Online at: www.CommunityCircular.com

Online at: www.CommunityCircular.com
1
2
Online at: www.CommunityCircular.com
S
mithson Valley High School in partnership with Comal ISD,
the Comal County Sheriff’s Office, Bulverde/Spring Branch
EMS/Fire Department and community agencies presented
an impactful event that sent a powerful message to teens about the
consequences of alcohol impaired driving. Shattered Dreams is a
two-day, school-based program that promotes responsible decisionmaking among high school students when it comes to underage
drinking and impaired or distracted driving (impaired driving is
drinking then driving or riding with a drinking driver).
The showcase of the program is a mock crash scene acted by
SVHS theater students that depicts the realistic yet tragic outcome
of adolescent drinking and driving. An audience of 1,000 SVHS
juniors and seniors watched the dramatization unfold complete
with a deceased teen being pulled from mangled wreckage of a
car. The Bulverde/Spring Branch EMS and Fire Department, New
Braunfels Police Department, AirLife, Zoeller Funeral Home,
Comal Towing and CISD Counselor Crisis Team all play roles over
the two day event. Capt. Andy Fox with Bulverde/Spring Branch
EMS coached the student actors and coordinated the crash scene.
“The audience was so quiet during the assembly,” said Lori Niles,
Family and Consumer Science (FACS) teacher at Smithson Valley
High School. “It shows they are affected by this realistic scene. The
program emphasizes the consequences of alcohol-related crashes-the ripple effect an accident has on innocent victims and the friends
and families who grieve them. Its purpose is to influence better
driving decisions,” added Niles. FACS students facilitate the whole
project, directed by Lori Niles and Mrs. Wendy McCuiston, FACS
teacher and co-coordinator of Shattered Dreams.
For the remainder of the school day, “living dead” students are
pulled from class by the Grim Reaper (actor) every 15 minutes to
show that every 15 minutes a young person dies from a drinking/
driving related accident. A friend then comes in to class to read the
students mock obituary. After school a student retreat was held for
participants. Guest speakers included Machelle Cevallos- SAFD/
Shattered Dreams Liason, Kandy Perkins- mother of former SVHS
student Randall Perkins, and Scotty Bolleter – Chief/Paramedic/
clinical Direction for Bulverde/Spring Branch EMS.
The second day of the program is a mock memorial service.
Students look on as a funeral service is enacted using a real casket.
Guest speakers were Mrs. Sally Bratton, who lost her niece in a
drinking and driving accident, and Mr. Charles Herring, who lost
his daughter in a reckless driving accident. Mr. Herring and his wife
designed a key chain that was given out to all assembly attendants
with the acronym “IGYB- I’ve Got Your Back,” encouraging
students to speak out about driving safely.
Doug Dunlap, Criminal Justice Instructor, coordinated the
interactive components of Shattered Dreams which includes a
DWI simulator that is available during social studies class for
upperclassmen, while freshman and sophomores can view the 2011
Shattered Dreams video and the AT&T ‘no texting’ video. The
CISD Counselor Crisis Team and Connections team are also on
hand to provide counseling.
The SVHS Shattered Dreams prevention program occurs every
two years because it is for juniors and seniors. The program was put
on in 2011 and 2013. A collaborative effort between administration
and faculty, students, parent volunteers, community organizations
and a host of public agencies; planning begins six months prior
to the event. “This community collaboration shows the interest of
all partners to reduce alcohol related incidents that happen all too
often,” said John Montelongo, Principal of Smithson Valley High
School. “It’s important to bring this real-life issue to the table for
our youth. “It lets them know you can’t just push the re-set button
on life like in a video game. The thought-provoking scenarios are
presented to improve students’ decision making on this topic,”
added Montelongo.
This focus on changing the attitudes and behaviors of young
adults when it comes to drinking, texting and distracted driving
seems to have an impact. Student Logan Bienack said, “We students
at Smithson Valley have suffered through many losses in the past
few years. Learning safe driving lessons has made us aware of how
to keep ourselves, as well as our close-knit community and friends
out of danger. The choices we make are the ones that can make or
break us--and events coming up such as prom and graduation will
make many of us think twice about our actions on our Friday and
Saturday nights.”
Sgt. Rick Cardenas, Comal County Sheriff’s Office/Community
Resource Team agrees that the program is effective. The Sheriff’s
Office has delivered the program on three campuses so far including
Canyon High School, Canyon Lake High School and Smithson
Valley High School. “The events have a very positive effect on the
students,” said Cardenas. “Law enforcement presence brings reality
to the event.” There is a lot of praise from those who witness the
program. “If the Shattered Dreams program prevents even one
death--which I am sure it already has--than it’s a success,” he added.
Online at: www.CommunityCircular.com
3
4
Online at: www.CommunityCircular.com
L
ocated near downtown, not far from Brackenridge
Park, is a place of serenity, a place that evokes a sense
of calm amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Nestled atop a hill, is the unique and beautiful 38-acre San
Antonio Botanical Garden. A place of tranquility where life is
in harmony and balance with nature.
If you have never been, or if it has been awhile, then this is
the perfect time of year to visit the Garden. There is something
for everyone. You enter the Garden grounds through the
quaint and historical Daniel Sullivan Carriage House. Built
in 1896, it was moved to this site stone by stone from its
original location downtown. Listed on the National Register
of Historic Places, it houses the gift shop and restaurant.
The annual Art in the Garden is one of the newest exhibits
and it runs through February 2014. It is a collaboration
with Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum and features ten
contemporary sculptures strategically placed throughout the
Garden grounds and showcases the works by members from
the Texas Sculpture Group, the Mid-South Alliance and
Chicago Sculpture International.
“We are so pleased to continue the tradition of Art in the
Garden and look forward to the new pieces each year,” said
Bob Brackman, Executive Director of San Antonio Botanical
Garden. “We encourage all of San Antonio to come experience
these contemporary sculptures. The art pieces fit beautifully
and compliment the garden. It is a great venue to showcase
these works.”
Shadow Land, a painted steel sculpture by Houston artist
Ben Woitena, is a work of dark and light contrasts, like
shadows playing off each other. The sculpture resembles a leaf
petal. There is an illusion of softness, as if it was cut and folded
out of paper into origami rather than cut out of hard cold
steel.
Another sculpture, Legacy II, created by Swiss-born artist
Jean Jacques Porret, was crafted in the lost wax technique of
bronze casting. This art piece sits gently perched on a granite
stand and appears
to defy gravity as it
weaves, folds, bends
and twists around like
liquid motion.
Brackman
says
visitors
tell
him
they
enjoy
how
the art looks in an
outdoor
setting
versus an indoor
venue or typical
museum setting. The
Adams Family from
Louisiana,
visiting
San Antonio for a
business conference,
came for a day outing
to enjoy the park and
take pictures. They said, “It’s just beautiful here. There is so
much to see, and we really are enjoying this, especially the art.”
The Garden is an ever-changing living museum of plants.
There is always something new to see and experience. “Were
all about education,” explains Brackman. “We’re about
gardening, about fun, about teaching, and we want people to
experience the garden for its beauty, and we want them to
learn from us as well.”
When asked what his favorite part is, Brackman expresses,
“My favorite changes every day, and it’s never the same. From
sunrise to sunset, there is something different … and I am
blessed to work in a profession I love, to be surrounded by
passionate volunteers who grow and sell plants, guide guests
and help in the gift shop. They water and maintain our plant
collections and do so much to help us throughout the year. We
could not do this without our volunteers.”
Over 600 volunteers put in about 32,000 man-hours last
year. Don Clowe, a Botanical Garden member for four years
and volunteer says with a smile, “I love to play in the dirt. It’s
fun. Besides, it’s cheaper than paying for a psychiatrist.”
Clowe says he especially enjoys working with sedums and
other succulent plants. He takes great care to place air plants
into the crevices of the limestone wall that runs along the
walkway. “This is my way of creating a poor mans’ version
of a Chihuly art sculpture,” he chuckles, “I make my art out
of plants, and I just love it.” The effect is truly artistic and
captivating.
The Garden offers a complex view of horticulture. From
their formal gardens to a collection of different themed
gardens like the Japanese Garden, an 80 X 80 square foot
garden surrounded by an intricately woven handmade fence;
a gift from the Botanical’s Sister City of Kumamoto, Japan.
