LOCAL: Stone Oak, Encino Park, Far North, 78258, 78259, 78260, 78261 November 2015

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COMMUNITY NEWS INSIDE YOUR COMMUNITY STONE OAK ENCINO PARK FAR NORTH 78258 78259 78260 78261 OCT. 26 - NOV. 30, 2015 VOL. 2, ISSUE 6 Doubt prompts city to delay public hearings Safety Awareness for Everyone neighborhood program offered by Bexar-Bulverde VFD Humanities prepare young people for varied careers, director says Area annexation update Teaching fire prevention Reagan drama teacher uses stage to train students for life New luxury apartments coming to Stone Oak at 281/1604 PG.20 PG.22 PG.23 Around- the-clock care at Stone Oak medical facility New restaurant sets tone for future expansion FIRST CHOICE EMERGENCY ROOM SPRING CHINESE CUISINE & PHO BUY LOCAL EAT LOCAL PG.25 PG.16 PG.26 FOR FAITH AND COUNTRY Veteran jogs in Stone Oak with flag, cross to honor Armed Forces, first responders and God PG.18

description

This month in Zone 6: Doubt prompts city to delay public hearings regarding the area annexation, A Veteran in Stone Oak jogs with a flag and a cross to honor Armed Forces, first responders and God, and Director of Reagan drama department uses the stage to train students for life. If you missed it in your mailbox, read it online now!

Transcript of LOCAL: Stone Oak, Encino Park, Far North, 78258, 78259, 78260, 78261 November 2015

COMMUNITY NEWS

INSIDEYOUR COMMUNITY

STONE OAK ENCINO PARK FAR NORTH 78258 78259 78260 78261 OCT. 26 - NOV. 30, 2015VOL. 2, ISSUE 6

Doubt prompts city to delay public hearings

Safety Awareness for Everyone neighborhood program offered by Bexar-Bulverde VFD

Humanities prepare young people for varied careers, director says

Area annexation update

Teaching fire prevention

Reagan drama teacher uses stage to train students for life

New luxury apartments coming to Stone Oak at 281/1604

PG.20

PG.22

PG.23

Around-the-clock care at Stone Oak medical facility

New restaurant sets tone for future expansion

FIRST CHOICEEMERGENCYROOM SPRING CHINESE

CUISINE & PHO

BUY LOCAL

EAT LOCAL

PG.25

PG.16

PG.26

FOR FAITH AND COUNTRY

Veteran jogs in Stone Oak with flag, cross to honor Armed Forces, first responders and God PG.18

2 OCT. 26 - NOV. 30, 2015

President Harold J. LeesPublisherGregg Rosenfield

Assoc. PublisherRick Upton

EDITORIALExecutive EditorThomas EdwardsManaging EditorWill WrightNews StaffCollette Orquiz and Bain Serna Contributing WritersOlivier J. Bourgoin, Kate Hunger, Emeline Lakrout, Eric Moreno, Travis E. Poling, Ruben Renteria, Arthur Schechter and Susan Yerkes

ARTCreative DirectorFlorence D. EdwardsContributing PhotographersRudy B. Ornelas and Leland A. Outz

ADVERTISINGAdvertising DirectorJaselle LunaAccount ManagerAmber MontemayorControllerKeith SandersREADER SERVICEMailing Address4204 Gardendale St., Ste. 201, SA, TX 78229Fax(210) 616.9677

Advertising [email protected] Ideas: [email protected]: www.salocallowdown.com

Reproduction in whole or in part without our permission is prohibited, 2015 Helen Publishing LLC and Local Community News LLC, all rights reserved.

For advertising, customer service or editorial, please call us at 210-338-8842 or write to us at: Local Community News4204 Gardendale St., Ste. 201San Antonio, TX 78229

LOCAL Community News publicationsZone 1: 78204, 78205, 78209, 78210, 78212, 78215Zone 2: 78213, 78230, 78231, 78248, 78249Zone 3: 78216, 78232, 78247Zone 4/5: 78109, 78148, 78233, 78239, 78108, 78132, 78154, 78266Zone 7: 78015, 78023, 78255, 78256, 78257

WILL WRIGHTMANAGING EDITOR

FROM THE [email protected]

North East Independent School District’s $499.95 million bond proposal will satisfy facilities improvements and Comal County constituents will decide whether to spend $76 million for a new jail and Sheriff ’s Office improvements.

Texas voters will weigh seven proposed amendments, most notably Proposition 7, which allocates to local projects portions of the state’s general and motor-vehicle sales taxes – which are projected to generate $2.5 billion to $3 billion beginning in 2018.

Passage of Proposition 7 could lead to $300 million in local funding for roads and make building toll lanes on U.S. 281 and Interstate 10 unnecessary.

If approved, the funding will be earmarked instead for constructing and maintaining current thoroughfares, land acquisitions for future roads and paying off existing bond projects.

Several area agencies and officials are supporting the measure, which locally would help expand an 8-mile stretch of 281 from Loop 1604 north to Borgfeld Road.

Such backing hinges on approval of Proposition 7, which would add millions more to money generated through Proposition 1, another roads-funding mechanism agreed to by Texas voters last year.

Polling locations and sample ballots are available online at Bexar and Comal counties’ elections sites.

Early voting began Oct. 19 and concludes Oct. 30.

Power at the polls

oters won’t help chart the

nation’s future until next year, but on Nov. 3, local

decisions on county and school district bond proposals, as well as state propositions, could immediately affect their lives.

V

Phone(210) 338.8842

ON THE COVER: Rod Eubanks, an Air Force veteran, jogs through Stone Oak five days a week carrying a U.S. flag and a cross to honor service members, first responders and his faith. He wants to rekindle a sense of respect for American traditions. See story on page 18. Photo by Leland A. Outz

22610 US Hwy 281 N, San Antonio, TX | Facebook.com/VillageatStoneOak | 210.481.5688 |

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4 OCT. 26 - NOV. 30, 2015

LOCAL COMMENTARY

Thanks and giving in a time of strifeby SUSAN YERKES

Each November we

commemorate Thanksgiving — this country’s longest-running

holiday. Back in 1621, the story goes, a bedraggled group of British colonists who arrived here on the Mayflower celebrated their first harvest with friendly natives.

