magazine JUNE 2015
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City Council Michael Carpenter Mayor Jim Fowler Councilmember Grumpy Azzoz Councilmember Daryl John Councilmember Cedric Edwards, Sr. Councilmember Robin Thompson Councilmember
Executive Team
Editor’z Letter
John Kessel City Manager John Bierschwale Deputy City Manager Brian James Executive Director Dudley Wait Executive Director Bob Cantu Chief of Staff
By Chuck McCollough, Editor
VOLUME 31 ISSUE 6 31 Years and counting...!
PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY Public Affairs Department Linda Klepper Communications Manager Chuck McCollough Editor Graphic Design/Art Direction Alexis Souza Chris Matzenbacher Sales Director Lucille Sims Thomas Copy Editor Contributing Staffers Erin Matlock Office Manager Mary Spence Events Manager
Contributing Writers Chuck McCollough, Lucille Sims Thomas, Amanda Mercer, Allyson Ortegon, Claudia Pharr, Andrea Allinger, Kari Bridges, Jim Webb, Stan Leland, Taryn McGillivray, Aubrey Parke, Kiko Martinez, Ashley Festa, Rudy Arispe, Mike Harris, Chris Meek, 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, and Clemens High School photographers Amanda Mercer, Calvin True, Elysia Santoya, Alyson Garcia, Erin True, Kaylie Kennedy, Mike Bowers, Fiona Scoggin, Ethan Bookout, Terrell Mitchell 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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ho doesn’t love to tell or hear a good story?
I have the good fortune to tell stories and get paid for it. One thing I learned long ago is that the best stories always have contrast -- winning and losing, happiness and sadness, setbacks and success, young and not so young. The June issue of Schertz Magazine has some great stories with contrast. Start with several that have a Circle of Life quality, including the Gutierrez family in Schertz. Read about Henry Gutierrez Jr. -- whose family has been serving
this community for many years and in many ways -- and how he keeps that legacy alive. His family’s Bexar Waste business is one of the few locally such businesses in the state and it treats its customers like family. Henry is quite a story on his own. A Renaissance Man of sorts with a wide variety of interests, he is part Indiana Jones, part race car enthusiast, part baseball lover (he played high school and college ball and almost pro ball) and many other things -- including a very involved member of the community. That leads to another story we have on the rededication of Gutierrez Xeriscape Park, 1300 Borgfeld Road in
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Read the story, then visit the park and its butterfly way station, sit in the gazebo, walk the tree-shaded trails and just enjoy getting back to nature. Local community partners like the Guadalupe County Master Gardeners have worked hard to make the park a green oasis. Next read about Cecilia Palomo -- the newest member of the City’s Engineering Department -who grew up in these parts. Cecilia has the can-do spirit that this area is known for. Graduating in 2008 from
UTSA at the beginning of the economic slowdown, she showed true grit by getting a lot of hands on experience as she went through a number of job opportunities in that challenging time. Her resume is a testament to the saying: when the going gets tough, the tough get going. And she volunteers her skills to Habitat for Humanity when that organization builds houses for local needy folks. Also look for stories on summer activities for young folks from the Schertz Public Library, the Schertz Family YMCA and others, the tale of the Steele High School culinary team going to New York and the new Schertz Sweetheart Court. All that and more in Your Source for Hometown News -- Schertz Magazine.
schertzmagazine.com
Inside...
FEATUREZ
Gutierrez Family Legacy Butterfly Haven Cecilia Palomo Steele Culinary
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DEPARTMENTZ TALK OF THE TOWNZ Updatez Visionz / Chamber
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CIVIC NEWZ Updatez
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CALENDARZ
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COVER
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Schertz. The Gutierrez family donated land for the park 17 years ago and the rededication on April 19 gave the community a chance to discover and re-discover one of the area’s most unique green space areas.
A butterfly lands on a flower in the Butterfly Way Station at Gutierrez Xeriscape Park in Schertz.
JUNE
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JUNE 2015
2015
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Assisted Living Like You’ve Never Seen Before!
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TALKOF THE
TOWNZ
Hull Wins Wrestling Honors Wilder Intermediate student Darwin Hull was named TX-USA Wrestling 2014-2015 National Wrestler of the Year during the youth wrestling State Championship Tournament held in Round Rock, Texas several months ago.
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He also captured the State Championship in the 120-pound division. Darwin has been wrestling for five years and is a member of the New Braunfels Elite Wrestling Club.
Tri-County Volleyball and Schertz Mag in St. Louis Tri-County Volleyball players - TCVA 13 Green (13 year olds) National Club Volleyball Team took copies of Schertz Magazine with them when they competed at the Mid-East National Qualifier in St. Louis March 13-15. They placed 21st out of 93 teams across the country, and are currently ranked 10th in the Lone Star Region, which consists of 241 teams. They are currently preparing to represent the region at the 2015 AAU National Volleyball Tournament in Orlando, June 16-June 19.
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Schertz Magazine All Over The Map In Mississippi Janie Thomas and her son Matthew visited Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, and they took along a copy of the Schertz Magazine.
In Chile Cecilia Paz Mujica and Christopher Denham of Schertz recently traveled to Santiago, Chile and took Schertz Magazine with them. They took pictures with the Magazine at Cerro Santa Lucia , a hill fort in central Santiago that is now a park and in front of La Moneda, the Chilean presidential palace.
