January 2023

SCHERTZ SCHERTZ

CITY COUNCIL

Ralph Gutierrez Mayor

Mark Davis Councilmember

Jill Whittaker Councilmember

Michael Dahle Councilmember

David Scagliola Councilmember

Allison Heyward Councilmember

Tim Brown Councilmember

EXECUTIVE TEAM

Steve Williams City Manager

Brian James Assistant City Manager

Adrian Perez Executive Director

Sarah Gonzalez Assistant to the City Manager

EDITORIAL TEAM

Linda Klepper Public Affairs Director

Devan Christensen Communications Manager

Caanon Gibbons Marketing & Communications Specialist

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Linda Klepper, Sarah Gonzalez, Devan Christensen, Caanon Gibbons, Kira Villarreal, Jaime Cline, Analyse Miranda, Anna Kraft, Lizzi Bertoia, Roz Wise, Emily Delgado

CONTRIBUTING

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Linda Klepper, Devan Christensen, Caanon Gibbons, Stacey Lovett, Candace Schwab, Anna Kraft, Tony Morano/Conference USA, Domingo J Muñoz Jr./Muñillar

Photography

NEWS POLICY

Schertz Magazine encourages submission of news and event announcement items.

Publication is not guaranteed. If you would like to submit an item to Schertz Magazine, email magazine@schertz.com or call (210) 619-1600.

The appearance of advertising in this publication does not constitute endorsement by the City of Schertz. 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. Any publication of Schertz Magazine is sole property of the City of Schertz and cannot be reproduced or distributed in any way without the permission and written consent of the City of Schertz.

A HOLLY JOLLY GOOD TIME FOR ALL!

Every first weekend of December the City of Schertz holds its annual Holidazzle event packed full of festive fun for the whole family. Santa kicked off the day by hosting a pancake breakfast for all who were nice this year and who pre-purchased tickets for the private dining event sponsored by Abel’s Diner.

Local vendors set up shop in the Civic Center for the Kris Kringle Market bringing the holiday shopping experience under one roof for handmade gifts, specialty items, and independent consultant products.

The Holiday Hoopla was a crowd favorite, filled with free family events including the return of Mt. Schertz, an iceskating rink, pictures with Santa, and more.

The Festival of Angels Parade brought the fun-filled day to an end with a lighted night parade full of local businesses, non-profits, and individuals traveling down Main Street and Schertz Parkway into the Jonnie McDow Sports Complex.

The City of Schertz would like to extend a big thank you to their staff, the Purpose Church for providing volunteers, River City Community Church for providing the S’mores Station, and H-E-B, GUNN Buick GMC, GUNN Chevrolet, and Abel’s Diner for sponsoring the event. The event would not be a success without you.

HEADLINES CITY

TxDOT Breaks Ground on FM 1103 Expansion Project

SSLGC Welcomes New General Manager

The Schertz-Seguin Local Government Corporation (SSLGC) recently welcomed new General Manager Andrew McBride. Andrew McBride comes to SSLGC with over twenty years of public utilities experience. With focus areas in environmental laboratory, heavy equipment, water/wastewater treatment operations, capital improvement programs and fiscal management, McBride is well acclimated to the current efforts of the Corporation. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Science in Environmental Management, while also holding the highest levels of water and wastewater treatment operator licensing in the state. In the past he served as Assistant General Manager with a large utility district and as the Assistant Director of Treatment for the City of Arlington, TX. McBride grew up in San Antonio and has lived in the area for all but the seven years that he was in the DFW metroplex. He has two daughters and loves being outdoors, either on the water or on off-road adventures. His knowledge and experience will be a great asset to SSLGC and we are excited to have him as part of our team.

The Texas Department of Transportation commemorated the start of construction on the FM 1103 expansion project with a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, November 16. The $39.2 million project aims to increase mobility, enhance safety, and reduce congestion for area drivers with approximately 4 miles of transportation improvements along FM 1103 from I-35 to Rodeo Way in Comal and Guadalupe Counties.

With the turn of a shovel, TxDOT San Antonio Deputy District Engineer Charles Benavidez led the ceremony where he was joined by Schertz Mayor Ralph Gutierrez, Cibolo Mayor Pro Tem Joel Hicks and other community leaders.

“Today, we’re excited to bring much needed congestion relief and safety improvements to the citizens of Cibolo and Schertz who travel on the FM 1103 corridor every day,” said Benavidez.

The project includes improvements to expand the roadway from 2-lanes to 4-lanes, including a center turn

lane, as well as add pedestrian and cyclist accommodations with 6-foot sidewalks and 5-foot bike lanes in each direction. Construction began November 2022 and is expected to be complete by 2026. Hunter Industries is the contractor.

Re-Elected Councilmember Sworn into Office

At the November 22 Special City Council meeting, the City of Schertz swore into office Councilmember Mark Davis who was re-elected into a three-year term in Place 1 after the November 8, 2022 General Election. Congratulations to Councilman Mark Davis who is excited to continue his service to the City!

Street Sweeping Schedule Update

Maintaining roadways, drainage channels, and other infrastructure systems are a high priority for Schertz Public Works Streets and Drainage Divisions. One way the city does this is through preventative maintenance measures including monthly street sweeping. City street sweepers clean

almost 356 lane miles of roadway, including lanes on FM 3009 and FM 78.

Check out the Monthly Street Sweeping Schedule to see when your roads will be swept.

For more information or if you have any questions, contact Public Works at (210) 619-1800 or go to Schertz.com/streets.

Monthly Street Sweeping Schedule

1ST

2ND

3RD

Street Sweep Days

FRIDAY

HEADLINES CITY

Holiday Tree Disposal

Republic Services will begin picking up Christmas Trees during the week of January 9 through January 20. 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.