Although 1789 saw a Thanksgiving proclamation delivered by George Washington, it wasn’t until the Civil War when another president, Abraham Lincoln, established an official nationwide observance on the fourth Thursday of the month so Americans could pray to

“heal the wounds of the nation.” This Thanksgiving, such a prayer

is still lamentably appropriate. Mass shootings, worldwide strife,

political polarization and all the issues dominating daily headlines remind us many wounds are far from healed.

Thanksgiving is still very much in order. In fact, scientific research has recently proven that giving thanks and helping others are healing actions in their own right.

Cultivating what some call an “attitude of gratitude” has shown to make you happier and healthier. A 2014 study in the journal Emotion, published by the American Psychological Association, indicated that saying a simple “thank you” or writing a note of thanks helps people build stronger, more positive relationships. Folks who describe themselves as frequently grateful for their blessings report fewer aches and pains, and tend to take greater care of their bodies.

Gratitude reduces depression, loneliness and feelings of isolation, and improves sleep. Just before bedtime, make a list of what you’re grateful for, suggested Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. Research also indicates promoting gratitude

improves self-esteem, strengthens immunity and lowers blood pressure.

It’s hard to maintain negative emotions when thinking positively. As a U.S. citizen, I know even my worst days are better than the best days of many across the planet – the homeless, the hungry, the physically and emotionally traumatized, and so much more.

As a South Texan, I’m thankful I won’t have to shovel snow to move my car on Thanksgiving Day. I’m grateful to live in a city with such a colorful, diverse and friendly culture, and to have made many fantastic friends here. I am also pleased the city is building more and better greenways for hiking, biking and enjoying the outdoors, and that the weather is great for fun in our parks this time of year. I appreciate the Tex-Mex food, and plentiful food, period. I’m really grateful that Wurzbach Parkway is finished. And the list goes on. When you start listing positives, thanks come easy.

As for the giving, recent research demonstrates generosity is good for body and soul. Those who donate time or money to help others consistently report happier sensations. This “pro-

social spending,” or contributing to charities or organizations you feel good about, produces many of the same physical and emotional benefits that gratitude sparks, and often leads to a “pay-it-forward” point of view.

This Thanksgiving, locals have many opportunities to help others.

You could volunteer for the 35th annual Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner, for instance. Each year, some 4,000 volunteers plan and prepare holiday meals for 25,000 guests in the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.

Christian Senior Services is always looking for help with its Thanksgiving Meals on Wheels deliveries to the homebound. The San Antonio Food Bank plans a big Holiday Turkey Round Up just before Thanksgiving. Through Operation Home Cooking, area families bring some 5,000 military men and women stationed here into their residences for the traditional feast.

From big organized opportunities for giving to small personal acts of charity, there are a thousand ways to say “thank you” and to give of yourself. This year, I’m grateful to all who keep the spirit alive.

HOW DO YOU GIVE THANKS? CONTACT [email protected].

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OUR TURNViews and opinions about your community

One has to wonder after recent high-profile accounts of young players, and even coaches, showcasing behavior that went beyond just a flag on the field. Their actions instead highlighted a culture emphasizing winning at all costs — no matter what.

One episode that received nationwide attention chronicled the gridiron assault on a referee blindsided by two Jay High School varsity football players during a game against Marble Falls.

The teammates later claimed they only followed a coach’s instructions when they tackled the unsuspecting official.

In another case, a recent television broadcast revealed a coach yelling at his preadolescent football players

to maul their opponents. Let’s face it — losing is a part of

sports; and it’s an inescapable fact of life. We can’t all be winners.

Each of us is going to fail at one time or another, whether it’s during an athletic contest or in business, school, family, love or finances.

The best sports programs inspire players to win, but not at the cost of their souls.

Good coaches teach athletes that how you play the game is still important, and the best instructors know how you react when you lose says something about true character and the full measure of a person.

Young athletes — and people in general — must learn to own their mistakes and not blame others. Accountability applies not just to sports; it also is the bedrock of most social interaction, from work to home, faith and nearly everything else.

There is nothing silly or ridiculous about learning to lose gracefully and accepting responsibility for a blunder.

These are essential lessons, which should be taught on the gridiron, in the gym and in the locker room, because they remain important for the rest of life.

Good coaching teaches life lessons

Whatever happened to good sportsmanship — and for that matter,

accountability and responsibility?

-The Local Community News editorial board includes Harry Lees, Gregg Rosenfield and Thomas Edwards.

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OUR GUIDE

TO YOUR MONTH

Plan your month with our calendar of upcoming events in the community.

HAPPENING LOCAL

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PAPERCRAFTING AND SCRAPBOOK CLUB Visit the Parman Branch Library, 20735

Wilderness Oak Road, from 1-6 p.m. the fourth Saturday every month for an afternoon of paper therapy. Begin with a demonstration of a technique, layout idea or project, and then have the opportunity to work on your own paper projects such as cardmaking or scrapbooking. All levels of expertise are welcome. Registration is required. For more, call 207-2703.

JAVA WITH JOE District 9 Councilman Joe Krier will meet with the public at his

field office, 16500 U.S. 281 North, Suite 290 (at Thousand Oaks Drive). Resident appointments, in 15-minute intervals, are 10-11 a.m. For more information and to reserve a block of time, email district9@

sanantonio.gov or call 207-0955.

DISTRICT 9 NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE Meetings are held the fourth Wednesday

of each month at 7 p.m. in Stone Oak Methodist Hospital, classroom No. 1, 1139 E. Sonterra Blvd. The hospital is just off U.S. 281 North. For more, call Art Downey, alliance president, at 497-8873.

BOO! Explore the Parman Branch Library, 20735 Wilderness Oak Road, from

6-8 p.m. at your own risk for the fourth annual Halloween Carnival & Spooky Walk. Come in costume, or as you are, but either way, walk the haunted trail – if you dare. For more, call 207-2703.

OCT. 24,NOV. 28

OCT. 28,NOV. 11

OCT.28

OCT.29

HAPPENING continues on pg. 07

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SPN HAPPY HOUR The Single Professionals Network will host a happy hour starting at

4:30 p.m. on the patio at La Hacienda de los Barrios, 18747 Redland Road. SPN, a friendship group for single, mature adults, hosts events and outings several times a month; for more, go to www.spn-sa.org.

