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11_November 2014magazine NOVEMBER 2014 19750 HWY 46 WSuite 104 1201 S. MainSuite 118 1659 HWY 46 WSuite 160 1264 FM78Unit 115 337 Bulverde New BraunfelsBoerne San Antonio 78 Schertz WHERE EVERY PATIENT IS SEEN BY A PHYSICIAN.WE ACCEPT BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD & TRICARE. www.UrgentCareOfTexas.comOPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK UNTIL 8PM 8am-8pm M-F • 10am-8pm Sat-Sun Get in. Get out. Get well. Now OpenSchertz AT THE CORNER OF 3009 AND FM78 Flu Shots Now Available! presents the First Annual HEAR for the HOLIDAYS giveaway Do you have a friend or family member who could benefit from hearing aids? Have they gone without these necessary devices due to cost or financial setbacks? Here is your chance to give them the perfect holiday gift! One deserving candidate will be chosen to receive a pair of hearing aids courtesy of Doss Audiology. For candidacy qualifications see our nomination application available online at www.dossaudiology.com or in our office. Submissions may be mailed or emailed to info@dossaudiology.com by November 17. A winner will be announced on November 21, 2014. Don’t delay. Nominate today!Doss Audiology & Hearing Center5000 Schertz Parkway, Suite 300 Schertz, TX 78154 210.819.5002 • info@dossaudiology.comwww.dossaudiology.com Start with our Cover Story on the new Schertz SWAT Team and its giant armored vehicle. The decision to form the team and the time to get the vehicle was sooner than most might have expected. A core group of SWAT officers on the Schertz Police Department helped the new team come together quickly and a bit of good luck made the usually-slow federal government hit the afterburner on delivery of the armored vehicle. You may find yourself turning the pages of this story faster than your eyes can read. Editor’z Letter By Chuck McCollough, EditorPUBLISHED MONTHLY BYPublic Affairs Department Linda KlepperCommunications Manager Chuck McCollough Editor Chris Matzenbacher Sales Director Lucille Sims Thomas Copy Editor Contributing Staffers Erin Matlock Office Manager Mary Spence Events Manager Graphic Design/Art Direction Alexis Souza Contributing WritersChuck McCollough, Lucille Sims Thomas, Andrea Allinger, Kari Bridges, Jim Webb, Stan Leland, Kiko Martinez, Ashley Festa, Rudy Arispe, Tom Lovett, Kaylie Kennedy Contributing PhotographersChuck McCollough, Mary Spence, Joshua Nolden, Lisa Green, Diana Webb, Bryan Tobias, Mike Harris, Beverly McCollough, Ross Dye, Marc Bane, Michael Carpenter, Bryan Nguyen, Joe Herczeg, Andrea Allinger, Kari Bridges, Catherine White, Elizabeth Leland, Rudy Ornelas, Christopher Matzenbacher, Samuel Rhodes, Linda Klepper Schertz Magazine is published monthly by the Public Affairs Department of the City of Schertz promoting city, community, and business activities. Our mailing address is 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas 78154. © City of Schertz, Texas The editorial office of Schertz Magazine is at 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas 78154. Call (210) 619-1630. Fax (210) 619-1619. Website is schertz.com and schertzmagazine.com City Council Michael Carpenter Mayor Jim Fowler Councilmember David Scagliola CouncilmemberDaryl John CouncilmemberCedric Edwards, Sr. Councilmember Matthew Duke Councilmember Executive Team John Kessel City Manager John Bierschwale Deputy City ManagerBrian James Executive DirectorBob Cantu Chief of Staff 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 Magazine, 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 Magazine, whether draft or final is sole property of the City of Schertz and cannot be reproduced or distributed in any way, whether in print or electronically, without the express permission and written consent of the City of Schertz. OFFICIAL FINE PRINT VOLUME 30 ISSUE 11 I am trying to figure out if time moves faster or slower the older we get. Here it is November, and 2014 is almost in the history books, and I find myself instinctively reaching for the brake pedal to slow things down...while sitting at my desk. Reaching the mid-60s mark last month I am like a person on a merry-go- round -- wanting to go faster and slower at the same time. This month’s Schertz Magazine will take you through various speeds with a variety of stories, photos and news. 30 Years and counting...! 5 schertzmagazine.com OCTOBER 2014 Next read our article about a Schertz EMS program that aims to take more healthcare into the homes of local residents - especially seniors. The program - called Mobile Integrated Healthcare or MIH- is “the way EMS in the US is moving in the future” and the pace of change is gradually picking up speed. It may help return more of the personal touch medicine had back in the day where things seem to move slower. And then we have a story on Line Dancing that has first, second, third and maybe more gear speeds. The delightful tale of a group of mostly senior By Chuck McCollough, Editor FEATUREZ IB Program 22 SWAT Ready to Roll 26 EMS Healthcare Program 29 Ag More Than Cows 33 Line Dancers’ Happy Feet 37 DEPARTMENTZ TALK OF THE TOWNZ Updatez 7 Visionz / Chamber 18 Election Notice 25 CIVIC NEWZ Updatez 40 CALENDARZ 46 COVER Members of the new Schertz SWAT team stand in front of their giant armored vehicle. Inside... 5 schertzmagazine.com NOVEMBER 2014 PAGE 22 schertzmagazine.com ladies dancing to slow and not so slow music while singing, laughing and enjoying each other’s company will bring a quick smile to your face. Also look for stories on the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Clemens High School and the SCUC Ag program as they showcase amazing young people and their adult guides in our area as well as coverage of SchertzFest and National Night Out. All that and more in Your Source for Hometown News - Schertz Magazine. PAGE 29 7 schertzmagazine.com OCTOBER 2014 TALK TOWNZOF THE Schertz Public Library November Events “The Book Ends” Library Book Club: Join us this month for a discussion of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The library book club meets the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in library meeting room 1. Pre-registration not required. Free Adult Computer Classes on various topics each week on Wednesday and Thursdays at the library. Check the library calendar at schertzli- brary.org/calendar for more information. Pre- registration is required as space is limited. We have started a monthly LEGO Club. This program is for architects, engineers and artists of the future. School-age children and their siblings are welcome to join us for a brick- building extravaganza at the library! Our LEGO Club will meet on the first Saturday of the month from 2-3 p.m. in the Program Room. Check our online calendar for more Saturday family friendly programs. RACAP Taking Applications for 2014 Holiday Programs The Randolph Area Christian Assistance Program (RACAP) is accepting applications for the Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday assistance program. Applications will be accepted through November 4 for Thanks- giving and the Christmas program deadline is November 26. Applica- tions will be accepted from fami- lies in need of help for the holidays because of limited or no income, who are at or below the Federal Poverty Guidelines. RACAP welcomes organizations, businesses, groups, or individuals who would like to participate by “adopting” families, or donating food or money. Anyone interested in sponsoring a family for Thanks- giving only or Thanksgiving and Christmas should submit their sponsorship application no later than November 3. The deadline for Christmas Only sponsorship is November 21. This help is greatly needed and much appreciated. Donations may be dropped off at the RACAP office or mailed to 307 Pfeil St, Schertz TX 78154. Applicants for assistance must