City Council Chambers Closed for Upgrades

Work has started on the Council Chambers Audio and Video systems upgrade project and while construction is underway the facility will be closed. This project is anticipated to be completed by mid-February and is intended to improve the quality of live and recorded meetings on both the internet and on the planned cable channel, streamline management of City Council meeting minutes, allow for electronic voting, etc.

The new systems will better support meetings where there is a need for virtual and/or remote attendance by Council Members, Staff, and others presenting agenda-based information to the City Council. In addition, the new system will create the option to streamline the presentation and posting of meeting minutes, allow the Council and others using the facility to record votes electronically, and improve communications by giving Council and Board Members additional tools to watch presentations, ask questions, and provide feedback.

While construction is underway, public meetings typically held in the Council Chambers will be temporarily relocated to other meeting spaces in the City.

Below is a list of City Council and Board & Commission meetings that are scheduled to take place during this time along with their new location.

Schertz City Hall (Bldg. 1) 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, TX 78154

■ City Council Meetings – City Hall Courtroom, City Hall

■ Planning and Zoning Commission Meetings – City Hall Courtroom, City Hall

■ Parks & Recreation Board – Bob Andrews Conference Rm, City Hall

■ TSAC Board – Bob Andrews Conference Rm, City Hall

■ TIRZ Board Meetings – Bob Andrews Conference Rm, City Hall

■ Main Street Committee – Bob Andrews Conference Rm, City Hall

■ Historical Preservation Committee –Bob Andrews Conference Rm, City Hall

Schertz Public Library 798 Schertz Parkway Schertz, TX 78154

■ Library Board - Library Meeting Rm, Schertz Public Library

■ EDC Board - Library Meeting Rm, Schertz Public Library

Customers with once per week service will have their trees picked up on their regular service days. Wednesday customers will have their trees picked up on Wednesday. Friday customers will have the trees picked up on Friday. Trees must be placed at the curb. Any trees taller than 7 feet must be cut in half. Any trees at the curb after January 20 would need to be called in as a bulk pick up.

For more information contact (210) 619-1100.

Schertz Runoff Election Information

The City of Schertz will hold a Runoff Election on January 3, 2023, to elect the Mayor and Councilmember Place 2.

Election Day

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Schertz Elections Office Annex 1101 Elbel Rd, Schertz, TX 78154

As the City of Schertz is located in 3 counties (Guadalupe, Bexar, and Comal), the City has contracted with Guadalupe County to run this election. Due to this, the election information presented applies to all Schertz residents regardless of the county they reside in.

RUNOFF ELECTION

Surrounding cities are also holding runoff elections and may be presenting different information. Go to Schertz. com/election for all official election information for the City of Schertz.

If you have any questions, please contact the City Secretary's Office at (210) 619-1030.

2022-2023

Sewer Averaging

Sewer averaging for the winter months began November 1, 2022, and will continue through March 15, 2023, 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 $4.94. The final calculation result will be your sewer charge for the next 12 months.

If you get your bill on the 10th day of the month your calculation period will be November 1 to March 1 and if you get your bill on the 25th day your period will be November 15 to March 15.

RESIDENTS WITH AN AVERAGE BELOW 12,000 GALLONS

That total will be added to the base rate of $15.01 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 $4.94 and the portion of the average above 12,000 gallons will be multiplied by $11.22 and that total will be added to the base rate of $15.01 for residential use.

For more information, go to Schertz.com or call (210) 619-1100

SCHERTZ EMS COMMUNITY HEALTH COURSES

SCHERTZ EMS IS AN AMERICAN HEALTH & SAFETY INSTITUTE TRAINING CENTER AND AN AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION TRAINING SITE.

WE OFFER A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS OF ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.

CPR AND FIRST AID

Schertz EMS holds monthly CPR/AED and First Aid classes throughout the year. These classes are open to the public and provide a certification that is good for two years. Most importantly, these classes teach a pivotal skill that you never know when you may need to use on a loved one. Bystander CPR can be done immediately after someone collapses into sudden cardiac arrest to save their life. For every 1 minute that someone is in cardiac arrest and does not receive CPR, their chances of survival reduces by 10%. Waiting to do anything until an ambulance arrives after the person has collapsed can decrease their chances of survival significantly. We encourage everyone to become CPR/AED trained at a minimum.

In order to take the class, you only need to be able to read and write, so even older children and teenagers are encouraged to attend. The skill itself can be incredibly easy to learn; however, this class will also give you background information as to why it is important to learn CPR and how chest compressions are effective during cardiac arrest. The class allows ample time for skills practice on manikins.

The First Aid course goes over many common injuries and illnesses as well as how you can treat them at home prior to more advanced help arriving. This course offers a little bit of knowledge in a lot of different areas. We also allow time for practicing skills such as how to control bleeding during the class.

