Walk Around Jefferson, San Antonio Texas

Fireworks at Woodlawn Lake at 8 pm Tuesday November 2, 2010

2010-11-01T16:35:00.001-05:00

Planet K's little publicized fireworks spectacular again takes place at Woodlawn Lake, November 2, 2010 at 8 pm.

Because this isn't publicized much beyond the clientele of the store it is often a surprise to folks who happen to be out and hear and see the industrial size display from a distance.

The facts about Net Neutrality: the open source documentary

2010-09-30T13:57:00.000-05:00

VIA plans Bus Rapid Transit station for shoping center Bexar County is destroying

2010-05-15T07:01:00.000-05:00

While Bexar County has been plotting the destruction of hundreds of jobs and dozens of businesses at Northwest Center, VIA Metropolitan Transit has been going forward with plans to build a Bus Rapid Transit stop at the shopping center.

Supporters of Bus Rapid Transit claim that such stations inspire nearby development such as shopping centers. In this case the shopping center exists but Bexar County has decided to destroy it in the name of flood control without considering the impact on jobs and the community and without examining flood water retention systems that would allow the center to continue to exist.

County could boost economy while preventing destruction of jobs, businesses and buildings of Northwest Center

2010-05-14T21:46:00.000-05:00

The county plans to tear down Northwest Center on Fredericksburg Road in order to put in a retention pond to control flooding. Hundreds of jobs will be lost and the quality of life of thousands of residents along Fredericksburg Road will be affected negatively.

Flood control officials apparently don't know about the work of San Antonio based Aquabank Inc. This company's innovative rainwater and gray water storage solutions would save Northwest Center, the jobs and prevent flooding.

Below the asphalt or concrete of commercial parking lots is base material. The base material supports the surface and stabilizes it. Aquabank Inc uses the voids in the base material to store rainwater and gray water.

If Aquabank's technology was applied to the center the area under the parking lots could be transformed into large water storage tanks. All the flood waters that the county rightly worries about could be stored and more probably for less than the cost of condemning the center.

I only hope that the officials responsible for this will become educated to this alternative and change course. Call your county commissioner and Judge Wolff without delay.

County says businesses need to be out by September 1st

2nd Thursday Poetry Series at Bihl Haus features Jim La Villa-Havelin, Josie Mixon and Carmen Tafolla, April 8, 2010

2010-04-06T09:13:00.001-05:00

From Bihl Haus Arts:
"Come Spend Some Time with Jim"

This Second Thursday, April 8th, The Second Thursday Poetry Series at Bihl Haus Arts, 2803 Fredericksburg Road, features Poet Jim LaVilla-Havelin for this official 2010 National Poetry Month event. The series includes a poetry workshop by Josie Mixon commencing at 6:00 p.m. followed by open mic at 7:00 p.m. with a special open-mic appearance by Carmen Tafolla. Featured guest, Jim LaVilla-Havelin, will present at 8:00 p.m.

This poetry event is set against the exhibit "Wordworkers," pinhole photographs by Melanie Davis Rush of 22 of San Antonio's most important authors accompanied by poems in their own hand scrawled on the gallery's walls. The exhibit was organized by Jim LaVilla-Havelin.

Poets Jim Brandenburg, Mo Saidi, Carolyn Sanchez and Josie Mixon are hosting this event co-sponsored by Bihl Haus Arts, a multi-disciplinary, non-profit arts organization, and Voices de la Luna, a quarterly poetry and arts magazine.

Jim LaVilla-Havelin is the author of three previous books of poems, Rites of Passage(Charon Press, 1969), What the Diamond Does Is Hold It All In (White Pine Press, 1978) and Simon’s Masterpiece (White Pine Press, 1983). His poetry has appeared in magazines and anthologies including: The Texas Poetry Calendar (Dos Gatos Press), Between Heaven and Texas (University of Texas Press), Is This Forever, or What? (Greenwillow Press), and On Turtle’s Back (White Pine Press). LaVilla-Havelin has read his poems at coffee houses, bars, galleries, bookstores, universities, schools, theaters, and parks throughout the northeast, and Texas for over forty-five years.

LaVilla-Havelin is an arts administrator, educator and critic. He is the Director of the Young Artist Programs at the Southwest School of Art and Craft, and the Coordinator of National Poetry Month events in San Antonio. A fifteen year Texan, LaVilla-Havelin, lives with his wife, the artist Lucia LaVilla-Havelin, in Lytle, Texas.

Bihl Haus Arts will conclude it's celebration of National Poetry Month with the One-Day Friends Exhibit and Reading by John Philip Santos on Thursday, April 22nd. He will read from his new memoir, "The Farthest Home Is in an Empire of Fire (A Tejano Elegy)."

All events are free and open to the public. Bihl Haus Arts is located on Fredericksburg Road across the street from Tip Top Cafe. Parking is outside the gates of the Primrose Apartments, over flow parking is in the Redeemer Church parking lot on Fredericksburg Rd.@ Quentin.

Disney and other publishers / authors losing over 1 trillion dollars per year to offline lending

2010-01-28T07:46:00.000-06:00

Eric Hellman uncovers a gigantic conspiracy to share books offline, and here's the kicker: for now it's still legal.

Although, the secret copyright treaty being negotiated currently will certainly further limit the activities of these so called "librarians", for now such sharing activities are not just legal. They are even being encouraged unwittingly by civic and business organizations.

A small collection of Teaparty jokes: "How many Tea Partiers does it take to change a lightbulb?"

2009-12-19T11:39:00.000-06:00

I ran across these on the Facebook group, "The Teabusters- 1,000,000 Strong Against the Teaparty Movement" in comments by James Clarke.

Q: How many Teapartiers does it take to change a light bulb?
A: What, are you saying you want to euthanize the old one?

Q: How many Teapartiers does it take to change a light bulb?
A: You know who else changed light bulbs? The Nazis!

Q: How many Teapartiers does it take to change a light bulb?
A: None- changing the light bulb is government takeover of the Utility companies!

Q: How many Teapartiers does it take to change a light bulb?
A: One to break the old one, and thousands to protest the expense of replacing it!

Q: How many Teapartiers does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: None, they live in the complete darkness of their minds and have no use for light.
(this one is from belowtopsecret.com)

Q: How many Joe Liebermans does it take to change a light bulb?
A: One- but it takes him awhile to decide whether or not its in his best interests.

Q: How many Sarah Palins does it take to change a light bulb?
A: One, but she quits halfway through!

Funding found for initial work on Westside Creek park. Ground breaking December 16, 2009

2009-12-15T16:01:00.001-06:00

From Rod Radle, San Antonio Alternative Housing Corporation:

San Antonio, Texas December 16, 2009 — The San Antonio Alternative Housing Corporation (SAAHC) is sponsoring a ground breaking ceremony to announce the start of construction for the first linear park to be created on the Zarzamora and Apache Creeks. The mile long park will provide a picture of what future public development will hold in store for San Antonio residents on four major creeks located on the Westside and inner city.

The linear park is being developed on a bank of constant level creek just north of Elmendorf Lake. The area has been for years a mass of overgrown vegetation, with lush plants, tress, numerous birds and animals. The park will open up this natural jewel for the first time for citizens to appreciate and utilize for their own physical and mental health. It is anticipated that the area will become active with school children and adults as its natural riches are discovered.

Eleven years ago, SAAHC, with participation of numerous public taxing entities, formed one of the first developer sponsored Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZ) in San Antonio. The TIRZ was formed primarily in order to create sixty-five, affordable homes for families in the Rosedale Subdivision. This financing mechanism allowed lots to be developed and sold for 1/3 of their cost, thus allowing families to afford homeownership in one of San Antonio’s lowest economic neighborhoods. The TIRZ finance plan also envisioned the creation of a linear public park beginning at General McMullen and finishing at Commerce Street near Our Lady of the Lake University.

Needless to say, when the park was first thought of there was no major push for the development of the creeks on the city’s Westside. But the timing couldn’t have been better, with Roberto Rodriguez championing the cause with numerous citizens for strategies for creek development through the Westside Creeks Restoration Project. Committees are working on developing the Alazan, Apache, Martinez and San Pedro Creeks, working closely with the San Antonio River Authority, as well as the City of San Antonio and Bexar County. This linear park will provide a hands-on example of what will become a reality for public spaces on these creeks in the coming years.

The groundbreaking event will mark the start of construction on the park, which is being developed by SAAHC on land owned by the City of San Antonio (COSA). Once completed, the COSA will maintain the park, adding it as another linear park in its care. The park will be comprised of two paths, one concrete for bikes, skateboards and pedestrians, and a second cinder path for exercise. Lighting will be featured throughout the pathways. Benches, tables and exercise stations will also be strategically placed along the paths to take advantage of the views of the creek. The park is scheduled to be completed and opened to the public in spring of 2010. The $700,000 project will be fully funded through TIRZ proceeds, with interim financing provided by the San Antonio River Authority.

The San Antonio Alternative Housing Corporation (SAAHC) is a nonprofit organization established in 1993. The mission of SAAHC is to provide decent rental and ownership housing that is affordable to low- and moderate-income people in Texas; to provide housing education and ownership counseling through a community home ownership association; and to promote and create business development, job training, health and social services.

The start of the park will be at near the intersection of Matyear and Landa Street.

The secret anti-counterfeit treaty, a lecture by Professor Michael Geist, University of Ottawa

2009-11-12T13:15:00.000-06:00

Paseo del Arte: Expanding the San Antonio River Walk documentary to air on KLRN Tuesday November 10 and Sunday November 15, 2009

2009-11-09T22:13:00.000-06:00

Here's a 30 second promo for the documentary" Paseo del Arte: Expanding the San Antonio River Walk". It will air Tuesday November 10 at 9 pm and again at 1:00 pm on Sunday November 14, 2009 on KLRN. Be sure to set your DVR .

Who did the fireworks show at San Antonio's Woodlawn Lake, November 2, 2009? Why it was the folks from Planet K!

2009-11-02T21:08:00.000-06:00

If you were surprised to see fireworks over San Antonio's Woodlawn Lake from 8:00 to 8:15 pm on November 2, 2009 it is probably because you do not frequent any of the convenient locations of Planet K, featuring "the best selection of imported cigarettes, pipes, vaporizers, incense, underground books, erotica and more".

Perhaps it is because of the sponsor perhaps it is because the sponsor doesn't care to publicize the event but the Texas Fireworks show sponsored by Planet K did not make it into the Express News as far as I can tell.

The show was in celebration of Dias de los Muertos and took place in 2007 and 2008 as well. The San Antonio celebration benefits the Little Church of La Villita, the Bexar Area Harm Reduction Coalition and the San Antonio Aids Foundation.

In Austin, Planet K's fireworks show takes place on Halloween night. Below is video of fireworks at the lake from 2008

Planet K Fireworks November 2nd

Darkness Despair | MySpace Video

Read Greg Harmon's column on CPS Nuke duplicity in the Current

2009-10-28T10:19:00.001-05:00

The San Antonio Current has matured into an important publication. Greg Harmon's web article, Nuke Collider: San Antonio delays $400 million nuke bond vote over Toshiba cost surge is a must read.

One can only hope that Mayor Castro will now take the time to seriously consider his political future and the future of our city. In this press conference he really looks like a man who is trying desperately not to admit that he was taken in by the nuclear cabal at CPS.

Greg reports on the lack of interest on the part of Castro and the city council in the Rifken Report: San Antonio: Leading the Way Forward to the Third Industrial Revolution. An executive summary of the report was prepared by Solar San Antonio as well.

In the video below be sure to check out CPS's interim managers admission that CPS knew about the cost estimate increase for a week and a half. (The reporter's question and his answer begins about 4 minutes into the video.) I didn't see a follow-up asking why they hadn't told the mayor, council and citizens about it immediately. Also check out In the video of the press conference 4:21. Then watch as the mayor tries to explain that the process has been a good one even though CPS lied to him and he and the city council couldn't be bothered to look at alternatives and citing how good CPS has been in the past to justify trusting CPS now.

Kay Bailey Hutchinson site slams "Tricky Ricky" Perry

2009-10-26T09:37:00.000-05:00

KBH is a liar and hypocrite, but at least she isn't Rick Perry and "Tricky Ricky" is a fine nickname.

Her YouTube channel, TrickyRicky2010, has some excellent Republican on Republican action.

By promoting the nuclear plant expansion San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro will be remembered

2009-10-26T00:13:00.000-05:00

Mayor Castro,

You are making a defining mistake for your career. Your vote in favor of the nuclear expansion will haunt you for your lifetime. For generations you will be remembered as the man who could have stopped the project but who made sure it moved forward.

Whenever workers who mine uranium are made ill, you will be remembered. Whenever land where the uranium is mined becomes permanently unusable because of radiation, you will be remembered.

When San Antonio is saddled with a plant that no one else will invest in because alternative sources of power became available, you will be remembered.

When we become dependent on foreign sources of uranium, you will be remembered. Whenever there is a planned release of radiation, you will be remembered.

Whenever there is an breakdown, you will be remembered. When water is not available for other uses, you will be remembered.

When future generations for the next 100,000 years have to deal with the radioactive waste produced by your plants, you will be remembered.

Nothing else you will do will be remembered as long as your decision to build the reactors will be.

Whenever Democrats consider candidates, you will be remembered as the man responsible for making new American nuclear plants, nuclear pollution and nuclear ruin possible.

Put it to a vote of the people. Then perhaps you will be remembered as the man who avoided making a mistake that would have harmed millions of people for thousands of years.

Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) humbles Hudson Institute dilettante over health care bankruptcies

2009-10-24T00:15:00.002-05:00

AHIP health care anti-healthcare conference interupted by Billionaires for Wealthcare

2009-10-23T16:42:00.000-05:00

From the Billionaires for Wealthcare:

AHIP is the powerful insurance lobby that spends 5 million dollars a week trying to kill health care reform. Billionaires for Wealthcare is a grassroots network looking to stop them - with song.

• AHIP and other insurance and HMO interests spend nearly $5 million per week undermining real health care reform, including a public option.

• AHIP has resorted to out-right lying and scare tactics to block health care reform. They sent letters that lie to seniors about what health care reform means for Medicare, and they issued a report on the costs of health care reform legislation that is so misleading even the reports embarrassed authors distanced themselves from the way AHIP used their work.

• Every year, 45,000 people die because they cant get access to the health care they need. Yet AHIP continues to stand in the way of health care reform that would provide coverage to millions of Americans because the industry is more concerned with protecting profits than saving lives.

Lyrics to "Public Option Annie"

(to the tune of "Tomorrow" from Annie)

Michael Soto announces for State Board of Education district 3. Primary election March 2, 2010

2009-10-23T12:17:00.000-05:00

Jefferson neighborhood resident Michael Soto has announced his candidacy for the State Board of Education district 3. The Democratic Primary is March 2, 2010.

From Michael Soto:

Dear Friends,
I have decided to run as a Democrat for the State Board of Education in District 3 because the current Board too often puts politics and personal gain ahead of our children's success. I can't sit idly by while Texas schoolchildren fall behind their peers in other parts of the nation and the world.

The State Board's duties include:
    * setting academic standards for Texas public schools;
    * approving textbooks for use by Texas students and teachers; and
    * overseeing the investment of the Permanent School Fund, an endowment for purchasing schoolbooks.

Our future and our prosperity rely on having State Board representatives who understand global competition and who look out for the academic success of every Texas child.

The time for change is now. According to the San Antonio Express-News, there remain unanswered "questions about ethical conduct over the board's management of the massive school fund" and "dissatisfaction with [SBOE] policies" throughout Texas. Distractions such as these are unacceptable. Rather than tackle the real issues facing Texas schools, the State Board, as the Dallas Morning News recently reported, has been bogged down by "divisive questions" raised for crass political effect.

The swirling controversies are a cause for alarm, and for me they are a call to action.

We need new leadership on the State Board of Education.

My commitment to you and to our future. It's time for the State Board of Education to get back to the serious business of preparing our children for success in college and in their careers. With your support, I'll work tirelessly to put Texas kids first. You can count on me to:
     * rely on educational experts, not on partisan attack dogs, as we develop school policies;
    * listen to teachers and public school administrators--our front-line educators--when it's time to adopt new standards and new textbooks;
    * restore public trust in how Texas manages its Permanent School Fund; and
    * prepare Texas public schools for a longer school year and the highest academic standards so that our children are ready for twenty-first-century opportunities.

My recent efforts in the San Antonio ISD school board race left me genuinely inspired by our community's devotion to its schools. I know that my fellow South Texans want my story--from public schools in the Valley to Stanford and Harvard to a career as a college professor--to be available to all of our children. As public school parents, my wife, Celina Peña, and I want nothing more than for our son and his peers to have the same opportunities that have blessed our lives.

I hope you will join me in creating a stronger future for all Texas children by listing your name as a supporter, by contributing to our campaign, and by spreading the word to your friends and family.

Sincerely,

District Three includes the central and southern parts of Bexar county and includes all of Wilson, Medina, Frio, Wilson, Karnes, Atascosa, McMullen, Bee, Live Oak, Jim Wells, Duval, Brooks and the northern and western parts of Hildalgo county including small portions of McAllen and Edinburg.

October 24, 2009 public workshop to help plan restoration of west side creeks

2009-10-21T00:05:00.000-05:00

Remember our San Antonio mayor and city council infamously as "The Nuclear Eleven"

2009-10-16T14:28:00.002-05:00

From Eric Lane:
The “Nuclear Eleven” is how this City Council should forever be remembered if they vote “Yes” on the proposed two new nuclear power plants.

It looks like City Council and the Mayor will be making the ultimate decision regarding the two new nuclear power plants proposed for STP. But that decision will have a much vaster impact. If they vote “Yes,” this City Council will, as we all know, for the first time in 30 years give the green light to restarting the nuclear power industry in this country. The implication is that they have studied this issue thoroughly and completely and have decided that nuclear power is in the best interests of San Antonio, South Texas, Texas, and, by extension, the United States.

Since there will be no public vote, these eleven folks have taken it upon themselves to make that ultimate decision. If they vote “No,” other than upsetting a few very large business interests, most people will carry on with very little concern. CPS will go back to the drawing board and come up with alternative energy scenarios. And a huge, potential monstrosity will have been averted.

If City Council votes “Yes,” then they should be held accountable for that vote. It won’t be good enough to simply disappear into the political ether. Why? Because by voting in the affirmative they are guaranteeing San Antonio that we have nothing to worry about by going nuclear.

If there are cost overruns, if water becomes too scarce to run the nuclear plants, if uranium becomes too expensive or we become dependent on foreign uranium, if nuclear waste cannot be protected for the next 100,000 years, if there is an accident, a security breach, radiation leaks or any other number of potential risks, then this City Council and this Mayor should be held accountable by being remembered forever as the “Nuclear Eleven.” They should not be allowed to hide in the fog of memory.

It would be the height of irresponsibility to vote in the affirmative if City Council cannot guarantee there will be no problems. The time to stop a problem is before it starts. Not after. If anything goes wrong the “Nuclear Eleven” should and will be held accountable. From the day of any cost overrun, incident, or problem, their names, their political careers, their legacy will be forever tied to the Council vote on the nuclear power plants.

It won’t matter if the vote is 6 to 5, this City Council and this Mayor will forever be known and remembered as the “Nuclear Eleven.”

Eric Lane

Chair

Consumer Energy Coalition

P.O. Box 100806

San Antonio, TX 78201

Nuke advocate Patrick Moore cites China as a good example for wise and safe investing.

2009-10-13T19:54:00.000-05:00

Patrick Moore said "You think China would build 25 to 50 more nuclear plants, like they are proposing to do, if they thought the technology was risky or exorbitantly priced," at a pro-nuclear rally in San Antonio according to an October 13, 2009 article" CPS Energy Board Unanimously Approves Nuclear Power Expansion" by Jim Forsyth.

So apparently, we should build new nuclear plants because the Chinese communist dictatorship believes that it is safe technology. These are the people who have brought extreme economic and environmental destruction upon their nation first through poor central planning and now by allowing out of control development and manufacturing.

Moore was in San Antonio as an employee of a pro-nuclear astroturf group that was founded by a public relations firm and is funded by the nuclear industry.

Jefferson UMC to host free festival, November 7, 2009 9 am to 3 pm

2009-10-09T17:45:00.001-05:00

Jefferson United Methodist Church invites its neighbors to their Fall Festival, Saurday November 7, 2009 from 9 am to 3 pm. It was originally planned for October 3 but was rescheduled due to rain.

The festival is free, with hot dogs, lemonade, water and blood pressure screenings.

There will be fun, games, pet adoption services and music.

Tables and spaces may be rented by local businesses and non-profits as well.

The church is at the corner of Donaldson and Wilson at 758 Donaldson across from Thomas Jefferson High School.

In recent years the church has connected to the community through its popular thrift store, a hostel for groups traveling to San Antonio for service projects, a renovated combination basketball and 4-Square court and by hosting the Jefferson Community Garden on Gramercy.

Deep Crack in Florida Reactor a Sign that Aging U.S. Reactor Fleet Should be Shut Down

2009-10-09T17:41:00.000-05:00

From Beyond Nuclear:

Takoma Park, MD – A deep crack just discovered in the concrete containment wall of the Crystal River nuclear reactor on Florida’s west coast signals a disturbing trend in on-going cracking and corrosion and other dangerous wear-and-tear symptoms among the country’s fleet of aging reactors, Beyond Nuclear stated today.

Progress Energy, reported to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on October 7 that maintenance workers had found a deep crack in the concrete containment wall of its single-unit Crystal River reactor. The reactor is of the same pressurized water reactor design as the notorious Three Mile Island Unit 2 that melted down in 1979 as well as the Davis-Besse reactor near Toledo, OH, which was potentially weeks from a core melt accident in 2002 due to severe corrosion that had eaten through the wall of the reactor pressure vessel.

“The crack in Crystal River’s reactor containment building is the latest in a disturbing trend,” said Paul Gunter, Director of the Reactor Oversight Project for Beyond Nuclear. “As this country’s reactors age – with many extending their 40-year licenses – there is an ever greater risk to public safety due to cracking, corrosion and other problems of degradation. But historically, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has simply looked the other way, allowing the reactor owners to operate the plants in a dangerous state rather than mandate an immediate shutdown.”

Workers at Crystal River who were cutting through the concrete wall in a maintenance procedure found a half- inch wide crack just nine inches from the outer surface wall of the all important reinforced 42-inch thick concrete dome. The length of the crack has not been reported.

In addition to the age-related problems at Crystal River and Davis-Besse, Beyond Nuclear has tracked similar concerns at the Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station near Shippingport, Pennsylvania, where corrosion had eaten a rust hole through the reactor steel containment liner. Similarly, at the Oyster Creek reactor on the New Jersey shore, the discovery of reactor containment liner corrosion has become a contentious issue in federal court.

Oyster Creek, the country’s oldest reactor at 40, recently received a 20-year license extension from the NRC. Crystal River is also seeking a 20-year extension.

The specific cause of the Crystal River cracking is now under Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) special inspection. The NRC acknowledges that it is evaluating whether containment cracking is a potential generic issue at other reactors of similar design. The Crystal River nuclear power plant had been shut down for refueling and maintenance. Workers were cutting an opening in the nearly four feet thick containment wall to remove and replace worn steam generators. Workers encountered the gaping crack nine inches from the containment dome’s outer surface and reported the defect to the NRC in a Daily Event Report.

“It’s time the NRC fulfilled its Congressional mandate to look out for public safety instead of risking lives to save nuclear utilities money,” said Gunter. “The Crystal River crack presents the NRC with an opportunity to keep this plant shut down and to seriously re-evaluate whether it should be granted a license extension,” Gunter concluded

League for Public School Justice advocates for better schools in San Antonio Independent School District

2009-10-08T16:04:00.001-05:00

Begun by five mothers in response to SAISD plans to close Carroll Academy, Horace Mann Academy, and Travis Elementary Schools, the League for Public School Justice (L4PSJ) is acting as an advocate for the community and a watchdog.

On their website you will find information on wasteful spending within SAISD including a half million dollar garbage truck that according to them is not being used to eliminate costly contracts with private trash carriers. You'll also find questions about an SAISD contract with HeadStart.

Also interesting is a log of stories in the mainstream media concerning SAISD. Along with links to the story is pithy and pointed commentary on the story and the facts the story concerns.

On their website L4PSJ.org you will also find news on membership and activities.

You can follow founder Michelle Reyes on Twitter. Her tweets concern more than just the school district but seem to be up to the minute on SAISD developments.

CPS announces Nuke-tricity® program for supporters of nuclear power. Coaltricity® on the way!

2009-10-06T14:40:00.006-05:00

CPS Energy recently announced a new sister program to Windtricity® and Solartricity® which allow ratepayers to encourage clean renewable safe electric generation.

CPS's Nuke-tricity® program will allow individual ratepayers to participate in the risk of a nuclear investment in a real and tangible way. When the expanded South Texas Nuclear Project begins producing electricity, members of Nuke-tricity will receive electricity at the exact total cost of production.

But before a nuclear plant can produce electricity, Toshiba, contractors and attorneys must be paid. Nuclear power is not attractive to traditional investors who are interested in gaining "profit" and avoiding "loss" but by enrolling in Nuke-tricity ratepayers will be able to provide part of the needed funds.

Once enrolled in Nuke-tricity®, ratepayers will at once be required to invest a substantial sum from their savings or a second mortgage on their home or business. If the ratepayer has no tangible assets then they will obtain an unsecured loan or in the case of individuals a payday loan. The funds will be put toward NRG and CPS's South Texas Nuclear Project expansion. Although the project won't begin producing electricity for many years, rate payers will begin paying back the loan immediately. Of course every CPS ratepayer will have to begin paying back CPS's part of the project expansion immediately but Nuke-tricity members will show their commitment paying even more.

If the project fails for any reason, such as falling prices for other sources of energy, or due to construction problems similar to those experienced when the first part of the STP was built, then Nuke-tricity members will be able to lose the entire value of their "investment", in this case most likely their home, business or life's savings.

The anti-nuclear crowd says that the nuclear plant can have a terrible effect on ground water and water supplies. Nuke-tricity® members will show their support by agreeing to drink, bathe, cook and garden with water trucked in from Bay City. If anyone is required to curtail their water consumption due to the expansion of the nuclear project, then water supplies to Nuke-tricity® members will be cut to exactly the same extent. This will show the no-Nukes fringe that nuclear energy supporters are willing to risk their health on their belief in the competence nuclear power plant operators.

Similarly each year members will receive a measured dose of radiation exactly equal to the dosage received by the residents nearest the project.

Finally, critics point to the hundreds of thousands of years that nuclear waste must be stored and protected as a negative aspect of nuclear power. Nuke-tricity® members will show that they are willing to take responsibility for the waste by pledging themselves and and as many of their descendants as needed to devote their lives to guarding the nuclear waste pile for the the next six hundred thousand years, sort of like those guys in the Brendan Frasier Mummy movie who guarded the pyramid. Your descendants through the 600 millenia to come will surely appreciate that their sacrifice is a small price to pay for their predecessors to have enjoyed nuclear power for a brief period of time in the 21st century.