live in the following ZIP Codes: 78108, 78109, 78132, 78148, 78154, 78247, 78233 Live Oak only, or 78266. Those in need of assistance may contact RACAP at 307 Pfeil, Schertz, Monday - Friday, 1-3 p.m. or call 210-658-1613 between those times. OCTOBER 2014 schertzmagazine.com 8 The Best of SchertzFest And More No mid-life crisis for the City of Schertz as it celebrated turning 56 during SchertzFest September 19-20. SchertzFest was established in 2008 to mark the 50th anniversary of Schertz’ incorporation as a municipality and the event has be- come a fall favorite in these parts. It’s just plain fun with events rang- ing from BBQ cooking to Waitress Races. This year 76 BBQ teams (up from 66 last year) competed for more than $10,000 in prize money, gifts, and trophies. The BBQ teams and supporters had to deal with rain that partially filled the channel separating the teams from the rest of Pickrell Park. City crews quickly built a temporary bridge and SchertzFest activities didn’t slow down a bit. BBQ Teams competed in ribs, chicken, and brisket as they vied for the top prize. The Grand Champion BBQ team was “Full Rack” (Albert Mantor) and Re- serve Grand Champion was “JD’s Extreme Team” (JD Davidsmeyer). The event is sanctioned by the Texas Gulf Coast BBQ Cookers Association. The 2nd Annual Waitress Race featured six teams from area eat- SZ eries in a fun-filled and entertaining event. Contestants had to maneuver over and around an obstacle course while carrying a tray of glasses filled with water. Team La Cabana finished first followed by Team Fox’s Pizza and Team Mattenga’s Pizzeria. A variety of entertainment over the two-day event included musical groups Grupo Oro, Jimmy Gonza- lez y Grupo Mazz, Reality is Bro- ken, Cher La-Bas, Rockabilly Roll and Cactus Country plus the HEB sponsored Family Fun Zone and a Carnival. SchertzFest is hosted by the Schertz Parks & Recreation Foundation and is sponsored by Walker Partners, HEB, RBFCU, Silvers Pet and Feed, GVEC, Schertz Family YMCA, City of Schertz, Samuel Clemens Booster Club and Tri-City Distributors. A BIG thank you to the many business community members and City staff who volunteered their time to make the event a success. Congratulations to raffle winners: G. Garcia, Universal City (TV), S. Denbina, Converse (X-Box One) and V. Douglas, Schertz (Gift Card). To see a photo slideshow from SchertzFest 2014, go to www.visitschertz.com/schertzfest. 9 schertzmagazine.com OCTOBER 2014 SZ SZ Small Business Saturday November 29th Small Business Saturday is held the Saturday after Thanks- giving and the day after Black Friday. It was first observed in 2010 and encourages holiday shoppers to patronize local small businesses. The 5th Annual Salute to Service Members 10K, 5K, 1M & Kids Freedom Fun Run Saturday, January 17 at Blue Bonnet Palace, 17360 Lookout Road at Schertz Parkway Opening ceremonies start at 10:15 a.m. The event is supported by Operation Comfort, the City of Schertz and the City of Selma. Registrants will receive a number of goodies including a shirt and swag bag. Bring out your America flag to run/walk and dress up in your most patriotic outfit to show your support for service members. For more information call Operation Comfort at 210-826- 0500 or click on www. operationcomfort.org . Send inquiries to info@operationcomfort.org PERSONAL SERVICE AVAILABLE IN HANDSHAKES AND HANDHELDS. frostbank.com (210) 220-6938 MEMBER FDIC With the Frost App for iPhone® & Android ® you can deposit checks, transfer funds, find nearby locations and talk to a real person at the bank with a single tap. Civic Center: Nov. 10-11 - Closed - Veterans Day Holiday Nov. 14 - Schertz Chamber Awards Banquet Nov. 27-28 - Closed - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! Community Center: Nov. 1 - Vendor/Craft Fair, benefit Toys for Tots Nov. 2 - Vendor Fair, Quarter Auction Nov. 4 - Elections Nov. 10-11 - Closed - Veterans Day Holiday Nov. 15 - Senior Citizens Holiday BazaarNov. 27-28 - Closed - HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Upcoming December Events: Dec. 2 - Chamber of Commerce Luncheon Dec. 5 - Festival of Angels Hand-madecrafters needed! 13 schertzmagazine.com OCTOBER 2014 SZSchertz Magazine in Europe Schertz residents Sharon and Mike Harris recently visited Niedersteinbach, France, a small village in the Alsace Lorraine region from where Sharon’s ancestors on her father’s side originated. They took this picture with the Mayor of Niedersteinbach, Christopher Schertz, in front of his restaurant holding the Schertz Magazine. Mayor Schertz was happy to receive a copy of the Schertz Magazine and the Schertz Visitor Guide which included a history of the original Schertz family from Alsace Lorraine. Mayor Schertz could not confirm any family connection to the original family who settled in Schertz, but was very interested in our city. And Washington State Schertz residents Emily (mom) and Ginger (age 3) Whigham recently visited friends in Lake Tapps, Washington. Here’s a picture of Ginger with her Schertz Magazine in front of Mt Rainier. Locals say a clear view of Mt. Rainier like is only visible about 80 days of the year. And Mt. Rushmore The Martin clan (from left Sheridan, Jeff, Tasha and Grace) from Jonas Woods neighborhood in Schertz took Schertz Magazine with them to trips in Canada and Mount Rushmore. They sent this photo in front of the iconic moun- tain with faces of presi- dents. And Canada Sandi Begley took Schertz Magazine along as on a trip where she climbed Sulphur Mountain in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Take your copy of Schertz Magazine when you travel and take a photo of the mag and you in front of a recognizable place and send to events@ schertz.com. You might just make it into the magazine.Thanks for takin’ us alon g ! OCTOBER 2014 schertzmagazine.com 14 Your local Schertz H-E-B is being expanded to provide you with a bigger, better, and fresher shop- ping experience. We will close on Tuesday November 4th, at 9 PM and will reopen the store with our new Perishables Departments on Wednesday, November 5th at 8 AM! During the week of November 5th thru-10th there will be fun activi- ties, demos, samples, and enter- tainment, plus the exciting depart- ments below: Blooms, our new Floral Depart- ment, will offer unique boutique items and gifts, in addition to fresh flower arrangements, gift baskets, and balloons. A fresh scratch bakery offering artisan breads, baked goods (cakes, icing, cream cakes, muffins, and Tres Leches cake) and a Tortilleria. The Deli will have a bigger, better cheese shop and in-house roasted meats, such as, turkey and roast beef. Our Produce Department will feature a new Fresh Section. We will offer a variety of fresh squeezed juices. There will be a larger selec- tion of in-store fresh cut berries and vegetables. SZ Note from your neighborhoodH-E-B Our new Perishables side will include the Healthy Living Area where you can buy bulk healthy foods, such as, granolas, nuts, and a jerky bar. There will also be fresh grind nut butter stations. Our new Cooking Connection and Produce Foodie station will help educate our customers on meal solutions. The Seafood Department will fea- ture a wider selection of oven-ready fresh made meals and a larger selection of exotic fresh fish, wild caught fish, and whole fish variet- ies. The Market will offer an expanded custom shop. It will showcase a larger variety of organic meats, veal, bison, and grass fed meats. Our Beer and Wine section will offer a larger selection of craft beers and do- mestic and interna- tional wines. Our newly ex- panded frozen food selection will offer a larger selection of meal solutions. As the store con- tinues its remodel, there will be ongo- ing construction. The store entrance on the 3009 side will TAKE CHARGEOF THE GREAT OUTDOORS Power up all your outdoor fun this fall. Selma at The