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EDITOR’Z LETTER
City Council
Chuck McCollough, Editor
If Rob Zombie, Tim Burton, Wes Craven, John Carpenter or M. Night Shamaylan need a location for their next horror flick, complete with real bats, ...they should consider the Schertz area. Afterall, we have a real low percentage of homeless bats thanks to Reggie Regan. The August issue of Schertz Magazine features Regan and his the bat house building family business. You will smile when you hear how a certain TV Batman is part of the plot and learn why the winged creatures of the night play a very important role in nature. Then read about the variety of educational opportunities available to Schertz residents including public and private facilities and a military school district as well. Because of the city’s size and shape, it contains a smorgasbord of learning options. Also stroll into the Batesville Casket company location in Schertz. The company’s trucks often generate double takes from other drivers as they travel on area highways. Read how Batesville is a leader in the death care industry and uses its strategic location in Schertz to serve SouthCentral Texas. You will roll your eyes and have a hearty laugh while reading the story of Tamara Pearis - a free spirit whose love of gypsy style clothes is legendary in these parts. Her sense of humor and easy-going manner are on display at numerous functions, such as chamber of commerce events, where she volunteers. Also read about city map maker Tony McFalls, a new highend master plan community along FM 1518 and ongoing public and private efforts to enhance Downtown Schertz. All of that and more are in your August Schertz Magazine. 8
SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST 2012
Barbara Baldwin First Lady Emerita PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY
Brad E. Bailey Public Affairs Director & Publisher
SCHERTZ
magazine
Alexis Souza Art Director & Design
contentz
Linda Ervin Associate Publisher Chuck McCollough Editor-In-Chief Chris Matzenbacher Sales Director Brittany Losey Senior Writer
FEATUREZ
Contributing Staffers Erin Matlock Client Affairs Specialist Mary Spence Events Coordinator
Bathouse Business Takes Wing
Contributing Writers B.E. Bailey, Chuck McCollough, Mary Spence, Lucille Sims Thomas, Andrea Allinger, Kari Bridges, Kiko Martinez, Ashley Festa, Rudy Arispe
Variety of Schertz Schools Big Plus B R O U G H T
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B Y
Photographers B.E. Bailey, Chuck McCollough, Mary Spence, Mike Harris, Bryan Nguyen, Joe Herczeg, Diana Webb, Andrea Allinger, Kari Bridges, Zachary Carter, Ross Dye, Dalton Campbell Schertz Magazine is published monthly by the Public Affairs Department of the City of Schertz. Our mailing address is 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas 78154. The official publication of the City of Schertz promotes city, community, and business activities associated with the City. © 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
Executive Management John Kessel, City Manager
Executive Directors John Bierschwale David J. Harris Brian James
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DEPARTMENTZ TALK OF THE TOWNZ 10 Visionz 15 Jubilee 20
Updatez
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ON THE COVER Reg Regan poses with some of the bat houses his family builds. Regan works closely with bat conservation groups in Texas, around the nation and in foreign countries.
18 Profile: “Free Spirit” Gives Time 30 Biz Spot: Batesville Caskets 34
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Focuz: McFalls Maps Solutions
CITY NEWZ 42 Civic Newz Updatez 44 Future Look: Old Street with New Tricks 47 Calendarz & Contactz 48 & 50
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Past Remembered: St. Joseph Cemetary
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Talk Townz OF THE
AUGUST 2012
Schertz Magazine Goes On European Vacation
Talk Townz OF THE
Rosie Ulbrich holds a copy of Schertz Magazine while on European trip. Wayne and Rose Ulbrich traveled to Germany to visit her family; then Austria for more family; then to Hungary for still more family. While in Budapest, Wayne snapped this photo of Rosie at the top of a scenic view of Budapest. When you travel take Schertz Magazine along and have someone photograph you and the magazine and send it to events@ schertz.com. We might just use that photo in the magazine.
5K Fit For FUNds RUN/WALK Sept. 22 Schlather Parent Teacher Club (PTC) will hold a non-traditional fundraiser in the form of a 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, September 22nd. Funds raised support PTC programs and initiatives.
Schertz Honors Barbara Baldwin At Jubilee Opening Ceremony Schertz First Lady Emerita Barbara Baldwin (center, front row) receives a standing ovation during the Opening Ceremonies of the Fourth of July Jubilee at Pickrell Park.
Schertz Councilmembers Jim Fowler, David Scagliola and Michael Carpenter as well as State Rep. John Kuempel are among those in the following rows.
The First Lady is flanked by Schertz Mayor Pro Tem George Antuna and Selma Mayor Pro Tem Melba Gregory. Also on the front row are Schertz Councilmember Cedric Edwards, Converse Mayor Al Suarez and family members of dignitaries.
Mayor Pro Tem Antuna thanked Mrs. Baldwin and the Baldwin family for their support of former Mayor Hal Baldwin and their many contributions to the Schertz Community. Rep. Kuempel echoed those words when he spoke during the ceremony.
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Entry fees are $25 per person ($100 max per family) and all participants will receive a T-Shirt. Winners in each age category will receive medals. This event will be “chip-timed� and the course will be a flat, fast one. Spend the summer getting ready for the event by both training a little each day and by putting aside a little money each day to pay for the entry fee. For more information or to help please email SchlatherPTC@gmail.com.
AUGUST 2012 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM
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Talk Townz
Talk Townz
OF THE
OF THE
Baton Twirling Team Spins Way to Success
CONTESTS & Prizez
Twirling Sweet Sensations Director Coach Michele Pangrac said team winners at the the 2012 Southwest Regional and Texas State Championship Title Winners and National Qualifiers were: Allyson Padron who won the Beginner 13-15 Miss Majorette of Texas Pageant Winner (includes a combined score of Solo, Strut and Modeling events and qualified for the national competition to held at Notre Dame University), Beginner 13-15 Texas State Solo Champion, and Beginner 13-15 Texas State Strut Champion Bethany Williams who won the Novice 0-6 Basic Skills Pageant, Novice 0-6 Texas State Solo Champion, and Novice 0-6 Texas State Basic Strut Champion.
Was that Sherlock Holmes at the Library? Youth Services Librarian April Toman has some fun with a magnifying glass during a presentation to City Council on programs and services at the Schertz Public Library. The huge yellow rubber duck and the book cover with a magnifying glass-using cat gave council members a good clue about how much fun is going on at the library.
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Twirling Sweet Sensations Baton Twirling Team Members smile as they celebrate the team’s recent successes. Members are: Front Row: Allyson Padron and Bethany Williams; 2nd Row: Abigail Neuman; 3rd Row: Brianna Campos, Morgan Leach, Julie Griffee, Madison Chadwell and Reagan Morgan; and top row: Michele Pangrac (Director/Coach) and Ellyn Clay. Not Pictured: Devi Talamantez-Stokes, MaKayla Wood, Caitlin Thai
Abigail Neuman who won Beginner 1012 Southwest Regional Solo Champion, Beginner 10-12 Southwest Regional Strut Champion, Beginner 10-12 Miss Majorette of Texas Pageant Winner and also qualified for the national competition to at Notre Dame. Morgan Leach who won Advanced 1315 Southwest Regional and Texas State Solo and Strut National Qualifier, 13-15 Advanced Miss Majorette of Texas Royalty and is eligible to compete at the Miss Majorette of America Pageant at Notre Dame University at the highest competitive level. Ellyn Clay who won Novice 13-15 Texas State 2-Baton Champion Caitlin Thai who won Novice 7-9 Southwest Regional Basic Skills Pageant Winner For more information on Twirling Sweet Sensations (TSS) Baton Twirling go to www.twirlingsweetsensations.org .