DANCE CLINIC From 7-11 a.m., Reagan High School, 19000 Ronald Reagan Drive, hosts a

dance clinic for kindergartners through ninth-graders. The school’s dance and drill-team members will teach moves to be performed at the varsity football game later in the day. For more, including registration forms, visit https://www.facebook.com/ReaganDanceClinic.

IS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL OVER ALREADY? Time flies as Reagan and Johnson conclude

their varsity regular-season schedules. The Rattlers finish with a 2 p.m. home contest Oct. 31 versus Lee at Comalander Stadium, 12002 Jones Maltsberger Road. One day earlier at the same site, the Jaguars host Churchill at 7:30 p.m., and then end Nov. 5 battling MacArthur in a 7 p.m. away affair

at Heroes Stadium, 4799 Thousand Oaks Drive. For a review of the schools’ previous 2015 games, visit www.neisd.net/athletics.

HALLOWEEN SPIRIT North Central Christian Church, 1300 Evans Road, hosts its

second annual Pumpkin Patch 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Enjoy the beautiful setting, take pictures and play a game of pumpkin tic-tac-toe. Admission is free. For more, call 481-3083.

KNOW A GREAT EDUCATOR? Nominations are now open online for the 2016 H-E-B

Excellence in Education Award. Recognized Texas teachers, school districts, early-childhood facilities or school boards could win cash prizes ranging from $5,000 to $100,000. Candidates are being accepted at www.heb.com/education.

ENCINO PARK OVER 50 CLUB For folks a half-century old, come to the Encino Park

Community Center, 1923 Encino Rio St., at 11:30 a.m. the first and third Tuesday of the month for fun activities including

OCT. 31

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HAPPENING continues on pg. 08

HAPPENING continues from pg. 06

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8 OCT. 26 - NOV. 30, 2015

tours, dinner gatherings and events. For more, call Dyan Montesclaros at 481-7890.

ART EXHIBIT The works of cartoonist Mike Fisher are currently on display at the

Parman Branch Library, 20735 Wilderness Oak Road. Fisher’s creations have appeared in magazines and videos. For more, call Tim Johnson at 207-2703.

SONTERRA HOLIDAY BAZAARThe Club at Sonterra Women’s Association holds its 22nd

annual Holiday Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Club at Sonterra, 901 E. Sonterra Blvd. There is no admission to the event, which is open to the public. More than 35 vendors offering wares from antiques to toys will take part. SWA is both a social and a charitable organization, with a portion of its budget dedicated to selected community endeavors.

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING Trustees of the North East Independent School District

regularly meet the second Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the boardroom at 8961 Tesoro Drive. To

confirm dates and times, call 407-0533.

GUYS NIGHT OUT Cornerstone Church’s Bythel Hagee Life Center, 18755 Stone Oak

Parkway, hosts a male-bonding event at 6:30 p.m. Chow down on a dinner fit for a man while enjoying Christian fellowship. Tickets are available after Sunday service or at the Special Events office. For more, call 499-1669, ext. 5.

GOING VIRAL The Parman Branch Library, 20735 Wilderness Oak Road, will host

a lecture from 6:30-7:30 p.m. by Dr. Hans Heidner in Meeting Room A. The physician with the South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases will explain how scientists are taking advantage of viruses’ unique properties in developing new methods of cancer treatment, gene therapy, vaccine development and antibiotics. For more, contact Tim Johnson at 207-2703.

ENCINO PARK GAME DAY Come to the Encino Park Community Center, 1923

Encino Rio St., at 1:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of every month for various game-related activities. Non-Encino Park residents are welcome, too. For more,

contact Dyan Montesclaros at 481-7890.

PARMAN MARKET FAIR Stop by the Parman Branch Library, 20735 Wilderness

Oak Road, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a fun, new tradition benefiting the Friends of the Parman Library. Just in time for the holidays, the fair will showcase handmade items and unique services by local vendors. For more, contact Marisa DeBow at 207-2703.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING Visit the Alfazar Shrine Auditorium, 901 N. Loop 1604 West, from

6-9:30 p.m. for the Festival of Lights Gala - A Celebration of Stars benefiting Family Service Association. While enjoying dinner, music and a holiday setting, oooh and aaah at the small forest of decorated Christmas trees to be auctioned off. For more and ticket costs, call Kathy Glascock at 299-2400.

GOBBLE, GOBBLE — SCHOOL’S OUT Classes are on hiatus for the Thanksgiving

holiday in the North East and Comal independent school districts.

HAPPENING continues from pg. 07

THROUGHNOV. 6

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DOG-EARED BOOKS Come to the Encino Branch Library, 2515 E. Evans Road, every

Wednesday (except Veterans Day, Nov. 11) from 3-4 p.m. and read to a dog. Bring your favorite animal story or choose one off the shelves. Even children who aren’t reading yet can come and narrate a story from one of the library’s wordless books. Recommended for ages 3 and up. For more, call 207-9250.

SHAPING UP FOR A NEW YOU While the Parman Branch Library, 20735 Wilderness Oak

Road, is usually a place to exercise your mind, on Mondays come by at 10 a.m. and exercise your body. An instructor from the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department will lead a class in low-impact circuit training. Exercises will focus on agility and flexibility, resulting in a great workout. For more, call 207-2703.

CHECK THIS OUT Whether you’re just learning or a grand master, the Parman

Pawn Stars invites you to play chess. Kindergartners to high school seniors are welcome. The group meets every

Sunday at the Parman Branch Library, 20735 Wilderness Oak Road, from 2-4 p.m. For more, call 207-2703.

TEEN TIME Every Tuesday, from 6-8 p.m. the Parman Branch Library, 20735 Wilderness Oak

Road, hosts a potpourri of activities for teenagers, 13-18. Everything from board games to crafting to cooking may be on the potluck agenda. Have fun, chill out and make new friends. For more, call 207-2703.

JOIN THE FITNESS KICK Come to the Encino Branch Library, 2515 E. Evans Road, 4 p.m.

or 4:30 p.m. on Mondays, to exercise your body. Learn martial arts from a third-degree black-belt instructor. This program teaches basics while improving strength, flexibility, conditioning and balance. Coordinated by Fitness in the Park, sessions are free and families are encouraged to participate together. The 30-minute class is limited to 30 attendees. For more, call 207-9250.