Forum | 8143 Agora Pkwy. | 210.566.7702 ©In t e r s t a t e B a t t e r i e s | A B C 1 1 4 0 - 1 1 i | 1 0 / 1 4 Valid one coupon per customer, per visit. Not valid with other offers or discounts. Valid on retail purchases at participating stores only. If total purchase is less than $5, customer is not due any refund or credit. See store for details. COUP963 Ø1Ø1BB222 Expires 12/31/14 Camo LED Focus Lite with AC ChargerLite the way to outdoor fun! 25%Off* * Product availability may vary by location. Valid on retail purchases at participating stores only. See store for details. Offer expires: 12/31/14. be permanently closed. This is where the future Pharmacy and drive-thru will be located. The entrances to the store will be those facing IH-35. Thank you for your patience dur- ing our construction as we strive to improve your Schertz H-E-B and provide the best customer shopping experience. We have hired over 100 new partners and the hiring will continue as the expansion progresses. We will continue to provide you with the freshest produce and products to meet your needs. We appreci- ate the opportunity to serve this community and look forward to our continued partnership. 15 schertzmagazine.com OCTOBER 2014 SZ Texas Mobile Pack Program Feeding Foreign Kids Sixteen thousands volunteers, most of whom were strang- ers when they started but were family when they finished, produced approximately 4 million meals in 4 days - September 25-28. The volunteers for the Texas Mobile Pack program worked at the Schertz Civic Center and two other San Antonio area locations to prepare enough food to feed 11,000 children in foreign countries for a year. During the noon to 2 p.m. “shift” at the Civic Center on Sep- tember 25 workers produced 197 boxes and a total of 42,552 individual packages of food that will feed 116 children one meal a day for a year. The energy in the Civic Center was overwhelming as up- beat music kept the mood jumping and the assembly line process humming along. It was plain to see that people felt inspired and downright good about making a difference. The coordination of complete strangers doing a variety of tasks they probably never did before is testament to the Texas Mobile Pack program efficiency and more than 150 people having a single mind-set – make as many food packs as possible in the time allotted during the noon to 2 p.m. period. The process involved mixing rice, soy, vegetables and a mixture of flavoring and essential vitamins. Each package makes an easy meal for several people. Blue Santa Kicking Off Applications will be available beginning on Monday, November 10, 2014 - December 5, 2014. Must live in the city of Schertz. We will have drop off boxes in businesses throughout the city. Donations are accepted at the Schertz Police Department. Donations can include cash, non-perishable foods, new toys, new clothes. Any questions, call or email Esther Mendoza at 210-619- 1213 or emendoza@ schertz.com. Gold Award Project Seeks Loving Homes A Girl Scout project hopes to find new homes for a group of foster children. The Heart Gallery of San Antonio is a traveling exhibit that brings photographs of children waiting to be adopted into public spaces including two locations in Schertz. Those are: • Schertz Public Library November 8th-14th • Schertz Civic Center November 15th The exhibit is part of Roni Fraser’s Girl Scout Gold Award project. Please join her in celebrating Schertz’ inaugural Heart Gallery. Photographs are displayed at various community and corporate venues where they can be used to help attract potential adoptive families. The gallery also raises aware- ness and educates the community about foster children. The exhibit teams up with professional photographers who capture the individuality and spirit of our local foster chil- dren to help them find their “forever families.” Top Fed EMS Official Visits Schertz EMS Schertz EMS got a visit from the top EMS official in the nation recently. Drew E. Dawson, Director, National High- way, Traffic and Safety Administration Office of Emergency Medical Services stopped in Schertz as part of a visit to the San Antonio area. In the photo below are - left to right - Jason Mabbitt, Schertz EMS; Joseph Schmider, Texas State EMS Director; Dudley Wait, Schertz EMS; Dawson; and Mirinda Gormley and Gamunu Witjetunge, NHTSA Office of EMS. 205 FM 3009, Schertz, TX 78154 (210) 658-1717 / ChristianBrothersAuto.com Mon – Fri: 7am – 6pm Sat & Sun: Closed Nice difference.® Free local shuttle Free WiFi Locally owned All makes and models Convenient location Prepare for Holiday Travel Make Sure Your Vehicle Is Safe Before You Hit The Road Holiday Trip Special Oil Change, Starting/ Charging System Test & Courtesy Inspection Incudes up to 5 qts. synthetic-blend oil (excludes full-synthetic and diesel). Must be presented at time of service. Not to be combined with other offers. Expires 12/31/14. 49 99$ (Regularly $69.99) OCTOBER 2014 schertzmagazine.com 18 Schertz Chamber/Caterpillar Golf Classic a Success! Thanks to all who participated in the Golf Classic this year at Northcliffe Golf Course! The annual fundraiser was to help provide scholarships to DECA students at both Clemens and Steele High Schools. We will be awarding those scholarships at the December chamber luncheon. A big thank you to the following sponsors: Caterpillar in Schertz, Schertz Bank and Trust, Walmart at 3009, Red McCombs Toyota, Hanson Servtex Quarry, GVEC, Bluebonnet Palace, O’Haver Contractors, City of Selma, Frost Bank, Main Street Garage, SERVPRO of Guadalupe and Gonzales County, Gunn Buick/GMC/ Chevrolet, and Pawderosa Ranch Doggie Play and Stay, as well as all our players, volunteers and staff. See you next year! National Cinemedia Your Schertz Chamber Welcoming New Member! Congratulations to National Cinemedia on their Membership to the Schertz Chamber. Teri Pearce is also a member of the young professional’s group hYPer. NO Monthly Chamber Luncheon in November. Our last luncheon of the year will be early, on December 2nd due to the holiday season so please make note. Luncheons will resume at their normal 3rd Tuesday of the Month beginning January 20th. November Chamber Mixer The Chamber After-Hours Mixer is scheduled on November 6th at Pawderosa Ranch Doggie Play and Stay, located at 7 Commercial Place in Schertz. Time is 5:30pm to 7pm. Food, beverages and Chamber Cash drawing! Admission is $10 and free to Schertz Chamber members. For more information on how to join the Schertz Chamber of Commerce, please visit our website at schertzchamber.org or call us at 210-566-9000. OCTOBER 2014 schertzmagazine.com 20 SZ National Night Out Lights Up Schertz National Night Out in Schertz gets big- ger ever year as more and more neigh- borhoods take part. The 31st Anniversary of NNO celebrated October 7 in Schertz was no exception. From IH-10 in the south Schertz area to IH-35 on the north side of Schertz, neighbors and neighborhoods came together to embrace NNO as an anti- crime event that strengthens commu- nity ties and public safety. Front yards, community parks, cul- de-sacs and driveways were gathering places for residents, neighbors, city leaders and Public Safety personnel to visit, share information, and enjoy food and drink in a friendly atmosphere from 6 PM to just after sunset. Five City of Schertz teams - including City Council members, senior staff, Po- lice, Fire and EMS supervisors and rank and file - spread out to visit businesses, neighborhoods and apartments. The City teams stopped at about 20 locations and presented City Council proclamations honoring the NNO cel- ebration at each stop. NNO 2013 involved 37.8 million people in 16,242 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide OCTOBER 2014 schertzmagazine.com 22 IB Program Gives Global Perspective By Taryn McGillivray Clemens Student Writer The program prepares students not only