January 2021

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE CITY OF SCHERTZ, TEXAS

SCHERTZ

TABLE OF CONTENTS

06 City Headlines

12 Parks & Recreation

16 Library

City Council

Ralph Gutierrez Mayor

Mark Davis Councilmember

Rosemary Scott Councilmember

Jill Whittaker Councilmember

Michael Dahle Councilmember

David Scagliola Councilmember

Allison Heyward Councilmember

Tim Brown Councilmember

Executive Team

Dr. Mark Browne City Manager

Brian James Assistant City Manager

Charles Kelm Assistant City Manager

Adrian Perez Executive Director

Sarah Gonzalez Assistant to the City Manager

Mission

Leading, improving, and serving a livable, sustainable, and financially sound community.

Vision

Community. Service. Opportunity.

Core Values

Treat others the way you would want to be treated. Do the right thing. Be the best you can. Work cooperatively as a team.

About Our Magazine

Schertz Magazine is a monthly popular lifestyle/entertainment/ community events publication wholly owned and operated by the City of Schertz and produced internally by the Schertz Public Affairs Department. It serves as the primary dissemination source for government information for a growing city of over 42,000 residents.

Today, Schertz Magazine is the leading publication in the Tri-County area with a circulation of 16,000 copies; including 14,000+ direct mailed and 500+ subscriptions from Austin through San Antonio and around the country (including dozens of out-of-state readers). The magazine is mailed to 15,000+ local households and over 1,000 businesses with hundreds of copies made available at local and regional banks, hospitals and clinics, schools, pharmacies, and restaurants.

32 Features

40 Around the Community

47 Calendar

FEATURES

32

History All Around Us

36

A Bright Future in Sight

CITY MANAGER FROM THE DESK OF THE

To our residents and business community, we hope you had a wonderful holiday season and that you are staying healthy in the new year. This month’s edition of the Schertz Magazine contains some great articles and information that we think will be of interest to our entire community. Make sure to check out the article featuring the historical displays being done by our Historical Preservation Committee. They are an outstanding group of citizens who are dedicated to the history of Schertz and they do a great job promoting the rich history of our city and putting that on display in various locations for all to enjoy. We also highlight some of the accomplishments of our amazing community members. We are fortunate to have a very talented community and their accomplishments for this year reflect great credit on themselves and the city.

During the holiday season, we were also fortunate to have a wonderful Holidazzle event and Festival of Angels parade. In spite of the virus, we were able to host the event with extra precautions, and we appreciate the community being careful to wear masks and social distance. The weather was cool and rainy but still, everyone enjoyed themselves, and it was good to be able to provide this event. Our tree lighting event was also successful and for the first time was held on a night where there was no City Council Meeting to allow the community more time to enjoy the festivities. Also in this edition of the magazine is a “Meet Your Council” section which discusses the backgrounds and information concerning our new City Council which recently took office as a result of the November elections.

We are still dealing with COVID-19 and as cases rise, we remain connected to the Governor and our County Judges so that we can stay on top of developments and make adjustments as necessary to provide safety and security for our residents. We are looking forward to getting shipments of the COVID-19 vaccine and we will keep you informed of our plans to distribute this. Thank you for all you do for the City of Schertz and we hope you enjoy this month’s issue of the magazine.

JANUARY 2021

PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY Public Affairs Department

Linda Klepper Public Affairs Director

Devan Christensen Communications Manager

Madison Porras Marketing & Communications Specialist

Contributing Writers

Linda Klepper, Devan Flores, Madison Porras, Stan Leland, Emily Delgado, Jaime Cline, Karen Dahle, Stacey Lovett, Lizzi Bertoia, Mary Spence, Michelle Yang

Contributing Photographers

Devan Flores, Madison Porras, Stacey Lovett, Jennifer Harper, Joe Herzceg, Juan DeLeon, Mark Raymond, Amy Wise, Dean Weirtz

Schertz Magazine is published monthly by the Public Affairs Department of the City of Schertz promoting city, community, and business activities. Our mailing address is 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas 78154. © City of Schertz, Texas

The editorial office of Schertz Magazine is at 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas 78154. Call (210) 619-1630 / Fax (210) 619-1619 Website is Schertz.com

OFFICIAL FINE PRINT

Send queries about articles or photographs to Schertz Magazine at magazine@schertz.com. For advertising information call (210) 619-1633 or email magazine@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. Publication cannot be guaranteed. If you would like to submit an item to Schertz Magazine, email us at magazine@schertz.com or call us at (210) 619-1600.

The appearance of advertising in this publication does not constitute endorsement by the City of Schertz. All products and services advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, political affiliation or other non-merit factor of purchaser, user or patron.

Articles that appear in Schertz Magazine do not necessarily reflect the official position of the City of Schertz and does not constitute an endorsement therein. The appearance of any advertisement in Schertz Magazine does not constitute an endorsement of the goods or services advertised. Any publication of Schertz Magazine, whether draft or final is sole property of the City of Schertz and cannot be reproduced or distributed in any way, whether in print or electronically, without the express permission and written consent of the City of Schertz.

Dr. Mark Browne City Manager

mbrowne@schertz.com

ON THE COVER

The red caboose has been a landmark on FM 78 for over 60 years, and it is now home to many historical artifacts pertaining to the railroad history of Schertz.

With mittens, scarves, and masks Holidazzle 2020 brought much cooler temperatures and new precautions from years past, but that didn’t hold the community back from coming out and safely enjoying some holiday cheer.

The day kicked off with the traditional Breakfast with Santa and Kris Kringle Market in the Schertz Civic Center where local vendors showcased their wares - which were also available via a virtual market throughout the month of December. Outside at the ballfields, Schertz Parks and Recreation brought back the seasonal favorites of sledding down Mt. Schertz, the giant snow globe, bubble snow, ice skating rink, and not one but two snow areas this year to experience the winter fun in Texas. Alongside the food truck vendors were firepit s’mores stations courtesy of River City Community Church, and eventgoers enjoyed dancing to the various musical entertainment onstage. Hand sanitizing stations were available throughout the venue and both social distancing and masks were encouraged for the added safety of our community. The Festival of Angels lighted night parade down Schertz Parkway finished out the day of winter fun as Santa rang in the Christmas season with a little added joy and merriment to light up the year.

Meet Your Schertz City Council

RALPH GUTIERREZ, MAYOR

Mayor Ralph Gutierrez was sworn in as the Mayor of the City of Schertz in November 2019. Previously he served as a City Council member from 2016 – 2019. Gutierrez is a native Texan and has been a Schertz resident since 1991 when he was reassigned to Randolph Air Force Base. Gutierrez graduated from the University of Maryland and earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. In 1994, he retired from the U.S. Air Force, and in January 2016, retired from the U.S. Federal Courts. Ralph and his wife Raquel have been married for 43 years and are proud to have a daughter who graduated from Samuel Clemens High School and the University of Texas-San Antonio.