SO, YOU THINK YOU CAN SEW For an afternoon of advice and conversation leaving you

HAPPENING continues from pg. 08

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in stitches, the Encino Branch Library, 2515 E. Evans Road, hosts experienced needle enthusiasts Wednesdays from 12:30-3 p.m. (except Veterans Day, Nov. 11). The “Encino Hand Bees” are a close-knit group of adults and seniors. If you’re sew-inclined and seek more, call 207-9250.

NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN Kids don’t have to be the only ones headed to class. The North East

Independent School District Community Education department presents a multitude of enriching programs for adults, including mastering new languages and much more. Many classes are taught at NEISD classrooms or the district’s Community Learning Center, 8750 Tesoro Drive. For more, visit https://communityed.neisd.net or call Carrie Smith, NEISD Community Education Coordinator, at 401-0140.

GOODWILL PICKUPS Goodwill Industries offers donation pickup services for

large amounts of clothing, household items and furniture at Bexar County residences. For more, call 271-8881 or fill out pickup forms available at www.goodwillsa.org/home-pickup-services.

ELSEWHERE IN SAN ANTONIO

WHO DOESN’T LIKE A PARADE? Come to the River Walk from 7-9 p.m. for the

2015 Ford Holiday River Parade with 26 illuminated floats along a 4-mile route. Former San Antonio mayor and White House Cabinet member, Julián Castro, will be the grand marshal. Avoid parking issues by using VIA Park & Rides. The 34th annual parade’s cost ranges from free to $40. For more and to purchase tickets, visit www.TheSanAntonioRiverWalk.com.

CHILDREN’S FITNESSKids can be part of the Humana Rock ’n’ Roll

Marathon & ½ Marathon race-weekend excitement. Subway Kids Rock San Antonio powered by San Antonio Sports is a noncompetitive, 1-mile event, 9:30 a.m. at SeaWorld San Antonio, 10500 Sea World Drive, open to kindergarteners through seventh-graders. For more, visit http://runrockroll.com.

SUBMITTING EVENTS: Email all the details along with your contact information two months in advance to [email protected].

HAPPENING continues from pg. 10

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LOCAL LOWDOWNTake a quick look at what’s new in the community from opening and closings to news tidbits.

Open and Opening Soon Address of local business

Name of local business

1. FIRST CHOICE EMERGENCY ROOM, 23511 Hardy Oak Blvd., recently opened near Wilderness Oak Road, offering emergency-room medical services, 24 hours daily. For more, call 451-8340 or visit the San Antonio location link at www.fcer.com. (See story on page 25)

2. SPRING CHINESE CUISINE & PHO, 3830 N. Loop 1604 East, Suite 101, at the site of the former Tiger Pop restaurant, serves a mixture of Chinese dishes and Vietnamese pho. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more, call 714-7206 or visit www.eatspring.com. (See story on page 26)

3. L-TACO MEXICAN CAFE, 19202 Stone Oak Parkway, Suite 103, is the brainchild of “a bunch of friends from Mexico (who) have always fallen for genuine Mexican food … that was cooked by our mothers and grandmothers,” according to a release. The partners are “committed to (serving)

real Mexican food at affordable prices with exquisite flavors.” Hours are 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. For more, call 495-8226 or visit www.l-taco.com.

4. SMART BARRE, 427 N. Loop 1604 West, Suite 206, opened Sept. 28 as a “premiere fitness boutique for women specializing in barre — a fusion of Pilates, ballet and yoga,” said co-owner Mallory Moorman. There are two other studios, in Alamo Heights and Alon Town Centre. Hours for the 1604 location vary, so check the website for details. For more, call 462-7252 or visit www.smartbarrebody.com or facebook.com/smartbarresanantonio.

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to float questions and concerns about recent spikes in their water bills. SAWS’ “Rapid Response” events paired customers with agency staffers Oct. 1 at Encino Branch Library, and Oct. 3 at the city’s Tobin and Cody branch libraries. District 9 Councilman Joe Krier and District 10 Councilman Mike Gallagher, who grilled SAWS President and CEO Robert Puente during the Sept. 24 City Council meeting, came away assured SAWS is taking the right steps in investigating complaints and changing its future meter-reading and billing procedures. “Mr. Puente provided an explanation as to why many residents experienced such high bills and outlined a corrective action plan on preventing these billing issues going forward,” Gallagher said, pledging support for SAWS’ decision to hire additional meter readers and improve its overall billing process. “(SAWS) is promising to implement new strategies to prevent this from happening again.” Krier introduced a measure stipulating that SAWS officials keep the council updated on customer satisfaction at least twice a year. “While we welcome SAWS’ triage efforts, we need to ensure that its customers, including seniors living on fixed incomes, are not subjected to this kind of billing failure in

the future,” he said. Meanwhile, SAWS is proposing rate increases beginning next year, and five open-house meetings on those hikes were slated through Oct. 26.

WORK CONTINUES ON THE HARDY OAK BOULEVARD EXTENSION PROJECT, said District 9 Councilman Joe Krier. Upcoming construction includes street crews adding grading base material, asphalt supplied after the curbs are installed and grading completed, traffic-signal work and boring at the Hardy Oak and Knights Cross Drive intersection, a concrete curb and gutter for Hardy Oak, and trenching and boring for utility conduits to power CPS Energy’s streetlights on Hardy Oak. A bond issue approved by voters in May 2012 funds the $8.8 million project, which will extend Hardy Oak from Stone Oak Parkway to Knights Cross to help improve traffic flow and safety, officials said.

JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS stuffed a pickup full of breakfast food and canned goods – containing more than 200 boxes of cereal and totaling more than 350 pounds of edibles – collected during a recent food drive that supported Daily Bread Ministries’ Tackle Hunger program. The ministry provides food and other goods to families in need across San

Antonio and the surrounding area. Johnson’s event was held in conjunction with the football team’s annual football intrasquad scrimmage and hot dog cookout. “We were able to give the children we serve a great breakfast on the all-important first week of school,” said Sarah Matteson, the ministry’s community outreach manager. “What a tremendous impact this has on our ministry families.”