CPR/AED training will run from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and the First Aid course will run from 1:00 p.m.– 4:00 p.m. The cost is $30 for one course or $50 for two. The classes are held in the EMS Training Room. Classes are offered on the following dates:

January 21, 2023

March 4, 2023

May 27, 2023

July 8, 2023

September 16, 2023

November 18, 2023

February 11, 2023

April 15, 2023

June 10, 2023

August 19, 2023

October 28, 2023

December 9, 2023

CHILD AND BABYSITTING SAFETY

The Child and Babysitting Safety (CABS) program from ASHI gives teenagers and young adults everything they need to know for safe and successful babysitting. From dealing with parents and children, to key safety, caregiving, and first aid tips. The magazine-format CABS guide and vlogger-style video make learning fun. This class is perfect for teens and young adults interested in babysitting or who are responsible for younger family members. There are no prerequisites, however, CPR/AED and Basic First Aid certifications are strongly recommended. Students must complete a written and skills examination. Students who successfully complete the course receive a certification that is good for 2 years. Classes are offered on the following dates:

March 18, 2023

July 22, 2023

June 24, 2023

August 12, 2023

C.R.A.S.E AND STOP THE BLEED

The Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (C.R.A.S.E.) course, designed and built on the Avoid, Deny, Defend (ADD) strategy developed by ALERRT in 2004, provides strategies, guidance, and a proven plan for surviving an active shooter event. The Stop the Bleed course prepares you to respond to emergencies where there is a high suspicion of massive bleeding from an injury. Massive uncontrolled bleeding from any cause can result in death in 5 to 10 minutes. However, anyone at the scene can act as an immediate responder and save lives if they know what to do to stop life-threatening bleeding. These classes are taught in conjunction with each other 6 times a year. This three-hour combo is taught by Schertz EMS and Schertz Police departments at no charge from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

February 18, 2023

June 17, 2023

October 14, 2023

April 22, 2023

August 26, 2023

December 2, 2023

For more information or to register, please call (210) 619-1410 or visit Schertz.com. Dates subject to change or cancellation.

HEADLINES CITY

Community Gives Back this Holiday Season

collaborated with the facility to provide a rotation of picture books for the staff to use with their memory care residents during their storytime sessions. During 2022, Legacy at Forest Ridge has also started bringing a small group of residents to the library, so they can continue to partake in the library experience that they know and love. Library staff is excited to welcome and visit with the residents on their routine Friday trips to the library.

Schertz PD Holiday Programs

During the holiday season, the Schertz Police Department prioritizes giving back to the community. For over 20 years, the Schertz Police Department Blue Santa program has provided gifts to hundreds of families within the City of Schertz. This year the Department was able to grant 210 children their Christmas wishes, yet none of this could have been possible without our community and sponsors.

The Blue Santa Tree was located in the police department lobby with tags for each child. These tags had a child’s age, gender, and three Christmas wishes. The community was invited to “adopt” a child’s wish and return the tag with unwrapped gifts. The Blue Santa Tree was set up on November 21, and all the wishes were adopted by December 1. Again, this program could not have happened without our community. We want to say a special thank you to the Schertz Police Volunteer Auxiliary, Schertz Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, Starbucks, Randolph Area Retired Education Teachers Association, Jon Wayne

Service Company, Ace Industries, Westridge Pet Hospital, Pat Booker Road Animal Hospital, Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union, Starbucks, and to the monetary donation donors. These sponsors and the community were necessary to ensure all the families could pick up their presents.

For the fourth year, the Schertz Police Department provided the Operation Polar Express program. This program was created to help combat “porch pirates” from taking boxes from the porches of our citizens. The program allowed residents to have their packages mailed to the Police Department for free.

For more information about other Schertz Police Department programs, go to Schertz.com and follow them on social media.

Schertz Public Library Adopt A Grandparent Program

The Schertz Public Library has built an on-going partnership with the Legacy at Forest Ridge senior living community. For the past few years, the library has

With the holidays approaching, Adult Services Librarian, Lizzi Bertoia, wanted to do something special for the seniors at the community and worked with Lead Concierge, Jennifer Escochea on establishing the library’s first Adopt-a-Grandparent program with Legacy at Forest Ridge. In two weeks, the program was planned, the seniors submitted their wish lists, and a display of all 47 stockings were hung in the library for the community to adopt-a-grandparent for the holidays. “We weren’t sure what to expect with this being the first time we have collaborated on a program such as this, but within two days all 47 grandparents were adopted by our generous community,” said Lizzi Bertoia. On Friday, December 16th the gifts were delivered to the facility and all residents at Forest Ridge will receive items from their wish list this holiday season.

From the Development Whiteboard

Planning and Community Development 2022 Year in Review

The Planning and Community Development Department continued seeing new projects come in and the completion of those from the previous year.

Over the last several years

The Planning and Community Development Department has been diligently working to bring a community development software called CityView to the residents and development community of Schertz.

On May 16, 2022, the City of Schertz officially went live with CityView! This development software has revolutionized the development permitting process and residents, customers, and staff have all provided highly rated feedback. This software is not only utilized by Planning and Community Development which includes Permitting, Planning, and Neighborhood Services, but also by the Engineering, Fire, and Public Works Departments.

Since May 16th, the Inspections Division has received over 70 New Commercial and Commercial Remodel permits, over 120 New Single Family Residential permits, and over 900 miscellaneous permits have been issued. The Planning Division has reviewed over 180 applications. The Neighborhood Services Division reviewed over 1,900 code enforcement cases with over 1,800 being remedied or found to have no violations and closed.

An exciting program, the Community Tool Shed, was created in 2022 by the Neighborhood Services

Division, which allows residents to borrow one of the 40 tools / equipment available such as a lawn mower, weed trimmer, electric pole saw in order to beautify their yard. Reservations for tools can be made online via the City’s website.

In 2022 the Neighborhood Services Division attended several training opportunities including the Texas Environmental Health Association conference and the Building Professional Institute. In addition to training, the Division also participated in Love Where You Live, which occurs twice a year. In 2023 the Neighborhood Services Division plans to introduce additional programs, such as the Cibolo Creek Clean Up that was funded in the FY 2022-2023 budget and introduced an additional position of Neighborhood Services Specialist which was funded as part of the FY 2022-2023 budget.