Join Nuke-tricity today and help promote the radioactive alternative to fossil fuels. For more information call CPS and ask about Nuke-tricity® today! Watch for Coal-tricity® for supporters of American coal fired electrical production soon.

Yardsharing website and idea leads to a thriving front yard community garden

2009-10-06T14:38:00.000-05:00

I forget how I ran across Hyperlocavore.com but I did and the idea of creating a community type garden in one's own front yard appealed to me.

I mentioned it to a neighbor I had met at Green Drinks and when she said "yes" my wife and a neighbor friend from church got interested and she brought her daughter. The next door neighbor on one side, an accomplished flower gardener, provided some tomatoes and the on the other side our neighbor came over to dig and established a square foot garden for her and her two young nephews.

The non-gardeners among us got some help from Drew Willem of Time Dollar Community Connections which is supported in part by the Green Spaces Alliance, (who are also supporters of the Jefferson Community Garden behind the Jefferson UMC.)

We've had more people in our yard and stopping by than we ever dreamed possible. The nephews are showing my wife flowers and their cats are dropping by. Neighbors and passersby stop by to chat. It is great.

We even have some eggplants and peppers on the plants, and the chard and lettuce is fine for munching. Our compost must have had some tomato seeds in it because we got lots of volunteers where we had planted carrots, or maybe they were tomato seeds after all.

So, it has been a lot of fun so far and has been an easy way to build up community. Stop by and see it sometime. Better yet, make plans for your own yardsharing community garden.

It took us just three weeks from running across the idea to getting things in the ground and growing.

What does the "i am an FFN" billboard mean? What's an FFN?

2009-10-05T16:58:00.000-05:00

Recently neigbors in the Jefferson area have been treated to a change from the usual beer advertisements at the corner of Hildebrand and Fredericksburg Road. An enigmatic billboard proclaiming, "i care for children. i am an FFN" has appeared.

An FFN is not a new professional designation but instead is bureaucratic language for unlicensed family members, neighbors and friends who care for children, the disabled and the elderly. FFN's are contrasted with FCC's -regulated Family Child Care providers.

This particular billboard is sponsored by the City of San Antonio and is part of a campaign to persuade the family members, neighbors and friends who care for children to act more like preschool teachers to prepare children for school. You can learn all about the campaign at Earlyon-SA.org. The effort on the part of the city dates to 2000.

A paper detailing the advantages of using families to care for children in San Antonio, "Benefits of Home Childcare: "I wouldn't just go to a stranger." by Sarah Wood, Sarah. and Amal Bassou is online.

Both the National Women's Law Center and the Annie E Casey foundation are involved in work organizing or educating the families, friends and neighbors who care for children.

In many parts of the country FFN's are paid by the state. In some of these the SEIU, Service Employee's International Union, is attempting to be allowed to organize them so that they can qualify for health benefits and negotiate with the state for better payment. Here is a link to a May 7, 2009 SEIU powerpoint explaining their work to organize FFN's.

Candlelight Vigil Sunday October 4 at CPS Headquarters at 7 pm

2009-10-01T21:39:00.000-05:00

Please join Energía Mía for a Candlelight Vigil focusing on a safe, affordable, non-nuclear energy future
Sunday, October 4th at 7:30 pm, outside the offices of CPS Energy at 145 Navarro

The CPS Energy Board of Trustees will vote the following day, Oct 5th, on whether to spend an additional $400 million and commit the city of San Antonio to more nuclear reactors at the South Texas Project. We hope that CPS Energy will protect our health and economic well being by supporting clean, safe and affordable energy through efficiency and renewable energy instead of nuclear power.

Learn more and take action online at: www.energiamia.org

Should San Antonio Put the Brakes on Nuclear Expansion? What do the experts recommend? October 3, 2009 at 1 pm

2009-10-01T11:11:00.000-05:00

Cindy Weehler, of the Energia Mia Coalition, will speak this Saturday, October 3, at the next meeting of the San Antonio Area Progressive Action Coalition.

The topic will be, "Should San Antonio Put the Brakes on Nuclear Expansion? What Do the Experts Recommend?"

The meeting, free and open to the public, will take place this Saturday, October 3, at 1 pm, at the SAAPAC Center, 7122 San Pedro, Suite 114. The SAAPAC Center is in the back of the Ocean Dental Building, at the NE corner of San Pedro and Sprucewood, 2 blocks inside Loop 410.

Please come to this informative session and learn what's really going on behind the decision to go nuclear. And please invite friends and neighbors who may also want to hear the latest on the single biggest expenditure ever considered by CPS Energy and the City of San Antonio.

Photo by koert michiels used under creative commons.

Citizens Gain Ground in STP Intervention Over Water Concerns. Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel Admits Four Additional Water Related Contentions for a Hearing.

2009-09-30T12:22:00.001-05:00

From SEED, a statewide citizens action organization:

Citizen opposition to two proposed nuclear reactors at the South Texas Project (STP) continues with another success. Yesterday the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) Panel ruled that South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company (STPNOC) had failed to adequately analyze the environmental impacts of radioactive contaminated water and water availability, issues or “contentions” raised by concerned citizens in their Petition to Intervene in the proposed expansion at STP. The Order is of national significance since STPNOC is the first in the nation to request licensing in 30 years.

“Citizens intervening in the South Texas Project’s licensing process gained significant legal ground yesterday when the ASLB Panel ruled that four additional contentions be admitted for a hearing,” said Karen Hadden, Executive Director of the SEED Coalition, one of the Intervenors. “Intervenors now have a total of five admissible contentions, with seven contentions related to fires and explosions and losses of large areas of the plant still pending.” The licensing process is likely to be delayed as a result of additional contentions. It was delay and construction problems that led to the first reactors at STP coming in six times over budget.

SEED Coalition, Public Citizen and the Bay City based South Texas Association for Responsible Energy (STARE) are Intervenors in the case. Attorney Robert V. Eye went before the ASLB Panel in June and argued the admissibility of 28 contentions challenging the license application for two additional reactors, Units 3 and 4, at the South Texas Project.

The first contention admitted in yesterday’s order is:

Contention 8 – The Environmental Report fails to analyze the environmental impacts associated with the increase in radionuclide concentration in the MCR due to operation of STP Units 3 & 4.

“There is absolutely no attempt by STP to analyze the potential environmental or public health impacts of increased radionuclides in the sediment of the main cooling reservoir (MCR), in the shallow groundwater adjacent to it, in the Colorado River that receives discharges from the reservoir, and in the reservoir itself,” said Eye. The MCR is the receiving water body for radioactive water discharged from STP 1 and 2 and would also be the discharge water body for Units 3 and 4.

The second contention admitted is:
Contention 9 – The Environmental Report fails to predict or evaluate the effects of increasing groundwater tritium concentrations.

STP’s license application also fails to evaluate the increasing levels of groundwater tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that can be dangerous if inhaled, ingested or absorbed through the skin. Tritium emits beta radiation that causes cancer, cell mutation, and birth defects.

“Tritium has been detected in two of the pressure relief wells that collect water leaking from the unlined bottom of the existing main cooling reservoir. Concentrations of tritium have been increasing in both wells, and these concentrations could rise if two more nuclear reactors are built at the site,” said environmental engineer and water expert, Dr. Lauren Ross.

The third contention admitted is:
Contention 14 – The Environmental Report fails to analyze the environmental impacts of unregulated seepage from the MCR into the adjacent shallow groundwater

The reactor application admits that 5,700 acre-feet per year leaks through the unlined bottom of the main cooling reservoir into the underlying Gulf Coast Chicot Aquifer and 68% of it is recovered. The rest migrates underground, seeping into nearby surface water bodies like the Colorado River, into pumped wells or into the estuaries of the Gulf of Mexico.

“Failure to monitor and regulate leakage through the bottom of the main cooling reservoir constitutes a failure to protect groundwater and surface water from plant operations,” said Dr. Ross.

The fourth contention admitted is:
Contention 16 – The Environmental Report fails to consider adequately the environmental impact of the possible withdrawal of additional groundwater in excess of that authorized by the current permits.

Groundwater withdrawal from the underlying Gulf Coast Chicot Aquifer is used to meet every important STP nuclear power plant water need other than primary cooling. Groundwater feeds the demineralized water system and is used to make condensate water, to fill the Ultimate Heat Sink basins, for potable and sanitary purposes, to process radwaste, and for fire protection.

“Estimated groundwater use would more than double from an average of 798 gallons per minute for the existing facility over the last five years to a level of 2,040 gallons per minute for all four reactors, but the current permit only allows an average pumping rate of 1,860 gallons per minute,” said Dr. Ross. “STP however wants to wait on analyzing groundwater availability until after the license is issued.”

“STP’s Environmental Report predictions on the drop in groundwater levels is based on the pumping rate that’s permitted and not the rate of the actual projected needs for the two additional reactors,” Dr. Ross continued. “This failure to analyze groundwater availability could have an extremely detrimental effect for adjacent landowners.”

“The current water shortages in our area are hitting us so hard,” said Intervenor Susan Dancer, chair of STARE and Wildlife Rehabilitator who lives eight miles from the STP site. “Livestock suffer as hay and other feedstuffs are in incredibly short supply and there is no grass left. With water shortages and contamination, I’m thankful the ASLB Panel has recognized that STP and its owners have an obligation to this community to consider whether the water needed for operation will be available.”

When Karen Hadden attempted to deliver the expert Dr. Ross’ water research report, which underlie these contentions to CPS Energy Board members at a September 28th public meeting, the last before their vote on full investment in STP, a police officer hired by CPS Energy refused to allow her to bring these documents in and physically restrained her and forced her up against a brick wall, even though she had explained that this information was part of her testimony.

Pending Contentions – Large Fires and Explosions that Cause Loss of Coolant and Meltdown

On August 14th, the Intervenors filed seven more contentions regarding STP's failure to comply with a new NRC fire safety rule which says each licensee must "develop and implement guidance and strategies intended to maintain or restore core cooling, containment, and spent fuel pool cooling capabilities under the circumstances associated with loss of large areas of the plant due to explosions or fire." The NRC now requires nuclear plants to deal with explosions and fires that would occur from the impact of a large commercial airliner. STP claims that their submittal brings them in accordance with the new NRC rule. Intervenors and their expert argue the opposite in the contentions. However, the Intervenors’ contentions that argue STP has failed to meet the fire and explosion regulatory requirements, STP’s submittal, and related documents are considered classified by the NRC and are not available to the public.

The NRC has also recently adopted regulations that require all applicants for new reactor licenses, including STP, to complete “a design-specific assessment of the effects of the impact of a large, commercial aircraft.” After 9/11 the NRC did its own assessments of aircraft impacts using state-of-the-art techniques and “realistic predictions of accident progression and radiological consequences.” “This regulation recognizes that nuclear plants are vulnerable to air attacks with potentially catastrophic effects,” said Hadden. “Nuclear plants could become weapons if targeted by those who would do us harm.”

The full order can be viewed online at www.NukeFreeTexas.org .

Bihl Haus hosts Rx art events October 10 and November 12, 2009

2009-09-28T21:05:00.004-05:00

From Bihl Haus Arts:

Rx Art: Take your medicine.

Preview Reception & Fundraiser
Saturday, October 10, 2009, 6:30 to 9:00 pm
Tickets: $65 ($75 at door) @ www.RxArtSA.org

Dear Friends of Bihl Haus Arts,

Is Art medicine? We say 'yes!' at Rx ART: Take your medicine, an exciting exhibit that features artworks by health care professionals who are also artists.

Our Preview Reception and Fundraiser kicks off on Saturday, October 10, at 6:30 pm with drinks and fine hors d’oeuvres at this gallery and poolside event. At 7, after our opening ritual, sample some of the best food in town provided by Brasserie Pavil (named the best new SA restaurant), Bistro Bakery, Tycoon Flats, and Whole Foods.

Enjoy art play and spin art, and have your say on our poetry wall! Experience healing laughter through the art of improv comedy with ComedySportz. The Children’s Bereavement Center, Inspire Fine Arts, Very Special Arts, Voices de la Luna, and the San Antonio School for Inquiry and Creativity, along with Bihl Haus Arts, will show you how they use arts for healing in our community. The George Prado Trio provides live music. Poolside dancing begins at 8 pm! Dress is artsy/casual.

Can't make it on Oct. 10th? Then how about joining us on Thursday, Nov. 12, 6-9 pm for another Rx event:

"A Taste of Place"
Champagne Tasting & Book Signing with
Dr. Kolleen Guy, Author of When Champagne Became French

Dr. Guy will offer sparkling wine lovers a taste of her fascinating book, When Champagne Became French (John Hopkins, 2003), about the origin and development of the Champagne industry. She’ll explore Champagne's purported healing properties as well as its relationship to other regions that produce sparkling wines. Scrumptious hors d'oeuvres will be offered to complement the tasting of 3 wines--a New World and an Old World sparkling wine and a true French Champagne. There's not a lover of the bubbly who would want to miss this event! Seating is limited, so to reserve your seat early or to learn more about this event, please go to www.RxArtSA.org.

Rx Art tickets, available at www.RxArtSA.org, are $65 ($75 at door), or purchase a bundle of 10 tickets for $500 (a savings of $165). The Champagne Tasting with Dr. Kolleen Guy is $75, or purchase tickets for both events for $125 (a $15 savings). All proceeds benefit non-profit co-organizers Bihl Haus Arts and the Health and Healing Consortium. Your purchase may be tax deductible. We’ve also developed a number of very exciting Rx Art workshops. More on these soon, or you can learn about them now at www.RxARtSA.org.

Please come to support Bihl Haus Arts. We can't do what we do for our community without your help! To read more about Rx Art, see the wonderful recent article by Jasmina Wellinghoff in SA Woman at http://www.sawoman.com/0909/arts1.html

Hope to see you at Bihl Haus Arts on Oct. 10th and again on Nov. 12th!