MEREDITH QI LEE, A JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE, was one of six San Antonio-area students receiving $4,000 scholarships from Tesoro, which awarded $200,000 to 50 children of employees and retirees for their academic accomplishments. Lee is the daughter of David Lee, who is employed at Tesoro’s Corp. San Antonio headquarters. She is enrolled at the University of Alabama, majoring in chemical engineering.

NORTH EAST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT recently acquired Time Warner Cable Park, a 56-acre sports complex at 12001 Wetmore Road, just north of Wurzbach Parkway. City Council approved a long-term lease agreement with NEISD, which eventually will purchase the facility for $3.2 million. The

LOWDOWN continues from pg. 12

LOWDOWN continues on pg. 15

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THE ELECTORATE IN THE NORTH EAST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT heads to the polls Nov. 3 to decide on a $499,950,000 bond issue for districtwide improvements. NEISD officials said the money will go to renovating, upgrading and enhancing facilities at older campuses. Most of the bond is designated for campus improvements ($225.8 million), with the rest slated for extracurricular programs ($89.8 million); technology upgrades ($72.4 million); district operations ($60 million); safety and security ($20 million); bond program management ($17 million); and a bond contingency program ($15 million). NEISD voters approved $449 million,

$498 million and $399 million packages in 2003, 2007 and 2011, respectively. Early voting extends through Oct. 30.

COMAL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT’S 2015 Bond Advisory Committee met for the first time Sept. 29, and will meet quarterly until bond projects, approved by voters in May, are completed. Committee members, comprised of civic leaders and school officials, discussed construction of two new middle schools in Garden Ridge and Kinder Ranch, both projected to open in 2018, improvement projects slated for existing high school campuses and safety and security upgrades at all district campuses. The committee has future sessions scheduled in November, and in March and June 2016.

THE COMAL COUNTY JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT received a $75,000 state grant for a new intervention center aimed at preventing truancy. The New Braunfels Intervention Center will provide tutoring, homework assistance, cognitive and life-skill training, individual therapy, and parental training for children, ages 12-17, and their families. The evening-reporting facility, located in the city’s Head Start offices at 2386 W. San Antonio St., across from Lone Star Elementary School, is expected to open in January.

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ANNEXATION continues from pg. 01

Not to say the debate — or the fight to stop the city from carrying out what some consider a “land grab” — is settled, but in addition to Mayor Ivy Taylor, now District 9 Councilman Joe Krier has expressed reservations with plans to add the territories, including more than 12 square miles along the U.S. 281 corridor north of Loop 1604.

Krier said city officials have been short on answers about annexation, such as how fire and police services will be provided.

“Until we make a good-faith effort to

clearly communicate the city’s case to the areas we’re considering for annexation — by making real preparations to provide services or working constructively on a plan to gradually bring them into the city of San Antonio — I cannot get behind this effort,’’ Krier said in a prepared statement.

Public opposition is growing, too, even as a public hearing on the 281 expansion has been delayed until January.

Michael Soulek, one of the leaders of a movement to squelch any action north of Stone Oak, said annexation is tantamount to “taxation without representation.”

The five areas are in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. If annexation goes through, the 70-square-mile tract could add 120,000 residents and bump the Alamo City to sixth largest in the U.S. Meanwhile, many residents say they moved to these places to escape city life and taxes.

North Bexar County residents opposed to the undertaking thought they won a reprieve when Taylor on Sept. 17 proposed annexing preferred commercial corridors in the areas, rather than the larger chunks.

However, Taylor backed down days later after city staffers told the council the loss of residential revenue would cloud the entire picture.

Three areas – Stone Oak, the Interstate 10 West corridor northwest of 1604, and between I-35 and I-10 on the county’s eastern end – are the first being considered for annexation. Two others, Alamo Ranch on the far West Side, and the I-10 corridor near U.S. 90 and 1604, will follow.

For now, the issue remains unsettled. Public hearings scheduled for November and December are delayed until early 2016, further extending the city’s timetable. Annexation hearings on 281 will be Jan. 13, Jan. 20 and before the

U.S. 281 hearings begin in Januaryby WILL WRIGHT

Despite a seemingly endless tug-of-war over whether to add more

land to San Antonio, for now the city is still pursuing limited-purpose annexation for five areas — including the affluent region north of Stone Oak to the Comal County line.

ANNEXATION continues on pg. 17

PROPOSED AREAS FOR ANNEXATION BY SAN ANTONIO

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n Far North Side — Stone Oakn I-10 corridor northwest of 1604n Eastern Bexar County

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n Far West Side — Alamo Ranchn I-10 corridor U.S. 90/1604

City Council’s final vote on Feb. 11.“It will be our chance for them to hear

our message,” said Soulek, of Canyon Springs. “We want to flood City Hall with people in opposition to the city’s plan.”

During the summer, area residents and elected representatives met with city officials to resolve differences.

District 8 Councilman Ron Nirenberg also called for public hearings about I-10 annexation, responding to public worries about maintaing services.

John Dugan, city planning director, said commercial and residential revenues from the five areas could total $412 million over the next 20 years. Millions would be lost in limiting annexation to commercial corridors, $35 million alone in the Stone Oak, Alamo Ranch and east I-10 areas.

City staffers maintain annexation will preserve the city’s regional economic vitality, enhance public health and safety, guide standards for residential and commercial development, add needed services and give residents an active voice in city affairs.

Residents say they’re fine with the current quality of services provided through Bexar County and neighborhood homeowners associations, adding

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they’d ultimately pay more for city resources they neither want nor need.

Stone Oak’s growth and affluence make it the most attractive annexation target. Bexar County Precinct 3 Commissioner Kevin Wolff said it could wind up paying the bill to add the others, such as the dilapidated Camelot II neighborhood in the area under consideration in far northeast Bexar County.

Soulek led hundreds of Stone Oak residents in a Sept. 25 gathering to solidify local support against annexation.

“Our surveys indicated 90 percent of the people here chose to move here to be outside of the city – and not be a part of city government,” he said. “The city’s desire to set guidelines here runs counter to what we want.”

Alamo Ranch residents also spoke out during the Oct. 7 council meeting.

