Around the Community

AROUND THE

COMMUNITY Schertz Rainbow Girls

RACAP 2021 Back-to- Support Animal Services On Saturday, June 12, the Schertz Rainbow Girls held an Animal School Program Adoption Market Day at the Schertz Animal Adoption Center. Many local craft and food and drink vendors were in attendance. The girls were able to raise a total of $640 and all proceeds were donated to Schertz and Cibolo Animal Services. On July 1, the Rainbow Girls presented Schertz Animal Services with a $400 donation. Mayor Ralph Gutierrez, several Councilmembers, City Manager Dr. Mark Browne were in attendance. Thank you to these incredible young ladies for their time and generous donation. The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls is a 501c3 non-profit service organization for girls between the ages of 11 and 20. This organization prepares girls for responsible and purposeful adulthood through character and leadership development, encouraging unselfish service and higher ideals in life, and promoting teamwork and effective interpersonal communications. Go to txiorg.org/schertz280 for more information about the Schertz Rainbow Girls.

Every year, the Randolph Area Christian Assistance Program (RACAP) conducts a Back-to-School Program to help provide school supplies for children in our community. RACAP is committed to providing basic school supplies for eligible children in grades K-12. RACAP will accept applications for “School Supply” assistance from July 12, 2021, through August 13, 2021.

RACAP is blessed to have an abundance of school supplies and funds specifically designated to purchase any needed supplies this year. Financial donations from churches, businesses, groups, or individuals are greatly appreciated but will be used for RACAP’s regular programs to assist with rent, utilities, RX and to restock the pantry. Please make all donations payable to RACAP and designate on the check that the donation is for the ‘General Fund’. Donations designated for the General Fund allow RACAP to use the excess funds in any area. Please visit racap.org to donate or obtain further information. Families who reside in our zip code service areas (78108, 78109, 78124, 78148, 78154, 78132, 78233 (Live Oak only), 78247, and 78266) and meet income qualifications are eligible. Applications may be picked up at the RACAP office, 307 Pfeil St., Schertz, starting July 13, 2021.

Anyone interested in applying for assistance or helping RACAP in providing assistance may contact RACAP at (210) 658-1613 or visit racap.org.

The Schertz Family YMCA recently held their annual summer Community First Camp for children ages 9-14. Students enrolled in this camp had the opportunity to learn about the community, city government, and even organized a service project.

On Tuesday, July 6, students visited the City of Schertz Council Chambers for a mock City Council session. Students were welcomed by various City staff as well as Schertz City Manager Dr. Mark Browne and Mayor Ralph Gutierrez. During the visit, six students were selected as Mayor and Councilmembers while the remainder of the group played the role of engaged citizens. The goal of the mock council session was to have the Council evaluate and approve one staff requested program.

City staff from Schertz EMS, the Schertz Public Library, and Emergency Management presented three presentations to the Council to request funding for various programs. The requests included new equipment for an ambulance for Schertz EMS, a remodel of the teen space at the library, and a new mobile command center and Teen CERT Program for Emergency Management. The residents listened to the presentations and came before Council to voice their opinions on which project they felt was most needed. After consideration from the Council, the majority vote was for the new ambulance equipment.

Students from the camp were actively engaged throughout the whole program and seemed excited to participate in the mock city council session. While they came to consensus on the vote, they agreed that it can be difficult to vote on something as a team.

The Community First camp is a great opportunity for participants to learn leadership, communication, volunteerism, and community pride. Contact the Schertz Family YMCA for more information on Community First Camp.

Happy 2019 to our patients and friends!SERVING OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1988

SERVING ALL YOUR ORTHOPEDIC AND PODIATRIC NEEDS ... SHOULDERS, HIPS, KNEES , ANKLES & FEET!