MARK E. DAVIS, CITY COUNCILMEMBER PLACE 1

Councilmember Mark Davis has served on City Council since 2016. He and his family have resided in Schertz since 2007. Davis earned an Associate’s Degree in Security Administration from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) in 1995, and a subsequent Associates Degree from CCAF in Instructor of Technology and Military Science in 1996. In 1998, he completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Workforce Education and Development from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, graduating with honors, Magna Cum Laude. In 2009, Davis completed his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Wayland Baptist University and retired from the United States Air Force as a Chief Master Sergeant. In November 2009, he returned to government employment with the United States Air Force and currently serves as an Operations Analyst in the Integrated Defense Cell at the Air Force Installation

and Mission Support Center, Port San Antonio, Texas. Davis has served on the Park and Recreation Advisory Board, Traffic Safety Advisory Commission, and Schertz Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association. He and his wife Sherry have been married since 1980 and they have three children and three grandchildren.

ROSEMARY SCOTT, CITY COUNCILMEMBER PLACE 2 & MAYOR PRO TEM

Councilmember Rosemary Scott was elected to City Council in 2019. Scott grew up in San Antonio and moved to Schertz in 1998 with her husband Guy, and their four children who attended SCUCISD schools. Scott is a graduate of Trinity University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English, and she is currently an English Teacher and Publications Advisor at Wagner High School. Prior to teaching, Scott was a nationally-recognized research director who worked in Broadcast Media for 20 years and was included in the prestigious group “Most Influential Women in Radio,” for 10 years. As a business marketing specialist, Scott has been published in magazines and newspapers across the United States. Scott has been active in the Schertz community for more than two decades, volunteering for many school and civic events. She joined the Schertz Economic Corporation Board of Directors in 2010, and became the Secretary-Treasurer in 2011. The military is important to Rosemary, with her father, brothers, husband, and sons serving our country: her husband is an Air Force Veteran, and two sons currently serve in the military.

JILL WHITTAKER, CITY COUNCILMEMBER PLACE 3

Councilmember Jill Whittaker was elected to City Council in 2020. Jill and her family have resided in the Schertz area since 1999. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Recreation and Leisure Administration from York College of Pennsylvania in 1995 and was selected for the competitive PALACE Acquire Intern program where she worked as a youth recreation specialist for the United States Air Force. After three years working as a civilian with the USAF, Jill desired to serve her country in a greater way and was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant. After getting married, Jill decided to separate from the Air Force in 2006 in order to focus on raising her family for the next several years. In 2011 Jill’s husband was assigned to Ft Meade, Maryland where she returned to work as the Music and Theater Ticket Office Manager at the United States Naval Academy, and in 2015 the Whittaker family returned to the San Antonio area, and Jill decided to enter the private sector as a licensed REALTOR® with JBGoodwin REALTORS®. Jill is married to Jeff Whittaker, a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force, and they have three young boys.

MICHAEL DAHLE, CITY COUNCILMEMBER PLACE 4

Councilmember Michael Dahle has served on City Council since 2019. Dahle and his family have called Schertz home since 2003. Dahle attended Texas Tech University before moving to San Antonio with his future wife in 1989 where they married and started a family. For the last 6 years, he has worked for a local grocery retailer in various store leadership roles, most recently as a facilities manager, responsible for managing a number of facilities in the San Antonio market. An active volunteer in the Schertz community, Dahle began by founding the Woman Hollering Creek Owners Association to initiate and secure the release of over 3,500 acres of land from San Antonio to Schertz in 2005, culminating in its acquisition by Schertz in 2010. From 2006-2009 he served as chairman of the SCUCISD Bond Oversight Committee as well as serving on the Community Advisory Committee from 2010-2013. Dahle was appointed to the Schertz Planning & Zoning Commission in 2011 and served until his election to City Council in November 2019, serving the last 2 years as Chairman of Planning & Zoning. Dahle and his wife raised their two daughters in Schertz, and both graduated from Samuel Clemens High School.

DAVID SCAGLIOLA, CITY COUNCILMEMBER PLACE 5

Councilmember David L. Scagliola has served on City Council from 2006 – 2014, and 2017 –present. He and his family have been living in the Schertz area since 1999. At the age of 19 he came to Texas courtesy of the United States Air Force and completed Basic Military Training at Lackland, AFB. Airman Scagliola attended technical training in the San Antonio area and got married at Brooks AFB. After tours in Germany and South Carolina, his fouryear Air Force commitment ended, and he collected his college credits and returned to college full time. Two years later he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree (Summa Cum Laude) in Mathematics from Eastern Connecticut State College. In addition, he was a distinguished graduate of Air Force ROTC, which started the second part of his Air Force career. Following his retirement from the Air Force Scagliola began teaching math, statistics, and operations management classes for Park University at Randolph and Lackland AFBs, TX. In 2011, he applied his remaining GI Bill benefits towards earning his Doctorate of Management (Magna Cum Laude) in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix. David and his wife Maria have been married just over 40 years and they have one daughter.

ALLISON HEYWARD, CITY COUNCILMEMBER PLACE 6

Councilmember Allison Heyward has served on City Council since 2018. She and her family have lived in Schertz since 2011. Heyward earned a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Texas Southern University in 1990. Following college graduation, Allison worked as a substitute teacher in Houston ISD before joining the Contract Department of Phillips 66 Petroleum in Houston. Allison and her husband (Ferrando) of 29 years are the proud parents of two children. After the birth of her children, her primary focus was on raising them and being available during her husband’s many deployments. After her husband retired from the US Navy, Allison decided the blend of city life and a small-town friendly atmosphere made Schertz the ideal place for the family to settle. Following the family’s return from overseas, she served as the Logistics and Purchasing Coordinator for Bison Signs from 2008-2016, and from 20162018 she worked as a substitute teacher in Marion ISD before feeling the desire to serve on Schertz City Council. She is a 2020 graduate of the Chamber Leadership Core Program. She is a Certified Municipal Officer (CMO) as well as a member of the TMRS Advisory Board on Benefit Design.