In Berlin Larry and Danielle Yano took Schertz Magazine along on a trip to Berlin, Germany and took this picture of the Brandenburg Gate. schertzmagazine.com
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Summer Activities Galore at Library, YMCA And More It’s summer again and many local parents are looking for activities that are safe, fun, and educational. Thankfully such activities are available in this area. Below is information on a number of traditional locations providing youth summer activities (and adult activities). Various other organizations like churches and schools may be offering programs as well.
Schertz Public Library JUNE Events Saturday, June 6
Summer Reading Registration Open House: Join Library staff for early registration for all our summer reading programs infant-adult from 12-3 PM in the children’s library. Scholastic Book Fair: We will host a Scholastic Book Fair beginning Saturday, June 6. Funds raised will help purchase books for the children’s collection at the Library. We will be in the Children’s Program Room on Saturday, June 6 from 12-6pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, June 9, 10, and 11 from 10AM-8 PM, and Friday, June 12 from 10 AM-6 PM.
Monday, June 8
Poetry and Song Event (6:308 PM): This will be an open mic style event for anyone interested in sharing their poetry or coming to listen to local poets share their work. Our featured poet this month is Bob Harry.
Wednesday, June 10
San Antonio Alzheimer’s Association Presentation (6 PM): On the second Wednesday of each month the San An-
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tonio Alzheimer’s Association will be at the library to do a presentation on various topics related to Alzheimer’s disease. Registration is encouraged for this program, please contact the library for additional information (210) 619-1700.
Saturday, June 13
Youth Summer Reading Club Kick-Off (2-4 PM): Help us kick-off the 2015 Summer Reading Club with a Reading Extravaganza. Enjoy games, crafts, activities, and snacks. This program is free and open to the public. Join us at the Schertz Storywalk (between the library and the YMCA) on Saturday, June 13 from 2-4 PM.
Saturday, June 13
New York Life Presentation on Long Term Care (12 PM) A representative from New York Life will be visiting the library to give an informational presentation on long term care.
Monday, June 22 & 29
BINGO (12 PM): We will be playing BINGO with our 18(+) patrons several Mondays during summer reading. We will play three rounds at each session for small prizes! Please check the library calendar for dates.
Saturday, June 27
Lego Design Contest (12-4 PM): Our annual Lego Design Contest asks participants to imagine, design, and build an original structure. This year we are using the theme, “Every Hero Has a Story” as a guide. Public voting will take place on Saturday, June 27th from 12-4pm. Visit the Children’s Information Desk at the Library for more information or call 210-619-1702.
Tuesday, June 23 & 30
Snapfish Class (10 PM): Have you ever wanted to make a photo book from the photos stored on your computer or camera and didn’t know how? Register for our Snapfish series and learn how to create a photobook with the website Snapfish. This is a progressive series and we will learn something new each week. Registration is required for each session. Basic Computer skills are required to take this class!
JULY Events Saturday, July 18
Life Size Game Day (1-3 PM): Come play some of your favorite games in life size format as the children’s library is transformed into several jumbo game boards! This program is designed for all ages (youthadult).
Friday, July 24
Who is Your Hero? Essay Contest Entries due: This is an essay contest for our adult patrons (18+). Type an essay of 500-1,000 words honoring a hero or local hero in your life. All essays must be submitted to the library by 6 PM, July 24. Prizes will be awarded for the top three essays.
Friday, July 31
11th Annual Chocolate Extravaganza (2-4 PM): Attention chocolate lovers this is the event for you! We will have crafts, activities, and chocolatey treats to celebrate the end of a fun-filled Summer Reading Club. This program is free and open to the public. Join us Friday, July 31 from 2-4 PM. For more information visit schertzlibrary.org or call 210619-1700.
Schertz Family YMCA
When it comes to summer fun for youngsters, the YMCA has lots of experience. And the Schertz Family YMCA is ready to help kids enjoy Summer 2015. The Schertz Y has various programs that are week long or summer long and guaranteed to make lifelong fond memories .
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YMCA Summer Camps information: The camp is Monday-Friday from 9 AM-2 PM. Weekly sessions from June 8-Aug 3, Ages 5-12. Many themes to choose from such as soccer, baseball/ softball, basketball, football, volleyball, tennis, sports conditioning, just dance, spirit camp, ninja camp, cooking mania, Community First, weird science, art stars. Register online or in person. Aquatics/Swim Lessons: age 6 months – adults. All sessions are two weeks and sessions run from June 9 - August 9. Register online or in person Life Skills for Career Success: An informal session about equipping your teen for success. Schertz Family YMCA, Sunday, May 31, 2-3 PM. Grades 7-12, free Pee Wee and Lil’ Hitters Tball: Learn the fundamentals
of T-ball and sportsmanship, while having fun in a non-competitive, learning environment designed for 2-3 and 4-5 year olds. Season: Through July18. Schertz Y Gym and Clemens High School Ball Fields. Registration begins on April 25th Parent Participation Required For more information visit ymcasatx.org and click on locations or call contact the YMCA at 210-619-1900.