TEAM PHYSICIAN

for Samuel Clemens and Byron P. Steele High Schools

Peter F. Holmes MD

Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery and Orthopedic Sports Medicine

FREE SATURDAY SPORTS CLINICS FOR STUDENT ATHLETES BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

9:00-10:00 a.m. / Schertz Location please call 210-696-9000. First come first served.

SCHERTZ 6051 FM 3009 Suite 260

SAN ANTONIO

9150 Huebner Rd. Suite 200

210-696-9000

COMMUNITY

Local Cemetery Recognized by State of Texas

The Schertz-Cibolo Cemetery was recently recognized by the Texas Historical Commission as a Texas Historical Cemetery. This designation was given in acknowledgment of the cemetery’s age, greater than 100 years old, and the significance of this burial site to the early formation of the Schertz and Cibolo farming communities, and ultimately to the cities they are today. All cemeteries have a story to tell, and this site is no exception. It is the story of immigration and the yearning to improve one’s status and that of their families. In the mid 19th century, this part of the country remained sparsely populated. Texas had just emerged as a republic and was a relatively new member of the United States. German immigrants came to Texas with the promise of fertile lands to farm and newfound freedoms. To that end, hundreds of farms were established in central Texas where corn, cotton, and even sugar cane was planted.

Cotton was the most profitable crop, and with the introduction of the cotton gin to this area, the local farms could expand and were limited only by the labor force they could support. The second wave of immigrants came to Texas, this time from Mexico. At the turn of the century, with political turmoil brewing at home, the Mexican immigrants found some certainty in life by tending the fields and working side by side with their German counterparts.

One such story is the arrival of Ferdinand Dietz who, with his brother, bought 500 acres (for $7/acre!) in the area from FM 78 to Cibolo Creek in what is now the Lone Oak subdivision. Oral history tells us that a female farmworker died in the early 1900s and there was not a proper place to bury her. It is said Mr. Dietz marked off an area of his farm near the creek and told the workers they could bury their loved ones in what became the origins of the Schertz-Cibolo Cemetery. The first migrant families to this area that worked on the Dietz farm were the Arizpe, Del Toro, and Bermea families. These families can be traced to the modern-day Villa Union, Mexico. If you are from this area, you have undoubtedly gone to school, worked with, or known descendants of the Dietz, Del Toro, Arizpe, or Bermea families. These descendants now number in the hundreds!

The Schertz-Cibolo Cemetery Association is a non-profit corporation, run by volunteers, established to preserve the early history of the farming communities as well as the preservation of the burial site itself. After more than 100 years, restoration and beautification of the grounds is an ongoing endeavor and is important for future burials. If you enjoy local history, email Miguel A. Vazquez, president (mavazquez@sbcglobal.net), or Bertha Luna, vice-president (berthalna55@yahoo.com) for a local tour or information on the cemetery.

2021-2022 Schertz Sweetheart Court Crowned

Eight high school students representing Samuel Clemens, John Paul II, Judson, East Central, and Randolph High Schools applied to be part of the 2021-2022 Schertz Sweetheart Court. Applicants completed a threeweek online process in preparation for the three-part competition: Personal Interview, Talent, and TED Talk.

COVID-19 changed the structure of the program from years past but provided the applicants an opportunity to use technology on their own behalf. Talent and TED Talk topics were video recorded and submitted for judges’ review. Personal interviews were held using an online portal. A panel of three judges from the local area reviewed the applications and videos and met the applicants via Zoom Meetings.

Court members will represent the City of Schertz at City events, area parades and celebrations, and participate in community service projects. The individuals selected to represent the City of Schertz as ambassadors for the 20212022 year:

Miss Schertz

Miss Jubilee

Miss Friendly City

Miss Sunshine Olivia Coats

Reagan Cabe

Hailey Skrobarcek

Nina Guastafierro

R E P O R T A P O T H O L E C A L L 3 - 1 - 1 R E P O R T O N L I N E

A POTHOLE IS 3' X 3' OR SMALLER.

WE'LL FIX IT IN 5 TO 7 BUSINESS DAYS!