TIM BROWN, CITY COUNCILMEMBER PLACE 7

Councilmember Tim Brown has served on City Council since 2018. Tim and his family have lived in Schertz since 2000. Brown earned a Community College of the Air Force Associates Degree in Air Traffic Control in 1986 and completed his Bachelor of Science in Management from Wayland Baptist University in 2001. He retired from the United States Air Force as a Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt), in 2004 after 28 years of service. After retirement from Randolph AFB, he started a real estate business along with his wife, Nancy. In January 2011, they officially opened as the broker/owners of RE/MAX Corridor. Tim Brown has served as a Director for the San Antonio Board of Realtors since 2016 and has held various committee leadership positions since 2005. He is also an active member of our local Chambers of Commerce and presides as the President of the Randolph Area Real Estate Association. Brown has been active in the local community since before his military retirement and served on the Schertz Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors for many years and as President of the Board from 2011-2018. In 2014 he was appointed to the Mayors Advisory Committee, which has since been renamed the Committee of Committees Advisory Board.

CITY HALL IS SHINING BRIGHT

It was a chilly evening on December 3 as the community came out to Deck the City Hall and enjoy an evening of holiday cheer. For the first time ever, the City of Schertz not only lit up the tree, but all of the buildings in the Hal Baldwin Municipal Complex. Soulful Flow played the sounds of the season while River City Community Church served up warm hot chocolate and delicious donuts courtesy of The Chamber. If you missed the official lighting of the tree and complex, make sure to stop by before the end of the year to check it out!

BOOK YOUR PARK PAVILION RENTALS THROUGH

Small Pavilions at Pickrell Park are now open and available for rental! Complete your Small Pavilion Rental on CivicRec. Create a new account or login with Facebook or Google. This program gives you the ability to view the pavilion calendar, rent pavilions, or register for activities.

Once you create an account and sign in, be sure to click on ‘Account’ to verify your address and contact information. You can also update your contact preferences.

Here are just some things you can do on CivicRec: Register your team for the Adult Social League Register for events as a vendor

Purchase a Veteran’s Memorial Plaza Paver Register for a library program

Go to Schertz.com to log on to CivicRec today to join in on all of the FUN to be had!

GUADALUPE MASTER NATURALISTS FALL CLASS

The Guadalupe Master Naturalists recently completed the Fall Training Class by celebrating the occasion at the Irma Lewis Seguin Outdoor Learning Center. Three class members also certified as Master Naturalists. Sponsored by Texas Parks & Wildlife and AgriLife Extension, the volunteer organization provides education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas. Enjoying the event were Schertz Class Coordinator Michelle Darnell, Dennis Blackburn, Jennifer Eash, David Tripp, Rebeca Leininger, Bruce Bebow, Adrienne Bebow, Chapter President Tom Hardaway, Ray Windsor, Donna Kapinus, Debra Windsor, Tom Martin, Training Class Chair Marilyn Anderson, John Barrington, and Laura Griffith.

NATURE DISCOVERY SERIES BACK AGAIN IN 2021

The 2021 Nature Discovery Series schedule is here! Does your little one enjoy being outdoors and searching for creepy crawlies? Do Mom and Dad want to get the family outside and enjoy more time together? Then the Nature Discovery Series is for you!

Classes are led by the Texas Master Naturalist and are held at Crescent Bend Nature Park, 12780 W. Schaefer Rd, 78108, beginning at 10:00 a.m. PreRegistration is required to ensure materials are available. The program is geared to elementaryage children but is open to all ages. Groups will be limited to 8 participants. For more information on the classes and to register, go to Schertz.com.

Upcoming 2021 dates and topics are:

Feb 13 Discover Nature Journaling - Be a naturalist; observe, record and remember

Mar 13 Discover What's Flying - Learn clues for looking at birds

April 10 Discover What's Buzzing and Blooming - Have fun with flowers, bees and butterflies

May 8 Discover The Forest – Every living thing plays a role in the forest

June 12 Discover Clues and Traces – Find what animals leave behind

July 10

Discover Horns and Thorns – Staying alive is tough

SCHERTZ PARKS & REC WINS BIG AT TFEA AWARDS

The Schertz Parks and Recreation Department is proud to announce that we were recently awarded several first, second, and third place prizes in the Texas Festival & Event Association’s Kaliff Marketing Awards. A special thanks goes out to the Schertz Public Affairs team, Guadalupe County Master Naturalists, and Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) for elevating the city’s events and programs this year.

■ Best Miscellaneous On-Site Décor

Daddy-Daughter Dance (Under water arch with fish silhouettes)

FIRST PLACE

■ Best Other Merchandise

Kick Cancer-Pep Rally 5K Run (Signs of Love)

FIRST PLACE

■ Best Educational Program Nature Discovery Series

FIRST PLACE

■ Best Inclusivity Program

Trunk-or-Treat Sensory Area

FIRST PLACE

■ Best Single Magazine Display Ad

Daddy-Daughter Dance

SECOND PLACE

■ Best Outdoor Billboard

Jubilee

SECOND PLACE

■ Best Outdoor Billboard

Holidazzle

THIRD PLACE

daddy/daughter and mother/son dance

Events

Tickets

are $18 for adults and $12 for children

is limited at each session. Tickets will not be available at the door.

Superhero fathers and mothers grab your capes and get ready to treat that special super girl or super boy to a power filled night.

Superheroes unite at the Schertz Parks & Recreation Daddy/ Daughter and Mother/Son Dance for a night of heroic adventures. The night of Dynamic Duos will be conquered with music, duo dancing, refreshments, crafts, and some boom, pow, zap, and kapow! Make sure to bring those superpowers with you!

INTRODUCING CREATIVEBUG

Schertz Public Library is now offering creativebug at Schertz.com/2018/Creativebug. Creativebug.com has thousands of award-winning art & craft video classes taught by recognized design experts and artists. Create a free account and log-in with your library card to find a project for any occasion. Please contact the library at (210) 619-1700 if you have any questions about creativebug.

EXTREME BOOK NERD CHALLENGE 2020

If you participated in our 2020 Extreme Book Nerd Challenge, please make sure your completed form is turned in to the library by January 31, 2021. Prizes will be ordered based on the completion form. Forms can be printed from the library website at Schertz.com/booknerd or picked up at the library. Extreme Book Nerd Challenge will be back in February 2021 with all new categories!

NEW STORIES FOR THE STORYWALK®

Thanks to the generosity of several donors in 2020, three new books are coming to the Schertz StoryWalk®! The first of these, Cat’s Colors by Airlie Anderson, was installed on November 18, 2020. The stories are changed out quarterly, so watch for the other two books, How Do You WokkaWokka? by Elizabeth Bluemle and Mouse House Tales by Susan Pearson in February 2021 and May 2021 respectively.

StoryWalk® is a fun, educational activity that places a children’s story along a popular walking route in a community. Conceived as a way to inspire parents, teachers, and caregivers to take young children outdoors for physical activity and to learn, StoryWalk® helps build children’s interest in reading while encouraging healthy activity for both adults and children. The first StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition and the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk® debuted in Montpelier and the initiative has spread throughout the country.

