February 2013 by City of Schertz

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MARCH 2, 2013 Registration begins at 6:30am

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Featurez SA Officers Are Schertz ‘Hometown Boys’

SCHERTZ magazine

National Merit Semi-Finalist Has Strong Support System

24 Jones Sees Stronger City and County Ties

contentz

Departmentz Talk of the Townz Updatez

Sweethearts Miss Jubilee

KITCHEN KUDOZ Mama Margies

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Columnz PROFILEZ Sanchez Shines on Oprah Military Spouse Salute

BIZ SPOT Devoir Fitness

FOCUZ Douglas “Book Lady”

BOND UPDATEZ Soccer Complex

City Newz 45 Calendarz & Contactz 51 Civic Newz Updatez

39 FEBRUARY 2013 schertzmagazine.com

Editor’z Letter Chuck McCollough, Editor

City Council Michael Carpenter Mayor

As editor... As editor, it is my privilege to see many cases of dedication in our community ranging from the young to seniors. This month we have a good cross section of examples. Janet Sanchez is a military spouse and Schertz resident whose selfless work has helped fellow Spanish-speaking military spouses connect to support resources around the globe. That came to the attention of a famous person whose first name starts with O. Read the results.

parents -- helped mold Sgt. Javier Salazar and Officer Matt Porter of the San Antonio Police Department. They live in Schertz and work in the SAPD public information office. They are a case study of being raised in a nurturing hometown and choosing to raise their kids here, too. Don’t miss it.

Jim Fowler Councilmember David Scagliola Councilmember George Antuna, Jr. Councilmember Cedric Edwards, Sr. Councilmember Barbara Baldwin First Lady Emerita

Executive Team John Kessel City Manager John Bierschwale Executive Director David J. Harris Executive Director Brian James Executive Director

PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY Public Affairs Department Linda Ervin Business Manager Chuck McCollough Editor-In-Chief Alexis Souza Art Director & Design Chris Matzenbacher Sales Director

Library Director Gail Douglas is known as the “Book Lady” because of her 30 years helping grow the Schertz Public Library. In that time she has been responsible for hundreds of thousands books -- print and electronic -each filled with stories. But one of the best stories is Gail’s story. Read it and see if you agree. Aruna Kharod’s dedication to her work in academics, band and other areas earned her recognition from a prestigious education body. The Clemens High School senior’s success is also a product of the dedication of her family and teachers. Read and be inspired. That same Schertz community dedication -- by educators and

Also be on lookout for stories on new Guadalupe County Judge Larry Jones, Mama Margie’s restaurant in Schertz, the activity at Devoir Fitness, the Schertz Sweetheart Court members and what’s in store at the Schertz Soccer Complex. All that and more in your February Schertz Magazine.

Brittany Losey Senior Writer Contributing Staffers Erin Matlock Client Affairs Specialist Mary Spence Events Coordinator

Contributing Writers Chuck McCollough, Lucille Sims Thomas, Andrea Allinger, Kari Bridges, Kiko Martinez, Ashley Festa, Rudy Arispe, Jim Webb

Contributing Photographers Chuck McCollough, Mary Spence, Mike Harris, Marc Bane, Bryan Nguyen, Joe Herczeg, Diana Webb, Andrea Allinger, Kari Bridges, Zachary Carter, Ross Dye, fontsandphotos.com

On the Cover Schertz Public Library Director Gail Douglas stands next to a unique globe in the regional library’s courtyard. She has 30 years of loving service with the Library.

Lucille Sims Thomas Copy Editor

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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

Talk Townz of the

FEBRUARY 2013

Trail Riders Rolling Into Our Area February 7 The unmistakable sounds of horse hooves clopping and covered wagon wheels squeaking will be heard soon enough as trail riders head through our area on the way to the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo. Around here, pardner, look for the Greater Randolph Area Trail Riders and the Kerr County Trailer Riders groups.

Livestock Show and Rodeo. And thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a western lunch welcoming them when they stop in Pickrell Park.

For a number of years, Schertz residents have welcomed these groups as they moved through our area on their trek to the

For more information on the exact dates for the ride-through and chow-down, call (210) 619-1000 or 311).

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mosey on down to Pickrell Park, Thursday, February 7 at 11:00AM and welcome the cowboys, cowgirls and cowbabies as they stop for some Schertz hospitality.

Sweetheart Court Celebrates Holiday Season

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February More Fun at Schertz Public Library

Talk Townz of the

By Lissi Blase Adult Services Librarian

1,000 Books before Kindergarten Lions Club International President Wayne A. Madden wants Lions to participate in a year-long initiative called the Reading Action Program. Locally, the Schertz-Cibolo Lions Club is thrilled with the opportunity to collaborate with the Schertz Public Library to improve literacy rates and promote reading in our community. They are partnering to offer an early literacy initiative called 1,000 Books before Kindergarten. This project encourages parents to read aloud at least 1,000 books with their children ages 1 and up before they enter school. This project will introduce a fun opportunity to encourage families to read aloud to toddlers and preschoolers. It will also introduce children to a wide range of excellent books to promote pre-literacy so children enter school ready to learn and it will encourage regular library use by local families. The community is invited to join library staff for the launch party of 1,000 Books before Kindergarten on Saturday, February 9th from 2-4 PM at the Schertz Public Library, 798 Schertz Parkway, Schertz.

We will have a zoo themed storytime followed by several activities and crafts specially designed for our toddler and preschool friends. Come monkey around with Leo the Lion — he might even let you take his picture. Be the first to register for this exciting new project — it will be rip-roaring fun for the whole family.

“The Book Ends” Library Book Club Meeting Thursday February 14th at 6:30 PM. We will be discussing Unbroken: a WWII story of survival, resilience, and redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. Everyone is invited to read the book and join our discussion.

Library Quilt Bee Tuesday February 12th and Saturday February 16th from 12-3 PM. Are you interested in learning how to quilt? This is a fun group that meets twice a month and is for both beginner and advanced quilters. If it is your first time, no supplies are necessary! Experienced quilters are encouraged to bring any quilting project you are working on!

Knitting/Crochet/Needle Crafting Group The library is interested in starting a knitting circle or needle crafting group. If anyone is interested in teaching or leading this program, please contact the library at (210) 619-1700.

The City of Schertz is accepting applications for the position of

City Council Place 5

(unexpired term ending November 2013)

through Friday, February 8, 2013 at 12 Noon. The City Charter requires that members of Council be qualified voters residing in the City. Applications are available at Schertz.com. Call (210) 619-1030 for assistance Completed applications should be taken to City Secretary’s Office, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Building 2, Schertz, TX 78154.

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Talk Townz of the

Miss Jubilee My name is Alyssa Brunet and I am currently serving as Miss Jubilee. I am really enjoying my last year at Samuel Clemens High School -- Go Buffs! Throughout my years at Clemens, I have participated in National Honors Society, Student Council, served as president of the German Club, cheered as a Junior Varsity and Varsity cheerleader, and have been a hurdler on the track team. Academics have always been a priority to me and I am currently ranked sixth in my class. I am extremely grateful to all the hard working and dedicated teachers that have offered me numerous opportunities throughout my years in Schertz. In addition to my classes at Clemens this year I attend San Antonio College part time.