“They are strongly moving in the same direction as we are,” Soulek added. “What you’re seeing is a city that doesn’t want to listen to their future

ANNEXATION continues on pg. 24

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Not surprisingly, there’s more to the trek than a desire to exercise. He started his current weekly 50-mile routine in April.

“First and foremost, I am running for Jesus as he leads my steps to bring back the faith in this country,” Eubanks said. “I also do it in support of our veterans, law enforcement and first responders; they are the ones that keep us safe and protect us 24/7.”

An Air Force veteran, Eubanks was initially inspired to exercise by an Ohio friend.

“I gave him a hard time as he was slacking on his running, so then

he challenged me to run 93.3 miles in August 2014, and anything over that he would donate $5 per mile to CancerFree KIDS,” Eubanks said.

After he met the goal, Eubanks stopped running on the road for a few months to focus on his fourth marathon later in the year. Then, in April, he began jogging again and flew the American flag on his rounds.

“I did it because there was so much disrespect within America concerning the flag, veterans and law enforcement/first responders,” he said. “I then decided to carry the cross, as I felt that we as Americans have deviated away from God.”

Journey promotes respect for Old Gloryby EMELINE LAKROUT

Carrying a U.S. flag and a metal cross, five days a week Rod Eubanks runs

10 miles through bustling Stone Oak, leading many passersby and motorists to wonder about the mission behind the man.

JOGGER continues on pg. 19

Passersby and motorists in Stone Oak the last few months have seen Rod Eubanks jogging with a U.S. flag and a metal cross, which he says is part of his mission to restore respect for Old Glory and to honor his Christian beliefs. Photo by Leland A. Outz

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JOGGER continues from pg. 18

Eubanks emphasizes he runs for others, not himself.

“It’s not about me, and I don’t want it to be about me. It’s about reaching our younger generation and showing respect and appreciation of our veterans, first responders, law-enforcement officers and Jesus, as they are our protectors who deserve all the glory,” he said.

Sherry Reddick, who also believes in recognizing first responders and has done several service projects for Fire Station 46 on Evans Road, once spoke to Eubanks during one of his jogs.

“I think it’s admirable,” she said. “My feelings are that we don’t do enough to support our flag and what the first colonies meant and the freedoms that this America has.”

Reddick believes Eubanks’ message about religion is a positive testament to America’s diversity.

“I think that’s his personal choice,” she said. “I think that’s what America’s all about. We should be able to have freedom of faith or no faith.”

Eubanks’ liberties also allow him to display the Stars and Stripes in a patriotic manner, she added.

“So in America, he has the right to run

the street with a cross and with a flag,” she said. “He may not be of someone else’s faith or of their belief system. That’s what America’s about — we’re one of the last free democracies on the face of the Earth, and so for us to have that privilege is one we should not take lightly.”

The runner also takes seriously his vow to honor first responders, and he has even visited Fire Station No. 46.

Alex Ibarra, a fire engineer and apparatus operator at the station, considers it an honor to be recognized by a veteran. Eubanks is not the only neighbor who has shown kindness to the first responders, he added.

“In this area in particular, it’s incredible,” Ibarra said. “The doorbell will ring at any given time, random times, people will just drop off a dessert. We get a lot of dessert here. People are all very gracious when we’re around, and we appreciate that.”

Eubanks knows freedom comes at a dear price, and his only aim is to be a good influence.

“My goal is simply to put a smile on people’s faces and encourage our young people to respect the American flag and acknowledge how grateful we are to live in this country,” Eubanks said. Interested in following Eubanks? Visit http://www.rodeubanks.com.

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FIRE PREVENTION continues from pg. 01

The Safety Awareness for Everyone neighborhood program provides an educational pre-emptive strike in the 47-square-mile area of far north Bexar County served by the department, as well as teaching property owners how to better protect buildings and homes.

“You’re doing it because you want to help people,” said Sean Weaver, Bexar-Bulverde’s community liaison. He coordinates the S.A.F.E. program at the department, which is made up of a

mixture of volunteer and paid firefighters.The idea for the program began in

2014, after BBVFD Assistant Chief Greg Woodruff returned from a conference in Frisco, a city with a top ranking for home- and business-insurance rates, or ISO.

An ISO is based on the effectiveness of public-safety agencies’ response to emergencies and education. When fire departments receive a favorable ISO rating, the cost of insurance for

homeowners and companies decreases.The S.A.F.E. community outreach

program calls for increased relations with the public to maximize fire-prevention efforts.

BBVFD takes advantage of every opportunity to educate the surrounding communities, John F. Kirk said.

“They are always ready, willing and able to attend an event,” said the neighborhood leader, who serves on the

Timberwood Park community board as an Emergency Services District No. 3 fire commissioner and assistant treasurer.

Firefighters give station tours, offer fire truck visits with home-safety surveys, and host neighborhood events. Also, Weaver speaks to homeowners associations and accepts requests for fire-safety information.

“We can teach the kids and help the parents prevent issues before they happen,” Weaver said.

The firefighters will also visit birthday gatherings, business events and block parties — anything to get the word out about preventing disasters. The first responders also inform Scouts regarding fire preparedness in the wilderness and instruct retired seniors how to prevent slips and falls.

At the end of the year, each neighborhood’s participation is tallied and the community with the most fire-prevention events wins a recognition award from the department.

Weaver also collaborates with HOA representatives on a community board appointed by Bexar County Precinct 3 Commissioner Kevin Wolff.

When Weaver and other firefighters convene with residents at annual homeowners meetings, safety tips regarding

Firefighters want to get residents more involvedby RUBEN RENTERIA

When it comes to fire safety, the Bexar-Bulverde Volunteer

Fire Department is focusing on preventing emergencies just as much as reacting to them, thanks to a recent community outreach program.

FIRE PREVENTION continues on pg. 21

Sean Weaver is the community liaison for the Bexar-Bulverde Volunteer Fire Department and director of the Safety Awareness for Everyone neighborhood program. Photo by Rudy B. Ornelas

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seasonal fires are covered. The spring and summer discussions usually revolve around lightning strikes; the winter encounters detail the perils of portable heaters and candles; and the fall sessions involve safety during special holidays such as Halloween.