WIN TWO FREE MOVIE TICKETS Locate this bat pictured above in one AD somewhere in this issue of Schertz Magazine. Go to schertzmagazine.com and complete the entry form to be entered into this month’s drawing.
WIN TWENTY DOLLARS IN GIFT CERTIFICATES TO GRUMPYS!
Locate the margarita pictured above in one AD somewhere in this issue of Schertz Magazine. Go to schertzmagazine. com and complete the entry form to be entered into this month’s drawing.
AUGUST 2012 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM
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Talk Townz OF THE
WHAT’S HAPPENIN’ IN YOUR SCHERTZ CHAMBER?
New Friends, New Beginnings
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Only fifteen minutes from Schertz, Rio Terra offers a renewed focus on healthy living, terrific food and social activity. Discover how our “Resident First”philosophy can redefine your retirement.
After-Hours Mixer hosted by REMAX Corridor
2 June Luncheon with speaker, Darryl Freeman – “Social Networking & Website
Meet your new friends at Rio Terra today! Call (830) 221-4800 for a tour and lunch on us.
3
Ask us about our Veterans Aid and Attendance!
Ribbon Cutting for new Member: Christian Brothers Automotive
2294 E. Common St. New Braunfels, TX 78130 Independent Living
Assisted Living
Memory Care
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www.RioTerraLife.com AL# 101986
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AUGUST CHAMBER EVENTS
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Schertz Idol
Auditions: August 11th from 4-6pm at Schertz Family YMCA Finale: August 25th from 6-8pm at Samuel Clemens High School Call Schertz Chamber for more details!
After-Hours Mixer
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Chamber Luncheon on July 17th
Biz-Ed Breakfast
Wednesday, August 22ndth from 7:30 – 9am at the Schertz Chamber/Visitor Center, 1730 Schertz Parkway (Schertz). Free to SCOC Members.
WANT TO JOIN THE CHAMBER? Call us at 210-566-9000 or come by and visit us at 1730 Schertz Parkway, Schertz. Help us “Build a Better Tomorrow”
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JOINING THE SCHERTZ CHAMBER? Call us at 210-566-9000 or come by and visit us at 1730 Schertz Parkway, Schertz. Help us “Build a Better Tomorrow”
Thursday, August 16th from 5:30 – 7pm hosted by: The Lion & Rose British Restaurant & Pub, 8211 Agora Parkway (Selma). Free to SCOC Members. Food, Prizes and More! Chamber Ca$h drawing. Tuesday, August 21st from 11:30am – 1pm at the Schertz Civic Center Topic: Speaker Karen Meade - “Organizing for Business Efficiency”. RSVP by Tuesday, August 14th (Please visit our Chamber website for Luncheon policy) Members - $18, Non-Members $28 Prepaid
Schertz Chamber hYPer Group 4th of July Float promoting Schertz Idol
SCHERTZ BANK & TRUST 3RD ANNUAL SCOC GOLF CLASSIC Friday, October 19th at Northcliffe Golf Course. Shotgun scramble at 12pm Sponsorships, Team and Individual players available. Download form online at schertzchamber.org or stop by our offices for more details.
3 AUGUST 2012 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM
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We all get lost from time to time while travelling. But when Tony McFalls is unsure of his location, well, that is newsworthy.
FOCUZ
“I do get lost on occasion,” the City of Schertz Geographic Information System Coordinator said with a grin.“But I have learned to prepare when I take a trip. I plot out the path, have landmarks and focus on the trip.” In other words, he has a map in his head and follows that. McFalls has lots of maps in his head and produces them quickly and accurately in one of the busiest municipal GIS departments in Texas. GIS is the latest name for the art of map making. Also known as cartography, the art form may go back as far as 8,000 years according to historians. And those were just maps of places on earth; maps of stars and galaxies found in caves and elsewhere go back twice as far, 16,000 years. Tony McFalls, right, and Bill Gardner work on another map.
And evidence suggests that the map evolved independently all over the planet. And why did everyone, everywhere decide to develop maps? Simple. A millennia ago people around the planet wandered and wondered where they were. They eventually got tired of getting lost and needed a sense of place – near and far. McFalls’ interest in geography was fueled in his youth. “I was an Air Force brat. My dad was a pilot in the service for 33 years and we lived in half a dozen states and in three countries in Europe – England, Holland and Germany. I was in my teens in the 1980s and during the summer we hopped on a train and went all over Europe. It got me very interested in different places,” he said. After graduating from UTSA in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in Geography, McFalls went to work in the private sector in what would later become GIS. “Back then it was mostly computer drafting while working for large companies,” said McFalls, who held supervisory roles at some of the the private sector firms where he worked.
McFalls Always Maps Out a Solution By Chuck McCollough 18
SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST 2012
Eventually, McFalls went to work for the City of San Antonio in its GIS Department and said that it helped him get a more well rounded knowledge of the industry by working in both the public and private sectors. In 2003, the McFalls family moved to Schertz and Tony made the commute to downtown San Antonio until fate intervened in 2007. “I got a speeding ticket in Schertz on my way home from work one day and put it in my glove compartment and forgot about it. Later, I was looking in the glove compartment, found the ticket and called the municipal court in a panic,” McFalls said, shaking his head and smiling at the memory.
continued on page 24 AUGUST 2012 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM
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ERTZ H C S
Talk Townz OF THE
The 37th Annual 4th of July Jubilee, hosted by the Schertz Parks & Recreation Foundation and sponsored by H-E-B, Walker Partners, Bexar Waste and the City of Schertz was a red, white and blue party resplendent with a parade, carnival, music, food, fun and thousands of visitors anxious to celebrate the nation’s birthday.
JUBILEE
The Best Independence Day Celebration in these parts drew more than 100 parade entries. An apple pie baking contest, the almost-world-famous barbecue cook off, a laugh-filled and messy watermelon eating contest, great musical entertainment and a great fireworks show were some of the high points of Schertz Jubilee 2012.
BBQ Cook-Off Winners Jubilee could not be the destination event it is without the help of numerous community supporters, sponsors and volunteers including Schertz Bank & Trust, Jordan Ford, Cavender Fiat, Grumpy’s, Target, the Schertz Chamber of Commerce, Re-Max Corridor, AllstateWill Peterson, many community residents; Jeff Flinn (parade co-emcee); and the Schertz Citizen’s Police Academy Alumni Association.