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Since I prefer to be busy, I also have two part time jobs: working at a veterinary clinic and at a doctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office. Serving my community is also important to me and I am honored to serve the City of Schertz as Miss Jubilee. Since moving to Schertz, seven years ago, I have developed a deep appreciation for our city. Recently, I was able to visit adult care facilities in the area to sing and visit with residents. I also enjoy helping children with special needs. Over the last few years I have had the opportunity to volunteer for a social skills group designed for children with special needs. I plan on majoring in business at the University of Texas in the fall, and I hope to continue to serve my community.

Become a Sweetheart! Program information and application is available at VisitSchertz.com

Application deadline is Friday, March 15. The scholarship program is open to Schertz residents in grades 9-12. Coronation to be held Thursday, May 2, 2013

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rodeo time! Tip your hat to the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. Join us for a Chuckwagon Breakfast Friday, February 15th The wagon pulls in at 7:30 am. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re serving it up hot & fresh until 9:30 am.

Participating Financial Centers Schertz 16895 I-35 N Stone Ridge 21011 Hwy. 281 N

FEBRUARY

CHAMBER Events Biz Ed

February 27th – 7:30am – 9am at HEB located at 3009 in Schertz. Free Breakfast. Topic: “Heart for People = Business Success”. Call 566-9000 to RSVP your attendance. Free to Chamber members, Non Members only $10.

February Chamber Luncheon

February 19th @ Schertz Civic Center @11:30am – 1pm. State of the Cities – an overview of developments for 2013 in our Member cities of Selma, Schertz and Cibolo. Special Guest Speakers Ken Roberts, John Kessel and Robert Herrera. RSVP by February 12th to the Chamber offices.

Schertz Chamber Toastmasters Club

Want to build great Communication and Leadership skills? The Schertz Toastmasters will meet at the Comfort Inn & Suites, located at 15771 IH 35 North, in Selma at 6:45pm on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month. Open to all - contact David Smith at 210-913-9288 for more details on how to become part of this exciting group!

want to join the Chamber?

It just makes “cents” to join the Schertz Chamber of Commerce! Unique networking opportunities, education, advocacy and more! Call us at 210-566-9000 or come by and visit at 1730 Schertz Parkway in Schertz. Help us “Build a Better Tomorrow”

What’s Happenin’

Talk Townz of the

in your Schertz Chamber?

Upcoming Chamber Events for 2013 The Taste: Iron Chef Throw Down ~ March 21st Schertz Idol ~ April 20th Schertz Shoot Out Speed Networking Event ~ May 16th hYPer Fundraising BBQ ~ October 11th SCOC Golf Classic ~ October 18th Meet the Candidates ~ October 24th Chamber Awards Banquet ~ November 15th

Awards Banquet

GVEC sponsored the Chamber’s first Awards Banquet: Black and White Masked Ball, where the Chamber recognized and awarded leading businesses in the area. Thank you to all our Table Sponsors and Guests who helped make the night a success!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

The 4th Annual Taste of the Town is scheduled for March 21st at the Schertz Civic Center from 5-8pm! This year’s theme is Iron Chef: Throwdown! Your vote counts and will proclaim the winner of our throw downs between local chefs and restaurants! Featuring the Culinary Programs from Steele and Clemens High Schools.

Schertz Chamber Toastmasters Club Want to build great Communication and Leadership skills? The Schertz Toastmasters will meet at the Comfort Inn & Suites, located at 15771 IH 35 North, in Selma at 6:45pm on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month. Open to all - contact David Smith at 210-913-9288 for more details on how to become part of this exciting group!

FEBRUARY 2013 schertzmagazine.com

Talk Townz of the

Mama Margie’s managing partner, Lauren Chambers, serves a customer some hot fajitas at their newest location in Schertz

Kitchen Kudoz

Mama Margie’s ‘Always Open’ in Schertz Andrea M. Allinger Lauren Chambers, the partner/ owner of the Schertz Mama Margie’s Mexican Café, remembers being a part of her father’s and uncle’s restaurant business “from the time [she] could see over the counter.” Brothers Felix and Mike Stehling founded Taco Cabana in 1978 “by accident,” their brother Pat Stehling said with a 18

laugh. The Stehling brothers were quite successful in the San Antonio nightclub business during the time, when the talented Margie Abonce “started cooking and people started coming,” Pat Stehling recalls. The business quickly took root in the rich heart of San Antonio at Hildebrand and San Pedro, when the other Stehling brother separated from the banking position he’d been in and joined

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the family restaurant endeavor. The Stehling brothers and their famous chef took the business further than imaginable in a short amount of time, eventually breaking ties with the original Taco Cabana to found the Mama Margie’s Mexican Café original location on Zarzamora in South San Antonio in 1993.

Abonce was flattered at the honor of being the namesake for Mama Margie’s, according to Stehling, as the restaurant is not only named after her but also uses all of her original recipes and cooking techniques. Abonce is retired, but continues to aid with the training of new chefs when possible. Her pictures are in all of the restaurants and she enjoys free meals for life.

Kitchen Kudoz

fresh ingredients -- produce is delivered daily -- and ingredients that are prepared 100% from scratch, will continue to please the people of Schertz in their dining experience. The opening of Mama Margie’s in Schertz created about 110 jobs, and Stehling explains that all of the employees are from the area, including the managers, who were hired from the area six months before opening and trained in the San Antonio restaurants. The business has had a warm reception in Schertz, with patrons from the local schools, families, and our mayor, Mike Carpenter, who has “been a great customer.”

Pat Stehling explained that Mama Margie’s is completely family owned and operated, with over a dozen family members working with the company. The four locations are owned by six relatives including brother Mike Stehling, three of his nephews, and his daughter. Sadly, the third Stehling brother, Felix, passed away in December 2012. Pat Stehling’s daughter, Lauren Chambers, owns and operates the new Schertz location.

Stehling plans on being a part of the Schertz community “for a long time,” asserting, “we want the experience to be a good one, if not, tell me and we’ll correct the problem.” In the short amount of time that Mama Margie’s has been in Schertz, Stehling says he’s “met a lot of great people,” many of whom have already established themselves as regular patrons.

When Chambers decided to return to the family business four years ago after attending Texas A&M and earning a degree in environmental science, she “felt at home.” Chambers explains that she “always gravitated towards [the restaurant].” Upon his daughter’s return to the family business, Stehling recalls that he gave her the “standard speech,” including advice such as “you are crazy, you are out of your mind, you work weekends and holidays.” In the end, Stehling is ecstatic to have his daughter rejoin the family team that has served the San Antonio area with fresh, homemade Mexican food for the past decade.

Stehling feels that the best part of his job is “seeing a customer come every day, or often, the return customer reinforces the job that I’m doing and product I’m serving. It might be for a 69 cent bean and cheese taco, but loyalty is what makes me want to get up in the morning.” Mama Margie’s is open 24 hours a day to suit any schedule, with a margarita happy hour until 10 pm Monday through Friday. Self-serve homemade chips and salsa are bottomless, refills are endless, and the dine-in experience at Mama Margie’s has a welcoming casualness that makes it the perfect choice for any night of the week. The convenient drive through extends the dining option to patrons who wish to bring their fresh Mexican food home or to the office. Bean and cheese tacos are perpetually on sale, and the restaurant website mamamargies.com is updated regularly with new specials on breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Stehling comments that although all of the family member/owners of Mama Margie’s have different occupational backgrounds, including banking, accounting, teaching and environmental science, their “common thread is customer service, which is lacking in a lot of businesses today. Direct involvement is what we think makes the difference between us and the common restaurant.” Exceptional customer service paired with freshly prepared food join to make Mama Margie’s a fantastic dining experience. Schertz restaurant owner Lauren Chambers boasts that the only freezer in the restaurant is used to chill the margarita mugs. Chambers is confident that the

Top: Lauren Chambers and customer.s Third pic from top: Patrick Stehling and daughter Lauren Chambers.