HOT SPOTS AVAILABLE FOR CIRCULATION

In partnership with Bexar County’s BiblioTech, the Schertz Public Library is now circulating hot spots! Anyone who finds themselves without access to the Internet can check out a hotspot to be used at home. Uses include, but aren’t limited to:

■ Conducting personal business

■ Continuing with educational endeavors

■ Participating in recreational opportunities

■ Applying for jobs or benefits,

■ Continue operating businesses

This program has been funded for a twelve-month period with the hope that the Digital Divide further expanded by this pandemic, can be bridged. Many thanks to Bexar County’s BiblioTech. For more information, visit Schertz.com/1971/Hotspot-Circulation-Policy.

VIRTUAL PROGRAMS

BABY & ME RECORDED STORYTIME

Baby & Me Storytime is for our youngest library patrons up to 2 years old. Miss Michelle is sharing three songs with you each week on YouTube. Storytime videos are posted weekly on Tuesdays. You can find the videos via the library’s calendar at Schertz.com/youthcalendar. The current six-week session will be posted starting Tuesday, January 19 through Tuesday, February 23.

TODDLER AND PRESCHOOL RECORDED STORYTIME

Toddler Storytime is for toddlers ages 20 months to 3 years old. Preschool Storytime is for our library patrons getting ready for school ages 3 to 6 years old. Miss Michelle is sharing a song, story, and flannel with you each week on YouTube. Storytime videos are posted weekly on Tuesdays. You can find the videos via the library’s calendar at Schertz.com/youthcalendar. The current six-week session will be posted starting Tuesday, January 19 through Tuesday, February 23. Pick up a weekly themed craft to go along with the Toddler and Preschool Storytime in the library or via Curbside Pick-up.

TAKE & MAKE CRAFTS FOR KIDS AND TEENS

The library offers weekly take & make craft kits available for pick-up for kids (ages 5-12) and teens (ages 13-18). The next six weeks of kits will be available from Tuesday, January 19 through Tuesday, February 23. New craft kits are available on Tuesdays and can be picked in the library or via Curbside Pick-up. For the most current information on kits, visit the youth virtual programming page on the library’s website at Schertz.com/youthvirtual.

POETRY IN YOUR PAJAMAS THURSDAY, JANUARY 14

The monthly library poetry open mic has moved to a virtual format. The virtual program, Poetry in Your Pajamas is held on the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. via GotoMeeting. Join us to listen to poetry from local poets or to share poetry of your own. Meeting Access information can be found on the library website calendar.

VIRTUAL SCRAPBOOKING 101 TUESDAY, JANUARY 26

Join us on the last Tuesday in January for a virtual scrapbooking course. Kristin, our local expert, will teach you all you need to know to get started. The course syllabus is available online or can be picked up at the library. Log-in information for the GotoMeeting session can be found on the library website calendar.

MONTHLY TAKE & MAKE ACTIVITY KITS FOR ADULTS

The library currently has free learn to crochet at-home kits. For the most current information on kits for adults, visit the adult virtual programming page on the library’s website at Schertz.com/adultvirtual.

For a comprehensive listing of all library events please visit SchertzLibrary.org.

Single Use Disposal System

The Single Use Disposal System (SUDS) are a convenient and environmentally friendly way to dispose of your unused or expired prescription medications. The pre-paid TakeAway Envelope allows you to mail your unused and expired prescriptions from the privacy of your own home. They are then incinerated unopened keeping them out of our drinking water.

Where can I find TakeAway Envelopes?

TakeAway Envelopes can be found on wall hangers in Emergency Services buildings at the Hal Baldwin Municipal Complex (1400 Schertz Parkway Bldg. 6, 7, 8, & 9).

Coldwell Bank Ad

What happens to the envelope after it is mailed?

The envelopes containing the medications are sent directly to a treatment facility to be incinerated.

Are TakeAway Envelopes safe?

Yes, the TakeAway Envelopes are safe. Using the TAE is safer than flushing or throwing the medications in the trash. Incinerating the medications limit the environmental damage that medications can have by preventing them from polluting our drinking water.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends incineration as the method of drug destruction, which meets the Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) standard.

Can needles or inhalers go in the envelope?

Unfortunately, no. Please reach out to your local health department.

Will anyone see my personal information?

No, once you seal the TakeAway Envelope it is incinerated unopened.

As many as 92% of people have leftover medications and don’t know how to dispose of them. You can lead the effort to remove unused medications by cleaning out your medicine cabinet using Single Use Disposal Systems.

Using the environmentally safe TakeAway Envelopes reduces the risk of unused prescription medications getting into the wrong hands and helps prevent accidental poisonings.

2020-2021

Sewer Averaging

Sewer averaging for the winter months began on October 24, 2020, and will continue through March 6, 2021, for cycle billing. Water usage over this period determines your sewer charge for the next billing year, which begins April 1. The water usage readings will be averaged and the average per thousand-gallon usage per month will be multiplied by $4.46. The final calculation result will be your sewer charge for the next 12 months.

RESIDENTS WITH AN AVERAGE BELOW 12,000 GALLONS

That total will be added to the base rate of $13.54 for residents with an average below 12,000 gallons.

RESIDENTS WITH AN AVERAGE GREATER THAN 12,001 GALLONS

The first 12,000 gallons will be multiplied by $4.46 and the portion of the average above 12,000 gallons will be multiplied by $10.12 and that total will be added to the base rate of $13.54 for residential use.

City Headlines

Holiday Tree Disposal

Republic Services will begin picking up Christmas Trees during the second and third weeks of January. Trees will be picked up only on the second service day for customers with twice per week service. Customers with service on Mondays and Thursdays will have their trees picked up on Thursday. Customers with service on Tuesdays and Fridays will have their trees picked up on Friday.

Customers with once per week service will have their trees picked up on their regular service days. Trees must be placed at the curb. Any trees taller than 7 feet must be cut in half. Any trees at the curb after the third week would need to be called in as a bulk pick up.

For more information contact (210) 619-1800.

Long-Time City Service Recognized

The City of Schertz is proud of our employees and we are incredibly thankful for their great service and dedication to our community. We are excited to recognize four long-time city employees who have recently reached milestone years of service in their City careers. Bryan Timmons (20 Years), Eber Busch (30 Years), and Matt Troncoso (30 Years) had the honor of being recognized at the December 8 Schertz City Council Meeting. Scott LaCour (25 Years) will not be able to attend a City Council Meeting as he is currently deployed. Please join us in congratulating these employees on this major accomplishment!

BRYAN TIMMONS

Bryan Timmons began his career with the City on August 14, 2000, as a Street Worker 1 in the Public Works Department. Two years later, Bryan became a Street Worker 2 in Traffic Control which is the position he holds now.