Ribs 1st Place - Darwin Hoel, Giant BBQ 2nd Place - David Goerke, South Texas Brew Crew 3rd Place - Jimmy Edmondson, Six Guns a Blazin Beans 1st Place - Troy Cresswell, Can’t Smoke This 2nd Place - Joe Roberson, Borracho Brothers 3rd Place - Jimmy Edmondson, Six Guns a Blazin
Apple Pie Bake Off Winners
8 entries competed; appearance, taste, creativity, and overall impression were judged. 1st place: Amanda Micklos 2nd place: Helen Griffith 3rd place: Barbara Drewitt
Parade Winners Judges award; Diamond Dachshund Rescue, #63 1st place Visitor; Alzafar Shrine Red Roadsters, #14 1st place Private; 7th Cavalry History Group, #20 1st place Organizational; San Antonio Lutheran Coronation Association, #28 1st place Cars; Alamo City LX Modern Mopar, #53 1st place Commercial; Schertz Bank & Trust, #55 1st place Municipal; Marion Fire Department, #67 2nd place Private; US Army 1930 Model A Ford, #77 2nd place Commercial; Kung Jung Mu Sul, #23 2nd place Visitor; San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, #33 2nd place Organizational; Artistic Angels, #51 20
SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST 2012
2nd place Municipal; Selma Fire Department, #60
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FOCUZ
McFalls
Always Maps Out a Solution continued from pg 19
As luck would have it, McFalls talked to Angela Green, a municipal court clerk and former co-worker at a private sector GIS company. “Angela helped me take care of the ticket and also mentioned that Schertz had an opening for a GIS person,” McFalls said. “It was a great opportunity for a number of reasons including being much closer to home. So I filled out and application and was hired.” The chance to work closer to home and get home sooner is especially important these days as McFalls chauffers son Sean, 8, to various activities including BVYA (Buffalo Valley Youth Association) baseball or to the Schertz Family YMCA. The McFalls clan, including wife and mom Teresa, likes to do things outdoors, according to the family map maker. “We love to get away and go camping, somewhere near water and there are a number of places like that around this area,” McFalls said. The outdoor activities include barbecuing in the backyard with Tony at the grill. “I am the outdoor cook and Teresa is the indoor cook,” he said. “Sean is also into bike riding so we do that. And, every summer we take a vacation trip to the East Coast. My parents live in Maryland and my sister in New York. We often get together with family on the outer banks of North Carolina, but this year we are meeting up in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina,” McFalls said. “Sean is a typical 8 year old boy and likes anything dealing with police and fire departments. He likes that his dad works with the police department in Schertz,” McFalls said. “There isn’t a department in the city that GIS doesn’t work with including economic development, public safety and facilities maintenance,” he said. 24
McFalls literally started up the Schertz GIS department and found his experience in private and public sector GIS operations came in handy in molding the department to the city’s ever changing needs. “The reason I was hired was because the Development Services Department wanted somebody in-house who could create maps to make things more efficient. 2007 was a peak year of the housing boom and the city had the foresight to want a department with the right tools to help with the increased volume,” he said. A year and a half after McFalls joined the city, Bill Gardner was hired as a GIS Specialist. “We doubled our staff overnight,” McFalls said with a laugh. When asked what qualities and skills someone needs to be successful in GIS, the city’s main map maker said the ability to “pull it all together.”
SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST 2012
“A good map maker needs to be part sculptor, architect and salesman.” “Like a sculptor you need to be creative and have the ability to visualize ‘space’ in ways that may not be obvious to others. An effective map requires an eye for design in the same way an architect designs an attractive building or landscape. It also requires some business savvy because at the end of the day you have to be able to market your concepts and ideas to others,” he said. “A map is a document, a way of communicating information that becomes visual. We can take a spreadsheet of columns and rows and turn that into something easier to understand. In a quick glance a person can get a lot of information. Like a photo, a map is worth a thousand words, or more.” In the five years since the GIS department was started in Schertz, it has come a long way. “In 2007 everything was a paper document. Now we have the ability to deliver maps and other GIS information to portable devices like tablets and phones faster and to staff members anywhere including far away,” McFalls said.
Schertz Planned Community Project Gearing Up By Chuck McCollough
Schertz’ first Master Plan Community development – The Crossvine – will break ground in August and likely get its first residents by March, a group of about 70 top real estate professionals heard Tuesday, July 10, during a First Voice luncheon hosted by the Schertz Economic Development Corporation at the Schertz Civic Center. The Crossvine is an 850-acre, $500 million master plan community along FM 1518 in South Schertz. It was formerly known as Sedona Trails. “Our plan is to deliver lots to builders by year’s end so they can have their houses ready to sell by the all important spring-summer 2013 period,” said Chris Price, president of Schertz FM 1518 LTD. “We expect the first phase house to be priced between $220,000 and $400,000,” Price added. First Voice is an informal networking group of Realtors and other business leaders that holds informational lunches to discuss current issues. The First Voice meeting in Schertz was held to give leading Realtors and others in the regional real estate industry an update on the dynamic developments going on in the city. Schertz City Manager John Kessel gave an overview of recent Schertz Master Planning Efforts. He said city leadership is focused on becoming a master planned community city with the best governance possible in areas like infrastructure and
regional cooperation. Kessel said Schertz is preparing for the next wave of development coming to the region. The city manager said master planning efforts will help redefine areas such as South Schertz along IH-10 East. Schertz Economic Development Corp. Executive Director David Gwin said Schertz is on the very doorstep of San Antonio from both IH-10 and IH-35 and “is in one of the hottest real estate markets in Texas and the nation.” He also spoke about job creation in the municipality and the impact of major economic development efforts currently in the area. Gwin gave an update on recent Schertz major developments like Sysco, Caterpillar, Salof (which moved into the former Lack’s Building on Schwab Road) and the Baptist Emergency Hospital under construction at IH-35 and Schertz Parkway. The Crossvine is located at FM 1518 and Ware Seguin Road and will have significant open space, lakes, trails, nearby retail and easy access to major roadways. It will likely build out in about eight years and is expected to serve as the template for the kind of planned communities the city wants, especially in the IH-10 area. “We got our message to the right people at this First Voice event,” Gwin said. “These leaders in real estate will carry back the information that Schertz is focused on quality planning and projects and preparing for an exciting future.”
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FEATUREZ
Bat House Business Takes Wing Even TV Batman Adam West Impressed By Kari Bridges
Fifteen years ago, Reggie Regan of Garden Ridge, wanted to find a safe and natural alternative to the pesticides used to control mosquitoes. Interest in the natural mosquito-control abilities of bats led him to build his first bat house. continued on page 28
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Bat House Business Takes Wing continued
from pg 27
It wasn’t long before Regan discovered that others shared his curiosity of this alternative form of insect control. By then, he realized he had stumbled onto a viable business venture which would also allow him the opportunity to educate people.
bat houses, a rigorous standard established by Bat Conservation International (BCI) based in Austin. Lone Star Woodcraft works closely with BCI, an international non-profit organization considered to be the world’s leading bat related awareness and protection organization.
Today, what started out as a hobby has now grown into a family-owned and locally operated business known as Lone Star Woodcraft. Each of the five family members: Reggie, wife Kathy, and their three children, all pitch in and enjoy contributing their individual talents to running this successful online business.
The type of wood, design, dimensions and ventilation are vital components in the construction of certified bat houses. Every bat house is constructed from all natural and eco-friendly materials and meets all 10 of the BCI established certification requirements. These requirements are based on years of research and are designed according to the most effective ways to best attract the bats which provide a bat-friendly, high quality house and aid in further conservation efforts.