for high school, but also for college and life after public school. It presents challenges that the average high school students does not generally face and allows students to pursue excellence. IB students pursue an inter- nationally-recognized “IB Diploma,” which requires them to do an extended essay, participate in a Theory of Knowledge class and complete a Creativ- ity, Action, Service (CAS) requirement. IB students set themselves apart from the rest of the crowd by fac- ing rigorous homework and classwork, extracurricular activities and community service projects. IB may sound like any other academic program on campus, but it sets itself apart from AP and Dual Credit in many ways. Whereas AP and Dual Credit are simply classes that students may opt to take, IB is a program that students follow through the course of their high school career. Students in IB are expected to be well round- ed and complete a series of courses, research, service and leadership outside the classroom. They are not limited to only taking IB classes, but are also able to take AP classes as well, and unlike AP, the IB Diploma Program requires each stu- How much do you actually know about the Inter- national Bac- calaureate program? The mission statement of the program says: “The Inter- national Baccalaureate (IB) aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.” “I’ve learned to manage my time and push myself harder than I have before...” -Koko Winn FEATUREZ 23 schertzmagazine.com OCTOBER 2014 dent to take courses in six academic areas. A common misconception of IB students is that they only focus on school. Koko Winn, a senior at Samuel Clemens High School, is a perfect example show- ing how stereotypes of IB students are wrong. She is the colonel of the Belles dance team, a member of the student council and key club, and has a job on the weekends. It may seem like a lot of work, but Winn still keeps everything together. “Managing things can be stressful, but not if you have a strong network of friends around you,” she stated. Instead of taking the easy way out and simply gliding through high school, Winn decided to take the chal- lenging path of IB, following in her sister’s footsteps. “I originally decided to join IB because my sister would tell me about all the books they read and all the activi- ties they did, and I realized I wanted to be a part of that.” For Winn, IB is more than just something that will look good on her tran- scripts; it is something that she can express herself through. “I really like how the IB program focuses not only on academics but being a better member of society through CAS.” CAS projects encourage students to share their spe- cial talents with others by expecting students to par- ticipate in community and social service; it increases awareness of their areas for growth and allows them to undertake new challenges and develop new skills. “For my CAS project, I make cards with a group of fellow IB students,” Winn said. “It started out with one of our teachers not feeling well, but now we make cards ev- ery holiday for IB teachers.” Every year, the IB students all get together for what is known as the “IB Lock-In.” This year, Winn is one of those in charge of planning students are a huge family. As a unique group that can only relate the struggles of IB to each other, they spend immense amounts of time together and develop strong bonds. “I have graduates who I still keep in touch with from my sister’s year. I know I’ll keep many of my friendships throughout college due to this program,” Winn said. The biggest takeaway from the program for Winn was how much it has prepared her for college. “I’m not stressed about the course load I know that college is going to offer me,” Winn confidently stated. “I’ve learned to manage my time and push myself harder than I have before, thanks to my teachers.” Overall the IB program is definitely something to consider for new and cur- rent students in our dis- trict. It challenges students and teaches them how to prepare for the inevitable challenges of life. Samuel Clemens is the only high school in our district that offers the IB curriculum and has been offering it since the spring of 2005. Students and/or parents are encouraged to contact Mrs. Josephine Rodriguez or Ms. Sam Rhodes at ib@ scuc.txed.net if they have questions regarding the program and how to apply. the event. “We like to carry an in- ternational thing, but other than that I can’t share much. Only the planners know what’s going on, but I can’t wait for everyone to find out,” Winn said when asked what the plans included so far. When it comes down to it, IB Koko Winn with the Belles dance team. 25 schertzmagazine.com OCTOBER 2014 ELECTION DAY NOVEMBER 4, 2014 POLLING PLACES (UBICACIÓN DE LAS CASILLAS ELECTORALES EL DÍA DE ELECCIÓN) Polls Open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Comal County: Precinct 202 John Paul II Catholic High School, 6720 FM 482, New Braunfels 301 Westside Community Center, 2932 So. IH 35, New Braunfels Guadalupe County: Precinct 303 Schertz Elections Office 1101 Elbel Rd., Schertz 304 Schertz United Methodist Church 3460 Roy Richard Dr., Schertz 305 Selma City Hall 9375 Corporate Dr., Selma 306 Crosspoint Fellowship Church 2600 Roy Richard Drive, Schertz 401 Immaculate Conception Catholic Church 212 N. Barnett St., Marion 402 Schertz Community Center 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz 403 Knights of Columbus Hall 509 Schertz Pkwy., Schertz 404 Schertz Community Center North, 3501 Morning Dr., Cibolo 409 Elaine S. Schlather Intermediate School 230 Elaine S. Schlather Pkwy., Cibolo Bexar County Precincts 4087, 4126, and 4127 Ray D. Corbett Junior High 12000 Ray Corbett Drive For more information contact the office of the Bexar County Elections Administrator, Jacquelyn F. Cal- lanen, at (210) 335-VOTE (8683) (Para mas informacion comuniquese con oficina del Condado de Bexar Administrador de Elecciones, Jacquelyn F. Callanen, al telefono (210) 335-VOTE (8683) To the registered voters of the City of Schertz: Notice is hereby given that the polling places listed below will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., November 4, 2014, for voting in the general election to elect Councilmembers for Place 1, Place 2 and for Mayor. NOTICE OF GENERAL ELECTION OCTOBER 2014 schertzmagazine.com 26 Schertz SWAT Team Ready To Roll By Chuck McCollough The Schertz Police Department has developed its own SWAT team and recently acquired a heavily armored vehicle to transport and protect the members. The tall vehicle can be used in many scenarios such as barricaded crimi- nals, hostage rescue and natural disaster response including flooding, officials said. For a number of years, Schertz PD was a member of the Guadalupe County SWAT Team, which is made up of of- ficers from various law enforcement agencies in the county. “A couple of months ago we reevaluat- ed our situation and decided - based on the way our city is growing and ex- panding - that it was more conducive for the city to have our own SWAT Team. It will allow for faster responses to situations in our growing area,” said Lt. John Correu. “The decision to have our own team was made with the understanding that we still have mutual aid agree- ments with neighboring cities and our SWAT team will help them just as they will help us,” said Correu, who handles the administrative aspects of the SWAT team. 27 schertzmagazine.com OCTOBER 2014 FEATUREZ SWAT stands for Special Weapons and Tactics team and is a voluntary assign- ment. Officers requesting to be on the SWAT team go through a rigorous selec- tion process and training before being assigned as a member. Not long after the decision was made to form a Schertz SWAT team, the police department put in an ap- plication for the vehicle - a former U.S. Army MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) Vehicle. That