In 2022 the Inspection Division attended training, including attending the Building Professional Institute conference in Irving, TX. Knowledge gained through these trainings will provide the Inspectors the ability to ensure safe and cohesive development throughout the city. In the FY 20222023 Budget, an additional Permit

Technician and Plans Examiner were funded for the Inspections Division.

In 2022 the Planning Division attended the American Planning Association - Texas Chapter Conference, in El Paso Texas, which provided valuable educational that staff will utilize for the highly anticipated Comprehensive Land Use Plan amendment and Unified Development Code amendments. In addition, several team members attended the CityView Annual Users Conference which provided a great opportunity to learn more about our new development software and what upgrades are on the horizon.

Overall, 2022 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!

Heating Safety Be Warm and Safe This Winter!

There is something about the winter months and curling up with a good book by the fireplace. But did you know that heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths? With a few simple safety tips and precautions you can prevent most heating fires from happening.

■ Keep anything that can burn at least three-feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.

■ Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.

■ Never use your oven to heat your home.

■ Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.

■ Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.

■ Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.

FACT

Half of home heating fires are reported during the months of December, January, and February.

■ Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.

■ Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.

■ Install and maintain CO alarms to avoid the risk of CO poisoning. If you smell gas in your gas heater, do not light the appliance. Leave the home immediately and call your local fire department or gas company

■ Test smoke alarms at least once a month.

Preparing your Home for Winter Weather

SCHERTZ PUBLIC WORKS IS BUSY ONCE AGAIN PREPARING FOR WINTER WEATHER BY WINTERIZING OUR WATER AND WASTEWATER FACILITIES. HERE ARE A FEW THINGS HOMEOWNERS CAN DO TO OPTIMIZE THEIR WINTERIZATION.

Check your roof to ensure your shingles are intact. Also, make sure your gutters and downspouts are free and clear of leaves and branches. This also helps reduce the risk of ice forming inside them.

Check any exterior steps and handrails for loose fittings and remove any standing water that may freeze to help keep your family and visitors from slipping on walkways and driveways.

If your home has a crawl space, you may want to insulate it and check for any damage from rodents or water.

Make sure your pipes are protected against freezing by adding pipe insulation and insulated spigot covers. Disconnect and drain any water hoses. Frozen pipes can burst, wreaking havoc on your plumbing and causing water damage to your home.

Use weatherstripping around doors and windows to plug drafts. Replace your door seals, door sweeps, or thresholds to keep cold outside air from seeping into your home.

For single-pane windows, a window insulation kit will increase window efficiency by up to 90%.

Caulk around baseboards and crown molding if any drafts are detected.

Set your ceiling fans on the clockwise direction setting as that direction forces warm air that gathers near the ceiling down into living spaces. Select the slowest speed – a higher one will create a cool breeze feeling.

Make sure your attic and basements have enough insulation to help counteract heat loss. Consult an R-value chart to determine the appropriate amount. We are located in Zone 2.

Make sure you have a home emergency kit on hand as well as enough supplies to last for three days for each member of your household. Your emergency kit should include water in bottles or jugs, non-perishable food, flashlights, candles, batteries, matches, a battery-operated radio, blankets, prescriptions, and over-the-counter medications.

Don’t forget about the needs of your pets during this time. Make sure they have adequate shelter, preferably indoors, away from the wintry elements. Stock enough food and water to get them through the same amount of time you and your family will be required to endure.

Should weather conditions keep you inside, a few fun activities will keep you from going stir-crazy. Playing cards, board games, arts and crafts, and musical instruments can help pass the time.

WHAT'S DEVELOPING IN SCHERTZ

Curious about what new businesses are now open or coming soon to our area? See the list below. For more up-to-date information on What’s Developing in Schertz go to Schertz.com/whatsdeveloping

NOW OPEN

1 / Slim Chickens

909 FM 3009

A 3,750 square foot restaurant. Slim Chickens is a fast-casual restaurant chain which specializes in chicken tenders, wings, sandwiches, salads, wraps, chicken & waffles, and other items.

COMING SOON

2 / Coffee Bound

627 Savannah Dr.

A 360 square foot coffee shop

3 / The Offices at Forest Ridge

5009 Schertz Pkwy.

Two medical clinic/office buildings, building #1 being 8,520 square feet and building #2 being 4,000 square feet

4 / Schertz Medical Office

17766 Verde Pkwy.

A 53,200 square foot medical office building

5 / Comal ISD Elementary School

233 Hubertus Rd.

A 96,115 square foot elementary school for the Comal ISD School District

6 / Starbucks

21550 IH 35

A 2,153 square foot Starbucks Coffee

7 / Izumi Sushi & Hibachi Buffet

17323 IH 35, Suite 102

A new sushi and hibachi buffet tenant, part of the Tri County Crossing II Retail Center

8 / Murdoch's Ranch and Home Supply

17975 IH 35, Building B

A 69,325 square foot retail building. Murdoch’s is a ranch supply store for animal feed & tack, tools, clothing & shoes, hardware, fencing & garden gear

9 / Retail Building

21430 Old Wiederstein Rd.

A 5,923 square foot retail building

10 / The Learning ExperiencePre-School

4629 FM 3009

A 10,000 square foot day care facility. Since 1980, TLE® has positively impacted the lives of children by developing and implementing ground-breaking care and early childhood education programs throughout the country.

11 / School of Science and Technology

Schertz Phase II

20845 Technology Ave.

A 71,000 square foot charter school. The School of Science and Technology drives academic and socio-emotional development through a college preparatory, STEM-based learning model. SST’s model is anchored on 21st-century skills, embraced by a character-building approach, and delivered in an enriching, safe, and student-centered learning environment.