There is also a Sensory Garden (Garden for the Blind) and
many other garden displays.
The Watersaver Garden, a partnership with San Antonio
Water System, is a program that communicates the message
to garden responsibly. Another exhibit is WaterSaver Lane,
which has six themed landscapes that show how to achieve
different looks by choosing different plants that use less water.
In addition, the park offers education classes, summer
camps and theatrical performances like Shakespeare in the
Park, concerts in summer months and family exhibits. The
summer’s long running exhibit is Savage Gardens, opening
June 29th and is all about carnivorous plants.
Another family favorite is the Children’s Vegetable Garden.
Twice a year a family rents a plot of land and for 13 weeks
every Saturday the children learn from Master Gardeners on
what to plant, how to plant and the children can take pride in
what they’ve grown.
The Garden is even host to Dog Days. Special weekends
during the year, where with admission and a $5 donation you
can bring your pooch. The funds collected are shared with
local animal friendly charities who co-sponsor the event.
Typically open only during the day there are evening
programs such as Starlight Movies in the Garden, Concert
under the Stars, Gardens by Moonlight and Family Flashlight
night.
A walk along the Texas Native Trail transports you through
three distinct ecosystems.
Enjoy a stroll into the East Texas Pineywoods, along a oneacre lake which provides a home for black-bellied whistling
tree ducks, wood ducks, mallards, green herons and more.
The pride of the Garden is the Lucile Halsell Conservatory.
Built by the San Antonio Botanical Society at a cost of $6.9
million, this futuristic glass structure is an architectural icon
and features many exotic plants.
The Garden also has one of the most breath taking skyline
views in the city. In the 1800s, this was the highest point in
San Antonio.
The Garden is also available to rent for corporate events,
retreats, meetings, wedding ceremonies, receptions and private
parties. For a complete list of upcoming calendar events,
admission costs and more information, visit www.sabot.org or
call 210-207-3250.
ne of the best ways
O
to enjoy nature is
by hiking or walking, especially on a cool spring day
or just after a summer thunderstorm, when there is a
crispness in the air. You step out onto a trail, take a
deep breath, and fill your senses; like a sponge soaking
up water, you feel like a wilted plant springing back to
life. You are rejuvenated and relaxed, ready to take on
any new challenges that lay ahead.
There are many places in and around Central Texas
to go hiking or walking. According to a recent poll
by WOAI-TV for their “Best of SA” series, the best
walking trail in San Antonio is Mission Reach followed
by McAllister Park, Friedrich Wilderness Park, and
Government Canyon State Natural Area.
Before you venture out, keep in mind to practice
safety. Make sure to pack some snacks and a bottle or
two of water. Wear comfortable clothing and sturdy
shoes and make sure to let someone know where you
are going or better yet, join a hiking or walking group.
Meetup.com is a website that lists over 20 related hiking
groups where you can meet other hiking enthusiasts
and sign up for events. The site has calendars, photo
links and offers
information and comments
from members about places to hike throughout the
country.
Robbie Grzymek, an organizer on the Meetup site
for the San Antonio Walking Buddies, takes a group
out on Saturday mornings for a leisurely stroll along
the San Antonio Riverwalk. “I just think that it’s a
good way to be able to exercise and to be with friends.
We laugh and have a good time. Anyone can join us
and walk at their own pace, it goes fast and takes
about an hour to walk the 4 mile round trip,” explains
Grzymek. “There are several other areas we go. There
is the Monte Vista area, an old historic neighborhood
by Trinity University and during the Christmas Season,
we go to the University of Incarnate Word and see all
the lights on display. We also walk over in the Alamo
Heights area.” The Walking Buddies meet at Pearl
Brewery at 8:30am on Saturday mornings and after
their walk, they go to the farmers market where they
listen to music, have coffee, and do some shopping.
For a more rigorous outing, you may want to check
out the San Antonio Hill Country Hikers. Lead Organizer
Paul Nemeth says, “We try to hit as many trails in the
Austin/San Antonio area as we can throughout the year. We
have our fitness hikes and medium-paced hikes. Normally
we have fitness hikes on Friday evenings and Monday evenings.
We also have Riverwalk hikes on Wednesdays and then on
Sundays, and occasionally on Saturdays, we have mediumpaced hikes for members who do not want to go so fast.”
Paul recommends hiking Government Canyon State
Natural Area, Leon Creek and Salado Creek Greenway. “There
are trails that run off the sides of the paved areas and on the
Meetup site, under files, there are maps of parks we have
been to. Government Canyon has front and backcountry.
The front country has some trails that are flat and level out.
The backcountry is a little more challenging and rocky with
great scenic overlooks. This is a great time of year to see the
Texas Parks and Wildlife Sites:
Guadalupe River State Park
The park is located at 3350 Park Rd. 31, off State Hwy 46. One of
the state’s most beautiful State Parks is located along the boundary
of Comal and Kendall counties. The park has 4 miles along the
Guadalupe River frontage. Park visitors may enjoy a variety of
outdoor activities including canoeing, fishing, swimming, tubing,
picnicking, hiking, and camping. Call 830-438-2656 Honey Creek State Natural Area
This area is located inside of Guadalupe River State Park at 3350
Park Rd. 31, off State Hwy. 46. HCSNA is 2294 acres located in
Western Comal County. Entry into Honey Creek is for guided
tours only. The diverse geology, flora, and fauna make Honey Creek
a special place for all visitors using 2 miles of nature/interpretive
trails. The Saturday morning walking tour begins at 9am. Call 830438-2656 in advance.
Canyon area and pretty soon the cactuses will be blooming,
it’s going to be a really wonderful year for that.” Paul says on
an average 20 people show up for hikes and as many as 40 for
the Riverwalk hikes.
Twice a year the group has road trips to places like Devil’s
River State Natural Area, Kickapoo Caverns, and Seminole
Canyon. “We have a great time and our folks have a sense
of humor, and the conversation is lively. It really is a great
group.”
This year National Trails Day will occur on June 1, 2013. National Trails Day is always the first Saturday in June.
American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day® (NTD) is a
celebration of America’s magnificent Trail System.
Upper Guadalupe River
The Upper Guadalupe River, from the Guadalupe River State Park
to Canyon Lake is a favorite for canoeing, tubing and fishing. There
are a number of canoeing and tubing b businesses in this stretch of
the Guadalupe River.
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Useful Websites:
hiking.meetup.com
www.hillcountryoutdoorguide.com
www.nps.gov
www.alltrails.com
www.localhikes.com
www.sanantonio.gov/parksandrec
www.localhikesbeta.com
www.austintexas.gov/page/trail-directory
www.americanhiking.org
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/parks/
things-to-do/hiking-in-state-parks
Top Recommended Places for Hiking/
Medina River Natural Area
15890 Texas 16 S.
Walking from San Antonio Express/News Address:
Phone: 210-207-3111
government canyon state
natural area
Address: 12861 Galm Road
Phone: 210-688-9055
Web: www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/government-canyon
Hours: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Mondays
Admission: $6; free for ages 12 and younger
More experienced hikers flock to this 8,624-acre area, which has more
than 40 miles of hike-and-bike trails of varying terrain, although the
protected habitat area trails are closed from March through August.
Overnight camping is allowed Fridays and Saturdays. There are
shorter trails, but the most beautiful areas are at least a 4-mile hike
away. The endangered golden-cheeked warbler also nests here. Bring
plenty of water.
FRIEDRICH WILDERNESS PARK
Address: 21395 Milsa Road
Phone: 210-564-6400 or 210-207-5320
Web: www.sanaturalareas.org/fp/fpindex.html
Admission: Free
A favorite destination of bird watchers — it’s a nesting site for two
endangered species, the black-capped vireo and the golden-cheeked
warbler — this park also offers grand views of the city. The nature
preserve, across Interstate 10 from the Dominion, offers 5.5 miles
of hiking trails with varying levels of difficulty. There are paved,
wheelchair-accessible paths suitable for children, as well as steeper
dirt paths offering a tougher workout. No dogs or bicycles.
mission rEACH
Address: South Alamo Street at Blue Star to Padre Park
Phone: 210-227-1373
Web: www.sara-tx.org
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Admission: Free
If you’re looking for rugged, rocky trails, don’t go to the Mission
Reach. If you want to view a restored ecosystem along the San
Antonio River and the Spanish missions while walking or jogging
on a paved path, this is the spot. When the linear park on the South
Side is complete, it will stretch 8 miles from South Alamo to Mission
Espada. Currently, about 5 miles are open. The path is suitable for all
fitness levels and is wheelchair accessible.