Working together they are able to provide unique, high-quality cedar bat houses to individual people and organizations around the world. “Starting our business and making bat houses has inadvertently become a way to dispel the misconceptions that people have about bats,” said Kathy. “That was not our goal going into this; we were looking for a way of dealing with mosquitoes and it’s become a fun, educational way to make a living. Bats are very valuable to our world,” she explained. Lone Star Woodcraft offers Western Red Cedar bat houses of several sizes, each made with their trademark 3 inch cast iron star and “Handcrafted by Lone Star Woodcraft” brand label. Customers can select from the Bat Condo that offers space for 600 bats, to the Triple Chamber design that houses 300 bats, or the Single Chamber designed for 100 bats which Regan refers to as the “Bat”chelor Pad. Some bat houses have room for a Bat-Cam. These full-sized models are “Certified” 28
Bat enthusiasts will need to install their bat house at the proper height and location considering the factors such as regional temperature, sun exposure and habitat. Regan explains that Lone Star Woodcraft is always eager to support the valuable work done by BCI. During a BCI fundraiser, hosted by TV’s Batman, Adam West, Regan arranged for West to autograph two bat houses. Regan donated one of the bat houses to BCI which was subsequently auctioned off, with over 800 dollars in proceeds going toward bat conservation efforts of BCI. The second autographed bat house is proudly displayed in Regan’s Garden Ridge workshop. A few other organizations that Lone Star Woodcraft has worked with to increase education, knowledge and conservation of bats includes: Phantom Ranch at Grand Canyon National Park; The
SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST 2012
University of Texas at Austin McDonald Observatory Astronomy Program in Fort Davis, Texas; Wildlife Control Technology in Fresno, California; The Madagascar Island Project, Madagascar; and Fort Sam Houston. The Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas presented Regan with a new challenge when they requested several hundred miniature bat house kits for educational purposes. Thus the Lone Star Bat House Kit came about, which is ideal for teaching children about bats and their habitats. Lone Star Woodcraft’s bat houses can be seen across each of the 50 states, in each province of Canada, Bolivia, Spain, Italy, Madagascar and Australia.
All of Lone Star Woodcraft’s bat houses are constructed in a custom designed 750-square-foot workshop that provides a clean work environment with ample storage space for supplies. The locally purchased materials are individually hand cut to create numerous bat houses of each design at one time. Regan shared several of the benefits to having bats in your local area and why you may want to consider setting up a bat house. •
Bats help combat nocturnal insects such as mosquitos, which can carry West Nile Virus.
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Bats are instrumental to the agricultural community because they eat crop-destroying insects. Bats significantly reduce the need for pesticides, which ultimately has a positive impact on our overall eco-system.
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Bats are responsible for the pollination and seed dispersal of over 300 plant species, including banana, figs, nuts and the blue agave cactus, from which tequila is made.
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Bats produce guano, an excellent high quality nitrogen fertilizer you can use on your vegetable garden.
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Bats’ natural habitats are being destroyed and bat houses provide an alternative roost.
Currently, Lone Star Woodcraft is being considered as a provider of bat houses for the National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington D.C.. “Bats play key roles in keeping a wide variety of insect populations in balance,” explained Regan. Bats are voracious eaters of many different insects that are problematic to humans, including mosquitoes and crop-destroying moths. For instance, the local Bracken Cave bat colony can consume over 200 tons of insects in a single night.” “More than half of American bat species are in severe decline or are considered endangered, but all bats are protected at either the federal or state government level.”
Bracken Cave is the summer destination of these fascinating migrating mammal animals as they travel from their winter habitats in Mexico and Central America. Most cave bats are instinctually loyal to certain caves and return year after year, often to the same exact location within the cave. Locally, Bracken Cave is owned and maintained by BCI which works in conjunction with Natural Bridge Caverns. In the summer, the cave is it’s home to 40 million bats -- including 20 million female bats and their pups, and is the largest bat colony on the planet. Each evening they come spiraling out looking for insects to eat and range out as far as 50 miles each night.The emergence is so large, that it appears on weather radar and is often noted by local weathercasters. Regan notes that many families living in the area enjoy watching the bats swoop down to drink from swimming pools on summer evenings. In addition to the bat houses, Lone Star Woodcraft also makes a variety of other houses for bees, birds, squirrels, butterflies and ducks. To learn more, go to www.lonestarwoodcraft.com.
“There are many myths about bats. Some people worry about bats flying into their hair, or are concerned about rabies. The fact is, bats don’t want to come into contact with humans. They use echolocation (bat sonar), to hunt insects and avoid obstacles like humans. As far as rabies, the reality is that your likelihood of getting rabies from an unvaccinated family pet is greater than from a bat. Less than one-half of one percent of bats carry rabies. A general rule is that no one should ever pick up an injured or dead bat, any more than they would pick up any other injured or dead wild animal” he said.
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PROFILEZ
A “Free Spirit” Who Gives Her Free Time Tamara Pearis is a natural sparkplug in the Schertz community By Kiko Martinez
If first impressions mean anything, there is no doubt that localite Tamara Pearis is a memorable character. In fact, she wants you to know her sprightly spirit and capricious nature are part of the entire package. continued on page 32
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Tamara Pearis (right) and Maggie Titterinton have fun and get into character in their period piece outfits. They dress like that at certain Chamber of Commerce events. SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST 2012
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“Free Spirit” continued
“Some people say I’m eccentric,” Pearis says during an interview at Tazas Coffee on Pat Booker Road in late June. “I just like to have a lot of fun.” Her energy is infectious as she walks into Tazas like she had already been there earlier that day and tossed back a few espressos. To say Pearis is lively is an understatement. She’s a spark plug. Her colorful, layered outfit and fiery red hair match her personality. In her hand she carries a floppy, plush toy – a cow she has named Moola – which serves as her company’s Facebook mascot. As the “social media maestro” for Schertz-based Today’s Promotions, Pearis is in charge of online marketing for her employer as well as some of the clients they serve. These include the City of Live Oak and 3009 Self Storage. Moola, kind of like the traveling gnome in the French film “Amelie,” is photographed everywhere Pearis goes. The photos are then uploaded to the business’s Facebook page. At Tazas, Moola is laid across the countertop like a Sports Illustrated bikini model getting ready for a photoshoot on the beach. The female employee making a foamy drink behind the bar doesn’t get the joke, but Pearis finds it hilarious. Pearis definitely marches to the beat of her own drum. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, she has moved around from city to city since her father was in the military. A self-described “gypsy,” Pearis says she has lived all over, from Paris, France to Okinawa, Japan to San Jose, California. She’s been back and forth to Texas since 1974, but officially hung her hat in Schertz in 1985. She has four daughters and two granddaughters. “I like the small town feel of Schertz,” says Pearis, who graduated from Ran32
from pg 31
dolph High School in 1977. “Everyone is friendly and knows who you are. They’ll greet you on the street. If I need a bigcity fix, all I have to do is go right down the highway.”
“I can fight with a sword and I’m pretty good with a rapier,” Pearis says. “I did accidentally stab my sword master once during a performance. We had to keep going, but I stitched him up later.”
Before her position with Today’s Promotions, a company that provides marketing services and sells promotional items like koozies and calendars, Pearis worked in the retail industry and was also an account executive at a local community newspaper. She joined Today’s Promotions last year.
Pearis, however, is no princess. She’s actually a Lady. She received the title when she purchased part of an estate in Glencoe, Scotland online. At highlandtitles. com, you can do the same for $49.99.
“I’m someone who likes to think outside the box and come up with new ideas,” Pearis says. “I like to talk to the clients on a more casual basis as opposed to dressing up in a business suit like I’m walking down Manhattan Avenue. I want to sit down and be real with them.” If Pearis is anything, she is genuine. During our interview, we talk about everything from social media websites like Pinterest and LinkedIn to comedian Anjela Johnson, whom she considers very funny. We talk about her college years at Wade College in Dallas and, despite not finishing her degree, studying political science at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks. She says her collegiate dream was to “be the person that stands behind the president.” Later she admits her childhood dream was to “be the premiere ballerina in the Chicago Ballet.” We joke about the new Pixar movie “Brave” and how they finally created a redheaded princess. Like the lead Scottish character in the animated film, Pearis says she can also shoot a longbow. In fact, when she was living in California, she was a member of a historical reenactment guild known as the Highland Warriors.
SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST 2012
“The U.S. doesn’t recognize titles, but British Airways thinks I’m fabulous,” Pearis says. It’s surprising that Pearis has any free time, but when she does she enjoys working in committees as a member of the Randolph Chamber of Commerce and Schertz Chamber of Commerce. She has also served as the backstage mom for the Schertz Sweetheart Pageant. Recently, Pearis has begun studying the genealogy of her family (she calls it “ghost hunting”). “I got curious and started digging up all these fascinating things about our past,” Pearis said. “My mother was happy when she found out our family was a few generations away from Miley Cyrus, but not so happy when I found out the same thing about George W. Bush.” Pearis doesn’t need to be related to anyone famous to be a popular face in the crowd. In Schertz, she seems to be a celebrity all her own. For more information on Today’s Promotions, visit their website at todayspromotions.com or visit them on Facebook at facebook.com/todayspromotions.
AUGUST EVENTS
Civic Center: Aug. 11
Community Center:
1st Annual Benefit
Alamo Pet Expo
Laus Deus Praise Ministries
Aug. 21
Schertz Chamber Luncheon
Aug 4-5 Aug 12
Hill Country Cichlid Club Fish Auction
1400 Schertz Pkwy, Bldg. #5
(210) 619-1600
Chris Matzenbacher Advertising Director
Office: 210-619-1633 Cell: 210-268-6732
There is a chilling ambience when you step into the warehouse of the Batesville Casket Company in Schertz. The Customer Service Center (CSC), which is one of approximately 90 hubs across the country, contributes to the 750,000 caskets distributed each year to licensed funeral homes in the U.S. and Canada.
Batesville Caskets: Serving family, friends and famous
Standing inside the warehouse off FM 3009, CSC manager David Cornett, who is originally from Batesville, Indiana, says there are around 800 different caskets at their location at any given time. The caskets, ranging from bronze to mahogany to a regular pine box, stand in rows on the warehouse floor. As the nation’s largest casket distributor, there is a good chance that if you’ve been to a funeral, you have seen a Batesville casket. “Batesville is a large part of the funeral and death care industry,” said Cornett, who has been with the company since 2007. “It’s a business, but there’s also a human side to the business that is important to us.” HISTORY OF BATESVILLE Batesville Casket Company corporate headquarters is located in Batesville,
By Kiko Martinez
Indiana. The history of the company goes back to 1884 when John Hillenbrand began producing handmade wooden caskets. In 1906, he purchased the Batesville Coffin Company and renamed it the Batesville Casket Company. Along with caskets, Batesville also sells cremation containers and urns, and offers other services, including the Living Memorial Tree Planting Program where families can arrange for a tree to be planted in honor of their loved one. CASKET LOGISTICS Batesville Caskets has manufacturing plants in four cities: its home town, Panola, Mississippi; Manchester, Tennessee; and Chihuahua, Mexico. Once manufactured, the caskets are transported to one of six regional distribution centers and then sent to CSCs around the U.S. The CSC in Schertz gets its caskets from the regional distribution center in Dallas. Cornett says his CSC then works with about 250 funeral homes in South-Central Texas – from Georgetown to Corpus Christi and everywhere in between.
‘THAT’S THE ONE DAD WOULD’VE LIKED’ Cornett knows exactly which casket he wants to be buried in: a stainless steel Greyson model. With a large, diverse inventory, Batesville will surely be able to meet any need. However, unless pre-funeral arrangements have been made, families are usually left to make decisions based on emotion and finances. “Sometimes people will say, ‘You know, grandma’s favorite color was pink,’” Cornett says. “There’s a good chance that family is going to walk out with a casket or the casket interior that is some shade of pink. A lot of funeral directors tell me a family will come in and say, ‘That’s the one dad would’ve liked.’ They’re trying to pick out something that represents their loved one. You’d hope whatever they picked is a good expression of who you were.”
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Cornett said it is interesting why some families spend so much money on something that is ultimately going to be buried six feet under and never be seen again.
“Having a grandmother pass away at 110 years old is traumatic enough, but think about an entire family that dies in a car wreck or someone who suddenly dies from a heart attack,” Cornett says. “We have to be able to handle that range of emotions. As much as it is a large-purchase decision, it’s also a time we have to
For more information on Batesville Casket Company visit www.batesville.com.
“It’s the one last time to go all out,” Cornett says. “It’s a big expense, but it’s the last expense of your life.”
ADDING A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA While Batesville has hundreds of wellcrafted caskets, some families want to customize a specific model. It could be something as simple as choosing a specialized color for the interior or embroidering an image of, say, a tackle box into the casket panels if grandpa was an avid fisherman. Cornett says about one-third of the caskets Batesville makes are customized. “If you want something custom-made, it can be done,” Cornett says. “It all depends on price and time.” Batesville is open to making custom changes for any circumstance, but one thing they are unable to do is break trademark law. That means that even if Uncle Stew was a San Antonio Spurs super fan, Batesville wouldn’t be able to embroider a huge Spurs logo inside the casket. They could, however, customize the casket to represent the team’s colors and adorn the inside with a pennant or something similar.
“We get creative.”
THE BUSINESS OF COMPASSION Batesville sells caskets, but they also want the experience of having to bury a loved one not to add stress to an already tough situation. Cornett said the company and its funeral homes work with families to help them get through a difficult time in their lives.
“We get creative,” Cornett says. “There are a lot of different options. We’ve done everything from changing casket corners to adding someone’s military affiliation to the inside.”
be there both spiritually and mentally for families.” THE LAST EXPENSE OF YOUR LIFE Cornett admits caskets can get expensive. Although he cannot discuss specific prices, he says Batesville sells their caskets to funeral homes at wholesale. It’s up to individual funeral homes to then price the casket at retail depending on the packages they offer. “You’ll get a lot of families that come in and ask, ‘What’s the most expensive thing you’ve got?,’” Cornett says, adding that other families look for the least expensive one.
FAMOUS FUNERALS Although Cornett could not discuss in detail, Batesville caskets have been a part of a number of high-profile funerals in the past. According to an article published by USA Today in July 2009, Batesville has provided caskets for U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, John F. Kennedy, and Harry Truman. Celebrities buried in Batesville caskets have included Michael Jackson, Bob Hope, Wilt Chamberlain, Farrah Fawcett, Fred Astaire, and James Brown. AUGUST 2012 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM
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EDUCATION
Variety of Schertz Schools is a Big Plus By Lucille Sims Thomas
There are five public school districts that participate in some way, shape or form in the education of young minds in the City of Schertz . And with the reputation of a school district often being what can make or break a deal for homebuyers, the stakes are high. The Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City School District educates the most Schertz students, but the city also has students who attend Comal ISD, Randolph Field School District, East Central ISD and Judson ISD. The city is additionally home to the growing John Paul II Catholic High School and the Shekinah Radiance Academy- a charter program that is building a new high school in the area. As the new school year draws nearer, Schertz Magazine asked the superintendents of some of those districts to comment on the schools’ value to Schertz residents. 36
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SETTING THE BAR EVER HIGHER SCUCISD Superintendent Dr. Greg Gibson spotlights his district’s core values and core competencies when discussing its importance to Schertz residents and others living in the school district . The district’s core values are: providing visionary leadership; instilling character in both staff and students through ethical behavior; a commitment to student-centered excellence; learning and emphasizing community service. “We want every child wherever they are to have value added to each year that they spend with us — in other words, their horizons are expanded every single year because they feel like they’ve got the tools and skills they need to go to the next grade level or go into the workforce or go onto higher education,” Gibson said. Learning is expected of both students and staff, Gibson said. And the district tries to make sure students understand that community service is just as important as any aspect of education. The district’s core competencies are: being exceptionally good at the use of academic data and information to drive improvement; student retention leading to graduation; technology availability and usage for students and employee engagement. According to Gibson, other districts have higher dropout rates than SCUCISD. Through the district’s Allison Steele Enhanced Learning Center, there is no such thing as a student who does not graduate, Gibson said. Gibson said he believes his district’s strong reputation plays an important role in helping attract both business and home owners to Schertz. “When people investigate using the internet they can see we have highly-rated schools and if they drive down and look they can see the schools have curb appeal also”, he said.