Mama Margies in Schertz is located at 17196 N. Interstate 35.

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When: Friday March 8, 2013, 6:00-10:00pm (doors open at 5:30)

Where: Alzafar Shriners Hall, 901 N. Loop 1604 West

What: Catered Dinner (6:00-7:30), Casino Party (7:00-10:00), Texas Hold EM Tournament, Silent Suction, music.

Tickets: On sale Feb 1, 2013 on line at kneedfoundation.org or at our two office locations ----------------------------------------------------------------->> Prices: $35 advance, $40/door. Texas Hold Em Tournament entry fee $30 Contact: Robin e-mail at rgetter@kneedfoundation.org - 210-696-9000

There are many ties between Schertz and San Antonio. They include a number of interlocal agreements concerning public safety, water, transportation and other areas.

reers within the SAPD. They learned of each other over the years and became fast friends as they each worked their ways up to their current positions.

FEATUREZ

These days it’s hard to find one without the other in close proximity. They talk alike, joke alike, and share common interests.

Two of the unofficial but important connections are Javier Salazar and Matt Porter, young men raised in Schertz who now work in the San Antonio Police Department’s Public Information Office (SAPD PIO).

Salazar, who directs the PIO office, stated, “Matt and I are literally birds of a feather. I really think it’s due to our similar upbringing and both hailing from the Schertz/Metrocom area. It’s hard to come up in such a diverse and accepting city like Schertz and not develop the types of common traits and attitudes that link Matt and me”.

They graduated from Clemens High School and are both raising families in their hometown area – Salazar in Schertz and Porter in Cibolo. Only six years apart in age, Sgt. Javier Salazar and Officer Matt Porter share many positive traits that make them assets for SAPD and the Schertz community. They and others credit that community with helping instill the right values and sense of sharing in the officers. “Small town values and big city sophistication are part of the interesting mix that makes Schertz such a unique place,” Salazar said. “That mix is what keeps folks moving to our fine city, but it is also what keeps life-long residents rooted here, in spite of activities and careers which take them elsewhere.” Salazar and Porter may be big city cops, but their hometown upbringing is what links them to Schertz and to each other. They are two of the spokespersons reporting daily goings-on and activities for the department to nearly two million people in the region through the news media.

SA Officers are Schertz “Hometown Boys” By Chuck McCollough San Antonio Police Department Public Information Officers Sgt. Javier Salazar and Officer Matt Porter enjoy a conversation in front of their alma mater.

“Police Chief William McManus is the face and the voice of the department to the public and we work directly for him. Our PIO office is the liaison between SAPD and the public,” Salazar said. No doubt many people have seen one or both men on the evening news reporting on a police matter, but what

viewers probably don’t know is that they both grew up in and around Schertz and still reside here. Salazar graduated from Clemens in 1989 and Porter in 1995. They didn’t know each other growing up in the area, or even during their years at Clemens, or even as they started their respective ca-

When Salazar and Porter are off duty, they can be found socializing together with their wives and children or working out at the Schertz Family YMCA. While going before TV and newspaper reporters to talk about a crime or an accident is how the public most often sees Salazar and Porter, they also love doing community work. They addressed a law enforcement class at Steele High School and can be seen giving SAPD wrist bands to wide-eyed children at the YMCA. Spend five minutes in a patrol car with this team and you’ll hear and see things reminiscent of any of the funniest cop/buddy movies you’ve ever seen. But when duty calls and it’s time to get serious, the intensity level is quite obvious.

continued on page 22

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FEATUREZ

SA Officers are Schertz “Hometown Boys” continued from page 21

When asked about this quick change, Porter said, “I think everyone wants to have a good time and laugh throughout the workday. It does make the time fly by. Still, we have to be ‘all business’ for the public’s sake when the time comes. Sarge and I take our job very seriously.” Salazar added, “We love working in the fast-paced environment of the Alamo City, but it’s nice to drive home to Schertz every evening. Whether I’m at the Y or one of the dozens of restaurants my family enjoys, I can relax and experience the simple pleasures Schertz has to offer,” Salazar said. “The Salazar family is a fixture at the Schertz Jubilee, the 4th of July Jubilee Parade, and the holiday season Festival of Angels Parade.” Although neither has any plans to retire from the SAPD any time soon, both say they’ll never leave the Schertz area, Porter said. “I’ll bet Sarge would agree. Having graduated from Clemens, and raising our kids in the SCUC school district, there’s just no way I’d live anywhere else.”

Salazar nodded in agreement saying, “This is our hometown.” Clemens High School teacher and coach, Dallin Malmgren, had Salazar and Porter in his Creative Writing class at Clemens, but six years apart. He also knew them when they played sports for the Buffaloes and he has become a close friend to both officers in the years since they graduated. “Javier was sort of the class clown; very creative and fun loving. He was the performer, the guy you noticed. I remember Matt more as the athlete and the fact he liked New England teams, which I don’t like,” the longtime teacher said with a laugh as he shared with the two Schertz-raised officers. “They had different personalities but also shared a lot of common qualities especially self-expression and confidence, which are what I wanted my students to show in Creative Writing. Javier and Matt were well respected by their peers and young men I knew would make a good

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SAPD officers Salazar (left) and Porter (center) smile after giving SAPD wrist bands to Holden Alford,6; and brother Griffin, 3, while dad, Bobby Alford looks on at the Schertz Family YMCA.

contribution to our community,” the longtime teacher stressed. Malmgren, 63, has been a Clemens teacher for 27 years and plans to retire at the end of the 2014 school year. His wife, Karen, is also a teacher and will retire at the same time. In addition to Creative Writing, he teaches photo journalism, English 4 (senior English) and is the Clemens tennis coach.

“One reason I have stayed at Clemens all these years is because the school district and the community produce quality people, great students, and a lot of that comes from strong families and the military influence of our area,” Malmgren said. “I don’t think I could have found a better place to work as a teacher – with great kids like Matt and Javier – than this community and the SchertzCibolo-Universal City School District.

“Literally, not a day goes by that I don’t draw on the skills I learned in my classes at Clemens. I owe the teaching staff there so much and Mr. Malmgren is a big part of that. For example, one of the things I learned in his Creative Writing class was how to say more with less through my choice of words. “Whether I’m doing a sound bite with a reporter or writing for a national story pitch, I know how to choose my words carefully for maximum impact. It’s second nature now. If I have one bit of advice for students today, it’s that they need to pay attention to what they’re being taught. They’ll find themselves drawing on those skills for the rest of their lives.” The two SAPD officers say they have many things in common due to growing up in the same small town and family-oriented community.

“Most of the kids who come out of our community – like these two young men – care more about the community than themselves and want to make a difference,” Malmgren said motioning to Salazar and Porter. “Javier and Matt were raised and nurtured in this community and are now raising families here. That circle of life, that vitality they and other young people raised here and who stayed here bring, well, it is a great strength of our area,” the

teacher said. Porter said it has been nearly 20 years since he took Malmgren’s class but he still remembers many of the life lessons his former teacher stressed. “He was a mentor and taught us the importance of working to make things better for everyone. That creates a self-sustaining community.” Salazar echoed that sentiment saying Malmgren was a big influence in his life.