12 / Staff Force Personnel Services

17331 IH 35N, Suite 108

An employment agency/office that will be utilizing the suite space to do office work, Recruiting and Staffing for local companies.

CONVENIENCE STORE

HUNTING AND FISHING

PROPANE FILLING

DUMP STATION

AIR AND WATER 24-HOUR ACCESS

INSULATED ROOFS

Schertz Welcomes New Assistant Fire Chief Dan Kramer

SCHERTZ FIRE DEPARTMENT WELCOMED NEW ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF DAN KRAMER THIS PAST FALL. KRAMER JOINED THE DEPARTMENT IN NOVEMBER, BRINGING MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN FIRE AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AND HE’S EXCITED TO START THE NEXT PHASE OF HIS CAREER HERE IN SCHERTZ.

By KIRA VILLARREAL

Kramer started down the path to becoming a firefighter and EMT following a career in the Marine Corps. Looking for a way to recreate the camaraderie and brotherhood he had experienced in the military, Kramer began working as a volunteer firefighter at Hays County ESD #3. That volunteer experience was enough to convince him that he was on the right path, and he enrolled in the fire academy to pursue a fulltime career in emergency services. Following graduation from the academy, he began his first job at the Bulverde Spring Branch Fire and EMS, while also completing his degree

programs. He received his associate’s degree in fire protection technologies from Austin Community College, bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management Administration from West Texas A&M, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Sam Houston State University.

After working for several Fire and EMS departments throughout south Texas in positions of increasing responsibility, he knew that he was interested in a leadership role. He found an opportunity as the Fire Chief of Windcrest Fire Department, where his chief officer career began. Kramer spent a short time with Hays County ESD #3 in San Marcos as the Deputy Fire Chief, where he served until coming to Schertz.

Though he is new to his current role, Kramer has long been familiar with the Schertz Fire Department and its leadership through his work with the Alamo Area Fire Chief’s Association and the Combined Emergency Services Organization, a group consisting of representatives from emergency service organizations throughout northeast San Antonio. When the Assistant Chief position became

available in Schertz, Kramer knew immediately that it would be a great fit for him.

“I knew that Schertz was going to be seeing a lot of growth, and I liked that the department was progressive and had great support from the City,” he said. “Plus, I had always admired the leadership of Chief Rodgers and I knew that working for him would really benefit my development as a Chief officer.”

Though he is still very new to the position, Kramer says that the department and the team has already exceeded his expectations and he’s excited to be a part of a department that embraces change and growth. In the immediate future, that growth may include improving training and professional development plans for the employees, opening new fire stations, and continuing to find areas where they can increase the services they provide for the public.

Among the biggest challenges that the department faces in the immediate future, Kramer notes that of continuing to meet the needs of a rapidly growing Schertz population. He believes that

being proactive and continually striving to improve his own leadership skills will enable him to succeed in his new role and best serve the needs of the department and the community.

“I will always be a student of leadership because I want to truly lead people well, rather than just telling them what to do,” he said. “I try to really understand and serve the needs of my staff because I think that’s what will make me most effective as a leader.”

As he looks forward to the future, Kramer makes sure to give credit to his mentors and all who have helped him along the path. In particular, he credits his wife, Sarah, and their three young children for their unwavering support of his career. He also wants to make sure that the Schertz community is aware that they are welcome to drop by the fire station anytime to say hello and take a tour, as the firefighters really enjoy and look forward to meeting the people they serve.

“People don’t always understand what we do, and the best way to understand it is to experience it in person, so please stop by and see us,” he said. Reservations are not necessary, but school tours and other large groups are welcome to call the station at (210) 619-1300 and schedule a visit.

I try to really understand and serve the needs of my staff because I think that’s what will make me most effective as a leader.

A Good Time Never Gets Old

THE SCHERTZ AREA SENIOR CENTER IS AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY— PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED SUPPORT, INTERACTION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND SOCIALIZATION FOR OUR OLDER GENERATIONS.

By JAIME CLINE

The Schertz Area Senior Center was established in 2010 and the City of Schertz and its partners have been proudly serving the senior community for the past 12 years. There has been lots of growth over the years –and temporary closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic - but the Center has remained the core of the senior community. The camaraderie, the nutrition, the fitness and recreation programs, are all top-notch,” shares Lauren Shrum, Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Services for the City of Schertz.

The Senior Center facility is owned by the City of Schertz and managed through a public facility license agreement with the YMCA. The center focuses on building a healthy mind, body, and spirit for all of its members.

“We have so many programs that the senior members of our community can participate in,” shares Bob Fishback, Schertz Area Senior Center Director.

Promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyles is a priority for senior center staff and volunteers. “We have an entire suite of cardio and strengthbased programs—Tai chi, chair yoga, chair volleyball, line dancing, Zumba, pickle ball, and the members also

have access to AquaFit classes that are held at the Y Aquatic facility. Our instructors incorporate all levels of fitness as well as all levels of mobility. The movements can be modified and adjusted based on a person’s comfort level. We want to make sure that we can address some of the mobility issues that people might be facing and make sure that they feel welcome,” he explains. “The aquatics class is great exercise and easy on the joints and tai chi is excellent for balance. We’re always thinking through our programming to make sure we’re creating things that will help our elderly population.”

Another key offering aimed at addressing members health is the periodic wellness checks and screenings. Specialists such as cardiologists will come to the center and do presentations on early warning signs and things to look for in an effort to educate the members on small tangible things they can do to protect their health.