“I think the Schertz -Cibolo Universal City School District kind of passes the eye test and passes the internet test easily,” he said. The district has more than 13,000 students and is projecting a growth of around 500 to 700 students per year for the next 10 years. SCHERTZ’ GROWTH JUMPS BOUNDARIES Dr. Marc Walker, superintendent of the Comal Independent School District at the time of this interview, said that the City of Schertz’s rapid growth, especially in CISD, is his main challenge. He emphasizes his district is up to the job. The district’s students who live in Schertz attend Garden Ridge Elementary, Canyon Middle School and Canyon High School. Currently, Comal ISD owns land for a middle school and a high school in the area of the district that is in Schertz. “Our campuses offer a broad range of challenging and rigorous academic courses, as well as skilled workforce
continued on page 38 AUGUST 2012 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM
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School’s a Big Plus continued
from pg 37
“We know and we live everyday with the active duty military family members... and we think we’re equipped... to take care of the military child.”
opportunities that students can expect to encounter after they graduate from high school. Students gain skills to support any career venue as they navigate life after high school,” Walker said. He said the school district plays a role in helping attract businesses and homeowners to the Schertz area by offering highperformance campuses with rigorous and challenging academic courses. Walker said Garden Ridge Elementary, which opened for the 2010-2011 school year, is a prototype design for future elementary schools with its green features. The school’s environmentally friendly features include a living roof, skylights that provide natural lighting in the library, rainwater harvesting with on-site storage and an energy conservation system that automatically adjusts lighting in the classrooms. “This beautiful new elementary school adds value to the Schertz area in terms of drawing families to live here and businesses looking for a quality school system to draw employees from,” Walker said.
Randolph Field School District Superintendent Dr. Billy Walker deployments, with the TDYs, with the PCSing, with everything that goes with that — and we think we’re equipped as well, as not only anybody in the area , but in the nation, to take care of the military child.” The Comal ISD has nearly 600 square miles in five counties (Comal, Guadalupe, Bexar, Hays and Kendall) with an estimated 17,770 students. According to the latest projections from the district’s demographer, Comal ISD enrollment is expected to top 25,500 students by the 2020-21 school year.
A MILITARY CONNECTION TO EDUCATION Even though it is located on Randolph AFB, Randolph Field School District Superintendent Dr. Billy Walker believes his district is extremely valuable to the City of Schertz. “I feel our district is of huge value to the Schertz area in that we’re on Randolph AFB and the school district was designed and put in place to serve the students of active duty military members,” he said. “We know and we live everyday with the active duty military family members. We know all of the intricacies of their lives that come with the 38
SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST 2012
The school district is not just open to students who live on base, but to any student whose parent is an active duty military member in the greater San Antonio area. But its proximity to Schertz makes it
especially attractive to the many military families who choose to call Schertz home. Walker said he has talked to many parents who are moving into the Schertz area and the first thing they do is go to various Web sites to check out the schools because they want to live in an area where their child can go to the best schools. Randolph Field High School was recently ranked as one of the top 1,000 schools in the nation
by Newsweek and Walker feels this distinction will make the Schertz area even more attractive not just to military families, but to potential employers and homebuyers, too. The district has just over 1,100 students and Walker expected to continue growing along with the city.
PRIVATE EDUCATION ALSO AVAILABLE John Paul II High School is the only Catholic high school in Schertz and takes its role as providing a quality religious-based education very seriously, according to Patricia Davis, superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of San Antonio. “Our school is a high-performing college preparatory school. We are readying young people for success in the greater community. Further, we are forming young people in Christ, instilling in them a high moral and ethical standard, and a deep love for service. What better gift to the community?” she said.
continued on page 40 AUGUST 2012 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM
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School’s a Big Plus continued
Los Texmaniacs September 28, 2012
from pg 40
Davis said a number of families new to the area have told her that the school helped them decide to live in Schertz instead of the northeast part of San Antonio.
equation or how to write a wonderful essay, if he does not also know right from wrong and have the moral compass to follow the path to God,” Davis said.
Though she said it is harder to quantify, Davis believes the school’s presence in northeast Schertz gives businesses and developers a reason to look more seriously at the area for growth and expansion.
“We try very hard to put things in the right order all the time — that serving God by serving others, putting others first, finding the good in all people and places, then we are forming great citizens,” she said.
“John Paul II teaches the whole child — the spiritual, the moral, the intellectual. Obviously, we believe that it is not worth anything to teach a child to balance an
John Paul II High School has approximately 150 students for the 2012-2013 school year.
Micky and the Motorcars September 29, 2012
September 28-29 Pickrell Park Free Admission
2012
visitschertz.com
BBQ Cook-off * Carnival * Raffle * Live Entertainment CHARTER SCHOOL EDUCATION AN OPTION The Shekinah Radiance Academy is a charter school located along FM 1518 near Woman Hollering Road. Dr. Cheryl Washington, the school’s superintendent, stresses that her school offers “choice education.” As a charter school with open enrollment, parents can elect to send their children to the school no matter where they live. She said as far as she knows, it is the only charter school in Schertz. “We have smaller class sizes and offer opportunity for more teacher-student interaction,” Washington said. The school is valuable to students and parents seeking an “unconventional learning experience,” she said.
“A DOCTOR’S CONFESSION TO THE CITY OF SCHERTZ…”
Washington thinks her school helps attract businesses and homeowners to the Schertz area by giving parents an extra choice in how to educate their children beside public schools, without having to pay private school prices.
The school has approximately 50 students enrolled from the Schertz area and 96 on a waiting list, anticipating the opening of a new facility that is being built across the street from their current location.
AND THEN THERE IS MARION Marion Independent School District Interim Superintendent Mario Sotelo was surprised to learn 18 transfer students who live in Schertz attended MISD schools. “Only one of them is the child of a district employee so the rest may be
coming here because they like a small school district like ours. We are happy to have them,” said Sotelo who has been in the superintendent position for just a short time.
Dear Friend, I want to give credit where credit is due. So, perhaps a confession can help clear the air so there’s no misunderstanding, Before I talk about my confession, though, let me say a few other things first. Let me start by explaining the photo in this letter. You know, when I meet people in town they usually say, “Oh, yeah, I know you, you’re Dr. Martin. I’ve seen your ad with that picture of you and the two cute kids.” Well, I’m the guy in the middle. Years ago I was a college baseball player, but I developed a painful neck, shoulder and arm condition. In my case it came on suddenly. The pain in my hands was so intense that I couldn’t raise my arm above my head or even throw a baseball. I was afraid that I would lose my scholarship if it continued. I went to my trainer and medical doctor and was given anti-inflammatories. The problem with those medications is that they just mask the symptoms and in my case did not help. Finally, after steroid injections I decided against it. But, there’s more…A family member of mine convinces me to give their doctor a try. This new doctor did an exam, took some films, and then “adjusted” my spine. The adjustment didn’t hurt, it actually felt good. I got relief, and I could use my arm again. Oh, did I mention that this doctor is a chiropractor. It worked so well that I went to chiropractic school myself. Now for McKenna and Cooper, who are the cute kids in the picture. They get adjusted regularly and are some of the healthiest kids you will know. Their mom is also problem-free even with all the bending and lifting a busy mom of two does. It might seem like a small thing, but it makes a big difference to her.