Kellen

P.S. As always, please feel free to forward this email and to print and post the attached invitation in conspicuous places!

Bihl Haus Arts (www.bihlhausarts.org) is a not-for-profit contemporary art gallery located at 2803 Frdericksburg Rd., inside the gates of Primrose at Monticello Park Senior Apartments. The gallery, open Fridays and Saturdays 1-4 pm or by appointment, is made possible in part with the generous support of The Potashnik Family Foundation and Primrose.

Autumn Monticello Park Garage Sale, Saturday October 31, 2009

2009-09-28T10:27:00.002-05:00

The Monticello Park Neighborhood Association is hosting a garage sale Saturday October 31, 2009 from 9:00 to 5;00 at Monticello Park at 444 Club.

The association sales have a much better turnout than sales held at individual homes. The cost to rent a space is less than the cost for a garage sale permit and you don't have to put up signs.

To reserve a space call 732-5543.

Money raised by renting out spaces will go toward the MPNA scholarship fund which benefits a graduating senior from Thomas Jefferson High School or a graduating senior from the neighborhood.

YUCK! Ultra-Lounge planned next to the taco place, by the senior housing, next to family apartment house across from Tip-Top!

2009-09-28T09:58:00.003-05:00

Thank goodness councilman Justin Rodriguez and representative Trey Martinez Fisher, along with the various neighborhood associations are fighting the plans for Club Pulse to occupy the former car parts store on Fredericksburg Road.

According to wikipedia an ultra lounge is : a self-designation for nightclubs, used particularly in the early 2000's. Some clubs have a semi-private room with a large mattress on the floor for patrons to lounge on and socialize.

These try to be exclusive clubs, they might fit in downtown, at the Quarry or Park North, but next to a senior housing complex across the street from Tip Top Cafe and the Bingo Hall?

Here is a video of a self-glossed ultra-lounge in San Francisco.

Monticello Park and Jefferson Neighborhoods National Night Out (Texas version) October 6, 2009 at Monticello Park

2009-09-28T09:45:00.004-05:00

This year the "National Night Out" formerly known as the "National Night Out Against Crime" has a Texas version in recognition that the August date the rest of the country meets on is just too hot for us.

Another big change is that the neighborhoods around Jefferson High School are combining to put together the event at Monticello Park under and around our domed gazebo.

There will be face painting and a bounce for kids. Come to strengthen our community, learn about crime prevention and to meet your neighbors.

A representative from the city will be there to talk about the two cart system for waste collection. In our neighborhoods the collection will take place from the alley where possible.

Please bring a side dish to share. The main dish will be provided.

Volunteers are needed to help set up and tear down. Call Bianca 210 385-6188 for more information.

Run Around Jefferson, Sunday October 25, 2009 at 8 am

2009-09-28T09:16:00.003-05:00

While some of us prefer to walk around Jefferson, Sunday October 25 will mark the 4th annual Thomas Jefferson High School 5k run.

The Trick, Trot or Treat 5 k run will begin at 8 am.

To donate to the run, to participate as a sponsor contact Coach Paul Ramirez by email or phone (210 736-1981 ext 266) or Noe G. Garza by email or phone (210 313-8135)

Craig Severance comments on CPS's change of strategy in Nuclear expansion debate

2009-09-23T17:56:00.004-05:00

CPS is doing its best to shove nuclear power down the throats of San Antonians. Just like SAWS before Applewhite was stopped, the dinosaur faction within CPS is fighting to avoid environmentally friendly alternatives.

There is a green faction within CPS but if the nuclear expansion is approved there will be no money left for anything but window dressing. It is a shame that our CPS trustees are so foolish.

Below is a commentary by Craig Severance on the latest CPS ploy, which is to say that it is too late to pull out, because they already invested too much, an investment that was not approved by the rate payers and citizens of San Antonio. Craig responds to the Express News articleon the subject.

From Craig Serverance:

1. Do NOT blame the messenger here, the SA Express-News seems to be doing an excellent job of reporting what Council members, CPS, the Board, and the Mayor are telling them. They are especially doing a good job of showing how jaw-dropping this really is. If you got the jaw-dropping response from reading the story -- THANK the reporter, then get on the line and make noise to the policymakers.

2. It is clear CPS has switched strategies away from the "we will present the public with this choice" of whether or not to do the nuclear project, by having public meetings etc. supposedly to decide the merits of the nuclear project. Instead (did you catch this?) they now are emphasizing this is "a project well underway". In other words, we already made the decision years ago, have already spent hundreds of millions of dollars on it, so just shut up & get out of our way. Thus, the Mayor's commitment to decide the project on its merits is being dumped by the wayside very quickly -- since they have lost the "merits" argument.

3. This is what I expected would happen -- the "sunk costs" argument ends up ruling the day (not whether the nuclear project is the best choice on its own merits) once a nuclear project is underway, since such vast sums of money are spent before anyone even gets a handle on what is going on.

4. It will in fact be another 2 1/2 yrs before they even pretend to have a "fixed" price on the project yet they are still spending hundreds of millions of dollars on this -- as a crap shoot, hoping it will work out.

5. The article talks about getting further down the road and then maybe selling off shares. They admit they are buying well more of the plants than they need, so they will have to sell off the extra. This can come in one of two forms: 1) If CPS keeps their excess capacity then when the plant comes on line they will try to sell this as excess power, selling the extra kWh's; OR 2) if CPS gets down the road a year or two from now it may then try to sell off the excess % of the plant then. I think it is important to note that in either case CPS is using public funds from SA ratepayers to speculate -- i.e. they are buying something they admittedly do not need for SA electric needs, and gambling that they can sell that to someone else without losing money on it (in way #1 or way #2 -- both are a gamble.) As I noted, with natural gas now so cheap, they will almost certainly lose this gamble.

6. If they get a couple years down the line, then it is quite clear they will NOT sell off the excess shares of the project then. Think about it. If the project actually looks good then (to them), they will want to keep it, thinking the excess kWh sales will actually work out well. However, if the project looks bad then, (e.g. the "fixed price" ends up really high, and/or natural gas prices stay low) -- they won't be able to sell it. They will be stuck with it. So -- if SA stays in now at its current (I understand actually 50%, not 40%) share, you are in for the long haul, forget selling it off later, that is simply not going to happen, even if you later want it to happen.

7. "Courage to pull the plug" -- won't happen then, because it's not happening now. Did CPS have the courage to present (this summer -- when new realities were very obvious) an honest and fair evaluation of options to the public? For instance, did CPS have the courage to admit their natural gas price projections are now so outrageously high as to be dishonest? Did CPS have the courage to admit their solar thermal cost assumption is more than double actual costs? Did CPS have the courage to admit it completely failed to even look at the "real Plan A" of using what SA is already doing, by firming up the renewables capacity it supposedly will be adding by 2020?

8. There simply is no courage -- it would require admitting that a mistake was made that has already cost SA ratepayers $276 million in wasted costs. Don't expect any courage to emerge, when the amount of wasted dollars rises to $676 million (or perhaps $1 Billion, as in the article). If no one can admit a $276 million mistake has been made, will anyone then be able to admit a $676 million or $1 Billion mistake was made and all that money was wasted?

9. Someone else -- and it would have to be someone new on the scene who is not responsible for having made the original mistake -- would have to say this has been a mistake.

10. An analogy might be an old car that is dying on you. We have probably all dealt with this. We all have had to muster the courage to make the right decision. Maybe you just invested $3,000 in a new engine, and then the transmission goes bad. Do you sink in yet more money? At some point, you realize that old car is just a money pit, and you pull the plug and move on. Kiss your old "bad" money goodbye, so you can keep the "good" money you still have.

11. Or -- to use Arjun's analogy that recognizes this is all because the world is changing so fast -- maybe you just invested $1 million on a foundation and room for a new IBM mainframe/punch card system and then the PC's come out. Do you keep investing more dollars to finish that obsolete system? Should anyone believe you are going to recoup your money by selling off shares of that obsolete system to someone else? Really?

12. A final point is very key. The idea of limiting funds now to be spent seems to be the only way to address things with the Council and Mayor -- but it seems to be a major jurisdictional dispute. The article seems to imply the CPS Board won't accept the City Council setting a dollar limit on what CPS can spend on a project. Too much into the details of managing the utility. Thus -- it may well be that the only clearly indisputable way to limit the dollars spent is to limit the amount of the BOND ISSUE. The City Council has to approve the Bond Issue amount since that is their jurisdiction (committing full faith & credit of City of SA). If the Council and the Mayor really want to limit the amount of $ spent, then it seems they should set a lower DOLLAR LIMIT on the BOND ISSUE itself -- rather than pretend the City Council has the jurisdictional authority to tell CPS Board how to spend money on a particular project. If no one is trying to cut the $400 Million Bond Issue amount, then no one is willing to use a tool that could actually work to limit the spending. (For instance, if $400 Million represents a 40% share, the bond issue should be limited to no more than the Mayor's proposed 20% share (i.e. a $200 Million Bond Issue) since the difference represents gambling on excess capacity anyway. Note that if this is limited with just the BOND ISSUE amount, the City Council does not limit how much CPS can spend, just how much they can borrow -- so if CPS really wants to spend the full $400 million they can start selling shares right now, raise rates, or raise the money any other way they want, they just can't borrow all of it using SA's full faith & credit.) If you don't limit the amount of the Bond Issue -- you give them everything they want, and away-you-go.

Final note -- San Antonio citizens need to let all these politicians know that they will REMEMBER who votes FOR allowing CPS to waste this extra $400 Million EVERY TIME THEY PAY THEIR UTILITY BILLS, and they will REMEMBER this at the next election.

Feel free to forward these musings to anyone you wish, including Mayor/Council etc. Nothing here is confidential or personal in nature. Just responding to the newspaper article, and the way the debate is changing.

Thanks so much for all your hospitality -- sorry you are in such a fix there, it is a shame so much of your money is going down the drain.

Protect Insurance Company Profits because their right to profit off of your illness is sacred

2009-09-22T20:46:00.002-05:00

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

President Obama overcomes the right wing demagogues with health care reform that incorporates ideas of left and right. September 9, 2009

2009-09-09T23:26:00.003-05:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

The health care system is a complex system. No one knows what is best because it cannot be known what will come out when a complex system is changed. Unfortunately some opponents have chosen to lie and and incite riots rather than to put forward their possibly legitimate ideas for reform.

But, our president has not allowed the bad faith of the Republicans, insurance companies and cynical right wing haters to deter him from including ideas from both sides of aisle. His patience, forbearance and intelligence continues to amaze me.

David Amaguer, Rex Hausmann and Russell Stephenson exhibition: Objective Space at Bihl Haus starting August 28, 2009

2009-08-28T10:21:00.004-05:00

From Bihl Haus Arts:

What do flowers in the fireplace, graffiti on the walls, tanks, an obelisk, sculpted paintings, childhood memories, the color pink, and the cosmos have in common? OBJECTIVE Space, that's what! This exhibit of paintings, interactive installations, and graffiti-inspired works explore the physical, fictive, mental, and spiritual space that is Bihl Haus Arts. The artists are David Almaguer, Rex Hausmann and Russell Stephenson, three members of the Texas Cannons of Proportion (TCP), an artists' collective. We hope you'll join us on Friday August 28, 5:30-8:30 when OBJECTIVE Space opens at Bihl Haus Arts with a rousing, interactive reception.

David Almaguer’s graffiti stencil paintings act as a counterpoint to the vandalism that once enveloped the exterior of Bihl Haus before its transformation. David brings the outside in. His images carry sardonic titles, but his larger-than-life depictions of tricycles, piñatas, and gangster monkeys are mostly about a wide-eyed childhood—with a twist. They lead into a space in time that Almaguer hopes every grownup can still access.

Rex Hausmann asks visitors not to take participation for granted at Bihl Haus. This TCP member uses his own panoply of means to bring attention to the building’s overlooked negative spaces and openings: tall ceiling heights, windows, a fireplace, a trapdoor, and outdoor surroundings. Nothing too small (cupcakes) or too ungainly (foreman tools) should be discounted.

Russell Stephenson’s series of images investigate macrocosmic and microcosmic spaces in which every human being is a part. With abstracted titles such as Requiem Settings or Pulse, Stephenson’s elegant works that employ painting, sculpture and printmaking techniques, refer as much to the dynamism of natural forces as they testify of the OBJECTIVE Space found in private, though no less real, transformations.

See you this Friday, Aug. 28, 5:30-8:30 pm for this not-to-be-missed opening reception!

Why We Need Government-Run Universal Health Insurance and why private health insurance doesn't and cannot work

2009-08-27T14:37:00.005-05:00

This video explains pretty well why private health insurance can never be as efficient as a well run national one, such as Medicare for instance.

There are also other reasons why private insurance makes no sense for health.

For insurance to work, everyone paying into the pool must have roughly equal chances of experiencing an unexpected remotely likely event, or an event whose timing is unexpected though the event itself is not.

For example, houses of similar construction, built to code have roughly similar and remote chances of catching fire.

Because the chances of these events happening is remote for any one homeowner and because the costs of the event if it were to occur are very large, people are motivated to purchase insurance and the rates for each insured are low compared to the payout.

For the insurance company it is critical that they be able to make sure they do not insure anyone for whom the presumably remotely likely event is actually very likely. That is why they look for fraud and try to track repeat offenders. However, if you are unlucky enough to have a house fire, you are not more likely to have another house burn down. It is a random event that is unconnected to the likely hood of you having another loss.

