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05_May 2013
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE CITY OF SCHERTZ MAY 2013 magazine Sports & Specialty Camps • Summer 2013 SCHERTZ FAMILY YMCA Let your kids join us as we take on summer! Our Sports & Specialty Camps will explore athletics, the arts & more for eight fun filled weeks. Your child will make memories & friends in a world class facility with great staff in an environment that fosters our core values : Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility & Faith! Our camps start with our smallest campers in Kinder Kamp and extends all the way to your choosy tween. At the Y, there is truly something for everyone and every kid, too! All staff is CPR & First Aid Certified. Soccer, Football, Art, & Sports training (4-14 years) Ballet & Dance! Cheer & Dance Team, too! (4-14 years) Kinder Kamp day program for the smallest campers. (3-4 years) WHEN: June 10 – August 2 FEES: $65 Members/$75 Community REGISTRATION: April 20 – June 7 TIME: Sport & Specialty 9 am – 2pm / Kinder Kamp 9am -12pm LOCATION: SCHERTZ FAMILY YMCA 621 Westchester Drive Schertz, TX 78154 (210) 619-1900 www.ymcasatx.org/schertz YMCA Mission: To put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind & body for all. BONUS: 306 W Byrd Blvd Universal City, TX 78148210-390-0962www.ageesac.com Your satisfaction’s guaranteed, when You call agee’s Jeff Standley - General Manager Agee’s system RejuvenAtion ExclusivEToTal Is your air conditioner ready for summer? For a limited time, get our precision tune up and professional cleaning at a special price. Our certified, professional factory trained technicians will perform 24 individual cleanings, evaluations and adjustments to put your system in factory fresh condition. It’s smart to properly maintain your system to keep it running as efficiently and reliably as possible. Don’t be fooled by other offers – no one does it better than Agee’s, and no one backs it better! Be one of the first 25 to buy, and get a second total system Rejuvenation FRee! You can use the 2nd Tune-Up later, or give it to family or friends. • Upon purchase, you will receive an extra certificate good for a Total System Rejuvenation • Can be used on any brand or type of system – Agee’s services all makes and models • Certificates can be transferred • Certificates expire on May 31, 2013 • Due to heavy volume of this offer, a limited number of Total System Rejuvenation can be scheduled each week, and will be scheduled in order received • Not valid for same day service. Residential only. One certificate per system. Cannot be purchased by competitive service companies. Normally$99 Limited Time Only New Customers Only NOW ONLY$49 tacl a5758c licensed by the texas department of licensing and regulation. P.o. Box 12157 • austin, tX 78711 • 1-800-803-9202 • 1-512-463-6599 © 2 0 1 3 , M e d i a g i s t i c , I n c . - 4 5 8 0 1 EDITOR’Z LETTER Chuck McCollough,Editor contentz FEATUREZ Boutique Hospital 22 DEPARTMENTZ TALK OF THE TOWNZ UPDATEZ 9 KITCHEN KUDOZ Royal Eating 16 VISIONZ / CHAMBER 18 COLUMNZ Leading By Example 24 Schertz Safari Trio 26 Run by the Sun 30 Scariest Catch 36 Lighting The Way 41 CIVIC NEWZ UPDATEZ 43 Calendar 51 When does a community know it has the best of both worlds? When things come full circle and it can appreciate the past and the present together. And so it is with the Schertz Community as it celebrates having a hospital once again. The opening of new Baptist Emergency Hospital on April 17 comes 74 years after the Schertz Community Hospi- tal closed. The historic former hospital building is an icon on Main Street. Go by and read the historic site plaque in front of the building and then our story on the new hospital in this month’s issue. Also check out another story that mixes history and health- care. Felix and Aida Guerra are renovating the vacant former GVEC building on Schertz Parkway as new home for their business - Schertz Parkway Physical Therapy. Read how the move is expand- ing the local healthcare sector and making good use of a well known building, just as nearby Arlan’s Market did with the for- mer Handy Andy supermarket building. Next, get ready for a story of adventure as three Schertz-con- nected folks take on the “The World’s Toughest Canoe Race.” Schertz residents Michael Dey and Jeannette Burris and Schertz Police Detective Mi- chael McGuire will participate in the Texas Water Safari start- ing June 8. The grueling 200- plus mile trip down rivers to the Gulf of Mexico is a test of mind and body. Speaking of an adventure, flip through the pages of your May magazine for the saga of Paul Miller, a local guy who once did the kind of work you’ve seen on the “Deadliest Catch” reality TV. Try not to get sea sick as the story takes you to the roll- ing deck of a fishing boat in stormy Alaskan waters. If all that excitement makes you hungry, head to Four Kings restaurant for a scrumptious sandwich or other culinary de- light. And ask about the eatery’s name while you are reading the great menu on a giant black- board. We also have stories with smiles and sunshine. Pictures of BVYA Opening Day will make you laugh and sigh with happiness at the joy spring and baseball came bring to a community. And put on sunglasses when you read how Schertz is going solar more and more. Schertz has always been a sunny place and now its plugging into that bright attribute. All of that and more in the May issue of Your Hometown Maga- zine. 5MAY 2013 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM COVER Baptist Emergency Hospital in Schertz PUBLISHED MONTHLY BYPublic Affairs Department David J. HarrisInterim Director Linda ErvinBusiness Manager Chuck McCollough Editor Chris Matzenbacher Sales Director Lucille Sims Thomas Copy Editor Brittany Losey Senior Writer Design & Layout Souzamaphone Marketing, LLC alexissouzadesign.com Contributing Staffers Erin Matlock Client Affairs Specialist Mary Spence Events Coordinator Contributing WritersChuck McCollough, Lucille Sims Thomas, Andrea Allinger, Kari Bridges, Kiko Martinez, Ashley Festa, Rudy Arispe, Jim Webb, Stan Leland Contributing PhotographersChuck McCollough, Mary Spence, Mike Harris, Marc Bane, Bryan Nguyen, Joe Herczeg, Diana Webb, Andrea Allinger, Kari Bridges, Zachary Carter, Ross Dye, Beverly McColloughStock Photography: fontsandphotos.com Schertz Magazine is published monthly by the Public Affairs Department of the City of Schertz. Our mailing address is 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas 78154. The official publication of the City of Schertz promotes city, community, and business activities associated with the City. © City of Schertz, Texas The editorial office of Schertz Magazine is at 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas 78154. Call (210) 619-1630. Fax (210) 619-1619. Website is schertz.com and schertzmagazine.com City Council Michael Carpenter Mayor Jim Fowler Councilmember David Scagliola Councilmember George Antuna, Jr. Councilmember Cedric Edwards, Sr. Councilmember Sydney H. Verinder Councilmember Executive Team John Kessel City Manager John Bierschwale Executive Director David J. Harris Executive Director Brian James Executive Director 9MAY 2013 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM Talk OFTHETownzMAY 2013 Kick Butt Event Shines Light On Tobacco Use The Guardian Angel Dance Studio, Inc. in association with the Campaign for To- bacco-Free Kids hosted an “It’s Cool to be Tobacco Free” for Kick Butts Day, March 20, 2013, at the new Schertz Play- scape. The Flash mob helped raise awareness about the harmful effects of smoking and sec- ondhand smoke on children, teens, and adults. The Flash Mob is looking for dancers of all ages who would like to participate. According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, one in five Americans still smokes, and about 4,000 kids try their first cigarette each day. For more information on The Flash Mob or Kick Butts Day visit the website at www.kick- butsday.org. Jacquelyn Darby-Dabney with the Kick Butt program and Mayor Pro-Tem Cedric Edwards Sr. Schertz EMS 2013 Golf Tournament May 19 The 2013 Schertz EMS Golf Tournament will be held on Sunday, May 19, at Olympia Hills Golf Course with a 1:00 PM shotgun start. Price is $240 for team of 4 or $60 per person. Deadline to register is May 6th. Proceeds go toward EMS Week activities and commu- nity outreach. Additional proceeds go to the Bobbie Dilworth Scholarship Fund. For more information call Amy Sellers or Matt Tron- coso at (210) 619-1400 10 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2013 TalkOFTHETownz Schertz Comic Con Connects Celebs And Fans Hundreds of people from around the re- gion, state and nation flocked to Schertz Friday and Saturday, March 22-23, for the LoneStar Comic Con. Schertz hotels were packed with the Comic Con out-of-towners and the Schertz Civic Center parking lot was full as well. The first-of-its-kind event for the Schertz Civic Center featured such fan favorites as Claudia Wells (Jennifer Parker – Marty McFly’s girlfriend in Back to the Future), Paris Themman (the little cowboy “Mike Tee Vee” in Willy Wonka and the Choco- late Factory), and Jonathon Joss (voice of John Redcorn on King of the Hill). Also entertaining the visitors were Little People actors Felix Silla and Arturo Gil. Silla’s work includes Star Wars, Star Trek, Buck Rogers and the Addams Family. Gil’s work includes Spaceballs and Epic Movie. A number of participants got really into the Comic Con spirit by wearing cos- tumes including Robin, Catwoman, Wonder Woman, Joker sidekick Harley Quinn, Marvel Comic’s mercenary Dead- pool, a cowboy, vampire and many more. Before the LoneStar Comic Con started, event producer Mike Roberts praised the City. “Schertz is a pretty amazing town and the city has really been above and beyond helpful in accommodating with this convention,” Roberts said in a story in Schertz Magazine. He is talent manager for D-Mented Entertainment. 