It’s strange how life is, because now people come to see me with their neck, arm and shoulder problems. Also they come to me with their headaches, migraines, chronic pain, carpal tunnel, whiplash from car accidents, backaches, ear infections, asthma, allergies, numbness in limbs, athletic injuries, just to name a few. Here’s what some of my patients had to say: “I have not had a headache in months”- (Mary J.) “Mood and attitude have improved” – (Lisa A.) Several times a day patients thank me for helping them with their health problems. But I can’t really take the credit. My confession is that I’ve never healed anyone of anything. What I do is perform a specific spinal adjustment to remove nerve pressure, and the body responds by healing itself. We get tremendous results. It’s a simple as that! Forty-eight million Americans no longer have health insurance, and those who do have found that their benefits are reduced. That’s where my I come in. I have a significantly lower fee plan so that more people are able to afford the care they need. A whole week of care in my office costs what you could pay for one visit elsewhere. Studies show that people actually pay less for their long-term overall health care expenses if they are seeing a chiropractor. You Benefit from an Amazing Offer- Look, you are going to write a check to someone for your health care expenses, you may as well write one for a lesser amount for chiropractic. When you bring in this article, you will receive my entire new patient exam for $17. That’s with an evaluation and X-Rays….the whole ball of wax. But, please call right away because this offer expires on August 31, 2012, and I don’t want you to miss out.
not trying to seduce you to come see me with this low start up fee, then to only make it up with high fees after that. Further care is very important to consider when making your choice of doctor. High costs can add up very quickly. Great care at a great fee…Please, I hope that there’s no misunderstanding about quality of care just because I have a lower fee. You’ll get great care at a great fee. My qualifications…I’m a Magna cum Laude graduate of Cleveland Chiropractic College and a Strength and Conditioning Specialist. I’ve been entrusted to take care of tiny babies to pro athletes that you may know. After practicing for four years in San Antonio I moved my practice to Schertz. I just have a low exam fee to help more people who need care. My Associate, Dr. Kyle Stringer, brings over five years of experience to our practice with the latest in pain-free techniques. My assistant is Melissa, and she is really a great person. Our office is both friendly and warm and we try our best to make you feel at home. We have a wonderful service, at an exceptional fee. Our office is called Schertz Chiropractic and it is at 17323 IH 35 North Ste 106, (we are between 3009 and Schertz Parkway on the 35 South Access Road). Our phone number is 210-646-6000. Call Melissa or me today for an appointment. We can help you. Thank you. -Patrick W. Martin, D.C. P.S. When accompanied by the first, I am also offering the second family member this same examination for only $10. P.S.S. Your time is just as valuable as ours, that’s why we will be with you promptly at your appointment.
By the way, further care is very affordable and you’ll be happy to know that I have affordable plans. You see I’m
Not applicable to Medicare Beneficiaries due to regulations.
PAST REMEMBERED
St. Joseph Cemetery
Resting Place of Pioneers
The inscription on the St. Joseph Cemetery Schertz Historic Site marker states: THIS CEMETERY HAS BEEN RECORDED AS A HISTORIC TEXAS CEMETERY BY THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION. ITS ORIGINS ARE TRACED TO THE BURIAL OF PETER IGNAZ WENZEL ON FEBRUARY 2, 1884. IGNAZ WAS A GERMAN IMMIGRANT WHO WAS AMONG THE FIRST FOUNDERS OF NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS AND COMAL VILLAGE. IGNAZ REQUESTED THAT HE BE BURIED ON HIS LAND AND THAT ONE ACRE SURROUNDING HIS GRAVE BE SET ASIDE AS A CEMETERY. ON MARCH 3, 1884, HIS WIDOW (ANNA MARIA (FRIESENHAHN) WENZEL DONATED LAND FOR THE CEMETERY TO THE CATHOLIC BISHOP OF SAN ANTONIO. IN 1925, IGNAZ’ DESCENDENTS SOLD ONE-HALF ACRE TO THE CATHOLIC BISHOP TO ENLARGE THE CEMETERY. IN 1948, WILLIE WENZEL DONATED .7 ACRE FOR THE PARKING LOT AND DRIVEWAY. EXCEPT FOR A SMALL NUMBER OF HISPANIC LABORERS BURIED IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER, MOST OF THE EARLY BURIALS WERE EITHER DESCENDANTS OF IGNAZ AND ANNA MARIA OR OF ANNA’S TWO BROTHERS ANDREAS AND NICOLAS FRIESENHAHN, OR OF ANNA’S HALFBROTHER HEINRICH SYRING. THE WENZELS AND THOSE OTHER FAMILIES RESTING ON THESE SACRED GROUNDS POSSESSED AN UNFALTERING COMMITMENT TO THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AS EVIDENCED BY THE BEAUTIFUL SAINT JOSEPH’S CHAPEL THEY ERECTED NEARBY.
By Chuck McCollough
Under the soothing shade of a towering, majestic cemetery oak tree, more than 50 people on Saturday, June 23, honored the courage and legacy of those buried there. The occasion on that hot summer day was dedication of several historical plaques for St. Joseph Cemetery near St. Joseph Catholic Church on FM 482 in the Comal Settlement. The cemetery dates back to 1884 and received both a Historic Texas Cemetery designation from the Texas Historical Commission and a Schertz Historic Site designation from the Schertz Historical Preservation Committee. The dedication ceremony also was sponsored by the Comal Settlement Association, Comal County Historical Commission and Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in New Braunfels. Both designation plaques are located on one monument that tells the story of the tree shaded cemetery and how it reflected the lives and times of the German immi42
grants who settled the area. Schertz Historical Preservation Committee Chairman Dean Weirtz told part of that story in his introduction to the crowd of mostly senior citizens and descendants of those buried in the cemetery. “Several of the men, women and some of the children who rest in this humble but beautiful place were among the first settlers of the community of Comal Settlement. These were members of the Wenzel, Friesenhahn, and Syring families,” Weirtz said. “Still other families who followed on close behind the founders and who rest here are the Riedels, Nietsches, Metzlers, Hubertus, Schwab, Kneuper, Reininger, Mar-
SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST 2012
bach, Jones, Heidkamp and several others who share these grounds. These were not famous individuals, not heroes of special note, nor characters of historic legion. But these were special people possessed of special character who by their lives set the example for generations to follow.” Clarence Scheel is a member of the Comal Settlement Association - made up of descendants of that pioneer community and the person who got the ball rolling on the plaques. One April 4, 2011 he contacted the Texas Historical Commission about its Historic Texas Cemetery designation and later contacted the Schertz Historical Preservation Commission about a historic site marker. Both designation were approved within a few months. Scheel and other CSA members as well as Weirtz and other historic preservations in the area said such plaques help raise awareness of and appreciation for local historic sites.
in the Forum next to Michael’s
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Call 210-658-4144 www.goodstuffglobal.com AUGUST 2012 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM
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Civicn ewz
We are working for you, Schertz! GOT FREE TIME? The City of Schertz offers a number of ways for its citizens to become actively involved in government business. Schertz citizens may apply to serve on one of many boards and commissions. If you are interested, please contact the City Secretary’s Office at (210) 619-1030. A list of boards and commissions is available at schertz.com. Select the Government tab for a complete listing.