Web: www.sanaturalareas.org/mr/mrindex.html
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Admission: Free
The 6 miles of trails in this 500-acre natural wilderness area connect
to the 7-mile Medina River Greenway. Some trails in the natural area
are wheelchair accessible; others feature steep slopes. An interpretive
feature showcases El Camino Real wagon trail that settlers followed.
Leashed pets, bikes, group camping and fishing are allowed.
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER PARK
Address: 19399 NW Military Highway
Phone: 210-564-6400 or 210-207-5320
Web: www.sanaturalareas.org/ep/epindex.html
Hours: 6 a.m. through sunset
Admission: Free
Popular with dog owners (and dogs), this natural area adjacent to
Camp Bullis offers impressive views of the city, especially from its
wooden watchtower. There are 5 miles of hiking trails. Some are
smooth and paved, while others are natural and rocky. Kid-friendly
with a playground and picnic facility.
•
•
•
•
•
Exhibits Rich in Local Artifacts
Extensive Photography Collection
Genealogy Records
Newspapers & Maps
Oral History Recordings
Call for information on adult tours & student groups.
Open Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
401 W. Coll Street, New Braunfels, TX 78130
• 80 cu. In., fuel-injected,
liquid-cooled V-Twin engine
• Nimble & lightweight handling
• Low seat height
• Sleek instrumentation pod
•
•
4-stroke, 1.8 liter engine
Ultra lightweight NanoXcel® hull
•
•
•
Crossplane crankshaft
New sharper headlight cowling
Three level D-Mode electronics
throttle response control
Motorcycle Disclaimer
Dress properly for your ride with a helmet, eye protection, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves and boots. Do not drink and ride. It is illegal and dangerous. Yamaha and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation encourage you to ride safely and respect the environment. For further
information regarding the MSF course, please call 1-800-446-9227. Specifications subject to change without notice. Professional rider depicted on a closed course. ©2013 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. • yamaha-motor.com
Watercraft Disclaimer
©2011 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. Follow instructional materials and obey all laws. Ride responsibly, wearing protective apparel. Always ride within your capabilities, allowing time and distance for maneuvers, and respect others around you. Don’t drink
and ride. For more information, visit yamaha-motor.com or call 1.800.88.YAMAHA.
Comal Taxidermy Studio bringing wildlife indoors
By Miranda Koerner
C
omal Taxidermy Studio has been preserving beasts
of Texas heritage and exotic wildlife since 1989. The shops feature regal Ibex, white-tailed deer, fish,
cheetahs and even lions.
“I think what makes us stand out is our level of service,”
David Graham, owner, said. “There are no requests that our
staff cannot handle. For example we just finished a life-size
crocodile for a museum in Seattle, Washington. We have it
coming out of the water and grabbing a life-size Impala by
the leg. It takes time, dedication and experience to pull a piece
like this off.”
A haven for hunters, fishermen and outdoor enthusiasts,
Comal Taxidermy Studio has a sister company, Helluva Hunt,
which offers hunting adventures for the local and international
enthusiast. Graham opened the business with partner George
Williamson to offer hunting opportunities to customers who
dreamed of tracking the large animals they were buying.
Williamson and Graham take customers on adventures
straight out of a storybook, fishing in Panama or hunting
doves in Argentina. And don’t think you’ll be eating out of
a tin can in the woods—all accommodations are luxurious.
Think steak dinners, four star resorts and swimming pools.
“We’ve gone to Africa, New Zealand, Costa Rica-everywhere,” Graham said. “My favorite hunt was one we did
in Spain. It was neat to see the IBEX and two thousand year
old roads.”
Even if you aren’t a hunting enthusiast, Graham and
Williamson can set up the romantic getaway or adventure of
your dreams. With the partners right by your side, itinerary
worries and details are all taken care of.
“Traveling the globe with their clients gave everyone the
confidence that we believe in everything we offer,” Graham
said. “We don’t expect to be on someone’s romantic getaway
but we always enjoy the opportunity to share time with our
clients abroad and to get to know them better. We have been
fortunate to meet a lot of our clients for the first time at a fire
pit in Africa or Argentina while we were in camp.”
According to Graham, the biggest problem in the taxidermy
industry is that many customers don’t do their research or
inspect the work of a shop before purchasing a piece. He
says that many customers are disappointed when they receive
shoddy work of a trophy piece that could be a child’s first deer
or trophy mount.
“You wouldn’t buy a painting off the internet without seeing
it. We have an open door policy--you can always come and
see our quality work,” Graham said.” I guess the one thing
that amazed me is hunters spend $1000 to $200 annually on
their sport, and pick up the phone to take their business to the
person with the lowest price. They will have to look and live
with that decision for the rest of their lives.”
Graham says that customers should inspect artists’ work
on the eyes, painting techniques and ear positions. Many
customers come to his shop with butchered pieces that need
repairs. He warns that even if a shop has a Web site with
photos, the photos may not accurately represent the quality
of work.
“I always have a saying that you would not buy an oil
painting online without looking at it closely or knowing the
artist,” Graham said. “Why would you treat your trophy that
will be with you for the rest of your life any different?”
Every artist has a favorite painting and for Graham, it’s no
different. His favorite piece acquired by Comal Taxidermy
Studio was a Bengal tiger skin. As Bengal tigers are illegal
to hunt, the tiger died a natural death. Exotic animals aren’t
unusual at Comal Taxidermy Studio, as its artists handle
animals from all sizes and continents.
“We mount everything from a squirrel to an elephant,”
Graham said. “No job is too big or too small.”
In addition, Comal Taxidermy Studio helps collectors find
pieces from owners who may be downsizing or customers
looking to fill a new house. The company often works with
interior designers to find the perfect piece for a customer or
searches high-end real estate sales.
“I call it the best kind of recycling,” Graham said. “There
are a lot of people that love to have this kind of art in their
home, but would never pull a trigger.
But it’s not just adults who love Comal Taxidermy Studio.
In May, the company often has tours from schools.
“Teachers are looking for something for the kids to do and
they love to come here,” Graham said. Not surprisingly, he
said the children are always well behaved.
Comal Taxidermy Studio is located at (830) 620-1230.
For more information or to visit Comal Taxidermy Studio,
please visit http://www.helluvahunt.com/ or http://www.
comaltaxidermystudio.com. In addition, please “like” them
on Facebook under “Helluvahunt” or “Comal Taxidermy
Studio.”
O
n Nov. 6, 2012, Guadalupe Commissioner’s Court
made the announcement that Amazon.com, the largest
Internet retailer in the world, would be building a
1.3 million-square-foot, state-of-the-art fulfillment center in
Schertz. It has an estimated price tag of $166 million but city
officials think it could be assessed at up to $200 million.
When you do the math, the structure has the capacity to
house about 27 football fields or 29 acres under one roof. It
is also the biggest industry for Schertz, which already has two
other Fortune 500 companies (Cisco Systems and Caterpillar)
in their industrial park. Amazon will bring 350 jobs to Schertz
and an estimated $11 million in annual payroll.
Former Schertz Mayor George Antuna played a role in the
city’s negotiations with Amazon while he was acting as mayor.
He believes that Amazon will create more than the 350 jobs
they’ve promised. “We’re excited to have Amazon here. They’re
very conscious of the community and know what it means to
be a good neighbor.”
The property’s favorable logistics and strategic location were
two of the primary factors in Amazon’s decision to build in
Schertz. It sits between the I-35 and I-10 freeways, near an
established FedEx freight service. It’s also close to the Schertz
Railroad Station. Antuna described the property as shovel-
ready - all the utilities were readily available.
In fact, the Maruchan Noodle Company was interested in
the same site about six months before Amazon came calling.
Antuna said, “The city passed on that deal because we didn’t
think they were a good match for us.” Amazon has committed
to hire 31 percent veterans as part of the work force. That’s
about 115 jobs for vets.
Schertz is near the Randolph Air Force Base and as a result,
more than half of Schertz residents are veterans. Schertz City
Administrator John Kessel said, “Amazon is a good fit for the
community. Many people come back here during their last
year of duty. They want to call Schertz their home when they
leave the service.”