“I can tell Matt or many other Schertz residents to meet me at the restaurant behind where they kept the buffalo, the old Army tank, or the old red caboose and they know exactly where I mean. We can be driving through Schertz and look at an old building or new construction someplace and say ‘remember what used to be there or there.’ This town is full of memories for us and many others,” Salazar said.

The 20 year SAPD veteran remembers thinking several times that working in the PIO office would be a cool job to have “but I didn’t dwell on it.” When an opening for the sergeant’s slot came up in PIO, he applied and was very happy to be selected. His previous SAPD experience includes working undercover, a stint in internal affairs, and as an officer on street patrol. Porter has been with SAPD for 11 years, the first eight on street patrol. “I used to be a hostage negotiator and I believe that helped me get the PIO slot. I am confident speaking in front of a large group of people,” he said. Salazar and Porter also work on the SAPD’s social media sites like Facebook (which has 8,000 followers and counting) and Twitter. “We are blessed at SAPD to have a good relationship with the public. And we know that is the same in the Schertz area. We see in Schertz Magazine how the community appreciates its police departments and we also see it for ourselves by being part of this community,” Salazar said. “This is our hometown, our community. It helped raise us and instill good values and is doing the same for our families,” Salazar said.

“I grew up around radio, television and film. My dad was a DJ on a Spanish language radio station and had a local TV variety show. I was doing radio voice overs at the age of 5, and directing TV commercials at 15,” the sergeant said with grin.

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FEATUREZ

Aruna Kharod practices her French horn. Clemens High School Senior is the districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lone National Merit Scholarship semifinalist.

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FEATUREZ

National Merit Semifinalist Has Strong Support System By Jazmin Fonville Steele High School Student Writer

Aruna Kharod, a member of Samuel Clemens band, International Baccalaureate (IB) program and as well as the Gifted and Talented program is the only senior in the SCUCISD to be considered to be a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist this school year.

training our children well and preparing them,” mother Deepti Kharod added. “Parents may not realize how important the PSAT test is – I didn’t. Maybe after reading this, they will encourage their children to take this test as seriously as the SATs,” the mom said.

“It’s based on the PSATs we take the fall of our junior year. The semi finalists are the top 1 percent of the scorers in the state,” the Clemens senior said. Every October juniors throughout the United States take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test or PSAT/NMSQT.

From left, Aruna’s grandmother, Prakashini; Aruna; mom Deepti; and grandfather (Col., Ret.) Upendra – all have last name Kharod.

According to the National Merit Scholarship Corp., qualifying students must be in the third year of high school, plan to enroll full time in college no later than the fall following the graduation of high school, and be a US citizen. Achieving this status brings many benefits with it, besides the recognition. “I realized that it brought a lot of scholarship offers that I hadn’t expected. So, that was really eye opening for me. I didn’t realize how important this test would be, so I’m glad it went well,” Aruna said. Out of the 1.5 million students taking the test about 50,000 with the highest scores in the three categories of the test - which included critical reading, mathematics and writing skills

- scores are eligible for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Before a student can be considered a semifinalist they have to have scored and be placed in about one-third of the 50,000 high scorers. Those who only are two-thirds of the high scores are just commended. Aruna’s scores are placed in the one-third portion. “Well, naturally I’m very happy for her,” mother Deepti Kharod added. “She’s always been a hard worker and it’s good to see that it’s all paying off for her. I also think it’s a good inspiration for other kids in our district because a lot of times we imagine that some of these awards and achievements are only attainable for those kids who go to private schools, and it’s good for us to see that our schools are

Aruna has received offers of guaranteed admission, application fee waivers, and scholarships including full tuition at numerous colleges based on her Semifinalist status. Several universities, including Texas A&M, offered her automatic honors college admission, while another college offered her an iPad in addition to tuition and dorm fees if she makes the school her first choice. “It’s just nice to see the work I’ve put in and that my teachers and family have put into me has paid off in this way, even if it’s just like a small measure or just a small little kind of token or award it’s just a nice pat on the back,” Aruna said “And then it kind of inspired me to keep on working harder, because the competition doesn’t end here, you still have to apply and then based on your SAT scores and then the evaluate you and your performance as a student and you know the extracurricular realm and all and so based on that stuff you find out whether or not you advance to the finalist position and I haven’t found that out yet but we’ll find out in about a month,” Aruna said.

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PROFILEZ

Sanchez Shines

On Oprah Military Spouse Salute By Kari Bridges

Being a military spouse is

never easy. Soon after your loved one leaves for a Temporary Duty Assignment or is deployed, the inevitable Murphy’s Law will soon fall into effect leaving you to face fixing the major household appliance that suddenly quit working, the heater or air conditioning system that broke, the car that needs repairs, the sick kids, or the family pet that needs to be rushed to the vet. At least you feel confident that you are an amazing military spouse and, if you need additional resources, you know which military support services or spouses group you can quickly call. Imagine that you face these same challenges but you are living in a foreign country with different social, economic and political dynamics. You are far from family and friends, you don’t know the language, you may not drive a car and you are not employed outside of the home. How much more isolated would you feel not knowing who to turn to or where to find the resources you need? Longtime military spouse and Schertz resident Janet Sanchez knows first-hand the challenges a multicultural military spouse will face. Her journey began 18 years ago at the beginning of her husband’s military career when she would volunteer to help friends translate base information or go with them to translate at various appointments. Five years ago, Sanchez took the initiative

to reach out to Spanish-speaking military spouses across the world and created the Esposas Militares Hispanas (Hispanic Military Spouses)(EMH) USA Armed Forces website, esposasmilitaresusa.org. The site is a user-friendly platform dedicated to translating from English to Spanish U.S. military support and benefit information available to qualified members serving in all armed branches of the military including National Guard Active, Reserve Units and Wounded Warriors. Included on the website are links to various social media outlets including a private Facebook group, Twitter, a blog, chatrooms, and video/photo categories that enable her to reach her target audience. Sanchez prefers to work quietly behind the scenes and was encouraged by her family growing up to be involved in her church and community by reaching out to help others, she said enthusiastically. The Hispanic community is very big in the military and not only do you find Spanish speaking people in the southern and southwestern United States but also from Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Honduras, Spain and Ecuador and many other Spanish-speaking countries, Sanchez said. The initial small group of 10 friends has now grown to include over 4,000 confirmed U.S. military spouses across the world who contact her for confidential one-on-one advice and information. Sanchez, who grew up in Puerto Rico, always

had a love for computers and explained she pays for the website and provides these services completely on a voluntary basis. The EMH organization is not recognized by any government support service nor is it affiliated with any base organization. There is no official method of advertising and Sanchez relies solely on wordof-mouth from members who share the information with friends and family members. “This is fulfilling for me -- it makes me feel accomplished like this was my purpose in life. I had that calling and I made it happen and it’s working to help others. There are a lot of military spouses who have language barriers and who aren’t aware of military benefits or are not involved in the community, not because they don’t want to but because there is a language barrier. Hundreds of military spouses have found jobs, have gone back to school and have lost their inhibitions. They have learned English and are getting involved in the military community and it’s all done because we are a tool that has given them a little push that they needed for them to get out and do it,” Sanchez said. To assist her with the growing demands, Sanchez has hand-selected four military spouses living in other parts of the world, who she has never met face-to-face but has grown to know and trust over the years. They share in Sanchez’s mission and volunteer countless hours to assist

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PROFILEZ

Sanchez Shines

continued from pg 27

her with the daily operations of the website and requests for assistance. “They are a very essential part of our group and I couldn’t do this without them. I selected them because they are willing to answer questions and they have a willingness to help others and get involved in the military community,” Sanchez said. Each of her assistants believes so highly in Sanchez, as founder and president of the EMH Group, and the work she is doing, that they nominated her for the 2012 Armed Forces Military Spouse of the Year® Award sponsored by Military Spouse Magazine, the only national magazine that is by, for and about U.S. military spouses regardless of rank or service affiliation and covers all aspects of life in the military. As a top five Army finalist in the 2012 contest, Sanchez was asked by Babette Maxwell, founder and executive director of Military Spouse Magazine and president of the Military Spouse of the Year ® Award to go on a three-day trip to Baltimore, Md., in September.