August 2012
Schertz Firefighters, Other Groups Get Wilenchik Awards At the July 10 Schertz City Council meeting members of the Schertz Fire & Rescue Department receive an award for raising the most money by a city department during the 2012 Wilenchik Walk for Life. Second place for most funds raised by a city department went to Team Public Works. The award for Schertz representatives attending the TAMIO Awards Luncheon Friday in Round Rock were (from left, first row) Alexis Souza, Schertz Magazine Art Director and Designer; David J. Harris, Executive Director Support; Linda Ervin, Schertz Magazine Associate Publisher (holding Silver Star); JoAnna Takemura, IT Web Tech (holding Silver Star) and Chuck McCollough, Schertz Magazine Editor In Chief. Back row left to right are: Eric Haugen, IT Senior Systems Engineer; Chris Matzenbacher, Schertz Magazine Sales Manager; Brad E. Bailey, Public Affairs Director and Schertz Magazine Publisher; and George Antuna, Mayor Pro Tem.
Schertz Magazine, City Web Site Win TAMIO Awards Schertz Magazine and the City of Schertz Web Site captured Silver Stars Friday, June 22, at the Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers (TAMIO) Award Luncheon in Round Rock.
55,000, Schertz Magazine took second place and a Silver Star, while Georgetown captured first place. Schertz Magazine won second place in the same category in 2011 .
In the category of Print External Newsletter for cities with population under
The City Web site, which continues to grow and provide more and more diverse
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information to residents, tied for second with Temple and brought home a Silver Star. TAMIO officials said more than 40 cities participated in the contest and sent in 156 entries in the various categories.
most funds raised by a non-city team went to the Stallion Stampede from Sippel Elementary. The award for most money raised by a non-city individual went to Tina Smith with the Little Firefighter Foundation.
SPD’s Speedy Rolison honored by City Council
The London Olympics were still gearing up when Steve Rolison of the Schertz Police Department brought home six medals - two gold, two silver and two bronze -from the 2012 Texas Police Games. Last year the fleet-footed CID Cpl. brought home three gold medals from the same event. This year Rolison won gold in the 1500 Meter and 800 meter races, silver in the 5K run and 30 mile bicycle race and bronze for the 1600 meter relay and 30 mile cycling race. Congratulating Rolison (wearing the medals) at the July 10 Schertz City Council meeting are (from left) Mayor Pro Tem George Antuna, City Manager John Kessel, Schertz PD Capt. Marc Bane, Interim Police Chief Mike Harris and John Bierschwale -Executive Director - Operations. AUGUST 2012 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM
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FUTURE LOOK
You Can Teach An Old Street New Tricks By Chuck McCollough
A group of participants in a Downtown Schertz (Main St. /FM 78 area) Charrette take a walking tour of Main Street June 25 as they pass the historic Schertz Community Hospital building. The walking tour was part of the input gathering process from stakeholders in the Downtown area. The second part of the Downtown Charrette was an open house Tuesday, June 26, at the Schertz Civic Center.
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Sometime, a Lady of Many Years longs for the days of her youth. That feeling seems to be catching on with the Grand Dame of Downtown - Main Street. A vision of how Main Street and the rest of downtown might look in a future renaissance was unveiled in a Charrette last month that is helping build excitement. Gateway Planning Group - which has previously held Charrettes that looked at the North Schertz and South Schertz areas - focused on the Main Street/FM 78 (Downtown) area and an extended part of North Schertz on June 25 and 26.
Will the Downtown Schertz someday be the site of annual street festivals and a collection of eclectic shops and restaurants nestled near tree-shaded heritage homes? Can it become a walking tour destination area that mixes history and commerce while retaining the charm of a bygone era? Those were the type of “thinking broadly� questions the City of Schertz explored during the Planning & Design Charrette run by Gateway Planning. The Charrette also looked at an Additional North Schertz Study Area southeast of IH-35 from just north of Eckhardt Road
down south to just below the FM 2252 bridge over IH 35. The first Charrette kicked off at Monday morning, June 25, with a Walking Tour of Main Street starting at the Java Nook Coffee Shop, 509 Main Street. The public continued on page 48 AUGUST 2012 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM
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FUTURE LOOK
August 2012
You Can Teach An Old Street New Tricks
Thursday, 2
Transportation Safety Advisory Commission 5:30 PM- Council Chambers
Monday, 6
Library Advisory Board 7:00 PM - Schertz Public Library
Tuesday, 7
CITY CALENDARZ
City Council 6:00 PM—Council Chambers
Wednesday, 8
Planning & Zoning 6:00 PM - Council Chambers
Monday, 13
Buffalo Valley Youth Association 6:00 PM - 401 Oak St.
Tuesday, 14
City Council 6:00 PM—Council Chambers
Tuesday, 21
City Council 6:00 PM—Council Chambers
Wednesday, 22
Planning & Zoning 6:00 PM - Council Chambers
continued from pg 47
participated in a pedestrian view of what many invision as potential destination area of Schertz. The tour took about an hour and ended back at Java Nook. Monday evening, June 25, at the Schertz Civic Center, the second Charrette was a community meeting on the Additional North Schertz Study Area. At that event stakeholders - including residents, property owners and business owners - heard a number of Guiding Principles put forth by Gateway Planning Group. Those include: • Creating a transportation & street network that provides access in the area including where a train station could be located. •
Regional drainage creating infrastructure, providing linkages through trails, paths and greenways.
•
Maintaining the rural character and “small town” feel in the vicinity of historic Comal (FM 482 area)
Thursday, 23
Economic Development Corporation 6:00 PM - Council Chambers
Monday, 27
Parks & Recreation Advisory Board 5:30 PM – Bob Andrews Room
•
Honoring the historical heritage of the Comal Community.
•
Agricultural Conservation with cluster neighborhoods that help maintain open space/farmland.
Board of Adjustments 6:00 PM – Council Chambers
Tuesday, 28
City Council 6:00 PM-Council Chambers 48
***Meeting locations may change, please visit the calendar at www.schertz.com for confirmation.*** SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST 2012
On Tuesday, June 26, the second part of the Downtown Charrette moved to the Civic Center for an Open House where folks dropped in between 4:30 PM and 7:00 PM. Stakeholders and members of the public got a chance to further see and hear what is being proposed for the area and give their input. After gathering information from the walking tour of Main Street Gateway Planning Group came up with a number of concepts and suggestions. Those include: •
•
Gateway elements structures of some kind marking entrance to the Downtown Schertz area. The Gateway Planning Group concepts showed three gateway elements onto Main Street. One would be at Schertz Parkway and then at 1st Street and Mill Streets for traffic turning in from FM 78. Examples of two area gateways are the entrance into Fort Sam Houston from Harry Wurzbach Road and into HemisFair Park from Alamo Street downtown. Another concept shows a multi-use civic space in-
cluding a plaza area at 1st Street and Main Street. The area could have specialty paving and a food truck/farmers market/ parking area nearby. •
And yet another concept envisions turning the old Schertz Post Office site at Main Street and Lindbergh Street into a Beer Garden and having a a Heritage Center in the area.
•
Aesthetic improvements would include sidewalk improvements, façade upgrades to businesses, parallel parking spaces and additional trees.
Brian James - Executive Director of Development for the city said the concepts and proposals incorporate ideas from a 2010 study of the area and from other cities that have revitalized their downtowns. He said the city will look at ways it can better help businesses in the downtown area, such as building improvement incentives and a streamlined permitting process. James said he expects Gateway Planning to have a set of recommendations in about four months or so.
AUGUST 2012 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM
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