It turns out that the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City
Independent School District stands to be one of the biggest
beneficiaries of the deal. That’s because Amazon didn’t ask for
any tax abatement from the schools. Antuna said, “This could
easily equal hundreds of thousands a year for the district.”
SCUC Superintendent Dr. Greg Gibson said,
“Our district has experienced an abundance of residential
growth and has been lagging in commercial growth. For
example, our total taxable assessed value (TAV) per student is
approximately $272,639 as compared to $525,884 in Comal
ISD, which is just across 1-35. The Amazon center will go a
long way in closing the gap in appraised value.”
Tax incentives did, however, figure in Amazon’s deal. David
Gwin, executive director for Schertz Economic Development
Corporation, represented the city in negotiating the deal. He
said, “The city agreed to grant a percentage of the estimated
$166 million in a reduction in property taxes for six years.”
After that, the tax deal falls away.
Schertz also agreed to rebate back up to $500 thousand
in fees and permits to shorten the incentive window (from
the county’s eight-year tax incentive deal). Gwin said, “It’s
important to realize that these incentives are performancebased and contingent upon Amazon building the center and
hiring a minimum of 350 full-time, benefitted jobs.” If they
don’t perform, there is no incentive.
Sales numbers go back a ways on the state level. Amazon
has long refused to pay sales tax for online sales. In Sept.
2010, however, Texas sent Amazon a $269 million bill for
uncollected sales tax from 2005-2009, citing the Irving
fulfillment center as grounds. Amazon responded by closing
the Irving center and refusing to pay the tax.
Since then, Texas State Comptroller Susan Combs and
Amazon cut a deal to “resolve” the tax bill in return for
Amazon investing $200 million in brick and mortar facilities
in Texas, creating 1,000+ jobs and charging sales tax. Whether
or not the state will keep all the sales tax remains an open
question.
Gwin said, “There are conditions in place that would allow
for the city and the developer to share in locally-sourced sales
tax revenue for up to a 10-year period.” That means the city
could get as much as $35 million.” But, Gwin said, “As it
stands right now, state law does not require an internet-based
retailer to collect sales tax for the municipalities.” So unless
and until there are changes in legislation, Schertz won’t see
any of that money.
Kessel and Gwin both said they aren’t counting on the
city getting sales tax dollars from Amazon. Even without it
though, Amazon is a great boon for Schertz and San Antonio.
“From the very first year, the city will realize a net revenue of
nearly $400 thousand. This will go a long way to improve
streets and build a new fire house.”
Three fulfillment centers are being built in Texas this year
(the other two are near Dallas-Ft. Worth). Each of those is
at least 1 million-square-feet. Construction is already well
under way on the new Amazon fulfillment center in Schertz.
It is expected to begin operations by fall 2013.
Darryl Gonzales and Valerie Reyna of D.C.D.I. Handyman Services Team Up to
Serve Homeowners in Central Texas
By Cleo Garcia
Have you been dreaming about remodeling your home or just
want to add on a deck or perhaps update your flooring? Whatever
your vision is, owner Darryl Gonzales of D.C.D.I. Handyman
Services has been turning home-improvement dreams into reality.
“I work closely with my clients, and they know what they want. I
take their vision and make it come to life. I help my clients achieve
their goals with a customized look without the huge price tag,
saving them time and money.”
With over 20 years of remodeling and construction experience,
Darryl specializes in home remodeling, mid-level residential
construction, full service roofing, room additions, siding, tile
work, concrete projects, painting, EPA certified lead-based paint
remodeler, window and door installations, pressure washing, duct
work and much more.
With an eye for detail, Darryl is an expert craftsman whose work
is of the utmost perfection. His dedication, honesty and willingness
to take on any task to accomplish what the client is looking for,
keeps clients coming back and sending him referrals. Originally
from Houston, Darryl says what he provides is a customized highend product, nothing you can buy off the shelf. “If you can dream
it, I can build it.”
Darryl’s background is in commercial construction and as a
COO in the entertainment business, he oversaw the quality control
of approximately $10-12 million
in sales and was responsible for all
remodeling and construction projects,
as well as build outs, including pulling
permits. He took that experience
and expertise and now owns K & D
Handyman Services in Arkansas. The
success of that business has led him to Valerie Reyna &
expand into the Central Texas area, Darryl Gonzales
where he will continue to offer the same superior quality services
at affordable rates.
Darryl has joined with Valerie Reyna in San Antonio to open
D.C.D.I. Handyman Services of San Antonio, L.L.C., opening
June 2013. Valerie has worked many years in customer service and
quality control of $40-50 million in the construction industry;
working in the public sector and handling multiple renovation
projects with school districts, cities, counties and universities. With
their combined expertise, attention to detail and elite remodeling/
construction service, and customer relations experience; Daryl and
Valerie look forward to serving clients in the Central Texas area and
helping them turn their home-improvement dreams into reality.
No job is too big or too small; D.C.D.I. is there to handle it all.
For more information, contact Valerie at 210-284-4689.
Greetings!
For years I’ve written articles for the Community Magazines
related to furniture and particularly leather furniture – you
can find many of the previous articles on our website in the
Leather Learning Center at www.choiceleatherfurniture.com
This time let’s talk about the many advantages of leather
furniture.
There are many advantages when you chose leather furniture
– appearance, comfort, durability plus it’s environmentally
friendly. Leather looks great and compliments almost any
lifestyle (as long as you get the right leather for YOUR
lifestyle). Home or office, choosing leather makes good sense
for many reasons; not only does it make a very comfortable
piece of furniture that will last much longer than anything
covered in fabric - it also adds an air of affluency.
But I need to note here that I’m referring to genuine leather
– NOT Bonded Leather or Blended Leather or Bi- Cast
Leather – using “leather” in their name is terribly misleading
and is in fact against the law in some countries (England and
New Zealand to name two) – because they are made of Vinyl!
See our website for more information on these “pseudo”
leathers and why you should avoid them.
Real Leather offers a wonderful “hand” (feel) and as you
use it more and more, its natural beauty will be enhanced as
it develops a “patina”, making it even more unique. When a
leather sofa starts to age, it becomes softer from absorbing the
natural oils on your skin.
Leather sofas get more comfortable over time, and unlike
fabric sofas they are easy and quick to clean with a quick wipe
down. A real advantage is that leather will not hold dust
like a fabric sofa – a real plus for allergy sufferers (and who
around here doesn’t suffer from allergies?) Leather comes in
a variety of colors - yellow, red, black, brown, purple, blue,
white and many more – whatever color you want is most
likely available.
Genuine Leather furniture will last 5 to 7 times longer
than a fabric sofa for many reasons - Leather is much
thicker than almost any fabric used to cover furniture, it
can withstand more punishment than any fabric. On top of
being fashionable and more durable over the long haul, these
unique pieces are also eco-friendly; leather will not harm the
environment and is made from a natural material.
Now that I’ve stated my case for choosing leather furniture
– I’d be remiss if I failed to mention that a major factor
in the longevity of any piece of furniture is the internal
construction. There are many leather sofas built today with
NO metal seat springs – using a much cheaper “webbing”
which is constructed from nylon bands. There’s nothing
better than tempered steel seat springs for longevity and
comfort. Nothing.
We’re always happy to answer any furniture related
questions – call, email or just come on by the store (1027
N.E. Loop 410 – between Nacogdoches and Broadway) –
we’re always glad to see you!!
You don’t have to “sell the farm” to pay for
Mom’s long term care.
“M
By Attorney David Voeller
om has to go into the nursing home. Should
we put our names on the deed of her house?”
“Is the nursing home going to take mom’s home
when she dies?” “Should we start giving away mom’s assets to
try to save them?” These are some of the most frequently asked
questions from people who are
faced with a loved one who may
already or will soon need long-term
or nursing home care. Fortunately,
with proper legal planning, the
house, assets, and inheritance can
be saved. Sadly, the uninformed
or misinformed may just end up
having to pay the price and put
that unfortunate “for sale” sign in
the front yard.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human
services, nearly three out of every four Americans over the age of
65 will need long-term care services at some point in their lives.
Forty percent will enter a nursing home, and twenty percent of
those in a nursing home will be there for more than five years.
In other words, it is virtually certain that you will eventually be
responsible for paying for expensive long-term care for a family
member or for yourself. While most people intend to stay in
their own homes as long as possible, there often comes a point
where the level of care needed exceeds what family members can
provide. At that point, expensive nursing home care may be
required.