11MAY 2013 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM TalkOFTHETownz Volunteers working during the Plant and Play Day proved “getting dirty to get greener” is a good idea as they help build a ring of flowers around the Schertz Playscape, located next to the Schertz Public Li- brary. The event held Saturday, March 23, brought out dozens of community members and City Officials including Mayor Pro-Tem Cedric Edwards Sr. and City Councilmember Syd- ney H. Verinder. The Playscape area also welcomed back the Statue of Liberty that used to be at the previous Playscape. Plant and Play Day Makes Playscape Greener 12 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2013 APPLIANCES I AC/HEATING I SOLAR & WIND SALES I SERVICE I INSTALLATION GVEC Home is a subsidiary of Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 7 AM to 7 PM Friday 8 AM to 5 PM (210) 659-0222 www.schertzparkwaypt.com All major insurances accepted including Tricare, Medicare & Medicaid 1420 Schertz Parkway, Unit 100 Schertz, TX 78154 SPECIALIZED CARE QUICK RECOVERY SCHERTZ PARKWAYPHYSICALTHERAPY SCHERTZ PARKWAYPHYSICALTHERAPY Leaders in Physical Therapy & Sports Rehabilitation BEST RESULTS 13MAY 2013 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM TalkOFTHETownz Schertz Relocates 12 Trees to Library, Veterans Memorial The City of Schertz has relo- cated a dozen trees to make way for a future Natatorium. Wednesday through Friday, March 20-22, the City moved nine trees to the area between the Schertz Public Library and the new Schertz Play- scape. Three other trees were relo- cated to the nearby Schertz Veterans Memorial, in front of the Schertz Area Senior Center, which is next to the library on Schertz Parkway. The Natatorium will be lo- cated in the area of the pre- vious Playscape and will be surrounded by the Library, Playscape, Senior Center and the Schertz Recreation Cen- ter, which houses the Schertz Family YMCA. City officials said the relo- cation of the trees provides more shade and tree canopy for the Library/Playscape area and the Schertz Veterans Memorial Plaza. Schertz Magazine At Komen Event Raeven Walker and Ryan Robinson read the April issue of Schertz Magazine at the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure. They were part of a team from All Schertz-Cibolo Physical Therapy which took part in the event on Saturday, April 6, 2013. (Above) Capt. Human, a.k.a. Chris Matzenbacher (or Chris Matz) rides a bicycle Sunday in the 4th biannual Síclovía event held in downtown San Antonio. Chris is Schertz Magazine’s Sales Director and usually drives a sporty car, but traded that in for the two-wheel transportation and a lot of fun at the event. 14 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2013 TalkOFTHETownz BVYA Opening Day Attracts Thousands Norman Rockwell would have loved the Buffalo Valley Youth Association Opening Day Ceremony on Saturday, April 6. The famed painter of iconic American images would have gotten a dozen painting ideas that capture the fun and energy and of a small town celebrating spring and baseball. Of special joy was watching the mischief of the boys and girls in their sparkling baseball and softball uniforms. They were clowning around and laughing as they rode along in a parade from Clemens High School to the ball- fields behind the Hal Baldwin Municipal Complex. One parade entry featured girls softball team members with fake mustaches while others had boys making the “V” sign behind a team member’s head as cameras clicked. Thousands of players, parents, coaches and others cheered as the Opening Day Ceremony really kicked off when Mayor Michael Carpenter threw out the ceremo- nial first baseball and softball pitches. After that it was “play ball” and have fun at a nearby fair. Norman would have loved it! 15MAY 2013 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM Easter In The Park Brought Out Kids Of ALL Ages The Schertz-Cibolo Lions Club’s Easter In the Park event was a fun time for lots of little ones and their parents Saturday, March 30. Hundreds of eggs and dozens of youngsters going after them filled Pickrell Park with a lot of laughter the day before Easter. TalkOFTHETownz It’s a bird? Nah, it’s a plane! Back in the day movies sometimes showed firefighters (then called firemen) rescuing cats stuck in a tree. Fast forward to today and we find that Schertz Fire Rescue (SFR) rescued a plane stuck in a tree. The RC (Remote Control/Radio Control) model plane got stuck in a tall tree behind the main fire station recently. It took our SFR several tries with ropes and a cooperative wind which loosened the plane to help get it down. The aircraft was returned to its owner. Battalion Chief Kirk Timke, left, and Fire Chief David Cov- ington hold the res- cued RC Plane. Kitchen Kudoz Four Kings Serves Up Sandwiches, Soups, Salads and Sweets Royally By Andrea M. Allinger 17MAY 2013 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM Kitchen Kudoz SCHERTZ RESIDENT SANDRA Mason has known that she wanted to be a chef since the age of 10 when she took a summer cooking class offered by GVEC that ignited a lifelong passion for preparing food. After a lifetime of dedicated ex- perience in the culinary world, in- cluding chef positions at Fresh Ho- rizons, the Marriott, and the Magic Time Machine, Mason was able to make her dream a reality with the opening of Four Kings in Univer- sal City in 2011. Mason’s husband, Mark, had recently been laid off from his company, and the couple decided that it was the right time to jump into the restaurant busi- ness. Using money from their 401(k), the couple started what they thought would be a small venture. Mason enjoys working with her husband because she said she “had to have someone [she] could trust... he has exceeded,” with his daily baking of all breads used in the sandwiches. Two years later, Four Kings has grown into Universal City’s best kept secret. With only word of mouth marketing, Mason said she and her husband are still shocked at the following they’ve elicited. Four Kings offers what Mason says with a laugh are the four important categories of eating: soups, sand- wiches, salads, and sweets, in the humble sandwich shop off Univer- sal City Boulevard. When asked about her patrons, Mason said, “they are people we have come to love as a family — everyone that comes in here makes us want to take care of them.” The Four Kings “family” has done their part to take care of the Ma- sons in return. After their 5-year- old granddaughter Loren was di- agnosed with Type 1 diabetes, she began wearing an insulin pump to avoid up to eight shots a day. How- ever, due to severe hearing loss in one of her ears, a hearing aid was necessary to avoid developmental delays. Loren’s insurance would not cover the hearing aid, so her parents were faced with the tough decision of choosing between the pump and the hearing aid. After the Four Kings’ customers heard this story, they began a fundrais- ing effort for “Loren the Brave,” raising over $2,000 in donations for the Masons’ granddaughter. Mason said she was “blown away by the kindness and generosity” of the Four Kings patrons in this ef- fort. All of the sandwiches are tried and true combinations that Mason has painstakingly devised. Four Kings roasts their own meats and uses a German trained butcher. With a re- cent expansion of 1,500 square feet, the restaurant is now able to sell many of their goods for personal use including breads, meats, and salad dressings used in the sand- wiches and salads, as well as their desserts. Four Kings always uses the fresh- est produce directly from Straight From the Crate, the Universal City based indoors farmers market that provides farm fresh produce daily to individuals. Paired with fresh produce, lunchtime favorites are mouthwatering and specials are posted daily on Four Kings’ Face- book page. Mason said the local fa- vorite is the Bahn Mi, a Vietnamese five spice pork on a baguette, com- plete with homemade mayo, carrot slaw, julienne jalapeños, cucum- ber, and cilantro. The dessert case boasts a variety of cheesecakes and is topped proudly with the thickest, richest brownies in Texas — corner and middle pieces. Open from 10:30 am to 4 pm Mon- day through Friday, the menu con- sists of only lunch — which does not seem to hinder the patrons. As the sandwiches are made to order, the turnaround from ordering to serving is short — perfect for on- the-go customers. On Saturdays, Four Kings is open from 9:30 am to 4 pm and offers brunch items including cinnamon rolls, kolaches, and the unique fruit and cheese braids — cream cheese braided into a homemade pastry and topped with seasonally fresh fruit such as cherries or apples. With a booming business and re- cent expansion, Mason explains that her job “is a passion, not just a job, it is not just what we do, it is who we