application was made through the Section 1033 program that authorizes the Department of De- fense to transfer excess military property to local law enforcement agencies. Schertz PD got the MRAP at no cost. The application was ap- proved in short order and the $770,000 vehicle - along with additional tires - was driven to Schertz where it was repainted and the Schertz Police Department name added to its sides. By creating its own SWAT team, the Schertz Police Department incurred a number of high cost, one- time expenses to equip all of the members. The fund- ing for these expenditures came from seized assets and no tax dollars were used to directly support these initial costs. The chief of police is adamant that no taxpayer money will be uti- lized on SWAT equipment. The public first got a chance to see the new vehicle when it was driven in the Fourth of July Jubilee parade. The vehicle will be used pri- marily by the SWAT team, but is available for a variety of uses including high water passage and mobile command post. The Schertz SWAT team Since the decision was made in spring to start the program the police depart- ment has worked to get all of the parts into place. That includes certification for the team members as well as the big vehicle that will transport them and lots of training - especially at the empty house on Live Oak Road in front of the towers and the house is now used for training purposes by the Schertz PD and, occasionally, Schertz Fire Rescue. Patrol Sergeant Thad Si- wecki is the tactical com- mander for SWAT and in will consist of 12 members and a negotiator and four tactical medics, who func- tion much as combat med- ics in the military. giant water tower at the top of the hill. The city took ownership of the house when it pur- chased the land for water charge of day to day opera- tions including training. “We are in the process of running our first SWAT class and will have all “It’s all about problem solving... with a peaceful solution the best solution.” Patrol Sergeant Thad Siwecki, Tactical Commander for SWAT cont’d on page 28 OCTOBER 2014 schertzmagazine.com 28 SWAT members certified and the new SWAT vehicle will be ready by October 1,” Siwecki said during a SWAT team training session at the house in mid-September. As officers trained on how to approach a-suspect-in- a-car scenario behind him, Siwecki talked more about the new program. “Our goal is to train 24 hours a month. We call it scenario-based training and it involves different topics including active shooter, hostage rescue from house Schertz SWAT Team cont’d from page 27 FEATUREZ or vehicle, barricaded sus- pect and others,” he said. Siwecki said Schertz SWAT will train with other area SWAT teams to learn from each other and build famil- iarity that would come in handy when different teams are working as part of a larger operation. “Another advantage of having our own team is this - when we were part of Guadalupe County we had four SWAT members….now we have 12 and can now respond faster and with more people to a situation,” Siwecki stated. Siwecki said the SWAT team members work regu- lar patrol shifts and their interactions with other members of Schertz PD will be positive - because the training and tactics will be talked about and studied. “The biggest part of being a SWAT officer is using your head and training while re- sponding to a situation. It’s all about problem solving... with a peaceful solution the best solution,” said Siwecki, whose SWAT experience goes back to 1989. He has 26 years of military service - active and reserve - and worked on tactical response team for the Illinois Depart- ment of Corrections. Siwecki joined the Schertz Police Department in 2001 and became commander of the Guadalupe County SWAT team in 2009. 29 schertzmagazine.com OCTOBER 2014 New EMS Program Healthcare At Home By Chuck McCollough FEATUREZ cont’d on page 30 House calls are making a come- back in Schertz - sort of. In days gone by, doctors made house calls as part of a tradition that took healthcare into the home. House calls were com- mon in 1930 when ap- proximately 40 percent of patient encounters were in their home. By 1950 that had fallen to around 10 percent, and by 1980, only 1 percent, according to healthcare data. Today, the only doctors you are likely to see making house calls are in old mov- ies or TV reruns. Now, Schertz EMS is help- ing revive home health care through a concept called Mobile Integrated Healthcare or MIH. “This is the direction EMS is going in our country - this is health care evolving,” said Kellie Scurlock, Schertz EMS Community Health Manager. Kellie Scurlock visits with a resident at Merritt Lakeside. Make your reservation ahead of time on our website or call either of our locations! Schertz (210) 566-4222 Airport (210) 404-9941 weloveyourdog.net C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Paw_1-4Ad_Nov2014_Print.pdf 1 10/15/14 11:54 AM For the past 20 months or so Schertz EMS has operated an informal version of MIH where an EMS representative visits the homes of certain people in the EMS service area - many of whom are seniors -- who make numerous calls to 911 for non-emergency situa- tions. Scurlock spoke about one case that helped Schertz EMS discover how widespread the need is for a MIH program - also referred to as Community Paramedicine. “A local resident was calling 911 three or four times a day for an ambu- lance to take them to the ER (Emergency Room). There were a variety of health issues involved and the situation was unsustainable, both for the patient and the public safety agencies in Schertz,” Scurlock said. “It turns out the patient was using multiple doctors and multiple pharmacies and was taking something like 30 different meds. No one was talking to each other in this case. We started working with the patient and their physicians to see what resources were available. “We were able to get New EMS Program Healthcare at Home cont’d from page 29 the patient connected to a primary care physician, instead of using the emer- gency room physicians, as well as other community resources to address a vari- ety of needs. It came down to communication and integrating all of the pa- tient’s needs with the right resources,” Scurlock said. The intervention made a dramatic difference. “The patient’s primary care physician was able to reduce meds from over 30 to about three meds and the patient now calls (911 for an ambulance) about once a quarter (three months), due to chronic health conditions” the Community Health Manager said with a smile at the impressive turnaround. That patient was what Schertz EMS calls a “High Utilizer” - a frequent caller to 911 for non-emergencies. “Tying up an ambulance for a non-emergency trip to a hospital emergency room is going two wrong ways at the same time,” said Schertz EMS Director Dudley Wait. “Currently we are using the most expensive means of transportation (ambulance) to take patients to the most expensive place to get health care (ER); We want to change that,” he said. 31 schertzmagazine.com OCTOBER 2014 The Schertz EMS Mission Statement is “To create a healthier community by providing preventative, timely and efficient health- care services and destina- tion management for the citizens we serve.” “To help achieve this,” Wait said, “we have developed a new Community Health Program that is working together with community resources to integrate health care for our patients. By directing our patients to the right resources at the right time, we can reduce costs to both the patient, medical providers, payers and also allow our patients to receive the right level of care, ulti- mately achieving the right outcome for the patient. “Currently, we have been able to assist 15 patients in obtaining resources that allowed them to reduce the number of unnecessary ER trips. We identified the 15 people based on