Janet Sanchez and her husband Master Sgt. Luisnel Garcia

schertzmagazine.com FEBRUARY 2013

The trip included 30 military spouses who were finalists and winners from the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Military Spouse of the Year® Award.

The unsuspecting spouses had no idea they were going to receive the surprise of their lives as they were brought into the historic Marine Barracks in Washington D.C., to watch, they believed, a premier showing of the anticipated documentary series “Married to the Army: Alaska.” It was actually a secret give-a-way for the unsuspecting group of deserving military spouses. During the two-hour special event, “Oprah’s Favorite Things 2012,” she unveiled her must-have gifts for the season. The show was televised on the Oprah Winfrey Network in November. Barbara Pflughaupt, publicist and founder of BP Media Relations in New York City, worked as the national media relations agency for Military Spouse Magazine to assist them in coordinating the surprise to the unsuspecting and deserving military spouses. “On behalf of the Military Spouse of the Year® program, we could not be more thrilled and honored to have worked with Ms. Winfrey and her staff at Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) to make dreams come true for such deserving spouses. Twenty-nine women and one man – representing the more than 1.1 million military spouses currently serving and 20 million former – it was beautiful,” Pflughaupt said. Winfrey believed this would be a great group to honor after first lady Michelle Obama and TV news personality Tom Brokaw both brought military families and all that they do and sacrifice for their country to her attention. She made an effort personally to start anonymously gifting military families and decided to bring back

“Oprah’s Favorite Things” for the first time since 2010. Over the past several months, Oprah and her staff have spent countless hours going over hundreds of items to determine her “Favorite Things” to give this holiday. As the spouses waited, Oprah emerges wearing a red sequined shirt and blue jeans from a side door into the room as black curtains lowered revealing a beautifully decorated room saying “It’s my favorite things.” The spouses scream, cry and hug each other and Oprah as they realize what is happening. “Here’s the truth. There is nothing that I love more than sharing what I love with other people. And nobody is more deserving of a day like you’re about to have than you all. The work, the sacrifice, and the love, the care and the vision that you hold not just for your lives and your family’s life but for every life that you touch,” Winfrey said. Each military spouse spent the next several hours unwrapping beautifully wrapped gifts, many of which were featured in the December 2012 issue of “The Oprah Magazine.” Oprah’s final “Oh My Gosh!” gift to the spouses was an all-expense paid five-night/six-day trip for two to the South Pacific island of Fiji. A trip that Sanchez says she and her husband look forward to taking later this year. At the conclusion of the event, Oprah toasted the group saying “From my heart to each of yours you are a blessing and instruments of God’s work here on earth and I thank you, salute you and honor you for that.” At the end of the episode Oprah shares her comments

on how she feels the surprise event went. “I have to say, this Favorite Things out of all the ones I’ve done felt to me the most special because it was the most intimate. It was the most connected I’ve ever been,” Winfrey said. “None of us knew, it was a complete surprise,” Sanchez said. “I couldn’t stop crying, it was an amazing experience and something that I never expected. I never thought that I would meet Oprah but thanks to Military Spouse Magazine, it was amazing. To be with Oprah and listen to her and talk to her that was enough,” said the longtime Oprah fan.

“None of us knew, it was a complete surprise,” Sanchez said.

“I am grateful for this experience because I have met the most amazing 30 people on the show and consider them part of my life. Through email, texting, calling or Facebook we talk every day. We were unified by giving back. Each one of us represents the military community in one way or another and we have that in common,” the Schertz resident said. “I think everyone has a calling -you just have to find out what it is. You need to follow your heart and not get discouraged,” Sanchez said. “When I go to bed at night and know that I have made it a little bit better for someone not to be upset or uncomfortable, I know I did my job for the day,” Sanchez said. Pictured to right: Sanchez and her family enjoy the outdoors.

FEBRUARY 2013 schertzmagazine.com

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DeVoir Fitness Working to Make Everyone Fit By Lucille Sims Thomas

Her passion for fitness is

quite literally contagious. And though she can’t quite put a finger on when and how she became so passionate, Sgt. Major Patricia Ryland-Fisher gets excited and animated when she talks about working out and helping others achieve their fitness goals. “I fell in love with fitness in the ’80s. I fell in love with group exercise, aerobics — Jane Fonda-type aerobics,” Fisher, owner of Devoir Fitness Studio, said. Her love of fitness started before, lured by the “Be All You Can Be” slogan, she joined the U.S. Army at age 26, where, she said, “it is all about being fit.” Fisher, who was attending college when the Army hooked her, has served 28 years in the Army and is now transitioning out. Devoir Fitness Studio is her “baby” after the military. She has taught fitness classes all around the world including Zumba in Iraq and step aerobics in Southeast Asia. She recalls the time, while teaching Zumba in

Iraq, a car bomb exploded outside the compound. Since the music was loud and everyone was busy moving, they had no idea what had happened until the class ended. “After that it got a little scary because the music is always loud and you never know,” she said. Her military accomplishments are also impressive. She is the first female Preventive Medicine Specialist in the Army. But what she calls the second chapter of her life clearly revolves around her fitness studio and her commitment to helping others attain their fitness goals. The 2,000-square-foot facility has been open for a little over two years and offers a variety of classes including Zumba, step aerobics, piloxing, kickboxing, hip-hop, gospel aerobics and boot camps. It also has a room for personal training with weights and two treadmills. Classes start at 5 a.m. and the last one ends at 9 p.m. The studio is open every day except Sunday and there are no contracts or membership fees.

Fisher’s philosophy for motivating people to exercise is to get them to have fun and be consistent. “I’ve found that anything people enjoy doing they’re gonna be good at it; consistency is the key, and they have to make it a priority in their life. If they can do that they will reap good success. But that’s the hardest thing because as women we don’t make taking care of ourselves a priority – we make taking care of everyone else a priority. And then if we work it gets even more complex because now we have to make our job a priority because we’re usually challenged to do so because we’re women. We’re born with a nurturing nature. So it is a tough challenge,” she said. Even her studio’s yellow walls are part of a plan to make exercising fun, she said. “We try some of everything. We mix it up, we add a little this. We have little events, we bring in exciting people. We play little

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DeVoir Fitness continued from pg 31

games like the color of the day. We offer them complimentary fruit, hot beverages and towels. We greet ’em at the door when they come in and we greet them when they leave. We try to make them feel special.” Fisher is also passionate about her community service outreach program. She partners with Grace Community Bible Church where she offers exercise for the womens impact group. DeVoir’s provides free exercise classes to senior citizens through the Schertz Area Senior Center and offers free Zumbatomic classes for youngsters ages 4 to 10. She also allows the Laus Deus Praise Dancers, a group of young men, to call her studio home. She also is partnering with the Marie Ferdinand Basketball School of Excellence to teach children and families how make healthy choices and build strong family bonds through basketball and Zumbatomic classes. Ferdinand is a retired WNBA basketball player. “I like working with other people, doing things to support the community,” Fisher said. Fisher has been married to husband Anthony Fisher for 21 years and is the mother of three sons. Her husband retired after 21 years in the Army. Susan Ketterman, who is a registered nurse and Devoir’s Director of Health and Wellness, said the studio is very user friendly to women. “You come in and you’ve got a nice atmosphere. The place has such a good vibe that it makes you want to come back. It’s not intimidating like places with rows and rows of equipment,” she said. Fisher partners with local also stresses that the studio has a corporate program where they go out to businesses and offer classes and training to employees .. Devoir Fitness Studio is at 1208 FM 78 in Schertz. Call them at 210-658 FITT (3488) or visit their website at www.devoirfitness.com. They can also be found on Facebook at www. facebook.com/youaredevoir.