are.” She hopes to be able to hold cooking classes for children in the future to inspire children and teach them how to eat well and pre- pare their own food. The Masons often spend time with their grand- daughters in the kitchen, hoping that Four Kings will be leaving them “a legacy, something they will always remember, being in the kitchen and laughing and learning how to take care of themselves.” Four Kings is located at 2047 Uni- versal City Blvd., off Pat Booker Road, in Universal City. Specials and hours are kept up to date on their Facebook page. (210) 687- 6649 Sandra Mason and husband Mark, in Four Kings Restaurant MAY CHAMBER EVENTS May 21st Chamber Luncheon @ Schertz Civic Center @11:30am – 1pm. May 22nd Biz Ed 7:30am – 9am at GVEC, free breakfast hosted by Broadway Bank. Free to Chamber members, Non Members $10. May 22nd Chamber Luncheon @ RE/MAX Corridor – 5:30 – 7:00 pm. Please see our lunch policy online at schertzchamber.org. Schertz Chamber Toastmasters Club Every Monday. Open to all - contact David Smith at 210-551-7656 for more information. May 8th Grand Re-Opening Beyond Cake @ 5:30pm 17323 IH 35 South, Suite 108 May 16th Schertz Shoot Out @ Schertz Civic Center from 5:30 – 7:30pm hosted by Air Force Credit Union HELP US “BUILD A BETTER TOMORROW” The Taste: Iron Chef Throw Down – Winners: Houlihan’s (Iron Chef), Abel’s Diner (Soup & People’s Choice), Simply Charming (Cake), Clemens Culinary Club (Quesadillas and salsa). PICTURES FROM THIS YEAR’S TASTE OF TOWN WHAT’S HAPPENIN’ IN YOUR SCHERTZ CHAMBER? OPEN AUDITION NIGHTS @Schertz YMCA: April 6th @ 2 p.m. May 4th @ 2 p.m. June 15th @ 2 p.m. GRAND FINALE: Date & Time TBA. Please go to www.facebook.com/SchertzIdol for updates. AGES: 10-20 ONLY A portion of the proceeds benets Y Partners. Host: Download Registration Form Grand Prize winner sings at a spotlight Public Event! Registration fee is $20. Fill out registration at www.schertzchamber.org. Please make checks payable to Schertz Chamber of Commerce & registration may be dropped o or mailed to the Schertz Chamber of Commerce at 1730 Schertz Parkway Schertz, TX 78154. June 29th @ 2 p.m. July 13th @ 2 p.m. July 27th @ 2 p.m. The Lerma family enjoys The Taste.The Taste of the Town draws a good crowd.. PICTURES FROM THIS YEAR’S TASTE OF TOWN FEATUREZ 21MAY 2013 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM Baptist Emergency Hospital Opens New Era in Schertz By Lucille Simes Thomas FEATUREZ THE VERY BUSY INTER- state 35 corridor through Schertz just got a medical shot in the arm when Baptist Health System (BHS) opened the last of five emergency hospitals in the San Antonio area. Adolfo Carrasco, chief execu- tive officer of Baptist Emer- gency Hospital, said Schertz is a very important location for BHS because, as the San Antonio area has continued to grow, so has the time and distance between emergency care for local residents. “That IH-35 corridor can get very busy and so by putting a facility in Schertz has im- proved the time and access to emergency medicine should the patients need that level of care,” Carrasco said. The level of care is what dis- tinguishes Baptist Emergency Hospitals from the numerous urgent care centers around the area. The new hospital in Schertz is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. It has seven beds and eight in-patient beds that can be used for situations in which a doctor needs to ad- mit a patient. “We are an emergency hospi- tal so we’re a little different from your urgent care facility, and the differences I would say are our facilities will have emergency room doctors. We also have diagnostic capabili- ties such as X-ray and ultra- sound. And of course the in- patient wing or unit is one of the things that would make us different from the urgent care facilities — they’re huge,” the CEO said. Carrasco said Baptist Emer- gency Hospital accepts most insurance plans and will work with the patient if their insur- ance plan is not accepted. Baptist Health System’s part- ner, Emerus, has emergency hospitals in Dallas, Houston and Austin and at this time is only in Texas. They opened the first of their five local hos- pitals on Dec. 9, 2011 at 16088 San Pedro Avenue in North Central San Antonio. So far the other San Antonio hospi- tals are all on the north side of San Antonio since the com- pany said that is where their research showed there was a need. The other locations are: 8230 N. 1604 W, San Antonio, 78249; 10811 Town Center continued on page 22 22 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2013 Drive, San Antonio, 78251; and 25622 N U.S. Highway 281, San Antonio, 78258. The Baptist Emergency Hospital in Schertz is a 40,000-square-foot facility with half of the space being used for the emergency room and in-patient unit and the other half set aside for medi- cal office space. Doctors can open offices there and cre- ate what will be considered a “healthplex” with patients able to get primary care, spe- cialty care and emergency care all in the same facility. The hospital brings 35 new Baptist Emergency Hospital continued from pg 21 jobs to the City of Schertz and, combined with the four other new emergency hospi- tals, the total number of jobs brought to the San Antonio area is more than 200. In terms of cost to the patient, Carrasco said that the emer- gency hospital will be more expensive than urgent care facilities. He said people need to check their insurance cards to see what their co-pay is for ERs. “But there is a difference. The emergency room is going to be more expensive because of the type of service - type of testing that’s done and so that’s generally normal in terms of ERs. We also have our own lab on site. Between the diagnostic imaging and the lab services, it really pro- vides patients with an oppor- tunity to get diagnosed im- mediately when patients need answers now,” he said. Carrasco stressed that both models (urgent care and ERs) have a role to play in patient care. If the urgent care facility is closed when a person needs emergency care, the Baptist Emergency Hospitals are an option that can handle lower- level illnesses and something that is life threatening. One of the most attractive goals of Baptist Emergency Hospital is a 15-minute wait time for all patients. Accord- ing to Carrasco, the emergen- cy hospitals that already have opened in the area are meet- ing that 15-minute goal. “Outside of what we do, our delivery of care is what makes us unique. We know that when people have an emer- gency it’s never comfortable, it’s never something that hap- pens on schedule — they just tend to happen. When they happen what we like to do is focus on the patient and make sure their experience while they’re with us is going to be one that’s memorable in the sense of how we help,” Carrasco said. City of Schertz officials said the new hospital is a game changer. The opening of Baptist Emer- gency Hospital in Schertz on April 17 is a great example of the City’s ongoing strategy to build a more diverse econo- my – especially a burgeoning healthcare sector, said City Manager John Kessel. “Our strategic plan in 2011 identified -under the category ‘Opportunities’ - doing several things to grow our healthcare sector,” he said. 23MAY 2013 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM Those included: • Developing a critical mass of medical offices. • Capitalize on the growing concentration of healthcare practitioners. • Attracting a “Boutique” Hospital. A boutique hospital is gener- ally described as a special- ized, smaller facility offering more personalized service in an upscale setting - including elegant interior decor - and with a shorter stay than a reg- ular, larger hospital. Kessel said the City of Schertz and the Schertz Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) worked especially hard on getting the hospital. A strong tool in that effort was then-SEDC Chairman Harry Whitney, a retired hospital ad- ministrator who brought valu- able experience to the effort. The City Manager said a good opportunity to get the hos- pital came in fall 2011 when the City of Schertz and SEDC met with the Baptist Health System and the operator com- pany of its emergency hospi- tals – Emerus. “We asked what their needs were in this market and told them what we would like to see here. Both sides could see it was a good fit to have a 24/7 emergency hospital here,” Kessel said. The Schertz hospital will offer many advantages including a closer facility to local patients and their families, top qual- ity care and customer service and a crown jewel healthcare facility that will attract more healthcare providers to the Schertz region, Kessel said. Mayor Michael Carpenter said the opening of the Baptist Emergency Hospital is his- toric. “The old Schertz Commu- nity Hospital on Main Street served this area many years ago (from 1917 to 1939) and we have been without a hospi- tal until now,” Carpenter said, the Schertz City Council took up the idea of trying to get a hospital in the 1980s “but it wasn’t yet the right time.” With the City’s astonishing growth in physical size, popu- lation and diversity of econo- my in the past decade, Coun- cil members and city staff said the need for a growing health- care sector -- including a hos- pital -- became obvious. And so council set a goal of getting that “boutique hospi- tal” and two years later Bap- tist Emergency Hospital in Schertz opened its doors to a