Bryan was born in Eagle Pass, TX and attended Rio Grande City High School. He then attended Laredo Junior College and graduated with a twoyear certificate in industrial welding, and he currently holds a welding certificate with the National Welding Certification Bureau.

Bryan and his wife have been married for 26 years. They are members of the Country Church in Marion, TX where they help out in the children’s ministry and have participated in several mission trips. Some hobbies Bryan enjoys include going on road trips, working on welding projects, and doing yard work and different projects around the house. Congratulations Bryan on your amazing accomplishment!

20 YEARS

SCOTT LACOUR

Scott LaCour was hired on with the City in March 1995, where he began his career as a Patrolman in the Police Department. He worked his way up to become a Narcotics Sergeant in the Criminal Investigations Division or CID. In April 1997, he was assigned as a Task Force Officer to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), where he has remained since then. Scott has a passion and a determination to clean up and remove the bad people off our streets. The job he does for the City truly makes a tangible difference in our community; he has been on the front line, fighting the war against drugs.

25 YEARS

Additionally, Scott is a member of the United States Air Force and has been part of the Air National Guard for 32 years, 4 ½ of those were active. He has worked his way through the ranks and now is the Command Chief for the 149 Fighter Wing. Scott has recently been called to active duty and is currently stationed at Joint Base San Antonio. Scott is married and has three sons, and he loves to BBQ, hunt, and fish. Congratulations Scott on your accomplishment!

30 YEARS

EBER BUSCH

Eber Busch started his employment with the City of Schertz on October 1, 1990, as a Serviceman 1 in the Public Works Department. He then moved up to a Serviceman 2 in May of 1991 and received a promotion to Water/ Wastewater Supervisor in April of 1994. In September of 2015, he was designated the Superintendent of the Water/Wastewater division.

Eber was born in San Antonio and attended school in the Schertz-CiboloUniversal City ISD. He grew up and lived here in Schertz on his family’s farm where he assisted with farming and also operating their service station and motel in San Antonio.

Eber and his wife Janie have been married for 29 years and they have one daughter named April. During his spare time, Eber likes to go to the lake, go camping at State Parks, visit South Padre Island, go on cruises, and attend rock concerts. Raising Koi Fish is another one of Eber’s hobbies. When Eber retires, he plans to do a lot of RVing with his family. Congratulations Eber on this great accomplishment!

MATT TRONCOSO

Matt Troncoso was first hired to the City of Schertz in the Public Works Department in the water division. After one year, Matt was then offered a full-time position with Schertz EMS. Matt began his career as a volunteer for the City of Cibolo Fire Department from age 16 into his early 20s. He then went on to attend the San Antonio College Fire Academy and completed his ECA, EMT, and EMT Paramedic courses in 1986 to become a volunteer with Schertz EMS while he worked for a construction company.

Matt was born in Seguin, TX on August 30, 1961. He was raised in Cibolo on the land that is now Crescent Bend Nature Park. He is the oldest of eight children in his family with six boys and two girls. Matt went to school in the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD and graduated from Samuel Clemens High School in 1981.

30 YEARS

Matt married his high school sweetheart in October of 1981 and they have four children and 10 grandchildren. Some hobbies Matt enjoys include golfing, fishing, hunting, and trying to keep up with his honey-do-list. The achievement that Matt is most proud of, besides his children, is that he never gave up on his life goal to make something of himself. He wanted his kids to know that with hard work and determination, anything can be accomplished. Congratulations Matt on your great accomplishment!

Schertz is Leading the Way

The City of Schertz recently received the Leading the Way Award from the ETC Institute. The award was created by Chris Tatham, CEO and Owner of ETC Institute, to recognize local governments for outstanding achievement in the delivery of services to its residents. Recipients of the award rank in the top 10% of all local governments in the United States with regard to their composite performance in three core areas that are assessed on ETC Institute’s DirectionFinder Survey:

■ satisfaction with overall quality of services

■ satisfaction with customer service provided by employees, and

■ satisfaction with the value residents think they receive for their local taxes and fees.

In addition to ranking in the top 10% overall, the City of Schertz rated in the top 10% of all cities in the following areas as well:

■ Overall Value of Services Provided to Residents

■ Animal Control Services

■ Stormwater Management/Flood Control

In 2016 the City of Schertz conducted its first Citizen Satisfaction Survey to measure how well the City is meeting the needs of the residents and to gain valuable feedback regarding City programs and services. ETC Institute was contracted by the City to conduct the survey in 2016 and again in 2019 to conduct the City's second Citizen Satisfaction Survey. The survey is mailed out to randomly selected households and

holds a margin of error of 4-5%. The results of the survey indicate that most residents were “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with the overall quality of services provided by the City.

We are incredibly honored to receive this award and we are so proud of the service we provide to our residents.

Schertz City Secretary Receives Records Management Scholarship

On Thursday, October 29, City Secretary Brenda Dennis accepted the Texas Municipal Clerks Association Municipal Code Corporation Innovations (MCCi) Records Management Scholarship which was established for the purpose of advancing the education and professional development of Texas Municipal Clerks. The purpose of this scholarship is to recognize city secretaries/municipal clerks who have established outstanding systems for records management or who have improved existing systems. One $500 scholarship is awarded in each of three categories annually. Scholarship award funds shall be used only for continued or advanced education in a TMCCP program or a TMCA, Inc., approved records management program, i.e., ARMA, Texas State Library, Council of Governments. Please join us in congratulating Brenda on her great achievement!

Schertz Fire Rescue Presents Citizen Life Saving Award

On the morning of Tuesday, October 26 just before 5:00 a.m., Schertz Fire Rescue received a call for a fire alarm sounding at First Street Assisted Living. Dispatchers quickly elevated this call to a structure fire which added additional fire engines. When the first crew arrived, they found smoke pouring out the front door and a window to the left of the front door.

Upon talking with residents and the on-duty Staff Member Leslie Barrientes, the crew was able to ascertain that the fire alarm sounded and functioned as it should at that time. When the alarm sounded, Barrientes quickly began evacuating residents and had all residents accounted for outside of the building upon the Fire Department’s arrival. After the fire was determined extinguished, the crew learned that while helping residents get out, Barrientes could not open the door to one resident’s room due to it being blocked. She then grabbed a chair from inside the front lobby before the front door closed and locked and used it to break the window and make entry into the room to pull the occupant out to safety. She acted quickly and efficiently without regard for her own safety to effectively rescue the occupant. Without her quick actions, the outcome of the fire surely would have been different.