Northeast Lakeview College
The local community college will hold a number of Youth Summer Camps that include Robotics camps for Elementary, Middle and High schoolers; a Unity 3D Game Design Camp and basketball games for boys and girls . To register call Moses Thompson at: 210-486-5784 or Connie Ramirez at 210 486.5310. For more information visit alamo. edu/nlc.
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Civic Center:
June 14 - SAWAHM Quarter Auction June 16 - Schertz Chamber Luncheon
Community Center:
June 26 & 27 - Beading House Jewelry Trunk Show June 28 - Tropical Fish Auction Ballroom Dancing - Mondays 8pm Zumba - Wednesdays 6pm
Upcoming Events: Civic Center
July 1 - Life Line Health Screening
A P R I L
2015
SZ Clemens High School Athletic Scholarship Winners
Megan Rhodes - Golf Scholarship William Penn University
Tameka Warren - Softball Scholarship - Cisco College
The Clemens High School Class of 2015 will send more than a dozen of its members to college on athletic scholarships, including basketball standout Kyra Lambert who was featured on the cover of April’s Schertz Magazine. The other Buffs going to school on sports scholarships are presented here. Under their photos will be listed name, sport and college or university.
! s n o i t a l Congratu
Jeremy Collins - Football ScholarshipSouthwest Oklahoma State University
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Cayne Edwards - Basketball Scholarship West Point
Brandon Valdez - Baseball Scholarship Northern Oklahoma College
Alicia Lehane - Golf Scholarship - Angelo State University
Norman Reeves - Football Scholarship - Blinn College
For the full story go to schertzmagazine.com.
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Also on schertzmagazine.com - Clemens and Steele College Decision Days
Kassandra Soliz, left, and Amanda Tokunaga, softball scholarships, Frank Phillips College
Emilee Baker - Softball Scholarship West Texas A&M University
Emma Gibson Soccer Scholarship St. Edward’s University
Matthew Johnson - Football Scholarship - Hardin Simmons University
Visit our 3009 Branch at 6000 FM 3009, Suite 206 in Schertz
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Chamber Calendar The Chamber Monthly Luncheon will be on June 16th from 11:30am - 1:00 pm at the Schertz Civic Center. We will be celebrating our 10th Anniversary as well as graduating our SCOC Leadership CORE class. Please RSVP your attendance by June 9th. *General Admission $28 and $18 for Chamber Members.
The Chamber After Hours Mixer will be hosted June 4th from 5:30 - 7:00 pm at the University of the Incarnate Word – Rolling Oaks location, 6909 North Loop 1604 East, Suite 1009. Join us for food, fun, networking, and a chance to win Chamber CASH! *General Attendance $10, Chamber Members FREE!
The Schertz Chamber of Commerce continues to grow with new Members!
MAM’s Cigar Shop 107 E Wright Blvd., Universal City, TX 78145 (210) 724-8129
Amazon Fulfillment Center 6000 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, TX 78154 (210) 650-8510
HEB Plus 17460 IH35 N., Schertz, TX 78154 (210) 651-5105
Generations FCU 17460 IH 35 North, Schertz, TX 78154 (210) 229-1800
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Humana 8119 Datapoint Drive, 6th Floor, San Antonio, TX 78229 (210) 617-1262
Happy 10th Anniversary to the Schertz Chamber of Commerce! In 2005, 29 local Schertz businesses created the Schertz Chamber of Commerce. With roots that began in 1974 with the Schertz Business Club, the foundation was built on promoting commerce and business as well as bridging communication with our local government and engaging in projects that have a positive economic impact upon our area residents and businesses. The lists below are Member and Founding businesses celebrating 10 years with us! Please congratulate them and we thank you for your vision!
New Members KDJ Insurance Agency Mark Penshorn, DDS, PA Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union Randolph Field Realty Schertz Auto Schertz Bank and Trust Schertz Chiropractic Schertz Funeral Home & Crematory The Claus Team ABC Enterprises/AVON
Alex Hartman State Farm Insurance Barrett Cooper Accounting Best Friendz BG’s Catering and Restaurant Broadway Bank C & W Properties City of Schertz Guadalupe Valley Electric Company HEB
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.
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SZ Community Volunteer Fair Draws Local Talent Residents interested in serving on City of Schertz boards and commissions had a chance to see and hear what each each was about during the Community Volunteer Fair April 9 at the Schertz Civic Center. For more information on the boards and commissions call the City Secretary’s office at 210-619-1030 or click on schertz.comr Also in attendance were other groups where residents could volunteer. Below is a list of event participants. Schertz Boards & Commissions
Advisory Commission
Board of Adjustment
Parks & Recreation Advisory
Cibolo Valley Local Government Corporation
Schertz-Seguin Local Government Corporation
Economic Development Corporation
Heidi Search Center
Historical Preservation Committee Library Advisory Board Planning & Zoning Commission Transportation Safety
Citizen’s on Patrol Homes for Pets Guadalupe County Master Gardeners Schertz Youth Soccer Alliance
The Saddle Light Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship Guadalupe Chapter of the Native Plant Society Buffalo Valley Youth Association (BVYA) Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) Bexar Area Agency on Aging Metrocom Rotary Club Circle of Cancer Care ‘One Schertz’
Schertz IT Department Wins Prestigious Award The Schertz Information Technologies Department has received a prestigious 2015 Excellence Award for its BudgetCents Simulator program from the Texas Association of Governmental Information Technology Managers. The award, one of only three excellence awards this year, was presented during the 2015 TAGITM conference in Corpus Christi. The program, available on schertz.com gives members of the public a feel for the City Budget process and how priorities are made during that process. A TAGITM official said the Award of Excellence for the City’s IT department was based in part on the impact the BudgetCents program has on the community – by allowing the public to interact with the budget process through the simulator program. schertzmagazine.com
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SZ The 2015-2016 Schertz Sweetheart Court was crowned in a gala event May 7 at the Schertz Civic Center. The new court members include: Ellie Kate Gorman, Miss Sunshine; Sydney Fischer, Miss Friendly City; Regina Deason, Miss Jubilee; and Morgan Gaitan, Miss Schertz. Eight finalists rehearsed and competed in three categories: Personal Interview, Talent and Evening Gown. As announced by event emcee Ms. Lauren Holt, "we are not choosing winners from a group of ambassadors, we are choosing ambassadors from a group of winners". Court members are residents of the City of Schertz and will attend area high schools in the fall. The Court will represent the City in various functions in and around the City over the next twelve months. For a slideshow of the event, please go to www.visitschertz.com.