Private insurance for health does not work because the need for insurance is largely known to both insureds and the insurer. Sick people want insurance. Healthy people know they are unlikely to need it. So many more sick people want health insurance than healthy people that the company must do what it can to avoid insuring the ill.

If they were to insure people with chronic diseases or who are at risk for disease due to lifestyle and other known risk factors, the premiums would be so high that they would not appeal to the people whose known risk factors were low, and there would be little advantage for the high risk people in having insurance because the yearly premiums would approach the yearly cost of their medical bills.

When you buy an individual health insurance policy, you must be healthy. If you have any pre-existing condition, the insurance company will exclude it, either for life or for a number of years. So they gather a pool of initially healthy people who pay premiums into a pool.

As some of the initially healthy people age and become sick, payments are made from the pool and rates rise. When rates rise high enough the people who are still healthy find that they can switch carriers and join a premium pool that includes only people like themselves who are healthy for the moment. The people in bad health, of course cannot switch to a lower cost plan.

As more and more healthy people leave the pool, sick people begin to dominate it and rates skyrocket. Even if the policyholders cannot be canceled (which is not the current law nationwide) the rates go up and up until they cannot afford the premiums.

This is known to every single person in the insurance industry who has ever studied the principles of insurance. The health insurance industry knows that their business model is an inappropriate use of insurance.

TEEN CANTEEN (1st located at our neighborhood's own Jefferson UMC) Reunion August 23, 2009

2009-08-20T20:16:00.005-05:00

The first location of San Antonio's TEEN CANTEEN was right here in the Jefferson neighborhood at the Jefferson United Methodist Church.

Here's a link to a fantastic article, Through the Past Brightly, by Margret Moser in the August 17, 2009 Austin Chronicle about the Canteen and the SAMSTOCK, Teen Canteen Reunion show, Saturday August 23, 2009 at Floores Country Store, 14492 Old Bandera Road, Helotes Texas 78023.

Here's either an revised version of Margret's article or something completely different from the Classic San Antonio Facebook Group:

Until a few years ago, San Antonio’s Teen Canteen was relegated to “remember when?” status. The northside nightclub that catered to teenagers during the 1960s and 70s lay forgotten in the city’s musical history…almost. At Samstock: the Teen Canteen Reunion 2009 on Sunday, August 23 at Floore’s Country Store, more than a dozen bands and musicians from its heyday will reunite for fun and to pay tribute to owner-promoter Sam Kinsey.

At the behest of local civic and church groups, Sam Kinsey opened the first Teen Canteen in 1960, at Jefferson Methodist Church Hall. Kinsey played deejay to the youthful crowds, spinning 45s on a portable record player. This was the format for several years, as the Canteen moved around to several locations, including a ballroom dance studio, until it settled at Wonderland (now Crossroads) Mall in 1963.

In its new, larger location, the Teen Canteen went from records to the real thing. It housed two separate stages so bands could perform at the same time during the regular rounds of Battle of the Bands and entertain the hundreds of teens who flocked there. In 1968, the Canteen moved to its last location on Bitters Road across from Northeast Stadium, the place it would occupy until it closed in 1977, a victim of the lowered drinking age and more generous all-ages policies.

In retrospect, the Teen Canteen was the staging ground for San Antonio’s vibrant rock & roll scene before the Beatles until the dawn of punk, and its roster of local and touring bands made it a gem in the crown of Texas music. The Teen Canteen gave many San Antonio and area bands their start, including the Laughing Kind, Homer, the Chayns, the Outcasts, Swiss Movement, Virgil Foxx, the Zilches, Rocksand, Castle, Spook Julius, Mr. Moose, Meadow, Mourning Dove, Stillwater, Excalibur, Nassur Blue, United, and Island.

Those bands and/or members of them will be performing at Samstock. Teen Canteen owner and promoter Sam Kinsey will be in attendance. For website updates and band times, see http://www.mikesbandarchive.com/news

Samstock: the Teen Canteen Reunion 2009 takes place at Floore’s Country Store, 14492 Old Bandera Rd., on Sun. Aug. 23, 4-midnight. Cover is $10, the memories are free.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND PHOTOS

Neka Scarbrough-Jenkins, 210-573-6352

Margaret Moser, 512-292-3005

* www.mikesbandarchive.com, click "news" for event updates and info
* teencanteensa@gmail.com
* Friends of Teen Canteen San Antonio (facebook)

Why even consider nuclear when Geothermal energy which is clean, reliable and abundant in South Texas has yet to be exploited?

2009-08-18T14:38:00.002-05:00

Here's a major event that is especially important since geothermal energy is proposed as a viable, steady, reliable and non-radioactive alternative to expansion of the South Texas Nuclear Project. If after all the possible geothermal resources have been exhausted then perhaps it will be time to look at nuclear.

The San Antonio Geothermal Symposium, is Saturday, September 19, 2009, at Trinity’s Chapman Center Auditorium.

Speakers will discuss the feasibility of residential and commercial geothermal air conditioning and electricity generation. The talks will be geared to the public as well as to energy professionals.

Please come to explore this often neglected generation source in which Texas has the potential to be the number one producer. South Texas has a particular feasibility for geothermal air conditioning and electricity generation. Geothermal is a clean, reliable source of energy that uses mature technology and is fuel-free. The cost and payback time for residential and small business geothermal are roughly equivalent to those of solar photovoltaics. The cost for central geothermal in Texas is projected to be lower than elsewhere because previously drilled spent oil and gas wells can be used for geothermal piping.

Registration starts at 8 am. The program runs from 9 am to 12:10 pm and then from 1 pm to 4 pm. Link to pdf of agenda.

Maria Richards , coordinator of Southern Methodist University’s Geothermal Laboratory, Stathis Michaelides, Chairman of the UTSA Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Glenn Kroeger, Chair of the Trinity University Department of Geosciences, will be among several speakers at this event.

The cost is $25 ($12 for students)

Registration includes continental breakfast, lunch and symposium presentations. Registered Professional Engineers will receive a certificate for 4.0 professional development hours.

The registration deadline is September 12. Seating is limited so registrations will be accepted on a first- received basis until the auditorium capacity is reached. Register by submitting the registration form or by calling 210-999-7601. Link to registration form.

The Chapman Center is located on the western edge of the Trinity University campus. Free campus parking is available in any student or faculty lot for this event. However, parking is not allowed on Rosewood Street. Link to map of Trinity University. Location of auditorium on Google Map.

The San Antonio Geothermal Symposium is sponsored by the Trinity University Engineering Science Department in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council Central Texas – Balcones Chapter, San Antonio Environmental Policy Office, San Antonio Clean Technology Forum, and University of Texas at San Antonio Mechanical Engineering Department.

Geothermal Resources of Bexar County

Don't miss the week of Design for our Westside Creeks. All sessions open to the public!

2009-08-18T10:39:00.006-05:00

The re-creation of our creeks could transform neighborhoods from TJHS to Prospect Hill. This is a very important process to be aware of and to be involved in. Imagine our creeks turned from ditches into things of beauty and pride.

Bihl Haus co-produced dance at the Carver, Saturday August 22, 2009

2009-08-18T10:33:00.001-05:00

From the Bihl Haus Arts Complex:

Dear Friends, of Bihl Haus Arts,

Please help support Bihl Haus by attending one of the most beautiful dance performances you'll see all year in San Antonio! RAMAYANA, the classical Indian dance co-produced by Bihl Haus right here in San Antonio, premieres this Saturday, Aug. 22nd, 6:30 pm at THE CARVER (Jo Long) THEATER, 226 N. Hackberry. The production is directed and choreographed by Dr. Sreedhara, founder of Kaveri Natya Yoga, our partner. Principle Indian dancers are coming from New York, San Diego and across Texas to perform. The cast is also made up of dancers from San Antonio, too, including the very elegant Dr. Rajam Ramamurthy, director of the Arathi School of Indian Dance.

RAMAYANA will be danced in the tradition of Bharathanatyam, an ancient Indian form. Sculptural in execution, this dance style employs meaningful hand positions and precise leg and footwork to tell a classic story of the triumph of good over evil. Dancers--forty, yes forty of them!!!--don intricate hand-made costumes in brilliantly colored silks lavishly adorned with beads and ribbons. Each dancer wears tinkling brass ankle bells that create rhythm in response to the slap! of a full flat bare foot. Male dancers are bare chested save for suspender-like straps and golden pectoral chains. Elegant female dancers are coiffed in flowers and ribbons. Their long thick black braids fly behind them as they gracefully spin and dip to exquisite music--music produced and recorded in India specifically for this production and featuring some of India's finest traditional musicians.

This performance of RAMAYANA is the first fundraiser of the year for Bihl Haus Arts. We hope that you'll help support Bihl Haus by purchasing your tickets today, priced at a very reasonable $10 general/$5 seniors, children & military w/ ID. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-745-3000, at all Ticketmaster outlets, including HEB, or by calling the Carver Box Office, at 210-207-2234.

We hope to see you at The Carver Theater, 226 N. Hackberry, on Saturday, August 22nd, at 6:30 pm!

Historic Home Fair set to help homeowners cope with historic district regulations: August 29, 2009 at Municipal Auditorium

2009-08-18T10:13:00.005-05:00

From 9 am to 1 pm on Saturday August 29 at the Municipal Auditorium, the City's Office of Historic Preservation will present a Historic Home Fair intended to help homeowners in the city's myriad of historic districts cope with regulations required for renovation within them.

The event is free and open to the public. Planned sessions include how to improve energy efficiency in acceptable ways, repairing required wood frame windows and what sort of additions to your property that the city might find acceptable.

These sessions are sure to be a big help to homeowners and remove some of the uncertainty that comes with needing approval before beginning changes to your property.

The office is seeking exhibitors for an Exhibitor's fair with products and services of interest to owners of homes within the historic districts.

"Heroes of the Game" Four Square in its true perspective

2009-08-18T08:00:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Jefferson United Methodist Church and other generous donors our neighborhood now boasts not only a refurbished basketball court but a refurbished "4-Square". This video explains the game as well as any. Like any game local rule variations apply.

For more information check out www.squarefour.org , gameskidsplay.net, and of course Wikipedia.

Like kickball and dodgeball but in a much, much smaller way, adults have come back to 4 Square to recapture the thrill of youthful competition. A "world's championship" has been held the past few years in Bridgton Maine which has attracted dozens and dozens of spectators and participants. Competition is open people of all ages, shapes and sizes who appear and pay a modest fee. The event is a fundraiser for Lakes Environmental Association.

Is a Texas Four Square Championship in the works for the Jefferson UMC court? It could be a fun collaborative fundraiser for the church and/or various neighborhood associations.

Jefferson Unitied Methodist refurbishes Basketball and 4 Square play area and opens it to the neighborhood

2009-08-18T07:30:00.004-05:00

Jefferson United Methodist Church has reached out to the Jefferson area with a gift of play space for adults and children. With the help of some donors they have refurbished the playing area that was once a center of neighborhood and church basketball competition and opened it again to the public.

The court directly across from TJHS has four baskets and a "4 Square" play area. To help make it work for everyone they have laid out the following ground rules:

The court is to be used for basketball and "4 Square" only.
Basketball games are to be played to a maximum of 15 points (1 basket= 1 [point).
The winning team may play until it loses.
The church and its ministries have first priority over use of the courts.
All four baskets are for everyone's use: men, women, girls and boys.
No fighting is allowed.
Treat others with respect.
Pick up trash and keep the area clean.
No alcohol or drugs are allowed.
No skateboards, bikes, roller blades or skates are allowed.
No vehicles of any kind are allowed
No parking is allowed.

If these rules are followed we can enjoy a harmonious addition to our neighborhood. So take a walk around our beautiful neighborhoods, our beautiful high school and take a look at our new play area.

Reform Reality Check: Reform will benefit small business - not burden it

2009-08-12T06:00:00.001-05:00

Reform Reality Check: Vets' health care is safe and sound

2009-08-12T05:00:00.001-05:00

Health care reform will reduce rationing of care. Insurance companies do it all the time. Reform will reduce it.

2009-08-11T23:00:00.001-05:00

Health Insurance Reform Consumer Protections: The Security You get from health insurance reform

2009-08-11T21:24:00.003-05:00

From: http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-insurance-consumer-protections/
THE SECURITY YOU GET from health insurance reform:

* No Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions
* Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history.
* No Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays
* Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses.
* No Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care
* Insurance companies must fully cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you prevent illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics.
* No Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill
* Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill.
* No Gender Discrimination
* Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender.
* No Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage
* Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive.
* Extended Coverage for Young Adults
* Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.
* Guaranteed Insurance Renewal
* Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full. Insurance companies won't be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick.

Health Care Reality Check FAQ

Facts about Health Care Reform: Payment if you want to make sure your doctor understands your living will

2009-08-11T20:04:00.006-05:00

There is a lot to debate about the merits of any health care reform. It is a complex system which means that any change will have unexpected consequences. It will always be in need of reform and adjustment.

But the opposition to the changes being proposed are not based on fact. The corporations and their Republican allies are using fear and distortion rather than to debate the proposal on its merits.

When the debate becomes about the merits of consumer driven health insurance versus a single payer, versus regulated competition versus a single risk pool then it will become a reasonable debate.

Here is a calm, rational video which debunks one of their most outrageous lies.

Rachel Madow reveals Republicans behind fake grassroots effort to stop health reform.

2009-08-08T17:13:00.002-05:00

From the corporations and millionairs who brought us swiftboating and Joe the Plumber comes anti-healthcare mobs.