Due to Ms. Leslie Barrientes taking quick actions and acting without hesitation to get everyone out, this allowed the fire crews to concentrate on stopping the fire spread instead of

searching the building for residents. Crews were able to pull a fire line into the room where the fire had started, which was that room to the left of the front door and finish putting out the fire. The sprinkler system had also activated which assisted in keeping the fire from growing rapidly or spreading from the room of origin. Once the fire was extinguished, firefighters were also able to help clean up and get residents back inside.

Fire Chief Kade Long presented Barrientes with the Citizen Life Saving Award during the December 1 Schertz City Council Meeting. Thank you to Ms. Barrientes for her life-saving actions and for her help in keeping our neighbors safe!

From the Development Whiteboard Planning

Planning and Community Development 2020 Year in Review

The Planning and Community Development Department continued seeing new projects come in and the completion of those from the previous year. In 2020, the Inspections Division issued over 350 residential permits and 14 permits for brand new commercial development.

The Planning and Community Development Department faced the COVID-19 pandemic head-on and began taking measures to ensure residents and contractors continued to receive service safely. During the pandemic, development did not slow down, in fact, there were more permits issued in 2020 than in 2019. By accepting permits and applications digitally and taking payments over the phone and through the online payment system, the staff was able to continue to provide exceptional customer service even with the building's front lobby being closed for a short period of time to help slow the spread. Additionally, to continue communications with applicants, and developers, staff started holding all development-related meetings virtually to practice social distancing and to limit face to face contact, but still provide the level of service needed to assist in the development of the community. The Planning and Zoning Commission meetings, with all safety measures in place, have continued to be held in order to continue moving development along in the City of Schertz. Overall, the Planning and Community Development team worked incredibly hard to be safe for both fellow staff members and the community and to maintain the same high level of customer service.

Building upon the 2019 success of going paperless with the online permit and application submittal and review process, in 2020 an online payment system was implemented. This means that a resident or contractor can submit a permit, pay for permits, and receive an approved permit all without having to come to the City of Schertz offices. This online payment system is a great benefit to our customers.

With the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 budget, City Council approved funds for an amendment to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan which will result in updates to the Unified Development Code, and a new

Senior Planner. The Comprehensive Land Use Plan is a document that helps guide staff and the elected and appointed officials in decision making for the future development of Schertz. The Unified Development Code provides the regulations for development within the City. The Planning Division is very excited to get the opportunity to work on these two very large updates which will play important roles in the future and vision for the City of Schertz.

In 2010 and 2011 the City of Schertz entered into Delayed Annexation Development Agreements with property owners that had a current agricultural exemption. These agreements delayed the annexation of their properties into the City of Schertz for a period of 10 years, with the first group of agreements set to expire in 2020. Due to COVID-19 and with the upcoming review and amendments to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, City Council has authorized extensions to the delayed annexations agreements for 23 property owners. Staff is also working to notify the remaining property owners that are currently under a delayed annexation development agreement and will be offering them the same opportunity which will be completed in 2021. The department welcomed two new permit technicians to the Department. Please helps us welcome Beth Morris and Ilyssa Velasquez to the team. The department also welcomed a new planner, Megan Harrison to the team. She comes to us with previous city experience.

In 2020 the Inspection Division continued their training through virtual classes. With the knowledge gained through these trainings, it will provide the Inspectors the ability to ensure safe and cohesive development throughout the City.

Overall, 2020 was a successful year for the department and the City. If you have interest in remodeling or new development, or just want to know more about the development occurring in the City, please give us a call or stop by. We are here and happy to assist you in your development needs. Happy New Year from the Planning & Community Development Staff!

History All Around Us

By: Stan Leland

The rapid growth of Schertz and nearby cities over the last decade has brought thousands of new residents to the area. They have moved into an area rich with history extending from the days of the Native Americans up to our present day. Yet there has been no venue to tell the stories of Schertz’s past. Not knowing your history is like entering a theater after the movie has already started. It’s hard to understand the significance of what’s going on unless you know the story and its context. Knowing the history of a place or community reinforces the idea that we are stewards of our time and place, not owners. We benefit from or struggle with the decisions made by past generations, and the decisions we make today will do the same for those in the future.

To tell the stories of the past, in 2009 under the leadership of Mayor Hal Baldwin, Schertz City Council created the Schertz Historical Preservation Committee (SHPC). The goal of the

fourteen-member volunteer committee is to create a museum and collect photos, artifacts, and documents that tell the story of Schertz and its development. Meeting every quarter, the committee also publishes a newsletter that illustrates an aspect of Schertz’s past. The newsletter is emailed to anyone interested in Schertz's history. Articles cover events from the early settlement days up to recent events in Schertz. If you would like a copy of the quarterly newsletter, contact Vice-Chair Dean Weirtz at weirtz1@yahoo.com.

More information about the committee can be found online at Schertz.com/SHPC.

The search for a museum building has been challenging. Initially, a bond issue requesting citizen approval for funding was proposed but failed to pass. The next idea was to use a portion of the old Schertz library building. However, it turned out the new

tenant needed the entire building. Finally, an older house owned by the City of Schertz on Elbel was suggested but the renovation cost proved to be too much for the budget.

Meanwhile, photos and artifacts were accumulating especially due to the generosity of the Walter and Lula Mae Schertz family. In an effort to continue the search Dean Weirtz reached out to Former County Commissioner Jim Wolverton about the possibility of using a room in the new county annex building (the building with the red caboose on FM 78). Jim suggested another option of using the public hallways in the new building to display photographs. Several hundred feet of blank wall space existed and what better way to use it than display historical photos of the area.

As a result, the six towns in the Cibolo valley area; Schertz, Cibolo, Universal City, Selma, Santa Clara, and Marion each have their own section of photographs on the walls. Looking at the photos you may see the person for whom a familiar street or subdivision is named. Or you might discover that a building you’ve driven by daily is over 100 years old. Looking at the photos and reading their descriptions are a way to pass the time while waiting in line at the various county offices.

The success of the annex display birthed a new strategy for the committee. Instead of a central museum building that gets visited occasionally, the museum would disperse to multiple locations allowing its exhibits to be

continued on page 34

The Historical Preservation Committee is helping to stimulate and save those conversations by reminding us that history is all around us.

History All Around Us

continued from page 33

seen daily and repeatedly. The committee has identified several other public spaces and has displayed more photos and artifacts in conference rooms at Simmonds Real Estate, Cook Real Estate, Staybridge Suites, Biff Busby Restaurant, and Tropical Smoothie Café. If you have a public space such as a business, school, or church and you are interested in displaying historical items, contact Dean Weirtz at weirtz1@yahoo.com. If space is available, the photos used will be curated to represent that specific area or town.