Free lunch meals that follow federal nutrition guidelines are also available to members every day of the week when the Center is open. Lunch is served at 11:30 am Monday –Friday (except City Holidays when the Center is closed.) This nutrition

program promotes healthy lifestyles for our seniors while offering the opportunity for them to interact with each other daily.

At the center staff and program directors work hard to create an environment where community is found, and opportunities for socialization remain present. “COVID isolation was particularly devastating to the senior community. We are aware of that and want to create a place where our elderly community can participate in programs that keep them active, help keep their mind sharp, but also create events for them to socialize with others,” explains Fishback.

“We like to find activities where our members can simply have fun. We have monthly birthday celebrations where we serve cupcakes and ice cream. We raffle gift cards out to people that have birthdays during that month. “Our gardening club is a popular activity. The members grow fresh fruits and veggies that we then use to make healthy dishes. The members can have taste testing of different recipes,” he shares. Several outlets for creative endeavors are also available to members throughout the year including painting classes, a choir that performs monthly, a good-sized library, as well as the occasional field trip. In 2022, the members went to the Texas Capitol Building where they had a behindthe-scenes tour as well as a trip to the Nimitz World War II Museum in Fredericksburg.

“If I had to pick our most popular activity it would be bingo—we have an upwards of 130 participants at a time! We have sponsors that provide prizes and I love to see how competitive our members can be,” commented Fishback.

"Since my membership at the Senior Center, the retired phase of my life has been enhanced,” says Member Martha Cantu. “Social activities, physical activities, and travel opportunities have contributed to my well-being. My children are happy for me due to the positive physical and mental changes they have discovered in me. It's a pleasure to belong to the Schertz Area Senior Center, and I speak for many members of this great center. Many have shared their positive thoughts with me."

“We’ve had steady growth in the last year—our membership is hovering in the low 700s now. It’s an indication that people are feeling more comfortable getting back out into the world and interacting with their community again,” explains Fishback. Plans are also underway at the center for a large craft fair next year. The goal is to create an event where the whole family can come out and learn more about the services and programs offered through the Senior Center. They plan to have food trucks, bouncy houses, and more!

In the meantime, folks are welcome to pop in anytime to learn more, take a tour, or even sign-up to volunteer.

BECOME A MEMBER

Annual membership dues for the Schertz Senior Center are $36. Membership is open to people age 50+. You can find more information and scheduling information on the Schertz Area Senior CenterYMCA Facebook Page.

Schertz Area Senior Center 608 Schertz Parkway Schertz, TX 78154 (210) 619-1970

Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

There has been lots of growth over the years... but the Center has remained the core of the senior community.

Hotspots Available Now

You asked and we listened—we now have Wi-Fi hotspots available again at the library! These small devices will give you unlimited, high-speed internet access in all areas serviced by T-Mobile. Our hotspot kits will be available on request at the circulation desk, or by placing a hold in our online catalog. They will check out for 14 days and may be renewed twice if there are no holds for other patrons.

Walk-In Tech Help

If you received a new smartphone, tablet, If you received a new smartphone, tablet, or another tech device as a gift over the holidays but don’t know how to use it, we’re here to help with our Walk-In Tech Help

program! Walk-In Tech Help is held every week this month, alternating Monday afternoons and Wednesday evenings. Bring your devices (old or new) and we will do our best to answer your technology-related questions and help troubleshoot common issues— and if we can’t, we’ll look for answers and learn with you. Some common topics include searching and navigating an internet browser, using mobile apps, and help using our online library resources. We will be assisting patrons on a first-come, first-serve basis, and may limit individual time depending on staff availability. Visit Schertz.com/ adultcalendar for dates and times.

New Resource: Weiss Financial Ratings Database

Weiss Financial Ratings has recently been added to the electronic resources offered by the Schertz Public Library. Patrons can access the database from the library website using their library card number. Weiss provides independent, unbiased financial strength ratings of banks, credit unions, and insurance companies; conservative buy-hold-sell ratings of thousands of stocks, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds; and Medicare

supplement insurance information, including which plan to choose, how much it will cost, and the ability to compare rates and plan benefits. Weiss also offers a catalog of financial literacy and planning tools.

8-week Family Workshop

S.P.A.R.K. (Supporting Parents and Reaching Kids) will host an eightweek family workshop to build better lives through knowledge, support, and enrichment at the Schertz Public Library. Parents, grandparents, extended family, and providers of children (prenatal through 17 years) are invited to join us as we look at research-based information. Discover answers to the age-old question; why do they do that? Topics include understanding their behavior, your child’s growing mind, becoming the parent you want to be, is my child’s behavior normal?, raising emotionally healthy children, strategies and skills for positive behavior, stress, and more. Contact Sonya Mollicone at (210) 268-4297 or smollicone@boysvilletexas.org to register. Free dinner is provided. This eight-week workshop begins Tuesday, January 17, and continues Tuesday evenings from 68 p.m. through March 7 in Library Meeting Room 2.

6 WEEKS OF 6 WEEKS OF 6 OF STEM-FOCUSED, STEM-FOCUSED, STEM-FOCUSED, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES

HAPPENING THIS MONTH in Schertz

PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

Schertz Area Genealogists Meeting Jan. 3 @ 6:30 p.m.

Lego Lab (Ages 5+) Jan. 7 @ 10:15 – 11:15 a.m.

Last Chance Forever: Birds of Prey

Open Mic Poetry for Adults

7 @ 1 p.m

12 @ 6:30 p.m.

Game On! Jan 21. @ 11 a.m.

Paper Crafting Crop

Walk with a Naturalist

22 @ 12 - 5 p.m.

22 @ 3:30 p.m.

Medicare 101 Presentation Jan. 26 @ 6 p.m.

