Village North II Neighborhood Association: District 10 Update 8 March, 2016

Upcoming Important Meetings

Northeast Neighborhood Alliance

Monday, March 21st,

6:30PM, at the Tool Yard.

District 10 Community Meeting

Monday, April 18th,

7:00PM, at the

Tool Yard.

Want to publicize your neighborhood event?

If so, please send an e-mail to Rebecca Podowski to make a request to post on our Facebook page!

March 8, 2016

Dear Neighbors,

Our district has been very active over the past few weeks, and I couldn't be more pleased. We held our ribbon cutting ceremony this past Friday for the El Camino Real signs at Comanche Lookout Park. Because Comanche Lookout Hill was an actual reference point on the El Camino Real trail, it was fitting to hold our ceremony for the final sign there. During the event, we revealed that our Fiesta Medal this year commemorates the El Camino Real trail. We look forward to sharing those with you when they arrive. As you travel down Nacogdoches and see the El Camino Real signs, know that you are sharing the same road as centuries of Spanish, American, Texan, and Native American travelers before you.

City Council will be voting this week to award contracts to two companies for the Redland Road South and North expansion projects. Both of these projects are 2012-2017 Bond Projects, and involve widening Redland Road to four lanes with various median, drainage, and sidewalk improvements. If awarded, construction for Redland Road South is anticipated to begin March 2016, and end in June 2017. Redland Road North construction is anticipated to begin April 2016 and estimated to be completed by September 2017. Construction activities for both projects will take place six days a week, from sunrise to sunset.

We'd like to share the spotlight with the El Dorado Neighborhood Association as their work on the Community Garden continued this past weekend. Boy Scouts, college students, residents and friends alike turned out for another garden work day. We applaud the efforts of El Dorado for bringing everyone together to benefit the neighborhood. We've included photos of their hard work in this issue.

Please note: the next Northeast Neighborhood Alliance meeting is on March 21st, and our next District 10 Community Meeting is April 18th. Both meetings will be held at the Tool Yard. Thank you for staying actively involved in our community and for your continued support of our neighborhoods.

Sincerely,

Mike Gallagher

City Councilman District 10

For a complete list of press releases and other city news postings, visit the Department of Communications and Public Affairs website.

Ribbon Cutting: El Camino Real Signs

From left to right: Councilman Mike Gallagher, John Canella, National Park Service, Steven Gonzales, El Camino Real de los Tejas National Trails Association, City Manager Sheryl Sculley, Father Rogelio Martinez, Order of the Friars Minor, Janet Dietel, San Antonio Conservation Society, Bishop Arthur Barrymore. Photo is courtesy of City of San Antonio.

National and local officials, private groups, and residents attended a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday morning for the El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail. The event took place in front of Comanche Lookout Park; the park's signature hill once acted as a marker on the original El Camino Real route. Father Rogelio Martinez, Order of the Friars Minor, blessed the trail and the sign, and Bishop Arthur Barrymore provided the opening invocation. Attendees heard speeches from the National Park Service, San Antonio Conservation Society, and the El Camino Real de los Tejas National Trails Association.

In addition to the ribbon cutting ceremony, attendees also viewed the design for the District 10 Fiesta Medal, which incorporates the now-recognized trail as it runs through the district.

We would like to thank the following agencies for their financial, logistical, or educational support in completing this project:

National Park Service
Texas Department of Transportation
Texas Historical Commission
El Camino Real de los Tejas National Trails Association
San Antonio Conservation Society
City of San Antonio - Transportation and Capital Improvements
City of San Antonio - Office of Historic Preservation
City of San Antonio - Parks and Recreation
Walmart

Paid Summer Internships Through City's Ambassador Program

The City of San Antonio, Department of Human Services, is accepting applications for the summer 2016 Ambassador Program.

The Ambassador Program is an 11-week internship program, sponsored by the City of San Antonio that will run from May 20 - Aug. 5, 2016. The program was created to encourage college students to return or stay in San Antonio upon graduation by exposing them to career paths and opportunities through paid internships and experience in high-demand occupations.

To be eligible, students must be a San Antonio high school graduate or permanent resident, complete at least one full year (two semesters) of college and be currently enrolled and maintain a 2.5 grade point average or better. Special enrollment consideration will be given to applicants attending school out-of-town or out-of-state.

Interested applicants must submit a completed application by March 31, 2016 at 5 p.m. to be considered for the program. Applications can be found online in the Department of Human Services Website or by visiting http://bit.ly/Ambassador2016.

For more information on the Ambassador Program, contact Deirdre Murphy at 210-207-8868 or Deirdre.Murphy@sanantonio.gov.

Building Maintenance & Inspections Job Fair

Saturday, March 12th

Sat., March 12, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Cliff Morton Development & Business Services Center, 1901 S. Alamo St.

Job fair featuring hiring managers from Development Services and the Convention & Sports Facilities Departments for HVAC, building, electrical and plumbing inspectors, as well as maintenance workers, maintenance crew leaders and building maintenance mechanics.