Send a message to the mayor and city council: Halt the push for more nuclear power

2009-07-29T18:00:00.001-05:00

Dear Mayor Julian Castro and City Council Members,

Please halt the push for nuclear power. San Antonio citizens can’t afford the huge rate hikes that would result. CPS Energy finally announced a cost estimate but provided no back up data on how they arrived at the figure. The $13 billion they announced is way too expensive, even though it’s clearly underestimated when compared with detailed independent analyses. Overruns last time ran six times over budget. Former NRC Commissioner Peter Bradford has said that our electric rates could increase 60% or more over the next ten years with more nuclear power.

The $5.2 billion that San Antonio would sink into the nuclear nightmare is mo ney that should instead be spent here in San Antonio, creating local jobs in energy efficiency, and developing clean renewable energy technologies including solar, wind and geothermal power.

Nuclear power creates security risks and radioactive waste can cause cancer and genetic damage, remaining dangerous for thousands to millions of years. Nukes consume vast quantities of precious water. 40,000 gallons of water would be consumed every minute at the South Texas Project if additional reactors are built. We can and must do better. Vote NO on nuclear. Thank you and I look forward to your reply.

Wording courtesy of Local Power / Energia Mia a local coalition opposing the CPS nuclear expansion.

Bihl Haus Arts announces August events

2009-07-29T12:46:00.003-05:00

From Bihl Haus Arts:

We’re doing a bit of summer ‘traveling’ at Bihl Haus via some very cool programming in August. First, please join us this Saturday, Aug. 1, at 2 pm for a show-and-tell artist talk by Carolina Flores. Carolina will discuss her stunning installation Rio de Seda/River of Silk, currently on exhibit in the gallery, inspired by her fascination with the Alhambra, Spain’s classic example of Islamic architecture. Then on the following Saturday, Aug. 8, at 2 pm, UTSA History Professor Dr. Brian Davies brings Carolina’s work into historical perspective in his discussion of The Culture of Islamic Spain.

Still in the mood for a little more summer adventure, beauty, stimulation? Well then, we have the perfect program for you! Please join us at The Carver Theater on Saturday, August 22nd, at 6:30 pm, for Bihl Haus Arts’ first big stage production. We’ve partnered with Katveri Natya Yoga (Dr. Sreedhara’s troupe) to present a lyrical Indian dance interpretation of Ramayana. Ramayana is the story of the triumph of good over evil. This ennobling epic, originally written in Sanskrit by Sage Valmiki, has been re-visualized in several languages by numerous poets. This production of Ramayana, under the direction of Dr. Sreedhara, is based upon one of the most popular versions. The performance includes special guest appearances by dancers from New York and San Diego, as well as artists from Katveri Natya and the Arathi School of Indian Dance. Tickets ($10 adults/$5 seniors, students and military with ID) are available in advance beginning Aug. 1st at www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling 800-745-3000 or at the Carver Box Office (Ph: 207-2234). (A black-and-white poster for Ramayana is attached to this email. Please feel free to print and post it in conspicuous places!) More on Ramayana later in the month.

And finally, please mark Friday, August 28, 5:30-8:30 pm on your calendar for the opening reception of Objective Space. Artists David Almaguer, Rex Hausmann and Russell Stephenson, three members of the artists collective “Texas Cannons of Proportion,” commandeer the entire Bihl Haus space--real and imagined, positive and negative. They find inspiration in its physical and intellectual proportions. Their individual works will take over the windows, the fireplace, the trap door, and even the exterior to surround a collaborative installation in the center of the gallery. This is going to be a dynamic show! More, too, on this later in the month. So, come help us celebrate the end (we hope!) of a long hot summer at one or more of these spectacular events! See you soon at Bihl Haus!

Kellen

How the colorful concrete tile of the Jefferson neighborhood is made.

2009-07-21T18:00:00.002-05:00

A number of houses in the Jefferson area have concrete tile on the porch or inside. It was all made here in town. But below is a video of concrete tile made in Morocco. If the same process is followed here, it is clear why it is costly at around $100 a square foot.

Concrete tile is also known as redondo or mission tile. It is still made in San Antonio. Redondo Tile is also the name of the company that sells handmade Mexican concrete tile in San Antonio. Their website redondotile.com has some beautiful examples of their installations. Art Tile, also located in San Antonio and selling Mexican made redondo tile among other styles has an interesting website as well.

The other day I spoke to a man who offered to sell me the equipment to make concrete tile for something around $25,000.

popham design from popham design on Vimeo.

Michelle Bachman Katie Couric Brian Oxman Sarah Palin the musical

2009-07-13T14:03:00.001-05:00

Here's an interview with Michael Gregory, one of the people behind Auto-Tune the News, from The New Anti-Social Interview.

"If it's Monday, It must be Murder" July 17 at St Paul Community Center

2009-07-13T11:30:00.001-05:00

On Friday, July 17 at 7:30 pm, St Paul's Catholic Church presents a comedic mystery, "If it's Monday, it must be Murder" by Pat Cook.

In this throwback to the 1940s a left-foot-in-the-gumshoe private eye, Harry Monday, is on the job. And he's posing as a golf-playing psychiatrist at the Shady
Meadows Country Club. "A place where old polyester goes to die," says Harry,
after club members start dropping like divots on the duffer's course. And the
club members aren't much saner than he is. A prima donna club president, an astrological moonchild, a Wall Street ad man and, yes, even someone passing themself off as the twin of a missing club member, are all dropping red herrings in
their wake. Throw in a naive supervisor, a sultry hard-hearted dame and a surly
police sergeant and you have to figure If It's Monday, This Must Be Murder!

Tickets are $10 and available by calling the church at 210-736-0055.
Proceeds to benefit St. Paul Community Center.

Cool Crest in 2009. Still beautiful.

2009-07-11T17:09:00.003-05:00

Cool Crest San Antonio 06 2009 creative commons IMG_0030, originally uploaded by wsssst.

This shot was taken through the fence. It looks like someone is still taking care of the course, though it has been closed for quite a while. It is so close to Martinez Creek which some day will be a park. Wouldn't Cool Crest make a great addition to it?

There are lots more pictures on Flickr of Cool Crest and of the Jefferson neighborhood area in my CC San Antonio set. All are published under creative commons so feel free to use them as you wish. Just click on the photo and it should take you to Flickr.

There's also a Facebook Cool Crest group with over 300 members to reach out to too.

Governor Perry finally receives the national attention he craves. Named number 1 by well known commentator.

2009-05-14T08:01:00.005-05:00

Governor Perry has made it to number one, at least in the eyes of one commentator:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Representative Waxman contrasts numerous hearings on climate change with lack of hearing on major legistation during years of Republican majority.

2009-04-30T15:46:00.003-05:00

A pdf of the complete letter including footnotes is available here. This text was taken from the pdf and converted using character recognition. There may be some errors in the transcription.

Dear Ranking Members Barton and Upton:

This letter responds to the April 24, 2009, request from you and your Republican
colleagues on the Committee for additional day of hearings on the American Clean Energy and
Security Act of2009 (ACES). Your request was surprising given the extensive hearings the
Committee has held on energy policy and legislation. Our extensive hearings and the many
accommodations we have provided to the minority far surpass the process you provided
Democrats when you and your Republican predecessors controlled the Committee.

In the past two and a half years, this Committee has held dozens of hearings on energy
and climate change policy that have informed the development ofthe ACES text and built a
detailed factual record regarding the need for action on this matter. These hearings included:

• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on Addressing Climate ChangeViews
from Private Sector Panels (Feb. 13,2007);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on a Review ofthe Administration's
Proposalfor the Transportation Sector (Feb. 28, 2007);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on Carbon Capture and
Sequestration; An Overview (Mar. 6, 2007);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on Climate Change: Are Greenhouse
Gas Emissionsfrom Human Activities Contributing to a Warming ofthe Planet? (Mar. 7,
2007);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, The Environmental Protection Agency's
Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Request (Mar. 8, 2007);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on Climate Change and Energy
Security: Perspectives from the Automobile Industry (Mar. 14,2007);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on Climate Change: State and Local
Perspectives (Mar. 15,2007);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on Climate Change: Perspectives of
Utility CEOs (Mar. 20, 2007);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on Perspectives on Climate Change
(Mar. 21,2007);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on Climate Change - International
Issues, Engaging Developing Countries (Mar. 27, 2007);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on Climate Change - Lessons
Learnedfrom Existing Cap-and-Trade Programs (Mar. 29, 2007);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on Alternative Transportation Fuels:
An Overview (Apr. 18,2007);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on Implementation ofthe EPACT
2005 Loan Guarantee Programs by the Department ofEnergy (Apr. 24, 2007);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on Achieving - At Long LastAppliance
Efficiency Standards (May 1, 2007);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on Facilitating the Transition to a
Smart Electric Grid (May 3, 2007);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on Alternative Fuels: Current Status,
Proposals for New Standards, and Related Infrastructure Issues (May 8, 2007);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on Legislative Hearing on Discussion
Drafts concerning Energy Efficiency, Smart Electricity Grid, Energy Policy Act of2005
Title XVII Loan Guarantees, and Standby Loansfor Coal-to-Liquids Projects (May 24,
2007);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on Legislative Hearing on Discussion
Draft Concerning Alternative Fuels, Infrastructure, and Vehicles (June 7, 2007);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on Administration Perspectives on
United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali (Jan. 17,2008);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on Climate Change: Competitiveness
Concerns and Prospects for Engaging Developing Countries (Mar. 5, 2008);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on Strengths and Weaknesses of
Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions Using Existing Clean Air Act Authorities (Apr.
10,2008);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on the Renewable Fuels Standard:
Issues, Implementation, and Opportunities (May 6, 2008);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on Legislative Proposals to Reduce
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: An Overview (June 19,2008);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on Climate Change: Costs of
Inaction (June 26, 2008);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on HR. 6258, the Carbon Capture
and Storage Early Deployment Act (July 10, 2008);
• Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, Hearing on Climate Benefits ofImproved
Building Energy Efficiency (July 17, 2008);
• Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials, Carbon Sequestration: Risks,
Opportunities, and Protection ofDrinking Water (July 24,2008);
• Committee on Energy and Commerce, Hearing on the U.S. Climate Action Partnership
(Jan. 15,2009);
• Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment, Hearing on the Climate Crisis: National
Security, Economic, and Public Health Threats (Feb. 12,2009);
• Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment, Hearing on Energy Efficiency:
Complementary Policies for Climate Legislation (Feb. 24, 2009);
• Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment, Hearing on Renewable Energy:
Complementary Policies for Climate Legislation (Feb. 26, 2009);
• Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment, Hearing on the Role ofOffsets in Climate
Legislation (Mar. 5, 2009);
• Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment, Hearing on the Future ofCoal Under
Climate Legislation (Mar. 10, 2009);
• Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment, Hearing on Consumer Protection
Provisions in Climate Legislation (Mar. 12,2009);
• Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment, Hearing on Competitiveness and Climate
Policy: Avoiding Leakage ofJobs and Emissions (Mar. 18, 2009); and
• Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment, Hearing on Preparingfor Climate
Change: Adaptation Policies and Programs (Mar. 25,2009).

In addition, the Committee held four days of legislative hearings from April 21 to 24,
2009, specifically on the draft ACES text. We also released the draft text three weeks in advance
of these legislative hearings to ensure that both majority and minority Committee members, as
well as outside experts, had substantial time to review the text prior to these legislative hearings.

In total, the Committee has held over 40 days of hearings on energy and climate change
policy over the past two Congresses. During these hearings, over 300 witnesses testified,
including 130 in this year alone. These hearings have included testimony from numerous
minority witnesses and have involved accommodations for the minority that are not required
under House or Committee rules. For example, 14 witnesses requested by the minority testified
in the legislative hearings on ACES from April 22 to 24, 2009. On both April 22 and 24, the
Committee scheduled new panels during the middle of the day to accommodate last-minute
minority witness requests, pushing majority witness panels into the evening hours on those days.

Our approach to this legislation stands in stark contrast to the approach you and your
Republican predecessors adopted in previous Congresses on legislation that affected millions of
Americans and involved expenditure of substantial taxpayer dollars. Consider these examples:

• The "Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003" (H.R. 2473): In
the 108th Congress, this Committee considered H.R. 2473, which provided for a new
trillion dollar prescription drug coverage program under Medicare. Despite the sweeping
policy and cost consequences of this measure, the Committee held no public hearings on
the legislation. There was no subcommittee markup. Democrats did not receive a copy
ofthe legislation until late Friday afternoon before a Tuesday markup.
• The "Gasoline for America's Security Act of 2005" (H.R. 3893): In the 109th
Congress, the Committee considered H.R. 3893, which codified controversial Clean Air
Act "new source review" regulations of the Bush Administration and provided for the
expenditure ofhundreds of millions of dollars for programs relating to the supply and use
ofpetroleum and other energy products. The Committee held no legislative hearings on
the legislation and no subcommittee markup. Instead, the bill was released on a Friday
night at 10:00 p.m., allowing only two business days for its evaluation before a full
Committee markup the following Wednesday.2
• The "National Uniformity for Food Act of2005" (H.R. 4167): In the 1o9th Congress,
the Committee considered H.R. 4167, which preempted virtually every state and local
law that protected consumers from contaminated foods. The Committee held no hearings
on the legislation and no subcommittee markup.3
• The "Refinery Permit Process Schedule Act" (H.R. 5254): In the 109th Congress, the
House considered H.R. 5254, a bill that directed the President to designate no less than
three closed military installations as suitable for refinery construction and required states
to meet a federal schedule for issuing refinery construction permits. H.R. 5254 was put
on the House suspension calendar, a procedure normally reserved for non-controversial
bills, and brought up on the House floor just one day after its May 2, 2006, introduction,
without the benefit of any legislative hearings or markup by the Committee.4 One month
later, still without having held any legislative hearings or markup on this bill, the
Committee brought H.R. 5254 back to the House floor under a rule that permitted no
amendments.5

• The "Energy Policy Act of 2002" (H.R. 4): In the 107th Congress, Rep. Barton
introduced H.R. 3406, which would have made controversial changes to federal laws
governing the electricity sector. This bill was never marked up or reported out of
subcommittee or the full Committee due to its lack of support among Committee
members, and these provisions were not included in the broad energy policy bill, H.R. 4,
that was considered by the House. Nevertheless, when H.R. 4 went to conference, then Committee Chairman Tauzin and Rep. Barton announced that the House would take H.R.
3406 into the conference as the House position.6

These are just a few of many examples ofhow Republicans abdicated regular order when
they controlled this Committee. This track record makes it particularly difficult to see any
reasonable basis for Committee Republican complaints about the thorough, fair, and deliberate
process we are employing to consider the ACES measure. .