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FEATUREZ
Henry Gutierrez Continues Family Legacy of Service to Schertz Area By Stan Leland
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hat do you get when you combine an archaeologist, paleontologist, semi-pro baseball player, drag race car and muscle car collector, and a CEO of the second oldest continuously operated business in Schertz? You get a true Renaissance Man: Henry Gutierrez Jr.
Henry grew up in Schertz on the family’s 70 acre farm, located on the northwest corner of what is now FM 3009 and Live Oak Road. He still lives there today although the property is now only 30 acres. Back then it was a working farm with both livestock and row crops to maintain. All of Henry’s siblings worked on the farm at an early age.
In 1950, at 6 years of age, Henry was driving a Ford tractor and was able to attach and use the various implements and equipment. This ability came to the attention of the Seguin Ford tractor dealer and, as a result, Henry was selected as the “youngest tractor operator in the Southwest” and was featured in Ford tractor advertisements. continued on page 26
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FEATUREZ Henry Gutierrez cont’d from page 25
Just southeast of the farm, along Dietz creek, (where the CCMA building now stands), flowed a year-round spring surrounded by a grove of trees. It had been a collecting point for Native Americans for generations. Consequently, the area was filled with arrowheads and stone tools. As a boy, Henry would spend hours looking for traces of the Indian camps. This was the starting point for his lifelong passion for Native American archeology. 3893 Cibolo Valley Dr. #104 Cibolo, Texas 78108
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His office today contains arrowheads and stone tools which is just a small portion of his collection. When showing an item he can recall where and when each was found and its significance.
His office collection is also well represented with fossils and petrified wood. Several years ago a friend who owns a gravel and sand pit called Henry to let him know they had uncovered some large fossilized bones. Henry and a fellow bone collector spent almost two weeks uncovering a complete Mammoth skeleton including the 10-foot-long curved tusks. A portion of the backbone and hip is prominently displayed in Henry’s office. In addition to fossils and arrowheads, Henry loves baseball which is a passion he acquired from his father. “When I was 4 years old, Dad had my Mom make bean bags which he used to play catch with me” said Henry. “He would throw high, low and left and right. After a while I could catch anything that came near me.” By the time he was in Clemens High School, Henry
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Henry Jr. stands in from of business with son Miguel
classic muscle cars, his office wall is covered with photos of his car collection. The muscle car hobby led naturally to Henry owning and racing “funny car” dragsters as well. Henry continues to run Bexar Waste on the foundation established by his parents, Henry Sr. and Rose. The business philosophy has always been to do a really good job, charge a fair rate and keep complaints to a minimum.
was working after school either on the farm or at the fledgling Gutierrez Disposal Inc. “We worked our tails off, “remembers Henry. “We worked 6 1/2 days a week. The half day of was Sunday morning for church”. In addition to his work and chores he managed to play for the Clemens varsity baseball team. All his hard work did have a payoff. He had a professional quality baseball glove and white baseball cleats which none of the other kids had. “Our baseball team was the only Clemens sports team that has won a state championship.” Henry said with understandable pride. After graduating from High School in 1963, Henry played ball at Southwest Texas State (now Texas State University in San
Marcos). In the summer he played for the “Monterrey Sultans” in a Mexican youth league. During a break from college he spent a summer in the New York Mets development system but a chronic knee injury finally ended his baseball career. After starting a waste disposal company in Houston he sold it after 5 years and moved back to Schertz to help his Dad with Gutierrez Disposal Inc. The small family business that began with one pickup truck and his Mom picking up cardboard boxes and packing material from new residents, had now become a regional disposal service with a fleet of commercial garbage trucks. The company also operated a 61 acre landfill at the corner of what is now Borgfeld
road and FM 3009 and Dietz creek. As the SchertzCibolo-Universal City area grew, Gutierrez Disposal Inc. grew with it. When Henry’s father passed away suddenly in 1979 due to complications from knee surgery, Henry Jr stepped in to become the CEO of Gutierrez Disposal Inc. at the age of 35. “It took a while before I stopped thinking of it as my Dad’s company and realized it was my company,” smiled Henry. Being CEO didn’t prevent him from getting his hands dirty. It wasn’t unusual to find Henry under the hood of a company truck helping to maintain the fleet of vehicles. Working on cars was another one of Henry Sr.’s passions that passed down to Henry Jr. An avid collector and restorer of
At the rededication of Gutierrez Park, Schertz Mayor Michael Carpenter said, “Bexar Waste employees don’t just empty trash containers then drive off. If anything spilled out they made a point to pick it up. Bexar Waste’s contribution to the quality of life in Schertz has been exceptional” Henry, like his father is always looking ahead and anticipating opportunities. The unassuming office at 533 Main St. in Schertz will be moved to a new location in the near future to better serve their growing business. Henry is also hoping that their 61 acre former landfill can become a park with hiking trails someday. Both these desires characterize Henry Jr. – how can he grow his business and how can he benefit his community.