welcoming community. FEATUREZ Clemens Club Improving Environment For All By Jessalyn Castro Clemens High School Student Writer STUDENTS FOR A PEACEFUL SOCIETY RECENTLY joined together at Clemens High School in an effort to build a better en- vironment for their community. “We are dedicated to improving not only our society at Clemens but in the community with the idea that small acts of kindness and service can improve the world and ultimately ourselves,” Matthew Ramirez, sponsor of Students for a Peaceful Society, said. “Part of Who will becrowned? Schertz Civic Center Ballroom Tickets $10.00at Public Affairs Office 210.619.1630 Join the City for the 2013- 2014 Sweetheart Court Pageant Thursday, May 2, 2013 5:45 PM Doors Open/Light Dinner 7:00 PM Pageant 25MAY 2013 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM FEATUREZthis philosophy is protecting and nurturing the environment.” The environment being particularly important to them, they do their best to help improve it every chance they get. Every year Seguin has a festival celebrating Earth Day and Stu- dents for a Peaceful Society are always involved. “We have “Earth days” where we pick up trash and clean up a ton of parks,” secre- tary Kean Martinic said. Schertz’ Pickrell Park is one of the main focuses for them since it’s the central park for the community. “We plan to have a potluck picnic at the park,” vice president Chy- anne Biondo said. “We are going to pick up the trash at the park before we eat and do fun activities.” Along with cleaning up parks around the community, they also help in local gardens. “Currently, we are planning our environ- mental service for the coming months where our plan is to spend time outside of school improving the community garden here in Schertz,” Ramirez said. “The group will meet together and spend the day gardening and eventually taking care of the garden and ad- ditionally, for Earth Day, we are planning to participate in Seguin’s Earth Day festival.” “The officers a few years back hosted a booth there where pass- ersby could paint rocks,” treasurer Joshua Camarena said. “That might not sound like much, but it made whoever participated very happy.” Other future plans for the group include a project they call “Change for Change” where they will collect donations from the faculty and the student body at Clemens. “With the contributions we receive we plan on buying trees and planting them in local parks and other community locations,” Camarena said. Acts taken by each member of the club don’t just go as far as clean- ing up parks and planting trees. According to Lexi Lamberts, presi- dent of Students for a Peaceful Society, “Our mission statement is bringing students together in the spirit of peace to better ourselves, our school, and our community as a whole.” Establishing peace in the society is their ultimate goal. “We strive to eliminate discrimination and any movements that do not sup- port equality,” Martinic said. Giving back to the community is one way they find that they can help and believe will benefit not only themselves but also the people around them. “We are all about getting involved in the community in any way we can,” Biondo said. “By doing helpful things for strangers, and even something as little as giving out compliments, we do as much as possible to attempt to make the world a better place.” The officers of the club see this as a big part of their life. The so- ciety they live in is important to them and they know that in or- der to keep it at peace, it starts with them. “My personal goal in being a part of this club is to inspire new youth to be involved with the environment and simply get them to respect one person to another no matter whom they are or what they believe in,” Camarena said. “After all, I am not just a member of a school club, I am a student for a peace- ful society.”Clemens Club students are working to make a better world. 26 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2013 FEATUREZ Schertz Trio Taking On Texas Water Safari By Brittany Losey This spring, Schertz will be well represented in one of the biggest tests of endurance water has to offer – the Texas Water Safari, aka “The World’s Toughest Canoe Race.” ON JUNE 8, PARTICIPANTS IN THE EVENT will take their teams and their boats to Aquarena Springs in San Marcos. From there, they will trav- el through rivers and bays until they reach the Gulf of Mexico, covering 260 miles. Teams ranging from one to six people work to push through a variety of obstacles in water and on land as they race to the finish. Partici- pants come in a variety of ages – the minimum age to be part of a team event is 13. However, 27MAY 2013 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM FEATUREZ continued on page 29 many people take several attempts and years of training to even complete this event. The Schertz trio is: residents Michael Dey and Jeannette Burris and Schertz Police Detective Michael “Mac” McGuire. They train together when possible and support each other, but will compete as individuals. They follow a Schertz tradition of participa- tion in the Texas Water Safari (TWS), an event that started in the early 1960s. Re- tired Schertz City Attorney Michael Spain twice completed the grueling adventure - once in the 1980s and once in the 1990s. Dey said he got interested in the TWS af- ter comparing war stories with an acquain- tance. “In 2009, I had just completed the Colo- rado River 100 in a sit-on fishing kayak and was talking about it with one of our (business) customers. For every lame story I shared about my experience, he had three more interesting stories from the Safari,” Dey said, adding the storyteller has been his mentor for the TWS since late 2011. “I have been looking for a lifetime sport for a while. Having played soccer through college, then semi-competitive volleyball, I have always enjoyed competition. As I got older and the body starting slowing down, I was basically left with golf as my only choice. Right now I’m all about personal improvement and making new friendships. There are some incredible people in this sport that treat strangers like family and are always willing to help the newbies,” Dey said. “The progression for Safari boats in order of difficulty roughly goes: Novice Aluminum Canoe, Solo Unlimited (boats designed for Safari-style racing, with rudder), then USCA C1 (spec boats with no rudder). I’m attempting Solo Unlimited this year and then have at least one more challenge with C1. I would also like to Team Captain for a future race. It is very humbling to con- sider the sacrifices that these people make to support their racers,” he said. Four-year veteran McGuire knows the intri- cacies of the event and has found great suc- cess, but not without setbacks – in his first water safari, he was disqualified at Mile 145 for not making it to his next check point in time. “The first year, I didn’t have a clue how long it would take to do a certain distance, and I scheduled a sleep stop the first night,” McGuire said. There are 26 checkpoints along the route that must be reached within certain time limits. The entire race must be completed in 100 hours, leaving little time for rest or meals. Most people get a few hours of rest along the way, but certainly not a full night’s sleep. Prior to this year, all food for the race had to be provided and carried by the team in the boat, which added significant weight. This year, however, food can be distributed by team captains at checkpoints. “I actually dislike the rule because it takes away from the spirit of the original intent of the race,” McGuire said. “By making the change in the rule, people don’t have to do the same preparations, and are not truly required to be as self sufficient, which conflicts with the tradition and history of the Safari.” The adjustment is an adaptation to the se- vere effects of dehydration and malnutrition that have resulted from the race. There was a death last year from one participant’s in- ability to replenish and absorb electrolytes. Burris will be in the race again this year af- ter she had to stop after 150 miles and be hospitalized in 2012. This year, she knows exactly what changes to make to power through the race. “It was a simple matter of nutrition – I didn’t get enough carbs,” Burris said. “This year, nutrition will be handled a little dif- ferently. Last year, we were a three-man team, we hadn’t stopped. It was 35 hours of paddling through the day and through the night. It was my first time doing it and I didn’t carry the food that worked for me.” The rest of her team was able to finish the race, but not being with them was tough for Burris. “My DNF – did not finish – was the most devastating thing I’ve had to deal with,” Burris said. “It’s not something I ever want to undergo again. I can’t be sitting at home watching all my friends go down the river again.” Participants in the TWS have to watch out for other canoes and handle small waterfalls. 205 FM 3009, Schertz, TX 78154 (210) 658-1717 / ChristianBrothersAuto.com Mon – Fri: 7am – 6pm Sat & Sun: Closed Mention this ad for $10 off! Complete automotive repair • Locally owned and operated Service all makes and models • Fast, convenient service Free courtesy inspection • Free local shuttle service Nice difference. 