frequency of use of our EMS System as well as referrals from our field crews and other com- munity groups. “The resources obtained for these patients ranged from finding them primary care physicians to working with case managers in hospitals to find placement in long term nursing care facilities. We continue to work these cases as they are identified,” the EMS director said. The Mobile Integrated Healthcare model is a good idea at a good time because the senior population (Baby Boomers reaching retire- ment age) will soon make a big jump and with it the number of non-emergency 911 calls, officials predict. The “high utilizers” and their numerous calls to 911 are a growing situation that not so long ago seemed like a no win situation for 911 and EMS operations nation- wide. San Antonio is also address- ing the looming problem that has five paramedics working with the 286 people identified as “high utilizers.” Officials believe they can eliminate up to 4,000 calls annually by working with that small group. The San Antonio pilot program kicked off Oct. 1, compared to the Schertz program that has been in progress for nearly two years. Schertz EMS has a reputa- tion for innovation and hav- ing a “being one of the first program that is coming at just the right time. “Our ambulance transports are increasing about 12 percent a year so it is es- sential that EMS ambulances be available for emergency response. Cutting down the number of non-emergency EMS runs is part of that ef- fort,” Scurlock said. She said the Community Health Program/MIH is not in competition with pri- vate home health care. “We are here to facilitate home health care, to be a resource and part of the solution.” The next phase of Schertz EMS Community Health Pro- gram will be focusing on pre- ventative care for chronically ill patients who are released from hospitals and have a high chance of readmission. These patients include those who leave the facility after been diagnosed with condi- tions such as heart failure, pneumonia, myocardial infarction, chronic occlusive pulmonary disease, and hip and knee replacement. EMS Director Wait said: “As the health care sys- tem continues to change, Schertz EMS (aka Schertz Mobile Healthcare) is ready to partner with all health care providers to make sure health care in our communi- ties is integrated through all aspects of the health care system leading to higher levels of service and greater economic and delivery ef- ficiencies.” with a planned pilot pro- gram to cut emergency service costs by reducing the frequency of calls from their “high utilizers” A small group of residents, numbered at 286, make nearly 4,000 mostly non- emergency calls annually to 911 resulting in 2,400 EMS transports to an emergency room that cost San Antonio $1.8 million, according to media reports. The San Antonio Fire and EMS Department, has started a Mobile Integrated Healthcare pilot program to try new things”’ mentality. The Community Health Pro- gram where Scurlock works with patients in their homes is the latest example. “When people hear the name Schertz EMS they know we are on the front line of change and that we do things no one has done yet. We are a smaller depart- ment (than San Antonio) and smaller departments can innovate and adapt faster,” she said. And the Community Health Program (aka Mobile Integrated Healthcare) is a 33 schertzmagazine.com OCTOBER 2014 continued on page 34 SCUC Ag More Than Cows And Sows By Jim and Diana WebbHigh school students in the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District (SCUCISD) interested in agriculture science are afforded a wonder- ful array of opportunities offered through the Career and Technical Education (CTE) department. A main attraction for students is the ability to join the Ci- bolo Creek FFA chapter and to be able to raise an animal for show and, ultimately, for sale. The Cibolo Creek FFA chapter is unique in that it includes students from two high schools, Samuel Clem- ens and Byron Steele II. The FFA is not an extracurricu- lar activity for students but rather an intracurricular activity. The distinction is that FFA provides students a comprehensive learning experience through both classroom and hands-on experiences. Students must be enrolled in an agricul- ture science class to be FFA members. However, students may be enrolled in agriculture science classes without joining the FFA. Amanda Holman, a career and technical education department teacher and chairperson at Clemens, is the FFA advisor and the district agricultural sci- ence department lead. She is a Judson High School graduate and has a master’s degree in agriculture from Tarleton State University in Stephenville. On the day of our interview, she was accompanied by student teacher Emily Ikels, a senior from Tarleton State Univer- sity and a New Braunfels resident, who is working in the Clemens CTE depart- ment this semester. Amy Massey is a career and technical education depart- ment teacher at Steele, FEATUREZ Kaylee Ites and Milo OCTOBER 2014 schertzmagazine.com 34 the FFA advisor and also the barn manager for the district. She is a graduate of East Central High School and has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. SCUCISD agriculture sci- ence courses cover a variety of interests including, but not limited to, animal sci- ence, veterinary science, equine science, plant sci- ence, horticulture, metal working, carpentry, live- stock production, wildlife and natural resources man- agement, and professional standards and communica- tion. Typically, students may select from 14 course offer- SCUC Ag cont’d from page 33 FEATUREZ ings each semester. After reviewing student enroll- ment choices, those courses with a minimum of 13-16 students will be taught that semester. This semester there are more than 580 students en- rolled in agriculture science classes at the two schools. In many subject areas, qualified students are able to obtain professional and educational certifications, such as veterinary medical assistant, floral design, dog training, and hunter, boat- ing and angler education. Currently, the district high schools are piloting several new potential certifica- tion opportunities which, if found appropriate and of interest to students, will be integrated into the related courses. Each high school currently has three agriculture sci- ence teachers. In addition to their daily formal classroom teaching responsibilities, each teacher supervises par- ticular competitive teams and a livestock species. Each FFA member is re- quired to complete a “super- vised agriculture experience project” each year. For those interested in completing a livestock project, the district maintains two barns at the Toby Connor complex in Cibolo. Students choosing a live- stock project must bear the full cost of the project. This includes purchasing the animal, obtaining feed, and providing needed veteri- nary care, inoculations, and medicines. Also, the stu- dents provide daily care for their animal and maintain their assigned areas in the barns. The district and the FFA have many area breed- ers with whom they work to provide suitable animals for the students. As a part of their classroom instruction, students learn what to look for in selecting an animal for show and for market. Students with livestock projects participate in one or more shows, from the district level (to be held this year on Dec 13, 2014, at the district barns on Schlather Street and to which the pub- lic is invited!) to county, and to area (for example, the San Antonio Livestock Show and the Star of Texas show in Austin). At the conclusion continued on page 36 Leigha M. Nielsen, OD 17460 IH 35 North, Suite 412 Schertz, TX 78154 210.590.2482 www.schertztso.com Use or Lose Your Insurance Benefits BeforeYear End Caring for the Eyes of Texas OCTOBER 2014 schertzmagazine.com 36 of the shows, the