Devoir Fitness memebers participate in Zumba, a dance fitness program

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FOCUZ FOCUZ FOCUZ

Douglas “Book Lady” for 30 years By Chuck McCollough Gail Douglas has two grown children. And for the past 30 plus years she has helped raise a third child to maturity -- the Schertz Public Library. Douglas is the Library Director and will mark three decades as a full-time employee on March 31. “I started as a part-time employee in spring 1982 and worked 25-30 hours a week for $5 per hour for about nine months before becoming a full-time employee,” she said in an office stuffed with memory-evoking items from over the years. According to Douglas, the nationally-recognized, visuallystunning, regional powerhouse Schertz Public Library of today was much, much smaller in the 1970s-80s period. In fact, it was established only a few years before she went to work there. In 1978, a group of local residents unhappy with the lack of library services in Schertz and the western end of Guadalupe County petitioned City Council to start a library. The fledgling effort by the Gail Douglas works with volunteers in the Library’s Book Store.

Schertz community produced a small, 1,500-square-foot facility on Main Street, mostly run by volunteers. One day in the first quarter of 1982, Douglas - with her two children - Emily, 3, and Zach, 5, in tow - went to the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City School District office to apply for the position of part-time adult education instructor. “The lady who interviewed me was on the library board and noticed I had taken 27 hours of library science in college and she encouraged me to apply for the part-time library job, which I did and was hired. “In 1982, if you worked in a library for a city under 25,000 population you didn’t need a professional degree so I was able to work here. Once the population reached 25,000 the library director needed to have a master’s degree,” she said. Knowing Schertz would reach that 25,000 in the not-too-distant future, Douglas went back to school in 1986 commuting to the University of Texas at Austin once a week to take classes. Five years and many

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FOCUZ FOCUZ FOCUZ

Douglas “Book Lady” continued from pg 35 miles later, she earned a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science, But between 1982 and 1991 there was a lot to learn outside the classroom. “This was my first full-time job and I was flying by the seat of my pants. At one point in those early days the library board said to prepare for our annual Reading Club and I said ‘OK’ even though I didn’t know how,” she recalled with a laugh. Things eventually worked out because the community was behind the idea of a library and behind its new library director. “For the last 30 years I have had the greatest library board anywhere and a supporting community. They raised me and we raised the library,” she said. And like any growing child, the library needed more room. The community effort to “build the library” kept picking up more support including a combined effort by the City of Schertz and Guadalupe County -- along with grants and donations from businesses and residents. The 1,500-square foot library on Main Street gave way to one four times its size a short time later. In December 1983, a new 6,000-square-foot library building was dedicated near the corner of Elbel 36

Road and Schertz Parkway. In 1988, a 3,000-square-foot addition increased capacity at the library to help it serve the swelling Schertz community. Douglas was promoted in 2002 to Community Services Director with responsibility for the library, parks, swimming pool, beautification projects and the Schertz Civic Center. The job also involved construction projects and Douglas learned a lot in that six-year period. That experience proved important and useful for the next phase of library evolution - a regional facility. It was during this time that Garden Ridge Pottery founder Eric White crossed paths with Douglas while they were having the oil changed in their vehicles. Their discussion included talk about building a new library. It turned out Eric White and his wife, Carolyn, had been thinking about a community donation they could make. Based in part on the oil change time discussion with Douglas, the Whites donated $1.1 million toward a new $8.3 million, 30,000-squarefoot, state-of-the-art regional library. That library -- about 20 times the size of the Main Street facility -- opened in August 2009 next to the second library location, which later became the Schertz Area Senior Center. The Schertz Public LIbrary is today visited by not only local and regional patrons but library people from around the nation and people who build and service libraries. These days Douglas, Library Assistant Director Melissa Uhlhorn, and the talented library staff are keeping the facility at the cutting-edge of library service with latest in regular books, audio books, electronic resources like researching ancestry and much more.

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“Melissa has been a driving force and a great resource as we have grown the library over the years and expanded our physical size and our resources. In 1982, the library checked out 20,000 a year. Today we check out more than 300,000 books a year. It has taken a lot of dedication by a lot of folks like Melissa, our staff and volunteers to bring us to where we are,” Douglas said. One of Douglas’ fondest memories of her library career was one particular day in the beginning. “When my daughter was very young we checked out a lot of books. One day we went in and the volunteer was away from the desk so I went behind the counter and started checking the books out. My 3-yearold daughter, Emily, looked at me and looked so proud and said ‘you mean you’re the Lady?’ meaning the checkout Lady,” Douglas said getting a little emotional at the memory. And Douglas has been known as the Book Lady for many years by many people. When she isn’t busy being the Book Lady, Gail Douglas likes to spend time with her 23-month old granddaughter, Ginger, and working and relaxing at her home, which has enough property to keep horses and have a nice size garden. “There are some awesome sunsets from my back porch and I love the evening and watching the sun disappear from the sky.”

Not surprisingly, she is an an avid reader and works on community projects like restoration of the historic Lower Valley School building currently on the campus of Northeast Lakeview College. And she enjoys visits with family, including her mom and dad who live in Live Oak and her five sisters. Douglas’ other interests include visiting Fort Davis in West Texas, a planned return trip to the Smithsonian Museum complex in Washington, D.C, and taking her granddaughter to Disney World. “I am currently volunteering with a group called Family Promise that works with homeless families to help get housing and employment. That is what we do here, we help each other. I love the Schertz community and have been privileged to work here and make many, many dear friends over the years,” she said.

“Richer than I you can never be -I had a mother who read to me.” -Strickland Gillilan Douglas shows her playful side by reading the book “Bedtime For Bear” to a stuffed bear in the library.

FEBRUARY 2013 schertzmagazine.com

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FEATUREZ

Jones

Sees Stronger City & County Ties

By Chuck McCollough

New Guadalupe County Judge Larry Jones is no stranger to many folks in Schertz. That includes Mayor Michael Carpenter, Mayor Pro Tem George Antuna Jr., Judge Roy Richard Jr. and County Commissioner Jim Wolverton. They and others said Jones is the right person at the right time to help facilitate closer ties between the county, Schertz and Seguin, as they enter a new era of hyper-growth.