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FEATUREZ
Gutierrez Xeriscape Park Butterfly Haven and More By Stan Leland
O
n April 19, 1997, the Schertz Parks and Recreation Department dedicated Gutierrez Park (North of Borgfeld road, next to Dietz creek) as a tribute to Henry Sr. and Rose Gutierrez’s influence on the City of Schertz. Designed to be a showcase, low-maintenance xeriscape park, it was soon very obvious that “low maintenance” is not the same as “no maintenance.” The parks department maintenance crews were only able to provide mowing, edging, replacement of burned out lights and removal of dangerous tree limbs. There was no time or resources for weeding, tilling, mulching, replacing dead plants and pruning. Consequently, over the years Gutierrez Park became a shadow of its former glory. Two years ago, Guadalupe County Master Gardener John Lewicki decided to take on a project that would lead to the park being improved and restored. Working with Parks Manager Chuck Van Zandt, a plan was created in which the City of Schertz would provide the materials and Lewicki would provide the volunteers. “John was tireless in coordinating the volunteers and asking me for more resources and materials,” Van Zandt said. Lewicki had the park designated as an official project of the Guadalupe County Master Gardener program. This meant that along with the Community Garden on Elbel Road, it was a location for prospective Master Gardeners to earn community service hours for their Master Gardener certificate. Besides the Guadalupe County Master
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The recent rededication of the park on April 19 (seventeen years to the day from the original dedication) attracted more than 100 members of the community to the ribbon cutting. Henry Gutierrez Jr. spoke on behalf of the Gutierrez family and expressed his thanks for such a meaningful tribute to his parents. In addition to remembering the Gutierrez family, the park’s renovation and rededication “has been a celebration of the community coming together to improve our city,� Van Zandt said.
Gardener Club, Lewicki also recruited the Schertz-Cibolo Lions Club, the Schertz Parks and Recreation Foundation and the Guadalupe Native Plant Society of Texas. From Steele High School he had help from the Key Club and Art Club members. For almost two years these organizations worked on every aspect of the park. The gazebo and its cupola were repaired, the gardens replanted, and several of the structures became canvases for garden-themed art work. A significant new addition to the park was a Monarch butterfly way station. In the past 20 years the Monarch butterfly population has declined 90%, largely due to a loss of habitat. The way station provides plants needed for food as well as the vital milkweed plants needed for reproduction. Milkweed is a toxic plant to livestock and it has been a target for eradication by stockmen. Unfortunately, it is the only plant on which Monarchs lay their eggs. The caterpillars consume the toxic sap and transform it into a chemical that protects the butterfly from predators.
certified Monarch Way Station by the national organization Monarch Watch (monarchwatch.org). It is also a certified Butterfly Garden by the North American Butterfly Association (naba.org). Since the park is now part of the Master Gardener Program, it will get the routine maintenance needed to retain its beauty and function. Parks and Recreation will continue to provide the materials while Lewicki and his volunteers provide the labor and expertise.
The park is now designated as a schertzmagazine.com
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PROVIDENCE COMMUNITY CHURCH
Proclaiming the Gospel, Embracing the Doctrines of Grace
Proclaiming the Gospel, Embracing the Doctrines of Grace
Join Us this Sunday Sunday School: 9:30 am | Worship Service: 11:00 Currently Meeting at the Schertz Civic Center: 1400 Schertz Pkwy, Building #5 Schertz, TX 78154 210-858-8503 | pcc_schertz@yahoo.com
www.pcc-schertz.com A reformed church and member of the SBC.
FEATUREZ
Cecilia Palomo, left, and City Engineer Kathy Woodlee
Cecilia Palomo Helping Engineer Better City By Chuck McCollough
G
raduate Engineer Cecilia Palomo’s background comes in mighty handy these days. The newest member of the City Engineering Department grew up around con-
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struction and then worked in private sector construction for a number of years before coming to Schertz. “I was raised a short distance from Schertz in Marion. My dad was always working on projects around
the house and I followed him around to help. He did plumbing and concrete work and other things. I just like that kind stuff. I have always been curious about how things work,” “In my job I have to go into
the field a lot to do construction inspections. In a smaller community the City Engineer staff members have to wear a lot of hats,” Palomo said. And Cecilia must have a big hat rack based on her
career track before coming to Schertz. In summer 2006 she worked as a Public WorksEngineering Intern for the City of Austin and in summer 2007 was a Public Works-Traffic Engineering Intern for the the City of San Antonio. In summer 2008 Cecilia worked as a Field Research Technician for the University of Minnesota in conjunction with the U.S. Geologic Survey She helped with survey work in a secluded mountainous area for a month. The project prepared reports of modeled lab and field geomorphology. The research was published by John Hopkins University. Cecilia continued her quest to learn “how things work” by earning a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from UTSA in 2008 with a GPA of 3.26. During the last two years of school she did math and physics tutoring at UTSA and worked as a teacher’s aide.