animal is auctioned. The money earned from the auction goes to the student and is used for a variety of purposes such as to defray project expenses, or savings for col- lege tuition. Kaylee Ites, a Clemens senior and this year’s president of the Cibolo Creek FFA (and, she proudly told us, a future Texas A&M Aggie!), is doing her third livestock project, a steer named Milo. There are many other options for a supervised agriculture experience project. These include conducting appropriate research, volunteer work with an agriculture science-related organization, entering a science fair, and pursuing an entrepreneurial activity. The classroom instruction in the various content areas is designed to prepare students to be successful in whichever type of project they choose. Also, each high school maintains a kennel on campus where students learn dog grooming skills, among other things. [NOTE: Community members may take advantage of this grooming opportu- nity for their family dogs on a space- available basis. If you are interested in learning more about this, contact the agriculture science department at either Clemens (945-6575) or Steele (619-4037).] In addition to these annual projects, FFA members may join one or more competitive agriculture science teams, and compete in events from the local to the state level, and some on a national level. Students on these SCUC Ag cont’d from page 34 FEATUREZ teams must meet and main- tain the same Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) eli- gibility require- ments as do stu- dents on athletic teams. There are teams available in leadership de- velopment, e.g., public speaking, industrial skills, and career de- velopment, e.g., floral design. The district typically provides needed transportation for students in these competi- Trevor’s sister, Morgan, a fourth- grader at Paschal Elementary, also is raising a pig as a project. Mom Leah Godfredson was at the barn supervis- ing, advising, and assisting Trevor with his pig maintenance and training activities. Our SCUCISD students, their parents, our entire community indeed is fortu- nate to have this jewel of an intracur- ricular program available. We should be grateful to and appreciative of the outstanding educators who give so much of their time and of their talents for the benefit of the students and of the community. tions. The teachers told us they stay especially busy with these various competitive teams in the second semester and spend many nights away from home in support of their students’ efforts. The Cibolo Creek FFA also offers a junior program, open to district students who are at least in the third grade and eight years old. These students attend chapter activities and are eligible to participate in a supervised agriculture experience project. On the day we visited the district barns, we met sisters Chris- tie and Brynleigh Fortes, students at Schlather Intermediate School, and Trevor Godfredson, a student at Wilder Intermediate, each of whom was tending their pigs. Trevor Godfredson and his pig. 37 schertzmagazine.com OCTOBER 2014 Line Dancers Have Happy Feet By Lucille Sims Thomas So it turns out dance really does keep you young. No really. Just ask Dorothy Boyle, 74, Mary Pieniazek, 89, and Mary Smith, 76, who all line dance for both fun and fitness — but mostly fun. The three are part of a group of line dancing fans who meet every Tuesday at the Schertz Community Center to cut the rug with Smith as instructor. Boyle, who has been danc- ing all of her life, started line dancing at the center in Schertz 10 years ago. With the numbers down at the group’s once a week session, Boyle is hoping to get the message out about how much fun line dancing can be. “I love it — and we don’t only do country-western dances, we do waltzes and New York dances where we kick our legs. We do just all kinds of dances and it’s such a variety — that’s why people love it,” Boyle said. The class is sponsored by Methodist Healthcare and is open to anyone 55 or older. It starts at 9:30 a.m. with the easier line dance We do just all kinds of dances and it’s such a variety - that’s why people love it.” -Dorothy Boyle routines taught for the first hour. Then after a 15-min- ute break, the class starts anew with more compli- cated routines for more experienced line dancers or those who just want more of a challenge. Pieniazek has also danced all of her life and can’t say enough about how much she likes the class. “Line dancing is very com- pensating and it gets more compensating as you get continued on page 38 FEATUREZ OCTOBER 2014 schertzmagazine.com 38 210-888-2753 - 6032 FM3009, Schertz www.encantogrill.com Breakfast Served Every Day Monday-Friday 7-11am Saturday & Sunday 10am-3pm older. You have a tendency to kind of fall apart and line dancing keeps your going,” the octogenarian said. Pieniazek drives to the class each Tuesday from Adkins and looks forward to her time on the dance floor as a way of getting out and socializing. “I look forward to doing something,” she said with a smile. Though she loves line danc- ing, Boyle said she has no intentions of becoming an instructor. “It’s more fun for me just to greet people and have them fill out paperwork,” Boyle said of her role in making the class a success. “We do birthday cards and get-well cards — so I like doing the social part of it.” Right now about 15 to 20 people show up to strut their stuff on the dance floor, but the numbers used to be considerably higher and Boyle would like to see a return to those glory days. She thinks 40 would be an ideal number and is spread- ing the word to try to make that happen. Smith has been teaching line dancing since the 1980s and said she became an instructor because it looked like a lot of fun and she could dance without a part- ner. She said she likes being a line dance instructor “because it’s good exercise and fun.” Starting in January, Smith, who drives in from Stock- dale, will no longer teach the class but her replace- ment, Margie Kemp of Windcrest, is ready to take over. Smith is not sure if she will teach any place else but said she will definitely continue dancing. Pieniazek emphasizes that line dancing also helps keep the mind sharp. “Every piece they play — the footwork is different and you have to listen and pay attention — and that’s good for you. And if you don’t listen you’re going one way and they’re going the other,” Pieniazek said. The class is made up of mostly women but Boyle hopes as word of the free class spreads and numbers go up, more men will give the class a try. For more information call Dorothy at 210-862-0195. Line Dancers cont’d from page 37 “I’ve advertised in Scher tz Magazine for the past 3 years and have had great success. Numerous customers have mentioned finding out about Best Friendz by seeing the advertisement in Schertz Magazine!” Sue Britton, Owner of Best Friendz CIVIC NEWZ YOUR EXCLUSIVE SOURCE FOR NEWS FROM THE CITY OF SCHERTZ Proclamation Salutes Fire Prevention Week Schertz Fire Rescue Chief David Covington said Fire Prevention Week was first celebrated in 1992 and occurs in early October in remembrance of the Great Chicago Fire that burned from Sunday, October 8, to early Tuesday, October 10, 1871. Some 250 people died and 100,000 were left homeless in a fire that burned 17,400 buildings. SFR used not only the week, but the entire month of October to promote fire safety around the city and visited a number of local schools, day cares, and other agencies. Schertz Deputy Fire Marshal John Perry (center) holds a City Coun- cil proclamation recognizing Fire Prevention Week as October 5-11. Joining Perry are Mayor Michael Carpenter (right) and City Man- ager John Kessel. 