Hiring managers will be onsite at the job fair and the recruitment team will be at the job fair and employment workshops to address questions about any available positions, as well as the application and hiring processes.

For more information about the City's upcoming employment workshops, call (210) 207-8705 or visit www.sanantonio.gov/careers.

El Dorado Community Garden Update

Volunteers came out on Saturday morning to work on the El Dorado Community Garden Project. From Boy Scouts to UTSA design students, this garden truly represents what a community can do with enough passion and volunteers. Great job, everyone!

Photos are courtesy of Reinette King

SA Tomorrow Open House

SA Tomorrow Sustainability Plan is a plan grounded in the three pillars sustainability - social, economic, and environmental. It includes metrics of success that will be tracked and reported. Join us as we unveil the draft copy of this plan.

This Open House event is your opportunity to provide your comments and engage in the final development of the City of San Antonio's SA Tomorrow Sustainability Plan. If you can't make it, it is available online through the SA Tomorrow website.

Open House Event in District 10

Thursday, April 07, 2016

5:00-7:00PM

Semmes Branch Library - 15060 Judson Road

For more information or for other open house events across the city, visit www.SATomorrow.com

City of San Antonio Office of Sustainability

1400 S. Flores

San Antonio, TX 78204

(210) 207-6103

Spring Bloom Set for March 12th

SAWS Spring Bloom

Saturday, March 12

9 a.m.-1 p.m.

SAWS Headquarters, 2800 U.S. Hwy. 281 North

SAWS Spring Bloom is your opportunity to learn about gardening, landscape care and so much more. In addition to its always-impressive list of speakers and seminars, this year's event will be all about monarch butterflies - how to draw them to your landscape and, most of all, help them along their journey during spring and fall migrations.

The free event also features tasty treats from local food trucks (including Mr. Meximum, Mila Coffee and our neighbor SA Pops) and a fun-filled learning area for children.

Your favorite local gardening and landscape experts will be speaking throughout the day, offering great tips to help spruce up your yard while still saving water. Another "fan favorite" back again this year includes a plant propagation area. There will be plants for sale at the event, courtesy of Bexar County Master Gardeners, Gardening Volunteers of South Texas, San Antonio Botanical Society and the San Antonio Herb Society.

And as always, the first 1,000 visitors get a free plant! This year's offerings, which provide nectar to adult monarchs, include: John Fanick's phlox, mealy blue sage and blackfoot daisy.

Schedule of speakers

Time	Topic	Speaker
9:10AM	Attracting Butterflies Year-round with Plants	Calvin Finch, Ph.D.
9:50AM	Using Texas SuperStars™ for Butterflies	Jerry Parsons, Ph. D.
10:35AM	Helpful Hints for Your Monarch Way Station	UT-Dallas Sustainability Dept.
11:20AM	Monarchs & Milkweed	Julian Chavez, UTSA
12:15PM	Organic Practices for Butterflies	Bob Webster

Spring Break Tips

Texas Spring Break Holidays begin as early as March 5 this year so San Antonio International Airport (SAT) is offering a few tips to keep it fun. Most airlines are expecting high capacity loads through the month of March so SAT recommends that travelers arrive two hours prior to their flight for the parking and check-in process, particularly on flights departing before 7:30 a.m.

The airport offers the following tips as travelers begin heading out for Spring Break:

Check updated flight status online - Passengers can check their flight status before they leave home at www.sanantonio-airport.com.
Pack Smart - To avoid the potential of additional screening, check the prohibited items list on the TSA website- www.tsa.gov/traveler-information.
Get your Boarding Pass Early - Passengers can print boarding passes online before they arrive or use airline check-in kiosks.
Parking - Passengers can check the real time availability of parking before leaving home; get directions and parking information by visiting www.sanantonio-airport.com. Or, avoid the parking hassles altogether and consider being dropped off at the terminals, taking a taxi, shuttle or using a rideshare service.
Pick Ups - Picking up someone for Spring Break? Don't pay to wait. The free Cell Phone Lot is minutes away from both terminals and has free WiFi available while you wait for your arrival to call for a pick-up.
Join the Frequent Parking Program - Members are guaranteed parking even when the Garage is full. For more information, visit www.sanantonio-airport.com.

Upcoming Events at District 10 Libraries

March 11-13th

Free fun at San Antonio Public Library branches

Semmes Branch Library (15060 Judson Rd., 78247)
Saturday, March 12
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Do you want to swim in the depths of literary oceans? Discuss tales that have stood the test of time? Think new thoughts, experience new feelings, discover new truths? Join the Classic Book Club. Join us this month for a discussion of "Dracula" by Bram Stoker.

Semmes Library Book Club
Semmes Branch Library (15060 Judson Rd., 78247)
Saturday, March 12
2 p.m.
Join us for a discussion of "Lila" by Marilynne Robinson.

VITA - Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
Thousand Oaks Branch Library (4618 Thousand Oaks, 78233)

Friday, March 11- Sunday, March 13
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Free tax preparation for individuals and families earning $60,000 or less.

For more information or additional events, visit the library website.