she said. “In the interim time I worked construction and travelled all over Texas working on government or petroleum contracts. It was hands on work and I enjoyed and learned alot.” Before coming to Schertz in October 2014, Palomo worked as a foreman for a local quarry, a project manager for a landscaping firm and operations manager for a construction company. “A friend who saw me over the four years of ups and downs said no matter how hard it got, II was so resilient that I stayed on top... I will always remember that,” she said with a smile. Cecilia’s fortune changed
for the better after she saw on the Texas Municipal League (TML) web site that Scherz was looking for a civil engineer. “I thought it was perfect for me. I am local and invested in Schertz because I bought a house here. And I believe my field experience would be a plus for a City Engineer department in a smaller community than I have worked before.” In the months since she was hired, Palomo has been working with City Engineer Kathy Woodlee and other City of Schertz departments to address the strong growth going on in the City. “I am so happy to be working here in a community I
grew up in and know well. This is home and I get a chance to help build a better community.” Cecilia like the outdoors and enjoys running on the many trails around this community Her volunteer activities include using her skills when Habitat For Humanity International is building a house or houses for local or area people. “We are lucky that Cecilia saw that job posting, “ Woodlee said. She has become a significant asset to the Engineering Department and the City.”
“I am so happy to be working here in a community I grew up in...”
Unfortunately for Cecilia and many other graduates, 2008 was hardly the best time for the construction sector and many other professions “In the past seven years, with the downturn in the market, I was laid off three times after I got my degree,”
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FEATUREZ
Steele Culinary Team Goes to NYC By Kari Bridges
T
his past spring, a team of culinary students representing Steele High School competed in a head-to-head cooking competition against nine other local and surrounding area high school culinary teams to create the most impressive and delicious paella dish. The Steele students impressed a team of four judges with both the flavor of their dish and the overall presentation to win first place in the 4th Annual HEB High School Paella Challenge and the opportunity for an all-expenses-paid trip the prestigious Culinary Institute of America (CIA) campus in Hyde Park, N.Y. “This was the second year that Steele Culinary attempted to compete in the paella invitational, open only to students truly interested in attending culinary school,” said Celeste Windham, Steele Family and Consumer Science Teacher. On January 21, it was officially announced that Steele had been selected as one of ten competing high school teams. “The students were so excited to find out they would have the opportunity to compete in this competition,” said Windham, who supervised the five-member student culinary team as they prepared for this challenge.
Steele teacher Celeste Windham, left, and student Justin Tatsch in the kitchen.
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According to Windham, she and the student team met for two months after school to prepare
From left, students Imani Desousa, William Stephenson, Raizah Lora for the culinary competition. The winning paella recipe they used was adapted from a recipe given to them by a chef who had studied cooking in Spain and had recently visited the Steele culinary classes to demonstrate cooking techniques. As a group, the students practiced the recipe six separate times to determine the ingredients they wanted to add/ remove to modify the original paella recipe to make it their own, Windham said. The students practiced using a traditional paella pan over a gas commercial stove, cooking on two burners at a time. The recipe included rice, saffron, onions, chicken, ham and shrimp and a traditional picada -- a topping similar to a pesto made from olive oil, garlic, parsley, basil, lemon juice and crushed red pepper. The student competition was held on Sunday, March 15, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Pearl Brewery, located
downtown off E. Grayson Street. It was held in conjunction with the 6th Annual Paella Challenge, a Professional Chef Division competition, hosted and organized by local chef Johnny Hernandez with the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. All proceeds from the event benefited educational programs at the CIA San Antonio Campus. The team of five students included: senior, William Stephenson; junior, Imani Desouza; junior, Raizah Lora; senior, Kenneth Nunn; and senior, Gabriella Hwozdek -- all either firstor second-year culinary arts students. The competition required each student team to prepare two identical paella dishes. The first paella was made to serve at 11:00 a.m. to guests attending the event. The second paella was made specifically for the judges to sample later in the afternoon. Each stainless steel paella pan is 26” in diameter and serves approximately 20 people a
dinner-sized portion. The students and Windham left San Antonio on May 14 for their 3 day/2 night trip to New York. While they were there, they stayed near the CIA Hyde Park campus and attended hands-on demonstration classes with CIA chef instructors. Their official trip agenda also included the opportunity to attend a CIA Open House, a tour of the campus and time to meet with admission counselors. “This is an amazing opportunity for them to have the experience of what culinary school would really be like,” Windham said. In addition to the trip to the CIA Hyde Park campus, each student received a small paella pan, a professional chef ’s knife engraved with 4th Annual Paella Challenge and a beautiful plaque to keep at school to commemorate their achievement.