29MAY 2013 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM FEATUREZ Schertz Trio continued from pg 27 Aside from nutrition considerations, Bur- ris and her counterparts have been training hard for the event. Burris and her team- mates will paddle 30 miles each day on weekends. McGuire does what he can as his schedule as a Schertz police officer makes it difficult to schedule time with a group, but when possible, he travels part of the route from San Marcos to Luling. Though they train with and without friends, McGuire and Burris will both be completing the race solo this year. “I will be the oldest solo women’s finisher this year,” Burris said. “It will be great to cross that finish line.” One of the toughest parts about going solo is less manpower to paddle and no help in facing the course’s many challenges. “I paddle solo every year,” McGuire said. “The big downfall of the solo, is that it is all on you. If you get into trouble, you have to rely on yourself to get out. If you are not paddling, no one is.” Last year, McGuire encountered some un- expected visitors to his single-man boat. “An alligator tried to get in the boat with me,” McGuire said. “I whacked it with a paddle blade. Most dive down underwater because they’re usually just as afraid of you as you are them, but this was a younger one, about eight feet long. “Later the same morning, I decided I need- ed to paddle faster. Then I almost ran into a really big one, about 12-13 feet, way on the large side. My bow came an inch or two from hitting him in the head. Made him spit out his breakfast.” Alligators are one of many obstacles partici- pants face. Logjams, not working with the current, and other natural circumstances can set paddlers back. “There’s a logjam at least a mile long near the coast,” McGuire said. “Then people sometimes get lost in Alligator Lake. We’ve seen people on our GPS zig-zag all over the screen. There’s a whole lot that goes into this, you’ve got to read the river, read the currents and use them to your advan- tage. How you handle all of these variables, could either gain you or cost you several hours worth of time.” To participate in a race like the Texas Water Safari takes an expert paddler and endless endurance. To some, the feat may sound in- surmountable, but to those who have com- pleted the event, this is one of their greatest accomplishments. “One of the quotes that a veteran told me is ‘not a fun race to do, but it’s a hell of fun race to finish,’” McGuire said. “You’re tired, everything hurts. When you finish, that sense of accomplishment makes all the blood, sweat, and tears from the training and the race worth it.” To get to that point takes much more than just self-motivation. McGuire suggests that anyone seriously considering the Texas Wa- ter Safari gets to know the community. “My biggest piece of advice is use the peo- ple who are in the paddling community to get advice and then get out there and learn the course and learn yourself,” McGuire said. “It’s a great course, it’s a great event. It’s a huge personal challenge, a lot of peo- ple who try it and don’t finish. Take the time to learn about the race. It was much more than I thought it would be. It ended up be- ing a lot more than that.” Mike Dey, left, Jeannette Burris and Mac McGuire train together. McGuire navigates rapids on training session. 30 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2013 Solar Use Surging in Schertz By Brittany Losey FEATUREZ AS ENVIRONMENTAL concerns grow larger, the use of solar energy has boomed nationwide, and Schertz is no exception. “The technology has been around for 50-60 years, but Schertz is just now starting to get some momentum in the past 18 months,” Don Dickey of Advanced Solar Electric said. “It’s just always been reserved for a few because it was so ex- pensive.” This is no longer the case. In just a few short years, Schertz and the surrounding areas have seen a major rise in the use of this clean energy. Solar pan- els have been utilized at the Schertz Public Library and in the construction of new resi- dential and commercial prop- erties such as Merritt Lakeside Senior Village, Warbler Woods Bird Sanctuary, and several businesses in the Schertz Park- way Professional Plaza. The shift to more widespread use of the technology hap- pened when equipment costs were cut. “The cost of equipment has come down drastically,” Dickey said. “What happened is we hit a supply and demand curve in the last five years. The cost of equipment is less than half what it was a year and a half ago, which is a major factor. Plus, electricity keeps going up.” Dickey cites three main reasons for the rise in residential use of solar energy: personal savings, added value to the home, and positive environmental effects. “The system has operated con- tinuously since late December 2010,” Schaezler said. “The monitoring system on site was upgraded in January 2013.” “We’re saving about $80 a month off our bill,” said Schertz home- owner Kelly Smith, who has had solar panels for over a year. While some have reservations about the quality of energy or the cost of installation, experi- ence shows no need for these concerns. “We have two large AC units and a pool we run,” Smith said. “We’ve had no drawbacks, none at all.” Additionally, any initial costs as- (Above) Solar panels on top of a Schertz medical office building.. (Below) Officials in front of giant solar panels at Warbler Woods Bird Sanctuary. Minimum purchase applies for each lens type package. Introducing Givenchy & Chopard (sold exclusively at Dr. Nielsen’s office; see website for details) sociated with the switch to solar energy will be paid off quickly. “When a system is going to pay for itself in 3 or 4 years, it’s fool- ish not to do it,” Dickey said. “You’re going to spend that money whether you like it or not. When the breakeven is that low, there’s a lot of motivation to buy.” Panels are very durable and are made to last around 25 years. They are unlikely to be bro- ken by hail or other elements as they are made of tempered glass. Typically, the equipment can withstand up to 90 mph winds, which is more than stur- dy enough for the area (special installations are done in high wind areas to make the panels stronger). While the process of getting permits may take a few weeks, a typical project will only take one or two days to install. Other incentives to go solar in- clude rebates and tax credits. GVEC will pay a rebate of up to $8,000 and CPS will pay up to $25,000. “Tax credit is good through 2016; rebates tend to change every year,” Dickey said. “They typically go down every year.” Often, people assume that these advantages hurt other home- owners, but Dickey assures that this is not the case. “When people think of the in- centive money, they think that leads to higher rates for every- one, and that’s completely un- true,” Dickey said. Other misgivings about solar en- ergy are still prominent. “It’s been labeled a subsidy for the rich, which could not be fur- ther from the truth,” Dickey said. “The average home value with solar energy is $135,000.” While solar energy provides benefits for homeowners, it also promotes the larger community. Warbler Woods Bird Sanctuary is a great full-circle example of nature conservation at work. Owned and operated by Don and Susan Schaezler, this wild- life preserve hosts over 280 bird species, as well as a variety of insects, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals – and their energy needs have been served by solar power since 2010. “We decided to install this sys- tem to be good citizens and to help with environmental conser- vation, while receiving a reason- able payback on our investment aided by a low-interest loan,” Don Schaezler said. The Warbler Woods system was designed and installed by Solar Community LLC and they are part of the service grid of GVEC. The system is a 4.32 KW system with 24 panels rated at 180 watts each. Anticipated energy pro- duction for the system was set at 6,200 KWH per year; it has produced about 14,000 KWH of AC electricity in 26 months, just exceeding initial expectations. “The system has operated con- tinuously since late December 2010,” Schaezler said. “The monitoring system on site was upgraded in January 2013.” The system for the Warbler Woods cost about $26,000; this was covered by the $8,000 re- bate from GVEC, $15,000 from a special solar loan from San Antonio Federal Credit Union (SACU), and $5,000 from fed- eral tax credits. Solar energy has hit Schertz hard in a number of different ways, and there’s no question why. 33MAY 2013 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM SPPT Rehabs GVEC Building Into New Home By Andrea M. Allinger DR. FELIX GUERRA’S business is healing, a passion he’s had since a high school sports injury introduced him to the benefits of physical therapy. After graduating high school, Dr. Guerra completed his uni- versity education throughout the region, at Palo Alto Col- lege, the University of Texas at San Antonio, and finally at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, eventually gaining a doctorate in physi- cal therapy. Dr. Guerra enjoys his job be- cause of “the opportunity to work with patients, whatever ailment they come in with. . .the ability to help them out and achieve their goals--it is just as rewarding as the first day I started,” he said. After 14 years in the field, Dr. Guerra’s Schertz Parkway Physical Therapy is set to become the Schertz-Cibolo area’s first physical therapy clinic in a freestanding build- ing with