Since 2002, MetLife Financial has conducted annual surveys
on long-term care costs. According to the 2011 survey, the
average cost of a private room in a Texas nursing home is $188
per day. That’s almost $69,000.00 per year! The high cost of
long term care, and figuring out how to pay for it, can be a source
of great stress and anxiety for those needing the care or for those
called upon to provide the care for a spouse or parent.
There is a great deal of confusion and misinformation regarding
the different options available to help pay for long-term care.
When surveyed, over half of all Baby Boomers thought Medicare
would pay for their long term care. Almost half thought their
private health insurance would cover the care they needed. In
reality, Medicare will only fully cover the cost of long-term care
for up to 20 days. Private health insurance won’t cover anything!
So how will mom’s care be paid for? If she doesn’t have longterm care insurance, nursing home employees, social workers,
or helpful friends will usually advise her to spend down all of
her assets (including the family farm) on the nursing home
care. Then, once she’s almost destitute and has only $2,000 left
to her name, she’ll qualify for Medicaid. Once she qualifies for
Medicaid, Medicaid will pay the nursing home bill for her. The
vast majority of people, unaware that there is an alternative to
this option, will follow this conventional wisdom and end up
spending down their assets in order to qualify for Medicaid. After
working hard and saving all their
lives, they end up spending their
entire life savings on nursing home
care, and leaving nothing to their
children or grandchildren. Facing
this prospect, many people will try
to save their assets by gifting them
to their children. This can be a huge
mistake since Medicaid will penalize
transfers made in the five years prior
to applying for assistance and require the applicant to private pay.
This can be a devastating situation for someone who gave all their
money away only to find out that they have to pay for their own
care, and they no longer have any money with which to do so!
The Medicaid qualification rules are complicated. Because of
their complexity, and the fact that high penalties exist for those
who accidentally break the rules, most people who don’t work as
Elder Law Attorneys don’t realize that anything else can be done.
Fortunately, there are alternatives. In most cases, if someone goes
through the proper legal steps, the law allows a married person
who needs Medicaid to save up to 100% of their assets. A single
person who needs Medicaid can save well over 50%. With proper
legal planning, the outcome does not have to be as devastating as
others have encountered.
Whether mom is already in the nursing home, or wants to plan
ahead just in case, proper legal planning can help save her assets so
that they can be passed down to her children and grandchildren
as an inheritance, rather than being depleted by nursing home
costs. If you or someone you love is facing the stress of paying
for long-term care costs, don’t believe it when you are told that
the only option is to spend down all of the assets. Contact the
attorneys at The Voeller Law Firm for assistance. We can help get
mom qualified, and preserve her assets so you don’t have to put that
“for sale” sign on the family farm.
The Voeller Law Firm
19311 FM 2252
San Antonio, TX 78266
Phone: (210) 651-3851
email: [email protected]
F
or decades, the Garden Ridge park has been known for
its underground adventure tours. Now it is developing
a reputation for aboveground thrills as well, with the
addition of its latest attraction, the Canopy Challenge.
Launched in July of last year, the Canopy Challenge is
actually three attractions in one: the Adventure Course, the Zip
Line and the Canopy Kid Challenge. The first two attractions
deliver heart-pounding excitement for adults, teenagers and
older children alike, whereas the third is intended solely for
the tots in your family.
For Travis Wuest, Natural Bridge Cavern’s vice-president
and co-owner, the new attractions continue the park’s 50-year
history of bringing families together to enjoy the outdoors.
“We feel a great responsibility to carry [our grandmother
Clara Wuest’s] legacy forward,” he says, referring to the family
matriarch who was instrumental in opening the caverns to
the public. The Canopy Challenge, he adds, keeps the park
“relevant and fun.”
If you’ve never made the trip out to Natural Bridge Caverns,
or if it’s been a while since your last visit, now is the optimal
time to load up the family car and see what the park has to
offer.
Adventure Course
After being secured into a harness, you have 30 minutes to
ascend your way up four tiers of obstacles including balance
beams, single- and double-tightropes and stepping planks.
Although you are entirely safe, you feel the exhilaration of
being suspended 60 dizzying feet in the air as you climb your
way to the top.
Once there, the Canopy Challenge does not end, as the
pinnacle affords you a gorgeous, unparalleled view of the
surrounding Hill Country.
Wuest notes that the course is a fun way to overcome a fear
of heights.
You must be able to fit comfortably and safely in the harness
to participate. For more specific size and weight restrictions,
visit the park’s official website (naturalbridgecaverns.com).
Since helmets are not worn, no cameras or other loose articles
may be taken on the course.
Canopy Kid Challenge
If you have little ones in tow who aren’t large enough to
join you on the Canopy Challenge, Natural Bridge Caverns
has them covered as well. The junior version of the course,
traversable even on tiny feet, costs only $4.99 a person.
point in the tour, you get to experience
complete darkness as all of the lights are
turned off.
As you might expect, the Lantern Tour,
the first tour of the day, is illuminated
only by the light from the lanterns
you and your group carry. This unique
attraction allows you to experience the
caverns as the earliest explorers in the
1960s might have done so, says Wuest.
Zip Line
After completing the Canopy Challenge, you are invited
to take flight on one of the four new zip lines, which also
debuted in July of 2012. As you glide down the 720-foot
length of cable, make sure you soak in the beautiful vista of
the Hill Country as you’ve never seen it before.
The Canopy Challenge opens daily at 10:30 AM and runs
until the last cavern tour of the day departs.
Natural Bridge Mining Company
If you have a child with aspirations of becoming a
prospector, he or she will love panning for treasures in the kids’
mining activity. After buying a bag of “rough” and pouring its
contents into a screen tray, your little miner lowers it into the
sluice—a series of troughs. Watch as the water washes away
the dirt and grime, leaving behind gems, minerals, fossils or
flint arrowheads, which you can then identify using a chart.
Discovery Tour
This is what started it all, the tour that prompted USA Today
in 2003 to list Natural Bridge Caverns as one of the “10 Great
Places to Get Nature on Film.” Still the park’s most popular
attraction, the Discovery Tour sends you 180 feet below the
surface where you are introduced to ancient yet still-active
formations. For half a mile, behold the unparalleled beauty of
Texas’s largest show cavern while listening to one of the park’s
knowledgeable tour guides.
Hidden Passages Tour and Lantern Tour
The Hidden Passage Tour, opened in 2008, and the Lantern
Tour, opened in 2010, are the latest routes in Natural Bridge
Cavern’s world-renowned cave system.
According to Wuest, the Hidden Passage Tour takes you
past the “most rare and delicate formations” the caverns have
to offer and includes some very dramatic lighting. During one
Adventure Tour
For the exceptional thrill-seekers, the
Adventure Tour gives you an opportunity
to explore the caverns as they were
originally discovered—without trails or
handrails. Two separate tours, the Hidden
Passages Adventure Tour and Discovery
Adventure Tour both invite you to crawl and climb your way
through undeveloped, pristine caverns with the assistance
of professional staff members. For the very adventurous,
the Hidden Passages Tour includes rappelling. Although
physically challenging, these two tours are adventures you
won’t soon forget.
The park’s attractions are subject to change, so check
Natural Bridge Cavern’s website for details.
Since it opened its gates in 1964, the park has been giving
locals and tourists alike a chance to connect with the natural
wonders that lie beneath the earth’s surface. Now, with the
addition of the Canopy Challenge, there has never been a
better time to visit Natural Bridge Caverns.
Valentine:
a sweetheart chosen or complimented on
St. Valentine’s Day (Webster’s Dictionary)
It was a glorious, sunny and unseasonably warm Valentine’s Day afternoon in
Stone Oak when residents of the Independence Hill Retirement Community
gathered to renew their vows. The Providence High School Choir stood poised at
the far end of the mezzanine balcony and filled the garden-like atrium of the assisted
living hall with an angelic sweetness of sound. An archway, covered in white ticking,
trails of English Ivy and white wedding bouquets set the stage where Pastor David
Huereca stood.