Sunday Afternoon Meditation for Adults Jan. 29 @ 1 p.m.

NAMI Family & Friends Program Jan. 29 @ 1 p.m

Last day to Submit Winter Reading Logs to the Library Jan. 31 @ 8 p.m.

RECURRING LIBRARY PROGRAMS

Total Body Strength Class for Adults

Teen Tuesdays (Ages 13 – 18 yrs.)

iGROW GIRL WORKSHOP

Saturday, January 28 @ 11:00 – 11:45 p.m. | Library Program Room

Girls (ages 8+) are invited to the iGrow Girl Workshop which provides programs and resources for moms and their daughters that strengthen their bonds and encourage health and wellness. Learn how to support life transitions, initiate conversations, and build deeper relationships. Registration is required.

@ 10:30 a.m.

@ 4:30 –

S.P.A.R.K. Family Workshop Tuesdays @ 6 – 8 p.m.

Library Quilt Bee Second and Fourth Tuesday and third Saturday (Time varies, check online)

Toddler Storytime (Ages 20 months – 3yrs.)

Preschool Storytime (Ages 3 – 6 yrs.)

Tuesdays & Wednesdays @ 10:15 – 10:45 a.m. Thursdays @ 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Tuesdays & Wednesdays, @ 11:00 – 11:45 a.m.

Walk-in Tech Help Select Wednesdays, Jan. 4 & Jan. 18 @ 6:30 p.m. Select Mondays, Jan. 9 & 23 @12:30 p.m.

ESL Advanced Pronunciation Wednesdays @ 10 a.m.

ESL Beginner Pronunciation Wednesdays @ 11 a.m.

Discovery! (Ages 6 – 9 yrs.)

Baby & Me Storytime (Ages Birth – 24 months)

Wednesdays @ 4:00 – 4:45 p.m.

Meeting Room 1

Program Room

Meeting Room 1

Program Room

Bend Nature Park

Meeting Room 1

Program Room

Meeting Room 1

POLAR BEAR PLUNGE

January 7 @ 10 a.m. – Noon

Pickrell Park Pool, $20/person

Meeting Room 2

Library Meeting Room 1

Library Program Room

Library Program Room

Library Meeting Room 1

Take the plunge into the new year with Schertz Parks & Recreation and the Schertz Family YMCA at the Cold for a Cause Polar Bear Plunge. After the plunge, this familyfriendly event includes s’mores and hot chocolate to warm you up. Also, make sure to cozy up by the fire pit! This chilly tradition takes place internationally every winter, and our community is excited to join in. Registration is $20 per person. Funds raised from this event help make it possible for children, families, seniors, neighbors, and others to benefit from Y programs and memberships, regardless of their financial circumstances. Register online at ymcasatx. org/polarbearplunge.

KICK CANCER

March 4 | 8 a.m. Check In | 9 a.m. Start | Pickrell Park

Library Meeting Room 1

Library Meeting Room 1

Library Program Room

Thursdays @ 10:15 – 10:45 a.m. Library Program Room

iCode @ The Library Thursdays @ 4:00 - 4:45 p.m. Library Program Room

*Weekly Youth Programs resume the week of January 15

The Kick Cancer Pep Rally and 5K Run invites the community to come together to rally in support of the many cancer research programs of the UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center (Mays Cancer Center). Join us in Pickrell Park for the 1K and 5K event! Register and learn more at Schertz.com/KickCancer.

Deck The City Hall

The City of Schertz officially welcomed in the 2022 holiday season with the lighting of the Schertz Christmas tree and viewing of the menorah on December 1 in the company of fellow city officials and local citizens. Cookies and cocoa sponsored by The ChamberSchertz, Cibolo, Selma, and shared by River City Community Church set the festive spirit as everyone gathered around the tree to get their photo opportunities. The YMCA provided an activity for the little ones with a chance to write a letter to Santa and post it in his mailbox on site that night. In addition to the tree this year, the Hal Baldwin Municipal Complex buildings and surrounding trees were illuminated bringing a little more season’s greetings to Schertz Parkway and a daily reminder of community as we share that light with our fellow residents and those stationed abroad during the holiday.

Upcoming Spring Social Leagues

The Parks & Recreation Adult Social League is excited to announce our Spring of 2023 Social Leagues! Gather your team and slide into our Kickball and Cornhole open registration February 1, 2023. Kickball games will be played on Sunday nights from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.; April 16 – May 21. Cornhole games will be played on Tuesday nights from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.; April 18 – May 23.

Hal Baldwin Golf Tournament

The 12th Annual Hal Baldwin Scholarship Golf Tournament, held Friday, November 18 at Olympia Hills Golf & Conference Center, was a record-breaking great success! One hundred fifty golfers enjoyed a pleasant fall day, cool temperatures, and course challenges as they raised funds to help Schertz students with their higher education goals. The scholarship is open to high school seniors who are Schertz residents. Scholarship information will be available in early 2023.

Thank You to Tournament Sponsors:

B-Comm Constructors, Beck Family, Triple B Homes, Jordan Ford, Alamo1, LAATU Homes, Client Centric Wealth Management, CalTex Protective Coatings, SAMCO Capital, Mechanical Service Team, ASAP Computer Services, Schertz Funeral Home, Frost Bank, Tasman Geosciences, TexStar National Bank, First United Bank, Abel’s Diner, IES Energy Solutions, SRS Industrial Partners, and the Hammonds Family.

Schertz Magazine Travels the World in 2022

Can you believe 2022 is already over? Schertz Magazine has done its fair share of traveling over the past several years, and each year we like to look back on the amazing locations you all have taken the publication.