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CIVIC NEWZ YOUR EXCLUSIVE SOURCE FOR NEWS FROM THE CITY OF SCHERTZ
Joint Police Memorial Remembers the Fallen Schertz and Cibolo police departments held their fourth annual Police Memorial Service Thursday, May 14, to honor fallen officers. The ceremony was held in front of the Schertz Police Department in the Hal Baldwin Municipal complex and will take place in Cibolo in 2016.
The memorial service - part of National Police Week -- represents more than just the two cities because their law enforcement agencies work with many sister agencies in the San Antonio region. continued on page 39 schertzmagazine.com
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Joint Police Memorial cont’d from page 37 City Marshal Mike Harris introduced dignitaries and then Chaplain Corey Webb for the Invocation. After playing of the National Anthem, Schertz Chief of Police Michael Hansen and Cibolo Chief of Police Gary Cox welcomed numerous visitors to the event, which manage to avoid the heavy rains of that week. Officials at the ceremony included Schertz Mayor Michael Carpenter, City Councilmembers Jim Fowler and Robin Thompson, City Manager John Kessel, Deputy City Manager John Bierschwale, Executive Director Brian James and Chief of Staff Bob Cantu. The names of 11 Texas peace officers who died in the line of duty in 2014 were read aloud and a description of how they died. Eleven officers from various local agencies each placed a rose in a vase as the fallen officer’s name was announced. Grace Lopez, widow of former San Antonio Police Department officer Valentine Lopez Jr. who died of wounds he received in the line of duty 30 years ago, was guest speaker for the ceremony. She thanked all officers, their families and the community for showing such strong support and remembrance for her husband and other fallen officers and their families. Also taking part in the ceremony was the Clemens High School band that played the National Anthem and taps and the Schertz SWAT Team that gave the 21-gun salute. schertzmagazine.com
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Being a non-profit organization, the Schertz Family YMCA does not have a lot of money to spend on advertising, so we really have to spend it wisely. Advertising in Schertz Magazine is definitely money well spent! Over the years it has proven to be the perfect avenue to get the word out about our youth and sports programs, camps, membership promotions and free community events. Schertz Magazine is a wonderful publication that does an outstanding job advertising our facility and promoting what we have to offer to the community. The quality of the magazine and the professionalism of the staff make it our first choice for advertising. Schertz Magazine is personally my “go to” magazine when I want to know what is going on in our city and what local businesses have to offer. Keep up the good work. Mary Hesse, Membership & Marketing Director Schertz Family YMCA
May 26 through July 31, 2015
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Public Works Proclamation
Proclamation Proclamations Honor Public Works, Inspections, Preservation The Schertz City Council approved proclamations regarding Public Works, Building Safety Inspection and Historic Preservation during its May 6 meeting.
Historic Preservation Proclamation
Mayor Michael Carpenter presented a proclamation to Public Works Director Sam Willoughby declaring May 17-23 as National Public Works Week in Schertz and the 55th Annual National Public Works Week sponsored by the American Public Works Association. The Mayor also presented a proclamation declaring May 2015 as Building Safety/ Inspections Month in Schertz. The proclamation was given to Director of Development Services Michelle Sanchez and Chief Building Inspector Gil Durant.
Building Safety/Inspections Month Proclamation
And the Mayor also presented a proclamation
declaring May 2015 as National Historic Preservation Month in Schertz. Accepting the proclamation was Dean Weirtz, chairman of the Schertz Historical Preservation Committee. Weirtz then presented copies of the committee’s latest publication called Schertz, Texas A Photo History to the Mayor and City Council members. The book is full of photos from earlier times in Schertz to more recent history and text explaining the photos. The mayor and council members said they were excited to get the books and thanked Weirtz and other members of the committee, including about 10 who were at the council meeting, for their work and dedication.
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Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of stories about City Boards and Commissions that serve as advisory and vetting bodies for the Schertz City Council. This story focuses on the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board.