After the Wedding March Processional played, Pastor Huereca greeted the standing
room only audience. This was followed by a prayer for loved ones lost, as several
widowed residents looked down from the other end of the balcony. An ambulance
idling outside the entrance preparing to carry an elderly
gentleman to the hospital and the obvious frailty of some of
the vow renewal participants bore witness to the long lives
of those taking part and the fact that this ceremony, unlike
the marriage ceremony itself, was a testimonial of faithful love
rather than a promise of it.
The unspoken reality of the fleeting nature of life and the
resilience of love filled the room with a kind of tenderness
and hope that is indeed rare. The choir sang Ave Maria and
I Believe and then Pastor Huereca asked the couples that
could to stand. Thirteen senior couples, save the oldest who
remained in their wheelchairs, came to their feet, joined hands
and gazed into each other’s eyes as Pastor Huereca read the
renewal of vows, each followed by a collective chorus of “I
Do.”
There were kisses all around and tears of gladness as each
couple walked, and in some cases rolled their wheelchairs, two
by two through the archway, down a garden path, posing for
photographs on the way to a champagne reception. Wait-staff,
crisply attired in black and white stood at attention offering
flutes of bubbly, while others helped the guests to their seats.
A table laden with original wedding photos, many black
and white now faded to soft sepia-tone, had the place of honor
by the door, while an antique beaded wedding gown held the
spotlight from a dress form in a far corner. Bite-sized chunks
of cheese, plates of crackers and fresh fruit led the way to
frosted urns of tea, punch and lemon ice water. A tiered white
wedding cake, baked and artfully decorated with marshmallow
icing by Independence Hill’s resident chef Raymundo Torres,
took center stage and cascades of miniature red velvet
cakes surrounded it.
The retirement community’s executive director
Michelle Houriet gave a heartfelt toast, noting that
more than 760 years of marriage were represented at
the ceremony. In a day and age when the odds of staying
married are increasingly at risk, the question of the day
was not so much “How did you meet but how did you do
it?” The couple with the most years of marriage, Roland and
Eleanor Poirer (celebrating 73 years as husband and wife this
coming Sept.) made some humorous comments about who
has the toughest time making it work but both felt that the
best way for couples to get along is simple: “You agree.” Can’t
argue with that!
Gladys Limkemann, the smiling wife of retired Army
chaplain August – her husband of 61 years said, “If you really
and truly love each other you can handle anything.” She added
that the old adage, “Don’t sleep on your anger,” was extremely
important. August readily agreed saying “I don’t like to feel
anger.” They also said that their commitment to doing things
together is part of their successful marriage. They don’t watch
TV in the daytime either, choosing to talk to each other
instead. “One day at a time. One season at a time,” August
Limkemann said.
William and Mary Zwartjes, claiming the second longest
marriage in the group, said “We met on a kind of blind date
and it was love at first sight.” William is a retired Corporal with
the Army Air Corps and Mary was volunteering with a ladies
club to do something for the servicemen. She was sweet 16.
“Everyone said it would never last and here we are 68 years later,”
Mary said. “I wouldn’t want anyone else.”
It was the second time Dr. Ted and Ann Glenn chose to renew
their vows. You can’t say I love you too many times. Renewing
marriage vows is all about saying “I’d do it all over again.”
List of participating couples:
Roland and Eleanor Poirier – (72 years)
William and Mary Zwartjes – (68 years)
Merrill and Lucille Harper – (65 years)
Bob and Alene Boerner – (64 years)
Robert and Helen Loadman – (64 years)
William and Lura Wurzbach - (62 years)
Dr. Ted and Ann Glenn (62 years)
August and Gladys Limkemann (61 years)
John and Dixie Watson – (46 years)
Carl and Jackie Marmion – (38 years)
Walter and Dawn Garms – (35 years)
Howard and Iris Koota – (17 years)
Jack and Martha Bowden – (16 years)
Profit Faster: Successful Companies Secrets for the Small Businesses
A
s any entrepreneur will tell you, building a successful
business in a slow economy can be extremely
challenging. Business owners need smart, efficient
ways to grow their companies in the face of a less-than-stable
market. We asked Nitesh Jain, a business automation expert,
profitability consultant and CEO of San Antonio based Localfirm, Quacito, for his thoughts on the matter
“The best way for businesses to become more profitable is
through systems automation,” Jain states. “By using technology
to automate workflows, repetitive tasks and procedures that
were previously done manually, businesses save time, money
and stress.
“The advantages of systems automation are threefold,”
continues Jain. “First of all, it’s beneficial for business owners,
who profit financially by minimizing the grunt work associated
with manual processes. When you have a manual process, you
have to pay an employee day in and day out to do the same
task; building a system that handles these processes means you
can realign those employees to more important and valuable
jobs.”
Additionally, he noted, systems automation provides
business owners with more flexibility in their day-to-day
operations. Small business owners in particular can become
so tied to the daily running of their companies that they feel
they don’t have time even for activities they enjoy doing,
their family or to take a vacation. “Use of automated systems
minimizes the amount of hands-on work that business owners
have to oversee; application dashboards provide a ‘quick
glance’ overview of activity, giving owners a sense of how
business is performing and projects are progressing without
the need to get heavily involved. In a nutshell, giving business
owners the power of accurate data, at right time to make the
right decisions.”
Employees benefit from system automation as well. Freed
from the tedious effort associated with completing repetitive
manual tasks, employees can focus their time and attention on
more interesting projects – thus increasing their knowledge
and boosting their morale. Jain points to a recent Quacito
client – a large pest control agency with offices throughout
Texas and the Southeast. “The company’s sales reps had to use
ten different paper contracts for all of their various services,
which led to a lot of duplication of effort and information.
Furthermore, the sales manager had to sit in the back office
keying in data from these contracts for all 45 of the sales
reps. We built a streamlined automatic system for them that
abolished the need for paper pushing; everything is now
on a centralized server and sales reps can enter information
using their iPads – information which managers can access
immediately.”
Finally, systems automation helps customers by providing
them with an efficient and easy-to-use end product. Another
recent Quacito project involved automating the back end
processing for an employee benefit services company; those
using the benefits system can now update their insurance
information online 24x7 instead of via a paper form during
office hours only, and their changes are implemented in real
time. It’s a much better user experience for them.
“Systems automation is something we really believe in here
at Quacito,” concludes Jain. “Our slogan is ‘We automate
your business Grunt Work’.”
“C
entral Texas has a very distinct archaeological
record. We have a lot of chipped stone projectile
points that are unique on the face of the earth,”
Dr. Mike Collins
Most of us are aware that Texas has a rich cultural heritage
but relatively few of us know that our state’s historical legacy
also includes several Stone Age archaeological sites and the
largest Clovis assemblage of artifacts in America. This massive
Clovis find comes out of the Gault Site about 50 miles north
of Austin near the town of Florence. Gault has thus far yielded
up the oldest art yet found in Texas (some decorated stones
dating back 11,000 years) and even older finds dating back to
an older-than-Clovis era are being unearthed there.
The Gault Site is situated along the Balcones Ecotone - a
place where the uplift to the Edwards Plateau meets the
impervious Comanche Aquifer, forcing groundwater to the
surface in the form of springs, creeks and streams. The geology
at Gault exposes large deposits of quality stone, ideal for flintknapping (making stone tools). These qualities and other less
obvious ones have made the region a special area of habitation
for many thousands of years.
Gault’s lead research scientist Dr. Mike Collins, from the
Department of Anthropology at Texas State University, said
“An abundance of archaic artifacts were discovered at Gault
in 1908, when the land first went into cultivation. At that
time a lot of artifacts were churned up in the plow zone.” But
Gault would not become a protected area for scientific study
for quite some time.
In 1929, Professor Pearce from the Department of
Anthropology at the University of Texas is said to have heard
rumors about a place full of artifacts north of the capital and
went out to learn about them. Locals directed him to the
Gault Farm where there were so many artifacts at the surface
the owners had turned it into a pay-to-dig site. They weren’t
giving it up to scientists.
“The plundering of artifacts at Gault went on for 90 years
before the land changed hands and a window of opportunity
opened to secure the site for study,” Collins continued. In
1998, Collins and a team of scientists from U.T. approached
the new owners and gained permission to excavate the artifacts
they found there for a period of four years.
By the time the archaeologists got there, plundering at the
Gault Site had completely disrupted most of the Archaic Age
deposits (9,000 – present). Bottles, cans and cigarette butts were
mixed in with the midden along with broken and discarded
artifacts. At about this depth, they found fire-cracked rocks
from earth ovens and not nearly as many collectible artifacts.