Thanks to our wonderful readers who trek it with them wherever they go, from the North Pole to the South Pole and dozens of places far and in between, Schertz Magazine continues to be a traveling icon for Schertz residents. Where will it go to next? Well that's for you to decide. Check out the various destinations the magazine has traveled in 2022, and remember to keep sending in your Schertz Magazine

All Over The Map photos throughout 2023!

STATES

Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington

COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES

Belize, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Egypt, Europe, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Spain, St. Kitts , St. Thomas, The Bahamas

ESTIMATED TOTAL MILES TRAVELED: 109,416.50 MILES

Around the Community

Clemens Alumni Frank Harris Leads UTSA to Back-to-Back Championship Victory

On Friday, December 2, 2022, hometown quarterback Frank Harris led the UTSA Roadrunners to a 48-27 victory over North Texas in the Ryan Conference USA Championship. This marks UTSA’s second consecutive C-USA Championship Win.

Frank Harris was named the 2022 Ryan C-USA Championship Game’s Most Valuable Player. He completed 3237 passes for 341 yards and a C-USA Championship Game record-tying five total touchdowns (four passing), while also rushing for 49 yards on 16 carries. He Has led UTSA to 10 straight wins, an 11-2 overall record and to top-25 rankings in all three polls. Through 13 games, has completed 305 of 429 passes (71.1%) for 3,865 yards and 31 TDs and a 167.4 passing efficiency, all school records.

“This means a lot for the city of San Antonio. Like I always say, when I committed here it’s something I wanted to do for the city and the university,” comments Harris. “We got it done last season and getting it done again this season definitely means a lot.”

During his career at UTSA, Harris has received many accolades including

being a two-time Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist, a two-time Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award semifinalist, C-USA Most Valuable Player, and four-time C-USA Offensive Player of the Week to name a few. He has thrown for 9,158 yards and 73 touchdowns on 793-of1,169 passing (67.8%) during his career, all program records. A dual threat QB, Harris has also rushed for 1,808 yards and 24 TDs, the most in a career by a UTSA quarterback.

Harris also gives back to the community and was a 2022 Wuerffel Trophy nominee. Honoring college football’s most impactful leaders in community service, the Wuerffel Trophy

Community Celebrates Milestone Birthdays

Recently in Schertz, we celebrated some very special birthdays.

William Potter just celebrated his 101st birthday. He was born on December 1, 1921, when things were rather different than they are now. Back in 1921, the U.S. population was 108.5 million, Warren G. Harding was the President, and the household income was $3,269. Potter says the key to living a long life is “Trust in the Lord and do what He says to do, milk a cow twice a day, eat your fresh vegetables from the garden, and drink water from a well.”

Annette Knox just recently celebrated her 106th birthday. She was born in West Texas in 1916 when gas was only .23/gallon and Woodrow Wilson was the President. There has since been 19 other presidents in the Oval Office. Knox is followed by her son, two granddaughters, and two greatgranddaughters. She now resides in Schertz where she can be close to her family and her community.

Wishing a very Happy Birthday to Mr. Potter and Ms. Knox!

is presented to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field. Harris spends each Thursday and/or Friday of game weeks visiting and speaking at local elementary, middle and high schools. Harris announced on Wednesday, December 7 that he will come back for one more season with the Roadrunners. This will be his seventh year playing for UTSA. Next season, UTSA is moving to the American Athletic Conference in 2023 after 10 seasons in Conference USA. The City of Schertz is excited to cheer on our Schertz local next season! Go Runners!

LOOKING BACK Schertz Texas

Something To Think About . . .

“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.”

–Elizabeth Andrew

Schertz History

The first recorded people to occupy the territory of North America were Native American of different tribes with diverse languages, spiritual beliefs, and customs. Flint points discovered in the vicinity of South Texas’s Comal Springs (New Braunfels, Texas) date Indian occupation as far as 11,000 years ago. The primary tribes that occupied the Cibolo Valley area (Cibolo, Schertz, Marion, Selma, and Universal City) were the Coahuiltecan, Tonkawa, Payaya, and the Lipan Apache. Between 1843 to October 1844, treaties allowed German settlers to come to Central Texas.

Texas History

Wilbur and Orville Wright, who in 1903 had designed and flown the first successful aircraft at Kitty Hawk in North Carolina, also built the Army’s first airplane. Pioneering pilot, Lieutenant Benjamin Foulois, brought the new plan to San Antonio and publicly demonstrated it in flight on March 2 at Fort Sam Houston. Although he crashed on the last of the four flights, Foulois’s flight marked the beginning of the U.S. Air Force.

Schertz history content is taken from the “Schertz, Texas A Photo History” book published by the Schertz Historical Preservation Committee (SPHC). Follow along with the story of Schertz from the photo book that may be purchased at the Schertz Library and/or Visitor Center both located on Schertz Parkway.

If you would like to share your memories living in Schertz before 1970, please submit to Rozwise@aol.com, Schertz Historical Preservation Committee.

Information presented by the Schertz Historical Preservation Committee (SHPC) in the interest of historical perspective and community awareness of local historical legacies.

Official City Meetings

CITY COUNCIL

Ralph Gutierrez Mayor (210) 619-1040

ralphgutierrez@schertz.com

Mark Davis Councilmember (210) 376-9141 markdavis@schertz.com

Jill Whittaker Councilmember (210) 846-8768 jwhittaker@schertz.com

Michael Dahle Councilmember (210) 419-9337 mdahle@schertz.com

David Scagliola Councilmember (830) 606-1130 davidscagliola@schertz.com

Allison Heyward Councilmember (210) 608-9543 allisonheyward@schertz.com

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