their expansion into the former GVEC building on Schertz Parkway and Curtiss Avenue this summer. An Elmendorf, Texas, na- tive, Dr. Guerra grew up with Schertz ringing in his ears. He laughs, “I remem- ber my dad always saying that Schertz had a really good po- lice department--that it was really safe,” a sentiment that he held true when he moved his family back into the area nine years ago. After a drive down scenic Schertz Parkway, where sev- eral families were walking, Dr. Guerra and his wife, Aida, “thought it would be a good place to relocate to.” The family has not been disap- pointed, with two children in the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD - Andrew, 10, and Samantha, 12 - Dr. Guerra boasts, “the teachers have done a great job with both kids, from kindergarten to the present.” With family as a focal point for his business, Dr. Guerra made the decision to employ his wife six years ago, giving her what she called “the best of both worlds, being able to work with [her husband] and having time for the children, simply because [she] always felt it was important to spend time with the kids.” Dr. Guerra commented that his wife, Aida, “is the only person that could be with me when we are working and when we’re not. She is the only person in this world who could handle that.” The Guerras have plans to keep the clinic in the family, as Dr. Guerra points out, “the kids already have dibs on the busi- ness,” as both children are interested in physical therapy. continued on page 34 PROFILEZ SPPT staff members include from left: Carla Nichols, Dr. Felix Guerra, Aida Guerra, Dani Hoffmann and Karina Rodriguez. 34 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2013 Not only does Dr. Guerra have his family involved in the busi- ness, but he feels like “the patients pick up on the family atmo- sphere. We live in Schertz and will see many patients out in the community.” Many former patients refer family and friends; word of mouth advertising that Dr. Guerra says is “the biggest compliment.” After a booming six years of serving Schertz with physical thera- py, Dr. Guerra felt it was the right time to expand into the former GVEC building. Extensive renovations to the 3,100 square foot building are set to wrap up this summer and include a large gym area with two large windows facing the charming sights of Schertz Parkway and a number of private rooms for clients to get back into shape. The opening of the Baptist Emergency Hospital in April and the Schertz Parkway Physical Therapy expansion are two examples of the growing healthcare sector in Schertz and the area. Dr. Guerra stresses to residents the importance of having local choices for health care because, “it is all about what is best for the patient.” With more specialists in the area, healthcare growth can continue, which Dr. Guerra predicts will lead Schertz into a “medical center” such as Stone Oak or Westover Hills. Look for the newly renovated, Schertz Parkway Physical Therapy on Schertz Parkway and Curtiss Avenue this summer. For more information call SPPT at (210) 659-0222 or visit their current location at 1420 Schertz Parkway Suite 100. Visit thier website at www.schertzparkwaypt.com. SPPT continued from pg 27 FEATUREZ 35MAY 2013 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM Local Man Once Worked in Deadliest Catch Industry By Stan Leland FEATUREZ WATCHING THE TV program Deadliest Catch for most lower 48 (states) view- ers creates a sense of amaze- ment at such a demanding and dangerous job. For a Cibolo man, the pro- gram brings back memories of his days as a deckhand on the Bering Sea. Paul Miller spent about two months as a crew member on the fishing boat Amatulie. In 1992 he had just graduated from college and was looking for work in his home town of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Trident Seafood, a fish pro- cessing company, set up a recruiting table at the local employment agency and con- vinced Miller to come work in the processing plant in Alas- ka. After about 9 months of cleaning crabs Miller decided to try his hand at crab fishing. A high school friend was a crew member of the Amatulie, based in Dutch Harbor, and he helped Miller get hired as a deckhand. He was put to work getting the boat ready for the crab fishing season. It took 6 weeks to clean, re- pair and paint the boat. Also during this time several fish- ing trips were made to catch bait. These bait fish were then ground up into paste and continued on page 36 36 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2013 Local Man Once Worked in Deadliest Catch Industry continued from pg 35 36 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2013 FEATUREZ placed in perforated quart-sized plastic bottles that were fro- zen and stored for the upcoming season. Miller’s job was to bait the crab pots for the 60-hour long Blue Crab season. The Blue Crab is a slightly smaller relative of the King Crab seen on the popular “The Deadliest Catch” show. The season was literally 60 hours long. The boats would ar- rive at the fishing grounds and when the start time arrived the crews fished continuously for 60 hours (two and a half days) It was a race to see how many crabs could be put in the ship’s hold in that length of time. The crab traps or “pots” as the crew called them were large steel cages 8’ by 8’ and 2’ to 3’ high. One end opened to allow the crabs to be dumped out. When the cage was emptied of crabs, Miller’s job was to quick- ly climb into the pot, replace the bait container in the center and then get out as quickly as possible. “More than once my head had just cleared the gate when the door was slammed shut,” he said. The captain of the boat would deploy a string of pots 15 to 20 at a time. The cage was allowed to sink freely into the water and was marked by a very visible buoy. Once the string was deployed, the boat would move to another spot usually 20 to 30 minutes away. During that time men who had no immediate duties would rush to their bunks to try and get a few minutes sleep. The pots were set out in a huge circular pattern. When the last pot was deployed, the boat headed for the first pot to begin the harvest process. The goal was to unload and reset the traps as many times a possible before the 60 hours were up. According to U.S. Labor Dept. statistics, the shortness of the season, the weather and the 24/7 pace makes crab fishing the most dan- gerous job in the country. When the boat reached the first set of pots a crew member with a grappling line would snare the buoy and attach the pot’s line to a winch that would bring it out of the water. A crane would then swing the pot over the hatch to the ship’s hold. The crabs were dumped and then Miller scrambled in to replace the bait container. Once clear, the pot was closed and swung back over the water and dropped. In the meantime, the man with the grappling hook would have already snared the next pot. The length of time from snare to release was 3 to 5 minutes. “The deck was a dangerous place during the harvesting and re- setting of the pots. You had to be alert at all times,” Miller said. The pots weighed up to 800 pounds and on the deck of a mov- ing ship they were always dangerous. Miller saw a crewman get his hand caught between the pot and the ship – lacerating him badly. The captain examined the wound and decided to stop fishing and take the man to a large floating processor ship nearby to get medical attention. “This took about 2 hours away from our fishing time but the captain wanted to make sure his crewman was cared for,” Miller said appreciatively. As the boat traveled between sets of pots, Miller had to bring up more bait containers, fill the empty ones and perform any other duties needed before the next pots came on board. If Miller was not needed for anything he could try to eat or catch a little sleep. Sometimes while sitting in the galley look- ing out the porthole, a wave would sweep over the boat so that he was actually looking underwater out the porthole! On the return trip to Dutch Harbor, Miller was asked to secure a loose piece of equipment on the bow of the boat. It was night- time and the deck was full of stacked crab pots. The only way to get by them was to stand on the guardrail of the boat and hold the wire pots and “tightrope” to the bow. The captain sent along another crew member so that help was near if needed. As Miller balanced precariously on the rail of the ship while it plowed into huge waves, he realized that this kind of work was not his preferred career choice. Shortly before that, Miller and his high school buddy had received news that another friend had been on a boat that had disappeared without a trace. After the end of the season Miller stayed on for about a week to help prepare the boat for the next crabbing season. The crew for that particular trip had already been established so he was not needed. “If a position had been open, I might have been tempted to try fishing again. But I have no regrets for walking away. I might very well be alive today because I didn’t sign on again. It was truly a unique and challenging experience,” Miller said. 37MAY 2013 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM • Lipids/Cholesterol • Vascular Disease • Heart Rhythm Disorders • Maternal Cardiac Care (210) 483-8883 | (855) 233-8883 Toll Free | HeartClinicSanAntonio.com Mark F. Colligan, MD, FACC Cardiologist Providing