Jones was elected on November 6 - along with Mayor Carpenter and new Seguin Mayor Don Keil - as part of a new leadership group in our area. Carpenter and Antuna are good friends with Jones while Judge Richard and Wolverton grew up with Jones and graduated with him in 1969 from Clemens High School. The lived close

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FEATUREZ

Jones

Sees Stronger City & County Ties

continued

From left, Judge Larry Jones, left, Mayor Michael Carpenter and Mayor Pro Tem George Antuna Jr. Jones attended mayor swearing in Nov. 19

from pg 39 to each other in their youth and often walked to school together. “Schertz is one of only a handful of Texas cities spanning multiple counties. That said, the bulk of our population is in Guadalupe County, and therefore it makes intuitive sense for us to take a leadership role in fostering strong relationships throughout the county,” Mayor Carpenter said. “The success of Guadalupe County and its two largest cities, Schertz and Seguin, are intertwined and complementary. All three governments will necessarily play a role in each other’s future. The more we collaborate, the stronger the result will be for all of us -- and, frankly, County Judge Larry Jones is going to be an invaluable member of the team that will make it happen.” Mayor Carpenter said Jones is uniquely qualified to serve as county judge at this time. “He grew up in Schertz and served in Seguin, so he knows both communities well, much like the experienced and formidable Commissioner Jim Wolverton, who has served Schertz and Guadalupe County with passion for years.” “There is no question that our area will continue to grow in the coming decade, and so it it is crucial that we be in constant communication with our neighbors on the best ways to cooperate. A recent and prime example of that cooperation was the successful signing of 40

Amazon.com, a project that will provide economic benefit to both the City and the County for years,” the mayor said. On November 6, the Commissioners Court approved a development agreement with Amazon.com in a morning meeting. The Schertz City Council did the same in an afternoon session, demonstrating coordinated inter-governmental cooperation. Later that same night, both Judge Jones and Mayor Carpenter were elected to their current posts. ”The election of Larry Jones as Guadalupe County Judge will help increase the overall quality and level of cooperation between the county, our city and Seguin,” Mayor Pro Tem George Antuna Jr. said. “The county, Schertz and Seguin are all experiencing tremendous growth and the partnership between them is crucial to having smart growth and increased quality of life,” he said. “Judge Jones has many years experience that will help move all of us in that direction.” Wolverton said Jones is a man you can trust and a hard worker. “If he says he’s going to do something he will do it. He has a very strong work ethic and brings a lifetime of experience in all parts of Guadalupe County to the County Judge position. “Larry Jones is a team player who understands the county and its opportunities and challenges,” Wolverton said.

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Justice of the Peace Richard said Jones brings a lot of business experience to the County Judge position at a time when governments of all sizes are trying to operate with more business-like efficiency. “Judge Jones’ long tenure in the private sector and public sector is a big plus for Guadalupe County at this time. There is more opportunity for strong economic growth in the county now than at any other time in our lives,” Judge Richard said, motioning to Wolverton, who nodded in agreement. Jones was born on February 1, 1951 to a Schertz family and grew to adulthood in his hometown community. “I went straight through the local school system including the old Schertz Elementary and Schertz-Cibolo High School before they built Clemens in 1967. Roy Richard and Jim Wolverton were two of my best friends at Clemens and we had a graduating class of only 120 kids in 1969,” he said. “I would say probably 50 or so of that graduating class still live in this area and we see each other often,”Jones said. His father owned an Enco (later Exxon) service station on Main Street (today the location is a tire shop) across from Schertz Bank & Trust. Jones worked at that station while in high school and later stayed with the family business as mechanic and accountant as it grew to

half a dozen service stations. “I got married and bought my first house on Maryland Street in Schertz around 1971-1972. In 1973 I was contacted by Clemens principal about becoming a vocational teacher at the high school,”Jones said. “He knew I was in the automobile business and he asked if I would take that job. He helped me get an emergency teacher certification,” Jones said. “I was able to teach there for four years in part because the hours were 7 AM to 1 PM and I had time to work the rest of the day at the family business. At that point, I was more in the business side than the auto repair side of the business and could work that schedule.” Jones and his family lived in Schertz until the late 1970s when the children became school age. “The decision was made to move to Marion because we wanted the kids to be able to go to a smaller school,” he said. The Joneses lived outside of Marion on a 20-acre spread and later moved into the city, a development that would trigger a political career. “I was encouraged to run for the Marion City Council and won in 1981 and served two years. I discovered I like to serve the public and try and make things better than they were before.” Jones ini-

tiatives including pushing for creation of a police department (partly because of speeding near schools) and a municipal court to handle the tickets written by Marion officers. “Judge Roy Richard Jr. was our first municipal court judge,” he said. That desire to serve the public and get things done propelled Jones to run for Pct. 3 commissioner in 1984.

“I see my biggest opportunity is to be a facilitator...” Judge Larry Jones

“I lost by seven votes but it didn’t dampen my enthusiasm to serve. In fact, my opponent in that race encouraged me to run for County Treasurer in two years because of my accounting background.” In 1986, Jones was elected County Treasurer. He served in that position for 16 years and changes he helped bring about included establishing a human resources department and the county setting up a self-funded group insurance and worker comp programs. In 2002, he ran for County Judge and lost and retired from public office for 10 years, during which he was active in the Guadalupe County Republican Party and became one of the owners in the Woodlake Golf Course on FM 78. “I became a partner in the golf course in 2003 and sold my share in 2009 and it was making money. Two and half years later the new owners filed for bankruptcy,” he said.

In 2012, the Guadalupe County GOP selected Jones to run for the unexpired term of former County Judge Mike Wiggins, which is up in two years. Jones was elected and said his goals are to work closely with everyone. He said the tremendous growth in the whole county -- especially along IH-35 in Schertz and along IH-10 in Schertz and Seguin and the SH-130 area east of Seguin -- means unity is crucial. “I see my biggest opportunity is to be a facilitator with the various entities so we all have the same goals. And those are the best service possible and high quality of life for residents,” Jones said. Judge Jones’ office is located in the Guadalupe County Justice Center, 211 West Court Street, in Seguin. Call 830-3038857 Press 5.

Judge Jones, right, with (from left) City Manager John Kessel, Mayor Pro Tem George Antuna and Executive Director David Harris’

The Judge is scheduled to be in Schertz the first and third Tuesday afternoon of each month at the Guadalupe County Annex, 1101 Elbel Road. Call 210-9454199 FEBRUARY 2013 schertzmagazine.com

Annual Spring Clean Up

March 2-17 Drop off at Bexar Waste Site Items dropped off here will be free of charge to residents as a service paid for by the City of Schertz. Drop-off site will be open March 2 – 17, 2013. (See below for hazardous items drop off times) Drop offs may be made at Bexar Waste’s temporary collection point, 2221 F.M. 3009 (Near Live Oak Road) between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ENTRY TO THIS SITE IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS DURING CITY SPONSORED SPRING AND FALL CLEAN-UP EVENTS. Please Remember During the two-week clean up, Bexar Waste will pick up household waste not covered under their normal collection service such as lumber and general trash as well as major appliances and furniture for a fee (prices determined by Bexar Waste). If you have questions regarding the details, please call Bexar Waste (210-566-5454). Residents are able to drop off brush and limbs at 2221 FM 3009, free of charge, DURING THE 2 WEEK CLEAN-UP EVENT ONLY.

What you need to know: The Spring Clean Up is restricted to Schertz residents only. Waste delivered must be separated by type of material by the resident. Spring Clean Up activities do not apply to commercial/rental property clean ups, large property clean up, lot or acreage clean up, or lot and property land clearing. Commercial tree trimmers are not eligible for this service. A current water bill or tax statement and proper identification are required when making a drop off. Commercial waste will not be accepted.