This is where most of the plundering stopped. Below the
disturbed archaic layers some artifacts from the Paleo-Indian
Period (12,000 – 9,000) were found but not many.
Further down, however, the research team found several
hundred thousand pieces of stone, bone, ivory and teeth dating
back to the Clovis period (13,500 -10,000). They had hit pay
dirt. In earlier studies, Collins had noted that the abundance
and depth of Clovis artifacts indicates Clovis were not merely
mobile mammoth hunters using specialized tools as previously
thought and the same thing appeared to be true at Gault.
“Specialized hunters of mammoths would have had little
reason to frequent a site like Gault whereas it is ideally suited
to the needs of generalized hunter-gatherers.” Clovis points
found at Gault include a wide array of bifacial points, knives,
adzes, choppers, scrappers and long blades. In a quote from an
article previously published by The Atlantic Review a decade
ago, Collins said he has come to look at Clovis as a techno
complex – a constellation of technologies shared by multiple
ethnically distinct peoples over a wide area.
In 2002, just months before the temporary excavation at
Gault would have to turn the site back to its owners; Collins
rented a backhoe and dug a trench hoping to find evidence
of a culture older than Clovis lower down. Sure enough, they
found artifacts dating back as far as 15,000 years ago. That’s
older than the earliest Clovis culture by some 1,500 years. This
discovery lit a fire under Collins and he set to work to secure
and acquire the site permanently for scientific study.
It took some doing but in 2007 Collins bought the 34
acres that now constitutes the Gault Site and donated it to
The Archaeological Conservation so it will always be preserved
for research. He then created a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit called the
Gault School of Archaeological Research. In 2009, the Gault
School received a grant from the National Science Foundation
to document the deposits that they’ve found there. Most of the
money is used to pay for radio-carbon dating and the Optical
Spectral Luminescence (OSL) that helps them determine the
age of the artifacts.
Finding an older-than-Clovis culture at Gault was exciting
enough but it now places this Texas archaeological site squarely
on the world stage. Here’s why. The Clovis culture was long
believed by the majority of the scientific community to have
been the first to colonize the Americas. Clovis were believed
to have derived from Asians who walked here by way of the
Bering land bridge that was exposed at the end of the last
glacial maximum.
As it turns out, however, the artifacts found on the Bering
land bridge only date back as far as 11,000 years ago while
modern evidence establishes the Clovis culture arriving here
some 2,000 years earlier. Advances in Paleoclimatology and
oceanography over the past 30 years now prove that the
Bering land bridge was covered in an ice block 13,000
years ago making it impossible for the Asians to have
walked over it then.
“It just makes sense that the earliest people in America
got here by boat,” Collins said. He’s not the only one to
think so either but for a long while
they were a tiny minority. The idea is
not new. It’s been hotly debated for
decades and dissenters to the Clovisfirst theory were severely criticized by
the most professional archaeologists
and other scientists.
“Over the last 15 years, though,
there has been a ‘sea change’ in
thinking about when the first humans
arrived in America and how they got
here. The turning point in thought
about an older-than-Clovis culture in America involved two
relatively recent archaeological finds: the site at Montverde,
Chile in 1997 (which is the first to uncover perishable artifacts
from the Clovis period) and the discovery of an older-thanClovis culture lying directly below Clovis at Cactus Hill,
Virginia in 1998.” Tom Dillehay’s analytical documentation
of Montverde was so convincing, it has won over many who
previously doubted an early migration from Europe.
In 1999 American archaeologists held a convention in
Santa Fe, NM called Clovis and Beyond. Dr. Collins describes
the gathering as more of a food fight than a scientific debate.
Nevertheless, since then, more of the scientific community is
taking the older-than-Clovis theory seriously. Now, Collins
said, the majority of thoughtful archaeologists see the first
peopling of the Americas in a new light. Asians did walk across
the Bering land bridge into America but they weren’t the first
to get here and the latest evidence suggests they came from
Europe by boat.
A key argument against the theory Europeans crossed the
Atlantic that long ago is anchored in the belief that Stone Age
cavemen could not have accomplished the task or survived
living on the ice. Collins calls this “chrono-racism” – the
discrediting of prehistoric tribal bands as intelligent, adaptable
humans. Non-believers also point to the fact that no boats
dating back to that period have been found. But Collins and a
few like-minded colleagues* believe this is naïve.
• Primitive European boats would’ve been made of skin
on wood-frame, like the whaling boats of the Inuit, and
would not have survived
• The current sea level is more than 300 feet higher
than it was during the last ice age making it likely any
prehistoric maritime artifacts are on the continental shelf
under water
• There is widespread evidence people
around the globe used skin on woodframe boats to ply the waters more than
33,000 years ago and we don’t have
those boats either
In fact, the earliest older-than-Clovis sites
in America exist along the North American
Atlantic coast, not in the west. This suggests
a migration westward not the other way
around. The widely acclaimed book Across
Atlantic Ice (published in 2012) by Dr. Dennis
Stanford and Dr. Bruce Bradley postulates
that an early European culture known as the
Solutrean came to America by crossing the Atlantic in boats
and that their technology and culture are the origin of Clovis.
Stanford and Bradley have yet to make a convincing case for
these early European people as the antecedants of Clovis but
Across Atlantic Ice is winning over a fresh crop of archaeologists
to an expanded view of how the earliest peopling of the
Americas came about. By taking a multi-disciplinary approach
Stanford and Bradley describe how it is possible and even
probable that a band of Solutrean hunter-gatherers (a culture
that lived from 24,000 – 16,000 years ago) migrated to
America from Southwestern France and the Iberian Peninsula
in Northern Spain some 20,000 years ago.
Though there missing links in the theory, it makes sense
that as the glacier pushed into the center of Europe, destroying
forests and habitats and driving human and animals southward
to the terrestrial margins, the Solutrean and other tribes along
Europe’s west coast would’ve explored the exposed continental
shelf to hunt sea mammals and fish.
• The discovery of ivory, eyed-needles and remains of
marine animals in La Riera Cave in Southwest France
supports a water adaptation about 18,000-19,000 years
ago as does evidence of an absence of habitation there
around the same time.
• Small groups may well have ventured onto ice floes in
water tight clothing made from seal skin and navigated
the freezing Atlantic by the stars.
However they got here, the shifting thought about the
origins of the first people in America puts Gault and its olderthan-Clovis artifacts under a bright global spotlight.
Because perishable artifact assemblages (wood, fiber and
skin) are missing from almost all Stone Age archaeological
sites, most of the artifacts are made up of animal bones and
stone tools. Researchers consider the way the tools were flaked,
what type of stone was used, where it was quarried, where
proximal artifacts are found and what is found with them. Of
course, other things can be derived from the long, repeated
habitation at Gault and from what scientists do not find.
For example, Collins points out that the hunter-gatherers in
Central Texas were surrounded by archaic people who made
the transition from total dependence on natural resources to at
least some dependence on horticulture (or farming) somewhere
between 3,000 and 2,000 years ago. That transition did not
happen in Central Texas. Collins believes the archaeological
evidence shows that those people were very aware of the long
distant cultural and political landscape.
“We find exotic materials in Central Texas sites and
influences that moved from one people to another. Then when
you get to the contact time when Europeans were writing
about the Native Americans here you repeatedly come across
stories like Sacajawea, (the Plains Indian who led Lewis and
Clarke to the west),” Collins said. Sacajawea knew about and
could communicate with every Native American group from
the Ohio River Valley to the Cascade Mountains.
Bottom line, the hunter-gatherers in Central Texas weren’t
stupid. They didn’t embrace horticulture like the surrounding
cultures because they had a better way to survive the highly
variable climate and rainfall here. They cooked native Camus
bulbs and baked them into cakes they could carry with them.
They knew they couldn’t depend on cultivating crops and
chose to stay mobile. The fact that they returned to Gault
and other sites along the Balcones Ecotone over the millennia
speaks to how special this area of Texas is and has been.
There is a Gault Site exhibit at the Bell County Museum in
Belton and the Bob Bullock Museum in Austin plans to open
a Gault exhibit in early 2014. To learn more, to volunteer,
donate or to tour the site go to www.gaultschool.org.
I
n 2013 Dietz-McLean Optical will celebrate our 75th
anniversary. We are very proud of this accomplishment, and
extremely appreciative of our customers whose support has made
this happen.
