ordinance. On October 4, 1876, Texas A&M College opens at College Station becoming the first institution of higher learning in the state.
Presented by the Schertz Historical Preservation Committee in the interest of historical perspective and community awareness of local historical legacies. For more information, go to schertz.com
CITY CALENDARZ
Annual Events: October
National Night Out; Tuesday, October 7 Fire Prevention Week; October 5-11 Steve Simonson Volunteer of the Year/ Board and Commission Recognition October 30 Trunk or Treat; Friday, October 31
November
Junior Acheivement 5K Run: Saturday, November 1 Hal Baldwin Scholarship Golf Tournament; Friday, November 7 Turkey Trot 5K; Thursday, November 27
December
Festival of Angels; Friday, December 5
October 2014 Thursday, 2
TSAC, 5:30 PM Council Chambers
Monday, 6
Library Advisory Board, 7:00 PM Meeting Room 1
Wednesday, 8
Planning & Zoning, 6:00 PM Council Chambers
Monday, 13
City Holiday - Columbus Day (offices closed)
Tuesday, 14
City Council, 6:00 PM Council Chamber
Monday, 20
March
Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, 5:30 PM Bob Andrews Room
Be sure to check out visitschertz.com for more event info!
Tuesday, 21
Wilenchik Walk for Life: Saturday March 7
#info
City Council, 6:00 PM Council Chamber
Wednesday, 22
Planning & Zoning, 6:00 PM Council Chambers
Thursday, 23
EDC Board, 6:00 PM Council Chambers
Monday, 27
Board of Adjustments, 6:00 PM Council Chambers
Tuesday, 28
City Council, 6:00 PM Council Chamber
Meeting locations may change,
City of Schertz Elected Officials Mayor: Michael Carpenter
Council Members: Jim Fowler David Scagliola Daryl John Cedric Edwards, Sr. Matthew Duke
City Departments:
(210) 619-1045 (210) 658-1442 (830) 606-1130 (210) 204-2750 (210) 566-4540 (210) 204-8649
City of Schertz (210) 619-1000 Animal Control (210) 619-1550 Business/Utilities (210) 619-1100 City Manager (210) 619-1000 City Secretary (210) 619-1030 Civic Center (210) 619-1600 Customer Care/311 (210) 619-1000 Economic Development (210) 619-1070 EMS (non-emergency) (210) 619-1400 Fire (non-emergency) (210) 619-1300 Human Resources (210) 619-1150 Information Technology (210) 619-1180 Inspections (210) 619-1750 Marshal Services (210) 619-1650 Municipal Court (210) 619-1500 Parks & Recreation (210) 619-1850 Planning & Zoning (210) 619-1780 Police (non-emergency) (210) 619-1200 Public Affairs (210) 619-1630 Public Library (210) 619-1700 Public Works (210) 619-1800 Records (210) 619-1030 Website schertz.com
IMPORTANT SCHERTZ WEBSITES schertz.com visitschertz.com schertzmagazine.com Like us on Facebook
Annual Fall Clean Up Dates: October 4 – 19, 2014 Drop off at Bexar Waste Site Items dropped off here will be free of charge to residents as a service paid for by the City of Schertz. The Drop off Site will be open October 4 – 19, 2014. (See below for hazardous items drop off times)
Drop offs may be made at Bexar Waste’s temporary collection point, 2221 F.M. 3009 (Near Live Oak Road) between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily. ENTRY TO THIS SITE IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS DURING CITY SPONSORED SPRING AND FALL CLEAN UP EVENTS.
Please Remember
For a fee, Bexar Waste will pick up household waste not covered under their normal collection service, such as lumber and general trash as well as major appliances and furniture (prices determined by Bexar Waste). If you have questions regarding the details, please call Bexar Waste (210-566-5454). Residents are able to drop off brush and limbs at 2221 FM 3009, free of charge, DURING THE 2 WEEK CLEAN-UP EVENT ONLY.
What you need to know: The Fall Clean Up is restricted to Schertz residents only. Waste delivered must be separated by type of material by the resident. Fall Clean Up activities do not apply to commercial/ rental property clean ups, large property clean up, lot or acreage clean up, or lot and property land clearing. Commercial tree trimmers are not eligible for this service. A current water bill or tax statement and proper identification are required when making a drop-off. Commercial waste will not be accepted.
LIMITS:
Household waste and yard waste only. Maximum of 3 Pick-up truck loads per Household or a Maximum of 2 Trailer loads per Household, trailers are not to exceed 16’ long x 4’ high in size. Couches, Refrigerators, Stoves, Computer/ Monitors, anything and everything that IS NOT HAZARDOUS OR TIRES can be dropped off, free of charge, during the clean up, Monday through Sun-
day, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Materials WILL BE sorted by customer, NOT BY Bexar Waste employees. Appliances will be ACCEPTED FREE ONLY IF Freon tank is removed; if Freon tank is still attached there will be a $25.00 fee at time of drop off. Any questions concerning the Freon tank removal, please contact Bexar Waste.
Hazardous Items/ Tires and Drop off Times
HAZARDOUS ITEMS and TIRES may be dropped off ONLY on the weekends of October 1112 and 18-19, 2014. Tires are limited to eight (8) per household. Hazardous waste includes but is not limited to: • Insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, chemicals, cleaning and bleach products, swimming pool cleaners and chemicals • Enamel and latex paints in cans and aerosol dispensers, varnish and stains, paint thinners and removers, acetone, etc.These items will have a combined 20 gallon
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limit per household. TIRES are considered hazardous Tires on rims, or wheels, commercial vehicle tires, tractor tires, and heavy equipment tires will not be accepted. Hazardous waste such as used automotive and cooking oils, filters and batteries- Oils will have a combined 20 gallon limit per household. Empty propane tanks up to seven (7) gallons – VALVE MUST BE ENTIRELY REMOVED. Mercury WILL NOT be accepted.
Questions?
For more information about the Fall Clean Up and what will and will not be accepted, please call Bexar Waste (210-5665454) or Schertz Public Works (210-619-1800). You may also dial 311 within the City of Schertz. The City of Schertz and Bexar Waste are not responsible for damage to vehicles or injury to citizens during this event. The City of Schertz and Bexar Waste reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for not following the rules of the clean up.
schertzmagazine.com
OCTOBER 2014
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PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT 1400 SCHERTZ PARKWAY SCHERTZ, TEXAS 78154