LIMITS: Household waste and yard waste only. Maximum of 3 pick-up truck loads per household or a maximum of 2 trailer loads per household, trailers are not to exceed 16’ long x 4’ high in size. FEBRUARY 2013 schertzmagazine.com

Civi cn ewz

February 2013

Enhanced Security for Council Chambers Visitors to the first City Council meeting of the New Year on January 8 saw something really new. For the first time at a council meeting, a mobile metal detector was set up as part of enhanced security. Just as they do before going into the City’s Municipal Court, visitors had to pass through metal detector security. The Marshal’s Office provides security for the Municipal Court and teams up

with the Schertz Police Department for City Council security. The City Council chambers were designated as a court in 2010 – meaning they can and will be used for Municipal Court sessions, especially as the volume of cases grows. Plans for the metal detector’s use in the council chambers – for court or council sessions – has been planned for a number of months.

FEBRUARY 2013 schertzmagazine.com

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Sewer Averaging will Affect Residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 2013-14 Sewer Bills Sewer averaging for the winter months began on October 24, 2012, and continues through March 6, 2013, for cycle billing. Meter readings taken over this period determine your sewer average for the next billing year, which begins April 1 . The readings will be averaged, and the average will be multiplied by $2.65 for residents with an average below 12,000 gallons. For residents with averages greater than 12,001 gallons, the average will be multiplied by $2.84. That total will be added to the base rate of $3.75 for residential use. The resulting average will be your sewer charge for the next 12 months. For more information, visit Schertz.com or call (210) 619-1100.

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Tapley New City Attorney Katherine Tapley, right, is sworn in as new City Attorney by City Secretary Brenda Dennis during the January 8 City Council meeting. Looking on in the background (from left) are former City Attorney Mike Spain, Mayor Michael Carpenter and City Manager John Kessel. Tapley replaces Spain who is retiring after 25 years. Spain estimates he has worked with 13 City Councils, 7 city managers and 3 mayors in that time.

BOND UPDATEZ

Pictured here and on opposite page - Adult soccer players are seen in action during a large regional tournament at the Schertz Soccer Complex. Upgrades will better serve throngs of people coming to see games and tournaments at the facility on Maske Road.

City Kicks Off

Soccer Complex Upgrade By Brittany Losey

Throughout 2013, major renovations will take place at the Schertz soccer complex on Maske Road. These renovations are part of the 2010 bond package that allotted $6 million for improvements to both the soccer and baseball fields. Approximately $3.5 to 4 million of that will be allotted to the Schertz Soccer Complex (SSC). “This is all part of the 2010 bond package, said project manager Phil Gaudreau. “And that bond directed that we renovate the fields, that we add structured parking, and that we add a concession

building with restrooms. All of those things we are accomplishing through this package.” The fields will be closed effective Dec. 31 and will remain out of operation for 1214 months. Gaudreau estimates a March 2014 completion for the project. “That will allow the city to do things the city needs to do,” Gaudreau said. Upon completion, the complex will host 12 fields, 600+ new parking spaces, and 18 female restrooms, 9 male restrooms, as

schertzmagazine.com FEBRUARY 2013

well as one family restroom. The current fields will undergo a topography change to better handle drainage through a retention pond. “It’s changing the topography,” Gaudreau said. “Right now everything drains into that bottom right-hand corner. And that’s where the ‘lake’ comes into effect. And all of that is being elevated so that the drainage will be handled through a detention pond.” The concession stand will be in a convenient, centralized location, and it will

include a covered patio area with picnic tables. The building will house restrooms as well as a first-aid triage room. While the complex undergoes these changes, the organizations that regularly use the Schertz Soccer Complex have made alternative arrangements for the 14 month period during the renovations. These soccer leagues are optimistic about what the updated complex will offer future patrons. “The renovation to the Schertz Soccer Complex should not affect our program in any meaningful way,” Greater Randolph Area Youth Soccer Association (GRAYSA) president Robert Sheridan said. “However, upon completion, we expect the renovated Schertz Soccer Complex will provide better accommodations for our community.” While the fields are being updated, GRAYSA has made alternative arrangements for players in their league. “The GRAYSA Family will form a partnership with the River City Community Church located on Lookout Road,” Sheridan said. “The River City Community Church has graciously provided our youth players a place to practice and play during renovations to the Schertz Soccer Complex. We are thankful for their generosity and look forward to a strong relationship with them in the future.” The Lions Futball Club (FC) also uses the Schertz Soccer Complex regularly and has made alternative arrangements for their soccer league throughout 2013. The Lions FC has used the complex for league games on weekends

while training at Pride Park, located on ten acres adjacent to the Schertz Soccer Complex. Pride Park will remain a crucial venue for the Lions FC in the upcoming year. “During the time that SSC will be closed for construction, the Lions will continue to train at Pride Park and play the majority of their league games at Pride Park,” Robert Sanderson, Lions FC president said. “The balance of their league games will be played at STAR Soccer Complex. This will provide our parents and players with a quality facility to both train and compete. Pride Park is fully lit and our fields are professionally maintained by the same personnel who maintain the SSC.”

complex into one of the better soccer complexes in the San Antonio area,” Sanderson said. The Lions FC is now looking forward to what the city will do for the Schertz Soccer Complex. “The Lions FC

is excited to see the City of Schertz continue to build upon these efforts to improve the facility, and we feel the complex will continue to be a fertile training ground used by area youth to develop into the soccer stars of the future,” Sanderson said.

The Lions FC has partnered with the Schertz Soccer Complex since 1999 and has been central to its growth over the past 14 years. “Lions parents and players dug trenches for wiring, paid for the existing lighting, helped mow grass, and have contributed significant resources that have grown the

The Schertz Soccer Complex Concession/Restroom building will have a large covered patio, first-aid area and more to serve players, coaches and fans visiting the 42-acre soccer facility.

FEBRUARY 2013 schertzmagazine.com

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City Calendarz

February 2013 Tuesday, 5

Monday, 18

City Council 6:00 PM Council Chamber

Presidents Day City Holiday Offices Closed

Thursday, 7

Tuesday, 19

Transportation Safety Advisory Commission 5:30 PM- Council Chambers

City Council 6:00 PM—Council Chambers

Tuesday, 12

Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, 5:30 PM – Bob Andrews Room

City Council 6:00 PM—Council Chambers

Wednesday, 13

Planning & Zoning 6:00 PM - Council Chambers

Monday, 25

Tuesday, 26

City Council, 6:00 PM Council Chambers

City of Schertz Elected Officials Mayor:

(210) 619-1045

Jim Fowler David Scagliola George Antuna, Jr. Cedric Edwards, Sr.

(210) 658-1442 (830) 606-1130 (210) 467-7914 (210) 566-4540

City of Schertz Animal Control Business/Utilities City Manager City Secretary Civic Center Customer Care/311

(210) 619-1000 (210) 619-1550 (210) 619-1100 (210) 619-1000 (210) 619-1030 (210) 619-1600 (210) 619-1000

City Departments:

***Meeting locations may change, please visit schertz.com for confirmation.***

OFFICIAL FINE PRINT Subscriptions to Schertz Magazine are free for each Schertz household. Subscriptions for residents and businesses outside the City of Schertz are $19.95 annually. Call 210-619-1630. 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.

#info

Council Members:

Thursday, 28

Economic Development Corporation 6:00 PM Council Chambers

Board of Adjustments 6:00 PM – Council Chambers

Schertz.com

Michael Carpenter

Wednesday, 27

Planning & Zoning 6:00 PM Council Chambers

City Departments: (cont’d) 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

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 Tales, email us at events@schertz.com or call us at (210) 6191630. 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 Tales, 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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