“We are trying to get people motivated,” Weaver said.

BBVFD has two locations — 1126 E. Borgfeld Drive and 23103 Bulverde Road, staffed by 120 members. All firefighters complete an emergency medical technician course and receive basic certification as part of their training. Both stations are staffed 24 hours a day.

The department is financed through an emergency-services district tax.

Based on the tax revenue BBVFD receives, they do a good job of administering the funding, Kirk said.

“I’ve seen the progress they’ve made,” Kirk said. “They have managed the money given to them very well.”

To contact the department or make arrangements to participate in the S.A.F.E. neighborhood program, call 272-0353 or 830-980-4733; or email [email protected]. A brochure is available at www.bexarbulverdevfd.org.

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“The most impressive thing about Gloria is that yes, she wants to develop her students as actors, she wants them to have an appreciation of literature and be great communicators, but each of her students knows she cares about them genuinely and unselfishly as individuals,” said Diana Schumacher, North East Independent School District executive director of fine arts.

Caring isn’t something she limits

to her schoolchildren, Schumacher said, explaining how Robinson invites residents of a local retirement community to attend performances and ensures they receive special seating.

“She is just a very generous spirit and makes people comfortable about themselves,” Schumacher said.

Raised in Lebanon, Tennessee, Robinson earned her bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and Belmont University, and master’s in theater from Southwest Texas State University, now Texas State University. She has been teaching theater — and more — for 38 years.

“I find theater in everything I have taught,” Robinson said, including English, speech, debate, interpretation, creative writing and critical-thinking skills.

Just days before her department’s recent debut performance of “Hamlet” with a cast of 33 and more than 40 technicians, Robinson discussed how a production’s success depends on the group, not an individual.

“My theory as a teacher and an artist is that all of the parts are equally important, and you don’t have a good actor without a good tech behind them or vice versa,” Robinson said.

The educator said students must also work hard in class if they’re going to

participate in extracurricular activities. Parent Lisa Dausin credits Robinson with motivating her daughter to improve her grades from B’s to A’s.

“If a teacher can have that kind of impact on a student, I think that says a lot about the teacher,” Dausin said.

Robinson crafts her lesson plans to sharpen skills and foster discipline benefiting pupils far beyond the stage.

“A lot of times we in America think you’ve got to be a businessman or a doctor,” Robinson said. “I think there are a lot of roles out there in the humanities and I have found as I have taught that theater and the arts are really good at teaching a lot of things that enhance the rest of the education process.”

Robinson has been honored with numerous awards, including induction in 2005 to the National Forensics League Hall of Fame for teaching and coaching. However, more significant to Robinson is feedback expressing how she helped students thrive in their chosen field.

“One thing that really means the most is when my students come back and tell me that they were very well prepared for college,” she said.

One of Robinson’s former Reagan stars, Malloree Hill, graduated in 2009 and studied acting at the University

of Northern Colorado on a theater scholarship. The last two years, she’s lived and worked in New York City and is part of an Oct. 23-Nov. 1 off-Broadway production of “The Trojan Women.”

“She knows what needs to be taught and what is valuable,” Hill said. “That goes beyond theater skills. That goes to interpersonal skills, life skills — how to be a good person, how to interact with people.”

Helping students discover their own path and the right college is a top priority for Robinson, who endeavors to assist students land scholarships.

“I always try to tell them that going to college and losing your mind is not wise,” she said. “Not every school is right for every student.”

Colleges and universities from Texas and beyond will attend an annual regional audition day Nov. 23 on Reagan’s campus, 19000 Ronald Reagan Drive. Robinson’s reputation continues to be a big draw, said Schumacher, the event organizer.

Senior Maddy Weber, involved in Reagan theater productions since her freshman year, has applied to the theater-education program at the University of Evansville.

“I actually want to go into being a theater teacher because of (Robinson),” said Weber, who served as assistant stage manager for “Hamlet.”

REAGAN continues from pg. 01

Students have gone on to varied careersby KATE HUNGER

Since her Reagan High School teaching career began in 2000, Director

of Theater Gloria Robinson has dramatically earned the admiration of students, parents and peers with what they describe as unwavering commitment to preparing pupils not only for the arts, but also for life.

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APARTMENTS continues from pg. 01

The Austin company’s Agora Palms 312-unit development is now undergoing ground work and scheduled to open in the Stone Oak area in mid-2016. The Class A multifamily community — an industry term for newer, high-end properties —will be northwest of the North Loop 1604 and U.S. 281 intersection.

Oden Hughes already has made a major investment in San Antonio with two additional projects and more forthcoming, a company executive said.

The firm’s Landmark Grandview at Interstate 10 and Loop 1604 will launch

their first 356 of 950 units by the end of October. Oden Hughes sold its first Alamo City development, the 350-unit Platinum Shavano Oaks, in May.

“You’re seeing a lot of Class A product of all shapes and sizes in San Antonio,” said Mac McElwrath, managing director at Oden Hughes. With occupancy rates topping 90 percent, he said the trend should continue.

It’s especially true in far north San Antonio, where major corporations offer some of the best employment for blossoming, upwardly mobile workers.

“With the regional job and population growth in San Antonio, young professional – especially millennials – are going into Class A multifamily,” McElwrath said.

They aren’t ready to purchase pricey houses, but desire suitability and luxury in the same areas those homes are found.

“There are hubs around 1604/281, downtown and I-10 and 1604 where you can live, work and play. People are looking for convenience in their commute,” he said.

Both Agora Palms and Landmark Grandview fit the bill with major businesses such as Tesoro Corp. in a 122-acre master-planned development by the apartments in Stone Oak, and NuStar Energy L.P., Medtronic, Acelity

by TRAVIS E. POLING

SA’s economy more resilient than most

A thirst for luxury and a shorter commute without a big mortgage for

young San Antonio professionals is prompting developer Oden Hughes LLC to launch its third apartment complex on the far North Side.

APARTMENTS continues on pg. 27

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voters. We see them trying to take our resources to solve their problems.”

Annexed residents won’t pay city taxes until limited annexation becomes final in three years. Until then, the city will be responsible for assistance such as waste disposal and police and fire protection.