World Class Cardiology Care San Antonio STONE OAK: 502 Madison Oak Suite 310 San Antonio, TX 78258 ALAMO HEIGHTS: 5929 Broadway San Antonio, TX 78209 Schertz 5000 Schertz Parkway Suite 200 Schertz, TX 78154 Practice focus is the evaluation andmanagement of: •Coronary Artery Disease •Heart Failure•Valvular Heart Disease •Hypertension •Lipids/Cholesterol •Vascular Disease •Heart Rhythm Disorders •Maternal Cardiac Care San Antonio Location: Atrium Medical Office Building, next to North Central Baptist Hospital Madison Oak O C D E Sonterra Blvd New Office Location Opening Soon in Boerne, TX… San Antonio Location 502 Madison Oak, Suite 310 San Antonio, TX 78258 Schertz Location 5000 Schertz Parkway, Suite 200 Schertz, TX 78154 Comfort Location 815 Front StreetComfort, TX 78013 Boerne Location 1201 South Main, Suite 122 Boerne, TX 78006 (210) 483-8883 | (210) 494-1740 Fax HeartClinicSanAntonio.com (210) 483-8883| (210) 494-1740 Fax HeartClinicSanAntonio.com Evaluation and ManagEMEnt of: • Coronary Artery Disease • Heart Failure • Valvular Heart Disease • Hypertension • Board Certified Cardiovascular Disease • Board Certified Nuclear Cardiology • Board Certified Echocardiography • Board Certified Lipidology • Cardiology Fellowship – Wilford Hall Medical Center, San Antonio, TX • Residency – Wilford Hall Medical Center, San Antonio, TX • Medical School – Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN BHS295B HCSA_hlfpgAd.indd 1 1/16/13 3:37:57 PM Pickrell Park May 25th, 2013 SchertzTales Ad.indd 1 2/19/13 12:50:35 PM 41MAY 2013 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM FEATUREZ Lighthouse Spotlights the Human Spirit By Kari Bridges Being visually impaired or blind can affect anyone no matter their age, nationality or gender. Early warning signs are not always present and the reason for vision loss can be as unique as the individuals themselves. tunities. Housed adjacent to the flight line in a converted aircraft hangar, the Randolph BSC is able to supply the en- tire base with products that support their mission. “We support veteran-owned businesses located outside the Randolph base gates by allow- ing them to present their prod- ucts to us through sales in the Base Service Store,” said Terry Braddock, SALB director of sales/military liaison. SALB has established and maintains 14 different BSCs located on different military in- stallations in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. These cen- ters serve all of the military’s complete needs offering over 60,000 individual products ranging from janitorial prod- ucts, office supplies proudly bearing the Skilcraft logo, computers, furniture, uniforms and boots. Either base civilian agency members or military members who have obtained a government purchase card are authorized to make purchases in these stores. In addition to selling to the military, all of SALB office supplies, including furni- ture and computers, can be purchased by residents and businesses. All products are competitively priced with other office supply companies and can be delivered to your door with free, next-day ser- vice. Customers can access the e-commerce store at www. salighthouse.org/store – where every purchase makes a difference and goes toward providing jobs for the blind. “The Lighthouse is about providing high quality, inde- pendent lives to anyone who is blind or severely visually impaired. Everyone deserves the chance to be a contribut- ing member of our commu- nity – and the Lighthouse makes that a reality,” said Mike Gilliam, president of the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind. SALB is one of 90 Lighthous- es for the Blind across the United States, although they are all operated independent- ly with their own boards. As the third largest Lighthouse, it employs approximately 500 people, of which 250 are cer- tified blind/legally blind by continued on page 42 THERE ARE MANY CAUSES of low vision and blindness including genetic conditions, accidents, eye diseases and health conditions. In the United States, most vision im- pairments are caused by age- related conditions such as cataracts, macular degenera- tion and diabetic retinopathy. For almost 80 years the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind (SALB) has been a con- stant presence offering the 50,000 visually impaired and blind individuals living in San Antonio the tools they need to build a better life each year. Every day SALB makes a difference in people’s lives through employment and sale of products through their military base service centers (BSCs), as well as their re- habilitation programs and employment opportunities in their manufacturing plant. The Randolph Air Force Base BSC has been serving the Schertz Community for the past 14 years by creating op- portunities for disabled vet- erans, Wounded Warriors and the blind/visually impaired through employment oppor- 42 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2013 Lighthouse continued from pg 41 a licensed ophthalmologist. These em- ployees make their own daily travel ar- rangements to and from work, work a regular 40 hour week and receive com- petitive pay, medical/dental and retire- ment benefits. Inside the walls of their main building, located at 2305 Roosevelt Avenue, you will find a unique, one-of-a-kind Low Vision Store to the South Texas area. Maintained by their rehabilitation de- partment, customers can find an assort- ment of helpful items such as magnifiers, talking watches, clocks, thermometers, calculators, Braille items and folding white canes. They also carry large print items including clocks, telephones and remote controls. The store is open Mon- day – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. “Just because a man lacks the use of his eyes doesn’t mean he lacks vision,” said Vince Boyd, director of rehabilitation, quoting Stevie Wonder – the famous blind singer and entertainer. In addition to providing community awareness and resources/ information, the SALB Rehabilitation Center provides one-on-one or group instruction in voca- tional training, technology training and independent living. These programs in- clude: Basic Life Skills, Technology Eval- uation and Training, Assistive Computer Technology, School of Business, Job Readiness and Placement, Career Guid- ance, Vocational Support & Counseling, High School to Work Program and schol- arship opportunities to help obtain a col- lege education. The Vision Rehabilitation Center is home to their Low Vision Clinic Services. SALB has partnered with the University of Incarnate Word - Rosenberg School of Optometry to provide advanced services and eye exams at their convenient on-site location. These services allow anyone to have a low vision eye evaluation to help maximize your remaining vision. Lighthouse employees (this page and Pg 43) work on various products. 43MAY 2013 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM Across the street from the main building is the SALB Senior Center – home of one of the only senior centers in South Texas for the blind and visually impaired over the age of 50. The goal of this pro- gram is to offer area seniors who are blind or low vision the tools to maintain their in- dependence to continue living in their homes and learn the best methods of preserving the level of sight that remains. Free Seniors Program Services include: • In-Home Independent Living Skills Training including training and skill development on household management by teaching techniques and offering sugges- tions to maintain inde- pendence for daily ac- tivities. • In-Home White Cane Training teaches people how to utilize the white cane to increase their sensitivity and aware- ness to assist them in seeing the things they cannot see. • In-Home Counseling provides an opportunity to talk with a counselor on how you are experi- encing vision loss and help in the adjustment to blindness. • Adaptive Aids provides assistance in purchasing devices recommended by the Low Vision Doc- tor. • The SALB, a nonprofit orga- nization, is one of the largest manufacturing operations in San Antonio. They are proud to be a leader in manufactur- ing for both the military and government agencies and are one of only two agencies for the disabled in the world to be awarded quality certifications of both ISO 9001 manufac- turing and AS 9100 Aerospace Quality Certified necessary to work on Boeing aircraft. Above the entrance to the 50,000 square foot manufac- turing plant hangs a plaque, which reads “Through This Doorway Walk People With Vision.” Nancy Lipton, SALB public relations director and spokesperson, explained what this means. “Those words mean everything – blind and sighted working side by side all with the same mission and vision – independence and high quality lives for people who are blind. You don’t need to see – the vision we speak of comes from within.” Each individual believes they are part of the Lighthouse “family” and proudly support our military heroes. They manufacture and produce approximately 30,000 differ- ent products each day that are then shipped across the United States to all branches of the military as well as gov- ernment agencies. Items they manufacture include: roller ball pens, mechanical pencils, highlighters and clam clip fas- tening systems, which are the only products of its kind to be constructed and produced in San Antonio. In addition, they also manu- facture all the Marine and