Nevertheless, we want to continue to take into consideration issues raised by all members
ofthe Committee as we proceed with this measure. We therefore will provide for an additional
day of Committee hearings on the ACES draft on Friday, May 1,2009.
Sincerely,

Henry A. Waxman
Chairman
Committee on Energy and Commerce

"Houston, we have a solution":

2009-04-30T07:43:00.005-05:00

Lucky for us, a state can't be kicked out of the union.

Martinez Creek restoration subcommittee to meet Monday May 4 at Bihl Haus

2009-04-28T15:42:00.006-05:00

One of the great things happening in our area is the restoration and improvement of the westside creeks: Martinez, Alazán, Apache and San Pedro.

The Martinez Creek subcommittee will meet at Monday, May 4 at 6:30 PM at Bihl Haus Arts, 2803 Fredericksburg Rd.

The Alazán Creek subcommittee meets Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 6:00 p.m at the
Crockett Elementary Library, 2215 Morales Street.

The whole Oversight Committee meets Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. at the offices of the
San Antonio River Authority, 100 E. Guenther.

The San Pedro Creek subcommittee meets Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. at UTSA Downtown in Louis Kahn room- rm 3.340 of the Monterrey Building, 301 S. Frio Street.

The Apache Creek subcommittee meets Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. at El Progreso Community Center, 1306 Guadalupe Street.

The public is invited to attend these meetings to learn more about the projects and to get involved in the process of planning the changes that will improve our quality of life for many generations to come .

Power Up America rally May 5 for the President's Green Energy/Green Economy legislation

2009-04-28T10:05:00.005-05:00

Congressman Charlie Gonzalez has to make a decision on how to vote on President Obama's upcoming Green Energy/Green Economy legislation.

Let him know that San Antonio agrees with the President by attending the San Antonio POWER UP Rally. Green groups around San Antonio will rally in front of the Federal Building at 727 East Durango, 78205 from 4 to 5 PM while a smaller group meets with congressional staffers.

This legislation will make a difference for all of us regardless of party. So please come and show your support.

From Whitehouse.gov:

ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
The energy challenges our country faces are severe and have gone unaddressed for far too long. Our addiction to foreign oil doesn't just undermine our national security and wreak havoc on our environment -- it cripples our economy and strains the budgets of working families all across America. President Obama and Vice President Biden have a comprehensive plan to invest in alternative and renewable energy, end our addiction to foreign oil, address the global climate crisis and create millions of new jobs.

The Obama-Biden comprehensive New Energy for America plan will:

Help create five million new jobs by strategically investing $150 billion over the next ten years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future.
Within 10 years save more oil than we currently import from the Middle East and Venezuela combined.
Put 1 million Plug-In Hybrid cars -- cars that can get up to 150 miles per gallon -- on the road by 2015, cars that we will work to make sure are built here in America.
Ensure 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025.
Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.

Energy Plan Overview

Provide Short-term Relief to American Families

Crack Down on Excessive Energy Speculation.

Eliminate Our Current Imports from the Middle East and Venezuela within 10 Years

Increase Fuel Economy Standards.
Get 1 Million Plug-In Hybrid Cars on the Road by 2015.
Create a New $7,000 Tax Credit for Purchasing Advanced Vehicles.
Establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard.
A "Use it or Lose It" Approach to Existing Oil and Gas Leases.
Promote the Responsible Domestic Production of Oil and Natural Gas.

Create Millions of New Green Jobs

Ensure 10 percent of Our Electricity Comes from Renewable Sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025.
Deploy the Cheapest, Cleanest, Fastest Energy Source – Energy Efficiency.
Weatherize One Million Homes Annually.
Develop and Deploy Clean Coal Technology.
Prioritize the Construction of the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline.

Reduce our Greenhouse Gas Emissions 80 Percent by 2050

Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.
Make the U.S. a Leader on Climate Change.

Here is an ad produced by Moveon.org.

Unveiling of Hetherington Sculpture at Bihl Haus, May 2

2009-04-28T09:41:00.004-05:00

Thanks to the generosity of Anthony C and Melissa Pearson, Bihl Haus Arts has received a large sculpture, "Highway" by James Hetherington.

The unveiling celebration, Saturday May 2 from 2 to 4 PM will include a talk by Mr. Hetherington as well as barbeque, beer and cake.

"Highway" is made from recycled rebar, concrete plate steel and remnants from road repairs. James uses these baled forms to celebrate blue-collar workers who construct the highways and buildings that make up our American landscape.

The sculpture will be visible from Fredricksburg Road and accessible from both on and off the Primrose property.

An exhibition of Mr. Hetherington's work continues at Bihl Haus until May 16, 2009.

Alejandro Soto, WLCA President: Was another bridge at Woodlawn Lake promised and if not, is there a better solution?

2009-04-22T17:27:00.014-05:00

In two postings, this site has publicized the cause of the folks who believe a second bridge over Woodlawn Lake was promised and is the best solution to protect pedestrians and bicyclists from automobiles. Alejandro Soto, President of the Woodlawn Lake Community Association presents another point of view in a piece that first appeared in the San Antonio Post (except for the last three paragraphs which have been added by Mr. Soto). It is published here with his permission.

There is a campaign going on concerning a pedestrian bridge for Woodlawn Lake Park. Area residents have been receiving recorded telephone messages and door flyers saying that the 2007 City bond paid for a new bridge and that Councilman Justin Rodriguez has been "dragging his feet" in getting it built. I do not know who is behind this campaign, but I do know that it is spreading incorrect information.
The 2007 City bond package says: "Woodlawn Lake Park--Pedestrain Bridge and Playground $400,000. Development of basic park improvements including a pedestrain bridge and playground expansion." That is all it says in reference to Woodlawn Lake Park. It does not say to "build" a bridge. City officials have said that "development" of a pedestrain bridge can be to reconfigure the existing bridge for use by people on foot and on bicycles, to the exclusion of cars. That is what the Woodlawn Lake Community Association (WLCA) has been advocating since 2005.
Some voters might have voted for the parks bond thinking that they would get a new bridge. Yet others might have favored it because they want the playground expanded. Compare the Woodlawn playground with the one at Lion's Field. Aren't our kids being short-changed? Overall, though, as the Woodlawn provisions amount to only one-half of one percent of the total park bond package, I believe that most people were motiviated to vote for the parks bonds because of other provisions, such as the purchase and improvement of Voelcker Park.
WLCA has been trying to get the City to place a safe bicycle path around the Park. We want to do it without additional paving and we want safety at the bridge. At Earth Day in 2006 and again in 2007, we circulated a petition that says: "I support the plan of the Woodlawn Lake Community Association to create a bicycle lane on the perimeter streets of Woodlawn Lake Park by making the eastern boundary streets from Woodlawn to Cincinnati (N. Josephine Tobin, French, & Alexander) one way south and east, the western boundary street from Ashby to Woodlawn (S. Josephine Tobin) one way north; and closing the bridge on S. Josephine Tobin between Craig and Woodlawn to motor vehicles."
Our petititon gathered 450 signatures from people from the various parts of the City. Yet, our then-councilwoman Elena Guajardo would not work with us in trying to make this plan come about. Instead, she became insistent on building a new bridge alongside the existing bridge. The new bridge idea was brought up at the Parks Bond Committee in December 2006 and January 2007, where it was opposed and turned down. Guajardo then moved it to Community Initiatives without giving the history of the opposition, where it was approved in the form shown above. WLCA decided not to oppose the bond package when it was explained to us in a meeting with the Assistant City Manager, the Parks and Recreation Director, and representatives from the Department of Public Works, that, as written, the provision did not require that a new bridge be built. Also, because of this interpretation, I did not pursue an Open Meetings violation charge (Guajardo held a meeting with her bond committee appointees and City staff and excluded the public, in violation of City Attorney instructions to the bond committees).
There are several problems with building a new bridge. The first is cost. The estimate last year was $350-400,000. That would take up the entire bond provision and would leave nothing for the playground or other improvements. How much would a new bridge really cost? Main Plaza is 80% over budget. Would we only get half a bridge? The existing bridge can be reconfigured for under $100,000 and the playground expanded for under $150,000, leaving money for picnic and other facilities.
Also, the Park is a single use historic district and is in a flood plain. Before building a bridge, you would need historic review, environmental impact studies, engineering studies, and so on. This won't happen overnight, leaving the safety problems pending for perhaps several years. Closing the bridge gives instant safety, as we saw when the bridge was closed to cars for six weeks last spring. This closure did not result in traffic snarls elsewhere as predicted by some.
Finally, we have to look at protecting the Park. When Brackenridge was improved a few years ago, a lot of the car traffic was removed. We should not have cars criss-crossing our parks, leaving their exhaust, heat, and noise pollution and creating safety hazards. A new bridge for pedestrians would encourage more car traffic on the existing bridge. I do not find this to be good for the Park nor for park visitors. Also, a new bridge would be 20 feet wide (the existing foot path is 10 feet wide; plus to-and-fro bike lanes that the City insists on, each 5 feet wide). You then need 20 foot wide approaches on either side--about 25 yards long to the north to connect to Woodlawn, and 75 yards long to the south to go past the old bridge at Craig. That's a lot of grass and trees to be removed, resulting in what would be an environmental disgrace and eyesore.
Also, bond money will not be available for Woodlawn Lake Park improvements until later this year. To say that our councilman Justin Rodriguez has "dragged his feet" is simply not true. Although various options to deal with the safety problem at the bridge have been discussed and are being looked at, nothing can actually be developed until there is money to pay for it.
There are three proposals on how to make the crossing at S. Josephine Tobin and W. Woodlawn safer. These are to build new bridge for people on foot and on bicycles, to make existing bridge one-way north for cars leaving more room for people on foot and on bicycles, and close existing bridge to cars and leaving it exclusively for people on foot and on bicycles. Of these, erecting a second bridge would be the least safe. People on bikes and on foot are currently separated as they circumnavigate the Park. They do come together at the bridge and are side-by-side for about 60 yards. If the bridge were to be closed to cars, or if the bridge were to be made one-way, that 60 yards joint crossing would still exist. If a new bridge were to be built, the side-by-side bike and foot traffic would increase by about 100 yards. As stated above, the approaches to the new bridge would have to begin past the old bridge at Craig and would continue to W. Woodlawn, a additional distance of about 100 yards. Now, bicyclists would be speeding for about 160 yards next to walkers, joggers, baby strollers, wheel chairs, dogs on a leash, etc. Those of use who use the foot path frequently know how children and dogs tend to meander and could walk into the path of a bicylce. We would have eliminated a dangerous condition but created a new one.
Some people say that the bridge is needed for emergency vehicles. The Fire-EMS station for this area is at Culebra & Zarzamora. If there is an emergency north of Woodlawn, the emergency vehicles will come up Zarzamora, Elmendorf, or Wilson to Woodlawn and beyond. They would not cut through the Park to the bridge. That would add too much time in responding. If the emergency is south of Woodlawn, they would come up Culebra or Cincinnati to one of the cross streets south of the bridge. They would not go on Woodlawn, cross the bridge and head south. In my 9 years here, I have never seen an emergency vehicle, red-lights flashing, cross that bridge. A police car might have given chase across the bridge, but if it were to be closed, no bad guys would be crossing either, so there would be no one to chase.
There is no good reason to add a bridge to the Park and there are several reasons not to. I hope that the people in this area will take a walk to the Park and imagine the various options for dealing with the crossing and consider what I have stated. We can have safety, protect the historic and natural character of the Park, and keep costs minimal. Adding another bridge is a bad idea.

We can urge congress to act to allow young people like Jefferson valedictorian Benita Veliz to become citizens.

2009-04-11T15:03:00.003-05:00

Today many San Antonians learned for the first time from the Express News that a former Jefferson High valedictorian and graduate of St. Mary's University, Benita Veliz was in danger of being deported. Though she has succeeded in the US, she was brought here at the age of six without gaining admission from the INS. She had succeeded despite the many burdens that have been put upon such immigrants in the past decades.

Following a routine traffic stop, her immigration status was revealed and now she faces deportation. One hope for her and thousands of other young men and women is the Dream Act.

The Dream Act ‒ introduced by Senators Richard Durbin of Illinois and Richard Lugar of Indiana and Rep. Howard Berman of California and Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida‒ can solve this growing problem. Under the rigorous provisions of the DREAM Act, undocumented young people could be eligible for a conditional path to citizenship in exchange for a mandatory two years in higher education or military service. Undocumented young people must also demonstrate good moral character to be eligible for and stay in conditional residency. At the end of the long process, the young person can have the chance to become an American citizen.

According to the Dream Portal, a website devoted to encouraging passage of the act, Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson is undecided on the act while Senator John Cornyn is opposed to it. If you support the passage of this act please contact our senators. According to the portal 53 senators are now in favor of the act. They believe that 60 votes are needed in order to overcome the now routine tactic of the filibuster.

If you are on Facebook you may also want to take a look at the "Don't Deport Benita Veliz" group.