In an Oct. 5 letter to Taylor, District 122 state Rep. Lyle Larson said the city’s plan lacks a funding mechanism to provide additional amenities for annexed residents while maintaining current service levels in all areas of the city.

“A dilution of services will occur in the inner city because demand for services would greatly increase in the newly annexed areas,” said Larson, a Republican and a former councilman and county commissioner. “An additional 164 police officers and 141 firefighters would be needed immediately after annexation is complete to serve these areas.”

Larson’s letter was co-signed by District 25 state Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, and District 117 state Rep. Rick Galindo, R-San Antonio. All three attended the Sept. 25 rally.

The San Antonio Police Officers Association is against city annexation plans, which it claimed would increase demands on an already short-staffed department. Police Chief William McManus countered, saying staffing adjustments would meet needs throughout the city.

Some critics suggest the city is aggressively going forward for fear state lawmakers during the next session will approve allowing residents to vote whether they want to join a city.

Staffers are recommending council abandon a plan to annex six additional areas, including another Stone Oak community further north on 281.

Larson and Galindo sponsored measures to curb municipalities’ ETJ powers – and annexation rights – during the last legislative session, which narrowly failed. Larson vows to reintroduce a similar bill when the Legislature returns in 2017.

Though some council members appear split on annexation, District 10 Councilman Mike Gallagher still supports its basic premise.

“Through annexation we decide our fate and, in turn, are able to plan for public safety and other quality-of-life issues,” Gallagher said. “The bottom line for me is that we must not relinquish annexation as a tool for deciding the best patterns of growth for our community.”

Krier said more information is needed from city staff.

"I generally support the concept of orderly, thoughtful annexation," he said. "However, I am not satisfied with the (city's Department of Planning and Community Development's) handling of this annexation proposal so far."

ANNEXATION continues from pg. 17

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The clinic, which opened about a year ago at 23511 Hardy Oak Blvd., is part of the largest network of independent, freestanding emergency rooms in the United States, a spokesman said.

“First Choice Emergency Room is revolutionizing the delivery of emergency medical care by providing a neighborhood alternative for emergency medical services,” said Warren White, vice president of

marketing for Adeptus Health, the holding company for First Choice. “First Choice Emergency Room received the prestigious Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award in both 2013 and 2014 for exceeding the 95th percentile in patient satisfaction nationwide.”

First Choice offers patients a wide array of services, according to the company. Medical personnel at First Choice handle chest and abdominal pains, head injuries, sports injuries, broken bones and respiratory distress.

“Different from urgent-care facilities, all First Choice Emergency Room facilities are open 24 hours, seven days per week, and staffed exclusively with board-certified physicians and emergency-trained registered nurses,” White said.

The clinic offers electrocardiograms and other diagnostic services.

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Stone Oak facility offers 24-hour medical helpby ERIC MORENO

A neighborhood medical service offering care 24 hours a day in Stone

Oak has this prescription for patients — “Real ER. Real Fast,” according to representatives with First Choice Emergency Room.

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EAT LOCALLearn about the newest neighborhood places for breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks

“My parents used to have a restaurant in Saigon,” said partner Duy Nguyen. “I spent a lot of time there as a child. I’m using some of my grandmother’s recipes, and I think she would be happy.”

The eatery at 3830 N. Loop 1604 East, Suite 101, which debuted in mid-June, is housed in the former Tiger Pop, another Asian-themed food locale.

Partners Nguyen and Nick Nguyen — no relation — have collaborated to create a local chain-to-be, with

ambitions to launch 20 San Antonio-area restaurants over the next several years.

A second is slated for 20079 Stone Oak Parkway at Hardy Oak Boulevard.

Duy Nguyen also owns another establishment, the Beijing House on O’Connor Road.

“I moved here from Vietnam when I was 17,” the entrepreneur said. “First, I spent time in Baltimore for a couple of years before moving to Louisiana — Baton Rouge. When I was living there, I visited San Antonio with some friends and I liked it.”

After relocating to the Alamo City, Nguyen worked four years at Panda Express. He also prepared food at H-E-B while taking business-management classes at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Some of his Chinese menu items include pork-dumpling appetizers, Kung Pao chicken and sesame chicken. Shrimp,

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Thirsty? Slurp a Boba drink, which is a tapioca and tea-based jelly-bubble liquid made with fresh fruits and vegetables including lychee, coconut, taro, avocado, mango, peach, strawberry,

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(formerly KCI), Valero Energy Corp. and USAA a short drive away. The University of Texas at San Antonio main campus also draws residents, as do good jobs at the South Texas Medical Center and the Stone Oak Medical Center area.

Retail, entertainment and restaurants nearby to Agora Palms are important to people willing to pay the $897 to $2,024 a month for the garden-style apartments of one to three bedrooms, ranging in size from 587 to 1,700 square feet.

Amenities at the 18-acre, 12-building complex will include a movie theater, dog park with a canine-washing station, a resort-style pool and an around-the-clock fitness center.

Debra Janes, a luxury Realtor with the KW San Antonio Portfolio Real Estate division of Keller Williams, said besides younger professionals moving into multifamily housing in spots they’d one day like to be homeowners, so are empty nesters and older residents.

The last two groups are selling their 6,000- or 7,000-square-foot houses and looking for something with luxury and amenities without the upkeep.

“There is an outcry for garden homes across the far North Side,” Janes said, but

some are opting for high-end apartments after selling their houses, sometimes while waiting for single-family garden homes to come on the market.

Oden Hughes’ McElwrath said the developer is looking to build more Class A apartments in downtown and on the far North Side in the future.

“We continue to have a vested interest in greater San Antonio,” McElwrath said.

Thanks to the building boom, “land and construction costs are increasing, which makes it more difficult to find the right site for us, but they are there,” he added.

McElwrath said San Antonio’s diverse economy ripens the market for more multifamily housing developments, even with job loss brought to town by drops in oil-field operations and service companies using San Antonio as a base for the Eagle Ford Shale. Crude oil prices nose-dived late last year to less than $50 a barrel and have yet to recover.

“That risk (building multifamily residential developments with oil prices down) isn’t anywhere near as much as it would be in Houston,” McElwrath said. “The significant military, medical, university and construction presence, and the diversity of the economy, makes San Antonio so much more resilient.”

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