Another project of the committee involves the caboose in front of the county annex building. The caboose has been a landmark on FM 78 for over 60 years. Since its restoration, the county decided to use the inside to display historical artifacts pertaining to the railroad history of Schertz. However, since it’s not a handicap compliant building it isn’t open to the public. In a similar move to make history accessible even if the building isn’t, a short video has been released to show and narrate the artifacts in the caboose. The video can be found on the City of Schertz YouTube Channel or at Schertz.com/SHPC.

Over the past decade, the committee has been identifying and designating historical homes and buildings in Schertz. Over 30 properties have been designated as historical sites by the committee. The designation doesn’t bring any legal restrictions for the use of the building; it is simply a plaque that is placed on the structure recognizing its part in Schertz’s history.

It is unfortunate that by the time a person is old enough to appreciate family history or a location’s history, the people who lived in it have usually passed on. With their passing, the stories and perspectives of their time are lost forever. The Historical Preservation Committee is helping to stimulate and save those conversations by reminding us that history is all around us. All we need to do is notice it and become curious enough to learn about it.

Dr. Brandon McGarrell

A Bright Future in Sight

By: Jaime Cline

Jazmin Harper is in Girl Scouts, swim team, the marching band, and the orchestra. She plays the piano, saxophone, clarinet, violin, and guitar. Her day is jammed packed with activities—often starting her day at 4:30 a.m. and ending it at 9:00 p.m.

She also happens to be legally blind.

Born with a visual impairment and diagnosed with glaucoma at age 8, the 16-year-old Steele High School student is hoping to inspire others to overcome obstacles in their own lives.

When Jazmin was born, the doctors told her family that they thought she had a tumor behind her eye.

“It was hard. We had to wait three days to find out that it wasn’t actually a tumor. It was a cataract. We actually celebrated that fact,” shared Jazmin’s mother Jennifer.

Jazmin had to have multiple surgeries and wear an eye patch for 11 years. She was 15 by the time she could use both eyes at the same time. Due to her condition, she has lost almost all of her peripheral vision and suffers from extreme eye fatigue. Her limited vision, eye shaking, limited vision field, and light sensitivity leave her classified as legally blind.

Yet, she doesn’t let that stop her from being extremely active. Jazmin shares that she enjoys pursuing activities that challenge her.

“I’ve wanted to be on a swim team since I was in elementary school. When I swim, I have to count the strokes to know when I’m getting close to the end of the pool. That way I don’t hit the wall of the pool. I love swimming because it lets me stay active,” Jazmin shares.

Music is another one of her passions. She taught herself to play the saxophone and clarinet and recently picked up the guitar. Jazmin is active in both marching band and orchestra, but both come with their own challenges.

“I have to count everything. The beat, the number of steps, everything. It’s a lot of math to figure out the angles of the turns and to memorize those. I don’t have any peripheral vision, so I only have my step counting and the person marching in front of me to guide me. I can’t rely on visual cues like other people do,” Jazmin explains.

Her love of music is what she ultimately hopes to transition to for a career. “She’s looking at colleges here in Texas and wants to do a double major in music and physics. Her goal is to become a music teacher,” shares Jennifer.

It wasn’t until the fast pace of high school that Jazmin had to ask for some additional assistance and accommodations for her vision loss.

Prior to high school, she was so good at adapting to her limited vision, no one really knew that she was legally blind. She shares she always just “found a way” to succeed and to “get things done.” It is a true testament to how hard she worked that even her teachers didn’t know the extent of her sight challenges and vision loss.

“I thought it was normal for the pictures to shake in books or not to see the board,” she explained.

The heavy reading burden, higher use of visual materials like video and whiteboards, and increased workload of high school caused new hurdles for her to overcome.

continued on page 38

“I have to count everything. The beat, the number of steps, everything. It’s a lot of math to figure out the angles of the turns and to memorize those.”

A Bright Future in Sight

continued from page 37

“My pain level is dependent on the amount of reading, homework, and the size of the print that I’m given. I have extreme eye fatigue and pain. I don’t ever use both of my eyes at the same time. It’s almost as if they are fighting each other instead of working together to help me succeed,” the soft-spoken teen explains.

She is slowly but surely finding her footing in advocating for herself and asking for the needed accommodations to help her succeed. She now has access to resources like a cane, magnifier, larger print for some items, and the closed caption option on TVs during school to help with her assignments.

“We recently had her retake the SATs but opted to use the audio version that was made available to her. Her score improved by 300 points simply by presenting the test in a format that was more accommodating to her uniqueness. We didn’t do anything different from a studying perspective—we just had her take the test audibly instead of visually and her score improved that much,” shared Jennifer.

Jazmin shares that having a disability can feel very isolating and she wants to continue to advocate to help people like her feel

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“seen”. She’s especially interested in continuing to meet people like her and to inspire others to overcome the challenges in their own lives. The more educated she is about her condition, the more confident she feels speaking out and educating others about vision loss.

Her advice she would share with others that are in similar situations or facing a challenge in their own life?

“Stay strong. You are not alone. Be true to yourself—stay YOU.”

AROUND THE COMMUNITY

Freshman Athlete Competes on The National Stage

The Crossvine Releases Special Edition Book

Since the installment of their first lending library, The Crossvine has been in the book-giving business. Thus far, they have released special The Crossvine editions of The Secret Garden, Peter Pan, Pride and Prejudice, Walden, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and Dubliners. Most recently, they have released The Crossvine editions of Jungle Book and Call of the Wild. As part of this release, they donated hardcover and paperback editions to schools in the Schertz community as well as the Schertz Public Library and the lending libraries located throughout The Crossvine.

The seed for this project began with Developer Chris Price’s idea to build lending libraries for residents of the neighborhood. That idea eventually grew into lookthinkmake, The Crossvine’s agency, creating a series of custom-designed covers for books in the public domain, printed through “The Crossvine Press,” with each cover specifically designed with its own personality, and an aesthetic linked to the look, feel and experience of The Crossvine community.

The Crossvine has plans to continue creating custom books for both the community and for donation – rotating between books for younger and older audiences.

Ethan Brumgard, a freshman at Samuel Clemens High School, is making great strides on the national football stage! For the past four years, Ethan has attended the Chris Sailer Kicking Camp every fall in Dallas, Texas with hopes of improving and refining his kicking and punting skills. Currently, he is ranked 4th in the nation for the class of 2024.

One of Ethan's goals has been to compete in the Football University (FBU) All-American Bowl. The FBU All-American Bowl is designed to showcase the nation’s best freshman football players. Since 2009, the event has allowed freshman football players of the highest level a platform to assemble and compete in one place. Two teams are selected, comprised of the top 60 student-athletes in their graduating class.

After countless hours of training to achieve this goal, Ethan was identified as one of the brightest student-athletes in the 2024 Class and was selected to play in the 2020 FBU All-American Bowl. This year’s event took place on December 21, 2020, in Naples, Florida, and was aired on NBC.