Change is on the way to Martinez Creek and you can help!

2009-04-11T13:12:00.003-05:00

Within living memory in the river city of San Antonio, most of our creeks and rivers have been little more than drainage ditches with names.

Dating back to the vision of Mayor Howard Peak, we've seen work on Leon Creek, the Medina River, the San Antonio River and Salado creek to remake them into linear parks and green spaces. Now, the San Antonio River Authority has brought that process to the creeks of the westside: Apache, Alazan, Martinez and the downtown portion of San Pedro Creek (which those knowledgeable in San Antonio history may recall was in the west or Mexican end of downtown in the days of segregation.)

At Earth Day in Woodlawn Lake Park, Saturday April 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Woodlawn Lake Gymnasium ,SARA will be hosting an Imagination Station where we will be encouraged to envision the future of the creek. We will be given the chance to imagine parks, hike trails, bike trails and recreational facilities.

Cool Crest Miniature Golf ephemera in San Antonio Texas and Curb Sandwich shop

2009-03-30T23:23:00.003-05:00

These pictures were made by scanning the coupons. They are available for free download on Flickr. Parts of Cool Crest are older than the Riverwalk. It is a charming and beautiful place. Let's hope it survives.

I don't know where the Curb Sandwich Shop was. I think this is from the forties or fifties.

Talk to the White House

2009-03-24T22:01:00.003-05:00

The communication has become two way. Until now our Presidents have spoken to us but we have not had a way to speak to them.

We are many and the administration are few, so they had to find a way to make it work.

Go to Whitehouse.gov Open for Questions and register. Then begin voting on questions asked by others and pose your own questions to be voted on by them.

The questions range from the insightful to the ridiculous but by this process this experiment in mass communication may give some sort of insight into our thinking as a people.

The President wants to hear from Republicans and independents as well as Democrats.

Woodlawn Lake Community Association creates Facebook Group

2009-03-08T18:08:00.003-05:00

The Woodlawn Lake Community Association now has its own Facebook Group. The group is a great way to keep up with events and news associated with the association, the lake and the surrounding areas.

For instance you'll find this notice on their page:

A public meeting will be held Tuesday March 31, 2009 at 6:30 pm at the Salvation Army Peacock Center at 2810 W Ashby Place, Building 2 to discuss the City of San Antonio's Woodlawn Lake Park Master Plan. District 7 City Councilman Justin Rodriguez and COSA staff will review exhibits prepared by the design consultants.

You don't have to have a Facebook account to view the page or to join the association but you do need to join Facebook to join the Facebook group.

Walk Around Jefferson 4

2009-03-05T15:44:00.004-06:00

Walk Around Jefferson 4 will be Saturday March 14 at 9 am at the baseball field parking lot on Kampman Blvd. This event is a chance to meet people you wouldn't meet otherwise, to have conversations you wouldn't have otherwise, and to learn things you wouldn't learn otherwise, all which might get you involved in community actions you wouldn't get involved in otherwise.

Unstructured conversation is the only item on the day's agenda.

Join us for a stroll around the perimeter of beautiful, historic Jefferson High School, past the running track and the park gazebo echoing the high school's two domes.

No RSVP necessary but you can find the event is listed on several sites including barackobama.com and Facebook. You could also just add a comment to let us know you are coming.

Luminaria 2009 - Many regretted missing last years.

2009-03-03T19:09:00.006-06:00

Last year the new event created with the encouragement of Mayor Hardberger caught many people by surprise. It was a magical event, with music and art in unexpected places downtown.

This year's Luminaria: Arts Night in San Antonio is Saturday March 14.

From the official press release
"The central celebration will be held downtown from 6 pm until midnight. Performances on a variety of stages and streetscapes will include symphonic, operatic, jazz, blues, ballet, international dance, theatre, hip hop, DJ, laser lights, film, and multi-discipline arts."

"The event footprint is extended this year to include seven performance stages with the spectacular fireworks finale. Luminaria will bring together diverse audiences throughout San Antonio for an engaging and educational experience."

"Throughout the day visit artist studios, museum, galleries and artist spaces that will have exhibits on view along with art activities and creative performances throughout the city of San Antonio." An official calendar of events, along with specific performances and exhibition information will be available for download on LuminariaSA.org by March 2."

There will be free parking for the downtown celebration. A map in pdf form is available for download. A list of scheduled performers is found on the official Luminaria San Antonio website.

UPDATE: 3/4/2009: A pdf of the official calendar of events is now available for download.

UPDATE 3/8/2009: Today's San Antonio Express-News has an excellent story by Deborah Martin-Luminaria Bigger This Year.

March 7, 2009 Woodlawn Lake Basura Bash

2009-03-03T15:40:00.005-06:00

This year the annual San Antonio Basura Bash has added Woodlawn Lake and several other sections of our rivers and creeks to their project. Come to Woodlawn Lake Park at 8:30 on Saturday to register and to receive your free T-Shirt. Work begins by 9 and continues until noon. For more information email Ashley Hernandez or call 210 858-8520.

The Basura Bash website has information on clean up projects throughout the city.

UPDATE: 03/08/2009 One report had 300 people pitching in to help out. But the same report said that in the afternoon folks cooking out were once again busy littering. So, the work of building community continues.

Woodlawn Theatre: Rapunzarella White opening March 27, 2009

2009-02-27T12:54:00.003-06:00

At historic Woodlawn Theatre, beginning Friday, March 27 Amphisphere Theatre Productions presents "Rapunzarella" a mixed up fairy tale musical with music by Daniel Neiden and script by June Rachelson-Ospa. The show is PG family friendly

An angry witch snatches the triplets, Rapunzel, Cinderella and Snow White. Will they be rescued by their personal prince charmings? You'll have to go to find out.

Tickets are $20 and $15. Call 210 738-1117 for reservations.

Amphisphere's first production in the Woodlawn was in November 2006. They found great success with the first staging of Disney's High School Musical in San Antonio which played for 7 weeks of sold out performances.

The non-profit, Amphisphere Arts Foundation, trains students in the arts of musical theatre including: dancing, stage movement, acting , and singing.

There's still time to catch Disney's High School Musical 2 which plays until March 17 at the Woodlawn.

Woodlawn Lake Park Pedestrian Bridge Advocates Bring the issue to the Candidates

2009-02-20T21:10:00.001-06:00

Woodlawn Lake Bridge advocates Feb 18 Creative Commons 2009 IMG_0008, originally uploaded by wsssst.

By posting themselves at the entrance to the parking lot, at the candidate's forum February 17 at TJHS, advocates for the promised pedestrian bridge at Woodlawn Lake Park, made sure that the issue would not be ignored.

Although it was not ignored, the two candidates on the current council did not appear to promise to take action on the bridge, though former council member Elena Guajardo pointedly said that if she were re-elected that the bridge would be built.

Though there are many issues facing San Antonio, these advocates made certain that this issue was not forgotten, nor will they likely forget that they have not yet received a clear answer.

More Public Domain Pictures of TJHS

2009-02-20T20:55:00.001-06:00

Jefferson High School San Antonio Tx ceiling Creative commons IMG_0012, originally uploaded by wsssst.

Several more photos of TJHS have been made available for free use. Feel free to use them for any purpose. Along with this photo of a ceiling mosaic there are pictures of the theater proscenium and of Jefferson United Methodist Church which is across the street from TJ.

Advocate for Woodlawn Lake bridge organizes for change.

2009-02-15T16:55:00.001-06:00

Community meeting 001 330 pixel, originally uploaded by wsssst.

Candidate's forum Tuesday March 17, 6:30 PM

2009-02-14T16:08:00.003-06:00

Candidates for Mayor, City Council, and School Board will debate beginning at 6:30 PM in the auditorium of historic Thomas Jefferson High School. Here is an opportunity to see candidates for the several contested races in the TJHS neighborhoods.

Do Trish Deberry-Mejia's Republican ads reflect her political outlook?

2009-02-13T18:26:00.010-06:00

The website, San Antonio Mayor, reports on Trish Deberry-Mejia's agency's production of negative ads for Henry Bonilla and John McCain and ponders whether the agency's work provides a clue to her political leanings.

The site reports that her agency Guerra Deberry Coody aka GDC produced a Spanish language ad which criticized Barack Obama's stance on immigration and a more controversial ad used by Henry Bonilla against Ciro Rodriguez. This ad accused Ciro of supporting terrorists.

Of course it is possible that Trish Deberry-Mejia and her agency partners accepted work from Republican candidates while opposing everything for which they stand. The agency provides on-site daycare for employees and was named one of the 15 best small company workplaces by the Wall Street Journal in 2007.

alamObama rides again on March 5, 2009

2009-02-13T16:30:00.006-06:00

Since the election, San Antonio's home grown, independent, grassroots campaign for Obama has been doing more than a little celebrating. But now the group is meeting to plan for the future of the organization and to decide how to coordinate with Organizing for America.

The first 2009 meeting of alamObama will be March 5 at 7122 San Pedro Avenue, Suite 114, San Antonio, TX 78216 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.

For more details, contact Judy at judy@alamobama08.com or Brenda at alamobama09@aol.com.

You can find a sign up for the meeting on barackobama.com or click this link: March 5 alamObama Meeting.

Be sure to check out the alamObama site for loads of pictures from the campaign.

Public Domain Jefferson Photos on Flickr

2009-02-03T14:41:00.002-06:00

Anyone can download and use a set of TJHS photos recently uploaded to popular photo sites Flicker and Photobucket. These particular photos may be used by anyone without attribution and for any purpose.

Click Here Creative Commons photos of Jefferson High on Flickr

Enthusiastic Alumni Perform "M-I-S-T-E-R M-U-S-T-A-N-G" with TJHS Band at Alamo Stadium

2009-02-02T10:00:00.001-06:00

More than thirty Alumni from bands of the 1970's joined the 2008-2009 Mustang Band at Alamo Stadium in a performance of classics including "Mister Mustang", the school alma mater and the Jefferson fight song on October 30, 2008. The reunion, initiated by the Jefferson Band Boosters is intended to become an annual affair. Already the video has been viewed over 1000 times. The success of the reunion and the number of views on YouTube shows the kind of enthusiasm that can be tapped in building up our community.

Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer Initiates News and Commentary Site

2009-02-01T20:38:00.003-06:00

The first entry on Rep. Martinez-Fischer's new site comments on Governor Perry's State of the State address: He writes "The only thing apparent was that someone is running for re-election. At a time, when 99% of Texans are worried about their paychecks and their pocketbooks, Governor Perry is worried about re-election."

His site promises inside baseball comments from someone "actually on the field" and an "honest (and sometimes unflattering) look at the legislature."

You can find the Poli-Tex blog at http://www.poli-tex.com/ or follow this link Trey Martinez-Fischer's Poli-Tex.

2009 On and Off Fred Artist Studio Tour February 14 & 15

2009-01-24T10:25:00.005-06:00

After joining in Walk Around Jefferson 3, stick around the area for the 2009 On and Off Fredricksburg Artist Studio Tour.

The website, onandofffred.org, has all the information you need to visit the interesting studios.

Many people begin their studio tour with a visit to the Bihl Haus Arts located on the grounds of the Primrose Apartments on Fredricksburg Road north of Quentin Drive. For more information on this years studio tour email kellen-kee@swbell.net or call (210) 383-9723.

Jefferson Community Garden Approved by Historic Design Review Board

2009-01-21T15:27:00.004-06:00

With approval from the city's Historic Design Review Board, Jefferson Community Garden has cleared a major hurdle and will soon become a reality according to Michael Soto. He says they plan to start tilling as soon as we get a little rain.

The new community gardens will be located between the back fence of Jefferson United Methodist Church and Gramercy Place near the corner of Gramercy Place and Wilson.

The garden will have twelve raised planting beds, four of which are designated for common use. A small storage area and an entrance arch will complete the design.

There's room for more people to get involved. If you are interested call Michael at 738-8520. In addition to working on the community garden, Michael is currently campaigning for the SAISD School Board, so you may find him or his wife Celina Pena on your doorstep as they block walk. A link to his campaign website may be found on our front page. Michael Soto's Website

Notable Jazz Pianist in Free Perfomance at JHS! Wednesday January 28 7pm

2009-01-18T14:28:00.000-06:00

Helen Sung and her jazz trio will give perform in concert in the JHS's acoustically excellent auditorium, Wednesday January 28 at 7 pm. Admission is free.

Helen attended Houston's High School for the Performing Arts before eventually being admitted to the first class of the Thelonious Monk Instituted of Jazz Performance at the New England Conservatory of Music. Since finishing her education in 1997 she has taught, traveled and performed around the world, gathering recognition and accolades.

In the past year alone she has toured India, Italy and Martinique. She has been a featured performer on Mary McPartland's long running radio series "Piano Jazz". Her concert coincides with jazz clinics she is conducting for SAISD students.

For more information on Helen and for samples of her music go to:
Helen Sung.com

Walk Around Jefferson 3 Announced

2009-01-17T22:37:00.000-06:00

Walk Around Jefferson 3 will be February 14, 2009 beginning at 9 AM at the baseball field parking lot on Kampman Blvd. This event is a chance to meet people you wouldn't meet otherwise, to have conversations you wouldn't have otherwise, and to learn things you wouldn't learn otherwise, all which might get you involved in community actions you wouldn't get involved in otherwise.

Unstructured conversation is the only item on the day's agenda.

Break out your favorite campaign wear and join us for a stroll around the perimeter of beautiful, historic Jefferson High School, (in the heart of one of San Antonio's most securely Democratic areas) past the site of the planned community gardens and the park gazebo echoing the high school's two domes.

No RSVP necessary but you can find the event is listed on several sites including barackobama.com and facebook. You could also just add a comment to let us know you are coming.