Army helmet chin straps that are attached to all combat hel- mets, as well as holding the contract for the Army Com- bat Shirt used by our military heroes. The SALB also holds additional contracts for other textile apparel projects, spill kits and absorbent products made from organic materials, and aerospace insulation blan- kets and floorboards for Boe- ing’s KC-135 airplanes. To learn more about the SALB programs/services, fundrais- ing events or free monthly tours, go to www.salighthouse. org, or contact Nancy Lipton at 210-531-1533. Coupon must be present at time of purchase. Buy 1 get 1 free Embroidery (Left Chest / Cap Frontlocations only) Expires May 31, 2013 45MAY 2013 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM Civi cn ewzMay 2013 Mayor Baldwin Portrait Unveiled Susan Baldwin-Beck and husband Brian Beck (pictured left) un- veiled a new portrait of Susan’s father, the late Mayor Hal Bald- win, during a Schertz City Council meeting Tuesday night, April 2. Mayor Baldwin passed away on April 6, 2012. His portrait now hangs with the other six former Schertz mayors behind the City Council chambers dais. The other six mayors’ portraits previously were on the walls on either side of the coun- cil chambers. Schertz Ambus Deployed to West Explosion The Schertz EMS Ambus - a large ambulance that can trans- port up to 20 patients - was de- ployed the town of West near Waco after a massive explosion Wednesday night. The Schertz Ambus was de- ployed around 10 p.m. Wednes- day, April 17, after a giant explo- sion at a fertilizer plant around 8 p.m. Ambuses from Frisco in North Texas and Palestine in East Texas also were deployed. The Schertz EMS Ambus (center) and Ambuses from towns of Frisco and Palestine on scene. www.RioTerraLife.com A Legend Retirement Corp. Community Independent Living Assisted Living Memory Care AL# 101986 2294 E. Common St. New Braunfels, TX 78130 Only een minutes from Schertz, Rio Terra o ers a renewed focus on healthy living, terri c food and social activity. Discover how our “Resident First”philosophy can rede ne your retirement. Meet your new friends at Rio Terra today! Call (830) 221-4800 for a tour and lunch on us. Ask us about our Veterans Aid and Attendance! New Friends, New Beginnings 47MAY 2013 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM Civicn ews Ground Broken for New Schertz Animal Adoption Center Ground was broken Tuesday, April 2, for the new $2.4 million Schertz Animal Adoption Center behind the Hal Baldwin Municipal Complex. Stray dogs and cats in our community will have a better chance of survival and adoption when the 12,000-square foot facility opens in 10 to 12 months. It has 64 stalls. Among those taking part in the groundbreaking were Mayor Michael Carpenter, Mayor Pro Tem Cedric Edwards Sr., Coun- cilmember David Scagliola, City Manager John Kessel, staff from Animal Services Department and Parks and Recreation and the Schertz Humane Society Homes For Pets. The facility will be located on Community Circle Drive, behind the Visitor Center/Chamber of Commerce building on Schertz Parkway near the intersection with Live Oak Road. 48 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2013 Civicnews Library Summer Activities Groundbreaking Reads Break out your shovels, hard hats, and don’t forget your books. Join us at the Schertz Public Library this summer for entertaining activities, education- al program, and lots of prizes. Groundbreaking Reads is a free reading club open to anyone over the age of 18. The grand prize for our Adult Summer Reading Club is a Kindle e-reader. Summer Reading Summer Reading Club runs from June 8th-July 27th. Registration begins Friday June 7th online and at the library. Dig Reading “Just dirt?” you say? Dig a little deeper and you’ll discover there’s a world of interesting things be- neath your feet. Join us for Schertz Public Library’s summer reading program beginning Saturday, June 8th. Readers under 12 will explore our un- derground theme, “Dig Into Reading” with stories, music, crafts, and more. Registration begin Satur- day, June 8. Stop in the library to pick up a flyer on summer events. Beneath the Surface Area teens are encouraged to participate in “Be- neath the Surface,” the Library’s teen summer li- brary program from June 8 to July 27. Teens are invited to come to the library and read for prizes as well as to take part in special events offered throughout the summer. Special events this summer include Shark Week and our 3rd annual Zombiefest. The grand prize for teens this summer is a Kindle e-Reader. Community Budget Presentations on the Fiscal Year 2013-14 Proposed City Budget were held Wednesday, March 20 at City Council Chambers and Thursday, March 28, Schertz United Methodist Church, 3460 Roy Richard Drive (FM 3009). After the presentation on the proposed budget by city staff, residents gave com- ments and asked questions. More public meeting on the proposed city budget will be held in coming months as the process moves closer to the start of the new Fiscal Year on October 1. Stop by the library or call (210) 619-1700 for more information! Community Meetings Held On Proposed City Budget Schertz resident Robert Brockman speaks at March 20 meeting. Best Friendz824 Main Street | Schertz,TX 78154 | 210-231-0403Open Monday - Friday 10am-6pm | Saturday 10am-5pm Show her how Special She iS with trollbeadS!Mother’s Day Trunk ShowMay 3-4 • Receive a sterling silver bracelet with the purchase of a decorative clasp • Gift of one Trollbead* with the purchase of any three trollbeads *Free bead of equal or lesser value. MoTheR’S Day 5-12-13 Give her one... give her two... or give her all three!every story has a bead™ THE ORIGINAL SINCE 1976 TR LLBEADS 51MAY 2013 SCHERTZMAGAZINE.COM City of Schertz Elected Officials Mayor: Michael Carpenter (210) 619-1045 Council Members:Jim Fowler (210) 658-1442David Scagliola (830) 606-1130George Antuna, Jr. (210) 467-7914 Cedric Edwards, Sr. (210) 566-4540Sydney H. Verinder (210) 619-1000 City Departments:City of Schertz (210) 619-1000Animal Control (210) 619-1550Business/Utilities (210) 619-1100City Manager (210) 619-1000City Secretary (210) 619-1030Civic Center (210) 619-1600Customer Care/311 (210) 619-1000 Subscriptions to Schertz Magazine are free for each Schertz household. Subscriptions for residents and businesses outside the City of Schertz are $19.95 annually. Call 210-619-1630. Send queries about articles or photographs to Schertz Magazine at 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas 78154. For advertising information: Schertz Magazine, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas 78154; call (210) 619-1630; Fax (210) 619-1619; email sales@schertz.com. NEWS POLICYSchertz Magazine encourages submission of news and event announcement items. News and event announcements must include contact name and contact phone number. All news and event items must be for activities that occur inside the Schertz city limits. Publication cannot be guaranteed. If you would like to submit an item to Schertz Tales, email us at events@schertz.com or call us at (210) 619-1630. The appearance of advertising in this publication does not constitute endorsement by the City of Schertz. All products and services advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, political affiliation or other non-merit factor of purchaser, user or patron. Articles that appear in Schertz Magazine do not necessarily reflect the official position of the City of Schertz and does not constitute an endorsement therein. The appearance of any advertisement in Schertz Magazine does not constitute an endorsement of the goods or services advertised. Any publication of Schertz Tales, whether draft or final is sole property of the City of Schertz and cannot be reproduced or distributed in any way, whether in print or electronically, without the express permission and written consent of the City of Schertz. #info City Departments: (cont’d) Economic Development (210) 619-1070EMS (non-emergency) (210) 619-1400Fire (non-emergency) (210) 619-1300Human Resources (210) 619-1150Information Technology (210) 619-1180Inspections (210) 619-1750Marshal Services (210) 619-1650Municipal Court (210) 619-1500Parks & Recreation (210) 619-1850Planning & Zoning (210) 619-1780Police (non-emergency) (210) 619-1200Public Affairs (210) 619-1630Public Library (210) 619-1700Public Works (210) 619-1800Records (210) 619-1030Website schertz.com SCHERTZ.COM OFFICIAL FINE PRINT May 2013 CI T Y C A L E N D A R Z Thursday, 2 Transportation Safety Advisory Commission 5:30 PM- Council Chambers Tuesday, 7 City Council, 6:00 PM Council Chambers Wednesday, 8 Planning & Zoning, 6:00 PM Council Chambers Tuesday, 14 City Council, 6:00 PM Council Chambers Monday, 20 Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, 5:30 PM Bob Andrews Room Board of Adjustments 6:00 PM Council Chambers Tuesday, 21 City Council 6:00 PM Council Chambers Wednesday, 22 Planning & Zoning 6:00 PM Council Chambers Thursday, 23 Economic Development Corporation 6:00 PM Council Chambers Monday, 27 Memorial Day City Holiday Offices Closed Tuesday, 28 City Counci 6:00 PM Council Chambers ***Meeting locations may change, please visit schertz.com for confirmation.*** OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS 1400 SCHERTZ PARKWAY SCHERTZ, TEXAS 78154 PRESORT STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #744SAN ANTONIO, TX