During these 75 years there have been many changes in eyeglasses
and the way they are made. Despite these changes our commitment
to your great vision remains.
Eyeglasses, then as now, perform the basic function of helping you
see better, and believe it or not look better.
Here are some tidbits about eyeglasses in 1938 as compared to
now.
75 years ago all eyeglass lenses were made from glass; optical plastics
were still a thing of the future. Today less than 5% off all lenses are
made out of glass and variations in modern plastics provide endless
possibilities in terms of durability, weight and optics.
If you wore a bifocal or trifocal in 1938 you wore a line. While
bifocals and trifocals are still made today, most people requiring
both near and far vision correction wear progressive lenses that have
no lines. Not only are these lenses cosmetically better than their
predecessors, their design creates better vision than imagined all those
years ago.
In those years all calculations required to grind a lens were
performed by hand with pencil and paper. Today sophisticated
computer systems guide the entire process.
Frames were metal, plastic and rimless. Gold and silver were the
basic color choices for metal and rimless. Black, brown and tortoise
were the colors for the plastics. Glamour, probably not yet there was
some styling for the times. Today virtually every fashion designer
makes frames. But it doesn’t stop there, frames of every color
combination shape and size are made and many truly improve you
looks. Titanium has become one of the most popular metals in which
to make frames. Lightweight and strong it enables designers to create
styles and shapes that not only look good, but provide unbelievable
comfort.
While glasses today rarely resemble those of 75 years ago, our
dedication to you, our customer, has remained unchanged.
Dietz-McLean Optical, since 1938.
Let our family treat you like family!
Now Offering “Total Connect Remote Interactive Services”
More Than Your Typical Alarm System
….It’s Your Lifestyle
Use Your
Smartphone—Tablet—Laptop
To Remotely:
•
•
•
•
•
Arm and disarm your alarm
Receive a text or email on any security activity
View your home by video surveillance
Turn your lights on or off for indoor or outdoor
Control your thermostats for heating or cooling
I
t’s not every day that two women share the incredible vision
and passion for animals that Jennifer Garcia and Kymberly
Rapier share. These two joined together with an immense love
for animals to form Pretty Paws Mobile Pet Grooming, a business
founded on quality and care. With Pretty Paws, quantity and
profits are not the priority. For Garcia and Rapier, true love for
animals and caring for pets is of the utmost importance.
Garcia learned of her dream at a very young age. She was
known to bring small animals home as a child and even wrote her
aspirations down in a note as a second grader, describing her dream
of being a “Doggie Hair Stylist.” Living in Hawaii as a teenager,
Garcia and a friend took it upon themselves to rescue dogs from
death row, where they were to be euthanized. They spent time with
the dogs taking them to training classes and finding permanent
homes. Garcia says, “I felt overwhelming joy to work with and save
them and see the positive impact on the new owners. I learned
that I can change the lives of people and animals.” In 2005 Garcia
combined her artistic talents with her passion for animals when
she began her work as a groomer. She says, “I love, love, love my
job. I get to play with dogs and get puppy kisses all day!” In her
eight years as a groomer she has enjoyed working with her clients to
turn blank canvases into masterpieces and enhance the beauty and
comfort of each dog.
Rapier is the happy owner of six dogs: two Schnauzer, two Toy
Poodles, a Lab and a German Sheppard. She also operates Pretty
Paws in Big Sky, Montana. Garcia is the happy owner of three
dogs, four cats, two snakes, a handicap guinea pig and an African
Side-Neck Turtle with cancer. Of which, all but one animal were
rescued.
Pretty Paws specializes in working with animals at their home.
Garcia says this allows the groomer to work with the animals close
to their owners and eliminate the use of kennels. Pretty Paws goal
is to groom the pet and get them back to their owner as quickly
as possible. She also prefers the calm and comfort this allows the
animal to maintain.
Pretty Paws is excited to offer its services in the greater San
Antonio area. The mobile pet spa travels from Boerne to New
Braunfels and even beyond. Manned by two groomers, the spa
includes two grooming tables and a stainless steel tub. The company
offers affordable services and includes special discounts for military,
seniors, service dogs and even special neighborhood discounts.
Garcia and Rapier are excited to share their love for animals with
your family and offer your pets the care and attention they deserve.
For more information or to schedule your services, please call 210439-7442 or visit www.prettypawssa.com.
Online at: www.CommunityCircular.com
45
T
here are some summer camps that will help your child
improve his soccer skills, and some that will teach
your kids how to speak Spanish. Comal County,
however, takes summer camp a little more seriously. For the
fifth year in a row, the Comal County Sheriff’s Office will host
three sessions of its Junior Deputy Academy. Camps will take
place at various school campuses in the area, in an effort to
positively impact the lives of young people as they transition
into adolescence and ultimately into adulthood.
“We recognize (that) our youth are the future leaders of
tomorrow and we, in law enforcement, have an opportunity
to influence behaviors that can assist with that success,” states
Comal County Sheriff, Bob Holder. The program will touch
approximately 300 children at three different camp sessions
over the summer. Each program will host a maximum of
100 campers and is open to Comal County resident children
between the ages of 9 and 11. The camps will run from 8:00
a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday, and offers kids an
interactive experience that will focus on modern safety training,
as well as role playing that will encourage kids to make wise
choices when it comes to drugs, alcohol, gangs and violence.
Campers will also have
the opportunity to
tour the sheriff’s office
and meet key public
safety personnel and
public servants within
the law enforcement
community, such as the
Game Warden, Juvenile
Probation
Officers,
the District Attorney,
along with members
of the Sheriff’s K-9
unit and SWAT Team.
They will tour the
911 Communication
46
Online at: www.CommunityCircular.com
Dispatch Office and watch as actual calls are handled by the
communication operators. Finally, they will take a tour of the
jail, as they discover what the consequences can be for making
poor decisions in future years.
Sergeant Rick Cardenas supervises and oversees the Junior
Deputy Academy and feels strongly about the principles
which drive this program, and the positive impact it can have
on our youth and the community at large.
“Our goal is to reach young people at that age of reason,
before adolescence, when kids are old enough to understand
the rewards of making the right choices and the consequences
for making the wrong choices. This program will have a strong
impact on their development, before the ideas and attitudes of
adolescence set in.”
The Junior Deputy Academy has a proven track record of
steering young people in a positive direction, as teachers have
spoken about borderline students who have become leaders
after being exposed to this program. Some campers have
even returned to the Academy to enhance their experience
and reinforce the concepts taught at the summer camp. The
camps are free to the public, thanks to the generous support
of sponsors such as Comal Independent School District,
Bluebonnet Chrysler/Dodge, State Farm, Edward Jones,
Coleman Plant, Heart of Texas Promotions and many others.
Each session is limited to 100 campers, and these coveted
spots are awarded on a first come, first served basis. Parents
may sign their children up for camp on the Comal County
website and contact Sgt. Cardenas with any questions.
The camp will culminate with a graduation ceremony on
Friday, where family and friends are welcome to attend to
watch the junior deputies receive their official deputy badges.
HEB will again be providing the graduation cakes for each
camp, and Blue Bell Ice Cream will provide the ice cream
cups. Each camper will also be presented with a swag bag full
of items that will remind them to make positive choices as
they move into adolescence.
The teen years can be very challenging for parents and for
the child as well. The Comal County Junior Deputy Academy
can equip our young citizens with the information and tools
necessary to understand and respect the laws that were designed
to keep us safe, and maintain order in an ever changing
society. While learning to bend a soccer ball like Beckham is
an impressive skill, learning to make the right choices, which
lead to becoming a responsible citizen within our community,
carries promise and hope for a future that seems increasingly
unsure in these volatile times. This is an amazing program with
proven results and our law enforcement officials should be
commended on their vision and their efforts, as they lead our
youth in the right direction, providing them with confidence
and a sense of civic responsibility.
Comal County Junior Deputy Academy
www.co.comal.tx.us/so/Junior_Deputy_Academy.html
Contact: Sergeant Rick Cardenas
(830) 643-5840
[email protected]
Academy Dates:
June 24-28 @ Canyon Middle School
July 15-19 @ Mt. Valley Middle School
July 29-August 2 @ Smithson Middle School
Online at: www.CommunityCircular.com
47
48
Online at: www.CommunityCircular.com