COMMUNITY

Register for Youth Sports Programs Near You!

Allowing your children to participate in youth sports is a great way for children to explore and develop lifelong skills. Youth sports not only play an important role in your child’s physical health, but it promotes mental health as well. Youth sports promote healthy lifestyles and safe environments for stronger communities.

The Schertz Parks and Recreation Department owns several recreational and competitive sports fields and manages those fields through partnerships with local youth sports associations. These associations are the Buffalo Valley Youth Association (BVYA) and the Schertz Youth Soccer Alliance (SYSA).

BVYA offers a variety of youth sports including baseball, softball, swimming, cheerleading, football, volleyball, and basketball. Go to BVYA.com for more information and to register. SYSA is a partnership between GRAYSA (Greater Randolph Area Youth Soccer Association), Lions FC Soccer Club, Schertz Family YMCA, and the City of Schertz. These soccer organizations offer spring and fall soccer for ages 2 – 18. Go to SchertzSoccerComplex.org to learn more about each of these organizations and to register.

Good Luck to Our Local Teams

Mike (Taco) Ontko, Cindy Fossum, Jan Jenkins, and Curtis Jenkins took their Schertz Magazine zip lining on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

Claudia Lopez and her daughter Arianna Ballou brought their Schertz Magazine when they visited Trunk Bay Beach in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.

Bring your Schertz Magazine along during your travels and send us a high resolution photo of you and your magazine to magazine@schertz.com. You may see your photo in an upcoming issue of Schertz Magazine!

LOOKING BACK August

QUOTE OF NOTE

“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” – Sir Isaac Newton (1675) LOCAL HISTORY

On August 4, 1928, Texas Governor Dan Mooney signed a deed of cessation offering the War department land to build Randolph Field. Two weeks later the Secretary of War accepted the land.

TEXAS HISTORY

On August 27, 1990, Texas blues musician Stevie Ray Vaughan died in a helicopter crash on the way to Chicago from a concert in Alpine Valley, East Troy, Wisconsin. Vaughan was born in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas on October 3, 1954. Stevie's fascination with the blues drove him to teach himself to play the guitar before he was an adolescent. Vaughan moved to Austin in the 1970s, and by the early 1980s he and his band, Double Trouble, had a solid regional reputation. His career took off in the 1980s, and his work eventually garnered four Grammy Awards. More than 1,500 people, including industry giants such as Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, and Stevie Wonder attended his memorial service in Dallas.

IMPORTANT SCHERTZ CONTACT INFO

Schertz City Council Mayor: Ralph Gutierrez (210) 619-1040 ralphgutierrez@schertz.com

Council Members: Mark Davis (210) 376-9141 markdavis@schertz.com Rosemary Scott (210) 419-8472 rscott@schertz.com Jill Whittaker (210) 846-8768 jwhittaker@schertz.com Michael Dahle (210) 419-9337 mdahle@schertz.com David Scagliola (830) 606-1130 davidscagliola@schertz.com Allison Heyward (210) 608-9543 allisonheyward@schertz.com

Tim Brown (210) 608-2381 timbrown@schertz.com

City Departments: City of Schertz/311 (210) 619-1000 Animal Services (210) 619-1550 City Manager (210) 619-1000 City Secretary (210) 619-1030 Civic Center (210) 619-1600 Economic Development (210) 619-1070 EMS (non-emergency) (210) 619-1400 Fire (non-emergency) (210) 619-1300 Inspections (210) 619-1750 Municipal Court (210) 619-1500 Parks & Recreation (210) 619-1850 Planning & Zoning (210) 619-1780 Police (non-emergency) (210) 619-1274 Police Records (210) 619-1200 Public Affairs (210) 619-1600 Public Library (210) 619-1700 Public Works (210) 619-1800 Records (210) 619-1030 Trash & Recycling (210) 619-1100 Utility Billing (210) 619-1100