41 schertzmagazine.com OCTOBER 2014 Enrollment Time For EMS Passport To Care Program By Dudley Wait, EMS Director Schertz EMS is taking ap- plications for its Passport to Care program, which can reduce the cost of an emer- gency ambulance transport. Passport to Care allows citizens to pre-plan for emergencies. Nobody ever plans to have an accident or a medical emergency and have to dial 911 for an ambulance. As a result, these events are always ac- companied by unplanned and often very expensive medical costs. Schertz EMS now has a plan to help you avoid some of these ex- penses. The Passport to Care plan works like this: If you have insurance that covers ambulance transpor- tation and are transported by Schertz EMS, you will pay nothing out-of-pocket for that transport. If you do not have insur- ance or your insurance says the ambulance transport was not necessary, you will receive an automatic 50 percent discount off your ambulance bill, and with our average transport bill checking in at approximate- ly $1,400, this is a potential savings of $600. So, for the low, low price of $50 to $75 a year, you can now rest assured that if you or a member of your family has a medical emergency, transportation to the hos- pital will be taken care of potentially with no cost to you. That’s right--no co-pay, no deductible and no out- of-pocket costs (as long as your insurance deems it medically necessary). This plan is available to everyone who resides or works in the Schertz EMS service area regardless of your insured status, with the lone exception of Medicaid recipients. The state of Texas does not allow Medicaid recipients to participate in an EMS membership plan because Medicaid does not come with any out-of-pocket expenses. So the plan would be unnecessary for Medicaid recipients. Cost: • $50 for an individual (insured) • $60 for family (insured) • $65 for individual (uninsured) • $75 for family (uninsured) Residents in the service area should expect a registration package in their mailboxes in early November. For more information, visit schertzemspassport. com, or call (210) 619- 1450. OCTOBER 2014 schertzmagazine.com 42 American Planning Association Honors the Schertz Planning Department The Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association recently awarded the City of Schertz Planning Depart- ment the 2014 Certificate of Achievement for Planning Excellence. The award means the Schertz Planning Department meets the Chapter’s five key goals for: *Increasing awareness of profes- sional planning; *Recognizing Planning Depart- ments that meet certain profes- sional requirements; *Enhancing neighborhood and citizens recognition of planning efforts; *Encouraging the funding of profes- sional training for commissioners and staff; *Aiding in economic development and community image. Receiving above with the award are staff members and Planning and Zoning Commission members. From left to right - Bryce Cox, Planner; Patti White, Executive Assistant; Michael Dahle, Commissioner; Michelle Sanchez, Development Services Director; Richard Braud, Commissioner; David Richmond, Commission Chairman; Bert Crawford, Commissioner; Ken Greenwald, Commissioner; Ernest Evans, Commissioner; Lesa Wood, Senior Planner. 43 schertzmagazine.com OCTOBER 2014 Sewer Averaging Will Affect Residents 2014-2015 Bills Sewer averaging for the winter months begins on October 24, 2014 and continues through March 6, 2015, for cycle bill- ing. Meter readings taken over this period determine your sewer average for the next billing year, which begins April 1. The readings will be averaged, and the average will be mul- tiplied by $3.27 and that total added to the base rate of $6.83 for residents with an average below 12,000 gallons. For residents with usage greater than 12,001 gallons, that portion of the average will be multiplied by $5.15 and that total will be added to the rate of $6.83 for residential use. The resulting average will be your sewer charge for the next 12 months. For more information, visit Schertz.com or call 210-619-1100. Street Signs Honoring Mayor Bueker Installed In two recent ceremonies, former Mayor Robert Bueker was honored for his service and contributions to the City of Schertz. In a recent City Council meeting, former Mayor Bueker received a copy of the ceremonial street sign with his name that is now attached to the Tri-County Parkway street signs. A few days later Mayor Bueker was joined by Mayor Michael Carpenter and City Council members as well as family and friends when the signs - saying Honorable Mayor Robert Bueker Pkwy - were installed. Presented by the Schertz Historical Preservation Committee in the interest of historical perspective and community awareness of local historical legacies. Quote of Note “What is the fire in your but the flame of a thousand ancestors?” Author - Robert Brault Local History On November 7, 1866, Sebastian Schertz purchased 307 acres of land along Cibolo Creek in Guadalupe County and began building a farming and business enterprize that would spark development of Schertz, Texas. Texas History On November 23, 1835, the Texas Rangers organization was officially established by the Texas provisional government. Although Stephen F. Austin had hired 10 frontiersman as “rangers” to help protect the colonists against Indian raids in 1823. In November 1850, the Texas governor signed the com- promise of 1850, in which Texas gave up its claim to land that includes more than half of what is now New Mexico, about a third of Colorado, a corner of Oklahoma and a small portion of Wyoming, in exchange for the United States assumption of $10 million in debt. On November 30, 1869 Texas voters approved a new constitution. On November 22, 1963, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Looking Back November 3 0 0 9 SCHNEIDER 110 3 HIGHWAY 78 HIGHW A Y 7 8 R O Y R I C H A R D D R I V E BORGFE L D R O A D 1-35 1-35 1 - 1 6 0 4 #1 reason to check out RockPoint ChuRch: Because we’ll never ask you to stand and greet the people around you! 750 SCHNEIDER DRIVE, CIBOLO, TEXAS 78108 I GOTOROCKPOINT.COM Explore Faith Make a Difference Come As You Are City of Schertz Elected Officials Mayor: Michael Carpenter (210) 619-1045 Council Members:Jim Fowler (210) 658-1442David Scagliola (830) 606-1130Daryl John (210) 204-2750Cedric Edwards, Sr. (210) 566-4540Matthew Duke (210) 204-8649 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) 619-1000Economic 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 #info IMPORTANT SCHERTZ WEBSITES schertz.com visitschertz.com schertzmagazine.com Like us on Facebook November 2014 CITY CALENDARZ November Junior Acheivement 5K Run: Saturday, November 1 Hal Baldwin Scholarship Golf Tourna- ment; Friday, November 7 Turkey Trot 5K; Thursday, November 27 December Festival of Angels; Friday, December 5 March Wilenchik Walk for Life: Saturday March 7 Be sure to check out visitschertz.com for more event info! Annual Events:Tuesday, 4 City Council, 6:00 PM Council Chamber Thursday, 6 TSAC, 5:30 PM -City Council Chambers Monday, 10 City Holiday Veterans Day (offices closed) Tuesday, 11 City Holiday Veterans Day (offices closed) Monday, 17 Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, 5:30 PM Bob Andrews Room Tuesday, 18 City Council, 6:00 PM Council Chamber Wednesday, 19 Planning & Zoning, 6:00 PM Council Chambers Tuesday, 25 City Council, 6:00 PM Council Chamber Thursday, 27 EDC Board, 6:00 PM Council Chambers Thursday 27 thru Friday 28 City Holiday Thanksgiving Day (offices closed) Meeting locations may change, please visit the calendar at www.schertz.com for more information. SCHERTZ FAMILY YMCA °Register for Youth Basketball today ymca.org! °Personal Training Special for the month of November-December *30% off personal training packages 3 pack—$165 now $115.50 6 pack- $300 now $210 12 pack- $480 now $336 Visit our branch to learn more or call us! (210) 619-1900. 621 Westchester Drive Schertz Tx. YMCA Mission: To put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT 1400 SCHERTZ PARKWAY SCHERTZ, TEXAS 78154