Parks Board Helping Make City Greener By Chuck McCollough
City boards and commissions each focus on areas of our community to help guide our City Council’s decisions. Of those board and commissions, the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board may be the one that has seen its mission morph and change the most in recent times. Chairman Johnie (cq) McDow said the Parks Board’s workload has increased along with the number of parks and green space in the city. “The need for more parks as the city grew created the need for something like a parks advisory board. The Parks division was under the Public Works Department at one time and then became its own department whose focus was mainly mowing grass and other park maintenance. “City staff and City Council had no specific platform for hearing about park needs from the public so our board was created,” McDow said. The 10-member board’s mission is to provide that platform and serve as a bridge between the public and the City Council in the most efficient way possible. That mission has become more diverse and complex, in part, from the expanding definition of “park.” The city currently has parks in six categories
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reflecting the multiple ways residents can use and enjoy municipal green space. Those categories and examples are: •
Pocket park (Forest Ridge Park on Wiederstein Road)
•
Neighborhood park (Ashley Park)
•
Community park (Pickrell Park)
•
Regional park (Crescent Bend Nature Park)
•
Linear/Greenways (Cut Off Park at Cibolo Creek)
•
Special purpose parks (sports fields like soccer and baseball, xeriscape park, and the new skate park and dog park)
Schertz’s parks and green spaces are a major part of the city’s premier quality of life and reflect residents’ desire to enjoy the outdoors in many ways. An example of the the parks board’s changing role is the wide-ranging workload. A meeting could run from talking about putting benches at a longtime park to reviewing plans for a large park with a green belt in a new large subdivision or master-planned development. “When it comes to parks, what the citizens see is the Parks Department maintaining what the city has in place now. The parks board oversees the planning for new parks and improvement of existing parks,” McDow said. The model for the park board (and the other boards and commissions) is a category-specific body where residents and others can talk about that category to a group only focused on that category. That body then advises City Council on issues and helps to shape
our City’s vision for the future. McDow said the category of parks and green space is especially personal for residents because it is where they relax, have family fun and enjoy some of the city’s best amenities. For that reason, he added, residents appearing before the park board are passionate about their topic because they are invested in it. “I use the example of the Friends of Crescent Bend Nature Park. They are very involved in keeping that park in good shape -- in part because many live nearby and they help maintain it by doing things like mowing.” In the same manner, he said, residents who use a nearby neighborhood park feel it is their park and that they have ownership. McDow said the opportunity for residents to appear before the parks board first instead of going to City Council first just makes sense. The format of the parks board allows visitors to be heard by board members who have experience and familiarity with the category. “It is a smaller venue where their voice is heard louder just because it is not competing for attention at a City Council meeting dealing with many topics.” McDow, who also serves as president/ executive director of the Buffalo Valley Youth Association, gave an example. “In the past, as a spokesman for BVYA, if I had an issue to tell City Council I would sign in, get my five minutes to speak, and then sit down and others could speak on their topics. When a group or individual comes before the parks board we ask what the board
can do to help them. There is no other category on the agenda -- just parks,” he stressed. And the park board’s relevance has increased steadily in recent years as it works with the Parks Department, other city staff and City Council to help set priorities on projects, budgets, planning and more. An example of that is the park board’s work on helping develop the most recent parks master plan document. “The parks board is just a better firstvisit vehicle for the topic of parks and green space. Needs and priorities differ from park to park. And our board helps sort that out and then tell City Council what we found.” “The parks board offers an open forum for citizens and others to come voice their ideas, concerns, suggestions, and priorities. They are not as restricted -- topic wise or time wise -- as they would be in a City Council meeting,” McDow stressed. Of course residents can appear before City Council on the same topic -especially if they want to challenge a recommendation made by the parks board. City Council makes the final decision on such topics. For more information about boards and commissions, including being a member, go to Schertz.com or call the City Secretary’s office at 210-619-1030.
“We always
need volunteers,” McDow said. schertzmagazine.com
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CITY CALENDARZ Annual Events: July
Jubilee July 3-4, 2015
September
SchertzFest September 18-19
October
National Night Out October 6 Trunk or Treat October 31
November
Hal Baldwin Scholarship Golf Tournament November 6 Schertz Chamber Of Commerce Banquet November 13 Steve Simonson Volunteer of the Year and Boards and Commission Recognition TBA Turkey Trot November 27
Be sure to check out visitschertz.com for more event info!
#info
June 2015 Tuesday, 2
City Council, 6:00 PM Council Chamber
Thursday, 4
TSAC, 5:30 PM City Council Chambers
Tuesday, 9
City Council, 6:00 PM Council Chamber
Wednesday, 10
Planning & Zoning, 6:00 PM Council Chambers
Tuesday, 16
City Council, 6:00 PM Council Chamber
Monday, 22
Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, 5:30 PM Bob Andrews Room
Tuesday, 23
City Council, 6:00 PM Council Chamber
Wednesday, 24
Planning & Zoning, 6:00 PM Council Chambers
Thursday 25
EDC Board, 6:00 PM Council Chambers
Tuesday, 30
City Council, 6:00 PM Council Chamber Meeting locations may change, please visit the calendar at www.schertz.com for more information.
City of Schertz Elected Officials Mayor: Michael Carpenter
Council Members: Jim Fowler Grumpy Azzoz Daryl John Cedric Edwards, Sr. Robin Thompson
(210) 619-1045 (210) 658-1442 (210) 488-4214 (210) 204-2750 (210) 566-4540 (210) 204-8649
City Departments:
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
Looking Back June
Quote of Note “History supplies the ties that bind a community to its past, a people to its ancestry and a city to its destiny.” Author Unknown
Local History
On June 20, 1930 Randolph Air Force Base was officially dedicated. A flyover involving 233 aircraft was part of the dedication ceremony. Several local Schertz farmers sold acreage to allow for the establishment of the air base. As of 2000, the total economic impact of the Air Base on the surrounding community (including Schertz) was $1 billion.
Texas History
Proudly giving back with financial donations and hours by supporting great causes in our community
SERVTEX QUARRY 210.658.7461
The Battle of Velasco (June 26, 1832) resulted in the first casualties in Texas’ relationship with Mexico. After several days of fighting, the Mexicans were forced to surrender for lack of ammunition. In June 1841, the Texan Santa Fe Expedition set out for New Mexico. Near Santa Fe, they were intercepted by Mexican forces and marched to prison in Mexico City. On June 9, 1894, oil was discovered at Corsicana; a commercial field was opened in 1896, becoming the first small step in Texas’ rise as a major oil producer.
Presented by the Schertz Historical Preservation Committee in the interest of historical perspective and community awareness of local historical legacies.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT 1400 SCHERTZ PARKWAY SCHERTZ, TEXAS 78154