Congratulations to Ethan for this incredible accomplishment!

Clemens Senior Recognized as a KENS 5 All-Star Student

At Samuel Clemens High School, Senior Emma Jachimowicz is known for her positive and joyful attitude, which she shares as the announcer for the Varsity Volleyball games. It’s no surprise to those who know her that she was selected as the first ever KENS 5 All-Star Student for Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD. This award highlights one student from each of the 19 San Antonio area school districts for their excellence inside and outside of the classroom. This award was presented to Jachimowicz on Tuesday, November 3 before her parents, her classmates on the varsity volleyball team, select teachers, and Clemens Principal Amy Sirizzotti. Jachimowicz is currently fourth in her class out of 576 seniors with an impressive 107.7 grade point average and serves as Senior Class President, National Honor Society Vice-President, DECA President, and FCA Officer. Emma is also a star leading elementary school students in the Ready, Set, Teach Program. She does all of this on top of taking AP and Dual Credit classes. Emma will be attending Texas A&M University next year, where she plans to study education.

Congratulations to Emma Jachimowicz for this amazing honor, we wish you success in your future endeavors!

Local Athletes to Participate in San Antonio

All-Star Football Game

This year, 112 players representing 62 schools were selected to take part in the San Antonio Sports All-Star Football Game, presented by H-E-B. The San Antonio Sports All-Star Football Game is a showcase of the area’s top high school football talent with a goal of shining the light on local talent and enhancing their opportunities for college scholarships.

Five Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD student-athletes have been selected to take part in this exciting game. Quarter Back Wyatt Begeal, Linebacker Christian Garza, and Defensive End Caleb Lewis were chosen to represent Byron P. Steele High School as a part of Team Gold. Meanwhile, Receiver Andrew Edwards and Quarterback Max DiDomenico were chosen to represent Samuel Clemens High School as a part of Team Black. Players are nominated by their high school coaches and chosen by a selection committee featuring broadcasters, journalists, and former coaches. The San Antonio Sports All-Star Football Game will take place on Saturday, January 30 at Heroes Stadium and will be televised on CW35 and broadcast on ESPN 1250 radio in San Antonio.

KENS 5 and Credit Human Recognize Exemplary Teacher

Since 1999, KENS 5 and Credit Human have recognized exemplary public school teachers through their annual EXCEL Award. Every year one teacher from each of the 19 San Antonio area school districts is chosen to receive a $1,000 check from Credit Human along with a news feature on KENS 5. This award celebrates teachers for the difference they make in and out of the classroom. This year, John. A. Sippel Elementary School teacher Melissa Dean was named the KENS 5 EXCEL Award winner for Schertz-CiboloUniversal City ISD.

Dean is a graduate of Charleston South University and has been teaching for 23 years. She has taught in South Carolina, California, and Hawaii as she followed her husband throughout his military career before settling down in Texas. She has taught at Sippel Elementary for 12 years. Each morning, Dean turns off the lights in the classroom and turns on disco lights so she and her students can sing and dance to start off their day. In addition to teaching, Dean is passionate about acting and singing. She performs regularly at the Harlequin Theater at Fort Sam Houston and has been recognized twice as Best Actress with the Alamo Theater Arts Council.

Congratulations to Melissa Dean for this amazing accomplishment and thank you for your service to our community!

Put aFREEZE on Winter Holiday Fires

It’s fun to decorate for the winter holidays, but holiday decorations can increase your risk for a home fire. As you deck the halls this season, be fire smart.

More than half of the home decoration fires in December are started by candles.

More than 1/3 of home decoration fires are started by candles.

The top 3 days for home candle fires are Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve.

Although Christmas tree fires are not common, when they do occur, they are dangerous.

Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that burns.

On average, 1 of every 52 reported home Christmas tree fires resulted in death.

A heat source too close to the Christmas tree causes 1 in every 4 winter fires.

Read manufacturer’s instructions for the number of light strands to connect.

Make sure your tree is at least 3 feet away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, candles or heat vents. Also, make sure your tree does not block exits.

Get rid of your tree after Christmas or when it is dry.

For more information on how to prevent winter fires, visit www.usfa.fema.gov/winter and www.nfpa.org/winter.

AROUND THE COMMUNITY

A Dog Walk in the Park

Over the second weekend in November, the Hill Country Australian Shepherd Club put on four conformation shows along with two obedience and rally trials at Pickrell Park. Conformation shows are the “beauty” contests you may be familiar with, some examples are The Westminster Dog Show or the National Dog Show. Rally and obedience trials show off the dog and handler's precision obedience work such as heeling, walking by the handler’s side, turns, and halting to a sit without verbal commands.

Handlers of all ages participated in this event, the youngest being three years old. There was one of the largest turnouts of junior handlers that the club has seen in quite some time. The Guadalupe County 4-H K9 All-Stars (Discovery 4-H Club of Schertz) showed how they could handle their dogs in all three events placing in each category.

The 4-H group trains dogs locally in Schertz and competes in various events. If any students are interested in training with them, please contact the Guadalupe County AgriLife Extension office in Seguin.

Bring your SchertzMagazinealong 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 SchertzMagazine!

Eddy & Ingrid Yuja brought their Schertz Magazine to the Paragon Casino in Marksville, Louisiana.

Jason Campbell in the back of a British ‘Foxhound’ armored personnel carrier in Kabul, Afghanistan with his Schertz Magazine.

Mike (Taco) Ontko, Curtis Jenkins, Jan Jenkins, Rose Ervin, and Charles Ervin with their Schertz Magazine at Jewel Cave in South Dakota.

LOOKING BACK January

QUOTE OF NOTE

“You can’t win ‘em all…but you can try.”

– Babe Didrikson Zaharias

LOCAL HISTORY

On January 19, 1959, the annual salaries of the Schertz mayor, city council members and city marshal were approved at $12.00, $6.00, and $600.00 per year, respectively.

TEXAS HISTORY

On January 8, 1884, the state legislature made fence cutting a felony punishable by one to five years in prison. In 1883, fence cutting had become a major source of friction between landless cattlemen who wanted to retain practices of the open range and those who fenced their land with barbed wire. In the fall of 1883 damage from wrecking of fences in Texas was estimated at $20 million. The legislation ended most of the problem, although sporadic outbreaks of “nipping” continued for a decade, especially during droughts.

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

Animal Services

(210) 619-1000

(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

Presented by the Schertz Historical Preservation Committee in the interest of historical perspective and community awareness of local historical legacies.

JANUARY 2021 CITY CALENDAR

Due to the current situation surrounding COVID-19, these events may be subject to cancellation. Please check Schertz.com for the most recent updates.